Vespa Love

One of the greatest benefits of moving from Los Angeles to Manhattan is the required scaling down of all the "stuff" I had acquired over the last 10 years of living single. Sure, it was painful selling two closets worth of clothes, my car, a kitchen full of handy gadgets, and furniture with happy memories attached. The reality is my little NY apartment is just that; little. So, the things I didn't absolutely love didn't make the cut. It's refreshing to be in NY only surrounded by the things that truly mean something to me.

The only possession that, like a dying person seeing the white light, is stuck in the limbo of two worlds is my beloved Vespa.

A friend in LA was kind enough to store it for me while I figure out if it will make the trip to NY.

In Italy, I developed a true Vespa Love and purchased my LX150 within days of returning home. I became captivated by the freedom it provides in the open air, the wind blowing against my body, the thrill it gives around each corner. Yet, it's one thing to ride around my sleepy LA beachside town, and another to ride the fast paced streets of Manhattan. (...and another to ride on the back of one through the hills of Prato, but that's another story!) Do I have the courage to navigate the concrete jungle on 2 wheels? Is the possibility of crashing (with a cab, probably) a greater pain than letting go of something so dear to me? To be continued....

Phoenix Sun

When a desert escape is on your agenda, skip the sin and head to the Phoenix sun!

The great American Architect Frank Lloyd Wright once said, “Give me the luxuries of life and I will willingly do without the necessities.” A weekend in Phoenix evokes that very sentiment. Check in at the Arizona Biltmore, otherwise known as The Grande Dame of Phoenix. Built in 1929 it is the only existing hotel in the world to benefit from the influence of Frank Lloyd Wright. If the walls could talk there would be plenty of stories, as the hotel has been graced by US Presidents, celebrities, and world travelers alike.

In celebration of their 80 years, the Biltmore is making history again - in perfect Frank Lloyd Wright style- with the Ocatilla retreat and private sanctuary. Forget about the necessities and let a “Fonsworth Bentley” style concierge attend to your every need in a well-appointed, relaxed lounge environment. Your morning espresso made just how you love it, your golf shirt perfectly pressed, and car service to wisk you away on any whim. With nearly 40 acres of plush grounds, glistening pools, shops, and golf in the heart of Phoenix, consider it your desert playground.

It would be scandalous to leave Phoenix without at least one trip to the spa and spa addicts seeking a greater level of bliss will find their sanctuary at the Hyatt’s Spa Avania.

Tapping in to your body’s internal clock, every detail within the indoor-outdoor oasis works to balance all five senses so perfectly that you experience a state of “avania.” Everything from streaming natural light, synchronized music styling, to the personalized treatments (mineral Thai massage, anyone?) assist your body in mastering its own internal clock. With a summer of jet setting, this is a sure cure for any lingering jet lag.

When you find your expertly tuned body telling you it is time for some nightlife, cruise to neighboring Scottsdale’s Mastro’s Ocean Club. The parking lot may look like an exotic car show, but once inside, it’s all local color.

Their lobster bisque is the best ever, especially against the backdrop of the live piano and cacti. Whether it’s a girls trip, romantic weekend, or solo getaway, the luxuries under the Phoenix sun never disappoint.

It's Good to be King

With just 12 individually designed loft units, 123 King Boutique Residences are an oasis for the couture homeowner seeking a jolt of cool. Located in the prime lifestyle neighborhood at the intersection of Beverly Boulevard and Third Street, King offers it’s residents a refreshing take on urban living from the outside in. Internationally celebrated Pugh+Scarpa Architects conceptualized the modern exterior that will compliment the historical landscape for years to come. With 20 foot ceilings, height is used as a dramatic element of luxury, unique in each unit. Cascading light filters through a myriad of sources from floor to ceiling.

Shying away from traditional loft elements, King is more state of the art modern than industrial tech.

Interior designers, Abitar Dentro, have thought of everything on your need and want lists. Terazzo ground aggregate floors and fully integrated kitchens with hand polished white lacquer define understated luxury at its best. FireOrb floating fireplaces are poised in 4 of the units and strategic lighting sets the mood for any occasion. Need to get some work done? The mezzanine office is the perfect light-filled place, and King is turnkey wired for all your audio/visual obsessions. Would you expect any less? The oversized Master baths are fit for a king (and his queen) with separate spa tub and rain showers draped in sensual design elements and unexpected details. The climactic glories at King are the rooftop terraces, with show enhancing views of Santa Monica, Hollywood Hills, and Downtown.

You may never want to leave, but when you do, you’ve got convenience as your sidekick. And not the get in your car and drive there type of convenience. This is roll out of bed, walk a few blocks and you’re there type of convenience. A bad case of bed head? No worries. Your coffee and eggs Benedict from hotspot Kings Road Café can be delivered right to your rooftop terrace. And your dry-cleaning? Don’t worry, that’s delivered too. Mainstream fashion at The Beverly Center and one of a kind boutique shopping along Third is a car free excursion. A hot night at Sushi Roku or leisurely dinner with friends at Ortolan is just blocks away. By the time your friends get their cars out of valet, you’re already home. The dense amenities in this hood are more plentiful and unique than in any other area in Los Angeles. Just about anything you can think of is right around the corner - and in your living room. Yes, it’s good to be King.

Il Gioiello di Trastevere

At any given time, it is safe to say that I can be found in various stages of planning my next trip to Italy. Last time in Rome, I was lucky enough to find this fabulous little apartment in the heart of Rome's safest and most charming neighborhoods; Trastevere. The apartment is in an amazing building that was once a monastery and has been in the care of Paula Benevene's family for centuries. Upon my arrival, Paula helped me feel at home by introducing me to a local cafe and inviting me to lunch at the neighborhood's best pizzeria. In no time, Trastevere became my favorite little pocket of Rome. I can't wait to go back and stay at "The Jewel of Trastevere" again!

Check out my latest article for Signature LA magazine

http://signatureladirect.com/Sections/Travel/266/Phoenix-Sun