There’s nothing like a Las Vegas show to give you fabulous night of entertainment.  At the Palazzo Hotel I recently saw the long running and award winning, Jersey Boys.
If you’ve seen this production before, be prepared for a little upping of the risqué factor here in Las Vegas.  The language is a little coarser, making it, some would argue, a little more authentic.  It’s Jersey, after all.
But the story and the music is the same:  the evolution of the music and the careers of kids from Jersey trying to carve out some success.
Part theater and part concert performance, Jersey …read more

This summer,  Taos, New Mexico, celebrates the 40th anniversary of the movie Easy Rider, with its Summer of Love Celebration.
For those of you too young to remember Easy Rider, it is one of the iconic movies of the 60’s. 
It debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in May 1969, and was both a counterculture classic and a warning against the communal lifestyle and use of drugs popular in the era.  It starred Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson, was produced by Fonda and directed by Hopper, and featured music from Steppenwolf, Jimi Hedrix, the Band, and the Byrds.
Dennis …read more

If you’re looking for a fun evening in Las Vegas, and one that doesn’t involved cards, dice, and a smoke filled casino, most people look for a show to go see.  That’s what I did during my time in Las Vegas attending the Luxury Travel Expo.
Since I was staying at the Mandalay Bay Resort (where the expo was held), the logical and easy choice was to see Mamma Mia, a theatrical production featuring music by ABBA.
While more of a rocker chick that a disco girl, I nonetheless found this musical immensely engaging and entertaining.  And yes, I found myself …read more

I have a trip to Las Vegas next month, and I kept that in mind in choosing today’s Matchbook Monday. 
On my last trip to Las Vegas, I visited Tao Restaurant, Nightclub, and Lounge.  Located in the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian (3377 Las Vegas Boulevard South #2025, Las Vegas), it attempts to combine great food, tantalizing eye candy, and a hip vibe, luring in celebrities and those who want to gawk at them.
The nightclub has high energy atmosphere, with a great view of the Las Vegas Strip, go-go dancers, top notch audio and lighting, and expensive cocktails.  …read more

No, I wasn’t at Woodstock, although I saw the 1970 Oscar winning movie (Best Documentary), and generally like the music of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair (as it was originally called).
People came from around the country, by car, bus, and on foot to attend a three day music festival, and what would be one of the largest music festivals ever.  Even today, Woodstock remains a turning point of politics and cultural for many Baby Boomers.
The new Museum at Bethel Woods (200 Hurd Road, Bethel, New York), the site of the original Woodstock, opens tomorrow, June 2nd.   The Museum …read more

If you are anywhere in the greater New York City area for Halloween, you won’t want to miss the 33rd Annual Village Halloween Parade.
The parade queues up at 6th Avenue, south of Spring and North of Canal, between 6:30-8 pm.  The parade starts at 7 pm, running straight up 6th Avenue from Spring to 21st Street.  This year’s line up of participants include 53 bands of different types, dancers, artists, and thousands of costumed New Yorkers and visitors
The Village Halloween Parade began with a Greenwich Village mask maker and puppeteer walking from house to house with his children and their …read more

After writing a couple of great articles about the Art Institute of Chicago and Second City, I talked pal Jon Rochetti into another article, complete with some of his photos, from his recent trips to Chicago.
Enjoy!
 
Even before the Chicago Fire of 1871, civic leaders realized that the city’s lakefront was something that should be protected to be enjoyed by all Chicagoans. 
Chicago’s Grant Park (map) lies between the downtown business “loop” and The Magnificent Mile (Michigan Ave.) and Lake Michigan.  It covers 319 acres and hosts three exceptional museums: the Shedd Aquarium, the Art Institute, and the Field Museum of Natural History, along with …read more

If you’re not going to be able to take advantage of FREE Museum Day, September 30th, you still have some options if you live in the Baltimore area.
During October and November, you can enjoy the Free Fall Baltimore Program.  Area museums will be offering free and/or reduced admission.  Other highlights of the program include free live concerts, dance performances, and theater events.
I’ll be in Baltimore during this time, and will be checking out the Free Baltimore event listings for details.

My pal, Astroprof, sent me some information about the 20th anniversary of Grapefest, being held in Grapevine, Texas.  This wine festival, “A Sparkling Celebration” is billed as the largest in the southwest, and starts today and runs through the weekend.
There are a wide variety of events, one of which is sure to pique your interest:  the Cooking Pavilion with cooking demonstrations and food and wine pairings, street vendors, wine tastings, the Grape Stomp (a contest to see who can produce the most juice starting with 20 pounds of grapes), tennis classic, wine auction, Italian car show, Kidzone and a carnival …read more

A recent MSN article listed 15 tourist traps that the writer recommended avoiding, claiming they weren’t worth the time and/or money.
I disagree with most of them, believing that they are things you need to do at least once in your life.
Read my reasoning here, compare with MSN writer Jon Douglas here, and then weigh in with your own opinion.

San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf:  C’mon, it’s free.  And on a sunny day, it’s a nice walk with a view of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz, and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Chicago’s Sears Tower:  OK, sure, you could go to the Hancock Tower instead, but you’ve …read more