This Week in the World: Week 8

Welcome to another issue of “This Week in the World!” I am feeling so re-energized after a weekend in London that felt a lot like Spring. The temperature yesterday got up to 60 (F), the trees are starting to bloom, flowers are budding everywhere and the streets were buzzing with energy yesterday. We rented bikes and spend the day riding around the city, and it felt like everyone had just woken up from hibernation yesterday after a long, hard winter (not to mention, lockdown!) Tomorrow Boris Johnson is announcing our roadmap to come out of lockdown and I’m feeling a lot more hopeful about the road ahead.

If you’re new here, ‘This Week in the World’ is a weekly recap of content ranging from around the globe. My hope is that each week, no matter where you are in the world, you’ll be able to feel more connected to it: through news, travel, food & wine… really, anything that appeals to the culturally curious. Let’s dive into the content I sourced for week 8.

FIRST UP: It’s not too late to register for this afternoon’s class: “So you want to move abroad?” from 4-5pm CST

TRAVEL NEWS, UPDATES + INSPIRATION

• The latest on vaccine passports (as of yesterday). Here is everything you need to know.

• Where you can travel once you’re vaccinated: a country by country guide.

• Vaccinated international travelers are not exempt from quarantine or the CDC's requirement to get tested before boarding a flight to the U.S.

WEEKLY FAVORITES

• FAVORITE LISTEN: I listened to several episodes of NPR's "Life Kit" podcast this week. I love how they cover a diverse range of topics, but

• FAVORITE FINDS: I ordered a few basics for spring from Sézane, one of my favorite sustainable brands from France. THIS short sleeve knit top, THIS long sleeve knit top in one of my favorite colors, and THIS striped basic all arrived, fit beautifully and I know I'll get a ton of wear out of for years to come.

• FAVORITE WATCH: This 5 minute video on “What Everyone Really Wants” is a good reminder.

AROUND THE WORLD

• The Italian government recently revealed that it's planning to add a retractable floor to the Colosseum to host performances and give visitors the chance to see the basement.

• I just purchased tickets to go to the "Bags: Inside Out" exhibition at the V&A in May (fingers crossed it will be open by then!) which explores the style, function, design history and craftsmanship of handbags… I am so excited to go to a museum again!

• Naomi Osaka (a 23 year old badass from the US) just won her 4th Grand Slam Title at the Australian Open, meaning she has now won every Grand Slam final she has reached!

• Italy’s new prime minister, Mario Draghi, was sworn in last week.

WINE

• I want to do a better job of sharing some articles each week that can help give a baseline knowledge of wine. You’ve likely heard lots of terms thrown around, but may not know what they all mean. So this week, have a read about how to understand acidity in wine so you know what to look for and how to taste it.

• The Loire Valley is home to the grandest Châteaux in France — and some of the boldest new winemakers in the country.

• Looking for a great bottle of wine for under $20 as we inch closer to spring? I love this Chateau Guiraud G Bordeaux Blanc 2016 (usually $19.99 online) . The Bordeaux region is best know for it’s Cabernet Sauvignon, but you may not realize that one of the parent grapes of Cab. Sav. is Sauvignon Blanc! This blend is 50% Sauv. Blanc (and 50% Semillon) and is a great, easy-drinking wine for warmer weather.

ACTIVISM

• The winter weather leading to crisis in Texas has been heartbreaking to see. Brené Brown, one of my favorite Texans, shared some great resources of how to help in THIS POST.

• Furthermore, @sharonsaysso started THIS SPREADSHEET of people with urgent needs that you can help directly.

• When we see a winter storm sweep the US like this last week, it’s common to hear comments like “yeah, so much for global warming!” Yet exacerbated weather patterns (both heat and cold) are usually direct signs of the impact of climate change. THIS ARTICLE explains how the wintry weather that has battered the southern US and parts of Europe could be a counterintuitive effect of the climate crisis.

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That’s all for today. Happy reading and hope to see you back again next week!

xx

Whitney

This Week in the World: Week 7

A snap from this last week that I shot walking through Kensington.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Regardless of your relationship status, I hope you are taking full advantage of this excuse to spread love to the people in your life. While we’re still locked down here in London, we’ve managed to have a really nice little weekend over here (including a virtual wine class, our favorite pizza and watching a few good films). I’ve really felt the lockdown blues a lot this last week, so this weekend has certainly been a nice little antidote to combat some of that. I hope you’re feeling lots of love and micro-doses of joy today… whatever that looks like for you.

If you’re new here, ‘This Week in the World’ is a weekly recap of content ranging from around the globe. My hope is that each week, no matter where you are in the world, you’ll be able to feel more connected to it: through news, travel, food & wine… really, anything that appeals to the culturally curious. Let’s dive into the content I sourced for week 6.

MISCELLANEOUS:

• I recently found this "Wine School" section in the New York Times with lots of great articles for all my fellow oenophiles!

• Black Travel is not a monolith.

• Here's How You Can Score an Italian Home for As Little As €1

• A friendly reminder my “So You Want To Move Abroad"?” online course is happening one week from today! Register now to join us.

• I really enjoyed the virtual wine class I did on Friday with Franklin's Wine. They are doing another one on the 26th of Feb. that I just signed up for featuring Burgundy vs. Bordeaux (it's at 7pm GMT so even if you're in the US, feel free to sign up just to listen on your lunch break!)

• Politics aside, this little act of spreading love made me smile.

TRAVEL NEWS, UPDATES + INSPIRATION

• 7 Valentine’s Day travel deals to book now for travel later.

• Spring Break's new look: older and socially distant.

• Starting tomorrow British travellers returning from certain countries will need to pay £1,750 to quarantine in hotels. Here's what you need to know.

• With so many weddings on hold, that means extra time to plan a honeymoon! Here are 30 of the best destinations to consider.

• In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, here are 10 romantic spots in London and here are the most romantic things to do in London.

• I'm dreaming of these 19 most beautiful villages in France (I've been to number 14… it's a favorite!)

WEEKLY FAVORITES

• FAVORITE LISTEN: I really enjoyed listening to THIS EPISODE of The Daily where they discussed "Laïcité" and how the French government's role regarding religion is adapting.

• FAVORITE READ: The joys of living alone

• FAVORITE PURCHASE: I recently saw my friend Emily, who lives in Paris, wearing such a cute beanie, and it turns out it's merch that "Bisou", the chic (and sustainable) bar in the Marais, is selling! I e-mailed them to order one and they were happy to ship to me (not sure if they will in the US? But worth a shot to ask if you want to support a small business while getting a cute hat!)

• FAVORITE FIND: Since there is still no sign of being able to go to Italy in the near future, I recently signed up for Nonna Tonda, a fresh pasta delivery service here in London. I'm so excited to give it a try!

WANT ALL OF THIS DIRECTLY IN YOUR INBOX?

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That’s all for today. Happy reading and hope to see you back again next week!

xx

Whitney

This Week in the World: Week 6

Hello once again. I hope everyone is hanging in there through these long weeks of winter (not to mention, during a pandemic!) I really enjoyed taking you all for a walking tour of South Kensington on Instagram stories (I’m hoping to do another one this upcoming week to another London neighborhood too!) It has been really challenging at times over the last year to maintain creativity when the travel industry has been almost entirely halted for so long, so it felt good to be able to “share travel content” again… even if it was my own city while we’re locked down. Hopefully I won’t need to keep churning out new ideas for THAT much longer and we can get back out into the world again soon (I read earlier this week that all adults in the UK could have access to the vaccination by the end of May!? I hope that is true!)

If you’re new here, ‘This Week in the World’ is a weekly recap of content ranging from around the globe. My hope is that each week, no matter where you are in the world, you’ll be able to feel more connected to it: through news, travel, food & wine… really, anything that appeals to the culturally curious. Let’s dive into the content I sourced for week 6.

MISCELLANEOUS LINKS I THINK YOU’LL LOVE:

• It's Not Just You. A Lot Of Us Are Hitting A Pandemic Wall Right Now. (I felt this on a cellular level!)

• Fellow wine enthusiasts: 2021 appears as though it will bring some challenges to the industry.

• It’s no secret that climate change is a serious issue… so how does the new administration plan to tackle it?

• I have been lusting over this chic, sustainable sweater from OYUN, an ethical brand that I love (I also just got a sneak peek of their Spring/Summer collection and it is gorgeous!) If you’re not already familiar with them, definitely check them out for some great sustainable items you will love and wear forever!

TRAVEL NEWS + UPDATES:

• It's time to start nurturing your travel imagination!

• Yet another update about Vaccine Passports…prepare accordingly!

• JetBlue to Launch London Flights This Summer from NY + Boston, including a new "Mint class" (private suites with a sliding door, a seat cushion by Tuft & Needle, a tilting 17-inch seatback screen, and wireless charging capabilities).

• Thinking of Traveling in the U.S.? Check Which States Have Travel Restrictions

CELEBRATING BLACK LIVES

• I loved this interview of ‘Unity With Purpose.’ where Amanda Gorman and Michelle Obama Discuss Art, Identity and Optimism.

• 18 Movies by Black Directors to Watch This Black History Month (and another list of 91 movies and TV shows to stream for Black History Month).

• 12 books by black women to read this year.

• A powerful new Black travel movement has emerged over the past decade — one centered on giving travelers of color the advice, inspiration, and sense of community we need to explore the world.

WEEKLY FAVORITES:

• FAVORITE LISTEN: I loved THIS EPISODE of Brené Brown’s podcast with John & Julie Gottman titled “What Makes Love Last.” In the spirit of Valentine’s Day next weekend, I think they did a great job tackling the nuances of relationship.

• FAVORITE FIND: My friend Natalie and I were catching up recently and she really inspired me with her knowledge around stocks and investing (perhaps you've also felt curious to learn more after all the GameStop conversations lately?) While I feel pretty up to speed about my emergency fund, maxing out my Roth IRA and a general strategy for retirement, I'm really excited to read "That thing rich people do" (which she recommended as a great starting point to learn the basics around investing.)

• FAVORITE READ: I am long overdue, but I’m finally reading “All the Light We Cannot See” (I know, I’m very late to the party) but I already can’t put it down. If you enjoy historical fiction and haven’t read this book, join me in reading!

UPCOMING EVENTS (NO MATTER YOUR LOCATION!)

• On Sunday, February 21st I'm teaching a new online course called "So you want to move abroad?"… read the course description and details here!

• This upcoming Friday, I'm signed up for virtual wine class (featuring Italian Reds) that I'm taking through one of my local wine shops (while they only ship wines locally, you can still pay a reduced rate of only £10 if you want to just join to listen!

• Later this month, the girls coming on my Atlas Adventures trip to Paris are joining me for an online cooking class with La Cuisine… a wonderful culinary school where we'll be taking in-person classes on our trip! La cuisine also offers a wide variety of virtual cooking classes that are open to the general public… check out their list of offerings here if you're missing France!

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That’s all for today. Happy reading and hope to see you back again next week!

xx

Whitney