Review and Test Drive: 2018 Volvo XC60 T8 E-AWD and T6 R-Design

by Jonathan Spira

Those not in the know might assume that the typical Volvo wagon driver is a retired college professor, or perhaps a dentist somewhere in New England. Starting with the introduction of the storied automaker’s Scalable Product Architecture and the S90 sedan, Volvo is the epitome of Scandinavian cool, that image has become obsolete.
The new XC60 exemplifies this trend and we spent several weeks with two different XC60 models – the …

Lobby Bar – May 4: The World’s Longest Receipt, Long German Words for $100, and Hotels on Wheels

by Jeremy Del Nero

Lobby Bar – The Occasional Gift That Keeps on Giving
Pocket calls. Check into the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront with Paul Riegler. The hotel is actually located on the tarmac and it needs to be wheeled off the runway for each takeoff and landing. The good news is that it shouldn’t cause any discomfort beyond a slight vibration that could be mistaken for an incoming call.
Hello? Let’s talk about the …

Hotel Review: San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront

by Paul Riegler

Airport hotels aren’t just for distressed passengers. Travelers destined for such properties are often there for meetings, to enjoy a longer layover, or on a nearby work assignment.
When I had a meeting scheduled at San Francisco International Airport, I opted to stay nearby at the recently renovated San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront, nestled on the Bay that gives its name to the Bay Area, looked perfect.
The hotel’s airport shuttle arrived …

‘SpongeBob,’ ‘Mean Girls,’ ‘Angels,’ ‘Carousel,’ ‘The Band’s Visit’ Lead 2018 Tony Nominations

by Anna Breuer

The 2018 Tony Award nominations were announced Tuesday by Leslie Odom Jr. and Katharine McPhee. A total of 30 Broadway shows were eligible this year, the smallest number in close to a decade.
Two new musicals, “SpongeBob SquarePants” and “Mean Girls,” led the nominations with 12 each including Best Musical. Also nominated for Best Musical were “The Band’s Visit” with 11 nominations and “Frozen” with three.
Broadway revivals “Angels in America” and …

Great Moments in Travel History – May 2018

by Jesse Sokolow

“Tra la, it’s May, the lusty Month of May,” as the song from “Camelot” goes. May, the fifth month in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars is typically the epitome of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and of autumn in the Southern. May Day, typically celebrated on May 1, is an ancient Northern Hemisphere spring festival that celebrates the season. It is also a public holiday in many countries, in …

In 1899, Henry Bliss, America’s First Pedestrian Fatality, Was Struck by an Electric Taxi

by Paul Riegler

Although much fuss was made five years ago when a test fleet of Nissan Leaf all-electric taxicabs hit New York City streets hailed as the first all-electric powered taxis, the facts are a little different. In 1899, almost 90% of the New York City taxi fleet was electric.
At the turn of the last century, electric vehicles had several advantages over gas- and steam-powered conveyances. The EVs of the period were …

Eurowings Launches New York-Düsseldorf Service

by Paul Riegler
Eurowings Launches New York-Düsseldorf Service

Eurowings announced on Saturday the start of its new non-stop service linking New York and Düsseldorf.
The new flight will operate six days a week except Tuesday, departing New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport at 10:30 p.m. and arriving the following day at Düsseldorf Airport at 11:55 a.m. Departures on Saturdays will be at 6:55 p.m. with an 8:20 a.m. arrival. Return flights depart Düsseldorf at 11:05 a.m. and arrive …