DJ Trava

Archive for January, 2010

We really enjoyed our time in Miami, but it was time to leave and head for the airport to make the final leg of our trip: New York City! The flight was a little longer than we expected it to be, and the airline we were on (AA) didn’t have an in-flight movie for us to watch! We arrived to JFK safe and sound and navigated through the massive transportation system known as the subway. After a few trains later, with all our bags intact, we arrived at one of the nicest Suites hotel in New York , where we had made reservations almost over a year ago. We were somewhat anxious about still having a room booked for the few days we’d be here, but when we approached the front desk, our Suite was ready and waiting for us!
 
It was evening by the time we stepped outside our hotel, but we didn’t let that stop us from doing a bit of sightseeing. Being here in New York re-ignited our desires to experience everything we possibly could. Our very first act was to shop, then see the city in all its lit-up glory. Macy’s was our first store and we signed up for the 10% off with first purchase. I found a pair of jeans, my husband didn’t see anything he liked. What a waste of 10% off, oh well, our shopping was done, so we walked a few blocks up the road and sat down at these seats situated right in Times Square. We were absolutely mesmerised by all the huge neon advertising signs. They fill up the night’s sky. It was great to people watch too, there were just as many business people as there were tourists. This was a fantastic way to begin our journey.
 
With a long day of travel, we began to get tired, we really didn’t want to head back to our hotel, was a waste of time, sleeping, but our bodies demanded rest.

When I was a kid, traveling with my parents somewhere between Tucson and El Paso, I saw sign after sign proclaiming a roadside attraction known only as The Thing.  The signs variously said: The Thing?  What is it?  Don’t Miss The Thing, Three Miles Until The Thing!  I begged my parents to pull over and see what the Thing actually was (turned out, it was a large wooden warehouse-style museum of curious items, such as Al Capone’s car, and the Thing itself was, apparently, the remains of a ten thousand year old mummy found in the American Southwest).  Not every “roadside attraction,” though, is at the side of a road, and some lie inside cities themselves, and there’s one I know about near Santa Monica, that sounds like a cross between a roadside attraction and one of the great performance art pieces of all time: The Museum of Jurassic Technology.

The different reactions of people about this museum (I remember that it once had a home in downtown Santa Monica on the Third Street Promenade, and now it’s located just a few miles away in Culver City) provides an insight not to the museum but people themselves.  It’s like a Rorschach test, revealing personalities.  People respond to it with wonder and awe, especially those with an appreciation for the surreal and magical realism.  Some people are disappointed, impatient and not willing to make the leap into the mysterious and unexplained.  Even the museum’s website expands on the strangeness of the museum, which you can check out here.  The site explains that the museum is an institution of education, designed to advance the knowledge of and appreciation for the Lower Jurassic era; but this seems to be a way to put you off your guard once you enter, because the museum is something akin to the museum version of the fictional form of meta-fiction (fiction about fiction); the Museum of Jurassic Technology is a museum about the ideas of museums.

The suggested donation fee for the place is five bucks, less if you’re a student or unemployed.  Tea and cookies are also provided as you make your way through the maze of exhibits designed to delight and confuse you.  If you want to experience some mystery and awe, check yourself into one of the hotels Santa Monica provides, then check out the Museum of Jurassic Technology.  They’re at 9341 Venice Boulevard and may be reached at 310-836-6131.

I have always been amazed and impressed by people who bike on a regular basis, for pleasure, for fitness, to and from work, or for work in the larger and busier cities of the world.  First time I witnessed the skill of a bike messenger I was sitting in a restaurant in London looking out the window.  I had in my view, a very busy round-a-bout, about four or five lanes going at pretty high speeds.  I glanced down at my paper, and looked up again just in time to see a man on a bicycle, sitting up and riding with no hands while eating a sandwich.  In the middle of the speeding lanes.  I could not take my eyes off of him.  A few years later I was in an elevator when a bike messenger stepped in to make a deliver.  I looked at him with awe and respect, as not only was I reminded of the skill of the man in London, but on that day in Chicago, it was about 9 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Many of those who bike to work are forced to park their bikes on the streets.  But that just changed in New York City.  The Department of Transportation, teamed up with the Department of Building, and now in many offices people who bike to work will have access to parking their bikes inside the building.  Last year the number of people who chose to use this form of transportation increased by twenty six percent.  It could be the raise in gas prices, or the cost of taking public transportation, or perhaps people are just starting to live a more thoroughly “green” lifestyle” for their own health as well as that of the environment. 

Either way, this new access to safer places to park their bicycles, may cause that percentage to rise just a bit next year.  So if you’re heading to New York on business, and you feel the strength to take on the busy New York streets, then bring your bike along for the ride.  For a list of hotels which offer this indoor parking service for cyclists, check here.  You will be amazed at the way a city is changed, when you step out of the taxi, train or bus, and hop on your bike.

From celebrations dedicated to peaches, chocolate, watermelon and wine, the state of Virginia has it all.  Culinary festivals occur throughout the state year round, to any time is a really great time to plan a visit to this beautiful state in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Aside from the incredible natural splendor of the region, you will find hospitable and warm folks where ever you travel, from the wineries, to the chocolate factories, to the welcoming warmth of some of the most incredible bed and breakfasts and hotel accommodations in Virginia.

The first festival of the New Year is the Virginia Wine Showcase, taking place for two days in February, the 6th and the 7th, which offers the opportunity to sample more than three hundred wines that are produced locally.  This is also a great time to view, and perhaps purchase, incredible works of art by local artists of the region.  In April, the annual Shad Planking activities get under way.  This is more like a political rally, that of course involves food and a bit of fun as well, and has become a very important aspect in the political arena of the state.

On May first, get ready for the “Blacksburg Fork and Cork”.  This is a culinary festival of the arts, visual and performing arts, as well as the artistic creations of the chefs of the area, and the makers of regional wines.  Cooking demonstrations, and of course-scrumptious tastings, as well as live entertainment serve to make this one of THE places to be to celebrate May Day in full form and fashion.  For the 12 and the 13th of June, head to Richmond, Virginia if the glorious dishes of Italian cuisine are to your liking.  The Saint Joseph Italian Festival provides food and fun, and oh-so delicious and traditional Italian fare.

October in Virginia?  Bring in the oysters and get ready to shuck.  The Chincoteague Oyster Festival marks the beginning of the season.  This is an all you can eat affair, with oysters prepared in numerous ways, along with crabs, clams, spirits and entertainment.  The state of Virginia.  They love food, and they love to share it, so if you are lucky enough to be traveling through during the times of a festival, your belly will be full and your taste buds will thank you!

Today, In San Francisco, we’re hanging around the North Beach area and having breakfast: Fruit, and a bagel with smoked salmon sans cream cheese. We skipped the hot chocolate and sausages, our waist-lines are feeling all the good eating we’ve been doing. After breakfast, we catch the cross-town bus and ride it along Stockton on to Columbus. This is where Columbus and Stockton tri-sects with Green and where the Italian community is located ever since the late 1800’s.

We could see the Trans-America building when we looked south on Columbus, the pyramidal outline of the structure defines the cityscape as it dutifully upholds its role as the tallest in SF. We’re here on Columbus in anticipation of lunch. A San Francisco restaurant has set-up tables on the sidewalk for those who like to eat their meals al fresco. For us, it’s too cool outside, but the restaurant has over-head heaters. This was all we needed for an invite. The hostess, who was dressed in sharp attire, provided us with an enticing description of the specials, but our stomachs were still full from the small breakfast we had, believe it or not! So, we actually declined the tempting outdoor fare invite and went forth. But, we noticed that most of the restaurants placed tables out along the sidewalks, and each table had our name on it!

After surviving the gauntlet of al fresco temptations, we investigated Columbus Avenue, this is where the Beat Generation was born and then the Hippie Generation followed. Many of the joints frequented by the Beat Generation have fallen in disarray and some have a different use, but we did see enough of what is still standing, which gave us a wistful ache for the past. We poked our heads into ‘The Hungry I’ where Lenny Bruce, Woody Allen, Richard Pryor, Billy Holiday and Barbara Streisand got their early starts. Then we took a peek into the ‘Purple Onion’ where a young Phyllis Diller performed her comedy routines. We stood at the intersection of Fillmore and Union, where Dylan Thomas, Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg performed.

It was silly, but we made our way back to Columbus Avenue just in time for lunch al fresco style!

When you check into of the hotels Harrisburg PA has available you may be wondering what to do next. Well this city is filled with lots of history and attractions. Being a notable player in American history Harrisburg has some places to visit that will fill you in to the significant role it has played. Head over to the National Civil War Museum near Reservoir Park on Lincoln Circle. It is the only museum in America to show displays that tell the entire story of the American Civil War. It is known to be equally balanced in political perspective.

While your in the area check out Reservoir Park. Some of the areas of the park have been there since 1845. It is very much apart of the history of the city. It is the highest point of the area so as visitors spend time there they can see a view of the State Capitol and the Blue Mountains. The Susquehanna River is also visible from the park. It is above a thirty million gallon reservoir and has a couple six million gallon reservoirs above in the park. It is a gravity feed system that releases freshwater into the city. Another great outdoor experience is the Capital Ares Greenbelt. Here you can get in some exercise with walking, running and hiking. Depending on the season there are some people out there cross country skiing. It follows along the Susquehanna River and is a nice breath of fresh air.

If you are up for a bit of shopping head to Strawberry Square.  It is a wonderful blend of historic buildings and modern architecture filled with clothing and gift shops as well as restaurants. There are ten buildings left from the early 19th and 20th century that were refurbished and they are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. They are the oldest retail buildings in the city. Along with the forty or more shops and galleries there are some business offices as well. The big rollers are Verizon, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, Salomon Smith Barney Inc., Harrisburg University and the Temple University Harrisburg. It should keep you busy for an afternoon.