Sunday is Veterans Day: Here’s What’s Open and What’s Closed

by Jesse Sokolow

Veterans Day in the United States, a holiday that honors military veterans, falls on Sunday this year.  The holiday coincide with Armistice Day and Remembrance Day in other countries, both marking the anniversary of the end of the First World War in 1918, as an armistice ending all hostilities went into effect at the11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.  Armistice Day was observed in …

Review and Test Drive: 2018 Volkswagen Passat GT

by Paul Riegler

I’ve always had a soft spot for the Volkswagen that was first introduced in the United States as the Dasher in 1974.It was mechanically identical to the Audi 80, while the five-door Passat wagon was in America as the Audi Fox.
One of the things that attracted me to the Passat was its identity crisis. The sedan version of the second-generation Passat was sold as the Santana in Europe and as …

Helpful Words and Phrases for Travelers in French, German, Italian, and Spanish

by Anna Breuer

While it isn’t always possible for travelers to become fluent in the language(s) of the country or countries they are visiting, it is essential to learn a few simple words.
We recommend travelers learn – at a minimum – how to say “please,” “thank you,” “excuse me,” as well as greetings for good morning and good day before visiting a country.
Although travelers will encounter many English-speaking people while traveling, especially at …

Carlene Roberts Lawrence, First Woman to Join Ranks of Airline Industry Executives, Dies at 105

by Anna Breuer

Carlene Roberts Lawrence, who became the first woman to hold an executive-level position in the airline industry after having worked her way up from a $150-a-month secretarial position, died on Monday at the age of 105.
Ms. Lawrence, then Carlene Roberts, began her career in the airline industry when she joined American Airlines in Chicago as a secretary. When American Airlines shifted its headquarters from Chicago to New York in …

Daylight Saving Time for 2018 to End This Sunday

by Paul Riegler

One week after the European Union set its clocks back by one hour to Winter Time for perhaps what was the last time, the United States will return to standard time on Sunday, November 4, at 2 a.m. local time.
In September, European Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc announced that the European Union will stop the twice-yearly changing of clocks across the continent in October 2019. EU member states have …

Lobby Bar – November 2: Spaghetti in the Tube, Blue Christmases, and ‘I’ll Take Famous 17th Century Native Americans for $100, Alex!’

by Anna Breuer

Lobby Bar: Brought to You By the English Alphabet
His bite is actually worse.  Checking in to the Hotel Jerome in Aspen, Jonathan Spira met the seemingly friendly four-legged concierge, who was wagging his tail in greeting the new guest. Unfortunately, Jonathan thought the concierge was offering him a welcome bone but that turned out not to be the case.
Over the river and through the woods.  Jesse Sokolow looks at important events …

Review: ‘Let It Be’ at the Deutsches Theater

by Jonathan Spira

As the lights dimmed in the recently renovated Deutsches Theater and the four principal actors in the West End musical “Let It Be” took their places, one thought crossed my mind: Why do they all look like Paul?
Indeed, for most of the first half of the Beatles tribute, three of the actors looked like they were all trying out for the role of Mr. McCartney.  Perhaps it was the instrument, …