THE INSIDER TRAVEL BLOG

Friday, March 31, 2006

MORE RESTAURANTS
Japanese food has become a passion of ours lately. We've enjoyed great sushi for years, but while in the past, we tended to make a special event of it (going to places like Sushi Ann at 38 E. 51st in NYC), we are much more casual about it now and it has become as much a part of our normal routine as a slice of pizza or take-out Chinese. So we're delighted to recommend a host of reliable places in New York City that you can easily pop into and enjoy without making a big deal about it. Ginza falls into this category (don't miss the Bento boxes at lunch), as does East (with lots of locations around town), and Isohama (1666 3rd Ave.). One place we're not so crazy about is Teriyaki Boy -- they take this casual approach too far and have devolved into a place for greasy fast food.

Thursday, March 23, 2006

RESTAURANT ROUND-UP
One of the most common questions we receive from visitors to New York City is, "where should I eat?" There are lots of choices, of course, but here are some of our favorites in the Museum Mile area: the Metropolitan Museum's new cafeteria offers some decent choices, but it is worth becoming a member if only to check out the Trustee's Dining Room. The Neue Galerie also offers a great setting and good food via Cafe Sabarsky. Sarabeth's Madison Avenue location is just a hop, skip and a jump away from many museums. Inside, you'll be treated to tasty bistro-like fare; but as delicious as your meal might be, make sure you leave room for dessert since that is where the kitchen really shines. Centolire, an Italian restaurant also located on Madison Avenue, is another good choice.

Monday, March 20, 2006

SPRING FESTIVITIES
While today is the official start of spring, one event that seals the deal for many of us is the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. There are an abundance of these celebrations throughout the United States (and, of course, Japan), so make your travel plans now to visit at least one of them! We've always loved the abundance of blossoms at the National Cherry Blossom Festival, but we're finding that the cultural events in ever-growing Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival are really starting to give Washington a run for its money. Hawaii wins the prize for the longest festival, with events that stretch from January through March. Philadelphia's "Sakura Matsuri" has gone corporate this year with companies sponsoring individual trees and the entire event itself. The Brooklyn Botanical Garden's festival may seem modest in comparison to some of the others -- it is only two days after all -- but it still offers plenty of interesting events and the Cherry Esplanade and Walk are always magnificent.

Friday, March 17, 2006

IT'S A GOOD DAY FOR AN IRISH COFFEE
Well actually, most days are! Still, it is St. Patrick's Day and there is a slight chill in the air, making today an especially good day for an Irish coffee. If you're in New York City for the oldest (and, some would argue, the most famous) St. Patrick's Day parade, your best bet is to head over to the Kinsdale. Boston's strong Irish heritage means that there is a plethora of great places to choose from for the traditional Paddy's Day pick-me-up; just check out our round-up of Boston's best Irish bars and you'll see what we mean. But if you want to go to the source, head to San Francisco where legend says Americans were first introduced to this wonderful drink at the Buena Vista Cafe.

Monday, March 13, 2006

BURSTING INTO BLOOM
It's showtime! Make that flower show time. As spring approaches, cities all over the country are gearing up for guests with green thumbs. While one of the largest and best known, the Philadelphia Flower Show, closed yesterday, there are still plenty of others to visit. We've always loved the New England Flower Show, and this year's theme, which focuses on New England's flora diversity and traditions, promises to be better than ever. Other good options include the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show, the Chicago Flower and Garden Show, and the Cincinnati Flower Show.

Friday, March 10, 2006

WHERE TO GO FOR SPRING BREAK
Mid-March is typically vacation time for college and private school students. Alas, TheInsiderTravelGuides.com offices will still be open and so we are not going away. Still, it is nice to think about where we might go, if we had a few days off...

Spring skiing is usually pleasant in March, but the recent warm weather means that favorite mid-Atlantic spots like Camelback and Ski Big Bear at Masthope are unlikely to have good conditions. That means that if we want a few more days on the slopes we're going to have to head out west. But perhaps that is a blessing in disguise -- after all, any time is a good time for a trip to Snowbird!

The other option is to head south for some fun in the sun. Hawaii will forever remain our favorite hot spot. Other good options include Bermuda (best for golfers, not beach-goers, at this time of year, since temperatures generally stay in the mid-60s), and the Caribbean islands (we particularly like the El Conquistador resort in Puerto Rico).

Wednesday, March 8, 2006

TIPS ON TIPPING
We generally enjoy Joe Sharkey's "On The Road" column in the New York Times, and yesterday's piece, called "Tipping is Part of Travel, So What About the Maid?" is a good example of his straight-forward, helpful advice. For years, The Insider's Guide to Tipping has been advocating more than the measly $1/day that many tipping guides recommend for the maids who work hard to keep your room tidy. We were glad to see that Joe agrees with us. His reminder to make it clear that the money you leave is meant to be a tip is important; and after all, is it really all that much extra work on your part to write a quick note of thanks?

Tuesday, March 7, 2006

ON THE RUN
Now that warmer weather is reaching the Northeast, we're starting to think about getting a bit more serious about our running regimen. Membership in Mothers Across American (MAAM) is a step in the right direction -- the online coaching is fabulous (now if only we could arrange our schedule to include more of the training sessions!) and we love the camaraderie of the group. The New York Road Runners Club also provides a host of racing and training opportunities. Speaking of competing, one of our favorite races is the 10-mile Yankee Homecoming run. Some people like it because it is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon, but we like it because it is a pleasant course and the crowds are terrific (there's nothing like being showered with water from a hose by a friendly 10-year-old on a hot August evening run!). If we do run a marathon (and like most runners, we often think about it), it is more likely to be the less hilly Marine Corps Marathon, which also has the advantage of being in October, so you can do the bulk of your training in warm weather, while the Beantown race, with it's mid-April date (which can mean there is still snow on the course!) requires more winter training. Of course the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego promises to be a rollicking good time (and certainly there will be no snow there!), but running in that area has been a mixed bag for us (we remember, in particular, a particularly treacherous run in the hills of nearby El Cajon, which is beautiful but extremely unfriendly to runners, with no sidewalks or shoulder).

Friday, March 3, 2006

COLOR AT THE COOPER-HEWITT
Don't miss the "Fashion in Colors" exhibition at NYC's Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum. It is a riot of color and (mostly) light-hearted clothing -- just the thing to brighten up your mood on an otherwise dreary March day. But you better go soon -- the fashion show ends on March 26th.

Wednesday, March 1, 2006

TIME TO PIG OUT!
The folks at the Central Park Zoo in NYC have apparently determined that March 1st is National Pig Day -- who knew? This annual event, featuring the Children's Zoo's two pot bellied pigs, includes a host of activities for children (and the child in all of us). This year, we enjoyed meeting the pigs and decorating our own pig masks, but escaped just in time to avoid the Snort Off (during which judges determine who has the best porcine-like voice). Oink, oink!

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