Portland Salsa Congress – A Hit Or Bust?

Author: M Cardenas
Source: ezinearticles.com

Usually when one thinks of Salsa congresses, they think ‘big events with big names held in a well known hotel and close to a big airport-right? One can expect a full three days (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) of non stop Salsa workshops, performances and dancing till wee hours of dawn; enough to satisfy any Salsaholic’s craving.

I just recently attended the Portland Salsa Congress. Although I haven’t been to as many congresses as some of my other peers, I’ve been to enough (Chicago, Seattle, Salt Lake city) to know, that all the previous descriptors the Portland Salsa Congress was not except for the big names. The fact that the only thing the Portland Salsa Congress had going for it, was the big names, didn’t necessarily make it a bad thing, though. On the contrary, this was just as a much of a positive for the event, than negative.

Yes the Portland Salsa Congress’s biggest weakness, the small venue, is the Tiffany Center. Since there is only one main room, it means that there is only one area to dance in, practice, rehearse and take lessons. Whereas in the bigger congresses there are multiple rooms so that all of these could possibly occur at the same time. On top of that there was no air conditioning- so it was a little stuffy at times.

But if you chose to look at the glass being half full you’ll realize that the Tiffany Center, is an older, quaint and ‘charming’ building with hardwood floors. I liken it to the Century Ballroom in Seattle, or the Willowbrook ballroom in greater Chicagoland area. Big enough to fit a couple of hundred people.

This venue promoted a more intimate, friendlier overall positive experience. During the event I had the privilege of organizing the performers before they went on stage. And you know what? For the most part, these stars of the event were approachable, you know-human like. And as the congress progressed the more down to earth, just like you or me, they became.

As the Portland Salsa Congress was wrapping up I started getting that feeling when you realize you that something good’s about to end. Having spent a a whole 3 days of non stop dancing and it occurring to me that it’s probably going to be a while before I get to see some of these people – was I gonna miss this guys? (Alright I get it- I’ll stop with the mush;p).

So for those of you who didn’t attend, you missed a relatively small congress, with good music, great performances and a good amount of salsa dancing (that is for the PDX area). But amidst the presences of internationally known Albert Torres, Christian & Liz Lira, John & Liz from Salsamania, and finally Eli & Yen who brought the house down, believe it or not, you missed an opportunity to interact with some of the finest, friendliest, Salseros around.

http://www.PdxSalsa.com is dedicated to providing a comprehensive list of anything having to do with Salsa / Mambo in the Portland Metro area of Oregon.

Spend a Relaxing Summer in Tulsa with Satellite TV

Author: Oswald Melman
Source: articlesbase.com

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With the big 4th of July weekend celebrations over and work starting back up soon, many people across the country are dreading a hot and stuffy summer season. Not only will the weather be way too warm, many people are concerned that they will not be able to enjoy the little luxuries they’ve had in years gone by. While in the past many people were able to hole up inside with the air conditioning blasting, this year the thought of blowing several hundred dollars on an electric or air conditioning bill is just too much for Tulsa, Oklahoma residents to bare. The economy is still trying to recover from the big economic crisis, and many home, condo and apartment owners are the one paying the price this year. Turning on as many fans as one can find may still run up the utilities bill, but it’s likely to cost far less. The downside is that switching on a fan, especially one that doesn’t oscillate, means not a lot of motion. The perfect summer activity for those looking to stay still and simply enjoy some time off from work, or even just their evenings or weekends is catching up on some movies, television and sports programming, but with regular old cable there might not be enough on to keep you truly entertained for more than a few days. That’s where satellite TV comes into play.

Talk to Expert Satellite TV providers and find the perfect package for you this summer. Whether interested in sports, movies, shows or more try tv direct around Tulsa this year!

Heat Waves – 7 Ways to Have Fun Or at Least Make Them More Bearable

Author: Harold Baldwin
Source: ezinearticles.com

As I write this the North Eastern USA is having a severe heat wave. It hit over 100 even near the coast in New Hampshire! We are setting all time temperature records. Now I don’t mind that much as after all it’s summer, but everyone else seems to be complaining big time. Here are a few ways to make the heat more bearable, and maybe even fun!

1) Go to a movie. Movie theatres tend to have splendid air conditioning, and a matinee during the heat of the day might be juts the thing. We took the kids to see a children’s movie this afternoon, and it was entertaining even for the adults – and very cool! I often just go to the movie theatre and see what’s playing. Some of my favorite movies were ones I never heard of before.

2) Go swimming. Maybe you have a pool or a friend or neighbor does, but I greatly prefer the ocean. You might like a lake or stream. Swimming, even if you haven’t in years, is wonderfully refreshing. I tend to more hang out in the water than swim, but it’s all good. My kids can hang out in the water all day when it’s hot, a nd I’m good for a couple of hours myself.

3) Set up a sprinkler on the lawn and run around in it. My kids love doing this. Do be aware of sunburn and overheating, but this is a great way to cool down. And it’s not for kids only! Adults, parents, and even grandparents enjoy them too.

4) Eat less! Eating makes you hot as it takes energy to digest food. I’m as hungry as always in the heat, but eating less seems easier and does tend to keep you cooler or at least less hot. When you eat, lighter fare works well to keep you cool. Watermelon is a favorite!

5) Visit the library and read. It’ll be cool, you’ll probably end up exploring types of books you’d never normally read, and it’s enjoyable for many of us. Now if you are not a reader, don’t worry, go shop at the mall instead.

6) Air conditioning and fans, need I say more? Don’t expect to buy them during a heat wave as they often sell out, but if you have them beforehand you’ll be OK.

7) Cool drinks, especially blender drinks are great!

For more on cool blender drinks, visit Blender Drinks and Heat Waves and Osterizer Blender Parts.

Art FAQ: Displaying And Caring For Your Paintings

Author: Arlene Haggert
Source: isnare.com

*What is the best way to hang my painting?

It is best for you to hang your painting on a wall that is free from direct exposure to the heat of the sun. Heat can melt the oil paints used in paintings. You should also avoid exposing your paintings to extreme cold and extreme humidity, in order to avoid moisture buildup.

It is also important to hang your paintings in places that are free from sharp edges and objects.

* How do you clean a painting?

Cleaning your painting depends on the type of paint it is made of. If the paint used is water based, never use water to clean it. This will melt the paint and ruin your painting. Instead, use air pressured cleaning gadgets to remove all the dust from the painting.

For you to avoid getting much dirt on your paintings, spray a transparent varnish on it so cleaning is never a mess. The dust and grime that do accumulate can then be easily removed.

* How do I know if my painting is an original?

You can always find out if your paintings are original. Check the texture of paint used. If it is made of oil paint, the texture must be oil painting as well. Do not get a painting with covers, as you cannot feel whether the paint is original.

Choose a reputable gallery where original paintings are sold. Do not buy paintings without checking a gallery’s credentials. You will only spend money on fakes. There are also certificates available and you can check them out with many art aficionados and experts.

* How should I store my paintings?

You can store your paintings in a cool dry place free from moisture and dust. An air conditioned room is the ideal place. Avoid storing your paintings in places that are exposed to the heat and light of the sun. This can ruin paintings.

Also avoid storing your paintings in places with sharp objects that can puncture the painting or damage the canvas, and never expose paintings to extreme cold or high humidity.

* Should I get my antique painting restored?

Dust your paintings regularly so the dust will not build up on antique paintings. Air-pressure cleaners are the best tool in restoring antique paintings. If the antique painting is covered with transparent paint, you can safely wipe it with a damp cloth to remove the dust accumulated.

There are antique restoration services available in many areas. These can be quite expensive but they will restore your antique painting to its former grandeur. You only need to find reputable painting restorers.

* How do I make sure that my painting does not fade?

For you to make sure that your painting will not fade, you have to spray it with permanent clear or transparent paint. This will lock the paint in and will not allow any impurities to get in and destroy its appearance.

Spraying your painting with transparent paint will also preserve the natural beauty of your painting. It will also be easier for you to clean it.

Was I Dating An Alien?

Author: Tim Mack
Source: articleage.com

I’m a fairly ordinary guy, but after two weeks of dating
Triffy, things just didn’t seem very ordinary anymore. I had
taken a girl named Barbra to a drive in movie. Not sure if they
still have drive in movies anymore today, but back in the 70′s
they still had a few drive in movies left in California along
with the left over Chariots.

Barbra asked, “would you get me some buttered pop corn and a
Coke?”

With a smile, I said,”sure.”

I headed over to the pop corn stand and it was lust at first
site. It seemed as if her eyes were sparkling. Her blouse and
skirt were skin tight.

She asked,”are you from around here?” I’ve never noticed you
before.”

I laughed and replied, “I’m from a far away planet they call
New York.”

She smiled radiantly and said, “I’m from a far away planet to,
but I got stuck here for a while.”

“Missed the ride back on the space ship,” I joked.

“Something like that,” she said smiling.

“I’m supposed to be in Europe, but the Navy stuck me out here
on the left coast. They just don’t know how to read a dream
sheet,” I smiled.

“What do you do with the Navy,” she asked.

“Im a communications specialist,” I answered.

She smiled glowingly and said, “I’m into communications to.”

I laughed and asked, “that’s what you do on your planet when
you’re not selling pop corn.”

She smiled and said, “something like that.

“Oh, could I have a buttered pop corn and a Coke,” I asked.

“Wouldn’t you rather have something else,?” she whispered
seductively.

“Yes, I would, but this is for Barbra, the girl that’s waiting
for me to bring this back to the car.”

“Would Barbra miss you if you didn’t come back,?” she whispered
almost hypnoticly.”

I answered.”I don’t know, but I think she would wonder about
what happened to the pop corn and Coke.”

“Okay.” She said, reluctantly handing me the pop corn and coke.

“Maybe another time,” I said.

“I’d like that, My name is Triffy. Here’s my number. Call me
when you’re finished getting pop corn for Barbra,” she said.

“My name is Tim, maybe another time Triffy,” I said.

I brought the pop corn and coke back to Barbra. She snuggled up
with me and asked, “Didn’t you want anything?”

“Want anything what,?” I asked.

“Didn’t you want a snack? She said, seeming puzzled.

“Oh, I just didn’t think of it,” I replied.

Smiling seductively, she said. “I’m willing to share.”

She then gazed into my eyes and started to kiss me, but I
couldn’t get Triffy out of my mind. It were as if she had cast a
spell on me. Barbra was very pretty, and I really did like her,
but I felt as if I were now wearing the wrong size shoe. I
needed size Triffy, but I tried hard to fit into size Barbra.
After the movie I drove Barbra home. She asked me in, but I told
her I had some work to do that just couldn’t wait.

I drove down Pacific Coast Highway and parked by one of the
massive cliffs to think and reflect. The height of the cliffs,
the wonderful splashing sound of the water always seemed to
invigorate my thought process.

I debated with myself if I should call Triffy or not. I knew
nothing about her except that she was very beautiful. She just
wasn’t the kind of girl you would expect to be selling pop corn.
At least not with those looks.

She intrigued me. At last, I decided to call her just out of
curiousity. I just had to know where she came from, what she was
into and what the heck was she doing selling pop corn. But, I
was really fooling myself. Deep down, I was really attracted to
her.

I didn’t even want to admit to myself that I could be such a
cad. I knew it was wrong, but I wanted her anyway. So, I called.
She told me a few things about herself and we made a date to go
to the beach the next day. After seeing her in a bikini on the
beach the next day my mind just went blank.

Her body was pure Heaven. I didn’t have any more questions to
ask her. I was totaly under her spell. Barbra was just now a
distant memory.

After the beach we went back to her place and she seemed to
have candles everywhere. They seemed to have a nice smelling
scent, but they were like no other candles I had sniffed before.
I was going to ask her what all the candles were about, but when
she changed into a very sexy nighty, I lost my train of thought
as I watched her light the candles.

She finished the last one and put her arms around me and then I
just melted in her embrace. I was turned on like I was never
turned on before. Just when I thought okay that’s enough of this
now, she seemed to turn on my second and third gear.

It were as if she were re-generating my battery. Just when I
thought my energizer bunny was finished, she turned on my fourth
and fifth gear. I didn’t know what was happening.

I asked myself “why.”

But I couldn’t find an answer. But I suppose all good things
must come to an end. After two weeks with her, I got orders to
go to the South Land. I had never before been in the South
before and it was a long flight from California.

So, when I first got off the plane, I thought I might be
experiencing some jet lag. Or maybe two weeks with her just plum
wore me out.

I didn’t know what it was, but I was feeling very dizzy. I
wasn’t accustomed to the swampy type air of the South Land, so I
thought, “maybe I just need a day or two to acclimate to the
different climate.”

But I continued to get dizzy. At last, I went to sick bay and
told everyone there that I keep getting dizzy. They couldn’t
find anything wrong with me from routines tests, so they said
they had to make sure I wasn’t crazy.

Being confident that I was totaly sane I told them to give me
any test they wanted. So, they put some strange wires on my head
and kept saying that’s amazing.

“Whats so amazing,?” I asked my very big busted Nurse.

Smiling seductively, she said,”your brain scan. It keeps
showing that you’re having a sexual thought every forty seconds.”

“Only every forty seconds”, I quipped starring at her endowed
breasts with surprise.”

Smiling ever more seduvtively she said, “you’re a sex
machine.The average male only has a sexual thought every four
minutes.”

“So, I’m over sexed and now I’ve lost my mind,?” I asked.

She answered, “no, just the opposite. If you were only having a
sexual thought every five minutes you would be losing your mind.
So having a sexual thought every forty seconds makes you super
sane. The best reading we ever got from anyone was every three
minutes. You’re every forty seconds is out of this world.”

“Out of this world. That’s what I was afraid of. So how do I
turn myself off,? I asked.

“What turned you on like this? That’s what I’d like to know so
I could bottle it,” she said.

Laughing now, I said, “sorry, but I don’t kiss and tell.”

Of course I could have come clean and told her that I kind of
suspect that I recently spent two fun filled weeks with a
dynamite woman that was most likely a space alien. But I was
getting bored with all the tests. And anyway, she was quite a
looker. And I had a feeling she wanted to take me for a test run
to check out that every forty second quirk.

“So, what is wrong with me then,?” I asked.

She took my hand and said, “we’ve got to get you away from this
swamp air.”

“How can we do that,?” I asked.

“I have central air conditioning,” she replied.

Sex Toys At Amazon.Com

PixiPort.com Poverty and Pollution, Palm Beach County Florida Welcome to Belle Glade (Pop. 14,000) The Voice Behind the Lens-Michael Dubiner

Author: Anonymous
Source: free-articles

March 4, 2004 — As a lawyer, I spent about 20 years traveling to Palm Beach County’s western most reaches to the courthouse in Belle Glade once or twice a month. The town is located about 45 miles or so west of Palm Beach and is a very short distance from the southern rim of Lake Okeechobee. It is an old farming community struggling with modern times. It has many problems but also engenders a fair amount of civic pride.

Recently, my daughter drove me out to the Glades to do some photography. For me, photographing the Glades has been a project in the making for almost 25 years. This afternoon Jeannie drove me out to Belle Glade to help in the quest to photograph the essence of Belle Glade, as least from the photographic prospective. On this trip there was no attempt at a fair or balanced depiction of the area. I could have shot at many different locations. The two I chose were photographed solely for their ability to tell a short story in images. There was little research or planning for this trip. I knew some things that would be photogenic out there and I was anxious to capture them and to enlighten my daughter as to what life was like only a one half hour drive from home.

The drive out to the Glades is full of varying views of sugarcane, a unique pallette that changes by the hour and by the season. Some might quibble with the word “pollution” in my title. I don’t know if the sugar mills are actually causing pollution (although I was taught if it looks like it and smells like it-it probably is). If they are causing pollution, I do not know if the fumes being emitted by the mills are harmful to man, beast or vegetable. I am hyper-sensitive to odors and the smell, while palpably sweet, gets sickening very quickly, like a too rich piece of cake or coffee that is too sweet. The smell is somewhere between that of coffee and manure. As you can see, this sugar mill, at the edge of town was belching out smoke. These are the remnants of the processing of sugar cane, the residue of the creation of sugar. Much to their credit or ignorance, some of the office employees of the mill I photographed work in a compact multi-storied building just downwind of the smoke.

The last time I photographed this view, which was many years ago testing out a new film camera, I was accompanied by my wife. At that time I was threatened with arrest for trespassing by a private security guard that was parroting every word that was being broadcast out of his walkie-talkie by his commander. It seemed to bother the guard and his superior little that I was photographing from a public road. This trip, I was either unnoticed or the policy of the mill toward photographers had changed.

The other, quite different area of Belle Glade that I wanted to photograph, and felt my daughter should see, was the downtown ghetto. Among its distinctions, this area has the combination of high poverty, high crime and significant drug abuse. Additionally, it’s title as the AIDS capital of the United States many years ago and its overall rundown condition leaves the average person passing through somewhat depressed.

As in many areas in the North and South, the worst neighborhoods are highly segregated. In most of this area my daughter and I were the only whites. As I was approaching the group below, little girl, who I was afraid was going to become a Pied Piper began chanting; “he’s gonna get his ass kicked”. If I could have turned back at that moment, I would have. Most surprising in this area is the number of people milling around. During the summer, the congestion on the streets is understandable as some of the apartments in this area lack air conditioning. However, during this pleasant weekday, apparently healthy adults of all ages were obviously not working, or at least not working very much when I saw them.

I have lived though many lofty government crusades, Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society, Bill Clinton’s assurances regarding Welfare to Work and now our stylish compassionate conservatism. No major program has changed the despair in parts of the Glades. They are finally getting the promise of clean water to replace the discolored and carcinogenic liquid that spews from their taps and some limited new housing and perhaps a host of programs that I am not aware of. What I do know is that the depressing air of poverty still runs through this area. Either we have spent poorly, or not enough, or something. These people, and their children, are worth more to our society as hardworking individuals, paying taxes and contributing to the national good. As a nation, as a people that sometimes take very moral and self righteous stands, we owe it to them and to ourselves to get it done, right, once and for all and now.

(The author, Michael Dubiner is a professional image maker and lawyer who lives in Wellington, Florida. His articles will appear twice monthly on PixiPort.

http://www.pixiport.com

http://www.pixiport.com/gallery-w06.htm

16th ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival at The Village of Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin, FL May 8-9

Author: Anonymous
Source: free-articles

Sandestin, FL April 20, 2004–With thousands of visitors expected, the Cultural Arts Association wants to help visitors plan a perfect day at the 16th annual ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival at The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin. This year, guests will arrive by shuttle to the lobby of the majestic Grand Sandestin, through its lobby and out onto the lawns and the pedestrian walkways of the architecturally unique Village. White tents of 125 juried show artists from all over the country will line the streets and show artists will be on hand to meet and greet Festival attendees.

The show, with its highly discerning process of selecting its participating artists, is one of the many things that set ArtsQuest apart from non-juried shows. This has allowed the Festival to gain the stature of being one of the top 200 fine art shows in the country, as well as being named by readers of Birmingham Magazine as the Gulf Coast’s best art show. An art lover’s paradise will reveal original works from pastel to pottery, fiber, clay, sculpture, one-of-a-kind wood works, jewelry, glass art, photography, digital art, acrylic, oil and watercolor. The Festival will also have continuous live entertainment, children’s interactive art activities and wonderful dining options available.

Best Time To Come: Festival hours are Saturday, May 8 from 11 a.m. โ€” 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 9 from 11 a.m. โ€” 5:00 p.m. Serious buyers and collectors arrive at the beginning of the Festival on Saturday for the best selection.

Parking: Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is located on Highway 98 between Destin and Panama City. Attendees will be shuttled to The Village in air-conditioned buses departing from two locations – Silver Sands Factory Stores, 1 mile west of Sandestin on Highway 98; or on Highway 98, east of Sandestin. Look for the signs. Limited handicapped parking available at The Village of Baytowne Wharf to visitors with a vehicle disabled persons parking permit. Shuttle buses will run to all parking locations until midnight on both days. Festival hours are Saturday, May 8 from 11 a.m. โ€” 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 9 from 11 a.m. โ€” 6 p.m.

Artist’s Booths: ArtsQuest is a juried fine art show, featuring an exceptional range of talented artists who staff their own booths. Check out this great opportunity to meet 125 artists and see artwork from all around the country, as well as wonderful regionalized Emerald Coast works. Buy original art, perfect for home or the office. Visitors can pick up an Official Souvenir Program Guide upon arrival that contains a site map with artist’s booth numbers, location and biographies.

Art Pick-up Booth: Visitors can purchase art and arrange to have it stored at the Art Pick-up Booth, located on the Veranda of the Grand Sandestin Hotel, nearby the shuttle bus pick-up area. This allows visitors to continue to enjoy the Festival, unencumbered by their art purchases, which can be picked up when they are ready to depart on a shuttle bus.

CAA Member Art Booth: Be sure to check out the great talents of 40 local Cultural Arts Association artist/members at the Johnny Main CAA Members Exhibit on the lawn of the Grand Sandestin.

Live Entertainment: Fabulous entertainment is lined up to continuously perform live on the Events Plaza at The Village of Baytowne Wharf and on the veranda of the Grand Sandestin throughout the 2-day event. These outdoor concerts are guaranteed crowd pleasers and a great way to sit down and take a break for awhile.

Food & Dining: Visitors will enjoy a sumptuous variety of food available at the fine air-conditioned establishments of The Village of Baytowne Wharf restaurants – Roberto’s Pizzeria, Acme Oyster House, Poppy’s Seafood Factory, Another Broken Egg Cafรฉ, Starbucks, Magnolia & Ivy Tea Room, Hammerheads, Jim N Nicks Barbeque, Rum Runners Dueling Piano Bar & Grill, The Marlin Grill, Bistro Bijou, Penguin’s Ice Cream and The Candymaker. The Cultural Arts Association will sell Coke products, lemonade, water, beer and wine in three locations amongst the artist’s tents. Beverage proceeds go directly to help with the CAA’s year-long programming efforts.

Kid’s Art Projects: Check out the Silver Sands Factory Stores special โ€œKid’s Zoneโ€ tent. A variety of fun, hands-on free special art projects will be going on to keep the youngsters busy. Guaranteed to entertain the young ones. The Kid’s Zone area is on the shaded Veranda of the Grand Sandestin Hotel.

Cameras Are Welcome: It’s the perfect photo op to capture the moment in memories! Visitors can bring their camera or camcorder to capture the memory – beautiful artwork, artists in action, entertainment, spectacular Choctawhatchee Bay views, the quaint Village of Baytowne Wharf and the family.

Souvenir Sales: Festival T-Shirts and posters commemorating ArtsQuest 2004, as well as CAA cookbooks, will be on sale at the CAA Souvenir Sales & Information area located on the Veranda of the Grand Sandestin Hotel. This is the Cultural Art Association’s main fund raising source for their not-for-profit organization.

Information Tent: Located on the Veranda of the Grand Sandestin Hotel, volunteer staff at the CAA Souvenir Sales & Information tent are on hand to answer your questions, give out Festival Guides, sell Festival t-shirts, posters and cookbooks.

ArtsQuest, staged by the Cultural Arts Association, is a community-wide happening that relies on the help of 250+ volunteers and the generous support of sponsors. The mission of the Cultural Arts Association, a not-for-profit 501 (C) 3 corporation, is to provide life-long learning through arts education and appreciation by promoting the fine Arts, performing arts, the humanities and showcasing the works of artists. Proceeds raised go back into the community via the CAA Educational Giving Program which gives mini teacher and need based student scholarships, as well as college scholarships.

For further information about ArtsQuest, call the CAA Message Center (850) 231-0885, or visit on-line at www.CulturalArtsAssociation.org

Orlando Resort Hosts Indoor Family Festival Saluting the State of Florida – The First “Best of Florida Festival” is the State’s Most Unique Festival

Author: Anonymous
Source: free-articles

KISSIMMEE, FL June 22, 2004 — This summer, families can celebrate the best of the Sunshine State โ€” under one roof โ€” by visiting the Best of Florida Festival at Gaylord Palms Resort. The new festival features special weekend entertainment and events, including a new indoor laser show finale. The festival runs weekends July 10-Aug. 1, and Aug. 14-Sept. 5. Festival hours are Saturdays from noon until 10 p.m. and Sundays from noon until 6 p.m.

Best of Florida Festival celebrates all that makes Florida greatโ€ฆ its legends, festivals, events, foods, landscapes and creatures.

The festival is staged inside the resort’s 4.5-acre glass-covered atrium, making it one of the only indoor festivals in the state. Best of Florida Festival will include several themed areas:

- Everglades Village: Visit a Florida backwaters village, complete with character actors, crafters, live alligators, artisans, storytellers, and music.

- KeyWestFest: The energy of fun-filled Key West, featuring artists, tightrope walkers, performers, live music, steel drums, and even a live mermaid.

- Legacy Corner: Celebrate history with medieval characters, pirates and renaissance performers.

- Best of Florida Central: Listen to live music, explore a kids’ zone, and visit artist booths. At Festival U, discover gardening tips, participate in a wine and food seminar, learn about spa treatments you can create at home, and attend travelogues from Florida destinations.

“This festival will have something for everybody,” said John Caparella, general manager. “We’ve created a family activity that gives families a reason to spend time togetherโ€ฆ in the air-conditioned comfort of our atrium.”

Best of Florida Festival will feature activities around every corner, including:

- Summer SUN-sations, an end-of-night laser show finale held inside the resort atrium, featuring amazing lasers and upbeat music (Held Saturday evenings only)

- Live Entertainment โ€” enjoy talented Florida musicians

- Artisan Displays โ€” Visit artisans as they create their magic in front of your eyes

- Gatorland’s Camp Gator – learn more about alligators from the experts at Gatorland

- Storytellers and Ghost Stories – Gather together to hear legends of Florida, from members of the Florida Storytellers Association

- Nightly Sunset Celebration โ€” A Key West tradition, featuring entertainers, artisans, and performers

- Sand sculpture displays โ€” See amazing sand sculptures created by award-winning artists, including an amazing three-side sculpture that depicts Florida scenes

- The Gaylord Gardener seminars – free seminars and tours from the gardening experts at Gaylord Palms

- Gaylord Gourmet seminars โ€” a food and wine-tasting event (additional fee)

- Florida Travelogues โ€” learn more about the many things to do in Florida

- Antique car displays โ€” See the best automobiles of yesteryear

- Displays and entertainment from Florida’s top attractions

A special “Best of Florida Festival” weekend family packages starts at $199 per night and includes:

- Atrium-view accommodations

- Gourmet buffet breakfast daily (for two adults and two children)

- 2 adult tickets to SeaWorld Adventure Park (a $107.90 value!)

- Snack delivered to room upon arrival

- Commemorative Best of Florida Festival gift

- 10 percent discount on purchase in restaurants, select shops, and Canyon Ranch SpaClub

- Access to all non-ticketed Best of Florida Festival events

- Welcome reception (Friday evening arrivals only)

Admission to the festival is $10 per carload, and includes parking and most events. Guests who dine at the resort’s restaurant will have the entry fee validated.

For more reservations or more information, please call Gaylord Palms at 407-586-2000, or visit the Best of Florida Festival web site at www.gaylordpalms.com/bestfest. Complete weekend schedules will be posted on the website beginning June 23.

About Gaylord Palms

Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center has gained the attention of the meeting and convention industry by providing world-class convention and leisure-focused amenities โ€” all in one place. The award-winning Gaylord Palms is a Gaylord Hotels-branded property owned by Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET), a leading hospitality and entertainment company based in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, visit www.gaylordpalms.com or www.gaylordentertainment.com.

(Editor’s Contact: Keith Salwoski, Gaylord Palms Resort, 407-586-0315)

(Guest Contact: Gaylord Palms reservations, 407-586-2000)

Festival Fact Sheet

What:

Best of Florida Festival at Gaylord Palms

Visitors to Orlando can experience the state’s newest โ€” and most unique โ€” festival.

Inside the soaring 4.5-acre atriums, Gaylord Palms features the Sunshine State’s most unique summer festivalโ€ฆ where it’s always a comfortable 72 degrees!

Every weekend, Best of Florida Festival celebrates all that makes Florida greatโ€ฆ its legends, festivals, events, foods, landscapes and creatures.

Families will find activities around every corner, including “Summer SUN-sations,” an amazing indoor laser finale on Saturday evenings.

When:

Weekends July 10-Aug. 1; Aug. 14-Sept. 5

Saturdays Noon โ€” 10 p.m.

Sundays
Noon โ€” 6 p.m.

Where:

Events held throughout the Gaylord Palms air-conditioned atriums.

Why:

To celebrate the things we love about the state of Florida, including the history, myths, legends, festivals, events, food, creatures and landscapes of the Sunshine State.

Cost:

A $10 event admission fee per carload. Guests will receive discount coupons good for Gaylord Palms restaurants, shops and Canyon Ranch SpaClub. Select festival opportunities (such as the Gaylord Gourmet) will have a fee. Entry fee will be validated for those who dine at Gaylord Palms restaurants. Weekend overnight packages start at $199 and include tickets to SeaWorld and much more.

For more festival information and complete schedule information, visit www.gaylordpalms.com/bestfest

Rock ‘n Roll Dance – Is It Heaven or is it Hell?

Author: Gareth Eastwood
Source: download

Winston Churchill wrote that after he died and arrived in Heaven he would like to spend a good deal of his first million years painting. I’m no artist, except with the BS perhaps, so after I die I think I would like to spend a good deal of my first million years dancing Rock ‘n’ Roll.

But just what will Rock ‘n’ Roll be like in Heaven? Perfect, of course. To begin with I will have a perfect partner who loves to dance with me only and gets it right 100 percent of the time. She will dress to perfection at all times, be great to look at, great to talk to and she will never get tired, never have a headache, never get sore feet, never be late and certainly never fail to show up. She will give me judicious breaks from dancing while she chats with her girlfriends, during which time I can try out some possible replacements for the future and she won’t mind a bit.

The lighting will be romantic and the air will be clear since all the smokers will have gone to the other place. The temperature in the moderate-sized room will judiciously adjust itself to my body temperature at any given moment.

The dance-floor will be large but not too large because the place will have atmosphere. Lets say around 150 square metres. It will always be in perfect condition, automatically polishing itself every twenty-four hours (if they have such a thing as hours in Heaven). You might think that I would want the dance floor to myself and my perfect partner (as we all do) but actually, no! I would like to share it with four or five other couples who all keep at least three metres away from me at all times and whose dancing all looks positively amateurish compared to my partner and I. This is to make us look good in the eyes of the gawking crowd who sit watching mesmerised as we dance, wishing to God they could dance like we can. But since this is my Heaven God won’t be granting them their wish.

For music there will be a live band (if you can call it that since we’ll be no longer of this Earth) who do requests upon demand (mine, of course!). They will consist of a four-piece backing combo who continually rotate unfaltering lead vocalists (Elvis, Bill Halley, Buddy Holly, etc). They will play long sets and take short breaks – just long enough for me to have a quick refreshment, sit and chat for a while with my horde of admirers and visit the boys’ room if required. During the band breaks a DJ will also play requests just for me and me alone.

Drinks will be free, delivered immediately by my own private, very cute and very friendly barmaid. Needless to say, no-one will take drinks anywhere near the dance-floor because in this place everyone is totally conscientious.

Yes, I can just see it all now. Its Rock ‘n’ Roll Dance Heaven in every way …..

Suddenly I feel three prongs of burning pain in my back as the temperature increases by 1000 degrees centigrade. I turn to face a slobbering apparition with horns, cloven hoof and a pointy tail prodding me with a trident. I enquire if this not-so-gentleman hasn’t lost his way, since this is Heaven. He replies with a harrowing, fiendish laugh that he’s the owner of this particular place and isn’t Heaven at all. I ask where we are and he advises that the venue is called Club Super-Selfish. He explains that this is an entry examination to you-know-where for dancers and I’ve just passed with flying colours! My perfect Heaven vanishes and its getting hotter and hotter. It appears that Hell is where Rock ‘n’ Roll dancers who want it all to themselves get sent. Selfish people don’t go to Heaven.

I am awoken from my reverie by a solid thump in my back as another dancing couple crashes into me on the postage-stamp-sized dance-floor. More bruises. The temperature increases by 1000 degrees centigrade, or so it feels. The air-conditioning in the crowded, noisy, smoke-filled pub isn’t coping with the mid-summer heat. My partner, who arrived late after a hard day has sore feet and a head-ache. She wants to sit down. The singer misses another note, the band is soon going to break after playing barely half a bracket and there’s no music in the break to dance to. No matter, the couple in the glittering, flashy clothes are making me look silly anyway. I can’t get a drink because they’re six-deep at the bar but if I slurp up a fraction of what gets slopped on the dance-floor I’ll be well inebriated.

Back to the real Rock ‘n’ Roll Hell!

But if this is Hell, why am I here? The answer is simple. Because I love Rock ‘n’ Roll dancing. Its a community activity and unfortunately people weren’t all born to suit my personal satisfaction. Everyone is here to enjoy themselves however they can doing whatever that amounts to. A bit more common sense at times certainly wouldn’t go astray and a few dancers ought to be told where to go. For me, however, this really is Rock ‘n’ Roll Dance Heaven even if it feels a bit like Hell at times. I love the music, the dancing, the venues and the people even with their faults. I could happily spend a million years right here doing what I enjoy the most.

Gareth Eastwood is a Rock ‘n Roll dance instructor and enthusiast in Adelaide, South Australia. He maintains a recently created website, http://www.rocknrolldance.com/ in which he repeatedly stresses the need for dancers to be gentle with each other rather than dancing roughly. When fully developed the site will feature articles by numerous authors detailing dance styles and reporting on events.
He also created and manages Going Places With Gareth, a gigantic singles social network revolving around a long-established website http://www.garethevents.info/ The network has been operating since May, 2000. Since then over three and a half thousand people have become involved in it to some degree.

Rock ‘n Roll Dance – Is It Heaven or is it Hell?

Author: Gareth Eastwood
Source: articleage.com

Winston Churchill wrote that after he died and arrived in Heaven he would like to spend a good deal of his first million years painting. I’m no artist, except with the BS perhaps, so after I die I think I would like to spend a good deal of my first million years dancing Rock ‘n’ Roll.

But just what will Rock ‘n’ Roll be like in Heaven? Perfect, of course. To begin with I will have a perfect partner who loves to dance with me only and gets it right 100 percent of the time. She will dress to perfection at all times, be great to look at, great to talk to and she will never get tired, never have a headache, never get sore feet, never be late and certainly never fail to show up. She will give me judicious breaks from dancing while she chats with her girlfriends, during which time I can try out some possible replacements for the future and she won’t mind a bit.

The lighting will be romantic and the air will be clear since all the smokers will have gone to the other place. The temperature in the moderate-sized room will judiciously adjust itself to my body temperature at any given moment.

The dance-floor will be large but not too large because the place will have atmosphere. Lets say around 150 square metres. It will always be in perfect condition, automatically polishing itself every twenty-four hours (if they have such a thing as hours in Heaven). You might think that I would want the dance floor to myself and my perfect partner (as we all do) but actually, no! I would like to share it with four or five other couples who all keep at least three metres away from me at all times and whose dancing all looks positively amateurish compared to my partner and I. This is to make us look good in the eyes of the gawking crowd who sit watching mesmerised as we dance, wishing to God they could dance like we can. But since this is my Heaven God won’t be granting them their wish.

For music there will be a live band (if you can call it that since we’ll be no longer of this Earth) who do requests upon demand (mine, of course!). They will consist of a four-piece backing combo who continually rotate unfaltering lead vocalists (Elvis, Bill Halley, Buddy Holly, etc). They will play long sets and take short breaks – just long enough for me to have a quick refreshment, sit and chat for a while with my horde of admirers and visit the boys’ room if required. During the band breaks a DJ will also play requests just for me and me alone.

Drinks will be free, delivered immediately by my own private, very cute and very friendly barmaid. Needless to say, no-one will take drinks anywhere near the dance-floor because in this place everyone is totally conscientious.

Yes, I can just see it all now. Its Rock ‘n’ Roll Dance Heaven in every way …..

Suddenly I feel three prongs of burning pain in my back as the temperature increases by 1000 degrees centigrade. I turn to face a slobbering apparition with horns, cloven hoof and a pointy tail prodding me with a trident. I enquire if this not-so-gentleman hasn’t lost his way, since this is Heaven. He replies with a harrowing, fiendish laugh that he’s the owner of this particular place and isn’t Heaven at all. I ask where we are and he advises that the venue is called Club Super-Selfish. He explains that this is an entry examination to you-know-where for dancers and I’ve just passed with flying colours! My perfect Heaven vanishes and its getting hotter and hotter. It appears that Hell is where Rock ‘n’ Roll dancers who want it all to themselves get sent. Selfish people don’t go to Heaven.

I am awoken from my reverie by a solid thump in my back as another dancing couple crashes into me on the postage-stamp-sized dance-floor. More bruises. The temperature increases by 1000 degrees centigrade, or so it feels. The air-conditioning in the crowded, noisy, smoke-filled pub isn’t coping with the mid-summer heat. My partner, who arrived late after a hard day has sore feet and a head-ache. She wants to sit down. The singer misses another note, the band is soon going to break after playing barely half a bracket and there’s no music in the break to dance to. No matter, the couple in the glittering, flashy clothes are making me look silly anyway. I can’t get a drink because they’re six-deep at the bar but if I slurp up a fraction of what gets slopped on the dance-floor I’ll be well inebriated.

Back to the real Rock ‘n’ Roll Hell!

But if this is Hell, why am I here? The answer is simple. Because I love Rock ‘n’ Roll dancing. Its a community activity and unfortunately people weren’t all born to suit my personal satisfaction. Everyone is here to enjoy themselves however they can doing whatever that amounts to. A bit more common sense at times certainly wouldn’t go astray and a few dancers ought to be told where to go. For me, however, this really is Rock ‘n’ Roll Dance Heaven even if it feels a bit like Hell at times. I love the music, the dancing, the venues and the people even with their faults. I could happily spend a million years right here doing what I enjoy the most.

Gareth Eastwood is a Rock ‘n Roll dance instructor and enthusiast in Adelaide, South Australia. He maintains a recently created website, http://www.rocknrolldance.com/ in which he repeatedly stresses the need for dancers to be gentle with each other rather than dancing roughly. When fully developed the site will feature articles by numerous authors detailing dance styles and reporting on events.
He also created and manages Going Places With Gareth, a gigantic singles social network revolving around a long-established website http://www.garethevents.info/ The network has been operating since May, 2000. Since then over three and a half thousand people have become involved in it to some degree.