Picture-perfect Porto

The cosmopolitan city of Porto, home to the fortified wine named after it, is a popular draw for tourists and locals alike. Visitors can tour old port warehouses on one side of the... Read More

Coastal Commuter

Parking up your problems

By Michael Snyder

For all of the current lobbying and enthusiasm over public transportation (including taxis and app-enabled car services), automobiles remain an inescapable fact of urban life. And ... Read More

Weekend Traveler

The Dazzling Douro Valley

By Patty Burness

The Douro Valley is a verdant area in northern Portugal that has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. One of the oldest wine regions in the world, it wasn’t until th... Read More

Weekend Traveler

The Portuguese Riviera

By Patty Burness

Just to the west of Lisbon, and an easy train or car ride away, Portugal’s Riviera unfolds — white sandy beaches, stunning vistas, bars and restaurants sprawling onto the P... Read More

Coastal Commuter

 Two women, two musicians, two cities

By Michael Snyder

It never fails to amaze me how a city and its scene can inform, nurture, or undermine talent. As it turns out, both of my West Coast hometowns have provided inspiration and support... Read More

Weekend Traveler

Lisbon: A great place to celebrate the new year

By Patty Burness

Lisbon is an alluring city any time of year, but why not celebrate the start of 2017 there? It’s similar in so many ways to San Francisco – seven hills, stunning bridges, d... Read More

Coastal Commuter

Everything new is old again

By Michael Snyder

As this is being written, New Year’s Eve — with its champagne revelry, midnight kisses, and the promise of bright beginnings — and New Year’s Day — with its Alka-... Read More

Coastal Commuter

Politics as unusual

By Michael Snyder

As the calendar goes, this is a time of peace on Earth and goodwill to all men. Then, there’s the recent, hotly contested, downright coarse presidential election and its aftermat... Read More

Weekend Traveler

Spend the holidays in wine country

By Patty Burness

Christmas in wine country conjures images of spending festive time in Napa or Sonoma, maybe Paso Robles or Santa Cruz County. But how about this year exploring a totally different ... Read More

Coastal Commuter

Dinner after midnight

By Michael Snyder

If you keep the sort of hours I do, you know that dining can be a very haphazard thing. Generally, I’m up at the crack of noon. Don’t judge. The validity of my lifestyl... Read More

Weekend Traveler

El Dorado County: Gold country splendor

By Patty Burness

Nestled in the Sierra Nevada’s historic gold rush region, El Dorado County (Spanish for “The Gilded One”) is a year-round playground — ski and snowboard in the winter, enjo... Read More

Weekend Traveler

Tour the Central Coast: San Luis Obispo

By Patty Burness

San Luis Obispo is a four-hour trip south down Highway 101 or a stunning drive down Highway 1. Either way, once you arrive, the SLO lifestyle kicks in – laid back, down to earth,... Read More

Coastal Commuter

The grass is always greener — and probably costlier

By Michael Snyder

As much as i love the change of pace and professional opportunities that my frequent time in Los Angeles provides me, I can’t imagine packing up all of my belongings, pulling up ... Read More

Weekend Traveler

Cruise the Central Coast: Cambria

By Patty Burness

The California coastline is a stunner any time of year. On a clear day, it really can’t be beat. Heading south on Highway 1 to the Central Coast from San Francisco, my husband an... Read More

Travel/Sports

Adventures in Hong Kong Dining: Lei Yue Mun and the Mother of all Garoupas

By Ernest Beyl

Many years ago when Hong Kong was a British Crown Colony, I spent a lot of time there as a P.R. guy. In the 1950s, I was the publicist in the United States for Cathay Pacific Airwa... Read More

Travel/Sports