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 [...]

    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 [...]

    LOS ANGELES – While I’m not a fan of all those must-see tourist sights in Los Angeles, there is one place  (okay, make that two, if you include Disneyland) that I’ve always been fond of and have continued to go to regularly over the years:  the Original Farmers Market (aka Farmers) at 3rd and Fairfax. Like most people, [...]

  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 [...]

  TOKYO – If you’re a fan of Hayao Miyazaki and his animated masterpieces (e.g. Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro) then this is truly the place for you.  More than a museum (quite Disneyesque, actually), visiting Ghibli is like walking into one of Miyazaki’s films.  You’ll get a fun and fascinating look into the Ghibli magic, from life-sized prop and [...]

  By MONICA BYERS LONDON – I absolutely adore whiling away a morning at the Tate Modern.  And I do mean morning – this is the best time to go to avoid the crowds, largely comprised during the week of tourists and school groups. I won’t make any attempt to discuss the merits of the collection – I would just [...]

  TOKYO – So what if every person who’s seen it thinks it’s one big bore.  If you have a chance to catch one of the spring time performances of Noh (traditional Japanese theatre) held outdoors at Yasukuni Park in Tokyo, don’t miss it.  The fiery torches, beautiful cherry blossoms, and an old-style, open-air, wooden theatre create a spectacular setting [...]

    TOKYO – Skip Tokyo’s lame attempts at phallic-like, big-n-tall structures (e.g., Tokyo Tower and the Municipal Government Buildings).  Where the city really excels is in the architectural form; and integrating it artistically and functionally with its surroundings. Okay, that may sound like a bit much but if you’re into structure and design, Tokyo certainly has it’s share of must-see [...]

                                  By MONICA BYERS LONDON – When you ask visitors what they’ve done or they’re planning to do in London….well, actually, why even ask?  The answers are completely predictable:  Buckingham (aka Bucking-HAM if you’re American) Palace, double decker bus tour, Tower of London, visit [...]

  BANGKOK – Yeah I know, BIG time tourist spot but for me, the Jim Thompson House is totally NOT about the famous JT silk; but rather a first-rate example of traditional Thai-style architecture, something not easily found on the streets of Bangkok.  Take the guided tour, which is fairly short but full of fun, interesting facts – e.g., the [...]