Summer 2025

Travel. Taste. Takeaways. Trials.

From Seoul to the Hamptons: A Summer Worth Savoring
This summer was 99% unforgettable. The other 1%? Life testing me like it always does—distractions, curveballs, noise trying to creep in. But none of it stopped the momentum. From Seoul’s neon streets to pasta therapy in Bologna, it was a season stacked with movement, milestones, and resets that mattered. My mom turned 75. My brother hit 50. I carved out time for my own reset in between. Tacos in Mexico City—fresh, fast, no pretense. Gelato in Italy—earned after miles of walking. Cakes at family dinners that marked the moments. Boat rides through Venice where time slowed down long enough to breathe. Dinners in Sag Harbor that reminded me food is connection. Lobster rolls in the Hamptons that closed out long days by the water. Every one of them a marker on the timeline.
The itinerary didn’t lighten up. It stacked. Lamborghinis in Modena—engine roaring through the countryside. Gondolas in Venice—quiet canals cutting through centuries of history. Dolomite trails above Cortina—legs burning, lungs wide open. The DMZ in Korea—proof that even on vacation, the world doesn’t pause. Sailing the Hamptons and Shelter Island under skies that didn’t need editing. And when I came back home, the work didn’t stop. New York became the training ground again—photography walks through SoHo and the Lower East Side, documenting murals, catching new street art, finding corners in Queens and Brooklyn I had overlooked before. Every stop, every walk, every plate of food, every rep of movement added another layer to a summer built on consistency.

Setbacks and distractions showed up—they always do. You don’t outrun them. You don’t hide from them. You face them, strip them of their power, and keep moving forward. That’s the formula. No excuses. No shortcuts. Stack the days. Stack the miles. Stack the moments. And when you look back, you realize—it wasn’t luck, it wasn’t chance, it was discipline and momentum carrying you through. That’s how you close out a season. That’s how you reset for the next one.

A Summer Served Right
If this summer had a theme, it was food doing the heavy lifting—fuel and therapy in equal measure. Seoul opened strong with BBQ spreads that didn’t miss—samgyeopsal (pork belly), galbi (short ribs), endless sizzling plates—and rounds of cold makgeolli that turned dinners into full-on sessions. Mexico City followed with tacos that made it impossible to justify Manhattan’s $8 versions. Bologna raised the curtain on the real show: tortellini in brodo that defined comfort, tagliatelle al ragù (the true “Bolognese”) that proved sauce is an art, and Parmigiano so sharp it demanded respect. Venice added cicchetti—plates of baccalà mantecato on crostini, polpette, and sardines in saor—washed down with spritzers, canals as the backdrop.

Back home, Queens held its own—backyard BBQs, Austin Street slices, Citi Field nights with $5 hot dogs and steak sandwiches that remain legends. Out east, the Hamptons proved once again that lobster rolls cost like Midtown rent but still justify the splurge. Even Bungalow’s gol gappas crashed the highlight reel—crispy, fiery, unforgettable. And on the 4th of July, it had to be the American classic: Peter Luger’s—steak done right, fireworks optional. Even Starbucks Reserve in Meatpacking muscled its way onto the list with espresso martinis that landed harder than they should’ve. Every plate became a timestamp, every meal a marker. Only regret? Skipping a second round of gol gappas. Rookie mistake.

Why Solo Travel Still Wins

Solo travel isn’t about being alone—it’s about leveling up. No hand-holding, no group chat debates, no “what’s next?” every five minutes. Just you, your instincts, and the open road. That’s where the edges get sharper, and the reset really happens.

Italy proved it. A Bologna heat wave didn’t stop the clarity—it delivered it. Cooking a real bolognese, wandering alleys with no agenda, grabbing espresso just because—you stop planning and start living. One day it’s test-driving Lamborghinis through Modena, the next it’s standing in a Murano glass factory watching fire turn sand into art. In those moments, you’re not just traveling—you’re present. Fully locked in on what the world is putting in front of you.

That’s the power of going solo. You build grit. Presence. A compass no app can provide. You stop waiting for permission and start moving on instinct. And when you come back? You’re not lighter—you’re sharper. Focused. Hungry. Ready.

Closing the Season, Not the Spirit

Summer clocked out, but the glow didn’t. The spark stays lit—rolling into fall with a full belly, a clear head, and a sharper compass.
The season came in loud—sun, milestones, motion. Then came the fog: doubt, distractions, that 1% of life that always shows up uninvited. But the reset worked. Solo miles. Meals that doubled as therapy. Long walks through new streets. Each pulled me back into focus. This wasn’t just travel—it was recalibration. Movement with intent.
I logged 100 kilometers in June and 100 miles in July. No gym membership could match what the pavement gave me—unfiltered thoughts, clarity on demand. I tuned into Podcasts that lifted (Founders, Acquired, Mel Robbins, Mindvalley) and cut out the noise that drags. The result? Grounded. Sharper. Fired up. Ready to move forward with grit and a global view. Always recalibrate. Always move with direction. And never forget: the journey matters as much as the destination.

Fall & Winter Travel? Let’s Talk

The best returns aren’t found in your portfolio—they’re found in experiences. Growth and joy don’t live in more stuff, they live in moments that stretch you, reset you, or make you laugh at yourself in a new city. And it doesn’t have to break the bank. Yacht, sailboat, or kayak across the Peconic Bay—it’s the same water, the same peace, the same reset. Luxury is optional; movement is essential. If cost feels like a hurdle, don’t stress—ask me. I’ll tailor it to fit, because life’s meant to be experienced, not binge-watched from the sidelines.

Summer may be over, but adventure doesn’t care about calendars. Fall and winter are built for cozy escapes, festive markets, and solo trips that double as therapy between Zoom calls. Hot deals and perks are already dropping—Spain’s on my list for two weeks—and I’ve got my eye on European holiday markets, desert wellness retreats, ski-in/ski-out suites with spa days baked in, and long-weekend city breaks that recharge without stealing your PTO. Whether you want calm, celebration, or clarity—I’ll make sure it’s unforgettable. Let’s get your next trip on the books.