Once upon a time, there was a castle. In a teeny city next to New York City. Inside, it had beautiful white walls with stone, and beautiful black wrought-iron decorations, and even a romantic balcony. Its ceilings were high, and the dim light from the chandeliers shone down in a dream. And underneath, was a world of delectable cuisine. Think ground lamb and veal dumplings, richly seasoned stuffed peppers, and clay-oven bread called “buke shtepie” – a symbol of hospitality

As Dorothy from the "Wizard of Oz" (1939) once said, “There’s no place like home.” Cue those glittery red shoes. And for travelista...

What an exciting "Flickside YouTube" summer it has been! What was my favorite Flickside video? Alfred Hitchcock of course! Here's the...

Donned in my pastel spring and Sunday best (aka a treasured yellow linen jacket she had gifted me with a decade earlier before her move...

All hail the thoughtfully crafted cookbook "Audrey at Home: Memories of My Mother's Kitchen" published by Audrey's son Luca Dotti back...

I realize at forty-something years of age (ahem) that I have subconsciously modeled my life and relationships after that zany fun...

As the saying goes, “They don’t make ‘em like they used to.” And the flick “Penny Serenade” from 1941 is a perfect example. Melodrama...

Talkin’ to myself and feelin’ old Sometimes I’d like to quit Nothin’ ever seems to fit Hangin’ around Nothin’ to do but frown Rainy days...

Thank you to Flickside for providing me the opportunity to write the script and narrate the YouTube video "10 Greatest Akira Kurosawa...

Here she is! Thank you to my sister and her family for bestowing me with this MASSIVE framed photo of the one and only Hollywood goddess...

In honor of summer which is my favorite season, here are are two of my favorite summer celebrity birthdays. It's fellow Cancerian and...

I remember my 5th floor terrace door started to rattle at 10pm. And it kept on. For seemingly the whole night. I lay nervously in bed,...

Spring is here! And so is a delicious dish called “Crispy Pasta with Chickpeas, Lemon, and Parsley.” Recently gifted with the hefty,...

Trying a new ethnic cuisine is a lot like visiting an amusement park. So many fun rides to choose from (aka menu items). Each...

Thank you to InTravel Magazine for publishing my travel article "Atmospheric Italy After 25 Years," included in their March-April issue. ...

What a year 2021 has been. Gratifying. Monumental. Where should I start? Perhaps it's best to commence by restating my evergreen love...

Back in the Age of Discovery, Portuguese explorers like Vasco de Gama and Pedro Álvares Cabral stood at the western edge of Europe,...

Yes, it's a companion series to "The Toast" everyone! In addition to my movie star tributes with "The Toast," I now have a second series...

Twenty-five years ago this summer, I made my first trip to Latin America. My excitement was brimming over as I boarded that jet at La...

My Flickside "The Toast" series has been rocking and rolling. So far we've covered Gregory Peck, Meryl Streep, Olivia de Havilland, and...