Anyone who has been to the new wing of the MFA, which opened in November of 2010, is likely aware at what a treasure it is for Boston. It is aesthetically expansive and attractive, in a tastefully modern way that at least rivals other museums in this country or even in Europe. The 63-foot high glass walls in the gigantic (and enclosed) new courtyard, where there is also a chic new café and wine bar, is a sight to be reckoned with and as with many things good, it continues to get better. After this …More

The tradition of atmospheric, deliriously hardboiled crime films and novels, dubbed film noir (or "black film," by the upstart French film critics of the late 1950s), remains more popular than ever six decades after the genre's heyday. No city on the planet is more connected to this literary and cinematic tradition than Los Angeles. Just ask the creators of the video game, "L.A. Noire." L.A. is the home of Raymond Chandler's Phillip Marlowe and the setting of both the book and classic film versions of James M. …More

"They say it never rains in Southern California...it pours, man it pours," sang Albert Hammond back in 1972, and nobody disagreed. Los Angeles is a place where you can easily go many months without making contact with a single drop of precipitation, only to find yourself suddenly soaked after getting stuck in a seemingly everlasting October-through May downpour. If you happen to be a tourist who came dreaming of sultry days on the beach, this can be a downright upsetting state of affairs. But while you need to be …More

Manhattan boasts some of the most established indie theaters in America, but Brooklyn is the new hub for truly alternative film culture. With countless microcinemas, film collectives and infant indie houses, Brooklyn is absolutely the borough to visit for films that can be found nowhere else. The most established independent Brooklyn cinema is absolutely BAM Rose Cinemas. Housed in America’s oldest performing arts center, BAM Rose hosts countless festivals every year, including the locally renowned …More

Paris isn’t the nocturnal Shangri-la that New York and Barcelona might be, but there’s still plenty of after-hours fun to be had in the French capital. Expect culture, culture, and more culture, and don’t be surprised if you see the younger set—as in children partaking in the festivities long after their bedtimes, too.  White Nights  Each October since 2002, Paris has turned off the morning alarm clock and turned on the all-night party lights to host La Nuit Blanche, a …More

Most Israelis like to be in touch with their surroundings. Ask any Israeli how to get to a certain place in Jerusalem and most will be more than happy to help out a tourist with directions—whether they are local or not. However, due to the distance and seclusion from the rest of the country, in addition to the fact that Eilat is a resort town, the majority of Israelis you will meet here are also tourists and won’t be able to give you such good directions. This isn’t such a problem, since most of …More