Stephen Travels

Tag Archives: United States


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Go Slow at Breakfast

L'Omelette, Quebec City

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 >


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In With the Old, In With the New

Goodwin Hotel, Hartford, Connecticut

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 >


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Go Polish in Greenpoint

Restaurant Relax, Brooklyn, New York

The northernmost neighborhood in my home borough of Brooklyn, New York, Greenpoint boasts fantastic views of the Manhattan skyline, a number of architectural landmarks, and a history of producing a long line of entertainers, such as Pat Benatar, Mickey Rooney, Mae West, and Awkwafina. It’s also home to the second-largest concentration of Polish-Americans in the United States—and that means lots of excellent Polish food, including at Relax Restaurant. Read about it >


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Cheers to Salute!

Salute, Hartford, Connecticut

Downtown Hartford, Connecticut, doesn’t have a huge restaurant scene, so I shouldn’t have been surprised when I walked into Salute and found it packed to capacity. But the absence of a large concentration of eateries isn’t the only reason Salute’s patrons keep coming back to this hotspot—a tireless and attentive staff, an involved owner, and a delicious menu are the real reasons. Read about it >


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Historic Delights in Dover, Delaware

34 North State Street, Dover, Delaware

I had chosen Dover for a weeklong vacation to Delaware for its central location in the state, allowing short rides north, south, and east to see much of the rest of the state. While I wasn’t on the road, I was strolling around this historic city, taking in a great art museum, lovely parks, some noteworthy restaurants, and an abundance of beautiful buildings, especially in the genteel Victorian Dover Historic District. Read about the top five buildings in Dover >


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A Golden Opportunity for a Comforting Dinner

Golden Goose Grill, Sedona, ArizonaDriving into and out of Sedona, Arizona, every day while I was here, I would always pass by The Golden Goose Grill, just a half-mile from my hotel. I liked its name, so eventually I found myself here for dinner, surprised, and pleased, that I was eating in one of the highest-rated restaurants in town. Read about it >


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Wisconsin’s Winning Architecture

Red Gym, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WisconsinIf you’re in Wisconsin during the winter, you may find it a bit chilly, and rightly so. That, however, provides a wonderful opportunity to step instead some of the state’s most beautiful buildings to warm up for a while and to admire craftsmanship you’re unlikely to ever see again. Wisconsin’s architectural marvels span a wide range of styles, from evocative Victorian homes to impressive college campus buildings to nearly a dozen of Frank Lloyd Wright’s innovations. Read about the top five buildings in Wisconsin >


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Love and Legends at The Monica

The Monica, Tucson, ArizonaIt wasn’t until I had dinner at The Monica in Tucson, Arizona, that I learned the origins of the word “chimichanga.” According to urban legend, chef and restaurateur Monica Flin accidentally dropped a burrito in a pan of oil about a century ago. Instead of cussing with a common Spanish expletive, she exclaimed, “Chimichanga!” Thus was born the famous fried food. Whether it’s true or not, it’s still one of many great stories that accompany a terrific dinner at The Monica, where all the food is made with love. Read about it >


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Lovely Louisville

Cathedral of the Assumption, Louisville

Louisville, Kentucky, was proving to be a delightful city. The friendliness of the people was quite shocking (where else would a gift shop tell you to take a tee shirt for free because they didn’t have the correct change for your cash purchase?), and I was loving the fried green tomatoes at nearly an addictive level. One of my biggest surprises was the astounding architecture, especially in downtown and in Old Louisville, one of the most beautiful historic districts in the United States. Read about the top five buildings in Louisville, Kentucky >


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Big Flavors in Little Greece

In the Astoria neighborhood of Queens, New York, you’re likely to see a Halal restaurant next to a Colombian bakery across the street from an Italian gelateria. Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church offers Masses in English, Spanish, Czech-Slovak, Vietnamese, and Italian. That’s a lot of diversity, but at its core, Astoria is still home to the second-largest Greek population outside of Greece itself. You’ll see it in the names of doctors on their office signs, in the blue and white shopfront awnings, in Athens Square, and in some excellent restaurants. One of the best is Blue Sea Taverna. Read about it >