Review: The Ayurveda Cafe by Elena Greco August 2017 The Ayurveda Café is my unofficial “office” on the Upper West Side of New York, where I like to meet with friends and colleagues for conversation or business; it’s also a place to relax. It’s pleasant and inexpensive ($10 for lunch, $16 for dinner), serves healthy food, and has special touches…
Review: The Grand Hotel Brighton by Elena Greco May 2017 When I decided to attend a writer’s workshop in Brighton, England, I wanted to stay at The Grand Brighton Hotel. I’m a fan of interesting architecture and Victorian furnishings, and the hotel is right on the sea—my favorite place to be. But by the time I got around to making…
Review: Musée D’Orsay Restaurant by Elena Greco May 2017 The food at the Musée D’Orsay Restaurant, traditional French fare, is excellent and the prices reasonable, but the real headline here is the venue. It was originally the restaurant of the Hôtel d’Orsay before the hotel became the museum. It was built in 1900, and the décor is dazzling, with gilt…
Review: Restaurant Perraudin by Elena Greco May 2017 On my first, all-too-brief visit to Paris, I was looking forward to some excellent French home cooking of the sort you don’t find in the restaurants tourists frequent. Unfortunately, I did not have any—until I arrived at Restaurant Perraudin (www.restaurant-perraudin.com). This is a bistro in the 5th arrondissement (Latin Quarter) with a…
Review: Hôtel de la Paix de Montparnasse by Elena Greco May 2017 I stayed at the Hôtel de la Paix (Hotel of Peace!) for two nights last month and found it delightful. It’s in the 14th arrondissement, right on the border of the 6th arr., close to public transportation and a cash machine, and the rooms are reasonably priced. It…
Review: Premier Inn, Brighton, England, UK by Elena Greco May 2017 I attended a writers’ workshop in Brighton, England, and booked a room at the Premier Inn for a week. I’m so glad that I did. The hotel was in a fabulous location, close to the beach, the Royal Pavilion and the arts and shopping areas, as well as to…
Review: Norwegian Airlines by Elena Greco May 2017 I flew Norwegian for the first time in a trip to Europe last month, from JFK to London-Gatwick and from Paris to JFK. Although I have read some complaints about customer service from this airline, I did not need that sort of assistance, so I can’t speak to that. However, based on…
Review: “Homeland” Concert by Elena Greco “Homeland” Opera America, New York City Stefanos Koroneos, Baritone Thor Arbjornsson, Tenor Areti Giovanou, Piano December 2, 2015 I will probably never get respect as a music reviewer. That’s because I could never say snarky things about singers’ performances. Well, maybe not never, but it would be rare. That’s because I know how hard…
WOODSTOCK – To Joni with Love by Elena Greco May 23, 2015 I have always loved Joni Mitchell’s song about one of the most important events in our country in the 60s. When I perform this song of hers on my next concert, I will be doing it with her in mind. I didn’t fully appreciate who and what Joni…
BOOK REVIEW by Elena Greco LEARNING TO EAT ALONG THE WAY by Margaret Bendet Goodreads: Learning to Eat Along the Way Amazon: Learning to Eat Along the Way (paperback and Kindle) August 26, 2015 I recently wrote a review of a group of biographies I had read, and what came to mind while I was reading Bendet’s beautifully written book was how it…
