Rome Around

Spa Time in Vancouver at the Trendy Wedgewood Hotel

2010-10-29T16:30:00.000-04:00

The Day Spa at the Wedgewood Hotel in Downtown Vancouver

The Spa at the Wedgewood Hotel in trendy downtown Vancouver opened in the spring of 2003 and has won numerous awards, including "Best Day Spa in Vancouver". It is a terrific way to unwind after touring the urbane city's museums, parks and shops. Clients do not have to be guests at the Wedgewood to enjoy a treatment here.

Begin your relaxation in the Fitness Center, which provides all the latest fitness equipment, or the Eucalyptus Steam Room.

For a limited time, the Spa at the Wedgewood will be offering a 50 min Bio-Swiss Organic Brightening Facial and a 50 min Wild Lavender Body Treatment. The Organic Facial using botanical extracts including Mallow, Peppermint, and Liquorice promises to rejuvenate skin and naturally assist the brightening of the complexion while the refreshing Wild Lavender aids in a feeling of renewal.

Anny Tu as a new member of the excellent aesthetics team. She studied Aesthetics, and Nail Care extensively in Houston, Texas where she then worked for several years before moving to Canada.
She is known for her fab pedicures and, on the other "end," a luxurious facial that leaves your skin looking and feeling amazingly fresh, reinvigorated and healthy. If you go, ask for Anny.

One exclusive treatment features the renowned Epicurean Skin Care line, made with all natural ingredients.

Signature Treatments are favorites of Wedgewood Hotel & Spa owner, the vivacious Eleni Skalbania whom I have had the pleasure to know for many years. Some of these treatments are:

~ The Signature Thai Fusion Massage -- As one of our most innovative treatments, this hybrid massage combines yoga-like stretches and the use of acupressure with deep tissue massage modalities. Utilizing an aromatic lemongrass oil this massage will soothe tired muscles while energizing and invigorating the body, says Ms. Skalbania.

Another is the Chocolát Vanilla Decadent Body Treatment -- This treatment begins with a Vanilla Brown Sugar Body Scrub to deeply moisturize and exfoliate your body, followed by a Chocolate Crème Mineral Mask rich in antioxidants and nourishing oils. Then relax in a warm comforting body wrap while you receive a soothing scalp treatment ending in a moisturizing application of Epicuren's Chocolate Crème lotion.

~ Crystalline Gemstone Facial -- This exceptional facial utilizes the energy of micronized crystalline gemstones blended with bentonite clay to create a high energy tightening, healing and detoxifying result. This facial provides instant noticeable results, leaving your skin feeling firm and smooth. Ideal for all skin types.

The Spa at the Wedgewood Hotel offers personalized gift certificates for any service or for any value. Gift Certificates can be ordered over the phone and mailed to you, as well as purchased directly from the Spa.
For Appointments Please Call 604.608.5340.

Wedgewood Hotel & Spa, Vancouver Boutique is one of Vancouver’s leading luxury downtown Vancouver hotels. Located amidst the gardens and waterfalls of the fashionable Robson Square in the heart of Vancouver, the Wedgewood has become a landmark. Privately owned and operated by Greek born owner, Eleni Skalbania. The Wedgewood has been a family-run boutique hotel providing a home away from home for countless guests. I highly recommend it.

Wedgewood Hotel Vancouver - 845 Hornby Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6Z 1V1.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, a Laugh-a-Minute at NSMT

2010-10-02T12:37:00.005-04:00

REVIEW -- Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a fun night out with a terrific cast. A ribald, raucous, resplendently fun adult musical comedy is a MUST SEE laugh fest at the North Shore Music Theater. Don’t miss it. Vaudevillian, with a lot of burlesque, wit, double entendres, whopping, hollering and fun time at the theater. Never stopped laughing.

Brent Barrett, as suave con man Lawrence, and D. B. Bonds, as “ordinary guy” Freddy, become unexpected partners in deception. Bonds’ comic timing is impeccable, and he plays beautifully off the stuffy Barrett (Lawrence). I kept thinking Martin and Lewis. Their shenanigans and double crosses, switchovers keep the show in high gear. The songs and music keep up the zany pace. The most hysterically funny number in the show is “Oklahoma,” with a real hee-haw giddy-up rhythm.

From the creators of The Full Monty and based on the popular 1988 MGM film starring Michael Caine and Steve Martin, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS centers on two con men living on the French Riviera – the suave and sophisticated Lawrence Jameson (think Cary Grant), who makes a lavish living by conning rich ladies out of their money; and a small-time crook named Freddy Benson, who swindles women by waking their compassion with fabricated stories about his grandmother’s failing health. After meeting on a train, the unlikely duo decide to team up their cons together but he small French Riviera town isn’t big enough for the two of them. They decide that the first one to swindle $50,000 from a young heiress will keep the “territory,” triumphs and the other must leave town. What follows are a series of schemes, masquerades and double-crosses in which nothing may ever be exactly what it seems.
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This adult musical comedy left me smirking, guffawing, howling and rocking with laughter – along with the rest of the audience – for almost the entire musical. Innuendo, double entendres, risqué lyrics, sexy dancing, singing, patter combine with a lilting, hip, happy beat and songs made this a Numero Uno night at the theater. The show is non-stop action, with never a minute to catch my breath. Sitting on an aisle, with cast rushing down towards the stage for the multitude scene changes, I felt part of the action. And I loved it.

The fab actors, and ensemble, kept a smart pace with the words and song, from Act I as the show opens on the French Riviera, where Lawrence is a con artist making a very nice living off the lonely wealthy women who vacation there, although he justifies that they are equal partners in deluding themselves (Give Them What They Want). His story is that he is a prince whose kingdom is being threatened by revolutionaries, and he is attempting to find the money to raise an army.

One of the women who donates to his cause, a divorcee named Muriel, whom he met on the train to finds herself wondering the next morning if there isn't more she can to help (What Was a Woman to Do).

Lawrence gets word that another well-known con artist, who goes by the name of "The Jackal", is heading to town. On a return trip from Switzerland, he meets Freddy, who is working his small-time grift on a fellow passenger. Assuming that Freddy is the Jackal, Lawrence convinces him that Beaumont Sur Mer is not worth his while and sends him on his way. However, a chance encounter with Muriel shows Freddy that Lawrence is a fraud, and he confronts him at his palatial estate. The splendor of Lawrence's world overwhelms Freddy, who begs him to teach him what he knows so that he too can get some Great Big Stuff. Meanwhile, Lawrence asks Andre to make sure Muriel stays away.
Now comes the scene that steals the show: Oklahoma! With the lithe, gorgeous, Jolene played by Jennifer Cody. She is engaged to Lawrence, who is about to break up with her, after taking some of her dough, but she had planned to have her Daddy’s private jet fly in that night pick them both up and high-tail it to Oklahoma for the wedding. Lawrence doesn’t want to live with her – she is an empty-headed, bossy twit, albeit rich, so devises a plan so she will dump him.
When Lawrence attempts to show Freddy how it's done by winning over the rich Jolene, his plan backfires as she becomes convinced they will marry and move back to her home (Oklahoma). In order to get out of this mess, Freddy poses as Lawrence's younger brother, who manages to repulse Jolene enough to make her leave (All About Ruprecht).

Lawrence's assistant-in-crime, the police chief Andre, is unimpressed with Freddy (Chimp in a Suit), and warns that he could give them all away. Meanwhile, the Colglate heiress, Christine, arrives and Lawrence and Freddy both woo her. Brynn O’Malley, as Christine, is a treasure, a great singer, actress and dancer and a beautiful. Another women, flitting through the play, is the plain Muriel, played by Lynne Wintersteller, who’s got her own surprise.

Oh, but wait until Act II to see who gives the game up. I’m not telling. Who is the Jackal? Who is the biggest con artist of all?

Book by Jeffrey Lane, Music and Lyrics by David Yazbek, Based on the film "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" written by Dale Launer and Stanley Shapiro & Paul Henning. The North Shore Music Theatre Orchestra, conducted by Steven Freeman, was terrific. Costumes tantalizing, especially in the Oklahoma number; lighting, good, sets, good, direction by Mark Martino, superb; choreography by Denis Jones, terrific.

A Chorus Line Casting Call at NSMT

2010-09-09T11:32:00.001-04:00

"Casting Call -- North Shore Music Theatre (NSMT) is holding auditions for performers for its upcoming production of A CHORUS LINE directed by Mark Martino. Auditions will be held on Saturday September 25, 2010 at North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, MA. Break a leg. A CHORUS LINE rehearsals begin October 18 and performances are November 2 – 21. A specific rehearsal and performance schedule will be provided at the auditions.For A Chorus Line,NSMT is seeking male and female dancers who sing well. All ethnicities are encouraged to audition. NSMT will see female dancers at 10 AM and male dancers at 1PM. All those auditioning should arrive early to warm up and register. Auditions will start at specified times. Callbacks will be at 4pm. Those auditioning should be prepared to dance. Also, please prepare an appropriate standard Broadway song to sing after all have danced. Please bring sheet music, an accompanist will be provided. Please bring a picture and resume, stapled together. Auditions will be held in NSMT’s Theatre Arts and Education Building behind the theatre at 62 Dunham Rd., Beverly. For more information email NorthShoreMusicTheatre@nsmt.org or call (978) 232-7200.

“An Ideal Husband”Oscar Wilde is a Hit at Gloucester Stage

2010-08-22T16:16:00.007-04:00

REVIEW – Onstage now at the Gloucester Stage Theater, “An Ideal Husband” is an 1895 comedic play by Oscar Wilde which satirizes political corruption, image, hypocrisy, redemption, jealousy, honesty in government and the moral superiority of some women. Sound familiar? Themes just as pertinent today as in Victorian times.

This is a must-see play and offers great summertime fun especially as our political season heats up. In “An Ideal Husband” Wilde satirizes noble nobles, political shenanigans, financial insider trading, loyalty and foolishness. The comedy is produced, performed, staged and directed with panache, great comedic timing, and crisp diction allowing the audience to enjoy Wilde’s wit and wisdom. Under the direction of Karen MacDonald, with an adaptation by Daniel Morris, a handsome set by Julia Noulin-Merat, and in a classy Victorian set, with period costumes by Molly Trainer.

Four actors portray nine characters, some requiring cross-dressing, adding to the humor of this roller coaster, fast-witted, fast- paced s comedy of manners about friendship, political corruption, blackmail, and redemption. Listen up, Rod Blagojevich. Thanks to Karen MacDonald’s crisp direction, and the actors’ good acting, the play is a great night at the Gloucester Stage Theater.

The witty Wilde wrote many now-classic lines in this play, I kept scribbling away in my notebook in an effort to remember them. Some of my favorites: “I always pass on good advice. It is the only thing to do with it. It is never of any use to oneself.”

"To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance."

"Philanthropy seems to me to have become simply the refuge of people who wish to annoy their fellow-creatures."

"Questions are never indiscreet. Answers sometimes are."

As the play gets going, we are introduced to the main characters in this social and political contretemps involving the upper and ruling British class. Sir Robert Chiltern, is angry at his wife’s refusal to sanction his past corruption and his about-t-be-repeated second act of political corruption (issuing a favorable report on an Argentine Canal scheme so the British cabinet will endorse it),

"How many men there are in modern life who would like to see their past burning to white ashes before them!" Sir Robert eventually says, explaining why he’s ready to give in to blackmail that will destroy his marriage, good name and career in the British government. But his wife, Gertrude, morally indignant, gets him to apologizes and show moral courage even if it will ruin him. She also aims to save him, and expose sexy, evil Mrs. Cheveley, his blackmailer, save his career and honor. Friends help her, too.

The ensuing plot complications, drawing room comedy involving grand drawing rooms, fathers, sisters, and friends offer great entertainment and pointed political and moral barbs.

The appearance of Angie Jepson as Mrs. Cheveley, a seductive schemer who’s blackmailing Sir Robert Chiltern (Brendan Powers), a rich aristocrat who’s undersecretary for foreign affairs. Brendan Powers is a handsome, believable and eventually likeable character who I wanted to triumph, especially after he spoke against the Argentine scheme.

A romance between Sir Robert’s intelligent sister, Mabel (also played by Angie Jepson), and Lord Goring (Lewis D. Wheeler), who once was engaged to Mrs. Cheveley, a former classmate of Lady Chiltern who even then was a thief and liar keep the plot lively.

The production’s four actors acquit themselves ably, British accents and ease handling multiple parts (the men play minor female characters and the women play minor male characters).

As Lady Chiltern, Carrie Ann Quinn, is simply wonderful, a bit idealistic and simpering at first, then strong and determined. Good job. Lewis D. Wheeler has many of Wilde’s best lines as Lord Goring, and he delivers them with am aristocratic nonchalant air.

AN IDEAL HUSBAND Play by Oscar Wilde, adapted by Daniel Morris, Directed by: Karen MacDonald. Sets, Julia Noulin-Merat. Costumes, Molly Trainer. Lights, Kenneth Helvig. Sound, David Remedios. Gloucester Stage Company, Gloucester, through Aug. 29. Tickets: $37. 978-281-4433, www.gloucesterstage.org.

NEXT AT THE GLOUCESTER: Trad -- September 2 – 12, by Mark Doherty, A hit in Boston, Trad is the hilarious fable of hundred-year-old Thomas and his improbably ancient Dad. When Thomas reveals that he once fathered a son in a long-ago fling, the pair set off across the Irish countryside to find the child, with nothing more than a hobble and a limp to help them. • Artists’ post-show“Talk Back” Sunday, September 5. Directed by Carmel O'Reilly, Starring original cast members, Nancy E. Carroll, Colin Hamell & Billy Meleady. Tickets available now.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Sensational at NSMT

2010-08-07T10:42:00.006-04:00

Sometimes it felt like a three-ring circus, so much is happening at once. Deliciously wonderful, its universal themes, and catchy music make it a classic treat for families.

REVIEW: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is a fun, frolicking, energetic, high-spirited musical narration of the Old Testament story from Genesis of Joseph, father, Jacob, and Joseph’s 11 jealous brothers. Eventually, the 12 reconciled and became the 12 Tribes of Israel. The timeless, fun show is entertaining for audiences of all ages and performers, superbly staged and performed, with dazzling costumes and dances.

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s musical retelling of the Biblical story of Joseph is high-powered fun for the whole family.
Sitting in the North Shore Music Theater, Beverly, audience in the round, so close to the action onstage, I felt transported to the Biblical days in the land of Canaan and Egypt. The non-stop singing, and terrifically entertaining dancing left me happy when Joseph was thrown into jail and had to sing a solo. Whew! Time to just hear his voice. The lovely silken voice of Jennifer Paz, The Narrator, Joseph’s brothers, patriarch Jacob, Egyptian dancers, and children’s chorus, Potiphar, the Cook in Prison, romped up and down the aisles, hopping easily on and off stage, through the trap in the floor – Joseph was thrown into the pit.

Anthony Fedorov (American Idol) as Joseph has a soaring, strong voice stars in the title role. A handsome guy, with a natural ease on stage. Jennifer Paz as the Narrator is engaging and enchanting with her soaring voice and graceful movement. Gary Lynch as Pharaoh is a hoot as a pre-incarnation of Elvis.

The opening night audience including dozens of kids who appreciated the kid chorus, whooped and hollered in appreciation. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's kaleidoscopic family musical retelling of the biblical story of Joseph, his devoted father, his jealous brothers, and his incredible series of adventures leading him to become the Egyptian Pharaoh’s high ranking official, in large part thanks to his ability to interpret dreams.

In this all-sung piece the story is told through a variety of melodic musical styles. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music ranged from country to calypso, reggae, vaudeville, and rockabilly and rock ‘n roll in a series of musical numbers. Tim Rice’s lyrics are witty and hilarious. Sometimes it felt like a three-ring circus, so much is happening at once. Deliciously wonderful, its universal themes, and catchy music make it a classic treat for families.

JOSEPH’s songs include "Any Dream Will Do," the Caribbean infused "Benjamin Calypso," the dazzling "Jacob and Sons/Joseph's Coat," the rockabilly sensation "Song of the King (Seven Fat Cows)" and the unforgettable "Go, Go, Go Joseph."

Kudos to imaginative director/choreographer Jayme McDaniel who seamlessly delivers an original spectacular, high-energy production. My one complaint was that a group of black-robed women stood still in a group for too long during an Act I song, blocking the center stage. Otherwise, the creative crew was superb -- Eric Alsford (Musical Director), Campbell Baird (Scenic Designer), Jose Rivera (Costume Coordinator), Chris Chambers (Lighting Designer), James McCartney (Sound Designer), and Gerard Kelly (Wig Designer). The psychedelic curly wigs the Hair dancers wore made me laugh; while the Pharaoh’s wife and attendants sequined sexy costumes were fascinating, showing the pickle Joseph was in as she tried to seduce him. Oops, then he landed in jail.

In Act I we learned about Joseph’s dream. Able to interpret the dream, he bragged about his future greatness to his brothers. Joseph, dressed in simple white, was their father’s favorite, wore the coat of many colors his father bestowed upon him. He was also the only blonde in the tribe of dark-haired raggedy-clothed brothers, all “The Sons of Jacob” (another raucous song with dance, Andrew Lloyd Weber song “Any Dream Will Do” earned the envy of his older brothers. Not so peaceful in Canaan because not only was Joseph his father’s favorite, but he also had the gift of prophecy.

The 11 brothers let their hatred consume them. Watching their sheep, they plotted to get rid of Joseph in the desert. They tore off his robe, threw him into a pit, then pulled him out and sold him to traders heading to Egypt, Whew. But surely we all know the story?

This first full-length musical by theatrical team Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, JOSEPH is a retelling of the biblical story of Joseph, his devoted father, Jacob, his jealous brothers, and his incredible series of adventures. The musical was only 20 minutes long when unknown 19-year-old Andrew Lloyd Webber created it for a British school choir in 1968. He asked his friend Rice to write the lyrics and soon they expanded it to 40 minutes and took it to the London stage. Since then, JOSEPH has continued to grow, both in length and popularity.

The NSMT production features a gaggle of local gleeful kids as chorus, who were seen throughout the show skipping rope, throwing balls, playing and singing. The present and past.

The high-stepping choreography, snappy staging, neon, psychedlic costumes, and many hilarious dance numbers. Hints of “West Side Story” and Elvis’ songs add to the frivolity.

Jennifer Paz The Narrator with the children's Choir,
Rachelle Rak (Mrs. Potiphar) and ensemble, a seductress who didn’t get her “man” so had Joseph thrown into jail where our her to began the journey out of jail and into Pharaoh’s inner court.
Gary Lynch as The Pharaoh – an Elvis look-alike – made the audience howl when he first appeared, shaking and singing. In "Those Canaan Days" - Daniel C. Levine as Napthali reviewed the tribes’ tribulations. "Benjamin Calypso" - Anthony Fedorov (Joseph), Brandon O'Neill (Asher) and ensemble was a song that was hard not to dance to.

The ensemble cast features Bob Amaral (Jacob, Potiphar), Will Cohen (Judah), Anthony Christian Daniel (Zebulun), Nick Kenkel (Simeon), Miles A. Johnson (Dan), Daniel C. Levine (Napthali), Brandon O'Neill (Asher), Matt Owen (Levi), Frankie Paparone (Gad), Christopher Spaulding (Issachar), Allan Snyder (Reuben), and Michael Warrell (Benjamin). Katie Leigh Allen, Lauren Lukacek, Rachelle Rak (Mrs. Potiphar), reminded me of some again Hollywood star aiming for another conquest. Ann-Marie Sepe, Allysa L. Shorte, Emily Tyra, and Megan Wean. All terrific.

JOSEPH also features a chorus of 20 talented local children. Tickets for JOSEPH are $35 - $65. Performances are August 3 - 22, Tue - Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri & Sat at 8 pm, matinees Wed, Sat and Sun at 2 pm. For tickets and information call (978) 232-7200, visit www.nsmt.org, or in person at 62 Dunham Rd. Beverly.

North Shore Music Theatre's Gypsy, Joseph Rock the House

2010-07-27T09:38:00.005-04:00

The North Shore Music Theater reopened with “Gypsy”, after being closed for one season. Thanks for our own angel, musical theater believer producer Bill Hanney. Mr. Hanney launched the 2010 Broadway musical series and greeted the cheering, exuberant theatergoers opening night. When Bill Haney was introduced before Act I, the crowd jumped up, applauded, hooted, whistled and hollered in gratitude for his reopening this theater. Thank you so much, Bill Haney, NSMT”S shining star and angel.

Gpysy and star Vicki Lewis soar in this lively, fun show. Many of the songs became popular standards including “Small World,” “Everything's Coming up Roses,” “You'll Never Get Away from Me,” and “Let Me Entertain You.” DO NOT MISS THIS OUTSTANDING MUSICAL -- it’s great.

Standing ovations rocked the theater-in-the round 1100+ seats throughout the night, both for Bill Haney and for the performances and production. And especially for Vicki Lewis as Rose. Impeccable voice, riveting performance, and energetic movement riveted my attention on her throughout the show.

Gypsy, the 1959 musical with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and book by Arthur Laurents, is loosely based on the 1957 memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, the famous striptease artist. The show focuses on her mother, Momma Rose, "the ultimate show business mother." Rose ultimately alienated both girls, and stole her daughters’ youth. But funny isn’t it, both girls did became stars – June became June Havoc, Louise, Gypsy Rose Lee.

Momma Rose’s ambition, chutzpah, verve, nerve, drive, talent and unrelenting personality led her to take her two young daughters from “humdrum” Seattle into tawdry show business, then the “big time” excitement of Vaudeville. Throughout the years, June (June Havoc) headlined the musical act while Louise sewed costumes and played the back end of a cow. Rose constantly assailed her for having no talent.

In Gypsy, Vicki Lewis is a big Star with incredible voice and charisma. My one critique is she is ageless throughout the show. I wish makeup would have added a bit of age to her, maybe grayed her auburn hair a bit.

The production include gorgeous, colorful costumes, just-enough set, great use of the central stage’s elevator and bright lighting. The ensemble cast is superb. As young Baby June, Sarah Safer is superb; Amanda Lee Lavergne, as older June, terrific; Hannah Piispanetn, as young Louise, very good. Gypsy is crisply directed and choreographed by Richard Sabellico. Except for a few flyaway hats and a scarf, it was smooth as silk.
The creative team also includes Nick DeGregorio (Musical Director) whose orchestra sounded gorgeous. Campbell Baird (Scenic Designer), Jose Rivera (Costume Coordinator), Jack Mehler (Lighting Designer), James McCartney (Sound Designer) and Gerard Kelly (Wig Designer).

Catherine Walker as older Louise, is lovely, convincing as the girl who desperately wants her mother’s love and attention, then, gorgeous as she Gypsy Rose Lee, the beautiful star of burlesque who transcended that genre. Louise’s onstage transformation from no talent, awkward girl in baggy clothes to a confident, comic innovative “stipper” is the audience, and I, cheered. In an onstage seamless sequence of slinky sequined gowns, plain Louise became a glamorous, sensual woman we applauded.

By the end, Momma Rose was jealous as Louise finally breaks the stranglehold Momma had on her. Vicki Lewis’s dramatic “Momma’s Turn” was stunning, ending with her belting our her song, standing atop the rising mid-stage oval, throwing out her arms as the theatre was ringed by light bulbs spelling out “ROSE.” Her dream. The audience gave this number an ovation.

Rose’s ambition led her to leave a hum-drum life living with her father and daughters her in Seattle, and performing in kiddies like Uncle Jocko’s, she wanted to head to Los Angeles and ultimately get on the Orpheum vaudeville Circuit.

The opening number, “May We Entertain You”, featured blonde Baby June, Baby Louise, and the act singing, ‘May We Entertain You.” It’s not a very good act, but Momma Rose forced Uncle Jocko to award them the prize for his kiddies show.

“Some People” showcased Vicki Lewis’ magnificent voice and acting, as she explained why she wasn’t content to paying rent. Her father didn’t want her to leave, but she sold her father’s gold retirement trophy to get the $88 she needed for new costumes for her Baby June act, began hitching to LA with the girls and gathering up young boys along the way to star in the Act I This clever staging had the chassis and driver of a car, chug around the stage, picking up other hitchhikers, until they arrived in LA. A quick exit and transition, from young to older was seamless.

Two of the funniest scenes in the musical were “Mr. Goldstone, I love You,” when Mr. Goldstone visited Rose at her seedy boarding house to tell her the act was going to be in the Orpheum Circuit. Herbie, Rose’s agent and boyfriend, signed the deal, as the family shoveled eggs rolls, spare ribs, and other Chinese tidbits onto his plate.

The transition from young to older June and Louise was cleverly done as strobe lights flashed on and off during a “young” dance, then stopped flashing to reveal grownup June and Louise and ensemble in the same costumes. This was typical of the professional staging, involving dozens of scenes and years

Another fun number, which had the audience and me, howling, was the hilarious burlesque striptease number “You Gotta Get a Gimmick” featuring Laurie Gamache as Tessie Tura, Jacquelyn Piro Donovan as Mazeppa and scene- stealer Jan Neuberger as Electra, the three strippers Louise roomed with in the burlesque house they’d been mistakenly booked into. Herb, finally fed up with Rose who insisted Louise could do a modest strip routine, left Rose. Rose quickly recovered her shock, and started coaching Louse, as the three strippers – looking very much over the hill – coached her in “You Gotta Have A Gimmick.” Electra, the least glam, lit up the lights on her costume. Yow, maybe we do need burlesque?

Indomitable Momma was heartbroken and angry when teenage June left to live her own show biz lives. But it didn’t take her longer than one song to rebound, and she soon went and recruited new girls to travel with her in a new act starring the long-suffering and talent less Louise.

Eventually, Louise became a star. The emotional, dramatic, "Rose’s Turn," at the end of the show reveals, finally, after Louse has left her, too, what motivated Rose. Throughout, Rose never apologized, picked herself up after every setback, and went onward. But Rose did turn “baby,” in real life June Havoc, and Louise, in real life “Gypsy” Rose Lee into true stars.

Featured in the cast are Nisa Ari, Richard Bell, John Allen Biles, Jack Doyle, Alliy Drago, Hayley Driscoll, Amanda Frennier, Laurie Gamache (Tessie Tura), Sarah Hicks, Tony Johnson, Amanda Lea LaVergne (June), Trey Mitchell, Matthew Moore, Jan Neuberger (Electra), Marty Passante, Jacquelyn Piro Donovan (Mazeppa), Eric Shorey, Sarah Safer (Baby June), Matthew Simpkins, Diane Terrusa, Catherine Walker (Louise), Kirby Ward (Herbie), and Pearce Wegener (Tulsa). Pearce Wegener, as Tulsa, was grown-up June’s boyfriend, and his tap dancing was outstanding.

Next shows are "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat:" Aug. 3 to 22, starring "American Idol" finalist Anthony Fedorov. Tickets $35 - $65. For tickets: call (978) 232-7200, visit www.nsmt.org, or in person at 62 Dunham Rd. Beverly MA. For more on North Shore Music Theatre and its upcoming season, visit www.nsmt.org or call 978-232-7200.

Tender Drama At Gloucester Stage Highlights American Dream

2010-07-25T12:48:00.002-04:00

Tender is a compelling two-act drama, filled with insights, laughs and painful choices for a once-thriving middle-class family facing the nightmares of the American recession instead of their once-gilded American Dream in Southern California. Living it, with a big house, private school for 11-year old daughter, Lexi, Brian, his overworked, frantic wife, Amanda, and her vitriolic dad, Frank. Financial devastation due to a failed economy – Brian lost his job, realator Amanda can’t sell a house -- father, Frank, slowly fading into dementia, has a financial secret.
Faced with financial ruin, a foreclosure, loss of “pride,” and a feeling of shame, the family rebalances, writes off its debts and recalibrates its American Dream, and heads for the Open Road. Hoping to find something.

In this world premiere of his new play, playwright Kelly Younger delivers a way out of a family’s shattered suburban dream. Walls come tumbling down, figuratively and literally, after Frank accidentally backs up a “borrowed” Winnebago RV into the living room. Boom. House, dreams, and a valiant attempt to keep the dream alive came to an end as the family slowly takes a new path to a new beginning.

The compelling, realistic portrayal of a family facing bankruptcy that forces them to abandon their once-stable lives, to start over. But where? As they plan to leave Southern California. Like a 1930s Dust Bowl family, they were also devastated by the drought in their well-educated, lush suburban lives, and finally pack it in, heading out for a new start in California.

Amanda (performed, nay, inhabited by the amazing Denise Cormier) struggles to close a real estate sale, to then refinance and save their home from foreclosure. A hard worker, she’s disillusioned and angry as hell. As his wife works long hours, Her out-of-work husband, Brian (played by the able Brendan Powers), runs the house and takes care of his daughter. He is taunted mercilessly by vitriolic father-in-law, Frank, (played with depth and humor by Richard McElvain) who lives with them. Frank is a pain, occasionally joining in or starting heated arguments, sometimes throwing out his zingers. Frank’s a know-it-all, sarcastic and mean spirited. He’d cared for himself and Amanda since his wife and her mother left them. “You owe me,” he states, over and over, in a mean little guilt trip. The little post-it notes plastered on the dining room walls, we learn late in the play, are actually I.O.U.s Frank has put there: “Lexi, you owe me for 45 minutes of tutoring” and the like.

But Frank is a dreamer, too, and convinces his family to take to the open road, to see America, in the Winnebago he parked in their front yard. To relive his past drive up the Pacific Coast to tour William Randolph Hearst’s castle in San Simeon. Frank also longs for freedom from his mindless job as a truck driver driving a car nicknamed a “yard goat’’ that moves trailers around a warehouse yard. Never driving on the open road. Pent up.

“When I was in Hearst’s Castle with your mother, the tour guide showed us “Forty-one fireplaces!’’ he keeps exclaiming, and a magnificent pool. Frank is a shrill, false conscience, insisting the bankrupt family “owe” him. The I.O.U.s came due and can’t be paid. But ultimately, that dream – and burden -- must be released let go, and a new reality faced in order for Amanda, Brian, Frank, and US to move on. Amanda, the sole support of the family, has been desperately clinging to the dream, to the house, to “respectability.” She won’t let it go. One dramatic, painful theme in the play is her last ditch chance to sell a property, and refinance the house and avoid foreclosure.

SO when the Winnebago, driven by not-quite-together Frank into the living room, explodes into the living room at the end of ACT I, and the walls come tumbling down, liberation pierces their home. And sets them all free to make difficult choices. To face the new reality, try to build a new life. Outside of their “secure” home, community, schools, suburban life.

He felt trapped in his life as Amanda and Brian now feel trapped in theirs. “You owe me,’’ he tells Amanda repeatedly. The walls of the house are bedecked with IOU’s Frank has written to remind the others of their obligation to him for every gesture, no matter how small. Finally, the bills came due, for him, too, as he faces a new future. Apart from his family.

Seamlessly directed by Eric C. Engel, the drama slowly enfolded me in its world, leaving me sad, sympathetic and worried at the end of the play. Worried about the couple’s uncertain future, but hoping they’d make another stand.

Nice sets, by Julia Noulin-Merat, hinted at the lost wealth of a couple that've been selling possessions on e-bay and yard sales. Costumes, Molly Trainer. Lights, by Russ Swift, added a nice touch with the transparent “walls” to the kitchen and living room.
At Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main St., Gloucester, MA. Through July 25. Tickets $37 ($32 for students and senior citizens). 978-281-4433. www.gloucesterstage.org

Next play at the Gloucester Stage is Trying, By Joanna McClelland Glass, winner of the prestigious Jefferson Award for Best New Play, 2004. Directed by Eric C. Engel and featuring Richard Mawe and Becky Webber, it is a cross-generational tour de force ensues when Sarah, a young secretary from the Canadian prairie, fi nds herself working for the aging Francis Biddle, Attorney General during World War II and the primary American judge on the postwar Nuremberg Trials. This intimate and inspiring story, based on the playwright’s own experience, has been acclaimed by audiences and critics in the United States and Canada. • The show runs from July 29 to August 8.

Gloucester Stage Company, opened for its 31st consecutive season with “Table Manners”

2010-07-15T18:18:00.003-04:00

GLOUCESTER STAGE THEATER OPENED its 31st season with the comedy “Table Manners,’’ announced artistic director Eric C. Engel. The season continues with “Tender Mercies,” “Trying,’’ July 29-Aug. 8; “Riders to the Sea’’ and “Brilliant Traces,’’ Aug. 12-22; and “An Ideal Husband,’’ Aug. 26 to Sept. 12.

“Table Manners,’’ the first play in “The Norman Conquests’’ trilogy by Alan Ayckbourn, is a hilarious comedy of dysfunctional family life is the first in the wildly acclaimed trilogy the Norman Conquests by Alyn Ayckbourn. The raucous family reunion of adult siblings and their spouses, the brilliant, insightful, entertaining, and laugh ‘til you cry comedic trilogy, “Table Manners’’ —The three comedies, which each look at a disastrous family weekend from a different perspective, are each self-contained.

Engel’s seamlessly directed a cast including Gloucester resident Lindsay Crouse, and Boston actors Paula Plum, Richard Snee, and Steven Barkhimer.

The repartee goes lickety split, and director Eric Engel’s direction is pitch perfect. He guided the terrific cast deftly as they delivered the playwrights’ zippy one-liners at Vaudevillian speed, Acyrburn throws in the full comedic treasure trove, from slapstick (a sight gag of Tom, in Act II, sitting at a low stool at the dining room table during a meal of mystery stew, caused a sweep of laughter opening night. Throw in some farce – who did Norman want to bed besides his icy wife? – and excellent, madcap plot and it’s comedy which Jerry Seinfeld would adore. Friends? Family? Enemies? It’s all here.

Jenna McFarland Lord’s excellent tri-level set is a country dining room with several doors leading out and in, allowing for quick exits and entrances, timed like a Marx Brothers movie.

Sarah Newhouse as Annie, is he the daughter who’s s stayed home to tend to their invalid mother. Her sister and brother, Reg (played by Richard Snee) and Ruth (Jennie Israel) have left home and have their own lives. As the play opens, good-natured Reg and his bossy wife Sarah (Lindsay Crouse), arrive to watch their mom so Annie can take a weekend’s vacation.

Trouble breaks out when Sarah discovers that Annie is going off not with Tom (Barlow Adamson), the unassertive veterinarian who’s been hanging around her for years, but with Norman (Steven Barkhimer), married to none other than Ruth Annie’s own sister. Sarah intervenes, Norman gets drunk, Ruth shows up, and comic complications build up.

Lindsay Crouse is aptly stuffy – and funny -- as Sarah, always taking charge, she annoys everyone, especially her husband. Sarah, a compulsive, uptight and a constant complainer bosses everyone around, but aims to especially “correct” baby sister Annie who’d tried to tryst with Norman. But Sarah the morality police discovers this, and then stops her from going. Sarah (Lindsay) drove me crazy as she fastidiously folded and refolded napkins, stuffing them into the glasses as if she were smacking each of her family members.

We adore funny, sweet Norm, who dresses for dinner in a too-big red tuxedo, puts his head on the table and his knees on the chair.

Tom and Reg (Richard Snee) are nice guys. Barlow Adamson Brown is lackadaisical and distant as Tom. Richard Snee is a giggling Reg who agrees with his wife's perception that "inertia is his outstanding characteristic." But married to Sarah, it’s a good defense. Jennie Israel is the blasé Ruth. Being at the family reunion she yells we’re upset "because none of us happens to like each other."

Sarah complains endlessly about her rashes, nervous trembling and tiring life raising two kids. She berates Norm non-stop. Until Norman says he wants to make her happy. Oops – she likes that, she really does.

Tickets are $37, $32 for students and senior citizens. The first Saturday matinee of each production is “pay what you can.’’ The 8 p.m. performance on Thursdays is half-price for Cape Ann residents. Call 978-281-4433 or visit www.gloucesterstage.org.
Photo Credit: Eric Levenson

Theater Review: Gypsy a Rave at NSMT

2010-07-11T09:17:00.004-04:00

North Shore Music Theater reopened with “Gypsy”, after being closed for one season. Thanks for our own angel, musical theater believer producer Bill Hanney. Mr. Hanney launched the 2010 Broadway musical series and greeted the cheering, exuberant theatergoers opening night. When Bill Haney was introduced before Act I, the crowd jumped up, applauded, hooted, whistled and hollered in gratitude for his reopening this theater. Thank you so much, Bill Haney, NSMT”S shining star and angel.

Gpysy and star Vicki Lewis soar in this lively, fun show. Many of the songs became popular standards including “Small World,” “Everything's Coming up Roses,” “You'll Never Get Away from Me,” and “Let Me Entertain You.” DO NOT MISS THIS OUTSTANDING MUSICAL -- it’s great.

Standing ovations rocked the theater-in-the round 1100+ seats throughout the night, both for Bill Haney and for the stunning performances and production. And especially for Vicki Lewis as Rose. Impeccable voice, riveting performance, and energetic movement riveted my attention on her throughout the show. She was in almost every act.

Gypsy, the 1959 musical with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and book by Arthur Laurents, is loosely based on the 1957 memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, the famous striptease artist. The show focuses on her mother, Momma Rose, "the ultimate show business mother." Rose ultimately alienated both girls, and stole her daughters’ youth. But funny isn’t it, both girls did became stars – June became June Havoc, Louise, Gypsy Rose Lee.

Momma Rose’s ambition, chutzpah, verve, nerve, drive, talent and unrelenting personality led her to take her two young daughters from “humdrum” Seattle into tawdry show business, then the “big time” excitement of Vaudeville. Throughout the years, June (June Havoc) headlined the musical act while Louise sewed costumes and played the back end of a cow. Rose constantly assailed her for having no talent.

In Gypsy, Vicki Lewis is a big Star with her incredible voice and charisma. My one critique is she is ageless throughout the show. I wish makeup would have added a bit of age to her, maybe grayed her auburn hair a bit.

The production values include gorgeous, colorful costumes, just-enough set, great use of the central stage’s elevator and bright lighting. The ensemble cast is superb. As young Baby June, Sarah Safer is superb; Amanda Lee Lavergne, as older June, terrific; Hannah Piispanetn, as young Louise, very good. Gypsy is crisply directed and choreographed by Richard Sabellico. Except for a few flyaway hats and a scarf, it was smooth as silk. The creative team also includes Nick DeGregorio (Musical Director) whose orchestra sounded gorgeous. Campbell Baird (Scenic Designer), Jose Rivera (Costume Coordinator), Jack Mehler (Lighting Designer), James McCartney (Sound Designer) and Gerard Kelly (Wig Designer).

Catherine Walker as older Louise, is lovely, convincing as the girl who desperately wants her mother’s love and attention, then, gorgeous as she Gypsy Rose Lee, the beautiful star of burlesque who transcended that genre. Louise’s onstage transformation from no talent, awkward girl in baggy clothes to a confident, comic innovative “stipper” is the audience, and I, cheered. In an onstage seamless sequence of slinky sequined gowns, plain Louise became a glamorous, sensual woman we applauded.

By the end, Momma Rose was jealous as Louise finally breaks the stranglehold Momma had on her. Vicki Lewis’s dramatic “Momma’s Turn” was stunning, ending with her belting our her song, standing atop the rising mid-stage oval, throwing out her arms as the theatre was ringed by light bulbs spelling out “ROSE.” Her dream. The audience gave this number an ovation.

Rose’s ambition led her to leave a hum-drum life living with her father and daughters her in Seattle, and performing in kiddies like Uncle Jocko’s, she wanted to head to Los Angeles and ultimately get on the Orpheum vaudeville Circuit.

The opening number, “May We Entertain You”, featured blonde Baby June, Baby Louise, and the act singing, ‘May We Entertain You.” It’s not a very good act, but Momma Rose forced Uncle Jocko to award them the prize for his kiddies show.

“Some People” showcased Vicki Lewis’ magnificent voice and acting, as she explained why she wasn’t content to paying rent. Her father didn’t want her to leave, but she sold her father’s gold retirement trophy to get the $88 she needed for new costumes for her Baby June act, began hitching to LA with the girls and gathering up young boys along the way to star in the Act I This clever staging had the chassis and driver of a car, chug around the stage, picking up other hitchhikers, until they arrived in LA. A quick exit and transition, from young to older was seamless.

Two of the funniest scenes in the musical were “Mr. Goldstone, I love You,” when Mr. Goldstone visited Rose at her seedy boarding house to tell her the act was going to be in the Orpheum Circuit. Herbie, Rose’s agent and boyfriend, signed the deal, as the family shoveled eggs rolls, spare ribs, and other Chinese tidbits onto his plate.

The transition from young to older June and Louise was cleverly done as strobe lights flashed on and off during a “young” dance, then stopped flashing to reveal grownup June and Louise and ensemble in the same costumes. This was typical of the professional staging, involving dozens of scenes and years

Another fun number, which had the audience and me, howling, was the hilarious burlesque striptease number “You Gotta Get a Gimmick” featuring Laurie Gamache as Tessie Tura, Jacquelyn Piro Donovan as Mazeppa and scene- stealer Jan Neuberger as Electra, the three strippers Louise roomed with in the burlesque house they’d been mistakenly booked into.

Herb, finally fed up with Rose who insisted Louise could do a modest strip routine, left Rose. Rose quickly recovered her shock, and started coaching Louse, as the three strippers – looking very much over the hill – coached her in “You Gotta Have A Gimmick.” Electra, the least glam, lit up the lights on her costume. Yow, maybe we do need burlesque?

Indomitable Momma was heartbroken and angry when teenage June left to live her own show biz lives. But it didn’t take her longer than one song to rebound, and she soon went and recruited new girls to travel with her in a new act starring the long-suffering and talent less Louise.

Eventually, Louise became a big star and left Rose, too. "The emotional, dramatic, "Rose’s Turn," at the end of the show reveals, finally, after Louse has left her, too, what motivated Rose. Throughout, Rose never apologized, picked herself up after every setback, and went onward. But Rose did turn “baby,” in real life June Havoc, and Louise, in real life “Gypsy” Rose Lee into true stars.

Featured in the cast are Nisa Ari, Richard Bell, John Allen Biles, Jack Doyle, Alliy Drago, Hayley Driscoll, Amanda Frennier, Laurie Gamache (Tessie Tura), Sarah Hicks, Tony Johnson, Amanda Lea LaVergne (June), Trey Mitchell, Matthew Moore, Jan Neuberger (Electra), Marty Passante, Jacquelyn Piro Donovan (Mazeppa), Eric Shorey, Sarah Safer (Baby June), Matthew Simpkins, Diane Terrusa, Catherine Walker (Louise), Kirby Ward (Herbie), and Pearce Wegener (Tulsa). Pearce Wegener, as Tulsa, was grown-up June’s boyfriend, and his tap dancing was outstanding.

Young actors and actresses from the North Shore, who might have a show business career in their futures, also appeared.

Tickets for GYPSY are from $35 - $65. Performances are July 6 - 25, Tue – Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri & Sat at 8 pm, matinees Wed, Sat and Sun at 2 pm. For tickets: call (978) 232-7200, visit www.nsmt.org, or in person at 62 Dunham Rd. Beverly, Massachusets. Next shows are "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat:" Aug. 3 to 22, starring "American Idol" finalist Anthony Fedorov.

For more on North Shore Music Theatre and its upcoming season, visit www.nsmt.org or call 978-232-7200.

Gaslight, the Play, a Spooky Hit

2010-06-04T11:17:00.003-04:00

Stoneham Theater opened Gaslight as a play this past weekend and it's spooky and good dynamic fun. Like the classic movies, this theatrical version makes a theatergoer jump from fright and anticipation more than one time.
Stoneham Theatre presents Gaslight; directed by Weylin Symes and featuring Marianna Bassham and Robert Sorrel. Performances run from May 27 through June 13: Thurs. (7:30 pm), Fri. (8 pm), Sat. (4 pm & 8 pm), Sun. (2 pm). Tickets: $38-$44 regular admission, $34-40 for seniors, $20 for students; with student/senior discount matinees available. [Special pay what you can performance on Thurs., May 27.] Stoneham Theatre. 395 Main Street, Stoneham. Wheelchair accessible. For advance tickets and information, visit or call the Box Office at 781-279-2200 (hours Tues.–Sat., 1–6pm) or log onto www.stonehamtheatre.org.

Bella Manningham worries that her husband may be right when he says she’s going mad. But on one eventful night, a mysterious stranger arrives and Bella begins to understand the truth behind the disappearing pictures, mysteriously dimming lights, and haunting footsteps from above. Immortalized in a 1944 film treatment starring Ingrid Bergman, Patrick Hamilton’s chamber mystery (c1938, known as Angel Street in the U.S.) is a thrilling twisty and twisted portrait of a late Victorian London marriage.

Weylin Symes, Producing Artistic Director of Stoneham Theatre, directs this classic case of complete deception, with a plot laden with carefully crafted illusions, which have been maintained throughout a 5-year marital relationship. Unparalleled with any known actual experiences at the time it was written and later filmed, Gaslight is an eerie forecast of how just a title alone can perfectly describe numerous present day relationships.

Award winning Marianna Bassham steps into the shoes of Bella Manningham while Robert Serrell portrays her less than amiable consort Jack Manningham. Serrell returns to Stoneham Theatre following his terrifying portrayal of Robert Bruno in last year’s acclaimed Strangers On A Train, which was also directed by Symes and received an IRNE award for best sound design. Christopher Webb as Inspector Rough, Angie Jepson as Nancy, Dee Nelson as Elizabeth, and Ian O’Connor as the policeman support the lead characters. The artistic team is rounded out by Jeff Adelberg (Lighting Designer), Gail Astrid Buckley (Costume Designer), Katy Monthei (Set Designer), David Reiffel (Sound Designer), and Julie Tidemand (Props Master).

Coming up next as Stoneham Theatre Special Events: “The Edwards Twins”; featuring twin brothers Anthony and Eddie Edwards, impersonators of the stars, June 18-20, 2010.
“Always … Patsy Cline”; created by Ted Swindley and starring Becky Barta, July 8-25, 2010.
For details, www.stonehamtheatre.org/patsycline09.

Vancouver's Spa Revives Olympic Mettle

2010-02-16T18:35:00.001-05:00

Vancouver, Canada, boasts two sides to its “personality” -- cosmopolitan and outdoorsy city. Which is one reason the 2010 Winter Olympics are here and nearby Whistler. It's less than two hours north to Whistler, a picturesque town whose mountains soar and roar with gold medal hopefuls and Olympic champions. Whistler's charmed spas merit a separate article which will be next.

Pacific Ocean beaches and coastal mountains, scenic Stanley Park and it’s mile-long seawall contrast with up-to-date Robson Street’s restaurants, shops, and coffee shops. Close to mountains, ocean and rivers it has an energetic, hip feel visitors sense walking its hilly city streets. But whether shopping, skiing, hiking, biking or museum-going entice, a break from a hectic schedule for a spa treatment restores tired tootsies and body. One of my favorite Vancouver spas, the Absolute Spa, is in the landmark downtown The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

Whether staying at this lovely hotel or not, men and women can book appointments at the well-appointed Absolute Spa. The extensive spa menu can puzzle anyone so the last time I visited, I took a friend’s advice and discussed treatments with the spa staff. Whew! What a relief that was, and I recommend that to everyone before choosing a specific service because even massage offerings can confuse – hot? Stone? Shiatsu? Aromatherapy? Swedish? European? Californian? So don’t be afraid to ask for help before picking.

Before I chose my service, I had a chance to talk to the skin care specialist who recommended a specific facial treatment I chose -- called, coincidentally. I also added the DNA Enriched/Vitamin C, to complement my choice.

Before the treatments, I was led to a locker room and given a plush white terry-cloth robe, slippers, and a private locker. The changing area included showers and amenities including hair spray, dryers, deodorant and towels.
After showering and changing, I was led into the serene, low-lit relaxation room where I lounged on a comfy chair, put my feet up, hydrated with mineral water and waited for my appointments. This was the area I returned to after treatments to enjoy more relaxation.

After enjoying a golden half-day at the spa, including time in the relaxation room sipping green tea and chomping on healthy snacks, my body, mind and spirit were revived. So I was ready for another frantic day sightseeing and shopping from Gastown to Chinatown.

The Absolute Spa at The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, Canada, is open Sunday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Located at 900 W. Georgia Street, (604) 648-2909, and www.absolutespa.com.

Next, let's visit Whistler and their fabulous spas, then watch the Olympic games. If you can't get a room, during the Winter Games, turn on your TV and enjoy.

Operatic Turn of the Screw, Boston Treat this Feb

2010-02-02T12:30:00.003-05:00

Prepare to be scared, musically, that is, as the Boston Lyric Opera presents its Opera Annex productions are fully staged and designed for a space outside the traditional theatre. Based on the book by Henry James, the plot begins as a Governess arrives at a lonely English country house to care for two parentless children and something is very, very wrong. Wire-taught tension mounts as she gradually senses the truth....Evil has corrupted the children and she must fight it. Britten’s chamber opera will glue you to your seats. Devastating story, riveting music.al Endowment for the Arts
Sung in English.

February 3, 5, 6, 2010. All performances 7:30pm.
Approx. length is two hours 30 minutes (includes one 20 minute intermission)

Music by Benjamin Britten.

New BLO production made possible by the generous supporters of the BLO Vision Fund and by the Nation
Join us for the free Opera Preview talk one hour before curtain led by BLO’s Principal Guest Lecturer, Elizabeth Seitz.

Composer: Benjamin Britten, Librettist: Myfanwy Piper; based on the classic story by Henry James

SPECIAL LOCATION -- The Park Plaza Castle, 130 Columbus Avenue, Boston.

Buy tickets online or call BLO’s Audience Services at 617.542.6772
Monday-Friday, 10 am-5 pm.

Tickets will be available for pick up at The Castle one hour before curtain time. Because all performances begin on time, patrons should arrive at least half an hour prior to curtain. Available online up to one day before each performance and for sale at The Castle one hour before curtain time.

Carmen at Boston Lyric Opera a Charmer

2009-11-16T10:06:00.007-05:00

Opera is a magic elixir, and it totally transports us from the everyday to the world of wonder.
Tomorrow is the last day to attend "Carmen," performed at the Shubert Theater, Boston, performed by the wonderful, zesty Boston Lyric Opera.
The opera has been a source of joy for devoted fans and new-to-the-art lovers.

For more information, call (617) 542-4912, or visit www.blo.org. Boston Lyric Opera, 45 Franklin Street, Boston, MA.

Boston Lyric Opera is on Facebook and Twitter

A trip to Washington, D.C. and Mount Vernon, Virginia Is a Great Weekend Getaway

2009-11-10T18:58:00.009-05:00

For a long weekend getaway, try a trip to Washington, D.C. and Mount Vernon, Virginia.

A van tour of Washington, D.C. and a visit to Mount Vernon, George Washington’s Estate and Gardens in Alexandria, Virginia give a terrific human and historical sense of President Washington. First in War, First in Peace, his estate is First in Popularity amongst presidential homes and museums. Charming guides from the Mt. Vernon Ladies Committee gave my writers’ group insightful and delightful tours. We also enjoyed the rare privilege of exploring the third floor and were invited to climb the ladder to the cupola. I clambered up first! and was smitten with the 360-degree panoramic view of the estate, buildings and Potomac River.

Back on earth, during the mansion tour guides told of George Washington’s Masonic activities. Exhibits in the museum included a case holding his Freemason symbols, including a candle and pyramid. George Washington was initiated as a Mason on September 1, 1752, at the Lodge at Fredericksburg. On November 4, 1752, he was made an apprentice. Washington quickly moved up the ranks, becoming a “Master Mason” on August 4, 1753, at the age of 21. We saw a portrait of George featuring his wearing his Masonic apron and sash, holding other symbols. Washington, in full Masonic dress, laid the cornerstone of the Capitol, using a Masonic trowel and square. Many of the founding fathers of our nation were also Masons, we learned on the tour. In light of the new Dan Silva book, The Lost Symbol, this was especially timely to me, an avid fan.

The day before we visited Mt. Vernon, we toured the Gaylord property and National Harbor. Then our group hopped aboard a van for a tour around Washington, D.C., just a short eight miles away. Guests at the Gaylord can also book river rides, ferries and vans at the reception desk area; many itineraries are available.

We drove past the White House, along the National Mall, stopped at the Newseum for two hours, then strolled through the Roosevelt Memorial, ate a picnic lunch on the bus and listened to our knowledgeable guide tell tales of American history and heroes.

We stopped for two hours to tour the newest museum on the National Mall, the Newseum on Pennsylvania Ave. This 250000-square-foot museum of news showcases the history of journalism in America, with one of its most striking and heart-wrenching exhibits including a wall of world newspapers front pages published after the Sept. 11 World Trade Tower, Pentagon and Pennsylvania attacks. A salvaged TV transmitter and tower blistered and burned from the attack at the WTT, is on view and caused my heart to skip a few beats. Other floors display Pulitzer prize winning published photographs including some from the Vietnam era. Interactive exhibits, videos and displays cover the six floors.

The National Art Gallery is across the street from the Newseum so I entered the free museum, skipped up to the second floor, passed through the enormous rotunda and columns then viewed the Impressionists, Renaissance, Dutch and other painters before heading back to the van.

On Friday morning, instead of the 40-minute ride by boat down the Potomac River to Mt. Vernon, we hopped the hotel shuttle van for the 20-minute drive. Saved by the van.

We began our visit to Mount Vernon at the Ford Orientation Center. A 20-minute action-adventure movie, We Fight to be Free, depicts a heroic and charismatic Washington at pivotal moments in his life. The centerpiece of a visit is seeing George Washington's home; an original building filled with 18th-century treasures, many of them owned by Washington. The Mansion sits high above the Potomac River with a stunning view of the Maryland shore.

Forty-five acres of the estate are open to the public. A spectacular view of the Potomac River from the Mansion's piazza transports visitors back in time. Four gardens showcase heirloom plants known to have been at Mount Vernon in the late 1700s. Washington himself designed the landscape which includes 13 trees that stand today as the last living witnesses of Washington's lifetime.

The Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center has sits “underground” so as not to disturb the setting of the farm and mansion.

George Washington’s newly restored water-powered Distillery & millers in colonial attire who explain how the mill works and its role in Washington’s entrepreneurial farming operation operates Gristmill is already one of the favorites of visitors.

On the Potomac River, Gaylord National Resort, Hotel & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland is Washington, DC area’s only waterfront resort. Just across the Potomac River from Alexandria, Virginia, Gaylord National Resort opened in April 2008 and includes a 2000 room 18-story, glass-enclosed atrium, an indoor stream and fountain.

National Harbor’s additional hotels, condominiums, shops, marina, entertainment and restaurants make this a destination in driving or boat distance from Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland. Disney will build a hotel here soon.

Old Hickory Steakhouse, with Old English classic design and clubby décor, recreates the ambiance of an 18th century Georgian row house. The lounge includes a wine cellar showcasing a collection of award-winning wines from around the world, and a unique cheese cellar. Old Hickory has one of the areas only maitre d’Fromages. We feasted for more than two hours in an elegant dining room overlooking the Potomac River and lights of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. Divine.

The Gaylord outdoors and indoor events on its property and on the National Harbor plaza, a common area with a popular funky sculpture, like The Awakening, a huge sculpture of a man’s head, arms and legs rising from the sand. The next big event is ICE! An indoor, winter wonderland made entirely of ICE! will feature ice sculptures sculptured by the famed Harbin Ice Sculptors, Nov. 19 - Jan. 10, 2010.

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, 201 Waterfront Street, National Harbor, MD.1-301-965-2000, www.gaylordnational.com.

Potomac Riverboat Company, www.OnBoardDCTours.com, 301-5261; Gaylord Transportation Desk or National Harbor Kiosk.
703-339-7200.

Mount Vernon is open 365 days of the year. Visit the website www.mountvernon.org for more information.

The Cliff House Resort, Oguinquit, Me, President Bushs and Mrs. Barbara Bush

2009-08-12T16:06:00.004-04:00

Just came back from 3 days at the wonderful Cliff House Resort and Spa in Oguinquit, Maine. John and I checked out on Wednesday then drove three miles to Perkins Cove to walk around, browse, shop and watch the boats and folk. We sauntered over to Barnacle Billy's for ice cream when suddenly John said, "There's Mrs. Bush." She walked down the three red brick steps next to our table (we were tucked into a corner table in the front patio). Mrs. Bush paused and said, "Hello, that looks very good." I said," yes, it is, why don't you order one?" I was eating two scoops of ice cream: pistachio on top of vanilla in a cone.

Mrs. Bushe passed by, trailed by a Secret Service guy in shorts, a flowered tee, an ear piece. A minute later, John jumped up and said,

"Hi, Mr. President," as President George H.W. Bush walked down the three steps. "Which one do you mean?" he quipped to John and they shook hands. "You, how are you?" I just stood up, and said hello. No hand shaking for me, and besides, I was stuck in the corner while John was on the front side of our table.

Pres. Bush walked by, headed for the back patio where his two two grandaughers were already seated along with their grandmother.

Next, more "casually" clad secret service guys walked by, then Pres. George W. Bush Jr. walked down the steps. John got up, said hello and shook the president's hand and chatted for about two seconds. I just said hello and then tried to take some photos, only to discover that my battery pack had gone dead.

John did get two photos of the back of the presidents' as they shook hands with others on the patio, most eating ice cream. ONe couple I spoke to said they oftten see the elder Pres. and Mrs. Bush at Barnacle Billy but had never seen President George W. Bush there.

Now it was my turn to take a photo...but my the battery pack was dead. Memories remain. But I can't post those.

They had soon walked past a front patio, to the back and sat at a corner table overlooking the river. Security surrounded them but they didn't bother the diners. At first, a small flurry of a crowd came to gawk and take photos, then the situation settled down.
John and I continued eating our melting ice cream.

The Bushes had motored up to the dock in their three engine motor boat; secrutiy boat was tied up next to theirs. After they'd docked, they'd walked up the wooden ramp to the sidewalk then a few steps over Barnacle Billy's.

All in all, it was a good ice cream escapade at Perkins Cove. Back to the Cliff House, I couldn't wait to tell about my encounter. I had a good rest and a good story, too.

Alabama Bound, On to Foley, Gulf Coast

2009-05-16T10:43:00.004-04:00

Alabama’s charming small towns and downtowns feel like home, to me y’all. A lifelong Northerner, my heart now also belongs to Alabama.

My week touring the Mobile Bay area from Mobile to the Gulf Coast with eight other writers and tourism guides impressed me so much I now sing Sweet Home Alabama with gusto. Continuing on a weeklong visit, our tour bus headed south from Fairhope to Foley. Model trains and sweet pies, antiques and friendly souls make Foley a delight.

A friendly little town, filled with some good antique stores and boutiques, town boosters wanted to attract more visitors in Foley, a good stopping point for beachgoers heading to the Gulf Shore. So began Heritage Harbor Days. But instead of just having their own town festival, they invited an Oklahoma town to Alabama to show people all about chuck wagons, cowboy songs and cattle. Then the Foley folk they did the same up north, driving a shrimp boat and bringing Foley's gospel choir to Oklahoma.

The next year, they exchanged heritage with Grapevine, Texas, then Ozark, Missouri, and other towns. When Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina hit the towns, their festival exchange friends drove down to help, bringing truckloads of supplies. Kathy Danielson, a local booster, talked about her enterprising small town about 30 miles south of Mobile. She runs the visitor's bureau for the town of about 10,000. Over at Stacey’s Old Time Soda Fountain, I ordered ice cream sodas. Later, we toured the Holmes Medical Museum (Edith saw a ghost), and the Hotel Magnolia’s regal rooms.

Foley boasts a detailed array of O gauge model trains, set-up inside the original train station. Sixty feet long, twenty-two feet wide, multilayered and full of tunnels, it features a miniature town, freight trains, a circus, circus trains and passenger lines. The firemen slide down a pole, jump into a fire engine, and rush to put out a roof on fire. A team of train lovers in engineer’s caps runs the whole shebang. Many good antique shops line the main street.

Next stop – yummy pies at Sweetie Pie's. “The most popular pie is coconut cream,” Owner Tammy Mason said, handing me a plate with a huge slice. “But the Southern Living magazine judged my pecan pie the best.” My fave? The coconut cream with chocolate that I shared with Michelle along with a huge slice of pecan pie and another of apple – heaven!

Leaving Foley, a shore drive to Point Clear brought us to the elegant 550-acre Grand Hotel Marriott Point Clear Resort and Spa on Route 98, 23 miles southeast of Mobile and 49 miles west of Pensacola Florida. The exclusive golf course is part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.

This resort in Point Clear, overlooks scenic Mobile Bay, and offers impeccable service. Two golf courses are part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, a luxurious 20,000 sq ft European-style spa, and a marina for sailboats, yachts and fishing boats. The beaches and pool complex offer families plenty to do. 1-251-928-9201, 1-800-544-9933, 17855 Scenic Hwy 98, Point Clear, AL.

At dinner the chef at the Grand Hotel Marriott Point Clear Resort and Spa used his own vegetable garden for much of his herbs on the food. His Kobe Beef was tender and the seafood risotto, delicious. This resort is right on Mobile Bay, and a boardwalk and pier give walkers a chance to circle around the resort.

Fairhope, Jubilee Fish -- Time for Art, Antiuqes

2009-05-13T18:14:00.005-04:00

Touring Alabama proved a feast of art, soul & gourmet food, and charm. After two days in Mobile,on Tuesday my tour mates hopped a bus and drove to Fairhope, about a 40-minute drive across Mobile Bay. Gorgeous bay vistas greeted us as we crossed on the low-rise bridge. Our driver took the scenic route so we saw canals, local landmarks, and oaks. No alligators, though.

On the bus we met Alex Robinson, the young chamber of commerce representative from the Fairhope, population 16,000.
An animated Fairhope native, she excitedly told us, “There’s one thing we have here that only happens in one other place in the world -- the Jubilee."

This is natural phenomenon in Mobile Bay on the Eastern Shore causes fish and shellfish to head for land in the summer as oxygen levels drop in the Gulf. Sometimes it gets so low that all of the fish, crabs, eels, flounders, catfish, crabs and shrimp head for the shallowest water near the shore, beaching, trying to get more oxygen. Locals then pounce on all of this fresh free seafood to bring home in ice chests to their freezers. “I even saw a doctor in his scrubs here once.” When the jubilee call goes out, the whole town turns up to scoop up free seafood.

Well, we didn’t get to go to a jubilee but we did arrive in Fairhope, a lovely “arty” small town. We just missed the annual the 57th Annual Arts & Crafts Festival in Fairhope, sponsored by the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce. Over 200 exhibitors from throughout the nation show and sell work in this juried event. This year, more than 200,000 visitors attended the three-day event.

We began our visit at the excellent Fairhope History Museum where Mayor Tim Kant explained, “the Utopian idealists who founded the town kept the Mobile Bay waterfront, the bluffs, and pier public property. “

Now 100 years later, Fairhope continues its Utopian dream. Check out the pier jutting into Mobile Bay, the old ferry site that used to run from Mobile to Fairhope. It’s the popular place for strolling and trolling for fish (license needed). The Clock is a city landmark as are the downtown flowers and outdoor sculpture. It creates a romantic, colorful feeling in this small town. I toured an outstanding Art Glass exhibit at The Eastern Shore Art Center. Dozens of art galleries line the town along with topnotch boutiques and antique shops. I bought a new pocketbook from boutique.

Walked through the French Quarter, shopped for antiques and collectibles. We lunched at the Old Bay Steamer. Oysters, natch, and fried crabs, fish and huge desserts.

Noted Alabama-born artist Nall lives in Fairhope and Vence, France, and his work hangs throughout the Grand Hotel Marriott Resort Golf Club and Spa in Point Clear, the Battle House Hotel in Mobile, and other RSA properties for which he has selected "Alabama Art" from other artists.

IF YOU GO -- For more information, visit www.alabama.travel.com or call 1-800-ALABAMA.
Stay: The Battle House Renaissance Hotel, Mobile, 26 North Royal St., Mobile, Alabama, 36602; spa reservations, 251-338-5700.
Grand Hotel Point Clear Resort & Spa, a Marriott Hotel, One Grand Boulevard, PO Box 639, Point Clear, AL 36564-0639, www.marriottgrand.com; a resort on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, www.rtjgolg.com, 251-928-9201, 800-544-9933.
The Riverview Plaza Hotel, Mobile,
To Do: The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail begins in northern Alabama and links towns through the state all the way to the Grand in Point Clear. This is considered the top golf courses in the state. For information on the RTJ golf trail, visit www.rtjgolf.com.
Bellingrath Gardens -- at 12401 Bellingrath Gardens Rd., Theodore, 251-973-2217, www.bellingrath.org.

Mobile's Magnificent Bellingrath Gardens

2009-05-10T16:39:00.007-04:00

Mobile is a happening city, thanks to business and convention travelers, thousands of new jobs, and new residents. They're moving to Mobile thanks to the new steel mill and shipbuilding contracts. The Port of Mobile is vibrant; the new cruise terminal hosts the Mobile-based Carnival ship and others visit. Hotels have than 6200 rooms in the city.

We took a walking tour of and driving tour along quiet streets lined with Live Oak trees, their branches spreading out and providing shade up and down the street. The houses were Victorian gems, ornate with fancy latticework and turrets, and our guide, Bill, pointed out a rare yellow Azalea bush. The bush behind it was an orange Azalea. "You won't see many of those," he said.

Dauphin Street’s historic wrought iron balconies and architecture reminded us of New Orleans. Government Boulevard runs to the Mobile River. It too was lined with huge houses many of which had been converted into law offices. Bienville Square Historic Homes ranged from modest Cajun and Creole cottages to grand mansions.

At the Mardi Gras Carnival Museum we saw elaborate capes and crowns from past kings and queens and learned that Mobile, Alabama was the first city to hold Mardi Gras carnivals and Parades. This is a big event in Mobile and anyone lucky enough to get invited to the Battle House Hotel’s Presidential balcony has a bird’s-eye view of the floats, revelers and king and queen.

Back to the Battle House Hotel for a tour with the effervescent Bill Lang, Public Relations Director for the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail and Resorts. The historic and beautifully restored Battle Hotel is a gem that was closed for 31 years. Two years ago, in 2007, the retirement systems of Alabama invested into many tourism facilities such as the new cruise ship terminals and hotels in the region. This hotel's lobby has a round stained glass glass ceiling and balconies so you can walk around and look down on the lavish lobby. Debutantes make their debuts strolling down the wide staircases of the Crystal Ballroom, and the balconies that face North Royal Street are cherished especially during the Mardi Gras parade.

We toured the presidential Suite, with its own outdoor fire pit and hot tub, with views of the river and the vast downtown. At an elegant dinner, we ordered Kobe beef, diver scallops, and fish flown in from Europe.

Monday -- We toured Bellingrath Gardens and Plantation on the Fowl River. Walter Bellingrath, who owned the first Coke bottling plant, built a beautiful house that he and his wife filled with priceless antiques and opened the gardens to the public in 1934. The 73-acres grounds are stunning, paths lined with blossoming azaleas and other spring flowers; the beds are changed with the seasons. Fountains, benches, stairs down to the Fowl River and an on-site porcelain museum complete the grounds. In spring and summer, visitors can take a 45-minute cruise along the Fowl River aboard the Southern Belle and learn about birding habits, ecological systems and civil war history of the area. Magic Christmas in Lights features millions of twinkling lights over the grounds and mansion, with giant swans, toy soldier’s and. Open Friday after Thanksgiving through Dec. 31.

In the afternoon, reluctantly leaving our two-hour tour of the mansion and gardens, we drove back to Mobile. Mobile has an international heritage as both the French and Spanish held the city at various times. After lunch at the charming Spot of Tea, 605 Dauphin Street, just across from a lovely park, we toured the city's downtown, stopping at an old-fashioned peanut shop, and other unique stores. Dauphin Street is lined with French-inspired wrought iron balconies and beaux-arts buildings. A cathedral looks out on a grassy square, one of the city’s many pocket parks.

Oakley, Church Street East, is lined with huge sagging limbs of live oaks, Spanish moss flowing off of them with stately clapboard mini-mansions and Creole Cottages. On one street, we saw a rare yellow Azalea bush. The bush behind it was an orange Azalea.

Our Monday dinner feast was at Wintzell's Original Oyster House in Mobile was a hoot. Wintzell’s has been serving some of the best seafood on the Gulf Coast since 1938. My favorite cooked oyster dish? Cheese covered.

Mobile is Happening, Lively & Welcoming

2009-05-08T13:58:00.005-04:00

Mobile and Mobile Bay boast oodles of unique attractions, indoors and outdoors, ranging from: festivals, arts and crafts fairs, literary sites, state and national parks and waterways allure fishing buffs, hikers, water sports enthusiast, dolphin watchers, and golfers (the Robert Trent Jones Trail stretches north to south). In Mobile, history buffs can tour The Explorium (science museum), The USS ALABAMA Battleship, winner of nine World War II battle stars; the fantastic, and the costume-filled Mobile Carnival Museum featuring Mardi Gras Museum. In antique and art gallery-rich Fairhope, art and art lovers overflow onto the streets every March during the Arts and Crafts Fair presented by the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce. The vibrant art communities in Fairhope includes famed international artist Nall.

Photo: Oysters at Winzell's Oyster House, Mobile.

In Monroeville, a short ways east of Mobile Bay, literary heritage is continued at the Alabama Southern Community College at Monroeville with an annual Literary Workshop and Conference. The library displays five commissioned art works by Nall commemorating the state’s top writers.

The Battle House Hote, Mobile, is a treasure that was closed for 31 years. Two years ago the retirement systems of Alabama invested heavily into many tourism facilities such as cruise ship terminals and hotels in the region. This hotel's lobby has a round glass ceiling and on the second floor, circular balcony let's you look down at the balcony. Debutantes sashay down the staircase in the Crystal room, and the balconies that face North Royal Street become prime spots to watch the Mardi Gras parade. The Presidential Suite is has a large living room, bedrooms, even a pool room, an outdoor fire pit and hot tub, with views of the river and downtown. Another popular place to watch the Mardi Gras.
At 3 p.m., I enjoyed a massage in the luxurious spa and After, I lounged in the women’s relaxation area, drank tea, sat in the Jacuzzi, showered, ate some fruit, and returned to my elegant room to dress for dinner. For more about the spa, visit my www.spas.bellaonline.com site.

Sweet Home Alabama's Gardens, Art, Literature Treasures

2009-05-04T11:23:00.004-04:00

TRAVEL -- Sweet Home Alabama. Alabama’s Charming Small Towns and Downtowns Feel Like Home, Y’All, my feeling after terrific week touring the Mobile Bay area from Mobile to the Gulf Coast with eight other writers. My group also included terrific knowledgeable guides, especially Edith Parten and Bill Lang, and others who joined us along the way to explain and showcase their areas. We overdosed on great art, food, golf, food, spas, food: sweet tea, grits with cheese, turnip greens, friend crab claws, oysters, fried shrimp, fried anything it seemed! I toured for five days from Mobile, and Mobile Bay, to delightful downtowns and small towns; meeting sweet Alabamians from Fairhope, to Foley, to Monroeville, southern Alabama surprised and delighted my northern sensitivities.

Scenic roads, giant oaks, moss shrimp boats, estuaries, deltas, bayous, bays, rivers, and white sandy beaches. , My tour amazed by the 300 year old giant oaks draped with Spanish moss; the Victorian mansions, Creole cottages and Cajun houses, beautiful historic homes, antebellum Southern mansions, gardens, wrought iron fences, French and Spanish heritage, pocket parks, luxury hotels in the heart of downtown Mobile, delicious gourmet and down-home cooking and most of all, a gracious air of hospitality. It’s spring, and thousands of beautiful azaleas are in full bloom, creating a symphony of color and sweet aroma.

My first-ever Alabama tour lasted five days. A northerner, I’d never been to Alabama and so when friends skeptically asked me, “Why are you going? What’s down there?” I replied, “I’d find out and report.”

Now I know. And I can’t wait to return, visit my southern cousins, eat more pecan pie, fried crab claws, catfish, seafood gumbo and oysters at Wintzell’s Oyster House, dolphin rides in the Gulf Coast, strolls along historic Dauphin Street, and Foley and Fairhope’s’ festivals. Enjoyed gracious southern hospitality and people, the heritage, the new Civil Rights Trail and the Literary Lions. Sweet Home Alabama.

Mozart’s brilliant Don Giovanni at Boston Lyric Opera a Must-Hear

2009-04-29T17:52:00.011-04:00

REVIEW: Boston Lyric Opera's Don Giovanni is an outstanding presentation of one of the most important Mozart operas: the tale of the cad, womanizer, despotic, reprehensible,charming, lecherous and sensual Don Giovanni. Christopher Schaldenbrand who has deliciously made the title role his trademark, makes his BLO debut and is audacious, handsome, loathsome, comical and mesmerizing with a marvelous slithery, almost caricature-like demeanor.Susanna Phillips, as Donna Anna, portrayed anguish through her clear soprano voice and arftul acting.

Mozart’s celebrated tragicomedy of the world's most legendary lover, widely regarded as one of the greatest operas, tells the tale of the famous womanizer who has one last chance to repent of his philandering ways. But when he adds murder and blasphemy to his lengthy list of sins, human and supernatural forces exact an eerie punishment and avenge his thousands of conquests (2,065 to be exact). In the last laugh, though, Don Giovanni goes to his death with the same mocking, disdainful attitude he had towards civility, society, mores and anything but his own desires.

The new production presents the original Prague edition of 1787, which differs from the Viennese version that most contemporary audiences recognize.

Don Giovanni, the famous seducer of women is everyone’s favorite bad guy. He assaults Donna Anna and murders her father. He spurns Elvira and then he seduces the young new bride Zerlina. Don Giovanni ultimately meets a deservedly hellish end –yet he is a likable rogue.

For all its tragic elements and complex characters, there is much broad comedy in Don Giovanni which lightens the action and produces laughs throughout the three-hour long opera. The Boston Lyric Opera’s Don Giovanni is a new production with the action taking place in 1950’s Italy. Christopher Schaldenburg performs the title role with glee. The Don’s faithful sidekick Leporello is played by Matthew Burns. His bass baritone singing of the comic “Catalogue Aria” where he tosses little address books out of his pockets on the stage detailing the Don’s many previous conquests (Italy, Spain, young, old, etc.) practically steals the show. The women - Susanna Phillips as Donna Anna, Kimwana Doner as Elvira, and Heather Johnson as Zerlina are superb. Anna, a soaring soprano, pierced my heart with her mournful song for her dead father. Conductor Anthony Barrese was terrific.

Murray-Walsh's period costuming added panache to the dark set stage.
Don Giovanni at the Schubert Theatre (265 Tremont St., Boston, 617-542-4912, www.blo.org.
Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) wraps up its 2008-2009 “Spellbound” Season with a unique approach to Mozart’s brilliant Don Giovanni. The highly acclaimed director and designer team of Tazewell Thomson (Stage Director), Donald Eastman (Set Designer), Merrily Murray-Walsh (Costume Designer), and Robert Wierzel (Lighting Designer) worked with BLO staff on innovative ways to create a new production of this repertoire favorite. Bravo to a fabulous production.

When BLO’s new Artistic Director Esther Nelson approached Mr. Thompson to direct Don Giovanni, she encouraged him to create a fresh perspective on the classic opera without incurring the usual expenses of a new set and costumes. Mr. Thompson had previously worked with Mr. Eastman on the design for Death in Venice for New York City Opera (NYCO) and Glimmerglass Opera. Mr. Eastman recalls, “The setting for Death in Venice was originally conceived by Tazewell and myself as a dream-like evocation of classical and urban Italian architecture combined into one space that could evoke, through lighting, the qualities of infernal brightness or chilling darkness. Together we realized how perfect a springboard for telling the Giovanni story it was. New ideas came to light as we re-entered and rediscovered a space where yet another great story could be told.”

The choice to take Don Giovanni out of the eighteenth century and set it in the 1950s gave a more immediate feeling to the opera; no powdered wigs, long sabers or torn gowns in this production.

Don Giovanni runs May 1, 3, and 5 at the Shubert Theatre, Boston. Evening performances are at 7:30 pm; Sunday matinees at 3 pm. It is sung in Italian with projected English translation. Single tickets start at $33 and are sold exclusively at 866.348.9738 (TTY 888.889.8587), citicenter.org, or in person at the Schubert Theater, 270 Tremont Street in Boston . Discounts are available to groups of ten or more by calling Audience Services at 617.542.6772. Half price student tickets are available in advance at the Box Office and day of show office with a valid student ID.

Redondo Beach, California -- Sizzle on Land & Sea

2009-04-20T14:11:00.014-04:00

Bring sunscreen. Redondo Beach and Redondo Beach Pier offer plenty to do year round for families, singles, couples and runners. Redondo Beach hosts summer wide free events so if you plan to be in Southern California this summer, check out these events.

A terrific range of free events, activities and entertainment will be held at the Pier, provided by the Redondo Beach Pier Association and Pier Merchants. Check out this sample; contact the chamber for a complete schedule. Don't forget the whale watch, which for me, became Dolphins at Sea.

Probably the most popular and well-known festival is The annual International Surf Festival, taking place in Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach, with competitions in surfing, running, lifeguard dory races, sand soccer, bodysurfing, volleyball, paddleboard swimming and much more from July 31 to August 2.

Redondo Beach 7th Annual Chalk Art Festival & Live Music Saturday, August 22, Come out to Redondo Beach and see how the Redondo Beach Pier’s walkway becomes a veritable canvas on which all can create their own chalk art. The first 150 people to enter receive free chalk. The festival is FREE to the public and open to all ages. Individual and team prizes will be awarded in various categories

35th Annual Festival of the Kite, Sunday, March 8, one of Southern California’s best and longest-running kite festival sponsored by X-Kites. This year the festival will include a martial arts demonstration by Chambliss Taekwondo, live music on the pier and $500 in prizes will be awarded! Prizes for highest kite, youngest kite flyer, youngest at heart kite flyer, best hand-made kite, and best ground display and kite trivia contest winner. The day will end with a mass kite ascension flight.

6th Annual Yo-Yo Competition Sunday, March 8, will include a F.A.S.T. throw down, freestyle performance, most improved player, best trick, compulsories, longest sleeper and longest Buddha sleeper (world record set on the Redondo Pier last year at 16 minutes, 40 seconds beating the former record by over two minutes). In May, enjoy the Art & Jazz Festival May 2 - 3, and artisans and craftsmen displaying their works.
In June, it’s time for the Chopper Festival June 13 – 14, a celebration of motorcycles and motorcycle riding in America. This event will feature new and custom bikes on display backed by live rock n’ roll.

July offers The 2009 Summer of Music concerts on the Pier from July 4 through Labor Day Weekend, every Thursday & Saturday evening. Every show will bring music from the 50’s, Big Band, Blues, Country, Drum Circles, Island, Latin, Pop, Classic Rock and Surf. Don’t miss the artsy, fun 7th Annual Chalk Art Festival.

To see the complete schedule of events or to sign up, visit www.SurfFestival.org.

Catch up on local history at the Redondo Beach Historical Museum. Enjoy a show at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center or see, touch, and learn about sea life at the SEA Lab.

For more information, contact www.redondopier.com or the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce, 310-376-6911, or visit www.redondochamber.org.

Sunny Redondo Beach & Dolphin Watch

2009-04-15T18:58:00.006-04:00

Redondo Beach and Redondo Beach Pier offer plenty to do for families, singles, couples and runners. Once a commercial port, the City now has a pier with unique shops and restaurants, water sport activities, marinas, and a sport fishing fleet. There's an attractive sea front esplanade that has been called With year-round festivals, contests, biking, kite festival and summer music on the make this a high-activity, zesty place to hang out after you “hang up” your surfboard, swim-suit, roller blades, whatever.

Redondo Beach Marina boasts ocean-oriented activities ranging from sport fishing, boat rides, to a myriad of water sports. Whale watching excursions cruise the South Bay from November through April to view the gray whales migrate to Baja. Diving and snorkeling, boating and sailing fill out the nautical menu. In the evening twilight fishing, brilliant sunsets, delicious dinners, exciting entertainment, dancing at the water’s edge, or a stroll along the ocean. Redondo Beach Marina boasts six restaurants featuring seafood to Chinese choices so no one goes hungry here.

One of the most popular festivals is the annual International Surf Festival. It takes place in Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach, with competitions in surfing, running, lifeguard dory races, sand soccer, bodysurfing, volleyball, paddleboard swimming and much more. To see the complete schedule of events or to sign up, visit www.SurfFestival.org.

Photographers love the street action, diving pelicans, seals and beach action. Jake got a photo of a diving pelican from the pier; later, on the whale watch, we took more photos of the high-flying dolphins; sleepy seals, and lazy sea lions hanging out on the red buoys.

From the Strand cyclists, runners and stroller, to the surfers, sunbathers, beachcombers, families and photographers, Redondo Beach is a quintessential Southern California beach community. Can you hear the Beach Boys? For those who like some other entertainment off the beach, the Redondo Beach Pier and Marina offer plenty to do. If you like to fish, throw in a line because you do not need a license to fish from the Redondo Beach Pier. California allows free public fishing from pier structures.

Restaurants, breakfast cafes, bars, game arcades, open-air bars and restaurants Chinese, Indonesian, French, Mexican, and of course American, from the ribs of Chicago to the spicy seafood of Louisiana are also available. The casual bayside Captain Kidd’s Restaurant features eat-in or take-out fresh fish, from lobster dinners to salmon to scallops. Polly’s on the Pier, next to the whale watch ticket office, offers breakfast and lunch with a boat-side view. Jake and I asked for a harbor side window table for dinner at the excellent Bluewater Grill, We ordered lobster bisque, clam chowder, scallops and salmon. Our window faced west and as we dined at 5 p.m., we watched the glorious sunset while we dined. A double delight.

A highlight of Redondo Beach is Redondo Beach Marina, and Pier. The Pier is open 24 hours a day for walkers, fisherman, pelicans and people watching. The shops and restaurants, including breakfast or lunch Polly’s, Captain Kidd’s or Bluewater Grill complete the offerings of this super lively area.
The Redondo Beach Marina and Pier are the center for water activities, from speedboat rides, to kayak and paddleboat rentals to sports fishing excursions to whale watches. Ocean-oriented activities from sport fishing, boat rides, and water sports to seasonal whale watching excursions abound. Water sport enthusiasts can choose from a wide range of recreational boats and trips, which leave from the Pier and Marina. Check out the Gondola Amore, Kayak & Pedal Boat Rentals, Looking Glass Bottom Boat, Ocean Racer Speed Boat, the Voyager whale or nature watch, South Bay Sailing, sports fishing or Pacific Star Diving cruises. Put some excitement in your life with a thrilling coastline “speed” ride on the Ocean Racer.

Jake, my 25-year old nephew Ben Serviss and I boarded the Voyager at 1:30 p.m. on a Saturday for a relaxing whale watching trip, heading out across the Bay towards Catalina Island then back. The two-deck wooden boat holds 140 passengers; the day we cruised it was about half-full so we easily ran all around the bow and deck when the dolphins appeared and began riding the bow waves, jumping and frolicking in the waves. The southward migration of the California Gray Whale is a magnificent sight. The Whale Watch season runs mid-December through March.

On board for the three to three-and-a-half-hour tour is a member of the Cetacean Society is aboard to explain sea life and California Gray Whale. Commonly seen are Sharks, Pilot Whales, Sea Lions, Seals, Pelicans, Sea Gulls and the finned comedians of the deep- the playful Porpoises and Dolphins. Great views of Catalina Island, the South Bay, mountains and beaches added to our relaxing excursion. Redondo Sport Fishing offers Whale Watch Excursions; buy tickets at The Voyager Boat Ride ticket office on the International Boardwalk at the Redondo Beach Marina; call (310) 372-2111. Or website Redondo Sportfishing.com.

Manhattan Beach in Sunny California

2009-04-04T11:45:00.006-04:00

Home after two sunny weeks in Manhattan Beach, California, visiting my son, Jake, I miss my long walks on the Strand, tour of the Getty Villa, lunch Izzy’s in Santa Monica with my cousin, Stuart and Joy Pankin (he played the Rabbi on Curb Your Enthusiasm in a scene filmed at Izzy’s), trips to the Los Angeles Museum of Art, La Brea Tar Pits and Page Museum, a day and night at Disneyland and California Adventure, a whale watch from Redondo Beach Pier with my nephew, Ben Serviss, eating at Jerry’s Diner, breakfast at the Local Yolk, and sun, sun and sun.

Every day I strolled for two miles on the Strand’s 27-mile pedestrian and bike pathway stretching along South Bay’s Pacific Ocean from Santa Monica in the north to Torrance Beach in the south, while Jake spent a few days training for the Catalina Island Marathon on March 14 (his fourth year in a row). One Saturday Ben met us in Redondo Beach for a whale watch, to eat and hangout. (Photos by Rachel Rome)

Martinique -- Culinary Treats with a French Flavor

2008-07-09T17:36:00.004-04:00

Part I --
Martinique in the Caribbean’s French West Indies is a wonderful piece of France. I toured the island during annual Culinary Week, April 30 to May 5, spoke French with the locals, devoured gourmet French food, imbibed the island’s famous rum brands, toured lively St. Pierre, swam in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, and even enjoyed a cooking lesson. Magnificent.
The island’s marvelous cuisine combines the best of France, Creole and Martinique adaptations, with chefs on the island on an equal footing with the best French chefs. Naturally, because they are French! Most train in France, or in Martinique under French Chefs.
I joined a group of six other tourists plus Christel, from the Martinique Tourist Bureau, and charming guide, Andre. We drove all around the island during our visit. Traveling south to north, beaches to mountains, coral reefs to hilltop plantations, from to banana groves to sugar fields, we took time out for beachcombing, swimming and relaxing. For five days we clambered into our comfy tour van to visit rum distilleries, rural villages, local museums, a synagogue, and the volcano Museum in St. Pierre.
Our culinary journeys forced us to taste, imbibe, indulge, sample, tour and meet top Martinique chefs, chocolateers, innkeepers, Tak Tak ecological and local food growers. On this yummy culinary and island adventure, we drank too much planter’s punch, rum, rum, and chocolate. We stayed in two very different hotels – all-inclusive Club Med Buccaneer's Creek, and elegant Le Domaine St Aubin, a family-run authentic 19th-century former plantation home. The flavors of Martinique cuisine are subtle and complex, a mix of influences from America, Africa, Europe and Asia. It’s the world on your plate, whether boeuf bourginon or court-bouillon, or fish curry as the Martinique tourism website notes.
Martinique is a part of France, and the culture. To the West lie the Caribbean, bordered by sandy beaches or cliffs and dotted with coastal villages. From Pointe du Bout there is a spectacular view of the beautiful bay, which surrounds the island’s capital city, Fort de France. To the North lies a protected rain forest, streams and Mount Pelée, a live volcano.
Located on the east coast of Martinique, near the ocean and the small "Saint Aubin" island, Le Domaine Saint Aubin is a colonial manor, with 11 guest rooms in the main house, all furnished with 19th century décor. Sitting on the expansive wrap-around verandas in wicker furniture, gazing out across mountain vistas, fields and the ocean, it’s a magical, romantic setting. Le Domaine’s charming owners, Joele and Laurens preserved the antique Napoleon the third mahogany furniture, shady verandas, surrounding lounges, restaurant and bedrooms, sunny terraces, and a delicately colored swimming-pool. He formerly worked as a jazz musician in top Parisian nightclubs while she was a costume sewer for the Comedie Francaise in Paris. Here, at their hotel, they greet guests in English and French, during cocktail hour or dinner, which Joele cooks.
One night, as I was swimming in the pool towards sunset, I heard a whooshing noise, saw a black shape, and watched as a bat came swooping down to take a sip from the pool. It was like watching a ballet, as the little bat circled, returned, drank, then flew away.
Www.ledomainesaintaubin.com/.
Martinique restaurants offer are a special mix of French and Creole cuisine, with cooking demonstrations and conversations with several prominent Martinique chefs throughout.
One afternoon, our group hopped on a tourist boat and headed “to sea” towards the refreshing waters surrounding Josephine's Bathtub, a shallow area of sea ideal for bathing and swimming. Cruising from the marina to the island, we changed into our bathing suits in a room we had rented in a traditional French guest house on the island – it’s also possible to spend a few nights there -- the inn keeper cooks dinner – then climbed back aboard our boat, cruised for about five minutes, dropped anchor and climbed over the side to swim in the crystalline waters. Our crew swam around us, offering rum punch and barbecue chicken, served in a mini-wooden “row” boat he pushed around. Photo by Rachel Rome

Palm Springs & Palm Desert -- Exciting Destinations

2008-04-19T17:39:00.005-04:00

Palm Springs and Palm Desert, California, offer top resorts, sunshine, spas, glitz, glamour, golf, upscale shopping, nightclubs, tennis, great restaurants, horseback riding, mountains, the Follies Vaudeville Show, frivolity, fun, sunshine and outdoor activities. The hikable Mount San Jacinto and the San Gorgonio Mountains border these welcoming desert towns in Southern California’s unspoiled Coachella Valley.

These quiet towns were a getaway destination for Hollywood stars back in the days when contracts stipulated they could only travel within 100 miles of Hollywood. Many stars still live here. Since it’s just a two-hour drive east from Los Angeles, voila, these hot hideways became "hot."

My recent weeklong Palm Springs and Palm Desert vacation included desert drives; a stay at the Morongo Casino Resort and Spa Hotel, Cabazon, visits to the Palm Desert Living Zoo (dined with a leopard), the Wild Palms Reservation in Palm Springs; a whirling ride on the Palm Springs Aerial Tram (dizzifying at the 8500 foot top), a stay at the Morongo Casino Resort and Spa www.morongocasinoresort.com and a visit to its luxurious Sage Spa.

This region is now known as the world's golf capital. I learned why golf is so big here, going back to times when residents such as President Dwight D. Eisenhower and golf legend Arnold Palmer first popularized the sport to recent players like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. My week ended in Palm Desert at the elegant J.W. Marriott Hotel, 1-800-228-9290, www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ctdca-desert-springs-a-jw-marriott-resort-and-spa-palm-desert, where I had a Spa facial by Amy; a gondola ride around the manmade lake; dinner at the gourmet Ristorante Tuscany, 1-760-341-1839, and tours of Palm Desert, bars and nightclubs.

On my tour around Palm Springs, friends and I passed by thousands of windmills providing electricity to the entire valley, waving like a challenge to Don Quixote should he gallop by. I took after a day at the Morongo Casino Hotel and Spa (I won on the slots, no kidding) at a Travel Media Showcase. The Morongo is in Cabazon, heading west in the desert valley about 20 minutes from Palm Springs and Palm Desert.

Set at the foot of the beautiful and San Jacinto Mountains, the Morongo Indian Reservation spans more than 32,000 acres and overlooks the vistas of the Banning Pass. We ate several meals here and the cooking was superb; The Vibe nightclub, off the casino floor, boasts a glitzy décor, dance floor and several tiers of balconies.

On my first sightseeing excursion, the tour theme was “Mountain High, Valley Low: Explore the Natural Wonders of Palm Springs” and it was a treat. This desert includes mountains! Our first stop was the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, an exciting ride up Mount San Jacinto two-and-a-half miles to pristine wilderness on the world’s largest rotating tramcars. It was pretty weird as the floor revolved to give standees a 360-degree view. Where views from the top viewing platforms outside a lodge offered spectacular views across the valley and towns to the mountains on the other side. http://www.pstramway.com/. The Valley Station, Mountain Station and tramcars are handicap accessible. Adults $21.95, $14.95, Children. Meals served in the lodge; good gift shop.

Next we drove to the nearby Indian Canyons, owned and operated by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. These natural desert oases brim with undisturbed beauty and enormous, spring-fed Washingtonia Palm trees. At Andreas Canyon we took a short Ranger-led hike and learned about the time when local Indians called these canyons home.Hiker’s trails include the Palm Springs Indian Canyon Trails. Watch out for the snakes, roadrunners and other desert wildlife.

Before our Follies show, my group and I stopped at the modern Palm Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau for a gourmet dinner buffet catered by top local restaurants in Palm Springs (Kaiser Restaurant Group’s Kaiser Grills, Palm Springs; The Chop House, Palm Springs and Palm Desert; Crazy Bones, Palm Springs, and Carmel La Quinta, www.restaurnatsofpalmsprings.com, www.Hogsbreathinn.net. (Citron drink was my favorite). The food was superb and I hope to return to enjoy full course meals at the restaurants. Palm Springs is enjoying a mini-boom with at least a dozen new restaurants. PSP is also a gay friendly place.

After a dinner buffet, we boarded our tour bus for a short hop to see the Follies. Outside, diners were eating at patio tables; the streets were lively as the shops were open. This show starts at 6:30 p.m., as it is a favorite with the older crowd. The Palm Springs Follies is a blast; a three-hour mega-extravaganza of high kicks, singing, with a featured performance by the indomitable Kay Ballard (she’s great). “The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies is a world-famous, Broadway-caliber celebration of the music, dance, and comedy of the 30's and 40's, with a cast old enough to have lived it,” explains the website. Tin Pan Alley is the theme of this 17th edition playing May 17, 2008.

Elegant, urbane and witty Riff Markowitz is founder and impresario of this improbable reimagination of old-time Vaudeville and gracefully and humorously both introduces the numbers and performs some funny bits, including one with a “lucky” audience member. The show features performers over the age of 55, -- stars of Stage, Screen and Hollywood. The world’s oldest showgirl, at 84, did a tap dance number to the delight of the sold-house Plaza Theatre. These dynamos strutted, tapped, sang, performed, told jokes, and strutted down the stairs in the best Flo Ziegfieldesque showgirl costumes, compete with towering headdresses.

Remember the Ed Sullivan show, with dog, circus and operatic acts? He was recreating Vaudeville, to like the Follies. One of the audience’s favorite acts was Joanne Wilson's Wonder Dogs balancing, jumping from high stands and doing flips. The show plays to packed houses at every performance, up to ten shows a week, seven months a year. Www.psfollies.com.

Palm Springs Style author Robert Imber of PS Modern Tours led our van tour of the Mid-Century Modern architecture and modern art of Palm Springs, including anecdotes of stars; sculpture lining the main streets; heard some Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball stories, and passed exclusive country clubs, walked into the Racquet Ball Club and saw the famous pool where Marilyn Monroe was “discovered,” drove by gated and non-gated residences.

Ruth Ann Monroe, the City of Palm Desert Economic Development Manager, talked of preservation, during our lunch with a leopard at the Living Desert. (Bill Gates has an estate nearby, neatly hidden in the hills, per ordinance.)

Joshua Tree National Park’s Joshua Tree Resort is close by; to rent a private house there, from JTR, call 626-396-0903. For a getaway to the Lake District, contact Dan of Big Bear Lake, www.bigbear.com, 1-800-4-Big Bear about an hour away.

The 1200-acre Living Desert, Palm Desert,
Www.livingdesert.org offers views of critters that can live in desert environments and is boast natural habitats. A treasured memory -- I ate lunch with a leopard. Ok, I was eating; the leopard was relaxing on the ledge outside the thick Plexiglas barrier lining one wall of the Living Desert’s private dining room. It’s easy to walk around the on paved paths but an open-tram car is also available for a small charge. Several educational areas dot the grounds, too. We ambled around in the rain and because of the rain; our guide told us the animals were more active than usually. We saw the cougar, two wolves, blue frogs, a butterfly house, and a huge badger digging holes, two giraffes walking behind a ride; an ostrich, and the leopard. In the African wildlife exhibits are Arabian oryx, several species of gazelle, sand cats and fennec foxes. Bighorn Mountain features the endangered Peninsular Bighorn sheep. Located in Palm Desert and Indian Wells, a short drive from downtown Palm Springs Price: $7.50 - $11.50; under three, free.

For more information on Palm Springs, CA, contact the www.palm-springs.org, 800-927-7256. For Palm Desert, CA www.palm-desert.org, Palm Desert Visitor Center, (800) 873-2428

Hansel and Gretel By Boston Lyric Opera Just for Kids Sunday, March 30, Marblehead, MA

2008-03-27T16:08:00.004-04:00

"BLO's kid-friendly version of Engelbert Humperdinck's treat of an opera is a squirm-proof one-hour, fully staged, English-language version that features BLOs orchestra and will be performed for families in Boston , Marblehead and Waltham," says BLO publicist Mia Howard.

Tickets are still available for this Sunday, March 30, for Marblehead families interested in introducing their kids to opera via Boston Lyric Opera's Hansel and Gretel. Tickets can be purchased by phone at (617) 542.6772 or at the door Sunday from 12:30pm.

In this classic fairy tale geared for children ages 6-12, a walk in the forest turns into a discovery of delights and frights. A gingerbread house tempts Hansel and Gretel's taste buds, but behind those sugar-coated gumdrop walls lurks a witch. Hansel and Gretel must stick together to free the forest from a wicked spell. This production is a perfect way to introduce children to opera and is great for the whole family.

Sunday, March 30, 1:30pm, Marblehead Veterans Middle School Performing Arts Center, 217 Pleasant St., Marblehead.

In Boston, the opera is Sunday, April 13, 11:30am and 1:30pm, John Hancock Hall, 180 Berkeley St. Final performance is Sunday, May 4,,11:30am and 1:30pm, Brandeis University's Spingold Theater, 415 South St. , Waltham.

Tickets for Marblehead and Boston shows are $18 for adults and $12 for children. Call (617) 542-6772 or order online at www.blo.org/HG. For Waltham performances, call Brandeis Tickets at (781) 736-3400, option 5.

Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) was founded in 1976, and is recognized for its artistically excellent productions of a diverse repertoire that entertain and inspire audiences and feature emerging operatic talent. Its mainstage productions at the Shubert Theatre, live broadcasts on WGBH radio and annual traveling production of a fully staged, one-hour English version of a popular opera for school children and families reach some 200,000 people a year. Boston Lyric Opera's programs are funded, in part,
by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. www.blo.org

Donizetti's "L'elisir d'amore" A Lovely Boston Lyric Opera Production -- Still Time to See It

2008-03-24T14:33:00.002-04:00

REVIEW -- Donizetti's "L'elisir d'amore" ("The Elixir of Love") premiered in Milan in 1832 and has been beloved since for its comedic, romantic boy-meets-girl plot and its gleeful confection of a score and songs. Director James Robinson keeps a nice pace throughout the opera, emphasizing the fun and joy of Donizetti's score. The wonderful new production for Boston Lyric Opera is a treat, like a breezy summer’s day spent with good friends, albeit with a tiny squabble or two mixed in. And this love’s labor is not lost, for it has a happy ending. No one leaves heavy-hearted, clutching a hankie. Hooray for Love!

Donizetti's original opera takes place in the early 19th-century Italian countryside. Director Robinson changed the setting to a rural early 1900s America in this Boston Lyric Opera production. A painted stage curtain of fields, streams, cows and a horse sets the mood for the opera --think Norman Rockwell and the Berkshires. Allen Moyer’s set is terrific, gleeful and creative, featuring a white bandstand on the town commons. Costumes by Martin Pakledinaz are vibrant.

As the curtain rises, the town commons and bandstand appear and Nemorino, the simple, good-hearted fellow and ice cream man, drives onstage in a converted Model T truck to sell ice cream to the townsfolk, who are hanging around, socializing.

Tenor Eric Cutler as lovesick Nemorino is superb and wins the audience’s heart immediately, even if his beloved, Adina, laughs and taunts him. After all, to her he is just a bumptious ice-cream guy. Cutler’s acting and comedic skills enhanced his stupendous, soaring voice. He mesmerized me whenever he sang. Finally, in Act II, his heartfelt emotion eventually even won over the silly Adina. Cheers for his Act II aria, "Una furtiva lagrima."

Soprano Maria Kanyova sang Adina in a lighthearted, charming voice. James Westman as Belcore, the sergeant – new kid in town – wooed and won Adina in a day with his bold charismatic, manner, throwing Nemorino into gloom.
Enter a traveling salesman and huckster, Dr. Dulcamara. With the “help” of “Dr.” Dulcamara, performed and sung by Dale Travis, Nemorino eventually won the girl. Travis’ strong bass and comedy skills were a pleasure to listen to, and although the audience knew his “cure” for Nemorino was Bordeaux, Dulcamara fooled Nemorino. Emboldened by the guaranteed “cure,” Nemorino bought a bottle of elixir, drank, got tipsy, and eventually won Adina. Ah, then the rest of the villagers bought the “cure.” Soprano Ji Young Yang sweetly sang the role of the village girl Giannetta. Somehwere in the plot Nemorino enlists in the army, gets rich and gets the girl. Happy ending.
The audience gave a standing ovation for the BLO's longtime music director Stephen Lord, who is performing his final season with the BLO. The orchestra was superb under his guidance.

L’elisir d’amore is a co-production by BLO and Opera Colorado.
L’elisir d’amore will be sung in Italian with projected English translation The Shubert Theater is at 265 Tremont Street in Boston’s Theatre District. Single tickets on sale now for L’elisir, starting at $33. The next production is The Abduction from the Seraglio April 25-May 6. Visit www.citicenter.org or call (866) 348-9738 for tickets and information.

Opera photo, courtesy of Opera Colorado, by Matthew Staver.

Boston Lyric Opera Donizetti’s L’ELISIR D’AMORE A Happy Treat

2008-03-16T12:37:00.003-04:00

Spring is almost here so rejoice at a happy opera. In Boston, the Boston Llyric Opera’s season continues with Gaetano -Donizetti’s L’ELISIR D’AMORE, from March 14-25, 2008 at The Citi Performing Arts Center Shubert Theatre, Boston. BLO presents a new production of Donizetti’s boisterous comedy L’elisir d’amore (The Elixir of Love), a flirtatious tale with a happy ending. Set in the innocence of Middle America in the early 1900's, this charming production leaves the audience sighing not crying. L’elisir d’amore is another co-production by BLO and Opera Colorado, a partnership that has brought to the stage Eugene Onegin in 2005, La traviata in 2006 and Un ballo in maschera in 2007.

Maria Kanyova returns to sing the role of the carefree beauty, Adina, a role for which she won acclaim in Colorado. Ms. Kanyova debuted with BLO as Tatyana in 2005’s Eugene Onegin. Tenor Eric Cutler sings the role of shy Nemorino, her love struck ice cream man. Mr. Cutler made his BLO debut in 2002 as Belmonte in The Abduction from the Seraglio. Baritone James Westman returns as the dashing Sergeant Belcore following his critically acclaimed performances as Germont in La traviata and Athanäel in Thaïs in 2006. The Company also welcomes back bass Dale Travis as the potion-prescribing Dr. Dulcamara, a role he sang for BLO in 1997. Ji Young Yang, makes her BLO debut as Gianetta.

A veteran production team joins the cast. Maestro Stephen Lord conducts and James Robinson returns to direct. Allen Moyer and costumes by Tony Award winner Martin Pakledinaz design sets.

L’elisir d’amore will be sung in Italian with projected English translation The Shubert Theater is at 265 Tremont Street in Boston ’s Theatre District. Single tickets on sale now for L’elisir, starting at $33. The next production is The Abduction from the Seraglio April 25-May 6. Visit www.citicenter.org or call (866) 348-9738 for tickets and information.

BLO’s mainstage productions at the Citi Shubert Theatre, live broadcasts on WGBH radio, traveling production of a fully staged, one-hour English version of a popular opera for school children and families and other outreach activities reach over 200,000 people a year. Boston Lyric Opera ’s programs are funded, in part, by grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. www.blo.org.

Opera for the Kids – The Boston Lyric Opera presents a production in Marblehead, of Engelbert Humperdinck’s treat of an opera, Hansel and Gretel. The one-hour, fully staged, English-language version features BLO’s orchestra. In this classic fairy tale geared for children ages 6-12, a walk in the forest turns into a discovery of delights and frights. A gingerbread house tempts Hansel and Gretel’s taste buds, but behind those sugar-coated gumdrop walls lurks a witch! Hansel and Gretel must stick together to free the forest from a wicked spell. This production is a perfect way to introduce children to opera and is great for the whole family, grandparents to grandkids. Sunday, March 30, 1:30pm, Marblehead Veterans Middle School Performing Arts Center, 217 Pleasant St., Marblehead, MA.

Tickets: $18 for adults and $12 for children. Call Audience Services at (617) 542-6772 or order online. For Waltham performances, call Brandeis Tickets at (781) 736-3400.

Chesapeake Bay's Hampton, Virginia, Offers Southern Charm, Festivals, History and Children's Festival in April

2008-02-16T12:32:00.010-05:00

BY RACHEL ROME

VISIT HAMPTON, VIRGINIA FOR HISTORY, Museums, CHILDREN’S FESTIVALS, CHESAPEAKE Bay’s delights, SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY – Fleeing the winter weather for a sunny clime? Head to Hampton, Virginia. At a recent Travel Writer’s Showcase I attended in California, I chatted with Ryan La Fata, Hampton Convention and Visitors Bureau Media Manager, who gave me terrific tips for visitors. Enjoy these getaway ideas for now, or stash them for later. visithampton.com

It’s never too early to plan the next trip. In April a Children’s Festival features history, fun and surprises. In June, the Convention and Visitors Center will host the Democratic Staate Convention. The glistening waterfront, the modern Virginia Air & Space Center, the eclectic shops of Phoebus, downtown and Coliseum Central, the history of Fort Monroe and Hampton University and the crystalline beauty of the Chesapeake Bay set Hampton apart.

Recent additions include the Virginia Air & Space Center’s $10-million expansion, the NASCAR Sports Grille, opening spring 2008. The themed restaurant will include state-of-the-art audio/visual attractions and booth-sized interactive, high-definition plasma screens, museum quality NASCAR memorabilia and art work.

"Where the Chesapeake Bay meets one of the nation’s busiest harbors sits Hampton, Virginia. Centered between the cities of Williamsburg and Virginia Beach, the city is best known for its location and endless activity. From the first settlers who landed here in 1607, to America’s first astronauts -- the Mercury Seven, who trained here at NASA Langley Research Center in 1959 - the city’s rich history and vital past is clearly visible by exploring our destination,” explained Ryan LaFata, Hampton Convention and Visitors Bureau Media Manager.

The Hampton Roads Convention Center will host the Virginia Democratic Convention in June 2008. The Power Plant of Hampton Roads retail and entertainment complex, developed by the Cordish Company, is now open and ready for business. McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon and Saddle Ridge Rock N’ Country Saloon are lively spots to relax. In spring 2008, the complex will welcome NASCAR Sports Grille, the third of its kind in the country.

The Cousteau Society made Hampton its U.S. Headquarters, opening an attraction featuring a display of Cousteau Society photography, models of the Alcyone and the Calypso, artifacts of their underwater marine exploration programs and gift shop.

Hampton’s remarkable heritage as the nation’s oldest continuous English-speaking settlement is showcased in the Hampton History Museum. Explorer Captain John Smith, Blackbeard the pirate, Booker T. Washington and America’s first astronauts, the Mercury Seven, have all played integral parts in a distinctive Hampton timeline to be displayed in ten permanent galleries. For pirate wannabees, The Hampton Blackbeard Festival takes place every June and promises to entice kids and adults.

The Virginia Air & Space Center recently opened the first phase of a new gallery, Space Quest: Exploring the Moon, Mars & Beyond! The gallery will open in three phases with the final phase opening in November 2008.
The Space Quest: Exploring the Moon, Mars & Beyond is a perfect compliment to the center’s Adventures In Flight Gallery, which opened in November 2003. This gallery highlights the story of the Wright Brothers told through interactive exhibits.

One of Hampton’s hidden gems is the Aberdeen Gardens Historic Museum. The museum interprets the history of the Aberdeen Gardens neighborhood, designed and constructed in 1935 as part of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal Settlement to provide African American shipping workers with modern homes.

Hampton University, founded in 1868, is a short walk from the downtown area. Hampton University Museum maintains a collection of more than 1,200 cultural artifacts and traditional and contemporary works of art. Visitors can enjoy six National Historic Landmarks by self-guided walking tour, including Emancipation Oak, under whose limbs the Emancipation Proclamation was first read to Hampton citizens.

Its specialty shops and restaurants define Phoebus, a small village within the city of Hampton. Here, the American Theatre, a restored vaudeville house dating to 1908, provides an impressive menu of performing artists the entire family may enjoy.

Explore Civil War history at the Casemate Museum on Fort Monroe. Located within the fortress walls, the Casemate Museum traces Fort Monroe’s history in Hampton Roads. The attraction is free and the view of the harbor is spectacular.

On April 19, bring the family to the International Children’s Festival, taking place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Mill Point Park in downtown Hampton. Featuring over 25 countries, this popular event allows a unique opportunity for children of all ages to experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of cultures from across the globe.

For a free Hampton visitor guide, special event information, and assistance in planning your Hampton getaway, go to www.visithampton.com or call 800-800-2202.

Ice Sculpture Contest in Canada's Banff National Park an Olympic Qualifier

2007-12-28T16:22:00.000-05:00

Lake Louise is a gorgeous year-round destination spot in Canada's Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. But it's even more spectacular in the winter, when it becomes an ice wonderland. This year the International Ice Sculpture Competition -- part of the festival near the Victoria Glacier -- is also a qualifying event for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and Banff Lake Louise Tourism team up for the January 25-27 events.

International teams have two_ days to create masterpieces from 15 blocks of ice. Sanctioned by the National Ice Carving Association Beginning in 2009, carvers will earn points needed to qualify for the International Ice Competition in Whistler, BC, in 2010.

This year’s theme “Celebrating Snow Queen, Ice Fairies and The Enchanted Forest” will bring ice carving teams from as far away as Nigeria, as well as the Banff Centre’s Canadian composer Patrick Cardy’s adapted score of The Snow Queen for string quartet. Also new this year is Baker Creek Chalet’s Ice Playground, Samson Mall’s Little Chippers Children’s Carving and Lake Louise Inn’s One Hour, One Carver, One Block. Watch in on the Canmore Eagles Hockey Game at the Recreation Centre or a dog-sledding demonstration, as the entire community of Lake Louise celebrates the Ice Magic Festival weekend. “This is a great step forward for the festival. Ice Magic has been growing fast and several new events have been added this year,” says Andrea Thiessen, Director of Events and Special Projects for Banff Lake Louise Tourism. For a full schedule, visit www.banfflakelouise.com/icemagic.

Tucked deep within the boundaries of Banff National Park, the Lake Louise area boasts world-class festivals, breathtaking scenery, excellent restaurants and charming hotels. Lake Louise is a terrific destination for families, couples and nature lovers.

Provincetown, MA -- Art, History, Spas

2007-12-12T10:21:00.000-05:00

Visit Provincetown year-round for a splash of art and history. At THANKSGIVING remember the Pilgrims who first landed at Provincetown, the 1620 before moving to Plymouth. At the Provincetown Art Association and Museum, view a fab art collection. I took a four-day Cape Cod escape relaxing, strolling, beaching, biking, gallery-hopping and watching the street scene in P-town. Relaxing at the deluxe Crowne Point Inn & Spa, a block from Pilgrim Monument (look up!) and the Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum, open all year, eating at The Mews and Bistro at Crowne Point, is a good bet anytime of year. Of course, in the summer, Cape Cod's National Seashore beaches offer warmer options.

On my leisurely drive along Cape Cod, I followed the Arts & Artisans Trails of Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket guidebook and visited some pottery makers, jewelers, painters and galleries. More than 200 artists are featured along seven different trails. Guides, $13.95, are sold at bookstores and www.CapeAndIslandsArtsGuide.com.

On November 11, 1620, 42 Pilgrims signed the Mayflower Compact before rowing ashore to establish a colony. Today, and visitors can learn about it in the Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum at the base of the monument. The 100-year old, l0-story, 350 foot tower – the tallest all-granite structure in the country -- is on the highest point of land in P-town, and Pres. Theodore Roosevelt dedicated it in 1907. The tower will be lighted for the holidays on Nov. 21. www.pilgrim-monument.org.

The Pilgrims left P-town because of inadequate water and sailed to Plymouth, Massachusetts. Provincetown eventually thrived thanks to fishing, tourism and art. Perched at the end of Cape Cod, the town features dozens of galleries, restaurants, shops, and theatre, ranging from the East End to the West End on Commercial Street.

Nowadays, Moms and Dads push strollers down Commercial Street (it’s virtually a pedestrian mall as cars crawl along. hikers carry backpacks, bikers whiz by and cafe sitters just drink coffee, munch cookies and chill. In season, hop aboard a whale watch or harbor cruise from MacMillan Wharf, or Art’s Dune Tour (Arts Dune Tours www.ArtsDuneTours.com, 508-487-1950, since 1946) through the National Seashore by dune buggy, horse, bike or foot and meet literati and glitterati from all over the world. Pass the beach shacks of famous writers and artists like Eugene O'Neill, a dune shack resident continuing to the Pilgrim Lake, where the Pilgrims got fresh water.

Visiting for a few days at the end of October delighted me with such warm weather I strolled around town in a sweater and tee shirt, like everyone else. Yet being off-season, nothing was crowded and the quiet beauty and charm of P-Town shone through. In Provincetown, my pals and I searched little coves, watch sunlit gulls, stroll flower lined paths, and beachcomb secluded sands, ride Atlantic surf. Here, as Patti Page sang in l963, "...if you're fond of sand dunes and salty air...you're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod."

Provincetown called P-town by locals is a high voltage, world-renowned artist's colony inspiring Norman Mailer, Hans Hoffman and Edward Gorey ("Dracula"). In the early 1900s, the light of P-Town attracted New York avante garde artists who founded artists colonies and schools – think Charles Hawthorne, Hans Hoffman -- shines as bright as ever. Today, their legacy exists in the many galleries, the newly renovated and expanded Provincetown Art Association and Museum (PAAM), 460 Commercial St, Provincetown, MA 02657 PH: (508) 487-1750, www.paam.org. Director Chris McCarthy noted PAAM is opening yearlong and hosts changing exhibit attracting top artists.

TO DO: Moms and Dads push strollers down the middle of Commercial Street (it's a pedestrian mall by use; cars are barely tolerated); hikers carry backpacks, bikers whiz by and cafe sitters just drink coffee, munch cookies and keep on chatting.

Stroll around Commercial Street; wander in and out of the boutiques, galleries, delis, and wharves. Walk to the end of MacMillan Wharf, poke into the fishing boats, and enjoy the vista of the town and sea. Search little coves, watch sunlit gulls, stroll flower lined paths, beachcomb secluded sands, ride Atlantic surf. Here, as Patti Page sang in l963, "...if you're fond of sand dunes and salty air...you're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod." Surprises lurk behind rambling roses, crashing surf, artist’s easels, fishing reels, boiled lobsters, sunscreen, baby carriages and bicycles built for two.

Grab a pizza from Spiritus, 190 Commercial St.; sit on the bench in front of Town Hall. People watch; don’t forget the dogs, either! Stroll down Commercial Street, and the side streets; wander in and out of the boutiques, galleries, delis, and wharves.

Art’s Dune Tours take visitors on narrated, guided day, sunset tour and even clambake tours to the dunes in a beach buggy (a closed jeep). Daytime tours (beginning at 9 a.m.), from the Town Wharf, drive through narrow P-town streets and alleys, into the Cape Cod National Seashore, continue through the scrub pine, beach grass over the dunes, past beach shacks of famous writers and artists (Eugene O'Neill was a dune resident), continuing to the Pilgrim Lake, where the Pilgrims got their fresh water supplies then back to town. Seasonal, but don’t miss it.

I stayed at The Crowne Pointe Historic Inn & Spa of Provincetown (82 Bradford St., 508-487-6767, www.crownepointe.com, a classic 140-year-old Cape Cod Sea Captain's estate. This unique Provincetown hotel is Relaxing, Rejuvenating, and Romantic. It’s four-star restaurant, the Bistro is in an elegant dining room. The inn serves a hot buffet breakfast, too, and boasts one of the best spas on the Cape. The AAA Four Diamond Inn has 40 rooms in six large fully restored historic buildings including a mansion, with an outdoor pool and two Jacuzzis.

This landmark Provincetown hotel features spacious guestrooms and luxury suites wrapped around a beautifully landscaped courtyard. My room, and others, featured a fireplace and whirlpool tub. The interior design compliments the spectacular Provincetown landscape of sand dune vistas, marsh grass, blue-green waters and sandy shoreline. Natural materials with fine craftsmanship abound throughout the hotel including hardwood floors, soothing wall color and ceiling fans.

Crowne Pointe Inn features the full service Shui Spa in one of the lovely houses. The serenity of the multi-storied spa immediately put me into a warm, cozy, relaxing mod before my gentle grape-exfoliating facial, the spa’s signature treatment. The spa’s therapists offer an extensive menu of body, skin and massage treatments and therapies. A steam room and sauna, mineral pool and outdoors reflecting garden with a large Buddha statue completes the spa experience. The Shui Spa is open to the public. Visit www.shuispa.com or call The Crowne Pointe Historic Inn & Spa 82 Bradford Street, Provincetown, MA 02657 • 508-487-6767.

RESTAURANTS: The open-all year top-notch Bistro Restaurant at the Crowne Pointe Inn, is a perfect fit for the Inn, and the gourmet food is served with great charm by the terrific wait staff.

I dined at The Mews, Commercial Street. (129 Commercial Street, Provincetown, 508-487-1500, www.mews.com.) Open all year, this richly decorated and lively restaurant serves gourmet and plain food. I ordered a martini from a full menu then duck, -- delicious! -- topped by excellent Key lime pie. In season, grab an outdoor table at one of the many restaurants lining Commercial Street, or head indoor. Not all of the restaurants are open all year.

Falmouth -- After my P-Town stay, I drove south to Falmouth -- about an hour away -- for two days and relaxed at the upscale oceanfront bed and breakfast, Inn on the Sound. Innkeepers Jan Campbell and husband Howard Grosser prepared a delicious hot breakfast, featuring their famous cinnamon bread. The Inn boasts “A walk along the beach begins just steps from your door and the scent of sea air greets you outside your window.” And where my first-floor spacious room featured an ocean-facing deck and chaise lounge with Siamese cat, Bob. Vineyard Sound and famed Martha’s Vineyard are in view at just a turn of your head... sits 45 feet up on a bluff, with panoramic ocean and Martha’s Vineyard views. The Inn is perfectly located for sightseeing throughout Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Newport and Plymouth, with ferries leaving Falmouth Harbor just half-a-mile away. www.innonthesound.com. 313 Grand Avenue · Falmouth, 800 564 9668 · 508 457 9666 · For information on Falmouth, visit Falmouth Chamber of Commerce website at www.falmouthchamber.com.

I had two spa treatments at the modern Bellezza Day Spa in the town center. A scalp followed my Swedish massage by Patti Pulliam and hair treatment in the childfree spa was superb. Bellezza Day Spa, Falmouth, www.spabellezza.com.The 2007 Arts & Artisans Guide. To find artists who have open studios and galleries and welcome visitors to browse and shop on the entire Cape, buy The 2007 Arts & Artisans Guide. Its color photos and maps give an idea of places and an artwork. Www.capeandislandsartsguide.com.

The Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, Hyannis, prints a visitors guide, www.capecodchamber.org/GuideBook.asp, and tel. 888-33CapeCod. Www.provincetowntourismoffice.org.

Quebec City Celebrates 400th in 2008 with Yearlong Events

2007-09-18T13:26:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday Quebec City! On July 3, 2008, Quebec City, Canada, reaches a milestone – the 400th anniversary of its founding in 1608 – and will celebrate its historic past and present all year, with gala parades, laser shows and an original show by famed Cirque du Soleil. From December 31, 2007, to October 19, 2008, tourists and Canadians visiting the charming city on the St. Lawrence River can delve into a “treasure chest” of Quebec festivities, attractions and activities planned by the Quebec City Tourism. Concerts, guided tours, and many other cultural activities are planned.

“I arrived there on the 3rd of July,” wrote French explorer Samuel de Champlain in 1608, “when I searched for a place suitable for our settlement, but I could find none more convenient or better situated than the point of Quebec.” Champlain stepped ashore and unfurled the fleur-de-lys, marking the beginning of that city and indeed of Canada. Quebec City is still a wonderful "little bit of France".

The setting of the city is gorgeous, encompassing the St. Lawrence River, nearby mountains, access to the sea, an Upper and Lower Town, old stone buildings, a modern port and modern architecture.

The Quebec City museums plan many special exhibits focusing on the history of the city. Cultural happenings, parades, military band contests and multi-media events are just some of the offerings. The city cherishes encounters between Europe and North America, First Nations and settlers, France and England and portrays that in its events.

The Quebec City tourism folk invite one and all to come, enjoy and discover this wonderful bi-cultural city.

People of French descent across North America trace their history back to Québec City, the cradle of French civilization in the New World. (Although French is the official language, most of the locals speak English.)

For thousands of years, Québec was a regular gathering place for First Nations. When Jacques Cartier sailed up the St. Lawrence in 1535, he came upon the village of Stadaconé, not far from Cap Diamant, where the Iroquois people practiced agriculture and fishing. One century later, the Algonquin nomads were found at the future site of Québec City. Today, it is the Hurons-Wendat who live here, present in the area since 1650, they are settled in Wendake since 1697.

July 3, 2008 is the anniversary of the founding of Québec City, and the date of its fourth centenary. This is the high point of the 400th anniversary celebrations. At the Basilique de Québec, a High Mass will be followed by a salute to Champlain, ceremonies, a military parade and a show with projections, songs and dances. In the evening, the Festival international d’été de Québec will kick off on the Plains of Abraham with a gala show.

Oh, in between anniversary celebrations, visitors have to eat, right? Quebec cuisine is scrumptious. And sightsee. Local sightseeing highlights include visiting and eating at the regal Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, 310 steps up from the river. An enclosed funicular chugs up the steep slope for $1.50 per ride. The lower-level entrance is in the Louis-Jolliet House in the Quartier Petit Champlain. This historic pedestrian-only lane is lined with boutiques, galleries and cafes in 17th- and 18th-century stone buildings.

Breakfast at Le Cochon Dingue, an authentic Quebec institution, is a don't-miss treat. Dinner in Les Voutes du Cavour, a historical home, typical of New France architecture, features food and entertainment of this era. Enjoy the river and city views with a cruise on The M/V Louis Jolliet -- it offers dinner and lunch cruises.

On a recent trip to Quebec City, I indulged in a private guide. I arranged my guide through Québec City Tourism (418) 580-6662. Michelle Demers escorted me on a sightseeing tour. We strolled Old Québec's narrow history filled streets and toured historic houses by the St. Lawrence River.
Later, I used the Quebec City Passport to visit some of the 20 local museums and attractions including the Old Port of Quebec Interpretation Center; the National Historic Site, the Citadel; the Quebec Experience Multi Media, the Musee du Fort, the Observatory de La Capital, and the Museum of Civilization. Many plan special events during the 400th anniversary year so check the website.

I stayed at Hotel 71, at 71 Rue Saint-Pierre, phone (418) 692-1171 or 1 888 692-1171. Visit www.hotel71.ca for more information. Opened a short time, the Hotel 71–Café 71 is in a renovated XIX century building, with 40 rooms and suites, in an antique and art gallery area a few blocks from Place Royale. The hotel’s a block from the St. Lawrence River and the Marché du Vieux-Port. The Marche, a tradition dating back 300 years, is the farmer’s market. One night I stepped out the back door of my hotel and walked across the pedestrian lane to Restaurant Toast for dinner.

Right after the opening show for the Festival d’été de Québec, a fire-sculpture will be lit around 11 PM on the Plains of Abraham, the starting point for a flame-lit parade down to the Bassin Louise.
Here are some highlights of the anniversary year celebrations; visit the easy-to-navigate website www.quebec400.qc.ca for detailed information on activities, accommodations, restaurants, activities and more. The Opening Ceremony is set for December 31, 2007, at Place D'Youville, Quebec City and is geared for families and all ages.

January 5-6, 2008 “ The 400-year Journey» Interactive Tour, presented by La Société du 400e anniversaire de Québec begins the year in the heart of Old Québec. Participants will walk through 13 different stations with dozens of actors, comedians and athletes telling the story of the early French settlers.Mahler's Symphony No. 8, Symphony of a Thousand, March 15, 2008, Colisée Pepsi, features this phenomenal work of art bringing a conductor and 1,000 musicians and singers to the stage. This spectacular piece is rarely presented anywhere in the world.

Same cloth, different threads: the Jews of Quebec, From May 1 to October 31, 2008, Gare du Palais, An exhibition celebrating the integration and participation of the Jewish community in Québec City's development.

Anniversary website, www.quebec400.qc.ca, updates events. Also visit www.quebecregion.com, for restaurant, hotel and transportation information. Bon jour.

Canada’s Bata Shoe Museum Brings Some Sexy “Sole” To Boston, Including Marilyn Monroe’s slippers

2007-07-24T15:34:00.000-04:00

Canada’s Bata Shoe Museum Brings Some Sexy “Sole” To Boston, (Including Marilyn Monroe’s slippers)

Bostonians can step into Canada, a country known for its amazing and sometimes quirky experiences, from Wednesday, July 18 to Saturday, July 28 at the Calderwood Pavilion, Boston Center for the Arts (527 Tremont St.) where a free exhibit from Toronto's Bata Shoe Museum will shine on display. The Bata Shoe Museum is the largest private shoe museum in the world boasting more than 10,000 shoes from ancient Egyptian sandals, alluring platforms, and sexy high heels to more practical footwear by native North Americans such as the Inuit and Sioux.

Take a stroll through footwear history, from menacing looking clogs once worn in the 19th century in the Haute Ardeches region of Auvergne, France to crush chestnuts, to Marilyn Monroe’s red silk Boudoir Slippers (she brought them with her to modeling assignments and kept them in a props case). The shoes on display range from the practical to the absurd, from the fashionable sole to “till death do you part” accessories.

Take the double-soled zori from Japan where traditional marriages were arranged by the families of the bridal couple and sealed with an exchange of gifts which sometimes included a pair of double-soled zori to symbolize matrimonial harmony. Other shoes featured that will kick up excitement and intellectual curiosity include footwear from China, India, and the Inuit and Sioux cultures as well as decorated evening shoes with styles spanning the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries.

The free exhibit is brought to Bostonians by the Canadian Tourism Commission and presented under the auspices of the Bata Shoe Museum.

Tourist destinations Round-up for Canada, lovely Canada

2007-07-23T11:46:00.000-04:00

Canada's British Columbia, Vancouver, offers pristine nature plus two sophisticated cities -- Vancouver and Victoria. Here're tips and information about destinations, scenic railroad rides on the Rocky Mountaineer, restaurants sights, hotels and museums.

Vancouver, on English Bay, is a zesty, outdoorsy, cosmopolitan Canadian city, with fabulous attractions, history, ocean and bay views, terrific restaurants and first-rate hotels. In British Columbia, the city sparkles on English Bay. Locals and visitors enjoy the outdoors in this charming city ringed by magnificent scenery of the Pacific Ocean, bays, rivers, and mountains.

Vancouverites brag they can snowboard or ski in 15 minutes from downtown. Locals often dress in outdoor gear, hiking boots and backpacks, leave work early to head across the Lions Gate Bridge over Burrard Inlet to Grouse Mountain. Tourists also enjoy the sky-ride to the mountaintop, wilderness trails, parks and recreation areas. Ferries and buses from downtown travel frequently across the inlet.

In town, take the tourist trolley -- hop off and on to see the sights, or enjoy the ride -- or public buses. This walkabe city fascinates with its antique-filled Gastown, the historic Chinese enclave and elegant Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, shopping on Robson Street, and new waterfront walkway. The walkway leads to the 1,000 acre Stanley Park, its huge totem poles, Vancouver Aquarium Marine and Science World. Don't miss the vibrant open-air Granville Market area shops, markets, restaurants and outdoor entertainment. Kayak rentals here, too. Kids love it here.

The Vancouver Art Gallery Museum and galleries feature Northwestern to modern art. Superb restaurants serve fresh Pacific cod, sea bass and salmon. Casual eaters can grab a bite at one of the cafes; try Kaplan's Deli, 41st Ave. and Oak St., or head to Chinatown.

Cruise ships dock daily at modern Canada Place, across from the Waterfront Hotel. Here, visitors sit on the seawall to watch floatplanes, ferries, yachts, sailboats and the ships. Vancouver boasts two sides to its 'personality' -- cosmopolitan and outdoorsy. Pacific Ocean beaches and coastal mountains, scenic Stanley Park and a mile-long seawall contrast with up-to-date Robson Street's restaurants, shops, and coffee shops. Close to mountains, ocean and rivers it has an energetic, hip feel visitors sense walking its hilly city streets.

Two of my favorite hotels? The Pacific Palisades Hotel and the elegant Wedgewood Hotel. The Wedgewood's Old World flavor (dark wood, crystal, oil paintings) with high speed Internet, freshly baked cookies at turndown are one reason this is such a unique hotel. It's a warm, sophisticated welcoming city hotel. Recently, the rooms were upgraded and a new spa was installed, said proprietor Eleni Skalbani. Bacchus, the Wedgwood's award winning restaurant, is a wondrous dining experience, with fireplace, piano player and elegance. Joanna Tsaparas, Director of Marketing, noted that the hotel's Hornby Street location puts it smack in the middle of all of the downtown action.

The Pacific Palisades Hotel is another favorite of mine, located on trendy Robson Street, in downtown Vancouver. The Pacific Palisades hotels South Beach inspired decor reflects a hip, refreshing environment. A spa, Zin Restaurant and Lounge and pet-friendly policy complete the offerings. 604-688-0461, www.pacificpalisadeshotel.com.

A short drive north of Vancouver brings visitors to the mountains and village of Whistler, British Columbia. The Summit Lodge & Spa in the heart of Whistler Village North. Nestled between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains and surrounded by the Canadian wilderness, the Summit Lodge & Spa invites city slickers to kickback, relax and be at one with Mother Nature. Gentle wind chimes welcome guests as they approach this cozy, boutique hotel. Additional services include in-room spa treatments at an additional cost.

The Summit Lodge & Spa is an 81-suite, full-service hotel.
Highlights include complimentary ski shuttle, a sauna, heated outdoor pool and hot tub and meeting facilities. Reservations at 1-888-913-8811 or reservations@summitlodge.com. www.summitlodge.com.

Heading east, try a stay at the Moraine Lake Lodge, IN BANFF NATIONAL PARK in the rugged Canadian Rockies, in its 95th summer season in 2007. The luxurious resort is in the Valley of the Ten Peaks in Banff National Park, about a two and a half hour drive from Calgary, Alberta.

Moraine Lake Lodge sits alone on the edge of Moraine Lake, called the Jewel of the Rockies for its spectacular beauty and iridescent turquoise water, said Nancy Stibbard, owner of the lodge as part of the British Columbia-based Capilano Group of Companies. If you're looking for an all-day adventure, we'll pack your lunch and point you to the ancient glaciers. Or if youd rather relax in comfort, choose a book from our library and enjoy an afternoon on your private patio surrounded by Banff National Parks Valley of the Ten Peaks. Moraine Lake Lodge offers outdoor eco-adventures activities from canoeing on Moraine Lake, to hiking, horseback riding, fishing, rock climbing, mountaineering and bird watching, all in a secluded wilderness setting by towering mountains and crystalline lake. www.morainelake.com.

Finally, a note about the FABULOUS rail tours of the Canadian Rockies onboard the Rocky Mountaineer. Each of the Rocky Mountaineer train tours cruise through breathtaking scenery and boast topnotch onboard service, with an overnight stay in accommodations midway on the journey. I took the two-day trip from Vancouver to Banff Springs one year and guarantee an amazing time to any traveler. The mountaineer planners offer pre-and post vacations from eight to ten days, so check with their website for more information. I hope to take another trip this year, from Whistler to Jasper. www.rockymountaineer.com. 1-877-460-3200.

Pamper Yourself at the SPA InterContinental Boston An Urban Delight

2007-02-26T19:17:00.000-05:00

The newest luxury addition to Boston’s growing spa list is the SPA InterContinental. It boasts 6,500 square feet within the new waterfront InterContinental Boston hotel. Both the spa and hotel boast a contemporary, albeit stark design. But the SPA, and the staff, is friendly, outgoing and gracious. The SPA offers a full menu of spa choices from a stone massage, various wraps, facials (which I chose), to a spacious room offering couples massage.

InterContinental is an ideal “urban oasis,” with dozens of spa treatments to indulge in, from facials, massage, wraps, couples massage and more.
“With six treatment rooms and an extensive menu to choose from, SPA InterContinental offers complete Massage Therapy, Body and Facial Care to clients staying at the hotel as well as locals opting for a day spa, as I did. The hotel offers has valet and garage parking, and the InterContinenal is only a few blocks from the T (subway) and South Station.

Pampering begins in the relaxation lounge. This subtly-lit area featured subdued lighting and quiet music; held cushy, deep chairs in an Asian-type décor. Generous bowls of dried washabi nuts, dried corn, cranberry and washabi pea mix were set out and Keli, my facialist, offered me tea and dried fruits
Keli Pope, a graduate of the Spa Technical Institute, Plymouth MA, also specializes in Runway and Bridal makeup. A young woman with an outgoing personality, she told me what methods she would use for my type skin (greasy in some spots, dry in others), as she tucked me in on the heated treatment table.

After taking off my comfy white robe and slippers, I lay down on the treatment table and was delighted to find I was lying on a padded, soft heated table, which also mechanically elevated and lowered my head with a press of a switch.
Keli was enthusiastic and terrific, and we chatted during the relaxing 50-minute hydrating intensive facial treatment, in which she used many different face creams. Each one felt divine, cool to warm and perfect! I especially enjoyed hot towels placed on my face as opposed to the steam used. After my treatment, my face was fresh and glowing after my treatment. It still looks good, a week later. Next time, I want to book one of the other five facials on the menu. Or an exfoliation treatment or deep massage. Temptations and choices abound here.

“Spa etiquette and indulgence is part of the total experience, for we want you to feel as if you are in a cocoon, with no cares or worries,” said Keli with my hearty agreement. The room was decorated in a neutral tone which itself is relaxing the minute you enter.
I also enjoyed the absence of heavy fragrance in the lounge and treatment room.

The SPA Director, Travis Umpleby, is constantly fine-tuning the second floor SPA. A manicure and pedicure area and a few more amenities in the lounge and dressing area, such as more magazines and hangers for the lockers. A steam room, heated pool and fitness center complete the SPA. Hotel guests can indulge themselves with SPA treatments in their rooms. his is one of the most relaxing spas I have been to in recent years. Miel – the InterContinental 24/7 restaurant on the first floor, plans outdoor dining in the InterContinental Gardens slated to open April 2007. SPA InterContinental is at 500 Atlantic Ave., Boston, MA, 617-5090. Www.intercontinentalboston.com/spa.

Quebec City’s Spas Treat Mind & Body: Chateau Bonne Entente and Siberian Day Spas

2006-12-19T14:24:00.000-05:00

Story and Photos By Rachel Rome

Quebec City’s 400th anniversary, recalling its founding by French explorer Samuel de Champlain, will be celebrated July 3, 2008. Exciting events are being planned so mark your calendar. For now, spa enthusiasts can enjoy city history after visiting two unique area spas – one a day spa in the woods, the other, an upscale destination spa in the ‘burbs. Quebec City is a festive spot all year round, from the summer New France Festival, to the annual marching band contest, to the renowned Quebec City Winter Carnival.
For spa goers, I recommend two exceptional spas – Le Chateau
Bonne Entente, a destination spa, and the Siberia Station Spa, a day
Spa. For a spa vacation, I spent a few days at a renowned destination spa for a total spa experience. Then, after spending a few days sightseeing in Quebec City, I relaxed at the Siberia Station Spa. This delightful Scandinavian-style full- service day spa is set in the” great outdoors”, with a burbling stream rushing through it. I put on my bathing suit and quickly discovered the healthy benefits of alternating hot and
cold treatments. The Siberia Station Spa is set in a bucolic area
close to the city center, and boasts hot spas, a Yurt tent, cold-water baths,saunas, steam baths, thermal falls and massages and a super-friendly staff. I enjoyed an hour-and-a-half Californian massage and just got back in the hot tub after my lunch and felt as if I’d been away for a week.

For a luxury destination spa, try exclusive Le Chateau Bonne Entente, a five-star resort hotel and spa. Amerispa, the Canadian leader in the luxury spa industry, pampers guests at the 5,800 square-foot Le Chateau Bonne Entente spa. I enjoyed a facial and stone massage while there after touring the historic city for a few days.

Twenty-two rooms are available for massage —- including relaxation, aromatherapy, sports and four hands. Popular treatments include the maple-sugar body scrub and algae, mud or clay wraps. Facials, manicures and pedicures are offered, too. Maple-leaf exfoliation restores smoothness and elasticity to the skin. Basalt stone is used for another energizing signature treatment. Guests can end a spa treatment in the outdoor hot tub or swimming pool. Chef Marie-Chantel Lepage and staff cook gourmet meals for both hotel restaurants. The outdoor Napa Grill, featuring casual food, is next to the swimming pool. The more formal indoor Monte Cristo Resto Lounge, features French nouvelle cuisine with and an international wine list, has a classy modern décor.

Le Chateau is only 15 minutes from the Quebec airport and 20 minutes from downtown Quebec City. A recent $10,000,000 renovation and expansion increased rooms 120 guest rooms, 45 suites and 15 meeting rooms. Another $6,000,000 project in 2005 added Urbania, 28 luxury suites with private VIP lounge. I stayed in Urbania for three days, and received a glass of champagne at registration. In Summer 2006, rooms were $129 to $375 (Canadian), plus tax. Le Chateau is affiliated with the Leading Hotels of the World organization. For more information, visit www.chateaubonneentente.com; for reservations, call 1-800-463-4390.

Back in Quebec City, tourists enjoy festivities and special events year round. For one example, in August the New France Festival in Quebec City is a great event to attend. Festive folks wear 17th century costumes, including tri-corner hats, skirts, vests and capes to recall the 1608 French settlers who founded Quebec City on the St. Lawrence River. In winter, the Quebec Carnival includes ice sculpture, ice-skating and other winter activities.

Quebec cuisine is scrumptious. Local sightseeing highlights include visiting and eating at the regal Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, which is 310 steps up from the river. An enclosed funicular also chugs up the steep slope for $1.50 per ride. The lower-level entrance is in the Louis-Jolliet House in the Quartier Petit Champlain. This historic pedestrian-only lane is lined with boutiques, galleries and cafes in 17th- and 18th-century stone buildings.

Breakfast at Le Cochon Dingue, an authentic Quebec institution, is a don't-miss treat. Dinner in Les Voutes du Cavour, a historical home, typical of New France architecture, features food and entertainment of this era. Enjoy the river and city views with a cruise on The M/V Louis Jolliet -- it offers dinner and lunch cruises.

After one breakfast at Hotel 71, I met my delightful city guide, Michelle Demers (418) 580-6662, from Québec City Tourism. Michelle escorted me on a sightseeing tour. We strolled Old Québec's narrow history filled streets and toured historic houses by the St. Lawrence River. "UNESCO has named Québec City a World Heritage Treasure because of its unique architectural and historical value -- the city is considered the cradle of French civilization in North America," said Michelle.

Then we drove to other highlights, including the Montmorency Falls.
We drove to Parc de la Chute-Montmorency, where the falls are one and a half time higher than Niagara Falls and one of the most beautiful waterfalls in North America. Riding the cable car to the top, we looked out over the St. Lawrence River and nearby islands, and strolled to the belvedere and bridge over the falls. Later that day, I used the Quebec City Passport to about 20 local museums and attractions including the Old Port of Quebec Interpretation Center; the National Historic Site, the Citadel; the Quebec Experience Multi Media, the Musee du Fort, the Observatory de La Capital, and the Museum of Civilization, which was just across the narrow lane from my Hotel 71.

That night I stepped out the back door of my hotel and walked across
the pedestrian lane to Restaurant Toast for dinner. At the Toast, Michelle and I dined in the outdoor terrace in the back of the restaurant, enjoying a warm and trendy décor. The menu is inspired by flavours from around the
globe.

I stayed at the new Hotel 71, at 71 Rue Saint-Pierre, phone (418) 692-1171 or 1 888 692-1171. Opened a short time, the Hotel 71–Café 71 is in a renovated XIX century building, with 40 rooms and suites, contemporary ambience and décor and a wonderful staff. Located in an antique and art gallery area a few blocks from Place Royale, the hotel’s a block from the St. Lawrence River and the Marché du Vieux-Port. The Marche, a tradition dating back 300 years, is the farmer’s market and a reminder of the days of barter between city dwellers and country folk. Growers bring in fresh produce daily, including maple products, flowers, berries, vegetables and cheese. The Hotel 71 serves a full breakfast buffet, including cappuccino, coffee or espresso. Visit www.hotel71.ca for more information.

For more information on Quebec Region and City, and festivals, visit www.quebecregion.com, or call Quebec City and Area Tourism -- 418-522-3511. Air Canada, www.aircanada.com flies to Quebec City, as does Delta, non-stop, in the summer. French is the official language but most residents speak English.

Cruise on MS Amadagio Along the Danube River For An Exciting European Tour

2006-11-28T11:27:00.000-05:00

Story and Photos By Rachel Rome

Cruising the Danube River on a riverboat is an increasingly popular way for touring Central Europe. Glide past castles, capitals, and scenic countryside from Budapest to Regensburg. My weeklong cruise on the MS Amadagio, a sleek, modern luxury riverboat, featured first-class hotel amenities. In ports from Budapest to Nuremberg, we enjoyed walking tours, easily exploring Gothic cathedrals, shops, museums, cathedrals, synagogues, and shopping districts. Our ship docked in city and town centers so we started tours at the dock while cruising during mealtimes allowed us to enjoy passing scenery from the lounge, dining room or sun deck. With a maximum of 150 passengers, disembarking and embarking took minutes as we strolled off ramps from the ship to land.

The MS Amadagio, launched in April 2006, offers deluxe cruising on European rivers and waterways – is like a first-class hotel on water. The spacious main lounge and Panorama Restaurant are lined with floor-to-ceiling windows. On board we enjoyed gourmet cuisine, great regional wines and nightly entertainment including a hilarious crew show. This riverboat holds 150 passengers, boasts an English-speaking crew, supervised by Captain Gerald Faas, Hotel Manager, Cordula Deeken (very cordial!), and Cruise Director, Gunther Bayer. For more information, or to book a cruise, call Central Holidays at 1-800-935-5000 or go to www.centralholidays.com.

Gunther arranged half-day city walking tours with local guides, sightseeing excursions and nightly entertainment on board. From Budapest, Hungary, we cruised through beautiful countryside, the unspoiled Wachau Valley, locks, saw the Alps in the distance, and dozens of hilltop fortified castles – including Durnstein’s fortress castle where King Richard the Lionhearted was imprisoned in the 12th century. In Vienna I toured the Jewish Museum, the Mozart House Museum, watched the famed “dancing” Lippanzer stallions practice in the Hapsburg Palace; the opulent Hofburg (Hapsburg) Kaiserappartements, the Sisi Museum (Empress), and the Silver and Porcelain Collection; dancing along the same Salzburg streets where Maria von Trapp strummed her guitar – these are a few of my favorite things.

My riverboat trip began in Budapest. Along with new friends I‘d met on the airport van, we headed into the city for lunch. Strolling up the main shopping street on the Pest side, we explored Baroque cathedrals and local shops, and then ate Hungarian goulash in the Papaya Restaurant. After the end of our self-guided tour, we headed back to the MS Amadagio, unpacked then attended the welcome dinner -- delicious cuisine, and regional wine. Later, Gunther gave one of his nightly orientation and port talks.

That night, we sailed past Budapest’s illuminated castles and cathedrals. Next morning, we docked at Bratislava, Slovakia. The former Hungarian capital for 250 years is where many Austro Hungarian monarchs were crowned. It boasts many Renaissance, baroque and rococo buildings, the Old Quarter, Hrad castle, and the 14th century St. Martin’s Cathedral (Dom) is a gothic masterpiece. That evening, on board, the modern chamber music group “Aphrodites in Bratislava” entertained. Then, we cruised to Vienna, Austria.

By morning we arrived in Vienna. Once the center of the Hapsburg Empire, a walking tour included Hofburg Palace, the Vienna Opera House, Ringstrasse and awe-inspiring St. Stephen's Cathedral. We shopped in the Karntnerstrasse and savored sachertorte (chocolate covered pastry) or apfelstrudel in a neighborhood cafe. I watched the Lippanzer Stallions practice, then to the Jewish Museum. That night, heard the Vienna Boys Choir. Fantastic!

Next day, after cruising through the scenic Wachau Valley, we arrived at charming wine-growing Durnstein, known for its baroque Stifskirche with its blue façade, golden cathedral and the ruins of the castle where Richard the Lionheart, King of England, was imprisoned in 1192.

Back on board we cruised to Melk for a guided tour of the magnificent Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe’s largest baroque monasteries, with a rare books library, a museum featuring art spanning a thousand years and a famed cathedral. The view from the hilltop Abbey is sensational, with a broad panoramic view of the Danube River and countryside.

Sailing upriver on the Danube River, I relaxed on a deck chair on the Sun deck, watched passing scenery, gabbed with friends as fitness fans walked laps on the track and some hardy Australians soaked in the Jacuzzi. Another morning, we watched gorgeous Wachau Valley countryside. One sunny morning, our ship crossed Europe's Continental Divide, a testament to the engineering feat of the Main-Danube Canal. This canal, coupled with an extensive lock system, links the Danube River to northern rivers, allowing river navigation from the Black Sea to the North Sea, a 2170-mile length.

On to Linz and Passau, Germany. After breakfast some boarded a bus to Salzburg. Our guide took us to The Sound of Music sites and through the cobble-stoned streets lined with boutiques, coffee houses and Mozart museums. Other passengers stayed on the ship to cruise through Upper Austria to Passau, Germany, a well-preserved town with medieval towers and cathedral, situated strategically on the Danube River, where Inn and Ilz Rivers join.

After cruising through the Danube Gorge’s scenery and the final stretch of the Main-Danube Canal, we docked In Regensburg, one of Germany's best-preserved medieval cities and hometown of Joseph Raztinger, the current Pope Benedict the XVI. Our walking tour included architectural highlights, the Old Town Hall and the stone Porta Pretoria-gates to an ancient Roman fort built in 179 AD. We stopped at new memorial to the Jewish Community on in the main square. One Hebrew word is carved in it -- it means “East.”

Our final port stop was Nuremberg. A tour included ornate Gothic churches and elegant patrician houses. We also visited World War II sites outside the center. Nuremberg's medieval and modern traditions include spice cookies Lebkuchen, toy making and metalworking. This stop was our last night, and we attended the Captain's Gala Dinner.

Next morning I left for home while others went on to Prague.

For More Information

The MS Amadagio offers fine cuisine, hotel-quality service and spacious cabins on a small ship. The price for the mid-November 2006 cruises on MS Amadagio - Cruise & Land was $2,399. In addition to the Danube River cruise, Central Holidays offers many other “Enchanting River Cruises” itineraries throughout Europe. For more information, or to book a cruise, call Central Holidays at 1-800-935-5000 or go to www.centralholidays.com.

Boston Lyric Opera's Madama Butterfly a Triumph

2006-11-09T14:46:00.000-05:00

BY RACHEL ROME
Boston Lyric Opera’s 30th Anniversary Season begins with Giacomo Puccini’s masterpiece Madama Butterfly, starring the incredibly talented Kelly Kaduce in the starring role, and conducted by Keith Lockhart. This beloved opera is a timeless story love of betrayal and devotion, centering on the heart-wrenching young Japanese girl who kills herself rather than live without honor. One of the most beloved operas of all time, Madama Butterfly has been enchanting audiences for more than 100 years.
Kelly Kaduce, a Boston-trained soprano, returns to BLO to sing the role of Cio-Cio-San following her debut in Thaïs in April of 2006. Tenor Gerard Powers debuts with the Company as B. F. Pinkerton, her selfish American husband. His powerful voice, handsome demeanor and stage presence perfectly complement our heroine, Butterfly, yet he is, until the last Act, a selfish, rotten scoundrel. Yet Butterfly loves him, and therein lays her downfall. The opera is set in Japan in 1904, a time when foreigners were first admitted to the country after 200 years of isolation. Western men invented a custom of temporary marriages, which would be annulled if the “husband” were gone for more than 30 days. Cio-Cio-San married Lt. Pinkerton, but she had fallen in love with him, renounced her religion and country; he, on the other hand, just wanted a “convenient” lover, and was callous and thoughtless to her. Her family, finding out she’s abandoned her religion, denounced her. After a while,Pinkerton left her, but she refused to give up hoping for his return. When he did, nearly three years later, a tragedy ended her love and life.
Melina Pineda, as Cio-Cio-San’s loyal servant, Suzuki, is a soothing presence with a lovely voice. Baritone Carlos Archuleta makes his BLO mainstage debut as Sharpless, the sympathetic American Consul. Goro, a marriage broker, performed by Matthew DiBattista, tenor, adds a human touch when he tries to arrange another marriage for the abandoned Butterfly.
Madama Butterfly is Puccini’s grandest operas, a heart wrenching love story of a naïve young Japanese girl who takes her own life rather than live without honor, and gives her child to her husband and his hapless wife, Kate. Librettists were Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica after David Belasco’s play Madama Butterly, which is based on John Luther Long’s short story. One of the most beloved operas of all time, Madama Butterfly has been enchanting audiences for over a century. This is the opera Miss Saigon is based on. I prefer Puccini’s, especially as performed by the exceptional cast here.
Archuleta, a graduate of New England Conservatory, makes his BLO mainstage debut as Sharpless, the sympathetic American Consul. He's wonderful.
Keith Lockhardt, the Boston Pops’ conductor, masterfully conducts Madama Butterfly following his debut in 2004 with Tosca. When he hopped on stage at the end of the opera, he received a rousing ovation, along with the entire cast. His musicianship flawlessly matched the soaring to somber tones of Puccini’s beloved opera. The artistic crew created a magnificent performance, another coup for this first-rate opera company. This stunning production is directed by BLO favorite, Colin Graham OBE. Mr. Graham’s previous productions with the Company include Flight, La rondine, The Postman Always Rings Twice and Beatrice and Benedict. Newcomer to BLO, Neil Patel, designs scenery. Costumes are by another newcomer, David C. Woolard. Lighting designer Mark McCullough returns to BLO after previously designing Flight, Tosca, Così fan tutte, Die Fledermaus, Don Pasquale and Le nozze di Figaro. . Performances are sung in Italian with projected English translations

The outstanding singers deserved the standing ovation and “bravos” received at the end of the performance I attended and are: Cio-Cio-San (Madama Butterfly), Kelly Kaduce, soprano. B. F. Pinkerton, Gerard Powers, tenor, Suzuki Melina Pineda, mezzo-soprano; Sharpless Carlos Archuleta, baritone, Goro, a marriage broker; Matthew DiBattista, tenor. Prince Yamadori Joseph Valone, baritone, The Bonze, Cio-Cio-San’s disavowing uncle scared me! was Michael Callas, bass-baritone; The Imperial Commissioner, Paul Soper, baritone; The Official Registrar, John Whittlesey, baritone; Kate Pinkerton, the wife, had a small part but she played it well, .Paula Murrihy, mezzo-soprano
Madama Butterfly , at The Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont Street, Boston. November 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 14, 2006. Sung in Italian with projected English translations in the front of the theater.
The opera will be performed on Friday, November 10, at 7:30 pm, Sunday, November 5, at 3 pm, and Sunday, November 12, at 3 pm., and Tuesday, November 14, at 7:30 pm. Tickets for this and future operas are on sale at telecharge.com or (800) 447-7400 or the Shubert box office.
For updated information about Boston Lyric Opera and the 2006-2007 30th Anniversary Season which features Giacomo Puccini’s Madama Butterfly November 3-14, 2006, Giuseppe Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera (A Masked Ball) March 30-April 10, 2007, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) April 27-May 8, 2007, go to www.blo.org. *Jeffrey Dunn, photos, Madama Butterfly
Opera Buffs Can Enjoy Divas in the Dark: Magic Flute Sunday, November 19, 11 am , at Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline, in case they miss Madama.. For more information, go to www.coolidge.org

Philadelphia, A City for All Seasons, Filled with Culture, Spooky Halloween and Ben Franklin's Legacy

2006-09-27T18:41:00.000-04:00

BY RACHEL ROME
Photos By R Rome

Art and Music Delight Visitors to Philadelphia, as the city continues to honor Benjamin Franklins’ 300th birthday, at the National Constitution Center on Indpendence Mall, , Independence Hall and Franklin Court.
The National Constitution Center, www.constitutioncenter.org, showcases the American march to freedom.

Franklin’s importance in the canon of Founding Fathers ranks supreme as he was the only founding father to sign all four historical American revolutionary documents -- the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty with France, the Treaty with England and the US Constitution. He invented the lightening rod, bifocals, the Franklin stove and the “busy body".

Franklin not only was a scientific and engineering genius, but a diplomat, citizen par excellence, world traveler, representative of Colonial colonies at the courts of London and later Paris. Pennsylvania’s Delegate to the 1776 Constitutional Convention, he and John Adams edited the Declaration of Independence.

The Colonial historic Society Hill District, and Colonial Franklin sites, parks, house museums and Delaware River waterfront provide hours of wonderful strolling, learning and a chance to “feel” history spring to life. Exploring the mansions which leaders like General George Washington, later President Washington, seeing the house where Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence and touring Carpenter's Hall put American history into a unique perspective.

In addition to its Franklin legacy, Philadelphia is a fun city, set between two rivers, with world-class art museums, theatre, and cultural centers like the Kimmel Center, www.kimmelcenter.com, 300 S Broad Street on the Avenue of the Arts., (215) 670-2300. Since 2001, the famed Philadelphia Orchestra has been based at the Kimmel Center.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is at the end of the Ben Franklin Parkway (remember Rocky running up the steps?), at 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy; check www.philamuseum.org for current art shows. “Gilding the Lotus: Enriching the Himalayan Collection” is on view through November 26, 2006. Close to the Phila Art Museum is the elegant Rodin Museum with a fine collection of Rodin sculptures. Walk or take a bus from one museum to the other. Or stroll Franklin Parkway, enjoy the Logan Sculputres and Fountain, the Museum of Art Fountain and climb the regal stairs the Museum.

Travelers to Philly can “survive” a spooky Halloween experience in Eastern State Penitentiary, a restored 19th century prison. Tour “Terror Inside the Walls,” a horror experience that includes a bus ride, visit with the warden and prison doctor. The Pen is now an historical landmark, complete with crenellated walls and mysteries. Visit easternstate.org for details; no kids under seven years of age. before it closes on October 31, 2006.

Another new aid for self-guided stores is an iPod podcast that discusses thirteen sites, including Betsy Ross’ house and the National Constitution Center. The 75-minute tour costs $14.99, from the constitutional.com; a map can be printed out here, too.

After hours walking and touring museums, homes, Independence Hall, the Constitution Museum and other historic mansions figuring in Revolutionary and Colonial times, enjoy lunch in Cuba Libre or one of the excellent restaurants in the area. (215) 627-0666,
www.cubalibrerestaurant.com, at 10 S 2nd St., between Market & Chestnut Streets. It’s a colorful place with that features a contemporary interpretation of traditional Cuban cuisine. For a real Philly treat, head to South Street for a Philly cheese steak!

Franklin fanataics can spend days touring Benjamin Franklin sites. In the warmer months, a reenactor can answer questions a la Franklin. Ben was born on January 17, 1705, on Milk Street, Boston and ran away to Philadelphia when he was 17 years old, unhappy in his apprentice to his printer older brother. Arriving in Philadelphia as a penniless printer, he achieved the pinnacle of greatness through his diplomatic skills, his inherent genius, his hard work, leadership and his brilliant personality. When he was buried at the age of 84, in St. Peter’s graveyard on 5th and Arch Streets, he was revered in Philadelphia, American and Europe for his inventions, diplomacy, philanthropy, and humanity.

Another way to learn about Ben Franklin’s 18th century Philadelphia history is on a walking tour with Ed Mauger, leader of the Philadelphia on Foot Historic Center. It’s much more fun listening to this amiable, knowledgeable guide then reading plaques; his wit, stories, and tremendous grasp of history made me feel as if I were in a living history neighborhood. I could almost picture Franklin hustling through Second Street, or picture Jefferson riding into town into with his entourage.

Thriving in this Quaker city on the banks of the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, Ben Franklin was a genius, a true American original.
Largely self-educated and self-made, unlike most of the other Founding Fathers, he became a major player on the world stage, and a sage. Ben arrived by boat penniless in Philadelphia, without any family or friends, walking up Market Street from the Delaware River docks to eventually became “America’s first media mogul, and a millionaire,” according to my delightful guide, Ed Maguer, who led me and my husband on a “Ben Franklin” oriented tour of the compact historic district in well-preserved historic Philadelphia, the heart and center of Colonial and Revolutionary Philadelphia.

A handsome, thin and athletic in younger years, Ben was a popular, energetic civic leader. President of the Pennsylvania Assembly, delegate to the Continental Congress, then the Constitutional Convention that created the Constitution, he was revered as a sage in his own era.

To Tour: Begin at 2nd and Market Street -- My walking tour began from Chestnut and 4th Street, just behind Independence Hall. It’s only a block from Carpenters Hall, around the corner from historic rebuilt City Tavern, and Franklin’s Court with a framework reconstruction of his last home where he lived with wife Debbie and their children. Franklin’s Court Museum and Fireman’s Hall Museum. Reading the time line, looking at some of his actual inventions -- from bifocals, to the Franklin stove, to the lightning rod, to the glass harmonium -- and his desk, visitors begin to gauge the depth of his genius and generosity. Inventor, author of the first American editorial, postmaster under the British rule, and then, first US Postmaster (his mail system was faster then than today, president of the Pennsylvania Assembly for three times, and millionaire philanthropist who left money to support public institutions he had founded.

During my walking tour, horse drawn carriages trotted by the redbrick town houses. On foot or by carriage, finish a tour with history and dinner at City Tavern, 138 S. 2nd Street, in an authentic recreation of City Tavern that stood on this site. In 1994, restaurateur Walter Staib refurbished the restaurant to the specification of the original 1773 tavern under the supervision of the National Park Service. The food is prepared from historic recipes and served on colonial style dishware by servers in period dress. Visit Independence National Historic Park -- This red brick building, constructed in 1756 as the Pennsylvania State House, is the birthplace of the United States.

To reach Ed Mauger, email him at Philaonfoot@cs.com, or call 800-340-9869. For more information on Franklin events, visit www.benfranklin300.org.
For up-to-the-minute Philadelphia news, visit the Official Visitor Site, www.gophila.com. As for me, my “hotline” is my mother, Lucille Freedman, who lives just outside the city and keeps me informed of anything of note.

Quebec City, Canada, Le Chateau Bonne Entente Delights

2006-09-09T14:28:00.000-04:00

Le Chateau Bonne Entente, A Luxury Resort Hotel & Spa, entices guests during on a visit to Quebec City, Canada. You don’t have to travel to Baden-Baden or Biarritz for a luxury resort hotel with a world-class spa. Just head to Quebec City, Canada to pamper you with a spa treat at the exclusive Le Chateau Bonne Entente, a five-star resort hotel and spa. Amerispa, the Canadian leader in the luxury spa industry, pampers guests at the 5,800 square-foot Le Chateau Bonne Entente spa. Twenty-two rooms are available for massage—including relaxation, aromatherapy, sports and four hands. A favorite massage is the four hands option. Other popular treatments include the maple-sugar body scrub and algae, mud or clay wrap. Facials, manicures and pedicures are offered, too. Maple-leaf exfoliation restores smoothness and elasticity to the skin. Basalt stones, from streams lining volcanic areas in California, are used for another signature treatment. End a spa treatment by relaxing in the outdoor hot tub or swimming pool.

Under award-winning chef Marie-Chantel Lepage, the kitchen staff turns out culinary masterpieces for both hotel restaurants. If the weather is nice, the outdoor Napa Grill, featuring California-type cuisine, is a good choice. You’ll feel more like you’re in Tahiti than Canada while sitting beneath an umbrella table next to the swimming pool, surrounded by lush exotic greenery. The indoor Monte Cristo Resto Lounge, where guests enjoy nouvelle cuisine with a French accent and an international wine list, has a trendy continental ambience. On the desert menu, try vanilla crème Brule, the best I’ve ever tasted.
It’s only 15 minutes from the Quebec airport and 20 minutes from downtown Quebec City. A hotel shuttle or taxi can take you there. A recent $10,000,000 renovation and expansion increased rooms 120 guest rooms, 45 suites and 15 meeting rooms. Another $6,000,000 project in 2005 added Urbania, 28 luxury suites with private VIP lounge. Guests staying in this glamorous new wing receive a glass of champagne while registering.

A modern fitness center and sauna, spa and year-round hot tub (plus Fun Club playground for children) make Le Chateau Bonne Entente a relaxing destination.

Quebec City’s 400th anniversary, recalling its founding by French explorer Samuel de Champlain, will be celebrated July 3, 2008. Exciting events are being planned so mark your calendar for a visit then. For n ow, learn about the city’s history—from its origins as a fur-trading post to its present-day status as Quebec’s provincial capital—either on a bus tour or on-your-own walking expedition. Although French is the official language, most of the locals speak English.

Other nearby activities include kayaking, horseback riding, downhill and cross-country skiing and skydiving. Golf is a major attraction at the nearby 18-hole La Tempete course, with exclusive access for hotel guests.
n Summer 2006, room rates at Le Chateau Bonne Entente range from $129 to $375 (Canadian), plus tax. Packages are available. Le Chateau is affiliated with the Leading Hotels of the World organization. For more information, visit www.chateaubonneentente.com. For reservations, call 1-800-463-4390.
For more information on Quebec Region and City, visit www.quebecregion.com.
WWritten By Joan Jenkins
Photos By Rachel Rome
posted by Rachel @ 4:24 PM 0 comments

Paragliding in Malibu, California

2006-08-18T22:05:00.000-04:00

Here's a video of Jake on his first paragliding ride.

Happy 230th Fourth of July -- Celebrate in Philadelphia

2006-07-02T17:56:00.000-04:00

Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Rejuvenate Patriotic Soul

Chestnut Hill, in the historic Germantown area of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is about nine miles Northwest of Center City Philadelplhia and rates almost as critical a place in the natiion's history as does Philadelphia center. There Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jeferson and General George Washington, plus a passle of other Founding Fathers, united our nation, beating the British to win our freedom.

Chestnut Hill is an upscale, lovely section, with pricey stores, lovely streets, trees, outdoor patios for dining, and several excellent day spas with extensive services.

The elegant Chestnut Hill Hotel and Silverstone Inn, in a charming old mansion, are two excellent places to stay while sightseeing and enjoying walking tours. Historic Cliveden, site of a pivotal Washington Battle-- a costly loss -- is a delight to tour with knowlegeable guides. The historic Valley Forge National Park is close by, about 20 miles, and boasts a new National Park Valley Forge Visitors Center. A shuttle takes visitors around the winter camping grounds where Washington's bedraggled troops regrouped, trained, and emerged a disciplined Army.

It's easy to get to Philadelphia, Valley Forge Park, and Chestnut Hill. Take Acela, the Amtrak speedy train, along the Northeast Corridor, and from Center City, hop aboard the same-station SEPTA suburban trains to Chestnut Hill and other locales. Rental cars are also availalbe at the lovely 30th Street Amtrak Station. Downtonw, visitors can tour the new Constitution Park, view the Libery Bell, interactive displays, and tour the site where the Declaration of Independece was signed.
Downtonw, guests also enjoy the terrific Philadelphia Art Museum, Zoo, and Benjamin Franklin sites along Market Street. Happy Fourth!

Celebrate July 4, 2006 at Historic Valley Forge, Cliveden in Chestunut Hill, Pennsylvania

2006-07-02T15:08:00.000-04:00

CELEBRATE JULY 4TH, 2006, THE 230TH BIRTHDAY OF AMERICAN WITH VISIT TO PHILADELPHIA HISTORIC VALLEY FORGE, CHESTUNUT HILL'S CLIVEDEN AND GERMANTOWN

Chestnut Hill, in the historic Germantown area of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is about nine miles Northwest of Center City Philadelplhia and rates almost as critical a place in the natiion's history as does Philadelphia center. There Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jeferson and George Washington, plus a passle of other Founding Fathers, united our nation, beating the British back to win our freedom. Chestnut Hill is an upscale, lovely section, with pricey stores, lovely streets, trees, outdoor patios for dining, and several excellent day spas with extensive services.

The elegant Chestnut Hill Hotel and Silverstone Inn, in a charming old mansion, are two excellent places to stay while sightseeing and enjoying massage, facial or other spa services. The historic Valley Forge National Park is close by, and a commuter train whisks tourists downtown in about 30 minutes, where the attractions of the Philadelphia Art Museum, Zoo, and Independence Hall area are a short, free bus ride away.

A relaxing way to travel to Philadelphia and suburbs is on the Acela, Amtrak trains on the Northeast Corridor.

Paragliding & Relaxing in Manhattan Beach -- A California Dream

2006-05-28T17:25:00.000-04:00

Paragliding in Malibu -- Southern California evokes vision of miles of beach, volleyball games on the sand, surfing, swimming, strolling on the Manhattan Beach Pier, rollerblading, or biking. Or ambling on The Strand, a 27-mile or so pathway along the Pacific Ocean, passing beachfront communities like Redondo, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Venice, Malibu. I heard about a paragliding experience in Malibu during a recent visit to my son, who lives in Manhattan Beach. For a change of pace, I thought it would be a nifty experience. But then sanity prevailed -- I let Jake paraglide while I relaxed. So one sunny, dry California day, off he soared, and reported on his exciting skyward adventure. Jacob took a tandem flight. “ Tandem flight is a good way to find out if this sport is right for you. An introductory tandem flight lets you fly the mountains right away without having to spend days preparing at the training hill,” according to the website.
“Derrick (a friend) drove up with me to Malibu to watch some paragliding lessons from Uptimal. At the end of the afternoon, we drove out to Calabasas where I was treated to a short tandem paraglide. Lots of funs, I only wish we had soared longer,” Jacob reported afterwards.
Uptimal runs the paragliding school and powered paragliding school in Ojai and Malibu. They also offer tandem rides and gift certificates. Their website proclaims, “Soar with the hawks in warm thermal air currents. Or fly the cool ocean breeze in Malibu.
Tandem flights are the easiest and safest way to experience the thrill of soaring explains Claude Fiset, owner and instructor.
After a 10 minute briefing, the flight usually last between 20 minutes and 1 hour depending on weather conditions. Pilots have thousands of tandem flights under their belt. Anyone under 265 pounds can fly tandem, no experience necessary.
Most flights end on a sandy beach or open fields. The following clothing is recommended:
*Running shoes OK but hiking boots are preferable. • Sturdy pant, shorts are
OK but hiking boots are preferable. • Sturdy pant, shorts are OK on some sites. • Windbreaker. • Gloves between November and April.
Jacob brought his digital camera and took photos. I think it’s astonishing to be able to focus on a first ride, but he did it. “There was room for a small day pack, and snacks are ok if we're expecting a long flight,” said Jake. The school provides a helmet.
For information or reservations: 805-646-9660, or email Claude at claude@uptimal.com. Or checkout the website at www.uptimal.com/.
On the ground, Manhattan Beach offers a wonderful spot on the Pacific Ocean so whenever I visit my son, it’s a vacation, too, for me. One of my favorite restaurants is Pancho’s Rerstaurante and Cantina, at 3615 Highland Ave., 310-545-6670. I enjoy breakfasts and lunch deluxe at the Local Yolk, on Manhattan Avenue, just a few blocks from my son’s cottage. Uncle Bill's Pancake House has an outdoor dining area and view of the ocean, 1305 Highland Ave, Manhattan Beach. Beaches fronts on the Pier and ocean, and has a downstairs bar with a view, too, at 117 Manhattan Beach Blvd, 310/545-2523. The food and service is excellent and no one gets rushed. Rockin' Fish is just across the Boulevard and has fantastic fish plus rock music. Up the street are a string of inexpensive sushi bars and the like. The area is teeming with terrific restaurants, so look at the Manhattan Beach chamber website, or just wander down to the shopping area around the pier.
My favorite hotel in the area is the Sea View Inn, and a new Marriott Hotel is almost finished, right on the Strand. For a great experience, fans of Jay Leno should make reservations about a month in advance, to see the Magic and Comedy Club featuring Jay Leno (on Sunday nights) in Hermosa Beach. Dinner, drinks and gently slings from Leno offer a clean nightclub act, good for grandparents, parents and kids of all ages.

Unique Look at Harvard Square – Great Weekend Getaway

2006-05-06T12:53:00.000-04:00

By Rachel Rome
copyright to RRome

THE INN AT HARVARD is a terrific place to stay and dine when touring Harvard Yard and Cambridge. The trip’s itinerary focuses on unique activities both in and around Harvard Square, including lunch at the Harvard Faculty Club, museum tours, a Charles Riverboat tour, and dinner at Upstairs on the Square, one of the area’s most acclaimed restaurants and a Saturday performance of the avante garde performance of Orpheus X at A.R.T. satellite theatre.
The Inn It’s close to the Red Line T Stop, a block from the Charles River, and within walking distance of museums, shops, funky sidewalk performers (weather permitting), and a vibrant street life, not to mention just across from Harvard University.
When a guest enters The Inn at Harvard, it feels as if one has entered an old-world, classic, European inn. Graham Gund, famed architect, created an ambience so relaxing, it’s hard to believe that outside the front and back entrances lies the hustle and bustle of Harvard Square and Harvard Yard, with the Charles River a few blocks away. At least that’s how I felt two weeks ago, when I took a three-day break from my Mexican painting sojourn to rediscover my own delightful favorite nearby town. For Cambridge has so many qualities I love in San Miguel de Allende, I wonder why I don’t just spend a month there next March. Oh, yeah, the winter. But enough summer, spring and fall motifs and happenings beckon for any artist, photographer, explorer or tourist.
I am busy rediscovering my own hometown area now, and find it more delightful than ever. Traveling, of course, serves to stimulate us three separate times: the before hand packing, deciding; the actual visit and the return as if to a foreign land.
The charming arched four-story atrium is an inspired Venetian piazza and provides an elegant, yet comfortable, atmosphere reminiscent of days-gone-by. This boutique hotel, located on the Harvard University campus, is a unique blend of old-world beauty and modern-day conveniences. The Inn has recently completed a two million dollar renovation of its spacious guest rooms. Harvard University owns the hotel, and Collegiate Hospitality manages the property. INNKEEPER Richard Carbone, CEO of Collegiate Hospitality. The Inn is affiliated with Harvard University and The Harvard Square Hotel, and one of the perks of staying here is that any guest can book a table at the venerated Harvard Faculty Club, which is just across the street, behind a few Harvard buildings.
Our tour began on Friday night, and we dined in the Atrium restaurant at The Inn at Harvard. Service and food was excellent, four-star. We had filet mignon and an outrageously scrumptious chocolate mouse cake topped with whipped cream. They serve a lovely Sunday brunch, including fresh Nova salmon, eggs and other standard items. We also ate breakfast here, and tea at 3 p.m.
Location is everything, and staying here is a delight because you are smack in the middle of everything, or just a few blocks away. The American Repertory Theater is a few blocks away, and their new off-shoot smaller space, A.R.T., is one f block away. The Yard is across Mass Ave; the Fogg Museum and the Sackler Art Museum, just across Mass Ave and half way up the block.
The FOGG Art Museum is another Harvard University gem, and my favorite art museum in the Boston-Cambridge area for several reasons. One is that the exhibits are chosen, usually, to supplement Harvard art professors’ lectures. The other, is the permanent collection is superb. The Fogg Art Museum, opened to the public in 1895, just outside Harvard Yard, and is Harvard's oldest art museum. Around its Italian Renaissance courtyard, based on a sixteenth-century façade in Montepulciano, Italy, are galleries illustrating the history of Western art from the Middle Ages to the present, with particular strengths in Italian early Renaissance, British pre-Raphaelite, and nineteenth-century French art. I am always awestruck when I go there because the quality of the permanent and temporary collections is world-class. Incidentally, there is a terrific though small gift shop there. Admission is $7.50, adults.
A HIGHLIGHT WAS Visit to the world renowned Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, founded in 1866, is one of the oldest museums in the world devoted to anthropology and houses one of the most comprehensive records of human cultural history in the Western Hemisphere. In a room celebrating Northwest Native Peoples tribes, I saw a totem pole carved by my Ketchikan, Alaska carver-friend, Nathan Jackson.
The Harvard Museum of Natural History - The Harvard Museum of Natural History (HMNH) is the public museum of Harvard University's three natural history institutions: the Harvard University Herbaria, the Museum of Comparative Zoology, and the Mineralogical and Geological Museum. Through exhibitions and an array of educational programs, the HMNH presents a historic and interdisciplinary exploration of science and nature, with an emphasis on evolutionary theory. Current exhibits include, The Miracle Bird: The Story of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker and The Ware Collection.
Upstairs on the Square restaurant is a gourmet restaurant and local favorite. Itshowcases New England ingredients prepared using traditional and innovative techniques. The restaurant;s two dining rooms, the more casual Monday Club Bar, and the more formal Soiree Room. Not to mention the Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant (and it plays dance music at night), the Upstairs at the Pudding Restaurant, with Grendel’s Den in the basement.
We toured Harvard Yard with sophomore Meghan, from the Midwest, who filled our heads with mucho facts (go the Harvard’s website for more info, including the three wrong facts about the John Harvard statue. I remember two – wrong date, wrong poser for the statue –but I do remember how busy the Yard was as students scurried across from one historic building to the next, including Lehman Library. We ended the tour at the Peabody Museum. of Glass Flowers. The famed Peabody Museum, two blocks away from The Inn at Harvard.
We lunched at The Harvard Faculty Club, just across from The Inn. On the edge of historic Harvard Yard, the Harvard Faculty Club offers an atmosphere of dignity, elegance and charm. Fine dining, decorative private dining rooms, reasonable prices, and personalized attention make it one of the most inviting establishments in the Boston area. Lunch buffet was terrific.
Later, we hopped a shuttle (you could walk, take a cab or get a ride from the hotel) to the Galleria Mall and canal for a 60 minute narrated boat ride up the Charles River Basin with the Charles River Boat Tour Company.
Captain Tom Culbertson told us the history about the bridges spanning the Charles, saw some scullers, early boaters, and passed lovely boathouses along the riverbank. Joggers whizzed by on Memorial Drive, and a few ducks tried t o scavenge some chips we threw overboard. Tom points out the most historic sights of Boston and Cambridge. View Beacon Hill, Esplanade Park, the Back Bay, Boston University, M.I.T. and Harvard as you cruise past countless sailboats and rowers. The tour boat sold liquor and snacks, and also does many private parties; day or night said our captain.
Other good “to do” suggestions in the Harvard Square area: see a movie at the Brattle Street Theater. Sightseeing/Shopping in Harvard Square, it’s de rigueur, and watch the street life. In the good months, the chess players, boards and arguments fill the sidewalks.
The Red Line is a block away from the Inn at Harvard, as is the Harvard Newsstand, with its worldwide newspaper selection.. A visit to the Mt. Auburn Cemetery is also a nice way to enjoy the nation’s first landscaped cemetery. I confess, I haven’t done that yet but it is on my list. Take an Historical Walking Tour of Harvard Square; get a map from the Inn’s front desk. Enjoy! During the spring and summer months, this village-like area hosts events ranging from River fairs to sculling races to picnics to international festivals.

Contact the following for More Information about
Cambridge and the Harvard Area:

Cambridge Office of Tourism: Robin Bell, Cambridge Office for Tourism, 4 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 800.862.5678.
The Inn at Harvard: 1201 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, (617) 491-2222.
Harvard University Tour: Robin Parker, 1350 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 617-495-1061.
The Peabody Museum: Pamela Gerardi, Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity Ave.
Cambridge, MA (617) 496.0099.
The Harvard Faculty Club: 20 Quincy Street, Cambridge, MA, (617) 495-5758.
Charles River Boat Tour: Tom Culbertson, 100 Cambridge Place, Cambridge, MA (617) 621-3001.
Upstairs on The Square: Mary-Catherine Deibel, 91 Winthrop Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 617-864-1933.
A.R.T.: Kati Mitchell, Director of Press and Public Relations, American Repertory Theatre, 64 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 617-495-2668.
Dining:
Cardullo’s (Upscale Deli in the Square), Border Café (Mexican, Local Favorite), Redbones BBQ (Davis Square) and Mr. Bartley’s Burgers.

Welcome

2006-05-06T11:59:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the new Rome Around Blog, created by award-winning travel writer Rachel Rome.