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Hey, ‘TODAY’ producers! Don’t miss this!

by Catherine Toth on May 17, 2013 in Adventures

Well, word’s out.

Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie and the rest of NBC’s “TODAY” crew will be in town next week, as part of the morning show’s “Great American Adventure.”

In fact, show staffers have been in the Islands for the past few days, shooting b-roll and figuring out just what the anchors and correspondents of the national show will do.

Hawaii is the first destination of the five U.S. destinations for the show’s “Great American Adventure” — it will be shot on the beach fronting the luxurious Royal Hawaiian Hotel — and I’m super excited. I’ve a huge fan of the “TODAY” show since the Bryant Gumbel era. Tolerated Katie Couric, loved Meredith Vieira and now completely infatuated with Hoda Kotb.

But when any national show comes to town, I get a little… well, worried. Born and raised here, I feel very strongly these shows need to get it right. I want them to highlight what we are — not necessarily what we’re known for. (There’s a subtle difference.) While you can’t get away from things like Diamond Head and the Arizona Memorial, Hawaii has more to offer than the typical tourist spots.

So let’s put together a list of what you think producers — and the anchors — should experience while in town that will be truly authentic.

Go!

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I’m having Vegas withdrawals

by Catherine Toth on May 9, 2013 in Adventures

What is it about local people and Las Vegas?

We can’t seem to get enough of Sin City.

My grandparents used to go several times a year. I have friends who book weekend jaunts every year. And it seems like every public school is holding their reunions there.

Even though I’m not much of a gambler, I find myself daydreaming about Vegas. I browse the menus of restaurants I haven’t tried and check the Megabucks progressive slots online regularly.

You’d think, since I’m there at least once every two years, I wouldn’t find anything new or interesting to do. And that might be true for most U.S. cities — but not Vegas.

As Elaine Glusac wrote in Thursday’s New York Times: “From a tourism perspective, Las Vegas is ever the chameleon. New restaurants, shows, clubs and hotels are constantly reinventing Sin City with the aim of getting repeaters back to the tables. Big construction projects continue, and there are currently two competing Ferris wheels under construction on the Strip.”

So true. And so Vegas.

She mentions new restaurants I want to try — L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, for example — and a strange hour-long Yoga Among the Dolphins at the Mirage Las Vegas.

It’s really true — even if you’re not a gambler, there are still lots of things to do — The Neon Museum, anyone? — and see.

So I’m throwing it out there: what it is about Vegas that we love — or maybe hate to love? You have an addiction like mine?

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Apparently, we shouldn’t be stressed

by Catherine Toth on April 30, 2013 in Adventures

Forget your morning commute or the fact that we pay the highest taxes in the country.

Hawaii has the happiest, least stressed residents in the nation, according to new results from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index released last week.

Only 32.1 percent of Hawaii residents who responded to the survey said they experienced “a lot” of stress. Louisiana was second, with Mississippi third.

West Virginia has the most stressed residents, with nearly half of respondents from that state saying they feel a lot of stress. It’s also the unhappiest and fattest state of 2012. Rhode Island and Kentucky round the Top 3.

I wonder who Gallup surveyed.

Because everyone I know who lives here — who have jobs and families and aren’t independently wealthy — seem stressed. We suffer long, arduous commutes; we deal with a high cost of living that doesn’t match our salaries; we work two or more jobs just to make ends meet.

Who are these least stressed Hawaii residents — and what job do they have? Because I’m interested.

Part of the survey, though, looked at what people did in their spare time. Those living in the least stressed states, for example, spent more time doing things they enjoyed. I’m sure weather has a lot do to with that, too. You can do more here — like surf and golf — all year long, thanks to our idyllic weather.

Still. Least stressed? Maybe Gallup accidentally interviewed vacationers.

What do you think about the poll? You feel like it’s right, that we’re the least stressed residents of any state? Or do you think Gallup got it wrong?

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#CatTravels: Top 10 #NYC moments

by Catherine Toth on April 22, 2013 in Adventures, Food

I only had five days in New York City.

So fitting in everything I had wanted to do — and everything everyone told me I should do — was nearly impossible.

I didn’t get to the Top of the Rock or eat at Momofuku Milk Bar (Sorry, Christina!). I skipped Zabars, Yankee Stadium, and any water taxi tour of the city. I didn’t even make it to Brooklyn.

But I did do a lot of incredibly fun things — like getting around the city in a taxi (above) — even in the very short time I was there.

And it was just enough to make me want to come back.

So here are my Top 10 #NYC moments:

1. New York Public Library

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OK, this was the only place I went to three times in four days. I love this public library, the second largest in the country and one of my favorite places to spend the morning reading and writing. (Plus, Bryant Park is adjacent to it and it's equally awesome.)

Thanks to everyone who followed my adventures in #NYC on Twitter and Instagram — and here! Hmm, I wonder what’s coming up next!

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#CatTravels: From Central Park to Farmingville

by Catherine Toth on April 21, 2013 in Adventures, Food

It was going to be a long day.

We had planned to make the trek from Murray Hill to Central Park, clear across Manhattan, looking for bakeries and restaurants and street vendors along the way.

Then I was hopping on the Long Island Rail Road to Farmingville, a little suburb about 90 minutes east of lower Manhanttan to stay with my cousins.

And we had a lot to do.

I still wanted to see Eataly, an Italian food court in the Flatiron District; the Union Square Greenmarket, a vibrant farmer’s market; and any bakery that sold black-and-white cookies.

And there was still Central Park.

So we started early.

Here’s what Saturday — and my last day in the city — looked like:

Cupcakes for breakfast

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It was a long night, and I had lugged around this box of mini cupcakes from popular bakery Baked by Melissa. (This was a gift from Sara and Ryan the night before.) These mini bites made the perfect breakfast the next morning!

Follow my adventures in New York City on Twitter @thedailydish and on Instagram @catherinetoth.

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