For the first time ever, I recently pried myself away from the soul-satisfying cuisine and general decadence of New Orleans’ renowned French Quarter with the express intention of learning more about the architectural treasure Louisiana had to offer beyond the antebellum dwellings of St. Charles Avenue. Plantations and I have a complicated history for obvious reasons. But I decided my destination on this particular day would be the grand old Houmas House Plantation & Gardens.  Read More »

The Hotel California in Todos Santos, Mexico may or may not be the place The Eagles sang so lovingly about on their seminal hit song bearing the hotel’s name back in 1977. Nobody knows for sure really. The urban legend connecting the tiny boutique hotel to the song many consider a rock classic persists even to this day and the claim is not without some merit.  Read More »

So…leaving the comfortably lovely Costa Baja Resort in La Paz, Mexico at the ass crack of dawn for a four-hour drive to Magdalena Bay to float amongst the whales was not to my thinking an ideal beginning to a traditional Living Wells sort of experience. But that is exactly what I did, though as usual, I had no idea what I was getting myself into.  Read More »

Before I discovered La Paz, my experience of Mexico had been limited to what I like to call ‘tourista Mexico’. Honestly, while I don’t knock any of those places, they really aren’t my thing. Too crowded, too rowdy and too popular among the college spring break crowd do not a Living Wells experience make. The calm, tranquil, non-scene La Paz, however, is a completely different story.  Read More »

As an ode to Julia Child, my entire group ordered the exact meal she enjoyed on her first visit to La Couronne (est. 1345). We all swooned appropriately as each course was delivered. Foodie or not, I’d dare anyone to walk through the doors of this venerable establishment, just as Julia did when she first fell in love with French cooking in 1948…  Read More »

On a rainy afternoon in London, I had the most unexpected treat. One of my dearest girlfriends invited me to meet up with her at the London studio of bridal couturier Gwen Russell to offer my gay-vice at a fitting for the romantically epic bridal gown she will soon be wearing down the aisle.  Read More »

Star light star bright, the first star I see tonight…I wish I may, I wish I might….wish myself back to Provence tonight! And, if that getaway is in one of the fabulous, otherwordly villas of A Season Away…  Read More »

Ryan Raftery has appeared on ABC’s “Ugly Betty” and has been hailed as “Hilarious” (NY Observer), and “Dietrich with Balls” (Madonna’s brother Christopher Ciccone). Most adequately described as a “Demented Rat Packer for the Millenium”…
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Ronald Reagan once said, “Trust but verify.” Similarly, I heard the imminently quotable soul goddess Patti LaBelle tell her fans one night, “Trust your fellow man, but watch him!” The words of these two dissimilar personalities always come to mind when I check my bags at the airport.  Read More »

Paris and romance go hand in hand. Tha’s a given. But Paris, Champagne and a sunset cruise along the Seine with 2 of my favorite girlfriends…well that just might be the perfect trifecta of indulgent pleasures…  Read More »

Think majestic ranges of mountains, lush green pastures, grazing black cows, meandering sheep and flocks of geese. And then picture a luxe Georgian-style country manor house complete with an award-winning restaurant and a full spa plunked down in the middle of it all…  Read More »

Hotel soaps and shower gels can be a dicey affair, right? Some you love and some make you downright nauseous. Perhaps the only thing even dicier is the notion of packing your favorite shower gel and sponge to get on an airplane…  Read More »

How many times have your friends called up and asked for your recommendations on where to eat, where to go for a romantic evening, where to shop, where to walk their dogs or even where to meet a guy?   Read More »

L.A. may be my lady, but London is without question my loyal and faithful mistress. Unfortunately, I won’t be among the throngs of well-wishers cheering the royal lovebirds on in London later this month as it appears my wedding invitation has been lost in the royal mail. However for those of you planning to be in London on the big day, I’ve cobbled together a list of my top 5 hotel picks for royal wedding weekend getaways worthy of a noble.  Read More »

You probably already know Josh Flagg is one of the hottest real estate agents in L.A. at 25, that he has a hit TV show and has written two books. But what most of you may not know is Josh has seen more of the world from the very best vantage points than most travel writers…  Read More »