W New Orleans – French Quarter
Located near Bourbon Street and Jackson Square, the W New Orleans is located in a great area that made it easy to walk to restaurants, music venues and sites.
Author: Jae-Ha Kim
Go Away With … Scott Parazynski
Former NASA astronaut Scott Parazynski is a physician, inventor and once ranked among the top 10 American luge competitors during the 1988 Olympics Trials. He may now add author to his impressive resume, thanks to his memoir, “The Sky Below: A True Story of Summits, Space, and Speed” (Little A, $24.95).
Go Away With … Edward Lee
“I am always deeply influenced when I go to Korea. It is an endless source of inspiration for me. I have ties there, so it is special. But I also approach it as an outsider and learn new techniques and cooking traditions. I always look forward to going back again and again.” — Chef Edward Lee, star of “Culinary Genius” and “Fermented.”
The Guest House at Graceland
A Krispy Kreme donut and Elvis Presley dancing. If you can think of a better way to wake up in Memphis, do let me know! It felt really special visiting Graceland and staying overnight at the Guest House at Graceland. I’m not ashamed to admit that I was so excited to be there, that I selfied my way through the visit. I don’t need to share those photos publicly though.
Go Away With … Mark Lamprell
“I live in Manly, (near) Sydney,” says Australian filmmaker Mark Lamprell, one of the co-writers of “Babe: Pig in the City.” “It’s a magical part of the world — a spit of land with an ocean beach on one side and Sydney Harbour on the other. You can catch a ferry into the city center in 20 minutes.” Lamprell is also the author of the book, “One Summer Day in Rome” (Flatiron Books, $24.99). We talked with him about his travels in general and Rome in particular.
Kyle vs. Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry — you are costing me a small fortune. But as long as you continue to be a good role model for my kid, I’m OK with that.
Go Away With … Malcolm David Kelley
After impressing critics with his work in films such as “Antwone Fisher,” Malcolm David Kelley was cast to play Walt on the hit series, “Lost.” Now 25, Kelley is one of the stars of the new Kathryn Bigelow film “Detroit,” which is based on the Algiers Motel incident during that city’s 1967 12th Street Riot. “Detroit is a city with so much history,” says the Los Angeles-based actor. “The people are great and truly resilient.”
Regent Singapore
When you’re traveling overseas and don’t want to rent a car, being in a central location is key. That’s one reason my husband and I opted for the Regent Singapore, a Four Seasons Hotel. It’s a close walk to all the shopping on Orchard Road (comparable to Beverly Hills) and just a few minutes from the gorgeous Singapore Botanic Gardens (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
Go Away With … Mickaëlle X. Bizet
Los Angeles-based actress Mickaëlle X. Bizet (“American Crime,” “Diary of the MadMan”) formerly lived in Martinique, Paris, Viry-Châtillon and Boston. An avid traveler who speaks French, Creole and Spanish — in addition to English — she says her knowledge of foreign languages has helped her as a tourist. “My favorite travel memory isn’t fancy,” X. Bizet says. “It’s when I got lost by myself in San Juan and I used my Spanish to ask for help and find my way. People I spoke to understood me and I understood them. I was so proud of myself. I didn’t even have a GPS.”
Travel Woes: When Things Go Wrong
When I used to travel by myself, I never worried about getting sick in a foreign country. But now that my husband and I are parents of a young child, we’re more cautious. While most of our vacations have been drama-free, there have been a few incidents that caused us a bit of worry. I talked to some travel industry experts to get their advice on what to do when things go wrong.
Go Away With … Molly Bernard
Actress Molly Bernard (“Sully”) likes staying busy, which is a good thing given her work schedule. The star of TV Land’s “Younger” — where she portrays publicist Lauren Heller — also has a recurring role on the Emmy Award-winning series, “Transparent” (Amazon Prime Video). Bernard, 29, resides in Brooklyn, and is a fan of New York in general: “In the summer, I love Fire Island. It’s my main destination and I spend a lot of time dreaming about it during the cold winter months.”
Son of Jae
Sometimes I get the best surprises. On Twitter, an artist named Hobi took the time to make these adorable drawings of my son and send them to me. (I am displaying them here with her permission.)
Go Away With … Richard Short
Actor Richard Short says, “Everyone knows the best establishments to dine at when traveling are street carts by the side of the road. I’ve eaten in Michelin star restaurants that, while delicious, haven’t come close to the sensory experience of a simple piece of fruit hand delivered on the Panamanian roadside.”
Go Away With … Lauren Marks
In her memoir “A Stitch of Time: The Year a Brain Injury Changed My Language and Life” (Simon & Schuster, $26), Lauren Marks recounts her brain aneurysm and how aphasia affected her life. “At the time, I was an actor, director and Ph.D. student living in New York City,” she says. “I was 27 years old and had largely lost my abilities to speak, read and write. I was a foreigner in my native tongue.”
Go Away With … Akbar Gbajabiamil
Former NFL player Akbar Gbajabiamila is the co-host of NBC’s obstacle-course competition series, “American Ninja Warrior.” An avid traveler, Gbajabiamila says he prepares for overseas trips by researching “language for key phrases, history and what the locals enjoy. Of course, I have my top touristy stuff to do, but that’s at the bottom of the list.”
Rap Monster Article & “Friends” Giveaway
This is for the A.R.M.Y! I wanted to do something fun and special for you… and this is my (small) way of thanking you: I am giving away some copies of my newspaper article and a copy of my book about the TV show, “Friends.”
“Friends” book & Rap Monster column
I had promised Nam-Joon that I would send him my “Friends” book and a copy of our interview in the Chicago Tribune. I thought it would be fun to do the same for a member of the BTS A.R.M.Y. So here’s what I’m offering… #WinWithJae
Go Away With … Barry Watson
Barry Watson rose to fame portraying the eldest child on “7th Heaven.” In his latest project — the UP TV dramedy, “Date My Dad” — the actor stars as Ricky Cooper, a widowed father of three girls, who tackles raising his young children with the help of his mother-in-law (Raquel Welch).
Go Away With … Emily Wickersham
Born in Kansas, raised in New York and currently a resident of California, actress Emily Wickersham portrays Special Agent Eleanor Bishop on the popular CBS series, “NCIS.” An avid proponent of exploring the world, she says, “Every time I travel, a little piece of that trip comes back with me and it becomes a part of me. Experience is something that adds to anyone’s life and work. For actors, I think the more you know and learn, the more you’re able to add to the richness of the characters you play.”