Hudson tips

Mortimer L. Downey, whose creative financing helped revive New York City’s subway system and who also oversaw far-reaching regional and federal transportation policy for more than six decades, died on Thursday at a retirement home in Oakton, Va. He was 87.

New Yorkers know how to brave the cold. Five inches of snow? Twenty-mile-per-hour winds? The challenges are met with a shrug, a grimace and an extra layer. Here, life keeps moving no matter the weather. I try to remember this as I’m standing before Forbes Travel Guide’s Four-Star The Spa by Equinox Hotels’ cryotherapy chamber, but find, faced with three minutes in a negative 150-degree chamber, my mask of Manhattan blasé is slipping.

Whether you're fascinated by American history, culture and cuisine, or you've enjoyed river cruising in Europe but are now looking to explore closer to home, U.S. river cruises are an easy and enjoyable vacation option.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Emily Crider . It has been edited for length and clarity.

I began my exploration of the countless bike paths in New York City as soon as I arrived. As a longtime cyclist in London, I knew that cycling is a satisfying way to get to know a city as a newcomer, and it’s no different in New York: you whip through neighborhoods, witnessing the landscape changing character dramatically between blocks. (My first ever bike ride took me past the copper-colored mansions of Brooklyn Heights, along the tourist-crowded cobbled streets of Dumbo, through Hasidic South Williamsburg and ended outside a crummy dive bar on Grand.) Riding a bike also requires a certain mindset, a kind of calm hyper awareness as you assess your surroundings. It means that you really notice things on a bike: potholes and perfectly flattened rats that need dodging, but also scraps of conversations, or the gauzy silhouette of the Empire State Building peeking out behind skyscrapers to signpost where you are.

Additions expand SSP America’s restaurant portfolio with primarily local brands

In its latest push for rail improvements, the Biden administration has announced billions of dollars in federal funding for more than two dozen projects along Amtrak's busy Northeast Corridor.

My morning routine is how I set myself up for the day. I splash my face with water and will often use Oskia’s Super C Beauty Capsules. I’m a big fan of Augustinus Bader’s The Light Cream and then Merit’s Great Skin Instant Glow Serum, which is very subtle. I’m really into their makeup: they have this Bronze Balm in a stick and blushers that come in little jars that are easy to swipe on. I use RMS UnCoverup Concealer and Supergoop Glowscreen SPF 40. I have an orangy red lipstick from NARS called Heatwave that I’ll wear here and there. I was on a shoot recently and the makeup artist told me about using this Schwarzkopf Styling Gel on your brows — it’s the only thing that actually stays for me. Kure nail varnish has the best range of colors and is the most durable of all the natural products; I like Rose Milk.

Maison Villeroy is a very distinctive hotel in Paris: intimate, private, luxe without being showy about it. Starting November 13th, its parent company The Collection, which operates ultra luxury properties in London, St. Barths, St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and Courchevel apart from Paris renting for weekly or monthly stays, is bringing that style to New York with the opening of Maison Hudson. This time, though, the property bordering the Hudson River in New York’s Far West Village is being fashioned for a minimum stay of 30 days only. Given the design, accoutrements, and services plus the vitality of the neighborhood surrounding it, anyone planning that length of stay in New York should definitely consider moving in.

For decades, authors, artists and presidents have all been drawn to the Hudson Valley in New York.

When I close my eyes and think of my favorite place in the world, I am on my porch in the mid–Hudson Valley, watching a fat groundhog peering out of his hole, wondering if he can nip on the roots of my Christmas trees before I chase him away. Or I am dipping my bread into the thick, soupy kale sauce of the gnudi di cavolo nero at GioBatta Alimentari, my favorite local restaurant, in nearby Tivoli. Or I am in my car high above the Hudson River, purple mountains ahead, curving riverbanks behind me.

Australia’s flagship carrier, Qantas Airways, on Tuesday named finance chief Vanessa Hudson as its next CEO, making her the first woman to lead the century-old airline.

From soaks in therapeutic hot springs to getaways in serene countryside escapes blanketed by fresh air, wellness has traditionally been rooted in nature. But somewhere along the way, self-care made a shift. We ditched outdoor retreats in favor of high-tech treatments, boutique fitness classes, and days spent at luxe spas.