In Monterey this fall: The Monterey Museum of Art honors 50 years

by Brenda Yun on

Something must be in the air in Monterey this fall, because there are so many anniversaries and celebrations it would be hard to pass up a trip to California’s coast to catch some art and culture with a little history mixed in.

The Monterey Museum of Art, which houses a permanent collection of 14,000 objects, paintings, photographs, and other works, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year by offering two fascinating exhibits.

Until September 13, the Pacific Street location shows its “Over Rainbows and Down Rabbit Holes: The Art of Children’s Books,” which includes illustrations from “The House at Pooh Corner,” “The Tale of Peter Rabbit,” and “Jumanji,” among others.

On view through October 25 and in honor of homegrown artists in the Monterey area, the “Made in Monterey” exhibit is a compilation of works from the museum’s permanent collection that traces Monterey’s local art history from the late 19th century to today.

There are also special “Art After Hours” mixers every third Thursday at the La Mirada museum for professional types needing to wind down over local wine and catered food. In addition, ongoing tours and public lectures are held at the museum.

The Monterey Museum of Art has two locations: 559 Pacific Street in downtown Monterey and La Mirada at 720 Via Mirada. For more information on the museum’s programs and exhibits, visit www.montereyart.org or call #831.372.5477/3689.

Rise 35 stories above the city on Chicago’s new balloon attraction

by Katie Hammel on

Navy Pier, Chicago‘s biggest tourist trap, is offering visitors a new way to see the city. If riding the elevator to the top of the Sears Willis Tower or relaxing as a giant Ferris wheel slowly inches you skyward doesn’t satisfy your thirst for getting airborne, maybe this one will. A 120,000 cubic-foot helium balloon, called the AeroBalloon, promises to float you 350 feet above the ground.

The balloon’s gondola, which has a hole in the center through which passengers view the ground, can carry up to 18 people, which it will hold aloft for a ride of 8-10 minutes before returning to Earth. Kids must be at least 5 years old to ride and those under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. The rides are offered from 8am to 10pm Monday through Thursday and from 8am to midnight Friday to Sunday. The attraction will shut down for the season on October 31.

Tickets cost a hefty $25 for adults ($15 for kids 12 and under). $25 for 10 minutes? No thanks. I’ll take my view with a side of cocktail – at the Signature Lounge on the 96th floor of the John Hancock Center – where I can pay around $15 and linger as long as I want.

British woman completes second stage of trans-Pacific row

by Kraig Becker on

Way back in May we covered Roz Savage as she set out on the second leg of her attempt to row solo across the Pacific. Now, 105 days later, she has finished that stage, arriving on the island of Tarawa yesterday, where she was greeted by her support team and hundreds of locals, who gave her a traditional island welcome.

Last year, Roz became the first woman to row solo from San Francisco to Hawaii, a distance of 2324 miles. This year’s second stage covered another 3158 miles and sets up a third and final stage, from Tarawa to Australia in 2010. When she’s finishes sometime next summer, Roz will become the first woman to complete a solo row across the Pacific Ocean. Back in 2005, she finished her first ocean row, by crossing the Atlantic in 103 days.

Tarawa was not Roz’s intended destination on this leg of her journey. Originally she had planned to arrive at the island of Tuvalu, but ocean currents and winds helped to push her further west than she had hoped, forcing her to row several hundred miles further than what had been scheduled.

While this epic journey is inspiring enough on its own, Roz is also rowing for a cause. She is hoping to raise awareness about a number of environmental concerns, including the use of plastics, and the importance of recycling. The health of the oceans, as you can imagine, are important to health of the entire planet, and that is a message that Roz hopes to convey, as she makes her environmentally friendly expedition across the Pacific.

Congrats to Roz on finishing the second leg of her journey, and good luck in 2010 on stage three.

America’s best Labor Day festivities

by Brenda Yun on

Happy Labor Day, everyone! The first two things that come to mind when it comes to this holiday is NO WORK and BBQ’S – yum! But there’s plenty more to look forward to today when it comes to festivals, music, and parades. What follows is a list of the top Labor Day events across America.

Brooklyn’s West Indian Carnival
A colorful carnival of culture, song and dance, this unique parade and festival Americans, is a massive celebration for Caribbeans, Brooklynites, New Yorkers and more. Over one million spectators take to the Brooklyn streets running along Eastern Parkway. The carnival originated back in 1920 and remains one of the most popular celebrations of Caribbean culture in the Americas. The midday parade features dancers donning elaborate costumes and bands playing lively music. Perhaps the highlight of the carnival, though, are the amazing West Indian food and drink (ginger beer, anyone?).

D.C Labor Day concert
If you’re a bit farther south of the Big Apple, maybe D.C.’s free Labor Day concert may pique your interest. The National Symphony Orchestra performs a free concert on the West Lawn of the Capitol Building in Washington D.C., which remains one of the only events in area where you don’t need tickets, special invitations, or a black tie to attend. Gates open to the public at 3:20 p.m., and the concert begins at 8 p.m. Many flock to the lawn early to barbecue before the show starts.

Detroit’s Labor Day Parade
Motor City’s labor may be lacking severely, but its enormously popular Labor Day parade is still going strong. Today also caps off a four-day jazz fest, which will satisfy even the most critical music goers.

Mackinac Bridge Walk
Another popular “parade” in the Midwest is on Mackinac Island in Michigan. The city itself has a relaxing island feel as it is home to less than 1,000 people. Reach Mackinac by ferry or plane. Then head to the Grand Hotel (boasting world’s largest hotel porch at 660 feet), which hosts an annual Labor Day Jazz weekend that features local artists and tons of food and drinks. Don’t leave too soon though! Be sure to participate in the famous Mackinac Bridge Walk, which has been held since 1958.

Airport staff indicted on human smuggling charges

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Two ticket agent contractors for Delta Airlines and an airport employee have been indicted for conspiring to smuggle illegal immigrants into the United States. Diana Telemaque and Felicia Brown, the ticket agents, were arrested Thursday along with baggage handler Daniel Confidente.

According to a statement by the U.S. Department of Justice, Telemaque and Brown allegedly sold tickets to illegal immigrants. All three have been accused of aiding an unspecified number of illegal immigrants in getting into the United States from May 2008 to July 2009.

Many illegal immigrants try to get into the U.S. Caribbean territory every year – some to stay, others to use it as a jumping-off point to the mainland United States.

A Delta spokeswoman says that the airline is cooperating with the government and that Telemaque and Brown, who were contractors rather than full employees, have been dismissed.

The three suspects were released on bail of $10,000. If convicted, they could face up to a decade in prison.

[Photo by Ken_Mayer via Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons]