By Patty LaNoue Stearns I’ve been thinking about all the presidents who have inspired me and enraged me over my nearly 70 years. Looking back, each was remarkable in his own way, even though I despised some for their war-mongering. I see what Donald Trump, our current man in charge, has wrought, and think of …
Best Food in Roma With an inspired recipe. By PATTY LANOUE STEARNS ROME–I’d always heard the food in Italy tasted better than the Americanized versions we get here in the States, but I had to see for myself. In some ways it was. In others, it was not. Let’s talk about Italy’s espresso and cappuccino …
Italian Holiday Beyond the Gondola Rides and Ruins. By PATTY LANOUE STEARNS Here was the deal: a guided tour for two of Rome, Florence, Venice, Pisa, Verona, Padua and Chianti country. All in eight days. All for about $3,700. I was propelled by visions of fabulous seven-course meals, awesome architecture, conversations with fascinating Italians, a …
By Patty LaNoue Stearns PARIS–It is one of those rare and exhilarating moments: heading down the quiet little Left Bank street near the Eiffel Tower and up the stairs into the legendary cooking school Le Cordon Bleu. Celebrating its centennial year, this is the place that launched Julia Child in 1950, Audrey Hepburn’s Sabrina in 1955, and …
A Day in Pentwater After a dip in the lake, stroll down Hancock Street and shop boutique heaven. Wrap up your Pentwater day with a concert on the Village Green. By Patty LaNoue Stearns, Photography by Todd and Brad Reed Surrounded by lakes (Bass, Pentwater and Lake Michigan) the village of Pentwater is a recreational …
Interlochen Center for the Arts Head to a place where high notes and nature blend in sweet harmony. By Patty LaNoue Stearns, Photography by Patrick Wellever Feel the artistic vibe at Interlochen Center for the Arts’ 1,200-acre campus, where summertime signals the start of its renowned arts camp and music festival. Look around and observe …
World’s shortest ferry ride Meet Bob Pawlus, captain of the slow-chugging, cable-guided ferry, the Ironton By Patty LaNoue Stearns, Photo by Todd Zawistowski Each year from mid-April to the day before Thanksgiving, 54-year-old Bob Pawlus works 20 hours a week as captain of the slow-chugging, cable-guided ferry, the Ironton, operated by the Charlevoix County Transportation Authority. Pawlus hauls …
Ride the TART Trail Hop on and roll with the scenery along this well-marked, winding 11-mile paved trail. By Patty LaNoue Stearns, Photography by Patrick Wellever The TART (Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation) Trail winds past giant maple trees, wooden bridges, trout streams, the airport, railroad tracks, city neighborhoods, a marina and the beach, and …
Take a Hike South Manitou Island is a beautiful and challenging trek. BY PATTY LaNOUE STEARNS Michael Hood likes to call his brand of outdoor activity a quiet sports adventure — a trip in which you will stretch your legs probably more than you believed you were capable and your inner explorer as well. Think …
Paris Short and Sweet Seventy-Two Hours in the City of Light By Patty LaNoue Stearns It’s the off-season, and you have exactly 72 hours to party down in Paris. You got a bargain on your airfare and Left Bank hotel, but it’s rainy and a bit nippy to linger along the Seine or soak up …