Pic of the Day: The Rooftop, London

Here it is

And it has reopened with an Asian themed menu.

Of course I want to go!

Fantasy Meals. A Private Dinner at the French Laundry

Quite a few of my posts these days are not so much about real things, but ways to transcend the limitations we are experiencing. I sue the word “fantasy” for that purpose — to open up the mind for a moment or two.

And what a way to open the mind!

Foie gras and caviar and wagyu beef, these are a few of our favorite things. As luck would have it, all three indulgences and more are on offer at The French Laundry in a new indoor dining experience that’s “like no other.”

Robb has the story. Go for it!

Paris in September? Why not?

Yes, there are restrictions. I know. And yes, some of us are not “in the pink”. They won’t be able to join in … this year.

But we can all share what is going on in Paris this September. HIP Paris offers a preview of some great events. My fav

Jazz à la Villette – until September 13

Prolonging summer with a celebration of the genre’s many nuances, Jazz à la Villette offers a fantastic musical lineup each September. The Festival is reformatted this year to address current health requirements. The program takes place at the Philharmonie de Paris, the Cité de la Musique, and the Grande Halle de La Villette. For two weekends, the international festival presents jazz in all its vitality and diversity. Paris Jazz Festival, usually held in July, has been rescheduled. This year, it will run until September 20.

Daniel James / Jazz à la Villette

Travel: Check out the new Viceroy Hotel in DC

It is the Logan Circle area and it is arty.

Robb has the scoop.

Viceroy is a boutique luxe hotel brand. How does it define itself? Glad you asked! From their  !About us” webpage

Legendary locations are just the beginning. From chic suites in the city center to sumptuous villas on a secluded Caribbean beach, from poolside cocktails at dusk to two-hour massages in private cabanas, every setting is one of a kind. Viceroy reinterprets history, traditions, and modernity in innovative, uniquely timeless ways.

Errr … so there is no consistent idea running through their various locations? Not so! Read further!

Yet, within each individual environment, certain qualities are welcomingly consistent. Creativity, comfort, and service all make the signature Viceroy experience, where guest needs are always anticipated and graciously accommodated. Equally constant are the accolades earned by our distinctive hotels, including the pages of Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Departures, New York Times, and Vogue.

Welcomingly? There is more1

From arrival to departure and back again, it’s this blend of the indispensable, unexpected, and imperceptible that makes each Viceroy property a top choice among many, and a destination unto itself.

Hmmm  … if one cannot perceive it, how can one notice it?

What to do in Aix?

First, perhaps, get straight on how to pronounce it (ex).

Then get into the rhythm of this charming city in Provence. Lily Heise offers a nice overview of weekend options.

A special treat!

… if you’re looking for great modern cuisine, book a table at L’Alcôve, which sources ingredients directly from local producers,

The Amazing Mohonk!

I had low expectations when our group approached Mohonk Resort in upstate New York. It violated one of my personal preferences, being very, very big. Here is a pic

There is no hiding it. The Mohonk is a whopper.

But as our group started packing up to leave Mohonk a few days later, I didn’t want to go. Couldn’t we stay for a few more days?

Mohonk is like that. It has a unique charm that you have to experience. Fathom gives it a rec – and a fun one at that!

Enjoy!

Cool Spots. DC – Top of the Gate

AFAR has a list of very cool roof top bars – and this might be the coolest

Courtesy of the Watergate Hotel

Soak in the 360-degree views of the Potomac River and other D.C. landmarks at the Watergate Hotel’s Top of the Gate.

Top of the Gate

Washington, D.C.

The Nixon-era Watergate Hotel is now a modern-day masterpiece, thanks to a $200 million renovation that includes a sprawling rooftop bar and lounge known as Top of the Gate. This bar is a go-to spot in the capital due in part to its innovative drinks like the Celebration, made with Avion Silver tequila and a grenadine spice mix, then topped with a float of sparkling rosé. But the terrace’s most attractive feature is its 360-degree view of Washington, D.C.’s most iconic landmarks, including the Pentagon, Potomac River, and Washington Monument.

Covid-19 Update

Of Special Note

• Global count – 22 million reported cases, 780.000 dead
• German y – vaccine may be ready by next year

From NYT

• a new U.S. intelligence report concludes that top officials in Beijing were in the dark in early January and that it was local officials in Wuhan and in Hubei Province who had tried to hide information from central leadership.
• The number of cases worldwide has exceeded 22 million, according to a New York Times database. More than 780,000 people have died.
• Finland, where total cases number 7,805, announced new restrictions on incoming travelers from Iceland, Greece, Malta, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Ireland, Cyprus, San Marino and Japan, starting Monday.
• The head of the organization responsible for approving vaccines in Germany expects the first doses of a coronavirus vaccine to be available in the country by the beginning of next year.
• Britain announced a rapid expansion of one of its testing programs, which selects a random sample of the population regardless of symptoms.

From BI

• A Yale administrator told students to prepare for ‘possibly deaths’ — and it shows what a predictable disaster reopening is

• Thousands of people recently attended a massive mask-less pool party in Wuhan, the city where the COVID-19 pandemic began. Here’s a look at how Wuhan has reopened since lockdown, as people return to movie theaters and music festivals.

• Here are all the colleges that have suspended in-person classes or quarantined students because of COVID-19

From The Guardian

• Germany hits highest cases since April; South Korea warns of ‘nationwide pandemic’

• South Korea fears fresh nationwide outbreak
• Three quarters of New Zealand public intend to get vaccine, study finds
• Chinese media dismisses attacks on Wuhan’s pool party as ‘sour grapes’
• Australia: Victorian hotel quarantine rooms were unclean, guest claims