The AMC Loews Universal Cineplex 20 (at CityWalk Universal) plays films from the good ol' days of cinema. What better way to enjoy timeless classics? Currently Singin' in the Rain runs this week; Citizen Kane starts this weekend. Movies seem to rotate on a weekly basis and play one matinee and one evening performance, depending on the movie.
* * *
It's almost March, which means it's time for baseball's Spring Training leagues. If you're visiting, check out the Grapefruit League; those in Arizona can catch the Cactus League.
There's several benefits of catching Spring Training games, among them - getting to see your favorite teams up close at a fraction of the cost of Major League ballparks; watching future rookies in action; and the chance to see the kind of intra-league games that would otherwise only come up in long-shot World Series runs (i.e., White Sox vs. Cubs).
Only a few teams have fields equipped for night games, but there's a certain pleasure about being able to catch one game in the afternoon and another game with completely different teams after dinner.
And boy, nothing beats sitting in the baseball bleachers on a sunny midwinter afternoon.
Cactus League teams: Anaheim Angels, Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, and Texas Rangers. (12)
Grapefruit League teams: Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, Florida Marlins, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, and Washington Nationals. (18)
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
Amtrak
Savvy travelers already know that taking Amtrak for short connections can already save you a bundle of money (and occasionally time), not to mention a lot less hassle than flying. I really enjoy train travel myself, and wish I had more reason to use it.
Frommers.com has a good listing of tips on how to save even more money on Amtrak.
Frommers.com has a good listing of tips on how to save even more money on Amtrak.
Parking garages & vandalism
As seen in a parking garage in the Loop area of Chicago. This particular garage has named all their floors after countries; this one is supposed to be "Spain".
But one cannot help look at this piece of petty vandalism and think, "Well, if this floor is Pain, what are the other floors called? Discomfort, Agony, and Gastronomical Distress?"
Because artisan crafts are still the most personal
A friend just opened her shop on Etsy; it's fabulous, check it out - Mockingbird Studios.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
More PAWS news!
Found this via a pet shelter's site listed through Petfinder.org:
For those who do not know, PAWS Chicago's new adoption center opened last September at 1997 N. Clyborne. It's a beautiful center, and one of the most state-of-the-art no-kill pet shelters in the country.
PAWS Chicago's work in educating the Chicago public about the proper care for companion animals, and the championship of their own and other shelters to be no-kill, has helped decrease Chicago's animal euthanasia rate from over 42,500 in 1997 (an average of 116/day) to 19,701 in 2006 (54/day). Obviously there's still a long way to go, but that's a pretty impressive impact, don't you think?
Now that we're past the charity gift-giving season, it's a good time to remember that the most valuable resource to donate to pet shelters is... yourself! And sometimes, just like donating supplies or cash to a shelter, even your time can be tax deductible (depending on what kind of capacity you serve in, of course). Most shelters are always in need of volunteers, whether it is people who can come in and help socialize animals; folks to help clean the shelter facilities; feeding all the pets; administrative work; marketing; lending a hand at adoption events; helping to do educational outreach to local schools; and more. And even if you cannot have your own "forever friend", pet shelters are frequently in need of foster homes to help care for pets either when space at the shelter is at a premium, or when specific animals need extra attention, or to be in a solo environment.
The Rescuer's Creed
I promise I will take your unwanted animals.
I will heal their wounds, their diseases, their broken bones.
I will give them the medical attention they need and deserve.
I will nurture their starvation and give them a warm place to sleep.
I will spay and neuter them, vaccinate them against the diseases that can harm them.
I will treat them and honor them.
I will buy them toys, blankets, balls, and teach them to play.
I will speak softly to them.
I will try to teach them not to fear, not to cry, and not to hate.
I will whisper sweet, kind, gentle words into their ears, while gently trying to stroke their fear, their pain, and their scars away.
I will face their emotional scars and give them time to overcome them.
I will socialize them, potty train them, teach them to be obedient, show them dignity, and hold their paws, and stroke their ears if they have endured too much, and walk them over the Rainbow Bridge,
BUT most of all I will teach them LOVE.
- Author Unknown
For those who do not know, PAWS Chicago's new adoption center opened last September at 1997 N. Clyborne. It's a beautiful center, and one of the most state-of-the-art no-kill pet shelters in the country.
PAWS Chicago's work in educating the Chicago public about the proper care for companion animals, and the championship of their own and other shelters to be no-kill, has helped decrease Chicago's animal euthanasia rate from over 42,500 in 1997 (an average of 116/day) to 19,701 in 2006 (54/day). Obviously there's still a long way to go, but that's a pretty impressive impact, don't you think?
Now that we're past the charity gift-giving season, it's a good time to remember that the most valuable resource to donate to pet shelters is... yourself! And sometimes, just like donating supplies or cash to a shelter, even your time can be tax deductible (depending on what kind of capacity you serve in, of course). Most shelters are always in need of volunteers, whether it is people who can come in and help socialize animals; folks to help clean the shelter facilities; feeding all the pets; administrative work; marketing; lending a hand at adoption events; helping to do educational outreach to local schools; and more. And even if you cannot have your own "forever friend", pet shelters are frequently in need of foster homes to help care for pets either when space at the shelter is at a premium, or when specific animals need extra attention, or to be in a solo environment.
Friday, February 15, 2008
About that reef...
New study shows there are no "pristine" oceans left in the world.
I love reading the National Geographic blog feed. Fascinating stuff!
I love reading the National Geographic blog feed. Fascinating stuff!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Chicago 2016
Interested in supporting the "Bring the Olympics to Chicago" (aka "Chicago 2016") movement or simply want a souvenir from it? Wander ovre to the official Chicago 2016 merchandise store.
I have a t-shirt with the original "torch" design, which was scuttled at the request of the USOC. Now I'll have to get the "Chicago star" design to round out my collection. :)
I have a t-shirt with the original "torch" design, which was scuttled at the request of the USOC. Now I'll have to get the "Chicago star" design to round out my collection. :)
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
The fabulous Windy City
Chicago magazine seems to be hard at work reinventing itself; it has begun moving away from the 40s-60ish/upper class demographic and more towards the mid-20s to mid-40s/young-attractive-with-money-style-and-class demographic. No complaints here, really; the magazine is responding to a changing city and a changing market. Their website has undergone the largest transformation, becoming easier to navigate and more interesting to peruse.
This month's issue highlights 171 Great Chicago Websites. No, I have no idea how they settled upon 171 versus 175 or 150 or hey, 200. At any rate, the links are all right there for the clicking, and there's a whole bunch o' useful ones among them.
They even were so kind as to create a downloadable bookmark page, so you can download all these handy links right into your browser.
This month's issue highlights 171 Great Chicago Websites. No, I have no idea how they settled upon 171 versus 175 or 150 or hey, 200. At any rate, the links are all right there for the clicking, and there's a whole bunch o' useful ones among them.
They even were so kind as to create a downloadable bookmark page, so you can download all these handy links right into your browser.
Looptopia / Around the Coyote
For you fellow creative types out there: if you're not already registered/accepted as part of the Looptopia program this year (Friday, May 2nd! Yes, I'm showing again!), you may want to go register for Around the Coyote; they have space available for their festival, which is being held in conjunction with Looptopia. (Note: ATC has a $35 application fee for visual artists, $25 for students; $15 for performing artists.)
Friday, February 8, 2008
Search flights like a pro
Amadeus.net's claims "the power behind your travel agency is now at your fingertips", and allows you to search their site via an interface that can be used in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Finnish, Danish, Dutch, Norweigian, Portuguese, and Swedish.
You can refine your search various ways, including round-trip/one-way, specific carriers, and more. It can also help you find best fares, hotels, car rentals. You can use it to view timetables (similar to OAG), check flight status, find airport guides, calculate currency conversions, look at local subway maps, and - even more impressive, find directions on the local public transportation systems, so long as you know the name of the nearest stop to your destination.
You can refine your search various ways, including round-trip/one-way, specific carriers, and more. It can also help you find best fares, hotels, car rentals. You can use it to view timetables (similar to OAG), check flight status, find airport guides, calculate currency conversions, look at local subway maps, and - even more impressive, find directions on the local public transportation systems, so long as you know the name of the nearest stop to your destination.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
See yourself in print!
Frommer's Budget Travel Online asks in their newsletter this week: Ever Blogged About Your Travels?
We're looking for readers with travel-blogging experience to help write a story for our June 10th anniversary issue. If you have your own travel blog or have ever blogged about your trips on any website, tell us about it! Send an e-mail describing your blog to Letters@BudgetTravel.com, use the subject line "My Blog". Be sure to include a link to your website. If we like your blog, we may ask you to contribute tips for people interested in starting a blog.* * *
A bookstore that I'd love to visit: The Strand Bookstore of NYC has over 18 miles' worth of books. Yow-sa. :) It makes my inner bibliophile jump up and down with joy.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Flying the unfriendly skies, part 2
One of my own personal pet peeves about traveling is the Amazing Shrinking Airline Seat. Despite the studies that show that the combination of cabin pressure and lack of movement in airline seats leads to deep vein thrombosis, US airline carriers over the past several years have consistently shrunk the amount of both leg room and seat width.
Business and first class costs so much extra that those customers who need extra space for health issues/safety (obese; disabled; pregnant; tall) are often better off, cost-wise, simply buying two economy seats. But airlines do not always respect those customers who have actually paid for a second seat; that seat is "empty", so they'll stick somebody in it.
It's not like people who fit the "ideal" of "proper" weight are happy in their seats, either. I work with people who would qualify themselves as petite, and they've expressed discontent over the size of general economy class seats.
Airlines cater to the "cash cows" of travel: the business travelers purchasing expensive, refundable tickets. That's why they spend so much effort and money into making business and first class great to fly, and why economy class people get less and less.
Now, it's true that Americans in general are much larger than they used to be. And airlines are trying to toe a certain line, a balance between making travel affordable - thus keeping butts in those seats - and being able to fill up a flight.
Budget Travel Online recently addressed this question and there are already nearly 250 responses to their questions. Obviously, it's a hot topic.
Airlines, are you listening?
With the gas crisis, I certainly understand it costs a lot more to fuel a plane these days. But when I pay $200-400+ for the convenience of flying, I expect at least as much comfort as I find on a city bus for a mere $1.75. But it's hard to find that, and few people have the luxury of enough vacation time to opt instead for the far more comfortable train, or to drive themselves.
I recommend Amtrak for trips, by the way. I haven't done their sleeper-class yet, but unlike flying, you can walk right up to the train at your scheduled time, get on, get a comfortable seat (or pay just a little extra and get their ultra-comfy business class seats), and have room to spread out a little. Besides, with the hassle of flying these days - leaving extra-early for the airport to make it through massive security lines; waiting for flights (which at this time of year are frequently delayed); having that uncomfortable flight; getting off the plane at the other end; waiting for baggage and then traveling on to your final destination - you can sometimes take just as long on a train and be much more comfortable on it.
In the States, I particularly recommend Amtrak for traveling the Northeast Corridor (the stretch from Washington, DC to Boston), particularly if you're flying on short notice. Airlines are notorious for charging insane amounts of money for travelers who book at the last moment; trains tend not to have that same flux.
Let's say, for example, that next week, you need a round trip from Boston to DC. You can get on a 7am train in DC and be in Boston at 1:35pm. You'll have plenty of legroom, be able to walk around, be able to plug in your laptop, and not have to worry about weather delaying you. (It's not that weather never delays trains; it's simply they are much less affected by it than airlines are.) You'll arrive feeling rested and ready to go. Cost - depending on class of seat - $160-$430, round trip.
Now let's look at an airline, same route. Let's say you take the 10am out of Reagan National which is supposed to arrive in Boston at 11:25am. So you leave your home/hotel to get to the airport no later than 8:30am, because you know with security, et al, you'll need time. You wait in the line for ticketing/bag check, you wait in line at security, you wait for your plane (assuming it's not delayed), you wait to get on the plane, you wait to take off. Then you take off and yay, your flight is on time. You still have to get off the plane, get your baggage and out of the terminal. So you saved yourself perhaps an hour on the front end and an hour on the back end. The cost - since DC-BOS is a popular commuter route - can cost from $500-969. Economy, with restrictions!
Yes, the airlines definitely know where their revenue comes from.
One day, I would love to take an extended cross-country trip via train. Get the North American Rail Pass, and travel around, getting off at places that look or sound interesting. See parts of the country that one doesn't always get to see by car or plane. Get a chance to talk to fellow travelers.
Paul Theroux has done it all over the world, but he hasn't written about traveling by American rail. I think it would be an entertaining and enlightening look at the new face of America.
Business and first class costs so much extra that those customers who need extra space for health issues/safety (obese; disabled; pregnant; tall) are often better off, cost-wise, simply buying two economy seats. But airlines do not always respect those customers who have actually paid for a second seat; that seat is "empty", so they'll stick somebody in it.
It's not like people who fit the "ideal" of "proper" weight are happy in their seats, either. I work with people who would qualify themselves as petite, and they've expressed discontent over the size of general economy class seats.
Airlines cater to the "cash cows" of travel: the business travelers purchasing expensive, refundable tickets. That's why they spend so much effort and money into making business and first class great to fly, and why economy class people get less and less.
Now, it's true that Americans in general are much larger than they used to be. And airlines are trying to toe a certain line, a balance between making travel affordable - thus keeping butts in those seats - and being able to fill up a flight.
Budget Travel Online recently addressed this question and there are already nearly 250 responses to their questions. Obviously, it's a hot topic.
Airlines, are you listening?
With the gas crisis, I certainly understand it costs a lot more to fuel a plane these days. But when I pay $200-400+ for the convenience of flying, I expect at least as much comfort as I find on a city bus for a mere $1.75. But it's hard to find that, and few people have the luxury of enough vacation time to opt instead for the far more comfortable train, or to drive themselves.
I recommend Amtrak for trips, by the way. I haven't done their sleeper-class yet, but unlike flying, you can walk right up to the train at your scheduled time, get on, get a comfortable seat (or pay just a little extra and get their ultra-comfy business class seats), and have room to spread out a little. Besides, with the hassle of flying these days - leaving extra-early for the airport to make it through massive security lines; waiting for flights (which at this time of year are frequently delayed); having that uncomfortable flight; getting off the plane at the other end; waiting for baggage and then traveling on to your final destination - you can sometimes take just as long on a train and be much more comfortable on it.
In the States, I particularly recommend Amtrak for traveling the Northeast Corridor (the stretch from Washington, DC to Boston), particularly if you're flying on short notice. Airlines are notorious for charging insane amounts of money for travelers who book at the last moment; trains tend not to have that same flux.
Let's say, for example, that next week, you need a round trip from Boston to DC. You can get on a 7am train in DC and be in Boston at 1:35pm. You'll have plenty of legroom, be able to walk around, be able to plug in your laptop, and not have to worry about weather delaying you. (It's not that weather never delays trains; it's simply they are much less affected by it than airlines are.) You'll arrive feeling rested and ready to go. Cost - depending on class of seat - $160-$430, round trip.
Now let's look at an airline, same route. Let's say you take the 10am out of Reagan National which is supposed to arrive in Boston at 11:25am. So you leave your home/hotel to get to the airport no later than 8:30am, because you know with security, et al, you'll need time. You wait in the line for ticketing/bag check, you wait in line at security, you wait for your plane (assuming it's not delayed), you wait to get on the plane, you wait to take off. Then you take off and yay, your flight is on time. You still have to get off the plane, get your baggage and out of the terminal. So you saved yourself perhaps an hour on the front end and an hour on the back end. The cost - since DC-BOS is a popular commuter route - can cost from $500-969. Economy, with restrictions!
Yes, the airlines definitely know where their revenue comes from.
One day, I would love to take an extended cross-country trip via train. Get the North American Rail Pass, and travel around, getting off at places that look or sound interesting. See parts of the country that one doesn't always get to see by car or plane. Get a chance to talk to fellow travelers.
Paul Theroux has done it all over the world, but he hasn't written about traveling by American rail. I think it would be an entertaining and enlightening look at the new face of America.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
An incredibly clever internet store site
I don't usually link online shops on the mere merit of the content of the site. After all, you go to the site to buy the stuff on them, not to be amused by the site!
This store, which appears to be based in the Netherlands (?) (with flavors of Ikea) has a really cute website. Give it a moment or two to fully load, then sit back and enjoy the animations: HEMA. (You don't have to have sound on, but it helps. Totally work-safe.)
This store, which appears to be based in the Netherlands (?) (with flavors of Ikea) has a really cute website. Give it a moment or two to fully load, then sit back and enjoy the animations: HEMA. (You don't have to have sound on, but it helps. Totally work-safe.)
Monday, February 4, 2008
Another interesting travel blog
If you like to read travel stores from the front line - err, front seat? - then you might want to surf over to Airline Confidential, which dishes up insights and humor into the airline industry.
Friday, February 1, 2008
It's a bird... it's a whale... it's a plane!
Gadling.com has posted pictures of the new behemoth-sized Airbus 380 airplane. You know, that two-storied airline.
I just look in awe at the First Class pictures. Even before they're folded out into full-sized beds, they're amazingly spacious.
Wow. Just... wow.
I just look in awe at the First Class pictures. Even before they're folded out into full-sized beds, they're amazingly spacious.
Wow. Just... wow.
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