There are so many reasons for visiting the great state of Illinois, with its rich history, enormous contributions to national and global culture, and cosmopolitan sensibility mixed with splendidly hospitable Midwestern style. Its great hotels are a sure testament to that, where graciousness and style rule the day, making it a pleasure to wake up and fall asleep amid such splendor. Chicago has a certain feel and style to it, but it’s one that is made up of multiple styles, coming from an array of cultural influences. It’s also still very much in development, and one of the great things about the city is that it’s flexible enough to continue to take in new ideas and visions.

There is plenty of old-world charm here as well, and if there’s any doubt, make some plans to spend a morning or so at the Julius Meinl Coffee House . This is the Chicago branch of a very successful coffee place that’s most famous in Vienna. It began there in the middle of the 19th century, with a specialty for roasting their coffee beans. This made it possible for the Viennese to purchase their own coffee without having to roast it in their own homes, which is a rather difficult task without burning.

It was a huge success there, and it’s successful here as well. It’s easy to see why. The coffee menu looks typical at first, but there are fine details that give it an exquisite European twist, serving a coffee that is far above and beyond the usual. Teas, and excellent delicacies are also offered here. The connections between Vienna and Chicago are not small. Both are places that attract some of the most interesting artists and thinkers, and have long histories of migrations of many cultures through the city walls. It’s enough to inspire its own academic conference, sponsored by Demokratiezentrum Wien , where scholars gathered to discuss the traces of similarities between the worlds.

Viennese Connections in Illinois is a post from: Empty Voices

When considering the history of ancient Western cities such as Rome, Italy, there are a few things that frequently come to mind. Generally, when thinking of ancient Rome, many people will associate it with Jesus Christ, Roman mythology, some of the ancient architecture such as the Colosseum and a few of the major political figures such as Julius Caesar. The other common aspect of the ancient culture that is typically remembered today is the drama of the time. And while the way plays were presented and how they were incorporated to society is entirely different from the way it is today, many of the plays from the time are still produced on today’s stage. Theatre is one of the popular attractions for many of the guests staying in one of the hotels in Rome and it’s particularly inviting when they have the chance to see one of the ancient plays onstage.

This is the age where the two genres of theatre known as Comedy and Tragedy were in effect and Tragedy had been written about as the perfect form of drama by the Greek philosopher Aristotle. However, the comedies were generally hits with audiences and Rome had its favored comedy writers. Plautus and Terence were the two primary comedy playwrights in Ancient Rome for which we still have existing scripts.

Plautus lived from approximately 254-184 BC and most, or all, of his comedies were based on earlier Greek plays from the New Comedy format. His plays were popular and generally expressed stories from Roman middle and lower classes. Terence was alive from either 195 or 185 to 159 BC. The most likely date is around 195 because his comedies had begun being performed around 170. He was bought as a slave by the Roman senator Terentius Lucanus who educated him and later freed him due to his literary abilities. He didn’t live long and wrote six plays during his career, all of which still survive.

Ancient Comedy of Rome is a post from: Empty Voices

One of the best pieces of advice I have ever gotten in my life came from my Grandmother. I was in a situation that I was not sure how to deal with, and I was a bit stressed out, when she told me over the phone, to “just breath” . This was not coming from a woman who spent time in yoga classes, her advice pre-dates the yoga craze, peaceful speak. This was advice from a woman who had lived a life, and who knew how it felt to be overwhelmed by that life from time to time.

My situation was that I need to find a new place to live . And moving can be stressful enough on it’s own, but I was dealing with the fact that my beloved dog had just died, I was splitting up with my boyfriend, and my move was not simply to a
new apartment , it was a cross county move to be made in a Chevy Blazer with 200,000 miles on the odometer. Moving during the best of times is stressful, and when major life changes are occurring, that stress can add up. when you move because you have to move, it is a completely different experience from the one in which you move because you want to move. At this time it is best to take note of just what you really need to bring with you.

I looked through my things, and gave away those which I hadn’t used in the past year. This cut down the load for my Blazer quite a bit. I called my grandmother a few times while I was packing, just to hear her voice and to consider the various things that I thought I “needed”. Turns out though, in the end all I did really need to do, was just breath, like she said. I drove the Chevy across the country, from Chicago to Phoenix, and I made in one piece, breathing the entire way.

Moving During Stressful Times: Just Breath is a post from: Empty Voices

Harrisburg is the capital city of Pennsylvania, and is located in the South Central region of the state.  At one time, Harrisburg was a small town, an outpost for the ferries going up and down the Susquehanna River.  However, now it is a bustling metropolis, a center for this regions cultural and arts communities, a lively downtown with many hotels, restaurants, theatres and museums.  This is all while retaining the congenial and the “homey” aspect of the smaller town it used to be.

This can be felt walking through any neighborhood, felt and smelled in the air as backyard barbecues and park picnics are extremely common in the summertime months.  Paddle boat tours in the Susquehanna offer a different view and a different perspective, on the city as it is now, and on the way that life along that river had been in the past.  The ‘do it yourself-ers’ may enjoy renting one of the other forms of river transportation such as a jet ski, canoe or kayak.  This is a great way to get to City Island and enjoy the many arts and culinary festivals, especially the famous Pennsylvania Chili Contest and Cookout.  Adults and children alike, will find that a day spent at the City Island Puppet theatre to be a day of imagination and wonder.

The music of Harrisburg is one that speaks the many different dialects and languages of the world of music.  Outdoor summer concerts along Susquehanna offer everything from classical to live jazz.  The Central Pennsylvania Friends of Jazz,  bring in various artists and the venues for located in the city are just as varied as the music they bring in.  The Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra is world renown and will often times have soloists from other orchestras and other countries in for a performance or a run of performances.

Just as vast as the selection of music venues, is the number of museums and galleries.  But art in Harrisburg is not limited to buildings with four walls, for many times artists set up right on the sidewalks and sell their work in the grass roots style.  Whatever your artistic desire may be, you will most definitely find it in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

The History, the Music, and the Culture of Harrisburg is a post from: Empty Voices

Yesterday, was an all day driving day, 450 miles to be exact. We had a great Mexican breakfast in Carlsbad and drove on out. There was not a whole lot to see on the drive, we were on the 285 going through Pecos and Fort Stockton, then to the I-10 east and got within an hour of our destination, San Antonio. We stopped at Kerrville, it was this neat historic town that is know for it’s annual folk music festival.

After attending on of the best folk festivals we’ve ever been to, we drove that hour and checked into one of the best hotels in San Antonio, which we booked online at this site. A side note: I only paid $2.07 for diesel, which is by far the cheapest gas I’ve paid for on this little road trip of ours, and that helped us do more financially, than we thought we would be able to do, thanks to cheap diesel in Texas!

We arrived New Years Eve, because we wanted to be somewhere different for the beginning of 2010, someplace with fresh energy and a place that offered a different atmosphere than what we are use to back in California, and you can’t get much more different than Texas. We celebrated New Years Eve in our hotel room.

Then, New Years Day, which was a beautiful day, about 70 degrees, we decided to check out the Alamo. We’ve both seen it in movies and read about it in our history books, but we wanted to see the little mission for real. We thought we’d be the only one’s to tour it, being New Years Day and everyone recovering with hangovers, but we were so wrong. The place had a throng of people, is was totally mobbed! Apparently, everyone in San Antonio had the day off and decided that there was no better time to see the Alamo! So, we opted to do the Riverwalk instead and relax with listening to live music. So much for the Alamo!

New Years Day in San Antonio is a post from: Empty Voices

The next time you’re in Virginia, put some time aside from all the theme parks and living museums, and check out a different piece of history at Fort Monroe’s Casemate Museum in Hampton, Virginia.  The fort itself was constructed from 1819 to 1834, although the site’s fortifications stretch back as far as Captain John Smith in 1608 who wanted to build a fort at Point Comfort, which was the colonial name for this part of the country.  Fort Algernourne was built here first in 1609.  During the war of 1812, though, after the capture and burning of Washington D.C. in 1814, the nation realized better coastal defenses were needed.  The first and the biggest of these defenses was Fort Monroe.  Generally speaking, a casemate, also known as a casement, is an armored building from which guns may be fired, from the original idea of a fortress’ vaulted chamber.  During the Civil War, the casement at Fort Monroe was used as a prison, where the former Confederate President, Jefferson Davis, was held.

Inside the biggest stone fort in the United States (not to mention the only fort still operating with a moat around it), you will find the Casement Museum.  To get inside, drive across the moat and provide your license and registration to receive a day pass.  The museum itself covers the history of the fort from its origins in the 1830s, the Civil War, both World Wars, to the present day.  You’ll be able to see where Jefferson Davis was kept prisoner, and there are also restored rooms that depict what life was like at the fort during the Civil War.  Afterward, you’ll be able to go on a walking tour of the fort and see more historic areas.

Many people who stay over night in the Hampton area have found this museum one of the best parts of their trip to the Hampton-Williamsburg area.  Indeed, going inside Fort Monroe and visiting the Casement Museum is a little like time traveling: You’ll find out about the famous people who were there, what happened to them, and why the fort was built the way it was.  It’s a trip that’s relaxing and casual, and, most important these days, it’s free.

Casement Museum in Hampton is a post from: Empty Voices

These days it seems that many of the people you talk to, have their creditors or lenders on speed dial. It is a sign of the times and the economic situation in many countries around the world. A creditor is simply the one to refer to when it is necessary to take out a loan. Payday loans are becoming more popular as they are approved rather quickly either online or over the telephone, and the money is deposited into the borrowers checking account, in most cases, within twenty four hours. This is very convenient for the times that are not so convenient, such as the hot water heater exploding or an unexpected visit to the doctor’s office, a few days before payday.

For the last few years, many people have found it necessary to borrow money in order to provide themselves and their families with the basic essentials of life. And as history has proven, when there is a need, there will be a supply. The United States government found it necessary to step in, and to make laws, regulations, and policies to protect the ordinary citizen from being taken advantage of. This is what is known now, as the Truth in Lending Act. This applies not only to lenders, but to the credit card companies as well. When considering taking out a payday loan, be certain that the company or the lender you are dealing with is reputable and has consented to the policies of transparency, or in other words, are simple telling you the complete and honest truth.

In order ensure this, the borrower must be well informed. They must make certain that there are no hidden fees or costs and they must look for the loan with the lowest interest rate. Payday loans help. They provide quick solutions to immediate financial problems or challenges. In order to become fully aware of one’s options, one source of information is not enough. It is best to check online for reviews provided by previous customers, as well as to thoroughly investigate the reports provided by the government and by the Better Business Bureau. The payday loans will ensure that your immediate circumstances will be rectified, giving you many more options to continue planning for your future .

Understanding the Truth in Lending Act is a post from: Empty Voices

From the incredible architectural, engineering and design feat of the Brooklyn Bridge to the bridges that dot the interior of Central Park, New York is the city for bridges…just something about walking across a bridge, is a bit more enchanting and romantic in feeling, than simply walking down the street.  The tunnels and the bridges through Central Park however, were not originally conceived as part of the park, but just a means for traffic to traverse the park, without interrupting the layout and the landscaping of the park.  They had originally planned for walkways, but the bridges were an addition to the original design by Vaux and Olmsted, the famous designers.

The Commissioners for the city’s Parks and Recreation Department made the suggestion to add the bridges shortly after the bridle paths were laid out.  Other aspects of the design which had the commissioners considering a change was the previously failed systems of highways.  These were the days before traffic lights, and with the horses and riders, and the walkers, and the cars, bridges were the best solution in Central Park for the organization of the traffic going through on a day to day basis.

One of the interesting aspects of the bridges, and a testament to the talent and the foresight of the planners, is that many of the bridges were made to blend in to the surrroundings, and quite a few of them are impossible to notice unless you are aware that they are there in the first place.  Vaux and Olmsted remained steadfast to their belief that structures in a public park must serve a function.  And while walking through the park today, there are many beautiful structures, their bridges remain.  Many of the hotels offer tours of Central Park, check here for a list of those in the neighborhood, and next time you’re strolling along, keep your eyes peeled for the hidden bridges in New York City’s grand park.

The Bridges of Central Park is a post from: Empty Voices

There are many entertainment and cultural attraction options available for tourists who visit Long Beach, California and of course these same attractions continually entertain and satisfy the city’s residence. It’s not far from the greater Los Angeles area and while there is plenty to do in that major neighbor, Long Beach has a great performance scene of its own and there’s no need to travel to LA for a great evening out. Tourists who visit the city and enjoy a great stay in one of the Long Beach hotels frequently ask about the local theatre scene and consequently enjoy a performance at the Long Beach Playhouse.

And for those lucky enough to currently be staying in the city, or have near future plans to visit it they will be able to attend a performance of the company’s current production of Our Town by Thornton Wilder. This production is directed by Sharyn Case and includes a full cast of extremely talented and committed actors. Our Town is probably the most famous play by this exceptional playwright and it is also one of the more difficult ones to produce. Most of the audience members will likely already be familiar with it and make the production original and fresh as well as contemporarily meaning takes some major dramaturgical efforts. However, what it has going for it, other than the fact it’s a great play, is that it touches with essential human aspects, which seem to remain timeless in significance.

The script is also a long one, it’s three acts, which can sometimes put pressure on the production when playing for an audience who has gotten incredibly used to two act plays that wrap up neatly in a two hour time period. However, once again the quality of the production and the strength of the script can be combined to create one of the most powerful theatrical experiences on today’s stage. Wilder received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his work on this play.

Our Town at the Long Beach Playhouse is a post from: Empty Voices

Georgia keeps getting cooler all the time.  Not that it needs any help, or excuses, since it’s always been one of the more interesting places in the country.  There’s a very diverse population, with a fascinating history, and it seems like it’s always been ripe for seeing new works of live art.  This coming season, one of the more exciting events, which will likely fill Georgia’s hotels with interesting rock and rollers form all over, is the Pink Floyd Experience.  The show has a pretty big price tag, but from all the reviews and the word of mouth, it’s definitely worth the cost of the ticket.

Seeing this in Atlanta will also be another boost to the value of the show, since the music community here is very open, but at the same time immensely discerning.  That’s exactly the kind of crowd this show needs, with its amazing special effects, and complex music that changed the way we listen to rock.  Pink Floyd itself is a spectacularly interesting story, with lots of strange and sudden changes, and a lot of loss.  They’ve singularly raised the bar on the idea of concept albums, taking the cue from the Who and pushing it to new extremes.  One of the long-times themes of the band, madness, has worked its way into a lot of the work, and it makes for interesting stories for the next generation.

Pink Floyd’s earliest clues that madness would haunt the band came from its magnetic front man Syd Barrett.  He could not hold onto the chord keeping him in this world, and he left the band after creating music that moved rock into the realm of art.  The Wall, one of their most successful works, was based in part on him, and turned out to be excellent fodder for fans who felt uneasily on this side of sanity themselves.  The original members aren’t playing in the Pink Floyd Experience, but the ones who are playing tribute to them have got the sounds down solid, and carry an enormous passion for the music.  It will be a night to remember for a long time to come.

Georgia Experiences Pink Floyd is a post from: Empty Voices