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Europe 2016 - We traveled to
Europe with our friends Gary Meltz and Kathy McDaniel. We stayed ten
nights in Croatia and three in Paris. We didn't know a lot about
Croatia when we booked our trip; it was a rebound choice after we
had aborted a planned Baltic cruise. But it turned out to be one of
our most memorable vacations, including its tables. |
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New York City 2016 - Only one
visit to New York in 2016. The fifteen restaurants, three plays and
many miles of walking would have to last us until next year. |
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New York City Fall 2015
- Our fall visit to Manhattan was a trip back to the future. We
experienced spectacular fall weather, spectacular food, consummate
theater performances and Marty McFly. |
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New York City Spring 2015
- Our spring visit to New York was the week prior to the Belmont
Stakes. Although we were in the air at post time, our week of
dining, theatre and shopping was a triple crown winner. |
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Puerto Vallarta 2015
- Our annual visit to Puerto Vallarta has lengthened to two weeks in
recent years, but this year there would be a twist. The Fiesta
Americana, our hotel of choice because of its proximity to Puerto
Vallarta's downtown restaurants, had switched to an "all inclusive"
format. |
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New York City Fall 2014 -
We returned to New York in time for Halloween. More theatre and more
restaurants – some tricks and some treats. Meeting Eric Ripert and
touring his kitchen was the best treat of all. |
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New York City 2014 - Our June
visit to New York featured eight new restaurants and five old
favorites. We discovered roasted short ribs for two, a whole roasted
chicken for two and gravy meatball sliders. Plus we dined with our favorite designing woman,
Annie Potts. |
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Europe 2013 - We jetted off to Europe
in October of 2013 with
our travel buddies, Gary and Susan Meltz; we stayed six nights in
London,four nights in Amsterdam and three nights in Paris. Marlene
spent countless hours researching eating venues in the three cities;
she had thirteen dinner reservations booked before we left St.
Louis. |
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Chicago 2013 - We don't vacation
in Chicago; our travels there are usually more purposeful –
Northwestern graduations, weddings, radiology meetings. On the first
Friday in August, we flew to O'Hare with our travel buddies, Gary
and Susan Meltz, where we were fingerprinted and then sent on our
way to enjoy a gastronomical weekend in The Windy City. |
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New York City 2013 - New York is the
antithesis of our Puerto Vallarta vacation; it is anything but
relaxing. We're on the go from sunrise until well after sunset – we
dine, we shop, we walk, we play. Our 2013 trip to the Big Apple was
exhausting, and we loved every minute of it. |
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Puerto Vallarta 2013 -
Marlene and I have been vacationing in Puerto Vallarta for almost
twenty years – without children, with children, and now without
children again. We love the city's culture, its people and, of
course, its restaurants. Our 2013 visit was almost perfect. |
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An Indian Adventure
–
Marlene and I don't do Indian food. It's not that we don't like it;
we don't understand it. So if our November meal at Saffron was to be
a success, we needed help. |
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The Forsyth Saga –
On Thursday evening November 8, Gerard Craft reopened Niche at its
new location in Clayton, less than a month after he bid farewell to
Benton Park. We visited on Friday evening November 9, hoping we
would find both new and old. |
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Columbia, Missouri
–
The last time I was in Columbia was for a medical school
interview; yes, that was a long time ago. And Marlene and I had only
been there once before for a football game. So when we were told we
would find a "different" Columbia when we visited the first weekend
in November of 2012, we had little basis for comparison. |
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1831 Sidney Street's
Farewell Dinner –
On Wednesday evening
October 17, 2012, Gerard and Suzie Craft hosted a bittersweet last
dinner at Niche, their Benton Park restaurant. |
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New York City 2012 –
Marlene and I first visited New York in 1982. A travel agent put us
in a room at The Plaza where the largest dimension was
floor-to-ceiling; we ate lunch at Lutèce, an iconic French
restaurant which closed in 2004. In the years that followed, we
returned to the Big Apple almost every year – for the theatre, for
the shopping, and of course, for the restaurants. Our 2012 visit was
par for the course. |
