Over 30 years ago, three prisoners escaped from Alcatraz Island, AKA “The Rock,” a maximum-security federal prison in San Francisco Bay. They were never found. They could have been eaten by sharks. They could have gotten hypothermia in the 50-degree waters. They could have drowned. Or they could have survived. No one knows. But this…
My friends Dan and Alice just returned from a weekend trip to Seattle. They asked the Concierge of their hotel if he had any restaurant coupons. They got a fistful of 2-for-1 meals, free appetizers, gratis desserts, and other ways to save bucks on the road. They also forgot their cell phone charger. The Concierge…
Imported six-figure sports cars. Premium wines. High-rise condos. High-priced cigars. Luxury hotel suites. Not since 1999 have people in the San Francisco Bay Area enjoyed their riches so much. An uptick in income has yielded a corresponding rise in conspicuous consumption. A glowing example is The Ritz-Carlton Hotel San Francisco and its recently completed $12.5…
We’re celebrating yet another in a string of 14 incredible months of articles and success here at Vagablond. So we want to thank our loyal readers and hard-writing contributors. We now have: • Over 50,000 visitors a month • More than 1,140 stories spread over more than 110 pages of content. • Articles focusing specifically…
Sterling Vineyards of Napa County had its 2001 Sterling Vintner’s Collection Chardonnay ranked #1 among 175 at a recent SF Chronicle Wine Competition. It took the Gold Best of Class for its Central Coast Chard. Quite an accomplishment. Also, according to a press release, “Sterling Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is the number one ranked…
What do a tart Japanese citrus and a California berry have in common? They’re both being used, infused and perused by foodies as two new fruit flavors for a variety of dishes. For example, though the hard, bumpy yuzu fruit has many seeds and doesn’t yield much juice, it offers a “tubro Meyer lemon” flavor…
Holy crap! Get a load of these absolutely incredible, drop dead gorgeous double Pool Villas in Thailand for sale for $2.5 million US. This September, the world-famous, uber-luxury Banyan Tree Resort in the beach town of Phuket will start selling off these new villas, which you can “own” for 60 days a year. Celebs, royalty…
What’s the best place anywhere in the world for a getaway with the girls –– that won’t cost an arm and a leg? My sister and others I know have ventured to Las Vegas to celebrate their milestone birthdays with drinks, dancing, shopping and shows. But what about New York, the beaches of Florida or…
“We’re #1!” isn’t what McDonald’s needs now for publicity. After being the source of embarrassment in the documentary “Super Size Me” and one of the possible links to America’s obesity problem, the Double Arches have now been named as the source for “The Worst Breakfast You Can Eat.” According to a study from The State…
I’ve lunched at the world-famous Auberge du Soleil in beautiful Napa Valley. It is a truly spectacular Mediterranean style getaway. Now, the owners, Solage Hotels, have created a new, less expensive luxury hotel called Solage Calistoga, slated to open next Spring at the northern end of this renowned winemaking region. It will feature: • Comfortable…
A baby girl was born to People Magazine’s “World’s Most Beauiful Family” on Saturday. The daughter born to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie was named Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt. She met the world –– but not the paparazzi –– in Namibia, a sparsely populated desert country in southwest Africa. [Via CNN.com and people.com.]
It’s low-key. It’s highly sophisticated. It’s got a dramatic pool terrace, a bunch of private cabañas, and a well-known blue on blue restaurant for outdoor dining. It’s the Avalon Hotel Beverly Hills –– a welcome alternative to nearby shopping boutiques, galleries and more –– compared to other luxury hotels in western Los Angeles that are…