Every year stores and businesses start planning earlier and earlier for holidays. They bring out Christmas decorations before Halloween is past and Valentine’s items appear on the shelves almost the day after Christmas. Individuals can take a page from this early planning to get a head start, but try taking it a step further. Instead of waiting for July or August to plan for Halloween, start on November 1st.

A big advantage of any holiday is the post-holiday sales. This means that the week or so after Halloween is actually the best time to purchase decorations and other items for next year. While it’s inadvisable to buy candy a year in advance, there will be a selection of Halloween costumes , spooky lights, and party and table decorations to be had at serious discounts for next year’s parties. Some stores even offer color-coded storage bins for sale immediately following a holiday, look for orange and black in the post-Halloween sales. These are perfect for storing all those post-Halloween sale finds.

Another way to plan for next year’s Halloween is to make a list of all the Halloween parties and events that occurred this year. Noting which parties were flops — and why — as well as which were successes can help in planning next year’s, but only if an honest review is made immediately afterward. This also applies to decorating tips and costumes. Taking notes about how long it took to assemble a do-it-yourself haunted house or to make a robot costume from scratch will make it much easier to estimate how long things will take next time.

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Planning for Next Halloween is a post from: Herbert Can Be Ever Ready

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The First Friday Gallery Crawl in Charlotte, North Carolina is definitely a great time to be had for all. The city’s South End district has organized a monthly event, held every First Friday of the month, which draws people to the historic area, located between Camden Road and South Tyron. Thousands of people descend upon the different galleries, studios, exhibits, installations, and street entertainment each month, appreciating the works of art by local artists. There are many restaurants on the way, a deli, pubs, a cute coffee shop, a wine bar, a dog bar (humans welcome), some boutiques, live music and the best Charlotte hotels that are close by willing to accommodate the art aficionados traveling to Charlotte’s for this fabulous event.

The area, from 1903 to 1975, flourished as a North Carolina textile industry. The textile community functioned as a self-contained village of sorts, separated from the city by fields and farms. After 1975, the last mill finally closed and a powerhouse era came to an end. The south side of the city was all but forgotten until the 80s, when young artists in need of inexpensive studio space envisioned this area to be the new art community.

The Gallery Crawl has no official beginning or end, it’s not organized like a pub crawl, but it’s thousands of visitors manage to meander, at their leisure, through a fine collection of galleries, all featuring original works in all kinds of mediums by artists at all stages of their development. There’s no charge, but parking is an issue, try the neighborhood theater’s lot, there’s only a $3 parking fee. There are over 17 galleries to visit, all with an open door, wine and food affair. Come early, stay late, enjoy the community night out and by all means, bring your wallet, because you will be purchasing a fine piece of original art.

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Gallery Crawling in Charlotte is a post from: Herbert Can Be Ever Ready

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Sought-out sights in the world have always included the architecture inspired by spirituality, such as great cathedrals of Europe and ancient temples in China.  In the case of the island city-state of Singapore, you’ll find the oldest and most prominent is the Thian Hock Keng or the Temple of Heavenly Bliss.   Built in 1839, around twenty years after Sir Stamford Raffles founded Singapore as a simple trading post on the Singapore River and about one hundred and seventy-one years from today, this Hokkien Temple was constructed to honor the Chinese Sea Goddess Mazu or Mat-Su.

The story behind Mazu is a fascinating one, in which a girl is transformed into a goddess.  There is history about this girl contained in immensely old edicts from the government, from court documents, and even shipping logs, as well as Taoist scriptures, that describes Mazu as a young girl and the goddess she became.  Even to this day, she has fifteen hundred operating temples and about a hundred million followers.  Folk tradition for Mazu describes how in times of trouble if you call upon her by name, Mazu, she will come to your aid; however, if you address her in a more formal manner, such as the Empress of Heaven, then your rescue will be postponed as this means she must delay in order to put on more formal attire.  The goddess is based on a woman named Lin Mo Niang to which people attribute miracles during her brief lifetime.  She knew Chinese medicine and came to be known as a healer; some of the miracles, though, were about stopping seastorms, and this established her as a protector of sailors and travelers.

The temple’s history is contained in granite tablets which reside on the wall of the Entrance Hall; there’s an inscribed plaque also inside which Emperor Guang Xu of the Qing Dynasty from 1907 gave to the temple, a sign of how important people considered this site.  The plaque reads, Bo Jing Nan Ming, which means Gentle Waves over the South Seas.  The building is composed in from the traditional form of Southern Chinese architecture.   There were no nails used in its construction, and is considered a masterwork of architecture which uses tiles and wood, stones, statues of dragons and phoenixes, and intricate carvings and sculptures amidst the columns.

This temple is only one of many sights available to a traveler in Singapore.  All one need do is to arrange for a flight and to stay in one the hotels in Singapore, and begin exploring.  If you go to Singapore, be sure not to miss this building, which has been declared a national monument of Singapore for the last  thirty-seven years.

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If you ever find yourself in the Southern hemisphere and landing in the second largest city of Australia, it might be helpful to know that this city’s name is pronounced closer to Mel-bin, as opposed to Mel-born, a mistake travelers might easily make, considering the spelling of the city’s name: Melbourne.  I recently made the same mistake myself when speaking to an Australian resident.  He assured me there was no “born” in Melbourne, in one of those quirks of pronounciations that tend to confuse visitors, somewhat in the same way New Orleans, if you’re in Louisiana, is usually pronounced N’awlins.

Of course, like many world class cities, it wasn’t always known by the same name.  The settlement was first known as Bearbrass, but by 1837, the name changed to honor the 2nd Viscount Melbourne, William Lamb.  Ten years after that, Melbourne officially became a city, declared by Queen Victoria, and it became the capital city of the Victoria colony.  Like California on the opposite side of the world, in the 1850s, Melborne experienced a gold rush, known as the Victorian gold rush, and it was this period that molded Melbourne into one of the great cities of the world.  When nation of Australia was createad in 1901, Melbourne was its first center of government.  Today, if you find yourself in a Melbourne luxury hotel, outside your door, you will find a city that is now a center for a whole range of entertainments:  Here is the city in which Australian film and televison was born; it’s where the Heidelberg School of art (the impressionist art movement) began.  From film to dance to music to sports, the city well deserves its title as Australia’s cultural capital.

In another recent talk, I learned that four million residents of Melbourne are also called Melburnians.  Why not Melbinians?  I’m not sure.  Looks like I’m going to have to go back to my friend from Australian with even more questions.

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South Africa is one of the world’s most spectacular countries.  With an extremely rich history, diverse population, and stunning landscapes, there is something for everyone here.  Guests of all ages can find something enormously pleasing here, and in every city.  Whether the taste is for street fairs and festivals, historical museums that cover the complicated and fascinating history here, a lively night life with acoustic instruments or electronica, there are many choices for each of these.  And there’s always so much more.  It’s a country that’s unable to stand still, offering the best cuisine, the best culture, and the best hotels.  South Africa understands hospitality, and guests here are treated to a fantastically luxurious treatment.

After some delicious rest, and a mouth-watering meal, it’s a good time to explore what South Africa has to offer.  For festivals, there are always plenty of events on the menu in most cities, and two of the finest music festivals of recent years are the Rocking the Daisies festival in Cape Town and Rocking the Gardens in Johannesburg.  The Daisies festival has been underway for awhile, and is a three-day festival, where The Gardens is still one-day only, but is sure to turn into a longer event.  These are both extremely well-organized and publicized celebrations of music and lifestyle, and the emphasis here is on eco-friendliness.

They’ve partnered with some lofty and worthy partners, like Food and Trees for Africa to help promote an environmentally-conscious and eco-aware audience, but it’s not only for a good cause, it’s enormous fun.  Food and drink booths keep you well-stocked and belly full, and there are also nannies present at the grounds for childcare.  There are lots of interesting performers, including bits of theatre and stand-up comedy, but the focus is the music.  Both festivals have the power to attract an absolutely stunning line-up, and it’s a fabulous way to get to know South Africa, through its musicians and the audiences.

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Rocking the South African Daisies (and Gardens!) is a post from: Herbert Can Be Ever Ready

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There is a big storm heading this way from the south, coming up the Baa peninsula. We get very little rain here in Phoenix so I hate to complain and really won’t but doesn’t that just seem to be the way rain when it is least welcomed. With plans to vend art work at an out door event Friday night I really hate to miss the opportunity to show and sell especially when this event comes only once a month because of some rain. The reports earlier in the week were calling for the storms to begin bringing rain to the area Friday afternoon or evening. Mid week forecasts have changed to predicting the rain won’t begin till Saturday, but the wind could pick up Friday late in the day. That would be nice giving us a reprieve for First Friday night from rain but still the possibility of wind. The event, first Friday, encompasses much of the Roosevelt Row area of downtown Phoenix. Artists and musicians selling work on side walks, galleries having openings and restaurants having specials and staying open latter are all part of the evening of fun and festivities. Visitors to Phoenix seem to enjoy the event. Frequently people from around the world are visiting and stumble onto the First Friday scene. Once I met the proprietor for the best Singapore hotels while viewing some very interesting art work combining found objects, fired clay castings, paint and bead work. This event has gone on for over a decade and has grown to involve a couple of areas in the central phoenix areas. The Grand District and Melrose also have First Friday events along with the Roosevelt Row area. An evening at 1st Friday include seeing art demonstrated, spontaneous performance of music and theater, gallery installations, street vendors and food.

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There are so many things to recommend Hong Kong.  Hotel accommodations are high on the list, because there are so many excellent places to stay.  The tradition of taking care of travelers is very old here, and the quality of service is quite good.  Our hotels are carefully selected to offer the best of the best, offering you variety in lodgings that will also offer the best in service, comfort, and design.  The old world and the new come together in our hotels, and there is a sense of splendor that is unmistakably of another time, yet the sense of design is so precise, and the technology so current, that you will feel as though you are almost living in the future.

In Hong Kong, perhaps we are living in the future.  It is one of the most magnetic metropolitan centers in the world, and is at the forefront of technology and culture.  Because of this, there is a terrific array of attractions here that will offer something for visitors of all ages.  Whether you have an afternoon of sight-seeing in mind, or want to spend time shopping for the latest fashions from some of the world’s leading designers, there’s something incredible in store for you.  In the realm of visual and performing arts, there is also a veritable feast of new work to experience here.  One of Hong Kong’s more innovative artists, representing a generation whose concerns are with merging the visual with technology, is Samson Young.

He is currently in New York, pursuing a doctoral degree in music from Colombia, but he has certainly left a mark in Hong Kong, and his work can be seen in town and all over the world.  He is an artist whose work crosses over into many disciplines.  One of his obvious talents is music.  Samson Young mixes a remarkable sense of humor into a dark and very brooding landscape, which has a startling effect on the listener that is simultaneously emotionally raw and cerebral.  This carries over into his installation work, which displays a talent for creating a total effect in a small environment that is at once spectacle, dreamlike, and carries astute political and cultural commentary.  He is one of the brighter talents working in these areas today, and it will be utterly fascinating to watch his work as it evolves into its next compelling phase.

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When it comes to five-star hotels, Dubai might have some of the best selections in the world.  With a splendid talent for combining both innovation and tradition, featuring high-tech amenities and luxurious hospitality, Dubai knows how to take care of travelers.  Our hotels are no exception, and are carefully selected from this already-magnificent selection, to provide you with the best of the best when it comes to excellence in accommodations.  Dubai is a very exciting place, and there are reasons why it is one of the world’s hottest spots for travelers.  After a stay in our lodgings, it will be plainly simple to understand why.  With gorgeous rooms decorated by our designers to showcase the best of international and local splendor, and meals prepared by top chefs trained in all the intricacies of world cuisine, you will be ready to have your own Dubai adventure.
Dubai is growing by leaps and bounds, seeing unprecedented development.  It has some of the finest shopping malls in the world, where ostentatiousness is embraced to demonstrate an unmistakable sense of material plenty.  There are a fantastic number of new galleries opening every year, taking part in Dubai’s rise in reputation in the international art world.  It attracts new generations of artists all year, looking to be part of the next scene, and doing a terrific job of creating one.  The new alternative rock band Nikotin is a fine example of this.  They are part of a local music scene that is rather stunning, with a large number of festivals taking place in Dubai every year.  Add to this a number of tours that come through, and countless local music events that happen in the city every night.  Things are happening here.
Nikotin started, it might be said, at the right place at the right time.  The guitarist and lead drummer, Mr. P. and Psycho that is, met in 2005 at a music shop.  It was a watershed year, as the two hungry youth started talking about mutual interests, and soon found themselves practicing together.  This was the formation of Nikotin a band of five young men, from Dubai and the U.S., who are causing heads (and ears) to turn in the UAE.  Their sound is a pretty solid and crisp classic rock, mixed with some alternative music sensibilities, to make for a sonic experience that touches roots.  They’ve been playing locally at all the right haunts, with their driving rhythms and solid vocals, including even some acoustic sets, to the delight of local fans, and international audiences who are just starting to catch on.

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For travelers in Asia, we have the perfect boutique hotel.  Hong Kong is a fantastic place, and your stay in our luxury accommodations will be immensely pleasurable, making memories that will last for years.  Boutique hotels offer the same high standards that the industry recognizes, with some very key differences.  Individuality and uniqueness are the hallmarks of boutique lodging, giving the discerning guests an alternative to the chain hotel.  Exquisite style and taste will greet you at every turn, reminding you that your comfort and convenience are just the beginning.

After a restful night in our sumptuous rooms, and a gourmet meal served by chefs who specialize in both innovation and tradition in world cuisine, you will be ready to discover Hong Kong.  People watching is at a premium here, with the bustling metropolis providing the backdrop for one of the most exciting places in the world.  There is marvelous shopping and sight-seeing here, to please every member of the family.  Then there are the clubs, offering a night life that is worth writing home about.  One of the most spectacular artists working the club circuit today is the world-renowned Technasia.  Charles Seigling is the electronic genius behind the name, having worked for a number of years with partner Amil Khan.

Khan and Seigling began Tecnhnasia in 1996, with the intention of putting the sounds of South East Asia in the forefront of electronic music fan’s minds.  They have been enormously successful, and now Seigling is the sole DJ behind the tracks, continuing to produce some of the most exciting beats in world techno music.  They’ve performed all over the world, in loads of hot dance clubs and playing at some of the great electronic music festivals.  They have also produced a stunning number of albums, so that music lovers can continue the beat long after the live performances have ended.  Today, Technasia performs all over Europe and Asia, promoting the Hong Kong sound as it develops and mixes with influences from all over the map.

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Mauritius is one of the Mascarene Islands located just off the coast of Africa.  This is a tropical island with a climate that is characterized by dry and moderate winters, and hot and humid summers.  The island has a series of monsoon storms with weather during this time being stormy and a bit unpredictable.  These storms happen during the summer months, so many of the travelers find that the best time for a visit is during the winter months, and they find accommodations in any one of the best hotels.  Mauritius is a city very cosmopolitan in nature with a variety of cultural and ethnic groups living together in a tolerant way.

It is this spirit of tolerance that creates an atmosphere of warmth and friendliness, two of the many characteristics that draw many visitors year after year.  The capital of the island is Port Louis, which has been the major site of the export business of the sugar industry on the island for many years.  The sugar cane plantations that cover the island and the production of sugar accounts for the amazing economic growth of the island, although the tourism industry is not far behind.  The official language on the island is English, however the languages of French, Hindi, and Creole are widely spoken as well.

The island itself is beautiful in an ephemeral kind of way, with palm tree lined beaches of pristine sand.  The beauty of the beaches and the clear blue water and the famous cloud filled skies has provided inspiration for many artists who have traveled to the island over the years, and are a perfect backdrop for those interested in any of the myriad of outdoor activities, including hikes, mountain bike, surfing, and scuba diving just to name a few.  And for those just interested in a chance to relax and unwind, the island offers many opportunities to such as well.  The beaches are ideal for long walks or for lounging about sunbathing, a nice retreat from a hectic world.

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