Portfolio
Here is a sampling of work I've done over the past several years. Contact me for examples that best relate to your project.
Climate-conscious travelers are jumpstarting Europe’s sleeper trains
After being gently rocked awake in her sleeper cabin, Sarah Marks spent the morning of her 29th birthday watching the Alps zip past the windows of her overnight train to Zurich.
“The train comes in right next to the lake, with the mountains coming up behind it,” Marks said wistfully. “Very romantic, I have to say.” ...
It’s ubiquitous, yet her ancestors who came to this island five generations ago wouldn’t have recognized it. ... [Read more]
In Malaysia, Be Gentle with the Shrimp, Rough with the Sauce
Standing under the feathery, fern-like leaves of a tamarind tree, Pearly Kee recalls gathering its bulbous brown pods that fell to the ground when she was a child in Penang. The wildly tart pulp scraped from them brightens all manner of Malaysian foods, from spicy broths with stingray and okra to deep-fried mackerel, even fried eggs with peppers and shallots.
It’s ubiquitous, yet her ancestors who came to this island five generations ago wouldn’t have recognized it. ... [Read more]
Any Visitor's Guide to Barcelona Beaches
Even without its beaches, Barcelona would be one of Europe’s coolest destinations thanks to its groundbreaking food scene, unique architecture and legendary nightlife. But the cherry on the sundae is the three-mile strip of nearly continuous golden sand, which is so wired into its heart that it’s like the entire city’s backyard. ... [Read more]
The blue light isn’t the only reason it’s a bad idea to look at screens at bedtime
“There are a million and one ways screens create problems with sleep,” said Lisa Strauss, a licensed psychologist specializing in cognitive behavioral treatment of sleep disorders.
The brain, she said, processes electric light — not just a smartphone’s much-maligned blue light — as sunshine. That suppresses melatonin production, delaying deep sleep. Even very little bright-light exposure in bed has an impact. [Read more]
After recovering from heart failure related to pregnancy, she went on to game show glory
Since it was her first child, Cheryl didn't know how she was supposed to feel. It made sense to be so tired after a C-section and to have trouble getting up and down the stairs. But her skin was pale. And her sister-in-law, Sheila Foxx, could hear Cheryl breathing in the kitchen all the way from the den.
"That is not normal," Foxx told her. "Something's wrong. Call your doctor." [Read more]
If You Can’t Afford Your Favorite Sriracha Brand, Try This
Bottles of a leading brand of Sriracha hot sauce are suddenly hard to find, driving up prices for them as high as $150 — but there are alternatives to opening your wallet that wide.
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It’s the second time in two years that Huy Fong Foods — the best-known producer of Sriracha in the U.S. — has had low inventory of their tangy sauce with the green cap and rooster label, a problem they attribute to insufficient chile pepper supplies. That and a bit of pandemic hoarding combined to send prices soaring, with some third-party sellers cashing in. ... [Read more]
We Tell the Stories of Those Lost to Gun Violence in Philadelphia
As executive director of the 501(c)3 nonprofit Philadelphia Obituary Project, I help honor the all-too-many homicide victims overlooked by traditional media. The Project has received national media coverage and was honored by the City Council of Philadelphia.
[Read more]
Mayonnaise’s Unlikely Origin in a Mediterranean Paradise
A ceramic bowl landed on the white tablecloth with a thud, a wooden handle jutting straight out the top. Inside was a substance thick enough to keep the pestle standing upright and the same color as its container, a deep yellow, almost orange.
My first thought was of Velveeta cheese. Instead, it was homemade mayonnaise ... [Read more]
Memorials Grow Along Site of Deadly Attack in Barcelona
An ever-expanding jumble of flags, candles, teddy bears and flowers grew Friday at the base of Barcelona’s ornate Canaletes Fountain, where a local legend says that those who drink from the monument will fall in love with the city and always return.
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The makeshift memorial sprang up with others along the historic Las Ramblas promenade, the site of a van attack that killed 13 people, injured 120 others and brought Islamic extremism to the heart of Catalonia. ... [Read more]
Finding Truffles, Recovery in Italian Town Struck by Earthquake
Lulu was slacking off at first, rolling in the leaves or bounding around in circles as 4-year-olds do, while letting Nina do all the work. ... [Read more]
The 'Soy Sauce Sauce' That Changed the Way I Cook
Over six years writing for Milk Street, I’ve been fortunate enough to travel the world learning from home cooks and restaurant chefs from Portugal to Turkey, Barbados to Belgium and a dozen more. And I’ve interviewed literally hundreds of other chefs and cookbook authors to learn why they do what they do.
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So it may come as a surprise that I’ve never considered myself a chef—but I have picked up a few secrets to making truly impressive throw-it-together meals. An all-time favorite: shoyu tare. ... [Read more]
The First Tango in Buenos Aires
My dance partner placed her palms on my chest, and we locked eyes as the sultry tango music began. Swaying slightly to the beat, we took a few breaths to build the connection between us. ... [Read more]
Portuguese Cornbread: Crackling, Sweet and Earthy
Clinging to a hill amid cobblestone alleyways, hairpin turns and waves of wood smoke, the whitewashed bakery affords a stunning view—the Douro River giving way to the undulating terra-cotta roofs of the Portuguese countryside. ... [Read more]
11 Reasons the New Sarajevo Exceeds Expectations
Reminders of the war that dissolved Yugoslavia are everywhere, but the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina is due for a fresh look as signs of a vibrant future begin to outshine those of the nearly four-year siege that devastated Sarajevo during the early 1990s. ... [Read more]
Stunning Glimpse of Gritty City, Spectacular Waterfall in Guyana
From 6,000 feet above Guyana’s rain forest, the jungle canopy below spread to the horizon in every direction, like wall-to-wall green carpeting. Winding, mud-brown tributaries of the Demerara River shimmered in the sunlight. ... [Read more]
Content Marketing: Getting to Know the Team at Circles Learning Lab
Show up and open up. It may sound simplistic, but that's basically the recipe at Circles.
The guided peer groups we run help you explore the challenges you face in life, both personally and professionally, by tapping into what amounts to a universal experience. ... [Read more]
Menorca Is a Spectacular, Low-Key Beach Destination
Bleached limestone cliffs tower over a powder-white beach, and anchored sailboats bob in transparent blue waters. Snorkelers drift into a cave, lit up by the afternoon sun to reveal a sandy sea floor that’s clean enough to walk on barefoot. ... [Read more]