Saturday, May 19
Partly Cloudy
Currently: 73˚F
Feels Like: 73˚ F
Hi: 76˚, Lo: 52˚
Wind: 10, Gust: 18 MPH
Wind Direction: S (190) 
Tonight: 52˚
Sunset: 8:50 PM
Moon Phase: Waning Crescent
Sunday, May 20
Hi: 68˚, Lo: 44˚
Wind: 17, Gust: N/A MPH
Wind Direction: N (353) 
Monday, May 21
Hi: 76˚, Lo: 53˚
Wind: 9, Gust: N/A MPH
Wind Direction: ESE (115) 
Tuesday, May 22
Hi: 80˚, Lo: 61˚
Wind: 21, Gust: N/A MPH
Wind Direction: SSE (162) 
Wednesday, May 23
Hi: 80˚, Lo: 56˚
Wind: 20, Gust: N/A MPH
Wind Direction: SSW (201) 
weather feed courtesy of weather.com - thanks!
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Here he comes, Miss'd America, that other marquee event in Atlantic City — this one with drag queens.
By Erin Behan
There’s the Miss American Pageant and then there’s the Miss’d America Pageant. Amazing what a difference one letter makes — and in this context, one chromosome. The Miss’d Pageant, at the Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall Ballroom on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012 at 8 p.m. (tickets), is a spoof on the original, with drag queens in all their glittery glory competing for the crown, cash and prizes.
In this case, the Miss’d America Pageant proves that the copy is better. Swimsuit, evening gown, judges’ interview — it’s all here in full drag glory with dressed-to-the-nines contestants from New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and other surrounding states. Expect laughs, tears and heart-felt moments that only pageantry can bring.
The evening stays lively and gay with host Carson Kressley (“Dancing with the Stars” and “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy”), special guest star Martha Wash of The Weather Girls, a performance by Erika Schiff (“American Idol”) and the Melanie Rice Orchestra.
It’s not just the pageant, there’s a to-be-announced pre-party Friday night, a post party at Resorts Atlantic City on Saturday and a brunch and gay bingo on Sunday at the pool at Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City. Other nearby hotels include Trump Plaza Casino and Hotel, Caesar’s Casino and Hotel and Best Western Envoy Inn.
The original Miss America Pageant was held in Atlantic City from 1921 to 2004 until it moved to Las Vegas, so it’s a fitting city for the parody pageant. Miss’d America was previously held in Atlantic City from 1994 to 2005 and picked up again last year.
Best of all, proceeds from the pageant are divided between the two groups that present the event, the Greater Atlantic City BLBT and the Schultz-Hill Scholarship Foundation. Those organizations then split the money among various charities. To date, 0,000 has been donated.
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Erin Behan is a freelance writer and editor out of Brooklyn, N.Y., who counts good food, intoxicating drink and adventurous travel among her favorite things.
www.galavanting.tv – Join the ladies on a whirlwind New York City weekend. Hosts Kim Mance and Maren Hogan check out everything from a sleek & affordable hotel in Times Square, to a jazz club, spanish tapas, nightlife, hip restaurants and Chinatown. Come for the fun, stay for the great NYC travel tips.
From childhood game to real-life kitsch: The Monopoly game on A.C.'s Boardwalk. Credit: Dougtone.
By Erin Behan
Yes there is more to Atlantic City than gambling (although with 11 casinos, there’s plenty of that, too), but once the cooler weather sets in you’ll have to skip sunning on the beach. On your fall or winter Atlantic City vacation, you might set your sights on something more pedestrian — a walkable Monopoly board, sitting in front of Bally’s Atlantic City. It’ll put life-long Monopoly gamers in the mood to wager.
Bally’s constructed the game board, which includes larger-than-life dice and the famous green houses, red hotels and signature game pieces, located at Boardwalk and Park Place, naturally. And, yes, you can “Pass Go! Collect 0,” which is also the name of the casino’s promotion for a chance at more than million in prizes through Dec. 2 (see, plenty of chances to gamble!).
After a romp on Reading Railroad, it’s time to explore the Boardwalk’s rich history via walking tours downloadable on iTunes. There are 17 short episodes set at famous Boardwalk locations (Central Pier, Boardwalk Hall and various casinos among them) courtesy of the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority. You’ll get just enough info to feel like you’ve learned something but nothing too strenuous on the grey matter — hey it’s vacation after all.
Of course a trip to the Boardwalk wouldn’t be complete without a stroll by the newly installed replicas of storefronts from the HBO series “Boardwalk Empire.” The 108-foot-long façade showcases storefronts from the series. Get photographed in front of Babette’s Supper Club, Fralinger’s candies or the Steel Pier, and impress your relatives back home. You’ll find the stretch of faux storefronts in front of the West Hall of Boardwalk Hall near Florida Avenue.
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Erin Behan is a freelance writer and editor in Brooklyn, N.Y., who counts good food, intoxicating drink and adventurous travel among her favorite things.
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Tips for a better trip to Yellowstone National Park
Rapid City Journal Most travel guides recommend booking a year in advance to stay in Yellowstone, whether you're looking for a lodge room, cabin or a campsite. Be sure to deal directly with Xanterra, the official concessionaire for Yellowstone National Park. … |
Cemeteries, voodoo shops, ghost tours: Find plenty of spirits in The Big Easy. Credit: Dyanna.
By Erin Behan
Whether your New Orleans hotel is in the French Quarter or Garden District, you’re likely staying near (if not in) a haunted spot. New Orleans isn’t called “The Most Haunted City in America” for nothing. This Halloween in New Orleans, we recommend checking out some of New Orleans’ most popular haunted tours.
First up is Bloody Mary’s Tours, headed by a real Bloody Mary (OK, it’s her pen and priestess name). She offers more than just tours –including ghost hunts and voodoo rituals — but it’s her walking tours that you’ll want to jump on. The Tour of the Undead visits a variety of sites, and those 21 and over can enjoy the Haunted Pub Crawl tour — all include plenty of colorful storytelling.
Lord Chaz Ghost and Vampire Tours are as much performance as tour and emphasize spooky stories from the Crescent City. As the name implies, this tour differs from many others in its focus on vampires, and Lord Chaz dresses the part.
The French Quarter Phantoms’ newest tour, True Crime, focuses on New Orleans rich criminal history with tales of the city’s dark underbelly. New Orleans visitors can also get their freak on with a Ghost and Vampire Tour or a Cemetery Tour.
Theater on the street, you say? Well, that’s New Orleans every day of the year, but you’ll find it especially true at the New Orleans Ghost Tour, which has walks for ghosts, vampires and cemetery history.
The Haunted History Tours of New Orleans’ claim to fame is numerous appearances on TV– A&E, Discovery, the History Channel and MTV to name a few. The company has six different tours, including a voodoo tour that starts at a voodoo shop — just in case you need to pick up a voodoo love doll on your New Orleans vacation.
If you want to go it on your own, try the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum, which runs through the mysteries, secrets and history of New Orleans Voodoo. Or, check out Lafayette Cemetery, which started collecting ghosts in 1833. It’s as famous on-screen as off–having been featured in Anne Rice’s “Interview with a Vampire,” among others. You also won’t want to miss the final resting place of infamous voodoo priestess Marie Laveau; she’s likely buried at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 in the Giapion family crypt.
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Erin Behan is a freelance writer and editor based in Brooklyn, N.Y., who counts good food, intoxicating drink and adventurous travel among her favorite things.
Fresh and funky: Seattle's Hotel FIVE nails modern whimsy within walking distance to the waterfront.
By Erin Behan
Seattle is a city of many wonders — flying fish at Pike Place Market, an entire museum devoted to pop music, and foam-perfect cappuccinos to name a few — but if you haven’t checked out these four new Seattle hotels, you’re doing it wrong. Sure the rooms are guaranteed to be modern and fresh, but you also get hip restaurants serving local, seasonal cuisine, in-hotel coffee shops and pristine views of Elliot Bay.
One of Seattle’s newer hotels has been LEED certified, and it’s the first mixed-use hotel and residential project to receive the award in Seattle. Hyatt at Olive 8 opened in January of 2009 and occupies the first 17 floors of the building. As you’d expect from a modern green property, there’s eco-friendly Elaia spa — try the Market Fresh manicure, which uses seasonal ingredients — and the farm-to-table Urbane restaurant, which got a nod from Seattle Magazine in 2011 for best happy hour bites. Pike Place Market, the Seattle waterfront and the Seattle Art Museum are within walking distance.
You’ll find another of Seattle’s newer hotels located near Seattle vacation destinations such as Pike Place Market and the Space Needle. Seattle’s Hotel FIVE nails the fun and funky vibe. Bright, happy colors dot the lobby and room interiors (perhaps to counteract all that rain?), and luxury bedding and complimentary WiFi make you want to camp out at this Seattle hotel, which opened in March 2011. This being Seattle, there’s also an in-hotel coffee shop, Max’s Café.
The Hyatt Place Seattle/Downtown, opened in June 2010, is also located near major Seattle tourist attractions, such as Experience Music Project. Expect both suits and anoraks in the lobby—its modern amenities package of free hotel-wide Wi-Fi, free breakfast buffet, indoor pool and free shuttle service within a mile draws everyone from the fresh-scrubbed to the funky.
Views of Elliott Bay set the 15-story Marriott Courtyard Pioneer Square hotel apart, as does its historic digs in the 1904 Alaska Building, the state’s first steel building. Qwest Field, Safeco Field and cruise terminals at Piers 91 and 66 are nearby, as is the Pioneer Square Station. The business crowd appreciates the free Wi-Fi and on-site Starbucks (born in Seattle, don’t ya know?). There’s a rather boutique hotel feel about the room linens and furniture, making what could be stuffy feel rather zen-like.
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Erin Behan is a freelance writer and editor based in Brooklyn, N.Y., who counts good food, intoxicating drink and adventurous travel among her favorite things.
Pleasing palate: a PUBLIC Chicago hotel guest room
By Mark Chesnut
The Windy City will get a fresh injection of hotel style on Oct. 11, when PUBLIC Chicago opens its doors. Ian Schrager, the hotelier known for his luxurious boutique properties, is recasting the former Ambassador East Hotel and its Pump Room restaurant into what developers hope will become a trend-setting icon among Chicago hotels.
With his new Chicago hotel, Schrager — who opened his first boutique hotel some 25 years ago — is taking aim at the uniformity that he says has afflicted the boutique hotel concept since it became one of the hospitality industry’s fastest-growing segments. PUBLIC Chicago will feature social areas including the Living Room and Library, which will have a coffee and dessert bar, and the Backroom, which doubles as a screening room for private meetings and events.
The Pump Room restaurant is being completely renovated with a new menu conceived by chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, inspired by his ABC Kitchen in New York City, but with local, “farm-to-table” elements from the Chicago area.
The Chicago hotel’s 285 guest rooms are individually furnished with what is described as a “no color” palate that aims to evoke calm and comfort. Guests will be able to customize their mini bars using PUBLIC EXPRESS, a new concept that features “grab and go” snacks, toiletries and other items at the front desk. PUBLIC Chicago also has 10 meeting rooms; a business center; a fitness center and access to David Barton gym.
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Mark Chesnut is a travel writer, editor and publisher of LatinFlyer.com, which focuses on travel to Latin America.
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Travel Tips For a First Time Visit to New York City
CheapOair (blog) A fare is .25; which can take you all over the city; it is a general fare that is not calculated by travel distance. A budget option for travelers who will use mass transit often is to buy an unlimited card; either for one day, weekly or monthly … |
Fall for Autumn: London's rustic hues near Tower Bridge. Credit: az1172.
by Kristin Dillon
While crowds flock to the picturesque towns of New England for fall vacations, international cities unwind a notch to render local character (and cheap hotel rates). From the Salon du Chocolat in Paris to fall foliage in Central Park, see what the harvest yields among the panoply of peep in London, Paris and New York City.
1. London, England
Best time to go: October through November
What to see: For that classic autumnal scenery (knobby trees, ponds and wildlife) head to Hampstead Heath, a giant park outside the historically posh St. John’s Wood. There, you’ll stroll among the acres complete with wool-capped lads, spotted dogs and young trendies in gum boots. But if watching bucks thrash their antlers as they rival for affection gets your leaf-peepers popping, Richmond Park is rife with deer, swans and pastoral scenery. During the month of November, Kew Gardens also hosts free walks trumpeting the best spots to view the canopy of yellows, reds and umbers. Craving a regal twist? Hyde Park Stables offers horseback rides through miles of leafy bridleways along Serpentine Lake.
Where to stay: For a quintessential English experience, stay at the Renaissance St. Pancras London Hotel, home to The Gilbert Scott which serves proper Olde English grub such as quail, Yorkshire puddings and marmalades. The Rubens at the Palace Hotel London is steps from Buckingham Palace, and a scenic stroll to the RHS London Autumn Harvest Show (Oct. 4-5).
2. Paris, France
Parisian peep near the Eiffel Tower. Credit: garyt70.
Best time to go: October
What to see: Gothic cathedrals. Voluptuous rues laced in cafés. That glittering Eiffel Tower. Just when you think Paris vacations couldn’t be more romantic, the City of Light wows and woos in October when beech, London plane and sycamore trees are kissed by hues of gold. Crunch your way through the très scenic Jardin des Tuileries, steps from the Louvre, where sprawling fountains, chestnut trees and the magical Arc du Triomphe ornament your path. Put a little muscle into your leaf-peeping in Parc des Buttes Chaumont, the steepest park in Paris, where serene nooks, a hilltop temple and cascading waterfall offer tranquil respite. French mystique graces the enigmatic Père Lachaise Cemetery, where you’ll amble leafy cobblestone paths immortalized by Edith Piaf, Jim Morrison and the lipstick-covered grave of Oscar Wilde.
For a perfect tie-in to your walking, buy tickets to Salon du Chocolat (Oct. 20-24) and indulge in string of chocolate affairs: Meet cocoa growers, watch chefs whip up gooey recipes, and ogle the runway during the Chocolate Dresses Fashion Show. Le bonus: A bevy of children’s workshops where petit artistes can make their own edible creations.
Where to stay: For a prime location in central Paris, the Saint James Albany Hotel Spa, which overlooks Jardin des Tuileries, is steps from the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay. And if you’re visiting during the Montmartre Harvest Festival, the charming Villa Eugenie hotel is just a short drive away.
3. New York City, NY
When to go: Late September to early November
What to see: Beyond the concrete and skyscrapers, New York City is a fall foliage siren known for its pretty peep. Visit the undeniably autumnal Central Park in late October when trails and cycling paths are swathed in yellows, oranges and crimsons. Watch colors pop along the Lower Hudson River Valley aboard the New York Water Taxi’s Fall Foliage Cruise (Oct. 23, 30 & Nov. 6). On your sojourn, you’ll coast past acres of red maples, flowering dogwoods and yellow birch.
Explore further afield in Brooklyn, where Fort Greene Park boasts a brilliant display of ginkgos, oaks and elms. Another great spot is Prospect Park, a procession of rolling lawns, and woodsy-trail wanders under a kaleidoscopic canopy of hardwoods. Bask in exotic autumn splendor at the New York Botanical Gardens, and keep up the peeping pace with kiku (think: punk-rock chrysanthemums), toad lilies, camellias and more at the Fall Flowers of Japan exhibit.
Where to stay: Super hip The Marcel at Gramercy Hotel is a crisp walk to Union Square Greenmarket, where you can score apple cider, donuts and fresh produce most weekdays. Beyond Manhattan, the chic Aloft Brooklyn is just a few colorful steps from Fort Greene Park.
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Kristin Dillon is an Editor at Orbitz Worldwide. On a recent trip to London, she became smitten with both Richmond Park and Hampstead Heath.
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