Yosemite in Summer 2020, a Dreamlike Experience
A Review of Yosemite Dreams: Rustic and Refined Lodging Near Oakhurst By J.C. Thomas In 2020, visiting Yosemite National Park in the peak of summer feels like a dream. Weird and lovely, almost eerily serene in the absence of big crowds, experiencing the park in this way is a privilege offered only by the extraordinary […]
The Four Unseen Pillars of Father’s Day
By Rachel Melikian Something can stand on three pillars, but a house needs four. In the home, the father represents all four pillars, without which the home would collapse. Fathers often work silently and without expectation of praise for their sacrifices. This is the work that sustains the pillars and goes unseen on the shoulders […]
For 2020, a Virtual Vigil for Armenia’s 1.5 million Sanctified Martyrs
By Rachel Melikian The night before the Armenian Genocide commemoration on April 24 there is a candlelight vigil, but this year, 2020, the commemoration of the 105th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide was different. It was virtual, without any marches in Little Armenia, or publicly held candlelight vigil nights, due to the novel Coronavirus global […]
Three Amazing Marine Life Attractions in SoCal
By J.C. Thomas There are two ways to witness the stunning diversity of marine life of our planet’s oceans, seas and waterways: embark upon diving excursions all over the world; or visit amazing aquariums and other marine life exhibits. In Southern California, three such destinations draw crowds of locals and visitors with their dazzling aquatic […]
The Magic of Mumbai
By Roger Allnutt Located on the west coast of the country facing the Arabian Sea, Mumbai, formerly called Bombay, is India’s most vibrant city. It’s the financial capital of India, the country’s busiest port, a thriving center for film production (Bollywood) and a dynamic and cosmopolitan city whirling with color and activity. The city is […]
Traveling Near and Far: The Kenai Peninsula
By Joann Deutch Most road warriors who set off for an Alaskan adventure head off to the Denali. My mission – to see the Bering Sea and the Aleutians Islands – took me in the other direction. My route took me from Anchorage to Homer by car, then the Alaska Marine Highway’s passenger ferry to […]
Experience Endless Summer at Newport Dunes
By J.C. Thomas Newport Beach, one in a string of glorious beach towns along the coast of Orange County, has a reputation for being fancy. There’s no denying it’s a gilded playground of sorts, profuse with country clubs and yachts, high-end boutiques and such natural beauty to command an arm and a leg of anyone […]
There’s Still Time for Pre-Snow Fun in Big Bear
By J.C. Thomas Many SoCal residents are eagerly awaiting the arrival of snow in Big Bear, whether it’s by nature or machine. But with temperatures across California still on the warmer side, we’ll all just have to be patient. Real winter will soon hit the mountains, but there’s plenty of outdoor action to experience in […]
Behind the Muddied Glass: A Doctor’s Look at Untreated Mental Illness
By Susan Partovi I met “Carrie” while making rounds at the Los Angeles County women’s jail with a group of mental health professionals. A woman in her mid-50s, she had no clue what day it was. Naked and thin, Carrie ambled over, peering through the muddied glass of her jail cell. But it was not […]
The Week in Entertainment
Oakland: The Bay Area Instagram crowd is going nuts over the 90s, as the “90’s Experience” nostalgia-heavy pop-up opened on Jack London Square last week. Experience the greatest hits of the 1990s across all media in this 6,000-square-foot ode to the decade that defined the childhoods of older millennials and the teen years of Gen […]
A Family Guide to St. George, Utah
By J.C. Thomas A first-time family visit to St. George, Utah feels like you’ve been let in on a not-so-well-kept secret. Entertaining kids away from home without sacrificing enjoyment for yourself tends to be a challenge – but not in St. George. This city at the very southwest corner of the state is as close […]
The Hotel with a Heart Turns 55!
By Ariel Johns Since opening its doors on May 25, 1964, the Hilton San Francisco Union Square has welcomed convention goers, families, professionals, tourists and such celebrities as Lucille Ball, John Wayne and the king himself, Elvis Presley. Located in the center of three popular neighborhoods, Union Square, SOMA and the Tenderloin, this landmark hotel […]