New Campo Argentina - Your Taste of Recoleta in Miami Beach

Driving up Collins Avenue from South Beach up towards North Beach and towards the "upper 60s", one can't help but notice a preponderance of South American restaurants right around 69th street. Turns out the area is popular with South Americans (we didn't know this) where many Brazilian, Argentine and the occasional Cuban restaurant can be found.

We were heading to visit my cousin at a rental on South Biscayne Point Road when we decided to make a quick stop at New Campo Argentino on Collins just south of 71st. What we found was a great little Argentine restaurant (our waiter happened to be from Uruguay, thus the Pilsen) with good food at reasonable prices.

Perhaps getting the Provoleta was not the healthiest choice but it was really good. We made an effort to get a lighter lunch but then blew that out of the water by getting panqueques con dulce de leche - sinful crepes that were irresistible.

If the weather is nice enough, sit on the walk under the shade and peoplewatch. It's a great spot to enjoy a Pilsen and some good Argentine food. Walk next door to the little market to get some homemade alfajores to go and you'll be set.

Bright Lights...

It may not get more touristy than Times Square but there's just something about the lights and sounds of that big, bright mess that draws people like moths to a flame. You can't visit New York without taking in the lights of Times Square.

Eden Roc a Worthy Alternative to the Pricey Fountainebleau

The massive Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach is a hot commodity. People line up on Collins and inside the hotel to enter clubs and bars packed wall-to-wall while creditors work on recovering funds after a massive renovation. Rooms typically start at $300 an up... a high price tag to fund a massive renovation.

Yet, next door, the Eden Roc Hotel, also recently renovated (bye bye spite wall) and now a Renaissance Hotel, offers a less pricey but glamorous option to those who want to stay in Miami Beach without the chaos of South Beach.

The hotel has added a new tower, renovated most of the pools, is fixing the hotel spa and has spruced up interiors and rooms. The bar is as glamorous as ever and still shows Morris Lapidus' creative touch.

Here are a few shots from our recent stay at the Eden Roc.

Cantucci worth seeking out... in New York!

So much updating to do and so much good stuff I can add thanks to some recent trips to London, Rome and the Maremma region of Tuscany. So, let's start with a real quick one... something is better than nothing, right?

I went to New York City about two months ago to meet with a few clients. Great trip - very fruitful! One of the non-business highlights was lunch at a midtown Italian restaurant called Cellini. Now Cellini stands on its own with its regular fare. The

gnocchi I had, while not light by any means, were simply delicious. However, what really stood out in my mind were the cantucci that came with your bill. O U T S T A N D I N G!!! They were delicious - had a light hint of anise that made all the difference in the world. Seriously, I wanted to stuff my pockets with them. I asked if they sold them but, unfortunately, they do not. Too bad... I would buy a few pounds.

Visit them on your next trip to New York and enjoy the food and the delicious cantucci.

Quick Picks in San Francisco

I just got back from a quick trip to San Francisco. I don't have my camera with me so I'll have to add a new entry later but here are some quick picks from my trip:

Hotel Triton

Yet another reason why I'm starting to find Kimpton to be my favorite small chain. Whimsical, reasonable prices and great little touches for Kimpton InTouch members. You can't beat the location... caddy corner from Chinatown's Gateway Arch.

One Market Restaurant

Two simple dishes was all it took to show me the light as to why this restaurant earned a Michelin star. One of my dishes begged to be licked clean. I went for lunch and ate at the bar but I imagine reservations are strongly recommended at this celebrated eatery.

54 Mint

Located in Mint Plaza, I really loved 54 Mint. It was the Italian feel - every single person I spoke to... from Claudio, one of the partners, to Nicola and everyone inbetween, was Italian. Italian run through and through led to an authentic Italian experience... a leisurely pace and not the most smoothly run operation but, ironically, that's what I liked about it. It was real and the people were fantastic. I had a nice rughetta salad to start and scrumptious octopus carpaccio.

Cafe de la Presse

Was I in Paris? Seriously... this French owned cafe has absolutely nailed it. I had breakfast so I can't speak to the cafe's "real" menu... all I know is that the experience was great. They had the "right" chairs (straight out of a typical Parisian cafe), French staff and just the right feel. If you've been to France before, go here and you'll know exactly what I mean.

Other...

An eminently walkable town, use your feet to get around. So much to see and do. On a related note, to get to and from SFO, be sure to use BART. Roundtrip tickets cost roughly $16.00 and offer a safe, comfortable ride into the center of San Francisco.

Killing Time in Cambridge, MA

So I checked into my hotel in Cambridge, MA this afternoon around 4:00... I happen to be in town for a big client presentation tomorrow. The first thing I did when I checked in was to take care of my e-mail... you know how it piles up when you travel (although Delta now has wireless for a fee on some of their planes). E-mail was checked... changed out of my uncomfortable clothes... and then? Harvard was about a 2.5 mile walk and I just didn't have the time to make a 5 mile round trip. So, I decided to head to the MIT campus.

Why MIT? Granted... everyone I passed was smarter than me... book smart, anyway. Yeah... I was a fish out of water. BUT... I wanted to see some great architecture... some iconic architecture. MIT fits the bill with great works by architects like Alvar Aalto, Eero Saarinen, I.M. Pei and Frank Gehry. Personally, I wanted to see Saarinen's MIT chapel and Frank Gehry's Stata Center. Simmons Hall was also on my list but I opted against it when I realized it was time to head back.

So, here are three great buildings that I saw while walking on campus... if only I had my real camera with me. Part of me wants to walk back over to the MIT Chapel again and take a deeper look. As simple as it was, the building really impressed me.

Eero Saarinen's Kresge Auditorium (1955)

Eero Saarinen's MIT Chapel (1955)

Frank Gehry's Stata Center (2004)

Back road finds...

You never know what you'll find on a back road. This 1960s Oldsmobile was parked next to a shack of a house at about 11,000 ft. near Breckenridge, Colorado.

A Quick Sojourn in Washington DC

So here I am, sitting in a Washington D.C. hotel room on a Sunday night. I don't like business travel that starts/ends on a weekend but, in all fairness, our consultants do it all the time. I can handle it once in a blue moon.

I'm in town for a national conference and rather than staying at a $200+/night national chain (i.e. Hampton Inn, Marriott, Hilton, Embassy Suites, etc.), I opted for the Donovan House Hotel. The Donovan is the DC location of the small Thompson Hotel boutique chain. For $189.00/night, I landed a comfortable room in a stylish hotel that is a mere 10 minute walk from the convention center. $189.00 gets you plenty of space, access to a fitness center and you're only a 10 minute walk from this...

Not bad.

Now, I took the super shuttle from BWI to Washington D.C. The cost was $37.00 compared to an estimated $85.00 taxi fare (W-O-W!). Waiting for the shuttle took about 20 minutes and then the ride was maybe 45 minutes long. Thankfully, I was the first stop.

After I checked in, I decided to do some walking... down Vermont to the White House, around the Treasury Building and over to the Ellipse. I thought about walking over to the Washington Monument but decided against it. I would walking further and further from the hotel and I wasn't sure that I felt like it. So, I took a meandering route back to the hotel to where I would pick a place for dinner.

After a few searches on the Washington Post's page, I opted for Luigi's Famous Pizzeria. The editorial review was good enough and the restaurant was easy to find (about a five block walk), inexpensive (My total meal, with tip, was under $20.00) and apparently a Washington staple (in business since the 1940s). How was it? Pretty good... not great but good.

The restaurant had a inviting main dining room with a cozy atmosphere. The sunroom seating seemed a little cold to me and the upstairs room was larger and less cozy. To me, the main room was the spot. I started with a bell pepper bruschetta that wasn't bad and it was only $2.50 for two pieces. The bread echoed what I had read from some reviews - it seemed kind of stale. If it wasn't for the topping, it may not have been worth eating. I then ordered a pizza for one with mortadella, artichoke hearts and green olives. The pizza was big enough for 2 with lots of cheese (far too much for my personal taste) and piled with ingredients. It was a good pizza - heavy - but good. I would go back but not by myself as the pizza was just too much. I topped it all off with an espresso and, again, I was just under $20.00 (incl. tip). Not bad.

The pizza was weighing me down so I headed back to the hotel for an apres-dinner workout. The "state of the art" fitness center (as advertised on the page) includes 4 treadmills, 2 ellipticals and 1 recumbent bike. There's also a weight bench and a set of dumbbells, ranging from 2 1/2 lbs up to 50 lbs. That's enough to get a workout in. I ran through some supersets of compound moves like squats to overhead presses and then called it a night.

Here I am... tomorrow I'll head to the convention. After that, I planning on hoofing it to Union Station where I'll catch a MARC train to BWI. I'll let you know how it went.

So long, for now, Rainbow Room... and discovering Muscat, Oman

Back in 1996, I had a chance to return to New York City on behalf of my boss at BMC Software. At the time, I hadn't been back to Manhattan since I was a small boy and the city always held a great fascination for me. I've been back about a dozen times since then but the city still fascinates me. One of the highlights of that trip was a visit to the Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center. Our business meeting was held there and the experience was fantastic. I still remember taking in the view of the city from the 65th floor - amazing.



Well, it looks like part of the Rainbow Room, the Rainbow Grill, will be closing temporarily due to the economic downturn. A staple of the Manhattan nightlife for 75 years may be no more. Sad. Let's hope things pick up and the restaurant is fully open once again.

On to a complete unrelated item, I was reading something about Muscat, Oman today and it made me want to do some digging on Muscat. Apparently, it is a rarely visited but amazing destination in the Middle East.

From Shaw Travel

Not much is available online so here are a couple of brief pieces on Muscat:

Muscat, Oman: An Undiscovered Middle Eastern Treasure

Driving to Muscat from Dubai

"Are you going to South San Fraaanciscooo..."

When you don't have any vacations planned, even a simple business trip can be refreshing. Today, I find myself in South San Francisco... that's the city of South San Francisco, located within spitting distance of San Francisco International Airport.

South San Francisco isn't know for much from a tourist standpoint. It bills itself as the birthplace of the biotech industry and is home to biotech giant Genentech. Otherwise, I can't tell you what there is to do in this town. I'm located in a business area, not really next to downtown South San Francisco. I did, however, take a jog from my hotel over to the Oyster Point Marina. From there, I connected to the Bay Trail and where it goes from the marina to Point San Bruno. I really only went as far as the Oyster Point Pier where a handful of fisherman were basking in the sun. To the left, you could see San Francisco in the distance. To the right, planes taking off and landing at SFO. The weather was perfect so it was nice to just get away from the hotel and explore.

Below are a couple more photos taken during my little jaunt...

Oyster Point Marina
Oyster Point Pier

New Yorkers Get a Closer Shave

If you take shaving seriously (that is, if you don't like butchering your face and coping with hellacious razor burn), then you may be familiar with eShave - a great online store focused on all things shaving. I visited the eShave page tonight to buy some preshave oil only to find that eShave now has a retail presence. Located at 993 B 1st Avenue in New York City, New Yorkers now have a brick and mortar location to pick up eShave's shaving sets, badger hair brushes and shave creams. Lucky bastages. I'm a big fan of eShave. This may sound goofy but, simply put, once I started using their products, I consistently get close, comfortable shaves. Nope... I'm not a paid spokesman - just a really happy customer. Check out the store next time you're in midtown Manhattan.

Ghost Towns

I've always found ghost towns to be fascinating... wandering among the ruins and rubble of a place that was. You'll see them dotted across the states and, though not referred to as ghost town, across more historic places in countries like Italy, France, etc.

Anyway, the AP published an interesting article called Explore the History and Mystery of Ghost Towns that I found worth sharing. Below are some pictures taken in California's Coachella Valley and in Joshua Tree National Park. The first four are from Joshua Tree, three not too far from the Jumbo Rocks and one from the Lost Horse Mine. The last two (different buildings in different locations) are from various spots in Palm Canyon.

Staying Fit and Classic Cocktails

I've talked about being a fan of Craig Ballantyne and his Turbulence Training web page. One of his recent blog entries included some more good tips on taking care of yourself and staying fit while traveling. It's not the first time I've referenced him and probably won't be the last...

But I don't stop thinking about my fitness and DIET when I'm gone. However, most guys and gals use travel as an excuse for eating junk and skipping workouts. But travel is NO EXCUSE for bad body behavior.All it takes to succeed is a little planning. In fact, here's what I've done to stay on track while spending time in the airports and stuck in 13-hour per day seminars.

Read his entry for some good insight that is not hard to apply.

On an unrelated note, one of our favorite things to do when visiting New York City (although it's been a while) is to check out some classic cocktail bars. I'm not talking about your run-of-the-mill meat market; rather, the classic landmark cocktail bars that have been around since the 40s or 50s. Places like the Monkey Bar in the Hotel Elysee and Bemelmans in the Carlyle Hotel. Bemelmans is simply one of those places that must be experienced - the whimsical illustrations that decorate the bar's walls, the extremely knowledgeable bartenders, the outstanding service. It's a great place to start or end an evening. The Monkey Bar has a completely different feel - much more lively, less refined but still a classic art deco bar. My dad used to hang out there in the 50s and he'd probably find the place a bit too loud today. Bemelmans, on the other hand, would probably be more his style.

The "Beauty" of The Wedge

There's an outside chance we may hit southern California this summer. As a bodyboarder (and I'm sure I'll bring my boards), I have this minor itch to go check out the Wedge. Part of me things I ought to at least catch a wave or two while there - the other part of me thinks I'll crap my pants if I see it on a heavy day.

If we do go, I may not hit the wedge but I definitely want to check out Del Mar or some other good spots. The only places I've hit in SoCal are Del Mar, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach.

Here is some footage of the Wedge eating a few people and then spitting them out...

Hip Haunts in Palm Springs

One of the best reasons to visit Palm Springs is to take in the overwhelming amount of great architecture. From the early work of Lloyd Wright and Richard Neutra to the countless Palmer & Krisel-designed houses, there's more than enough to see over several trips.

If architecture is on your mind, then you should make it a point to stay in an well-designed hotel, right? We've stayed in three different hotels in Palm Springs and toured two others.

Desert Star Bungalows - The bungalows were known as the Desert Star Inn the three times we stayed there. When Steve and Misako Samiof sold the hotel to move to Costa Rica, a new owner gave the hotel a fresh facelift and raised rates a bit. Still, they're in a tranquil neighborhood and each bungalow is nicely furnished with period pieces. Our recommendation? Stay in Bungalow Number 5.

The pool at the Desert Star

Villa Royale - Of all the hotels listed in this post, the Villa Royale is the only hotel that doesn't have a mid-century pedigree. It's a 1930's Mediterranean-style hotel but it oozes charm and typified Palm Springs before it's 1950s heyday.

Orbit In / Hideaway - What a great pair of hotels. The Orbit In really perfected what a Palm Springs mid-century hotel should look like. Great furnishings in the rooms, a very cool pool scene and evening cocktails. If you can get past the sticker shock, the Orbit In is a great bet. Slightly more affordable but equally hip is the nearby Hideaway.

The Orbit In - Pricey but Worth it!

Caliente Tropics - A 1964 tiki-themed hotel that is better for families or lower key stays in Palm Springs. Not as hip as the Orbit In or charming as the Villa Royale, the Caliente Tropics has its own vibe. If you're into tiki and polynesian style architecture, this is where you will want to stay.

Polynesian Style at the Caliente Tropics

Now... there are other mid-century hotels in town and if you don't like the choices I've listed, these might do the trick for you.

• Del Marcos Hotel - 1947 hotel designed by William F. Cody
• Horizon Hotel - 1952 hotel also designed by Cody and just restored
• Movie Colony Hotel - Albert Frey-designed gem from 1935
• Ballantine's Original Hotel - Once a sister hotel to the Movie Colony - similar in style
• Le Parker Meridien Palm Springs - Glammed out resort once owned by Gene Autry and Merv Griffin. Jonathan Adler design.
• Hope Springs Resort - Former sister hotel to the Desert Star - Cool spot in Desert Hot Springs.
• Desert Hot Springs Motel - John Lautner masterpiece from 1947
• Miracle Manor Retreat - Spa-themed hotel in Desert Hot Springs
• Sagewater Spa - Another spa in Desert Hot Springs
• A Place in the Sun Hotel - 1950 hotel designed for the movie's production crew

How's that for choices?

A Parade Worth Seeing

I'll admit I'm not big on parades. Most guys aren't. The thought of standing around on a sidewalk for a few hours while watching high school bands and flag twirlers isn't completely appealing.

There is one exception that I know of... the Tournament of Roses Parade. Granted, it's associated with the Rose Bowl so football is automatically part of the equation. Still, it's amazing to see the floats and the parade is steeped in tradition.

We had a chance to watch the parade in person before the 2005 Rose Bowl when Texas played (and subsequently beat) Michigan. It really was a great experience. Now, we didn't go through the whole "sleep on the street overnight to save a seat" tradition. That's a bit, eh... extreme!? We did get there around 6:00 AM to get a decent spot. What we saw was worth the early wakeup time and was a nice prelude to the game.

Here are some shots from the 2005 parade, including the Texas float that, ironically, broke down at the beginning of the parade route. Could've been a bad omen but, no, Texas was on the way to winning it's first of two Rose Bowls in a row. Just for grins, I've included a picture of the game-winning kick, as seen from our vantage point.

Excess is Alive and Well in Manhattan

Let's talk decadence, excess and, well... downright stupidity. If you're that guy in New York City who would be willing to plunk down $1,500.00 for a cocktail or $1,000.00 for a pizza, then there's a new prix fixe "deal" waiting for you at Masa. Then again, if you are that guy, then stop by Serendipity 3 to watch $1,000.00 evaporate while you eat a sundae.

For our money, we'll grab a cocktail at Bemelmans Bar, the legendary watering hole in the Carlyle Hotel or The Monkey Bar, a famed spot not only frequented by us but also by my dad in the 1950s.

Threadless in Chicago

Threadless makes the coolest T-shirts... I somehow came across them - I honestly don't remember how - but I'm a big fan of their shirts. I typically order their shirts online (have picked up a design or two before) but if you happen to be in Chicago, they apparently have a retail storefront at 3011 North Broadway Avenue. Now, if you haven't ordered their shirts before, they are all issued in limited amounts - how many of each? Not sure but I do know that whenever I try to get a shirt in medium, I better do it shortly after it is released. Anyway, they'll release a few shirts each week so you can always check back to see what is in stock. Oh, and if you visit before December 16th, be it in person or online, you'll find most of their designs are only $10.00... and yes, that includes reprinted classics like We're Toast and Summer Wind.

Fall Foliage

So, I went to Nashville this past week for a quick trip to present to the executive team for one of my clients. I'd never been to Tennessee so that was one more pin I could add to my travel map. Anyway, despite falling into a baby-induced sleep on the flight, I woke up in time to see all the beautiful fall foliage as we landed in Nashville. What a gorgeous sight. Houston has so many evergreen pines and live oaks that you just don't get a chance to relish the colors of fall. If you want to know where to catch the tail end of fall color around the country, The Weather Channel always posts good foliage maps. Another place is the Foliage Network (not one of the big 3). The same site lists the top 10 places around the country to see fall foliage. Despite Pennsylvania being listed as number 9, I have a feeling I won't see any fall color when I make it to Allentown later this month. Probably too late. I will note that the icing on the cake for this past trip was being able to catch an earlier flight back home - always beautiful!

Grabbing a bite in... Omaha!?

So let's switch gears from Rome, the Eternal City to... Omaha!? Well, I have to throw a curveball every once-in-a-while. I'll admit, I haven't been to Omaha in forever but you may need to... you may have to go on business to visit a company like FirstData or swing by to say hello to relatives or the Cornhuskers. Whatever the case, here is a random tip...

Head to The Old Market district in Omaha and grab a bite at M's Pub - a nice "upscale" pub menu with a very broad wine list and upbeat atmosphere. The place has been open since 1973 - they must be doing something right. I liked it when I visited and it's smack dab in the middle of a very enjoyable entertainment district.