I’m thrilled to be back in Key West as the 31st Annual Key West Literary Seminar kicks off tonight at the San Carlos Institute on Duval Street. As a member of the event staff for the last five years, it’s an absolute highlight on my calendar. This year’s theme is “Writers on Writers,” and we’ll explore the life and works of beloved literary icons as told by some of the most provocative contemporary writers and scholars today, such as James Atlas, Blake Bailey, Billy Collins, Mark Doty, Geoff Dyer, Brad Gooch, Lyndall Gordon, Paul Hendrickson, Pico Iyer, D.T. Max, Kate Moses, Ann Napolitano, Jay Parini, Robert D. Richardson, Phyllis Rose, Julie Salamon, Alexandra Styron, Judith Thurman, Colm Tóibín, Edmund White, and Brenda Wineapple.

The stage is set at the San Carlos Institute. Image courtesy Nick Doll Photography.

I’ve always found it fascinating to learn about the lives of interesting people in history, and it will be a special treat to gain insight into the lives of writers like Ernest Hemingway, Walt Whitman, D.H. Lawrence, Leo Tolstoy, and Emily Dickinson. The program is filled with thought-provoking panel discussions and readings, and the evenings are filled with dinners and cocktail parties.

If you’re not here in Key West during the seminar’s two consecutive weekends, January 10-13 and January 17-20, 2013,  join us virtually as we live-tweet discussions and readings on Twitter at @KeyWestLiterary and #KWLS and share highlights on Facebook at Facebook.com/KeyWestLiterarySeminar. We have some fun interactive, creative projects in the works on social media, so stay tuned! Also, be sure to read the online publication Littoral for long-form recaps and news year round.

Sculpture at the center of place Drouet-d’Erlon in Reims

For a break from the Champagne caves and tastings, head to Glue Pot, an Irish pub in the heart of the Reims nightlife district. Get cozy in a red leather booth and order a hearty meal of familiar pub grub and a heady beer from their extensive menu. Of course, you’re in Champagne, so feel free to order a flute of your favorite bubbly. Try Ruinart, produced in Reims and a favorite amongst locals–it’s difficult to find outside of France. Students and other 20-somethings congregate in the back room fashioned as a cozy lounge where you can order bottles of whatever you fancy.

49, place Drouet-d’Erlon, Reims, France +33 3 26 47 36 46

For the modern traveler on an extended stay abroad, the goal is to strike a balance between comfortable amenities and affordable price points. This often means that hostels and grungy budget pensiones are out, but 5 star luxury is not exactly in, either. Enter Bilbao’s Miró Hotel situated only a few blocks from the mesmerizing Guggenheim. The hotel is the brainchild of Spanish fashion designer Antonio Miró. It’s a sleek boutique hotel that manages to be both modern and comfortable. The rooms are small, yet luxurious with bathrobe and flip flops waiting in the black marble bathroom. Linens are a crisp white with red velvet pillows. Room service, breakfast, and Wifi are available amenities, and the reading room/business center is the perfect respite to flip through art books or send an email. The concierge in the white marble lobby is friendly and attentive, and the hotel bar is a perfect place for a cocktail before you venture out to the Casco Viejo for bite-sized pintxos and local Txakoli white wine.

Alamada Mazarredo, 77, Bilbao, Spain +34 946 611 880

For contemporary Japanese cuisine in a sexy setting, head to San Francisco’s Ozumo in the trendy waterfront Embarcadero District. Start with cocktails at the sceney lounge while you wait for your table. The menu includes inventive and fresh sushi and sashimi, as well as a charcoal robata grill. With a reputation as one of San Francisco’s most expensive restaurants, it’s still possible to hem the bill if you stick to the sushi menu. The shacho roll, made with Maine lobster, mango, jalapeño, and cilantro wrapped in spicy tuna is particularly delicious. Ozumo’s also home to one of the most extensive sake menus in North America, so get your waiter’s advice on what to order.

161 Steuart St, San Francisco, CA 415-882-1333

For outstanding Indian cuisine in Vancouver, head to Vij’s early and don’t be surprised if there’s a wait. Serving dinner starting at 5:30pm on a first come first served basis, this place is persistently packed. Don’t fret. The atmosphere is inviting and convivial. Head to the lounge and order a glass of wine or a cocktail and nibble on the generous helping of complimentary passed hors devours, like samosas and padamums. Once seated, prepare to feast on entrees that include a delicately seasoned chicken tikka masala, coconut shrimp madras, and curried lamb rogan josh. The plates are perfect for sharing and a visit to Vij’s will be a culinary highlight to your trip to Vancouver.

1480 W. 11th Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada 604-736-6664

If it’s a massive dance party with headliner DJs that you crave while in Las Vegas, look no further than XS at Steve Wynn’s Encore Resort. With lineups that would make any electronic dance music fan swoon, XS delivers week after week. Take New Year’s Eve weekend, for example–Tiësto, Steve Angello, and Deadmau5, all leading up to a near-five hour set by Avicii New Year’s Eve, and surprise appearances from Skrillex, Afrojack, and Calvin Harris. Stop it right now before I faint! The sprawling 16,000 square-foot megaclub is an indoor/outdoor playground to party. Mix and mingle outside around the pool patio, get fancy at a table or two-story cabana, or join the crush inside on the dance floor in front of the DJ booth. To paraphrase my boyfriends, Swedish House Mafia, turn off your brain, open your heart, and let the music take control!

3131 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV 702-770-3387

Venture downstairs to this bright and spirited subterranean bar for a sampling of some of the most inventive and tantalizing tapas in Barcelona. Located in the chic Eixample neighborhood, Tapas 24’s atmosphere is lively with patrons lining the bar or waiting for a table while sipping cerveza. Order the requisite patatas bravas, Iberian ham croquetas, and pa amb tomak (tomato bread), but don’t forget to try the mouth-watering McFoieburger and the truffle oil bikini sandwich. Not sure what else to add to your smorgasbord? Check the specials and don’t hesitate to ask the freindly waitstaff for suggestions. You might end up with an order of fried rabbit ribs.

Diputacio, 269, Barcelona, Spain +34 934 880 977

The Wanderlust Chameleon on stage with NERVO asking, “Can I be your third sister?”

This was the most last minute party planning for New Year’s Eve I’ve done in years. It wasn’t until Saturday afternoon that I confirmed my partners in crime and bought my party tickets. I found my awesome day-glo yellow BCBG dress the morning of and couldn’t figure out dinner reservations in time, so instead opted for a decadent lunch at the Cheesecake Factory at the Aventura Mall (complete with a Veuve split, of course) with my good friend Betsy.

I guzzled a bottle of Laurent Perrier while getting ready and my gal pal Galena and her friend Grant met up to head over to the new fangled James Royal Palm hotel for a night with NERVO. Once there, we guzzled Belvedere on the rocks, posed by contemporary art, and proceeded to dance the night away poolside under a near full moon.

Shayne & Galena.

Galena & Grant

NERVO was amazing. They’re a twin sister DJ duo from Australia and they’re so pretty and cool and fun. Plus, they put on a legit amazing show! They made me want to move to Australia with my sister and work on becoming a Jewish DJ sister duo! Someone with a table on the stage spotted my yellow dress in the crowd and summoned me to join him. Of course, my goal is always to get as close to the DJ booth as possible, if not actually inside of it, so I jumped at the opportunity.

NERVO. Image courtesy of World Red Eye.

Poolside at the James Hotel. Image courtesy World Red Eye.

At the end of the party, we were pretty starved, so we headed to Jerry’s Famous Deli with the rest of South Beach. We managed to grab three seats at the counter and ordered all sorts of amazing things like chili cheese fries (that Galena later called dog food), pickles, a giant bowl of fruit, and a Reuben sandwich with the sauerkraut on the side (because sauerkraut is gross). We had barely put a dent in our pickles when in walks Miami Heat’s Chris Bosh with his wife and friends. Come to find out, he and Dwayne Wade were both at our party. Other really cool people there included Gabrielle Union, Zoe Saldana (I’ve always wanted to spend NYE with an Avatar), and Karolina Kurkova.

Adrienne & Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade & Gabrielle Union. Image courtesy of World Red Eye.

Chris Bosh & crew at Jerry’s Famous Deli.

The next day, I joined Betsy and a bunch of other fun people for New Year’s Day brunch at Yardbird. And now it’s 2013. The End.

If you’d like to see a few more pictures from my night, head to my Facebook Page and feel free to like it while you’re there.

Where specified, images courtesy of World Red Eye

What better excuse to buy a pair of authentic cowboy boots than on a trip to Nashville? After a day or two in Music City, you’ll be struck by the country chic fashion of its inhabitants, and in no time, you’ll covet their ultimate statement piece–the cowboy boot. Head to Big Time Boots on bustling Broadway amidst country bars, barbecue joints, and other shops. Inside, you’ll find an extensive selection of cowboy boots for both men and women. The friendly shop girls will help you find the style and fit perfect for you. I visited the store on a recent trip to Nashville with Lisa and Krista. The plan was just to try a pair on for fun, but once we had them on we all lit up with giddy excitement, and none of us could resist walking out of the shop in our own pair of Stetsons. While the real deal’s not exactly cheap, Big Time Boots honors local discounts and group discounts. In Nashville, they’re chic for day or night and in a pair of jeans or a flirty dress. They lend an unparalleled swagger perfect for boot scootin’ at The Stage or strutting down Broadway. You’ll feel like a real cowgirl or country star as soon as you slip them on!

410 Broadway, Nashville, TN 615-254-7797

Are you in search of that signature Pilates body? Long, limber legs, lean, strong arms, a toned, flat belly, and an overall feeling of well-being and flexibility. Then, you’re going to need an excellent instructor. Look no further than Krista Schollaert’s Latés Pilates Studio in the heart of Fox Chapel. With a background in modern dance, Schollaert was trained at New York City’s Core Pilates. Her Pittsburgh studio is fully equipped with Balance Body Reformer/Tower units and specializes in private, duet, and small group classes. Her upbeat personality keeps you on target to achieve your goals while tailoring workouts to meet your personal needs, and all of her instructors are fully certified with backgrounds in movement therapy.

1344 Freeport Road, Pittsburgh, PA 412-794-8140