Popular Vancouver-based travel blogger, Ariana Colenbrander, knows a thing or two about travel. While living and traveling abroad, she gained an appreciation for the uniqueness each city has to offer: “I’ve lived in three countries to date and have travelled to numerous others both as a solo traveller and with my Dutch husband (who I met while travelling in Petra, Jordan in 1996). I fell in love, left San Francisco and moved to The Netherlands, living my dream of exploring, working and travelling through Europe with my sweetheart.”

“OK, I have to admit, when I saw the title of Diane Ratican’s book, Why LA? Pourquoi Paris?, I was immediately intrigued. I’d spent 12 years as a young adult living in and around Los Angeles and have had the pleasure of visiting Paris a few times over the years…It’s a great read and gift idea for travel lovers, art lovers, Los Angeles/Paris lovers and pop culture fans alike.”

–Ariane Colenbrander, Vancouverscape

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Glamour.com has featured Why LA? Pourquoi Paris? in their holiday gift guide, 110 Perfect Holiday Gift Ideas Under $100! Congrats to author Diane Ratican, illustrator Nick Lu, and illustrator Eric Giriat, for this tremendous exposure and feature. We want to take this opportunity to thank all of our art-loving, travel-obsessed, wonderfully passionate readers. Your glowing recommendations are truly appreciated and we sincerely thank you from all of us here at the Why LA? Pourquoi Paris? team.

Buying a gift for your favorite book-lover can be a challenge. We are honored that Why LA? Pourquoi Paris? is one of seven books included on Sarah Meyer’s 2017 Holiday Gift Guide: For the Bookworm! Sarah is the founder of Sarah In Style and is a training consultant by day, and a fashion and lifestyle blogger by night.

“This would make a great addition to any coffee table! It’s a whimsical comparison of landmark places and spaces in both Los Angeles and Paris. Whether your bookworm has been and wants to reminisce on a trip, is planning an upcoming trip, or just wants a fun read, this is a great pick.”

–Sarah Meyer, Founder of Sarah in Style

Thank you Sarah! We are so happy that you loved Why LA? Pourquoi Paris? and recommend to your readers. Be sure to visit  to see the full list!

A big thank you to our friends at “Our City Tonight”, Jim Gordon and Leeta Liepins, for featuring Why LA? Pourquoi Paris? on not one, but two episodes! “Our City Tonight” covers everything that makes Vancouver a fascinating city. Gordon and Liepins take audiences through Vancouver’s latest in fashion, food, nightlife, entertainment, people, and places. Check out our segment below!

Travel by ENTREE editor Bill Tomicki has included Why LA? Pourquoi Paris? in their annual Very Special Gifts for Very Special People holiday gift guide! Travel by ENTREE is a luxury travel newsletter serving tens of thousands of readers every month: “Since 1981, ENTREE Travel Newsletter has been fearlessly covering the world, exposing shams and singing the praises of excellence before the mainstream critics do. If you love to travel and want an insider’s perspective on what’s hot and what’s not, where to go and where to avoid, what beds are are lumpy and what restaurants to steer clear of, check out www.entreenews.com for more details and subscription information.”

“Why LA? Pourquoi Paris? author Diane Ratican tells what she loves most about Los Angeles and Paris, the gems her fine research process uncovered. Painted in 272 colorful pages with illustrations by Eric Giriat (Paris) and Nick Lu (Los Angeles), these two most significant and immediately recognizable cultural milieus are compared and contrasted, with the similarities and very stark differences exposed. Ratican focuses on the small differences too, and how they can shape a culture and create an identity behind a city, just as much as the more obvious cultural quirks. A wonderful coffee table book brimming with joie de vivre and cool California glamour, perfect for a holiday gift for your jetsetter friends this year.”

–Bill Tomicki, Travel by ENTREE