Monthly Archives: February 2010

Feb28

Honchie in Dallas

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Honchie in Dallas

The Dallas nightlife scene has never been more interesting, or more appealing.  It’s also never been quite so funny.  In a time where it’s become a trend to take our fun very seriously, turning enjoyable evenings into shows of coolness, where smiling reveals weakness and a laugh is akin to surrendering to some strange order of things, it’s nice to see cracks in the skin of the machine.  Dallas has always seemed poised for this, ready to question how things are done, or how we look at things, in order to make the world safer for the community here.  This is one of the things that makes it such a splendid place to visit, and the hotels in Dallas always offer a graceful entrance into this lively city.

It’s all rather graceful here, in its own way.  There is certainly a local style, and there are local flavors.  In a city this size, there are always plenty of new players on the scene, and this isn’t just true in the nightlife, but can be found in music, art, and standup comedy.  Poised on the edges of all of these is Honchie, one of the rising music groups.  They list their influences as Andy Kaufman, and he singularly added a plurality of dada techniques to live comedy, and changed the way we thought about laughing in public.  There is certainly a similar aesthetic going on here, and it looks like they’ve been at this for some time.

They’ve been compared to Tenacious D, Frank Zappa, and Ween, and these are also apt comparisons.  It’s not that they’re derivative of anything, but they are simply hard to classify, because for one thing, they don’t seem to take themselves very seriously.  In the world of rock, where attitude is everything, this might be bolder than anything Lou Reed ever considered as oppositional.  This is very funny music, where the songs are a collapse of quotations from arena rock, hip hop, funk, pop, and alternative.  The live shows are hilarious send ups of rock tropes mixed with performance art we haven’t seen since the Tubes.  And, they also happen to be pretty fantastic musicians, which makes the joke go on for longer than one line, and, it looks like it might be long enough to sustain a career, if there is any justice.

Feb26

The Italianate Gardens of Princeton

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The Italianate Gardens of Princeton

One of the finer things to do in any city, is to walk through the gardens.  Most of these gardens have rich histories, filled with the lives of the men and the women who designed them, and those who have for them over the years.  There is one such garden located in Princeton, New Jersey.  Now, there are many fine examples of buildings and architecture in the center of the city, the older and fine hotels and restaurants, the museums and galleries, and the historical sites and monuments.

But there really is nothing like getting away from it all and strolling through the Italianate Gardens that surround the Drumthwacket Estate.  This estate has a rich and a very long history, and is now the official residence of the Governor of New Jersey.  The history of the Gardens begins just over one hundred years ago, when a man named Moses Taylor Pyne purchased the property and began expanding not only the mansion, but the landscaping and the gardens surrounding that mansion.

History is fill with people like these, people who had a desire to create something, a beautiful place for the people of the city to come to and feel at peace.  A place where nature is nurtured, and returns the favor by nurturing the souls of the people walking through the trees and flower beds.  The completion of the Gardens was in 1905, and was celebrated in one way, by making the cover of the October issue of American Home and Gardens Magazine.

Pyne and his wife were socialites, and where known for having wonderful parties and for their style and elegance in entertaining.  Pyne paid concentrated attention to the design of the gardens, and as he was well educated in landscape architecture, this attention to the small details of the park is what makes it all so exuistite today.  His gardens flow in and out of the house, and were heavily influenced by the Italian Gardens created by Charles A. Platt.  This is a breathtaking bit of land, and one that should not be missed during any visit to the city of Princeton, New Jersey.

Feb24

Celebrity Endorsements: Tiger Woods or Lance Armstrong?

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Celebrity Endorsements: Tiger Woods or Lance Armstrong?

When a company makes the decision to use a celebrity, a sports figure or any public figure to endorse their products or their services , they are taking a risk. This risk may prove to be worth it, or it may prove to be disastrous. The public is interested in the lives of public figures, sometimes obsessively so. It is for this reason that the character of the person making the endorsements be taken into consideration. Online companies such as moneymutual.com have employed the use of celebrity endorsements, just as the endorsements have been used through other mediums such as TV and Radio. Take the current situation with golf legend Tiger Woods . Due to his personal life becoming public knowledge, he has lost corporate sponsors and lost his credibility when it comes to speaking for companies services and products. It is not whether or not a person’s private life should be anyone else’s business. It is that regardless, Woods is in the public eye, and when that happens there is no long a life that is lived privately and discreetly.  The other side of the celebrity endorsed advertising campaign coin, is world renown cycling legend, Lance Armstrong . Here is not only and extraordinary world class athlete, perhaps the greatest cyclist of all time, but due to the strength and the courage he demonstrated during his long battle with what should have been terminal cancer, he has gained not only the respect of the those in the world of biking, but the respect of all those struggling with fighting cancer themselves. The Nike advertising campaign is well known. It is the simple statement, Just Do It. Nike took a risk on Armstrong.  Due to the fact that Armstrong came back to win so many Tour de France titles following such an extreme medical situation, he was accused of taking drugs to enhance his performance. This is the kind of accusation that makes him a greater investment risk and could have the end endorsement gigs for him. But the man was tested more in one year than most other athletes get tested throughout their careers, and he always proved to be riding clean. And not only that, his strength and determination was even more emphasised, creating a more powerful spokesman for the the Nike Company. This high risk investment paid off, and their Armstrong campaign is one of the most successful campaigns of all time.

Feb18

A Short Biography on Montel Williams

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A Short Biography on Montel Williams

I could go on for a long time about this man, but here is the short biography.

Montel Williams was born in San Antonio, TX. He was an athlete, a musician and a great student. Well loved by his peers and very caring, it is not hard to see why he makes such a great talk show host. His show lasted for twelve years in which time himself and the show he put on won awards. Although he has sometimes gotten in trouble for the things he has said, he has only ever stuck up for what he thought was right. This seems to best explain the things he has decided support with his money and fame. This includes the Montel Williams MS fund, and Money Mutual. He obviously made a point of only supporting the products that he feels will give people a better quality of life. This site has some more information on him.

Money Mutual for an example is a leading cash advance loans company, and one of the few out there to be trusted. Their goal is to match you with the best loan possible, to help you out when you fall on hard times. They don’t require a credit check, or a background check, and just trust you to pay back the loan. It is short term, and not intended to deal with situations where you have lost a job and need some income to live on for a few months, but is perfect for those times when something unexpected hits and you don’t have the money to take care of it until your next pay check. No one wants to have to take the bus to work longer than they have to, and when the car breaks down between pay checks, cash advance loans are proven to be the best way to get the money you need fast. All you need to do is be 18 or over and make a steady income of $800 a month or more. It seems super easy.

If you are interested in seeing him speak on this, there is more information here. I’m glad to be able to see Montel Williams on television and know that he is dedicated to helping people when they fall on hard times.

Feb16

Jackson Valentine

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Jackson Valentine
Well if you are a snow bunny couple and like to snuggle up for Valentine’s Day then check out the winter town of Jackson in Jackson Hole Wyoming. There are many charming hotels around Jackson that you can find here that should ever everything you need to romance your sweetheart. When you make your reservations you can add on things like have a bottle of wine, cheese and box of chocolates in the room for when we arrive. There is nothing like getting into the luxurious room and having a glass of wine with a nice treat. It is a great way to start of the vacation.

Then you can get out and walk around the old western town. The square has a quaint little park in the center that has massive antler archways at each corner entrance. When you stand in the snowy center of the little park you can turn around and see it surrounded with shops, galleries, restaurants and saloons. It is a charming as it gets as you chat about your favorite subjects while swinging on a swing set under the snow filled trees. When the sun goes down you may start to feel the need for a hot totie as the chill hits your face and all you need to do is walk across the street to a place like the Million Dollar Cowboy Steakhouse
The Million Dollar Cowboy Steakhouse is offering up some specials for Valentine’s Day along with other restaurants in town. The Mangy Moose has bee in town for a while and is considered quite the hot spot. It is a restaurant and Saloon that features live entertainment through out the week. You can head in for dinner or after dinner and catch a favorite cocktail and see The Ooo La Lahs for Valentine’s Day. They play bluegrass/folk music and should keep you twirling you love around the dance floor all night.
Feb14

Families First Road Trip is to San Antonio

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Families First Road Trip is to San Antonio

We had one week off from school and we took one week off from work, so My family and I are off on a road trip to San Antonio. We packed our bags in the Volvo and had not an inch to spare. The six of us set off on the first road trip for my family. We stopped for a great lunch at this cafe in Austin, the food was fresh and most of it was grown in the gardens behind the restaurant. What a treat is was for us to eat fresh food; it was so much better than fast foods any-day, but I know I’ll never be able to convince my kids otherwise.

We arrived in San Antonio late in the afternoon and we checked into our hotel, I got us a great deal on 2 rooms at this website, the site was really helpful and I had a great choice of hotels to pick from according to my needs. We spent almost an hour to get everyone unpacked and who was sleeping in what bed. So, later we walked along the river-walk path, which winds past nice buildings, cafes and restaurants that are all below street level. We found a place to have dinner, one that catered to adults as well as children, because it was time for mom to have a margarita!

The next morning, we visited the Alamo and after that we took a river cruise starting at the La Villita Historic Arts Village. For dinner, we arranged for a babysitting service, which our hotel helped us with, so my Husband and I could go fine dining at a restaurant called the Fogo de Chao, a Brazilian steakhouse. 15 different cuts of meat, which have already been grilled, were brought to our table, we could sample which ever meats we wanted and the waiter sliced pieces off for us. I loved every piece I tried, it was really hard to choose, but I ended up with a 7 ounce sirloin and my husband pick the Fillet Mignon. For dessert, we shared a creme brulee’.

The next morning we went to Sea World, which was about an hours drive from San Antonio. We watched seals and walrus, but what we all enjoyed the most were the Killer Whales. My children were able to feed the dolphins and I must admit, it was pretty thrilling to watch my children toss fish to one of the most exquisite creatures on this earth. We drove back to San Antonio and had a Japanese dinner. It was fun to show the kids how to use chopsticks, I think they now actually prefer the chopsticks over forks and spoons.

Our last day, we spent poolside at our hotel, to just take it easy. My husband and I looked over at each other and smiled, we knew we were staring a great road-trip tradition.

Feb10

Summer Home in Ogunquit, Maine

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Summer Home in Ogunquit, Maine

My wife had been trying to talk me into buying a summer home in Ogunquit, Maine for as long as I can remember. Well, as it turns out her good friend’s parents have a place there and last summer she invited us to visit them with her. I agreed, but have to admit it was with hesitation because I was worried the trip might further progress this madness that seemed to be developing in Sarah. As I mentioned before she seemed to have always wanted to get a home there but the desire was growing in her and it began to be a standard topic of conversation. Maybe not a full conversation, as I generally tried to change the subject before an actual conversation could develop.

However, almost as soon as we arrived in Ogunquit, I was completely enchanted and found the entire area to be absolutely beautiful. My wife had a great time of course and she and her friend went off together. I’m not sure what all they did, probably shopped. I spent my time down along the Ogunquit River and found such a peace of mind that reminded me of my carefree college days. I could definitely see myself learning the fine art of deep-sea fishing along here in the summer.

Just as I had imagined my wife had been out shopping all day but the most interesting thing she brought home was information on the Ogunquit Playhouse. I have always loved life performances and this seemed like a great little place. That night I had to confess to my wife that I was convinced that this was the perfect place for us to have a summer home and maybe even plan our retirement. Sarah grinned her knowing smile and told me that she knew all I had to do was visit the place and I would fall in love. Next summer we’re going to stay in one of the local Ogunquit hotels and try and pick out a potential place to buy.

Feb8

Trances Arcs Atlanta

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Trances Arcs Atlanta

There is always a gorgeous scene in Georgia.  Whether it’s the open country that speaks to those who come from here, causing at least a little bit of an ache in the heart when you see it, or whether it’s the entertainment and art produced by the people who live here, there is a sense for beauty here.  The same could be said for its opposite, and it would be expected that the same artists that can create sweetness can also invoke the bitter in a second, because the extremes tend to exist simultaneously.  This is particularly true in the music, and here, the indie-alt scene is very strong.  This is one of the birthplaces of this music, after all, with REM reigning in from Athens, and kicking the thing into high gear with Murmur.

Today it’s possible, and even likely, to come into town and stay in a local hotel, and spend your evenings out on the town, and discover some new band that speaks to the bitter and the sweet sides of the human heart simultaneously.  I don’t know why it works like that for me, but live music in a particularly small place can make me think of lost love quicker than bitter almonds.  For my money, one of the coolest new groups out there worth watching is TrancesArc.

They have drive, and they certainly have innovation.  It shows in their music, and it also plays out in their presentation, soliciting funds on their website to release their new EP.   This is real indie, without compromising anything.  TrancesArc is also uncompromising in its music.  This is tight and brilliant stuff, the drummer pulling together the dueling chords from the guitars and the vocals singing from a place that knows what it’s like to know too much and still feel the pain of the ignorant.  This is music sung from the place where love doesn’t understand you any more, but you don’t understand it, and you’re both locked in a sweet agreement to misunderstand.