The Weekly Glitter

Seattle, Washington: America’s Contemporary Frontier

Seattle’s history is made up of the stories of adventurers and explorers. In its earliest days the city called to loggers seeking their fortunes in timber. Then tall ships and schooners sailed into Elliott Bay bringing with them sailors who would call the city home. The eventual discovery of gold only added to the city’s appeal. Today the city continues to be an American frontier, where modern-day adventurers have made their fortunes in aeronautics, coffee, high-tech and independent music. And just as Seattle offers a rich tribute to its early beginnings, so does the city provide a diverse and eclectic collection of some of the most contemporary exhibitions, programs and tours in the country.

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New Orleans, Louisiana: High and Dry

The crowds are gone but the city remains. The jazz, the bars, the food, the French Quarter. All there and yours for the taking. Broken promises, politicians fighting and pointing fingers, an intense rebuilding effort, New Orleans has taken it all in stride and shown the world what a little bit of bourbon and a lot of elbow grease can do. There has not been a better time to visit, the hotels are open, the bars are stocked, and the restaurants staffed and ready to serve. The only thing missing is the traffic. Walk down Royal Street, take a moment to listen to a street band, try the shamefully good local coffee and be among the first to rediscover that New Orleans has come back -- swinging.

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Los Angeles, California: International Flavors, No Passport Required

It’s no secret that Los Angeles is an international stomping ground. And when you have this many international populations coming together, you know the eating has to be good. Rather than a melting pot, however, the City of Angels is a giant, endless smorgasbord of international feasting. Of course the eats in Los Angeles can range from budget-busting, white-tie extravaganzas to street-side snack stands, so we've eaten our way through the city in order to find some its best international flavors.

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Toronto, Ontario: T.O. Goes Underground

When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping. And even if the “going” means facing hail, sleet, snow or traffic snarls, Canada’s vibrant metropolis, Toronto offers ideal year-round shopping conditions in an underground series of tunnels known as “The Path.” Dating back more than 100 years, the Path’s early origins connected the T. Eaton Company’s main store by tunnel to its bargain outlet. Now The Path is listed by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest underground shopping complex, and the 16 miles (27 km) of underground walkway connect nearly 1,200 retail shops, cafes and restaurants.

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Seoul, Korea: Cultural Rhythms

With one of the oldest histories on the planet, Korea has had more than 5,000 years to develop a strong cultural identity, one that is wholly unique from the rest of the world. While the country is justifiably proud of its ancient traditions, it is also unquestionably a springboard for much of Asia’s pop culture, and the “Hallyu” wave of popular culture is the very foundation of the country’s tourism marketing campaign. To verse themselves in Korea’s traditional or pop culture, visitors need look no further than Seoul, a glittering, urban playground. Like the proverbial phoenix, Seoul has grown from its own ashes, a remarkable feat considering that the city was all but flattened a half-decade ago, during the Korean War.

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