This IS Brooklyn the way it used be. Gentrification hasn’t reached this far south, and the Kings Highway subway stop is much as I remember it. Just a bit more rundown.

I grew up around here and the Kings Highway stop was one end of my personal wormhole to Manhattan. How did I end up here? Ken Whelan picked me up at JFK and insisted on breakfast at a local diner instead of some chichi place in Soho.
Glad we did. This was my first visit to Flatbush since 1993 when my …

Vienna, like any great metropolis, is full of surprises. Walking in the art district after dinner this evening we stumbled upon “Site Specific.” Inside an opening was in full swing.  The art was what I’d have to call conceptual, in the “naked-man” style.  A little Vito Aconcci-esque, if that still applies.  The artist WAS in residence and he WAS naked. I didn’t look too closely.

Back in September I had the pleasure of spending a few days in Vienna with my friend and client Igor Draškovic. Wandering aimlessly searching for good cafes in which to hold our meetings, we saw lots of statues. You’ve got to love a city that venerates Mozart along with the more traditional saints.

After years and years of travel, I have come to realize that one of my favorite things in life is people watching. So sitting at an outdoor cafe like this one, as long as it has foot traffic, is heaven. This one is just steps from the Jaume 1 metro stop, into Placa del Angels, on the edge of the Barri Gothic in Barcelona. Got that?
I’m not that opinionated about the specifics of the traffic, just that there’s a parade of people and this particular one is at the crossroads …

La Rambla is the best known street in Barcelona. Don’t come here if you don’t like crowds. I do, so I’m happy here. I was feeling a bit over-protective of my family when we came here last night, however. (That’s why I didn’t manage any photos.) In the day, it is much more friendly. Anyway, it’s a “don’t miss” location, a spot one must walk to say you’ve been to Barcelona. Last night we watched a spray-paint artist whip up panels and clocks (!) of all things …