Expatriates and Francophiles (and me, Sosauce intern Claudia) gathered in Tribeca on July 14 to honor what the French regard as “the birth of the modern nation.” Graciously hosted by Cercle Rouge Brasserie on 241 West Broadway, this was no predictable street fair with unnecessary amounts of overpriced, greasy food and music that nobody pays [...]

A trip to Brazil is not complete without a visit to Rio de Janeiro;  one of the world’s great places. Due to my crazy schedule in Sao Paulo, I was contemplating whether or not to skip it entirely, but the decision to go changed my life in a single day. Rio is beaches, mountains, music [...]

Moon over some strange production facilityThe onset of summer means that clothes are being shed in New York, while scarves, mittens and runny noses are the norm in Sao Paulo, Brazil. ‘Wintry” weather (70 F during the day) was just one of the many surprises I encountered in Brazil as I packed away the sandals I brought, never to be seen again. As my most ambitious trip to date unfolded, I was realizing that surprises like the unexpected cold were the real hidden gems in any travel experience; without them, how would we learn anything about ourselves.

As Hunter S. Thompson once so beautifully put it, “I am a hopeless optimist, and I believe I have something to say.” Knowing the King of gonzo journalism it is quite possible he was being sarcastic, but for me this is true. By the way, if you haven’t read any of Hunter’s work I should [...]