HOMETHEATER

Seattle, Washington – For the Love of Coffee and Music

Though famous for its love of coffee, Seattle does not end on it alone. Seattle was named Emerald City with a rich culture which perfectly defines what it has become today. With an estimated population of 602,000 as of 2009, it had been ranked as one of the most literate cities with the highest percentage of college graduates in the State.

Seattle was settled by the Indian tribes: Duwamps and New York Alki. The city’s present name was taken from the name of a chief of one of the two tribes, Sealth. Moving on to the timeline, Seattle has experienced sudden development and downfall a number of times. Their development was caused by the demand of their lumber industry and Klondike Gold Rush. These developments however preceded their downfall which included the Panic of 1893, a period of Depression and the World War.

With their rich culture and heritage, Seattle impressed the world with their performing arts. Among the famous ones include the Seattle Symphony Orchestra which existed for about a century. Other well acclaimed performing arts were the Seattle Opera, Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra and Pacific Northwest Ballet. The city also holds several festivals of chamber music arranged by the Seattle Chamber Music Society. Seattle’s music society gave birth gave birth to what is known as the Seattle sound or popularly known as grunge which is a new genre classified under alternative rock. Seattle had been the home of outstanding artists around the world including Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana.

In accordance to their excellence in music, Seattle holds a series of festivals that showcase their talents. They have the Bumbershoot which exhibits their excellence in music and arts, Seattle Hemp fest which is attended annually by about a 100,000 people, and the must-see Bite of Seattle – a gay festival which is also one of the largest in the State. Seattle has a number of Museums and Galleries including Longhouse Museum, Seattle Metropolitan Police Museum, Henry Art Gallery, Seattle Art Museum and Frye Art Museum which is for free. From these places, one will see bits and pieces of Seattle’s history, and their excellence in the field of Arts.

You may also want to visit a list of famous landmarks found in Seattle. Some places on the list are the Space Needle, Columbia Center, Smith Tower, the first Starbucks and Seattle Central Library.

Seattle has well developed health and transportation systems consisting of a network of buses for the convenience of the people. They are now, however, trying to break away from automobiles and plan a shift to mass transit.

These facts prove that despite Seattle’s downfalls, there are still evident periods of development that is clearly seen nowadays.…

Best Art Museums in Canada to Visit

Canada is a country rich with culture and art. Its various museums display a wide variety of spectacular art pieces, sculptures, glassworks and more. Art binds people across nations and the artistic expressions of Canada are no less. Canada boasts of great museums for the art lovers.

Started in 1880, National Gallery of Canada is a great place to start your discovery of Canadian art. This museum holds many beautiful collections of historic as well as contemporary art pieces which give its visitors a more unique sense of the true identity and beauty of Canada. It’s located in Ottawa and is one of the best art museums in Canada. The Glenbow Museum in Calgary follows close behind with its museums, library and rich archives which all together create a beautiful ‘Western Canadian’ experience for its visitors. It has over a million artefacts and boasts to be one of the largest art museums in Canada. It has a lot of variety in its exhibits and not just showcases the art pieces which define Canada but also displays some beautiful art pieces from around the globe.

Musee de la Civilisation is a large museum which houses a 18th century house couple with rowboats. Stone wharfs and offers many such traditional themes for the visitors. Located in Quebec City, it’s a must visit for those interested in unorthodox themes and art. The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia is located both in Yarmouth as well as Halifax and offers historic works of art in relation to Nova Scotia and other multi-cultural art pieces. Another large museum to look forward to in Canada is located in Toronto and is called the Art Gallery of Ontario. It boasts of having over 79,000 pieces of artworks which includes historic art pieces, contemporary art and even photographs worth seeing.

A few other famous art museums are Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto and the Winnipeg Art Gallery.…

San Francisco Museums: Experience Art and Culture in San Francisco

With all that there is to do in the bay area, you might not think that visiting one of the many San Francisco museums should be on your to-do list. But think again! SF features some of the most fascinating (and even fun!) museums in the country. A trip to a museum is perfect for chilly or rainy days where you want to stay inside and soak up some culture.

Fine Arts Museums in San Francisco

One of the Bay Area’s most impressive museums is also one of the newest – the Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). The museum features famous works of art and has a history of celebrating the art world’s most daring artists like Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollock.

For a nice touch, admission is free the first Tuesday of the month, and is half price on Thursdays from 6pm-9pm. The museum is located at 151 Third Street.

The Asian Art Museum is located at 200 Larkin Street. As you can expect, this museum is dedicated to Asian art and houses a staggering collection of more than 12,000 objects. View pottery specimen that span thousands of years of China’s history. Enjoy huge Buddhist sculptures and paintings or view one of the many performances like a Balinese Mask Dance. Admission to this San Francisco museum is free on the first Sunday of the month.

Quirky Museums Find a Home in San Francisco

San Francisco enjoys a young, eclectic environment. So, it’s no surprise that there are plenty of places that specialize in quirky aspects of the art world. One of these places is the Cartoon Art Museum. Though small, the place is definitely worth a visit for fans of cartoon art, comics, videogames, and animation. It is located at 655 Mission Street.

The Museum of Craft and Folk Art is the only place to see folk art in Northern California. It is a testament to spectacular folk arts and crafts from around the world. It is located at 51 Yerba Buena Lane. The institution also hosts fun craft afternoons where you can do things like make collages and explore print-making techniques. This is definitely an interactive museum experience in San Francisco.

Fun Places For the Kids (and the Kids at Heart)

You might be surprised to learn that the Walt Disney Family Museum is in San Francisco, not near Disney Land. Located at 104 Montgomery Street, the building affords you gorgeous views of the Golden Gate Bridge. You’ll learn about Disney’s life, see memorabilia, and read excerpts from his letters and journals. You can even view the earliest known drawing of the iconic Mickey Mouse. For a big shocker in San Francisco, they even offer free parking!

The Exploratorium is a museum that blends science and art, with lots of hands-on activities for the kids. It is located in the Palace of Fine Arts and is perfect for science geeks of all ages. Visit the exhibits on forces of nature and weather or take a special class on cooking science. This is a place geared towards learning and fun!

A visit to San Francisco museums is so much more than staring at boring paintings. Ready to book your exciting trip to this great city?…

Hotels in Fresno California Reviewed, Including America’s Best and Laquinta Inns and Suites

Hotels in Fresno California, Reviewed: Hotels in Fresno, California: Fresno offers you the chance to explore Yosemite National Park, Fresno Art Museum and Club One. So whatever you have in mind there is a great chance that here in Fresno you can find those interesting things to do.

Americas Best Value Inn Water Tree is located at 4141 North Blackstone Avenue in Fresno, California.

This chain of hotels offers you great value for your dollar. Here all rooms have free Wi-Fi. The front desk is open 24 hours and the staff are really knowledgeable, and help with any questions you may have. Check out the Island Water Park and the Fort Washington Beach, both are in easy reach of this hotel. On site you have the use of the out-door pool and rooms come with a coffee maker, small fridge and you get a free continental breakfast every morning to start your day. This hotel is clean and makes a great base for your holiday, with a staff that does more, to help you get the best from your stay.

La Quinta Inn and Suites Fresno Riverpark is located at 330 East First Avenue in Fresno, California.

Here the rooms are large and airy, which offers you a relaxed feel as soon as you have checked in. This is a pet friendly hotel and the staff really seem to like dogs and will greet you and your pet every time you pass by. While this hotel is just off the freeway, any noise from the road does not seem to come in, so it is a quiet place to stay. This hotel is clean and comfortable and offers good value for your money. The staff are friendly and helpful. They have an out-door pool and Jacuzzi for your use as well as a gym and if you need to work they have ergonomic work stations in the rooms. Free Wi-Fi and 42-inch plasma television are in all room. There is on site free parking and you can use the express check in/ check out if you wish. Here you get the front desk, open 24 hours, to help you at any time. Up to two children under the age of fourteen can stay free of charge, if they use existing bedding. They can offer a baby or child sitting service which will allow you a bit of adult time while on holiday, fees apply.…

Gallery Wrapped Canvas Art – Bringing Pizazz to Your Space

When you are looking to add pizzazz to your space, a great idea is to use gallery wrapped canvas art. With this type of art, you will not need a frame and sometimes instead of getting one single piece of art, the idea being conveyed will be painted on two, three, four or even six different canvases that are hung together on the wall to create one large art piece. This is a great way to bring drama to a room through color, line and concepts. You can have anything from abstract art to landscape art displayed on a piece of canvas that is gallery wrapped.

When you think of gallery wrapped, you may be wondering exactly what that means. This is when the actual color of the painting on the canvas is stretched around the edges of the framing wood. It is a wonderful option when you want a piece of art, but do not want to pay the high cost of a frame. Also, many times, gallery wrapped canvas art will be quite a bit larger or smaller than a regular piece of art. This is because without the need for a frame, the artist can have full control of the size of the art.

Many people are often confused as to how to pick out a piece of gallery wrapped canvas art for their space. First of all, you will need to look at the function of your space and decide what theme you are looking to portray. After you decide this, you will then need to focus on the feeling. You can buy a piece of art with dark and muted tones that will not come across so dark if you put it in a bright and cheery room. However, that painting may look out of place. The color of the paint and sunlight that are in the space should determine the color palette that the art piece is. Finally and most important, make sure that your new piece of artwork reflects you.

When you buy a gallery wrapped canvas art piece, keep in mind that you are buying it to last. This is not something that you buy one day and a month later change the whole d?�cor of the space. You are making an investment and in some cases buying an heirloom that your children and children’s children will want to keep in the family.…

Discover 6 Places Your Kids Will Beg You to Return To – It’s Chicago Kids Style!

Planning a vacation in Chicago with Kids might seem like a lot but it’s really not hard. Chicago Kids have lots of activities to keep them busy all year round especially in the summer. All you have to do is pick the ones you want your kids to participate in and then plan what days you want to see which attractions.

It’s easy Chicago is full of fun things for kids to do, these attractions are all over downtown. They are often centralized in various areas, when I take kids into downtown we choose what area we want to focus on for a day and then decide on attractions. For example if we want to see the museums then we head over to the museum district, and plan a day or two really to see the museums that are interesting to them. Or if your kids might not be into museums check out Chicago Navy Pier below.

You have so many to choose from:

1. Chicago Field Museum: Brings history to life for everyone, you can see anything from fascinating history and adventures around to the world to the Huge, T-Rex Sue that is the most complete T-Rex in the world. This one is a jaw dropper if you haven’t seen it

2. Shedd Aquarium, the mysteries that live under the water come to life, see Octopus, Sharks, beautiful schools of fish, dolphins, all around you. It feels like you’re in another world, simply amazing!!

3. Adler Planetarium, the space exploration and development brought to life. It’s so fascinating to see the vast space all around us. This museum holds a special place for many kids who love to see exactly where we are and how we fit into the universe. It makes you feel like you’re out in space exploring with the first astronauts!

4. Chicago Art Museum, known as the Chicago Institute of Art, this museum is so large that it’s breath taking with astounding art from any era you can imagine. This is definitely one of the world-renowned art museums in the world, certainly in the top Five. Prepare to be blown away with art from, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Uncover the development of various types of art and its history. There is an interactive area that kids love where they can develop their imagination

5. Museum of Science and Industry, there is so much here that help us understand where we’ve come from scientifically to the present and even future. There are trains, planes, Farm Equipment, uncovering our DNA, a German submarines; interacting with how the internet has developed, and the development of the space program just to name a few of the fantastic exhibits that mesmerize Chicago kids.

5. Or make your way north to Chicago’s Navy Pier, a win-win for the entire family. There’s food, lots of food, a Children’s museum stuffed with activities for kids, from nature, or safety understanding with an Ambulance they can climb in, to a place for them to play and climb a rope wall, a water room (always a favorite for the kids I took to this amazing museum). Navy pier also has an arcade, a futuristic Rock N Roll McDonalds; boat rides a Ferris wheel and more! This can easily be full day of activities and fun for Chicago kids.

6. Or take them to the beach, grab a lunch and make an afternoon of it you can relax a bit and they can play to their hearts content. I know when I was a kid I couldn’t wait to go to the beach, it was one of the most amazing parts of a vacation for me.…

Things to Do and Activities in Bath During April: A Brief Guide

The city of Bath is famous for its extensive Georgian architecture throughout the highly esteemed city and it’s unique and well-preserved Roman Baths.

The Baths were constructed by the occupying Roman Empire around 60-70 AD, as the Romans wanted to harness the hot geothermal springs which were discovered in the centre of the city.

Today the well-preserved Roman Bath’s are still standing and the site is shared also with Bath’s famous Georgian era Grand Pump Room, both are well worth a visit. The Grand Pump Room also houses a restaurant and bistro, offering wonderful lunches, daily afternoon teas or the more intimate and sometimes formal evening dinners for visitors. You can also plus enjoy the in-house pianist plays during lunchtime’s and in the evenings you can enjoy the music of the Pump Room’s classical musician’s.

For a more modern take on this historical spa location you can visit the city’s Thermae Bath Spa located in the city centre. Today you can enjoy the naturally warm, mineral-rich waters which were enjoyed by the Romans and previously the Celts more than 2000 years ago. Bath’s reputation as a spa city has grown, which sees it now being recognised as the number one spa destination in the United Kingdom.

Bath is a historical and cultural city, playing host to many annual festivals, exhibitions and concerts throughout the year, at a range of local venues and historical places and landmarks in and around the city. These events and festivals can range from classical to contemporary musical concerts, literary festivals, art exhibitions and festivals, comedy and theatrical events, traditional local themed events and sports events. No matter what you preference, there will be something for everyone in Bath throughout the annual calendar of events.

If you are looking to explore and learn more about Bath’s historical past, you will be spoilt for choice when choosing one of the city’s museums to visit. Notable museums worth short listing are the Building of Bath Collection, Victoria Art Gallery, Herschel Museum of Astronomy, Beckford’s Tower & Museum, the Holburne Museum, Number One Royal Crescent and the Jane Austen Centre.

Bath was home to the famous English novelist Jane Austen, she lived in the city from the age of 25 when her father retired from the ministry and decided to move the westwards to the fashionable spa city. It is said she drew on inspiration for some of her novels and characters, when she lived in Bath. Today many visitors come to Bath to see the city for themselves.…

Contemporary Views On The Art Of Past Centuries

We are used to the fact that extremely popular songs sooner or later become old-fashioned. Then people begin to make remixes, updating the original and giving it a new flavor to suit the new time – the same song but seen through a new perception. A similar trend can be seen in the art world, where contemporary artists produce their own take on the great masterpieces of past centuries. They create a new version that remains based on the original, yet reflects more closely the concerns of the modern world.

By creating modern artworks which are based on earlier works, contemporary artists can trade on the fame of the originals, and at the same time challenge the inviolability of these masterpieces. In the process, of course, they turn public attention to their own art. Some works of art have more of this kind of attention than others – for example, the Mona Lisa has so many that there is no definite count – and in general this sort of secondary fame is good for the public image of the original, which reaffirms its place in the public consciousness through its use in contemporary versions.

For example, Norman Rockwell’s image of “Rosie the Riveter,” a cultural icon that initially encouraged and later epitomized the work of women in industry during World War II, in fact pays homage to Michelangelo’s frescoed depiction of the prophet Isaiah from the Sistine Chapel ceiling in the Vatican. Rockwell’s “Isaiah” has been transformed into a strong woman ” Rosie ” eating her sandwich with a rivet gun on her lap and a copy of Hitler’s manifesto, Mein Kampf, underneath her boot.

“Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies,” a piece by the founder of French Impressionism, Claude Monet, was given a contemporary twist by controversial British graffiti artist and political activist Banksy. In his version, Banksy portrayed shopping trolleys and a traffic cone floating in his pond.

Adaptations of well-known classical artworks can also be used to advertize a particular message. In Germany, the Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders support organization reminded the public how beauty ideals have been changed (or perhaps distorted) nowadays. Three paintings by German artist Remus Grecu – “Nude lying on a sofa”, “The bather of Valpinon” and “Olympia” – were placed in the Stdel Museum in Frankfurt, accompanied by contemporary versions of paintings by Boucher. The campaign won a Bronze Media Lion at the Cannes International Advertising Festival 2009.

Creating a contemporary version of the art of past centuries shows that we respect traditional art, but we do not consider it as something eternal, untouchable, and remote. Instead, it is something that remains a living part of our lives and culture, and which can be used as part of a discussion going on today. This both animates the debate and gives new life to the old masterpieces, increasing awareness of them and making their continued relevance clear to a wider public than might have been reached by the original image itself.…

The MoMA – An Apple Among New York Attractions

Why do you think a lot of people wishes to go to New York? The city of New York is known for its high rising sky scrapers. It is one tourist destination that just about everyone dreams of visiting. It has a lot of wonderful and famous places to go to together with your family or friends that you will surely enjoy. The tourist destinations in New York are varied and diverse to give visitors and their families great satisfaction.

Among the famous and popular tourist destinations found in New York are the Empire State Building Observatory, American Museum of Natural History & Rose Center, Guggenheim Museum, The Museum of Modern Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Cloisters, Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises or Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island. These great destinations have been carefully studied and chosen well to make your New York visit an unforgettable experience.

Though there are a lot of wonderful tourist destinations, there is always one place that stands out from the rest. It does not only provide great views but also offers exciting and unique experience to whoever visits it.

MoMA or commonly known as the Museum of Modern Art is one of the best New York attractions as claimed by almost all visitors and tourists. It is New York’s pride. Visitors and tourists are greatly amazed by the views it brings.

MoMA or Museum of Modern Art has a very unique feature inside it. It was studied and chosen well to be on of the best New York attractions. Inside MoMA you can see priceless collections like those of Claude Monet’s Reflections of Clouds on the Water-Lily Pond and Pablo Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon.

MoMA, one of the many New York attractions, is located at the busy streets in midtown Manhattan, near the Broadway theater and around shopping malls and restaurants. It has a constant busy exhibition schedules.

This unique site among the New York attractions becomes more attractive by having great Design Stores in the Midtown and Soho. Furthermore, you can see bookstores inside the Museum, at the same time, you get to enjoy elegant restaurants and cafes with The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden for your view.

Spending a vacation in New York and visiting the Museum of Modern Art will make your experience worth remembering for the rest of your life. Whether you spend it with your family or friends, surely it will be one of your great escaped ever.…