Until this year, the only part of Arizona I had ever seen was my grandparents’ retirement abode near Camelback Mountain. I remembered that people would emerge in the cool of the night with headlamps to …
September 24, 2014
North America
The bounty of Arizona
New York road trip: Manhattan to Cooperstown
New York City comes with enough nicknames that no matter how you spin it, you sound like a cliche. I lived in the city for a brief period post-college and wanted to return to sightsee …
September 18, 2014
Texas is business-friendly — to Texans
San Diego's Allen Group has found out that Texas is friendly to business — particularly Texas-based businesses.
September 10, 2014
Hook to cook: fishing Alabama's Gulf Coast
There’s a place on the Gulf Coast where the ocean sparkles turquoise, white sand sifts through your toes, and the water teems with fish of all types: amberjack, snapper, grouper, triggerfish, mackerel, shark. Alabama’s Gulf …
I drank my fill in the Bahamas
The Caribbean and Atlantic islands weren’t the origin of rum – that was created in New England – but they were part of the trade triangle that included African slaves and island molasses. Any thought …
September 2, 2014
Thanks, mule
At 2:45 p.m., on August 26, the Mono County Sheriff’s Department received a call that a 77-year-old San Diego woman became quite ill and was unable to continue with her hiking group. She reportedly had …
August 30, 2014
LaDainian Tomlinson's brutal history
Tomlinson is a famous name in San Diego, thanks to the family's most noted member, former Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson. It's the same in Texas, but these days another who bears the Tomlinson name …
August 29, 2014
Use brains, stay in California
Texas governor Rick Perry touts low taxes and wages, but the companies wanting brains stay in California.
August 27, 2014
Earthquake '14
Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for southern Napa today (Aug. 24). A temblor registering 6.0 hit at 3:20 this morning. Power has been knocked out to thousands of people in the area. …
August 24, 2014
Mystical Uxmal
Although less well known than Chichen Itza, Uxmal is often preferred by travelers to the Yucatan. Located in the center-west of the peninsula, Uxmal is about an hour and 15 minute drive from Merida – …
August 15, 2014
Could San Diego save the Met?
With the first of a few benefit concerts for San Diego Opera coming up in a few weeks, let's talk a little bit about what has happened in San Diego and what is happening in …
August 14, 2014
San Diego was only the prelude
The struggle at San Diego Opera may have been only the prelude to a much bigger fight at New York’s Metropolitan Opera. There have been several articles regarding the deficits at the Met. The budget …
August 12, 2014
Will NFL neglect welfare of birds?
The American Bird Conservancy has asked the National Football League to modify plans for the soon-to-be-built Minnesota Vikings stadium. It will feature large expanses of glass that will kill thousands of birds over time, says …
July 31, 2014
Lake George, NY: Upstate tranquility
I opened my eyes and peeled my head from the pillow, waking to a lush wilderness of massive maples and juniper pines. “The city” was a mere 220 miles away, but the silence and serenity …
Cole Valley, San Francisco
Several months ago Kay and I enjoyed several days in Haight-Ashbury – prior to my fortuitous discovery of nearby Cole Valley. We had been kicking back at the no-frills, creaky Red Victorian Hotel on bustling …
July 8, 2014