Ritzin' It Up In Ft. Lauderdale at Via Luna!

By: Anne M. Raso

Via Luna is a divine modern Italian eatery in the lobby of the sleek but opulent Ritz Carlton in Ft. Lauderdale. Centrally located right along the hottest beach area, diner have the option of eating inside and enjoying the high ceilings and intimate lighting or dining al fresco on the deck of the hotel which is only about fifty to sixty feet from the Atlantic shore line. I had managed to escape the ice cold NYC weather by extending the holiday week between Christmas and New Years--and I wanted to take advantage of the 80 degree weather the best I could--so of course I took an outside table.

Blown Away at Harbour House Restaurant and the Inn at Mystic

By: Finance Foodie

Now that Fashion Week has finally past, I was in desperate need of detox weekend where I could get away from the hustle and bustle and surround myself with the beauty of trees and greenery. Therefore, when the proprietors of the Inn at Mystic invited me to check out the place for the night and have a fresh seafood dinner at their restaurant on site -- well considered me checked in already!

Jammin' In Jensen Beach, Florida

By: Anne M. Raso

I make a couple of annual pilgrimages to Jensen Beach, FL to take in the warm weather in a place quieter than Miami. Don't take me wrong--I love Miami and its world-class art deco architecture but sometimes I just want to chill on the beach and not have to go to restaurants that have an hour or more wait time for a table. My favorite way to fly to West Palm Beach (which has the nearest airport to Jensen Beach, at about an hour away) is via Jet Blue. Why do I love Jet Blue? First of all, they have the lowest fares and most flights to the West Palm Beach from LaGuardia Airport and it's not unusual to find rates at $90 each way before taxes and fees. My number two reason is that they do not charge for your first piece of luggage while 90 per cent of other airlines that fly domestically charge $25. Thirdly, they have the best food offerings on the plane. Besides having complimentary Terra Blues blue potato chips, Pop Chips and other trendy snacks, the items that you buy for $6 are generous, especially my favorite, the Beef Up Box. Lastly, for $5 they have movies on board just on the tale end of their initial run and cable TV with dozens of channels (for free). Did I fail to mention along the way that the attendants always come around and ask if you want a second free snack (at least in my personal experience)? LOL!

Hutchinson Island Condo

Traveling Through The UK, Trafalgar Style! Part Two: Scotland

By: Anne M. Raso

I had a wonderful time in England, traveling through London, Liverpool and York and on the Trafalgar coach on the way from York to Edinburgh--where I spent the remaining three nights of my trip—we made a sobering stop ten miles south of Manchester. Quarry Bank Mill (at Styal, Wilmslow) is owned by The National Trust and is kept as original to the period of 1784 to 1830 as possible. Thousands of orphans and unwanted children lived and worked at mill in exchange for room and board. The guided tour of the Apprentice House to see the close conditions in which the children lived—as well the working machines in the mill that wove cotton fabric and were so loud that most workers went deaf within six months—was heartbreaking. The mill and grounds look beautiful, but knowing what went on inside their walls made all visitors happy for how we live today and how indentured servitude was outlawed shortly after slaves in the US were freed by Lincoln. We had a lovely traditional English lunch in one of the event buildings at the mill, but it was hard to let go of what we just saw. Just three of the mill’s machines turned on was too much for any of us to take for more than a couple of minutes.

View from top of Edinburgh

A Top-Notch Trip To Palm Beach's Brazilian Court Hotel

By: Anne M. Raso

I have always loved Cafe Boulud in New York and always use it to celebrate special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries. About 18 months ago, I discovered that they had a location in one of the top boutique hotels in the world, The Brazilian Court which is smack dab in the center of Palm Beach. I reviewed it here back then and admit that I found both the setting and the food even more alluring than the Upper East Side (Manhattan) location. There is just something wonderful about the quietness of the dining room and the way the huge windows look out onto the lushest and most exotic greenery in Palm Beach, including many large Bird Of Paradise plants.

Brazilian Court Courtyard Fountain

High Rolling: Distinctive Experiences on the Las Vegas Strip

By: Finance Foodie

Las Vegas. A city that epitomizes excess and carefree-dom. Where blowing a few grand in one night is brushed off the shoulder like dirt. For those looking to escape after a stressful week at work or just celebrating life, here are three decadent must do experiences that will have you feeling like you're the boss. After all, as they say, living well is the best revenge.

Lights! Camera! Action! - A Tour of Hollywood California from CityPass

By: Finance Foodie

Although I live on the East Coast, have my heart in the South and not so secretly dream of running away to Asia, I find myself drawn to the West Coast more than a few times a year (the fact that practically my entire family lives in that California might have something to do with it). My usual visits consists of filling up on Chinese food, hanging out in Chinatown, and speaking Mandarin loudly to my half deaf grandma.

"Of course we can get married George!"

E=MC Fun: An Educational and Cultural Tour of Houston Texas

By: Finance Foodie

For all my time spent living in Houston, I ironically never took advantage of all the cool museums and "tourist spots" the city had to offer (perhaps it was due to my lack of driving skills or the constant lure of Chinatown and its delicious cuisine). But thanks to the Houston CityPASS, I finally was able to check all these hotspots - and skip the long summertime lines in the process!

City Pass

Room with a View at The Roof on Wilshire Los Angeles

By: Finance Foodie

Offering panoramic views of the Los Angeles skyline and Hollywood Hills, the Roof on Wilshire is The Hotel Wilshire’s innovative rooftop restaurant and bar. Created by celebrity Chef Eric Greenspan (of Foundry on Melrose), the food on the roof can be described as "Vibrant American" with creative twists on classic comfort foods. The restaurant also includes a bar specializing in both classic and signature cocktails to be enjoyed by the warmth of the intimate fire pit or in the shade of a poolside cabana.

Source: Roof on Wilshire

Arriba Arriba: Aruba Cultural Dinner at the Kitchen NYC

By: Finance Foodie

During these winter months,  I often wish for a little warmth to help me escape the freezing wastelands known as the Northeast United States. Last week I got a bit of sun and sand (in the form of heat lamps and table centerpieces, respectively) during the Aruba Artistry and Cultural dinner held at the fabulous event space, Kitchen NYC.

Feel the warmth...

From Ringo Starr Art to Steel Pier Amusements: Fun In Frantic Atlantic City

By: Anne M. Raso 

It was an honor to be invited to the grand reopening of the newly renovated (and highly legendary) Steel Pier in Atlantic City. Well, the place has a little father to go because although $21 millions has already been put into the restoration of the Pier—which had everyone from the Three Stooges to the Rolling Stone grace its former satin-curtained stage—the reopening only marked the first phase of the Pier’s grand re-emergence onto the AC cultural scene.

Getting Healthy and Hot in Virginia Beach

By: Finance Foodie

As I look back on my first year of grad school, I must say I’m quite disappointed at how my physical fitness has drastically deteriorated over the past nine months. Blame it on the copious amounts of alcohol, intense interview processes for a summer internship or the 5am pizza indulgences - whatever it may be - my liver, health and weight has definitely suffered as a result.  Therefore, as the summer approaches, I felt it more than imperative to shape up. Not wanting to look like Britney, circa disastrous 2007 Gimme More VH1 performance, I took up the Virginia Beach Tourism Board’s invitation to participate in a health and wellness boot camp and embarked on the two and a half day cleanse last week (I figured the abundant military presence in the city would be extra motivating).

The view from my room

On Location: Away We Go to Legoland Florida!

By: Anne M. Raso

We recently were lucky enough to get to visit Legoland in Winter Haven, Florida--about two hours from West Palm Beach and even less from Disney World. (Let's note here that it's just minutes from Cypress Gardens in case you want to combine two theme parks in one day.) We took Jet Blue from LaGuardia to West Palm Beach because not only do they offer the most flights out of the NYC area to West Palm, but they have many flights under $300 and give you one piece of checked luggage complimentary. The planes always seem to be newer than the other airlines and they have almost as many cable TV networks on their in-flight TVs as most folks do in their homes!

Glorious Gluttony: A Guide to Phoenix Eats and Treats

By: Finance Foodie

Desert character. It can’t be conjured, landscaped or kindled with twinkling bulbs. John Ford knew that. So did Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis L’Amour. Spend a few days in Greater Phoenix and you’ll understand, too. America’s sixth-largest city still has cowboys and red-rock buttes, but is also home to a burgeoning culinary scene. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to spend a week eating my heart out (all in the name of research!) in this desert town. I ate at restaurants not found in any guide book and visited nightspots known only to locals. And I did this all in what is arguably Phoenix’s dreamiest season: early spring, when cactuses begin blooming and daytime temperatures loll around 70 degrees. So without further ado, here are my top culinary picks from my trip.

Dive In - The Pool at the Arizona Biltmore

A Power Packed Business Lunch at Philippe's Restaurant and Lounge Houston

By: Finance Foodie

Philippe's Restaurant and Lounge, the “Texas Cowboy meets French Artist” themed resto by Chef / Owner Philippe Schmit, features a wide array of delectable yet approachable dishes for the Gallera/Uptown set. The lunch menu includes a vast variety of tempting delights (such as the parmesean + white truffle oil soufflé), but I opted for their signature Business Lunch – three courses, $20, and as they say, “gets you in, out and on your way”!

A Leisurely Lunch at Houston's BlackFinn American Grille

By: Finance Foodie

BlackFinn American Grille, which just opened up its first location in Houston, is known to be the great American restaurant and community gathering spot that serves classic comfort foods in a non-stuffy and casual environment. Just walking in made me want to kick off my heels and swig back one (or three!) of their cocktails (which, FYI, are all made with fresh-squeezed juices). Business mixes seamlessly with pleasure in this laidback space, where the wood-trimmed walls are filled with Houston sports and rodeo memorabilia offset by vibrant and contemporary oil on canvas paintings.

Northern Louisiana: Music Legends, Hot Biscuits And Colorful Characters!

By: Anne M. Raso

Most tourists visiting Louisiana don’t venture outside of the New Orleans area but there is so much to see and do in Northern Louisiana that we can barely put its uniqueness into words. There are music museums and other landmarks plus some down home eats along the way—and you’re never short of a neighborhood hang with original music in it.

Breakfast In The Sky And Other Delights In Wildwood, NJ!

By: Anne M. Raso

Wildwood, NJ, has long been known as one of the more well-kept towns on the Jersey shore, with the cleanest beaches (all free to the public) and the largest amount of kiddie rides for the eight and under crowd (not that there aren't several adult thrill rides on the three Morey's Piers jutting off the world-famous boardwalk). Keeping with the times, the town has updated some of its numerous "doo wop architecture" motels into a baby boomer heaven (there's even a free trolley tour that goes around from motel to motel on weekends that you can catch at the Doo Wop Cafe, directly across from the Wildwood Convention Center, and other locations).

A Rockin’ Girl’s Getaway in Cleveland Ohio!

By: Finance Foodie

In anticipation for my journalism trip to Cleveland Ohio, I asked my buds what came to mind when they though of the city. The responses I got were: "Bone Thugs” and “LeBron”. Seeing how I know nothing of sports and listen primarily to Britney Spears and the like, I feared that this would be a tour to remember – that is, as one of the most boring trips I had ever taken.

Feeding Trevor the Giraffe at The Cleveland Zoo!

Sweet Eats and New Treats in New Brunswick Canada!

By: Finance Foodie

(Continued from Part One: Nova Scotia Canada)

Part Two of my Canada trip had our group ferrying across the Bay of Fundy into the New Brunswick province. From sightseeing at the Hopewell Rocks to the never ending seafood meals, the last leg of the trip was also jam packed with interesting and yummy places to visit! So without further ado, check out some of the highlights from my last three days in Canada, after the jump.