Luxist on Jumeirah Festival of Taste

by Adrienne Wilson on

As much as I really heart our sister-blog Luxist it does me no good reading many of Deidre Woollard’s blurbs on ridiculously priced hotel stays,
wine fests or swanky private country estates. With each line read I slowly find myself shrinking into the $99 swivel
desk chair from Tar-jay, an
item that surely will never see the light of day judging from her luxurious tastes.

This short summary of
the Jumeirah Festival of
Taste being held in Dubai from May 21-26, 2006 is a prime example of what I’m talking about. This Ultimate Dinner
Party will take four people on an "unparalleled" dining experience. To keep it short and sweet they’ll start
with a cocktail reception at the Jumeirah Emriates Tower, then take off in a helicopter to the Burj Al Arab for first
and second course, followed by a luxury car ride ot the next destination and delicious dessert and eventually ending
the next day after a night stay in the Burj Al Arab. The total package cost is around $27,230.

I take pride
in finding the best bargain, so having large sums of money isn’t a huge deal. Yet no one can knock that rich feeling of
having the option to either munch on mouth-watering desert locusts while camping in under west African stars or
splurging at the first annual Jumeirah Festival of Taste. Provided you had the loot what would you pick? C’mon, make me
proud.

Tripoli International Fair

by Adrienne Wilson on

When I think about the
word ‘fair’ images of pig racing competitions, hay stacks, funnel cakes, shaky half-constructed Ferris wheels,
baby strollers and big hair all seem to flood my mind. Every year I’ve ever been to a fair be it here in Florida or out
west in California there’s always big hair, but then again I don’t stick around too long. I go in, get my days worth of
the most greasiest and most sugar coated eats and get out. Enough about the less than fab fairs I’ve been to here in the
states, I’d like to now direct your attention to the Tripoli
International Fair in Libya.

Why? Well for the few lucky ones anywhere near or around Tripoli April 6-12, 2006 I’m certain you’ll want to check the
event out. The fair is an international, industrial, agricultural and commercial event with about 30 countries in
attendance. Of cultural interest there are many festivals tucked within the one huge event, many which include Libyan
folklore bands and bands from all over for world music lovers. I haven’t a clue about the entire line-up of shows, but
if you really find yourself in the country during this time be sure to check out Luna Angel (a highly talented reggae artist out of Oakland).

And a fair wouldn’t be a fair without a lil’ something for the kiddies so if you’re traveling with children count on
the ‘funfair’ to keep them entertained. (I know funfair sounds rather vague, but that’s all they’re giving me
on this site.) Overall Libya and ‘fair’ just seem too incredibly
cool for any traveler to miss.

David Byrne's "Travel Blog"

by Erik Olsen on

Let just say right off the bat that, where this
post is concerned, I am horribly biased. I have been a Talking Heads fan since I can remember first listening to their
music. I think I’ve seen Stop making Sense about 25 times, probably more, since I’m sure several viewings
in my college years disappeared along with the sizzled synapses that gave their last full measure of devotion to the
Jonathan Demme film.  For a while there, my love and adoration for all things Talking Heads approached
cultishness.

So as I direct you to David Byrne’s blog, keep in mind that I am not unbiased.

But
what is cool here is not just Byrne’s rather thoughtful and interesting
posts on everything from music to evolution, the man is actually out on tour traveling right now and is filling what
might be called travel dispatches. In fact, there is no doubt these are travel dispatches, written in the kind of
inquisitive prose you might read from an amateur historian, which clearly Byrne wants to be.  Sort of. He appears
to be in Coba, Mexico, where he ruminates on the decline of the Maya, and
blabs a bit about his band’s performanes. Further down, we find him surfing. Yes, I know you can imagine a lot of
things that will bring a smile to your face…and the image of David Byrne surfing must certainly be one of them.

Daring Scottish Kilts

by Neil Woodburn on

There is
perhaps no item of clothing more evocative of ancient cultures than the Scottish kilt.  I always do a double-take
when one crosses my path, usually in a parade or some type of festive gathering I’ve stumbled across while
abroad.  But, to see a kilt outside of such circumstances is always a little unnerving.  To see such a kilt
in anything other than the traditional checkered pattern with bagpipe accessory is even more so.

If Edinburgh designer Howie
Nicholsby has his way, however, we’ll be seeing a whole lot more of this—whether we are in Scotland or
elsewhere.

Nicholsby is adding a modern flair to his kilt creations
that pushes the limits of manhood far beyond the massive cojones normally required for an adult male to wear a
skirt.  Now don’t get me wrong, I love the tradition of the Scottish kilt.  I think they’re really
cool.  It’s just that Nicholsby gets just a little too wacky here.  Many of his creations are remarkably
stylish and surprisingly hip, but others are overly flamboyant and garish in a terribly emasculating way.  When I
see kilts made of green plastic or silk brocade I’ve got to ask myself, “What would Sean Connery
think?”

It’s been a few years since I’ve been to Scotland but can anyone step in and tell me if this is a
growing trend?  Is there a resurgence of stylish kilts parading about Edinburgh?  Or is this just an isolated
fad?  Sean, are you out there?

 

New West Magazine

by Erik Olsen on

I’ve been a fan of the Western-minded magazine New West since it launched was back when. The articles there range from serious
ruminations on land and water policy to arts, film and
events, to travel. It really is a serious effort
to cover Western news with a depth and thoughtfulness that most of the major daily newspapers miss. And I was quite
happy to learn this morning that they managed to secure some new cash to keep going. The magazine has some heft on its
masthead. it is run by Jonathan Weber, who started the Industry Standard and whose editorial judgment and Western
sensibilities are top notch. So give it a look if you can. And check out their Flickr Stream which features some superb and
mind-blowing photos from the Western states.