Featured Post

Cyndi’s Manhattan February 8th, 2010

New York is like anywhere else on earth, except that it’s all of the anywhere else’s all at the same time, and they’re all stacked on top of each other.  It’s a magnificent place to go to try to figure things out, because once you’re there, that silly quest gets lost in order to survive in the here and now.  Important things happen in the moment, and the more you notice the moment, the more true this becomes.  Manhattan is a great place to get woken up to all manner of things, and when it comes to waking up, Manhattan’s hotels are the best because of their combination of hospitality and style.  It’s a quintessential New York experience to stay at hotels in a place where the hotel industry has a reputation to uphold.

After the accommodations, the rest is up to you.  There are always plenty of things to do, and if you’re only interested in watching people and meeting people, then this city is going to make your head spin.  It’s one of the great megacities, where cultures and languages shift constantly, and constantly surprise each other.  It’s the perfect place, in fact, to see the birth of Cyndi Lauper.  She wasn’t born in Manhattan, however, but in Queens, which makes perfect sense when you get to know her a bit.  Her way of walking, speaking, and attitude all point to Queens.

She changed the way we thought about music.  Her videos were among the first to use art design in a truly considered manner, and she herself is an ironic quotation of herself.  It’s something that very few people can do, right out of the chute, and Lady Gaga perhaps being the next logical successor of this art.  Cyndi Lauper’s sense of play is, however, different than anything else on the planet.  And her generosity is equally unique, and worthy of celebration.  Her recent fame is coming from her work with her own True Colors foundation.  This charity organization is designed to help the LGBT community, and next year will see an opening of a new supportive housing community.  Like a rainbow, she started off pretty splendidly, and grows more interesting and bright with time.


Recent Posts

Chicago Rival Continues Its Run in New York February 3rd, 2010

Chicago is one of the current musical offerings on the New York Broadway stage. It is playing at the Ambassador Theatre on West 49th Street as it continues its incredible revival run that began in 1996. It is currently the sixth longest running Broadway show in history. It is by far one of the most commercially popular musicals and was adapted for film in 2002. The movie was directed by Rob Marshall and starred Katherine Zeta Jones, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah and Renee Zellweger. The film version was also a commercial success and earned an Academy Award.

The stage musical, written by Kander and Ebb is one of the highest sought after productions on the Broadway stage. Many of the guests in some of New York’s finest hotels have reservations for the show before they even arrive in the city. You can find more information on great hotel deals and theater packages that are frequently available. A common package will include a nice dinner and show. In New York, it’s not only about see the show, but frequently it’s made into an entire evening out. A Broadway production is the focus of an eventful evening that frequently begins with a day in the spa, cocktails, dinner and then the show. Dessert and or an appearance in one of the city’s famous clubs is a common after show encounter.

The musical is set in Chicago, Illinois during the prohibition days of the early mid 20th century. The book for the musical was written by Bob Fosse, of Cabaret fame, and John Kander wrote the music and Fred Ebb wrote the lyrics. The story is a satire of the criminal justice process and corruption. It focuses on the idea of the celebrity criminal, which is a common social phenomenon. The musical is based on actual arrests and crime reports that were the source of a play written by Maurine Dallas Watkins. Watkins was a reporter and covered the these stories, which she adapted to a play in 1926. The production of Chicago that is currently running is actually a revival of the original production, which opened at the 46th Street Theater in 1975. The choreography for the original production was by Bob Fosse.


A Murder Mystery Dinner Show in Austin February 1st, 2010

A good friend of mine reviews plays for the weekly paper Phoenix NewTimes.  She has taken me to many shows over the years, great theater in the Valley of the Sun, found in sometimes strange places.  For me, dinner shows are always a bit unnerving for more often than not, the whole premise is that the audience members become part of the show.  Now, I was in a theatre company and for many years worked every night on a stage with a live audience, but to become part of the show with a moment’s notice is something that has always made me extremely uncomfortable.

She and I took a trip to Austin last summer.  She had booked a great room in one of the Austin luxury hotels, compliments of the NewTimes.  She was in town to review a company called the Capital City Mystery Players, and I was along for the ride.  They have been performing in the city for years, each Saturday night at the Spaghetti Warehouse, and every third Sunday at the Cool River Cafe.  We were there for one of the Spaghetti Warehouse shows.  One of my culinary true loves is spaghetti and meatballs, and so while I was eagerly anticipating the meal, I was a bit nervous about the show.  I did not want to be pulled away from my pasta only to become part of a show.  She on the other hand, loved getting pulled into the show and had done so on many, many occasions.

On the bill that night was a comedy/murder mystery called “The Linguini Code”, and I must say it was a “who dunit” filled with laughter and incredible performances by the cast of characters, of which I am so happy to say, I was not a part of.  After the show, we went backstage while she interviewed members of the company.  This is not just a performance company, but one that conducts team building meetings using theater as the means.  They have been instrumental in working with some of the top Austin corporations and businesses and are hired on a regular basis.  Theater is their day job and their passion, a perfect combination.  This is definitely a company to watch in the years to come.


Polisiekar in Cape Town January 28th, 2010

Visiting Cape Town has never been easier, nor has it ever been more exciting.  It has always been a place where the culture is extremely lively, and also innovative.  Some of the musicians here play sounds that are very traditional, but then again, these are some of the oldest traditions in the world, and it’s expected that some of the history would seep into the creative forms.  In recent years, however, there seems to have been a rather successful push as developing new local forms that hit a larger sphere of influence.  It seems almost fortunate that some of these forms are likely to hit the U.S. market, because that gives you another reason to visit and see it for yourself.

Visiting is extreme fun, and there are many ways to have a fantastic time here.  This site has some excellent lodgings to get you situated in rare style, and the rest is up to you.  If you’re here in South Africa’s summer months (if you’re in the U.S., remember this is the other side of the world, and the months are reversed), try to get to see the Summer Concerts at Kirstenbosch.  This is an outdoor arena, with absolutely breathtaking views.  It boasts a warm and friendly environment, and is a great place to see Johnny Clegg.

Interestingly, this coming year they’re also hosting Polisiekar, which is not your typical warm and friendly band playing feel-good melodies.  This is Afrikaans punk, and so far, they may have cornered the market on this particular niche.  The band started as a joke that caught on, but the musicians are no joke.  They’re really talented, and have a lot to say about how things are today.  It’s almost like seeing a rowdy art band, like Sonic Youth, playing music about music, but with an unusually developed sense of form.  This will probably be one of the most fascinating events of the year.


Great Southern Food of the Carolinas January 19th, 2010

When many people consider a common association to the southern states one of the first things that comes to mind is southern hospitality. Almost immediately after that comes southern food, which is frequently the one that tourists staying in one of the hotels Carolina wish they could take with them. And frequently recipes of their favorite dishes are what they consider to be primary souvenirs from their trip. In fact, for many locals and testified by visitors the two common associations of hospitality and great food often go hand in hand.

Southern food and great taste become synonymous to many tourists who visit these cities and states and it is a reputation they hold in pride. And while many of the dishes may sound common enough, or by name may lack a particular regional quality to them, when they are cooked and prepared in the Carolinas, they take on a meaning and flavor all their own. This true for foods like slow cooked baby back ribs and great deserts such as peach cobbler just to name a couple. Even the way stews and soups are prepared become unique to their location and it is common for people to travel back to one particular small town diner, which is the only place they can find their favorite pulled pork sandwich or chicken pot pie.

The spices that are used throughout the Carolinas and the southern states are one of the major aspects of their cuisine distinction. Cajun foods are common to many regions and as a whole are pretty spicy. Mustard, particularly Creole mustard, brown sugar, garlic, cumin, cinnamon, coriander, paprika and red pepper are common staples for spices used in southern cooking. And of course most breakfast plates are served with a healthy portion of grits. Regardless of your personal taste, indulging in some of North and South Carolina’s great cuisine is an essential aspect of most vacations.


Losing Ones Passport is Florida’s Gain January 18th, 2010

Jacksonville, Florida wasn’t in our travel plans, but what could we do when, on our way to Mexico while in the Dallas Airport, we realized that a passport is missing? We figured we lost it at the Los Angeles airport when we passed through security. There, they not only ask us to show proof of our identity, but we also had to remove our shoes, belts, coat, open up our computers and we all did this simultaneously. Well, somewhere in all that dance, my passport disappeared.

After we spent a couple of nights in Dallas, we flew from there to Atlanta, Georgia. That’s where we contacted the Belgian Consulate and applied for a new passport. We had to rent a car so we could at least pay an impromptu visit with some hometown friends that now live in Georgia. Actually, it was really great to see them again, we relaxed at their lake house and were somewhat grateful that this mishap with my passport brought us here. After a few days with our friends, we decided to go to Jacksonville, Florida, where we spent an entire week. While we were in Atlanta, I went on-line to see about finding any good deals for a luxury hotel, I came across this site: http://www.luxuryhotelsflorida.com, and it was very appealing, so we booked our room on-line and drove to Florida!

We relaxed on the beach and played in the water with big waves rolling over us and I got to practice some more with my kite maneuvers. We went back to Atlanta so my husband could catch a flight to Bolivia. He had an important engagement with World Vision, so I said good-bye to him and stayed with our friends one more time waiting for my passport. This did end up being a great opportunity to visit with our friends, but I would rather be with my husband in Bolivia, I didn’t have to wait long, my passport arrived two days later!


The Possibilities are Endless with a Car in New York January 16th, 2010

My plane was almost a half-a-day delayed and so the friend who was going to pick me up at JFK couldn’t do it. I ended up, while in-flight, going on the Internet and investigating some sites in New York that will let hire a car. I got lucky and found this site: http://www.newyorkcitycarhire.com, and I managed to hire a car at a decent rate. Whew!

When I arrived, It wasn’t hard at all to find the car hire place and retrieve my car. I’ve been to New York many times, but I’ve never ever considered driving in New York, I’ve always used the public transportation or hailed a taxi. But, as I’m driving out of JFK, I had a sense of adventure, I felt very free to go anywhere I wanted to, I’ve never felt this way before while in New York City. I could handle the traffic quite well, coming from the big city of London. Just driving on the other side of the road was the tricky part. I took it a bit slow at first, being honked at constantly, and it only took me a few turns here and there to get the hang of it.

It was nice driving up to my friends house, which was not far from Grand Central Station and actually finding a place to park. From her house, after dropping off my bags (had a key), I went to do some sight seeing, I wanted to take my car, but wondered about finding any parking no matter where I went. I threw caution to the wind and drove to Central Park. Believe it or not, there was a parking space! Central Park is really very nice, this is the first place I always see when I’m here. I always managed to find something new at the park, something I hadn’t seen before. The park is so big, I think no matter how many times I visit it, I will always find something new. There were a lot of people out on boats along the canals today. I found a rock I could climb on and then headed to Strawberry Fields where I made arrangements for my friend to find me when she gets off work.

After she arrived, I told her about my car hire. She got the biggest smile on her face! I could tell her mind was working away with where we could possibly go. She hasn’t owned a car ever since she moved here. I told her the possibilities were endless!


Ghosting Jewelry in New York January 7th, 2010

Last year, we came to New York for New Years, plus I wanted to see the ‘Ghost Busters’ fire station. By the time I found it, it was dark so none of my photos turned out well. So, the next morning, bright and early, I headed up Moore Street in order to get a nice daylight photo. It was perfect!

I next headed down to Wall Street, just so I could say I was there. I got out of the train stop and witnessed one of the most beautiful buildings of my life; Tiffany’s. I’ve been in the Tiffany’s in Palm Springs and bought a ring, but now I had the opportunity to buy a matching bracelet. I knew I needed to watch what I spent, but I dragged myself inside anyway. I was greeted by a beautiful sales woman and she was very personable and made me feel very welcomed. As I talked to her for a bit, she told me some great stories of all the places she’s lived, including Florida, which was the next stop on my trip! So, we had a lot to talk about, almost too much, really, but I found the bracelet that matched my ring; the style is known as the ‘love knot’ because it resembles a knot in the shape of a heart. She showed me 3 or 4 bracelets, each one with the ‘love knot’, but the width on them varied. I picked the bracelet that was the prettiest, but it didn’t quite match my ring.

But, my story of finding a ‘love-knot’ bracelet has a tragic ending. I lost them the next day. After I checked out of one of the better New York Casino hotels, I headed into Manhattan. I do remember having the ring and bracelet on the train, because the gal sitting next to me commented about how pretty they were, but when I got back to my hotel very late in the evening, I was no longer wearing them. That whole night was kind of a blur, due to clubbing it at as many clubs as I could afford. They must have slipped off while I was dancing the whole night away and I didn’t notice.

What a shame, really. I finally had exquisite jewelry, from Tiffany’s and only got to enjoy them for a brief moment. I can’t help but sing ‘Moon River’ in head and sigh.


Zoombezi Bay Water Park in Columbus, Ohio January 7th, 2010

Last summer Curtis went to Columbus, Ohio to visit his cousin Tim. It was the first time he had been to this city and while he didn’t know quite what to expect he was familiar with Christopher Columbus, the city’s namesake and kind of expected it to be a small colonial dirt or log cabin village. While he knew this was a ridiculous idea, after all he turned twelve last July; he could not resist entertaining that imagery every time his upcoming visit to Columbus was mentioned.

From the moment Curtis’ plane landed he was absolutely amazed with the city and for a moment thought the pilot must have gotten lost and landed in New York. He was traveling with his older sister Jane who calmly assured him that they had landed safely at Port Columbus and sure enough, Tim and his family were waiting for them in the baggage claim area. Both Curtis and Jane thought the city was beautiful as they drove to their cousins’ home. They passed a few of the finest Columbus luxury hotels and Curtis asked if they would be staying in one of them. Maybe someday, like on his next visit, was his only response.

One of the many attractions they visited while they were in town was the Zoombezi Bay water park. This provided Curtis one of the most exciting and happiest days of his young life. The water park is relatively new. It opened in 2008 so it had only been operating about a year when Curtis and Jane visited it with their cousins. It had that feeling of newness and excitement about it, which instantly transferred to Curtis. His favorite rides were the Wild Tides and the Roaring Rapids. He couldn’t wait to tell his parents about his day later that evening when they called. This was definitely one of his favorite features and something he would never have imagined to exist in the small colonial village he had imagined prior to his visit. Curtis would never see Columbus, Ohio or Christopher Columbus in the same way again.


Nobody in Singapore December 29th, 2009

There are places in the world where dance crazes still pop up.  This is good news to people who love pop culture, because the idea of a dance craze is something that we all want to see in our lifetimes, but haven’t found anything worthy of a craze.  It may just be a cultural moment, however, and it might take a place as sophisticated about being ironic as Singapore, to bring all the right ingredients together and at the exact temperature too.  Singapore has a splendid way of quoting the world at large, and is enormously responsive when other countries make the right quotations in just the right way.  This might be part of the remix phenomenon in general, where everything is already out and has been lying under the sun for a bit too long, so the ingenuity has to come through revision and repetition, to use Suzan-Lori Park’s notion of the term.

This idea of renovation is actually very useful in considering cuisine as well.  In Singapore, there are multiple cultures living here in one small island city state, and restaurants in Singapore offer a stunning variety of food from all over the world.  The best restaurants seem to have a flair for cooking up traditional tastes with contemporary touches and twists.  This is good to consider when looking at the latest and greatest dance craze.  The song Nobody, by the Wonder Girls, from Korea is responsible for a whole generation of girls in Singapore spending hours learning the dance moves from their infectious video.

It is dangerously infectious, too, and it’s very difficult to get the track out of your head.  The song is a fairly straight-forward pop song, written to be a bubble gum hit, and the video is a quotation of girl bands from decades gone by.  This kind of instant nostalgia is very interesting to see these days, because it’s never as light as it seems.  There is a terrific complexity here that speaks to a kind of mistrust of nostalgia in general, while quoting it in an attempt to rewrite it correctly the first time.  Add to this another layer, and local Singapore singer Jillian-Marie Thomas covers the song with brilliance and a melancholy that is completely unexpected.  Her quotation of a quotation makes a new invention that is nothing less than a work of art.


Ghosts and Gettysburg December 28th, 2009

Many people come to Pennsylvania to tour the battlefields of the Civil War, to explore the old buildings and soak up the history, but how many come for the ghosts?  Ghost tours, over the years, seem to have become increasingly popular and popping up everywhere.  It seems like most places have a ghost tour, from London to New Orleans to Albuquerque and Hollywood.  The desire is strong to see the spot where other people claim to see ghosts and to hear the stories about what deeds transpired in these spots.  And, believe it or not, the ghost tour that appears to be considered the best of the top ten scariest tours in America is the the Ghosts of Gettysburg tour run by a former National Park Service Ranger and Historian, Mark Nesbitt.

The list of the top ten suggest that these tours are the best place to hear about ghosts and to experience a ghost.  While I’m skeptical about the latter claim, the first one has my attention.  Gettysburg is as good a place as any for ghosts to be seen, with its battlefields serving as a turning point in the American Civil War in mid-1800s.  Since then, people have reported seeing soldiers in the fields, apparitions appearing and vanishing.

Nesbitt began his ghost tour in 1994, giving out facts from his own books about the ghosts in town.  The guides for the tour dress in period costume and walk visitors through parts of town that were once the battlefields in which Union and Southern armies clashed.  Nesbitt has appeared on cable and television networks such as the History Channel, Unsolved Mysteries, A&E, and the radio program, Coast to Coast AM, which delves into supernatural mysteries.  Just six years ago, in 2004, his books received the National Paranormal Award.  His titles include, “Best True Hauntings Collection” as well as “Best Local Haunt Guidebook.”

The very building in which his tour is headquartered is supposedly haunted, over on 271 Baltimore Street.  Whether or not you believe in paranormal activity, ghost tours in general keep our interest in the past active, reviewing the human story of what once happened.  If you find yourself in one of the hotels Gettysburg has ready for you, as you review your itinerary for the day (seeing the Gettysburg National Military Park or the spot on which Abraham Lincoln gave his Gettysburg address), you might consider the events that have happened in Gettysburg over the years and how these events resonate today, whether or not they’re supernatural.


The Advantages of Cooking on Gas Stoves December 22nd, 2009

I have lived in many different houses and apartments, and for many years I had an electric stove top.  The first time I had a gas stove, I was living in an old house in Tempe, Arizona, and at first the thought of gas frightened me just a bit.  I had the idea that it was unpredictable, liable to blow at any minute.  But the more I became familiar with gas stoves, the more I knew that they were the only stoves I wanted to cook upon.

For me, they were just so accurate, they are immediately on, and immediately off.  It was not until I worked in a few different restaurants, and had conversations with a few different chefs, gourmet chefs, that I learned that gas stoves are their preference as well.  Chefs need precision, in the cutting of vegetables and the butchering of meat, and the temperature of their skillets.  A great sauce can be ruined in seconds, if the temperature is not exactly right.

Gas stove tops are precise and offer much more control than the electric coil of a burner.  One thing you will know if you have ever worked in a restaurant, is that the kitchen temperature can be quite extreme.  The chefs are in there for hours on end, and another advantage to gas as opposed to electricity, is that the temperature of the kitchen is actually lower when cooking over a gas flame.  This has the consequence of less incidence of burns, as well as a more comfortable atmosphere for the chefs to work in.

Chefs need to be comfortable, it kind of cuts down on the cranky personality generalizations of restaurant chefs.  Electric coiled burners must be flat, to ensure that the bottom surface of the pan or skillet will not burn the food in one area.  Not so important with a gas burner.  This offers a bit more freedom in the kitchen.  In all, the gas stove is much more preferred in the kitchens of fine dining restaurants, and will be much more appreciated in your own kitchen at home.


Nearly Free Los Angeles December 21st, 2009

Some days you want to visit a city and spend as little money as possible.  You’ve all seen the travel books extolling various famous cities for fifty dollars a day ($50 a day in Paris, $50 a day in London).  Perhaps you haven’t seen such books, but for a while they used to be everywhere, and it made me think about what there is to do in Los Angeles inexpensively or even free.  There’s lots of activities in L.A. that will cost you money.  Theme parks, trips to Catalina Island, whale watching, and so on.  But where do you go when you don’t have that much cash in your pocket?  First, I recommend you check into a Los Angeles cheap hotel, and then shake out the piggy bank for a few coins for the following trips:

First, I’d recommend the Los Angeles County Museum on a Thursday night.  The main exhibits are free after five p.m. until closing as a kind of service to the community, and it’s well worth it.  Also, while many parking meters in the city have raised their closing hour from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., many remain at the 6 o’clock cut off.  Search for one of these for cheap parking.  Then you’ll be able to wander around works of local and international art to your heart’s content.

In keeping with Museums, I’d travel over to a side street on Bundy Drive (somewhere around the intersection of Bundy and Santa Monica Boulevard may work) and park your car, then take a winding bus ride up through Brentwood for about seventy-five cents on the Big Blue Bus, or a dollar twenty-five, for the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit bus, to find yourself at the Getty Center, a world class museum perched high above Brentwood, overlooking Santa Monica Bay and Los Angeles simultaneously.

To complete the museum theme, I’d make my way over to Griffiths Park Observatory, which has free parking, and an excellent newly refurbished museum (reopened within the last couple of years after years of renovation).  Wandering about the museum is free and you’ll see a number of dazzling items, including an actual TESLA coil in operation, and a spectacular display of the planets, which shows your relative weight on each of the eight worlds in our solar system (and, I believe, Pluto, too).  If you want to see the planetarium show, it will cost about seven dollars (the last time I checked), and it’s well worth it, providing a context for everything else in the observatory.


Patio Flames December 15th, 2009

This is certainly the time of year to strike a match on that patio fireplaces and cook up some marshmallows. Sip on some hot chocolate and sing some great campfire songs. Christmas or other winter holiday songs are great too as you strum along with a guitar. What kind of patio fireplace to you like? There are many to choose from these days. We can have more style than just the old stone or brick tossed together in the center of the yard and hope it’s big enough to fit all the chairs around.

How about a Chiminea? These are great patio fireplaces. They are made of a few different types of material like clay or terra cotta, Ceramic, Aluminum and cast-iron. They do usually contain smaller fires if you go with the ceramic or clay but if you go for the cast-iron you can find them large enough to get quite the roaring blaze going. This is a better way to get into the warm fire mood than just a patio heater. The little clay Chiminea’s are so cute with there little pot belly bottom with the form shooting up for the chimney.

But maybe you want more of a campfire feel. Somewhere to put your feet. Try the Grated Cylinder type of fireplace. You can even cook on these. If you want more than just Smores you can cook some great steaks or seafood and veggies on this kind of fireplace. I suppose it’s what you would call the two in one approach to back yard nighttime fun. These pits also have a much bigger flame. If you are trying to get a real statement out of your patio fireplace go with a permanent outdoor fireplace. This is like taking the big one out of our house, mantel and all, and sticking it in the yard. This makes for a grand time.


Hot Tubs & States of Relaxation December 13th, 2009

There are many different kinds of benefits you’ll discover from using your new personal spa.  There are immediate physical benefits that include increased circulation, and deeper sleep cycles, and there are also many mental and emotional benefits, too, and some of these of course are very subtle.  But you will get to experience them all, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to find and enhance the benefits that suit you best.  The most difficult part of it can be the selection, but with choosehottubsdirect.com, they make it easy.

Their choices are very wide, and the website is very user-friendly so you can get all the information you need to make a decision you’ll be happy with.  And you can also rest easy, because you’re working with a company where the customer’s needs come first, and their record of service is very high, basing their business reputation on positive word of mouth.  They depend on your satisfaction as much as you can depend on them for excellent service.  This saves you more time and energy so you can focus on your new lifestyle.

Depending on how your metabolism works, and how easy you take to suggestions, can be determining factors in how well certain relaxation techniques will work for you.  It’s certain, however, that you’ll find yourself enjoying more moments of relaxation than ever before when you start spending time in your hot tub.  You’ll have the chance to explore how you best relax, and can start to work with decreasing the time it takes to get to a calm state of being.  The hot tub can put you in the beginning stages of this process, and from there, you’ll soon discover, the deeper you go, the more there is to learn, and the more enjoyable it can be.


The Fort Collins Lincoln Center December 8th, 2009

The Fort Collins Lincoln Center is one of the major cultural institutions of this large college town. And while much of the cultural orientation of the city is based on the college population, there are also events and establishments that while not specifically aimed away from the students they are more standard population structured. The Lincoln Center is an extremely diverse performance venue that attracts both the non-student population as well as the college kids. It is commonly considered to be the primary performance venue of the city and hosts not only locally produced performances but also major touring shows. It is one of the most popular places to visit for most of the guests who are staying in one of the hotels Fort Collins.

The building itself was built in mid-1970s and remains the largest performance venue of its kind in the city, and is one of, if not the largest in all of Larimer County. There are multiple venues in the center that serve various purposes. The Performance Hall is the largest of these and seats up to 1,180 audience members. This is the home of the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra and also hosts visiting performers and shows. The Mini Theatre is a much more intimate venue and seats up to 220. This is the standard venue for local theatres to use, as well as various community organizations such as churches and business lectures as well as seminars. The Terrace Gardens is a beautiful outdoor performance area, which is also a sculpture garden. It hosts a series of performances throughout the summer including dances and band concerts. This is also a common sight for weddings or receptions as well as other celebrations. In addition there are art galleries, the Canyon West and the Columbine spaces. Some of the major touring shows to come through the Lincoln Center during the 2009/2010 season include Jesus Christ Superstar, The Drowsy Chaperone and To kill a Mockingbird among


Technology and Business December 5th, 2009

Technology and good customer service don’t have to be polar opposites.  In these times, when we’ve had a little bit of time to adjust to the radical changes that computers and the internet have brought to the way we do things in the world, business sensibility has had time to catch up to the way things work these days.  There is a certain anonymity about doing business online, surely, but in the hands of truly skilled salespeople, and businesses that truly do care about the well-being of their customers, the human element has had time to creep back in.  It’s a very good thing, too, because it gives people like Steven Barbarich the opportunity to really put his customer service skills to good use.

It wasn’t very long ago that computers tended to put a lot of people off, where the complaints about entering into another machine age, devoid of a human face, were everywhere, and no one really knew what we were in for.  But we live with a whole generation now who has grown up knowing the internet as a fact of life since their birth, and it’s a very technologically savvy generation, ironically teaching their parents how things work.  While this has been going on, we’ve all become more and more accustomed to the presence of the virtual in the physical world, and we’ve had time to do some thinking about what this means about how we see the world, and how we live our lives.

It’s enormously fascinating research, and one thing that does seem to be apparent: we have become savvy about how we shop on the internet.  Generally, people are starting to understand the ease and convenience of shopping online, and also understand that they don’t have to sacrifice human exchange for this convenience.  This means that somewhere there are salespeople who understand that we have become hybrids in many ways.  We expect technology to work and to serve us, but we’re not willing to move completely toward a virtual existence.  We can shop on a website that doesn’t have emotions, but we also know we’ll be dealing with real human beings at some point during the transaction, and the salespeople with the edge are the ones who, like Barbarich, make sure that there is always another human voice at the other end of the phone, and the best parts of the business happen when human beings are speaking directly to one another.


Hot Tubs Offer More Than Just Health Benefits December 1st, 2009

I’m an RN and a few years back, I managed to injure my back when I attempted to life a 350 pound patient off the floor. I had to take leave of work while I went through 4 months of physical therapy. I went back to work, but lifting was no longer required, but my back was sill bothering me. I even avoided bending over when ever possible. My husband and I recently moved to San Francisco and I thought this would be a perfect time to purchase and install a hot tub in our big back yard.

I’ve heard about the marvellous benefits that a hot tub provides and I’ve been checking out all the information on the Internet concerning the different types of hot tubs. My husband also suffers from diabetes, and not only will a hot tub benefit me, it apparently does wonders for diabetes type II. After much consideration, I finally went with choosehottubsdirect.com to be the company to provide me all that is necessary to get, install and help me maintain a hot tub.

My back has never felt better! And my husbands neuropathy has been greatly reduced. I also, recently, had foot surgery and my doctor recommended whirlpool therapy, and I told him about my marvelous hot tub and the foot jets, and he said that would be perfect. I didn’t have to be out of pocket for physical therapy or travel to a medical building, because my physical therapy was right in my backyard.

We invited a friend, who has Multiple Sclerosis, to come by and use our hot tub. At first she was leery, she told us her doctor thought it might be too stimulating, but we coaxed her in and adjusted the jets so we could all enjoy the gentle massage, she completely loved the hot tub! When she called us the next morning, she told us she had the best nights sleep ever. We also invited a friend, who has high blood pressure, over to use our hot tub, but he told us that due to his blood pressure, he’s not allowed to use the hot tub. I told him that we keep our temperature at 99 to 100 degrees and that I’m a Registered Nurse and I’ll check his blood pressure before and after he gets in. He agreed to try, once he was in the hot tub, I checked his blood pressure and it actually went down.

Both my friends now come by frequently to use our hot tub. My husband and I use it every night and our health has improved, our lives have improved and the best benefit of all is how happy and relaxed we are ever since we installed our hot tub.


Jackson History, Civil Rights and Pop Culture December 1st, 2009

The capital of the state of Mississippi is Jackson with a population of around 174,000. This city’s nickname is City With Soul. Originally, the area around Jackson, and most of Mississippi belonged to the Choctaw Nation. But, with pressure from the US Government, in 1830 they signed the Dancing Rabbit Creek Treaty. After the treaty, many of the Choctaw Indians were relocated to Oklahoma. Those that remained in Mississippi established many Indian communities throughout the state. A French Canadian trader, Louis LeFleur was the first to settle this area along what was known as the historic Natchez Trace trade route. LeFleur named his little settlement Parkerville. The name was later changed to honor Andrew Jackson, the seventh President of the United States. Unlike so many cities that build along a river and grow because of the commerce established via water, the railroad was the catalyst that grew Jackson. Natural gas was discovered here in the 1930’s, another boon to the economy. The Civil Rights Movement was extensive here and after many hard years the long deserved victory was finally theirs.

There is a lot of history in and around Jackson. While you are here, be sure and visit the museums and historic landmarks. Music is very important to Jackson. They have their Gospel, Blues and R & B. Johnny Cash and his wife, June Carter Cash recorded the hit song, Jackson. Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon sang that song in their 2005 movie, Walk the Line, which was based on Johnny Cash’s life. Jackson also has the ballet, the CelticFest, Crossroads Film Festival, Jubilee!Jam and so much more. And of course the hotels Jackson offers are comfortable and luxurious. You will be greeted by polite and friendly staff who are more than ready to accommodate you. Your days will be busy with activities, your nights restful and relaxing. Enjoy what Jackson has to offer.


Rajmata of Jaipur November 30th, 2009

One of the most important lessons you can learn in life is to never wear emeralds with a green sari, because they look so much better with pink.  This was a life lesson told by the beloved Gayatri Devi, who passed away in July, 2009, in Jaipur.  She was one of the key figures in this magnificent place for many years, and there are many good reasons to visit here, besides following her life and footsteps, but those are probably good enough reasons.  There is a spectacular city here, and there are many adventures waiting for those who come looking for them.  The city itself is built on a grid that’s based on a mandala.  Mandalas are those circular representations of a cosmos, or a circle the represents some kind of totality, although in this case cosmos works very precisely, because it was intended to be alinged with the planets, paving the way for the citizens’ good fortune.

There’s still that sense of impending luck here, and it can permeate everything on the best days.  It’s much easier to track, however, when you’re investigating your own fortune from the insides of one of the splendid luxury hotels.  Jaipur has many faces, and many sides, but some of the most elegant of these can be seen when your accommodations are in the lap of luxury.  You can enjoy spectacular views and lovely details all around you, tasting fantastic cuisines and enjoying a spa treatment, enough to make you think you might be royalty.  In your dreams, you may even dream of meeting Jackie O sitting for tea with Gayatri Devi, Rajmata of Jaipur.

She was known as the Queen Mother of India, and had a particularly full and spectacular life, but even at 90 years, her death is experienced as a great loss.  She was a great politician, earning the respect of JFK among many others, and also was quite well known for her extravagance, which is something she picked up at a young age, growing up in the posh parts of London.  Gayatri Devi was also considered to be one of the most stylish women in the world of her generation, and ranked in all the top ten most beautiful women lists.  Her presence will always be felt here.


Volunteering in Cape Town November 24th, 2009

We overslept and the thought of hiking up Table Mountain seemed to be a no go, but after breakfast in bed at one of the Cape Town, South Africa hotels, invigorated us and we decided to take on our trip to a winery that one of the other hotel guests told us about. All they had to do was mention that the winery serves chocolate with the tasting and we were already there in our heads.

We had to go through an estate to get to the winery, that was unexpected and delightful all at the same time. The wines were all good and the chocolates were a nice change to sometimes a monotonous sipping of wines. The estate was beautiful and Mediterranean. It was way off the beaten path that we had to take a dirt road to get there. It made us feel like we were far removed from civilization, but in actuality, it only took us 25 minutes to get to the airport.

We had to drop off one of our fellow travelers at the airport. We then found our way to a new acquaintance’s apartment. He had an unbelievable view of the city and of Table Mountain. Actually, he had this view from every room of his apartment! This made me think that my ‘one of a kind’ view from my apartment in New York City wasn’t a ‘one of a kind’ view. Our new found friend takes us to a township where he visited the Philani clinic and employment project. Local women are employed and get to doing weaving while their children, who have the effected bodies of malnutrition, are treated and schooled.

It was shocking to see the level of disparity between the downtown and the townships. We felt like our new found friend wanted us to know just how fortunate we were (which we never doubted). We ended up buying several woven pieces, place mats and bags and when purchased tons of water and donated it to the clinic. We really enjoyed playing with all the children. They are so innocent and their love was genuine. We hated leaving the place, but has our new found friend told us, we don’t belong there. We’re tourist, but if we were locals, he’d be happy to make us volunteer. He took us back to his apartment and he cooked us dinner and we ended up going to a club. But, somehow, clubbing it in Cape Town just didn’t feel right.


Phuket Vegetarian Festival November 23rd, 2009

A spectacular island getaway, Phuket offers all the promise of a place far away from the world you know.  The local Thai and Malay population is very lively and fascinating, and it’s worth time getting to know the history of the people here.  It’s history is as complex and complicated as island living is simple.  The splendid appeal of the beaches are a huge draw here, attracting tourists from all over the world, coming to see the magnificent beaches.  It’s history as a trading port makes it particularly strong in offering a generous hospitality for those who come to visit Phuket.  Beach resorts are some of the best places to discover how cultures can turn hospitality into an art form.

Despite the amazing laziness that can characterize your days here, where beaches and clubs can be the only things on your agenda, there is a lot to do here.  The night life is very vibrant, and there are many places where you can dance until the sun comes up.  There is also a rich blend of cultures, and some of the local festivals are the most colorful and fascinating on the planet.  If you have the chance to attend the Vegetarian Festival here, you’ll get a chance to see fire-walking and other amazing feats of human consciousness.  There is also a lot of piercing here, where the practitioners will demonstrate the presence of the divine by performing acts that push physical limits to an extreme.

These sights could possibly be a bit disturbing to some, especially children who have never been exposed to these things before, and precautions should be taken.  But in general, these are the same precautions that are necessary before taking part in any kind of cultural ceremony, where some knowledge and understanding is absolutely necessary, and behaving like a good guest is always a good protocol.  Candles and joss sticks are in large supply at this festival, and an awful lot of fantastic food.  Vegetarian, of course.  Keep in mind that this is a very sacred ceremony, and then prepare to enjoy yourself.


A Foodie in Ibiza November 18th, 2009

There is a great Ibiza Restaurant, well most of the restaurants are great, really. I took a walk along the marina on day and my choice of restaurants were endless. I made sure to go out every evening, around 8pm, because that’s when Ibiza comes alive with people. I estimate around 1000 people walking around the marina front and through the small lovely back streets trying to chose from the plethora of cafes, pubs and restaurants. Fish is the best here, it’s as fresh as it can be, straight from the Mediterranean sea. Most of the seafood restaurants have tanks outside on the open-air patios full of shellfish. The back streets manage to fit tables outside anywhere they can, there’s barely enough room for a passer bye to stroll through.

I found the Santa Eulalia, the San Antonio and the Cala Llongs to have some of the most delicious food to offer. I heard some people thing that San Antonia is strictly for beer drinking, but that’s so totally wrong. San Antonio can not only serve a great tasting beer, but quality food.

Below, I’ve give a list of some of the other restaurants to try while in Ibiza. You won’t be disappointed by any of these choices.

Davids Pizzeria: He make the best pizza and the best lasagna I’ve ever tasted. His pricing is reasonable and he has a special deal almost every night. I got a small pizza and a soft drink for less that 10 pounds.

Then, for a nice fish place, try Fishermans Kitchen: The menu is varied and offers appetizers and main meals. They had a daily selection of delectable, mouth watering specials. The chef here also makes some of the delicious meals for San Antonio

For Thai, try the Banyan Palace: Excellent Thai food served inside an enclosed private garden. It is on the expensive side, but it is the best Thai in Ibiza.

Now, I really recommend not missing Chiringuito Restaurant: it’s located in a private cove on the Cala Gracionetta beach. It’s the best restaurant. Go there. Eat and enjoy. You’ll be back more than once.


The Perfect Temperature for Your Hot Tub November 16th, 2009

Hot tubs are great for relaxing and for soothing aching muscles, it is important that the temperature is monitored for a tub or a spa that is too hot can become dangerous.  This is one of the most important general rules that new hot tub owners must follow.  For me the hotter the better, but this is not good as when I take a soak that is so hot, I feel a bit light headed when I am stepping out of the hot tub.  I have found it necessary to really stick to the recommended temperature and I always make sure that the thermometer is in working order.

In any home or backyard spa and hot tub, the recommended temperature should not exceed 104 degrees Fahrenheit.  To sit in a tub that is hotter than this for an extended period of time will not only cause one to become light headed, but can lead to more serious physical consequences.  And if your children are going to be joining you for a relaxing soak, make sure to lower the temperature just a bit.  Kids have tiny bodies, so they heat up quickly.  Very young or very small children should never spend time in hot tubs.  And for older children, make sure that they never immerse their head under the hot water.

And while it may seem like a great way to ease aches associated with being pregnant, women who are pregnant should really just avoid soaking in a hot tub throughout their pregnancy.  The risks to the fetus from the high temperatures are just too great to take that chance.  Hot tub temperatures are a personal preference for most adults.  It is just necessary to practice common sense and to follow the recommended temperatures.  I have adjusted my own tendency to turn up the heat, and the result is that I can now get out of the tub, refreshed and rejuvenated, but not light headed and dizzy.  It is the perfect compromise.


Lubbock City Parks November 12th, 2009

Dave was fifteen when he visited his maternal grandmother in Lubbock, Texas for the first time. It was not the first time he had met her, it was just that she usually visited his family twice a year and had done this for as long as he could remember. Then, the summer he turned fifteen he received the invitation to spend a month in his grandmother’s house. While he loved her very much he never felt that he knew her that well because he only saw her twice a year. And on top of that, Dave had just recently made a commitment to go steady with his girlfriend and had been looking forward to spending some quality time at the local pool with her.

However, Dave was a sensitive person and he did think that spending a month with his grandmother would give them both the opportunity to get to know each other better and maybe even become closer. This was not an uncommon response from Dave who had shown an emotional maturity far beyond his years since he was a young child. And so it was settled, Dave left for Lubbock, Texas and the comfort of his grandmother’s small house. He initially wondered if it might be better for him to stay in one of the hotels Lubbock but his mother assured him that he was welcome in his grandmother’s home and a hotel might make the visit feel too formal.

One of the aspects of the city that Dave noticed first was the amount of parks it had. He and his grandmother had plenty of afternoon walks and picnics in these parks, which Dave found to be refreshingly peaceful yet invigorating. He particularly enjoyed the ducks at Higginbotham Park and they spent quite a few afternoons there. His grandmother also took him to the Buddy Holly museum, which Dave thought was fascinating. He enjoyed all of the memorabilia and also learned a lot about his career and music. The summer stay at his grandmother’s turned out to be what Dave hopped it would. The two of them had a great time and grew closer together. And his girlfriend was eagerly waiting for him when Dave returned home.


Honeymoon in New York City Includes Phantom of the Opera November 10th, 2009

Travis and Denise were beginning to get frustrated and overly stressed out about the details of their wedding and reception planning. They had both wanted a small service, but it seemed to continue to grow without their consent or intention. Both families keep adding names and service needs and before they knew it their initial intentions to accommodate the small requests had gotten way out of control and their wedding had taken on a life of their own. They had both reached the point of worrying that their families would also try and control their lives together when they decided they needed to start laying down some boundaries.

They got their opportunity to do this one evening when they were attending a dinner party at Denise’s parents’ house. Someone asked them where they were planning to take their honeymoon at which point they both realized they hadn’t even discussed a honeymoon. Before the inquirer, or anyone else, had a chance to offer a suggestion, Denise and Travis started laughing and in unison said without hesitation New York. Then they laughed some more as they remembered a party they had attended many years ago, before they had ever talked about marriage. Someone there was asking everyone to name their ideal honeymoon location and both Denise and Travis said New York.

As a gift to each other and as an official declaration of independence, they made their reservations at one of the best hotels New York City. Travis was interested in visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art and Denise was excited about getting a chance to see The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, and not on tour, although she wasn’t sure why this made a difference. They would also spend some of their gift money shopping at some of the prime 5th Avenue stores and couldn’t wait to take a romantic stroll through Central Park. These plans were enough to get them through the rest of the details regarding the actual wedding and reception.


Michelangelo and Florence High Renaissance November 3rd, 2009

The first thing that comes to mind for many people when they think of Florence, Italy is the great architecture and the beautiful works of art. It was known as the cradle of the Renaissance and it produced one of the greatest artists in history, Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, who was born near Florence. His name is almost synonymous with the Italian High Renaissance. He is most known for some of his marble sculptures and his painting works that are in the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. Most if not all of the guests in the hotels Florence Italy are aware of the great artistic reputation of the city.

Of Michelangelo’s sculptures his statue of David is definitely the most recognized statue in the world. The masterpiece was completed between 1501 and 1504 and stands just over five meters tall, which is 17 feet. One of the distinguishing elements of this work is that prior to it most depictions of the Biblical David displayed the boy hero after he had conquered the giant Goliath. However, with Michelangelo, he presents the Shepard prior to the conflict. His David is in a state of contemplation over the upcoming battle. After its official unveiling in 1504 the statue came to be a symbol of the defense of civil liberties.

The Last Judgment is a scene that Michelangelo painted on the alter wall in the Sistine Chapel. This work took four years to complete and he didn’t begin working on it until three decades after he had finished his work on the ceiling. The ceiling of the chapel is one of the most famous works of art in the world and also one of the most loved and respected. Pope Julius 11 commissioned that work that would take about four years to complete. One of the most famous images from this scene is the hand of God giving life to Adam. This is one of the most widely reproduced images in the world and prints of it hang in homes across Europe and America. In order to reach the ceiling, Michelangelo devised his own platform and scaffolding. It is commonly believed that he painted the ceiling while lying on his back though in actuality he was standing.


The Greater Kailash District of Delhi November 2nd, 2009

One of the most posh neighborhoods in Delhi, India is located on the south side of the city, Greater Kailash.  Here one will find a myriad of shops and markets with the most modern designer clothing.  This neighborhood is divided in two, simply known as Greater Kailash One and Greater Kailash Two.  The first is more affluent with regards to the value and the cost of the real estate and the land, and is where some of the most wealthy people in India live.  Along side the trendy and hip shops located in the area, there are many restaurant serving fine cuisine, night clubs, and discos and some of the most ritzy and glamorous five star hotels in Delhi.

The busiest markets in the city is also located in Greater Kailash and that is the M-Block Market. This is a great place to find even more items, products and clothing as well as some very fine restaurants.  However be prepared for crowds and traffic jams when venturing into the busy area.  Another aspect of this neighborhood is the extravagant architecture of the houses, all illustrating the opulence of the residents.  The houses are done in elaborate style, and most of them are gated or have doorman standing watch twenty-four hours a day.  This is the area of the city where trends and style is important.

For a different view, one that is a bit more indicative of the society on the whole, the neighborhood on the west end of Khari Baoli will perhaps be more to you taste and your sensibilities.  The markets in this neighborhood, including the Sadar Bazaar, will reflect the majority of the culture and the population of New Delhi.  However, if the world of wealth and extravagance is a world you want to immerse yourself within, you will be comfortable and satisfied when spending time in Greater Kailash of New Delhi, India.


Great Ocean Road in Melbourne October 28th, 2009

One of the best scenic drives is along the Great Ocean Road in Melbourne, Australia.  This is also considered to be the largest memorial of the First World War, as it was built by the soldiers when they came home during the years between 1919 and 1926.   Having never traveled through the country before, I got advice from a friend of mine who lived in the city for quite a while.  So my sister and I rented a car and started off to see the beaches that surround Melbourne.  5 star hotels are located up and down the coast and because it is quite a long day trip, we decided to book a room to stay the night before heading back.

My sister had long been fascinated with learning to surf, so we headed up to find Surf Coast.  We had been told that there were many organized tours offered by different companies wherein we would not have to drive ourselves, one of the best being offered by the Go West Tours company.  And we were told that we could go all the way up the coast using the public transportation system, but we wanted the luxury and the freedom and the time to stay longer in some spots if we wanted to, she was wanting to catch some waves along the way, and so we drove ourselves.  The first stop we made was at Surf Coast.  This is a popular and well known spot for surfers in the country.

One of the locations is called Bells Beach, and became world known when it was featured in the older movie about surfing, Point Break.  My sister tried to talk me into a surfing lesson, which she ended up taking herself.  As she learned from some of the top instructors, I wandered around the shops and had a bit to eat.  Once we were back in the car, she fell asleep and we headed up the rest of the 550 kilometer drive, and didn’t really stop much except for some photo opportunities.  Just as the sun was about to set we pulled into Port Campbell in time to get some incredible photos of the Twelve Apostles.  These are rock formations that come up out of the Southern Ocean and as with Ayers Rock and many of the formations of stone throughout the country, the colors of the rocks and the reflections on the water are something we will never forget.


Holiday Season in NY October 27th, 2009

I am going to be getting to New York City this holiday season for some shopping, site seeing, light gawking, seeing the store window displays and going to a Broadway play. I went to New York Broadway tickets and was able to get tickets to a preformance of the Monty Python play Spamalot.

Having been a fan of the Flying Circus and all the movies: Life of Brian, Holy grail etc. I have seen them all more than one time so I was really hoping that I would be able to get tickets to Spamalot. I am expecting that seeing that play will be the high light of my trip to the Big Apple.

Taking this trip will be a lot of fun. I have been in New York as a kid during the holidays only one time. I think I was around 8 years old. I remember being amazed at the animated holiday window displays, the lights and sounds all the people. I thought it would be nice to see how that experience plays out nearly 40 years latter. I know much has changes and I doubt much of my visual memories will be matched as all the years that have gone by and how things change. But I am sure it will be an exciting and fun experience seeing all those places I see on TV. Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, Grand Central Station just to name a few off the top of my head. I really looking forward to seeing all these places decorated out for the holiday season.

I will have a day of museum going, an evening on Broadway, an afternoon at Radio City Music Hall and several days of shopping and site seeing. Going to New York City during the holiday season is something I have been wanting to do for a very long time. This year is the year i will finally be going.


« Previous Entries / Home