A Lady in London

It’s not often that the best steakhouse in London opens a new location. It’s even less often that a friend snags a reservation by following the steakhouse on Twitter. And it’s far less often that that generous friend extends an invitation for you to join them. But sometimes lucky things happen and you find yourself at the soft opening of the new Hawksmoor restaurant in Covent Garden. Last night was one of those times.

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Today is my three year anniversary of moving to London. Three years since I left San Francisco. Three years since I packed the previous three years into boxes. Three years since I arrived on the Eurostar from Paris.

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With all the fuss over Halloween, there is another autumn holiday that often gets overlooked. Mexico’s Day of the Dead, which is celebrated on the day after Halloween, is a festival dedicated to the memory of departed souls. How do I know this? I had to give a million presentations on the Dia de los Muertos in Spanish class as a kid.

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After my press trip to Paris it was a bit of a let-down to come home and sleep in my own bed. But thankfully I didn’t have to wait long until my next hotel stay. As a bonus, this one was much closer to home. In fact, it was right in London. It was at the Hoxton Hotel.

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With all of the spa treatments, Louvre tours, and personal shopping appointments we enjoyed on our press trip to Paris’ Hotel Le Bristol, my fellow travelers and I worked up quite an appetite. Lucky for us, the hotel had no shortage of high-end cuisine on offer. Even luckier, the staff was incredibly generous in inviting us to experience all of the various culinary options.

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My press trip to Hotel Le Bristol in Paris continued to impress. The after-hours tour of the Louvre was amazing, and I couldn’t wait to see what other unique experiences the hotel could offer its guests. I didn’t have to wait long. The following day we were scheduled to meet with a personal shopper who would take us all over the Right Bank. Lacking any talent in the shopping department, I was excited to have an insider’s help in finding the best boutiques in Paris.

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As my press trip to Hotel Le Bristol continued, I didn’t think there could be anything more impressive outside of the hotel than inside. How could they top the gorgeous suites, the excellent cuisine, and the relaxing spa treatments? By giving us access to things we couldn’t get on our own, that’s how. This came in several forms, the first of which was a private after-hours tour of the Louvre. Normally reserved for the hotel’s VIP guests, we were the first press group to experience this luxury firsthand.

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A week ago I received an email inviting me on a press trip to Paris. Given my love for the city, it I didn’t hesitate to accept. But even if the trip hadn’t been to Paris, I would have jumped at the chance to go. Why? It was a press trip to Hotel Le Bristol, one of Paris’ top five-star hotels, and one of the only European family-owned hotels of its caliber in the city. With a three Michelin starred restaurant, an amazing spa, and gorgeous decor, I couldn’t wait to experience the hotel first-hand.

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What do you get when you mix one part gorgeous weather, one part excellent fresh food, one part world-class wine, and one part home? You get October in San Francisco.

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After my day of Disneyland fun on Friday, I was ready for some grown-up entertainment. This started at my hotel for the evening, the W Hollywood. A drink at the open-air bar turned into a tequila-tasting session when the guy next to me turned out to be a rep for a high-end tequila brand. This was followed by dinner with my brother and his wife, who kindly came up from San Diego to have dinner with me at a Mexican restaurant nearby. This, of course, involved more tequila in the form of margaritas. By the end of the evening I was pleasantly in grown-up fun mode.

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My last trip to Disneyland was eight years ago. I don’t get to the Los Angeles area very often, and when I do I usually don’t have time to spare. But on Friday I found myself in Anaheim with one day to dedicate to the happiest place on earth.

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When a friend invites you to a party in Monaco for the christening of his new yacht, it’s hard to say no. In fact, a resounding ‘yes’ is more likely the response. It was certainly mine.

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The best part about flying into Nice Airport is the view. The runway is right on the sea, and as the plane makes its descent, there are gorgeous views of everything from the waterfront Promenade des Anglais to the tree-studded mountains in the background.

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A few weeks ago I got an email from a friend inviting me to a supper club called Fernandez and Leluu. Like most supper clubs in London, it was an informal ‘restaurant’ run out of someone’s home. This particular home was in Hackney, and this particular supper club was known for being one of the best in London.

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