Ditch Fridays Palms Pool

Palms Pool

The Palms Pool & Bungalows features two acres of swimming pools that can accommodate up to 3,000 guests for the weekly live concert pool parties, Ditch Fridays and Ditch Saturdays.

The pool has three bars. The Glass Bar is under an elevated glass-bottomed deck pool and provides cool comfort for those above and unique scenery for those below. The Waterfall Bar is hidden behind a cascading, 12-foot waterfall. And the Entry Bar greets guests as they enter the watery oasis.

The pool also has 27 cabanas. Each features a 32-inch LCD TV, speakers with individual volume control, a house phone, a lighted fan, a refrigerator, a safe and furniture.

Green Tortoise Adventure Travel

Whether you're seeking the ultimate United States cross-country overland experience; interested in hiking and camping in Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, Zion, and the nation's premier National Parks; hoping to uncover the mysteries of an ancient Central American civilization; or craving a bit of solitude by the sea in Baja, our North America destinations will inspire the intrepid and reflective alike.

Our adventure bus tours are designed for fun-loving, independent backpackers who value cooperation. We invite all travelers, from the young to the young at heart, to contribute to the unique social dynamic that is created on every Green Tortoise trip. Discover for yourself why our adventure camping trips have been attracting socially conscious travelers since 1974.

http://www.greentortoise.com/adventure.travel.html

Nihonmachi Street Fair in Japantown

Nihonmachi Street Fair
Japantown
Geary and Sutter

In San Francisco's Japantown, the Nihonmachi Street Fair will take to the streets again for another exciting weekend. With the spirit of unity, we welcome back old friends and open our hearts to new friendships.

Celebrating the diverse Asian and Pacific American communities in the Bay Area. The Street Fair is about the diversity in our communities and the common bonds we share. Come and learn about the issues facing the Asian/Pacific Americans today and meet the people behind the nonprofit organizations that provide vital services to our communities. It's a community grassroots event where you'll find young and old volunteering side by side in hopes to inspire others to give back to their communities.

http://nihonmachistreetfair.org

Kids Day - Sonoma County Fair

FRIDAY, AUGUST 2

FAIR HOURS: 11 AM TO 11 PM
Kids' Day - 12 & under Free
Food Bank Friday
Carnival Pay-One-Price – Unlimited Rides for $25

Wine Country Horse Racing - Opening Day Celebration
1:30 pm - Racing Seminars
3:15 pm - Post Time – Racing Grandstand

Special Events
7:00 pm - Flat Track Motorcycle Racing - Chris Beck Arena
7:00 pm - Batalla Grupera - Community Theater

Livestock
9:00 am - Market Lamb Auction - Wilford Ring
10:00 am - Open Beef Show - Jamison Ring
1:00 pm - Poultry Meat Pen - Wilford Ring
1:30 pm - Market Goat Auction - Wilford Ring

Music
1:15, 2:00 & 3:45 pm - Carlitos Medrano - Park Stage
3:00 pm - Nuevo Amancer - Mexican Village
3:15 & 5:30 pm - Café Bongo - Community Theater
4:00 pm - Oyé World Drummers - Mexican Village
4:30 - 8:00 pm - The Terry Hancks Band - Blues & Brews Lounge
6:00, 7:15 & 8:15 pm - Michael & TLC's Image of Elvis - Park Stage
7:00 - 10:00 pm - Girls & Boys - Sliders Gastro Pub & Sports Bar

Entertainment
12:30, 3:00, 6:30 pm - Magic Circus - Barnyard Stage
1:00, 2:30 & 4:15 pm - Soudough Slim - Community Theater
1:30, 3:30 & 6:00 pm - The Corny Crow Show - Kids Area
5:00 pm - MoonDancer Moon Dancers - Barnyard Stage
5:00 pm - Daily Parade - Around the Grounds

Azure

Bringing in Roman Rosati as the resident DJ, Azure, the pool at the Palazzo is open for the season.
The pool's hours will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, through the end of October.

From a chaise, daybed or cabana within the Côte d'Azur-inspired enclave, guests can partake in Azure’s frozen grapes, frozen towels, poolside massages courtesy of Canyon Ranch Spa and Evian water mists, pampered at every turn by so-called “amenity butlers and butlerettes.”

Cronut is a Donut and Croissant

Sonoma County Fair in the Wine Country

Sonoma County Fair in the Wine Country

1350 Bennett Valley Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95404

http://www.sonomacountyfair.com

Corn Sponge at Corton

Red Bull Cocktails

Soba Noodles

Zagat Reviews

Zagat Reviews

Rooftop Bars

California Street and Powell Street Cable Car Line

Today, there are two types of cable cars in regular service. Though they differ in appearance, their operation is almost identical.

The California Street Cable Car Line uses twelve larger, maroon cable cars which have an open seating section at each end and a closed section in the middle. These cars can be operated from either end, and turn around by means of a simple switch at the end of the line.

The two Powell Street lines (Powell-Hyde & Powell-Mason) use smaller cable cars, operable from only one end and thus require turntables to reverse direction at the ends of the line. There are 28 Powell cars kept on the roster at any given time. Several sport historic liveries recapturing the look of the cars at various points in the twelve-decade history of the service.

Additionally, there are unique cable cars from now-vanished lines which Market Street Railway and the Cable Car Museum are working to return to service in the future.

http://www.sfcablecar.com

Golden Gate Ferry : Children 5 and Under Free

Golden Gate Ferry : Children 5 and Under Free
Adults $9
Park in Larkspur
Take the ferry into San Francisco
http://goldengateferry.org/

Green Tortoise Yosemite National Park - 3 Days/4 Nights

Yosemite National Park - 3 Days/4 Nights

Take the alternative backpacker bus tour to Yosemite — one of America's most beautiful National Parks! This wilderness adventure includes a day of activities in the famed Yosemite Valley. Camp in the majestic Sierra Mountains, and swim at Mono Lake. Relax or hike in a sub-alpine meadow, and trek through 2,000-year-old giant Sequoia trees.

Our Yosemite camping tour leaves San Francisco in the evening, and we arrive in Yosemite Valley for a continental breakfast and an incredible view under El Capitan. Lush woodlands sustained by the Merced River contrast the sheer granite faces that make Yosemite world famous. The park ranges from 600 - 4000 meters (2,000 - 13,000 feet) above sea level. Breathe in the fresh air and take a leisurely walk through the forest on the way to the Ansel Adams Gallery and Yosemite Museum, or take a peek inside the famous Awahnee Hotel. Walk up to Columbia point for great views of Half Dome.

Strong hikers can head up the Mist Trail and get up close to two thundering waterfalls. The Ansel Adams Gallery puts everything in black-and-white, while numerous trails offer many different full-color perspectives of the sights — don't forget good hiking shoes! Bicycling or floating the river are also great ways to spend the day, before we embark eastward across the park's sunset vistas.

We arrive in the eastern Sierra for dinner and a starry desert campsite. Wake up to a cookout breakfast in the spectacular Mono Basin. We spend the day exploring deserts, high mountains, American Indian country, and Mono Lake, an ancient inland sea. Walk lightly amongst the tufa spires as you explore this unique, fragile environment.

Enjoy a refreshing dip at June Lake. Embark on a scenic drive over the 9,945 ft (3 km) Tioga pass to Tuolumne Meadows, the largest sub-alpine meadow in the Sierras. Go for a swim in the Tuolumne River or scale Lembert Dome for breathtaking panoramic views of Yosemite's high country.

An incredible drive takes us to beautiful Olmstead Point for group pictures, then to awesome Tuolumne Grove for a visit with the massive, ancient Giant Sequoias. We'll wrap up our adventures with a late-night stop at a Gold Rush-era saloon, and arrive back in San Francisco early the next morning.

Note: Be prepared! We visit many environments in the course of our Yosemite adventure, so anything from valley heat to a near freezing night is possible. Your food fund covers all national park and camping fees, and all meals.

http://www.greentortoise.com

Yosemite Tours by Amtrak Train

See Yosemite in 1 Day! By Amtrak Train
14.5 Hour Itinerary from San Francisco

Start at: The Ferry Building (San Francisco 7:00am)
Guided Shuttle to Emeryville Train Station
Comfortable Train Ride (2 Hours)
Yosemite Shuttle to Valley Floor
2 Hour Yosemite Valley Floor Tour Option
See: Half Dome
El Capitan
Bridal Veil Falls
Sentinel Bridge
Tunnel View
Yosemite Falls
Or Check out our Free Time Option!
Depart Yosemite Lodge at the Falls (4:20pm)
Yosemite Shuttle to Amtrak Tran Station
Comfortable Train Ride (2 Hours)
Arrive Emeryville, CA (9:45pm)
Hotel Drop-Off at SF Hotels (Union Square / Financial District)

http://www.yosemitetourshuttle.com

USA Rail Passes on Amtrak

USA Rail Passes 

Travel the U.S. with Amtrak

Chinatown

The Chinatown, centered around Grant Avenue and Stockton Street in San Francisco, California, is the oldest Chinatown in North America and the largest Chinese community outside Asia and is the oldest of the four notable Chinatowns in the city.

Pier 39

Entertainment, sea lions, fresh fruit stands, ferries to Angel Island, aquarium, restaurants and parking.

Views of San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Cliff House

San Francisco Beaches, excellent dishes, warm drinks, drive down the coast of California, but stop at the Cliff House.

http://www.cliffhouse.com

San Francisco State University California

San Francisco State University, located in one of the world's most vibrant and beautiful cities, is a recognized leader in addressing issues both global and close to home.

Enjoy your college experience in the greatest city in the world, San Francisco.

Nearly 300 clubs and organizations help students explore their interests and connect with others. The Associated Students, SF State's student government, supports a first-class child care program, low-cost health insurance and a legal resource center. In addition, many fraternities and sororities are active on campus.

In the global arena, typically SF State enrolls the largest number of international students at any comprehensive university in the U.S., and ranks second among U.S. universities for the number of students who study abroad for an academic year. With a diverse range of students from almost every state and nearly 100 countries, the University community is a perfect setting for learning to succeed in a pluralistic society and global economy. Our highly diverse campus consistently ranks in the top 20 nationwide in awarding undergraduate degrees to minorities.

SF State's pioneering commitment to community and civic engagement is prevalent throughout the curriculum. More than 500 courses combine academic study with community involvement, and our location in a center of business, technology and culture provides a laboratory for community-service projects, work-study opportunities and internships. The University has been named by Princeton Review one of 81 "Colleges with a Conscience," and is classified as one of the Carnegie Foundation's "Community Engagement" institutions.

http://www.sfsu.edu

A Year in the World is vintage Frances Mayes

A Year in the World is vintage Frances Mayes

The author who unforgettably captured the experience of starting a new life in Tuscany in bestselling travel memoirs expands her horizons to immerse herself—and her readers—in the sights, aromas, and treasures of twelve new special places.

A Year in the World is vintage Frances Mayes—a celebration of the allure of travel, of serendipitous pleasures found in unlikely locales, of memory woven into the present, and of a joyous sense of quest. An ideal travel companion, Frances Mayes brings to the page the curiosity of an intrepid explorer, remarkable insights into the wonder of the everyday, and a compelling narrative style that entertains as it informs.

With her beloved Tuscany as a home base, Mayes travels to Spain, Portugal, France, the British Isles, and to the Mediterranean world of Turkey, Greece, the South of Italy, and North Africa. In Andalucía, she relishes the intersection of cultures. She cooks in Portugal, gathers ideas in the gardens of England and Scotland, takes a literary pilgrimage to Burgundy, discovers an ideal place to live in Mantova, and explores the essential Moroccan city of Fez. She rents houses among ordinary residents, shops at neighborhood markets, wanders the back streets, and everywhere contemplates the concept of home. While in Greece, she follows the classic Homeric voyage across the Aegean, lives in a bougainvillea-draped stone house in Crete, and then drives deep into the Mani. In Turkey with friends, she sails the ancient coast, hiking to archaeological sites and snorkeling over sunken Byzantine towns. Weaving together personal perceptions and informed commentary on art, architecture, history, landscape, and social and culinary traditions of each area, Mayes brings the immediacy of life in her temporary homes to the reader. An illuminating and passionate book that will be savored by all who loved Under the Tuscan Sun, A Year in the World is travel writing at its peak.

Fillmore Jazz Festival 2013

Fillmore Jazz Festival 2013

The best talent the Bay has to offer is showcased on our stages, from up-and-coming jazz fusion and latin-flavored acts to seasoned crooners belting out jazz standards. Groove to your old favorites or tune in to new sounds - our performance schedule will help you get the most out of the Fillmore Jazz Festival.

http://www.fillmorejazzfestival.com

Green Tortoise in San Francisco

Summer Fun - Don't forget the Green Tortoise in San Francisco, California this summer.

The Green Tortoise San Francisco hostel is a full service, fun, comfortable, and welcoming hostel. Located in the North Beach area (Little Italy), famous for entertainment, bookstores, and Beat Generation history. The hostel is close to Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf, and public transportation that can take you all over the Bay Area.

http://www.greentortoise.com

Napa Valley Wine Train

The Napa Valley Wine Train provides a relaxing three-hour, thirty-six mile round-trip journey from the historic town of Napa, through one of the world's most well known wine valleys to the quaint village of St. Helena, and back.

Guests aboard the Wine Train enjoy a freshly prepared lunch or dinner inside a fully restored 1915-1917 Pullman Dining Car or 1952 Vista Dome car as they pass the vineyards and wineries of Napa Valley. They also have the option of pre-purchasing a winery tour.

The tracks upon which the Napa Valley Wine Train runs were originally built in the 1860s to bring guests to the hot spring resort town of Calistoga. While the track to Calistoga no longer exists, much of the rest of the route of the Napa Valley Wine Train is unchanged. The tracks run through the heart of the world famous wine region. During the three hour journey, guests can see five towns; Napa, Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford, and St. Helena; and numerous wineries through the large picture windows on board.

The Napa Valley Wine Train begins its journey at the McKinstry Street Station in Napa. The Train then travels north to St. Helena, where the locomotive disconnects from the north facing side of the Train and reconnects to the south facing side of the Train in preparation for the return journey. Currently, the Napa Valley Wine Train stops at different locations depending on the day of the week. Guests are only allowed to disembark at these locations if they have pre-purchased one of the Winery Tours.

Website
http://winetrain.com

Sonoma Traintown Railroad : The Children Will Love You

Sonoma Traintown Railroad : Parents enjoy tasting in the wine country, but the children. For boys and girls, there is train town. The children will never forget how fun it is. 

Located just one mile south of the Plaza in Sonoma, TrainTown features a quarter scale railroad on 4 miles of track. Each train trip lasts 20-minutes and goes through tunnels, over bridges and makes a stop in Lakeview- our miniature town and petting zoo. 

In addition to the train ride we also offer six amusement rides.

General admission and parking are free of charge.

Website

http://www.traintown.com

Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes

Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes

Frances Mayes teaches at San Francisco State University.

Frances Mayes—widely published poet, gourmet cook, and travel writer—opens the door to a wondrous new world when she buys and restores an abandoned villa in the spectacular Tuscan countryside. In evocative language, she brings the reader along as she discovers the beauty and simplicity of life in Italy. Mayes also creates dozens of delicious seasonal recipes from her traditional kitchen and simple garden, all of which she includes in the book. Doing for Tuscany what M.F.K. Fisher and Peter Mayle did for Provence, Mayes writes about the tastes and pleasures of a foreign country with gusto and passion.

June: 29-30: San Francisco Pride Celebration

June: 29-30: San Francisco Pride Celebration

San Francisco Pride has been said to be "one of the last remaining pride events that can truly be called a rite of passage."

The SF Pride Celebration will be held over the weekend of June 29 and 30, 2013, in downtown San Francisco in Civic Center at the foot of San Francisco's historic City Hall where Harvey Milk once stood and addressed Pride-goers more tha thirty years ago.

With over 200 parade contingents, 300 exhibitors, and more than 20 stages and venues, the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration and Parade is the largest LGBT gathering in the nation.

A week of festivities celebrating LGBT culture in San Francisco culminates with the Pride Parade and party at the Civic Center. The celebration is the largest LGBT gathering in the nation. Get ready for an enormous party, with a large parade, 300 exhibitors and 19 stages and venues. Several events are held throughout the city during the week leading up to the weekend.

http://sfpride.org

http://sfpride.org/celebration

Paris in A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway

“But Paris was a very old city and we were young and nothing was simple there, not even poverty, nor sudden money, nor the moonlight, nor right and wrong nor the breathing of someone who lay beside you in the moonlight.”

“I’ve seen you, beauty, and you belong to me now, whoever you are waiting for and if I never see you again, I thought. You belong to me and all Paris belongs to me and I belong to this notebook and this pencil.”

James Gandolfini Las Vegas

All the news reports I am hearing are about how James Gandolfini loved Las Vegas, especially the restaurants. John Katsilometes writes a great article about James Gandolfini.

Gandolfini was a gracious, generous ‘man’s man’ who loved visiting Vegas

By John Katsilometes

It’s a rhetorical question to ask when evaluating fame and influence: When all the men get together, who is “the man?”





James Gandolfini was the man. In whatever room he entered, he was the guy.

“He was a great actor, but a better guy,” Steve Schirripa, Gandolfini’s friend and co-star in the groundbreaking Showtime series “The Sopranos” said during a phone conversation today. “I am in shock. It’s terrible. He was like a brother. I am very, very sad.”

Gandolfini died Wednesday of what doctors believe was a heart attack while on vacation in Rome. He was 51.

The former entertainment director at the Riviera, Schirripa now lives in New York. He learned of Gandolfini’s death when his business manager, Roger Haber, called while Schirripa was watching the Yankees-Dodgers game at Yankee Stadium. Haber was also Gandolfini’s manager.

“This was about an hour after it happened,” Schirripa said. “I got up and left. I was just in shock. I still am.”

Schirripa related Gandolfini’s generosity, which was substantial.

“After the fourth season of ‘The Sopranos,’ he gave us all $33,333,” he said. “He just wanted to do it.” When asked why the numbers were all 3s, Schirripa said, “I didn’t ask him why. But I did thank him. That’s like giving someone a new car, and he did it for 16 of us.”

Gandolfini also appeared in Schirripa’s movie, “Nicky Deuce.” The premiere of that film on May 20 ago marked the last time the two spent time together.

“I asked him to be in the movie, and he didn’t have to do it but he did it as a favor,” Schirripa said. “He came to the premiere in L.A. and was in a really good mood, happy, at peace. We had a drink afterward and that was the last time I saw him.

Gandolfini was a frequent visitor to Las Vegas, making appearances with cast members at the Las Vegas Hilton, Paris Las Vegas and Golden Nugget. Las Vegas photographer Denise Truscello took a memorable portrait of the cast at the Golden Nugget in 2004. Schirripa also appeared with Gandolfini at Mandalay Bay in 2007 for the unveiling of the new “Sopranos” slot machine.

“After we did that appearance, he gave me $10,000,” Schirripa said. “I asked, ‘What’s this for?’ and he said, ‘You worked a lot harder at that event than I did.’ ”

Schirripa introduced Gandolfini to many Vegas dignitaries, among them then-Mirage President Felix Rappaport (as Gandolfini was researching his role as resort president Doug Munny in “Burt Wonderstone”) and Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health founder Larry Ruvo.

“He was a man’s man,” Ruvo said during a phone conversation Wednesday night. “He loved great food and great wine, and he was my kind of guy.

“I am just heartbroken, heartbroken that he’s no longer with us. I will miss him terribly. We lost a good one.”

Ruvo got to know Gandolfini when Gandolfini was in town a couple of years ago during the filming “Burt Wonderstone.” Gandolfini was taken on a tour of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and was blown away by what he saw, which is not an unusual consequence — everyone from Mom to Colin Powell is impressed by the Cleveland Clinic operation.

Gandolfini and Ruvo quickly became friends, and had lunch and dinner during Gandolfini’s time in Vegas. At one point the actor asked Ruvo about how to lend support to the Cleveland Clinic. Ruvo, founder of the research-and-treatment fortress and senior managing director of Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada, invited Gandolfini to the upcoming Keep Memory Alive “Power of Love” gala at the MGM Grand in February 2012.

The event was to honor Muhammad Ali on the event of his 70th birthday and the VIP guest list was brimming with stars, Gandolfini among them.

But Gandolfini nearly didn’t make the trip.

“He called the week before and said, ‘My doctor said I can’t come, Larry. I hate to let you down, but I’ve got a very bad knee and he won’t let me fly,’ ” Ruvo said during a phone conversation. “I told him, of course I understood and I was disappointed, but not to get better and thanked him.”

But that wouldn’t be the end of the conversation.

“He called me 48 hours before the event and said, ‘Larry, I’m a tough guy and I’m coming,’ ” Ruvo continued. “I said, ‘Don’t jeopardize your health.’ And he said, ‘No, I’ll be there.’ ”

Gandolfini was still being told not to fly, but did make the event anyway.

“He got in a limousine and rode five hours to Las Vegas so he could show up to our event on crutches,” Ruvo said. “He believed in Keep Memory Alive, he was a supporter, he loved the Cleveland Clinic. … But most important, he was fun. He was great to be with. He was just an absolutely sensational guy to be in a conversation with. I will miss him terribly.”

Schirripa said Gandolfini was a far more complex personality than the role he played on “The Sopranos,” noting that Gandolfini and his second wife, Deborah had a daughter, Liliana Ruth, in October.

“He was a regular guy and a family man,” Schirripa said. “He was a deep-thinking, music-loving, Birkenstock-wearing guy. He cared about his family and his friends. To me, he was nothing like Tony Soprano, and I knew them both.”

Website:

http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/blogs/kats-report/2013/jun/20/gandolfini-was-gracious-generous-mans-man-who-love/

Hachi Red Rock

Hachi Red Rock

Hachi already was one of the best restaurants in Summerlin and one of the coolest spots at the Red Rock Resort before the recent, ambitious upgrade to its menu of modern Japanese cuisine. If you haven’t been here in a while, it’s time to revisit and re-explore what might be one of Las Vegas’ most underrated restaurants.

Hachi Red Rock Resort, 797-7576. Sunday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 5-11 p.m.

Santa Monica Pier California

Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica Pier, Suite A
Santa Monica, CA 90401


LA’s favorite Summer tradition and premier outdoor concert series, the 29th annual Twilight Concerts at the Pier, returns Thursday, July 11th! Come catch the best contemporary and classic music with the most amazing views in Southern California.

TWILIGHT CONCERTS
THURSDAYS NIGHTS, ALL SUMMER
JULY 11 – SEPT 12, 7:00 – 10:00PM




http://santamonicapier.org

Green Tortoise Hostel San Francisco

The Green Tortoise San Francisco hostel is a full service, fun, comfortable, and welcoming hostel. Located in the North Beach area (Little Italy), famous for entertainment, bookstores, and Beat Generation history. The hostel is close to Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf, and public transportation that can take you all over the Bay Area.
http://www.greentortoise.com

http://www.greentortoise.com/san-francisco-hostel/index.php

Venice Beach Santa Monica California near Los Angeles International Airport LAX

Venice has always been known as a hangout for the creative and the artistic. In the 1950s and 60s, Venice became a center for the Beat generation. There was an explosion of poetry and art. Major participants included Stuart Perkoff, John Thomas, Frank T. Rios, Tony Scibella, Lawrence Lipton, John Haag, Saul White, Robert Farrington and Philomene Long.


Venice has always been known as a hangout for the creative and the artistic. In the 1950s and 60s, Venice became a center for the Beat generation. There was an explosion of poetry and art. Major participants included Stuart Perkoff, John Thomas, Frank T. Rios, Tony Scibella, Lawrence Lipton, John Haag, Saul White, Robert Farrington and Philomene Long.

Venice is today a vibrant area of Southern California and it continues a tradition of progressive social change involving prominent Westsiders.

The Venice Family Clinic is the largest free clinic in the country. The Venice Community Housing Corporation, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the economic, racial and social diversity of Venice and the surrounding area, provides affordable housing, economic and community development opportunities and needed social services to low income residents. Women in Recovery, Inc., a non-profit organization offering a live-in, 12-step program of rehabilitation for women in need, was founded by a longtime resident of Venice, Sister Ada Geraghty. Geraghty and her organization on Coeur D’ Alene Avenue annually honor those who’ve made a difference in helping women overcome substance abuse problems. The 2006 honoree for Women in Recovery was Christopher Lawford; past honorees have included Jamie Lee Curtis, Angela Lansbury, and Anthony Hopkins.

Venice Beach is understood to include the beach, the promenade that runs parallel to the beach (“Ocean Front Walk” or just “the boardwalk”), Muscle Beach, the handball courts, the paddle tennis courts, Skate Dancing plaza, the numerous beach volleyball courts, the bike trail and the businesses and residences that have their addresses on Ocean Front Walk. The basketball courts in Venice are renowned across the country for their high level of street ball and numerous NBA players were developed or recruited from these courts.

The Venice Breakwater is an acclaimed local surf spot in Venice, located north of the Venice Pier and Lifeguard Headquarters, and south of the Santa Monica Pier. This spot is sheltered on the north by an artificial barrier, the breakwater, consisting of an extending sand bar, piping, and large rocks at its end. This spot has differing breaks depending on swell intensity, swell direction, tide and time of the day.

Prominent residents of Venice include actresses Julia Roberts, Kate Beckinsale, and Anjelica Huston, actors Tom Conway (brother of actor George Sanders), lived here in the 1960s, Nicolas Cage, Chaney Kley, Tim Meadows, Robert Hegyes, Mark Valley, Michael T. Weiss, Fairuza Balk, Taylor Negron and musicians Perry Farrell, Evidence of Dilated Peoples, Saint John of Saint John and the Revelations, Joshua Kadison, John Lydon (who owns a sizeable amount of rental property in Venice), Ozzy from Survivor, John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fiona Apple and Mike Muir and most of his Suicidal Tendencies bandmates. Photographer Lauren Greenfield has lived in Venice since 1972.

Actor Robert Downey Jr. kept an apartment on the boardwalk during the 1990s. Harding Avenue is also where the Lennon Sisters of Lawrence Welk fame grew up. Jim Morrison lived in Venice for two years where he met Ray Manzarek to form the nucleus of The Doors. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s acting career began after becoming a regular bodybuilder at Venice’s famous Gold’s Gym, whose present facility claims to be “The Mecca of Bodybuilding.” Restaurateur Wolfgang Puck has owned and operated noted eateries in the area since the 1990s.

Other notables include actors Viggo Mortensen, Rutger Hauer, Bryan Callen, and Elijah Wood, and film directors Henry Jaglom and Paul Mazursky. For many years, pro wrestlers Hulk Hogan and Sting were announced as residing in Venice Beach as well. Standup comedians, such as Nick Swardson, Eddie Ifft, Paul Provenza, George Carlin and Zach Galifinakis and street performers have proliferated in Venice, Wavy Gravy and Swami X being two of the more recent hippie busker alumni.

Political contributions have been sent from homes in Venice from the actor Dennis Hopper and Simpsons creator Matt Groening. South Park co-creator Matt Stone lives in Venice as well.[10] Harry Perry, the famous street entertainer, is one of the boardwalk’s key performers. Photographer Helen K. Garber maintains a studio on Ocean Front Walk. Graffiti/Street Artist and painter Jean-Michel Basquiat lived in Venice in the 80′s. Immature, an R&B group from the 1990s, used to perform on the boardwalk prior to becoming famous. Other notable residents included comedian George Carlin. http://venicebeach.com

Las Vegas Local Friendly Pools

Bally’s

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Price: $10 per person per day.

Caesars Palace

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Price: $20 per person per day.

Golden Nugget

Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Price: $20 per person per day.

Luxor

Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (hours will change after Labor Day)

Price: $10 per person per day.

Monte Carlo

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Price: $10 per person per day, locals free.

M Resort

Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Price: $15 per person per day, $10 locals, children under 10 free. (After paying the one-time fee, women 21+ can be added to the pool’s permanent guest list for free entry, men 21+ for $7.50 entry. Call the pool for guest list placement.)

Planet Hollywood

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Price: $10 per person per day.

Rio

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Price: Free.

Sunset Station

Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Price: $10 per person per day. ($20 during holiday weekends and special events.)

Encore Beach Club Las Vegas

Tequila Shots at Electric Daisy Carnival

Downtown Hostels in San Francisco California

Downtown Hostel San Francisco California

Just a block from Union Square, this former hotel has both small dorms and private rooms, and serves free breakfast daily. A fun, friendly base for exploring the city, and your best bet for shopping, theater, Chinatown, and cable cars.

Super Moon, Sunday, June 23, 2013

The largest full moon of 2013, a so-called "supermoon," will light up the night sky this weekend, but there's more to this lunar delight than meets the eye.

Fisherman's Wharf Hostel San Francisco California

Fisherman's Wharf is the first and most famous San Francisco hostel, set in historic buildings on the waterfront, in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Free breakfast, free parking, an on-site cafe, and great views make this hostel a favorite. - See more at: http://www.sfhostels.com/#sthash.yDyH7VFG.dpuf

http://www.sfhostels.com

Electric Daisy Carnival Las Vegas Expected To Draw 115,000 Per Night

Electric Daisy Carnival Las Vegas Expected To Draw 115,000 Per Night

Up to 115,000 partiers are expected each night this weekend for a dusk-to-dawn sensory salad of electronic dance music, lights, partying and mingling at a sprawling speedway complex outside Las Vegas.

Electric Daisy Carnival officials said Wednesday that all 345,000 available tickets had been sold for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday night event at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The festival founder, Insomniac Events CEO Pasquale Rotella, likes to call the fans and the revelry the headline attraction at his nocturnal gatherings, which drew criticism in Los Angeles before moving to Las Vegas in 2011.

"That's one of the biggest spectacles of the entire event, 115,000 like-minded people all dressed up and having a good time," said Simon Rust Lamb, Insomniac chief operating officer and general counsel. "We want to create moments and memories that are full of joy and that help people create and connect with the people around them."

Hundreds of artists and theatrical performers like fire-twirlers and stilt-walkers are slated to roam the nearly 2-square-mile festival grounds, along with "art cars" blasting music from rolling mock-ups like a pirate ship or a boom box.

Fireworks are planned. Twenty art displays and three graffiti walls are being erected, along with a brightly-lit amusement park featuring several Ferris wheels. Performers include the collaborative fire art group Flaming Lotus Girls and a Rotella creation, Night Owl Experience.

Don't call it a concert. It's a carnival. And don't call it a rave, Lamb said, because that connotes an illegal underground warehouse party.

"The common thread is electronic music," he said. "There's nothing illegal, underground or warehouse about what we do."

The nonstop lineup on seven stages features more than 200 music producers and deejays, including Afrojack, Tiesto, Above & Beyond, Calvin Harris, Madeon, Armin van Buuren, Bloody Beetroots and former Swedish House Mafia member Steve Angelo.

Pat Christenson, whose role as Las Vegas Events president is to attract events to the city and tourists to the hotels, called Las Vegas uniquely able to handle the festival because it has years of experience hosting large events and a remote venue with parking for hundreds of thousands of fans.

"The footprint is big. The music is loud. But it's miles from downtown," Christenson said, "and the way the grandstand is, it's hard to hear the sound outside the speedway."

Insomniac Events has tried to expand the event – and the number of people booking hotel stays – by promoting pool parties, nightclub events and EDMbiz, a $500-per-ticket two-day conference on the business of dance music and culture. It began Wednesday.

"What I love about this festival is that it's new every year," Christenson said.

Lamb wouldn't disclose planned eye-poppers. But there will be a wedding chapel for ceremonies both legal and for fun.

Lamb said he hoped ticket-holders, whom he called "headliners," would be surprised and inspired by the scale of the event.

The festival moved to Las Vegas three years ago from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum after the 2010 death of a 15-year-old girl who was treated for drug intoxication, and the arrest of 114 people on misconduct, drug and other charges.

Rotella and four other defendants face criminal charges in Los Angeles stemming from a 29-count indictment handed up in February 2012 alleging bribery, conspiracy, embezzlement and other charges relating to work contracts at the Coliseum. A trial date has not been set.

In Las Vegas, police have reported few major problems while festival crowds have swelled. One festival-goer died last year when he was hit by a vehicle at a speedway exit.

Insomniac estimated nightly crowds at 75,000 to 85,000 in 2011, while police reported 29 felony arrests, mostly on drug charges. Hundreds of people received medical attention, including at least 17 who were hospitalized on the first two nights.

Crowds topped out at more than 106,000 last year, and police reported 54 drug arrests while paramedics treated 485 people, including 16 who were hospitalized.

Lamb said traffic patterns have been revamped this year to incorporate lessons from high-attendance NASCAR racing events at the speedway. The goal is to smoothly move the equivalent of the population of Ann Arbor, Mich., in and out each night.

Meanwhile, Bill Cassell, a Las Vegas police officer and department spokesman, said hundreds of officers will be assigned to the event at Insomniac expense.

"We look for people who are disorderly or fighting or using narcotics," Cassell said, "people who are disturbing the good, safe time that other people are having."

Attendance isn't cheap, but demand is high. A first batch of 30,000 tickets – at $199 for one night or $450 for all three nights – sold out last November in an hour. Later, tickets sold for $289; passes, $500.

Shuttle coach bus service some 15 miles from Las Vegas Strip hotels to the speedway gate costs $80, plus about $15 in fees. Lamb said 35,000 shuttle passes had been sold.

Buses and taxis will have dedicated access lanes, Lamb said, and more parking attendants have been added.

Organizers are asking people to carpool to and from the event.

"We're encouraging people to come early and leave when they feel comfortable and recognize that parking for 115,000 people will take a little time," Lamb said.

Website:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/19/electric-daisy-carnival-las-vegas_n_3468084.html?utm_hp_ref=san-francisco&ir=San%20Francisco

Coffee Latte Art

Always amazed at latte art.

Wynn Surrender Las Vegas

Hostel Cat Las Vegas

Party at Hostel Cat Las Vegas with us and your new hostel mates! EVERY DAY we have something going on!We take our guests into the funnest places for free or very cheap! Join us at the most popularpubs, clubs, rooftop pool trips, BBQs & drinking games!Our ‘easy-to-meet-people’ vibe makes it easy to find people who want to see and do the same things together! We have the best reviewsfor staff, social vibe, activities, price and location on all major booking sites! #1 Hostel in Las Vegas, #1 Hostel on all West Coast of the USA – voted by STA Travel (Student Travel Agency).

CHEAPEST BEDS IN THE CITY!!!

Weekly discount – get 7th night FREE! Starting about $72! That’s about $10 night!!! Must book all 7 days in advance, excludes tax.

http://hostelcat.com

Dim Sum : Scallop Dumplings

Hakkasan just opened a location in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Love dim sum? Why not try making it at home. We visited the New York location of Hakkasan to learn how to make the perfect scallop shumai.

Korean Chicken

Korean Chicken

The Video

Zagat's James Mulcahy goes inside the kitchen of NYC restaurant Mono+Mono to learn the chef's techniques for making crispy Korean Fried Chicken.

Ceviche

Pack With Care

Sivas Turkey

Sivas Turkey
Book by Jasmine Soylu

Translated into English and Turkish
Author of Turkish Marriage

Sivas ili, Turkiye'nin uc bolgesi arasinda yer alir ve buyuklugu bakimindan Turkiye'nin ikinci buyuk ilidir. Kizilirmak, Yesilirmak ve Firat'in onemli kollarindan biri olan Karasu nehri Sivas ili sinirlari icinde dogar. Sivasin tarihi cok eskiye dayanir. Ilk yerlesim donemi M.O.1600 ile Hititler ile baslayip, Frigler, Lidyalilar, Persler,Makedonyalilar, Romalilar, Bizanslilar ile Selcuklular kadar uzanir. Eskiden Mezopotomya ve arasinda kervanlarin gectigi bolgede oldugu icin, Selcuklular zamaninda tuccarlarin ziyaret ettigi bir merkez haline gelmistir. Sehrin ismi Sebastia iken Turkcelesmesiyle bugunku haline almistir. Sebastia , Yunancada saygideger, yuce anlamindadir. Bu ismi ,Pontuslar kurduklari sehre, Roma Imparatoru Augustus onuruna onun ismini vermislerdir. Bir baska rivayette de Sivs kurulmadan once ulu agaclar altinda kaynayan uc pinar varmis. Bu pinar Allaha sukur, anne ve babaya minnet ve kucuklere sefkat duygularini ifade edermis.Bu uc pinara Sipas suyu denirmis.Zamanla bu uc pinarin etrafinda kurulan yerlesim merkezine Sipas denmis. Sivas tarihi acidan cok zengin bir ilimizdir.Milli Mucadelede Sivas'in onemli bir yeri olmus; Sivas Kongresinde , ulkenin birinci dunya savasindan sonraki icinde bulundugu durum yuzunden bagimisizlik ve butunlugu icin onemli kararlar alinmistir. Tarihi eserler,mimari anitlar,kaplicalar, icmeler bakimindan zengindir. Abideler sehri diye de anilirki Selcuklu eserlerinin buyuk bir kismi burdadir.Ulu Cami, Meydan Cami, Kale Cami, Aliaga Cami, Imaret Cami,Merkez Cami,Gok Mederese, Cifte Minareli Medrese ve Buruciye Medresesi, Sifahiye Medresesi gorulmeye degecek yerlerdir. Turbeleri ve hanlari da unludur. Semseddin Sivsi turbesi, Guduk Minare, Behrampasa Hani, tashan bunlarin arsindadir. Sivas'in turbe ve camileri kardar kalesi ; Selcuklu ve Osmanli donemine ait eserlerin bulundugu Eski Eserler Muzesi ve Mesire yerleri de gorulmeye degerdir. Hafik ve Todurge Golleri baliklari ile unlu olup guzel dinlenme yerleridir. Halkin cermik diye adlandirdigi sicak su kaynaklari vardir. Bunlardan Balikli Cermik; dolasim sistemi hastaliklarina , kalp yetmezliklerine, yuksek tansiyona, damar sertliklerine, solunum sistemi hastaliklarina, romatizma hastaliklarina ,kadin hastaliklarina iyi gelmesiyle unludur. Havuzda bulunan baliklar, vucudun hastalikli bolgesine salgilari ile iyi geliyor ve cesitli cilt hastaliklarinin iyilesmesini sagliyorlar. Sicak cermik ise hercesit romatizma, nefrit, nevralji ve kadin hastaliklarina; Soguk cermik de romatizma, asabi hastaliklar ve deri hastaliklarina iyi geliyor. Bu uc yerde de konaklama tesisleri mevcuttur. Sivasin Mutfagindan da bahsetmeden gecmek olmaz. Sivas Kebabi ile unlu olup ; Sivas Kebabi, Sac Kebabi ve Patlicanli Kebap cok lezzetlidir.Divrigi Pilavi, Hurma tatlisi, Madimak yemegi, Firin katmeri, peksimeti, Icli koftesi ve ekmek asi ve daha bir cok yemegi ile unludur. Tarihi guzelligi ve mutfagi kadar el sanatlari da Sivasta cok meshurdur. Sivas halilari, Selcuklu devrinden gelen bir gelenek olup dunyaca unludur. Gumusculuk, Sivas bicagi, Sivas Kilimi, Sivas Corabi, Sivas Kemik Taragi ve Sivas Carigi hala sanat geleneklerini gecmisten bugune surdurmektedir.

Batuhan and Jasmine Soylu are the authors of the novel and screenplay, Returning to Istanbul, Turkey. The novel and screenplay teach the importance of Islam and the understanding of international trade between Muslim countries with the rest of the world markets around the globe. Jasmine Soylu travels on a cruise ship from Miami to Istanbul with her mother. The journey helps her recall romantic memories of her mother and father.

Guy Fieri’s Las Vegas Restaurant

Guy, “I think there’s only one Las Vegas, and the consumer that’s down there is down there to have fun."

The 59th Annual North Beach Festival

The 59th Annual North Beach Festival
Saturday, Jun 15 10:00a to 6:00p
North Beach District

San Francisco, CA

In its 59th year, The North Beach Festival is considered one of the country's original outdoor Festivals.
The event is situated in the historic North Beach District, known to locals and visitors alike as San Francisco's Little Italy and the home of the famed beat generation.
The 2013 event will feature over 125 arts and crafts booths, 20 gourmet food booths, two stages of live entertainment, Italian street painting, beverage gardens, kid’s chalk art area and the blessing of the animals.

Annual Conference on U.S. Turkish Relations: Turkish Toddler's Business in America

Annual Conference on U.S. Turkish Relations: Turkish Toddler's Business in America

My plan is to go to the Annual Conference on U.S. Turkish Relations in Washington D.C. The event is held on my birthday and my parents anniversary. They wanted to marry October 31, but Halloween came. My parents, a girl from the capital of Ankara, Turkey, and my father, a world traveler from Michigan to California met and married in New York City, November 1. Las Vegas, Nevada is where I was born, November 2. Annual Conference on U.S. Turkish Relations is November 1-2. Leaders are parents to the children of their cultures, our union symbolizes that. Chase Leo stands for Mehmet the Second. Mehmet chased Leo out of Constantinople May 1453. Later Batuhan was sent by Genghis Khan. My professor became a U.S. Senator. He told my wife and I we should marry. We were preparing for Halloween in New York City October 31. The city was shut down for Halloween parties in Greenwich Village. My Turkish wife and I married November 1, New York’s City Hall. Chase Leo is a prime example of the relationship between Turkey and the U.S.A. up to November 2, 2011; We married November 2, the toddler’s birthday falls November 2, 2011; the exact same time of the 30th Annual Conference in our nation’s capital concerning U.S. Turkish relations October 31, November 1, November 2; Our marriage, our child, our two countries.

State Bird Provisions in San Francisco

State Bird Provisions in San Francisco

The wait to get a reservation at this informal but notable restaurant is no joke (tip: keep the size of your party small). No reservation? It's worth joining the line of hopeful walk-ins lined up before it opens at 5.30pm because the cooking here shows so much heart (and talent). Chef-owners Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski have created their own style of California cuisine, with the kitchen acting like a culinary workshop. An ever-changing line-up of dishes is presented to guests on trays and dim sum-style carts – it's like the appetiser spread of your dreams. The pancake with smoked sturgeon, spicy kimchi yuba, duck liver mousse with almond biscuits, and the namesake fried state bird (quail) will make you sorry when the eating extravaganza winds to an end.

1529 Fillmore Street

415 795 1272

statebirdsf.com

Open Mon-Thurs 5.30pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 5.30pm-11pm, small dishes start from $3, pancakes and mains from $8

North Beach Festival 2013

North Beach Festival 2013

In its 59th year, The North Beach Festival is considered one of the country's original outdoor Festivals.

The event is situated in the historic North Beach District, known to locals and visitors alike as San Francisco's Little Italy and the home of the famed beat generation. The Festival site includes numerous quaint streets in the heart of the district including Grant Avenue and Columbus Avenue.

The 2013 event will feature over 125 arts and crafts booths, 20 gourmet food booths, two stages of live entertainment, Italian street painting, beverage gardens, kid’s chalk art area and the blessing of the animals.

Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to participate in this San Francisco tradition which is known nationally and internationally.

Blessing of the Animals:

The animal blessing at The National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi (610 Vallejo Street) will take place from 2:00 - 3:00 both days during the festival.

Kids' Chalk Art Area:

Let your kids creativity shine in North Beach and buy a square and street chalk at our kids chalk art area on Vallejo St between Grant Ave & Columbus from 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM both days.

Parking is available at:
735 Vallejo (south side of street) between Stockton and Powell, 766 Vallejo (north side of street above Central Station) between Stockton and Powell and on Filbert between Columbus and Mason.

SPQR in San Francisco

SPQR in San Francisco

This Upper Fillmore spot is tiny, with diners packed in at the two counters and wood tables, feasting on chef Matthew Accarrino's exquisite and sophisticated Italian dishes. The pastas are some of the city's finest, and his dishes are intricate and layered with flavour. Another huge draw is partner Shelley Lindgren's artful Italian wine list that the savvy servers will happily guide you through. To experience one of the city's best restaurants, and certainly one of its top Italian restaurants, here's your spot.

1911 Fillmore Street

415 771 7779

spqrsf.com

Open for dinner Mon-Sat 5.30pm-10.30pm, Sun 5.30pm-10pm, weekend lunch Sat-Sun 11am-2.30pm, pasta dishes from $20, mains from $31

Jasmine Soylu Adventures in the United States of America : Lessons from Ankara to America

Jasmine Soylu Adventures in the United States of America
Lessons from Ankara to America
Book by Jasmine Soylu
Translated into English and Turkish
http://www.amazon.com/Jasmine-Adventures-United-States-America/dp/1466211067

Jasmine Soylu shares her adventures in the United States of America.

Rich Table in San Francisco

Rich Table in San Francisco

This unfussy and welcoming restaurant in the Hayes valley neighborhood serves a creative riff on California cuisine. Chef-owners Evan and Sarah Rich update their menu nightly, but one constant is the trademark sardine chips (get 'em). The pastas can be masterful, and the use of seasonal vegetables, texture, and flavour excite. There's a bar area to handle the flow of walk-ins; you can even stop by for excellent cocktails and a few small plates. The friendly and skilled service will make you feel like a regular in no time.

199 Gough Street

415 355 9085

richtablesf.com

Open Sun-Mon, Wed-Thurs 5.30pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 5.30pm-10.30pm (from 1 June 2013 Rich Table will be open seven nights a week), dishes from $11, chef's picks $80 per person

Jasmine Soylu U.S.A. Adventures

Jasmine Soylu U.S.A. Adventures
Travel the United States of America
Book by Jasmine Soylu
Translated into English and Turkish

Jasmine Soylu shares her favorite quotes with her camera as she photographs her travels across the nation throughout the United States of America. When we get out of the glass bottle of our ego and when we escape like the squirrels in the cage of our personality and get into the forest again, we shall shiver with cold and fright. But things will happen to us so that we don’t know ourselves. Cool, unlying life will rush in. To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world. Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. A traveler without observation is a bird without wings. Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.

31st Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival

31st Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival
Randall Kline, Founder and Executive Artistic Director of SFJAZZ — the leading nonprofit jazz organization on the West Coast — today announced the artist lineup for the 31st Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival running June 12 to June 23, 2013. For thirty years, SFJAZZ presented the San Francisco Jazz Festival in numerous venues around the Bay Area and over multiple weeks

Nopalito in San Francisco

Nopalito in San Francisco

This Mexican restaurant is so popular that it now has two locations: by the Panhandle and the Inner Sunset. Chefs José Ramos and Gonzalo Guzman learned about using top-notch ingredients while cooking at sister restaurant Nopa and have applied it to wonderful regional Mexican dishes here. The housemade masa in the tamales and tortillas tastes so sweet and full of flavour, and the carnitas are regarded by many as the city's best; pozole and birria will warm you on a foggy evening. The vibe is casual and come-as-you-are, and be sure to order a cocktail: the selection of tequilas and mezcals is muy bueno (try the Paloma).

306 Broderick Street

415 535 3969

1224 9th Avenue, +1 415 233 9966

nopalitosf.com

Open, Broderick Street Sun-Thurs 11.30am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11.30am-11pm, 9th Avenue Mon-Sat 11.30am-10pm, Sun 10.30am-10pm, mains from $10

Colorado Butik : The Full Color Catalog Translated into English and Turkish

Colorado Butik
Colorado Butik Full Color Catalog
Book by Chase Leo
Translated into English and Turkish

Handmade Knits. Imported Custom Fashions from Turkey.

Colorado Butik'in amaci, elle orulmus cocuk kiyafetleri ithal etmek. Kiz kardesim, en iyi yunlerden ogluma kiyafetler oruyor. Oglum dogumundan bu yana, elle dikilmis bu kiyafetleri giymeye basladi. Esimle alisveris yaparken, anneler cogu zaman bizi durdurup el yapimi bu kiyafetleri nerden aldigimizi soruyorlar. Parka gittigimiz zaman aileler, cocuk kiyafetlerinin orneklerini soruyorlar. Daha once hic bu kadar orgunun kalinligi, ilmeklerin kalitesi dikkatimizi cekmemisti. Yillardir esimin kardesi orgu oruyor. Ozellikle ,oglumuz dogdugundan bu yana orgu modellerini oglumuzun kucuk bedenine gore yapiyor. Fotograflarda simetrik sekiller , renklerde kendini belli ediyor. Ozellikle beyaz ipekte. Isikta beyaz renkte ornekler parliyor.

Botero

Botero is the contemporary steakhouse at Encore, has quickly emerged as the prime dining spot in a resort – and moreover a town – famous for its profusion of first-rate options. Chef Mark LoRusso lends his modern touch to all the steakhouse classics, updating familiar and comforting dishes. This stunning rotunda-like space leaves behind the staid, heavy aesthetic associated with chophouses for something sexy, surreal and altogether different.

Bartolotta Ristorante Di Mare - Wynn Las Vegas

Bartolotta Ristorante Di Mare 

Wynn Las Vegas

Two-time James Beard Award-honored chef Paul Bartolotta has been making waves with the authentic Italian seafood cookery showcased at his namesake ristorante at Wynn. His exhuberant cuisine is based on simplicity. taking top quality seafood, and with few ingredients and a minimum of technique, turning it into stellar, rustic presentations as delicious as those you might experience on the coastline of Italy. Fresh fish and shellfish – including live langostinos flown in daily from Mediterranean waters, are the star attraction here, sharing the bill of fare with housemade pastas. The chef’s signature Dona di Mare (Gifts of the Sea) tasting menu is a superb way to savor the ultimate coastal dining experience. The two-story space, replete with sweeping staircase and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a shimmering laguna, is big on drama. Reservations are accepted on-line for indoor dining only. 

LAS VEGAS COMIC CON

AMAZING LAS VEGAS COMIC CON

June 14, 15, 16 2013

South Point Hotel & Casino

9777 Las Vegas Blvd South

Las Vegas, Nevada 89183

http://amazinglasvegascomiccon.com

Namu Gaji in San Francisco

Namu Gaji in San Francisco

Here's yet another example of why the culinary scene in the Mission district is one of the city's most interesting. The trio of Lee brothers have collaborated on this energetic restaurant with an appetising menu of new Korean-American dishes; from the okonomiyaki to the bibimbap (both come in searing-hot stone pots), you'll note the balanced flavours and fresh ingredients (the Lees have their own farm that grows special herbs and vegetables for them). The potato puffs, beef tongue, and Korean fried chicken are other faves. Chef Dennis Lee is such a talent, and the location – kitty corner to Dolores Park – makes this corner restaurant one to visit (it's also open for lunch). Bonus for oenophiles: the tight yet outré wine list is fun.

499 Dolores Street
415 431 6268
namusf.com
Open for dinner Tues-Thurs 5pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-11pm, open for lunch Wed-Sun 11.30am-4pm, mains from $10

Mission Chinese Food in San Francisco

Mission Chinese Food in San Francisco

Who knew how much press a restaurant tucked inside a grimy Mission district Chinese dive named Lung Shan was going to generate? This place is a house on fire, just like its incendiary food. Chef Danny Bowien and crew have created a new genre of Chinese food, one that uses Sichuan peppercorns, quality ingredients, and bold flavours in abundance. The food is crazy-affordable, and crazy-delicious; the kung pao pastrami, Sichuan pickles, salt cod rice, and ma po tofu should all be on your table. There's a better chance of landing a table at lunch than dinner, but the nighttime scene of hungry hipsters is a large part of the fun.

2234 Mission Street

415 863 2800

missionchinesefood.com

Open 11.30am-3pm and 5pm-10.30pm daily (closed Wednesday), small dishes from $4

The French Market, "Marin's Outdoor Antique Market"

The French Market, "Marin's Outdoor Antique Market"
Sunday, Jun 9 9:00a to 3:00p
Marin Civic Center: Marin Veterans' Memorial AuditoriumSan Rafael, CA

Second Sunday of the month, May through Oct.
May 12 June 9 July 14, Aug. 11 Sept. 8 Oct. 14

Experience the atmosphere of a French neighborhood street market right here in Marin at The French Market, Marin County’s Outdoor Antique Market, where folks can enjoy a Sunday stroll through aisles of interesting antiques, collectibles, books, vintage furniture, jewelry, vintage clothing, retro décor, vintage shabby chic and a host of other items. French music and crepes add to the ambiance

ICHI Sushi in San Francisco

On a remote stretch of Mission Street – far from the Valencia Street action – is this buzzing place serving a new and California-ised style of sushi, chef-owner Tim Archuleta's creative spin on nigiri. He takes exquisite (and sustainably sourced) seafood and adorns it with bright touches such as yuzu-ponzu gel, pickled kelp, or yuzu kosho. Omakase (chef's choice) is the way to go. The vibe is casual and energetic, with quality sake flowing, and regulars chowing down on fantastic yuzu chicken wings and oysters as well. Look for an expansion into a second space nearby later this year.

3369 Mission Street

415 525 4750

ichisushi.com

Open Mon-Thurs 5.30pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 5.30pm-11pm, traditional rolls from $3.50

Folsom Street Fair 2013, Sun Sep 29, 2013

Folsom Street Fair 2013
Sun Sep 29, 2013

In 2013 the world's largest leather event, the Folsom Street Fair®, will take place on Sunday, September 29, 2013 from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. We are sure to see the fairgrounds filled with people in their most outrageous leather/rubber/fetish attire enjoying the world's largest and best loved Leather fair.

The Folsom Street Fair is a true San Francisco original. With over 400,000 people in attendance covering 13 city blocks, the Fair is the largest leather/fetish event in the world and the third largest, single-day outdoor event in California. Folsom Street Events is thrilled to celebrate the 30th Folsom Street Fair with style and a week's worth of truly outstanding events and programs over the course of San Francisco Leather Week.

http://www.folsomstreetevents.org

Haight-Ashbury Street Fair

The Haight-Ashbury Street Fair (HASF) is a one-day festival that is held annually on the second Sunday of June that celebrates and showcases the Haight-Ashbury District of San Francisco. Since 1978, this event has allowed people from the neighborhood, the Bay Area and the world, an opportunity to come together for one big happening. HASF features live music, a variety of foods, a festive atmosphere and a chance to to dance down Haight Street on a sunny afternoon.

http://www.haightashburystreetfair.org

Miss Travel Names San Francisco the Most Romantic City in North America

MissTravel.com
Miss Travel Names San Francisco the Most Romantic City in North America.

MissTravel rated Greensboro, North Carolina as the "Least Sexy U.S. City,"

Frances in San Francisco

Chef Melissa Perello has had diners lining up at her door for her authentic take on California cuisine from day one for a reason – no one does it like she does. Her highly personal cuisine delivers on so many levels: execution, flavour, interest, value … it's like she knows exactly what you're craving for dinner. Start with the hearty bouchées, like the creamy panisse frites, baked cherrystone clams, and bacon beignets, before moving your way into a satisfying kale salad, and a perfect bavette steak. The wines will be matched seemingly effortlessly, and the service will strike that gentle balance of warmth and professionalism. Reservations are tough to land (call and see) but queuing up before they open can yield success.

3870 17th Street

1 415 621 3870

frances-sf.com

Open Tues-Thurs, Sun 5pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-10.30pm, mains from $18

Turkish Slang by the Swimming Pool

First, the pool was packed with showgirls. Last week we sold showgirl books at our booth in the Annual Burlesque Hall of Fame gathered at the Orleans Casino on Tropicana. Dancers paying to earn tips on stage get their stage fees waved if each dress to impress by swimming in the casino pools during the summer, especially before the Electric Daisy Carnival, June 21. Fire dancers by the pool after last year's Electric Daisy Carnival looked like neon signs. Did you know that bikinis come with battery packs now with flashing lights in all the right places? After swimming the other evening, my wife took my five year old boy to the food court at the Luxor Hotel and Casino for dinner. Three little dames his age were walking to the fast food restaurants with their mother. My boy stares at their tropical fruit bikinis. One had comic book characters across her chest. My boy is enamoured. My wife thinks the English language is fun, especially slang, so she asks my boy, "Are you looking at the chicks?" The puzzled look from my son arrived with a question, "Chicks?" - "Those are chicks. Are you staring at the chicks?" My wife jokes. The next morning, when we return to the swimming pool, my son asks me, "Can we find the chicks?" I have no idea what he is saying. My wife cracks a smile as she begins to laugh. My boy goes on, "Chicks. Can we ask the chicks if they want to come swim with us?" That leads to more slang by the swimming pool, but this time this morning in Turkish. Whenever my boy returns from Ankara Turkey he can't speak English with me for about four weeks. He is getting better at switching gears with the little engine, but his mind crossed the phonetic boundary with uncertainty. "110 degrees Fahrenheit today." The weathermen in Las Vegas warned. So I took my son by the hand down to the swimming pool at the Excalibur. More families. More children. He is excited. So I warn, "The sun will make you sick." He is confused. My son asks with a worried stare across his eyes, "Sick?" - I add, "Stay out of the sun. The sun is hot. The sun will make you sick." The phonetic sounds for the single word Sick or Sic are the same sound for the slang term for penis. For example, calling an individual you don't like a dick. - My son is worried after what I said about the heat. The little boy is worried that the sun will do something bad to his private parts while he is swimming. Poor kid. What am I going to do? Hopefully San Francisco will be cooler next week. Charles is in Phoenix, Arizona. The temperature is always ten degrees hotter in Phoenix than Las Vegas. That makes it 120 degrees Fahrenheit in his backyard. I remember, Charles had to cycle around 4:00 am when it was a cool 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Last summer, a cyclists from out of state died when entered a cycling race in Arizona between the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, down towards the border of Arizona / Nevada at the Hoover Dam. Physicians blamed the cyclists use of ginseng. The athlete used ginseng to raise his metabolism, but in the hot air, his metabolism increased his body heat until he passed out while sitting on the bike speeding down the asphalt road. How did the early pioneers in wagon trains travel through the Mojave sands as their families traveled west to California in search for gold? We had to leave the pool and return to an air conditioned room. There are pale kids with their parents turning pink out by the swimming pool. No sun screen. Toddlers are burning up. No umbrella. No sun hat. No protection.

Aziza in San Francisco, CA

Aziza in San Francisco, CA

Dedicated local gourmands know the trek to the Outer Richmond is well worth it for the experience of dining on Mourad Lahlou's contemporary Cal-Moroccan cuisine. His flavour-packed food is sophisticated, soulful, and inspired (you've never had chicken wings like the ones here), and features ingredients at the height of seasonality. The culinary-minded cocktails are a can't-miss, and there are many choice selections on the wine list. No belly dancers here – but you will find some exquisite couscous and basteeya (spicy chicken pastries), and desserts are quite special. Go for the tasting menu ($95) for a full-on experience.

5800 Geary Avenue, +1 415 752 2222

aziza-sf.com

Open Wed-Mon 5.30pm-10pm, mains from $19

Bar Tartine in San Francisco, CA

Bar Tartine in San Francisco, CA

http://www.bartartine.com



This stylish Mission district restaurant is consistently packed, with dedicated locals frequently returning for another hit of chef Nicolaus Balla's unclassifiable but utterly delicious cuisine that dabbles in flavours from places such as Hungary, Japan and Denmark, as well as California. Try the irresistible fried langos potato bread and daytime smørrebrød sandwiches (like steak tartare on owner-baker Chad Robertson's sprouted rye bread). Many dishes feature house-fermented and housemade items, including butter, cheese, and specially-grown peppers. Pair it all with choice beers and small-producer wines, and you'll see why this place is a hot ticket. Diners also come by for lunchtime sandwiches and weekend brunch.

561 Valencia Street, +1 415 487 1600
bartartine.com
Open for dinner Mon-Thurs, and Sun 6pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 6pm-11pm; open for brunch Sat-Sun 11am–2.30pm; lunchtime sandwiches served Wed-Fri 11am-3pm, mains from $9, sandwiches from $12

Surrender Wednesday

Sandwiches : Best Sandwiches

San Francisco’s Union Street Festival

San Francisco’s Union Street Festival

In its 37th year, The Union Street Festival is one of San Francisco’s largest free annual events.

This event launches the City’s summer street festivals with more than 100,000 attendees in the heart of historic Cow Hollow San Francisco’s premiere shopping and residential district.

This year’s festival will feature over 150 boutique artists from across the country offering for sale unique works of art including jewelry, pottery, paintings, photography, furniture, bath + body supplies, and much more. Two stages of continuous live light entertainment will offer smooth jazz and original musical works by the best of the Bay Area’s hardest working indie bands.

The Festival is held on San Francisco's fashionable Union Street where historic Victorians have been transformed into popular boutiques, art galleries and restaurants. Over 100 staff members are on-site to assist exhibitors and the public. Parking is available three blocks from the event site.

Union Street ~ Always a Celebration
http://www.UnionStreetSF.com

Jaleo Las Vegas and Jose Andres

Jaleo Las Vegas is the home of the most exclusive José Andrés restaurant in Las Vegas, é by José Andrés. Offering a clever and creative tasting menu of more than a dozen Spanish avant-garde dishes, this intimate space with 8 seats along a chef’s bar sets guests on a culinary journey. Led by José Andrés culinary vision and presented in an inspiring and whimsical style, é is a secluded setting where the best products of Spain shine. A unique experience enjoyed by few but envied by many.

jaleo.com

jaleo.com/las-vegas

Culinary mastermind José Andrés & his ThinkFoodGroup brings the authentic flavor of Spanish tapas and paellas to Las Vegas with the award-winning Jaleo restaurant re-imagined to include the excitement & spectacle of Las Vegas. Housed within The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas with sister restaurant China Poblano, come see what this new Jaleo has in store!