I’ve wanted to pay my respects at the World Trade Center Memorial since it opened, but it has eluded me up until now. Visiting requires booking a visitor pass in advance, and when I had tried, it had been sold out for weeks at a time. Maybe that was just because it was the summer, […]
Visiting the World Trade Center Memorial Read More »
I was visiting my sister in New York last week when I got an urgent call from my dad. “You better not come back on Friday like you planned,” he said. “We’re getting a snowstorm. And this is going to be a BIG one.” Big was right. Soon we would be hit by Storm Nemo,
Surviving Snowstorm Nemo in New York and Boston Read More »
If you’re a longtime reader, you remember how I decided to stop dreaming and actually start traveling. It began in January 2010. Within a two-week span, everything in my life seemed to fall apart. First, my relationship ended. Next, I lost my freelance job writing about Boston nightlife. Third, I lost my job. And finally,
When You Get a Sign, LISTEN. Read More »
When I got invited to join a food tour through New York’s Little Italy and Chinatown, I was excited — but a bit skeptical. Isn’t Little Italy a giant tourist trap? I thought. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for authenticity, shouldn’t you leave Manhattan altogether and head to the Bronx and Flushing? I was wrong. Little
Eating Through Little Italy and Chinatown with Ahoy Tours Read More »
I’m in a midtown nail salon, watching as my toenails are layered in iridescent fuchsia. It’s been a while — since leaving Southeast Asia, I can’t justify paying more than $5 for a mani-pedi. And it shows. For most girls, a pedicure is just for decoration; for me, this time it was more like reconstrutive surgery.
Confronting My Ghost Life in New York Read More »
When you travel the world solo, you spend a lot of time talking to locals! And while I’ve met kind, hospitable, welcoming people in every corner of the world I’ve visited, some places are universally welcoming — no matter where you go, you’re welcomed as a close friend or even a member of the family.
Where to Find the Friendliest People in the World Read More »
Readers, I have a challenge for you. I dare you to find me one person who saw Wedding Crashers and said to themselves, “You know what? That looks kind of lame.” Good luck — because everyone I know who saw that movie walked out of the theater bright-eyed and excited, saying, “I SO have to
Adventurous Kate Crashes a Wedding Read More »
While spending the holidays at home in Boston, I took a quick trip to see my sister (and get my India visa) in New York City. I was fighting a pretty bad cold, so I wasn’t motivated to run around the city all day, but I got to see lots of my friends — and
New York: As Seen By Instagram Read More »
I’m a big advocate of traveling in the off-season and reaping the benefits: lower prices, fewer crowds, a more local experience. But as I sit here in Turkey, I’m disappointed at my decision to come here for three weeks in late November. Istanbul was great if a bit cold, Cappadocia was freezing cold and creepily
Traveling in the Off-Season: Sometimes Great, Sometimes Awful! Read More »
Yes, I said three-pound cinnamon bun. I first heard of this behemoth on the TV show Man vs. Food, which if you haven’t seen is probably one of the better examples of Americana in 2011. Basically, Adam Richman travels around restaurants in the United States, finds ridiculously large portion sizes, and competes in eating competitions.
The Three-Pound Cinnamon Bun of San Antonio, Texas Read More »