Austa Somvichian-Clausen

2 days ago | robbreport.com | Austa Somvichian-Clausen

Bubbly tonic; the bite of piney, nearly camphorous juniper; the zing of bright green citrus. Thirsty yet? Gin and tonics have been a staple of cocktail culture since the 19th century, when they were first developed as a medicinal solution to treat malaria in India. Today, they are a mainstay on bar menus everywhere—beloved for their fresh, invigorating hit to the senses.

2 weeks ago | hotelsabovepar.com | Austa Somvichian-Clausen

Washington, DC might be best known for its monuments and political pulse, but locals know that Dupont Circle is the actual heart of the city. The neighborhood expands out from an actual traffic circle, the Dupont Circle-a grassy haven with a marble fountain in the middle, designed by sculptor Daniel Chester French (of Lincoln Memorial fame). On each side street expanding from the circle, find bookshops, embassies, the 'gayborhood' on 17th Street NW, and more.

3 weeks ago | hotelsabovepar.com | Austa Somvichian-Clausen

It isn't often that I'd get excited about the idea of staying the night around the corner from a former place of work, but that was the situation I found myself in with the Jefferson Hotel. Besides its iconic location just four blocks north of the White House, it's also located across the street from the headquarters of National Geographic, where I worked post-college.

1 month ago | hotelsabovepar.com | Austa Somvichian-Clausen

Take a second to think up a "typical" historic hotel. It's likely that the sloping lines and industrial concrete of the TWA Hotel are not what came to mind. Throw in the fact that the hotel is located just outside of Terminal 5 at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York, and the mind continues to reel. Yet, the TWA Hotel is indeed historic-at least, the building it's housed in certainly is.

1 month ago | mensjournal.com | Austa Somvichian-Clausen

A bottle of cognac might sound like something you’d find collecting dust at a stuffy old bar, but don’t count it out. The historic French liquor is experiencing a modern revival, stepping out of tradition and into the spotlight of contemporary cocktail culture. Bartenders are embracing its nuanced flavor profile. High-quality blends that were traditionally kept for a snifter are finding their way into everything from the classic sidecar to bold new concoctions.