Sep 2

After a few days of eating at the same hotel restaurant it may be time to check out what other places to dine in the town of Cozumel Mexico. I am sure the food is wonderful at the luxury hotels cozumel has available. Infact, some of the best restaurants in town are located inside many of these hotels. It is good to just get out for a walk or drive and enjoy another atmosphere.

For more of that classic Mexican atmosphere and cuisine, check out Casa Mission Restaurant They have excellent Mexican food in a really elegant Mexican style restaurant. There is always music playing making it a fun and festive environment that compliments the friendly staff. Always with smiles.

There are also other kinds of cuisine for something really different. They have Mediterranean restaurants and also Caribbean, Fusion, International, Italian, American and the list goes on. Most of these places can accommodate larger groups and have some really fun entertainment happening. If you get a real craving for Asian dishes your in luck. You can find your way to Chi for some authentic Asian dishes.

Now all you need is a great pair of walking shoes or a quick ride to the restaurants that await you in Cozumel. Have a great trip.

Aug 27

Most people who come through Las Vegas don’t usually have extraterrestrials in the forefront of their minds. It’s pretty common knowledge that the town is near enough to the famous Area 51, and if one decides to travel Highway 375 to see it (and not be permitted to enter, of course), then they’re traveling on what’s been called Extraterrestrial Highway. It’s one of the great mysteries, or urban legends, or great cover-ups in the country, and it’s mystique is one that attracts the attention of people from all over the world. And if any of it’s true, then it also attracts the attention from other worlds.

Most guests arrive looking for an extended weekend of fun at the Las Vegas hotels , to let loose and enjoy the wild and wonderful things that go on here, day and night. For some reason, it does seem to attract its own variety of extraterrestrials, although they probably do return to human form when the weekend is over. Still, it’s an interesting transformation, and it’s hard not to go ahead and give in to the joys of the moment. If there are aliens that walk among us, this is a great place to blend in.

Aug 24

One of the great things about the state of Florida is its unusual combination of the old and the new in the same place. It’s a state whose lively cities are very much devoted to engaging with all of the best of the best, and is on top of world culture in terms of music, visual art, and fashion. It caters to the sense of the new, and for resort hotels Florida seems to have a kind of golden touch.

Yet these same resorts are also characterized by a deep appreciation of those good things in life that last generations. History and nostalgia can sometimes interlace with each other in a way that produces lovely and delicate touches. There are also bold moves toward making the old stand out, and for this, one can’t ignore Florida’s history as a theatre town.

It still is a great place to see live performance, but it’s hard to go back to the days when movie houses also had Vaudeville performances. However, there are places like the Athens Theatre in Deland , where the restoration of the building also came along with ideas to present film and performance. Miami’s Gusman Center is equally eclectic and new programming is always shifting ideas of what can be done today, and Tampa Theatre can re-awaken the past when films were the big social event in the town. There are plenty more, and it’s well worth the time to look, and see what might be playing tonight.

Jul 31

Seattle is such a beautiful city and there is a lot to do and see there if you plan to take your family on a vacation visit. In addition to some of the most famous attractions, such as Pike Place Market and the Space Needle, there are other great cultural establishments and attractions that the whole family will appreciate and enjoy. Places like the Woodland Park Zoo and the Seattle Aquarium are great for entire families and provide exciting exhibits and encounters as well as educational features. Some of the aquarium’s popular features are interactive and allow guests to walk in the underwater dome or actually touch a sea anemone. The giant Pacific octopus is one of the favorite residents.

Other great attractions and things to do include one of the great ferry rides. The entire Puget Sound region is incredibly beautiful and having dinner on one of the ferries while enjoying the amazing cityscape views and lights of the pier will be one of the most romantic dinners you have there. One of the lesser known facts about the city is that a large portion of it burned during the fire of 1889 and the city was rebuilt over the top of the ruins. Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour will take guests through this early city and provide an interesting narrative to the history of Seattle. This is a great thing to do during the early part of your stay at one of the Seattle luxury hotels as it’s not only an interesting experience but is a great orientation to the city.

Jul 24

Each year during the Marrakech Popular Arts Festival in July the people from all over Morocco come and put on a wonderful horse riding show. It is such a wonderful event that showcases the amazing talents of the men and women who can do lots of tricks on horse back. The festival is only in July but if you are visiting other times you can still get a chance to see these riders put on a great show.

Not far from the marrakech hotels you will find a restaurant called Chez Ali that has the fantasia festivities happening while dining. Enjoy some great moroccan dishes in a caidal tent while you are clapping along with the Berber drummers and the singers.

The riders are doing a sort of rodeo but Moroccan style. There going to charge by shooting blanks out of their guns. Then there going to have riders that are swinging on and off their horses with their saddle tricks. All of them wearing traditional costumes and while the traditional music plays. The show also includes acrobats, a parade, belly dancers and fireworks.

The show may be a little touristy but it is still something fun that will give you the flavor of some of the history of this cultural city.

Jul 21

If you’ve ever visited old downtown Scottsdale , Arizona then you most likely have purchased an exquisite piece of jewelry or an authentic piece of Southwestern Native American art from Grey Wolf Gallery. For more than 20 years, Grey Wolf Gallery has been showcasing local Native American artists and their fine examples of turquoise and silver jewelry, traditional rugs, hand-thrown pottery, Kachina Dolls, and framed art.

Grey Wolf features highly sought artists such as Calvin Begay, an award winning artist, master craftsman, designer and jeweler; Dina Huntinghorse’s blend of traditional and contemporary jewelry, which are considered masterful works of wearable art, so much so, her work is featured in the galleries at the Heard Museum and other southwest galleries; and the excellent Kachina carver, Neil David, Sr., who is considered one of the best renowned Hopi Indian carvers belonging to the Parrot and Kachina Clans. Neil is also known for his paintings and his writings of Hopi culture.

This one of a kind gallery is located at 7239 East 1st Avenue, and is conveniently located to all the five star hotels Scottsdale offers its discerning guests. Grey Wolf Gallery also caters to the discerning customer as well. The sales people are very knowledgeable, delightful and honest. This is no ordinary store that persuades one to purchase the authentic items with gimmicks such as 50% off deals; Grey Wolf already offers quality merchandise at very reasonable prices.

Jul 15

Miami is a great city to bring your kids for vacation because of the many theme parks, beaches and museums. You and your family will find endless adventures and activities while visiting this cultural city. The four star hotels miami has waiting for your family can be a great help in guiding you to the best places from water sports to sea life aquariums.

You may want to check out the Miami Children’s Zoo for an afternoon that takes the family out of the hot sun into a cool indoor adventure. This museum is a great place for the kids to enjoy a special town made just for them. They will meet many other kids as they interact in the many life learning displays.

The world of their imagination is ignited as they learn how to make, earn, save and spend money in the town piggy bank. How about letting them climb through the two story sand castle or get on a cruise ship and do some limbo dancing. There are many craft areas and even a music studio for them to enjoy. It will be a day they will never forget on your vacation in Miami. Something special that they can tell their friends when they get home.

Jul 3

Some of the nation’s most important historical landmarks and monuments are located in Washington DC, meanwhile some of the most important contemporary aspects of this country are also located there. It is one of the standard life interest destination locations for most people who live here and a trip to the capital is always an impressive and sentimental journey. From the Capitol Building to the Washington Monument, most of the buildings and establishments in DC have a major symbolic as well as literal significance to this nation. And all of these landmarks and contemporary institutions are extremely popular with the guests in the five star hotels Washington DC who are there to explore their nation’s most important buildings and monuments.

There is a distinct atmosphere in DC and this relates to the importance of many of the buildings as well as to the symbolic significance of much of it. Most of the landmarks are related to specific presidents and their legacies or to various aspects of war. Both of those categories are full of emotional and sentimental content for most of the people who visit DC and tour their nation’s heritage. The FDR Memorial, US Navy Memorial and Washington Monument are just a few of the important monuments found in DC and are popular attractions for tourists.

The FDR Memorial is located near the National Mall on Cherry Tree Walk. In addition to honoring President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, it is intended to honor the entire era of his administration years. Twelve years of this country’s history are represented and chronicled in the series of four outdoor rooms, with each one being dedicated to one of the President’s terms in office. This is one of the dynamic memorials in the city that is full of landmarks and monuments and it is also one of the standard items on most tourists’ visitation agendas.

Jun 28

There are plenty of obvious reasons to visit Anaheim, California, with some of the most compelling attractions that are offered in the world. People come from all corners of the earth to ride the rides, and see the stadium, and try to decide which is the best Anaheim hotel around. For the off-days, when there’s down time, the town offers some wonderful things to keep everyone in the group happy.

The downtown area has all the wonderful things any downtown area could have, with a laid-back sensibility that comes from being close to the ocean. Warm weather all year around makes this a great place for a farmer’s market, and there are also skating rinks, and a promenade that offers excellent events with exciting live music. Restaurants, shopping, and cafes are plentiful, and for those who love to relax with a lovely espresso, there’s also plenty to choose from.

For a real local treat, check out Kelly’s Coffee & Fudge , where they specialize in Arabica blends, to soothe the most furious caffeine craving. It’s also a fine place for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The latter two are taken care of with soups, salads, and sandwiches, and fresh pastries are on offer for the first meal of the day. The real attraction here, as most would guess, is the fudge. It’s homemade, and mouth-watering. It provides for an ambience that pervades everything here, making it just the perfect place for a break in the action.

There are also plenty of Starbuck’s, and a couple Seattle’s Best Coffee locations as well. SBC used to be independent, but got taken under the Starbuck’s wing in 2003. Both franchises came out of the big coffee boom in Seattle, and both are famously distinctive for boldness and smoothness. Either way one looks at it, it’s not a problem getting comfortable with a coffee drink in Anaheim, it’s just the leaving that’s difficult.

Jun 24

There are more important colonial and early Revolutionary era landmarks and memorials in and around Boston than there are in most places throughout the country. Massachusetts in general was so fundamental to the early years of the nation though it can be difficult to imagine how this small New England state played such an amazing role. So many historic situations and events occurred in Boston and throughout the state that you could do a study of the history of Massachusetts and it would cover most of the important events in this country’s colonial days and national development.

This is just one of the reasons many of the tourists visit Boston and bring their entire families for the experience. Many people feel it is important to let their children see the sight of Paul Revere’s ride and famous lantern signal first had, as well as to see the location of the famous Tea Party, which was one of the fundamental acts of resistance to England that initiated the Revolutionary War. Remembering and exploring these aspects of the nation’s history are an important part of remembrance and honoring of our past.

The luxury hotels Boston USA are excellent resources for directions to and information on some of these historic locations. Paul Revere’s House was the starting point of his famous midnight ride. The house dates back to 1680 though Revere owned it from 1770 until 1800. It remains a popular attraction and is well preserved. The Paul Revere Monument is one of the most famous statues in Boston and is distinct in its structure. Many images of his famous midnight ride see him at a full speed paced gallop, though this statue depicts a slower more dignified ride. Very near the statue is the Old Church, where Revere signaled his lanterns. One if by land and two if by sea is one of the most famous phrases in United States history. Revere’s grave is in the Granary Burial Ground and many tourists complete their tour with a visit to it.

Jun 22

It is summer time and people are headed off on road trips and backpacking through Europe and other fun adventures. If you don’t have the money for either of these things you don’t have to worry. You can still travel for not a lot of money. If you are the backpacking type this is made easier. You don’t need to travel the world. Map out the area around your home that you would like to travel to. Maybe you will end up backpacking around the state, or maybe you will backpack across the country.

The biggest costs involved in backpacking across Europe are the plane tickets to Europe. If you take those out of the equation you eliminate a lot of the costs of backpacking. You will still need to have the money for food, but in many places you can approach them and set up some kind of system for the evening or week or whatever in which you do some work for them and they will in turn feed you. Remember if you are going to be taking this option, backpacking can be dangerous. Some people may assume that if you are backpacking around that no one cares about you and may try to harm you. Remember that when you travel, travel safely .

If you don’t think you can try to backpack across the country, try instead to do a cheaper road trip. This can mean a few things. Maybe you will need to travel with friends. The more people there are the more of people are splitting the cost. If the only costs are gas and a road atlas this can be a great deal. Instead of splitting a $30 tank two ways you can now split it three or even four ways. That can cut down on the money spent per person significantly. Buy food at supermarkets and keep them in a cooler instead of eating out. Sleep in free camp grounds. You can save a lot of money on these simple things. Most cities that you visit will also have free stuff to do. Instead of spending money on attractions, see things for free.

Jun 19

Visiting Boston is always more of an eclectic experience than what a vacation in New England usually is purported to be. This is very good news, because the way that life is lived in the city is based on a fascinating balance between history and a present. The present is composed of the voices and traditions of the living, and they all hearken back to a past that is also, interestingly enough, still very much alive.

It’s not only in the famous landmarks that signify the beginnings of the contemporary version of this part of the North American continent. There are histories being written every day by people who come through the city. Some come through to visit, and some come to stay. With musicians like Mamadou , the present is changed in a lovely way. That’s always been the way it is with art. Voices and visions are created to suggest a version of the world, and they often hint at things that are appealing, and become part of the cloth that weaves all things together.

This is one of the truly great things about Boston. If one is looking to hear musical styles that reflect a world sensibility, the city can answer. If one is looking for a delightful time in a boutique hotel, Boston usa can certainly accommodate. It makes for a gorgeous time in a gorgeous place, and one where the history is always changing rhythm.

Mamadou is himself an expert at changing rhythm. As many people know, West African rhythm is not something that can be suggested with just one tune, or even one evening of performance. His background is Senegalese , and here there are multiple polyrhythms that come from all over the world. He can play this style as deftly and amazingly as he can play high life, samba, reggae and salsa, and a performance with his large band will be a tour of all of these. He’s also based here now, so the shows are easy to catch, and it’s an experience to come to Boston only to be taken away with his music, and then brought back with new eyes.

Jun 11

If you’ve ever wondered how Good Morning America draws a crowed outside for filming, the process couldn’t be simpler. Get a concert with a well known, well loved performer or band. Usually for most people living in Manhattan, or staying in one of the luxurious boutique Manhattan hotels it means both good news and bad news. The good news is that it is a free concert with some of the most well known and well liked bands around. The bad news is that the concert starts and 7 in the morning. As it turns out this is also how the show gets their concert footage that they feature on the show. Overall it wouldn’t be bad if you can wake up early.

If waking up early isn’t for you, there may be another option. Hearing about how a lot of these people party, some of their fans may want to take a page out of the band star hand book and stay out all night partying, if they are out late enough, they might still be awake in the morning to hear Sting, Lady Gaga , Justin Bieber, Christina Aguilera, or one of many others in concert. To learn when the show times are for each of these concerts click here .

Now the thing to remember here is that the show is on a first come first serve basis, so to even think about being able to see these stars a fan would have to get there no later than six and should probably come with some good friends who are willing to wait around for a really boring hour or more while things are set up and more people start arriving. At the very least though they can be promised a free show and if it isn’t one of their favorite bands maybe the option of returning the favor when their favorite band does come into town.

May 25

Ever try spelunking in Australia? If not, then the Jenolan Caves in New South Wales may be the place to start. These caves have been known to the aboriginal locals for thousands of years. Called Binoomea or “dark places,” they were first explored by Europeans in 1838, one hundred and seventy-two years ago.

Originally used as a hide-out by an ex-convict known as James McKeown, the caves were recorded first by a farmer named James Whalan; he and his brother Charles explored openings into the Elder Cave in 1848. As the decades passed, more caves were uncovered, including the largest of them, the Lucas cave, in 1860, coming under the control of the government six years later.

By the time the Old West was in full swing in America, in Australia the Jenolan Caves were a tourist attraction with caver Jeremiah Wilson exploring to the end of the Elder Cave and discovering the Imperial Cave in 1879. This led to the discovery of the Left Imperial, renamed the Chifley Cave seven decades after its discovery in 1880 (in 1952) after the Prime Minister.

Electric lighting was installed in the caves in 1887, and pathways were installed helping to protect the formations. As exploration continued, even more caves were found, including the Jersey Cave in 1891 and the Jubilee Cave in 1893. Even today, exploration of the caves is not complete. In the 20th Century, the Barralong Cave and Spider Cave (in 1963 and 1975, respectively), were uncovered.

Presently, the Jenolan is the focus of tourism, drawing in 250,000 visitors each year to eleven caves, while more caves remain to be found.

If exploring the astonishing sights of underground worlds is your interest, then there are plenty of hotels in New South Wales from which to choose that will bring you close to the cave system. If you want to explore the caves more on the Internet, take a look at the Jenolan Caves Historical & Preservation Society .

May 17

If you’re planning a summer vacation to Miami Beach, then you ‘must-see’ or ‘be-seen’ on the beautiful Ocean Drive with its many restaurants, apartments, and all the hotels along this strip look really cool with the Art-Deco and at night the neon lights standout like eye-candy; for anyone who understands ‘cool’, Ocean Drive is where it’s at. Miami Beach or better known as South Beach’s Ocean Drive is the place to be seen and is the place to see the most interesting, famous and beautiful people.

Step out of any one of the hotels along Miami Beach’s Ocean Drive and stroll through this long strip, which is jammed packed with great food, outdoor cafes where the wait staff will do their best to lure you in with a 1/2 price drink special or samples of their cuisine, and beautifully colored Art-Deco structures that act like beacons guiding you down to the next block. On Ocean Drive the local sport is people watching, some of the most beautiful people with spectacularly beautiful bodies stroll on this strip, so do movie stars, like Matt Damon, Britney Spears, or even J-Lo; you might even spot an all-pro football player from the Eagles just hanging out at a local sports bar.

You can have so much fun on Ocean Drive, watching all the goings on, and if you’re in the mood to dance and you’re hungry, stop at Mango’s , it’s a salsa club and restaurant. Once inside, after you pass the delicious bodybuilder doormen at the entrance, you’ll be treated to a great meal, and some of the best salsa dancers in all of Miami Beach. Afterwards, check-out all the great chic boutiques, you won’t leave empty handed.

Ocean Drive at night is a whole new world compared to the daytime flare. Neon is king only above all the clubs. Put on that designer outfit purchased at that chic boutique you visited earlier in the day and enter into on of the hottest night spots in the entire world. Depending on how exclusive, trendy or sexy you’d like to experience, just be aware that it could be super easy or super difficult to get into some of the hottest spots; white linen always works in any warm enviroment.

May 2

For first time visitors as well as seasoned visitors who haven’t seen all that San Francisco has to see, check out the 49 Mile Drive. It was created in 1938 as a way for the visitors who were in San Francisco for the Golden Gate International Exposition could see all the sights in one fair swoop. To make sure you are on the right road, you may want to catch a tour and let them do the driving. Because there are so many things to see it may need to be customized to what you really want to see. There are ways to search out a map if you want to go it alone.  

Some of the highlights of the 49 Mile Drive include the starting point which is City Hall which is in the Civic Center area. Other things to see in the Civic Center area are other State Office Buildings, the Asian Art Museum, the Performing Arts Center which includes a number of different venues. The next stop is on Cathedral Hill with the St. Mary’s Catheral . The Japan Center and Japantown have many little shops and restaurants to explore. Another good shopping area of the city is found on the route at Union Square. Then there is the must see Chinatown which makes visitors question whether they are still in America or not. There could be the perfect hotel accommodations for you on Nob Hill. That would be the 7th stop on the route.

See some the Cable Car Barn gallery and museum of 19th century photos of cable cars and their history. Find some treasured antiques in Jackson Square at stop 10. North Beach crazy night life is at stop 11. Stop 12 has Telegraph Hill with Coit Tower. Then there is Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz and the list goes on for 49 fantastic stops around the city. One may have to make a couple of trips to the area to be able to explore each area in more depth. So pick a few of the must sees for the trip and have a great time.

Apr 26

New York City is a place where cultures exist side by side, making for multiple worlds that geometrically complicate themselves through contact and exchange. It’s one of the liveliest cities on the planet for this reason. There are also histories that collide here, where ideas from disparate times and places come together and intersect in fascinating ways. This make for a kind of constant sense of instant nostalgia. On some days, every restaurant is a retro diner, and a luxury hotel is a new motor inn.

Instant nostalgia makes for some interesting cultural moments, and for those who have a kind of fondness, yearning, or even obsession for the bad boy days of the early 60s, there are scenes for the cafe racer lovers who come to the city. Every culture finds meeting places here, in actual space, public, private, or virtual, and subcultures also find ways of meeting each other.

It’s a city large enough that after a little time, you may even start to realize that you’re part of a subculture that you didn’t even know existed. That can happen with those who love the old school bikes. For many people, having a fondness for a BSA or Norton that you or even your grandfather owned, is something that just seems part of a long thread of memories.

Of course, in New York, it becomes a stylish trend, and it’s possible to join in whenever one wants to, if they find the right connections. The days when people would race from one coffee house to another between juke box songs are not gone, and on some days, it seems as though they’d never left. Thanks to the vision and obsessions of Hugh Mackie , among others, the days of the mods vs. rockers are still here. It happens in New York City. Perhaps it only happens in New York City. That one particular slice of history can be applied over the gridwork of the city, and suddenly, we’re all living it again, and there is no apparent contradiction.

Apr 19

There are many popular slogans associated with the city of New York and of those, most of them are related to the amount of entertainment attractions and cultural icons that are associated with this create American city. People visit New York , not only from all across the nation but also from all over the world. It is one of the most well known and sought after cities in the world and a large number of people who visit and or move here from other countries settle in New York. This might lead one to wonder what all of the fascination is about this one city. And of course the answer to that is as dynamic as the initial response to it might sound ridiculous.

New York is one of the major cultural centers not only in this country but the world. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the largest and most respected and known collections and the Museum of Modern Art as the most extensive collection of modern pieces. In addition, the theatre scene is one of the most famous in the world, and it is definitely the pinnacle of American theatre. Broadway has an iconic traditional status in this country and the word alone often represents the dreams and ambitions of millions of people across the world.

There are also some of the greatest restaurants and shopping opportunities that are found in this city. From 5th Avenue to Times Square almost every street and or area in New York is famous for and symbolically representative of some major cultural aspect. The music scene in New York is another one of its great features. The clubs and performance venues of the city represent musical genres from around the world. The jazz and blues clubs found throughout the city, and particularly in Harlem are some of the best in the nation and also representative of this cultural evolution and musical development that occurred here. New York has a double reputation and is both known for being one of the standard traditional cultural centers of the nation, while also being one of the hotbeds of artistic experimentation and innovation.

Apr 3

Minimalist music has become sort of, how to say it, so empty these days. It’s hard to explain. It’s not that the music hasn’t gotten more, what’s the word, complex, because that wouldn’t be enough reason to consider it lost. It’s in the same places it was before, and the last time anyone saw Philip Glass ‘s attitude on display, it was in the cinema. That’s a beautiful place for it, and it’s certainly suited for that kind of celluloid longing, but at the end of the day, things that refuse to mean, they just seem, how do they say, tricky. At best.

Which is still a good day in New York. Seeing through the gimmick is almost becoming a gimmick, or perhaps it’s even better when the gimmick is so transparent before us, and we should, by all accounts, listen to the music and decide it is what it is, empty, and that kind of ethereal inspired blather that sounds like the stars when we are all looking up at the sky. Not because we are hopeful, either, but because we are bored. This is the given conditions for a lot of music these days, and then, when the kids can come through that and make us so aware of the technique, but also aware that we are still thinking, wow…then there’s something going on.

It’s hard to find in NYC and it’s easy to find, too. It can be something that would be reduced to, what’s the word, a reflection of mood of the listener, if it were not happening so often, and from so many different places. There are bars playing into the wee hours, and clubs where you can hear it when you leave your downtown hotel , so somebody somewhere is letting these things happen, and that somebody has got to be us. Minimalism might come back from the movies yet.

Mar 28

It’s only natural that many of the people who visit Manhattan are either there to see a Broadway show, work on a Broadway show or invest in a Broadway show. And those who don’t fall into one of those categories will generally take in a Broadway show while they are in the city. There are some incredible deals available with some of the great Manhattan hotels. New York is the greatest theatre town in the country and even if you never make it to a play or musical while you are there you will certainly hear about a few.

One of the latest musical productions that is starting to create a buzz and hasn’t even opened yet is a revival production of a classic lighthearted Comedy. Promises, Promises will open at the Broadway Theatre on Broadway Avenue on April 25 and begin previews on March 27. American theatre favorite Neil Simon had his hand in this musical and wrote the book for it. The show itself originally opened in New York in 1968. It is based on the 1960 movie The Apartment, which was written by Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond. Music for the show was composed by Burt Bacharach with lyrics by Hal David. The original production at the Shubert Theatre ran for 1,281 performances.

The Revival production that is schedule to open at the Broadway Theatre will star Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes. Tony Goldwyn, Katie Finneran and Brooks Ashmanskas round out the cast. This production is directed and choreographed by Rob Ashford. There has already been talk about Tonys for this show, which is getting a lot of pre-preview attention. Hayes and Chenoweth are two major draws and what they will do with the show has a lot of people exited. The story involves a charming young on the rise staff person, Chuck Baxter, Hayes, at an insurance agency. In his efforts to become noticed and advance with the company he allows use of his apartment for affairs by his executives. Complications arise when Fran Kubelik, Chenoweth, the object of Baxter’s affection ends up in one of the affair scenarios.

Mar 25

From now until the end of the month, the Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo will continue in Austin, Texas. As with most things in Austin, the rodeo is combined with some great musical performances and there are other activities and events that should thrill and captivate children and adults alike. This event features many activities that are family oriented and the rodeo and fairgrounds even provides tours for local schools. These free and guided visits show the students around the fair grounds and lets them become accustomed to some of the events that occur during a rodeo and its various features.

People from all over Austin as well as the surrounding region and the great state of Texas itself come to this rodeo and fair every year. In addition, many people from outside of the state are attracted to it and luckily for them there is plenty of information on this and other major cultural events and festivals at some of the best hotels in the city . Of course the main attraction here is the pro rodeo event. Every March the city hosts sixth largest indoor pro rodeo event in the world. In addition to the exceptional skills that will be on display there are other incredible features of this huge annual event.

And in addition to the great rodeo events, there are some incredible concerts that take place during this fair. The Main Stage features some of the top award winning musical performers and is one of the central stages for the event. Other performance venues include Rockin’ Outdoor Stage which features some of the hottest acts in Texas. There will also be various competitive events included in the fair activities and different level and ages of livestock shows will be among them. Another competition, which continues to grow in popularity is the Miss Rodeo Austin . There is also a Youth Western Art Show that showcases some of the area’s top artistic talent.

Mar 22

I decided a long time ago that I want to get married in Santa Barbara, California. This decision first came into my mind when I was sixteen years old and went on a family vacation. We spent most of the two weeks in Los Angeles, but visited my aunt for a weekend and she lives in Santa Barbara. I had never really given the city much thought before, but that summer I realized how incredibly and enchantingly beautiful it was. One afternoon I was kind of lounging around on the beach. I was by myself and it was a beautiful day. I started watching these two guys throw a football back and forth. One of them, well they were both cute, was so incredibly good looking that I couldn’t stop watching him. That was when my fantasy of getting married, to him, right there on that beach began. Of course that only lasted a minute because it seemed kind of childish and immature to me. But the idea started to sink in that Santa Barbara might just be the greatest place to have a wedding and reception.

I started to have this thought in my head as I went about the rest of the weekend. We went to a free outdoor concert at Chase Palm Park that night and it just felt so romantic and enchanted I couldn’t escape the feeling I was in paradise. The next day my dad and uncle went fishing at Stearns Warf . I don’t fish but I asked them if I could tag along. I just wanted to be around the water again. And it was another gorgeous day in paradise, so why not? My memories of that summer never left, though the romantic fantasy associations kind of faded into the background, as I became an adult, went off to college and started my life. Then two years ago I met a great man, Steve, fell in love and two months ago we began planning our wedding. Immediately after he proposed I knew we had to have the ceremony in Santa Barbara and I know the perfect hotel for the wedding party to stay in. Steve loves the idea and we’re deciding on a date for next summer.

Mar 18

The Drytown Water Park in Palmdale, California is one of the city’s more recently established recreational facilities though it has quickly become a favorite. The park is an excellent place for families, friends and dates to enjoy some great water fun that is affordable, safe and even good for you. This is also one of the popular attractions that most of the seasonal guests are attracted to when they visit Palmdale. Hotels and resorts will have information on this and other great theme parks and attractions in the city and surrounding area.

Drytown is really more of an event than it is a water park, though most definitely it can be called that too. The slides are amazing and some of the largest in the area. They provide a cool thrill to those who are willing to climb the mining shaft and take on this rushing rivers and circular slides. The ride actually begins three stories above DryTown and this is where brave patrons first encounter the view of some those slippery slopes leading back down.

Some of the thrilling features at this park include the Devil’s Punch Bowl, The Wildcatter and Rattler’s Revenge. These are the various slides that can take your breath away as you descend the slippery water slides that enable you to reach speeds of up to 30 miles and hour. This place is great for families but it is not for the weak hearted. If you have the courage this can be some of the most fun you will have all summer. And arriving at the final shoot, which drops you into the larger pool at the bottom, may even give you as sense of achievement. That is, if you are still in one piece. If you plan to visit Palmdale this is definitely not something you will want to miss. And if you live there, you are likely already aware of it and have been there yourself.

Mar 8

In Hawaii, it’s sometimes difficult to find things to be anxious about. At least that’s true for those who come for vacations, enjoying all the beauty and splendor of a place that’s been a major travel destination for generations. Although there have been many attempts to minimize the carbon footprint, there are still many reasons for visiting, and there’s more to see beyond the gorgeous sand and sea. Those are pretty good reasons for coming, however, along with a very lively culture, and some interesting philosophies of the world that make for a complex and endlessly fascinating vision of how things are, and where there might be going.

It makes sense to go for the full experience and stay in hotels like these , so that luxury and hospitality rule your days and nights. You might get to wondering about the culture here, and how the multiple cultures came to form the modern Honolulu. Where there are many complicated layers of social structure and human development here, it almost makes perfect sense that one of Honolulu’s most influential architects was a Russian. Vladimir Ossipoff was born in Vladivostok in 1908, and lived here from 1931 until his death in 1998.

He was recently remembered and honored in the exhibition Hawaii Modern , which the Honolulu Academy of Arts organized so that his contributions would be noted on a larger scale, and to put it in a proper context. Here, the proper context was in the realm of art, because although his notions were very functional, they were also rather beautiful. He’s one of the generation of artists to bring aesthetic appeal back to architecture, in fact, and there is an attempt to integrate the beauty of nature with structure. That’s no small task in a place that’s as overwhelmingly lovely as Honolulu. Public buildings, businesses, churches, houses, and the airport here all have his stamp on them, and there is a uniform sense of space in all of them. They are marked with an airiness that is absolutely refreshing, and even breathtaking, so that at times going from beach to interior is made into a seamless gesture, filled with graciousness.

Feb 26

There are fifteen Presidential Libraries in the United States, scattered from California to Maine.  The two in California are Nixon and Reagan; in Texas, you’ll find three, Lydon Baines Johnson, George Bush, and George W. Bush.  The rest of the states have one each: JFK in Maine, FDR in New York, Gerald Ford in Michigan, Herbert Hoover in Iowa, Harry S. Truman in Missouri, Dwight D. Eisenhower in Kansas, and William J. Clinton in Arkansas.  That’s fourteen listed.  If you want to find the library of the 39th President of the United States of America, then you’ll need to go to Atlanta, Georgia. The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum is one of the many sights you might see while staying in luxury at a number of hotels in Atlanta.

The museum and library are hosts to a number of interesting events.  If you’re looking for something different to do, then you might try out a President’s Library.  Recently, they held a performance by Gene Griessman who played the role of Abraham Lincoln.  In future events, Bill and Sue Wills will portray Lyndon & Lady Bird Johnson on February 27th, at two in the afternoon.  The show will focus on their lives together of “Lady Bird” and the “Master of the Senate.”  On March 4th, there will be a lecture and book signing of Betty Glad’s “An Outsider in the White House,” a book considered by some to make significant contributions to diplomatic history and presidential studies.  It’s not all lectures and plays at the library and museum, there’s photography, too: On March 17th, a photographic exhibition titled Life Through the Lens — Photographs by Senator Howard H. Baker will open, featuring a collection of fifty large-format photographs.

Many cities offer a variety of attractions to its guests, and Atlanta has more than most, from The World of Coca-Cola Museum to the Georgia Aquarium to Underground Atlanta.  Take time, too, to investigate a little Presidential history for Jimmy Carter.

Feb 24

The idea of New York is one that is radically open and flexible, and simultaneously it is extremely determined, an ultimate always already that refers to itself with an unusually vibrant, and sometimes aggressive dexterity.  It’s one of the most attractive things about the city, making it seductive and elusive.  Just when it seems that you’ve got the city figured out, it becomes something else altogether different.  From a distance, geographical or temporal, its faces are consistent and do reveal an order, although at the time it might seem all too random.

The business hotels in New York are great places from which to contemplate how this all fits together.  Even if there are no answers, which are probably misleading anyway, there is a sense that these ideas all collapse into each other and constantly expand to become something else.  Every point of view gets caught up in the fold, and if you were to see this visually represented, it might look something like Hypermusic/Ascension, the inner text of the site-specific monodrama presented at the Guggenheim in March.

This collaborative dream team, composed of Lisa Randall, Héctor Parra, and Michael Ritchie, has put together this new opera that utilizes an experimental score.  The attempt is to capture something of the 5th dimension, and this is a tall order.  As part of the museums Contemplating the Void exhibition, tall orders are very welcome here.  Interventions into the space have produced some fantastic experiments, with works by Cai Guo-Qiang, Matthew Barney, Nam June Paik, Jenny Holzer.  This is a good opportunity to participate as an observer, and to push the barriers of quantum theory until it begins to look like waking life.

Feb 20

She was in New York because her cousin had told her that she knew some people who were looking for singers.  She wasn’t a singer, but had a feeling that she might like to be.  This was back in those days when it was easier to try things in public, and no one would remember your experiments, so it was possible to grow in outward directions.  New York has shifted in many ways since those days, but there are still great luxury hotels here where you can hole up and make some decisions about these kinds of life changes.  In those days, the only real improvement over today was in the freedom of choice in expression.
So she was in New York, living in the glory days of Nico, who became a certain kind of role model for her, and a stuttering dream for me.  Everything stuttered then, because we were always wide awake and getting wider as the day wore on.  My face was usually somewhere tattooed on the inside of her head, and she said she would focus on that, and sing to that.  She hadn’t started singing yet, but when she did start, that’s what she was going to do.  There weren’t very many of us in those days with our strange combination of genuine heart and deep suspicion.
Or perhaps it’s better to say that everyone in those days had that strange combination.  But people of our tribe didn’t talk to each other, because of the mistrust, and that can make it difficult for a tribe to ever get to know their own numbers.  For a few short moments, though, she had my number in her brain, and I had hers, and those numbers were the only numbers that would matter.  Nico would perform at the Knitting Factory, and when we would go, we would float, close to the bodies we’d been born with.

Feb 18

My good friend Mike is visiting me this weekend from Sacramento, California and we have had a great time. Today we spent most of the day in Tempe. He has only been to Phoenix once before and that was actually only for a day. He’s not at all familiar with the Valley so I wanted to take him around and visit some of the standard popular areas. Of course one of these had to be Mill Avenue in Tempe, and it was a beautiful day to be down there. We actually started out with a stop at the Wild Flower Bread next to Changing Hands Bookstore because he wanted to find a book on gluten free cooking for his mom. It was nearing lunch so I had one of their salads and he had a chicken sandwich.

After he found the book he was looking for we headed down to the Mill Avenue area and parked close to Tempe Town Lake. There was some kind of an event happening at the beach park there was a live cover band playing though I don’t know the name of the band. There were quite a few people down there and we listened to the music and walked along the water’s edge. We also walked up Mill Avenue stopped in at some of the shops. There’s a place that sells bamboo based clothing and I bought a cool t-shirt there. Around the corner there was another small store where Mike bought a small ASU themed toy basketball and hoop for his sons.

Mike love’s hotel lounges and we were going to stop at one of the Tempe hotels but needed to get back into Phoenix because we had tickets for a show at Space 55 downtown. We spent quite a bit of time walking along through old town and thought about getting some food at Monti’s on our way back to the car, but like I said, time was short so we didn’t do that either. Mike’s leaving tomorrow and while we had a great time, it’s always kind of sad to have guests like this because the more fun you have the more emphasis it puts on the departure. Oh well, I’ll visit him this summer.

Feb 16

If you’ve come to Florida and its many beautiful beaches, why go to a water theme park?  Isn’t there enough water all around us, anyway?  Well, the oceans don’t have River Rapids or the Tree Top Drop, but Shipwreck Island Waterpark does.  This park has a little something for everyone: thrill rides, family rides, even toddler rides, for that matter.  There are size restrictions on some of these attractions (48 inches for the Tree Top Drop, for instance), so a visit to the theme park’s website may help to determine who in your family may ride which ride.  You’ll also find that this Panama Beach, Florida, water park sells its tickets according not to age, but to height!  For guests fifty inches or taller, it’s thirty-two dollars.  For guests between thirty-five and fifty inches, it’s only twenty-seven dollars.  Anyone under thirty-five inches, the park is free!  Apparently, there are some advantages to having a shorter stature!

Once inside the park, there’s a generous array of rides from which to choose, and they’re divided into categories based on the amount of excitement one might receive.  In the thrill ride category, you’ll find River Rapids, Tree Top Drop and the Pirates Plunge; the latter two look especially daring, considering the heights involved.  The family rides include everything from White Knuckle River to Lazy River, from the Ocean Motion Wave Pool to the the Great Shipwreck, Flume Zoom, and Skull Island.  The tadpole rides is presumably for those on the shorter end of the scale (or at least the very young),  with names such as Silly Sub, Pelican and Frog.

If you’re planning a trip to Panama City Beach, then you might want to find a room, grab your swimsuits, and head out to the water park!  Of course, you might actually like to go to the real beaches, too.  They’re not bad, either!

Feb 8

For something different, when choosing hotels in New York City, the boutique variety may be the way to go.   It’s a unique way in which to experience one of the world’s great cities, and one of the best ways to relax after exploring all that Manhattan Island has to offer, from the neighborhoods of Soho and Tribeca, to Downtown Midtown and Upper Manhattan.  All of these places offer great places to stay, but also excellent places in which to experience the culture of the city, from cuisine to clubs, from theater to perhaps one of the most famous parks on the planet, Central Park.

Central Park started out when New York City was only a half million strong (as compared to today’s population of eight million plus) around 1844, one hundred and sixty-six years ago.  The editor of the Evening Post, William Cullen Bryant, wanted to establish a green, open space in the city; otherwise, the fast-growing town would eradicate the natural surroundings.  The land was purchased for five million dollars between Eighth and Fifth Avenues and from 106th to 59th Street.  In 1857, a competition was held in order to design the new park.

As the 19th Century continued, engineers and architects tried to figure out a way to turn the purchased land, which was muddy and swampy, into a place people actually wanted to visit.  The solution was to bring in topsoil from New Jersey, about five hundred thousand cubit feet of it.  Boulders were blown apart with gun-powder.  Bridges and arches, thirty-six in all, were constructed, as well as six bodies of water.

Today you can enjoy over 843 acres of parkland, including woodlands and lawns (136 and 250 acres each ), as well as seven bodies of water (150 acres).  You may dine at the Tavern on the Green or visit the Belvedere Castle (created in 1872 — at one time you were able to go to the castle to view the Croton Reservoir, but this reservoir was filled in to become the Great Lawn decades ago.  The Park is one of the key features of the city, with about 9,000 benches and 58 miles of paths for pedestrians.  Check out the Carousel, as well as all the sculptures (51 in all).

Central Park is an excellent tonic for whenever the city’s concrete and skyscrapers become overwhelming, a fact for which you may thank William Cullen Bryant.

« Previous Entries