Delights
Ebola: “A true monster”
Crisis in the Red Zone: The Story of the Deadliest Ebola Outbreak in History, and of the Outbreaks to Come By Richard Preston Random House, New York 369 pages Hardcover: $36, eBook $17, audio download $34, Kindle $15 In December 2013, on a tiny patch of land along the border of three African nations — […]
Bulgaria beckons with cuisine, spas, history and resorts
Travelling the world and getting to know new cultures and civilizations has enriched my life, but I always fall captive to Bulgaria’s special charm. Every spot in my small home country has a beauty that will enchant the human heart. Bulgaria is situated in southeastern Europe on the northeastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. Bulgaria […]
A monumental residential balancing act
The trick to designing a monumental home is to avoid overwhelming those who live and visit there. Prominent Ottawa architect Allan Keefer achieved that delicate balance almost a century ago when he designed Waterstone, acquired by the Japanese government as its official ambassadorial residence in 1958. It is currently home to Ambassador Kimihiro Ishikane and […]
They make wine in Quebec?
Yes, they make wine in Quebec — and in a few cases, some of my favourite wines in the country. Historically, due to the brutal winters, producers in the province mainly planted hybrid grape varietals (grapes developed in a lab to be able to withstand colder temperatures), which can certainly make tasty wines, but rarely […]
Japanese art featured at two Ottawa galleries
Japan and its history — at home and in Canada — star in Ottawa’s fall calendar of art, with three exhibitions at two institutions. War, and its abettor xenophobia, will cast a shadow over all. The largest of three exhibitions will be Hanran: 20th-Century Japanese Photography, which opens Oct. 11 at the National Gallery of […]
Cooling down: Warming recipes for autumn
With fall upon us, we must take advantage of the last garden-fresh produce, herbs and edible flowers. There are also several special occasions for family and friends to gather together, particularly as the holiday season approaches. My Salmon-Crowned Crêpes, versatile Stuffed Fresh Pears and Lobster in White Wine Shallot Cream Sauce will offer much satisfaction […]
Chernobyl’s untold story
Midnight at Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World’s Greatest Nuclear Disaster By Adam Higginbotham 561 pages Simon & Schuster, 2019 eBook $14.99 Hardcover: $29.95 Paperback: $18.00 Audio download $23.99 On the night of April 26, 1986, a young engineer, Leonid Toptunov, working in the control room of Reactor 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear […]
The United Arab Emirates: Something for everyone
Whether you are a luxury traveller looking to relax on pristine beaches or spend time shopping in the world’s most glamorous malls, an adventure seeker looking to journey by camel over golden sand dunes or ride on the longest zipline, or someone looking for an entertaining family-friendly vacation with some of the largest waterslide and […]
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