Tickets for the Nomading Film Festival in New York go on sale Friday

by Jessica Festa on

After a successful run this past June, the Nomading Film Festival is returning to New York this summer, June 23, 2012. Nomading Film Festival is an event that showcases stories caught on film during peoples’ travels, giving new talent a chance to share their stories and viewers a chance to travel all over the world without leaving Brooklyn.

The really early bird tickets will be sold at a very discounted price this Friday, November 11, 2011. Not only that, but travelers of all ages from all over the world can begin submitting their travel videos (must be under 15 minutes). Until April 30, 2012, submissions are only $10, and selected filmmakers will be notified by May 15, 2012. Prizes, such as trips, flights, and gear, are awarded in three categories:

  • The nomad I want to travel with
  • The most enlightening trip
  • Simply put, that trip makes me want to travel, now!

Guest speakers, workshops, games, and music will also be part of the fun. For more information, visit their official website. To get a better idea of what to expect, check out one of Nomading’s travel-inspired films:


The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh opens, featuring bowling alley and cigar bar

by McLean Robbins on




The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. continues to expand into the Middle East market with their first hotel in Saudi Arabia, The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh. The 493 room hotel in the Diplomatic Quarter is adjacent to the King Abdul Aziz Convention Centre.

Of course, the hotel has to be appropriately palatial – it includes 52 acres of landscaped gardens, a massive fountain, and a one kilometer driveway.

Originally envisioned as a royal guest palace for visiting dignitaries and heads of state, the hotel’s architecture is modeled on traditional palaces and elegant Arabian residences. Native palms, 600-year old olive trees from Lebanon, and water fountains abound.

“This majestic hotel’s prime location in the literal heart of the Arabian Peninsula offers many significant advantages to visiting guests and dignitaries,” said Herve Humler, president and chief operations officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. “We are extremely proud that The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh represents our first hotel into the Kingdom. We have been aggressively seeking the right first location in Saudi Arabia for a number of years, and believe there could be no better place for a Ritz-Carlton than in this” added Humler.

The interior of the hotel is also imbued with a sense of place – guestrooms and suites use the vibrant colors and ethnic textures of the region. Highlights include not just one, but 49 exquisitely appointed two-bedroom Royal Suites, each generously measuring 4,574 square feet and 50 one-bedroom, opulent Executive Suites at 1,022 square feet. Wow.

The hotel also features 62,000 square feet of meeting space, an Aubergine restaurant, a buffet-style restaurant serving Lebanese favorites, Asian and Italian restaurants, a tea lounge and a cigar lounge that will be home to one of the widest selection of Cuban cigars in Saudi Arabia. The hotel also features an indoor six-lane bowling alley, indoor swimming pool and men’s health club with three treatment rooms. Sorry ladies, you’re out of luck here- there isn’t a women’s health club or spa. See more pictures, below:
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*A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the hotel has an on-site ICU. This information has since been removed.

Ritz-Carlton Dubai adds shisha sommelier to staff

by Jessica Festa on

Interested in smoking some hookah on your trip but nervous about looking like a novice? The Ritz-Carlton Dubai International Finance Center now has an expert on hand to not only show you how to properly smoke flavored tobacco, but also how to pair shisha flavors with food, drinks, and personal preferences.

The Shisha Sommelier position, which is part of the hotel’s Shisha Terrace, is held by Sadek Zeineddine, a Lebanese national, who has experience working in the food and beverage industry in various regions including Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.

What’s really unique about this service is that guests can have special blends of shisha created just for them which will be saved and provided for future visits.

Interested in staying at the Ritz-Carlton Dubai? Nightly rates at the hotel begin at $258.

Wine, food, and partying at Cornucopia in Whistler, Canada

by Jessica Festa on

From November 10-13, 2011, Cornucopia, a four day and night food and wine festival, will take place in Whistler, Canada. The event caters to both amateur enthusiasts as well as experts with seminars, tastings, and culinary programs that allow attendees to gain insight and knowledge.

In addition to educating the palate, Cornucopia will also be hosting an array of parties including:

  • Araxi’s Bubbles and Oceans– Enjoy seafood, champagne, and sparkling wine from 20 of the world’s top producers.
  • Bearfoot Bistro’s Masquerave– Proceeds for this event, which showcases the creations of top chefs from British Columbia, go to help ONE DROP, a foundation that helps give people from foreign countries access to clean water and sanitation where it is needed. International DJs, burlesque dancers, circus art performances, and models covered in winery-inspired body paintings will also be featured at the event.
  • House Party– This BBQ features local breweries, wineries, and cuisine, as well as live music.
  • CRUSH– A 2-night tasting event featuring more than 60 wineries from around the world. Book signings and tips will also be given by wine writer Natalie MacLean, author of “Unquenchable: A Tispy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Bottles”.
  • Casino Royale– This Vegas-style party will feature showgirls, circus performers, DJs, drinks, and a casino.
  • Top Gun…a Tribute– Burlesque dancers will perform a tribute to the 25th anniversary of the movie release “Top Gun” and the 30th anniversary of Sumac Ridge Estate Winery. Tickets include a complimentary coat check and a glass of Tribute champagne.

For more information on the event and tickets, click here.

Photography class mixes nude models with Italian landscapes

by Jessica Festa on

Master Photographer Mark Laurie of Inner Spirit Photography has created an annual workshop that most people only dream about. Revealing Venus, as the program is called, allows five photographers to travel to Italy and photograph glamour and nude models in off-the-beaten path settings in Sardinia. The trip not only includes instruction by Laurie, one-on-one shooting time with the models, inclusion in a published book, and the model released photos, but it is also all-inclusive, with a private chef and hotel transfers.

Tuition with a private room costs $4,250 CAD, but there are payment plans available. To get a better idea of what to expect, check out this video: