By: Terri Hirsch.

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

One of the most popular events in Alaska is the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. This legendary race is a contest of endurance and triumph over the hostile winter wilderness. Concerns about COVID-19 made a drastically different competition this year – required testing and face masks, At Deshka Landing, Alaska the 49th Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race began at 2pm Sunday, March 7, 2021.

Dalles Seavey crossed the finish line at Deshka Landing on March 15. 2021 with 10 of his 14 dog race team, claiming his fifth record-tying Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race championship. Veteran Musher Victoria Hardwick, the final musher (46th) arrived on March 17th with10 dogs and crossed the finish line to claim the Red-Lantern Award – a symbol of perseverance.

All Iditarod dogs are now home and happy with their buddies in their kennels. The mushers are already planning for the 50th Anniversary Race in 2022.

The Perrins Rainy Pass Lodge

I flew Regal Air to The Perrins Rainy Pass Lodge landing on a frozen lake equipped with skis. Rainy Pass is nestled in the heart of the Alaska range on a mountain lake situated 125 air miles north of Anchorage, Alaska and known as one of the official checkpoints on the Iditarod Trail. Steve and Denise Perrins run Rainy Pass Lodge with the help of their five sons. Denise was busy cooking a hot lunch of beef stew, soups, breads and cakes for all the guests.

Outside the Lodge were numerous teams of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. It was amazing to meet the Berington twins, Kristy and Anna and their dog teams on Rainy

Pass. The twins earned 22nd and 24th places at the finish line on March 16th . Kristy Berington operates Seeing Double Sled Dog Racing with her twin sister Anna and her husband, Andy Pohl, in Knik, Alaska. Mushing dogs has become part of their family life. Being able to train and raise dogs has been a dream come true.

Iditarod Trail Kennel, Knik, Alaska

An exciting experience and educational meeting with GB Jones (GB) at the Iditarod Trail Kennel in Kirk, Alaska to learn how to be a musher was unforgettable. On GB’s “Grateful Sled” he taught me how to start, stop, brake and make contact by commands with the dog team. Dog sledding commands and communication between the teams musher and the dogs are essential. Every musher does things differently from training to feeding. GB hitched his team of eight dogs and drove me in his sled over the quarter-mile loop on the Iditarod Trail, before being able to go mushing.

GB’s greatest accomplishment in his dog sledding career was to become a finisher of the Iditarod race. In 2004 he came in second to last, did not win the Red-Lantern Award, but in his eyes he just won the 2004 Iditarod Sled Race by not giving up and by making his decision to finish the race he began. He had perseverance – the ability to keep doing something in spite of obstacles and despite how hard or how long it took to reach his goal. The true story of GB Jones is told in his book entitled “Winning The Iditarod.”

Arctic Valley Ski Area

Located on Ski Bowl road in Chugach State Park Arctic Valley is the only multiple Ski and Tube Park area located within 20 miles of Anchorage, Alaska with three chair lifts: the T-bar, Little Teton and theThompson Lift.

The T-Bar offers a unique benefit, that if you just want to venture slightly up the mountain, or you want to take it to the top, you can dismount at any point on your climb. Located next to the lodge, the T-Bar was built in 1961 and is the heart of the ski area serving Arctic Valley’s riders.

The Little Teton Chairlift takes you to Rendezvous Peak where you can take in the spectacular views of Arctic Valley and Eagle river, Alaska. The ride down is the longest of all the lifts.

The Thompson Lift is the Southern-most lift and a quick 4-minute ride up the mountain.

Tubing is a fantastic way to get yourself and your children outside in the winter. The tube park operates four 1.5 hour sessions with a capacity of fifty people per day.. Buying tickets in advance to ensure space availability is a must as well as completing a liability waiver before arriving at the Arctic Valley Ski Area.

The Matanuska Glacier

The Matanuska Glacier is a valley glacier nestled between the Chugath and Talkeetna mountain ranges, standing at 13,000 feet. Well-trained professional guides gave us a wealth of knowledge including glaciology and geology while taking us to remote areas. Price is $100.00 per person and includes Crampons Ice Cleats Traction Snow Grips for boots, sneakers and/or shoes.

We began our three-hour trekking and ice climbing on the Matanuska Glacier citing many beautiful moulins, crevasses, and blue pools. With over an hour of hiking on difficult terrain to reach the climbing spots we started our climb. All the trekking and climbing were on uneven ice and rock terrain with moderate ups and downs and ice-capped mountains and blue ice all around us. No previous glacier experience was required although a moderate level of fitness is required. My climb was challenging but my memories of a walk on a glacier will be with me forever.

The post Winter In Alaska – March 2021 appeared first on Good News!.

A Tribute to Legendary Songstress and Activist Abbey Lincoln
Starring Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dianne Reeves, and Esperanza Spalding
Under the Musical Direction of Terri Lyne Carrington

WOW Teen Summit
Featuring a talk by Oscar-nominated actress Gabourey Sidibe –
Presented in partnership with the PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature

A Day of Free Panel Discussions, Interactive Workshops, and Performances Celebrating Empowerment & Activism Featuring
Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o
Three-time Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas
Women’s March Co-Chairs Carmen Perez & Tamika Mallory

Friday May 4th – Sunday May 7th

WHAT: Women of the World (WOW) Festival

The Apollo Theater will gather artists, activists, and leaders from around the globe for the return of the WOW – Women of the World Festival, a four-day festival presented in collaboration with the Southbank Centre London on May 4-7, 2017. Founded in 2010 by Southbank’s Artistic Director Jude Kelly and originating at Southbank Centre, London, the international festival celebrates women and girls and promotes gender equity. The Festival made its New York premiere at the Apollo in 2015.

Highlights of the WOW Festival include conversations with Lupita Nyong’o, Gabby Douglas and Gabourey Sidibe as well as performances by Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dianne Reeves and Esperanza Spalding.

Thursday, May 4, 2017
Live Wire: Performance and the Politics of Style
6:30PM – Apollo Theater Soundstage
A discussion led by scholar and author Salamishah Tillet, that will explore artists who assert their own narratives of artistic and political freedom in ways at times appealing and controversial.

Apollo Comedy Club Featuring Tacarra Williams, Vernita Bostick and Kate Wolff
Hosted by Mugga
10:00PM – Apollo Theater Soundstage
WOW takes over the Apollo Comedy Club with a special all-female line-up. Curated by Bob Sumner (producer of Def Comedy Jam, creator of LaffMobb on Aspire), the Apollo Comedy Club features the best up and coming talent in comedy today.

Friday, May 5, 2017
Jumping at the Sun: The Moth at the Women of the World Festival
7:30PM – Apollo Mainstage
Join The Moth and the Apollo for stories of conviction, humility, and voices that carry. Hosted by Detroit native Dame Wilburn, this performance features five storytellers telling true personal stories from Harlem to Africa — and beyond.

Apollo Music Café: Lindsey Webster with Opening Act Koku Gonza
10:00PM – Apollo Theater Soundstage
Lindsey Webster is an American contemporary jazz singer-songwriter whose song Fool Me Once reached number one on Billboard’s Smooth Jazz Songs chart in February and March 2016.

Saturday, May 6, 2017
WOW Teen Summit
Grrls, Pearls, Unfurl: Identity and Self Love in the Millennial Age
11:00AM – 12:30PM – Apollo Mainstage

The program will feature Gabourey Sidibe (presented in partnership with Pen World Voices) who will share her journey from Harlem to Hollywood with highlights from her irreverent and hilarious new memoir, This Is Just My Face: Try Not to Stare.

Abbey Lincoln Tribute Concert

8:00PM – Apollo Mainstage
Featuring Dee Dee Bridgewater, Diane Reeves, Esperanza Spalding; and Terri Lyne Carrington, Musical Director

Under the musical direction of GRAMMY Award-winning drummer, composer, and producer Terri Lyne Carrington, an all-star line-up of vocalists including Dianne Reeves, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Esperanza Spalding will celebrate the life, music and legacy of Abbey Lincoln, presented on tour by the Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.

Apollo Music Café Featuring Carmen Rodgers and Zo!
10:00PM – Apollo Theater Soundstage
Carmen Rodgers, joined by Zo!, will present tunes from all of their projects including their newest releases Stargazer and Skybreak, and more!

Sunday, May 7, 2017
Big Ideas* Intimate Conversations
2:00PM – 7:00PM

A day of free panel discussions, interactive workshops and performances featuring Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o, who will perform a dramatic reading of selections from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel Americanah; three-time Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas, who will take part in an intimate conversation on cyber bullying; a panel with National Co-Chairs of the Women’s March on Washington Tamika Mallory and Carmen Perez as they discuss what it takes to create an inclusive movement that also stands against racism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, xenophobia and classism, and the issues shaping the feminist agenda in the 21st Century.

WHERE: The Apollo Theater
253 West 125th Street
New York, NY

WHEN: Thursday May 4th – Sunday May 7th

TICKETS: Visit wowapollo.com for more information. Tickets will be available at the Apollo Theater Box Office: (212) 531-5305, 253 West 125th Street, and Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com

PHOTO OP: All Media MUST RSVP prior to event. ALL requests for coverage must be submitted on company letterhead to Nina Flowers via email to nina.flowers@apollotheater.org or fax 212.749-2743.

ABOUT US: The legendary Apollo Theater—the soul of American culture—plays a vital role in cultivating emerging talents and launching legends. Since its founding, the Apollo has served as a center of innovation and a creative catalyst for Harlem, the city of New York, and the world.

With music at its core, the Apollo’s programming extends to dance, theater, performance art, spoken-word initiatives, and more. Recent highlights include James Brown: Get on the Good Foot, which began an international tour in 2015, the Africa Now! Festival and Apollo Club Harlem. The Apollo is a presenting organization that also produces festivals, large-scale dance and music works organized around a set of core initiatives: Apollo Music; Signature Programs—Amateur Night, Salon Series and the Apollo Music Café; Legacy Series, work that celebrates and extends the Apollo’s legacy through a contemporary lens; Global Festivals, international and U.S.-based artist presentations focused on a specific theme; and Special Projects, multidisciplinary work with partner organizations.

Since introducing the first Amateur Night contests in 1934, the Apollo Theater has served as a testing ground for new artists working across a variety of art forms, and has ushered in the emergence of many new musical genres—including jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, soul, and hip-hop. Among the countless legendary performers who launched their careers at the Apollo are D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, Machine Gun Kelly, Miri Ben Ari, D’Angelo, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, James Brown, Michael Jackson, Gladys Knight, Luther Vandross, and Stevie Wonder; and the Apollo’s forward-looking artistic vision continues to build on this legacy.

The Apollo Theater is a not-for-profit organization with the mission to extend the institution’s role in fostering artistic innovation and in building appreciation of American culture around the world. For more information, visit www.apollotheater.org

Apollo Theater Information

Box Office Hours:

Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri – 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday – 10:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Saturday – 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

The post The Apollo Theater Presents Southbank Centre’s Women of the World Festival appeared first on Good News!.

By Terri Hirsch

The 36-floor luxury Waldorf Astoria Panama located just 15-minutes from Tocumen International Airport (PTY) offered us a personalized hospitality experience. Our very own concierge made our appointments for private car arrangements, tours and enticing dining experiences. Nearby attractions included the Panama Canal (5 miles), the financial district with restaurants and bars just steps away and a world-class championship golf facility designed by architect Jeffrey Myers – 5-minutes away on the east bank of the Panama Canal.

Our morning excursion started with a visit to the Panama Canal Miraflores Locks, the first locks of the Canal coming from the Pacific Ocean, considered to be one of the world’s most acclaimed engineering marvels. We observed the movements of the ships in the locks and learned about the Panama Canal operations as we toured the Canal Museum. The museum photos included people at work in the early 20th century, the bridges and ships in transit and prints illustrating the history of the Panama Canal.

The next day we embarked on our Gateway to Adventure at the Shelter Bay Marina in Colon, Panama as we boarded the 32-cabin Mega-Yacht Variety Voyager. The Voyager would take us through the Panama Canal, crossing the Gatun, San Pedro and Miraflores Locks to Punta Patino, Darien, Panama and Coiba Island, Panama before continuing to Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio National Park in Quepos and Curu and Tortuga before reaching Puntarenas, Costa Rica.

The ship was outfitted with oversized cabins, large windows, a spa and fitness equipment, a glass-enclosed dining room and a sundeck. Day-by-day shore excursions were led by an on-board naturalist who guided us through tropical rain forests, natural parks and wildlife up-close. Beach picnics with swimming and snorkeling and a thrilling zip-line where you soar through the canopy of rainforest treetops were also on our program. There would be Zodiac wet and dry landings – towels and bottled water were given to us as we left the ship.

The Variety Voyager set sail to Punta Patino in Darien, Panama, a nature reserve in the San Miguel Bay, where the ship anchored overnight near the Punta Patino Reserve. After breakfast we stepped into dugout canoes (flat bottom boats) for sightseeing through the Mogue River and then continued upstream to the settlement homes of the Embera Indians. We were welcomed by the sound of local instruments and a group of villagers in colorful traditional costumes. They showed us their homes perched on tops of silts, performed traditional dances and shared traditional food before returning to the ship for our early afternoon sailing to Coiba Island.

Coiba Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest island in Central America. Once we arrived on the beach our naturalist led us to a location where we could towel off the sand and mud and put our shoes on. We were now ready to explore and started to walk up the San Juan Hill (1400 feet above sea level). Not only did we see monkeys, eagles, macaws and birds, but we had a spectacular view of the cove where we landed. Returning to the Coiba Beach area we were joined by our hotel manager and the barbeque team for lunch. There was free time for swimming and snorkeling with turtles and other species of fish including sharks and sting-rays. The waves had picked up on our return to the ship and one actually went over the zodiac and drenched us. Late in the afternoon we left Panama and sailed to Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica.

The Voyager arrived the following morning for immigration procedures at Golfo Dulce, Costa Rice before continuing to Casa Orquideas Botanical Gardens, one of the oldest and most interesting botanical gardens. Casa Orquideas has been planted and cultivated by Ron and Trudy McAllister. Arriving at the gardens our naturalist guided us through hundreds of different species of tropical plants such as palms, heliconias, orchids, exotic fruit trees. We discovered an exotic world of ornamental wild and edible plants and were able to smell and taste exotic fruits most of us never heard of before. Afterwards, the ship set sail across the Bay of Puerto Jimenez while having a deck barbeque and arrived in the afternoon at the Osa Peninsula Reserve.

Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula offered us some of the best birding on the Pacific Coast of Central America. The trail, part of the Corcovado National Park, was mostly flat and shaded. We had a chance to see numerous birds including one of the most beautiful birds in the world – the scarlet macaws. Scarlets are primarily a vivid red with bright yellow and blue edging on their wings. Returning to the ship for dinner, the Voyages continued sailing overnight to Quepos, Costa Rica.

Buses were waiting for us in Quepos after our zodiac transfer. The Manuel Antonio National Park is considered to be one of the most beautiful parks in Costa Rica. Our local guides and naturalists led us through trails abounded with wildlife citing iguanas, sloths, red squirrel, white-faced and howler monkeys. Manuel Antonio had one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica – a half mile long with white sand bordered by deep green mangroves and palms. There was time for shopping, swimming and snorkeling. We returned to the Voyager for lunch and by mid-afternoon we were on our zipline canapy tour of rainforest tops.

Curu Hacienda and National Wildlife Refuge is located on the southern Nicoya Peninsula of northwestern Costa Rica, Central America. Once we arrived on the beach our naturalist led us to a location where we could put our shoes on and get ready to explore. This area was teaming with abundant wildlife, such as white-faced monkeys, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, scarlet macaws, white-tailed deer and hundreds of species of tropical and migratory birds. On the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridge the sounds of rare bird species can be heard and seen.

In the afternoon the Variety Voyager sailed to Tortuga Island for a barbeque at Tortuga Beach with swimming, snorkeling and time to explore the island before the ship sailed during the night to Puntarenas, Costa Rica, where we said goodbye to this dream vacation.

The post Gateway to Adventure appeared first on Good News!.

The lure of the past is brought to life in Siem Reap nestled between the
rice paddy countryside along the Siem Reap River that serves as the gateway
to the temple ruins. Officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia and once
known as the Khmer Empire it is located in the southern portion of the
Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia bordered by Thailand to the northwest,
Laos to the northeast, Vietnam to the east and the Gulf of Thailand to the
southwest.

Siem Reap has tree lined boulevards, an historical museum and artisan
workshops consisting of art, wood and stone carvings, statues, furniture and
handicrafts. The City is best explored on foot or on a “tuk tuk” (a
rickshaw with the front-end of a motorcycle). Although not luxurious, they
are easy to find and inexpensive.

The Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort, a French colonial style
resort designed by Thai architect Choochart Polakit, is situated ten minutes
from the airport and five minutes away from the magnificent temples of Siem
Reap. It showcases intimate living space with timber floors and wrap-around
terraces surrounded by lagoons, landscapes and bright turquoise
mini-fountains, plus an outdoor swimming pool with a swim-up bar, three
restaurants, an 18-hole championship golf course and a spa for rejuvenation.

One of the largest and most important archeological sites in Southeast Asia
is the Angkor Archeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, comprised of
dozens of ruins including the legendary Angkor Wat. In the darkness of the
night we rode in rickshaws and used flashlights to get to the Angkor Wat
site where we witnessed one of the most mesmerizing sunrises over Angkor
Wat. Afterwards, we continued touring other remains of the Khmer era.

Major highlights of the Park included the Baynon, known for the large number
of smiling faces sculptured on the towers. A journey through one of the
most spectacular ruins at Ta Prohn is a breathtaking site of trees emerging
out of temple walls that become intertwined with the temple stones –
featured in the film “Tomb Raider.” A huge platform known today as Terrace
of the Elephants runs from north to south across the east front of the Royal
Palace. The walls are carved with various scenes of court figures,
elephants and bird-like creatures. Also shown were hunting scenes with
elephants carved into the wall. In several places the elephant appears to
be fighting another creature, possibly a lion.

Upon return to the hotel there was time for visiting the outdoor market
before dinner and the Aspara dancing show at the hotel featuring local
Cambodian/Khmer folk dancers. An Aspara is a female spirit of the clouds
and waters in Hindu and Buddhist mythology.
Monday morning we boarded a motor coach for a six-hour transfer from the
Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort to our ship moored at Prek Kdam,
Cambodia. Before embarking on our Mekong River cruise we travelled through
mountain roads viewing numerous rice paddies, oxen, small villages and
outdoor markets. We joined the AmaLotus, our floating hotel for the next
7-nights, in the late afternoon and met fellow passengers at a cocktail
party and dinner. The meals onboard were prepared by local chefs and
consisted of western cuisine as well as Vietnamese and Cambodian cuisine.
Wine and beer plus complimentary house brand spirits and soft drinks were
included throughout the cruise at lunch and dinner.
On Tuesday Kampong-Chhnang, one of the central provinces in Cambodia, was
our first stop on the Mekong River. Our tour was a motorboat excursion
along the Tonie Sap River viewing the wetlands, floating houses and fish
farms in the region. After lunch our guide took us on a leisurely walking
tour over dirt paths through the Koh Chen village visiting workshops that
specialize in silver jewelry and artifacts made from copper.
Wednesday we arrived in the city of Oudong, the former capital of Cambodia
and visited a Buddhist Monastery. The main attraction was a mummified monk
in a small chapel near the back of the temple. Inside the Monastery we
received a traditional blessing from Buddhist monks as we sat before them
listening to chanting and prayers and smelled the incense, candles and
flowers. Afterwards, an offering of a red thread was tied around our wrist
– a keepsake that signifies luck and prosperity.
The next stop was Kampong Tralach for the most popular transportation in
Cambodia – an oxcart. The Cambodian farmers use the oxcarts to harvest
crops, carry hay, animals and even their family members. Two of us were in
each cart as we travelled through the rural countryside of Kampong Tralach,
Cambodia for twenty minutes. Handrails were provided for each oxcart and we
were warned to keep our arms inside the cart to avoid arm injuries caused by
cart wheels.
After lunch on Wednesday we set sail for Phnom Penh, the capital and largest
city of Cambodia located on the banks of the Mekong River where we docked
overnight. Thursday morning we toured the Killing Fields. The mass graves
found here contain the remains of thousands of people. Survivor stories can
be heard from an audio tour – the loss of an infant, witness to a killing,
forced to leave home, anger, isolation and hope….
Thursday afternoon our guided tour of Phnom Penh included the Royal Palace,
Silver Pagoda and the National Museum. The Royal Palace, built in 1866, was
the home of the Cambodian King. At the end of the 19th century the Palace
was a small city with thousands of people living in courtyards. Inside the
Silver Pagoda were works of art, sculptures and hundreds of antique gifts
plus a Buddha statute made from pure gold with over 2,000 diamonds attached
to it. The National Museum, built in Khmer Style in 1917 by a French
architect, houses a collection of Khmer art dating from the pre-Angkorian
era.

Friday we cruised the Mekong River from Phnom Penh and crossed the
Cambodian/Vietnamese border before we anchored overnight in Tan Chau,
Vietnam. The next two days were spent touring numerous small cities before
arriving in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for our flight home.

The post Sunrise at Ankor Wat, The Kingdom of Cambodia – Photo by Dawn A. Levy article by Terri Hirsch appeared first on Good News!.

A short ride to the docking location at Vila Nova de Gala took us to our floating hotel the AmaVida for an amazing cruise down the Douro River, an incredible wine-growing region known for its excellent vintages. We settled into our home away from home and enjoyed the first night aboard the AmaVida.  The ship’s lounge was a gathering place for onboard announcements, lectures and entertainment.  Lunch as well as dinner was a multi-course served meal with complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks.  An after-dinner red port wine, Portugal’s best known product throughout the world was always served.

The following morning we passed the Carrapatelo Lock, the highest lock in Europe in one single lift.  All along the river there were steep hillsides for the cultivation of grapes. The wine harvest takes place in the fall, the grapes are crushed immediately.   Different varieties are created with different grapes, aging procedures, and aging time which include:  Ruby Port – a blend of wines aged for a few years; Tawny Port – similar to Ruby Port but made from a lighter golden colored wine and a White Port –made from white grapes, served as an aperitif.  The AmaVida gave us the opportunity to taste some of the different port wines produced in the Douro River Valley..

One of the most traditional wine-producing estates in Regua is the Sandeman Estate on the South Bank of the Douro River between the city of Régua and the village of Pinhão.  Sandeman’s winery offered us a venture into port wine production, including tours of the open fermenting vats.  This tour was followed by tastings in the bar with exceptional views of the River Douro.

Barca de Alva was the last port of call in Portugal and an overnight stay.  The river emerges from a long, narrow gorge to the northeast, where it forms the frontier with Spain.  Salamanca, Spain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on a plateau near the Tormes River would be our next stop.  City highlights included sandstone buildings, a 12^th Century cathedral and the University of Salamanca founded in 1218 by King Alfonso VI.    A buffet lunch was served at the Alameda Palace Hotel where we had a taste of the local cuisine followed by a Flamenco show and a walking tour of the city.  The ship was now docked in Vega De Terron, Spain, where a traditional barbeque dinner was served on the sun deck of the AmaVida with soft listening piano music – which would also fill the lounge in the afternoons and each evening.

After breakfast our tour was in Castelo Rodigo, one of 12 historical villages of Portugal.  This small fortified village was perched on the hilltop with 16^th century walls and steep narrow streets. We discovered numerous sites on their cobblestoned slopes such as a clock tower, a wall around the city, a jail, a handicraft shop and the Rocamadour Church, founded in 1192. A Tea House at Castelo Rodrigo served red and white Port Wines which everyone enjoyed while sitting outside or in a private room.   In the past, Castelo Rodrigo was a place where Jews, Muslims and Christians lived in peace and harmony.

This evening we departed for Pinhao, Portugal, a tiny port town located approximately 25 kilometers east of Regua.  There is only one street in Pinhao, a couple of waterfront bars and a train station – completed in the late 19^th century.  That evening a Portugal dinner was served at the family-owned winery Quinta da Avessada in the heart of the Douro region. This winery was built a century ago producing premium Muscatel wine.  Returning to the AmaVida we continued cruising to Pinhao, where we spent the night.  Pinhao may be a tiny port town, but it is an important supply center for surrounding villages and a key stop for river cruise vessels.

The next day we were back in Regua on a tour of the Mateus Palace with its beautiful gardens located in the Tras-os-Montes region near the city of Vila Real, Portugal.  Inside the Palace were exhibits of paintings, furnishings and ceilings of carved wood.  Returning to the ship for lunch there was an after-lunch surprise ice cream party on the sundeck.  Cruising up the Douro River we arrived in Bitetos, Portugal for a 6:00PM dinner at the Monastery of Alpendurada.  Overlooking the Douro Valley, it was  built in the 19^th century for the Count of Villa Real.  Before the four-course Portugal dinner and wine served in the outside gardens, we had the opportunity to discover the beautiful 16^th through 19^th century Portuguese, French and British furniture decorating the Palace.

Going back to Porto, we passed the Crestuma Dam and arrived at Vila Nova de Gaia.  A city tour was followed by port wine tasting at Grahams. The history of Graham’s spans several centuries, during which time it has always maintained its independence as a family business.  The story of Graham’s is the story of two families:  the Grahams and the Symingtons.  These two enterprising families have dedicated generations of work to the great wines of the Douro Valley.

For additional information:  www.amawaterways.com

The post River Cruising Along the Douro River by Terri and Martin Hirsch appeared first on Good News!.

Jamie Brown-Miller won the Manischewitz All-Star Cook-Off at the JCC in Manhattan in New York City! She was selected as the winner of the $25,000 Grand Prize from a group of 5 past Cook-Off finalists that were chosen as All-Stars for this year’s competition:

1. Joe Carver, Philadelphia, PA – Bubby’s Noodle Strudel

2. Dina Burcat, New York, NY – Latke-Crusted Chicken with Apple Cider,Mushroom & Rosemary Sauce

3. Jamie Brown-Miller, Napa, Ca – Waffled Latkes with Matzo Fried Chicken &Spicy Syrup

4. Naylet LeRochelle, Miami, FL – Halibut Couscous with Pan-Tossed Tomato,Chickpea and Oregano

5. Ronna Farley, Rockville, MD – Beef Tenderloin Puffs

Her prize consists of a beautiful trophy as well as cash, a one-year Saveur magazine subscription and a bundle of Maytag® kitchen appliances! Jamie Brown-Miller was a finalist in the 2010 Manischewitz Cook-Off competition, but not top winner. Her winning recipe, Waffled Latkes with Matzo Fried Chicken & Spicy Syrup, easily won over the panel of five judges.

Passover will also be more delicious than ever this year with two new desserts: Coconut Crisp Cookies and Pistachio Orange Macaroons. The Coconut Crisp Cookies are mouthwatering with a homemade taste just like Grandma used to make. The Pistachio Orange Macaroons are hard to resist with a crunchy Pistachio texture and tangy citrus taste that creates a unique and scrumptious holiday treat. Even better, the Pistachio Orange Macaroons, along with the rest of the Manischewitz Macaroon line, are certified gluten-free.

Also new and exciting for Passover is new Manischewitz Almond Pecan Granola, a crunchy, bite-sized blend of whole grain wheat matzo, hearty almonds, pecans and luscious cranberries. It is lightly sweetened with coconut for a delicious wholesome taste that is great for breakfast or a snack.

The Manischewitz Brand was founded in a small bakery built to make Passover matzo in1888 by Rabbi Dov Behr Manischewitz in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1932, Rabbi Manischewitzopened a plant in Jersey City, NJ, replacing the operation in Cincinnati. This move pavedthe way for the introduction of new products like Tam Tam® Crackers, Chicken Soup,Noodles, Gefilte Fish and much more. The company offers a diverse line of specialtykosher food products that cover over 60 different categories.

For more information, log onto www.manischewitz.com

The post The 2014 Manischewitz All-Star Cook-Off By Terri and Martin Hirsch appeared first on Good News!.

For the past seven years, the Manischewitz All-Star Cook-Off contest had searched the country for the tastiest and most creative kosher recipes prepared by at-home cooks. This live Cook-Off happens in front of an esteemed panel of judges consisting of food media and other culinary experts. The 2014Manischewitz All-Star Cook-Off featured top competitors from previous Cook- Off events in a head-to-head competition for a second chance to win the Grand Prize. Each finalists was invited to submit a new recipe with kosher guidelines having no more than nine ingredients including one of the Manischewitz all-natural broth flavors, (turkey, chicken reduced sodium chicken, beef or vegetable, plus one additional Manischewitz product.

Jamie Brown-Miller won the Manischewitz All-Star Cook-Off at the JCC in Manhattan in New York City! She was selected as the winner of the $25,000 Grand Prize from a group of 5 past Cook-Off finalists that were chosen as All-Stars for this year’s competition:

1.

Joe Carver, Philadelphia, PA

– Bubby’s Noodle Strudel

2.

Dina Burcat, New York, NY
–

Latke-Crusted Chicken with Apple Cider,

Mushroom & Rosemary Sauce

3.

Jamie Brown-Miller, Napa, Ca –

Waffled Latkes with Matzo Fried Chicken &

Spicy Syrup

4.Naylet LeRochelle, Miami, FL- Halibut Couscous with Pan-Tossed Tomato,

Chickpea and Oregano

5. Ronna Farley, Rockville, MD – Beef Tenderloin Puffs

Her prize consists of a beautiful trophy as well as cash, a one-year Saveur magazine subscription and a bundle of Maytag® kitchen appliances! Jamie Brown-Miller was a finalist in the 2010 Manischewitz Cook-Off competition, but not top winner. Her winning recipe, Waffled Latkes with Matzo Fried Chicken & Spicy Syrup, easily won over the panel of five judges.

Passover will also be more delicious than ever this year with two new desserts: Coconut Crisp Cookies and Pistachio Orange Macaroons. The Coconut Crisp Cookies are mouthwatering with a homemade taste just like Grandma used to make. The Pistachio Orange Macaroons are hard to resist with a crunchy Pistachio texture and tangy citrus taste that creates a unique and scrumptious holiday treat. Even better, the Pistachio Orange Macaroons, along with the rest of the Manischewitz Macaroon line, are certified gluten-free.

Also new and exciting for Passover is new Manischewitz Almond Pecan Granola, a crunchy, bite- sized blend of whole grain wheat matzo, hearty almonds, pecans and luscious cranberries. It is lightly sweetened with coconut for a delicious wholesome taste that is great for breakfast or a snack.

The Manischewitz Brand was founded in a small bakery built to make Passover matzo in 1888 by Rabbi Dov Behr Manischewitz in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1932, Rabbi Manischewitz opened a plant in Jersey City, NJ, replacing the operation in Cincinnati. This move paved the way for the introduction of new products like Tam Tam® Crackers, Chicken Soup, Noodles, Gefilte Fish and much more. The company offers a diverse line of specialty kosher food products that cover over 60 different categories.

For more information, log onto www.manischewitz.com

The post The 2014 Manischewitz All-Star Cook-Off appeared first on Good News!.

Celebrating The 50th Anniversary of the Legendary Village Venue 

at Greenwich House Music School

**Opening night**

Monday, February 24, 2014

Scenes from a Café with DAVID AMRAM,

TERRI THAL, MATT UMANOV and moderator ASHLEY KAHN

Live Performance by STEVE CUIFFO as LENNY BRUCE

at Greenwich House Music School – 46 Barrow Street, NYC

Showtime:  8:00pm       

Tickets: $20

The post The Café au Go Go Revisited Music Series appeared first on Good News!.

The following morning we travelled to the Memramcook Valley of Southeastern New Brunswick to visit the Monument Lefebvre National Historic Site, which commemorates the survival of the Acadian people from before the expulsion until the present day. Our guided tour included a video on the deportation and a one hour visit of its historical exhibit “Reflections of a Journey – the Odyssey of the Acadian People.”  This exhibit allowed us to appreciate the history, culture and accomplishments of the Acadian people.  There story is one of survival.

In 1604 a group of French colonists ventured from France to the coastal regions of Canada where they established the first permanent settlement in North America. Following a difficult winter the settlement was moved to Port-Royal, Nova Scotia in1605. During this period they relied on the help of the native inhabitants to establish new colonies.  These were landmark years for French colonization, heralding the birth of the Acadian people. Acadia was the frequent target of fighting between France and England. The turning point of Acadian history began in 1755 when the British began the deportation of the Acadians for their refusal to sign an alliance to Britain. Their houses were burned, their cattle seized and their crops destroyed.  Many Acadians were lowered into boats, separated from their families and deported to the United States, England and France.  Louisiana became a meeting point for the exiled Acadians and they formed the Cajun culture. Hundreds of Acadians were allowed to return to Acadia after almost ten years in exile.  English settlers had taken over their farm land and they too had to start over in more isolated areas. In 1884 Arcadians began to understand their roots when the American Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote his poem “Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie” which depicted their suffering and deportation. Today, Acadians can be found all over the world.

We left the Monument Lefebvre National Historic Site and continued to Bouctouche, arriving at Le Pays de La Sanguine, a theme park filled with Acadian entertainment and history.  Le Pays de la Sanguine is based on Antonine Maillet’s award-winning book “La Sagouine” published in 1971. Through Ms. Maillet’s impressive literary work she tells the story of the Acadian suffering and their enduring strength and sense of humor in the 17^th and 18^th century.  Our lunch at the La Paneterie Restaurant offered us Acadian specialties, including the famous potato dish poutine and a rape pie made of pork and potatoes.  After lunch and a theatre performance we walked across a bridge to Flea Island where musical and theatrical performances were held inside and outside 18^th century homes.

From Bouctouche we continued our drive to Caraquet, New Brunswick, located in the heart of the Acadian Peninsula.  As we approached Caraquet we saw flags of red, white, yellow and blue everywhere.  Some houses were completely decked out in their colors and had displays of wooden Acadians. The next three nights we would stay in Caraquet.

The following morning we visited the Acadian Historical Village where we traveled back in time through this remarkable authentic historic site which portrayed the lives of Acadians in the 18^th, 19^th and early 20^th centuries.  More than forty buildings were staffed by interpreters in period costumes who explained typical life and activities that enabled the ancestors of today’s Acadians to survive. We visited a straw house making brooms, a crochet house, a blacksmith, a fishing house, a school house, a church and tasted breads of that period.

Tonight’s dinner was at the Hotel Paulin, situated on the Bay of Chaleur along the Acadian Peninsula. It was the first hotel constructed in Caraquet in 1891.  Hotel Pualin is a beautiful living history of early Acadian architecture and is one of the oldest family operated hotels still remaining in Canada.  Today, Hotel Paulin is an up-scale boutique-style hotel, preserving the charm, elegance and spirit of the 19^th century operated by Innkeepers Gerard Paulin and his wife Karen Mersereau, a well-known Acadian Chef.

On Sunday our drive took us to the northeastern corner of New Brunswick where we visited Shippagan, Lameque and Miscou Island.  The Shippagan Aquarium and Marine Center is the perfect place to learn about sea life. Our tour started by viewing a presentation on the history of fisheries.  The Marine Centre has a large collection of more than 100 species of fish as well as a rare Blue Lobster native to the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Atlantic Canadian lakes and rivers.  Some of the local fish seen were cod, mackerel, snow crabs, Atlantic salmon, white flounder and Greenland shrimp.

The Brunswick Aquarium and Marine Center is also a museum. The museum exhibits focused on the contemporary fishing industry and the gear and equipment required. There was a life-size wheelhouse equipped with all the electronic devices, including navigation instruments used by fishermen to locate and catch fish.  Our guide, Gilbert, explained that lobsters are lured into the back of a 40 pound wire mesh trap by the smell of the bait and cannot get out.  Lobsters are measured and smaller ones are thrown back into the sea while the remaining lobsters are sent to market.  Gilbert’s best catch was 32 lobsters in one trap.

Lameque is noted for the Saint-Cecile Church.  When the church was built in the 19^th century the interior of the church was a drab brownish color.  In the 1970’s the priests spray painted the inside of the church in the colors of peach, yellow, ivory and tortoise.  Every summer since 1975 Lameque has hosted an annual Baroque Music Festival and has attracted thousand of music lovers to this picturesque island.  Its program features chamber music and solo pieces performed in the colorful Sainte-Cecile Church with exceptional acoustics.

Miscou Island is at the most northeastern tip of the Acadian Peninsula and has one of the oldest operating Lighthouses in New Brunswick (1886).  It has a white, octagonal wooden tower with a red lantern. The island’s sand dunes and lagoons make it a favorite location for migrating birds.

Monday morning we traveled south along the Acadian Coastal Drive toward Moncton arriving at Kouchibouguac National Park, a wilderness Canadian National Park located on the east coast of New Brunswick. The name Kouchibouquac (Kou-she-boo-qwack) means “river of long tides.”  The park includes barrier islands, sand dunes, lagoons, salt marshes and forests and offers excellent opportunities for hiking, canoeing, camping, picnicking, rowing, bicycling and swimming.

It provides habitat for seabirds, including the endangered Piping Plover which is a small, well-camouflaged shorebird. Their nests are small holes that they dig in the sand on the beach. Each nest contains up to four spotted, sand-colored eggs.  Because the eggs are well camouflaged people often walked right over them, which made it necessary to fence the nests for their protection.  Other natural wonders around the Park are the second largest Tern colony in North America.Like Piping Plovers, nesting Terns also face many obstacles and are especially vulnerable to human disturbance.

After a long day, we set out for Shediac known as the Lobster Capital of the World, situated on the east coast of New Brunswick. The first mention of the word “lobster” appeared in the Maritimes Archives in 1578.  Our last night was at the Maison Tait House, an historic mansion built in 1911, located in the heart of downtown Shediac, New Brunswick. Our beautiful room had a fireplace and canopy beds with all modern amenities, including telephone, air-conditioning, television and high speed internet.  At our farewell dinner at The Maison Tait House we enjoyed beautiful amazing food, wine and pastry.

http://www.net-brunswick.net

The post NEW BRUNSWICK: CANADA’S ACADIAN REGION By Terri and Martin Hirsch appeared first on Good News!.

We checked into the beautiful Sawridge Inn & Conference Center.  As we entered the lobby we were amazed to see a three storey fireplace and a sky lit atrium. Our luxurious accommodations featured a king-size bedroom and a bathroom with a Jacuzzi.

Jasper is small but has something for everyone – from dining, shopping, exploring, hiking, or simply touring.  Restaurants were plentiful. At Papa George’s you could see the mountains while dining and enjoying a great meal. Our hotel restaurant, Walter’s Dining Room, had a wide selection of signature dishes and an extensive wine list.  Dinner was exceptional.

There were so many tours and only two days to explore Jasper National Park.  Our morning adventure was to be white-water rafting on the Athabasca River.  For two hours we passed through many small sets of rapids and some calm stretches.  Our National Park Guide gave us descriptions of the area’s natural environment as he rafter down the Athabasca River.  On every turn of the raft the cool water splashed us.  It was great.

This afternoon we hiked Jasper’s highest peak, Mount Edith Cavell – named to honor Edith Cavell, a heroic nurse of World War I.  We started our climb with our guide at the parking lot of Edith Cavell.  Our first mountain sighting was the Three Sisters Mountains – three similar looking peaks on the same ridge.  Continuing our climb we encountered the Angel Glacier – a glacier which has the form of an angel with 40-meter thick wings.  Ice was tumbling from the fact of the Angel Glacier.  We knew we were nearing the highest peak as we walked around the mountain and heard sharp cracks and rumbles.  Before us was the magnificent Mount Edith Cavell – a green iced glacier and aqua colored lake.  Snow capped mountains were reflecting on the lake.  This was a beautiful moment.  A small rock avalanche came crashing down the side of the mountain before we headed back to the parking lot.

The following morning we were on our way to the Jasper tramway, the only guided aerial tramway in the Canadian Rockies. An interpretive guide greeted us and pointed out interesting facts about the surrounding area.  As we headed up the mountain we could see surrounding lakes and mountains in the background.  The upper terminal had a hiking trial which led to the summit.  Walking on the upper level we spotted wildlife including a golden-mantled ground squirrel and the hoary marmot.  The marmot reacts to danger and communicates by releasing a piercing whistle noise.  Whistler Mountain got its name from this whistle sound.

Maligne Lake is the largest and deepest lake in Jasper National Park.  On our way to the Lake, a stop was made at Maligne Canyon.  A short walk along the Canyon to view the water falls and gorges was followed by a scenic drive up the valley to Medicine Lake.  At Maligne Lake we entered a glass-enclosed tour boat.  The captain gave us an informative narrative about the colorful history, glaciology, geology and wildlife of this valley.  Cruising to the midpoint, we disembarked at Spirit Island for a short walk to view the magnificent north end of Maligne Lake with its large range of mountains and glaciers.

For more information:  http://www.jasper.travel

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