Journeys Near and Far

10 Things to Love about the New York Renaissance Faire

The New York Renaissance Faire opened it's gates last weekend to another season of medieval revelry.  This is one of my favorite Renaissance Festivals.  The following are ten reasons why.

 

1.  The Color

Vibrant color leaps out at you as you frolic through this Faire, whether it's the bright silk of a medieval merchant woman's gown, the sparkling pink wings of a fairy, or multihued banners flapping softly in the breeze.  Bring your camera, you'll find plenty of photographic inspiration.

Maypole dance   Image:  Mirna L Falkner

Ten Travel Tips from Rick Steves

 

At the New York Times Travel Show, Europe travel guru Rick Steves gave his "Europe through the Back Door" seminar and slideshow.

Steves' talk was loaded with travel tips on how to get the most out of your trip to Europe. His travel philosophy is all about diving into the culture and meeting the real people -- not those who are making money off of you -- by patronizing smaller, family-owned establishments. It's the way I like to travel, and, as always, I came away with lots of new ideas on how to enjoy my trips to Europe more.  Here I'll share Steves' top ten tips with you.

1.  Visit the smaller, less touristy towns and villages

Many of Europe's charming towns and villages don't have promotional budgets, and this is a good thing for visitors who want to avoid the crowds.  "All over Europe you'll find these magical places if you know where to look," Steves said. 

Even better -- visit after hours, and spend the night if you can.  "You want to find places that have missed the modern boat." Steves said as he pointed to a slide of Italy's Cinque Terra. "Places that are the same now visually as they were 100 years ago." 

The New York Times Travel Show

Take a spin around the globe this weekend at the New York Times Travel Show

Whether you love to travel or prefer to stay home and dream about travel from your favorite armchair, you're in for a great time if you head over to New York City for the New York Times Travel Show this weekend.  Why?

For starters, there will be about 500 exhibitors representing destinations and tour companies from all over the world. 

A host of travel experts such as travel gurus Rick Steves, Pauline and Arthur Frommer, and National Geographic Adventure TV personality Julia Dimon will be presenting seminars on topics ranging from new types of vacations and destinations to consider to what the top travel picks for 2011 are.

There will be live entertainment throughout the weekend on five cultural stages.  And since this year's show coincides with the 10th anniversary of the  the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival, the show will feature the talents of the world's most renowned wine and spirits producers as well as top chefs and culinary personalities with one-of-a-kind culinary demonstrations on the Taste of Miami Culinary stage.

Scenic Sunday: Flower Shows Cure Spring Fever

  
Mobile's Festival of Flowers

I'm just beginning to recover from a nasty respiratory bug that seems to be making the rounds here.  And outside of my window, there are still piles of snow on the grass and wintry winds whip through the trees. I keep thinking about flowers and plants, though.  Definitely a case of Spring Fever!

Mobile's  Festival of Flowers

That's why I chose this photo for my post today.  I took it last year at Mobile, Alabama's Festival of Flowers.  If you love flowers and plants or garden design, I highly recommend a visit to Mobile during the show days, which, this year, are from March 24th to the 27th. And besides, Mobile is a wonderful city to visit, offering a wide variety of things to do for visitors with all sorts of interests.

In addition to lovely floral displays and life-sized gardens, the Festival of Flowers, considered to be the premiere flower and garden event of the Gulf Coast, offers a wealth of activities and exhibits.  You'll find seminars teaching everything from food and wine pairing to growing and using fresh herbs.  There are also interior design home and garden exhibits and an display of floral couture.  Care for a gown made of gardenias, anyone?  There's also a photography contest, and much more.

One of my favorite exhibits last year was the show's "Seeds of Wisdom", in which local book clubs interpreted their favorite literary works through floral displays.

The New York Times Travel Show is Here

Take a Trip Around the World - No Passport Needed

This weekend, February 27th and 28th, if you're in the New York City area head over to the Jacob Javits Center for one of the best travel events of the year! 

The New York Times Travel Show is nirvana for anyone who loves to travel.  With nearly 500 exhibitors, a two-day line-up of travel seminars, six stages of worldwide cultural entertainment, international culinary presentations and more, it's a lot of fun and a great way to learn more about all the places in the world you want to visit. 

This year a host of popular travel experts will be giving talks, including travel experts Arthur and Pauline Frommer, the New York Times "Frugal Traveler" columnist Matt Gross, “1,000 Places to See Before You Die” author Patricia Schultz and many more.

I know the New York City/New Jersey area has just been hit by a lot of snow but if you can get there, it's worth it.  I'm still jet-lagged from last weekend's fabulous Travellers' Tales Festival in London, but I'm going to try to make it. 

'Hope to see you there!

Chocolate Show New York City: Indulge Your Sweet Tooth

A Weekend of Decadence Savoring Chocolate of Every Kind

I've just learned that the 12th Annual Chocolate show will be returning to New York City from October 30th to November 1st.  What's happens at a chocolate show?  I wasn't sure, so I contacted the folks who are running it to see what it's all about.

If you're one of the many folks who can't get enough of this decadent treat, read on...

Gourmet Chocolate

This event will showcase more than 65 exhibitors including chocolatiers and pastry chefs.  Every 45 minutes a new chef will cook up one of their master chocolate culinary creations in one of the two Viking Culinary Theaters.  You'll learn new cooking techniques from the likes of Matt Gennuso of Chez Pascal, Johnny Iuzzini of Jean Georges, and Maricel Presilla of Gran Cacao. 

Chocolate Cookbooks and More

At the chocolate bookstore (by Barnes and Noble), you'll be able to pick up new chocolate cookbooks or books about the history of chocolate such as Max Brenner's Chocolate:  A Love Story and Francine Segan's Movie Menus.  At least nine authors will be signing throughout the weekend.

KidsZone

Got kids?  For a small donation to Share Our Strength, they can create Chocolate Witches Hats, listen to a reading of the Chocolate Queen and even watch a performance of Charlie and the Golden Ticket.  (Does all this remind anyone of Johnny Depp?)

Beauty Products

I've heard of chocolate massages (the spa at the Hotel Hershey comes to mind) but here, in the Chocolate Beauty Pavilion, trained Beauty Chocolatiers will show visitors an alternate use for this exquisite treat:  extensive lines of chocolate soaps, lotions, scrubs and lip glosses, and yes -- chocolate massages (for a small donation).

Chocolate Fashion

Another alternate use for chocolate -- and this one comes as a surprise to me -- is is to wear it.  Just in time for Halloween, see chocolate Halloween Costumes on display as you enter the show!

The only thing that bothers me about this chocolate show is that I can't be there!  So if you go, please leave a comment about it, I'd love to know what you thought of the experience.

The show will be held at the Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th Street, Friday, October 30th from noon to 8 pm, Saturday, October 31st  from 10 to 8 pm, and Sunday, November 1st from 10 to 5 pm.  Buy your tickets in advance to be sure you'll get in.

If you're not in New York City, take heart -- here is the international show schedule:

JAPAN: January- February, 2010
Shanghai, CHINA: January15-17, 2010
Madrid, SPAIN: April 9-11, 2010

Newcomers to New York City might be interested in taking a look at my First Timers’ New York City guide.  While you’re at it, check out my guides to nearby Atlantic City, New Jersey.

 Photos courtesy of the Chocolate Show.

The Adventures in Travel Expo

Planning your next vacation?

If you're in the New York City area, you can get some help this weekend at the Adventures in Travel Expo, which is coming to the Jacob Javits Convention Center October 10th and 11th.

This will be the third year in a row that I'll be attending, and I'm looking forward to it, as I always gather lots of good information on new places to see and things to do. 

The travel seminars are my favorite part of the show. On Saturday, I plan to learn about biking and walking vacations  in Tuscany, a talk given by the president of Vermont Bicycle Tours, and then I want to hear Arthur Frommer"s talk, "Traveling Better, Smarter, Cheaper in the Months Ahead."  I guess we could all pick up some good tips in that one, right?

There will be many other interesting seminars this weekend as well, such as "Never Hug a Pregnant Tiger Shark:  Adventure Do-s and Don't-s Learned the Hard Way" by Holly Morris, Host of Globe Trekker, and  "1,000 Places to See Before You Die" given by Patricia Schultz, author of the book by the same name.

In addition to the seminars there will be hundreds of adventure travel exhibitors as well as live entertainment.  African drummers, anyone?  How about bellydancing, Irish or Indian dancing?, There will also be hands on activities such as climbing a rock wall and scuba diving in the indoor pool.

If you can make it to the show, go.  If you love travel you'll be glad you did.

By the way, on the topic of planning vacations, I've been learning how to create a custom travel itinerary over at NileGuide.com, has anyone else done that yet?  It's lots of fun.  Since we're talking about New York City here, I want to let you know that I've finished my first custom itinerary called First Timers' New York City.  Take a look at it and let me know which places you would choose for newcomers to the Big Apple.

If you like travel shows, you might also like these posts:

• 6 Top February Travel Events

• Adventures In Travel Expo, New York City

• Adventures in Travel Expo 2008

Photo courtesyof Adventures in Travel Expo.

 

Wigtown Book Festival

Scotland's National Book Town hosts an annual festival featuring some of the country's best authors

Whenever I think about Wigtown in Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland, I have instant warm memories.  This little town, set amid green fields, moorland, and rugged coastline, is a haven for booklovers -- whether it's festival time or not.  

For me, my visit was a respite from a busy life of trying to get too many things done in too little time.  Being around books relaxes me.

I visited Wigtown on a quiet November day and spent my time browsing among the more than quarter of a million books, both old and new, in the town's many bookshops.   I would have loved to stay overnight and spend even more time here if it had been possible.

Designated as Scotland's National  Book Town in 1998, the town is home to more than 20 book-related businesses -- mostly book shops, some gift shops and a few cafés.

You can also visit the Wigtown Local Nature Reserve.  Climb upstairs to the viewing room in the county buildings for information on the reserve and a video on this year's osprey, as well as a fabulous view!  And if you can't get enough of books, there's a nice little library on the first floor of that building.

The Wigtown Book Festival, which opens today and runs until October 4th, is considered  by the UK's Telegraph to be one of the "best autumn festival's in the world". 

I haven't been to the festival (yet!) but this year they have over 170 events lined up with a slew of popular authors.

This year's festival is a little bit different due to Scotland's Homecoming 2009 celebrations.  They will be hosting "Whiskey and Words", a festival-within-a-festival that celebrates the connections between whiskey and writing.  There will be music, tastings, and some of the worlds top whiskey experts.  Sounds like fun!

If you can't make it to the festival but love books or nature, I highly recommend you visit Wigtown at any time of year.   I know I'm going to return next time I have a chance.

Some other articles you might like from my trips to Scotland:

• The Writers' Museum, Edinburgh
• A Visit to the Beatrix Potter Garden & Exhibition
• Mary Queen of Scots House, Jedburgh, Scotland

Knights to Remember

Three Area Renaissance Faires to Catch before the Season Ends

Hear ye, hear ye -- if you love medieval times, jousting, bawdy stage shows and turkey drumsticks (and steak-on-a-stake, stuffed spuds, spinach pie, baked apple dumpling, "fryed" mushrooms, funnel cake and all sorts of other scrumptious faire-food) get thee to one of these three renaissance festivals as soon as ye can.

The New York Renaissance Faire

The final weekend of the New York Renaissance Faire is here.  This is one of my favorite Ren Faires -- the setting is just beautiful.  It's held in Sterling Forest in Tuxedo Park, New York, in the heart of the Hudson Valley -- think greenery, trees and slight rolling hills.

Just 40 minutes from Manhattan, the streets of this festival teem with brilliantly costumed performers.  There are swashbuckling pirates, haughty queens and kings, Robin Hood and his merry men and of course, knights in shining armor. 

I love the shops, the food, the stage shows -- and everywhere you go, something is going on.  In fact, so much goes on that it can be mind boggling trying to decide what to do when (and this applies to all three Ren Faires that I'm covering here.) 

The festival ends September 20th.  The fairgrounds are open from 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM. 

Click on the map to see where Tuxedo is.

Experience the Magic of Middle Earth at Radio City Music Hall

A Treat for Tolkien Fans

"One ring to rule them all, one one ring to find them, one ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them..."

If you loved J.R.R. Tolkien's books, Peter Jackson's moving Lord of the Rings film trilogy and Howard Shore's hauntingly beautiful music score, you're in for a treat.

On October 9th and 10th, New York City's Radio City Music Hall is presenting a once in a lifetime concert experience:  The original Academy Award-winning score of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring performed live to the theatrical version of the motion picture.

I just found out about this concert yesterday, and while I normally tend to mull things over before I purchase tickets, I didn't hesitate on this one for a second. 

Performers will be the 21st Century Symphony Orchestra, the Collegiate Chorale, the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, and Kaitlyn Lusk, conducted by Maestro Ludwig Wicki. 

Also, actor Billy Boyd -- Pippin himself -- who will be touring the U.S. East Coast October 6th - 11th with his band Beecake, will make a special appearance.

Appearing as well will be composer Howard Shore, who worked with Peter Jackson on the Lord of the Rings trilogy and Doug Adams, author of The Music of the Lord of the Rings Films.

Hope to see you there?  I don't know how anyone who loves Lord of the Rings and is within traveling distance of New York City could miss this!

For tickets and information visit the concert website.

Newcomers to New York City might be interested in taking a look at my First Timers’ New York City guide.  While you’re at it, check out my guides to nearby Atlantic City, New Jersey.