Happy Spring!

Travelscope / Spring 2013
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Travel is Fatal to Prejudice, Bigotry and Narrow-min
- Mark Twain
In This Issue:
Happy Spring!
Spring reminds us of the enduring quality
and richness of nature. And this season has
brought to us an abundance of accolades.
It’s a thrill to receive 3 new Emmy
nominations, 7 more Telly Awards and
Taiwan’s Tourism Award. Yet, the real
rewards of doing Joseph Rosendo’s
Travelscope is the opportunity to deliver our
gifts. For more than 20 years the
Travelscope publication aka eMagazine has
been one of those opportunities.
Getting Around......................2
picked up on our sojourn to the Big Apple
for the New York Times Travel Show. In
addition, we preview our shoot in Armenia
by featuring Lonely Planet’s excellent guide
to the country. We also tell you how to join
us on Julie and Joseph’s excellent
Southeast Asia journey.
Whether it’s through our PBS television
show, our blogs, my pod casts or our
eMagazine, we’re here to help you have
memorable travels. Follow our worldwide
treks at Travelscope.net.
Follow us on Facebook,
there’s always something
exciting going on!
In this issue, editor Barbara Beckley finds
her way to San Jose while frequent
contributor Ellen Clark traverses Columbia
in search of adventure. The eMag is always
filled with travel tips and suggestions so this
time we share a couple of gems that we
Happy Traveling!
Celebrations USA...................2
Destination Hot Spot:
Bhutan...................................3
Dateline: The World...............3
Ellen Clark’s
Colombian Adventure.............4
Resorts, Hotels ‘n’ Inns...........7
Surprising San Jose.................8
New York’s Empire Hotel and
Ed’s Chowder House.............10
Book Marks..........................11
Travelscope® is published by Travelscope® LLC, PO Box 519, Topanga, CA 90290, (310) 455-7164. Publisher and Executive Producer: Joseph
Rosendo; eMagazine Editor: Barbara Beckley; Marketing Director and Producer: Julie Rosendo. Travelscope is not to be reproduced without written
permission. Subscribe to our podcast, join our blog and follow our television shows at www.travelscope.net.
Travelscope/Spring 2013
Getting Around
Roll along the sands of Huntington Beach and through its
surf-centric downtown with Segway Tours of Huntington
Beach – the only Segway tour in Southern California that
goes onto the beach. Regularly scheduled tours, custom
excursions – perhaps at sunset – and corporate group rides
are available. HBSegwayTours.com. Enjoy additional
California adventures at Travelscope.net/CACoast and
Travelscope.net/LosAngeles.
In April, Scenic Cruises, renowned for all-inclusive luxury
river cruising, introduced the new 169-passenger Scenic
Jewel on cruises along the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers.
Amenities include butler service, new themed dinners and
live entertainment, new shore excursions, suites with full-size
balconies that convert into Scenic Sun Lounges via remoteactivated windows, and GPS-guided tour systems providing
commentary on passing sights. Scenic offers seven-to-21night itineraries on six ships throughout Europe, Russia
and Egypt. Rates begin at $2,660. ScenicToursUS.com.
Follow JRTS’s Mediterranean Cruise at Travelscope.net/
MedCruise.
Explore Wroclaw, western Poland’s largest city, like a local in
open-air, battery-operated cars with EKO-TUR. The golf-cartlike vehicles can access many areas unavailable to regular
traffic. Choose from historic city center excursions and
exciting night tours of the illuminated bridges and fountains.
EkoTur.wroclaw.pl. Take a tour with Joseph around Wroclaw
at Travelscope.net/Berlin.
Enjoy top-flight service and adventure with Ethiopian
Airlines, 2012 Africa Airlines of the Year and a Star Alliance
member. The carrier offers 20 Africa tour packages from
Washington D.C. See the big five animals on the 12-day
“Grand Tanzania Safari” including north and south Tanzania,
Serengeti National Park, accommodations, domestic flights
and some meals. Prices begin at $5,399. EthiopianAirlines.
com. Experience Ethiopia with Joseph at Travelscope.net/
EthiopiaSouth and Travelscope.net/EthiopiaNorth.
Thrill to guided or on-your-own cycling adventures in Taiwan
along 242 miles of well-maintained cycling paths through
lush mountains and valleys, hot springs and beaches.
Highlights include forested tunnels, the deep Taroko Gorge,
Sun Moon Lake and Green Island. Visit InMotionAsia.com,
GreenIslandAdventures.com and Go2Taiwan.net. Follow
Joseph’s Taiwan adventures at Travelscope.net/Taiwan and
Travelscope.net/TaiwanCountry.
Page 2
Celebrations U.S.A.
The Whale & Jazz Festival runs March 28 to May 4
on the Mendocino coast in Northern California. Whale
education, jazz concerts including singer Jamie Davis
(formerly with the Count Basie Band), films, poetry and
a chowder challenge are among the events at inns, restaurants, theaters and the Gualala Arts Center nestled
in the redwoods. Visit Gualalaarts.org. Enjoy more of
Joseph’s California adventures at Travelscope.net/
CACoast and Travelscope.net/LosAngeles.
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Portland Half Marathon – with live
music every mile – kicks off the Portland Rose Festival, May 19 – June 16. Dozens of events include Fleet
Week featuring tours and cruises aboard United States
and Royal Canadian Navy vessels, the Portland Rose
Society Rose Show, fireworks, children’s activities and
the Grand Floral Parade with floral-covered floats,
equestrian units, marching bands, singers and more.
See RoseFestival.org.
Kenny Rogers headlines along with Chicago’s famed
The Second City comedy theatre at the Tulip Time Festival, May 4 – 11, in Holland, Michigan. Dutch heritage is
celebrated with three parades, traditional Dutch dance
shows, Dutch food, theaters, a quilt show, six million
blooming tulips, children’s events and other multi-generational attractions. Go to TulipTime.com for details.
“Festival Williamsburg” pairs modern music with old
world charm, May 24 – 26, in Colonial Williamsburg,
Virginia. Trumpet sensation Arturo Sandoval, Broadway
stars including Debbie Gravitte (Les Miserables), and
the Hot Sardines jazz ensemble are among the stellar
performers. Visit ColonialWilliamsburg.com. Discover
the Historic Colonial Triangle with Joseph at Travelscope.net/Williamsburg.
Join the moko jumbies (stilt-walkers) and jump up at the
61st annual St. Thomas Carnival in the U.S. Virgin Islands, April 19 – 27. Calypso bands, the Carnival Village,
Cultural Food Festival, children’s village, boat races,
dancing in the streets, carnival contests and brilliantly
costumed troupes and floats parading down Main Street
and the harbor front offer non-stop revelry in Charlotte
Amalie. Visit VICarnival.com.
Travelscope/Spring 2013
Destination Hot Spot:
Bhutan
Known as the Land of the Thunder Dragon, the Buddhist
Kingdom of Bhutan, nestled high in the Himalaya Mountains,
offers a magical experience.
Isolated from the world for centuries, Bhutan now welcomes
visitors to a culture rich in history, tradition and spiritually.
Dramatic landscapes from snow capped peaks and
deeply forested slopes to raging, boulder strewn rivers, sit
largely undisturbed, protected by the people’s love for the
environment and deep Buddhist beliefs. While the state
religion is Buddhism, the country is wisely governed as a
democratic constitutional monarchy.
So many unforgettable experiences from sharing lunch
with a farmer amid terraces of rice, lilies and cabbage to
mountain trekking and biking and watching Yatra weavers
create beautiful textiles make a visit to Bhutan like no
other. Numerous architecturally stunning dzongs (former
fortresses that now function as secular and religious
centers) punctuate the scenery. At the monastery of Jambay
Lhakhang, travelers are welcome to the early winter festivals
that attract thousands of Bhutanese who seek the annual
blessing. Monasteries are tucked away in the forest depths
or perch on mountain tops. The most famous and sacred,
Taktshang Goemba, also known as The Tiger’s Nest, is built
into a mountain cliff face 3,000 feet above the Paro Valley.
Yet, the greatest joy of a visit to Bhutan is its people. As
Joseph says in the close to his two PBS Bhutan shows, “In
1972, the fourth king of Bhutan introduced the concept of
Gross National Happiness. It is founded on the proposition
that a nation’s true prosperity is based on more than its
material wealth. On my journey through Bhutan it has been
the people’s gracious smiles, easy laughter, fearlessness
and willingness to share their lives with me, a stranger,
which has demonstrated their joy of life and true happiness.”
See Tourism.gov.BT/. Watch for Joseph Rosendo’s
Travelscope’s Bhutan shows on PBS and public
television stations everywhere beginning this June. Visit
Travelscope.net/Bhutan and Travelscope.net/
BhutanFest for more information.
Page 3
Dateline: The World
Be the first to sip Ontario, Canada’s newest wines at the
Niagara New Vintage Wine Festival, June 15-23, featuring
wine and culinary adventures and live entertainment at
Niagara’s dozens of award-winning vineyards. Events
include the kick-off Tailgate Party in the vines, June 22.
For added value, the $40 New Vintage Discovery Pass
includes experiences at eight participating wineries of
your choice. Visit NiagaraWineFestival.com. Explore
the Niagara Peninsula wine region with Joseph at
Travelscope.net/Toronto.
Mid-April marks the beginning of fishing season along the
famous Miramichi River in New Brunswick, internationally
renowned for trophy Atlantic salmon, trout and smallmouth
bass. Nearly half of all the rod-caught salmon in North
America are from the Miramichi. Fabulous fishing lasts
into September. For outfitters and accommodations, visit
TourismNewBrunswick.ca. Throw out a line with Joseph
at Travelscope.net/NB.
May 17 – 20 Berlin sparkles with color during Karneval
der Kulturen (Carnival of Cultures) celebrating the city’s
ethnic and cultural diversity. The street festival of music,
food, crafts and children’s activities culminates in the grand
parade, with more than 4,700 participants from 80 nations
dressed in flamboyant costumes. Visit Karneval-Berlin.de/
de. Discover Berlin and the border regions of Germany and
Poland at Travelscope.net/Berlin. See Berlin at VisitBerlin.
de.
Weiner Festwochen, May 10 to June 16, is one of
Vienna’s most exciting festivals attracting visitors from
around the world to see the lively variety of 41 multifaceted productions from 26 countries. Programs range
from Rigoletto and the world premiers of contemporary
compositions to stage performances and the eclectic
Into the City 2013 series with performances, lectures and
installations themed around music and politics. Go to
FestWochen.at. Joseph Rosendo’s Travelscope’s Austria
show is airing now on PBS and public television stations
throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Since 1847, life in Seville, Spain revolves around the April
Fair, April 16 – 21, a kaliadescope of music, food, singing,
flamenco dancing and horse and carriage parades.
Hundreds of public and private tents fill the fairgrounds
with food, wine and entertainment, and the fun zone has
attractions for kids and families. Visit Spain.Info.
Travelscope/Spring 2013
Page 4
Colombian Adventure
From High Gear to Total Chill
Photos and Story by
Ellen Clark
The Carnaval queen
C
arnaval in Barranquilla, Colombia is not an
event to be taken lightly. It began on the plane
from Bogota. I should have known things were going to heat up when the free beverage choices were
coffee, cola or a shot of Colombian whiskey.
Next, a blast of South American music
ripped through the cabin as a flight
attendant wearing an outlandishly wild
hat cha chaed down the aisle. A couple of
20-something Colombian cuties leapt up
and joined him.
But this display was nothing compared to
what happened in the airport. Musicians
were playing hot music while scantily
dressed Barranquilla beauties offered
incoming passengers cold beers or
soft drinks and paper Carnaval hats. No
question, this was going to be a lively
couple of days.
I started off my Barranquilla Carnaval
experience with an excellent seafood
dinner at La Cueva Restaurant. Then,
fueled for the evening’s events I headed
for Plaza de la Paz to join in the local
Noche del Tambor celebration. A 19-year
tradition, various musical groups play
on a brightly lighted stage while local
dancers perform, both on stage and off.
Like a giant, elaborate block party, locals
of all ages were enjoying the festivities.
There was plenty of food, provided by
stands with sausages sizzling on the grill;
the beer flowed like water and everyone
was in a holiday mood. When I left at
about midnight, there were no signs of
the frivolity ending any time soon.
La Batalla de Flores (Battle of Flowers)
parade was due to start at 1 p.m. the next
day, so I made sure I was at the parade
route entrance by noon. Held on the
Saturday before Ash Wednesday since
1903, La Batalla de Flores is considered
Carnaval’s most important event.
Elaborate sponsored floats carried
musical groups, former Carnaval queens
and, of course, this year’s Queen Daniela
Cepada. Dozens of dance troops in
fabulous costumes strutted their stuff,
together with musicians, costumed
groups and marchers. The bleachers
lining the parade route were jammed
with spectators. Even Colombia’s
President Juan Manuel Santos was there
to enjoy the spectacle. The parade has
been said to last for six hours, but after 3
1/2 fantastic, madly active and hot hours,
I succumbed to sensory overload and
headed for a quiet restaurant and a cold
beer.
The following afternoon I was back
on the parade route to
photograph La Gran Parada
(The Great Parade). Because
there are no floats in this
parade, it is known as the day
of masks and disguises. It is also
the time when different dance
groups compete against each
other for the coveted prize
of performing in La Batalla
Barranquilla dancers
continued on page 5
Travelscope/Spring 2013
Page 5
continued from page 4
de Flores the following year. Though the crowds were
a bit less than Saturday, there was no less enthusiasm.
If anything the parade participants were even more
exuberant and the atmosphere even more highly charged.
Clearly everyone was having a terrific time. As great as
my time in Barranquilla had been, soon it was time to
leave the party and head for the next stop on my itinerary,
Cartagena.
Cartagena is legendary for its history, charm and beauty.
Images of Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner dashing
around the city in the 1984 movie “Romancing the Stone”
danced through my head as my driver talked his way past
the guards at the entrance to the walled city.
On a narrow street in the heart of the old city, Hotel
Las Carretas had an unpretentious facade, but once
inside it was very inviting. My room was spacious, nicely
decorated and had a balcony that overlooked the street. I
unpacked and headed for Plaza de Santo Domingo, one of
Cartagena’s most popular squares. I enjoyed a beer and a
pizza as I soaked up the atmosphere and listened to local
musicians playing tunes with a South American beat.
The next morning at 6, I took a cab to the Basturo Market.
Not a trip for everyone perhaps, but markets are magnets
to photographers. Across from the sea, the rambling
Fish vendor at the Cartagena Market
market has both inside and outside vendors who are selling
everything from fresh fish to watermelons. Buyers arrive early
to make sure they get the pick of the crop and the freshest
fish.
After breakfast at the hotel, which included cooked-to-order
eggs, stuffed empanadas and fresh fruit, I set off with a local
guide for a walking tour of the old city. She pointed out all the
historic landmarks and patiently waited for me to photograph
colorful colonial style building details. What photographer
could resist a bright pink building trimmed in white with
magenta bougainvillea trailing across the balcony railing.
A three-hour stroll and a dose of local history and I was
ready for a coffee, so I stopped by a Juan Valdez coffeehouse.
I hadn’t heard that name since back in the day when this
fictional character appeared with his donkey in TV coffee ads
across the United States. Turns out his name is now associated
with Colombia’s answer to Starbucks and there are scores of
Cartagena house
continued on page 6
Travelscope/Spring 2013
Page 6
continued from page 5
these coffeehouses around the country.
Locals were lined up waiting for lattes
and espressos, and for good reason, the
100% Colombian coffee was superb.
While Cartagena was wonderful, I had
one last place to visit before leaving
Colombia.
A sleek modern speed boat picked
me up at the Cartagena dock and set
off across the water. After almost two
hours we landed on Isla Mucura, a small
island plunked in the middle of the
Caribbean. We had arrived at the dock
of the island’s only resort, Punta Faro.
Set amongst tropical foliage and
fronted by the sparkling turquoise
Caribbean, thatch roofed buildings
were scattered around the property.
The vibe was right up my alley -friendly, inviting and casual. Though
Punta Faro has all the comforts, it is not Cartagena kids pose for the camera
a lavish resort with designer linens and
a huge staff. It’s a laid-back place where
it was a total cliché -- and I’ll take it any time.
you can just let go and chill. Besides the resort, there’s a fishing
village on the other side of the island. As sunset approached I On the two-hour boat trip back to Cartagena I reflected on
walked to the village to watch the fishermen pulling their boats my stay in Colombia. It started out in high gear with the
Barranquilla Carnaval, then segued into a more relaxed pace in
out of the water and take some photos of the local kids.
historic Cartagena and ended with a total chill out on a tropical
My last day in Colombia, I spent on a beach bed within a few beach. Was this the perfect itinerary or what?
steps of the delicious sea. What can you say about swaying
palms, balmy breezes, chirping birds and gently lapping waves –
For more information on Columbia, visit Turiscolombia.
com.
Ellen Clark is an award-winning photojournalist based in
Los Angeles.
Punta Faro resort on Isla Mucura
Travelscope/Spring 2013
Page 7
Resorts, Hotels 'n’ Inns
Here are some restful values.
R = resort H = hotel I = inn ♥ = romance, of course.
Stunning scenery blends
with celebrity style and a
cosmopolitan vibe at the London
West Hollywood Hotel. Perched
atop trendy Sunset Boulevard,
the rooftop pool and Rooftop
by Gordon Ramsay restaurant
(open to guests and visitors),
surrounded by flowering topiaries
and 360-views of Los Angeles,
Beverly Hills and Hollywood, are as popular for morning cappuccinos as
for see-and-be-seen soirees of up to 700. Inside the high-rise property,
the contemporary style Gordon Ramsay at the London West Hollywood
signature restaurant attracts A-listers with a California twist on Ramsay’s
famous fare. This season’s menu features fresh, locally sourced small
plates. The open-floor-plan accommodations include Veranda Suites
with large outdoor terraces and dramatic views. Rates begin at $249.
Packages such as Topless in LA including overnight suite accommodations, breakfast and a Mustang convertible, add to fun. TheLondonWestHollywood.com.
H
Jungle wilderness is at
your doorstep at the Rio
Indio Ecolodge on the San Juan
River along Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast. As a gateway to the
850,000-acre Indio Maíz World
Heritage National Park (the largest
lowland tropical rain forest north of
the Amazon), bilingual Rama Indian
guides lead eco tours through the
tropical lowland forests, mangrove estuaries, jungle waterways, lagoons
and beaches, home to some 600 bird and 200 animal species. Deep sea
and freshwater fishing include Tarpon, snook, snapper and rainbow bass,
which the master chef is happy to turn into a tasty meal. Four-star comfort
and adventure are beautifully balanced with elevated jungle walkways
connecting the 27 cabins, main lodge, restaurant, infinity pool and bars.
The spacious cabins feature two queen beds, an exquisitely tiled bathroom and screened-in porch. Public area amenities include high-definition
TV, a pool table and free WiFi. Private 30-minute charter flights fly direct
from San José, Costa Rica. Nicaragua’s domestic airline, La Costeña, has
scheduled service Thursday and Sunday. Visit TheRioIndioLodge.
com. Discover Joseph Rosendo’s Nicaragua at Travelscope.net/
Nica.
H
Stunning views of the
Hong Kong skyline and
A private lagoon teemVictoria Harbour are only the
R ing with tropical fish, the
beginning of the luxuries at the
Sunset Bar and Restaurant with
InterContinental Hong Kong. Its digorgeous views of Bora Bora’s
verse dining options feature three
landmark Mount Otemanu and
Michelin star restaurants including
100 over-water suites and seven
Yah Toh Heen, serving dim sum
beachfront villas, make the Four
and other Cantonese specialties, and NOBU, offering innovative Japanese
Seasons Bora Bora a South Seas
fare. The newly refined lobby features nightly live entertainment, and the
paradise. On a 54-acre motu on
feng shui-inspired I-Spa boasts floor-to-ceiling polished green granite
the island of Bora Bora in French Polynesia, lush pathways lead to attreatment suites and skyline views from the infinity pools. The 590 rooms
tractions including private beaches and lagoons, four restaurants serving and suites include views and butler service. Unique activities include the
cuisine from Polynesian to French, and the pool surrounded by huge day- Cooking with Culinary Stars program with classes by the celebrated chefs
beds. The lavish spa includes the Kahai Spa Suite, with a glass floor over
from its restaurants. New this year, The Baking Club offers baking lessons
the lagoon, and open-air treatment decks under the trees. Private dinners with the SPOON pastry chef. The Insider Experiences program gives
on the beach, the Canoe Breakfast, delivered by canoe to your over-water guests the opportunity to do and see whatever they wish be it the local
deck with a morning sail while the staff sets up, and a private catamaran wet market or private tour of the Wong Tai Sin Temple. HongKong-IC.
for sunset sails and snorkel adventures are among the activities. The PolyInterContinental.com. Travel to Hong Kong with Joseph at Travelnesian modern style bungalows feature bathtubs overlooking the lagoon
scope.net/HK and Travelscope.net/HongKong.
and separate living and bedrooms. See FourSeasons.com. ♥
R
Travelscope/Spring 2013
Page 8
Surprising San Jose
by Barbara Beckley
Planetarium was an eye-opener. Mummies,
statues, Greco-roman portraits – the largest
collection of Egyptian artifacts in Western
North America – are beautifully displayed
inside a building inspired by the architecture
of the Temple of Amun. “The ancient
Egyptians were practical people,” Terrance
Gamble, the head docent, explained, as he
led me through the gardens. Based on the
remains of ancient gardens in Akhetaten, the
rectangular reflecting pools “were not only
pretty, they helped cool the house and were
used to grow edible plants.”
Winchester Mystery House - Photo: Team San Jose
If you don’t know the way – I heartily recommend you learn.
I visited San Jose for the first time in years recently, and
was stunned by how sophisticated, trendy and fun the city
has become. Clearly, the pastoral culture of its anthem,
“Do You Know the Way to San Jose?” has gone the way of
the dinosaur – replaced by the worldly delights of high tech
hipsters.
As Silicon Valley’s largest metropolis – Face Book, Apple,
Google are all nearby – gourmet restaurants, dinner
theaters, museums, wine bars, hot night spots and stylish
boutiques cater to the nouveau-riche and make for a
fabulous time for visitors.
It wouldn’t be the Silicon Valley without
techie delights. The high style Tech Museum
in downtown San Jose is magical with
expansive hands-on educational fun for all ages.
Strapped into a Jet Pack Chair, I zoomed around
on a cushion of air, maneuvering with jets of
compressed air to “tag” as many celestial stars as
possible. I was fascinated to learn my weight on the
Moon – we all should weight so little.
Art is everywhere. The San Jose Museum of Art is
a contrast of modern and old. Thought-provoking
modern works from Mexico’s emerging artists
contrasted with “Renegade Humor,” a retrospective of
the Bay Area’s counterculture humor of the ‘60s and
‘70s. I loved the long, long sectional sofa that wound
Not everything is new, however. The Winchester Mystery
House (now surrounded by ultra chic Santana Row and
pricy condos) continues to be a major attraction. And that’s
a good thing. Growing up in Los Angeles, all my playmates
traipsed through the ghostly mansion on family vacations.
My parents preferred museums.
So this trip, I finally stepped inside the glorious Victorian
mega-mansion. I marveled at the staircases to nowhere,
the secret passageways, the window in the floor and all the
otherworldly oddities Mrs. Winchester had her workmen
build round-the-clock to keep the spirits of those who had
died from Winchester rifle (her husband’s invention) fire at
bay, per the recommendation of her psychic.
The Tomb Inside the Rosicrucian Museum
The equally impressive Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum &
continued on page 9
Travelscope/Spring 2013
Page 9
continued from page 8
Santana Row’s sidewalk cafes are packed nightly
up a wall like a caterpillar. The Institute of Contemporary
Art – housed in a storefront in the gallery-rich SoFA
District (South First Street Area), wowed with innovative
contemporary works, some made in its on-site print-making
workshop.
Downtown San Jose brims with live theater. In three nights, I
saw three shows: “In the Heights,” a contemporary Westside
Story-like musical, presented by Broadway San Jose at the
San Jose Center for the Performing Arts; dinner and standup comedy starring Pablo Francisco at San Jose Improv,
and the gala opening night performance of Faust by Opera
San Jose at the beautiful California Theatre. Each venue is
only within a block of the other.
The chic shops and sophisticated cafes along Santana Row,
San Jose’s ultra hip see-and-be-seen pedestrian-only hot
spot, was my kind of scene. I perused the boutiques – Cole
Haan, Gucci, Ferragamo, the only Donald Pliner boutique
in California. Unique shops like the San Francisco Shirt
Co., where customers can design their own apparel, were
tempting, but pricy.
I stayed at the urban chic Hotel Valencia Santana Row.
Returning Saturday night, bouncers at the hotel entrance
asked to see my key card. Going upstairs, the V-Bar and
garden courtyard were packed with 20- to 50-somethings,
sipping cocktails, chatting and enjoying the music. Promptly
at 2 p.m., the practiced hotel staffers gently, but firmly
whisked the hundreds of partiers down the stairs. “Don’t
worry,” the general manager told me. “SoFA has plenty of
after-hours clubs.”
To learn more, visit SanJose.org.
Have more California adventures at Travelscope.net/
CACoast and Travelscope.net/LosAngeles.
To purchase DVDs call toll free:
1-888-8876-3399
Travelscope/Spring 2013
Page 10
Spotlight on
Empire Hotel and
Ed’s Chowder House, New York
Ed’s Chowder House Interior
P
erfectly positioned on West 63rd Street
between Lincoln Center and Central Park,
the iconic Empire Hotel, a member of World
Hotels Group (WorldHotels.com), provides a
chic, trendy and convenient address for sightseeing. Its luxurious public rooms and 423
guestrooms and suites offer inspired views
overlooking Broadway and Columbus Avenue,
gateway to the Upper West Side.
Central Park is a block away and the theater district and
American Museum of Natural History are nearby. Afterward,
relax amid the skyscrapers in the popular Empire Rooftop Bar
& Lounge, on the 12th floor, with magnificent views of Lincoln
Center.
The one-of-a-kind New York City Rooftop Pool Deck
has equally stunning views of the Hudson River, Lincoln
Center and Central Park, and a retractable glass roof. The
sumptuous lobby bar is perfect for late-night tête-à-têtes.
For events, function space with crystal chandeliers and
outdoor venues accommodate up to 250. Frette linens,
overnight shoe shines and chauffeur-driven SUVs, sedans
and limos add to the luxury. Visit EmpireHotelNYC.com.
For World Hotels info go to WorldHotels.com.
Ed’s Chowder House, located in the Empire Hotel,
delivers East Coast seafood at its best in a casual-yet-chic
ambiance. Chef Ed Brown (a noted NYC restaurateur and
author of the Modern Seafood Cook) provides a refined,
yet unpretentious take on regional seafood favorites.
Highlights include the peppered tuna steak frites with herb
butter, lobster rolls, crab cakes, scallop ravioli and hot and
savory chowders from the Chowder Bar – including sweet
corn, Manhattan-style blue crab and his signature Ed’s
Loaded Shellfish Chowder. There’s also a tasty choice of
East Coast oysters available from the Raw Bar. Cocktails
and selected local craft brews enhance the all-day dining
menu. See ChinaGrillMgt.com.
Listen to Joseph Rosendo’s podcast interviews on the
Empire Hotel and Ed’s Chowder House at Travelscope.
net/Podcast.
Travelscope/Spring 2013
Book Marks
Story by Barbara Beckley
Page 11
Join Joseph in
South East Asia!
Just when you think there aren’t any off-thebeaten-path destinations left to explore, along
comes the 4th edition of the Lonely Planet
Guide to Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan.
Open the pages and the wonder of these
small republics, tucked between the Black
Sea, the Caspian Sea, Russia to the north and
Turkey and Iran to the south, comes to life in
tempting detail. Written by authors who have
lived there, you learn the inside skinny – like
the sizzling nightlife in Old Town Tbilisi, the
capital of Georgia, and the tasty delights of the region’s 100-plus
khachapuri (cheese pies).
Peruse the “9 Top Experiences” and you discover Old Town Tbilisi is
a prime spot to experience the old and new, with “winding lanes lined
with rakishly leaning houses…and small quirky hotels.” And the picturesque mountain valley of Svaneti high in the Caucasus Mountains
of Georgia has its own language, 175 ancient towers and spectacular
hiking. And a must-see in Azerbaijan is the remote mountain shepherds’ settlements in Quba.
The Regions at a Glance section provides a quick overview of what’s
best to see and do. For example, Armenia’s 1,700-year old Christian
heritage provides a rich legacy of ancient churches, monasteries and
1,000-year-old frescoes. In Azerbaijan, spectacular scenery – snowy
Caucasians peaks, gurgling mud volcanoes and sunny Caspian
beaches – combine with beautiful architecture from 21st century
marvels to 19th century mansions. In the neighboring republic of
Nagorno-Karabakh must-sees include museums and monasteries.
The 328-page guide includes all you need: color photos, 54 maps,
detailed ready-made itineraries, trip planning, in-depth background
and recommendations and the all-important Understand and Survival
Guide chapters for each country.
Find the Lonely Planet Guide to Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan
($25.99) at LonelyPlanet.com. Watch for a new series from JRTS
coming to PBS and featuring Armenia.
“...the Caucasus Mountains of Georgia
has its own language, 175 ancient
towers and spectacular hiking.
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Vietnam – Laos - Cambodia Extension to Northern Vietnam
March 15 – 23, 2013
March 23 – 27, 2013
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Joseph and Julie celebrating their Taiwan Tourism Award in Taipei
with son and daughter-in-law Travis and Mandy Feuerbacher.
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Joseph Rosendo has been an
award-winning travel, food and wine
journalist for 31 years. His awards
include Canada’s Globe and Mail
Travel Media award and France’s
Medaille d’Or du Tourisme. He lives
in Los Angeles with his wife and producer, Julie, and their cats, Topanga
Jones, Carlito and Bates.
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