Golf in Reno Tahoe

In Reno Tahoe you could very possibly play the best golf game of your life! At our altitude, golf balls automatically fly 10 percent farther. Your drive will amaze you. And with over 50 courses within 90 minutes of Reno, there’s a course for every level of play including Montreux Golf Club, home of the PGA stop, the  Reno-Tahoe Open.

In Reno, courses include the state’s oldest links — the Washoe County Golf Course, which was established in 1934, and the newest courses, including ArrowCreek and Red Hawk.

In the Reno area you’ll find courses like Wildcreek, LakeRidge, D’Andrea Golf Club and Red Hawk Golf Club. Carson City offers the Divine Nine courses, totalling about 70,000 yards of greens and roughs, including Dayton Valley Country Club, Empire Ranch, and the Golf Club at Genoa Lakes.

Lake Tahoe offers a dozen championship courses including Edgewood Tahoe, where the star-sutdded American Century Championship is held in July. Edgewood is rated one of Golf Digest’s top 25 public U.S. golf courses.

Grab your clubs and pick a course — and play like nowhere else on Earth.

A Travel Guide to Los Angeles

Otherwise known as the City of Angels, the sprawling urban metropolis of Los Angeles is most often associated with images of glitz, glamour, world-class Shopping and of course celebrity-spotting opportunities. However, despite being the home of Hollywood glamour, Los Angeles has a lot more to be discovered and enjoyed than simply the Walk of Fame, Hollywood Hills sign and the Chinese Theatre.

Originally a Spanish settlement, the city has retained evidence of this not only in its name but also in its culture. For example, half of the city`s inhabitants have Spanish as a first language, the local cuisine is a fantastic hybrid of Mexican, traditional Spanish and American food and Angelenos are renowned for being passionate and yet laid-back, just like their ancestors.

The city itself is now a vibrant hub which is globally renowned as being the epicentre of entertainment in the Western world. As well as boasting the Hollywood district and the film studios to explore, there are many fantastic underground bars and clubs with up-and-coming artists and musicians to enjoy. This is because of the sheer scale of the liberal arts community in this city. Many global stars live either in this district or the equally affluent areas of Bel Air, Mulholland Drive or Holmby Hills.

Silver Lake is another hip area with endless cafes, cinemas and clubs to visit. Unlike Hollywood and the richer aforementioned districts, it offers affordable, high-quality accommodation in a vibrant area of the city. Nearby West Hollywood is also home to the world-famous Sunset Strip which is an iconic element of Los Angeles life. Another popular area in Los Angeles is that of Venice Beach. This seafront area is popular, with its boardwalk being full of entertainers and there are plenty of opportunities to partake in sporting activities or simply to relax.

As the city is founded on many different cultures and immigrants, LA is also home to a range of multi-cultural districts such as China Town, Korean Town and Little Tokyo. These areas are lively and offer fantastic cuisine and reasonably priced accommodation, as well as being fairly centrally located. In terms of accommodation, the city`s excellent public transport links mean that wherever you stay you will be able to visit the financial district, Universal Studios and the star`s homes as well as all of the most popular tourist Attractions.

Los Angeles is also ideally located for excursions as San Diego, San Francisco and even the iconic city of sin, Las Vegas is just a few hours` drive away. A popular holiday approach for tourists is to make the most of the cheap car hire Las Vegas airport has to offer and fly there, rent a car and drive through the sunny state of California to Los Angeles. This way holidaymakers get the naughty and the nice, experiencing both the City of Sin and the City of Angels.

Wicked in San Francisco

The New York Times calls WICKED “Broadway’s biggest blockbuster” and “one of the most successful shows in Broadway history.” Variety described WICKED as a “cultural phenomenon.” Having just celebrated its 5th Anniversary on Broadway, WICKED’s four North American and four international companies have cumulatively grossed over $1.2 billion and have been seen by over 15 million people worldwide. “Perfectly Thrilling and Perfectly Entertaining!” – San Francisco Chronicle

There’s no place like home, the San Francisco production is a significant homecoming for WICKED, which had its world premiere in San Francisco before casting its spell on Broadway, winning 20 major awards, including the Grammy Award and three Tony Awards. This engagement followed a long development process during which the entire creative team and cast immersed themselves in the musical’s development. From these roots in the city by the bay, WICKED has gone on to become a worldwide phenomenon that has since redefined theatrical popular culture.

San Francisco now hosts the only other open-ended American engagement of WICKED, other than the Broadway production.

For more information about WICKED at the Orpheum Theatre, please visit www.shnsf.com. For information about WICKED world-wide, please visit www.wickedthemusical.com. For information about local WICKED hotel and restaurant partners visit www.wickedthemusicalpartners.com/sf

Mirage Volcano in Las Vegas, New and Improved!

Known the world over for its iconic Strip-front feature, The Mirage has joined forces with legendary Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart, Indian tabla sensation Zakir Hussain and Fountains of Bellagio design firm WET to create an all-new audio/visual spectacle. Recently updated, the volcano is better than ever!

The Mirage once again set the standard for Strip-front Attractions today as its redesigned signature Volcano premiered to the world. When The Mirage first unveiled The Volcano in 1989 the landscape of Las Vegas was forever altered. This all-new audio/visual spectacle again raises the bar with never-before-seen fire effects and an exclusive soundtrack composed by Grateful Dead drummer and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Mickey Hart, and Indian tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain.

Celebrity impressionist, singer, comedian, ventriloquist and soon-to-be Mirage headliner Terry Fator acted as Master of Ceremonies for the historic reignition, which took place on the Las Vegas Strip at dusk. Fator was joined on stage by Grammy Award-winner Hart, as well as Mirage President Scott Sibella and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman. Following the inaugural eruption, the Las Vegas sky was lit with celebratory fireworks from the top of The Volcano.

In addition to commemorating the renovation of The Strip’s most enduring landmark, The Mirage used the opportunity to shine light on the value of music programs in local schools. In honor of the new Volcano and the exclusive soundtrack composed by Hart and Hussain, The Mirage made a donation to the Clark County School District to be used to support music in schools.

“I would not be the musician I am today if I had not had the opportunity to embrace music at a young age,” said Hart. “And now I get to do things like put percussive sound to the image of fire and have it dance around a lagoon. That’s not something one gets to do everyday; to birth a volcano. Zakir and I immersed ourselves in the legends and myths and studied what really makes a volcano work. The result, a true union of the senses, will rattle your bones, just like a real volcano.”

Tasked with bringing the latest innovations to the project, WET forged a primal volcanic environment of sound, light, music and heat. WET’s choreographed FireShooters™ – which send massive fireballs more than 12 feet into the air – were designed specifically for The Mirage using the latest developments in flame-expression technology. The FireShooters™ punctuate the performances with eruptions of fiery “lava” that flow down the mountain’s fissures in a series of lively flames. As the eruption ignites the surrounding lagoon, the FireShooters™ bring Las Vegas’ signature blast within feet of spectators.

“In its prior incarnation, the action stayed primarily on top of The Volcano,” said WET’s Director of Special Technologies Jim Doyle. “We’ve not only created a much more realistic eruption, but we’ve taken the action down into the Lagoon, where spectators will feel the heat on their faces.”

Further enhancing the overall experience, The Volcano features a new Meyer Sound state-of-the-art sound system. An award-winning industry innovator, Meyer Sound is widely recognized for providing the gold standard in audio systems, as heard in theaters throughout the world, including The Mirage’s own LOVE Theater. With more than 60 Meyer Sound cabinets strategically placed throughout the lagoon, Hart and Hussain’s invigorating composition immerses guests in the volcanic rhythms.

SOURCE: Mirage.com

The Grand Canyon

Vast, magnificent and inarguably beautiful, the Grand Canyon is easily Arizona’s most distinguishable landmark – and a natural wonder that you simply have to see to believe. Stretching 277 miles from end to end, steep, rocky walls descend more than a mile to the canyon’s floor, where the wild Colorado River traces a swift course southwest.

You can reach Grand Canyon National Park from main entrances on the South Rim – including the South Rim’s eastern entrance – and the North Rim. The Canyon’s western edge, home to beautiful Havasupai Falls and the town of Supai, is also accessible via roads on the Hualapai Indian Reservation.
The South Rim and Grand Canyon Village

Due to its proximity to Flagstaff and Williams, the South Rim is the Grand Canyon’s most popular destination. Home to park headquarters, Grand Canyon Village, features the park’s largest collection of services, including hotels and lodges, restaurants, a general store, laundry and shower facilities, a bank with an ATM and an automotive service station. The Grand Canyon Railway – a historic rail line out of Williams – also brings visitors directly to Grand Canyon Village. Additional services are also located in nearby Tusayan, six miles south of the Grand Canyon National Park entrance.

Grand Canyon Village has a number of parking areas surrounding its various viewpoints, but summer days and weekends are crowded. Skip the parking-space race and take the park’s free shuttle busses instead, which operate in multiple loops.
The North Rim

While high elevation and heavy snow keep the North Rim closed during the winter months, this less-traveled area – far away from the crowds of Grand Canyon Village – is a remote, relaxing place to enjoy the beauty of the canyon in solitude.

Usually accessible from mid-May to mid-October, the North Rim offers visitors a campground, general store and camper facilities. It’s also home to the historic, rustic Grand Canyon Lodge. Additional campgrounds, lodging options and stores are available in Jacob Lake, around 45 miles north, outside the entrance to the park.

Vancouver, one of the Americas best

Vancouver was voted the “Best City in the Americas” for 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Condé Nast Traveler magazine, based on the categories of ambience, friendliness, culture and sites, restaurants, lodging, and Shopping. This is just one of our city’s many awards and accolades that clearly demonstrate the many reasons to visit Vancouver!

Vancouver is a dynamic, multicultural city set in a spectacular natural environment. No matter what time of the year you visit, there are indoor and outdoor activities to please adults, families, couples and friends to no end. As the proud host of the 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games, Vancouver looks ahead to ongoing growth and great success in tourism, hospitality and business services each year.

Majestic mountains, sparkling ocean, rainforests and beautiful foliage all four seasons make Vancouver one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Canada is known for our people’s friendly nature, and Vancouver’s citizens take great pride in our welcoming, clean, safe streets – day or night, all year round.

Catering to any interest throughout the year, you can enjoy world class Shopping, gourmet meals, outstanding live entertainment, sporting events, theatre, outdoor adventure, spectacular sights and Attractions – it’s all waiting for you in Vancouver.

With quick and easy access to Whistler Resort, the Canadian Rockies, Victoria, Vancouver Island, and of course, endless year round water and land sports, whether extreme sport or family fun, find your personal adventure here. Vancouver also is the home port for Alaska cruises May through October.

A vast multicultural population, endless activities, and excellent infrastructure, Vancouver is welcoming to all – families, couples, gay & lesbian travelers, and special needs visitors – everything is within reach. The Vancouver International Airport has consistently been rated as a top North American airport providing easy access from all over the world. Exceptional public transportation is overshadowed slightly by the convenience of Vancouver as a great walking city – clean, green, safe, and easily accessible!

Vancouver’s hotels, restaurants and business community offer outstanding levels of service and product quality. Meeting your needs and exceeding your expectations is a top priority of Vancouver’s businesses, providing friendly assistance every step of your trip. And with a consistently advantageous exchange rate on the Canadian dollar, you can have a world-class experience with superior value for your money!

Warming up for another airline fee

Beginning May 1, coach passengers on American’s domestic flights that last more than two hours, as well as those on flights to Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America, will have to pay $8 for a blanket and inflatable neck pillow. The airline will throw in a $10 off Coupon for purchases of more than $30 at Bed Bath & Beyond stores.

On domestic flights of less than two hours, coach passengers won’t have access to blankets at all. Premium-class passengers on all American flights and coach passengers on longer international flights will continue to get free blankets and pillows.

American (AMR) says the fee is largely a bottom-line decision.

“Everything we do is evaluated in terms of what’s best economically for the company while still providing services customers want,” says American spokeswoman Andrea Huguely.

“I don’t think it’s an unreasonable fee,” says Henry Harteveldt, travel industry analyst at Forrester Research. “It gives the passenger some control. If they want a blanket they can pay extra for it; if not, they didn’t pay for it as part of their fare.”

Packing for students traveling abroad

Khaki cargos or jean shorts? Your tortoise shell glasses or contacts? Travelers’ checks or credit cards? Whoa, Nelly! So many things to consider, so little time. Here are some essential packing tips from the obvious, to the not-so-obvious. go from here!

Before you start daydreaming about all the great outfits you’re going to pack for your trip, here are some things you should actually leave behind:

• Anything you would kick yourself for losing; that expensive watch, the Tiffany’s locket your dad bought you for your birthday, unnecessary credit cards, wads of cash, your Social Security card, and any other valuables.

• Copies of your travel documents. Leave a copy of your passport identification page, airline Tickets, driver’s license, the credit cards you’re taking, serial numbers of your travelers’ checks, insurance information, as well as the addresses and phone numbers of the places you’ll be. Having copies of these documents at home will allow your family or friends to contact you or help you in case of an emergency. (Carry additional copies of these documents with you on your trip, separate from the originals.)

• Anything that would be considered a weapon. Even a pocketknife can result in a serious weapons charge while on foreign soil – even if the knife is found during a search or arrest for an unrelated offense.

• Toiletries and amenities that may already be available at your hotel. We know you only use your favorite brand of Vanilla Chai scented lotion, shower gel, and shampoo, but if you are only traveling for a short time, find out if your hotel will provide in-room amenities like a hair dryer, towels, an iron, soap, shampoo, etc. You’ll have less to carry around, plus room for any presents that you bring home!

• Handbags and fanny packs. (Yes, there are still people who wear fanny packs.) Wearing a big purse or a fanny pack is like wearing a neon sign that says, “Rob me!” Your passport, cash and credit cards are most secure when locked in a hotel safe. When you have to carry them on you, inside pockets and a sturdy shoulder bag with the strap worn across your chest are somewhat safer. Another safe place to keep valuables is in a pouch or money belt worn under your clothing.

Now that we’ve talked about what you shouldn’t bring overseas, here’s what you should bring:

• Many other countries use 220-volt electricity while U.S. appliances use 110-volt electricity. If you plan on bringing electric gadgets like a hairdryer, electric razor, or even a laptop, keep in mind that you will need to purchase a “converter” or a “transformer” to be able to use your appliances. Plug prongs can also be different abroad, so you may need a “plug adapter” as well.

• Pack an extra outfit in your carry-on just in case your luggage is lost, or if you are separated from your travel gear.

• Do you have a prescription for a medication you literally cannot live without? Make sure to bring a back-up supply in case you are delayed during your trip. Keep it on you when you travel in case you and your luggage get separated. All prescriptions should be clearly marked in their original containers. In fact, you should contact the embassy of the country you are visiting to get a list of drugs that are considered illegal narcotics – just to make sure your medication is not included. Get a letter from your doctor listing your medications and explaining why you need them. Also, carry instructions for treating any allergies or other unique medical conditions you might have.

• Pack appropriate clothes. Find out what the weather conditions are for your destination, and pack accordingly. We wouldn’t want you in your hat, scarf and gloves at the height of your destination’s summer season. Remember that just because it’s one season here, doesn’t mean it’s the same elsewhere. Also, know the local dress code, especially for holy places. Whether it’s a mosque in Dubai, a cathedral in the Vatican City, or a temple in Tel-Aviv, you may want to avoid bare shoulders and shorts, and you may be required to cover your hair.

• Don’t forget the little things. It may be a good idea to bring a small first-aid kit, sunscreen, and a mild pain reliever. You never know when these things may come in handy.

• Make sure your luggage is labeled with your name, address and telephone numbers inside and outside of each piece of luggage. Use covered luggage tags to avoid becoming a target, and if possible, lock your luggage. Check the Transportation Security Agency
homepage for guidelines regarding locked luggage and other current airline travel regulations.

• If you decide to take a pet abroad, you should check with the embassies of your destination regarding specific requirements that must be met before a pet may enter the country. Many countries have strict health, quarantine, agriculture, wildlife, and customs requirements and prohibitions. A listing of foreign embassies and consulates in the U.S. is available for your reference.

• Bring an international calling card to make phone calls. It is a convenient and inexpensive way of keeping in touch. You can even purchase one before you depart and then call your loved ones to let them know that you arrived safely!

Have a carefreetrip this year!

Carnaval Brasileiro in Austin

Austin is still a young city, in search of its own traditions. Though we have come up with a few native creations, Austinites still borrow and adapt traditions established elsewhere. Our public festivals, for example, tend to mirror those civic events promoted by local governments and chambers of commerce from coast to coast.

But why would a mid-sized Central Texas city boast a Brazilian carnival, lifted straight out of Rio, with purely Brazilian music played on Brazilian instruments and sung entirely in Portuguese? The story of CARNAVAL BRASILEIRO in Austin is a curious one, yet it typifies the way things often happen in this community.

First, some basic facts. Carnaval in Brazil derives from the medieval Christian revels in Europe held just prior to the forty days of Lent. This annual festival of flesh was further enriched in Brazil by African rhythms, especially the samba. Carnaval is an all-consuming nationwide festival in Brazil, celebrated by all social classes over a period of several days, or weeks in reality. It is a social cathartic for Brazilian society, particularly for the sweating masses of urban poor dancing in the summer streets.

These few facts already suggest that what we celebrate in Austin is only a sample-although a totally authentic one-extracted from its social context in Brazil. We have the equivalent of a middle-class, indoor CARNAVAL DE SALÃO, or CARNAVAL DE PULÃO (Ballroom Carnaval or Big Jump Carnaval), but held for one night only, in the middle of winter. And of course the crowd consists mainly of gringos who have no idea how to dance samba and cannot understand a single word of the music. Very curious. But they do have a good time, and a truly magical ambience is created, despite the crowded dance floor that, by 10:30pm, resembles something like a tremendous example of human bumper cars. One eight-year old in attendance said it was like “being stuck inside a washing machine.”

With this in mind, let us see how that exotic import called Carnaval Brasileiro came to be what Texas Monthly has touted as the state’s “best public bash.”

It all began around 1975. At that time there were many Brazilian scholarship students at UT taking a six-week long intensive English course. Faced with the prospect of a February without CARNAVAL, they decided with their local friends to hold their own celebration: Carnaval ‘75 took place in a small room at Austin’s Unitarian Church (which is into almost anything). The two hundred or so revelers had planted a seed.

For the next several years the party moved further downtown, drawing ever larger crowds. Carnaval ‘76, held at the Bucket (a bar) on West 23rd Street, drew over three hundred, who struggled to keep their footing in the spilled beer. A highlight of that evening was the thunderous collapse of a low stage under the weight of fifty wildly drumming Brazilians. They just looked at one another for a second, saw no one was hurt, and partied on! A group of devoted “Brasilianistas” continued to organize a Carnaval that began growing rapidly beyond their control.

The last party to retain the original University focus was held at the Dobie Center in 1977, with over five hundred participants. The size of the crowd and problems with the homestyle sound system pointed up the need for a large hall with professional sound equipment. And as the number of scholarships dwindled, the Brazilian students were gradually submerged into a Carnaval that Austinites were making their own.

At this point Mike Quinn entered the picture. Quinn, the producer of Horizontes, a daily radio program dedicated to the music of Latin America on KUT-FM (Austin’s NPR affiliate), was in 1978 a lowly but ambitious salesman at Discount Records. Mike undertook the organization of Carnaval ‘78 as an outlet for his own creative interests in Brazilian music.

The celebration, held at the double-tiered Boondocks Club (later Club Foot, and even later a parking lot) on East 4th Street in downtown Austin, was the take-off for Carnaval Brasileiro as we know it today. Carnaval ‘78 packed in over a thousand bodies, sweating and gyrating to the drumming of Austin’s first Carnaval group: an ad hoc assembly of local musicians including ethnomusicologists from UT and members of Beto y Los Fairlanes, all under the direction of Dr. Gerard Behague of the UT Department of Music. Though the drumming was improvised, the atmosphere was magic and it set the stage for the live music featured at every Carnaval since. That party went on until 4:00am, and the club had to repaint the dance floor the following week!

Accordingly, in 1979 Carnaval moved into the legendary Armadillo World Headquarters (now defunct), where Austin’s first Brazilian band, Os Imperialistas do Samba (later Unidos de Austin), played to a capacity house of 1800. The night’s three dollar Tickets were scalped outside for as much as twenty five bucks.

In 1980 Carnaval Brasileiro finally moved to the warehouse-like Coliseum, which, despite two sojourns at Austin’s 7,000 capacity Palmer Auditorium (1981 and 1984), has become its home. The 1980 Carnaval also inaugurated the classic series of Austin artist Guy Juke’s poster and T-shirt designs. The event has continued to grow in size and sophistication throughout the ’80s.

Meanwhile, organizers have searched for the right formula to make the party sizzle. The earlier costume contests have been dropped because they interrupt the flow of the music and dancing.

The music of Carnaval — SAMBA, MARCH, FREVO, TRIO ELETRICO, and lots of BATUCADA, or drumming — now pours out in seamless, driving, ninety-minute sets. This is the euphoria of a real Carnaval, magnified by an arena-style sound system that makes three or four drums sound like a hundred. The key to the samba sound is the heavy boom of the SURDO bass drums set against the counter-rhythms and back beats for the smaller percussion. When all of this is on the mark, samba kicks ass! You can see it on the faces of the crowd as people begin to lose control and abandon themselves to the charged atmosphere.

Carnaval Brasileiro has been attempted in Houston on three occasions, from 1980 to 1982. The gig at the Washington Square Emporium in 1980 featured Unidos de Austin in a poorly heated converted warehouse on a bitterly cold evening. It was so cold that everyone wore their coats over their costumes. Things warned up later when a big, brawny, bald, Brazilian worked up a sweat doing the limbo on the floor. With the steam rising off his scalp, he looked as if he had been electrocuted!

Carnaval Brasileiro has now become an Austin institution, one that nobody really planned as such. A small party grew into a giant public bash because there were Brazilians who needed a celebration, local individuals to nurture it along the way, a radio program (Horizontes) to promote its music, a series of bands to play the music, and, above all, enough Austinites who felt the magic and kept coming back for more.

This is an Austin story, one that has yet to take off in Houston, Dallas or San Antonio, despite larger Brazilian (and other Latin) populations, consular officers, and potential public interest.

Carnaval has emerged and thrived in Austin, because long ago it became a city of open attitudes and spontaneity, due in large part to the university influence. Now that bohemian attitude has mixed with just enough business sense and hard work to make music happen in a way that is attracting attention from around the world. Perhaps the greatest monument to that spirit-the Armadillo-is now just a memory. But Austin’s Carnaval Brasileiro, our peculiar winterfest of flesh and fantasy, was nurtured in that unique semi-cohesive, culture-conscious environment, and still flowers every February.

Washington DC in the spring

Washingtonians herald the departure of winter when the world-famous cherry blossoms cast their characteristic pink petals over the Tidal Basin. The cherry blossoms, however, aren’t the only reason to plan a Spring Break getaway in the nation’s capital. It’s a season of festivals, parades, graduations, garden tours and more.

March means the start of festival season in DC. The annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade struts down Constitution Avenue on the Sunday before the holiday. At the end of the month, the annual Smithsonian Kite Festival marks the start of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, luring competitive kite-flyers and amateurs alike to the grounds of the Washington Monument.

Film lovers from throughout the region and around the globe descend on the nation’s capital for springtime film events, such as the Washington, DC International Film Festival and the DC Independent Film Festival. In late April, brightly colored azaleas cover the grounds of the National Arboretum and Hillwood Museum & Gardens, while the Folger Shakespeare Library marks the Bard’s birthday with an annual family-friendly festival.
Spring also signals the beginning of tour season, as walking, biking segway and boating companies resume their tour schedules. In late April, you can take advantage of free neighborhood and thematic walking tours with a weekend-long festival, WalkingTown DC. You’re also bound to uncover major art exhibitions, spectacular performances and more at cultural institutions throughout the city.

As temperatures rise and summer draws near, you’ll discover more reasons to fall under the spell of the nation’s capital. Gardening enthusiasts will love the National Cathedral Flower Mart and the Capitol Hill and Georgetown house and garden tours, while arts and crafts lovers enjoy the Smithsonian Craft Show.