Jul
4
Hawaii has so many spectacularly beautiful places that it’s hard to imagine living there without a constant state of awe and calm. Those are two of the most common feelings that visitors have, and tourists returning from Hawaii always seem to have a special gleam in their eye that speaks of a deep inner joy. The lure of the beach, eating fantastic food outdoors, and the five star Hawaiian hotels are all things that never seem to get old.
So it’s always a little strange, then, to hear about how the people who live here, and what they do when they get bored. It’s hard to imagine getting bored in such a place. The sea is always changing, and after so much time swimming and relaxing in the sun, there’s barely any time for dinner and then bed. Of course, being on vacation and living somewhere are very different things, but it’s still interesting to hear about what the locals like to do for fun.
One of the great memories for a lot of the people here is now-defunct Wai’alae Drive-In , one of those classic drive-in movie theaters that everyone would go to on the weekends. A drive-in theater always brings back memories of the best days of summer, spending time watching movies with one’s parents and eating home made popcorn. As the years go by, the parents get tossed aside for dates, and the drive-in becomes an even more mysterious place.
Naturally, in Hawaii there is all this, and then there are key local differences. The main one here at the old Wai’alae Drive-In is the local legend about an obake, or shapeshifter, who lived in the women’s rest room. Lived is probably the wrong word. Most people think she’s a ghost, and when appeared, she had no face. That’s the kind of stuff that tourists like to hear, because it’s spooky and interesting, and it’s a small world indeed because the locals like to hear about it, too.
Jun
30
Philadelphia Wing Bowl
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This is one of those events that some people only get one chance in a lifetime to see. Most people prefer not to have the chance, but still, it’s a good one to know about. Eating contests are a strange thing. While some of them seem built to celebrate the finesse and capacity of the eaters, others are more like grotesque versions of a culture gone insane. Reality tv seems to have gotten some kind of inspiration from these, but even the most queasy shows can’t live up to a live version.
Especially not if it’s Wing Bowl . Philadelphia Wing Bowl is an event that has amazed and amused onlookers since 1993, and there are many locals who wait for the opportunity to cross it off their bucket lists . It’s been held every year since then, and takes place the Friday before Super Bowl. People gather to see who can eat the most chicken wings in 30 minutes. There are cheerleaders in bikinis, and some of the top eaters have developed reputations, and large followings, over the years. It’s a very well-publicized event, where onlookers sometimes pack the auditorium so full that the organizers request that people not come, in order to avoid a too-full house.
It sounds both exciting and horrifying, and certainly a little bit amusing. But there’s also something else at work here that is terribly, terribly smart. Radio show hosts Al Morgani and Angelo Cataldi began the whole thing, and saw it as a celebration of gluttony. It began, then, with roots that were really rather profoundly planted, making an event that is supposed to provoke thought as much as a gut response. Fortunately, visitors to the city can enjoy the luxury Philadelphia hotels without having to watch someone eat more than 200 chicken wings in half an hour, because there’s a lot to see in the city. And there are plenty of pubs and restaurants that have some scrumptious recipes for this favorite. But, if the mood should hit, the week before Super Bowl is always a curious time to be here.
Jun
27
Major Memorials in Washington DC
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Washington DC remains to be one of the most literal as well as symbolically important cities in this country. It is the home of the White House as well as all of the buildings on Capital Hill and of course it is also the capital of this great country. It is bordered by Maryland to the North and Virginia to the south and interestingly Virginia is the birthplace of more US presidents than any other state in the Union. It seems that historically they didn’t want to travel that far though these days our presidents come from all over the country. DC is located on the Potomac River, which is another symbolically relevant aspect of this country’s history. It seems that everywhere you go in Washington the geography and city features are important icons to this country. This is probably why it is one of the top tourist destinations for many of the residents regardless from which state they are coming. The five star hotels Washington DC are as diverse in guest demographic backgrounds as is the country itself.
Some of the famous landmarks in DC include the Washington Monument , the National Shrine and the African American Civil War Memorial. These are just a few of the numerous landmarks and memorials that exist across DC, though they are certainly important ones. The Washington Monument is located at the west end of the National Mall and was built to commemorate George Washington, the first President of the United States. It is a marble, sandstone and granite obelisk and is both the world’s tallest stone structure and the world’s tallest obelisk. It is also the tallest stone structure in DC. The National Shrine is a beautiful Catholic basilica which honors Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, who is the Patroness of the United States. It is the largest Catholic Church in the Country. The African American Civil War Memorial commemorates the services of 209,145 African American soldiers and sailors who fought for the Union army in the Civil War. The sculpture is titled The Spirit of Freedom and was designed by Ed Hamilton.
Jun
23
Dallas’ Absolute Wilsons
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The charms of Dallas are as apparent as they ever were, and some of the most enticing things about the city relate to the fact that understatement tends to rule here. It’s not that there aren’t things to be excited about, because there certainly are. It’s one of the most eclectic urban centers anywhere, with a busy pace and lots of distractions. It’s that there’s something very Southern about refraining from boasting, and that’s very attractive when people recognize it.
It makes things distinctively self-confident, like the easy grace of a five star hotel. Dallas does not feel like it’s necessary to brag about itself, because people will find out soon enough how good it is here.
These are also the traits that characterize some of its famous kids, and here, there’s none better to illustrate this than the Wilson Brothers . Luke, Owen, and Andrew are 2/3 of the way into their 40s, with the youngest one, Luke, due up next year, and their careers are well-established by now that a little bit of bragging might be all right.
They all entered the consciousness of the U.S. public at the same time with Bottle Rocket, and they’ve gone on to participate in a stunning number of projects. Their combined productivity, with Andrew, the eldest, directing more than the other two, although he also acts his fair share, is very impressive. This comes on the tail wind of some tough times for each of them, including a legal thing about a camera of the kind the world has not seen since Sean Penn.
Although Sean Penn has turned everything in his personal life to his advantage, and is now a very outspoken actor on a number of important issues, the Wilsons haven’t yet entered into that arena. They’re still playing, and playing very well, on brothers who are cashing in on a local boy persona, the slacker that eventually does the right thing when the chips are down. The audience gets the feeling that there’s something very interesting and intriguing behind this charm, and the coming months might reveal some interesting new developments.
Jun
17
Beautiful Historic Landmarks of Munster
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As is true for most European cities, Munster, Germany has an incredibly dynamic and extensive history. Of course to relatively new countries like the United States of America any city that is over six hundred years old can sound pretty historic. Meanwhile, in addition to all of the interesting and incredible historic factors that are part of its past, the contemporary cultural dynamics and various attractions are also pretty impressive and continue to gain interest in the city. There are numerous landmarks and various historic buildings that are great places to visit while you’re in town.
The City Museum is a great place to begin your exploration of the city and its culture. This incredible museum contains numerous pieces from political and cultural history of the city and represents various phases and transitions in social climate. The Botanic Gardens of Munster are a beautiful as well as interesting and educational place to visit. They date from 1803 and represent a diverse collection of plant and flower species.
St. Paul’s Cathedral is another top place to visit and was built in the 13th century. The building’s design is a combination of late Romanesque and early Gothic styles. One of the main attractions included in its features is the astronomical clock with various zodiac figures and symbols adorning it. The church received some severe damage during WWII and since then has been completely restored. There are other beautiful churches in the city and they frequently represent various architectural periods and thus the corresponding cultural status and social dynamics. There are a couple of gorgeous buildings from the Baroque area that were built by Schlaun. The hotels Munster offer more than great accommodations and are also excellent resources on these and other attractions and are great places to begin your touring agenda.