Chef Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon has been a familiar face on Philly’s food scene for years. She has now become globally recognized since the James Beard Foundation named her Best Chef in the Mid-Atlantic. Her restaurant, Kalaya, moved from the Bella Vista neighborhood to the edge of Fishtown, and I have wanted to check out the new digs since 2022. With the news of her James Beard honor, I knew I had to get in the door, so I made a lunch reservation for a Sunday afternoon.
The first “dry January” was an act against aggression, not alcohol. Today’s version of teetotalling to start the new year has blossomed into a year-round trademarked movement, as well as a way of life for those leading sober lifestyles. The restaurant industry is fully embracing it, as well.
Built in 1794 by American Revolutionary War general Anthony Wayne, the original fort—and thus the foundation of the city—bordered the indigenous lands of the Miami tribe. Over the years, Fort Wayne experienced a series of ups and downs and beginning in the 1990s launched an upswing as city leaders spurred efforts to reduce crime, diversify its economy, and redevelop downtown. Prime examples of these efforts are flourishing. The Electric Works, an excellent example of adaptive reuse turned a scuttled 39-acre General Electric plant into a thriving, mixed-use campus with businesses, learning centers, recreational facilities, and a multi-vendor food hall and market.
Visit Richmond promotes an eclectic culture spawned by craft beer, more than 900 restaurants, and an underground music scene, but those looking to bring an RV or pitch a tent need to look outside the city. The surrounding countryside offers access to the city, plus proximity to amusement parks, nature activities, and historic spots from the founding of the nation and the US Civil War. Here are our picks for 5 of the best places to spend time in an RV, tent, or cabin near Richmond.
A James Beard Award is nothing new to Ellen Yin. The 2023 recipient of Outstanding Restaurateur operates a handful of unique restaurants in Philly, including the city staple a.kitchen, which opened in 2011. I have walked past the restaurant and its bustling next door boite a.bar in Rittenhouse for years, so on the tails of Yin’s latest Beard achievement I made a reservation for a Sunday evening.
Trains became synonymous with Christmas as a means of travel during the Golden Age of railroading.
It is easy to walk right past Freyja Guesthouse. Unassumingly situated in a quiet neighborhood around the corner from Hallgrimskirkja, the iconic cathedral inspired by the basalt formations along Iceland’s coast, Freyja Guesthouse can be recognized by a lone metal plaque with the church’s relief serving as a logo. There’s also a Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice Award designation along the wall.
Not pilgrims, Americans can thank falling woolen and tobacco industries for the first Thanksgiving.
Over coffee, on a sunny day in the city, two writers speak of the beauty of Lancaster’s architecture. I am chatting with architect turned author, Gregg Scott, about Cassius Emlen Urban. And I am discovering how deep another writer will dig to unearth a story with veins touching almost everyone who strides upon the Red Rose city’s sidewalks.
The city of Buffalo is unofficially divided into 26 neighborhoods. Each has its attractions and history, but none may be so storied and thriving as Elmwood Village. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places starting in 1980, Elmwood encompasses an area bordered by Millionaire’s Row and the 350-acre Delaware Park.
