Being stuck at an airport is never any fun, whether it’s long ground time between flights, or a flight cancellation and serious delay.  Wandering an airport can be fun. . . for the first couple of hours, at least.  But when you’ve checked out every last gift shop, book store, restaurant or bar, and what have you, it’s easy to become bored to tears.
So what are you going to do?  Well, at LAX, if you have enough time to get away, you can leave the hustle and bustle of the airport and head to the beach!

he Ocean Express trolley service …read more

There’s nothing like combining a little shopping with traveling, and today’s Matchbook Monday comes from Tommy Bahama’s Tropical Cafe where you can do just that.
Tommy Bahama is known for its casual and comfortable leisure wear – pretty much all things tropical.  It’s island fabrics and styles for those of us who may only envy or visit the island lifestyle.
Many of the shops have added cafes where they feature island flavors and selections.  It’s a perfect spot to leave the non-shopper to sip a tropical drink and nosh on some appetizers, while the shoppers in the group take care of …read more

Happy Black Friday – the day the retail business counts on putting itself into the black for the year.  With difficult economic times, I’m not sure if they’re as optimistic this year as in years past.
Shopping, however, is the Number One tourism activity in the United States.  That’s why you’ll find so many retailers and shopping facilities promoting themselves with a tourism approach.  Whether it’s free shuttles from hotel to malls, special hotel stay/shopping packages, or shopping promotions tied in with conference events, retailers with a tourism focus are experience stronger overall sales results.
As I think about it, I …read more

Last week I wrote about things to do in Denver (besides the Democratic National Convention0), and this week the country turns its attention to the Republican National Convention in Saint Paul, Minneapolis.
While I’m a little less familiar with Saint Paul, I’ve still spent some time in the area.  I still have a few things left to do and see on this list, but here are my Saint Paul list of suggestions:

Check out the Science Museum of Minnesota, across from the RiverCentre.  It is surrounded by parks and walkways, and is a wonderful spot to learn and to relax. …read more

Tonalá is a city of around 350,000 located near Guadalajara, in central Mexico.  The city is well known for its ceramics, glass, and other native arts and crafts, and its Thursday and Sunday open air markets.
Market days will find the neighborhoods full of good displayed on the sidewalks, and often spilling out into the streets.  Ceramics, pottery, glassware, papier mâché items are all good buys.
If you practiced up on your Spanish, it will come in handy.  Although many locals do speak a little English, it’s probably going to take a fair amount of Spanish, English, and some gestures, to …read more

If you’ve never found the comedic in art, Puerco Azul (Blue Pig) will set you straight.
This whimsical art gallery in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, occupying both a house and its courtyard, is full of an eclectic mix of one-of-a-kind art.  The common denominator to it all is animals.
Gallery owners Lee and Nancy Chapman traveled Mexico in search of the unusual, and opened the gallery as a way to share their treasures.  Well, that and because their own Los Angeles home was filled to the brim.
Originally the gallery was a showcase for other artists, but now is home for Lee Chapman’s …read more

If the thought of a fine bag, a decadent pair of heels, or the feel of the fabric of a finely crafted suit makes you swoon, then an afternoon on the Champs-Élysées in Paris may be your definition of heaven.
Avenue des Champs-Élysées is not only one of the most recognized street names in Paris, but in the entire world, and is lined with luxury and specialty shops, theaters, cafes and restaurants.  Its name translates to “Elysian Fields” a refererence to the “place of the blessed” in Greek mythology.  With the prices you’ll see at most of these shops and …read more

I was reading the New York Times over the weekend, and found information about a new website that sure to appeal to people who like to combine a little shopping with their travels.  That would be people like me!
Store Adore was started by the former editor at Lucky Magazine, and uses local writers to share information about shopping in their city.  You can create a map of your favorite stores or just get information about a store that you’ve been meaning to check out. 
Current cities covered are New York, Boston, Los Angeles, and Washington DC, with San Francisco, …read more

I love wandering the streets of a city, never any specific direction in mind, just wandering up and down the streets, popping into any little shop or gallery that may catch my eye, stopping for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine when I get a little tired.
Wandering is a great way to get to know a city, not so much for a tourist point of view, but getting to know it as a resident.  Besides that, you get to discover some great little places.
A few months back, I was in the Upper Noe area and came across …read more

Japanese artist Takashi Murakami currently has a wallpaper exhibit in the MCA Café at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art.
So what’s significant about Murakami?  He is one of the most significant artists of the under-40 age group to emerge from Japan, with art choices heavily influenced by pop culture and traditional Japanese art forms ““ a blending of east and west. 
His style is called “Superflat,” and is a post-modern style with flat plains of color and graphic images.  His art evokes comments on consumerism, sexual fetishism, and pop culture, and is frequently referred to as a current day Andy Warhol.
Unlike Warhol, …read more