Pub In The Park

One can find everything in the State of California. With such a long coast line to the Pacific Ocean, the water activities are endless. Take a sailing trip to Catalina Island from Marina Del Ray near Los Angeles. Sail under the Golden Gate Bridge in the San Francisco Bay. Surf the waves in San Diego. Hit the big cities night life with a trip down Sun Set Strip or Hollywood Boulevard near Los Angeles. Catch a great show or cultural experience in the streets of San Francisco. Find your way even more inland for some fabulous wine tastings at the most well known wineries in the world in areas like Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley. Drive up or down highway 1 and see some of the most beautiful scenery ever in places like Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara. All areas that have well known wineries. Hit some of the majestic ski resort towns like Lake Tahoe and Mammoth Mountain. Enjoy the incredible mountains in areas like Yosemite and the Redwood trees in the upper north part of the state. When looking for some big thrills, hit the many theme parks located around California. Disneyland is of course a must see for many who have never been to the state. Not far from Disneyland is Knott’s Berry Farm with plenty of speedy fun to be had. Working back up north of Los Angeles is the ever exhilarating Six Flags Magic Mountain . When traveling with smaller kids hit the places that are at their speed like the Legoland or Sea World in San Diego . There are so many things to see and do in this state it would take years to see it all. Even the natives haven’t seen it all but what they have see and done has kept them there for most of their lives. Find a route and pick a few of the best california hotels to stay in while traveling through out the state. They are all sure to help you get a good nights sleep so you are ready to enjoy all that this diverse state has to offer.

Washington, DC needs its poets, its poets of the streets, in order to speak to things right now, because this is the time to start listening again to the poets of the streets. There will have to be a Pablo Neruda for our generation, coming forward with visionary words that might wake up the revolutionary souls in all of us, not just because it’s time for a shift, but because we have waited long enough.

There may be claims that the ages of poetry from the past, the great moments when the spoken word could rile up the masses, will live in the past. It might be true that we live in a machine age, with different machines that are capable of making the value of the spoken word too soft to be heard.

Any visit to this great city, Washington, hotel suites are revealed to be some of the most interesting vantage points from which to observe these shifts in cultural logic, where it appears that the art of oration is making a return.

It may be true that the machine age we are in will make this art form into something else, but it can’t erase the power of the word. The spoken word has a logic and power of its own, and every age of great philosophical shifts was also characterized by critics of the written word, and lamentations that poetry was dying. It is not dying, but we are certainly waiting for the words to be heard by numbers that are capable of making sense of sound.

This means that we will need to develop our sense of sensibility once again, to take the radical changes that the internet has brought us into the realm of public response, where we can again engage in the issues of the day through community, connected by physical as much as virtual space.

China is one of the largest countries in the world. It also is one of the most populated as well. China has grown to become the fourth largest country in the world in terms of inbound tourism. Leading up to this boom in tourism the country of China decided to build different attractions and create an environment that would draw people’s interest and increase revenue for the country. Most visitors prefer to stay at the best Hong Kong hotel they can find. One of these attractions is the Happy Vally Race Course. The track features exciting horse races and each year people flock in by the thousands to view races. The Race Course was originally built in 1846 however, over the last ten to twenty years many new additions have been made to it in an effort to make it more modern and tourist friendly. There are huge monitors located all over the grounds to allow those in attendance to have a view of the races practically where ever they may be. Computerized betting was installed as well to further promote attendance because it gives guests a chance to make a large amount of money. In order to make money though it must be spent first and for every winner there are always losers so betting was a huge boost financially for the Happy Valley Race course.
For those who are interested in getting some sun in while visiting Hong Kong they should be sure to check out Repulse Bay. It is a relaxing location that features a tea house located on the sea where visitors can sit back and take in the serene scenery while they sip on some tea. There are various paths designed for visitors to take long strolls along the water and relax. Doing a lot of walking will cause a person to work up an appetite, fortunately, there are many different restaurants located all across the beach that offer a variety of different foods to choose from. Due to the location the seafood is fresh and part of some of the most popular dishes.

We discovered the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle (WPZ). It’s the first zoo in North America to put animals in a naturalistic habit. I was so thrilled to stumble upon this absolute treasure of Seattle! If I had children, I’d take them here all the time. The zoo is more educational than normal city zoos, basically because you get to see the animals in their (well almost) natural environment.
I found out about it from the Seattle hotel, where I’m staying. The staff at the registrars desk told me that if I wanted to do something a little bit different than the usual touristy things, like going to Pike Market or the Seattle Center, that I’d should check out the WPZ. I’m so glad they recommended to zoo to me. I feel so wonderful knowing that their are zoo’s who really care about wildlife.
The zoo is on the Northern Trail, which is a bio-climatic zone resembling the trail in Alaska’s Denali National Park, the trail that goes to Horseshoe Lake. The Northern Trail Exhibit is an 11 acre site that features taiga, montane and tundra exhibits. It’s like the landscape changed from eucalyptus trees, African Palm to Alaskan pine and fir trees. The WPZ is internationally known to has released 75 eagles back into the wild
The Mountain goats, which are a common sight in the Northwest, have thick white fur that sheds in the summer; goat need to rub up against rocks and branches for the shedding process. The WPZ collects the fur and gives it to the local Indian Tribes, who then card and weave it into wool. The WPZ has a Volunteer Zoo Enrichment Program, where all the volunteers are dedicated to keeping the goats alert and active. They even build snowmen and decorate them with apples and carrots; the goats, after eating the treats will then knock down the snowmen, something they really enjoy doing.
While I was there, I learned that porcupines do not throw their quills, but instead, if another animal touches the porcupine, the quills, with barbs at the end, will stick to the animal’s fur. The porcupine eats bark and that causes trees to die. Then there are elk living in the same habitat as the wolves, but wire separated them, whew! They can smell each other, but the wolves are unable to prey on the elk. I saw otters playing as I got to watch them through a glass window. They were trying to find the fish hiding under the rocks. The zoo hosts two brown bears, bothers who are 30 years old! Seattle really isn’t cold enough for them to hibernate.
I could go on literally forever about the WPZ, but really, you need to check it out for yourself.

Art and science has always shared a special and a symbiotic relationship.  A scientist, researcher, inventor, doctor, or mathematician all use their creativity in their fields of work.  A painter or a sculptor uses science and anatomy to fuel their artistic work.  In another life, Bill Gates may have become an incredible artist, Michelangelo an incredible surgeon, and DaVinci a world known inventor–which he was as a matter of fact.

It is this combination that is exemplified at the Museum of Science and Art at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston.  Surrounded by the charming streets, beautiful hotels,  and bars and bistros, the campus museum offers a lot, not only to those visiting from out of town, but to the people of the city, and to the world of the arts and sciences.  The exhibitions and the permanent collection at the museum include the work of the alumni and the professors, as well as a vast array of memorabilia collected throughout the years.  One will find everything from robots, displace of design and architecture, holography, oceanic artifacts and engineering equipment.  There is also a comprehensive record, or timeline, presented which outlines the innovations in technology that have taken place during the last two centuries.

This museum is free to the public each 3rd Sunday of the month, and it is a great opportunity to learn about the ways in which we got to where we are today as a society.  There mission is to engage the world.  They want to expose people to the wonders of the technological age and to the people who were and are still making those wonders into realities.  Their exhibitions high light and focus on the expansion of this endeavour not only through the public’s eyes, but within the scientific community, inspiring not only the people of the world, but each other as well.  It is a beautiful place to discover, one of the finest of the city, one of the finest of the world.

Sometimes a trip to New York City won’t feel complete without exploring the countryside surrounding this great metropolis.  You can find a car here, and then you’ll be ready to go just about anywhere on your schedule, not tied down to a bus or train’s time table.  Personally, I’ve always enjoyed a car trip that will take me by roadside attractions, probably stemming from trips as a child through the Northwest and Southwest, where the attractions range from sand statues to The Thing, presumably a ten thousand year old mummy.  Within driving range of New York City, up in Cooperstown, New York, you’ll find one of the great hoaxes of the 19th Century: The Cardiff Giant.

A cigar manufacturer named George Hull thought up the Cardiff Giant after arguing with a minister.  He wondered if ministers and others would believe that giants were real, based on a Biblical quote in Genesis 6:4 that mentions there were giants on Earth, if he produced the petrified remains of one.  He carved a stone statue secretly.  It was over ten feet tall.  He washed it in acid and pounded it with needles to make it seem old, then buried it on a farm in Cardiff, New York.  The entire project cost him $2,600 to do, and this was in 1868 dollars, but he figured he’d charge money for people to see it, and that he’d actually make a profit.

When the statue was “found,” it was instantly proclaimed a fraud, but as Hull figured, fundamentalists thought it was real and declared it real as the statue made the rounds of cities.  Hull charged fifty cents to see it, and made $30,000 on the deal.  The New York Historical Association eventually bought it for another $30,000 and it’s on display in Cooperstown, where you’ll still need to pay an admission fee to see it.  The drive  in the New York countryside, there and back, should be a pleasant contrast to the cit.  It can be found at the Farmer’s Museum, a mile north of Cooperstown on Highway 80.  The museum is open daily from ten to five in the summer and from Tuesdays through Saturdays from ten to four in the off-season.  It’s closed in November and December, and you might want to call ahead to be certain: 607-547-1400.

Once you’ve seen Colonial Williamsburg, taken the ghost tour, and seen the giant Presidential Heads at Presidents Park, perhaps it’s time to check out Jamestown Settlement, a fascinating living museum.  Entering Jamestown Settlement is a bit like a trip back to the 1600s, where you’ll find costumed interpreters providing in character info about how the Powhatan people lived.  You may explore a long house, or play Indian games, see how food was prepared, even tan a deer hide.

There’s three ships here, too, that are replicas of those sailed by Captain Christopher Newport.  There’s interpreters onboard here as well, playing the crew, and they’ll answer questions about what it was like onboard.  In an age, when we can cross the ocean in a matter of hours, weeks aboard these wooden vessels must have been a trying experience, and these crew will make that experience come alive for you.  Not only are you able to look through the ships, but you can lie down in the beds, and see how comfortable or uncomfortable the voyage really was….  In addition to showing you life with the Powhatan and the sea voyage over, this experience will show you, too, the first few years of life in the Jamestown Settlement.

There’s also an excellent museum on site.  On the outside, the building for the exhibits is fairly new, perhaps in contrast to the world outside; inside, though, you’ll find a number of exhibits that thoroughly explore the time period.  You can literally spend hours in the museum as you explore the models and films and exhibits that show how Jamestown was founded and how it progressed as a colony.  It’s a great place to spend a day with your family.  For a great place to stay in the area, all you need to do is take a look here.

Some cities are known for their streets: In Beverly Hills, it’s Rodeo Drive.  In Hollywood, it’s Hollywood or Sunset Boulevards.  In Paris, the Champs Ellysee; in London, Shaftesbury Avenue; in New York, it’s Fifth Avenue.  If you’ve arrived in New York City, this is perhaps on of the essential streets on which to stroll.  You’ll find that Fifth Avenue begins north of Washington Square and runs far north to 143rd Street in Harlem.  In-between, you’ll find, like Rodeo in Beverly Hills, this is one of the planet’s most costly streets, particularly from 49th to 59th Streets.

Along Fifth Avenue, you’ll find stores of the calibre of Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci, Versace, Ferragamo, and others.  There’s Brook Brothers, an NBA Store, and even an Apple Store with its Genius Bar.  Of course, there’s Saks Fifth Avenue, as well as a number of incredible jewels at Harry Winston, known as the jeweler to the stars.  Also on Fifth, you’ll find FAO Schwartz, the largest toy store in the world.

As you walk down the street, you’ll find Central Park, and great residential homes, large churches, and other historic buildings.  In the Museum Mile, from 82nd to 104th Streets, you’ll see the homes of 19th and 20th Century industrialists; most of these residences have become museums, such as the National Academy Museum or the Frick Collections (previously owned by the philanthropist Archer Huntington and Henry Clay Frick, respectively).  The Museum of the City of New York itself is contained within one of these mansions, built in 1932.  You’ll also discover the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim Museum!  The former is one of the largest museums the world has to offer, while the Guggenheim is famous for its architecture and the modern art it exhibits.

You’ll find, too, St. Patrick’s Cathedral around 50th and 51st streets.  If you’re tired after all this walking, you might want to check into the Plaza on Fifth Avenue, a hotel made famous as the place The Beatles (along with many U.S. Presidents) have stayed.  For more information about the Plaza and other places to stay, especially near casinos, check into any one of these New York hotels.

Well it is Valentine’s Day again and it is always fun to come up with some fun and romantic things to do. There is always the either fancy or funky dining out experience. There are seemingly endless places to eat and drink in San Francisco. A modern edge restaurant you could go to might be the Levende Lounge. It is located in an old building but it has a new romantic modern style in architecture and cuisine. There is a great mix of Latin American, Asian and Mediterranean influences in the dishes they prepare.

If you like the classics of Dean Martin or 007 style you may find yourself most comfortable at Bix. This restaurant has been in San Francisco since 1988 and is the home of some of the best live Jazz in the Bay area. It is an intimate environment with a close seat to the fine music that fills the air. You can start with a classic martini and a delicious Dungeness Crab appetizer. Then move into Oysters on the Half Shell or a rack of lamb. They always have fine steaks available with the classic side dishes served with a wonderful Napa wine.

Some people like to get out and stroll as they snuggle together. San Francisco is filled with great places to walk and talk. The Fisherman’s Wharf may be a bit crowded so how about a nice day or evening at the zoo. The San Francisco Zoo is a nice casual place to enjoy all the creatures, brought from around the world, to snuggle in there habitats and watch you walk by. There is also the Spa idea. Couple’s massages and soaks are always a luxurious treat. What a fine way to enjoy each other company in a relaxing and different environment away from the streets and the crowd. So find the honeymoon suite and either begin a new love or revive an mature one.

New York is the best town in the world, and there’s never going to be another town like New York.  It’s the most interesting and exciting place in the world, and there are some people who might say that it’s not what it used to be.  It could be that those people aren’t who they used to be, either, but New York is still my city, it’s my favorite city, and I’d never live anywhere else.  That’s because it’s an actor’s dream of a city, even though it might be one of the worst places for an actor to try to make a living.  I came here with the idea that I’d struggle for awhile and I was all ready to pay some dues.

Soon enough, though, maybe after two years or so, I’d be living in four star hotels, and New York would be my oyster.  Or at the very least, it would be a place to go get oysters for my friends, because I would be friends with all of the people who owned oyster places, and I would get them in to eat.  My dream is to make sure my friends don’t have to wait longer than ten minutes, or maybe fifteen sometimes.  This is how I saw the city, but doing the walk of an actor is something that sometimes takes a little longer.

It’s a city that rewards those with vision, initiative, and drive.  But it rewards those who already have money much faster, and with more oysters.  I learned my craft here, though.  I followed in the footsteps of Stella Adler, and studied all the things she encouraged her students to study.  I looked at the lives of all the great actors I admire, Brando, DeNiro, Hoffman, and DeLuise, and tried to live like they did.  On the edge of a breakdown, or on the edge of a great meal, it was all part of the actor’s process.  When I audition for a role, I’m already living the part.  Sometimes, I have to be someone who’s depressed, and sometimes I have to be a soda cracker.  It doesn’t matter.  It’s about the work.  I still love New York.