It’s unlikely to imagine Las Vegas without neon, if not impossible. Today, neon defines the city as much as it had in the past, and perhaps even more so in contemporary times. While neon has fallen out of use as a popular lighting source, it still remains one of the penultimate symbols of a time that’s passed. In cities like Las Vegas, however, the past and the present can tend to blur. This is in large part due to the work of Betty Willis whose bold experiments with neon did help to define the city. They also helped to define a time, which is a remarkable feat for any artist of any generation.

This may be easy to imagine, because the presence of nostalgia is one of the most delightful things about the strip. Looking out of the window of a Las Vegas hotel room is an interesting experience, where the visual candy is one that is entirely of the here and now, but also recalls a past that’s hard to define. Willis’ famous sign promoting the fabulousness of the city is as contemporary as it gets, because it recalls another era. In the era of its creation, however, it was a testament to design and new visual culture. It’s remarkable that it was made in the 40s, then, and still speaks to the same desire for bright and pretty colors. The foresight of her vision is such that it’s defined a style as well as an attitude, and one that still sends electric light through the visitors of the city that’s still deeply in love with neon.

Las Vegas Remembers Betty Willis is a post from: T For Travel

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When it comes to the basic elements of design in theatre production, there are four areas, more or less, that are well-established as ways of controlling the production. Every element of design should, ideally, serve to unify the production in terms of visual and aural appeal. In the classical theatre structures, the designers will work under the director’s supervision, finding a way to make their work match what the director has in mind for the show as a whole.

There are some very interesting exceptions to this. The designer as auteur is something that seems to rise and fall in popularity rather unpredictably. The most recent prominent designer in the theatre who embodies this notion is Julie Taymor . She has gone on to serve as the director of entire productions, as well as films, although her roots are deep in design. Through her fantastic theatre costumes , an entire world is able to come to light.

In some productions, like the Lion King , the world is by and large family friendly. A little menacing perhaps, but always kid friendly. In other works, like Titus Andronicus , there is menace all the way through, and the visual field always suggests that there is more menace on the way. Her costume designs are always augmented by makeup, and designers of this stature can usually help determine, even dictate, the other elements. These include lighting and sound, and all will serve to make the production work as a solid whole.

Theatre Costume Design and the Role of the Designer is a post from: T For Travel

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The Tribeca Film Festival occurs in this lower Manhattan neighborhood every year since it first began in 2002. It was established in response to the September 11th attacks on New York and since its beginning has been oriented toward the redevelopment of the lower Manhattan region. Robert De Niro, Craig Hatkoff and Jane Rosenthal were the three primary developers of this popular annual event. Lower Manhattan suffered some extreme destruction and loss of cultural vitality, in addition to all of the other damage that occurred during and as a consequence of the attacks and the festival has been a great benefit to the area and also to New York in general as well as the independent film scene .

The festival maintains its mission of enabling the international film community as well as the general public the opportunity to experience the power potential of film to redefine the film festival structure. Part of its intent and the reason for its establishment was to initiate a film orientation to the city of New York, which is already respected for being one of the most important theatre cities in the entire world. Underneath of the great goals remains the primary intention of long term recovery efforts of Manhattan.

In its short eight years of existence the festival has quickly become one of the most famous and influential film festivals in the world. As with many festivals of this kind, it features various film genres and structures. There are screenings of documentaries, shorts, features and many others. However, one of the most distinguishing features of this festival is the awards program to celebrate the excellent work of new filmmakers. There are also some great panel discussions and professional guests. Since its inception, the festival has brought millions of people and even more money to the downtown area and has been a tremendous assistance to the cultural and economic recovery of the area as well as the rest of Manhattan. People from all over the world travel to New York for this annual event.

Tribeca Film Festival in New York is a post from: T For Travel

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Payday loans are currently one of the most popular ways of handling cash shortages and emergency situations. One of the major conveniences of payday loans is their increased availability and the ease at which they are obtained. Most major cities have payday lenders on nearly every corner. Even if you live a small town that doesn’t have any payday loan stores, they are available online on websites such as moneymutual.com . Payday loans can be obtained by nearly everyone. They do not require a credit check, only your bank information and proof of employment. However, due to recent federal regulations they are no longer available to members of the military.
In 2006, the federal government passed legislations that disallowed members of the military from obtaining these loans. The reasoning behind these regulations is that it was causing problems with soldiers getting ready to deploy . Because payday loans are short-term loans, they are typically due on the next payday. This could be a problem for people on the verge of leaving the country. It got to the point that there were payday lenders lining the streets outside of most military bases.
However, with most laws there are ways around them and payday loans are no different. There are payday lenders that offer special military payday loans . They are more flexible and the interest rate is capped at 36%. The easiest way for members of the military to obtain these types of loans is through the internet. They are not available through every payday lender; however, the number of lenders that offer them is increasing.
Loop holes and changes in regulations are continuing to make payday loans easier and easier to obtain. Now even those who are serving our country abroad can get a quick and easy payday loan . Members of their families are also able to get a cash advance when times are tough.

Payday Loans and the Military is a post from: T For Travel

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I’m not sure I can say that I’m a fan of Vito Acconci.  I’d like to be, because I know I’ve tried to be at different times in my life, but they usually have gone terribly wrong, and I decide not to like him again for awhile.  He’s one of the great visionaries living in New York, to be sure, and I have nothing but respect for someone who can attempt what he did and be able to move forward into new things.  Every time I’ve tried to follow in his footsteps, it’s gone wrong, which seems to be part of his big plan.

If I had a better video camera, it might help.  I could be sitting in a chair in my top hotel in New York, and speaking to the camera as if the camera were you, and start confessing things, and then breaking into song.  I could also run in a thousand other directions with my words, and make confusing statements, and then things would be funny at the very end when everyone realizes I’m not going to say anything funny at all, but only make you think about watching me, and how that in itself is funny because it is not.  I could tell stories about my leg, and then everyone would be uncomfortable, but the truth is, I need a better camera.

Or a worse one.  Vito Acconci had a nice camera for the time, but to match his look, you’d need an old one, or maybe a super 8 even.  And he had a certain way with people, and it’s one that I just don’t have.  I tried the thing he did with following strangers around, and I ended up in a long relationship with someone I didn’t even like, just because I decided I had to be nice.  It was awful, and I felt bad, and even guilty, and that seemed to be what he knows, too.  I may have learned from all of this, then.  Even though I think it would be great to become an architect, and start designing lots of things, and talk about how we need to rethink things.  I could be someone who encourages people to rethink things, but then again, I’m not so sure.

Endurance Art in NYC is a post from: T For Travel

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WC Fields isn’t the only one who wants to be in Philadelphia these days.  For the living, it’s becoming an enormously vital center of arts and culture.  It has had a very strong identity for many decades, but recently has started to become a focal point for new work.  The old neighborhoods, with their particular histories and lessons of the past, make it a wonderfully apt place for exciting cultural work.  It seems as though it may be less than a generation ago that Philly was the place to go to get a break from the excess of New York City, and where people could test work out before bringing it out in front of a discerning public.

Today, Philadelphia’s art scene has evolved to the point where it doesn’t need another city to validate its existence, and it’s become a destination rather than a stop on the way.  This is one of the many reasons why it’s such a great place to visit.  In Philadelphia, cheap hotel accommodations are easy to find, and restaurants are as spectacular as they’ve ever been.  Tourists and young artists find themselves having a rather splendid time any time of year, because there is so much going on here.  In case there’s any doubt, visitors are encouraged to check out the work from the Asian Arts Initiative. This is a wonderful place to get a sample of visual and other creative arts from the local Asian American community.

There are wonderful sensibilities at work here, presenting local and international work to the Philly community.  There are some fantastic people at work in this project as well, demonstrating some of the most proficient and energetic talents in the world.  Sean Stoops, the Gallery Coordinator and Visual Arts Curator has a magnificent eye for work that speaks to global and local audiences.  He is an artist in his own rite, with spectacular installation projects on his cv, and always something new in the works.  He’s interesting to watch for his influence on visual culture as a curator as well as a creator.

Philadelphia Asian Arts is a post from: T For Travel

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One of the few absolutes about life, is that you never know what small event will change the rest your life forever.  This happened when the Tom Birchard, owner of the Ukrainian restaurant, Veselka, in the East Village met a girl forty years ago at a college fraternity party.  How does a young man from New Jersey, end up owning one of the most famous and authentic Ukrainian restaurants in New York?  By learning the recipes from the Ukrainian girl he met at the Rutgers University party so many years ago.

Veselka began as a combination newsstand, community center and a canteen in 1954, and was run by the girl’s father.  When her father died, Birchard took over the business and through the years it has gradually become a restaurant and a performance art space all in one.  Now Birchard has become, much to his surprise, and Honorary member of the Ukrainian-American society, a leader for his community and a patron of the world of performance art.  There are many incredible restaurants in Manhattan, and for many years Veselka has been serving not only wonderful dishes such as thick porridge called kutya, pierogies or potato dumplings, and various delectable dishes of root vegetables and pork…but has been serving up some of the finest and cutting edge performance art shows and poetry readings in the city.

This has become a counterculture hub, and many of the performers and patrons have been loyal to Birchard and his business for many, many years.  You may find yourself enjoying a production of “King Lear”, or you may find yourself experiencing a performance of “Honey Dance”, or a vaudeville show performed in Yiddish.  This is an eclectic meeting place for the multi-racial, and multi-cultural neighborhood that is the East Village. Food and fine entertainment, some of the best of the best New York has to offer is found in this little corner bistro.

A Bit of the Ukraine in the East Village is a post from: T For Travel

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It’s always a pleasure to travel with someone who is seeing Barcelona for the first time.  You can see the constant sense of surprise and delight, when they see this spectacular cosmopolitan city.  It’s a joy for yourself, too, of course, because the city is always changing and evolving.  Even though there are things that will always make it great, like the old architecture, paintings, as well as the classical sensibilities that embrace old-world manners, there is always something new here, and it’s always impressive as a city with vision.  There are plenty of visionaries here, too, as it continues to attract some of the best artistic minds in the world, just as it did in the Spanish golden age.

As a fantastic destination for tourists, it’s always been near the very top. Barcelona hotels and restaurants are plentiful, and also excellent, offering spectacular hospitality and luxury, so that you can see and taste the city from a place that speaks to pure pleasure.  There are also a fantastic variety of attractions that you can always find something to suit your tastes.  If you’re tastes run toward the unexpected, there is plenty here for you, and many interesting adventures lie ahead.  If you start looking into film here, you’ll probably run into the name Mabel Palacin.

Born here in 1965, she went to film school and continues to live and work here.  It’s a splendid compliment to the city, as she is an incredibly splendid artist.  Her preoccupations have to do with the way the viewer received the image, and her work plays with expectations in heady and fascinating ways.  She worked in photography for awhile, before turning to film completely, and her work is filled with the power of the moment in a way that most film-makers, even the best of the avant-garde, often miss.  Her work can be seen in exhibitions all over Spain, as well as many other countries in Europe, and Asia, and her splendid past career is a fantastic body of work to anticipate the years ahead.

Mabel Palacin in Barcelona is a post from: T For Travel

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For four-star hotels, Bangalore has a surplus of comfort and luxury.  Our world-class accommodation offer some of the most splendid features available, with a generous mixture of hospitality and convenience.  We offer a marvelous array of lodgings, and we specialize in the revitalization of the body and spirit.  You will adore the fantastic food available here, prepared by chefs who are trained in traditional cooking as well as the most contemporary innovations.  Fine dining is at a premium here, and conveniently located within your hotel.  Guests here will experience a lovely sense of relaxation, preparing them for new adventures in the city.

Bangalore has a lot to offer travelers of all ages.  It is one of the world’s great centers of technology, and the local economy has been quite good recently.  There has been a trend toward young people returning to Bangalore from time spent abroad, lulled back by its financial promise.  This makes for a fascinating cultural mix, where locals are suddenly getting to know their own city again for the first time.  This has resulted in new and interesting cultural experiments, blending innovation and tradition to the entertainment menu.  In this light, there is the Bangalore Roof Top Film Festival, which brings together audiences for intimate evenings of independent entertainment.

The Roof Top Film Festival is a wonderful way to get to know local culture in Bangalore, as the events are very informal.  People gather with the intention of watching lesser-known films in a neighborhood setting.  It is very community-oriented, which means that there is a strong connection to the local and global, and visitors here can observe and take part in the next wave of film viewing.  This is an open forum where people can see new and exciting work, and discuss what they see in an atmosphere of open inquiry.

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There are few experiences in the world that can even come close to clubbing in Ibiza, and there are many reasons why it has such a tremendous reputation around the world.  One night (and this can extend well into the next day) in these clubs, and you’ll know what the buzz is all about.  Ibiza on its own is a magnificent place, with intensely hospitable island culture, a relatively mild heat, and beautiful vistas all around.  Add to this some of the best parties in the world, and there’s a sense of why clubs here have such a following.  Our clubs are distinctive in their ability to cater to youth culture with excesses of style and grace, providing a stomping grounds for a party that goes on all day and all night.

It’s difficult to spend any time in a club here without hearing the word techno, and there are few who probably really understand what that term really means.  Most people will call any kind of electronic or dance music techno, and although they might occasionally be right, there’s more to it than a purely cosmetic similarity.   The term does certainly refer to technology and music, but there are some key distinctions that are important to keep in mind.  Perhaps most importantly, the music did not begin in Europe, as one might guess, but in the United States.  It is very similar in sensibility and development to hiphop and rap, combining forms to create something very unique and sophisticated.

Techno’s origins are generally accepted as beginning in Detroit in the 1980s.  Three African-American college students, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson, and Juan Atkins, aka The Belleville Three, found their inspiration in a late-night radio program hosted by DJ Charles The Electrifying Mojo Johnson.  Their music was a mixture of forms that played with early versions of sampling, and was inspired by ideas drawn from science fiction, and a fascination with and uneasiness toward the future.  This was later integrated with some ideas drawn from Alvin Toffler’s The Third Wave, and began to develop with specific and complicated beats, designed to put the listener into a kind of light trance state.   There are many lines of development between these early stages and what one will hear in Ibiza, but the intentions to alter the consciousness of the listener are still the same.

Techno in Ibiza is a post from: T For Travel

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