Impact Fusion

In 1995, Actors’ Playhouse moved from a Kendall movie theatre to their current home at the Miracle Theatre. This is an historic, art deco building that’s been renovated, and part of the terms of their stay here involves full responsibility for the facility. It also came with a 40-year lease, which means free rent until 2035, and the past seasons suggest they are more than capable of filling it with excellent programming for the people of Coral Gables.

They had a pretty formidable history before they came here, too, having begun in 1988, with a mission to bring new cultural offerings to the city. The non-profit does have a lot of community spirit, with a children’s series, educational programming. These are the kinds of things that are a benchmark for a solid regional theatre, and they’ve reached this level with a lot of struggle and a lot of grace.

The programming, however, is what really defines a theatre, and the offerings here are the kinds of things that do what theatre can do best: show the community a reflection of itself, so that it can, in turn, reflect on who they are. It also helps to drive tourists to the city, and for those looking for weekend hotels, Coral Gables has much to offer.

The recent production of Melt isn’t just an example of what they do, it also helps encapsulate their mission. Written by Michael McKeever, and directed by Stewart Meltzer, it’s a story of the people who live in the Miami area. Like so many plays that have a classical reach, it is very focused on the local, what makes these people entirely unique, and unforgettable. It reflects a certain triumph of the human spirit, but it also reflects the same spirit’s losses over time, suggesting that the characters that walk the streets of the city have stories that need to be heard.

There is a tour for everything in Manhattan . There are walking food tours, bar tours, there are haunted tours and there are even a few ways to see the beautiful skyline. There is no right or wrong time to see the skyline because it is romantic and beautiful at any time of day or night. While you might be able to see it from the top of one of the boutique Manhattan hotels or the Empire State Building and skip the whole tour idea it is nothing like being able to see it from the river, so that is really where you should go to get the best view. However there are more tour boats of the river than anyone could imagine and choosing the right one to take you out can be hard. If you are in this just to see the skyline you might want to take a basic boat and just get out there. However if this trip is part of something more romantic there is nothing like taking an elegant cruise and eating a five course meal while enjoying the beautiful skyline.

Not so amazingly there is a tour for that as well. Usually prices are around one hundred and fifty dollars per person, but for a great romantic gesture there is nothing better. You will need to get reservations, this isn’t something that you can do on a whim, but it is well worth the time spent working on it. The luxury yacht leaves from Pier 81 around six pm and travels for around three hours during which you will be entertained with some great music that makes you want to jump on the dance floor with your sweet heart.

Be aware though that this might not actually be the perfect way to pose the question if you are thinking of proposing to your significant other. The truth is that because it is so perfect there will be a number of other people thinking that they will too. After the first person has proposed the whole gesture no longer feels quite as romantic. Not to mention the rolling of the waves tends to make things unpredictable. Instead of posing the question on the boat use the boat as a way to warm them up and pose the question on a romantic carriage ride around the city following your meal.

Looking for a vacation spot that’s some place a little different, less expensive, but just has interesting as Miami? Look no further than Fort Myers. This city attracts thousands of visitors every year, and is close to Miami. Fort Myers, has pretty much stayed the same for hundreds of years, why mess with something good? The Mangrove forests, tropical gardens, saltwater wetlands, miles of winding canals and waterways, nature trails, wildlife refuges and hundreds of islands provide a magical retreat from the hustle and bustle of its faster paced sister, Miami.

Fort Myers is on the Caloosahatchee River’s southern bank and its locals like to call Fort Myers ‘City of Palms’. Fort Myers was a Civil War Settlement, plus a Seminole Indian paradise. However, there is more to do in Fort Myers than all its splendid natural resources, Fort Myers is the home of the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins spring training sites. The Annual Edison Festival of Lights gathers up everyone in the city to celebrate. There are many Florida four star hotels to book and several attractions that will keep you amused for days.

The Imaginarium , which is excellent for the entire family to attend. Located at 2000 Cranford Avenue and hard to miss, just look for the yellow and green dinosaur next to a water tower. This place is a hands-on science museum for children of all ages. They’ll be able to play a weatherman, excavate a T-Rex in a ‘dig-pit’, or chart a course for a boat. There’s a living coral reef and an alligator lagoon. The Imaginarium makes learning fun and easy to understand. Adults only pay $7 and children under 5 are free.

You and your family can get up close and personal to wildlife at the Everglades Day Safari . Located on the corner of Gladiolus and US 41. Prepare to be gone the whole day as the staff of the Safari lead small groups by airboat, by van, by riverboat and by foot all through the Everglades. A lunch is provided and reservations are required. If you have little ones, you might consider booking a half-day safari. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes; but don’t worry about bug repellent, the Safari provides a nice supply.

If the wilderness isn’t your thing, check out the Fort Myers Skatium, which is one of Florida’s most amazing, surprisingly fast growing sport of hockey. Children will find this complex to be visited again and again. It offers an NHL-size ice rink, an in-line rink, laser tag, and a great snack shop. Call ahead of time to get skating hours, because the ice-rink is use by professionals.

Although she sold the house on Camelback Mountain a couple years ago, and downsized on her L.A. home for a little place on the beach, Stevie Nicks still has very strong ties to Arizona. The cactus wren doesn’t fly far from the saguaro, or something like that. The witchy woman is sometimes seen in town , causing rumors to circulate among staff and guests in the luxury hotels Scottsdale offer. but the rather reclusive star prefers to keep her personal life anonymous. It’s a difficult balance, and it’s one of those precarious things about fame.

She’s found out more than anyone how fickle the whole game can be. Going from the sexiest woman alive in one year to a relative unknown the next can be trying. However, she’s also found, and proven, that there’s something to be said for persistence. The accolades that have come pouring in during the past decade show that when you can still out-perform the newest talents past sixty years of age, the world recognizes.

It’s a far cry from a childhood of moving from place to place, or perhaps not too far after all. She was born in Phoenix, after all, at Good Sam, and spent part of her childhood with grandparents in Ajo, Arizona . Perhaps she still is a local girl through and through.

Her influence on the industry and the art, has been nothing less than tremendous. It was her song, Dreams, that brought Fleedwood Mac the number one hit they’d been seeking. It was also those formative years working with Lindsey Buckingham, writing songs to combat the loneliness of the road, that gave her the seeds for some of her best material when she went into her solo career.

Never one to be able to leave a relationship cleanly, her solo career has continued, although there’s been an ongoing flirt with Fleetwood Mac when they get together again to play like they did in the old days. But something about her suggests that these are the old days, and the ones that we still long for sometimes are still right around the corner.

There are some really great places dine and be entertained in Reston Virginia. They have all sorts of styles of cuisine and live entertainment. Not far from the five star reston hotels visitors should find a great place to hang out with the locals and enjoy the atmosphere. There are many places in near by neighboring towns as well and sometimes it pays to branch out a little bit.  

For a Latin feel head over to Rene’s Club the entertainment is fired up with some spicy Latin music. The menu doesn’t have so much in Latin cuisine but they have some very fresh dishes with lots of meats, fish and vegetables. There are always some interesting things going on with bands and other entertainers coming in for some shows.  

If it is an Irish pub that makes you more comfortable then try an evening at O’Malleys Club . They feature a great time with sporting events. They have several televisions to watch your favorite games and some cold brew to go with it. The menu has many bar favorites like wings and burgers as well as some nice steaks with baked potatoes.  

For some great gaming like poker you may want to try Sully’s . They have live entertainment on the weekends with bands of different styles. Mondays are reserved for Open Mic Nights with a local favorite Marshal Graham. The menu is a great mix of cuisine ranging from Mexican and Cajun to Teriyaki Chicken and steaks. There is something for everyone in your family to enjoy.  

Fast Eddie’s is a local favorite with a few locations in the near by vicinity. The guests here get to enjoy some great games of pool and sport events. Some of the locations have live entertainment like the restaurant in Centreville. The menu is a collection of burgers, pizza, sandwiches, appetizers, salads and chicken or steak entrees.

When in Dallas, and looking for something different, check out the city of Garland, a great suburb northeast of Dallas, which offers that something different with the best entertainment in all of Texas. The Garland Civic Theatre , located at 108 N. Sixth Street, provides high quality theatrical programs to entertain, enrich and educate the lives of the residents of Garland and its surround communities. This theater performs many well known productions throughout the year, plus has a great summer program for children.

Beginning August 19 and runs through September 11, 2010, is the production ‘My Cousin Rachel’. This play is set in a great house in Cornwall, which has been inherited by a young Philip Ashley. His uncle had gone to Rome, and with only a few dates, married a young Italian widow. He then died under mysterious circumstances. The widow, ‘cousin Rachel’, comes to visit Philip and soon her grace and charm wins the devotion of Philip. As his attraction grows, Philip’s health begins to decline, confirming the fear that Rachel did poison his uncle and now him. The tension mounts throughout the play and there’s a twist ending that leaves you wondering how deceptive our thoughts can be.

The Garland Civic Theater, also has an exciting summer camp for youngsters ages 8 to 16. It’s not too late to plan this summer activity for your children. There are plenty of great hotels Garland is known for, with which to book a room and check out this amazing program. Campers will experience what creating theater is all about. They will get to practice acting skills, movement and theater techniques that will stretch their imagination. On the last day of camp, they will get to perform in a one-act play. Camp sessions are Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm and lasts 2 weeks.

While you and your children are at the Garland Civic Theater, might as well catch the Children On Stage production of ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’, a sensationally fun and hip musical adaptation of the well-known Biblical tale of Joseph and his coat of many colors. The show runs July 22 – Aug 1, 2010.

Every weekday at three in the afternoon, and every Saturday, starting at eleven in morning, you may visit the oldest craft brewery in Texas, just as long as you first find your way to Houston.

The Saint Arnold Brewing Company shipped its first keg of beer on June 9, 1994, sixteen years ago, and it’s still going strong, run by an operation of only seventeen people who do everything at the brewery: brewing, filtering, kegging, bottling, selling, not to mention drinking the beer.

The small company brews ten different beers — five are made all year long, five are made seasonally. You’ll find them available in only select cities, in the bars and restaurants, grocery and liquor stores of Austin, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Houston, and San Antonio.

You may have your choice, if you’re of legal drinking age, of Amber Ale, Brown Ale, Texas Wheat, Fancy Lawnmower, Elissa IPA, and the seasonals, depending on the time of year. The seasonals include Saint Arnold Spring Bock, which is a lager, malty and slightly sweet; Saint Arnold Sumer Pils, a German malt with noble hops from the Czech Republic. In the Fall, you’ll find Saint Arnold Oktoberfest, malt beer with a sweet taste and a higher than average alcohol content; there’s also Saint Arnold Winter Stout, with subtle chocolate and coffee flavors and a soft roasted taste.

However, if you’re not in the mood for alcohol, or too young, the company also makes Saint Arnold Root Beer, which contains no high fructose corn syrup, but vanilla extract and imperial cane sugar.

The tours generally cost about seven dollars per person, and you’ll receive four tastings, which comes to about two pints of beer, in a St. Arnold’s souvenir tasting glass. There’s other memorabilia here, too, including St. Arnold’s pint glasses, t-shirts, hats, and more.

If you’ve never had a tour of a brewery, and find the vast vats of the larger beer manufacturers intimidating, the Saint Arnold Brewing Company sounds like a great place to start. If you want a head start, you may well be able to find these beers in the bars of the best hotels in Houston .

One of the most common things for tourists to do while visiting Washington DC, well, in fact one of the most popular reasons people visit DC in the first place, is tour the White House. A tour of the Capital Building is almost considered to go hand in hand with the White House tour, but specifically with the White House people tend to be impressed not only with the grandeur and significance of the building but the tremendous history that it contains. Mementos and portraits of past presidents and first lady’s line the walls and the building contains much of the charm and elegance that it has hosted throughout the centuries.

Among these walls there are remembrances of great past presidents and first ladies that testify to glorious national eras as well as the difficulties, struggles and depressions that our nation’s leaders have faced. Among the significant historic figures are former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and her husband President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Eleanor Roosevelt is continually recognized as one of the greatest persons in history and her contributions to society and the world are paramount. Hers is one of the favorite portraits viewed by the tourists who are staying in one of the luxury hotels DC .

She was an early supporter of Civil Rights and also supported the development of the United Nations. She was also in favor of her husband’s New Deal policies. The New Deal was President Roosevelt’s response to the Great Depression and originally was focused on what is known as the 3 Rs, relief, recovery and reform. It is responsible for creating policies and services, many of which remain in effect today including the Social Security System. And while she was a strong supporter of advancement of women in the workplace and rights at home and in society, she did not support the Equal Rights Amendment because she felt that ultimately it would compromise the progress of women. One of her greatest achievements was the development of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights . She is continually recognized on Gallop’s List of Widely Admired People.

A great amount of the businesses in Orlando, Florida have decided to not be wasteful anymore due to the millions of visitors traveling through their city each year, but instead start offering tourist a way to go Green. Anywhere from day spas to dry-cleaning clothes to restaurants, when you come here on vacation, you’ll notice that it won’t even be hard to find a 4 star hotel in Orlando that isn’t Green.

Little Green Spa, located in Winter Park, uses eco-friendly peels and facials for rejuvenating the skin. It’s nice to know while you’re getting pampered that you’re also helping out with the environment. The spa’s philosophy is a holistic approach to skin care. Little Green Spa uses vegan-friendly products from Eminence Organics, using only organic fruits, herbs and vegetables; they are parabens, petroleum, mineral oil and sodium lauryl sulphates free. This spa’s popularity is growing not only due to using only Green products, but because of their highly qualified and skilled technicians, so it’s recommended to make an appointment, even though walk-ins are welcome.

While in Orlando for any length of time, it’s natural to get your clothes cleaned. Many hotels offers a dry-cleaning service, and many are using Green cleaners as their services, check with the front desk of your hotel to see if they clean Green. If not, Acme Cleaners is always ready to pick-up your clothes and bring them back to you for free. They are a certified environmentally friendly company and are the only ‘Green Certified’ cleaners in Central Florida. They use advanced state-of-the-art GreenJet machines, which also helps makes your clothes last longer and smell better. If you need your clothes wet-washed, Acme Cleaners also offers a liquid carbon dioxide cleaning.

For something to fill those hunger pangs, try Ethos Vegan Kitchen , this eatery is a fast, casual vegan restaurant featuring hearty and healthy cuisine. The owners goals are to improve the diversity of vegan pallet, provide good food at reasonable prices, served in a comfortable atmosphere that showcases the freshness, flavors and variety of vegan dining. Their homemade vegan dishes are scrumptious, like the pecan-encrusted eggplant, the Sheep’s Pie (a meat-free version of Shepherd’s Pie), and there delightful pumpkin seed and pesto penne’ pasta. They are located at 1235 N. Orange Ave in Orlando.

These are just a few of the many Green businesses in Orlando, so when you’re there, remember to keep it Green.