Traveling for work gives me very little time to play, but the travel gods decided I needed more time in San Francisco. After I realized that I wouldn't be going home that day, my boss kindly booked me a room for the night in Union Square. I hauled my bags back onto BART and repeated the steps … [Read more...] about Exploring San Francisco’s North Beach
neighborhood guide
Photo Essay: San Francisco’s Chinatown
When visiting the ethnic neighborhoods of big cities, it can sometimes feel more like Epcot than a real place where real people live. For example, there aren't many Italians left in New York's Little Italy, but there are plenty of restaurants claiming authenticity. I had the same reservations … [Read more...] about Photo Essay: San Francisco’s Chinatown
Staying in Istanbul’s Beyoglu
While Sultanahmet may get all the glory in terms of places to stay in Istanbul, visitors should also wander across either of the two major waterways. There may not be the Ayasofya, Blue Mosque or Topkapi Palace in the European Beyoglu, but it's where the locals live. My first impression of … [Read more...] about Staying in Istanbul’s Beyoglu
Staying in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen
During my brief stay in New York, I stayed at Ink48 Hotel, within walking distance of the Javits Convention Center where I was working. On previous trips, I've stayed in Times Square, the Upper East Side and next to Central Park. This time around the neighborhood of choice was Hell's Kitchen, … [Read more...] about Staying in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen
Photo Friday: San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury
I've been on a spree lately, featuring my favorite funky spots, including Atlanta's Little Five Points and Los Angeles' Venice Beach. So I couldn't go to San Francisco without visiting hippie heaven in Haight-Ashbury. A local on the MUNI told me that Haight-Ashbury has become very commercial … [Read more...] about Photo Friday: San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury