For the fourth time this month someone has asked me why I like Scotch.  My first reaction is to say “Why wouldn’t I like Scotch?”   To me it’s like asking someone “Why do you like to eat?”   I just do.  For some silly reason, I find it a bizarre question.

I have never really thought about it at any length, so I had to stop and ponder the question.  As I was sitting at a bar holding a glass of The Glenlivet, I took a sip and I realized I don’t feel guilty drinking it.  Why?  Well, for one, it has only 64 calories and 0 carbs, and that puts a big smile on my face.  I also love the smell of grass and the sea and this strong peat aroma that is in some Scotch is very attractive to me.

So, there is my answer!  The next time someone asks me that question I will give a big smile and reply “why do you like to eat?”

My Scotchtoid of The Month: Queen Victoria had a dram of Scotch in her tea every day.  How queenly of her!

While there are tons of cafés and restaurants in New York City that serve French food, play French music and boast French décor, I’ve found few places that are able to successfully achieve a genuinely French atmosphere.

I recently visited a new French café on the Upper East Side, and while the large, open space is surrounded by very simple white walls, something about Le Moulin à Café felt very French. Whether it was the French-speaking barista or the gourmet French goodies lining the shelves behind the counter, the atmosphere provided both local charm and foreign flavor. For anyone who enjoys ham & cheese baguettes, a good coffee, or a charming back room with Wi-Fi and exposed brick, this is a great place to check out and totally worth the trip to York and 77^th.

“Le Moulin à Café,” which translates to The Coffee Grinder, is also the name of a painting (see above) from 1911 by Spanish artist, Juan Gris.

I always hate it when I hear one of the songs I love on a commercial.  Yet, here’s a rundown of ten – at the time – new songs that Apple has used in its commercials.  Other than U2, these relatively unknown artists broke big through this huge national television exposure.  Here’s AdAge  with the list and here’s a site that helps you identify that catchy :30 seconds of music you hear in commercials but don’t know.

The commercial above is the for iPod Nano-Chromatic (2008) and features Chairlift: “Bruises”.

It’s no secret that magazines are having a hard time.  With circulation down, publishers are trying to become extremely creative!  Glamour Magazine is one publication that is hoping a new Facebook logo on their covers will entice readers.  Pick up the magazine and you’ll see various places throughout it where you can point your phone at a logo to get the inside scoop, giveaways and extras.  This is a great way to make what has always been a one way conversation much more interactive!

New York Times’ Elizabeth Olson asked the question, IS a cellphone the key to a Glamour reader’s heart? You can read her article here.

Here at GCM, we travel – and sometimes, a lot. As part of the Toasted Head tour in Bend, Oregon, I happened to stumble on the Oxford Hotel and these guys get it right!

What stood out was that the design of the hotel. It wasn’t just about pretty lamps and cool rugs, but they successfully designed the whole experience. From gracious customer service, to a comfy bed that l would take, in a heartbeat, over my own bed. Every element was thought out and impeccably implemented to provide a hotel you wish was actually your home – and, to really take the cake, their environmental initiatives actually improve your overall experience. Their bathrooms are designed with refillable pumps for shampoo and soap to cut down on waste and each room has a French Press and canister of coffee, in order to avoid the excess packaging from all those little coffee bags. My stay was a reminder about how every part of an event or program is all part of the experiential design.

Feel like a getaway? you can read more about the Oxford Hotel here.