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Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

• Broadway Summer in New York

  Sunday, September 5th, 2010

  If you could only say one thing about New York City, it would have to be, okay, that’s a silly thought. There is never only one thing to say about this great city. But one of the things you can always say is that you can always find something great onstage. New York has one of the most respected and influential theater scenes in the world and Broadway often leads the way for theaters across the country as well as across the globe. And tourists who are staying in one of the fabulous New York hotels list a Broadway production as one of the top agenda items while they’re in town.

  And this summer there is a lot to talk about on the Great White Way , as major Broadway and Hollywood names have strutted the boards and thrilled audiences all season long. Hit productions like A Little Night Music, Wicked, Chicago and Promises Promises continue their runs and draw huge crowds every night. In addition to these incredibly popular and star packed productions, New York is also known for its cutting edge productions and dramatic presentations. And the city has also been the home of some experimental productions and artists that have initiated various theatrical and performance genres. New York is not only one of the greatest theater towns in the world, it is also one of the most diverse and progressive.

• Corbet’s Scottsdale

  Thursday, August 26th, 2010

  The town of Scottsdale is a place with many faces, day or night. The higher end sections turn into some very fancy shops in the midst of a suburban desert paradise when the sun goes down, and the main center of town becomes hopping with comedy clubs and the usual dance clubs. It’s eclectic and often terribly exciting, and during the day, the shoppers seem to have their way here.

  It’s an interesting place to grow up, for sure. It’s neither rustic enough to be the old west of struggles and difficulties, nor is it cool enough throughout the year to have the urban sophistication of the coasts. It’s definitely its own thing, and the luxury hotels Scottsdale are always unique and lovely. It’s the kind of place that could raise a kid like Brady Corbet . His boyish looks speak to a friendly ideal of what men should look like, but they’re unusual enough to capture the attention of directors like Lars Von Trier .

  His new film, Melancholia, has just been heating up for release, and it sounds like something very much in line with what the Danish director is usually up to. Except this film won’t be as cheery as his other work has been. It’s hard to imagine, but then again, Corbet himself probably would never have imagined his life turning out as lovely as this.

• A New Apartment, A New Perspective

  Monday, August 16th, 2010

  People are creatures of habit, but they’re also a species that is remarkably adaptable to change. If a life is a collection of experiences and relationships that are marked in time, then one’s residence is the vantage point from which to watch these shift and change. Moving is never easy, but for those looking to change the place where they rent in Canada , there are plenty of resources that can help make the transformation more smooth.

  It’s easy to get caught up in the details of moving, and forget for a little while the reasons for the move. That can be a very good thing, especially in times of stress, when the best cure for too much introspection is distraction. However, any change, if it is to stick, needs some conscious attention to the bigger picture. Resources like online bulletin boards, self-help blogs, and help from Transglobe Property Management services can take a difficult situation and make it easy.

  For all of the difficulties in a move, there are always more positives than negatives. Up ahead, in the next phase of one’s life, there is a new perspective looming. Being in a new place can help change one’s attitude in remarkable ways, and attention to the process can bring about enormous changes in the way one lives one’s life.

• Delhi Forts and Gardens

  Thursday, July 1st, 2010

  There are many world heritage sites in the ancient areas of Delhi, India. Most of them are known as some of the most impressive buildings in the world. With all ancient times and development of cities came the forts of military might. In Delhi, the Red Fort stands, as a splendid historical site. The foundation to this intense fort was started in 1638 by Shah Jahan as he moved his capitol to Delhi. It took nine years to build the fort and the its complex and today it is still a walled city of Old Delhi. It served well for generations of activity such as the Mughal capitol until some time in 1857. Then it became a military camp for the British for a while until India became independent in 1947. Today it is a must see for all of the travelers of the area. It may have been the home or stay for many in its hay day but now visitors must stay at one of the Delhi hotels . The thought of staying in the Red Fort is a little intriguing.  

  Gardens are also a very important part of the city of Delhi. Most of the amazing sites have gardens that surround them and are apart of them. They always have a great representation of the different plants and trees that are indigenous to India. At the Lodi Gardens, visitors will get a little lesson on the plants because many of them are marked. The area of the Lodi Gardens is a very old area and was the burial grounds for the Sayyid and Lodi Rulers. Some of the tombs are still there such as Mohammad Shar’s tomb which was erected in 1450 and then Sikander Lodi’s tomb that went up in 1571.  

  All of the gardens are such an amazing example of Mughal designs an the Archaeological Survey of India has had their hand in preserving many of the gardens, tombs and other historical sites in the city.

• Austin Texas, The Music Capital of the World

  Saturday, June 26th, 2010

  Austin, Texas is not only the state capital but it is also an incredibly beautiful and even world famous city. The international recognition and respect is largely due to its self proclaimed, though rarely argued, status as the music capital of the world. And it certainly deserves this title and has numerous famous music festivals throughout the year as well as a large number of live music venues and night clubs. It is the frequent destination for many young musicians and new bands that are trying to forge out a career in the music business. And of course, and perhaps most famous of all, it is the home of the PBS television show Austin City Limits.

  There is also a festival called Austin City Limits , which takes its name from, but is not directly related to the television show. The festival has become one of the city’s largest music events and occurs in the early fall each year. It takes place over three days and features some of the top bands and musicians as well as those who are at early stages in their careers and just starting to make a name for themselves. There is live music throughout the day and night and this is just one of the great draws for the guests in Austin luxury hotels and it is also a popular attraction for the city’s residents. In addition to all of the musical venues and opportunities for exposure, the residents of Austin are extremely supportive of the music scene.

  Austin City Limits , the television show is frequently considered to be a career goal for musicians. Once they have played for that show they feel they have actually arrived on the national music scene. And this is a correct assessment. The show used to be exclusively oriented toward highlighting local and regional musicians and only presented bands and individuals from Texas. However, as it continued to grow and receive wider audience bases, it also expanded its invitation list and now includes performers from all across the country and beyond. It is the longest running music based television series in American television history.

• San Francisco’s China Town

  Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

  There are China Towns all over America. Every major city has one even if it is only a block or two long. None are more famous than the China Town in San Francisco however. This area is huge and you could take up a whole vacation exploring just China Town The great thing is that because this town is so large and so well known there are a lot of great attractions that things to do here. If you are just going to explore the area on your own you will want to make sure you get there while it is still light out though because things start closing down quickly once the sun starts to set. However better than just being able to explore the city on your own is a guided tour to get you started.

  There are a few that you can choose from when it comes to guided tours. One of the best companies is Wok Wiz which has a couple of great tours. You will need to make sure that you get a reservation for any of the tours.

  The tour which focuses on food in town and the history that comes with it is the “I can’t believe I ate my way through China town” tour. In this tour you will work up a hunger as you walk around the town looking at different restaurants, learning about what regions different foods come from, and stories about the immigrants who came here looking for a better life and what they found. There is a whole lot more to this tour as well.

  Their daily tour is focused much more on the cultural aspects of China Town. Art museums, herbalists and tea connoisseurs are just some of the people you will be visiting in this tour. You will get to hear each of their stories as translated by the tour guide who speaks Cantonese. Although China town is filled with what some architect thought Chinese architecture would look like, making the town look a little fake, the stories of the immigrant rush to California are mostly true. If you pay a little extra you can also go to the dim sum restaurant and eat a meal of traditional foods.

  When you are done you may want to return to your San Francisco Bay hotels to rest and plan what you want to do next. The tour should have given you a good idea of what areas in China town you would want to further explore so if you are still interested in it make a plan and go back. Set up a route around the city and see as much of it as you can. You may end up finding out just how much of the city there really is to see.

• Fellini’s Rome

  Saturday, June 19th, 2010

  It’s not a very hard stretch of the imagination to picture a young Fellini coming to Rome for the first time. In his own mind, he was always an adolescent, so memory might be more than generous and place him here as an 18 year old boy, in 1938, when there were so many masterpieces in him waiting to be made into reality.

  The notion of taking the raw stuff of dreams and memories and turning them into stories for a big screen sounds a little bit like a magical act, something akin to alchemy. As his ability to make films grow, so did his interest in the vast world around him develop. Like Jung, he felt that he found all the worlds that he needed right where he was. And like Jung, the process of turning life into art was, indeed, an alchemical act. Both considered the Great Work to be the process of becoming the self, the act of learning how to walk in one’s own multiple identities.

  For Fellini, when he saw Rome , and started to hear its eternal music, he discovered his all. There was never any need to consider living anywhere else.

  This is a great moment in the life of an artist, when the inspiration finds its endless source, and it’s very close to discovering the fountain of youth. A visit to this city may not actually lead to the mysteries that made the director of 8 1/2 an eternal adolescent, but it might work some very specific magic, and a kind that can’t be discovered until the moment of arrival. Walking on the Rome sidewalk, and sleeping in the Rome hotel , and eating in the Rome cafe, there are sparks of another world that open up. It’s a reminder that this city is just a beginning of a great adventure, and the most romantic journeys take place under the strict and chaotic supervision of the eye of the heart.

• Boston Places of Interest

  Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

  After visiting the city for a few days and walking the Freedom Trail of history and seeing some of the landmark monuments you may want to see some other attractions. There is always the Samuel Adams Brewery for the beer lover. The founder Jim Koch, came from a long line of brewers. He went to school to be something else entirely but the beer business and finding old family recipes in the attic pulled him back into the family business. In the mid 1980’s, the beer market in the U.S. was rather limited. There were a couple of imported beers but otherwise it was all pale lagers. It was time for a beer with more flavor and structure to be widely distributed around the country. Come and learn about the story and taste some of the different brews now available at Samuel Adams Brewery .  

  Fenway Park is a sports fan must see while in Boston. This is the oldest baseball park for the Major Leagues in America. Not much has changed in the park since it opened in 1912. The park did have some changes because of some fires but the old baseball ball park feel is the same. They still have the manually operated scoreboard and almost a 100 years of stories of baseball legends playing there. Whether you are a red sox fan or not it is a nice afternoon at the ball park.  

  In Boston USA, luxury hotels are all over the city, just take our pick. There are plenty located near all sorts of attractions that will keep you and your family busy for days. Take in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Museum and Library for a day. Relive the world that the Kennedy’s gave to America. See how the Kennedy the man and the family contributed to the better good of our country with many exhibits of JFK’s presidency including many of the issues he was facing during his life and time in office.

• Museums to Visit in Lisbon Portugal

  Sunday, May 30th, 2010

  Dive into the history and culture that has made Lisbon Portugal what it is today by exploring some of the great museums they have in the city. Lisbon is a good sized city with a great balance between the past and the future. They have a great marine museum called Museu De Marinha that will share the history of the life on the seas around Portugal and its neighbors. They have an exhibit on the many styles of ships that sailed in and out of the local port over hundreds of years. They also have the history of the pirates that roamed near by. The building itself brings about the nostalgia and that carries into the inside with its stain glass windows and large sculptures of famous seamen.  

  Museu de Arte Popular is a museum that focuses on Portuguese fold art and customs. This is a must stop for anyone who is wanting to learn more about the people of this country. Through the many rooms of paintings, clothing, ceramics, agricultural tools, furniture and other pieces of daily life, visitors will get a nice rounded view of the heart of the Portuguese people. Visitors can also add Museu de Artes Decorativas to their list of Portuguese museums to learn more about the local culture.  

  Learn the history and legends of Portugal in a unique way with their famous tile art at the Museu Nacional do Azulejo . This is a very special way to see and hear the famous stories of the land, sea and people. There also some myths and legends of gods and spirits among the exhibits.  

  Your   favorite hotel in Lisbon  will have the details and maps to get you to all of the museums you can find time to visit. They can also give you advice on where to eat and relax during your daily journey’s.

• Getting Around in Paris is a Breeze

  Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

  New to Paris and need to get around? No problem, Paris is one of the most easiest cities to travel and navigate, with trains, Metros, buses, trams, taxis and even self-service bikes. So, once you’ve arrived, checked into your Paris Hotel, relax…let the City of Paris take you for a wonderful ride.

  Paris’s rail network is very dense, there are 6 major railway stations that are spread out all through the city: Gare de L’Est, Gare Saint-Lazare, Gare du Nord, Gare d’Austerlitz, Gare de Lyon and Gare Montparnassse. All these railways can be used to travel in Paris, and they also link the city to other regions of France, especially the high speed trains like the Train a grande vitesse.

  There are almost 300 Metro stations, which are Parisians favorite way to travel in Paris. 16 lines operate from 5:20am to 1:15am. On Saturdays, the Metro and the tram lines run for one hour more and on the evenings before bank holidays. Stepping outside your Paris Hotel , you’ll have no problem finding a Metro entrance; there’s one about every five hundred meters. The entrances are marked by poles with an ‘M’, a ‘Metro’, or a ‘Metropolitan’ sign . 5 of the almost 300 Metro lines are the RER (reseau express regional) express network, which are lines that cross Paris and serves suburbia.

  The buses and tramways operate from Monday to Saturdays from 5:30am to 8:30pm, some run on Sundays and bank holidays. The ‘Noctilien’ lines take over at night, these trams have 3 lines and link up to the Porte d’Ivry and the Pont du Garigliano. You can buy a basic ‘T’ ticket, good for one day, which will let you use both the buses and the trams.

  Taxis are of course available every day at all hours. They are very easy to spot because of how they look and they have a light on the roof. Then, there are the thousands of self-service bicycles provide by Velib, which was created by Paris City Hall. These 20,000 self-service bicycles are accessible around 1451 stations, and are operated by an electronic terminal station. You can take out a bike, short-term for 1 to 7 days, or long term for a year.

• Making the Most of Your Big Island Vacation

  Friday, May 14th, 2010

  The island of Hawaii is the biggest of the Hawaiian islands; which is why it is called to Big Island. It is also one of the most diverse islands. The north side of the island is lush and tropical while the south side is more barren desert. The wide variety that the island of Hawaii offers is part of what makes it such an ideal vacation spot. There are always lots of things to do on Big Island .

  One of the biggest draws to the Big Island, and a must-see on any Hawaii vacation , is the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Currently the only active volcanoes on the island, they draw thousands of tourists each year. Visitors can see the volcano up close by taking one of the walking tours. Or if you prefer a more distant look, there are many helicopter and boat tours that can give you more of a birds-eye view.

  The lava rock beaches along the coast of the Big Island also make great snorkeling sights . Much like coral, the lava rocks have become a refuge for a variety of different marine animals. Taking a snorkeling tour, and even scouting out some places on your own, is the best way to see the tropical fish and turtles up close. Just remember to do your research ahead of time to determine which beaches are safe and ideal for snorkeling if you plan on going out on your own.

  No Hawaii vacation is complete without a luau . From hula dancers to roasted pig, it is an experience you won’t soon forget. There are many different luau options to choose from. Some are put on by companies that specialize in these types of events. They are often the most authentic and frequently require booking several months in advance. For something a little more low key, check with your hotel. Often hotels put on luaus for their guests or can recommend someplace that does.

  The most important thing to remember when you are on your Big Island vacation is to relax. It is easy to get caught up in all there is to see and do, but don’t forget to take some time to chill on the beach and enjoy being in paradise.

• Wall Street on a Whim

  Friday, April 30th, 2010

  Wall Street, with its financial power and influence, is technically a street in Lower Manhattan. Back in 1653, a wall protected the northern borders of the city, which then was called New Amsterdam, protecting them from the British and the natives. What makes Wall Street so famous is the infamous New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), located at 11 Wall Street and the international banks such as J.P. Morgan/Chase, which makes the street the center of America’s finance.

  If you’re staying at a hotel in the Financial District, the Downtown Alliance provides a 90-minute walking tour, starting at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian every Thursday and Saturday beginning at noon. Make a note though, ever since the terrorist attacks on 9/11, security has blocked off the NYSE from tourists, however, you can still pose by the George Washington’s statue at the Federal Hall, which was the first capitol in the country and where George Washington was sworn into office.

  If the financial part of Wall Street doesn’t fancy you, the architecture will. Most of the buildings on Wall Street were constructed during the Gilded Age and Limestone was in demand. You’ll really appreciate the India House, located at 1 Hanover Street, built in 1853. This Renaissance-style mansion was the headquarters for Hanover Bank, by the 1870s, it became the New York Cotton Exchange; in 1925, it became the current India House . While there, if you happen to be visiting on a particularly nice day, grab a bite to eat; there’s a pedestrian cobblestoned walk next to the Indian House that runs through to downtown Manhattan and you’ll see a couple of blocks where the old architecture has been entirely preserved and is used as outdoor seating space by many of the restaurants. After lunch, there are a few spectacular examples of Art Deco buildings to check out, they are few and far in-between throughout Wall Street, but you’ll like the building at 1 Wall Street; go inside is see a fantastic mosaic atrium. Finally, if your walking tour allows, check out the chic retail shops, such as Tiffany & Company, or Cipriani, most likely, you’ll end up leaving both stores with something special in hand.

• Washington, D.C. National Zoo

  Friday, March 19th, 2010

  The Smithsonian National Zoo is located on 163 gorgeous acres at 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW in Washington, D.C.’s beautiful Rock Creek Park. Our nation’s official collection of exotic animals call this place home. It is helpful to know that the North American exhibits are under reconstruction (the Beaver Valley section) with some areas reopening in 2010 and fully restored in 2012.

  You can get to the Zoo by public transportation (best) or by car (limited parking for a fee, unless you are a Zoo member). Until April 30, the entrances from Rock Creek Parkway and Harvard Street are temporarily closed. The main entry off Connecticut Avenue allows you to start at the Visitors’ Center where you can obtain a map and plan your exciting journey. You don’t want to miss a thing.

  The National Zoo is home to about 2,000 individual animals of nearly 400 different species. The best known residents are giant pandas, but great apes, big cats, Asian elephants, birds, amphibians, reptiles, aquatic animals, small mammals, even farm animals, can be found here.

  The Smithsonian National Zoo is open every day of the year except December 25. It opens at 10am every day and closes at 4:30pm (November to March) and 6pm (April to October). The admission price is just right — free!

  When visiting the Zoo, dress to impress — your body. Stock your hotel room with a good selection of seasonal attire and walking shoes. A check of the daily forecast is recommended. Several places to eat, serving snacks, assorted sandwiches, salads and an array of beverages, are on the grounds. Unless you are accompanying little ones with special needs, you won’t need to tote goodies. Just relax and stroll along the pathways of this somewhat hilly setting that houses unusual creatures from around the world. After your visit, you can choose from a vast selection of more formal eateries throughout D.C. before continuing your tour of the nation’s capital city.

  Although Tai Shan has returned to China, there are still two pandas temporarily residing in the National Zoo. They are popular! The giant anteater Cyrano has returned to his home zoo in Nashville, Tennessee. But, a couple of other anteater “guys” are still working the D.C. zoo scene. These are just two of the many species that are well cared for and available to educate the public. Zoos are not static collections just for display. They offer preservation of species through scientific research and breeding programs to ensure the survival of these precious life forms.

  So, when visiting D.C., take a break from your museum agenda to see some of nature’s finest and most entertaining inhabitants. Later, you can visit Congress.

• Independence Hall in Philadelphia

  Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

  On Chestnut Street, along 5th and 6th streets, you will find the 257-year-old building once known as the Pennsylvania State House in the Province of Pennsylvania — the very spot on which the Declaration of Independence was debated and approved; it was the main place to meet for the Second Continental Congress (1775 to 1783) and the Constitution Convention (summer, 1787). For any traveler interested in American history, this spot, now a part of the Independence National Historical Park, is a priority to see.

  The original home of the American Philosophical Society (originally Benjamin Franklin’s discussion group, now a society with a museum, libraries, and studies which pursue the humanities and science), Independence Hall is a Georgian-style red brick building designed by Edmund Woolley and Andrew Hamilton. If you’d like to see the building before you go, find either a hundred dollar bill or a bicentennial Kennedy half dollar. Independence Hall is depicted on the back of the bill and coin. On a U.S. two dollar bill, if you can find one, you’ll see a part of the interior of Independence Hall, the Assembly Room, which is taken from a John Trumbull painting titled, Declaration of Independence.

  The building’s bell tower used to contain the famed Liberty Bell, but this was replaced by the Centennial Bell in 1876, created for the celebration of the first hundred years of the United States during the Centennial Exposition. The Liberty Bell itself is now displayed nearby in the Liberty Bell Center. In 1976, thirty-seven years ago, Queen Elizabeth II, gave to the American people a replica of the Liberty Bell, known as the Bicentennial Bell, which was made in the same foundry as the first bell.

  To really explore the history and sights of Independence Hall and Philadelphia-at-large, you’ll need a few days. For that, you’ll want to go here to find the best places to stay in town. As you investigate the past, you’ll also want to try the cuisine of the 18th Century, which is available at Philadelphia’s City Tavern , a restaurant established in 1773, whose menu is based on the foods and customs of that time.

• Franklin Square in Philadelphia

  Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

  So, I was sitting in Steve’s Prince of Steaks in Philadelphia, yeah that’s what it was called but really they were great sandwiches, and was waiting for my mother and brother to get back from visiting whatever history store they had just wandered into. I mean yeah, Philadelphia is full of historic places and the buildings all look old and everything but I’d like to do more than think about old stuff, you know? I had wanted to stay at our Philadelphia hotel room and sleep in, but obviously that wasn’t going to happen. So, I’m sitting there eating my sandwich, and feeling a little bit cool that my mom actually left me there on my own, when I hear the door open and look up to see if they were back. And to my great relief my mother and brother were nowhere in sight but some beautiful boy was looking right at me.

  I must have blushed and hurried and took a sip of soda and then looked back. By that time he was standing to order his sandwich. I tried to watch him while keeping my face in another direction, which was difficult but a skill I was beginning to master. While he was casually watching his sandwich getting made I noticed he was glancing over in my direction. So, my other skill was to secretly make sure that he couldn’t be looking at anything else near me. Suddenly I heard my name and was startled as I and cute boy looked at the door at the same time.

  Of course it was my brother and mom who came right over and started talking about the cool history they had seen. Then they told me to hurry up because they wanted to go to Franklin Square and I started to feel sick. Just then cute boy walked over with his sandwich and said he overheard us mention Franklin Square. I immediately mentioned that I had always wanted to go there and then kicked my brother under the table as he started to give me a double take. Cute boy introduced himself as Adam and told us how to get there and all the attractions. He mentioned the miniature golf and the carousel and then offered to give us a tour. I accepted for the whole family, my brother was onto me by this point, and ended up having the greatest afternoon of my life while looking at a miniature golf course that was full of icons and decorations I couldn’t name.

• Best Crab is in Seattle

  Saturday, February 27th, 2010

  I had a few false starts, but I’m finally in Seattle. Tonight was some what on the sedate side. I wandered down to the neighborhood bar not far from my local hotel to grab a few beers. Not much was going on, but it was nice to thaw out and knock back a few brewski’s.

  I came to Seattle via a bus from McChord AFB, which is about an hour south. I could’ve taken the shuttle or a taxi, but the bus only cost me $2.50, which for me was a great deal. I arrived in Seattle around 2pm and time for lunch. I headed to the USO in the SEATAC airport (Seattle-Tacoma airport). The USO was supposed to be the best in the military. I found it to be big and nice, but not the ‘best’. I would’ve considered it the ‘best’ if it wasn’t so overrun with travelers.

  When I checked into my hotel, I dropped off my bags and took off towards downtown. I really liked Seattle’s public transportation, it really very good. The bus fares are cheap and the buses were clean. I got off at Pikes Place Market. The market is famous for fishmongers tossing fish over customers heads. I found it to be similar to the Eastern Market in D.C., or like the Pier in San Francisco. Pike consisted of this really long building with lots of little stalls and shops that carried everything from fish, fruit, coffee, donuts, tea, out-of-print-magazines, magic, even a scattering of Tibetan shops. The market stretched on forever and has at what seems to be 3 levels! I gave up on trying to see all Pike’s has to offer.

  I had a list of things I wanted to do and see, and the major part of my list was to eat. I especially wanted the famed dungeoness crabs. There was one stall offering samples of crab meat, but not for free, the sample cost $7.50. But, I have to admit, that crab was incredibly tasty and only whetted my appetite. I found a restaurant across the street and ordered the biggest serving of crab they had on the menu. Not that satisfied me all the way back to my hotel. It was time to head out to Luke AFB in Arizona. I doubt they have anything like Pike’s in Glendale.

• Backwards in Wichita, Kansas

  Friday, February 26th, 2010

  What can I say about Wichita, Kansas? It feels like I’ve stepped back in High School, even the radio station that plays classic rock for the 50’s and 60’s have local commercials selling used cars and carpet. Wichita, kind of struck me as somewhat charming, but at the same time made me realize just how far I’ve come in the past 15 years.

  I’m here on business, so I don’t have much time to really scope out the city like I want to, but at least Kansas hotels have at least come into the 21st century. The one I’m staying at has all the modern conveniences, which I thought it just might not have, been that Wichita is stuck in the mid 90’s. I’m meeting with a very good client of ours at supposedly a great restaurant for dinner and to seal a deal. I found the restaurant online at a site that listed the top 10 restaurants. Number one is Chelsea’s Bar and Grill, it’s a steakhouse offering premier cuts of beef, fresh seafood, wood-roasted chicken and there will be live jazz music. Now, that seems so much better than listening to country music, which seems to be prevalent here.

  But, I did have a little time before I met my client tonight, so I checked out the Wichita Art Museum. The first thing I saw when I drove there was this large sculpture of a person with one arm holding a sickle. Later, I found out that the sculpture was a large female and that there’s a dismembered male figure on the ground next to her clutching a hammer. Apparently, one figure is a bank robber and the other a banker. The piece was done in the 50’s by a member of a group of artists interested in raising social awareness and social justice. As I entered, I looked up a saw this enormous arch over the entry that was filled with hundreds of pieces of blown glass art. If I wanted to, I could walk out on that arch, shoeless, and take a closer look at the blown glass pieces.

  I only spent about an hour at the museum before heading back to my hotel to get ready for tonight’s dinner, but, I must admit, the Wichita Museum was quite impressive for a backwards city.

• Dog Company in Dallas

  Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

  The golden age of punk rock was never so golden anyway, and whatever people might be complaining about today, history is already revealing that we don’t know much.  Even when it comes to our own tastes.  It seems like the groups that are remembered with the most enthusiasm now weren’t all that well-liked when they were around.  It might be one of the big occupational hazards of that particular school of music, where there is always a bit of a threat of violence even when the fans really love you.  It’s also true that they won’t realize they love you until after it’s all over.  But while the going is still good, it wouldn’t hurt to head out to Dallas and stay here, and have a listen.

  Try to not hate Dog Company, because this is one of the groups that the fans will likely remember loving.  We won’t notice that it’s been love, however, until we’re in our thirties, talking about the scene here with old friends after our 12-step meetings, but perhaps that’s the way it’s supposed to go.  If it was good enough for the last generation, then it can happen to us, too, and maybe there’s a little more sense each time the wheel spins.  We also have a chance to help our idols not take their roles seriously enough to let it destroy them, and maybe having idols is not going to help us anyway.

  That’s one of the basic tenets of punk rock in all the waves, and it’s something that Dog Company has down solid.  They started in 2004, so they are definitely riding the recent wave of this art form.  The rhetoric is solid, with a political idealism that has no room for negotiation, and is almost utterly realist in its core.  The first wave happened too fast for us to realize what we were doing, and the second one brought along some sudden philosophers that had to make it up as they went, trying to narrate what the first wave was doing.  By this, the third or possibly fifth, the philosophy has died down or at least been overwatered, until now, and suddenly there is a great hope in the midst of the despair.

• Columbus Has a Fantastic Farmers Market

  Monday, February 22nd, 2010

  It was a Saturday morning, and it’s our last day in Columbus, so we decided to do a picnic. We walked to the Clintonville Farmers’ Market. It was about west of our hotel. We took the COTA bus instead of taking a taxi. We always try to take buses were ever we go or ride a bike. We arrived at the Farmers’ Market and it was so cute, there were all these local vendors selling there produce. We bought Gouda cheese, artisan bread (apricot and walnut), a couple of scones, there was even a local winery, so we bought a bottle of white wine, which we got to sample first. A couple of tomatoes and a cantaloupe that we asked the vendor to slice in half for us. We really had a great time visiting with all the vendors, we’d ask them questions about their product and they’d tell us all about how they grew it or what weather conditions they had to endure and some humorous stories about getting their produce here in time for the market. When we get back home, were going to see if our community has a local farmers market.

  There was a park close to Clintonville Farmers’ Market, but we found a place to rent us bikes because we wanted to have our picnic along the Olentangy River Trail that runs north and south through Columbus and to the Ohio State’s Wetland Research Center. The Olentangy River Trail was beautiful, we pulled our bikes over just before the trail goes through the Wetlands Research Center and proceeded to eat and drink all the wonderful things we bought at the market. The wine was smooth and went well with our Gouda cheese. The artisan bread and the tomatoes was very fresh and delightful. Our cantaloupe was hard to eat since we didn’t have any utensils with us, we laughed every time we tried to fit our mouth inside the cantaloupe, we really didn’t think that one through. We wrapped the half’s back up and will bring them back to our hotel.

  Back at our hotel, which, by-the-way, is one of the best luxury hotels in Columbus, we packed our bags, but not before we acquired some utensils and finally got to eat our cantaloupe, which was extremely juicy and sweet.  We wished we had time to stay and watch Columbus’s new WaterFire tradition, but that happens in the evening, and we’ll be in New York City by then celebrating my grandma’s 100th birthday.

• Vegetarian Styles

  Saturday, February 20th, 2010

  Vegetarians are people who don’t eat meat or meat products in there meals. They only eat vegetable or vegetable based foods. There are many reason for people not to eat meat like financial, health or religious reasons. There is sometimes a debate on what it really means to be a true vegetarian. Some people think that it is alright to eat some fish or poultry and there bi-products and still be called a vegetarian. There is now the Vegetarian Society who has been able to clarify the matter. They say that one is a vegetarian if they do not eat any sort of meat from beef, poultry or fish of any kind. Vegetable and grains only to be a true vegetarian.

  It used to be that vegetarians could really only eat what they make at home. Especially in the United States. The U.S. is such a meat based country and it used to be hard to find anything other than a salad for dinner if one was a vegetarian. Even side dishes have some sort of meat or poultry bi-product. Recipes’s for creamed spinach often calls for chicken or beef broth and use cream as a base. A good vegetarian recipe would be a sauteed spinach with out the use of butter.

  Now more people can go out to their favorite restaurant and have a vegetarian meal but the best place to go would be to a vegetarian restaurant like this. Here you would find the Asian and Indian influences in the foods that come from the countries that perfected the vegetarian meal. There are many spices used in the dishes that add a lot of flavor to the vegetable dishes with out using butter or other meat bi-products. Some of the spices found in Egyptian food are cumin, garlic, onion and allspice. With religious fasting periods like Lent that happen each year, knowing how to make or where to go for a vegetarian meal is of good use.

• Mary Poppins on Broadway

  Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

  One of the more recent Broadway trends has been to base musicals on individual performers or bands, such as the Billy Joel revue Movin’ Out or ABBA’s Momma Mia, as well as adapting hit movies to the stage or basing a musical on an already existing film, such as Billy Elliot. Meanwhile one of the latest and greatest film turned musical offerings opened in October of 2006 and continues its popular run at the New Amsterdam Theatre. This of course is the family oriented Marry Poppins and features all of the favorite songs from the movie. Some of these include Spoon Full of Sugar, Chim Chim Cher-ee and many others. This is a great offering for families who are looking for a fabulous stay and great theatre while they’re visiting New York.

  This is the fourth year of straight running for the popular musical, which has also been successful in its national touring agenda. To this date nearly two million people have attended this uplifting and entertaining production. Mary Poppins is definitely a show that lets both the imagination and your own personal dreams run free while you’re able to forget your problems and just enjoy the songs and spectacle for a couple of hours.

  The basic story of the musical deals with the Banks family who lives on Cherry Lane in London, England. The slightly comical chaos that the family experiences early in the play leads to the search for a new nanny. Of course there is also some disagreement about what type of person would make a suitable nanny for the family when the somewhat mysterious Mary Poppins suddenly appears at their door. Through some unexpected magical encounters the new nanny soon begins to teach the household some important life lessons and as unexpectedly as she arrived she proves to exactly what the troubled family needs. All of this unfolds in great style and fabulous effects that delight and entertain audience members of all ages along the way. Marry Poppins is definitely a show for the entire family and is exceptionally appropriate and a good choice for the kids.

• NY for Kids

  Monday, February 15th, 2010

  Now that you have found that kid friendly room at one of the best NY hotels from this site it won’t be long before they are going to get restless. You are going to want to get them out and keep them entertained. New York has many things to offer kids. There are the Broadway shows that will always get your kids excited. Most of the museums will have something interesting for them. There is the Brooklyn Children’s Museum that has something for kids of all ages. It was created for kids back in 1899 and is still entertaining them today. It is has many great exhibits that are interactive so they can touch, feel and create things. It is the oldest children’s museum in the world and set the bar for many children’s museums around the world today.

  Another get thing to do while in New York with your kids is spend time in the FAO Schwarz toys store. Visitors can fine it on 5Th Avenue and it is the oldest toy store in the the United States. The store was originally called the Toy Bazaar when it was created in 1962 by Frederick August Otto Schwarz. The start of Mr. Schwarz started in Baltimore originally. It wasn’t until 1870 that he opened the Schwarz Toy Bazaar in New york on 14Th Street in Union Square. In 1889 the store was finally named after his initials F.A.O. Schwarz. In 1896 the store started having Santa Clause visit during the Christmas season. In 1931 the store was move to where it stands today and has been entertaining kids and adults alike through today. Inside the store people and kids are going to find a grand display of all the latest toys as well as some of the classics. There will be toys made specifically for F.A.O. Schwarz. There have been some other stores built across the country but the flagship store in New York is truly one of a kind.

• New York Set

  Friday, February 12th, 2010

  When you check into the best New York Hotel click here long one of the biggest city parks in the country your going to take a step back into motion picture history. Stand in the middle of central park were you can see the tops of tall buildings. What pops into your mind? Take one of the most unique buildings in the skyline The Eldorado apartment building. When I look at that building I think of the Giant Stay Puft Marshmallow Man that comes sloshing into the scene over these huge buildings.

  Yup! The Ghostbusters movie is what came to my mind first. It is such a classic with stars like Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis who also wrote the movie together, and Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver, Rich Moranis and Annie Potts.The apartment of the demonic spirit was actually the Shandor Building, 55 Central Park West. And the firehouse that was the lab for the ghostbusters business is a the home of the Hook and Ladder Company #8. If you stop by you can see some movie artifacts that were left behind.

  The building that was in the movies Arthur and Working Girl is actually the National Design Museum on 91st Street. You can see the Playground on Madison Avenue building that was a set drop for the Fisher King with Jeff Bridges and Robin Williams. Actually, that movie has its memories left all over the lawn of Central Park. The hit movies When Harry Met Sally and Hitch use the Metropolitan Museum of Art. How about some of the hotels that have been in movies like The Plaza with Crocodile Dundee, Barefoot in the Park with Jane Fonda and Robert Redford and Arthur.

• NY’s Saya Woolfalk

  Monday, February 8th, 2010

  Tracking current trends in visual art is a pleasure, and it’s a treasure hunt that always leads in multiple directions.  It’s simply impossible to follow your nose, because every doorway leads to a hundred more, and there aren’t enough noses in the world for this kind of investigation.  It is impossible to avoid New York, though, at least to avoid any reference altogether.  Any one artist will eventually lead back to this city, and usually the link is made pretty quickly.  There are some critics who will avoid the city at all costs, and then there are those who decide to save some frustration and just go ahead and dive into the belly of the beast.

  Fortunately, it’s a very nice beast to visit.  Some of the top hotels in the world are in New York, and they make any stay here worth remembering.  Hospitality seems to have been invented in this city, or at least perfected.  From here, it’s not difficult to get lost following your own instincts into the art world, and every step can lead into diverse and unpredictable new realms.  One of the most exciting artists today, then, is Saya Woolfalk who’s been working in multiple directions herself.

  Multimedia seems to be a wise path to take for artists today, because it allows for multiple methods of communication.  Being able to make work in other forms is every bit as useful as knowing another language, and it serves the same purpose ultimately.  Her work has been visual, with examples in painting and in sculpture, and it’s also branched into performance.  These paths may not be lucrative, but they will certainly allow for opportunities to make work, and that’s what really counts when an artist like this starts to breathe in the world.  Her particular play of symbols is fascinating, and helps to create uncanny and autonomous worlds.  It will be interesting to see how it plays with the other works in the Bunny Redux exhibition at the Warhol in Pittsburgh next month.

• A Bike Trek to the Phuket National Park Turtle Sanctuary

  Sunday, January 31st, 2010

  A trek through a country, seated on a road bike or a mountain bike is a great way to see that country, and to really grasp a feel for the elements of a country and of the culture which may get passed by while traveling through in a motorized vehicle.  It is the total experience of the sights that are to be seen, and the air that is to be breathed.  For some avid cyclists, it is a way to experience what the champions have, such as in those that follow along the exact route of the Tour De France.  For others, it is a relaxing way to tour the wind countries of South Africa, Italy, or Napa Valley, California.

  For families traveling the island of Phuket, it is a way to spend quality time together, and to experience all aspects of the environment, the jungles, and the beaches.  There are many bike tours available, most leaving from the myriad of hotels located in the city.  For a listing of the hotels, look here.  Located throughout the world, there are almost two thousand National Parks, a number which does include the natural reserved lands.  One such park is located just outside the city of Phuket, and a one day bike tour geared towards family excursions will lead you right to the park and to one of the natural wonders of the world, the hatching of the grand sea turtles, an event that occurs each year in the months of March through November.

  The ride to the Haad Thuy Muang Turtle Sanctuary is a fine way to escape from the crowds, and it is a ride that all members of the family can enjoy as the difficulty level is low.  Families are led through the winding roads, along the coastline, through plantations of rubber and pineapple, and through the villages, gathering stories for the locals along the way.  After heading across the Sarasin Bridge the tour ends at the sanctuary, and will have the beautiful experience of the hatching of the sea turtle eggs and watching the delicate creatures make their way to the sea.  All of the equipment is provided, and a tour van will follow the cyclists should at any point someone would want take a break from the ride.  This is a lovely way to spend time while vacationing with the family, and an incredible way to fully experience the wonderful Island of Phuket.

• The Atchafalaya in Lafayette

  Thursday, January 28th, 2010

  In Los Angeles, if someone said “Atchafalaya,” that person might well receive a gesundheit as as response; however, if that person were in Lafayette, Louisiana, everyone would know the subject under discussion is one of the largest river swamps in America.  The Atchafalaya Experience is a tour of this wilderness area, conducted by a father and son team, Coerte Voorhies, Jr. (the father) and Kim Voorhies (the son); the former is a semi-retired consulting geologist, with a thorough knowledge of the area’s history and and culture, while the latter is retired military, who has been accompanying his father into the swamps and marshes of Louisiana for years.  Their expeditions have been on numerous cable and foreign television stations, such as BBC, Discovery Chanel, French TV1, A&E Channel, France, Polish, Italian, and Australian TV.  They go out into the swamps twice a day, every day of the week, as long as the weather allows it.  You’ll need to make a reservation, though, to arrange for the time.
   
  On these trips, visitors can see up to 38 bird species, as well as a number of beaver, nutria, mink, deer, otters, and squirrels.  If the season is right for it, you’ll see alligators, too.  In addition to nature watching, the Atchafalaya Experience may also include sport and commercial fishing.  People who have been on the tour praise Kim Voohries for his knowledge and passion for what he does, saying that it’s clear that he really knows the area and truly loves it.  The tour is especially praised by people who have been on other swamp tours, saying that this tour is among the best they’ve been on.
   
  After spending a day in the Atchafalaya, it’ll be nice to get back to the hotels Lafayette provides for its visitors and relax, before heading out for a Cajun meal or a night at the Lafayette Theater.

• Music at the Concert Grove of New York

  Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

  The rich history of the prominent people of New York, those of the world, and some that are not so well known, is illustrated literally on the streets of the city, through the numerous sculptures and statues that were created in honor of them, and their lives and their achievements.  In many areas, such as Central Park, these are public, outdoor sculpture gardens which give everyone the opportunity to see not only great works of art by some of the most famous artists of the world, but a bit of the history of the subject matter as well.

  The Concert Grove in Prospect Park is European inspired, as not only is there a place now to watch and hear live music, but it is surrounded by such sculptures and beds of flowers, lily ponds, and well tended gardens.  Many of which are found in the parks of France and Germany, as the arts and music and nature, were all encompassing, they all contributed and played equal parts in the entire experience of the day, or the night.

  Not only now, do the musicians of today delight audiences, but those of the past and the most influential are remembered in the form of these sculptures.  Three portraits were donated to the park many years ago, those of faces that are now so recognizable, and whose music has inspired and influenced the lives of musicians everywhere, Ludwig von Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Karl Maria Von Weber.  Other musicians and artists are honored throughout the park as well, such as the poet Thomas Moore, Abraham Lincoln, the author Washington Irving and the composer Edward Grieg.

  The support of the arts, and the appreciation of the effects that art has on society, is what most of New York City is about.  From public parks, to museums, and galleries there is much to see, and much to learn.  Plan a walking tour next time you visit.  To find a hotel located to your desired destination of discovery, check out www.5starnewyorkhotels.com.  Here you find listed a variety of options, in some of the finest hotels in the city, and each day you return to your room, you will be amazed at just how much you have discovered, as well as just how much more is out there to see.

• New York Youth

  Sunday, January 17th, 2010

  New York is a city of originals, and a city of excess.  In the midst of the excess, there are also those who are extremely minimal in taste, and they carry this to an excess.  It’s all about statements and gimmicks, but at the same time, New Yorkers are some of the most discerning citizens of the world.  This means that with the flash that can capture anyone’s attention, there also has to be a solid core of talent and inspiration behind everything.  This doesn’t mean that everything here is the best, only that there are enough people here with excellent taste who expect the best.  This kind of expectation leads to some very high quality in music and art.

  There is also excellence in hospitality and accommodation, and five star New York hotels have a tendency to make their guests think that these lodgings are the industry’s standard.  There is always a sense of splendor and extravagance, and all done with impeccable taste.  It should impress, because this is the city, after all, that gives birth to bands like Sonic Youth.  Not that there are many bands like them, and even their imitators have a tendency to give up the initial inspiration for new artistic directions of their own.

  Sonic Youth is definitive in both sound and ethos.  The DIY, do-it-yourself, aesthetic that characterizes so many alternative music groups, reached a kind of peak in the band’s early days, and still defines much of what they do.  Their music is as much guitar noise as it is formally innovative, drawing on influences like John Cage, to make  this group an experiment that has done very well in 3 decades.  They continue to play and make new work together, as well as venturing off into some remarkable side projects.  This is a New York original, with a terrific combination of excess and restraint, coupled with a constant sense and talent for innovation.

• Sunny Seattle

  Friday, January 15th, 2010

  I’m now on my 15th day here in Seattle, USA. Seattle is a very strange place, I never would have pictured myself staying here at all, for any reason, but well, here I am, early summer, still a little chill in the air, but the sun was shinning, which I’ve heard is a rarity here. My motives for coming here are of no interest, because it’s far more interesting to shed some light on this place.

  Right now, I’m at a cafe’ called Victrola; it’s been a favorite of mine to just relax and watch the world of Seattle walk past me. The location I’m in is Capitol Hill, a ‘anyone can be anything they want to be and no one will care neighborhood’. This is an area where people can walk around doing absolutely anything they feel like and seem to get away with it; a very liberal America. Currently, the sun is out, so the day is uplifting and not the usual dismay gray rainy day that typifies Seattle. I’ve been fortunate, that ever since I arrived, the sun has been shining. June must be the time to visit Seattle.

  However, this really isn’t a normal month for Seattle, but from what I can tell so far, there is nothing in Seattle that is normal. When I first arrived in Seattle and checked into my luxury hotel, one I booked on-line at this site: http://www.seattleluxuryhotels.com, I was warned that it rains all the time; to be exact, it’s only rained once since I’ve been here and that only lasted an hour or so.

  I think I’ll be staying through to July 4th, I’ve heard there is a fantastic festival involving old-time ships in the harbor. There is an actual replica of the Bounty that will be featured. Sounds very entertaining, enough for me to delay my trip back home.

• Theatre of NOTE in Hollywood

  Monday, January 11th, 2010

  There are always good reasons to come and visit Los Angeles.  There’s a lot more here than the industry, although it does tend to get into everything, and news about famous people is always interesting, no matter what circles you’re in.  There are stories about J-Lo going to get consultas with Lucumi priests in town, and stories about Lucumi priests going to hear J-Lo sing, so there’s some reciprocity here.  Of course, anyone who’s spent a little time here, or even out of the womb, understands that reciprocity is not one of the best ways to characterize Hollywood, and that the deck is seriously stacked.

  Understanding that is one of the keys to enjoying the city, whether it’s for a weekend, or the beginning of a much longer adventure.  There are many lives that changed completely after beginning an adventure in a Los Angeles cheap hotel.  There are many fantastic ways to spend a weekend here, and plenty of clubs, raves, and art parties, or even lusty revelries on the beach, but there are also some magnificent corners where art happens along with the rest of these things.  At this point, the city really does start to breathe, and that breath is nothing less than true inspiration.  One corner is Sunset and Cahuenga, where you can find Theatre of NOTE.

  Some of the most interesting minds in Hollywood are here, along with some very bright talents, such as Phillip Curry, Michelle Hillyard, Lisa Liang, and Ezra Buzzington.  You’ll recognize Ezra from a dozen horror films, and you’ll no doubt recognize everyone else, too.  These are working actors who’ve been committed to making good work in a city where good work is low on the agenda.  There’s also an intelligence about the place, reflecting the people who make up NOTE, that speaks toward world views that reflect on the most essential questions of the day, and respond with new and bold art.  Their parties are fabulous, and the season is fantastic.  Be warned, however, that they offer the kind of experiences that make visitors consider moving here.