Category: United States

Recreational Learning: Las Vegas

A siren at Treasure Island in Las Vegas Photo credit: M. Ciavardini

Las Vegas mystifies me with its round-the-clock gambling venues (breakfast and a roll of the dice?), pedestrian routes geared toward moving more walkers through casinos, and homeless people sleeping on walkways. Even in the spare-no-wattage glare of Sin City, real-world…

A Closet History at the Eastman House

Are the bedrooms of historical figures really this neat? A bedroom in the George Eastman House in Rochester, N.Y. Photo credit: M. Ciavardini

Hat Boxes and the Past in Rochester, N.Y.   Should visitors to Kodak founder George Eastman’s house in Rochester, N.Y. feel nosy upon peeking into closets at the old place? What would someone find if she were to glance into…

Buckling Up in Ridgefield, Conn.

Buckle up sign with ET

Amusing Signs around the Planet Photo credit: M. Ciavardini An eye-catching reminder on exiting the Ridgefield Playhouse: extra-terrestrials must be safely strapped in. —Lori Tripoli Like Connecticut? You might be interested in these posts: The Revolution Comes to Keeler Tavern…

La Crème de La Crémaillère

La Crémaillère restaurant on Bedford-Banksville Road in Bedford, N.Y. (Westchester County) Photo credit: M. Ciavardini

Contemplating all things France lately (or, mostly, Joan of Arc as I read Kathryn Harrison’s 2014 biography of the Maid of Orléans), I glide on the arm of the Brawny Sherpa into La Crémaillère in Bedford, N.Y. one gray, soggy…

Reason to Go to Yonkers: Vanilla Stout

Beer is made on the premises at Yonkers Brewing Co. in Yonkers, N.Y. Photo credit: L. Tripoli

Living in the far northern part of Westchester County, N.Y., I somehow don’t often breach what has been referred to as “the great 287 divide”—a phrase referring to the interstate highway that bisects the county. Those living north of it…

Margaritas, Straight, Salt: Southeast

The atmosphere at Las Mananitas in Brewster (in the Town of Southeast), N.Y. is dark and alluring. Photo credit: M. Ciavardini

If you seek the perfect margarita in the North Suburban vicinity, look no further than Las Mananitas restaurant in Brewster, in the town of Southeast. The food is pretty good, too; the fire in winter is warming, the patio in…

Running across History

A remnant of the Battle of Yorktown in Virginia

Taking in Nuggets of Information A monument to the soldiers of the Confederacy in Arlington National Cemetery. A visitor might marvel at its size given the cause for which the soldiers were fighting. Photo credit: L, Tripoli Traveling back in…

To Which Eiffel Tower Will You Go?

Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Is Everywhere—Orlando, Las Vegas, Paris With the turrets of the Excalibur in view, passing the Statue of Liberty of New York New York, cruising past the dancing fountains of Bellagio, taking in the singing gondoliers at the Venetian, the…

Fabergé at the Bellagio

Fabergé revealed

A Vegas Visit to the Jeweled Russian Eggs   Standing in line at the Kremlin waiting to buy tickets to see the Fabergé eggs a few years ago, I am surprised that more isn’t made of these. I chalk it…