Gilbert, Arizona is Phoenix’s coolest suburb

This article was first published on MoneyInc, April 2019. Twenty-five years later I returned to the Phoenix area, but this time it was not to live with the Apache Indians and volunteer on their reservation in San Carlos. I was headed to Gilbert, Arizona, a thriving suburb 30 minutes outside of Phoenix that was once the hay shipping capital of the world thanks to the … Continue reading Gilbert, Arizona is Phoenix’s coolest suburb

Blazing around Laguna Beach

There’s an entirely new reason to visit Laguna Beach, the quaint seaside town in Orange County. Not the secret coves, numerous art galleries, or tantalizing surf, not even the Pageant of the Masters, where art comes to life in the summertime. Not the fact that everything just feels cleaner in Laguna Beach. Let’s face it. Laguna Beach viewed on The Hills is why most people … Continue reading Blazing around Laguna Beach

Iconic rock band BUSH led by Gavin Rossdale kicked off Grand Opening Weekend with performance at The Barbershop Cuts and Cocktails in Las Vegas

The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas Resort + Casino added a new edition to this swanky youthful hotel – The Barbershop! Officially known as The Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails, this new modern barbershop allows gentleman to kick back in a barber’s chair for a classic cut, beard trim, or straight razor shave, all under the helm of barber Jose Sosa and his nationally renowned grooming team. Guests can … Continue reading Iconic rock band BUSH led by Gavin Rossdale kicked off Grand Opening Weekend with performance at The Barbershop Cuts and Cocktails in Las Vegas

Palm Springs Playground Weekend

This article was first published on MoneyInc, February 2019. Just like when the movie stars of the 1920s flocked to the area from Hollywood, the Palm Springs area continues to be Los Angeles’s favorite getaway. This little big town in the desert, flanked by the dramatic San Jacinto mountains and poking palm trees, provides a playful swanky, sun-drenched landscape just a few hour drive from … Continue reading Palm Springs Playground Weekend

See another side of Southern California, the Conejo Valley

Just a mere 45-minute drive from Los Angeles, the Conejo Valley was a term new to me as of last week. Approximately 35 miles northwest of Los Angeles and 10-15 miles inland from the beaches of Malibu, the expansive valley is filled with outdoor recreation such as hiking, biking, and horseback riding with wide open land, idyllic nature preserves, canyons, and ocean views. Every day … Continue reading See another side of Southern California, the Conejo Valley

Ten Ways to Get to Know Memphis

This article was first published on MoneyInc, January 2019. Memphis, Tennessee is keeping the past alive by reimagining and renewing old buildings, landmarks, and icons. Instead of knocking down existing historic facades, mixed-use spaces, restaurants and community centers are emerging in the 21st century as impressively rejuvenated revival structures, creating vibrant new communities. This year, the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll celebrates the past through a … Continue reading Ten Ways to Get to Know Memphis

Sixteen Ways to Weekend in New Orleans

This article was first published on MoneyInc, January 2019. “Hi!” “Hello, How are you?” These simple words were said to me everywhere I turned. This was my introduction to the South. After spending my adult life in major cities, I flinched wondering what these locals might want from me, forgetting that friendliness is a common practice here. A man out walking his dog at night … Continue reading Sixteen Ways to Weekend in New Orleans

The Holiday Season is Here Again

It’s time again for that most American of holidays. I’m speaking, of course, of Repeal Day. Yes, it’s that glorious day in which booze swillers rejoice by raising a glass of hooch and toasting to the freedom to get toasted. December 5 marked the 85th anniversary of the repeal of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution and to celebrate the occasion (and those other holidays, … Continue reading The Holiday Season is Here Again

The Mayfair Hotel: A Downtown LA Renaissance

This article was first published in MoneyInc, December 2018.  As you pass through the gritty urban landscape of the emerging Westlake neighborhood in downtown LA, you will arrive at the newly revamped historic hotel Mayfair Hotel. The eclectic sexy hotel embodies the Los Angeles spirit and fosters creative self-expression with a communal writer’s room, custom podcast room, and art gallery space. The hotel is decorated … Continue reading The Mayfair Hotel: A Downtown LA Renaissance

10 Unexpected Discoveries in a San Francisco Weekend

Sadly, it took me five years to return to San Francisco from Los Angeles. This time I skipped some of San Fran’s most popular attractions for first-time visitors, to discover my own greatest hits. Although you shouldn’t miss walking across the Golden Gate Bridge, sailing around Alcatraz, riding a trolley, seeing Lombard Street aka “the world’s crookedest street” and perusing Fisherman’s Wharf and Sausalito, try … Continue reading 10 Unexpected Discoveries in a San Francisco Weekend