Naked Cowboy versus Naked Cowgirl

by Jason Heflin on

The Naked Cowboy, a Times Square icon, has filed a cease-and-desist order against a fellow public performer for infringing on his trademark. The Naked Cowgirl, a former stripper, has been performing in the cowboy’s territory lately and isn’t budging. Both performers wear limited clothing, a cowboy hat, and play a guitar for tourists visiting Times Square.

The Naked Cowboy, Robert Burck, is reportedly seeking $150,000 from the Cowgirl and has asked that she sign a franchise agreement which would require her to pay $500 each month to use the name and likeness. When asked how she felt about the situation, she replied, “Why doesn’t he sue the people that make the Naked drink.” There has been no comment yet from the Naked Juice camp.

Burck, who has been performing in Times Square for years, last made headlines when he decided to run for mayor against Michael Bloomberg.

Only in Alaska: Flight-seeing Mt. McKinley

by Catherine Bodry on

Yesterday we wrote about the tallest mountain in the world: Mt. McKinley (better known as “Denali”). Now, how to view this mighty peak? If you want to see the summit, you have two options: One, you could climb the mountain. But if the training and heights and gear and time are a bit too much for you, then consider a second option: a flight tour.

In both Denali Park (the village just outside the national park that houses all the visitor services) and the small town of Talkeetna, which serves as the base for all climbers making summit attempts, flight tour operators abound. You’ll have several options to choose from when deciding on a tour. Some will not only buzz the summit, but also land on one of the mountain’s many glaciers. If you want to get really adventurous, you could try a helicopter tour; many of these also include glacier landings.

On my recent tour of Alaska, I signed up for a basic summit viewing flight tour through Denali Air. The ten-seater propeller Piper was much, much smaller than any plane I’ve ever been on, and the turbulence on take-off and landing was palpable. We all wore headsets with microphones, and, once we hit 12,000 feet, oxygen masks. The unpressurized cabin also required heat, and the pilot cranked it up (the temperature outside was around 25F below zero).

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The pilot flew us within a mile or two of the summit, though we felt like we were only a few hundred feet away. Besides pointing out the West Buttress and the Wickersham Wall, he also showed us the 14,000ft base camp – a minuscule smattering of several dozen tents.

A flight tour of Denali doesn’t come cheap, but it’s hard to put a price on circling the summit of the world’s tallest mountain. You can expect to pay several hundred dollars for a two-hour tour, and even more for options like a glacier landing. It doesn’t matter whether you fly out of the park or Talkeetna; the summit looks the same no matter which direction you fly in from. Pop a Dramamine if you suffer from motion sickness, and don’t forget your camera!

My trip through Alaska was sponsored by Princess Cruises, but the ideas and opinions expressed in this article are all my own.

Disney goes luxe: Company plans pricey new vacation homes

by Melanie Nayer on

Taking a hint from other luxury hotels and condo complexes, Walt Disney Co. plans to unveil a pricey vacation-home development in Florida’s Walt Disney World.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting Disney will offer homes ranging in price from $1.5 million to $8 million. According to the report, the proposed 980-acre Golden Oak development in Orlando is expected to hold 450 homes and a 445-room Four Seasons hotel. The development will include two renovated golf courses, a clubhouse, parks and pedestrian walkways, with wetlands and other conservation areas. Lots will be offered in various sizes, up to three-quarters of an acre. The first homes are expected to be finished in 2011.

The WSJ says Disney estimates Golden Oak could take eight to 10 years to complete, but interested buyers can get in on the action now. Lots can be reserved with a deposit of $25,000.

Readers: What do you think? Is this a good move for Disney, or will a luxury development have an adverse effect on the theme park?

New A&E series “The Glades” looking for an extra – flights included!

by Scott Carmichael on

On July 11, A&E will premiere their newest show – The Glades. As the name implies, the show takes place in the Everglades, and features everything that makes a crime show a great crime show – a moody Chicago cop exiled to Florida, mysterious murders and plenty of good looking people.

But unlike most crime shows, you can enter to become a walk on extra on the show.

The prize includes airfare for two to Fort Lauderdale, three nights at the Fort Lauderdale Marina Hilton, a meet and greet with the cast, a swamp buggy tour, an airboat ride, meals, transportation and more.

To enter, all you need to do is watch a video clip, and enter some personal information. Once you enter, all that remains is programming your DVR to record the show.

Air Berlin’s two-for-one promo

by Alex Robertson Textor on

Air Berlin, the German low-cost carrier that gets typically great reviews for its various old-school perks seldom associated with budget airlines (assigned seating, checked bags carried through to connecting flights, and free snacks, drinks, and newspapers) is promoting a great special offer, today through June 28.

The offer sees the airline selling two-for-one Berlin-Miami and Berlin-Dubai fares. Some of Air Berlin’s beginning fares are already quite reasonable, so the two-for-one offer is nothing to be sneezed at. The lowest fare I was able to find for both Berlin-Dubai and Berlin-Miami flights is €408, a decent deal for a single traveler. For two, €408 for a round trip Berlin-Miami or Berlin-Dubai fare is a downright steal.

Helpfully for American tourists, this offer also applies to journeys originating in Miami. Air Berlin’s deal thus provides a cheap route for South Florida-based travelers to one of Europe’s most exciting cities. The Berlin-Dubai two-for-one offer also provides a great opportunity to inexpensively extend a Europe jaunt to Dubai.

Remarkably, as of right now, there are Berlin-Dubai flights still available at the starting €408 fare for travel during the high-demand weeks around Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

While the two-for-one flights have to be booked by June 28, the travel period covered by the promotion is broad. The two-for-one deal can be booked for travel between November 1 and April 30, 2011.

(Image: Flickr/woody1778a)