Archive for the ‘Entertainment’ Category

Seattle’s Where Science Meets the Circus

Entertainment | Posted by admin
Jun 17 2010

Seattle is a wonderful place for a summer vacation. Currently, the Pacific Science Center (PSC) has ‘Circus! Science Under the Big Top’, exhibit happening now till September 6, 2010. The Center is located at 200 Second Avenue North, Monday – Friday from 10am to 4pm and on Saturday – Sunday 10am to 6pm. Bring your entire family, because at the Circus, there’s something for everyone.

You and your family will discover what science has to do under the Big Top at the Circus. For instance, you’ll find out how exactly the human cannon ball works, how do sword swallower’s swallow those swords, you’ll learn the aerodynamic of the aerial acrobatics, where you’ll get strapped into a harness on the high wire and find out how good your balancing act is as you make it across the 20 foot long wire. You’ll find out just how much force is necessary to bend an iron bar; discover how your body can use leverage, compression and tension to perform amazing feats of strength, and you’ll learn how 100 clowns can fit into a small car . ‘Circus’ is an interactive, highly sensory, educational extravaganza, one that will let adults live out their childhood dreams of running away to join the circus, and create new dreams for your children, but not ones of running away, but ones where the Circus is a place of exploration.

The Pacific Science Center is visited by people from all over the world and is conveniently located next to any boutique hotel Seattle USA can offer its throngs of visitors each year. The PSC has met the challenge of delighting tourists and locals and continues to strive at improving their guests enjoyment, like adding the show ‘Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man’, at their Eames IMAX Theater, which is a musical and visual celebration of the mystical journey through the stages of humankind, from birth to maturity. ‘Circus’, is a great attraction and you and your family will find that the imagination has become a reality in this one-of-a-kind summer exhibit. Be sure to book enough days at your hotel, because ‘Circus’, isn’t the only exhibit, at PSC, like the ‘Dinosaurs: A Journey Through Time’, and ‘Adventures in 3Dimensions, are only a few of all there is to explore. Book now, and during the summer, you and your family will be amazed at just how much fun science truly is.

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Mannheim Film Festival

Entertainment | Posted by admin
May 19 2010

The city that could be a celluloid version of the perfect German city of dreams, there are good reasons why film is what it is. The deep thought that reflects local notions of how a representation of an idea will play out on moving images is germane to a city born of philosophy. To consider film, after all, is to consider how time works, and how time plays on all of us. It is a difficult game, and at the end of the day, there are no winners, only those who are older.

But to consider and ponder is one thing, to visit with the intention of saving the daydreaming for later is quite another. This is the point where the city becomes its most alluring self, demonstrating what could be, at every corner, what could be. Then the glorious appeal of the hotels in Mannheim become clearly and exactly the right place to be at the moment. And there are few moments that are as ripe for philosophy, for a daydream, or for a chance to get lost in the movies while on vacation, than those found in Mannheim in November.

This is the time of year when there is the famous International FilmFestival Mannheim-Heidelberg . For ten days there are 40 films that are shown in both cities, and it is attended by 60,000 people. It is no ordinary festival at all, because there are many elegant distinguishing features to this.

It began in 1952, making this film festival second only to Berlin for the longest-running film festival. It has been around for so long because its reputation earns it the right to stay, seeing premiere works by Truffaut, Fassbinder, and Kieslowski over the years.

It has a very selective curatorial process, too, where a few thousand films are considered by the committee, picked for their excellence as well as their eligibility (they cannot have a showing at another major festival). These are honed down to 750, and of these, 40 are selected in a very thorough and time-consuming process. Excellent eyes make the selections, so that the excellent eyes that attend will not face the prospect of frustrated expectations. This is one of the cream of the crop festivals that defines film for the modern age.

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Decisions in Santa Monica

Entertainment, Leisure, Restaurant | Posted by admin
Feb 27 2010

He’s looking at her and she’s looking at him and that might be enough, just enough, to start things into wonder.  It rolls into wonder, and she wonders some things about him, and he wonders about her, and some of the somethings are exactly the same.  There is a life of adventure behind them as vast as the beach, and adventure before them as vast as the sea.  One holds more adventure than the other, and they are both about ready to wonder if the one they’re embarking on is less.  They will find out that their suspicions are correct, if they decide to go forward with the suspicions.

This is another story that takes place in Santa Monica hotels where the dreams from the night before turn out to be true as the day wears on, and this is the price paid for leaving adventure behind.  It’s as small as a sand dollar, but larger than anything that can be measured with the human hand.  This is the same afternoon that the smell of garlic coming from the local restaurant will remind her of a favorite Thai place, one that she has forgotten about.  She forgot because it’s been here, waiting for her all along.

This is the same afternoon the leads into the evening when he finds out that his very favorite folk musician is in the same cafe they are.  These sudden surprises should be misleading them, forecasting adventures to come, and tempting them to take this road.  But they are not mislead, and see that although these adventures are large, the next ones, the ones right around the corner are very small.  But they take it anyway, because they can see that this is like the sea, and as far as they can see, there is an immanent threat of calm, and they like the calm so much that they assume that it has something to do with taking this trip together.

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Italian Tenors in Singapore

Entertainment | Posted by admin
Dec 30 2009

This was always the moment that she would be taking herself apart, her personality being dismantled before my eyes.  In some settings, it would happen in the mornings over breakfast when she, waffles in her pupils, would lead me to understand that she was no longer who she was a moment ago.  In Singapore it was always at night, and always with an exquisite attention to detail  I could never be sure if it was partly in my head, or completely an act of witnessing, free of my own perceptions.  And there was that day, that peculiar day, when I knew it would be more extraordinary than others.  Like an Italian film I can no longer remember, I woke up and she was already floating outside the window, attached to a string she had thoughtfully tied to the bedpost.

I’m not always drawn to details, but I have found a way to admire bedposts in foreign countries, and it is mornings that begin like this that remind me of why I like to travel.  One can always learn, and when there is no more to learn, a veil gets lifted and there is a new and unknown world again before your eyes.  This day would not be about any deep learning, however, because it was only the Bocelli concert that was holding the day together.  For her, something maybe, for me, only ghosts.  She was following his Asian tour, when she found the time to land, and this was an important day for her, but she wouldn’t say why.

For me, I was always caught up in numbering and counting, and I counted seconds, because it was a nervous afternoon, and before long I was counting steps to the Italian restaurant where we met our first accordion player, the one who would accompany us and make music whenever we walked anywhere else in the world.  It was over linguini with clam sauce that I realized how strong she resembled Bocelli, at least in that light, and at that moment, everything changed.  I would never again be able to think of her without seeing the Italian tenor in my mind, and I also saw, by the way she was floating out of her chair, that she was visiting a Singapore that I could never know.

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The Chinese Garden of Singapore

Arts & Culture, Entertainment, Travel | Posted by admin
Jul 14 2009

Located close to many of the downtown Singapore hotels is the Chinese Garden.  This garden has been open to the public since 1975, and along with the plants, and the beautiful array of colors, there are many monuments and works of architectural and sculptural art, a common thread in traditional gardens of China.  From the archways to the fish ponds, to the tea house this garden is meant to provide solace and serenity from the chaos of city life, and is a great way to experience the culture of Singapore that has been so influenced by her Chinese immigrants.  While walking through the garden one may learn a bit of the history of the eras of the Chinese civilization, just by simply crossing the bridges, as the design for each one was taken from those different eras.  Or perhaps one may learn the art of trimming the Bonsai tree, as the gardens have a section dedicated to just those trees, of which contains more than one thousand of the little trees, and offer classes in that art, taught by experts in the field and the practice.

There is the Pagoda, artistry at work in architecture, and the Garden of Abundance.  In this area grows a pomegranate tree, more the one hundred years old that was originally imported from the city of Shantung in China.  And of course, a sculpture garden is located here as well, of the twelve signs in the Chinese zodiac calender.  According to the tradition of gardening in China, to plant seeds and to care for the plants that grew connects to the ideas of abundance, fulfilment and longevity of life.  And as the earth is tended, so the sky is watched.  In 2003, an observatory was built in the garden upon request of Au Man Choo.  He is an architect, who has a passion for the scientific nature of astronomy and wanted to expose the citizens of Singapore to that passion.  His outlook is not only concerned with educational purposes, but of the therapeutic value one gains from simply looking at the stars and the planets of this night sky.  In all, the Chinese Garden in Singapore is a wonderful place, for the mind and for the body.

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Outdoor Cinema at Singapore’s Fort Canning Green

Arts & Culture, Entertainment | Posted by admin
Apr 20 2009

Starlight Cinema is Singapore’s only outdoor cinema festival. It is held at the Fort Canning Green and is more than an experience in movie watching. The festival offers the opportunity to see new cinema, and it allows the audience to experience the beauty of the diverse weather evenings of Singapore. Because it is outdoors, it is exposed to environmental noise and aerial activity, such as the passing street traffic just outside. The theatre sound system works well, and the film is presented in surround sound. Adding the miscellaneous traffic noise from outside gives a new perspective to the concept of surround sound. This presents something of a sensational juxtaposition perspective, and combines the immediate environment with the viewing of the film.

Because there is no formal seating at the Starlight, patrons are encouraged to bring their own blankets and or pillows to settle into for the evening. This promotes an almost picnic like experience and the audience is invited to bring their own food and drinks. There are concessions available, though they are limited and primarily composed of hot dogs and popcorn. Many people come in groups of friends, and bring entire meals for the occasion. This can make watching the film a fun project by having each person bring their favorite food from one of the best Singapore restaurants. And every responsible audience member knows to bring an umbrella in the event of rain. All of these ingredients combine to provide more than just a film watching experience, the evening can become quite a unique adventure.

Fort Canning is a beautiful though not very large park near the central business district of Singapore. Other attractions the in the park include the Spice Garden. It was designed after a model of an experimental botanical garden. Sir Stamford Raffles created the garden and had spices like nutmeg and cloves shipped in to be planted there. Gothic Gates is another notable element, greeting visitors as they arrive at the park. These somewhat imposing Gates were built 1846 and mark the location of what was once a Christian Cemetery. Across the world, Fort Canning might be compared to Central Park in New York City.

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The Attraction to the Balearic Islands

Arts & Culture, Entertainment, Travel | Posted by admin
Mar 04 2009

The Balearic Islands offer much more than other destinations around the world. In the Mediterranean Sea and just of the coast of Spain, four main islands have become popular locations for travelers. There is a rich culture history in this region, that continues to grow and expand. From the excellent and varied cuisine, to the scenic views, to the history to the fun, the best Balearic hotels, restaurants, museums and beaches offer much to the rest of the world. Aside from the tranquil relaxation or the night-time parties, the islands are well known for their attention to the environment. To protecting it as well as caring for it. Off the coast of any of the islands, Mallorca, Ibiza, Formentera, or Cabrera one may witness the appearance of an endangered species, or horse back ride across the white sand beaches at sunset, or participate in any one of the many festivals.

Long known for flavor, not the flavor found in the many dance clubs…but the flavor of the cuisine of the Mediterranean, Spain has gained quite the reputation. One may find curious to note that mayonnaise comes from Menorca. Mayo and bologna, common lunch fare in the States, who would have thought. Most of the diet and dishes of which there are more than six hundred variations, often includes fresh vegetables and seafood. Eggs and lamb are often cooked in the fat produced by the cooking of the famous spicy sausage dishes. Soups make up for the nutritional deficit of the fat, as they are usually clear broth with again, fish and vegetables and fruit. Red sauce and pasta are staples, as well as pomegranate stuffed chicken and almond crusted roasted turkeys. The variation of flavor is one aspect that brings people from the world to this area.

Combine the food and the sunshine and what you come up with are festivals that occur weekly. Outdoor markets and celebrations are part of the draw. Every religiously or historically significant event is not overlooked but celebrated in the fine fashion of food, music, dance and a love of life that happens in too few locations around the world these days. It has been said that should you vacation on one of the islands and you don’t end up buying property, you are of the minority. People visiting just don’t want to leave, and when they do, they can’t wait to come back.

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New York Comic Con

Entertainment | Posted by admin
Feb 08 2009

The second largest pop culture convention has made its yearly appearance in New York City. Thousands of fans of comics, science fiction movies and television have arrived at the 2009 New York Comic Con. Though not the largest convention in the US, this is the one that takes place in the comic book capital of the world — not to mention the capital for media, publishing and licensing. Instead of bringing the industry to the fans, this is the one Con that brings the fans to the industry. New York restaurants and hotels are braced for the added business which is welcome during the current economy.

Like most Cons, New York Comic Con is a mecca for geeks and fanboys. Offering a huge marketplace throughout the weekend, its the perfect place to find that mint-condition comic book issue to complete a collection or to get the newest fan swag.

With its prime location in New York and sheer number of attendees, this Con can attract big names in the film, television, and comic industries. Interviews and panels feature comic writers, movie directors, and casts of favorite scifi programs. Sneak peaks of upcoming TV shows and movies are shown months before the official release dates, allowing word of mouth to start growing long before even the regular previews are out.

This year’s event features appearances by Adam Kubert (Superman, X-Men), Brian Micahel Bendis (Avengers, Ultimate Spider-Man), and Grant Morrison (All-Star Superman, Final Crisis) as well as dozens of other comic book stars. Screenings feature the new “Wonder Woman,” Joss Whedon’s new series “Dollhouse,” and sneak peaks at the upcoming “Watchmen” and “Terminator: Salvation” movies.

Comic Con also features a Star Wars Trivia Contest, a Kids Costume Contest, and a performance by the New York Jedi association. There is also a large charity auction of original artwork put on by the Hero Initiative.

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