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10 Best Things to Do in Pennsylvania
What is Pennsylvania Most Famous For?
Pennsylvania is one of America's north-eastern states with 4 seasons, lush Appalachian Mountains, 83,000 miles of river, and impressive fall colours. It's the country's hardworking labour force from the small Pennsylvanian towns that made America great, with their steelmaking, oil production, nuclear power, and farming.
This Colonial state is where the Civil War was ignited, the Declaration of Independence was written, the United States Constitution was drafted, and where the Liberty Bell still chimes. From Abraham Lincoln to Andy Warhol, Pennsylvania is a region with so many things to see and do for history buffs, nature lovers, and art enthusiasts.
Eat at Reading Market
Start your day at Philadelphia's grub hub
Reading Market is one of America's oldest markets. It was originally built along with the subway system in the 1890s. As part of the city's sustainability plans, this market is a mix of farmer's produce and ready-made cuisines with very affordable prices. There are more than 80 stores offering an overwhelming variety of eats – from meatballs to vindaloo, and from whoopee pies to pear tartes.
Pearl's Oyster Bar is known to be the area's long-time legacy for their fish tacos and their buck-a-shuck oysters, brought straight from the Chesapeake Bay. While you're in the city centre, walk around and explore the nearby attractions like the Masonic Temple, City Hall and the Liberty Observation Deck, all within a few block's radii.
Location: Reading Market, 12th and Arch St., Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
photo by James Cridland (CC BY 2.0) modified
Eat a Philly cheesesteak
America's favourite cheesy sandwich
While in Philadelphia, don't miss out on the famous Philly "Steak n Cheese" sandwich that's been around since 1930. Locals can find these subs shops by just following the enticing, savoury whiff from blocks away. This sizzling grilled sandwich is made of a crusty bread roll, sliced ribeye beef, sautéed onions and mushrooms, and the crowning glory of sharp, melted cheese.
Woodrow's Sandwich Shop has been a long-time champion of the famous sandwich, while Ishkabibble's is always crowded, but it's worth the wait with their special Cheese Whiz and marinara sauce. Donkey's Place serves their steak on poppy seed rolls with their secret caramelised onion sauce, and Tony Luke's has been featured on many TV shows for its award-winning cheesesteaks.
photo by Phil Denton (CC BY-SA 2.0) modified
Unplug in the Dutch-Amish Country
Horse and buggy in Lancaster County
Lancaster, Pennsylvania is a region frozen in time. This town welcomed the first Amish community in the 1600s who were European Mennonites fleeing persecution for their religious beliefs. About 50,000 of the Amish population live here now, and they're known for their simple rural lifestyle, plain clothing and adverse views on modern technology.
The town isn't connected to the city's electric grid, and they also don't drive cars. You'll see a lot of horse and buggies, and quite a few bicycles. Walk around the neighbourhood to see the traditional blacksmiths and farms where you can feed the animals. The Amish are known for their baking skills, so look out for their maple and bacon donuts and their chocolate molasses cookies. Also note that the locals are not a big fan of selfies or photographs, so be respectful when using your cameras.
Walk the dreamy grounds of Longwood Gardens
Midnight garden strolls among fountains and flowers
Longwood Gardens is a horticultural delight of winter blooms. This 1075-acre space has a garden variety of the Gingko tree, the tulip tree, rare orchids, peonies, pineapple flowers, ferns, giant lily pads, bonsais, and 8 "outdoor rooms" of woodland plants. All in all, it takes about 3-4 hours to complete the whole walk. Stroll through the European gardens and see the crowd-favourite, the illuminated fountain shows that dances to Vivaldi's Four Seasons. The use of LED technology, combined with robotic jets create patterns like the Fabergé eggs, has made the night shows even more impressive.
Aside from exotic plants, this place is home to the enormous Longwood organ. The 10,010-pipe Aeolian organ was custom ordered by Pierre Du Pont, and can be found in the conservatory. The Longwood Gardens are not just for warm weather visits, as this place is known for its creative winter exhibits and amazing Christmas displays.
Location: Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Rd, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA
photo by ThingyThings14 (CC BY-SA 4.0) modified
Henry Mercer's Fonthill Castle
America's pioneer of arts and crafts
Henry Chapman Mercer was an archaeologist and tile maker that started his ambitious homebuilding project in 1912, with a few unskilled labourers. He was an avid collector of local craftsman tools from the pre-industrial revolution era. The space and shapes of the rooms don't quite flow in unison, and the unusual framework of the interior is adorned with his original hand-made tiles and trinkets. Stairs are hard to walk on because of the inconsistency, with asymmetrical features that looks like a scene from a children's fairy tale. From the exterior, the mansion looks like an upscale manor in the British countryside, but inside is a motley mix of Mercer's eclectic inspirations condensed into one space. A guided tour is highly recommended, with the average time at about 80 minutes.
Location: 525 E Court St, Doylestown, PA 18901, USA
photo by Jim, the Photographer (CC BY 2.0) modified
Camp and canoe at the Cook Forest
Walking through babbling brooks
Located in north-western part of Pennsylvania, this state park has inclusive amenities that range from dining, lodging, canoeing, hiking, fishing, horseback riding, ice-skating, and even performance arts. Stay the night at the park's cabins and trek out to the Forest Cathedral, a meadow of white pines and hemlock trees that's been around for more than 3 centuries. The most walked area is along the Clarion River that stretches 13 miles. Here, you have a chance to spot bald eagles, porcupines, and river otters while wading through the streams.
For a panoramic view of the mountains and river, climb 80 steps up the Historic Fire Tower 9. One thing to strictly remember is to not feed the animals or leave food out, as this may encourage animals to become aggressive.
Location: Cook Forest State Park, 113 River Rd, Cooksburg, PA 16217, USA
photo by Ron Shawley (CC BY 3.0) modified
Witness the historic battle of Gettysburg
Ciders and Civil War
You may have heard Abraham Lincoln's famous quote that "all men are created equal". The Gettysburg Battle is a true story of the nation's hard-fought battle to claim more than just territories. It was to reclaim equality for people of all colours, creeds and religions. This place is where 51,000 soldiers died in 3 days in 1863 – the largest battle ever fought on US soil.
See the authentic weaponry, uniforms, letters, and learn about the Gettysburg Address. Visit the haunted Jenny Wade house and see the original bullet marks – the site of the only known civilian that was killed in the battle. Her burial plot was relocated 3 times, thus sparking rumours of paranormal activities.
Location: Gettysburg National Military Park Museum, 1195 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg, PA 17325, USA
photo by Concord (CC BY-SA 3.0) modified
Head rush at Hersheypark
Sweet thrills in America's chocolate city
Come and see America's own version of the Willy Wonka chocolate factory. Hersheypark is the creation of the late Milton S. Hershey that was later developed into a theme park with its own hotels, 12 restaurants, and 11 roller coasters. Popular rides include the Sky Rush, a hyper-wing rollercoaster with loops and the steepest dips that you'll either love or hate, and the Fahrenheit ride that looks like a giant orange pretzel with very high vertical lift and drop.
Take a break and try their King Size Shakes, a chocolate frappe that comes with a variety of toppings from mint cream, S'mores, brownies, peanut butter mousse, and everything dipped in chocolate stacked up in a giant cup. For the more sophisticated palate, try their chocolate martini, the Guinness Float, and the dark chocolate milkshake.
Location: 100 Hersheypark Dr, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
photo by Paulo O (CC BY 2.0) modified
See the world history at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
From Byzantine bullions to Bauhaus blocks
The Philadelphia Museum of Art holds a huge collection of classics with 227,000 pieces from around the world. This museum space is one of the biggest in the US, so you're likely to get overwhelmed without a map. From a total of 80 period rooms, each room's interior is designed to complement the exhibition, from the Japanese pavilion, Buddha temple halls, Chinese wood panels, to the medieval cloisters.
Masterpieces include one of Van Gogh's sunflowers, Monet's lily gardens, and Picasso's "Old Woman." Despite its gargantuan size, this museum is still expanding, so there might be some areas under construction, with its newest modern art gallery renovation designed by the world-renowned architect Frank Gehry.
Location: 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19130, USA
Open: Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10am to 5pm, Wednesday and Friday from 10am to 8.45pm (closed on Mondays)
photo by Rgordon6 (CC0 1.0) modified
Beer and cheesesteaks in the rustic SteelStacks
The legacy of the old-town steelmakers
For a fun and funky night scene, visit Bethlehem's SteelStacks, an arts-and-culture homage to its local steel industry. The area is a 10-acre space that integrates a collection of cool and colossal art pieces that were part of the original steel plant. Aside from Pittsburgh, many of Pennsylvania's towns were dedicated to steel manufacturing since the 1850s. This state has helped build America's railroads, skyscrapers, navy ships, and even the Golden Gate Bridge.
See the Bridge sculpture with fire running on top, and the enormous Bethlehem Steel Blast Furnaces that looks like a scene from the film Mad Max, especially at night with the trippy LED lighting. The area has many surrounding bars and night venues like the Levitt Pavilion, the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas, and the Sands Deck that has great views of the sculptures.
Location: 101 Founders Way, V, Bethlehem, PA 18015-1347
photo by JasonParis (CC BY 2.0) modified
Joy Sanyapongse | Contributing Writer
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Tag Archives: hotel
A Pet's Paradise
When many people think of pet boarding, they envision a city of kennels resembling a prison housing dozens of bored, cramped pets. But these days, that couldn't be further from the truth.
A growing number of pet care facilities now offer posh boarding accommodations, as well as a slew of activities and playtime options for your furry friends. Whether it be for a week-long stay or daily daycare, these pet hotels and spas provide your animal fun interaction with other four-legged friends and caring staff members who will pamper your pet just as you would. So while you and your family are vacationing this summer, don't fret; the family pet can be taking a "vacay" all its own.
Three of the most well-known independent pet hotels and spas in the Omaha area include Cottonwood Pet Resort, Bark Avenue Grooming and Dog Daycare, and The Paw Spa Pet Resort.
Guests at the The Paw Spa Pet Resort take a refreshing dip in a bone-shaped pool.
Cottonwood Pet Resort in Waterloo sits on 11 acres of land with a 10,000-square- foot indoor area. Family-owned by the Dvorak family since 1992, Cottonwood works much like a hotel—pets check in and check out of pet suites, which vary in size from modest to quite roomy. All dog accommodations provide sheepskin rugs for bedding and outdoor access to exercise yards. Some suites, like the Cabana, offer private access to an outdoor patio and include TVs tuned to the Animal Planet channel.
Cottonwood also offers a dedicated area for cats—completely separate from the dogs—where feline friends can either lounge in their individual suites or romp with other cats in the playroom. Cat areas are equipped with climbing options and perches, as well as TVs and music. Cottonwood also boards exotic pets, such as rabbits, parrots, guinea pigs, and turtles.
With 43 years in the pet grooming industry, Sue Wilke was one of the first to offer doggie daycare services in Omaha. Nine years ago, she went to Washington, D.C., to learn about dog daycare because there were very few in Omaha at the time. Today, she owns two Bark Avenue locations in town: the original location at 156th & Maple streets, which specializes in daycare and grooming; and a second at 137th and C streets, which provides long stays and boarding. The business provides complimentary transportation between its two locations for the customer's convenience.
Camera-shy cats hide in the playroom at The Paw Spa Pet Resort.
While visiting Bark Avenue's C Street location, canine guests can play all day with others their own size in three different indoor playrooms or lounge in individual suites. Suites range in size from 5×5-ft. to 8×8-ft. and feature laminate walls and glass doors and fronts, which allow easy visibility and enhance cleanliness. Multi-dog suites are available if your pet has "brothers and sisters" you'd like them to stay with. The new facility also features a 2,000-sq.ft. secure, fenced outdoor area. Dogs are taken outside eight times daily for a minimum of 20 minutes each visit. Daycare playtime with staff is also available upon request.
Wilke says her business strives for socialization and minimal stress for its guests. "We want the pets' experience to be as close to home as possible. We just want what's best for the dog."
The Paw Spa Pet Resort is the newest pet spa and hotel in Omaha. The facility specializes in overnights, daycare, and grooming of pets and features a state-of-the-art, climate-controlled air-circulation system, which helps to prevent airborne illnesses. The Paw Spa offers brightly colored, 9×9-ft. suites that come equipped with TVs and Kuranda beds, which are slightly elevated and chew-proof. Owners are encouraged to bring toys, blankets, or anything else that may make their pet feel more at home to leave in the suite.
Irish and Kusmierski in a play area at the resort.
Co-owner Kevin Irish says, "We're animal lovers. We have three dogs and a cat," who hang out with the animal guests to promote socialization. "I always wanted to be a vet," he says, "and this is my second shot at a career with animals.
The Paw Spa also features a 1,000-sq.ft. indoor doggie play area for exercise and mingling, complete with palm trees, toys, and a special turf that guarantees cleanliness for animal guests. Next door is a second enclosed area for the swimmers, where canine guests can take a refreshing dip in the bone-shaped, 85-degree indoor pool (no deeper than two feet deep for safety). "We have hip-waders for the little guys," explains Irish. "This lets them learn to swim in a controlled environment."
Both play areas are constantly supervised by staff and are equipped with cameras so pet owners can view their animals from home or while on the road. Paw Spa's Kitty City provides cats with condos that have separate compartments for food and bathroom breaks, and even a digital aquarium for entertainment. Cats can also hang out and climb the large, indoor structure in the Catio.
All three pet spas provide personalized attention, 24-hour monitoring by staff, on-call veterinarians, and frequent potty and playtime breaks. With accommodations like these, your beloved Fido or Fluffy will definitely be in good hands while you enjoy your summer vacation guilt-free.
Posted in: Business, Lifestyle, Omaha Magazine, Pets, Places
Topics: accomodations, Animal Planet, animals, area, Bark Avenue Grooming and Dog Daycare, bedding, boarding, Cabana, cat, Cottonwood Pet Resort, daycare, dog, exercise, grooming, guinea pigs, hotel, kennel, Kevin Irish, Omaha, Omaha Magazine, outdoor, pampering, parrots, paws, pet care facilities, pets, play, pool, rabbits, Shiela Kusmierski, socializing, spa, Sue Wilke, suite, The Paw Spa Pet Resort, turtles, TV
From Lightbulb Sales to Magazine Tales
February 25, 2013 by Carol Crissey Nigrelli
Todd Lemke discovered the art of the deal as an eight-year-old growing up in Papillion. One day, his father, Raymond—who believed that allowances should be earned, not given—drove the family station wagon to the old Skaggs store and loaded up on dozens of discounted lightbulbs. When he got home, he got out a map of Papillion, divided it into three sectors (one for each of his children), and told his boys to fan out and sell the lightbulbs. Young Todd dutifully knocked on doors. The exchange with the homeowner would go something like this:
"Are you with the Boy Scouts?"
"Are you with a church group?"
"Well, who are you with?"
"Just myself."
(Pause)
"Okay, show me what you have."
More times than not, he sold a lightbulb.
In many ways, the bulbs shined a light on the path Lemke would take in the future. The youngster with a natural gift for sales became an adult with a knack for creative promotion. Just two years out of college, Lemke combined his skills and launched what would become Omaha Magazine.
Now celebrating its 30th year, Omaha Magazine remains at the top of its game, boasting 36,000 subscriptions—remarkable for a city this size. It's sold at Barnes and Noble and other bookstores. Additionally, a copy of the publication can be found in every hotel room in the metropolitan area, reaching a half-million visitors to the Midlands per month.
Like many success stories, Omaha Magazine started humbly and underwent several transformations. Lemke, the owner and publisher, guided every stage.
"If you want to know what makes Omaha tick, then you have to know its people. And we do a better job talking about people than any other medium in town. It's people, people, people, and then food. This town loves food." – Todd Lemke, publisher
"I graduated from UNL in 1981 with a degree in journalism. I weighed my options and decided to sell homes," Lemke deadpans, knowing his career choice came out of left field. He explains, "My mother and father sold real estate when I was growing up, and I got my real estate license in 1977 when I was still in high school."
Lemke may have opted for sales, but he believed in the power of promotion. He advertised the custom-built homes in a weekly alternative newspaper called City Slicker and lured first-time homebuyers to view the models using a P.T. Barnum approach. Newlyweds Greg and Terese Bruns checked out Lemke's block party one weekend.
"We went out there, and here is Todd dressed up in a clown suit," says Bruns. "He had bands playing. He was handing out candy and balloons and pop. It was a carnival. And the next thing you know, we're signing papers for a new house. That's how we met."
One day, the owners of City Slicker offered to sell the paper to Lemke. Flush with cash from his real estate deals, Lemke took them up on their offer. It was 1983.
"The first thing I did was turn City Slicker into a glossy, four-color magazine. I did that for three years," says Lemke. But he discovered that the ad-buying community wanted a readership that was "past the party age." So he literally dumped City Slicker one day and started another magazine the next day called Omaha Today, distributed free around town.
Seeking to stabilize his investment, Lemke went to a competitor who owned a monthly publication, Our City. It listed all the local shopping, eating, and entertainment hot spots. Lemke thought it would be a good merger "because he had a magazine that was in all the hotels." The marriage went through in 1987. But there was still a missing piece to the puzzle.
"The name [Our City] didn't do much for me," says Bruns, who by this time was working with Lemke selling ads. "I mean, I'd call a business and say, 'Hi, this is Greg Bruns from Our City,' and they'd go, 'Huh? Never heard of it.' I said to Todd, 'Why can't we change this?'"
In 1989, Our City and Omaha Today became Omaha Magazine.
Magazines pulled from Omaha Publications' archives.
"The name carried so much more meaning with people," says Bruns, who soon became the vice president and Lemke's business partner. "People became more willing to talk with me."
As the ads increased, so did the content of the magazine. In addition to a thorough restaurant and entertainment guide, Omaha Magazine upped its profiles of people who make this community work.
"Over the course of 30 years, we have done thousands and thousands of great, positive people stories," Lemke points out with pride. "If you want to know what makes Omaha tick, then you have to know its people. And we do a better job talking about people than any other medium in town. It's people, people, people, and then food. This town loves food."
The look of the magazine also sets it apart: thick, glossy, and beautifully photographed. An innovation that really put Omaha Magazine on the map is its annual "Best of Omaha™" edition.
"We started that in 1992," says Bruns. "It's absolutely huge and gets bigger every year."
Lemke, an optimist by nature, says he wakes up every morning with ideas that he can't wait to bounce off his editors, photographer, graphic designers, and sales staff. His business sense, however, has kept the ship afloat. He expanded his publishing business to include B2B Omaha, a business quarterly; The Encounter, a magazine focusesd on downtown; HerLiving, with articles devoted to women; Family Spectrum, featuring helpful stories on kids, education, and family; and the Old Market Directory, a guide to business and events in the historic district. Equally important, Lemke doesn't shy away from innovation.
"Print publications have to embrace social media and the internet," he says. "You can read all our magazines online, and we link everything."
Lemke never forgets the lessons from long ago, when he sold lightbulbs door-to-door. He learned to look a customer in the eye. He learned to listen to what they had to say. For 30 years now, he's been listening to what Omaha wants and needs—and chronicling it.
"I'm fortunate. I picked an occupation that I can do for a long time."
Happy anniversary.
Posted in: Business, Entertainment, Omaha Magazine, People
Topics: B2B Omaha Magazine, Best of Omaha, Business, City Slicker, contest, dining, events, Family Spectrum, food, Greg Bruns, Gwen Lemke, Her Magazine, HerFamily, HerLiving, hotel, journalism, lightbulbs, magazine, newspaper, Old Market Directory, Omaha, Omaha Magazine, Omaha Publications, Omaha Today, Our City, people, places, publishing, Raymond Lemke, real estate, sales, staff, Terese Bruns, The Encounter, Todd Lemke, UNL
The DoubleTree Building
December 25, 2012 by Judy Horan
Blueprints were in the planning stage in the mid-1960s when Hilton Hotel developers told city leaders they wanted to build a new hotel in Downtown Omaha. Their target site was between 15th and 17th streets near the Omaha Civic Auditorium.
They needed two blocks of downtown land owned by First National Bank to build what would be Nebraska's largest hotel, Hilton developers said. What's more, they wanted to build smack in the middle of 16th Street. This brought gasps of dismay.
"At the time, 16th Street was the main conduit to North Omaha," says Mike Kosalka, director of operations for the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel that now occupies the space. "Many people were upset the street was closed and said that this would cut North Omaha off from the downtown area."
In 1968, when workers showed up to begin work on the new Hilton Hotel, the downtown area had lost a number of its old buildings as city leaders prepared for urban development. The Omaha Auditorium, where 19th-century actress Sarah Bernhardt performed and Caruso sang, was torn down in 1963. The older auditorium had been replaced in 1954 by the Omaha Civic Auditorium, which now, itself, faces closing.
"We reintroduced the grande dame to the city. Every room, every public space was modernized." – Stephan Meier, general manager
The Fontenelle Hotel, a social center for Omaha when built in 1914, was razed in 1983. It had closed in 1971. The elegant old Omaha post office at 16th and Dodge streets was razed in 1966. Preservationists protested but couldn't rescue the red sandstone post office.
"The western half of the hotel development was built on the site of that old post office," says Bill Gonzalez, photo archivist associate at The Durham Museum.
The 414-room Hilton Hotel opened in 1970. It became the Red Lion in 1980. Today, the hotel is the DoubleTree by Hilton.
The hotel's exterior looks as it did the day of the 1970 ribbon-cutting. But an all-new hotel is inside thanks to a $20 million renovation, said General Manager Stephan Meier. In October, the renovated DoubleTree held a gala event with Omaha mayor, Jim Suttle, and other dignitaries on hand for a ribbon-cutting. "We reintroduced the grande dame to the city," says Meier. "Every room, every public space was modernized."
Stephan Meier
Then and Now Since 1970
Over the years, considerable changes have taken place inside what is now Nebraska's second-largest hotel. In 1970, doors were opened with a key. A card with a magnetic stripe was introduced in 1980. An RFID, a scanner code, became the way to open doors in 2012. "We're the first in Omaha to have this new technology," says Meier.
Then there was hardwiring. "Hardwire is now less safe. Wireless is the way to go," Meier says. "Guests have laptops, iPhones, iPads, and other electronic gear. We tripled outlets." Previously, rooms had clunky televisions with few channels. Now, they have flat-screen TVs with 150 channels.
Then, there was a rooftop restaurant with a revolving barroom floor—the Beef Baron in the 1970s, replaced by Maxine's in the 1980s. Today, the 19th floor is an executive meeting center.
"There's more need now for company meetings," says Meier. Dining is now on the first floor. "Once brunch was 'owned' by the hotels. Now, every little café has a brunch."
Gluten-free? Low fat? Chefs in the 1970s rarely prepared special foods. Now, guests demand them. "People then didn't worry about cholesterol," says Meier. "Today, my son worries about his cholesterol. And he's 7 years old." The new emphasis on health is also served by the hotel's high-tech fitness center and swimming pool.
Then, people didn't know what "carbon footprint" meant. Today, going green is part of the hotel's business plan. What happens to the shampoo and soap that are half-used when guests leave?
"We work with an organization called 'Clean the World' that collects all our discarded soap bars and shampoo bottles for a fee. They are recycled to create hygiene kits that are provided to third-world countries and organizations helping underprivileged children," says Meier.
"Our green-team committee looks for ways to reduce our carbon footprint. We recycle all trash. We bought 100 percent-recyclable cups. And we just banned Styrofoam, which sits in the landfills for hundreds of years."
Posted in: Business, Downtown, Encounter, Places
Topics: 16th Street, 1970, Beef Baron, Bill Gonzalez, Clean the World, DoubleTree, downtown, executive meeting center, First National Bank, Fontenelle Hotel, green, Hilton Hotel, hotel, largest, Maxine's, Mike Kosalka, Nebraska, North Omaha, Old Market, Omaha, Omaha Auditorium, Omaha Civic Auditorium, post office, Red Lion, RFID, Stephan Meier, The Encounter

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HEALTH + WELLBEING, WEB EXCLUSIVE June 2, 2016 <March 28, 2022
THE FREEDOM OF ESSENTIALISM
BRAVA THRIVE Luncheon Recap
By Shelby Deering
When Darcy Luoma, a nationally-acclaimed speaker and professional life coach, asked an audience if they'd heard of essentialism, very few hands went up. And rightfully so. It's a relatively new term that many are unfamiliar with, but at BRAVA's THRIVE luncheon on May 12, Luoma introduced and explained the concept to the 200-plus participants.
Inspired by the bestseller "Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less" by Greg McKeown, Luoma wanted to share her own experience with essentialism with the crowd.
"Essentialism has had a profound impact on my life and how I make decisions. I had such a difficult journey to even accepting this concept, and I wanted to share and spread that and increase the impact," Luoma says.
So, what is essentialism? Luoma defines it using the following points:
Determine what is most important to you. (If everything is most important, then nothing is!)
Do what is most important to you.
Let everything else fall away.
As part of BRAVA's Personal Enrichment Series, Luoma opened her talk "Essentialism: Create Abundance by Doing Less" with a metaphor, saying, "We are all on a journey. Our life is the ultimate road trip. And when we focus on what is most essential in our journey, the road is smooth."
She went on to share her own struggle with determining what is truly essential in her life. She admitted that she said yes to everything, leaving her with a jam-packed, unmanageable schedule. She was "should-ing" all over herself—"I should do this," "I should do that."
"If I was asked to do something, I did it," she confesses.
And then, a year and a half ago, after returning from a trip to "piles and piles of work, emails, phone calls and client meetings," she felt immediately "overwhelmed and overworked." It was something beyond normal stress. She used relaxation techniques and didn't feel any better. She decided to do a month-long cleanse, and this didn't improve her wellbeing either.
After meeting with a certified nutritionist and talking about how she was feeling, the nutritionist said that Luoma was suffering from stage three adrenal fatigue syndrome, a condition in which the adrenal glands don't work correctly, which can be brought on by extreme stress.
That was the wake-up call Luoma needed.
After that point, she says that her whole intention "was to create more white space," or unscheduled time in her life.
Shortly thereafter, friend and professional speaker Tina Hallis introduced her to the concept of essentialism and to McKeown's book.
Luoma says that in the book, essentialism is defined as "the systematic discipline of discerning what is absolutely essential and eliminating everything else that's not." Based upon this idea, Luoma offered some homework to THRIVE participants.
The first activity, "What's Your Busy?" asked participants to write down the things that take up the majority of their schedules and to rate the level of joy each activity produces.
Secondly, participants were asked to "Control Your Calendar" in which schedules are prioritized according to the person's needs first.
Then, participants reflected upon their values, the things that are most important to them. They were encouraged to build their lives around these values.
Finally, the audience was instructed to "Say NO!" Luoma said that saying no is simpler than people realize, and had the entire group simply shout out "no!" as an exercise.
It seems that speaking about essentialism to an all-female audience is particularly apropos, since today's "culture of busy" seems to be helmed by women who feel guilty if they don't take on every responsibility that comes their way. Luoma is confident that the topic resonated with many women in the audience.
"Women are so willing to look within. They're so willing to take a hard look at themselves and be vulnerable, to be challenged, to be authentic," Luoma says. "Every time I speak at a BRAVA event, the level of sharing and vulnerability is amazing."
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HIGH POINT, N.C. – Barton College's Kianna Wynn has been named the Conference Carolinas Women's Basketball Player of the Week, league officials announced earlier today. Wynn, a senior forward from Knightdale, N.C., wins the honor for the third time this season.
Wynn averaged 29.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per contest while shooting 71.1 percent from the field (27-of-38) in leading Barton to a pair of Conference Carolinas wins last week over then first-place Belmont Abbey (64-58) and Southern Wesleyan (103-74), respectively.
On Senior Day against the Warriors on Saturday afternoon, Wynn finished with 36 points and 11 rebounds – two points off her career-high – and shot 16-of-20 from the after a 23-point effort against the Crusaders three days earlier.
Wynn, a three-time All-Conference Carolinas honoree, ranks second in the league in scoring at 23.5 points per game and ranks third all-time on the Bulldogs' scoring list with 1,961 points.
Barton (19-4, 12-4) has won five straight games and has moved into a first-place tie in the Conference Carolinas regular season standings with Belmont Abbey. The Bulldogs host long-time rival Mount Olive on Tuesday beginning at 5:30 p.m.


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Home :: WMD :: Library :: News :: North Korea :: 2016 :: January ::
Beijing Silent on Washington's Show of Force in Korea
by Brian Padden January 11, 2016
While China remains non-committal on how to respond to North Korea's fourth nuclear test, the United States and South Korea are exercising their limited options to increase deterrence and punitive measures against the Kim Jong Un government.
Following Washington's deployment of a B-52 bomber capable of carrying nuclear weapons to the Korean peninsula over the weekend, the two militaries are considering additional demonstrations of force and increasing their joint military presence in the region.
'The United States and South Korea are continuously and closely having discussions on additional deployment of strategic assets on the Korean peninsula,' said Kim Min-seok, South Korea's Defense Ministry spokesman on Monday.
The comments are adding to media speculation that Washington could move the USS Ronald Reagan, its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier stationed in Japan, into Korean waters and also bring in B-2 stealth bombers and F-22 stealth fighter jets.
U.S. forces in South Korea were also put on their highest level of alert on Monday.
The U.S. military has nearly 30,000 troops in South Korea, but can also quickly deploy additional conventional forces and armaments including nuclear weapons from regional bases in Japan and Guam.
South Korea and Japan also used their shared military hotline for the first time in the aftermath of North Korea's nuclear test. The two military allies of the United States have been working to overcome strained bilateral relations over Japan's conduct during World War II to better deal with the increasing nuclear threat they both face from North Korea.
No answer from China
In contrast to its outreach to Washington and Tokyo, Seoul's Defense Ministry has so far been unable to contact its counterpart in Beijing.
"At this point, China's Defense Ministry is not speaking on the phone with any countries. So we have requested for a call and waiting for a response," said Kim Min-seok.
North Korea's recent nuclear test has further strained its relationship with China, its key provider of economic aid and trade. Beijing criticized Pyongyang for violating again a U.N. ban on its nuclear program, but is also reluctant to support strong sanctions or military measures that escalate the risk of conflict and instability on its border.
North Korea analyst Shin In-kyun with the Korea Defense Network in Seoul said China is also conflicted about the increased U.S.-South Korean military moves in the region.
"If China protests against our self-defensive military responses, the relation between China and South Korea will be frozen. So I think it is difficult for China to show such response against us," said Shin.
South Korean measures
South Korea's Unification Ministry also took measures Monday to further limit the number of its citizens access the jointly run Kaesong industrial complex where approximately 120 South Korean firms employ over 53,000 North Korean workers.
'The move is aimed at securing the safety of South Koreans as the North is expected to react to Seoul's resumption of anti-North Korean loudspeaker broadcasts,' said Unification Ministry Spokesman Jeong Joon-hee.
A business association representing South Korean companies in the Kaesong complex is urging the Seoul government not to shut down their operation.
Inter-Korea border tensions remain high as South Korea continues to run loudspeaker broadcasts inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) that criticize North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Last year the two sides exchanged artillery fire because of the loudspeakers before coming to an agreement to end further provocations; an agreement that Seoul says Pyongyang violated with its recent nuclear test.
North Korea has reportedly set up some loudspeaker stations of its own in the border area to drown out the South's broadcasts.
South Korea's Blue House announced Monday that President Park Geun-hye will make a public statement Wednesday and is expected to announce new punitive measures against North Korea.
North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un reiterated Monday his claim that last week's test was of a miniaturized hydrogen bomb. This claim has been largely dismissed by experts who argue the yield was too low for a full-fledged thermonuclear device.
North Korea state television KCNA broadcast a photo of the North Korean leader with hundreds of scientists, workers and officials who participated in the latest test. KCNA said Kim congratulated the group for "succeeding in the first H-bomb test... and bringing about a great, historic event."
Youmi Kim in Seoul contributed to this report.


GFSU New CCC registration Starts Now For Gandhinagar, Banaskantha, Arvalli District Gov.Employees.
Gujarat Forensic Science University, Gandhinagar Has Opened Online Registration System To Apply Online For CCC Exam 2017. Candidates Can Apply From 21-07-2017 for CCC Exam. More Details Related CCC Exam Has been given on official site www.gfsu.edu.in in CCC page.


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Stewart Copeland Launches Gizmodrome, a New Band With Adrian Belew, Mark King, and Vittorio Cosma
Stewart Copeland, who came to prominence in the '80s as the drummer with the enormously popular band the Police, and subsequently worked with several other musical projects, and composed and recorded a number of popular movie soundtracks, has announced the formation of a new band, Gizmodrome.
In addition to Copeland, who handles drums and most of the vocals, the quartet features guitarist/vocalist Adrian Belew, who, in addition to being a longtime member of King Crimson during various phases of that band's history, has worked with David Bowie, Frank Zappa, and Talking Heads; Mark King, bassist and singer with Level 42; and keyboard player Vittorio Cosma, who played with Italian prog legends PFM, among many other acts.
The group will be releasing its self-titled debut album on earMUSIC this coming September 15, with a string of European and American tour dates to follow. The group was conceived as a vehicle for the four musicians to make "vibrant, electric, and unpredictable" music, according to Copeland, which they accomplished by ignoring the current trend of "long-distance" recording and, rather, set up in a rehearsal room in Milan, Italy, for two weeks, where they put together the album.
"Some are calling [the music] 'punk prog,'" adds Stewart. "I like the prog part being the interesting drumming, the noodling of the rest of the instruments, [while] the punk part is like, 'We're coming to destroy your homes and eat your children! [laughs] Really it's the four of us making music in a room that we are proud of. I hope fans will love it."
Check out this video to learn more about the project.
Posted in Drummers, Featured, NewsTagged Adrain Belew, Gizmodrome, Mark King, Stewart Copeland, Vittorio Cosma
Car Part Drumset
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Jimmy "The Rev??? Sullivan
Yamaha Partner Gallant Entertainment Features Super Bowl XLVIII Performances


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Things got real fun and weird in the second hour!
This time the big tough half-hour came 30 minutes in to let everybody get pumped up for the US vs. Ghana game!
New Orleans is not a place where surf the surf craze really took off. Finding material for this show isn't totally done online, but rather trawling through any pile of records I can find hoping for instrumentals. If you're hoping to dig in, I can make it easier for you. Keep in mind that this is *just* for surf instrumentals. If I were to list great record stores I would have a few more and in a different order.


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Family of solider killed in 1998 mine blast to receive 350,000-euro compensation
October 13, 2014 13.10.2014 • 19:46
The family of an army mine-clearer who was killed while trying to disarm a landmine in Evros, northern Greece, in 1998, has been granted 350,000 euros in compensation.
The Council of State, the country's highest administrative court, on Monday ruled against an appeal by the Greek state to overturn an earlier ruling by an administrative appeals court, which granted the 20-year-old's family compensation of 350,000 euros from the 1.1 million euros they had initially claimed.
An investigation into the incident at the time had found that the 20-year-old, identified as S.P., had caused the landmine to go off after failing to inform his lieutenant that he had been having problems extracting it so it could be safely detonated as part of a mine-clearing operation.
Another soldier, identified as H.P. was killed in the blast, while another, I.L., suffered serious injuries.
Government loses fourth general secretary as election deadline looms
Stoppage on Athens metro, electric railway and tram on Wednesday
Samaras to meet Alamuddin Clooney on Wednesday to discuss Parthenon Marbles
Distribution of heating oil at lower cost than last year to begin on Wednesday
Greek consulate in Mariupol reopens
Greece nearing bailout exit, says gov't spokesperson after IMF talks


AP reported that on Wednesday, a bomb hidden in foliage outside a Baghdad restaurant exploded as a US army convoy passed. The guerrillas wounded 3 American soldiers and 3 Iraqi civilians, and killed an Iraq bystander. On Wednesday, as well, guerrillas set off a roadside bomb, inflicting minor injuries on 3 US troops, and killing an Iraqi boy.
Also on Wednesday, a huge car bomb went off in front of the posh Nabil's Restaurant in the upscale Karrada neighborhood, killing 8 Iraqis and wounding 35 persons (three LA Times reporters were cut by flying glass). Although many Western observers speculated that this bombing was a new tactic by the guerrillas, insofar as it concentrated on a soft, wholly Iraqi target, this tactic is not new. There have been attacks on Shiites, in, e.g. Najaf. Guerrillas have killed dozens of Iraqis when it suited their purpose, which is to raise the cost of cooperating politically with the US. Karrada was probably hit because it was seen as full of pro-American compradors.


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Bangladesh 3G spectrum auction raises $525 million
Kavit Majithia
Bangladesh's 3G auction has raised a total of $525 million, following the close of the country's long-awaited tender yesterday.
Four operators made successful bids, with Telenor-owned Grameenphone winning the auction to acquire 10MHz of spectrum for $210 million.
The other winners included Airtel, Orascom-owned Bangalink and Robi, a joint venture between Axiata and Japan-based NTT. Each will pay $105 million for their winning bid for 5MHz of spectrum.
The introduction of 3G is seen as a major step in the development of Bangladesh's telecoms sector, as it bids to become one of the world's fastest-growing telecoms markets, according to Sunil Kanti Bose, chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.
Operators will pay 60% of the total spectrum price as the first instalment, with the rest to be paid within three months.
The country has a total of six mobile operators. State-owned operator Teletalk launched 3G services on a test basis last year. The company will also have to pay $210 million for its 10MHz of spectrum.
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Mignolo, Walter D.
Saldívar-Hull, Sonia
Silverblatt, Irene
Brytewave (CafeScribe-Follett Higher Ed)
What's Love Got to Do with It?: Transnational Desires and Sex Tourism in the Dominican Republic
by Denise Brennan
series edited by Walter D. Mignolo, Irene Silverblatt and Sonia Saldívar-Hull
Duke University Press, 2004
Paper: 978-0-8223-3297-8 | eISBN: 978-0-8223-8540-0 | Cloth: 978-0-8223-3259-6
Library of Congress Classification HQ162.5.S68B74 2004
Dewey Decimal Classification 306.7409729358
ABOUT THIS BOOK | AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY | REVIEWS | TOC | REQUEST ACCESSIBLE FILE
In locations around the world, sex tourism is a booming business. What's Love Got to Do with It? is an in-depth examination of the motivations of workers, clients, and others connected to the sex tourism business in Sosúa, a town on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic. Denise Brennan considers why Dominican and Haitian women move to Sosúa to pursue sex work and describes how sex tourists, primarily Europeans, come to Sosúa to buy sex cheaply and live out racialized fantasies. For the sex workers, Brennan explains, the sex trade is more than a means of survival—it is an advancement strategy that hinges on their successful "performance" of love. Many of these women seek to turn a commercialized sexual transaction into a long-term relationship that could lead to marriage, migration, and a way out of poverty.
Illuminating the complex world of Sosúa's sex business in rich detail, Brennan draws on extensive interviews not only with sex workers and clients, but also with others who facilitate and benefit from the sex trade. She weaves these voices into an analysis of Dominican economic and migration histories to consider the opportunities—or lack thereof—available to poor Dominican women. She shows how these women, local actors caught in a web of global economic relations, try to take advantage of the foreign men who are in Sosúa to take advantage of them. Through her detailed study of the lives and working conditions of the women in Sosúa's sex trade, Brennan raises important questions about women's power, control, and opportunities in a globalized economy.
Denise Brennan is Professor and Chair of Anthropology and Sociology at Georgetown University.
"A smart, timely, eye-opening account. What's Love Got To Do with It? makes both men's and women's hopes and strategies visible. It underscores poor women's capacity for agency and internationalized thinking without portraying the international system of commercialized sexuality as one in which women and men are meeting on a level playing field."—Cynthia Enloe, author of The Morning After: Sexual Politics at the End of the Cold War
"In this finely hued ethnography, Denise Brennan questions how transnationalization gets transacted, imagined, and experienced through an examination of the sex trade in a specific locale, Sosúa in Dominican Republic. Interweaving the grand themes of political economy and power inequities with those of desire and fantasy—and from the sides of both (foreign) customer and (local) sex worker—she has crafted a richly textured study of a 'sexscape' and its brokering of dreams as much as of money and sex."—Anne Allison, author of Nightwork: Sexuality, Pleasure, and Corporate Masculinity in a Tokyo Hostess Club
About the Series ix
Introduction: Elena and Jurgen 1
I. The Town
1. Sosua: A Transnational Tow 13
2. Imagining and Experiencing Sosua
II. The Transnational Plan: Looking Beyond Dominican Borders
3. Performing Love 91
III. The Sex Trade
4. Sosua's Sex Workers: Their Families and Working Lives 119
5. Advancement Strategies in Sosua's Sex Trade
IV. Plan Accomplished: Getting Beyond Dominican Borders
6. Transnational Disappointments: Living in Europe 185
Conclusion: Changes in Sex Workers' Lives, Sosua, and Its Sex Trade 207
See other books on: Human Sexuality | Mignolo, Walter D. | Prostitution | Saldívar-Hull, Sonia | Silverblatt, Irene
See other titles from Duke University Press
Nearby on shelf for The Family. Marriage. Women / Sexual life / Prostitution:
Paper: 978-0-8223-3297-8
Cloth: 978-0-8223-3259-6