Jeryl Brunner

My City, My Los Angeles by Jeryl Brunner, author of My City, My New York, is another book, published in April 2013, that offers some stunning sights and out-of-the way places for tourists to visit. In Los Angeles, Brunner finds that the actors, actresses, and other celebrities that live there have a lot of advice and stories to share. Shaun White and Luanne Rice are just some celebs offering their advice in the section on Beaches, Gardens, Hideaways, and Secret Spots, while Lisa Ling and Josh Groban are among those offering advice on the best places to eat. There’s also advice from nocturnal places to stores, markets, and spas, and sexy spaces to saunters, sails, rides, hikes, and drives. What’s interesting is that more than one celebrity has said that it takes about 20 years to get used to living in Los Angeles, including Ruth Vitale.

For a newbie to Los Angeles, Brunner’s guide will likely make them feel like an insider, while still ensuring that they hit all the top touristy spots. In addition to information about each location discussed by the celebrities, readers are given an inside look into the impressions and reasons why celebrities enjoy a particular space and what that space provides them. Molly Shannon says about the Annenberg Community Beach House, built by William Randolph Hearst for his mistress, “I love the idea that I’m swimming in the mistress’s pool.” (page 4) Readers will enjoy the back stories as actors and others talk about how they came to Los Angeles, and how they take stay-cations with their spouses to enjoy the sights around them that they normally don’t get to see because they are too busy.

See the full review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2013/03/my-city-my-los-angeles-by-jeryl-brunner.html… (mehr)

My City, My New York by Jeryl Brunner (my interview, http://savvyverseandwit.com/2011/12/interview-with-jeryl-brunner-author-of-my-ci... is the perfect companion for a trip to the Big Apple -- New York City -- because it is a collection of hidden treasures from the celebrities, icons, foodies, and authors who live there. Broken into seven sections -- Secret Gardens & Hidden Spaces, Central Park: Acres of Green; New York Eats; Nocturnal New York; Saunters, Strolls, Sails, Rides & Rambles; Stores, Street Fairs, Boutiques & Bargains; and Superstar Structures, Sexy Spaces, Beatific Bridges & Arty Pockets -- it is the epitome of an insider's look at one of the largest and most intriguing cities in the world. Clearly Brunner is right when she says in the introduction, "Most New Yorkers have rituals that connect them to their city in unique and personal ways" (page xiii); and we all have those rituals and personal connections to our home cities and even the cities and towns we grew up in.

Read the full review 2/1/12: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2012/02/my-city-my-new-york-by-jeryl-brunner.html… (mehr)