Travel Editor, Barbara Barton Sloane, is constantly globe-hopping to share with our readers her unique experiences from the exotic to the sublime. She keeps us informed, as well, on the capricious and engaging fashion and beauty scene.

The Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France, also called St. Louis Cathedral is the oldest Catholic cathedral in continual use in the United States.

Hustle and bustle, tension and stress – all things associated with the approaching holidays. It’s inevitable, it’s what we’ve come to expect – no escaping it. Or can you? Recently I spent three busy, event-filled days in The Big Easy, aka New Orleans, and know what? It is easy. The holidays here are observed in a mellow, laid-back fashion. For example, view thousands of twinkling lights in City Park beneath Live Oaks adorned not with icicles but soft, streaming Spanish moss! At The St. Louis Cathedral hear famed New Orleans musicians and church choirs serenading with pop holiday fare – and – enjoy brunch at The Court of Two Sisters. You have never seen a more glorious, diverse, delicious spread; if accompanied by several glasses of bubbly it’s for certain you’ll feel all calm and cozy. New Orleans’ atmosphere is relaxed and cool (not talkin’ Mardi Gras here). There’s just something in the air…. laissez faire?

Hilton St. Charles

I was here in Crescent City for an Historic Hotels of America designation being given to twenty storied Hilton properties across the U.S. and the Hilton St. Charles was one of the lucky recipients. To be nominated and selected for membership into this prestigious program, a hotel must be at least 50 years old and be designated by the U.S Secretary of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark.

The landmark building that now houses the hotel was, from 1927 to the 80s, the Freemasons Grand Lodge. Many of the building’s original architectural highlights have been preserved, from the grand lobby to its black and cream marble walls. The façade still bears the name “Grand Lodge of Louisiana” and its cornerstone has a Masonic symbol. The renovations that have taken place along the way are authentic and attractive; one has a sense of serenity upon entering and the spacious, soft-toned guest rooms further this harmonious ambiance.

A perspective of the French Quarter from that of a Royal Carriage

The next holiday New Orleans will celebrate is New Year’s Eve. The festive days will give way to a slightly different mood, trust me. Bars will stay open all night, there will be fireworks over the Mississippi, hot and heavy clubbing in the French Quarter, dancing in the street, and a Fleur-de-Lis drop at Midnight. I mean, this is The Big Easy, right? Laissez les bons temps rouler!

The ornate charm and color of New Orleans.

If You Go:

www.neworleanscvb.com

Where to Stay                                        

Hilton New Orleans/St. Charles Avenue

www.hilton.com/NewOrleansStCharlesAve

Where to Eat

Lüke Restaurant

www.hhneworleansstcharles.com/luke-restaurant.php

Tableau

www.tableaufrenchquarter.com

Antoine’s

www.antoines.com

Court of Two Sisters – Since 1832

Court of Two Sisters

www.courtoftwosisters.com

Remoulade

www.remoulade.com

What to do:                                            

Steamboat Natchez

www.steamboatnatchez.com

Tour of City with Guide

glfdevilliers@gmail.com

Images by Michael Sloane and courtesy of Michael Sloane Travel Photography, unless noted otherwise.

Travel Editor, Barbara Barton Sloane, is constantly globe-hopping to share with our readers her unique experiences from the exotic to the sublime. She keeps us informed, as well, on the capricious and engaging fashion and beauty scene.

The post LEAVING ON A JET PLANE: Hilton St. Charles and Crescent City By BARBARA BARTON SLOANE appeared first on Yonkers Tribune.

YONKERS, NY

• At the Bronx River Parkway/Sprain Brook Parkway split in Yonkers
• At Fenimore Road Exit 15, Scarsdale
• At Main Street Exit 21, White Plains

For additional information, contact Westchester County Department of Public Works and Transportation, 914-995-2555.

The post Bronx River Parkway Road Paving Cancelled in Yonkers, Scarsdale and White Plains appeared first on Yonkers Tribune.

YONKERS, NY

• At the Bronx River Parkway/Sprain Brook Parkway split in Yonkers
• At Fenimore Road Exit 15, Scarsdale
• At Main Street Exit 21, White Plains

Motorists are advised to expect delays and seek alternate routes.

For additional information, contact Westchester County Department of Public Works and Transportation, call:  914-995-2555.

The post Bronx River Parkway Road Paving Begins Monday in Yonkers, Scarsdale and White Plains appeared first on Yonkers Tribune.

Yonkers Tribune’s Fashion and Travel Editor Barbara Barton Sloane.

Ok, so we all know the way to San Jose but did you know that the headquarters of Apple, Google, Microsoft and countless other of the world’s largest technology companies

are a mere 15 to 20 minutes away? So close and yet so far… because actually getting into these establishments is tricky, to say the least. At Google, one must be invited to enter the inner sanctum by way of an employee, and as for Apple, fuggedaboudit! No way, no how, do they allow outsiders to visit. I say, so what! In San Jose, you will have more than enough to fascinate, excite, and entertain in this, the state’s third largest city – and California’s very first capital.

Capital of Silicon Valley

San Jose Museum of Art.

Founded in 1777, San Jose initially served as a farming community. Today, its rapid growth in high-tech and electronics industries has accelerated the transition from agricultural center to a booming, global city known for its affluence (and high cost of living). I was curious to visit “San Jo,” as it’s called, to see what this capital of Silicon Valley has to offer, especially in light of the high technology influence surrounding it. I found a lively, cosmopolitan city with outstanding museums, pretty parks, sidewalk cafes and – not the least of its significant appeals – more than 300 days of sunshine a year!

San Jo Walk-About

Stained-glass window in St. Joseph’s Cathedral.

My first day of exploring was on an historical walking tour with Terra Wood-Taylor, a gal who knows her city intimately and introduced me to places and things that contribute to the unique pulse of this city. Our first stop was Saint Joseph’s

St. Joseph’s Cathedral.

Cathedral, a religious site that plays a large part in the lives of San Jose’s Catholics. A splendid house of worship, the cathedral started out in 1803 as a humble pueblo church made of adobe and wood. Over the years, fires and earthquakes destroyed it three times until finally in 1876 the cornerstone for the present Saint Joseph church building was laid. A distinctive feature is its stained glass windows, many of which were created in Munich of mouth-blown Bavarian glass with a formula that dates to the 11^th century and is essentially “fade proof.” The radiance of the windows’ jewel tones bathe the interior in luminous ruby, sapphire and gold. The people of San Jose are particularly proud of the Cathedral’s “Basilica” designation conferred on the church by Pope John Paul in 1997.

Cesar Chavez Park.

In the heart of downtown we strolled through the Plaza de Cesar Chavez, a 2.2 acre park that is host to music and cultural festivals, arts and crafts fairs, farmers’ markets and food shows. This is home to the San Jose Jazz Festival and every Thursday during the summer the park is the site of free concerts.

I was looking forward to visiting The Tech Museum of Innovation. Educational and modern, the museum allows visitors to experience the spirit of innovation, Silicon Valley-style. Although geared primarily to kids, it is mesmerizing for all. The museum has four major theme galleries: Exploration, Innovation, Communication and Life Tech – and they are constantly being revamped and changed to fit the current exhibits. This place captures the area’s celebration of technology with a focus on what it calls “the gizmos and gadgets” produced by Valley companies. A must-see, must-do Silicon Valley experience for all ages.

You’ve Gotta Have Art

SoFA is an area in San Jose dedicated to a movement that is new – and necessary. An emerging arts, music and literary scene is afoot and it bills itself as “a place where you can interact with some of the most eclectic and artistic people in the city.” One of the high points of my day was meeting graphic designers Cherri Lakey and Brian Eder, who own Anno Domini and KALEID, two edgy and quite exceptional art galleries in SoFA. The couple also run a monthly street festival called South First Fridays and an annual event known as the SubZERO Festival (which drew 15,000 people into the streets last year). Local artists and cultural enthusiasts of all persuasions feel profoundly indebted to them for developing and nurturing the growth of the region’s creative ecosystem.

Be There or Be Square

My first full day of touring required some serious R&R that evening, and there was no better place to find it than at the San Pedro Square Market. It is the meet-up place for foodies, music lovers, and wine and beer imbibers. I indulged in a crazy-good burger that I created myself from myriad tasty toppings paired with a glass of California Pinot Noir. Not very original or venturesome but oh so right. The best place to hang here is at the open-air plaza – perfect to see, be seen, and chill under the stars.

During the next few days, San Jose became Entertainment City. “Come Together: The Beatles Concert” was held at Montgomery Theater, a hall intimate enough so that the soul of the Beatles had the entire audience in a sing-along. Jerry Seinfeld was his usual ascerbic self at The Center for the Performing Arts, and Andre Thierry & Zydeco Magic had me skipping around a small dance floor at the Mountain Winery, an incomparable setting in an historic stone-masonry building, with the Santa Cruz mountain range its backdrop.

The Twilight Zone

Tomb painting, from the Egyptian Museum.

Any visitor to San Jose must make a stop at the Winchester Mystery House. Once there was a wealthy widow named Sarah L. Winchester, the rifle heiress. In 1884, she began construction of a Victorian mansion of such magnitude that it was to occupy the lives of carpenters and craftsmen until her death thirty-eight years later. In short, it is an architectural marvel with 160 rooms, 47 fireplaces, and miles of twisting hallways. Our tour guide cautioned us not to stray from the group or we might just be lost for hours! The questions is, of course, why did Mrs. Winchester spend such a staggering amount of energy and expense building this baffling house and living in such an eerily eccentric way? Perhaps she was following the advice of psychics who told her to provide a home for the spirits of those killed by Winchester rifles – the very spirits she constantly attempted to reach in her Séance Room. Well, the lady took the secret of why to her grave and we’re left to ponder the mystery. A hoot, a trip….check it out.

Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum.

Statue in the Egyptian Museum.

Still in the Zone: The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum. Founded by the Ancient Mystical Order of Rosae Crucis’s Dr. Harvey Spencer Lewis, this museum houses the largest exhibition of ancient Egyptian antiquities in the Western United States. I was captivated by the museum’s exceptional artifacts and wished I could spend days and days here, soaking up its rarified atmosphere. It is thrilling to look upon these works of art and realize that the vast majority of what you see is the real thing – not replicas – and that would include the mummies; four of which are on display. The oldest artifact is a 1.5 million-year-old stone axe, and some of the pottery is well over 6,000 years old. Here, no question, the golden age of Egypt comes alive. I walked slowly through a rock tomb replica modeled on the Djoser Step Pyramid complex and was completely transported back in time.

Between spooky Winchester House and the haunting Phaeroic statues that now surrounded me, I felt it was high time to go in search of more quotidian pursuits. And, nearby, I found it! Just what I needed to ground me – a place so contemporary in its shops, restaurants and elegance it could only be Santana Row. Hip, fashion-forward and the perfect antidote to shake off any lingering creepiness, I scanned the street and spied Gucci, Kate Spade, and Anthropologie; further on, BCBG and Diesel. I’m home! I ended my engrossing San Jose visit doing something enticing, alluring, and cheery. I shopped!

If You Go: 

San Jose Tourism

www.sanjose.org

Stay

Hilton San Jose

www.hilton.com/san_jose

Restaurants 

Arcadia

www.opentable.com

Left Bank

www.leftbank.com

La Lune Sucree

www.lalunesucree.com

Original Joe’s

www.originaljoe’s.com

Nemea Greek Taverna

www.nemeagreektaverna.com

Do

The Tech Museum of Innovation

www.thetech.org

Anno Domini Gallery

www.galleryad.com

Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum

www.rosicrucian.org

Winchester Mystery House

www.winchestermysteryhouse.com

Mountain Winery

www.mountainwinery.com

Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph

www.stjosephcathedral.org

Images by Michael Sloane and courtesy of Michael Sloane Travel Photography, unless noted otherwise.

Travel Editor, Barbara Barton Sloane, is constantly globe-hopping to share with our readers her unique experiences from the exotic to the sublime. She keeps us informed, as well, on the capricious and engaging fashion and beauty scene.

The post LEAVING ON A JET PLANE: Boom Town USA – San Jose! By BARBARA BARTON SLOANE appeared first on Yonkers Tribune.

American Airlines Flight 67 direct from Barcelona, Spain landed at JFK at 12:01 p.m. EST., Sunday, November 30, 2014.

YONKERS, NY – November 30, 2014 – American Airlines Flight Number 67 from Barcelona arrived at its destination,  John F. Kennedy International Airport early Sunday afternoon immersed under a nebulous suggestion that a telephone call to WPIX-11  received notice of  an “unspecified threat”.

Emergency Responders were quick to surround AA Flt. #67 amid unsubstantiated reports suggestive of a bomb threat.

The Boeing 767 was carrying two-hundred passengers and a crew of nine.” The plane landed at 12:01 p.m. EST and was met by authorities advising of a “security concern” not fully explained or divulged.

Port Authority of New York and new Jersey Police aided by k-9 unit dogs swept the aircraft and cargo revealing no bomb on board.

Authorities are presently investigating the source of the telephone call.

More information as it is gleaned.

The post American Airlines’ Flight 67 from Barcelona, Spain, Lands at JFK Amid ‘Security Concern’ By HEZI ARIS appeared first on Yonkers Tribune.

YONKERS, NY — November 25, 2014 — The area from Washington, DC up through Massachusetts/Connecticut and New York are expected to face a significant snow event tomorrow, on what is sure to be a travel-heavy day due to Thursday’s holiday.

Key points:

§ On Wednesday morning, Nov. 26, precipitation will rapidly move into the Boston area from Washington, DC. This is expected to begin in Washington, DC around 4 a.m., and travel northward to Boston by 9 a.m.

§ Precipitation will begin as a rain/snow mix, and then quickly transition to snow for the major metropolitan areas by early afternoon.

§ Travelers should note that by the late afternoon and evening hours, the snow is expected to blanket all major metropolitan areas, creating a travel nightmare for major cities across the Northeastern U.S.

§ The storm is expected to end Wednesday night.

Snow accumulation projections are as follows:

§ Washington, D.C./Baltimore – 2 to 5 inches

§ Philadelphia/north and central New Jersey – 4 to 7 inches

§ New York City – 1 to 4 inches

§ Massachusetts and Connecticut – 5 to 9 inches

SOURCE: Data points and/or images, from critical weather intelligence provider Baron Critical Intelligence.

The post Thanksgiving 2014 – Travel Day Storm By BARON SERVICES appeared first on Yonkers Tribune.

This southbound closure is necessary for concrete bridge deck installation.  The southbound closure detour will be posted using Main Street to Broadway (US 9) to Washington Avenue.

The northbound direction of Warburton Avenue has been closed since May and the northbound closure detour is posted using Washington Avenue and Broadway (US 9) with a temporary traffic signal installed at the Washington Avenue and Broadway intersection.  The northbound closure will continue until December 2015.

The southbound travel direction and one sidewalk will remain open for the duration of the project except during concrete deck installation activities.  Several additional daily southbound closures will be required to complete the work this before winter.

Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes.  Variable message signs are being used to alert motorists of the upcoming closure.

The work to be performed on this project includes replacement of the concrete bridge deck, sidewalks, asphalt surface, repairs and painting of the steel superstructure, milling and paving of the roadway approaches.

The bridge rehabilitation project cost is $5.9 million and is being funded with County Capital Funds.

For additional information, contact Westchester County Department of Public Works and Transportation,

914-995-2555.

The post Warburton Avenue Southbound Closure In Hastings-on-Hudson Wednesday, November 12th from 9:30 am to 3:30 p.m. appeared first on Yonkers Tribune.

YONKERS, NY

• Fort Hill Road in Yonkers between Central Park Avenue and the Greenburgh Town line starting on Monday, November 10 and continuing daily until Friday, December 12 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• North Division Street (between Oakwood Drive and Orchard Street) and Welcher Avenue (between Route 9 and Washington Avenue) in Peekskill starting on Monday, November 10 and continuing daily until Friday, November 14 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Central Park Avenue between the New York State Thruway (I-87) and the Cross County Parkway in Yonkers will have night alternating single lane closures starting on Monday night, November 10 and continuing nightly through Friday night, November 14 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Motorists are advised to expect delays and seek alternate routes.

For additional information, contact Westchester County Department of Public Works and Transportation, 914-995-2555.

The post Road Paving Begins Monday in Yonkers and Peekskill appeared first on Yonkers Tribune.

Motorists are advised that there may be delays in this vicinity.

SOURCE: Westchester County Department of Public Works and Transportation at 995-2555.

The post Bronx River Parkway Night Lane Closures on Sunday and Monday, October 19th and 20th, in Yonkers appeared first on Yonkers Tribune.

“We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch, we are going back from whence we came.” –John F. Kennedy

Ancient Tower along the Wild Atlantic Way.

Yonkers Tribune’s Fashion and Travel Editor Barbara Barton Sloane.

Wild Atlantic Way logo.

Wild. Wild? Not a word you’d typically associate with Ireland. Pubs? Check. Shamrocks? Check. Guinness? Oh definitely, but wild? Yes! It’s the sea, you see.

A Place Where Rugged Rules

At the very edge of Europe, this newest odyssey, the Wild Atlantic Way, extends for 1,600 miles along Ireland’s western seaboard. It is the world’s longest, most culturally rich coast that stretches from Malin Head in County Donegal down to Kinsale in County Cork. Here the Atlantic Ocean’s power has carved a coastline of raw beauty with sharp cliffs, wave-capped inlets, barren beaches and stately lighthouses dotted along the way. Of this land one long-time local said “…with myriad miles of uninterrupted ocean, no windbreak and no reefs, there’s just a wide, wild, open space that allows the sea to grow and grow before it comes to a sudden stop on our shore.” The Wild Atlantic Way is as close to exploring an open-air museum as you’ll get – exceptional landscapes, stunning flora and fauna – and packed with history and adventure, as I was about to find out.

A Walk on the Wild Side – in Viking Footsteps

St. Senan’s graveyard.

Located where the Shannon River meets the Atlantic Ocean lie the Scattery Islands in County Clare. After a short ferry ride, there before me in all its ruined glory: St. Senan’s Monastery, an ecclesiastical center founded in the 6^th century and invaded by Vikings centuries later. It is today a windswept, desolate place, the blustery chill in the air perfectly matching the austere surroundings. I walked through an ancient burial ground festooned with Celtic high crosses made of granite, some a thousand years old. Then, the small ferry hustling across the water to transport me once more to life – and warmth – was a welcome sight.

Catch and Cook

In Dingle Harbor, County Kerry, the Atlantic offers an abundance of fish. Although I’d never before held a fishing rod, it seemed simple enough as Tom, the boatman, baited and gently placed my rod overboard. I asked how I’d know if I had a bite. “Oh, you’ll know,” was all he said as he walked away. He was right! I felt a strong tug on the line, began reeling and suddenly, flopping before me – a large Ling fish. (When I returned home and told this tale, I predictably fell into that time-honored tradition of stretching my hands wide and saying “this big!”). Although my Ling would win no awards in a fish beauty contest, once cooked, it was yummy.

The Cliffs of More

Cliffs of Moher.

Oh yeah, Ireland’s most visited natural attraction, the Cliffs of Moher, has everything you’d expect – and more. Local historian and farmer Pat Sweeney was my guide for a 3-hour walk above the Doolin Cliffs stretching for 5 miles along the Atlantic coast of County Clare. The briny smell of the sea was intoxicating, the vertiginous paths that hovered along cliffs with 700-foot drops daunting, and green fields strewn with sheep and cows captivating. The constant cry of seagulls overhead and ferocious waves pounding rocks below was nature at its most elemental.

Don’t Let It Be Forgot

Experience the raw beauty of the Dingle Peninsula‘s offshore outpost with a day trip to the Blasket Islands along the Kerry coastline.

At the very edge of Europe, off the Dingle Peninsula lie the mystical Blasket Islands, a small archipelago renowned for its storytellers. Here lived a tiny population of traditional culture, remaining strong in an isolated and rugged community, and living simply from the land and sea. Visiting the Blasket Center with its galleries of artifacts and portraits of inhabitants, I felt the toil of their hard lives and had a keen appreciation for these long-ago people. Due to a declining population, the islands were abandoned in 1953. As its numbers dwindled, native author Tomas O’Crohan wrote the book The Islandman, in part “so that some record of us might live after, for the likes of us will never be again.”

Activities Abound

Riding along the Connemara Trail.

Hiking, cycling, surfing. It’s all here, as well as gentler pursuits. I’m thinking of a Connemara pony ride that I did along a serene silver-blue sea. If you’re an adrenalin junkie, I can think of no wilder activity than coasteering. What is that, you ask? Oh, just jumping off a several hundred-foot cliff into the roiling Atlantic Ocean below. For you, maybe. For me, not.

Someone once said “I believe one has to escape oneself to discover oneself.” Why? Because it’s easy to get lost in this fast-moving world and forget the lash of a salty sea breeze or the roar of waves. It’s easy to forget that somewhere brilliant sun is falling behind an historic relic or that lighthouses are still keeping watch over the sea. Easy to forget. But, if you want to remember, just think of the Wild Atlantic Way and go west!

If You Go:

www.ireland.com/Tourism 

Images by Michael Sloane and courtesy of Michael Sloane Travel Photography.

Yonkers Tribune Travel Editor, Barbara Barton Sloane, is constantly globe-hopping to share with our readers her unique experiences from the exotic to the sublime. She keeps us informed, as well, on the capricious and engaging fashion and beauty scene.

The post LEAVING ON A JET PLANE: Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way By BARBARA BARTON SLOANE appeared first on Yonkers Tribune.