Wine and Spirits Travel

It may seem like one big eating and drinking orgy at the Food Network's South Beach Wine and Food Festival , but we "experts" have to do it right.  For me that meant a day in the classroom and at the booths, learning, but it wasn't difficult work -- especially not the night of eating and drinking way too much. First, I don't recommend attempting to make it through 12 hours at this festival on three hours sleep.  I managed to get through some sampling yesterday, but was a party-pooper rather early last night. Still, I made it to the highlights of the Perrier-Jouet BubbleQ presented by the Allen Brothers and hosted by Emeril Lagasse and Friends (fortunately, I didn't have to repeat that title at any point during the night).  It was the event to be at Friday night, as hundreds of people spent $350 (and up) a piece for the right to wait on lines for hours.  And it was all worth it.  When Emeril puts on a barbecue, he knows how to do it right. This was the mos

It was a long trip (is it me, or are there too many planes with mechanical problems out there?!), but I finally made it to my hotel in South Beach, Florida, in the wee hours of the morning.  My last minute hotel seems to be a little hidden gem.  The Cavalier is no thrills, but the room is cute, the location is perfect, the cost was reasonable and the Ocean is (literally) a stone's throw away.  I'd be lying if I said I was fine with the three hours sleep I got before the morning activity began outside my room.  I guess no one wants to sleep in South Beach. This is my first visit to what I've been told is one of the ultimate eating, drinking and just plain partying events.  The South Beach Food and Wine Festival has been in existence for nine years and its popularity has been increasing with the celebrity status that the Food Network now brings to anything associated with it.  This five day event is filled with parties, tastings and demonstrations for anyone who likes foo

There's only so many days in the week (and hours in the day). It's impossible to keep traveling and still get all the work done. That's why I sometimes have to rely on word of mouth when it comes to wine and spirit travels. As I prepare to cover my first South Beach Food and Wine Festival , here's some adventures you might want to check out: You don't see a lot of skiing trips that involve liquor, but I found one that combines them both (off the slopes, of course). The Above the Clouds travel package started in December, but there's still time to check it out. The trip will take you through the snowy mountains of Vail and Beaver creek with plenty of time for sport, gourmet meals and mixology classes, thanks to a partnership with Zacapa Rum . It's a group package that could fulfill many dreams. Check it out -- and make sure you let me know how it went. If you are thinking of Vegas(and I'm planning a trip as we speak), St. Patrick's Day may b

One of the reasons I moved to the Champaign-Urbana area was to be part of a college town.  I grew up and lived most of my adult life in areas without that atmosphere. A taste of it during visits made me hungry for more.  It's like an infectious disease that you don't want to get rid of.  The feeling that you forever want to cheer for your team.  Whether you are a local, an alumni or just a fan, there's a hotel right in the middle of sports land at the University of Illinois , where you can get right in the action for that team, or your home team when they come to town. The IHotel opened in August, 2008, complete with a Houlihan's for spirited cheer before and after the games (and during for those who can't get tickets).  It is directly across a short road from the Big Ten action of Illini men's basketball at Assembly Hall, down the block from the football team's Memorial Stadium and a nice walk to the Atkins Tennis Center or Huff Hall, where the current