Austin, COLUMNS, DG's Passion, Hotel, Lifestyle, Limited Edition, TRAVEL, Travelogue

Heywood Hotel Austin

By

The most notable aspect of the Heywood Hotel is something I genuinely believe that every single Hotel around the world would benefit to mirror: their mini-bar. Their mini-bar has an entire selection and nothing is over $4 and even the bottles of wine are normal range. There is no markup or traditional pricing and honestly, as a person who travels and stays at so many hotels all over, this is by far the most refreshing innovation ever. Kathy not only created a hotel that has incredible decor, exquisite brands – everything is Spa related – the mini-bar is stocked with local and edible fare, bottles of water not more than $2, and somehow you just feel like you are family – she took time in developing the look and feel of a place that is thoughtful, pristine, and suffices every need you could have.

Read More
Austin, Austin F & W, COLUMNS, DG's Passion, Eat | Drink, Events, Limited Edition, Special Event, Wine & Beer

Austin Food & Wine Festival DAY 3

By

Today the sun is unrelenting, burning our flesh the moment the yellow burst rises up. As I walk in through the entrance, there sits on the grass a large table with the signature black tablecloth. On it? Stacks and stacks of commemorative glasses for the taking. Shatter-proof and bearing the insignia of the 2013 Austin Food & Wine Festival. Yes, this is the very last day and I look on it with a bit of sadness.

Read More
Austin, Austin F & W, COLUMNS, DG's Passion, Eat | Drink, Events, Limited Edition, Special Event, Wine & Beer

Austin Food & Wine Presents Rock Your Taco

By

The day ends and a different kind of Food Event is about to begin. A culinary world, an incredible global community created to support chefs and their passions and push them to be their best – at all times; Something I wholeheartedly subscribe to. While we are flourishing with the Celebrity Chef nuance, I love to see these chefs dig deep and go back to doing what they love most: COOK.

Read More
Austin, Austin F & W, COLUMNS, DG's Passion, Eat | Drink, Events, Lifestyle, Limited Edition, Special Event, Wine & Beer

2013 Austin Food & Wine Festival DAY 1

By

I have been to Austin twice in my life. This April was the 2nd time. This time I was greeted by familiar faces, succulent food, savory sweets, open minds, exquisite talent, momentous friends, and a slew of food, wine, life, travel, and culture lovers to which degree I have quite possibly never encountered before. Passion and a thirst for life was present more so than I can remember on this wonderful trip to Austin all in the name of the 2013 Austin Food & Wine Festival.

Read More
Arts | Culture, COLUMNS, DG's Passion, Featured, Featured PHOTO, Lifestyle, Photography

Featured Image – DAVID CAROL

By

Every so often there is an image that grasps onto me and seeps into the very depths of me…

It’s usually unsuspecting and almost always sheer awakening. I started this new creative endeavor because imagery is one of the most powerful methods of expression. Visuals by way of the snap of the shutter and the playful dance of words. The images chosen in the “Featured Image” posts are by Photographers and Photojournalists I have met and partnered with specifically for this new avenue of creative collaboration.

Read More
Austin, Eat | Drink, Limited Edition

LiveFire Challenge AUSTIN

By

Last night I arrived in Austin. Bags in tow, rental car picked up, freeways mastered, and the long FM 150 to Highway 1826 and voila! Salt Lick BBQ, Pecan Grove Pavilion. I arrive to attend the Food & Wine Alliance 3rd Annual Event: Live Fire Challenge! Beef Supremacy & Fire Mastery. With a long line of very talented chefs and pastry chefs, the palate was eager to taste and hungry to satisfy. I tasted just about everything and in the end, it was Sway Thai that won me over.

Read More
Art, Arts | Culture, COLUMNS, DG's Passion, Interviews, Limited Edition, Photography, TV | FILM

Mathieu Bitton

By

There is a striking honesty that moves through every image and it’s apparent fearlessness really does incite a rather beautiful curiosity. With images of iconic entertainers like Bono, Lenny Kravitz, Mos Def, Sean Lennon, and Quincy Jones blended with nude that show you the vulnerability, strangeness, fear, sensual prowess, and uncertainty in each of his subjects allows for a familiar raw and primal undertone…

Read More
Arts | Culture, COLUMNS, DG's Passion, Interviews, Limited Edition, TV | FILM

Sebastian Junger

By

We talked for an entire hour delving into everything from the Arab Spring, Serbia, war, politics, elections, family, truth, hope, and touched on his assignments as a contributing Editor of Vanity Fair. It was an hour that opened my eyes, informed me, and awakened my political passions. We talked about Tim Hetherington, but above all the hour gave us all insight into why Sebastian is the journalist, writer, filmmaker, and man he is …

Read More
COLUMNS, Interviews, Limited Edition, Music

Shana Halligan

By

Imagine a voice that stirs the very essence of song, incites so much emotion with a single note, embodies strength, sensuality, and sweetness, and writes some of the most exquisite songs I’ve ever heard. That is Shana Halligan. Introduced to her music 4 years ago, the minute I heard her I knew she was someone entirely authentic.

Read More
Arts | Culture, ATOD Radio, COLUMNS, DG's Passion, Lifestyle, Limited Edition

A Taste of Dawn RADIO April 10th

By

Today’s Show was about Living Life Happily and Expressive: The Theatre, Comedy, Food + Wine, Travel, and Humanitarians that change the world through the Arts.

I had a week that invigorated so many parts of my soul. Music, Broadway, passion, life, food, wine, good company, and the reminder of everything in life that matters so much to me. Above all – I lived. We need to all just envelop the things surrounding us. Regardless of how fleeting or momentary, just enjoy those tiny inescapable moments before they vanish. Live every moment because you – You are – NOW.

Read More
Ali's Fashion, COLUMNS, Fashion | Health, TrendsTues

Gwen Stefani Style Icon

By

More than just a girl, Gwen Stefani has blossomed from her humble beginnings as the lead vocalist in Ska band No Doubt playing greasy garage shows on the weekends to a worldwide fashion icon. After recording a solo album, winning World’s Best-Selling New Female Artist in 2005, debuting her own clothing line and starting a family of four, she still has time to live the platinum blonde life.

Read More
Los Angeles, Music | Theatre

Belz!

By

“Story of the life of Hugo Schwarts, a fictional Jewish comedian from the Galician shtetl of Belz. We follow his successes, hart-breaks, marriage, love affairs, children, laughter and tears…

Read More
A Drink?, Cocktails, Eat | Drink, Los Angeles, Wine & Beer

Zinque Abbott Kinney

By

A fairly delectable selection of wines, small plates, fresh ingredients, and this rural rustic chic kind of atmosphere, I stumbled upon a rather perfect place. I wait. Patio is insanely busy but the restaurant, not so much. And I wait. And I wait. But eventually, sunshine (my happy server) comes over and asks me what I want. To begin, you have to give a credit card. Much like a bar, you open a tab or pay and close. A bit different but hey, better than someone drinking too much and not being able to pay I guess. And so, I relent. I begin my curiosities by ordering a glass of Grenacha, Evodia from Spain, vintage ’11.

Read More
Eat | Drink

Brasserie Cassis

By

I am obsessed with all things French: the language, the country, the attitude, Marie Antoinette, and, most importantly, the food. Julia Child, who I also have a slight obsession with, brought the simplistic elegance, and ridiculously delicious, essence of what real French food is all about to the American audience. It wasn’t just the hoity-toity, über expensive fare that most Americans thought it was; it is really about the ingredients and the fatty, acidic, pure flavor of exquisite French dishes.

Read More
COLUMNS, Culture, DG's Passion, Interviews, Limited Edition, Music, Special Event, TV | FILM

Looking Back on Love – LENNY KRAVITZ

By

Directed by Artist, Photographer, Producer, and Music Man, Mathieu Bitton, every shot is honest and gritty – no concealed perfections. Told in a fragmented voice that embraces the moments caught through the lens, the poetic narrative strung together by raw moments not only tell a story in a way that I find refreshing, Matthieu – an artist in his own right – propels us into a world both dynamic and real. He shows us the many sides of a man. A musical icon. A dreamer that captivates the gentle hum buzzing within us all – that need to find love in everything.

Read More