In this issue:

In Destinations: The concept behind Shanghai Expo 2010 is “Better City, Better Life” and in the new China this is not just a copywriter’s glib tag line, it is a commentary on the primary role the city plays in the future of the country and its people. By Barbara  Penny Angelakis

In Restaurants: We are ending a very difficult decade for many upper echelon New York City restaurants. The past year has seen many high profile closings, following the demise at the beginning of the decade of numerous illustrious establishments. By Manos Angelakis

In Restaurant Notes: The nice thing about Ecuador is that it has a little bit of everything regarding cuisine, which is mostly an assembly of fare from both local dishes and the neighboring Latin countries and, of course, considering the colonial Spanish history, plenty of classic Spanish dishes. By Manos Angelakis

In Events: Oktoberfest; two hundred years ago the festivities for the marriage of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen were so extraordinary that the citizens of this region of  Germany decided to repeat the celebration annually. By Susan McKee

In Hotels & Resorts: On a recent visit to Shanghai, I stayed at several deluxe 5-star properties belonging to the Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. brands, including The Westin Bund Center, Sheraton Shanghai Hongqiao, St. Regis in Pudong, and Le Royal Meridien on Nanjing Road East. By Barbara Penny Angelakis

In Cook’s Corner: Going green is easier to do with food, where the personal rewards are quickly visible. One recent morning I attended a meeting of the Organic Coffee Collaboration, a group which promotes the growth of small growers, pays them better than the big houses and is passionate about what its members do. By Morton Hochstein