Author Archives: planetlippstone

(Almost) Meeting Mary Tyler Moore

I’d like to say I met Mary Tyler Moore at one of her weddings. I jumped at the chance to try. Like Mary Richards, the star of Moore’s groundbreaking TV comedy about being a single girl working in TV news … Continue reading

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One of My Favorite Farmers’ Markets

Savoring summer when just about everything’s in season at Central Market in Lancaster, PA, billed as the oldest farmers’ market in the U.S. One of my favorite spots. The only place where you can have a lunch of African stew, … Continue reading

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The Lost — and Found — Jews of Crete

My latest in Tablet magazine: A synagogue on the Greek isle of Crete, struggling to survive with no Jewish community. The Jews were wiped out in the Holocaust.  

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Who pays when a flight delay is an ‘Act of God’?

Things were going too well. Except for a tight flight connection in London that got the old heart racing, a recent trip to Italy and Greece was perfect. (More on that later.) It ended with a great couple of days … Continue reading

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Eats: Philly, home of one of world’s best desserts

You’ve just gotta trust me on this. Because I know dessert. Especially the frozen kind. I’ve been taste-testing ice cream and sorbet ever since I was old enough to buy something from the Good Humor man. I’ve had encounters with Ben … Continue reading

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The Best Explanation for Why I Travel

It’s a very simple picture that paints a picture of why I travel. This was the view from the shower in my space at Nuits Saint-Pierre, a trés élégant hotel straight out of Paris. It’s in St. Pierre and Miquelon, a genuine … Continue reading

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Schlepping 3,000 miles for a banana leaf and burned rice

Who would fly 3,000 miles for dinner?  With a drink that tastes like burned rice? And a dressed-up banana leaf for dessert? I would. And did a while back. It’s what they eat in Madagascar, that island nation off Africa, better known as … Continue reading

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Let’s Paws: Happy to be a Blind Dog’s Seeing-Eye Dog

My latest trip was to take what might be my last journey with one of my favorite beings — my blind nephew Chaos, a 12-year-old Labrador Retriever. I volunteered to dog-sit, which meant flying down to my sister’s in Charlotte, … Continue reading

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Brussels: Sad to See Dark Cloud Hanging Over Brilliant City

I really hate to see Brussels, Belgium, on lockdown, with the city bracing for a possible terror attack like the one that decimated Paris. When I went there last Easter in search of extraordinary chocolate, I also got a good taste … Continue reading

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Let’s Paws: TSA Dogs Looking for a Few Good Homes

So the TSA is looking for a few good homes for a few good dogs who flunked basic training. Would that we could. Honestly, we’re far from being over the loss of our beloved Ginger. Even if we were ready, … Continue reading

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