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Archive for June, 2012

Alaskan Cuisine: 3 Restaurants in Juneau for Fresh Fish

When you combine fresh Alaskan seafood with classic cuisine prepared by talented local chefs, there is nothing that compares. Here are 3 delectable options in Juneau that are sure to satisfy every palette.

Tracy’s King Crab Shack, winner of numerous awards for king crab bisque, operates May-September on the downtown Juneau waterfront, serving Alaska king crab legs, king crab cakes, and the famous bisque along with a few other tasty options, like Dungeness crab and scallops. The restaurant is unassuming and completely casual, where diners share tables with strangers and use their hands to enjoy some of the best seafood in Alaska. Twisted Fish Co. – Alaskan Grill serves up delicious spins on traditional Alaska seafood dishes. Consider these tasty takes on the menu: Sweet Potato Shrimp Cakes, Baked Salmon in Puff Pastry, Twisted Salmon Tacos, and Wild Berry Halibut Burger. The waterfront restaurant offers inside or outside dining, an open kitchen, and abundant ambiance. Zephyr Restaurant offers a unique Mediterranean approach to classic Alaska seafood favorites, including King Crab Fettuccine, Scallop and Salmon Caviar Fettuccine, and Grilled Tiger Prawn Kabobs. The…

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Montreal Jazz Festival Kicks Into Gear

Montreal Canada comes alive this weekend, as one of their summer’s hotbed music festivals kicks off. Starting back in 1980, Ray Charles et al were the cats meow of the day with 12,000 music lovers and fans. Montreal’s Jazz Fest now sees more than two million attendees pass through the city for the event and 2,500 musicians from over 20 countries. Montreal’s downtown area Quartier des Spectacles will dive into its 33rd year with more than 800 concerts around the city which will range from outdoor (free) concerts to inside venues where you need a ticket to attend. There’s a Battle of the Bands event as showings by Norah Jones, James Taylor, Liza Minnelli, Seal, CéU, Esperanza Spalding (the one who beat out Bieber at the Grammys), Chris Botti, Ziggy Marley, Janelle Monáe, Meshell Ndegeocello, Billy Bragg, and electronic sensation Tangerine Dream. As for planning your logistics, here are Fodor’s top picks for where to eat and where to stay: (see our comments on some of these picks as a few were included in our own write-ups when we did restaurant reviews of Montreal last summer). Eating in Montreal:

• Au Pied de Cochon where the title

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Long Live the King: Learning to Love Thailand’s Monarch

“I’m not standing for the King,” the German man behind me snapped.  “I’m standing because I want to.” A few hundred passengers, awaiting trains in Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong station, had risen with the opening chords of the national anthem.  Expats, locals and tourists faced a giant portrait of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. It was my first day in the country, so I did not have the European gentleman’s conviction – I only straightened my legs because everyone else did.  Should I place a palm over my heart, or knock fingers against my forehead in salute?  Was the King alive, dead or simply resting after a kidney-stone removal? But after living in Thailand for several months, I’ve come to recognize his (does the King deserve a capital H?) image and influence over the country.  Known as a reformer who loves his people, they’ve responded by adding “The Great” to his name. And while many visitors arrive in Bangkok…

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Steveston Salmon Festival in Canada’s British Colombia

Widely known as “Canada’s biggest littlest birthday party,” the Salmon Festival in Steveston, British Columbia, returns for its 67th year on Canada Day (July 1). The people of Steveston have come together every year since 1945 to celebrate Canada’s birthday and the rich heritage of their community. This day-long extravaganza features a parade, carnival rides, cultural displays, a pancake breakfast, art shows and a children’s festival. But the main event is the renowned salmon barbeque, where over 1,200 pounds of fresh BC sockeye salmon are grilled over a wood fire and served to legions of hungry revellers. (Photo courtesy of Steveston Salmon Festival)

2012 Newport Flower Show Awards Announced

The Preservation Society of Newport County has announced the following design and horticulture awards, which were handed out at the 17th annual Newport Flower Show at Rosecliff last weekend. *DISPLAY GARDENS URI Master Gardener Association Sustainable Garden Award (for excellence in a landscape design which incorporates earth-friendly sustainable plant material):
Crystal Brinson & Kenneth Jardin, Falmouth, MA Founder’s Award (to the most original and creative use of plant material in a landscape):
Nancy Jensen Carliss, Vetra Organic Landcare, Falmouth, MA Chairmen’s Award (for exceptional design and horticulture in a Display Garden):
Sarah Partyka & Sue Champagne, The Farmer’s Daughter, South Kingstown, RI and Karen Barbera, Inspired Design, North Kingstown, RI Garden Club of America Award of Distinction in Education (for an exhibit of exceptional educational merit which increases the knowledge and appreciation of plants):
Sarah Partyka & Sue Champagne, The Farmer’s Daughter, South Kingstown, RI and Karen Barbera, Inspired Design, North Kingstown, RI *RETAIL WINDOW DISPLAY CLASS City of Newport Best Retail Window Display Award (to an exhibitor whose window best interprets and incorporates the Show theme):
Michael Hayes for…

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The Top World Heritage Sites Across Cultures

The World Heritage List includes 936 properties forming part of the cultural and natural heritage which the World Heritage Committee considers as having outstanding universal value. These include 725 cultural sites, 183 natural sites, and 28 mixed properties in 153 States Parties. Here’s the ‘wonders’ listed alphabetically. How many have you been to and which ones are your favorites? …

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A Boat Loada Live Fish at 99 Ranch Market

99 Ranch Market has been around since 1984 with its first store opening in California, which is where they are most well known for its fresh fish and produce. Everything in the market seems to be alive, so if you’re not expecting a store full of swimming fish when you walk in, it can be a bit of a shocker. Even though its been around for over twenty years and I spend a lot of time in northern California, I was only first introduced to the store recently, as I made my way through each aisle like a kid in a candy store marveling at so many products you can’t find at a standard supermarket – from chestnuts and flavored lychees to sea urchins, crawfish and snails. 99 Ranch is under the Tawa Supermarket brand, and was originally founded by Roger H. Chen from the greater LA area. Tawa most targets the desires and needs of Asian immigrants by providing them with their hometown flavors.  To give you an idea of what to expect as you meander through the store, take a look at the visual spectacle below at one of their locations in Silicon Valley a mere 20 minutes…

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Denver’s Sheraton & Westin: My Ongoing Point About Customer Service…

When I travel, I tend to seek out the more unique mid to high end boutique hotels and resorts, rather than the chains, moreso because I want the element of surprise rather than something that looks the same everywhere. I remember when I was on trip to Russia with my university program many years ago and how many of the students were seeking out anything that resembled the Starbucks equivalent of way back when (I’m not sure we had an equivalent at the time) or a McDonalds, which certainly had begun to infiltrate Europe, even the East. At that time however, it was still very gray and for the most part your only options were local restaurants, many of which were in the main hotels and food was most definitely not their strength. This seeking out something that was familiar to home came up again and again throughout our trip and years later I look back on that moment in time when I was 18 years old as one of the first memories of an experience I’d have for the rest of my time on the road. It’s always been astonishing to me how often people look…

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