Diva-Colored Glasses

By Anjanette Delgado There's something about Miami. It welcomes you by not making too much of a fuss about you. "Oh, so there you are," it seems to say. Great. Dale, Chico. Te veo despues y nos tomamos un cafe." And you know, it's happy to see you. My favorite spot to welcome the day in all of Miami is not anywhere near the infamous SoBe of the tanned and gorgeous. It's not on a boat gliding past tall downtown buildings on bayside waters. It's sitting on the sidewalk facing the huge, colorful, exhuberant sculpture at the entryway of the otherwise unremarkable Dadeland Metrorail Station in South Miami. It's fittingly called "Welcome" and stands amid the light gray concrete on mornings when my own bed wants nothing to do with me and, as my mother would say, "el que me fume, pierde el vicio." And here's the trick: you sit on the sidewalk in front of it with your newspaper and your strong, sugary, Cuban coffee, you look at it for awhile, and pretty soon you start to feel happy and, god forbid, optimistic. By then you'll look a little crazy to couples walking by with their strollers or their dogs, so taking a ...

By Angela Rocco DeCarlo Thanksgiving conjures multitudes of memories and impressions in our minds of stupendous family meals.  There is the enduring image of going to grandma’s house where she spent all day in the kitchen cooking up homemade ravioli and other special holiday dishes - a feast for her eager family.  While the adults snuggled around the dining room table, the kiddies caused a ruckus in the kitchen. These days I’m no longer the young mother with small children, but the grandmother, who has never made homemade ravioli. The shame of it haunts me – but only for a little while. Times change. This year I engineered our Thanksgiving dinner, but did not cook it, as we dined in comfort and charm at the splendid Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach, California. I’m sure my mother never enjoyed such luxury back in Chicago. The BBC provided the ideal venue for an elegant family Thanksgiving dinner, serenely soothing with tinkling piano in the background, and I knew every song being played, including the lyrics. It wasn’t just recorded noise…it was authentic music. The four-course menu offered several choices ($75 adults; $37 children) – and all were declared “delicious.”  Though I am the only ...

It's that time of the year again... summer is gone and the slow, steady cold winds of winter start to creep up. Angelenos need a break from the everyday. Away from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, you'll find a thriving city with the charm of a small town in which to relax. Claremont, once again, a diva's getaway. From LA: Take the 134 to the 210 exit North Towne Avenue South. Ontario International Airport (ONT) - 10 miles; Los Angeles - 40 miles Hotel Casa 425 is just what it claims to be: a home away from home. Located on the town square, within steps of fine restaurants, cafes, boutiques, art galleries and the prestigious Claremont Colleges, Casa 425 is a sophisticated boutique hotel with spacious rooms with clean lines and understated art. This diva recommends you grab a drink at the hip lounge or a complimentary green apple on your way out.   Another great alternative is the Doubletree Hotel Claremont. DIVA's TIP: All Doubletree Hotels offer a warm cookie at check-in. If you are nice, you can get more than one.... :) Want to float off into winter? Try Essentials Day Spa & Salon at the Doubletree ...

By Angela Rocco DeCarlo Even a three-year old understands the concept of saving old things for the future. Michelle Christine, my toddler granddaughter looked around our house one day at the children’s table and chairs and toys she knew had been her daddy’s. “You saved this for me, “ she stated, not asked. She knew. I pounced on her thought and told her there were people we didn’t even know who had saved things for us in big buildings called museums. Would she like to go see them? She said, yes, and so our museum adventures began ten years ago. With my second granddaughter, Serritella Dainelle, I was late starting. She is six years old and last Sunday we went to the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, Santa Ana, CA. The facility is having great success with its China exhibits  - China’s Enduring Legacy - Warriors, Tombs and Temples; and Ancient Arts of China, but we were there to see the memorial to Christopher Columbus and the small gallery of oil paintings tucked upstairs in an out of the way location. You are not likely to find Columbus’ bust as it is secreted deep in a courtyard near the entrance, but set back so it is ...

Who would say no to dining Chicago style with Arlene & Joe Mantegna? This diva found herself amongst a herd of Bears, Chicago Bears that is, in the valley's only authentic Chicago style restaurant. Taste Chicago offers a culinary gateway to the Windy City and a great alternative to hum-drum LA food. "Fugetabout"calories, tofu, or fat free anything when you go through the doors at Taste Chicago. You'll be overwhelmed by the smell of Chicago pizza. My favorite.. sausage..yum! The pizza, as advertised, is truly ' a meal in itself.' You may want to ask the server to cut it in half or quarters and share with your group, that way they are forced to order something different to share with you. ;) Try the meatballs, with that delicious red sauce, and of course the famous beef 'sangwich.' Thin sliced of authentically seasoned roast beef, served on a bakery fresh Italian roll with your choice of sweet green peppers or hot giardiniera. Ahhh.. slice of heaven... For the more adventurous type, the Taste Chicago hot dog is not your ordinary wiener. This all beef Vienna sausage comes with an array of mustard, celery salt, relish, pickles, onions, tomatoes, and peppers.. just no ...