Category: North America
In Seattle? Don't miss Teatro ZinZanni.
In 1992, Norman Langill discovered a turn-of-the-century Belgian spiegeltent in Barcelona. With its hand-carved wooded booths, mirrored walls and stained glass, the tent hosted cabarets, circuses, and celebrations across Europe.Six years later, the charming spiegeltent moved to Seattle and became home to Teatro ZinZanni, an innovative melange of vaudeville, cirque, music, and comedy that played to sold-out crowds for the next 14 months.
Read complete post
Great lineup at Montreal Jazz Festival.
Regular readers of this blog -- both of you -- know that we're big fans of Montreal, and of jazz. Those similarly inclined can enjoy both at the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal, which runs from June 16 - July 6. Since we posted about it in March, they've added several great acts, including Aretha Franklin, Woody Allen, Leonard Cohen, and Diane Reeves.
Jazz legend Oscar Peterson -- who passed away this year -- was born in Montreal, and this year's festival is dedicated to him. Festivals often claim to offer something for everyone, but with 3,000 acts from 30 countries, Montreal delivers.
Read complete post
Dining and Shopping in Ventura, California
Ventura, California is one of our favorite spots. Overshadowed by its glamorous neighbor to the north, Santa Barbara, Ventura is fun and funky -- a beach town in the classic tradition.The city, whose official name is San Buenaventura, was named for the mission founded here in 1782. There's a movement to revert to the original name, and these days, you'll often see the historic town center referred to as San Buenaventura.
But whatever you call it, Ventura has a lot to offer.
Read complete post
America's best small museums -- Part 1.
The Art Institute of Chicago, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston are major tourist attractions in their respective cities. But there are scores of smaller museums throughout the country that most travelers don‘t know about.
One of our favorites is the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts, in the heart of the Berkshires. Opened in 1955, the Clark's permanent collection focuses on European and American painting.
Read complete post
French fix for a fraction of the price -- in Montreal.
Nonstop fares to Paris this summer are running around $1,200 from the east coast and nearly $2,000 from the west. Rooms at Relais Christine are pushing $600 a night. And a dozen macarons from Pierre Herme will set you back almost $40.So what's a Francophile on a budget to do? Head for Montreal, where you can enjoy French food, French style, and French joie de vivre for a fraction of the price.
Read complete post
