If you’re craving dessert in Chicago, you’ll only run into one problem: too many choices.  Here are some top-notch choices to appease your sweet tooth. Mindy Segal has won the James Beard Award for “Outstanding Pastry Chef” every year from 2007-2011.  Enjoy dinner at her Wicker Park restaurant Hot Chocolate and quickly move onto the sweets, including banana brioche bread pudding, chocolate cake two ways (think chocolate cake ice cream), and port wine pear... Read More

Cafés pop up all over Chicago, and sadly many of them come and go quickly.  The best ones stick around for the long haul, and here’s a roundup of our favorites. Julius Meinl has three locations on the north side—Lakeview, North Center, and Lincoln Square.  All three are equally adorable and unquestionably pleasant.   Designed by an Austrian team that specializes in coffeehouses, the warm, golden interior of Julius Meinl feels like Europe in the... Read More

The huge sreen at St George OpenAir Cinema by Renate Ruge Summer at the movies in Sydney is a sophisticated affair and the best part is watching the action outdoors on a balmy evening. Here’s what’s on show at the open-air cinemas for summer 2012 Sydney’s summertime outdoor movie screens book up a long way ahead but where else in the world can you cuddle up in the moonlight on a warm evening watching a flick on a giant movie screen, which rises out... Read More

We are still waiting for any snow to arrive in the Sierra!  Tioga Pass and Glacier Point Roads remain open – a good six weeks after the usual closing dates.  Skiers and snowshoers are frustrated that they can’t get out and play here yet.  But when the big snows arrive (they will) Yosemite becomes a playground for winter sports.  Snowshoeing has boomed in popularity and there are great places in Yosemite for getting out for a wintery hike on... Read More

Families searching for a resort area on the beach, that is ideal for children, should look no further than Cancun. With miles of pristine beaches, average year-round temperatures in the 80s, lots of sunshine, and dozens of family-friendly tours and activities, Cancun is the perfect place to escape for a family beach vacation. Four incredible resorts that cater to families are Club Med Cancun Yucatan, Dreams Cancun Resort & Spa, Great Parnassus, and Sea... Read More