Quote of the day

3/31/2011
One hundred percent of the shots you don't take don't go in. 
 -Wayne Gretzky

Quote of the day

3/30/2011
There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, "All right, then, have it your way."
 -C.S. Lewis

Upcoming music and film festivals

Apr. 19-23: 6th Annual Myrtle Beach International Film Festival
(Various venues--Myrtle Beach, SC)

The MBIFF has quickly become one of the most significant indie film
festivals for the independent artist. Films will be screened in the
following categories:

Short (30 minutes or less), Animation, Feature Project, Documentary,
Music Video & Anything Goes

Info:
http://www.myrtlebeachfilmfestival.com
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Apr. 29-May 8: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
(Various venues--New Orleans, LA)

Bon Jovi, Jimmy Buffett, Kid Rock, The Neville Brothers, Lauryn Hill,
Jeff Beck, Sonny Rollins, John Legend & The Roots, Wyclef Jean,
Dr. John, Cyndi Lauper, Lupe Fiasco, Mystikal, Bobby Blue Bland,
Fourplay, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Fantasia, Kenny G, Vickie
Winans, Gregg Allman Blues Band, Pete Fountain, Lucinda Williams,
Robert Cray, Keb Mo, Mighty Clouds of Joy, Ron Carter Trio w/
Mulgrew Miller and Russell Malone, Edie Brickell, Ahmad Jamal,
The Rance Allen Group, Fisk Jubilee Singers, Terence Blanchard,
Maceo Parker w/special guest Pee Wee Ellis are among the hundreds
of acts scheduled to perform at the 42nd edition of this festival.

Info:
http://www.nojazzfest.com/
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May 7: Mother's Day Weekend Musical Festival
(Boardwalk Hall--Atlantic City, NJ)

Old School R&B concert featuring The Whispers, Charlie Wilson and
Keith Sweat. There will be a special musical tribute to Teena Marie
during the concert. Make a full weekend of it and check out the After
Party & Mother's Day Brunch taking place at Trump Plaza Casino.

Info:
http://www.platinumshows.com
http://www.ticketmaster.com
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June 10-12: Chicago Blues Festival
(Grant Park--Chicago, IL)

The Chicago Blues Festival is the largest free blues festival in the
world and remains the largest of Chicago's Music Festivals. During
three days on five stages, more than 500,000 blues fans will prove once
again that Chicago is the "Blues Capital of the World." Past performers
have included Bonnie Raitt, Ray Charles, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, the
late Bo Diddley and the late Koko Taylor.

Info:
http://www.chicagobluesfestival.us

Quote of the day

3/27/2011
"When you come to the edge of all the light you have, and must take a step into the darkness of the unknown, BELIEVE that one of two things will happen.  Either there will be something solid for you to stand on OR you will be taught how to fly."
- Author Unknown

Quote of the day

3/28/2011
"You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and the best of you."
-Eleanor Roosevelt

On March 21, 1965...

more than 3,000 civil rights demonstrators led by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. began their march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala.

• See This Front Page

Quote of the day

If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours ...
-Henry David Thoreau

Loleatta Holloway - Loleatta Holloway Dies From Heart Failure | Contactmusic

Loleatta Holloway - Loleatta Holloway Dies From Heart Failure Contactmusic

Quote of the day

If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours ... ;
-Henry David Thoreau

This weekend at Urban Mosaic AHG

Bank of America grant applications for Non-Profits

http://www.bankofamerica.com/foundation/index.cfm?template=fd_grantapp

MBE/EDGE Certification Class

Urban League of Greater Cleveland is hosting a FREE MBE/EDGE certification class Wednesday, March 16 at 2930 Prospect Ave from 10am - 2pm.  Call 216-622-0999 ext 232 to register.

ON THIS DAY - MARCH 15, 1965

On March 15, 1965, addressing a joint session of Congress, President Johnson called for new legislation to guarantee every American's right to vote.

• See This Front Page

Quote of the day

Our happiest times are those in which we forget ourselves, usually in being kind to someone else. That tiny moment of self-abdication is an act of true humility: the man who loses himself finds himself and finds his happiness.
 -Fulton J. Sheen3/11/2011

PND - RFPs Pittsburgh Foundation and Heinz Endowments Offers Support to Advance Black Arts

PND - RFPs Pittsburgh Foundation and Heinz Endowments Offers Support to Advance Black Arts

PND - RFPs MacArthur Foundation Accepting Proposals for Documentary Film Grants

PND - RFPs MacArthur Foundation Accepting Proposals for Documentary Film Grants

March 6, 1857: Dred Scott decision

On March 6, 1857, in its Dred Scott decision, the Supreme Court held that Scott, a slave, could not sue for his freedom in a federal court.

• See This Front Page

It wasn't that long ago...

On March 7, 1965, a march by civil rights demonstrators was broken up in Selma, Ala., by state troopers and a sheriff's posse.

• See This Front Page

Quote of the day

Love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking together in the same direction.
-Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Do You Remember?...Something We Should Not Forget

On March 3, 1991, in a case that sparked a national outcry, motorist Rodney King was severely beaten by Los Angeles police officers in a scene captured on amateur video.

• See This Front Page

Thrift store finds

Hospice Resale Shop: Now - Saturday, March 5th
"Anything you can wear" starts at 50% off (started 2/28) and increases each day
5139 Mayfield Rd, Lyndhurst
Call 440-442-2621 for store hours

Calling All Artists: Find Funding for Your Work

Tuesday, March 15, 10:00 am-12:00 pm

Register now for our free class, Grantseeking Basics for Individuals in the Arts, and learn about the different resources available for artists looking to underwrite a new project, mount an exhibition, or attract a fiscal sponsor. The March 15 session will feature a special presentation from a representative of Community Partnership for Arts and Culture, who will discuss upcoming Creative Workforce Fellowship opportunities, the Partnership's Artist as Entrepreneur Institute, and much more. Register now»

Quote of the day - March 2, 2011

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.
-Anne Frank, (Her diary)

Quote of the day - March 1, 2011

The worst failure is the failure to try.
-The Hotdog Shoppe of Warren Ohio

BlackGirlTravel.com 2011 Tour Destinations

Fleacé Weaver organizes tour groups for Black women to Italy and other destinations.
Los Angeles, CA (BlackNews.com) -- Fleacé Weaver, savvy founder of BlackGirlTravel.com, is traveling all expenses paid to Milan, Italy on Thursday, February 17, by special invitation of the Italian government. Weaver will be discussing ways to grow her popular Italian tours. Currently her tours contribute over $500,000 annually to the Italian economy. Widely known as the "Pied Piper of African American Female Travel," Weaver, a former runway model, has taken tour groups to Italy and other destinations since 2006. Her mission is to expose black women to the beauty of the world, and the world to the beauty of black women: a group she affectionately refers to as her "Fly Girls" and the "traveling sisterhood."
Current destinations with spaces still available in 2011 include two Luxury Tours: "April in Paris" and South Africa (November), and several Mid-Range Tours: "Bella Takes Rome" (Rome/Amsterdam - June), "Under the Tuscan Sun" (Florence/Chianti/Venice - June), "Girls Gone Mild" (South Beach/Jamaica – December), and the signature tour, "Bella Italia" (Venice/Naples/Pompeii/Capri/Sorrento – September). Visit BlackGirlTravel.com for more destinations and details.
In her book, Don't Bring Home a White Boy published by Simon & Schuster, Karyn Langhorne Folan writes about BlackGirlTravel.com: "I think Nikki Doughty said it best: for what we spend in shoes, we could have an experience that completely changes the way we see ourselves and what we know about the wide world..." (p. 228). A comment to Weaver by a member of the Italian Department of Tourism affirms this: "You are such a passion; kudos for making your program so successful. You connect to Italy and your girls connect to our country through your passion."
Of course, Weaver agrees. "I think it's important that everyone starts thinking globally. When you start traveling outside of the States, it opens up your mind and options. Through international travel I have learned to think more globally by questioning my belief system and the cultural influences of the United States. I know have a better sense of who I am as a citizen of the world. It is okay to think differently, and I want more black women to experience this."
Weaver anticipates a productive trip to Milan and great results that will benefit both her travelers and the people of Italy. Her entrepreneurial pursuits include BlackWeekly.com, which boasts more than 32,000 members in the greater Los Angeles area, and Sistas Without Borders, a non-profit organization that benefits the children of destinations where she travels.
For more information, visit www.BlackGirlTravel.com. Photos are available at www.BlackGirlTravel.com/mediaphotos.


 

The ultimate parade of church hats

	Register today on KentuckyDerbyParty.com to enter the “Bring the Derby Home!” Sweepstakes and you could win the ultimate Kentucky Derby Party for 20 of your closest friends.

If you plan to be in NYC this week

Check out art in march / nycgo.com

Quote of the day

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
-Unknown author

Quote of the day

"It isn't what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it."
-Dale Carnegie

Servin' Up Some Soul at Urban Mosaic

Thrift store finds

In my recent travels I've found some really awesome, and incredibly priced items at Cleveland area thrift stores.  Here are some of my favorites, not necessarily in order of preference:

1. Hospice Resale Shop - 5139 Mayfield Rd, Lyndhurst (440) 442-2621 "Good-Bye Winter clothing sale" Monday, February 28 - Saturday, March 5.  Nice selection of shoes, clothing, and housewares, but also found great deals on sporting goods.
2. Refurnishings - 5125 Mayfield Rd, Lyndhurst, OH (440) 720-0400.  Upscale home furnishings fairly priced; nice jewelry selection.
3. The Gathering Place thrift event - 4911 Commerce Parkway, Warrensville Hts. (off Miles, east of Richmond) (216) 595-9546 Saturday, February 26 10 am - 4 pm

Quote of the day

"We will go before God to be judged, and God will ask us, 'Where are your wounds?' And we will say, 'We have no wounds.'  And God will ask, 'Was nothing worth fighting for?'"
-Rev. Allan Boesak

Healing a Wounded Credit Score

February 18, 2011

By TARA SIEGEL BERNARD

Millions of consumers have fallen out of favor with the credit scoring gods.
Some lost their jobs or were just overwhelmed by mounting debt. Others got caught up in the real estate bubble or had major medical bills. Whatever the reason, the rising number of foreclosures, short sales, late credit card payments and the ultimate credit sin — bankruptcies — have left black marks on credit reports most everywhere.
So what can these people do to repair their credit?
The simple answer is to focus on the information that is used to generate the all-powerful FICO score — the measure used most frequently by traditional lenders to determine creditworthiness. Its scale runs from 300 points to 850 points; the higher the score, the better your credit standing. “FICO is still the 500-pound gorilla,” said John Ulzheimer, president of consumer education at SmartCredit.com. “In 2011, the best way to get credit from the mainstream lenders is to have a good FICO score.”
Consumers can hope that the banks will eventually consider alternatives to the traditional FICO score, which was developed by Fair Isaac Corporation and has been in wide use for about two decades. After all, as banks regain their appetite for lending, they will be looking for ways to differentiate between borrowers with the same scores, some of whom are temporarily struggling and others who chronically have trouble with money.
For now, though, the FICO score reigns. The best antidote to a poor score is time. Still, there are a half dozen ways to speed the process, or, at the least, avoid even more credit trouble.  To view the complete article go to http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/19/your-money/19money.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha25&pagewanted=print

Tri-C JazzFest April 28-May 8, 2011

Featuring a couple of my favorite artists Trombone Shorty and Smokey Robinson.  For complete schedule go to http://www.tricpresents.com/

2011 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival featuring Mavis Staples, Bootsy Collins & the Funk University, Lil Wayne, Eminem, Dr John and the Original Meters

June 9 - 12, 2011 in Manchester, Tennessee

BONNAROO 2011 TICKETS ARE ON-SALE NOW. http://www.bonnaroo.com/tickets/ticket-info.aspx
Price Level 1 - $209.50 plus applicable fees - SOLD OUT via Holiday Pre-Sale
Price Level 2 - $224.50 plus applicable fees - SOLD OUT
Price Level 3 - $234.50 plus applicable fees - SOLD OUT
Price Level 4 - $249.50 plus applicable fees

Price Level 2 and Price Level 3 are available in very limited quantities. Once each price level is sold out, tickets will continue to be sold at Price Level 4, while supplies last.

All tickets are 4-day festival tickets (Thursday through Sunday), which include camping and parking.  RVs and other oversized vehicles require a VIP RV upgrade pass. See below for more information.

Want to buy now and pay later?  Check out the Bonnaroo General Admission Payment Plan.

Complete 2011 Artist line-up: Eminem Arcade Fire Widespread Panic The Black Keys Buffalo Springfield feat Richie Furay, Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Rick Rosas, Joe Vitale My Morning Jacket Lil Wayne String Cheese Incident Robert Plant & Band of Joy Mumford & Sons The Strokes The Decemberists Ray Lamontagne Bassnectar Iron & Wine Girl Talk Primus Dr. John and The Original Meters performing Desitively Bonnaroo Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas Pretty Lights Florence + the Machine Superjam ft. Dan Auerbach and Dr. John Explosions in the Sky STS9 Gogol Bordello Beirut Big Boi Gregg Allman Ratatat Global Gypsy Punk Revue curated by Eugene Hütz Robyn Warren Haynes Band Deerhunter Opeth Atmosphere Old Crow Medicine Show Bootsy Collins & the Funk University Wiz Khalifa Matt & Kim Grace Potter & the Nocturnals The Del McCoury Band and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band Mavis Staples Béla Fleck & the Flecktones Chiddy Bang Jovanotti Bruce Hornsby & the NoisemakersLoretta Lynn Cold War Kids The Walkmen Devotchka Wanda Jackson Neon Trees Portugal. The Man Sleigh Bells Amos Lee Best Coast Dãm-Funk & Master Blazter The SwordThe Drums The Black Angels School of Seven Bells J. Cole Nicole Atkins & the Black Sea Wavves !!! Junip Freelance Whales Justin Townes Earle Ryan Bingham Deer Tick Band of Skulls Sharon Van Etten Abigail Washburn Omar Souleyman Twin Shadow Kylesa Man Man The Low Anthem Alberta Cross Railroad Earth Jessica Lea Mayfield Smith Westerns The Head and the Heart Karen Elson Beats Antique 22-20s Phosphorescent Clare MaGuire Hayes Carll

- Lineup Subject to Change -

Quote of the day

2/21/2011
The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes."
-Charles Swindoll, Thinkexist.com

Quote of the day

Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.
 -Buddha

Quote of the day

"Take care of your character, then your reputation will take care of itself"
-Unknown author

PND - RFPs Scholarships Available to Attend Harvard Business School Nonprofit Management Course

PND - RFPs Scholarships Available to Attend Harvard Business School Nonprofit Management Course

OSCAR MICHEAUX INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL - Call for submissions

The inaugural Oscar Micheaux Film Festival, sponsored by New Works Writers Series (NEW WORKS), is now accepting submissions for the event taking place April 29-30, 2011 in Toledo, Ohio. NEW WORKS is accepting submissions of independent features, shorts, narratives and documentary films made by or about people of African descent.
Eligibility:
Filmmakers need not be of African descent, in order to participate, but films should depict positive images of subject matter related to African descendants and their experiences. Genres may include drama, comedy, horror, adventure, animation, romance, science fiction, experimental. Christian/spiritual-themed films are welcome.
Competition:
NEW WORKS competition categories are: Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary (short or feature length) and Best Narrative Short.
Submission Fees:
Submissions must be accompanied by a $25 fee payable to New Works Writers Series. The submission deadline is March 25, 2011. Late submissions (postmarked after March 25, 2011) require a $40 submission fee. Mail submissions in the form of a DVD or video screener (NTSC or PAL – no mini-DVs or Betas) to Oscar Micheaux Independent Film Festival, P.O. Box 141216, Toledo, Ohio, 43614.
Application:
A signed and completed application with publicity materials must be submitted with the film. Applications can be downloaded from http://www.newworkswritersseries.org/ or requested by emailing filmfestival@newworkswritersseries.org.Entry Confirmation:
If you want confirmation that  NEW WORKS has received your entry, please include a self-addressed stamped postcard.
Please send duplicates of your film. NEW WORKS does not guarantee any return of material submitted for competition. NEW WORKS will not be responsible for cassettes or DVD's lost or damaged in the mail, and NEW WORKS will not accept submission fees for films that cannot be viewed due to prior damage.
Selection results will be announced after April 1, 2011.

House Party bareMinerals® Skincare Get the Famous Glow House Party™

House Party bareMinerals® Skincare Get the Famous Glow House Party™

Calling local African-American clothing, jewelry, accessory, and shoe designers

Showcase your Spring/Summer collections at the Urban Mosaic Art House & Gallery during March & April.  Please contact via urbanmosaicgallery@gmail.com for interest and to receive further information.

PND - RFPs Joyce Awards Program Offers Support for Midwest Cultural Groups to Commission New Works by Artists of Color

PND - RFPs Joyce Awards Program Offers Support for Midwest Cultural Groups to Commission New Works by Artists of Color

This week's workshops and seminars

Wednesday, February 16
Finding Grants for Business, Workshop I ($20)
Urban League of Greater Cleveland
2930 Prospect Ave
3:30-5:30 p.m.
Contact: Gwen Solomon (216) 622-0999 x232
_________________________________________________
Thursday, February 17
Small Business Administration loan seminar (FREE)
SBA Cleveland District Office
1350 Euclid Ave, Suite 211
10 a.m. - Noon
Limited seating - call (216) 522-4180

February 1 - Black History

February 1

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On Feb. 1, 1960, four black college students began a sit-in protest at a lunch counter in Greensboro, N.C., where they'd been refused service.
Go to article »
On Feb. 1, 1902, Langston Hughes, the American poet and prominent figure of the Harlem Renaissance , was born. Following his death on May 22 , 1967, his obituary appeared in The Times.

Through the Eyes of Ronnie Wright: A 30-Year Retrospective of Music’s Iconic, Influential and Infamous

...will officially kick off the celebration of Black History Month and features over 50 photos selected from the archives of award-winning celebrity photographer Ronnie Wright.  The collection highlights a who's who in Hip Hop, R&B, Jazz, and Funk including George Clinton, Aretha Franklin, Prince and departed icons Michael Jackson, Tupac Shakur, Notorious B.I.G., and Cleveland's own Gerald LeVert.  Opening reception is Tuesday, February 1 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Urban Mosaic Art House & Gallery located inside 9800 Detroit Avenue @ West Blvd. in the Cudell/Edgewater neighboorhood.  All photographs exhibited will be available for sale.  

 

THIS IS A FREE EVENT

Thought for the day

Past the seeker as he prayed came the crippled and the beggar and the beaten. And seeing them...he cried, "Great God, how is it that a loving creator can see such things and yet do nothing about them?"...God said, "I did do something. I made you."
 -Sufi Teaching

Quotes for the day

"I will permit no man to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate him."
 -Booker T. Washington
"Fear is the cheapest room in the house. I would like to see you living In better conditions."
 -Hafez
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."
-Mahatma Gandhi

Through the Eyes of Ronnie Wright: A 30-Year Retrospective of Music’s Iconic, Influential and Infamous

...will officially kick off the celebration of Black History Month and features over 50 photos selected from the archives of award-winning celebrity photographer Ronnie Wright.  The collection highlights a who's who in Hip Hop, R&B, Jazz, and Funk including George Clinton, Aretha Franklin, Prince and departed icons Michael Jackson, Tupac Shakur, Notorious B.I.G., and Cleveland's own Gerald LeVert.  Opening reception is Tuesday, February 1 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Urban Mosaic Art House & Gallery located inside 9800 Detroit Avenue @ West Blvd. in the Cudell/Edgewater neighboorhood.  Ronnie will discuss his career as a one of the industry’s premiere photojournalist and participate in an audience Q&A.  All photographs exhibited will be available for sale.  

 

$10 Ticket price includes admission, hors d'oeuvres and complimentary beverages

Tickets may be purchased at http://diversifiedfunk.eventbrite.com/   

Courage

"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."
-Nelson Mandela
http://www.nelsonmandela.org/index.php

Black History happens everyday...don't just celebrate in February

On January 15, 1929, Martin Luther King, Jr. was born.  His birthday will be celebrated Monday, January 17, 2011.  Do something for your fellow man, woman, or child.  An hour of your time can make a day's difference in someone else's life.

On Jan. 13, 1990, Douglas Wilder of Virginia became the nation's first elected black governor as he took the oath of office in Richmond

The 41 Places to Go in 2011 - Seriously...do something this year

The 41 Places to Go in 2011

• 
• 

Published: January 7, 2011

From the beaches of Mexico to the wilds of Kurdistan, the places on this year’s list take you to the end of the world and back.

Where to Go in 2011

10 Restaurants Worth a Plane Ride (January 9, 2011)

Justin Mott for The New York Times

Absolute Sanctuary, a yoga and detox center on Koh Samui, Thailand. More Photos »

1. Santiago, Chile
Undaunted by an earthquake, a city embraces modern culture.

Less than a year after an 8.8-magnitude earthquake wreaked havoc in Chile, its capital, Santiago, has largely recovered, the economy continues to grow, and tourism is in an upswing.

Though the quake, which caused hundreds of casualties, was centered more than 200 miles away, many of Santiago’s older buildings were damaged, including the Museum of Fine Arts.

But the earthquake last year — and another in Chile last week that caused more panic than damage — seems to have only briefly paused a cultural shift that had begun to take hold in the city. Known as a buttoned-up place, Santiago has in recent years added modern museums, smartly designed hotels and sophisticated restaurants. The city has become decidedly more vibrant.

This year, it has even been chosen as the first foreign city to host a rather unbuttoned event: Lollapalooza. The 20-year-old American music festival picked Santiago for its first overseas outing because of its open space and the variety of cultural offerings, and because locals have a passion for contemporary music, said Lollapalooza’s founder, the musician Perry Farrell. The festival takes place in April in O’Higgins Park.

This musical awakening owes much to the government’s investment in the arts. The new Centro Gabriela Mistral, for example, a 200,000-square-foot center made of glass and weathering steel, has a varied calendar of concerts, dance performances, plays and art exhibits.

Perhaps the most remarkable cultural space to open in the last few years is the Museo de la Moda, a privately financed fashion museum inside a revamped 1960s Modernist mansion. It has a permanent collection of nearly 10,000 pieces of couture and memorabilia (of which 800 are typically on display), including a light-blue jacket worn in 1966 by John Lennon and a black strapless gown worn in 1981 by Diana, Princess of Wales.

Luxury hotels are not new to Santiago, but when the W opened in 2009, it was the first to feature truly modern design. The recently opened Aubrey is equally chic and much more intimate. With an attractive mix of vintage and new furniture (Tom Dixon lamps, 19th-century Parisian rugs, tufted leather sofas), the 15-room property raised the bar for boutique lodgings in the city. It occupies two renovated residences in the Bellavista neighborhood, a creative district where Lollapalooza’s fans would feel right at home.
— PAOLA SINGER

2. San Juan Islands, Wash.
Bold-face restaurateurs vie with unspoiled nature. Nature wins.
The big draw for the San Juan Islands this year just might be its dining scene. Blaine Wetzel, a former chef at the wildly acclaimed Copenhagen restaurant Noma, took the reins at Willows Inn on Lummi Island (due to reopen on Feb. 10), while Lisa Nakamura, who has trained with big-name chefs like Thomas Keller, opened Allium on Orcas Island.

But the eternal lure of the San Juans — what brings chefs out as well as tourists — are the landscapes. On islands from Shaw to Decatur, pastoral hills give way to broody forests and scrappy escarpments that overlook fjordlike inlets. Thanks to an active land preservation effort by organizations like the San Juan County Land Bank, each year new areas are protected from logging or unruly development, and in turn provide fresh terrain for the public to explore.

Last year, the San Juan Island National Historic Park grew by 312 acres with the purchase of densely forested Mitchell Hill. On Lopez Island, a 50-year lease signed by the state Department of Natural Resources in 2009 now protects the Lopez Hill area from logging; a web of public trails winds past mossy conifers and madrona trees with peeling cinnamon-red bark. And some smaller parcels have the air of a secret about them, like the spectacular Watmough Bay Preserve on Lopez, with a trail that leads to a strip of beach on a wooded inlet, its moody water as magically lighted as a Bierstadt painting.
— SARA DICKERMAN
3. Koh Samui, Thailand
A toned-down version of Phuket, heavy on wellness and food.

As Thailand’s third-largest island, Koh Samui isn’t exactly off the radar. But the 95-square-mile tropical gem in the southern Gulf of Thailand, whose white sand beaches, abundant coral reefs and seas of palm trees were once a backpackers’ secret, has emerged as the stylish luxury alternative to crowded Phuket. Last month’s much-anticipated opening of the W Retreat Koh Samui on a private beach along the island’s northern shore was the chic hotel brand’s premiere in Southeast Asia. July saw the arrival of the 78 pool-villas at the Banyan Tree Samui and its bay-facing spa, which includes the island’s first hydrotherapy facility. It is burnishing Koh Samui’s reputation as one of Thailand’s top wellness destinations, along with the yoga and detox center at the Moroccan-inspired boutique resort Absolute Sanctuary, which turns three in April.

Local restaurants have kept pace, luring international chefs who are transforming Koh Samui into an eating destination as well. Newcomers include H-Bistro at the Hansar Samui resort, where the French-Mediterranean and Thai menu was conceived by a former private chef to the Jordanian royal family, and Orgasmic by Chef Wally, which serves innovative cocktails and dishes like cocoa butter Hokkaido scallops and freshly caught white snapper with pecan-celery mash. The local scene goes into full swing at the weekly Sunday Sessions under the soaring thatched roofs at loungey Beach Republic, whose brunch, seafood barbecue and sunset D.J.’s are quickly becoming famous.
— NAOMI LINDT

4. Iceland
Where a country’s hardships are a visitor’s gain.
Iceland’s economic crash has had an upside, at least for tourists. After the devaluation of the krona that followed the country’s 2008 financial crisis, the breathtakingly beautiful island is a lot more affordable, meaning that a hotel room that was $200 before the crash might cost $130 now.

While traditionally a must-see for nature tourists — who come for thermal springs, glaciers, volcanic landscapes and the Northern Lights — Iceland is stepping up the cultural offerings with Reykjavik’s new Harpa-Reykjavik Concert Hall and Conference Centre, a symphony and opera house whose stunning glass facade was designed in collaboration with the Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson. Opening ceremonies begin in May, with performances by the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Icelandic Opera and local rock bands. Another draw is the third annual DesignMarch (in March), a festival that showcases Icelandic design, from clothing and textiles to furniture. And the Iceland Airwaves music festival, every October, is perennially cool.
— SALLY McGRANE

5. Milan
A reborn cathedral joins fashion-forward galleries and hotels.

Compared with the Italian troika of tourism — Florence, Venice and Rome — Milan is often an afterthought. But with novel, eye-catching design emerging around the city, that should soon change.
For years, unsightly scaffolding obscured the Milan Cathedral; now that most of it has been dismantled, the newly scrubbed Gothic masterpiece, also known as the Duomo, is worth a fresh look. Across the piazza, the city’s collection of 20th-century art is now showcased at the Museo del Novecento, which opened in December in the restored Palazzo dell’Arengario.

Outside the historic center, former factories have been transformed into design studios, old warehouses have been repurposed as unconventional art venues, and galleries are packed with avant-garde works. The eclectic Spazio Rossana Orlandi gallery displays the latest creations from emerging designers, while large-scale art installations from acclaimed international artists like Anselm Kiefer are exhibited at HangarBicocca, a cavernous art space that re-opened last year.

And though fashion followers still flock to the wish-filled windows of Miu Miu and Marni, fashion in Milan now extends beyond retail and runways. Arguably the most fashionable addition is the Hotel Milano Scala, which opened last year in a renovated 19th-century mansion singing the eco-chic promise of “zero-emissions hospitality.” In a country where green directives are not yet widespread, it proves that Milan is, once again, on the cutting edge.
— INGRID K. WILLIAMS

6. Republic of Georgia
A rustic ski wonderland on the verge of discovery.

Ski buffs don’t usually think of Soviet Georgia when planning their next backcountry outing. But some ambitious plans in the Caucasus are trying to change that fast. Tucked between the Black and Caspian seas and smattered with mountains, Georgia has the kind of terrain adventurous skiers yearn for: peaks reaching 16,000 feet, deep valleys and largely untouched slopes. Known best for spectacular off-piste and heli-skiing, Bakuriani and Gudauri — each a short drive from Tbilisi — saw 30,000 visitors in 2009 and are expanding fast.

And now, in efforts spearheaded by the Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili, the ski-resort bug is spreading even further. In Mestia, the first groomed slopes of a new resort opened in December. Also earmarked as a winter hot spot is Goderdzi pass, which can have snow coverage six months a year.
— KIMBERLY BRADLEY

7. London
Anticipating the 2012 Olympics, a slew of new hotels and restaurants.

There is never a bad time to go to London. But this year may be better than most: the 2012 Summer Olympic Games has prompted the construction of 12,000 hotel rooms, and several hotels that have been around for a while are burnishing their appeal with notable new restaurants.
Many are opening well in advance of the games. The 192-room Four Seasons London at Park Lane reopens late this month after a two-year-plus gut renovation that added a penthouse spa overlooking Hyde Park and new restaurant seating in a private garden. The new W London Leicester Square arrives in February, conforming to British tastes with a trendy take on high tea. In April the Corinthia Hotel London reinvents a vintage 1855 hotel, and in May the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel London makes its debut in a cathedral-like Victorian hotel with a restaurant by the Michelin-starred chef Marcus Wareing.
Other hotels are adding restaurants from renowned chefs. This spring, the May Fair Hotel will become home to the chef Silvena Rowe’s Eastern Mediterranean restaurant, Quince.

Expect hotel and restaurant bookings to be tight on and around April 29, date of the royal wedding, for which London tourism officials expect a pre-Olympics wave of visitors.
— ELAINE GLUSAC

8. Loreto, Mexico
A beach hideaway with sport fishing gets a luxury resort.
Long known for sport fishing, Loreto, on Baja California Sur’s eastern coast, is poised to become one of Mexico’s next luxury destinations.

On Wednesday, Villa Group Resorts, one of Mexico’s largest privately owned hotel groups, will open a $60 million Villa del Palmar resort with three restaurants, a 20,000-square-foot turtle-shaped pool and 150 suites from $250 to $1,500 a night. The resort is the first phase of an 1,800-acre development, Danzante Ba. It will add seven resort hotels, restaurants and a Rees Jones golf course.

Loreto also has longstanding attractions to tout. It recently started a public relations campaign, with help from the Mexico Tourism Board, to highlight its colonial architecture, deserted beaches and marine life. Founded in 1697 by Jesuit missionaries, Loreto is home to the historic Mission of Our Lady Loreto, one of the first “California” missions. The baroque Mission of San Javier can be found nearby in the Sierra de la Giganta Mountains.

Visitors can take day trips to see prehistoric rock art in the Sierra de San Francisco region of Baja California between Loreto and Bahia de Los Angeles. Five islands that make up the Loreto Bay National Marine Park, which covers 797 square miles in the Sea of Cortez, offer extensive snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, whale-watching and scuba-diving opportunities. The area is home to more than 800 species of marine life, including six-foot-long Humboldt squid.
— MICHELLE HIGGINS

9. Park City, Utah
Beyond the film festival, a growing group of top-tier resorts.

Many film aficionados have been lured to Park City for the annual Sundance festival, missing the slopes entirely, which is a shame. This year, new hotels, expanded terrain and events at area ski resorts make on-mountain exploration imperative. Last month, at Deer Valley, Montage opened a 220-room Craftsman-style midmountain lodge ; it offers ski-in, ski-out access, gas fireplaces in every room, and a spa.

Other recent openings include the St. Regis Deer Crest, the Waldorf Astoria Park City and the Hyatt Escala Lodge.
Over at the Canyons Resort, 300 acres of new skiing and snowboarding terrain includes 10 new trails that range from intermediate to expert gladed tree runs. The resort is also introducing what’s billed as the first heated chair lift in North America and opening an après-ski “beach,” an outdoor gathering place with beach-style lounge chairs, food and cocktail stations and expansive views of the mountainside.
— BONNIE TSUI
10. Cali, Colombia
Cafe culture is on the rise while salsa fuels the night life.

Next Page »

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

Correction: January 8, 2011

An earlier version of this article misspelled the last name of a Norwegian architect. His name is Todd Saunders, not Sanders.

Where men turn to for advice...

As the Web Turns

By ANDREW MARTIN

Published: January 12, 2011

Hey, fellas, want to spice things up with your lady? Procter & Gamble, the consumer products giant, has some ideas. P.& G.’s Manofthehouse.com site offers advice on relationships and parenting, as well as cooking, cleaning and health.

A Web site created by the company for husbands and fathers offers articles with titles like “Conquering Sex Problems.” Among other things, the article advises men to take their time in bed.
“If you want a hot woman who acts like a porn star in bed, you need to be prepared to spend some time getting her to that place,” suggests the site, ManoftheHouse.com.
While the Internet is crowded with all kinds of sex advice, P.& G. — the maker of Pampers and Ivory soap and the nation’s largest advertiser — says it has found an untapped marketing opportunity for its products in the family man. Much of the popular sex advice for men, in publications like Maxim and GQ, is directed toward singles on the prowl, the company says. Even its top rival, Unilever, has gone decidedly raunchier in a campaign for Axe, a grooming brand aimed at young men, that includes a double entendre about cleaning sporting equipment and a man’s private parts.

The P.& G. site gets out of the bedroom, offering tips on grilling burgers, cleaning toilets and disciplining children. It promises, “We’ll make men out of you yet,” while also promoting Gillette razors, Head & Shoulders shampoo and other company products. “What we are trying to do is speak to the whole man,” said Jeannie Tharrington, a spokeswoman for Procter & Gamble Productions. “Certainly, relationships and sex are part of an adult man’s life.” Josh Bernoff, senior vice president at Forrester Research who has written about P.& G.’s marketing efforts, said ManoftheHouse.com was not so different from “As the World Turns,” the TV soap opera that was another P.& G. innovation. “This is the 21st-century version of the soap opera,” he said. “It’s information. It’s topical.”

More and more big companies have discovered the how-to genre as a marketing tool. General Mills offers dieting advice and coupons on Tablespoon.com, and Wal-Mart has a Web site in which mothers blog about everything from being frugal to reviewing products. Jeremiah Owyang, a partner at the Altimeter Group, a digital strategy consulting firm, said company-generated lifestyle sites could be effective as long as they did not push the brands too hard. Reviewing the homepage of ManoftheHouse.com, he said, “All of these discussions on this page are already happening on Facebook,” he said. “The reason these things do work is that consumers are already having these discussions, having a healthy breakfast, talking about their wives in relationships.” Ms. Tharrington said company research found that men were going to women’s Web sites to find information on recipes, cleaning the house or getting a stain out of a shirt. As for sex talk coming from a company that has honed a wholesome image — remember Mr. Whipple? — she said, “For us, it’s part of it, but it’s not the whole thing. What we try to do is be tasteful.”

Procter & Gamble has a long history of unusual marketing. The Cincinnati-based company created one of the first radio soap operas as a way to market its products, and years later it created its own soap operas, including “As the World Turns,” for television. In the last decade, Procter & Gamble was one of the pioneers in word-of-mouth marketing campaigns in which mothers and teenagers were plied with samples and coupons to draw more customers. In 2000, the company introduced Beinggirl.com, which provides information and expert advice on issues that teenage girls might be too embarrassed to ask a parent or a doctor about, like menstruation, eating disorders, acne and dating. The site also advertises P.& G. tampons and offers free samples. In the years since Beinggirl.com was created, Procter & Gamble has started several other lifestyle Web sites, including one that is directed at women, Homemadesimple.com. David Germano, the general manager of ManoftheHouse.com, said consumer data showed that 10 percent of the visitors to the women’s site were men.

ManoftheHouse.com has brought on several writers who had established father-focused blogs. Karl Withakay, a Utah-based singer and songwriter who writes some of the sex articles, including “Conquering Sex Problems,” was already writing about relationships for other media outlets.
“The pieces he wrote were based upon his own experience,” said Craig J. Heimbuch, ManoftheHouse.com’s editor in chief, in an e-mail. “I appreciate his perspective a great deal. It lends itself well to the tone of the site, which is men helping men.” So are men drawn to a PG-rated Web site when so much R- and X-rated competition is out there? Procter & Gamble says that so far it is pleased with the number of visitors. The site was started in June, and by December it had topped a half a million monthly unique visitors.
By comparison, AskMen.com, a site with similar, if more titillating content, had 5.5 million unique visitors in December, according to comScore, the market research firm. Jonah Disend, chief executive of the brand strategy firm Redscout, questioned whether ManoftheHouse.com would generate a big following. He said men tended to be more interested in specialized publications about a specific hobby or sport. “Just because no one’s doing it doesn’t mean there’s a real market for it,” he said. Racy also works. Indeed, that is just what Procter & Gamble’s archrival, Unilever, discovered in its efforts to market Axe. The campaign it started last year, which included the double entendre, has become a sensation; last month, Zeta Interactive proclaimed the ads as having received the most social media buzz in 2010.
“We’ve taken a calculated risk,” said Heather Mitchell, a Unilever spokeswoman, “knowing what resonates with our guys.”

A version of this article appeared in print on January 13, 2011, on page B1 of the New York edition.

Tickets on Sale Now for Black History Month Opening Night Reception

Through the Eyes of Ronnie Wright: A 30-Year Retrospective of Music’s Iconic, Influential and Infamous

...will officially kick off the celebration of Black History Month and features over 50 photos selected from the archives of award-winning celebrity photographer Ronnie Wright.  The collection highlights a who's who in Hip Hop, R&B, Jazz, and Funk including George Clinton, Aretha Franklin, Prince and departed icons Michael Jackson, Tupac Shakur, Notorious B.I.G., and Cleveland's own Gerald LeVert.  Opening reception is Tuesday, February 1 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Urban Mosaic Art House & Gallery located inside 9800 Detroit Avenue @ West Blvd. in the Cudell/Edgewater neighboorhood.  Ronnie will discuss his career as a one of the industry’s premiere photojournalist and participate in an audience Q&A.  All photographs exhibited will be available for sale.  

 

$10 Ticket price includes admission, hors d'oeuvres and complimentary beverages

Tickets may be purchased at http://diversifiedfunk.eventbrite.com/