Phantom Of The Opera Sequel Lights Up The Night In London

Attention theater lovers – The Phantom is back!  Andrew Lloyd Webber’s much anticipated sequel production, Love Never Dies, opened in London this week to glowing reviews. The plot picks up 10 years after the mysterious disappearance of the Phantom in the basement of the Paris Opera House at the end of the play.  We find that the Phantom has followed his love (Christine) to New York where she has been offered an opportunity to perform at the newly opened Coney Island amusement pavilion.  In the excitement of traveling to glamorous New York with her husband Raoul and young son, Christine is unaware of the true identity of her benefactor who has lured her to New York.  “LOVE NEVER DIES is a rollercoaster ride of obsession and intrigue  in which music and memory can play cruel tricks and The Phantom sets out to prove that, indeed, LOVE NEVER DIES “.

Well respected theater ticket/travel company Keith Prowse is the exclusive ticket agent for Love Never Dies performances at the Adelphi Theatre.  They have put together London theater packages that include performance tickets and hotel stay starting at $129.59 per person (remarkable).   Click over to Keith Prowse/Love Never Dies for all the details – you’ll find a calendar displaying dates when tickets are available.

Plan A Family Surf Vacation – And Bring Your DOG!

Ever wonder who could learn to surf faster – you or your frisky pup?  Bring the whole family (plus the dog) on vacation to the Loews Coronado Beach Resort in San Diego California and find out! The Loews family of hotels loves pets and has developed imaginative vacation opportunities for travelers who want to bring their beloved dog or cat along on vacation.

The Coronado Beach Resort offers Su’Ruff Camp at Coronado’s Dog Beach where dogie surf instructors treat your favorite pooch to a one hour surfing lesson. But first they’ll need to look the part…. shake on a pair of complementary brightly colored board shorts and a designer surf bandanna – and don’t forget the camera!!  VIPs (Very Important Pets) are treated to gourmet room service, including a Surf & Turf dinner for surfer dogs and rawhide bones, catnip and scratch poles for your favorite felines.  Loews hotels customarily offer a special room service menu for cats and dogs, specialized bedding, leashes, collars, litter boxes and pooper scoopers.  You’ll also find pet-walking trails and pet-sitting services available at many properties as well.

And if your favorite 4 legged champ turns out to be a real surfing superstar, you may want to return in May for the 5th annual Surf Dog Competition that takes place on May 22, 1020.  This fun event attracts big crowds with proceeds going to a local charity.  Your dog doesn’t like water? – No worries, check out the Pumped Up Pets program and exercise along with your pet instead.

All the amenities are not just for the pets.  Your family will find lots of space to play in the sprawling ocean front resort spread over 15 acres.  You’ll find 3 swimming pools, an 80 slip marina, tennis courts, whirlpools, bike and rollerblade paths, and paddle boat rentals to name a few of the family friendly offerings.  Check out the hotel and all the special packages at LoewsHotels.com.

(Photos are from Loews Hotels’ website)

Newport RI – Come Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day & Irish Heritage Month

Now that Valentine’’s Day and the spangled dancing of Carnival are behind us, all eyes (and store shelves) turn to St. Patrick’s Day.   Party plans for green beer and Hibernian parades shift into high gear as winter weary populations yearn for a fine spring day.

While New York and Boston take top honors, Newport Rhode Island (sitting between the two) will be celebrating its own 54 year history of St. Patrick Day Parades with legions of Piping Bands, Fife & Drum Corps, Reenactment companies, and surely a politician or two!  Robust populations of Irish immigrants settled in Newport in the early 1800’s, coming to work in the busy shipping harbor, at Fort Adams and as domestic help in the grand ’summer cottages’, a.k.a mansions of the gilded age.  Today, Newport designates March as Irish Heritage Month and celebrates all month long.  March 4-7 brings the Kinsale Festival of Fine Food, March 13th sees the St. Patrick’s Day Parade,  and March 19-28 ushers in Restaurant Week.  If this dreary winter weather has you down and you’re looking for an entertaining destination for a few days away – Newport Rhode Island is an exceptionally great choice.

Why Go: Newport in winter and early spring takes on the feel of a congenial seaside village.  Gone are the high-season crowds of tourist chocking roads, sidewalks and restaurants.  Instead you’ll find streets sparkling with twinkle lights, an easy smile on the faces of shopkeepers, innkeepers and restaurateurs, and all the time you like to creep along Ocean Drive gawking at the magnificent homes old and new.  And a visit to the famed mansions is like receiving a private invitation – they’ll be no one nudging you to move along, you can envision yourself living like a Gatsby for as long as you like (or as long as your husband’s attention span will tolerate!).

Where To Stay: My choice is the Admiral Fitzroy Inn for its great locaiton at the center of Newport’s waterfront activity and abundant charm.  Bounce out the front door onto Thames Street, to find blocks and blocks of  trendy shops, inviting pubs and harbor side restaurants.  All the attractions of Newport’s famed harbor, the information center and the historic district are all within walking distance.  And the St. Patrick’s Day Parade passes right by their front door!  The Inn (listed on the National Register of Historic Places), actually began it’s life as the Nunnery for St. Mary’s church on Spring Street.  St. Mary’s is the oldest Catholic parish in Rhode Island and is where JFK and Jacqueline Bouvier were married in 1953.  We were fascinated by the picture album of the building being moved from Spring Street to it’s current location on Thames Street – quite a project!  Angela and Dale were wonderful, helpful hosts during our visit in December.

Where To Chow Down and Find A Brew: There are so many great choices the only thing to do is stop every few blocks for a refresher!  For St. Paddy’s Day, you’ll definitely want to find a seat early at Busker’s Irish Pub on Thames Street.  Then wander your way down to Bannister’s Wharf for a bowl of heavenly chowdah at The Black Pearl.  If all the seats are taken, the Clarke Cook House on the same wharf never disappoints.  Share an Irish Whiskey upstairs on the couches by the fire in winter for a quiet interlude.  Two restaurants really surprised us – in a good way.  We ducked into The Barking Crab for a quick lunch and had THE BEST FRIED CLAMS we’ve had in years! (And that’s saying a lot given our roamings in Maine).  The clams were incredibly fresh and sweet with a light brown batter and a perfect crunch – I could go for a few right now!  The atmosphere was lively and fun – we’d go back again.  And we had an excellent meal at Fathoms Restaurant in the Marriott hotel.  I don’t usually expect big taste from a hotel restaurant, but this one has an excellent chef and menu. Our table looked out on the harbor and the seafood was prepared with imagination and skill.  The picture above is a snapshot of their interpretation of Seafood Newburg – delicious!  Let me emphasize…. there are dozens of exceptional restaurants in Newport.  You’ll find establishments to satisfy your every whim whether it be exotic delicacies served on fine china, ulta-fresh sushi, down home BBQ , or an overflowing seafood basket – you’re most difficult task will be deciding which to visit.

If you’re like us, you’ll be planning your next visit to Newport in no time!

Vegas Gets A New Kind Of Show – Bullfights – Without The Violence!

The Next Big Thing In Boating – Seabreacher

Even The Olympics Is Discounting This Year!

Pies On Parade – Take A Bite Out Of Winter

Power Up A Snowcat And Take It For A Spin At Crested Butte Colorado

Rub Noses Like An Eskimo In An Igloo Hotel!

Spend The Winter In Nice France Learning to Teach Business English

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