LOS ANGELES – When it comes to Downtown hotels, there’s no better choice for us than the old Los Angeles Biltmore.  Built overlooking Pershing Square in the 1920’s, when Downtown was the center of the city, the Biltmore is one of LA’s last grand dame hotels – classic, opulent, glamorous, from a bygone era.  It’s primarily known as the [...]

      LOS ANGELES – Downtown is one of the few parts of LA where you can find classical architecture – from beaux-arts and art deco to revival – mixed in with a range of starchitectual wows.  As far as LA goes, Downtown truly represents a treasure trove of architectural gems, reflecting not only the area’s rich history but [...]

  LOS ANGELES – Back in the day, the only art venue in Downtown was the Museum of Contemporary Art (or MOCA) on Grand Ave.  This is no longer the case.  The art offerings in the area have become numerous and varied, creating an art scene that is not only vibrant but, in a city that tends to focus only [...]

  LOS ANGELES – Don’t get us wrong.  We love Los Angeles.  However these days, whenever we visit that traffic-clogged, vanity-fueled, sprawling flatness and have a night out it turns out – more often than not – to be a bit more than we expect….and not in good way.  Hollywood seems to be even more touristy (which didn’t seem possible), [...]

    NEW YORK – A quick jaunt over the Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan to Brooklyn’s Dumbo district brings you to one of NYC’s newest and most unique attractions in recent years (as my friend who joined me said, “only NYC would have something like this”).  There lies Jane’s Carousel, a fully restored 1922 classic carousel encased in a acrylic [...]

  By MONICA BYERS NEW YORK – It calls itself “New York’s sexiest bar and lounge” and that might be about right.  Madame X is downright slutty – think New Orleans bordello meets dive bar.  Though not very fancy, this joint is definitely provocative.  The whole place is bathed in red – from the walls to the lighting to the velour [...]

By MONICA BYERS LOS ANGELES – I was first introduced to Tommy’s by my ex-husband on the weekend we became engaged (don’t ask).  I must admit that, on that first visit, I didn’t get the appeal.   The restaurant was populated with all sorts of miscreants, and I wasn’t sure the food was worth the weirdness.  The whole thing was a [...]

    LOS ANGELES – According to the dictionary, a foodie is “a person who has an ardent or refined interest in food; a gourmet.” Let me state upfront that this is not me.  I am not a foodie.  Yes, I do enjoy eating out, have done countless boring (and quickly forgotten) business dinners at this or that fancy restaurant, [...]

  NEW YORK – Head to the most northern point of Manhattan island and there you’ll find one of New York’s best-kept secrets, Fort Tryon Park.  A smaller version of Central Park (about one-tenth the size), Fort Tryon offers all the perks of its famous uptown sib – quaint, tree-lined paths, lovely gardens, a rich legacy, and top-notch artwork – [...]

  BANGKOK  – I always knew about it but never saw it; had no clue how amazing it was or what I was actually missing.  The Royal Barges National Museum, located along the banks of the Chao Phraya, ranks right up there with the magnificent Wat Praew Kaew.  A bit of a trek but, once you find it, you’ll be [...]