Although it opened only in 2024, Mystic Bar & Grill is operated by a family that has been running restaurants in and around Old Town in Alexandria for half a century. Southern cuisine abounds here, exactly what I was looking for, covering the gamut from Texas-style smoked brisket to Carolina pulled pork, spicy she-crab soup to Creole bouillabaisse, Low Country shrimp to grits. It sets the standard for Southern food, and it more than met my expectations. Read about it >
When I saw the Miss Saigon sign on a building in downtown Tucson, Arizona, I thought, for a second or two, that I might catch a show that night that I had never seen on Broadway. But I was deceived. The building wasn’t a theater, and the Miss Saigon sign wasn’t for the musical. Rather, it was for a superb Vietnamese restaurant, and it made for an unexpectedly delicious dinner. Read about it >
Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. Two of the most well-known characters in American letters. Still, despite my Bachelor of Arts degree in English and love of classic literature, I have never read either of their adventures. In fact, I’ve read very little of Mark Twain’s works—just A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court and The Innocents Abroad. So, when I found out that Twain’s historic house was located just a mile from where I was staying in Hartford, Connecticut, at the Goodwin Hotel, I decided it was time to better familiarize myself with his canon and with his fascinating life, all of which unfolds beautifully at the Mark Twain House and Museum. Read about it >
If you’re a bibulous beer aficionado, Bier Central in Ghent, Belgium, can’t be beat. With 30 draft beers on tap and more than 300 different bottled beers, you can have a different libation almost every day for an entire year. The knowledgeable beer sommeliers make well-educated recommendations for which beer pairs best with your meal. So, between your Flemish food and your Belgian brews, you’re guaranteed to have a memorable visit here. Read about it >
Thanks to a recommendation from the staff at my hotel, I found my way to Stagecoach, just outside the heavily-touristed core of Sedona. It turned out to be the first good dinner in Arizona after four days of mediocrity around the Grand Canyon. With some pretty impressive plating, Stagecoach brings a sophisticated air to a county roadhouse—even if you’re sitting next to a mechanical bull. Read about it >
I was spending a few days in Kansas’ largest city, enjoying some great barbecue, a wonderful botanic garden, a good zoo, and some worthy museums. Sometimes on foot, sometimes by car, I continually happened upon some excellent architecture that is easily among the best in the state and that add greater interest to the city. Read about the top five buildings in Wichita, Kansas >
On a Thursday during Hispanic Heritage Month, by pure coincidence I happened to be in the Melrose section of the Bronx, a neighborhood in New York City where 70% of the population claims Hispanic and Latino heritage. What an appropriate time and place to seek out a Latino restaurant for lunch. There’s an abundance of them, but I landed at Seis Vecinos. Read about it >
Just four miles outside of downtown Pittsburgh, in the borough of Millvale, Pennsylvania, St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church offers a collection of artwork, created by a single artist, that I had never seen in a church before—and I’ve visited a lot of churches. Maksimilijan “Maxo” Vanka created 25 murals that turned the religious art world on its head by graphically portraying war, violence, exploitation, bloodshed, environmental destruction, and selfish materialism. But, in his societal commentary, he didn’t abandon the promise of faith and the tenets of Christianity to make his point: In Vanka’s mesmerizing art, there’s also the promise of eternal reward for those who navigate successfully through the world’s self-inflicted evils and horrors. Read about it >
Rise and shine, it’s breakfast time! The most important meal of the day is often rushed, and that’s not a reflection of the speed indicated in its name. “Breakfast” originates from the concept of breaking your fast while you slept. Too often, a bowl of cereal, a granola bar, or a piece of fruit on the run constitutes your first meal of the day. But when you have time, it could also be rewarding and relaxing, setting you up for a very pleasant day, especially when you’re on vacation. Whether it’s an inspired creation at your B&B or something outstanding at a local eatery (where, perhaps, the globe of a light fixture will be in the form of a broken eggshell, the bulb a golden yolk-like orb), breakfast can put you in the right mood for the rest of the morning. Read about the top five breakfasts >
Despite a conversion from an apartment building and several complete renovations, the Goodwin Hotel in Hartford, Connecticut, hasn’t turned its back on its history. A fixture in downtown since 1881, the hotel has retained much of its backstory while infusing contemporary flair and services, making it not only the sole boutique hotel in the city but also one of its best accommodations. Read about it >
Stephen Travels 