BUFFALO, N.Y. – Grain silos turned into a zipline course. Gardening as a competitive sport. And an abundance of glorious architecture. There’s a travel cliché that gets kicked around a lot, where someone says, “If you haven’t been to Destination X in three years, you haven’t been to Destination X.” With apologies to the cliché police, it wouldn’t be a stretch to use that kind of phrase about Buffalo. I was in town a few years ago to have a look at the improving waterfront and other areas of this surprising city. I went back early last week for another Read more
Architecture
CHICAGO- One of the best things about travel to me is stepping into a really cool hotel with great atmosphere and history and thinking, “Wow, this is my home the next few days.” That’s exactly the way I felt when I walked into the Intercontinental Chicago Magnificent Mile in this great city the other day. I didn’t know much about it before I got here, but I came away from the trip with this being my favourite hotel in town. The 42-story south tower was built in 1929 as a playground for the Shriners, and you’ll find wonderful exterior touches Read more
TORONTO – Bisha Hotel Toronto designer Alessandro Munge of Toronto’s highly successful Studio Munge is talking about his relationship with Bisha owner and developer Charles Khabouth. Munge has been friends with the Toronto nightclub and entertainment impresario for two dozen years and knows what he likes and what pushes his buttons. “It’s a constant push for quality, quality, quality,” Munge told a group of journalists on a preview tour Wednesday afternoon. “If it’s exciting, he’s okay with it. But if not, well, ….” I’m no designer, but I’ve seen a lot of hotels in my day and I can safely Read more
MONTREAL – For a minute I thought I was in the wrong hotel. I was supposed to be checking into the Renaissance Hotel downtown. But when I opened the doors I was looking at a large grey and charcoal sofa dotted with orange pillows and a brilliant yellow table. Hanging from an overhead beam was a swing done up with a seat in multiple colour stripes. Over in the corner was a sleek metallic bookcase fronted by 1960’s-styled grey chairs with more rainbow pillows. Behind that was a wall covered with a series of colourful and evocative photos; Nelson Mandela, Read more
Things are looking up in Winnipeg, with NHL hockey back in town and new hotels springing up around downtown. With the Canadian dollar still down, this year is a great time to visit the city and explore Manitoba while you’re at it. I also read just today (April 7) that Porter Airlines is planning flights from southern Ontario to Winnipeg to test demand; a very positive step for the city. THIS STORY ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN Postmedia and Sun Media newspapers and websites on March 30… MUSEUMS The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is the only national museum of Canada that’s Read more
