GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of April 15

by Adrienne Wilson on

The end of the week has arrived and I can’t express how happy that makes me. But I’m not going to make this intro long winded or provide some silly intro on the close of the day and what you may have missed so let’s just get into it!

5. Where Have You Been? At Bluestockings:
Although I am sure there are other events around the globe similar to this Bluestockings event this is one in particular makes me wish I lived in the Big Apple. For those who haven’t the desire to be on the go or can’t but still love drooling and thinking on the travel tales of others this live storytelling events might make for a fabulous evening for you and a nice cup of tea.

4. Cruise Ship Work: It’s Possible:
In need of a new job NOW? Well I can’t promise you’ll land one on a cruise ship immediately, but you can start NOW to get out of your cube farm and onto the high seas for a few months. The air is much fresher out there.

3. Tickets on Sale for Beijing Olympics:
While Ember is busy bringing the daily Beijing 411, Jonathon stops to remind us that one of the world’s biggest events is coming up fast and tickets are now on sale. Will you be at the Olympics?

2. Talking Travel with Matthew Polly:
Ready to be inspired? Gadling contributor, Justin Glow brings us all an awesome Q&A from his chat with Matthew Polly. If the name doesn’t ring a bell fear not, but don’t and I repeat don’t try bullying this guy to fork over his egg roll or burger for that matter. Read the interview and find out what pushed him to leave everything behind to travel to the Shaolin Temple.

1. Weekend in Miami: An Overview:
Summer is on the way and thanks to Willy, those who are planning a getaway to Miami, Florida can check out this overview for a few links and ideas on how to spend 2-3 days time or more if you happen to have it! Though the beach is almost a given he also provides a glimpse at museums and dining and most importantly, where you may want to rest your head.

The Stray Shopping Carts of Eastern North America: A Guide to Field Identification

by Willy Volk on

Field guides are amazing reference tools that can complement any adventure. Knowing what you’re looking at when you’re on safari, for example, or when birding, camping, or diving can make the experience so much richer. A new book by Julian Montague aims to help shed some light on one elusive creature endemic to North America: the Strayus Cartus — more commonly known as the Stray Shopping Cart.

In the 176-page The Stray Shopping Carts of Eastern North America: A Guide to Field Identification, Julian Montague creates an elaborate classification system of abandoned shopping carts, accompanied by photographic documentation (250 images strong!) of actual stray cart sightings. Take this book with you on your next hike around Niagara Falls, and imagine the insights you’ll gain!

Amusingly, theBookseller awarded The Stray Shopping Carts… Oddest Title of The Year for 2006. To see some sample images, head to The Stray Shopping Cart Project — or check out some of the images after the jump.

[Thanks, Dad!]

One for the Road (04/18/07)

by Kelly Amabile on

A new children’s book adventure series called Incredible Journeys debuts this month from independent publisher Kid’s Fun Press. Although I’m a little leery of a children’s book with the word “criminal” in the title, these imaginative books simply serve as playful teaching tools to engage children’s sense of wonder about the world.

The Criminal in the Caymans and Treasure in Tahiti were written by Connie Lee Berry, a flight attendant for a major airline and school system volunteer who says her chats with children fascinated by other cultures and continents inspired her to create these fast-paced adventures filled with geography fun facts.

In these short books (geared for educators to use in the classroom), Max and Sam emerge as a modern day Hardy Boys duo — globetrotting guys who find themselves in mysterious situations far from home. Smart young fellas, they’ve managed to land on lush tropical islands for their first two travel escapades, in which they must solve a 100-year old mystery and capture a dangerous lawbreaker, all while learning about the lands they travel through. Informative fact sheets at the beginning and end of the story reveal key statistics about the locale, including population, language, currency and other geographic trivia.

If you’ve got an inquiring young explorer in your life, consider introducing this new series the next time you venture to the library or bookstore. You’ll be doing your part to instill a strong sense of place and spirit of discovery in a curious young mind. Additional titles in this chapter-book series for ages 7-9 will be released in October: Adventure in Africa and Pirates in Paradise. Maybe Sam and Max will meet up with an equally adventurous female traveling pair in one of these forthcoming titles?

One for the Road (04/17/07)

by Kelly Amabile on

Wanderlust and Lipstick bills itself as The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo and was released last month by Globe Trekker Press. How does it distinguish itself from all the other guides that exist for solo female travelers? Written by self-proclaimed “travel addict” Beth Whitman, the book contains a mixture of practical travel tips and theories on why solo travel is good for the female soul. Several of the reviews I’ve seen for this book mention that it should serve as an especially useful guide for newbie travelers who have not yet experienced the challenges, joys and thrills of traveling on one’s own. Whitman shares useful pointers, as well as personal stories that seek to inspire and empower women to embrace their wanderlust tendencies.

You can learn more about Whitman’s personal travel philosophy by visiting her website For Women Traveling Solo or check out the weekly writing she does for the Seattle Post Intelligencer’s travel blog. She really is a woman that keeps on moving — Whitman will be appearing at several book signings on the West Coast this month, offering some motivational travel-themed workshops in the fall, and will be leading a special cultural trip to China in September.

Queens in the Kingdom

by Iva Skoch on

USA Today recently interviewed the authors of a new gay-persons guide to the Disney Theme Parks, called Queens in the Kingdom.

Jeffrey Epstein and Eddie Shapiro talk about Disney’s recent announcement that they’ll allow “Fairy Tale” weddings for same-sex couples. (Actually, since California and Florida don’t allow actual weddings for same-sex couples, they’ll be “commitment ceremonies.”)

They also hit upon their favorite park locales, including Ellen DeGeneres’ Energy Adventure and Honey I Shrunk the Audience. They should know, they’ve been to the parks 784,012 times.