Food and Beverage

Cinco de Mayo – May 5th

May 5, 2025

I like many others misunderstood this holiday. Cinco de Mayo, or the Fifth of May, is a vibrant cultural celebration often mistaken for Mexico’s Independence Day. In reality, it commemorates the unlikely victory of the Mexican army over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

The historical backdrop is key: in the 1860s, Mexico was financially struggling and had defaulted on debts to European powers. France, under Napoleon III, sought to expand its empire by invading Mexico. On May 5, 1862, a poorly equipped Mexican army, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, defeated the French forces at Puebla. Although the victory was more symbolic than strategic—France later succeeded in occupying Mexico—it became a powerful symbol of Mexican resistance and unity.

Today, Cinco de Mayo is more widely celebrated in the United States than in Mexico. In Mexico, it’s mostly observed in the state of Puebla with military parades and reenactments. In the U.S., however, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a broader celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, especially in areas with large Mexican-American populations.

Cinco de Mayo serves as a reminder of resilience against great odds. It’s not about margaritas or commercialized parties, but about cultural pride, historical reflection, and honoring the spirit of a people who stood their ground. This is what we should be celebrating. In the United States we have so many people who are uneducated and don’t understand how basic functions of our government work. All of this is made worse by our current president who I did NOT vote for!

Since today is Cinco de Mayo, take a moment to look beyond the festivities and reflect on the courage and perseverance behind the date. Whether through music, food, or history, it’s a meaningful opportunity to celebrate Mexican identity and the enduring values of freedom and resistance.

Christmas in New York City!

January 3, 2025February 7, 2025

This year was extra special because I bought myself my own set of skates for the first time in 20 years! A couple of years ago, I woke up Christmas morning in NYC and went skating at the Rockefeller rink under the iconic tree! Well that was fun for about 5 minutes until my feet hurt in the rentals. I didn’t feel steady, and couldn’t do anything I wanted to do. So fast forward a few years later, and I am presented with the opportunity to go to NYC again for another Christmas trip. I got the idea to go skating again, but didn’t have my own skates. This is where the ultimate Christmas gift I always wanted under the tree, a brand new pair of figure skates, that were actually big enough for my big feet. A 10 wide … yes … not exactly common. I know I was forced to shove my feet into skates that were too small just because that’s the only thing my parents would buy for me.

When it came to finding my skates, I chose a brand that was around when I was a kid and is still thriving today. Riedell was a sure bet to me and it paid off. I LOVE my skates, they were an awesome price at around $200, and came with some professional parts, like the flex notch for added comfort in bending my knees. Mine are not available anymore but here are ones that are comparable in price.

The Sky Club and flight there were great as usual with my favorite airline Delta. I have totally become a Delta girl since 2013 when I started flying them almost exclusively. I have the American Express Delta Reserve card and it comes in handy when I want to visit any Sky Club. I know the rules are changing in 2025, but I still find a lot of value from the card. With the $650 annual fee, its not for everyone, but for someone who travels alone a lot it has been nice. Also, it was Christmas Eve when I flew in and I wanted to spread a little joy while I traveled to meet my friend who was flying in on a different flight that was also booked with Delta Skymiles.

We were staying at the Hilton Midtown booked with points …. Obviously! 87,900 to be exact, to some this might be a lot of points, but for me its a great way to spend some points and quality time in New York City. We used the $35.00 per person credit for a few drinks at the bar, then took a bottle on champagne to go see the Rockefeller tree at midnight. Did you know that people gather and count down just like New Years Eve?

But before any of that, I had 1 thing on my to do list … Visit the new Louis Vuitton store that was built while they complete construction on the permanent location across the street! I was super excited to see all the displays and the previous designs along side their modern day counterparts.

Washington DC

July 17, 2024January 26, 2025

This trip was so fun for so many reasons! The Sky Club to start …… then I was able to connect with an old friend who lives in another state and we met for some food and drinks on Friday night. I spent 2 nights there total. I used a free night certificate for the first night and 110,000 points for the second night at the Waldorf Astoria.

This is where I should be so excited about the hotel but this was the worst Waldorf I have ever stayed at and I would never return. I also was in town for a travel hacking meet up and got to see a suite at the Grand Hyatt and the Conrad in DC. Since I have stayed at other WA properties I had a certain level of expectation leading up to the stay. I contacted the concierge just like I have for my other stays to request something for my birthday. I don’t usually complain about my stays but this was so bad that something needs to be said. I tried contacting Hilton customer service but just got the generic “We are sorry.” response. They were so sweet in New Orleans and I ended up with 2 Happy Birthday treats!

If you are familiar with Hilton you know that they have the option for digital keys in the app and you can check in without going to the desk. Well it was showing this option but that was apparently not the case. As the manager said … “we don’t use digital keys here”. Um …. ok so why not? And why does the app ask me if I want to use one? I am getting a little ahead of myself. After I landed I chose to take an Uber from the airport vs taking the train because I thought my room would be ready for me to check in at about 1:30pm. I got to the desk and they said that my room was not ready and that I needed to wait 2 to 3 hours for said room. When I inquired about an upgrade they told me it would cost $600 a night. I declined and watched that room stay empty for my whole visit while they shoved me into a room that was in desperate need of a facelift. Just look at the stains on the carpet … This is what they consider an upgrade for a Diamond member?

While waiting for my room I decided to take a walk with a hotel provided umbrella and I was able to see the White House and even caught a glimpse of the President of the United States leaving in his motorcade. Saturday was a fun day with sightseeing and the points and miles meet up! We met up at a Luna Hall DC, a high end food court with a full bar. Then we made our way to Allegory, a speak easy for a night cap.

This is a glimpse into what a suite at the Grand Hyatt looks like! Sooooooooo much nicer than my carpet stained room at the Waldorf Astoria! I was so jealous of my friends and the amazing treatment they received.

Overall I would recommend the Conrad or the Grand Hyatt vs. the Waldorf Astoria if you are in DC. Some words of wisdom … not all Waldorf’s are the same. But in the end I got 50,000 points back and made some amazing memories with my amazing friends!

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