Chocolate Rave

Washington DC is where most of the political action takes place for America. Eventually, every notable cause ends up being debated with in the three branches of government that are located there. People from all over the world come to this district to get a better idea of what it all looks like and how it all works together. The White House has been seen on television all over the world for years but to see it up close gives one a whole new appreciation for its presence and beauty. If planning a trip to DC one should make early arrangements to visit the White House and other major buildings and monuments. Tours get booked months in advance.  

There are plenty of 4 star hotels in Washington DC near the U.S. Capitol Building which is also a must see while visiting. Book your tour early and some see how it all fits together. Inside the building there is a great exhibit showing visitors how the famous dome was constructed, theaters showing the house and senate chambers, and the history of the Capitol and the work done by Congress. It is fascinating.  

Then there is the Supreme Court , which is another one of the main landmarks of DC. Visitors can tour the building and attend lectures about the history of the court when it is not in session. When there is a case being argued a limited number of people can sit in on the case. Get there very early if you are wanting to witness a case being argued. The court is in session, October to April, Monday through Wednesday starting at 10 am and ending at 12 pm. Seeing a case being argued is a really interesting experience. Seeing it in the largest court of the land is a grand experience.

If you’re a fan of the unique and unusual, if you would prefer to stay in a boutique Miami hotel , rather than a standard issue motel chain, then Florida may be the state in which you want to spend your next vacation. Not because of Sea World or Disneyland or any traditional theme parks, but for the more creative places to see, such as the World’s Smallest Police Station in Carrabelle or the Southernmost Purple Martin House in the Continental USA in Florida City. For instance, in addition to an Iwo Jima statue in Cape Coral, there’s a Barefoot Mailman Statue in Hillsboro Beach. In Miami, you’ll find three places of particular note: Jungle Island, Monkey Jungle, and the Coral Castle Museum.

Jungle Island was originally named Miami’s Parrot Jungle, and was created by a man named Franz Scheer who came to America from Austria in 1911. Twenty-five years later, he began what is now known as Jungle Island, building an attraction where birds would fly free, after working in construction and a feed and supply store in Homestead, Florida. His family thought he would fail, because surely the bird would fly away, but Franz had faith and the 25 Macaws remained, adapting to their new home, and the attraction was born when about a hundred visitors paid 25 cents admission in 1936 to hear Franz talk about the birds, trees, and flowers.

Monkey Jungle was created by Joseph DuMond, an animal behaviorist, whose dream, believe it or not, was to establish the first colony of free-ranging monkeys in North America. He released six monkeys into a dense south Florida hammock in 1933. That began the start of a 30 acre reserve with about 4,000 primates, with Java monkeys foraging through the jungle for natural foods. Java monkeys, apparently, even skin dive, collecting crabs and shellfish in the rivers and swamps.

Edward Leedskalnin, born in Latvia in 1887, had another kind of dream entirely. His remarkable accomplishment was constructed from a broken heart. He had arranged to marry Agnes Scuffs when he was 26 years old. The girl, ten years younger, canceled the wedding one day before the ceremony. It caused Edward to create one of the strangest and mysterious monuments to lost love, the Coral Castle.

The Coral Castle was built without any assistance or large machinery, and consists of 1,100 tons of coral rock, carved and sculpted. He had worked in lumber camps and was from a family of stonemasons, and it was with this knowledge that he built the castle, despite the fact he weighed a hundred pounds and was five feet tall.

Any one of these destinations would make for an intriguing day out, as you experience for a few hours in Florida the achievement of three different dreamers.

Orlando, Florida, the name of the city alone conjures up great fantasies of fun filled summer vacations, romantic getaways and fabulous days at amazing theme parks. It is truly one of the country’s magical cities and being the home of the Walt Disney World Resort is enough of a fantastic element that sets it apart from all the rest of the popular tourist destinations in the country, and that doesn’t even begin to cover all of the amazing features and attractions of this city. However, it is certainly a great place to start and most of the guests in the 4 star hotels in Orlando have at least one of their days reserved for a trip to the many facets of this great establishment.

Walt Disney World Resort is one of the most dreamed about destinations for people not only from this country but from all over the world. And many people want to visit the United States simply to pay a trip to Orlando and enjoy this park. And for good reason, the resort is not just a fan theme park, though it certainly is that, there are many other aspects of it that make it one of the respected institutions that it is. The Epcot Center, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the Magic Kingdom are just some of the incredible aspects of Disney World Resort that amaze and entertain all who arrive there.

Sea World Orlando is another one of the extremely respected and enormously popular attractions of the city. Their focus on conservation and education is part of what makes this such and excellent organization. Universal Studios Orlando is yet another great attraction, really can one city offer so much? This one can and Universal Orlando is an incredible place to visit and is also one of the city’s most popular. Much like the Disney World Resort, this multi-faceted resort is entertaining, thrilling and even educational. Some of the most popular attractions that are a part of it include Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and City Walk. Regardless of where you go and what you decide to do first, it is almost guaranteed you will be visiting all of these places when you visit Orlando. Just pack your imagination and enjoy your trip.

Is it fair to call the city of Mannheim, Germany, a city of invention? Certainly, important inventions were made here, such as the first two-wheeled draisine in 1817 (a draisine is a light auxiliary rail vehicle, intended to transport crew and material needed to maintain a railway’s infrastructure). The draisine was built by Karl Drais. Mannheim is also the place where Karl Benz invented a three-wheeled vehicle in 1886, a vehicle that ran on a single cylinder of a petrol/gas engine, largely recognized today as the first automobile or motor car. If Mannheim is a city of invention, it’s also a city of art and theater, with its roots extending as far back as 1779, the date of origin of the oldest local theater in Germany.

The present day National Theatre Mannheim dates from 1957, operating as both a theater and opera company. The original National Theater, though, opened 231 years ago at the suggestion of Elector Palatine Carl Theodor.

Over the last three hundred years, Mannheim was at the center of original theater and new artistic styles developed in theater as well as dance and music. It was at the National Theater that Friedrich Schiller’s drama, The Robbers, was first performed in 1782. Today, the theater consists of three main venues, an Opera House, with 1,200 seats that’s used most often for operas, operettas and ballets.

There is also the Schauspielhaus, containing 800 seats, that’s utilized for smaller presentations, such as theater and chamber music. The third venue is the Schnawwl, a space designed for youth and children’s theater. Both the Opera House and Schauspielhaus are located under the same roof, sharing the same lobby.

If possible, travelers should time their visits to Mannheim and its hotels with theater festivals in mind. Since 1979, Mannheim has been the home of the Schillertage, a biannual festival of Schiller’s plays. The festival presents its work on the theater’s main stage (as well as putting on a production of experimental plays elsewhere). The main stage series, in the past, have featured a number of productions of his early work, such as The Robbers), and productions of Intrigue and Love, as well as later plays, such as William Tell, first performed in 1804, which became the inspiration for Rossini’s opera of the same name.

The next festival, the 16th Schillertage will occur in the summer of 2011, so there’s time to make arrangements.

Australia is well known for its geography, the dialect of its citizens, though of course there are regional differences, which frequently go unnoticed or even acknowledged by foreigners, and certain stereotypical aspects of its culture. The men are frequently considered to be rugged outdoorsmen and many people will immediately get an image of Crocodile Dundee in their heads when Australia is brought to mind. However, what the guests in any Melbourne hotel will immediately find out is that this city, as well as the others in this incredible country, is far more interesting, diverse and dynamic than what the standard stereotypes might indicate.

There is so much to experience in this city that it can be difficult not only to choose among the options, but to also choose between a locally based production or event or see one of the great and famous touring shows or exhibits in one of the museums. Many people who visit foreign countries really want to get a taste of the local culture and tradition while they are there. And while many people have different ways of doing this, enjoying some of the traditional local food is a common aspect of it.

In addition, there are plenty of theatrical productions and musical performances that represent the cultural and arts scene of the city that entice and entertain many of the tourists. One of the great places to visit if you’re wishing to explore Melbourne culture is the Immigration Museum . People from all over the world have immigrated to Australia, and particularly Victoria and of course Melbourne, during the past two hundred years and this museum honors and represents them as well as the various reasons for their major life journeys. The museum is located in the heart of the city, which makes it incredibly easy to get to and the displays it exhibits tell tremendous stories about the people who moved there and their reasons for it. Also included among the displays is a 17 meter replica ship, which is extremely popular with all guests.

One of the Lesser known museums in Miami Beach is the Bakerhouse Art Complex (BAC) , which is dedicated to the mid-career artists in South Florida by providing an affordable workplace, studios, development programs and opportunities at affordable prices. BAC was the brainchild of several accomplished artist in search of a building they could purchase to help prevent artists from being forced out by gentrification or rising land values that often happens when artist find cheap rental studio space. So, in 1984, BAC was established, when the artist purchased an unoccupied building that was built in the 20s in the Wynwood district . The building was originally owned by the American Bakeries Company, hence the name of the art complex, The Bakehouse Art Complex.

BAC is a non-profit corporations, which got its meager beginnings by implementing outreach programs to social service agencies, local schools, family shelters and individuals. They initiated the Children’s Art Workshops, which became very successful and was later recognized by President Clinton’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. Ever since then, and due to the vision of its founder, BAC was assured to continually provide affordable rents for artists.

Currently, BAC comprises of two galleries, a print room, a classroom, a jewelry studio, photo lab, woodworking, ceramic kiln and welding areas. There are 70 individual artist studios with extensive facilities allowing artists to discover, integrate or crossover to other mediums and incorporate them into their work. BAC provides emerging and mid-career artists with the opportunity to develop and explore their artistic endeavors. The environment in which the artists get to work in is encouraging, inspiring and engaging. New artists are welcomed and established artist take full advantage of BAC’s educational programs that focus on artist advancement.

Bakerhouse Art Complex is free and is locate at 561 NW 32nd Street. BAC is within walking distance to all local hotels and is truly a ‘must-see’ for any art enthusiast or aspiring artist.

A large number of the attractions and cultural landmarks of the city of New York have become legendary and archetypal basis for their particular social realm. Many people believe that they are myths and just as easily many places that have entered the realm of mythological status are believed to be just that and not really exist. Or at least they’re believed that they won’t be as spectacular and dynamic as what their reputation might lead one to be believed. This is frequently the case with Coney Island and this is one place that many of the visitors of New York are absolutely stunned to rediscover and explore while they are in the city.

Coney Island is located at the southern most part of Brooklyn and exists as a peninsula, which was formerly an island onto itself, hence its name. There is also a beautiful beach that is part of the area and this alone continues to attract numerous guests. And while the legendary history of Coney Island is related to the resort and theme park attractions that were so famous and popular during the early 20th century a recent resurgence in interest and activities has brought it back into popular interest and adventure destination.

MCU Park is one of the recent additions that attracts large numbers of people who come to see the Brooklyn Cyclones , the city’s minor league baseball team. In addition there are various entertainment attractions, unique performances, museums and gift shops that entice, charm and captivate visitors of all ages. There are also a large number of rides and contemporary theme park attractions. And every October people from across the world visit to watch or participate in the annual Coney Island Film Festival. Whatever reason you may be in New York, a trip to Coney Island will not only be some of the greatest excitement adventures you experience but will also add a bit of nostalgia to your trip.

If you’re traveling on a budget in one of the world’s largest cities, you want to find the best places to stay and the best places to see at the lowest cost. In today’s economy, this is especially important, but are there really any free things left to do in New York City? Here’s ten things to do that won’t cost a dime.

Out-of-towners might not realize that the Staten Island Ferry is free, taking commuters from Battery Park to Staten Island; it’s not a luxurious way to travel, but it’s a chance to have some of New York’s best views, including Lower Manhattan, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, and New York Harbor. A walk through Central Park costs nothing either, and if the weather is great, there’s nothing better than to take in the 843 acres of open spaces, including gardens, water and paths. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the city, then Central Park is a great way to go.

Much of the architecture of the city is free to take in, including Grand Central Terminal , a national historic landmark since October 1st in 1998, the New York Public Library, which, in 1911, was the biggest marble building in the United States. You may take a tour, too, of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, where you can find out just what the Federal Reserve is and what it does , and a chance to see the gold vault. There are guided tours of the Federal Reserve, but you have to make a reservation in advance to take advantage of them.

At night, you might like to stroll through Times Square. If you’re truly on a no-frills budget, you might not take in a show, but you can soak up the atmosphere of the lights and people.

At Rockefeller Center, you can also take in the Art Deco atmosphere. Built mostly during the Great Depression, the construction of this building brought in a good deal of employment, and today its art and architecture is well worth a look. Another Art Deco triumph is the Chrysler Building. While the building doesn’t have an observation deck, the ceiling mural alone should make it a destination spot.

The biggest decorated Gothic-style Cathedral in the U.S. should be on your lis, toot: St. Patrick’s Cathedral took over 20 years to build and opened to the public in the Spring of 1879. It seats 2,200 people, so there should be room for someone who wants to rest a moment. The biggest Gothic Cathedral in the world, though, is in Morningside Heights, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Here you can see not only the cathedral, but the Biblical Garden and the Peace Fountain.

After all the money you’ve saved, and all the walking you’ve done, you should be able to afford a nice dinner with an abundance of calories, such as America’s first pizzeria, Lombardi’s, established in 1905.

The Florida Orchestra is the premier symphony company of the Tampa Bay area. The accolades don’t end there as it is also one of the best symphony’s in the state and one of the most highest regarded musical institutions in the country. It makes no wonder that it is extremely supported loved by the community and much of the region. It is also one of the main cultural and entertainment attractions for many of the tourists visit listings. In addition to its great regular season, the symphony has many programs and special engagement events that occur throughout the year.

In 1968 the company was founded and was originally known as the Florida Gulf Coast Symphony. The original founding members included representatives from the Tampa Philharmonic and the St. Petersburg Symphony and the new organization was something of a blending together of the two previous ones. This New venture in great music grew quickly under the guidance of the first Music Director, Irwin Hoffman who came to Tampa from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. With a strong sense of excellence and commitment to the need of great musical programs in an city or community the orchestra has through the decades become the prestigious institution it is today.

The current Music Director is Stefan Sanderling, who assumed the position in May of 2002. The orchestra performs more than 100 concerts annually and presents them throughout the tri-city area. Most recently, crowds just enjoyed at great pops concert in Compton Park. Another one will occur on April 24 and will take place at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. This upcoming concert will feature a special performance by the Tampa Preparatory School’s Symphonic Winds. The Pops in the Park concerts series is free to the public. These early evening performances are the perfect family activity and young children can move around and play while enjoying the great music and the parents are able to enjoy a fabulous evening of incredible music under the beautiful sky.

Visiting Washington, DC is indeed touching the heart of the beast that moves the world in many respects. There are many of the usual attractions that any great urban center can offer, but add to this some of the most important historical relics in the story of democracy in contemporary times. And then add the rich cultural diversity that has always been at the heart of the capitol. It continues to grow and evolve in fascinating, complex, and sometimes difficult and painful directions. Touching here is touching home.

There are plenty of things, however, to offer those selective tourists who only want the best. Washington hotels can provide luxurious accommodations that fill all sorts of bills, and the only law is to enjoy the moment. A day begins here and then can go in multiple directions. And if you’re feeling peckish, there are lots of choices here, with pretty much anything you could imagine.

The soul food here is particularly good, being close enough to the South for authenticity, and close enough to New York for gourmet touches. Not that gourmet can’t exist with Southern food, and in fact, that’s a point that Chef Art , of Art and Soul, will emphasize, and his most convincing points are in the flavors. This is fantastic and elegant soul food served in a very lavish setting. The meal ticket is surely on the pricey side, but not so very high when compared to other restaurants of its quality. It shines.

On the other side of the priceline, there’s places like Madam’s Organ where staples like pulled pork and fried catfish come served up on the cheap, in a place that has pool and live music. This place has charm and character, and can be good for what ails you, certainly. There are lots of other places, too, like B. Smith’s and Soul Vegetarian Exodus, all worth checking out, while resting your heart and feet in DC.