Discover Doria Pamphilij Gallery: Rome’s Quiet Treasure of Baroque Splendor

Discover Doria Pamphilij Gallery: Rome’s Quiet Treasure of Baroque Splendor

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The Doria Pamphilij Gallery is a bit of an under-the-radar spot for some epic art viewing, but if you want to be impressed with a super fancy villa that’s in really great shape in the heart of Rome, that has literally piles of art adorning every single square inch of every wall, definitely come here. You can easily buy tickets in advance, and I usually recommend doing so, although this gallery is not as busy as most others in Rome,…

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Chicago’s Hottest New Bar? Charis Listening Bar Delivers Funky Beats, Friendly Vibes, and Stellar Cocktails

Chicago’s Hottest New Bar? Charis Listening Bar Delivers Funky Beats, Friendly Vibes, and Stellar Cocktails

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I was so excited to hear that a new, hip, craft cocktail-forward joint was opening in Bridgeport, Chicago, that I had to round up a few friends and check out Charis Listening Bar (pronounced Care-iss) as soon as it was possible to find a free night. After our first evening here, when we shut down the place (at midnight), we went back the next weekend, just to shut it down again. The Bridgeport local owner, Alex Jandernoa, warmly recognized us…

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Moma Restaurant, Rome: A Michelin-Starred Feast For All Five Senses

Moma Restaurant, Rome: A Michelin-Starred Feast For All Five Senses

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On our weekend trip to Rome this past January, 2025, we had very little time to explore tons of restaurants, but for one of the nights, I chose one-Michelin-starred Moma for dinner, mainly because it was a few blocks from our hotel in Piazza Barberini. We loved Moma for it’s very solid prix fixe menu with lovely wine pairings and impeccable service. Absolutely nothing was bad here, and we were constantly “ooohhh-ing” and “aaahh-ing” at the beautifully plated food. We…

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Why The Galleria Borghese Deserves A Spot In Your Rome Itinerary – And How To Plan It Right

Why The Galleria Borghese Deserves A Spot In Your Rome Itinerary – And How To Plan It Right

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The Galleria Borghese in Rome is a must-visit museum when you are staying in the Eternal City. It’s chock full of incredible sculptures and paintings, and the grounds surrounding the museum (the Villa Borghese) are beautiful, and worthy of an extended stroll. You absolutely must buy tickets in advance to the Galleria Borghese. They do not allow walk-ins at all, and tickets are strictly timed, and there is never a line to wait in. You have only two hours to…

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Smyth Chicago: The Best Michelin-Starred Fine Dining in the City

Smyth Chicago: The Best Michelin-Starred Fine Dining in the City

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Let me just start this post by saying, WOW! My husband and I came to Smyth for a special anniversary dinner in February, 2025, and it vastly exceeded all, very high, expectations. This three-star Michelin eatery honestly deserves four stars, not only for their impeccable food, but also the over-the-top service. Everything you would expect from a three-star experience is here, along with amazing extra touches throughout the evening, with so many extra special gifts, you feel like a celebrity…

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Exploring the Charm of Musee D’Orsay in Paris: The Epicenter of Impressionist Art

Exploring the Charm of Musee D’Orsay in Paris: The Epicenter of Impressionist Art

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On our recent art-and-food-of-Paris extravaganza trip in November of 2024, we, of course, visited the Musee D’Orsay. I hadn’t been here in about 15 years, and I was excited to return because the museum itself has changed quite a bit, and I feel like it’s actually got a lot more art going on here than it did back then. My main memories were basically just of the building itself, which is stunning, so it was fun to check out a…

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Il Carciofo, Chicago: Joe Flamm’s Much-Hyped Roman Bistro Falls Flat

Il Carciofo, Chicago: Joe Flamm’s Much-Hyped Roman Bistro Falls Flat

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After experiencing the fresh and exciting Rose Mary restaurant in Chicago, I was thrilled to score a tough to get reservation at Il Carciofo, Joe Flamm’s newest spot in the West Loop. I ate here on a chilly Sunday in March, 2025, and unfortunately, I didn’t think that Flamm’s ode to Roman cooking lived up to the hype. Il Carciofo is located in the exciting West Loop neighborhood of Chicago, surrounded by all sorts of incredible restaurants including Smyth, Elske,…

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Roscioli Salumeria: Indulging In Rome’s Best Carbonara and Charcuterie

Roscioli Salumeria: Indulging In Rome’s Best Carbonara and Charcuterie

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I don’t know about you, but when I have a stellar meal, handmade, with natural, local ingredients, along with superb wine, I feel uplifted, happy, energized, and refreshed. That was exactly the feeling I got when we dined at Roscioli Salumeria in Rome for lunch recently. On our prior trip to Rome in 2019, we ate at Roscioli Caffe in their restaurant, and it was astounding and memorable. I specifically remember the stuffed zucchini blossoms that were crisp, not super…

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Dining at Luna Muna, Roatan’s Best Restaurant: Full Review & Must-Try Dishes

Dining at Luna Muna, Roatan’s Best Restaurant: Full Review & Must-Try Dishes

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We dined at Luna Muna at the Ibagari Boutique Hotel in Roatan daily while staying there for seven days in early February 2025. Check our my article about the resort here! This restaurant is consistently hailed as one of the best on the island, and I can honestly say that eating here not only was one of the reasons I chose this hotel for our vacation, but it was also some of the best eating we’ve done in Central America…

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Explore London’s National Gallery: Art and Architecture

Explore London’s National Gallery: Art and Architecture

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During our Summer, 2024 trip to London, Brian and I were super excited to visit the National Gallery, which boasts THREE Caravaggio paintings. We were quite disappointed to learn, though, that while we were visiting, two of the three paintings were going to be off on loan elsewhere. This gap was made up for, however, with the addition of Caravaggio’s final painting, “The Martyrdom of St. Ursula,” which is normally in Naples, Italy. Check out my Caravaggio page as well…

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