Italy
- La Foce, Chiaciano Terme, Tuscany — When we first visited La Foce in 2002, we were in Italy scouting for a wedding location. We went to Cinque Terre, the Amalfi Coast, Florence, and we just knew that La Foce was the place. Our family and friends who came to our wedding had a wonderful time, and still speak wistfully of the trip! At our wedding, I told JR that we'd come back for our 5-year anniversary. So far, we've been back for our one year anniversary, my birthday, and a drive-by. (We were only in Tuscany for a few days, so we couldn't stay at La Foce. Our loss.) It is a truly special place.
- Ca' 'd Camiot, Monforte d'Alba, Piedmont, Italy — This is a totally amazing, unique hotel. Your host, Giulio, who is also the town pharmacist (handy, if you fall ill, say, from too much Barolo or truffle-topped pasta!), is incredibly helpful and will do everything in his power to be sure you have a good time. He recommended wonderful restaurants, set up wine tastings with local producers, and even offered to help us secure a fresh truffle for the trip home. (We were advised by a German couple to enjoy them in Piedmont instead as the truffle would no longer be fresh by the time we arrived home, so we passed on Giulio's generous offer.) The hotel is a building dating back 1,000 years, but Giulio has seen to it that the rooms are modern and comfortable while maintaining their medieval character. Un albergo molto particolare!
- Latte di Luna, Pienza, Tuscany, Italy (Via San Carlo, 2/4, Telephone: 039 0578 748606) — The first time we ate here, we were lucky to get a table for lunch, and stuck with the pici, a local pasta that strongly resembles play-dough rolled out into long, thin strands (though not garish in color, of course!) While our pici was delicious, we watched with increasing jealousy as table after table received their platters of maiellino arrosto and anatra (duck with roasted olives...yum!). We made a reservation for lunch the next day at opening time, and were not disappointed by either dish. As it turns out, much to JR's surprise as I cut all fat off of my steak (a sin, I realize, to most!), I LOVE pork fatback! It was almost a year before we returned, and, to our surprise, Antionella remembered us "Si, si, la Festa Tutti Santi," she said, as we had been there on All Saints' Day for our first experience with the roast suckling pig and the semifreddo with just a little too much Grand Marnier poured atop. We ate at Latte di Luna three times on our last trip to Tuscany—excessive, perhaps, but we are now regulars. (We think. Roberto told us not to worry about reservations, so long as he sees us, he'll find us a table!) And Antionella asked if we'd be back in "Ottobre o Novembre." How we wish!
- Hotel Villa Steno, Monterosso al Mare, Cinque Terre — My brother Ben and his girlfriend Erin also stayed here on our last trip. We did the hike, we drank the wine, what more can I say?! Carla and Matteo who own Villa Steno are so nice, you just have to stay there!
- Hotel Torre Guelfa, Florence — This is a fabulous little hotel right in the thick of things near the Ponte Vecchio in Firenze, but yet it seems like you're away from it all. They have a fantastic rooftop balcony from which you can enjoy a glass of Nobile and look out over the city. If you'd like to have a glass of Nobile (or virtually any Italian wine) on ground level, you can also go to their wine bar near the Palazzo Pitti called Pitti Gola e Cantina.
- Osteria Il Cinghiale Bianco (that means "white wild boar"), Florence — JR and I have been to eat at this Osteria four times in 3 trips to Florence. And we don't normally get bogged down in eating at the same place over and over again, but it was just so good. The owner, Massimo, is a master host—he speaks about 80 languages, as far as I can tell, and even when you're standing in a crowded, narrow hall with 12 other people waiting for a table at 9:30 at night, all is good because Massimo has poured you a glass of Chianti to tide you over!
- Civita di Bagnoregio — Just to get an idea of the place. It's so cool (I'm feeling in a particularly eloquent mood a the moment!)
- Enoteca Dulcis in Fundo, San Gimignano — Their web site is under construction at this writing and may not ever appear in English, but this is a great little Enoteca that had the most amazing homemade pici (a thick, spaghetti-like pasta that's rolled by hand), and the gentleman who owns it is very nice, and has a wonderful family who chatted it up with us after we held them up from closing one afternoon.
France
Block Island
- The Spring House Hotel — The Spring House has the best lawn and best porch ever. It looks out over the ocean, and on a clear night, you can see the Newport Bridge (that's Rhode Island, folks!) Even if you don't stay at the Spring House, you should have a cocktail on the porch. So worth it!
- Block Island Information — Even though you should definitely go to Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard instead.
Art and Writing
- Mark St. Amant — My friend Mark's first book Committed: Confessions of a Fantasy Football Junkie came out in September 2004. Be sure to pick up a copy—you know you love football!
- The Sports Rag — This is Mark's fake sports news web site—check it out!
- The Attleboro Museum — This is the museum in my home town, and the folks who asked me to print these large in the first place!
- Seastone Papers — Sandy Bernat has wonderful papermaking workshops offered all throughout the summer on Martha's Vineyard. What could be better? Art in the morning, beach in the afternoon!
- Polaroid — In case you want to read up on Image Transfer, or learn to do it yourself.
- Ken Michaels — My friend Ken Michaels is a very talented editor and compositor who I have worked with for many years. More than that, he is also a designer of slipmats for DJs, using (what I consider) complicated math and funky designs, which, under a strobe light, animate in all manner of crazy ways. Perfect for clubs! As if that weren't enough, he is also a musician with an EP of his own work out (Sit in the Sun), and plays in the band Brazilnut in all of the free time he has!
- Barkhaus — My friend, Dan Robertson, and I used to work together in a machine room at a post-production facility making dubs of television commercials (back when one-inch videotape was still the preferred air-master format!). Now he does much more meaningful work, in the form of mixed media paintings, which can be seen here at his web site!
- South End Open Market — This is Boston's only outdoor market, held every Sunday from the end of May through the end of October, where you can find an assortment of items ranging from handcrafted accessories, unique jewelry, handmade cards, and artwork. Not to mention Polaroid Transfers! See you there!
Wine
- Gasbarro's — If you're in the Rhode Island/Southern Massachusetts area (and, hey, it's not that far from Boston, either!) looking for really good wine with a focus on Italy, Gasbarro's is your place. Frank and Mark Gasbarro are incredibly nice, incredibly knowledgeable people, and they won't make you feel like a wine imbecile. Do your best to describe what you like in a wine, and it's very likely they'll be able to recommend some very enjoyable wines. They have wines for all budgets, and aren't afraid to steer you to a lesser-known, but possibly more delicious, wine from a smaller producer who doesn't have the marketing budget—or the price tag—of some of the better known "brands."
Miscellaneous
- Past and Presents — One of my favorite shops for all kinds of unique gifts and home furnishings, not to mention the sweetest children's clothing! The owner, Edrina, has exquisite taste, and there is something for everyone, from milled soaps and wonderfully scented candles, to beautifully crafted jewelry and handbags, to that super comfy couch you’ve been wanting!
- Butterfield — I was in need of a nice three-ring binder in which to display my note cards, so off I went to Butterfield. I was thrilled to find Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams furniture, John Derian decoupage, Santa Maria Novella perfume (convenient as I missed Santa Maria Novella on the last trip to Italy!), and lovely gift items from adorable baby onesies to books, jewelry, and candles. A fabulous addition to downtown Providence—and, you can shop online!
- Villa Paradiso — Whether you neglected to have those amazing Italian furnishings shipped home post-vacation, or you just love the inimitable Italian aesthetic, satisfy your need for Italian style at villaparadisohome.com where you can stock up on the goods—from Venetian glass chandeliers to furniture and ceramics, there's something for every Italophile's home!
