Each year since 1986, if and when the conditions are just right, the Eddie Aikau surf meet is held at Waimea on Oahu's North Shore. Although famed for its big waves, only when there promises to be truly monster surf does the event come together and big wave surfers from all over join the locals in competing in this event. Unlike other big wave competition which allow for surfers to be towed into the waves, competitors here must paddle themselves out through the waves. The result is what many call the purest big wave surfing event around. It can be hard for outsiders to catch this event -- while regularly falling in January, the actual date is determined each year by wave conditions. The 2009/2010 event was held in mid-December and won by Greg Long. But visitors to Hawaii should probably always think about a visit to the North Shore as part of their itinerary. The big draw is the … [Read more...]
Shedd Aquarium’s new baby beluga whale
At 6:36 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 14, we welcomed Puiji’s calf into the Shedd family. Mom and calf are doing well. Members of our marine mammals and animal health staffs are monitoring the pair around the clock, watching for them to pass critical milestones in the next hours and days. See photos of the baby, video of the birth and follow the calf’s progress on our interactive page. … [Read more...]
San Diego Restaurant Week is a great deal on dining while on vacation in Southern California.
1/17/10 - 1/22/10 A great deal on your trip to San Diego. Use the Go San Diego Card during the day and save on eating out during San Diego Restaurant Week. Enjoy cuisine that delights your palate and defines the art of dining in San Diego during Restaurant Week. Choose from over 180 of San Diego's best restaurants and enjoy a 3-course meal for $20, $30 or $40 per person. Need a holiday gift idea? Restaurant Week also offers Visa giftcards, perfect for your loved ones or yourself. Or pair a giftcard with a hotel stay and create a relaxing culinary getaway perfect for unwinding after the holiday season. For more information: http://www.sandiegorestaurantweek.com/ … [Read more...]
Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light Schedule
Museum of Science and Industry, 2009 Performance & Events Schedule All activities take place in the Holiday Stage area off the Museum’s East Court, Main Floor. Please note that the schedule is subject to change. Choral performances by area school groups will also take place from Nov. 26 through Dec. 18. December Gingerbread White House (Friday, Dec. 4 - Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010) See the White House in sweet splendor with a mouth-watering model of the White House created by pastry instructor Marilyn Santos-McNabb and her students from the Cooking & Hospitality Institute of Chicago (CHIC). The West Wing, East Wing and Executive Residence will be crafted from gingerbread, chocolate and sugar! Saturday, Dec. 5 11 a.m. — Faith Filipiniana Dance Group/Chicago Angklung & Rondalla Ensemble/Sampaguita Singers — (Philippines) 12:15 p.m. — Boliviamanta Dance Ensemble … [Read more...]
San Diego Zoo unveiled the name of its 15-week-old giant panda.
The San Diego Zoo unveiled the name of its 15-week-old giant panda during a ceremony on Tuesday. The 13.2-pound cubs Chinese name, Yun Zi, which means son of cloud, was one of five names posted on the Zoos Web site during a four-day period in which people around the world could vote. Son of cloud received 28 percent of the 17,526 votes cast, beating out names that meant blissful San Diego, little dragon, extraordinary bear and eternally blessed. The name, son of cloud, recognizes his mother, Bai Yun, whose name means white cloud. … [Read more...]
Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs
Canopic Stopper of Tutankhamun, Dynasty 18, Reign of Tutankhamun, 1332–1322 BCE June 27, 2009 — March 28, 2010 at the de Young Museum. More than 3,000 years after his reign, and 30 years after the original exhibition opened in San Francisco, Tutankhamun, ancient Egypt’s celebrated “boy king,” returns to the de Young Museum. In the summer of 2009 the de Young presents Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs, a glorious exhibition of over 130 outstanding works from the tomb of Tutankhamun, as well as those of his royal predecessors, his family, and court officials. Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs includes many new and exciting elements not seen in previous versions of the exhibition, including a revised version of the catalogue, a new audio tour, and additional artifacts from Tutankhamun’s tomb. … [Read more...]
Stretch Your Holiday Dollar
Image courtesy of MayorsHolidaySpecial.com The turkey’s barely been stuffed and the table not even set, but we’re already scouring the newspapers looking for those wonderful Black Friday circulars! A $50 GPS so your husband doesn’t take that “shortcut”…again; $10 DVDs to keep the kids occupied; $300 for a High-Def television to better see McDreamy (oh, if only you could find a way to squeeze that TV into your holiday budget!). It’s almost too good to be true and we’re willing to wait out all night in the frigid temps just to take advantage of the bountiful bargains! True, there’s more to the holidays than just the great deals. There’s the twinkling decorations, the Christmas tree lightings, the wonderful shows, the fat-inducing food! The list goes on and on… That’s why if you’re in the New England area this holiday season, you’re in luck! … [Read more...]
LEONARDO DA VINCI’S WORKSHOP OPENS IN NYC
“Leonardo da Vinci’s Workshop” opened today in New York City. Marking its world premier, this one-of-a-kind exhibit features life-size, interactive models of Leonardo’s inventions and machines drawn directly from the pages of his notebooks. Visitors will get to see dozens of Leonardo’s ideas brought to life from the iconic drawings he put down on paper at the height of the Renaissance. Highlights range from weapons of war to flying machines imagined centuries before the Wright brothers. Hundreds more of Leonardo’s ideas are presented through interactive touch-screens, giving a clear representation to the breadth and depth of the thinking of one of history’s most prolific geniuses. Far from being a kitschy display, all of the physical replicas were built not just to look like the drawings and notes left by Leonardo, but actually have been built using authentic … [Read more...]
Headed South to Miami? Don’t Miss the Lemurs!
If you find your visit to Orlando is going to include a trip South to Miami, then you may want to check out Jungle Island’s Lemur Experience. This unique offering allows members of the public the chance to learn extensively about these colorful and vivacious creatures, while interacting with them in a hands-on way. The 45-minute experience brings small groups of guests – no more than six at a time – in the park’s Lemur Nursery, where young ring-tailed lemurs, and the rare red-ruffed and black-and-white ruffed lemurs are growing up and developing. Before the interaction begins, the guests are educated about the lemurs natural habitat, diet and habits and are advised of the best way to pet them and feed them their favorite treat – juicy grapes. When everyone is comfortable, the lemurs come out to meet their newest friends (and servers!) Quite the rambunctious crowd, the … [Read more...]
Jungle Island’s Lemur Experience
For the first time, South Florida visitors and residents will be able to get up-close and personal with some of the rarest primates on Earth. Jungle Island’s Lemur Experience allows members of the public the chance to learn extensively about these colorful and vivacious creatures, while interacting with them in a hands-on way. The 45-minute experience brings small groups of guests – no more than six at a time – in the park’s Lemur Nursery, where young ring-tailed lemurs, and the rare red-ruffed and black-and-white ruffed lemurs are growing up and developing. Before the interaction begins, the guests are educated about the lemurs natural habitat, diet and habits and are advised of the best way to pet them and feed them their favorite treat – juicy grapes. When everyone is comfortable, the lemurs come out to meet their newest friends (and servers!) Quite the rambunctious crowd, … [Read more...]
