womantraveler

Must-Do Cambridge Rendezvous

The February Gourmet Magazine gives a lead mention to Chef Steve Johnson's Rendezvous at Central Square, a hip new restaurant in Cambridge, MA. Building on his reputation as a "Best Chef" in the Boston area and a James Beard Foundation "Best Chef in the Northeast" nominee, Johnson has created a special dining venue that Gourmet calls one of its latest "talked about" dining destinations and local Boston reviewers are giving great press.

Luckily Steve is also my brother. We grew up in a food-loving family -- our Dad, a fine watercolor artist loved to cook, from hearty breakfasts to delectable outdoor grilling; our Mom, the careful perfectionist, delivering the dining presentation with savoir faire. Steve spent his junior year abroad in France and caught the cooking bug, cultivating his food talents into national recognition in the US for his inventive Western Mediterrean cuisine. He's deeply into regional farmers and fishermen and artisanal foods. His new resto transformed a Burger King into a stylishly intimate food adventure for locals and travelers in Boston, and our late Dad's watercolors infuse the space with his creative spirit. Be sure to reserve ahead for 7-night dining experiences.

Easy Park and Fly

When women business travelers live an hour or so from an airport in a big city, getting to the airport is often as complicated -- and feels nearly as expensive -- as booking a flight. Happily I discovered the online service Airport Parking Reservations that serves dozens of US airports.

When we're renting a car or hiring a driver, it's a different story than when we depart from a home base. An hour north of San Francisco Airport, I was facing a cab ride of $125 each way, a van shuttle that would add over an hour to an already-long trip or close-in airport parking at $35 and up a day. With an early-morning departure and a multi-day business trip, none of the above was acceptable based on the trade-offs of time, cost (to my clients) and convenience. 

The Airport Parking Reservations network serves dozens of US airports and takes a matter of minutes to find long-term parking 5-10 minutes away from the airport at affordable prices and terrific conveniences. At SFO, for example, I can choose from several options -- covered or outdoor parking, a car wash, valet and luggage service, even coffee, donuts and a banana in the wee morning wake-up hours. The prices are competitive with the airport's own long-term parking rates but these additional amenities make it even easier.

Once signed in to the network, I can book anywhere anytime. As an additional feature, I've joined one of its affiliates, Park SFO, so that I have a membership card, don't need a reservation, can drop in anytime for valet service (without notice), am able to advantage of an AAA discount rate -- and when I return, call from baggage claim to have my car ready when the Park SFO shuttle drops me off practically right at my vehicle (spiffed up by a car wash if I want to pay a little extra). It's also more seamless than parking in daily airport parking, without the bag schlepping and the higher costs. And feel safer as a womantraveler having the personalized service in the pre-dawn or late-night hours.

Having a clean car after a long business trip is very refreshing for the ride home.

Pink Tools for the Cure

Found in an airport brochure -- the Little Pink Tool Kit. Ingenious and practical, it also supports breast cancer research. The stylish bag of 10 tools includies a handy-dandy leveler, 7" claw hammer, penlight, tongue and groove pliers and adjustable wrench. I can't vouch for this product but it's a classy concept for the right causes -- women and saving their lives. Not for air travel, of course, but utilitarian when you're back home.

Hearts in San Anselmo

Our hearts go out to San Anselmo outside San Francisco, one of the charming Marin County towns that was devastated in the floods of New Year's Eve and celebrated a "Put the Heart Back In San Anselmo Festival" this weekend. Imagine 5 feet of water and mud sweeping just six weeks ago through the restaurants, antique and clothing shops, bookstores and art centers of this 19th century railroad junction that is steeped in history and filled with Marin County insiders for coffee and shopping on weekends. Even the fire company had to evacuate, its vehicles floating down the stream overnight.

One by one, the shops are reopening, though sadly some will never come back, lacking insurance for their 100-year-flood gamble. Happily Debbie Does Dessert and Chocolat are back. The Vintage Flamingo is leaner but cleverly ecletic, while Comforts Cafe escaped the worst and continues to serve the best ever Chinese Chicken Salad found in California and perhaps anywhere.

When in the area, there are lots of bed and breakfasts, but the primo luxury experience at a comfortable rate is the Gerstle Park Inn in nearby San Rafael.

A Polish and a Light Chardonnay

Charlotte, North Carolina's airport may be only the nation's 17th busiest airport but I'd put it high on the list of best amenities. Let's hear it for a little pampering for women business travelers who spend their work days darting from airport to airport and can use only so many T-shirts. Found one evening at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport some smart choices -- a nail salon, not far down the aisle from a wine bar featuring North Carolina products from the Yadkin Valley. I'm waiting for the fitness center and spa. Now a busy US Airways hub, with a spacious and welcoming US Airways Club open to Star Alliance members, Charlotte's easily managed airport has promise for those of us who must use our flight transfer hours most productively.

PF Chang's With a Clinton Accent

It's not easy for a woman business traveler, despite all the advances. We criss-cross the US, land in strange places at odd hours and still have to eat a decent meal to fuel us for our next day. Landing in Little Rock, where everyone sounds like Bill Clinton, I wonder what dinner will bring. I soon find out. Bourbon sounds to the left at the bar at PF Chang's pan-Asian restaurant and cell phone chatter to the right. It's a decidedly weeknight Southern happy hour mixed with out-of-area business travelers. I gravitate here because of the predictable menu and convenience to my hotel.

All of which normalizes what could be a jarring scene after a ding-dong long day.

I find an end seat next to the animated stand-up order area but, thank heavens, with a guy to my right with a wedding band who doesn't whoop like the rest. (They whoop a lot in the South.) I also lucked into a seat at the TV end showing college basketball versus the girlie sitcom shows 15 seats away. My neighbor doesn't try to hit on me, which is absolutely perfect. I ease into my Wall Street Journal, as an amenity for a day of traversing the US, and he pencils in his crossword puzzles and talks to his wife on the cellphone. Winding down, like me.

OK, PF Chang's -- been there, done that, in Palm Springs and LA, but never more welcome than in suburban Little Rock. I enjoyed one totally dependable corporate-fostered, quality-controlled Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon Steamed With Ginger -- prepared over asparagus and mushrooms and served with naked brown rice. Healthy eating is possible though not automatic once you get outside of the big cities.

Arkansas, like Texas and other Southern parts, seems to call for the armament of a man. Who else can josh with the bartenders about cars and football??? For me, being able to comfortably settle into the bar for dinner as a solo woman traveler at dependable PF Chang's smoothes the transition, just like the Starbuck's in every airport (including here) and the Pottery Barn in every city of a certain size. As one who typically seeks unique localized experiences, on a business trip it is comforting to arrive late, be starving and know what I'm getting.