By Michelle Inaba Mocarski

Tokyo is a wondrous city of welcome and beauty.  As the memory of last year’s tsunami fades, tourism to Tokyo -  and to Japan generally - is increasing every month. Now, come June 1, it will be more convenient than ever for New Yorkers to visit this extraordinary destination. On that day, American Airlines begins direct service from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. Flying to and from Haneda is a traveler’s delight, because it is just a half-hour or less from downtown Tokyo, compared to an hour and a half or more from the more distant Narita Airport. And the mood in Tokyo today is positive and enthusiastic, as it would be expected from a culture where the traditional Buddhist idea of impermanence is so strong. Everything changes, and change is to be celebrated as an incentive to live life to the fullest, and Tokyo definitely knows how to do it. The city offers its visitors a contemporary mixture of history, art, and culture: the Imperial Palace, museums, lively nightlife, amazing shopping, and incredible dining experiences. Tokyo is the face of a country where past traditions and modernity coexist harmonically.

By Sarah Sekula

When visiting the Hawaiian Islands, the options are endless. It’s a good thing I have a plan -- three weeks, three islands, three ways.

By New York Travelin' Gal Maxine Albert

I experienced the true art of wine pairing when I first met Alex LaPratt, who holds the esteemed title “Best Sommelier in America 2011.” I was celebrating a friend’s birthday at DB Bistro Moderne, Daniel Boulud’s chic Manhattan eatery, and gave Alex full rein. This sent me on a sensory journey with wines that enhanced the cuisine andwere justas exciting on their own.

by Maxine Albert

The legendary Waldorf=Astoria Hotel, located on Park Avenue in midtown Manhattan offers the ultimate in luxury and comfort. This New York landmark is known for its peerless service and indulgence. Guests get the royal treatment with art deco splendor, the best modern amenities and the latest technologies. Simply put, it’s the best of the best. No wonder that when Brad and Angelina come to New York with the kids, they love to stay here.

By Eileen Wacker

I am the mother of four kids, aged eight to fourteen year-old, and trying to launch a business.  I live life in 15-minute increments.

By Christopher A. Pape

When one thinks of haute cuisine one usually thinks of French, Italian or Japanese. Almost no one if polled would venture that Austrian is a cuisine that commands respect, acknowledgment or praise for being delicious and innovative. And yet, this couldn’t be further from the truth. For here in our fair city resides a restaurant so acclaimed and beloved that it is hard to ignore and hard not to love.

By Christopher A. Pape

Mention of Rita Moreno’s name brings smiles of joy to the faces of her fans and heaps of praise from the Puerto Rican and Latino communities. After all, Ms. Moreno, now 80, known as La Pionera, the pioneer, was the first Puerto Rican to be recognized as a Hollywood starlet; and the only Hispanic to have won an Emmy, Tony, Grammy and Oscar.

By Christopher A. Pape

The name Julie Chang roles of the tongue as if it were honey; that she is as beautiful in person as she is on TV, doesn’t hurt either. But beyond that, Ms. Chang is a woman of conviction and taste. For she knows not only the hottest and trendiest of places in New York City, but is dedicated to charitable causes with a fervor and passion that not many can match.

By Christopher A. Pape

In the age of the internet and instantaneous access to information, there are few places and things that remain ‘undiscovered’. Todos Santos, on the tip of Baja Sur and along the Pacific Ocean, feels like it’s one of those rare places that not many know about, but are sure to fall in love with once they do.  The town has all the properties of a beloved jewel of Baja similar in quality and taste to a southern Spanish town or one found on the island of Sicily.

by Judy Harrison

Rome is the magnificent “Eternal City”, so fascinating that a lifetime is not sufficient to experience all which this European center of culture, history and beauty has to offer. Rome is also the correct answer to Resident’s most recent Mystery Destination Contest, won by, who earned two roundtrip tickets for international travel on American Airlines for guessing the destination and submitting the winning 75 words-or-less essay on why he/she loves Rome.