Blogs

Shirley Mae's Diner

Shirley Mae's...doesn't that name just conjure up images of fried chicken, ribs, collard greens and macaroni and cheese? It did for me and Jon, especially when we saw the words Soul Food under the name as we drove past the restaurant on 21st Street in Astoria. I stopped by during the week and picked up a menu, then called in our order last Saturday night. When we went in to pick it up, the friendly, dred-locked guy named Anthony, the only one on duty besides the cook, told us

I'm just back from 5 weeks in the South Pacific. Wow!

First half of the time I was volunteer teaching in a small elementary school in the picture-perfect island of Aitutaki in the Cook Islands. Beautiful people, stunning blue lagoon, unspoiled small-town feel to the island of only 2,000+ people.

Next I was in Papeete, Tahiti from which we sailed on the Aranui III for two weeks among the Marquesas Islands. Each island was different, amazingly enough, and each of the 180 passengers was different, to

Barcelona and Madrid are two perfect weekend cities, but with slightly different character and charm. Whichever you choose, you can expect cozy dining, exciting nightlife and probably a lot of shopping. One of the absolute advantages of Barcelona is the possibility of combining the advantages of beach life, so it’s no wonder that Barcelona emerged as a weekend favorite. A brilliant restaurant and nightlife is certainly something with it all to do. Madrid was shadowed by the coast near Barcelona,

Puerto Viejo can be called the main tourist destination of the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. The town is located in Talamanca Canton in the province of Limon, in the southeastern coast of the country, close to the Panamanian border.

The magic of this place is a combination of different reasons such as white sand beaches, crystal waters, excellent surf conditions, wide variety of wildlife, great diversity of cultures and one of the most attractive factors: laid-back vibe Caribbean style.

Many Puer

THE CZECH COMPOSER WHO INVENTED AMERICAN MUSIC

Antonin Dvořák, whose 170^th anniversary is this year, was not just the greatest of Czech composers. You could argue that Dvořák (1841-1904), the son of a butcher from a village near Prague, was also the father of American classical music. Just as he urged his compatriots to incorporate Czech folk tunes and even birdsong into their music, he urged American composers to use their own songs for inspiration – so much so that he horrified several milli

Something to Declare: Good Lesbian Travel Writing
Edited by Gillian Kendal; University of Wisconsin Press, 230 pages; paperback, $19.95

Reviewed by Heather Cassell

Published: Ocotber 5, 2011

When I embarked on a search for stories by queer women travelers, I didn't expect that it would be a journey in itself: "L Word", "power lesbians" and years of treasure troves of lesbian travel tales pilfered from the pages of lesbian magazines be damned. Someone somewhere would have the

Mountain biking is a young sports in Nepal. The thrill and excitement involved in the sport is making it popular day by day. Lots of Nepalese have taken seriously to sports. The idea of mountain bike racing was first formed in Marin Country, in California in the early eighties. However, in 1996 it got included in the Olympic Games and later on in 1998 the sport got an early into the Asian Games. The National Sports Council of Nepal officially recognized it as a sport in 1995. The first mountain

There are only a few weeks left until the squares of all the major cities are filled with market stalls, Christmas trees and hot wine salesmen. For fans of both Christmas and traveling, we’ve rolled up a list of the best Christmas markets in Europe.

Being one of the most celebrated holidays around the world, Christmas magically transforms the city squares into an extravaganza of light and aroma.  Some cities have not just one or two markets, but dozens. We have therefore selected great cities tha

It’s difficult to talk about La Alberca without lapsing into cliché. The moment I walked into the cobbled Plaza Mayor, the main market square, surrounded by three- and four-storey, half-timbered houses, I thought of a film set for a mediaeval epic.

From the shaded balconies hung a profusion of flowers, making the viewer think, for a fleeting second, he’d been transported from Spain to Bavaria or the Tirol.

La Alberca lies about 60 km. south-west of Salamanca, at the foot of the Sierra de Francia m

The most practiced marriage system found in the Nepali society is the magi- bihe (arranged marriage). Magi-bihe i.e. arranged marriage in Nepali Community unlike in other communities is finalized by the girl’s family when the boy’s family puts forward the proposal of marriage.

Generally, a relative acts as the middle man (lami) in marriage negotiations. The practice of comparing names by an astrologer, to see whether the proposed couple would make a good match, persists but it is done only in a p

by Heather Cassell

Published: Ocotber 3, 2011

Bliss Co-Founder Christine De La Rosa (Center) with Movement Production team members Kiki Poe (Left) and Mz. Amy Adams (right) at the inaugural Palm Springs getaway in 2009.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Movement Productions.

A fall getaway was just the ticket for Christine De La Rosa when she dreamed up Bliss, an all-women of color weekend vacation packed with fun, rejuvenation, and relaxation at California's popular desert resort Palm Springs.

In dedication to my new show about New England travel (Beyond the Beans).

My first blog will entail a very important event occurring this weekend.  Stargazing in New England is very tough. The amount of artificial light and pollution can make it quite difficult for viewing.  So if you're all about some star gazing and your live in New England, here are some of the best spots to check out some stars.

West Dennis, Cape Cod (Scargo Tower): Located on the Cape, the Scargo Tower offers a unique view ju

by Heather Cassell

Published: Ocotber 3, 2011

Damron owner Gina Gatta with business and life partner, Erika O'Conner, enjoying Iceland.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Damron

For the more than 20 years, Gatta, 46, an openly gay woman, has traveled the world and n