Archive for February, 2010

La Lanne and the Santa Monica Pier


27 Feb

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The Santa Monica Pier is definitely one of the places to go when you’re visiting Los Angeles.  It’s a spectacular way to get introduced to the beaches, which are some of the finest, or at least the most filmed beaches, in the world.  The legendary weather in Southern California is really all that it’s cracked up to be, and there are always plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy the sunshine.  Warm days and cool nights is a regular thing here, making it as fantastic a tourist destination as it is a place to live.  Here’s a link for some great hotels, so you can stay in real style and panache, and enjoy all that there is to offer here.  One visit is not nearly enough, but it will certainly bring some calm into everyone’s world.

The Pier has a lot of very distinctive characters, you’ll notice.  Some of L.A.’s more colorful characters can be seen strolling here, as well as the usual assortment of rollerbladers and skaters, joggers, beach bunnies and bodybuilders.  You might recognize the icon of the bodybuilder here and think it’s somehow very familiar.  Jack La Lanne is one of the people responsible for this, and maybe in many ways the one who made the image popular, and even possible.

His story is a rather interesting one.  He was not a good kid when he was growing up, and once even tried to attack his brother with an axe.  He blames his juvenile delinquent behavior on the excessive sugar in his diet, and at a young age, he decided to try to turn his behavior around.  He adopted bodybuilding as a way to build character rather than simply an exercise in physical beauty.  At the time, the medical profession was advising against weightlifting, but he studied up on anatomy and health, looking especially at nutrition and its role in developing muscles.  Even now, the work is way ahead of its time, and the man himself is heading into his late 90s, and still appears to be in excellent health, in body and mind.  This kind of health is a California trademark.

Florida Stand Up


25 Feb

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Visiting Florida is always a sure recipe for a good time, any time of the year.  It’s gorgeous weather, and a very diverse and lively population.  Some of the more remote areas have an amazing natural beauty, and the cities are hopping with entertainment and action.  It’s one of the finest locations for luxurious hotels, because Florida has a reputation for being hospitable to tourists coming to enjoy all that this delicious state has to offer.  For the live entertainments, there is plenty of music to choose from, great theatre, and a lot of stand up comedy.  For comedy clubs, Florida is stocked, almost as high as it is for sun and fun.

Coconuts is one of the many clubs that you can visit while you’re here, and seeing live comedy is a great addition to any night.  You can go with a group of friends, and enjoy the atmosphere with some great drinks.  If you don’t drink, it’s still a lot of fun, and sometimes even better because you can remember more of the jokes later on.  The whole ambience of the comedy club speaks to the mental space of the traveler, because we’re all usually ready to unwind and enjoy when we’re on vacation.  It’s also more active than seeing live music, but the result is still the same sense of well-being, and after a quiet day at the beach, they can get pretty rowdy, too.

Clearwater has a lot of aspiring comedians, here to entertain the tourist trade.  Stand up is a great way for a performer to make their way in the world of entertainment.  It’s really a very difficult life, but it’s an option that makes good sense for some entertainers.  For actors who discover the limits of possibility when having to deal with large productions and big budgets, doing stand up is a way to keep honing your performance skills without having to depend on anyone else.  It’s also fiercely competitive, and the audiences can be terribly rough, so there’s a big learning potential here.  For us, it’s a great way to enjoy an evening, and to enjoy Florida.

Gettysburg Battle and Civil War Museum


23 Feb

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Do you ever want to get close to history? And do you know what I mean by that question? Sometimes I just get the tremendous urge to go somewhere that is packed full of historical significance and of course major symbolic and literal landmarks. I’ve always been a fan of ghost towns and I love walking through them and trying to get a feel for what the original settlers or gold miners or whomever would have been doing and thinking. Of course that’s a difficult thing to do because after all we live in an entirely different world and most of our immediate thoughts are based on our immediate life circumstances and overall socialized contexts.

Our existence today is nothing like it would have been one hundred years ago. Although, we are all humans after all and we still possess the same basic needs that humans have throughout history. This is what I try and cling to when I visit historic sites and ghost towns and stuff. It’s really intriguing to me and sometimes I like to write short stories based on the place or historic event. Meanwhile, aside from ghost towns there are certain places in this country that just exude history and symbolic significance. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is one of these places.

Many of the buildings themselves date from a century ago and it’s actually kind of easy to stand in some of the areas where the battle occurred and recreate it in your mind. Of course the Gettysburg hotels are full of great information on this historic battle and also the site of the Gettysburg Address, which was delivered by President Lincoln about four months after the fighting ended. The American Civil War Museum is another main attraction for tourists and a great way to explore the history of the war itself and also the horrific battle that occurred in Gettysburg. Ultimately, I like to get as much information as I can, and from different sources, and then just kind of walk through historic areas and try and incorporate the information with the sensation of being there to imagine the battle or other event in action.

Palm Springs Offers Great Desert Entertainment and Adventures


20 Feb

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Palm Springs, California is one of the beautiful cities located in the southern part of the state. It is surrounded by some beautiful geographic elements such as the majestic San Jacinto Mountains, the San Bernardino Mountains and the Santa Rosa Mountains as well as other incredible features and elements of the Coachella Valley. It continues to maintain a strong tourist attraction base and there is always a diverse assortment of entertainment options and cultural offerings that entice the guests in some of Palm Spring’s hotels and spas.

Because it is located conveniently close to San Diego, Los Angeles and San Bernardino, and slightly further out though not a great distance from Phoenix, Palm Springs is a common get away for many of the residents in these surrounding cities. It’s the perfect retreat for individuals who want a relaxing weekend that is also filled with great potential for fun, fine dining and great adventure. Some of the most popular activities for tourists involves the desert geography outside of and surrounding the city. Well, for that matter, desert geography also comprises the scenic elements of the city too.

There are fabulous hiking paths in and around the city and there are also options for desert tours and some off road adventures. There are numerous art walks that take place in the city throughout the year and Palm Springs also has numerous galleries and exhibit spaces. Collecting art from places you visit is a popular souvenir habit for many people and Palm Springs has plenty of opportunities to do just this. In addition there is the local casino, which draws the attention of many of the city’s guests, and some people visit Palm Springs on a regular basis just to play some poker or slot machines in the casino. Whatever you’re looking for in a Desert oasis, Palm Springs is the perfect place to go for a mini vacation or a longer extended stay.

Outdoor Activities in Maine


14 Feb

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I have always wanted to visit the state of Maine.  West coast beaches are full of sun and surfing, and I had always pictured East coast beaches to be gray and blue, cold and rocky, and lined with incredible old stone houses and charming hotels.   What I did not think about, aside from the great outdoors, was that there may also be a wealth of culture to be found in the museums, the theatres, and the orchestra/opera houses.  I don’t know why that didn’t cross my mind, but needless to say, there were many aspects of the cities in Maine that were elegant, elaborately so.

The beaches of Maine were different than I had pictured in my mind as well.  Different not only from the West coast, but different in and of themselves.  I was not expected so many white sand beaches to line the coast, and I had thought that it was just always cold there.  I was surprised when I found that people body surf, boogie board, surf, and sun bathe.  What I did find though, on those beaches, was a plethora of seashells to collect.  Aside from the small broken bits I’d found in the West, I had never had much luck in the search for seashells.  There are fresh water beaches as well, that surround the more than five thousand lakes and ponds located throughout the state.

These are surrounded by lush landscapes, hills, mountains and green forests.  Campsites offer a chance to spend a few days, or more, at a time, just soaking in the fresh air and taking hikes, having picnics or mountain biking.  A friend of mine rented a canoe one afternoon, and we had a picnic on that canoe in the waters of the Penobscot River.  Maine truly is an outdoor wonderland, and so much of that land is serene and untouched by modern development or construction.  On my next visit I will spend more time in the fishing villages and towns, but for now the outdoors of Maine is a picture in my mind that will never go away.

Looking for Anything in Albany


12 Feb

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I left very early in the morning to hop on the Amtrak train going from Montreal to Albany, New York. I knew it would be best to travel across the border this way to avoid being hassled and questioned excessively if I went by air. But, even on the train, when the conductor saw my passport stamps, he went through the litany of questions, which I answered calmly and honestly. One of the questions was where will I be staying while I visit Albany, and I told him that I booked a hotel in Albany from an internet site: and showed him a print out of my confirmation.

Once I arrived, it was late in the afternoon, so I took a taxi to my hotel, checked-in, dropped off my bags and went out to find some nightlife. I really needed to find some young people to talk to and to get some information about what were the best spots to party. But, I didn’t do well in this area, I mean, I did find some people my age to talk to, but they weren’t too helpful. I was beginning to think Albany might turn out to be boring and useless as cities go. I know it’s the capital of New York, but that doesn’t mean I should have a hard time finding Internet cafes! Some people I asked, didn’t even know if Albany had a public library! I walked for a few hours, and found myself in the train yard, Hmm…not exciting at all, so I ended back at my hotel room and stayed in for the evening.

The next morning and asked the front desk where’s the best place to go clubbing and where’s a good Internet cafe. She was extremely helpful and she gave me a walking map. I must admit though, Albany isn’t New York City, it’s the exact opposite.

No Buffalo in Buffalo


10 Feb

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That’s right. There are no buffalo in Buffalo New York. There is however many luxurious hotels around Buffalo that accommodate a large and thriving community. Buffalo is the second largest city in the state of New York. It sits along the shores of Lake Erie and is at the start of the Niagara River. It started as a small trading town in 1789 near the Buffalo Creek and really grew up when the Erie Canal was opened up in 1825. It was the eight largest city in the country at one time because of the trade industry using the railroad system. It became big for grain mills and steel making until the 20Th century came along and the good situation in the city went bad when they rerouted the shipping in the Great Lakes. The steel mills and grain mills relocated to other parts of the country.

While you are visiting the area there are a few attractions to see. One can head over to the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park and see the USS Little Rock (CG-4), USS The Sullivans and the USS Croaker. They are some well kept Naval vessels that are open for tours. There are all sorts of Military vehicles, aircrafts and vessels at the park to see and explore. The Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society Building has some great displays of the states and countries past. It is located in the old New York State pavilion that was built in 1901 for the Pan American Exposition which was a world’s Fair. The Edward M Cotter Fire Boat is an amazing sight. It is still in use by the Buffalo Fire Department even though she was built in 1900. She has been rebuilt in 1953, had a few name changes and stands on the name of Edward Cotter who was a firefighter and leader of the Buffalo firefighters that has passed on.

Actors, Directors, Designers and Playwrights All Dream of Broadway


04 Feb

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It is well known that many actors dream of starring on Broadway. In fact, it used to be a division factor in the acting profession. Performers would either dream of Hollywood or Broadway based on whether they were interested in film or theater. And while this distinction still exits, it is not as exclusive as it has been in the past. Frequently today’s young actors seek a career on both stage and in film. Historically actors who have made their living in film, but have their early experience and even a passion for the stage almost always returned to it after having been able to pay their bills. However, the cross over of film, television and theater has never been as easy and even applauded and sometimes expected as what it is today. Tourists in New York are frequently there to see a great show and look for great deals in resort accommodations as well as top Hollywood stars on the New York Stage.

What is less acknowledged though equally common is for theater designers, directors and playwrights to have the same dreams of Broadway as what is romantically assigned to the actors. And while the reality behind these dreams have also changed throughout the years the symbolic significance of a Broadway success continues to dominate young minds across the nation and even the world. Today’s writers frequently dabble in screenwriting, which similar to acting generally pays more than playwrighting. Film directors are known as some of the most respected and highest paid genre professions yet it is almost impossible to take a stage director away from the theatre. Regional theaters have also altered the course of not only play production but also theatre careers. There are numerous professional companies located throughout the nation that provide working opportunities for all theatre professions. In fact, for the standard playwright of today, it is more likely that they will make their career in regional theaters rather than on the Broadway stage, though that does nothing to dispel the early dreams and symbolic significance of the Great White Way.

Awesome NY


02 Feb

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New York City always holds the potential for revealing new surprises at every turn, where hidden things can make you wonder with curiosity about what they are, and how they got to be that way.  There’s no secret, however, when it comes to retro.  It’s certainly a fad, all over the country, and New York has always been one step ahead of the rest.  When it’s not one step ahead, it keeps up with the pace, because it has a remarkable sixth sense for steps and paces, and these things are essential for the culture of the here and now.  And everyone knows that New York is certainly all that and a bag of chips.
However, it doesn’t hurt to have an inside track to the coolest things in the city.  You can get a great start here where the lodgings cater to those with long and complicated itineraries, or if you just can’t be bothered with too much leisure time in the city.  However short your stay, however, please allow a little window of time so that you can see one of the most fun new theatre extravaganzas, however, and that’s called Awesome 80s Prom.  This is an event of a lifetime, and something that everyone will enjoy.
Although the 80s theme will be much more cool to those who grew up in the 80s, there are those who grew up after the 80s that will like it, too.  That’s because the music is back because retro is in, and we all get to hear retro all the time.  The hair styles were also really cool.  But this is more than that, it’s also an event, and it’s got important qualities of improvisation, where the performers will pretend to be in the moment even when there’s no script.  They’re pretending to be at a prom in the 80s, and you can, too!  You won’t get paid, though, and actors don’t make much money.  But it’s fun to pretend, like some people might pretend they are Christian Slater in Heathers pretending to make up a review about a play and pretending to be less smart than he is.  Only in New York!

Building on Your Education


02 Feb

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A key part of any career is advancement. The challenge to rise to new occasions and meet new levels is part of the thrill and motivation behind working. There are many who have been in the business for a while who face additional obstacles. While they have years of experience, they often do not have much education to back it up. This makes it harder to compete with younger co-workers fresh out of the university. However, they do not hold the upper hand for long. By continuing your education you can enhance your resume and avoid a potential advancement stalemate. The first place that many people look when they considering furthering their education are the universities; and logically so. Many universities, such as Arizona State University , offer entire degree programs that can be taken online or at night. They do their best to offer flexible scheduling that will accommodate working adults. While universities are good for completing or earning your degree, they are often very expensive and time consuming. Another option may be within your own company. Many companies offer employee training programs that can help you learn in a field and location that are more specific to your job. For those desiring a position at the management or corporate level, there are corporate training seminars that will help you understand what your company expects and is looking for in potential new managers. These programs are usually offered for free by the company, or at a nominal fee, and typically only last a couple of week at most. Regardless of your field, you should never stop the learning process. Whether you decide to embark on a whole new degree or just take a class at a time, furthering your education will help you stay at the top of your game and increase your competitive edge at the office.

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