SANTO DOMINGO

Toronto is a town of neighborhoods -- each with its own distinct personality and flair for cuisine. During a recent trip for the Luminato Festival of Arts, I discovered this bustling city rivals New York City in terms of speedy, accessible public transportation and diverse, multi-cultural residents, and took in the sights and sampled many culinary delights. Here are the highlights of my foodie tour of Toronto: Ultra (314 Queen Street W.) Queen Street West is to Toronto what Greenwich Village is to New York City. The hipster strip is lined with trendy boutiques, bars, and eateries. Ultra is one of the city's swankiest supper clubs. Barely noticeable from the street, the VIP nightclub and restaurant is tucked away behind red wooden Indian doors. The rustic décor, accented by quirky transparent curtains with portraits of roosters, soft lighting and dark wooden furniture, heightens the ambient vibe. Over endless glasses of red wine, my husband and I dined on

Each Canadian city I've visited has a distinct personality. Montreal is a cosmopolitan, European-reminiscent city with hip cafés and shops. Toronto is a bustling, multicultural hub not unlike New York. Most recently, I went to Vancouver, and this British Columbia town's natural beauty makes it a fitting choice for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games . You'll also be delighted by the array of foodie options -- from superior street bites to upscale restaurants, many found in the city's best hotels. Here's a sampler of what to do and see during a three-day visit to Vancouver. Day 1 Train the train Take the new Canada Line from the Vancouver International Airport to downtown Vancouver Yaletown-Roundhouse stop. The trip is faster and cheaper than taking a taxi. Stay in a chic place! Arrive in the city's fashionable Yaletown neighborhood and stay at the Opus Vancouver (322 Davie Street) a funky boutique hotel that

“Some of the greatest minds operated under the radar to level the oppressor. Their Hall of Fame lies in the intuitive compassion and strength inherited by their children.” Wesley Beeks It could be said with certainty that the human soul is not meant for captivity. Humanity is its own historian. Many have lamented people became desensitized to violence in our society that endures with receding protest. Technology has become a personified enigma, handing out violent and msygynisitc candies through media, legislative practices, virtual reality games and multi-media streaming, a continuous loop of unabridged culture. Granted September 11th and the tragedies of fallen planes hijacked not only our personal and national safety, but the paradigm of morality itself. Black History Month is an apt time to come together and accord value to an alleged “oppressed peoples”. Slavery like motherhood has been a long standing tradition with cultures, nations, families and in businesses. Inherently one or

The Dominican Republic has got to be one big party right now. The Colmados were certainly overflowing with Dominicans sitting at platic tables drinking some grandes. Pedro Martinez is a national hero down there. Although Manny grew up in washington heights, he is still "one of them" as most Dominicans have a relative or friend living in washington heights. . . . .and David Ortiz. . . . .Big Papi. . .. a legend in the making. Sure schilling was a "war hero", Lowe pitched incredibly, Damon was a spark plug. . . . but the heart of this team is Dominican. Both Manny and Big Papi will be in the AL MVP voting and Pedro. . . . . is Pedro. First ballot hall of famer and the current poster child for Dominican ball players. It was great to see Pedro finally get a chance to pitch in the World Series and for him to come up huge. I shudder to think what Pedro could have done had he made it to the WS when he was in his prime. Certainly one of the most dominating pitchers of all