An avocado festival – in Hawaii? Yes, and I just had to give it a try. While waiting for my plane to land on the Big Island, I’d almost finished reading the airline magazine when …
March 26, 2011
United States
Avocados in Kona, Hawaii
San Diego Classifieds
On March 7, 2011, San Diego’s Alice Echo-News Journal ran 248 classified ads. Two ads ran under the “Agriculture” subheading, one of which offered “85 good young crossbred cows. . .10 Brangus cows. . .[and] …
March 16, 2011
Alexandria, Virginia: DC’s Underrated Neighbor
“Why don’t you come visit us? We’ll show you around Alexandria,” my cousins implored, inviting me to spend time with them in their historic hometown. I’d never thought much about Alexandria, Virginia, as a town …
The Emerald City: Seattle, Washington
Seattle is called the Emerald City, and that designation is not a misnomer. Greenery, trees, parks and flower gardens abound in this sophisticated Pacific Northwest city that seems perpetually drenched in a misty rain. Though …
March 15, 2011
Austin or Bust
Several San Diego bands will make the 22-hour drive to Austin, Texas mid-March for the annual South by Southwest music festival and conference. Over 2000 performers seeking labels, booking agents, and recognition will pack 90-plus …
March 9, 2011
Mineral Hot Springs of Agua Caliente
You don't need to travel to exotic hot springs to soak in the bounty of nature's hot mineral water. San Diegans can drive locally to Agua Caliente Hot Springs. Located a half hour south of …
March 7, 2011
Chicago Times
It’s midday and my friend and I have gotten off at the wrong stop. Chicago’s “El” train costs only $2.25 for one-way fares, and if used correctly (the key idea here) you can get anywhere. …
Powder Times in Vail, Colorado
“Come out here. I can hook you up with a free massage, a place to stay, a snowboard and discounted lift tickets.” My sister then told me of her masseuse position in the luxurious RockResort …
Virginia — for Wine Lovers?
Who knew that Virginia had vineyards? Certainly not me; however, I was pleasantly surprised to find that when researching what to do on my trip, my favorite two words appeared &mdash WINE TASTING! Some quick …
Can California Learn Anything from Minnesota?
The simplest and most effective solution to California’s economic slump is to create more jobs. When people have jobs, they spend more money on goods and services and they pay more in taxes. Jobs are …
February 17, 2011
Essential L.A.: Getty Center and Getty Villa
A visit to the Getty Center in Los Angeles makes a lovely day trip for Southern Californians. The Getty is quickly becoming the cultural heart of L.A.; for many out-of-town and international visitors, it’s now …
February 11, 2011
Joint Terrorism Task Force Debated in Portland
Her cousins, billionaires Alec and Tom Gores, are both making big news, what with their variously rumored attempts to buy the L.A. Dodgers and Detroit Pistons, respectively, but Hala Gores has been creating her own …
February 2, 2011
The groom wore orange
Ball and Chain. On a Wednesday in early December, convicted murderer Justin Lopez wore an orange jumpsuit to his wedding. Lopez married his girlfriend, Mariah Mierya Cavazos, in a jail lobby in Alice. Though he …
January 26, 2011
Ojai, California: Searching for the Pink Moment in Shangri-La
In 1937 Frank Capra used a long shot of Ojai Valley to represent the mythical paradise of Shangri-La in the classic film Lost Horizon. Ojai (pronounced O-hi) is a small, artsy community nestled serenely near …
January 7, 2011
Four Wheelin' in Palm Springs
I've driven past the funky Offroad Rentals place for over 20 years. Their office is in an old, brightly painted railroad boxcar, right on Hwy. 111 as you come off the 10 freeway heading into …
December 23, 2010