October, 1982. Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal walks out of the Tony Roma’s restaurant on Sahara Avenue carrying an order of take-out ribs. When he slides behind the wheel of his Cadillac Eldorado, the car explodes.  “Lefty”, legendary sports handicapper and boss of the mafia-connected Stardust casino, survived the attempted “amateur night” mob hit. But symbolically, the old Las Vegas, the Vegas run by the Chicago Outfit and entertained by the Rat Pack, was dead.

I’m too young to have seen Sinatra at the Sands or Elvis at the... Read More

    

“No! No! I want an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two Hundred Shot Range Model Air Rifle,” said Ralphie.  “You’ll shoot your eye out kid,” was Santa’s response.   I had heard that exchange countless times, but somehow had not seen the movie A Christmas Story.   (If you haven’t seen it yet, check your local cable stations for the upcoming 24-hour A Christmas Story movie marathon.) 

I found out there was a Cleveland connection (parts of the movie were filmed in Cleveland) when I... Read More

 I was on travel assignment in Cancún for several days, checking out the Mexican tourist mecca and the rapidly developing Riviera Maya, the stretch of Caribbean coast between Cancún and Tulum. Also in town was Inspector 37, who was busy with his annual roundup of lodging and restaurant evaluations.

On my last day I met 37 for a late breakfast at Vips, a popular restaurant right in the middle of Cancún’s Hotel Zone. By the way, their huevos motuleños—two fried eggs, peas and diced ham atop a crispy tortilla covered in tomato sauce, with pureed black beans and slices of fried banana on the side—are muy delicioso. “What’s shakin’ this afternoon?” I asked.
“Five Diamond inspection. Really nice resort property. Want to come along?”... Read More

It is a truly fab time to be a Beatle fan. The new Rock Band: The Beatles is out this week and is creating a massive amount of buzz as it will turn on millions of new Beatle fans among the young  gamer generation.  On the very same day, the newly re-mastered and digitized catalog of the Beatle albums recorded from 1962-70 is being released and the smorgasbord of options (sets or individual, stereo or mono) is enough to keep us Beatlemaniacs up all night for weeks, listening for the 101st time to each song for yet another subtle nuance. I have been an... Read More

     Picture this scenario: It’s your first visit to Mexico City, and you’ve rented a car for sightseeing side trips to Cuernavaca and San Miguel de Allende. You leave the airport and are immediately plunged into the mad chaos that is D.F. traffic. Stop-and-go congestion is rampant. Drivers aren’t obeying red lights. Of course everything is in Spanish. Every time the car comes to a stop you’re besieged by windshield washers, beggars and people trying to sell you newspapers, candy, flowers and Day of the Dead skeletons dressed like Che Guevara. You can’t consult your city map to pinpoint the location... Read More

     We’d never been to South America so when the opportunity came to visit Peru this summer, I was very excited and a bit nervous. We set off in June loaded with a pharmacy-worthy collection of pills and gels and a wardrobe of brand new dry-fit clothing suitable for the wilds.  Peru turned out to be a dream destination:  jaw-dropping sights, amazing food and wine and incredibly warm people.  I can’t possibly fit two weeks’ worth of experiences in one short blog  so I’ve attempted to cover the highlights. If you want more detail on anything or would like... Read More

“I don’t have to curtsy, do I?”  

When VisitBritain, the UK's tourism bureau, invited my husband, Paul Lasley, and me to come to London in June and meet Prince Philip, it sounded like a fun adventure. Even though we’re not royalists. My theory about royal blood is that several centuries ago, one gang beat up another gang, and the gang that won got to say that they and their descendents had “royal blood.” But a chance to go inside Buckingham Palace and meet the Duke of Edinburgh? We couldn’t turn it down. 

“I... Read More

     This list has been provided by Chuck Gross, travel and marketing manager with AAA Southern New England, a Hawaii specialist and the veteran of 20 trips to the islands.
 
1. MAUI: The Road to Hana
This may be one of the most beautiful drives on the planet. Plan a full day for the roundtrip and take your time to enjoy the adventure...too many drivers speed along thinking that the tiny village of Hana is the goal only to be seriously disappointed. From Kahului take 36 east, just past Pauwela the road will narrow and become State Route... Read More

     In the spirit of Independence Day, AAA lodging inspectors were asked to name their favorite historic hotels. A list of 41 Diamond Rated properties was the result , with the Top 10 listed below:

Boston Omni Parker House Hotel, Boston, Mass., AAA Three Diamond Rated
Located on the Freedom Trail, this hotel claims to be the oldest of Boston’s elegant inns and the oldest... Read More

     Spring Break isn’t what it used to be . . . maturity and two children have taken care of that. But a car trip to the Keys from our home base in Central Florida seemed relatively uncomplicated – six hours or so, and you’re there, no airport/luggage hassles, just throw the beach/snorkeling stuff in the van and go. Both Lindsey, 14, and Dane, 9, are experienced travelers, but this was the first time in the Keys for them.

I’m not so spontaneous that... Read More