The Motivation Blog

June 2010Monthly Archives

Teens in NYC

Sometimes the only thing worse than traveling with little kids is traveling with your teenagers. They are cranky, and they don’t want to do anything with you. If it was up to them you would be staying in one of the luxury hotels New York City offers premium guests. There is a way to make this trip a lot easier on yourself, and get your kids to enjoy it as well. While there are plenty of things closed off to little kids, the city opens up quite a bit as they get older.

One of the things that opens up to teenagers as they get older are the entertainment options. While some humor might be a little inappropriate for the younger kids, there are lots of plays, and comedy shows that are aimed right at teenagers. While adults can enjoy it as well, there is no better place to catch a show with your kids than in New York City. Try the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater if you want to see some good comedy.

There is a little place called Trapeze School New York . While it might seem like something you are dreading, kids love it. They offer one class sessions, and by the end your kids will be hanging from the ceiling. The nice part is that it is for ages six and up, so even if you have younger children, they can go up with your teenagers. It is very safe with lots of padding and there shouldn’t be a lot of worry that they will get hurt.

If you have artists, take them to the Museum of Modern Art. MOMA should be enough to inspire any artist and you can easily spend the whole day wondering through without seeing the whole thing. If you feel that you are too far away from the MOMA and don’t want to travel there, go to the MOMA PS1 which isn’t as big but is just as inspirational.

Lisa
June 28, 2010
Travel
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Performance Venues in Stockton

Stockton, California is located about forty miles south of the capital city of Sacramento. It lies between Sacramento and San Francisco, though not directly and is not in the path of the route between these two major cities. And while Stockton may be over shadowed by its larger and more prominent neighbors, it is a dynamic and attractive city in its own right. Larger numbers of people continue to choose Stockton as their choice relocation destination and lots of people pick Stockton as their vacation destination. Part of the reason for this is the unique cultural aspects that are specific to this city. The hotels in Stockton are typically full during specific events and celebrations throughout the year and these are just some of the reasons Stockton continues to gain outside interest.

The Bob Hope Theatre is one of the premiere cultural establishments in the city and it is not only popular with residents but it is a favorite of the guests in the hotels Stockton . The sound system present in this theatre is top of the line and greatly contributes to the enjoyment of the performances. There are many different performances and events that occur here and the Bud Light Comedy Series is one of the best in town. This is also the home of Stockton’s Broadway series, which is always a favorite for residents.

The Stockton Civic Theatre is another popular venue and it is an essential part of the culture in San Joaquin County. It is the regional choice performance venue and caters to the interests of theatre lovers. It was established in 1951 and since that time it has been bringing top quality productions in all theatrical genres to the city and county. The standard season at the theatre consists of six mainstage productions, and they also have numerous educational programs for youth groups. This summer’s main event is a production of I Remember Mamma, which opens on the 23rd of this month and continues through July 18.

Lisa
June 23, 2010
Travel
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Adventure Through Florida

When you find yourself recovering from a few days running yourself ragged at the theme parks in Orlando, take some time to adventure to some of the other attraction around Florida. Here is a small sampling of some of the other things you can do in Florida besides go to beaches or theme parks. A word to the wise, if you are planning on traveling in style you may want to book your 4 star hotels in Florida before you get there. This will mean that you are sure to get a room and don’t have to downgrade to some place not as nice.

While you are still in Orlando check out Sky Venture which is a vertical wind tunnel designed to allow you to experience skydiving without any of the risks normally associated with it. There isn’t even a plane.

If you want the real thing you will want to go down to Zephyrhills to a place called Sky Dive City. It should be obvious what they specialize in. They will do everything they can to prepare you to be what is jokingly referred to as a meat missile.

If that doesn’t fit your fancy move along to Daytona where you can experience the world famous speedway. The Richard Petty Driving Experience lets you sit shotgun with an instructor as they drive at over 160 miles per hour. This will probably be the fastest you ever go legally in a car.

If you would rather slow it down hit up Daytona Lagoon which is filled with go karts and water slides. You can race against people on the water slide too if you really want to. They also have castaway bay which is specially for the tots.

If that just doesn’t sound like your type of fun slow it down even further. Kissimmee has a world known stable where you can ride the horses and spend time with them. There is no better way to relax.

Look at a map and do some research of your own. You might want to make a whole road trip out of it, or you might just want to travel to one other place and stay there. Whatever you do, leave a comment and say how the vacation went.

Lisa
June 21, 2010
Travel
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Art Museums in Honolulu

While almost everyone in the United States has some kind of dream or fantasy trip that is based on visiting Hawaii, and standard images of the beautiful island, its gorgeous sands and shores and delicious food typically comes to mind when the state is mentioned, there are actually a diverse number of reasons why most people would love and frequently make it a priority to visit Hawaii. And each of the islands and cities in the state has a distinct cultural atmosphere and various attractions, landmarks and entertainment options.

This is particularly true for Honolulu, which in addition to its incredibly beautiful geography is known for its tremendous culture scene and traditional heritage. Not only is it the capital and mostly highly populated city in Hawaii, it is full of amazing and diverse entertainment attractions and prestigious cultural landmarks. It houses the only contemporary art museum in the state, which is appropriately called the Contemporary Museum and it is also the location of the Hawaii State Art Museum. Many of the guests in the best Honolulu hotels enjoy an afternoon in one of the museums in addition to or in lieu of spending the entire day on the beach. Oh, what a dilemma.

The Contemporary Museum has two main campuses. The main, multi gallery venue being the one in Honolulu and there is another branch in Makiki. The Honolulu campus is located in the First Hawaiian Center . The museum has an extensive permanent collection and it also features prominent visiting and touring exhibits. The Hawaii State Art Museum is known for its incredible collection of traditional Hawaiian art pieces, as well as for demonstrating and supporting the work of local island artists. There are three galleries in the museum that are in addition to the traveling exhibits that are a regular part of its offerings as well as the special programs. This is a great place to see some of the contemporary and history culture and art of Hawaii.

Lisa
June 21, 2010
Art
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Hidden San Francisco Bay Boat Tour

San Francisco Bay has a number of great and beautiful sites from the water. Many people miss them however because they are too busy shuffling into one of the many cruise ships that promises a lot and delivers a little. Instead of going out on one of the traditional tours, try this tour and see something few others know about.

One of the places you should be looking is pier forty three and one half. It shouldn’t be hard to find from any of the San Francisco Bay hotels . You are looking for the San Francisco Explorer Bay Cruise . It will take you around ninety minutes, but when you are done with it you may find yourself wanting to do it again and again to find out what else you can about this city. The first and foremost thing you are doing on this tour is traveling where most seasoned San Franciscans don’t even know about. You will see the city in a whole new light and it makes sense why this tour costs a little more than one of the standard tours because it delivers a whole lot more. What keeps you coming back for more though is the informational audio tour aspect as well. With so much history and information about this city ready to be explored and taught it is no wonder that they offer a number of different audio tours that are based around various interests. There are audio tours such as Native Americans, and Architecture that will give some history and some information about these specific topics. This guarantees that few people leave the boat having had the same experience as any other person. You don’t have to buy an audio tour to enjoy this however and you should take the time to look at the amazing sites as well. When it’s all done the boat returns to its launching point and you can move on with your day to a nice dinner on the bay.

There is at least one other tour that leaves from this point so be careful not to get mixed up with this other tour.

Lisa
June 19, 2010
Travel
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Molasses in Boston

Anyone who’s ever had to work with molasses, and having spilled a few drops here and there, has probably wondered what this stuff could do in massive quantities. If it spilled all over the floor, how long would it take to clean up? But what about on a larger scale? What if millions of gallons were spilled? How long would that take?

The answer is 6 months, at least that’s what it took in 1919 in Boston . It’s got to be one of the most bizarre disasters ever recorded, and it certainly was a disaster. It injured 150 people, and killed 21, and there’s never been anything quite like it.

In the middle of January, a tank that held over 2 million gallons of molasses exploded, and like something out of a horror movie, it filled the streets. It measured a few feet high, and moved at about 25-30 miles and hour, making it impossible to escape from. Horses and people were literally stuck in their tracks, and buildings were demolished, leaving a mess that took half a year to correct.

At that time, molasses was the main sweetener people used, and it was also the main ingredient in making rum. The relation between molasses and rum becomes obvious when one considers that it is fermented sugar cane, and that’s what the sticky stuff is, in essence. The history of molasses and sugar cane are completely connected to the slave trade, and the colonization of the Caribbean Islands, so there’s more to explore in the disaster than meets the eye.

But the accounts have it that the reasons for the tragedy came from either a sudden shift in temperature, that caused the molasses to expand, or from overfilling the tank because of the coming Prohibition. Either way, there’s more to explore, and on a hot summer weekend while staying in a Boston hotel , it might be possible to walk near the site of the disaster and smell remnants of molasses from nearly a century ago.

Lisa
June 16, 2010
Travel
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The Kennedy Center in Washington

The Kennedy Center is one of Washington DC’s most prominent and prestigious cultural institutions. It house professional performance companies such as the National Symphony Orchestra and also serves as a hosting to major touring shows and individual concerts and performances. It is one of the top entertainment choices for many of the people who visit DC and information on the latest performances can be found in any five star hotel. Washington may be relatively small geographically, but it is colossal in cultural significance. And many people visit every year to tour the obvious places like the White House and Capital Building, though there is much more that they frequently find just as fascinating and interesting.

The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, generally referred to simply as the Kennedy Center is located next to the Watergate Complex and is situated along the Potomac River. It was originally opened to the public in September of 1971 and has been one of the nation’s iconic performance arts complexes since that time. It is also the busiest performance arts complex in the entire nation and its reputation expands into the international awareness.

The building was designed by Edward Durrell Stone and was built by contractor John McShain of Philadelphia. The Smithsonian Institute is in charge of its administration. And while it was not officially opened, or complete until 1971, plans for the center date back to 1933, when First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt sought to create emergency relief positions for unemployed actors during the Great Depression. It serves to host various genres of performance and as seen ballets, operas, symphonies and theatrical productions during its existence. It is also one of the leading centers for artistic and performance education in the country.

Lisa
June 13, 2010
Travel
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Bookbinding in New York City

The literary tradition is very much alive and well in New York City these days. In an era where the virtual word is taking over the printed word very quickly, it’s a difficult business for anyone that still likes the idea of holding the object in your hand without it lighting up on its own. It’s been a very tough time for all the major publishers, even, not to mention all the fantastic small presses that were blossoming in the 80s and 90s. Used bookstores are also feeling the hit, but there’s hope that the novelty of reading books online will eventually subside, and things will return to earlier levels.

It’s difficult to know for sure, but for a culture that’s oriented around the subway system, printed matter is still a welcome relief for a long subway ride, where an open laptop might be a little risky when contending with the crowds. Organizations like the Bookbinders Guild in New York are still very active, and have a real place in the culture here. It’s great for locals who still value the artifact over the replica, and visitors can choose from a very substantial number of professional bookbinders all over the city.

One can have their own manuscripts prepared in a wide selection of styles and forms, and the limits are only set by the imagination. Bookbinding is a very old art, and one that is continually reinvented by the generations who love to read. The smell of a leather binding, and the feel of raised bands adorned with gilt are timeless pleasures, and they’re certainly not lost, even in this day and age.

Books do offer a certain solace, to locals as well as travelers, relaxing after a long and busy day in their NY hotels , where one can escape the electronic pulses and enter into the electronic sparks of the life of the mind. And while the ghosts that still haunt Booksellers Row in the Bowery, there is an old energy here that still maintains that knowledge is power.

Lisa
June 8, 2010
Culture
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