New York: Chinatown, New York City

It's the Year of the Dragon.  Look out for a baby boom from those who celebrate the Lunar New Year.  On Sunday afternoon, NYC's Chinatown was host to a glorious display of cultural pageantry to celebrate the big holiday. 

While you can usually count on colorful processions of dancing dragons and confetti canons, most people don't looks to the streets as a runway for great hairpieces and hats.  Some spectators wore  classic embellished chopsticks.  While riders on the floats donned millinery made from flowers, pearls, fur and jewels. The accessories here were worn in tribute to the tribes and performing arts of China.  

Chinese New Year may have started over a week ago, but subsequent days hold celebrations of different themes.  Every restaurant within in a 5 mile radius was packed with lines down the street.  Noodles for longevity, fish for fortune, and my favorite sesame balls filled with sweet lotus paste or custard tarts!

Maui: Scuba 5 Graves & Wailea

So many of my trips, Hubby and I miss the opportunity for scuba diving because of weather.  We tried for the famed Molokini crater off Maui, but we were thwarted once again...  Luckily, the trip wasn't a total bust.  We did a refresher shore dive as an intro to scuba for my Mom, then a 2-tank boat dive off a site known as the 5 Graves, and off of Wailea.  

We got to play with an octopus, swim among giant sea turtles, amuse spotted eels and wave to some fishJ.  We went out with BB Scuba out of Kihei.   The guys there are patient and have a great sense of humor.  I look forward to going out with them again on our return.

 Photos by Adam Weinstein.  

Map of Dive Area

Maui: Surfing Goat Dairy

Most tourists don't think of Maui as a foodie island, but many of the top restaurants all featured cheeses from this dairy.  Surfing Goat was founded by a German couple who had a lot of champion surfer friends that donated their old boards.

Hubby, sis, my parents and I visited this farm and got to say hello to their newborn goats and do a tasting of their fresh flavors.  Cheeses with jalepeno, sundried tomato or chives were expected to be delicious.  One that surprised us though, was a variety called "Mandalay" that was blended with curry, banana and apple.

Miami: Design Hotels of South Beach

All of the contemporary art world lands in Miami for Art Basel every year, but its design legacy stays in South Beach year round.  After long evenings of Miami Swim Fashion Week shows and after-parties, Hubby and I took a tour of the modern art offerings all over the hotel lobbies.

We strolled through the impeccably chic hotels of The Shoreham, Setai, W Hotel, Delano, Gansevoort, Raleigh...

The Hamptons: Last Beach Day of Summer 2010

Every trip Hubby and I took to the East End was pretty chilly in 2010.  At last, this weekend smiled upon us and gave us sun.  We enjoyed a bottle of wine with bread and cheese from Breadzilla in Wainscott, NY.

The beach was mostly empty .  After waiting for the sun to go down, we drove over to Citta Nuova in East Hampton for a late night nibble.  We couldn't let the weekend pass without a rich, sinful cookie from Levain Bakery too.

Hubby and I found ourselves enjoying a fundraising Kiteboarding event earlier in the day with some kick-ass female surfers.  

Philadelphia: A Diner, A Chapel, A Fountain

Cold Spring Village: Americana on the River

Hubby and I decided that we had neglected the motorcycle far too long.  This lazy Saturday afternoon, we rode north along the Hudson River and landed at the village of Cold Spring NY.  It's a pretty town across the water from West Point military academy.  

We stopped for lunch at the Cold Spring Depot (where it listed "Washington Drank Here" instead of the usual  "Washington Slept Here" popular with many Bed & Breakfasts.  They had a delicious "Plymouth" turkey burger mashed with cornbread and a cranberry aioli.  

The park leading up to the river was lovely.  Due to the town location, one saw many a patriotic tribute. The cat above slept in peace knowing it was protected by the brightest soldiers to be across the river.  

The main street was lined with cute cafes and antique shops.  My favorite was Country Clocks.  The owner, Howard would answer any question with enthusiasm.  He clearly had a love of his product, painstakingly restored unique timepieces from around the world.