Tahoe area panel explores "Conscious Travel"
If I were within striking distance of Squaw Valley, California, I would put the Squaw Valley Institute's panel on "Conscious Travel" on my calendar for tomorrow evening, August 26, at 7:00 p.m. Three women on the panel among them are both expert travelers and travel industry experts. Discussion topics will include modernization of the developing world, "the tipping dilemma," picture taking, bargaining, how to dress, the impact of tourism, environmental considerations and giving back to places visited. The panel discussion will be followed by questions and comments from the audience.
Ruth Anne Kocour is a photographer and world trekker based in northern Nevada whose subjects include the culture and landscapes of the American West, Asia and mounaineering expeditions. Julie Conover is co-host, co-producer and writer of the PBS series,"Passport to Adventure." Toni Neubauer, president of Myths and Mountains, a tour operator headquartered in Incline Village, Nevada, which offers cultural immersion tours that balance American-style luxury travel with cultural insight and sensitivity.
The program at the Inn at Squaw Creek is free, but a $10 donation per person is requested. The Squaw Valley Institute's goal is to "enhance the quality of life within the unique mountain environment of Squaw Valley, North Lake Tahoe, Truckee and surrounding communities" through programs and activities "having artistic, cultural, educational and entertainment value..that bring together visitors, residents and friends...[and] foster a sense of community." The Institute is at P.O. Box 3325, Olympic Valley, CA 96146; 530-581-4138.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Bar Wars
Which cell phone providers offer service where is important for road trippers -- but how can you tell?
While driving through eastern Colorado not long ago, my husband and I occasionally opened our cell phones and compared how many bars we had. Mindful of tedious television commercials that I've seen about coverage, this seemed like an informative diversion. I assumed that a specific number of bars means the same thing on all phones and with all providers.
Not so, reports technology reporter Tom Simonite in a blog posting on New Scientist. He wrote that there are no industry standards for signal bars, and one bar, two bars, three bars, etc. don't always mean the same thing, as we found out. In La Junta, my husband's cell phone showed an impressive array or bars, while mine displayed just one. Yet I received a call -- in a restaurant where we stopped for lunch. Simonite has some ideas on how to improve the system, as do some of the visitors to the New Scientist blog. It makes for an intersting technie read.
While driving through eastern Colorado not long ago, my husband and I occasionally opened our cell phones and compared how many bars we had. Mindful of tedious television commercials that I've seen about coverage, this seemed like an informative diversion. I assumed that a specific number of bars means the same thing on all phones and with all providers.
Not so, reports technology reporter Tom Simonite in a blog posting on New Scientist. He wrote that there are no industry standards for signal bars, and one bar, two bars, three bars, etc. don't always mean the same thing, as we found out. In La Junta, my husband's cell phone showed an impressive array or bars, while mine displayed just one. Yet I received a call -- in a restaurant where we stopped for lunch. Simonite has some ideas on how to improve the system, as do some of the visitors to the New Scientist blog. It makes for an intersting technie read.
2009 Indian Market in Santa Fe
The most renowned market for Native American arts surpasses its billing
Even before I moved out West, I had heard about Indian Market, the place to see the very best of Southwestern art. Since I moved to Colorado in 1988, I've been wanting to attend Indian Market in Santa Fe. New Mexico's historic, beautiful and arts-obsessed capital city has hosted it since 1922. It is famous throughout the Southwest for the quality of art. Winning a ribbon in one of numerous categories in this juried event is a high honor for any artist. My husband and I went with our friends, Dick and Sally Moore, who live in Albuquerque and are Indian Market regulars.
Indian Market now dominates downtown, radiating out from the Plaza to adjacent side streets in all directions. Tens of thousands of visitors, from serious collectors of Native art to casual visitors, are drawn to booths set up by more than 1,200 artists from some 100 tribes. The crowds were too thick for me to photograph with my modest camera and modest stature. Nearby galleries host demonstrations where visitors can watch artists at work. Pottery. Jewelry. Paintings. Photography. Woven works. Wood carvings. Sculpture. Indian Market has it all in glorious abundance. Now that I finally got there, I wonder what took me so long. Here are just a few snapshots of the event.
Miss Indian America, a green-eyed beauty from California, was on hand for Indian Market. She probably had some official functions, but we encountered her window-shopping.
Even before I moved out West, I had heard about Indian Market, the place to see the very best of Southwestern art. Since I moved to Colorado in 1988, I've been wanting to attend Indian Market in Santa Fe. New Mexico's historic, beautiful and arts-obsessed capital city has hosted it since 1922. It is famous throughout the Southwest for the quality of art. Winning a ribbon in one of numerous categories in this juried event is a high honor for any artist. My husband and I went with our friends, Dick and Sally Moore, who live in Albuquerque and are Indian Market regulars.
Indian Market now dominates downtown, radiating out from the Plaza to adjacent side streets in all directions. Tens of thousands of visitors, from serious collectors of Native art to casual visitors, are drawn to booths set up by more than 1,200 artists from some 100 tribes. The crowds were too thick for me to photograph with my modest camera and modest stature. Nearby galleries host demonstrations where visitors can watch artists at work. Pottery. Jewelry. Paintings. Photography. Woven works. Wood carvings. Sculpture. Indian Market has it all in glorious abundance. Now that I finally got there, I wonder what took me so long. Here are just a few snapshots of the event.
Miss Indian America, a green-eyed beauty from California, was on hand for Indian Market. She probably had some official functions, but we encountered her window-shopping.
Several stages scattered around Indian Market enable musicians and dancers to perform their arts too.
Families of potters often start their children young and display their efforts at Indian Market.
...to works of astonishing complexity and sophstication like "Quest," a towering piece by Adrian Nasafotie, a Hopi artist. He displayed the 57-inch tall woodcarving, which he crafted from a single piece of cottonwood, on a turntable so that it could be seen from all sides.
One of many renditions of Koshari, the mischievous clown of Hopi and other Southwest Indian tradition. This piece was made by Joe Cajero, a renowned sculptor working in Placitas, New Mexico.
Tradition meets technology.
Oreland C. Joe of Kirtland, New Mexico, is a multi-talented artist. He is a sculptor, jeweler, musician and songwriter, and he told the story of a frog who nearly died but was revived as a medicine being, with a balance of masculine and feminine meaning he was both a warrior and a protector. Unfortunately, the ambient crowd noise drowned out his story-telling, so I hope I remembered it correctly. Even without being able to understand his words, just watching this brief video will give you an idea of how generously many Indian artists share the stories of their people or talk about their art.
Fortunately, Rocky the bomb-sniffing dog didn't have much work to do. Note his Santa Fe PD badge.
Four hours and change, and I was in overload mode, but I'm hoping to return -- maybe in 2010. Guaranteed that it won't take me another 21 years to get back.
Families of potters often start their children young and display their efforts at Indian Market.
Twelve-year-old Jamie proudly holds a blue ribbon and the pot for which he won it. He is a beginning potter and admits that his parents helped.
Dusty Naranjo of Espanola, New Mexico, uses traditional Santa Clara techniques to render contemporary themes in clay.
This man looked almost like a sculpture as he quietly and stalwartly surveyed the crowd.
Artworks range from simple, like these flat kachinas...
...to works of astonishing complexity and sophstication like "Quest," a towering piece by Adrian Nasafotie, a Hopi artist. He displayed the 57-inch tall woodcarving, which he crafted from a single piece of cottonwood, on a turntable so that it could be seen from all sides.
One of many renditions of Koshari, the mischievous clown of Hopi and other Southwest Indian tradition. This piece was made by Joe Cajero, a renowned sculptor working in Placitas, New Mexico.
Tradition meets technology. 
Oreland C. Joe of Kirtland, New Mexico, is a multi-talented artist. He is a sculptor, jeweler, musician and songwriter, and he told the story of a frog who nearly died but was revived as a medicine being, with a balance of masculine and feminine meaning he was both a warrior and a protector. Unfortunately, the ambient crowd noise drowned out his story-telling, so I hope I remembered it correctly. Even without being able to understand his words, just watching this brief video will give you an idea of how generously many Indian artists share the stories of their people or talk about their art.
Some people just aren't interested in Native art or stories, no matter what -- at least right now. But just give him time...
Fortunately, Rocky the bomb-sniffing dog didn't have much work to do. Note his Santa Fe PD badge.
Four hours and change, and I was in overload mode, but I'm hoping to return -- maybe in 2010. Guaranteed that it won't take me another 21 years to get back.
C Lazy U Breaking Out of Guest Ranch Mold
Ownership and management changes herald new direction of old guest ranch
The C Lazy U Ranch entered Colorado's dude and guest ranching picture back in 1946. Its history reveals a series of owners, some who stayed aboard for decades and some who flipped the now-2,000-acre ranch near Granby after just a few months. Clark and Peg Murray
of Kansas City discovered the ranch on a Colorado vacation in 1958 and purchased it 30 years later -- talk about patience. More recently, they have been joined in a multi-family ownership group that includes Don Bailey and Leslie Stanford of Denver, Linda and Bill Jacobs of Chicago and Tucson, and Adrienne and Dean Singleton of Denver (think "newspaper publisher"). Singleton became involved with the transformation of the neighboring former Hudler Ranch as as vacation home development called CLU Preserves.
This is a long lead-up to the news that DeNapoli Capital Partners, a hospitality acquisition, development and management company, is now operating the C Lazy U. As the Wall Street Journal reported two years ago, the dude ranch's role in the hospitality industry has been changing, with fewer guest ranches in absolute numbers, fewer that remain not only family-owned but also family-run, fewer that have resisted the temptation of subdivision into ranchettes and more that have been transformed from classic equestrian-focused ranches to a broader resort format. DiNapoli, based in southern California, has been involved in such high-profile luxury hotel and resort brands as Four Seasons and Hyatt, and in Denver, it owns and manages the classy, theatrically themed Hotel Teatro.
At its peak, the C Lazy U achieved Mobil's Five Star ranking for 25 years in a row as well as Four Diamonds from AAA -- unusual in the relatively rustic world of guest ranches. The Four Diamond Teatro, which opened in 1999, has recently renovated its guest rooms with obligatory flat-screen televisions, iPod docking stations, sybaritic new bedding and a passel of other upmarket facilities and services. Some of that polish is being applied to the C Lazy U, which is getting the Hotel Teatro-style treatment. The Kevin Taylor Restaurant Group, which operates the fine-dining Restaurant Kevin Taylor and more casual Prima Ristorante in the Teatro, is consulting on modernization of the C Lazy U's menus. And the ranch, which is probably going to provide shorter alternatives to the standard mandatory one-week stay, is also getting such Teatro-style room enhancements as those iHome docking stations, Beverly Hills Black Edition beds and beautiful linens.
It makes me think, ironically, of the '60s TV comedy called "The Beverly Hillbillies," in which the backwoods Clampetts began shaking up the southern California social scene. Things have come full circle with southern California hotel standards that are going to shake up expectations of dude ranch guests at the venerable C Lazy U.
C Lazy U Ranch, P.O. Box 379, Granby, CO 80446; 970-887-3344. Hotel Teatro, 1100 14th Street, Denver 80202; 888-727-1200 (reservations) and 303-228-1100.
The C Lazy U Ranch entered Colorado's dude and guest ranching picture back in 1946. Its history reveals a series of owners, some who stayed aboard for decades and some who flipped the now-2,000-acre ranch near Granby after just a few months. Clark and Peg Murray
of Kansas City discovered the ranch on a Colorado vacation in 1958 and purchased it 30 years later -- talk about patience. More recently, they have been joined in a multi-family ownership group that includes Don Bailey and Leslie Stanford of Denver, Linda and Bill Jacobs of Chicago and Tucson, and Adrienne and Dean Singleton of Denver (think "newspaper publisher"). Singleton became involved with the transformation of the neighboring former Hudler Ranch as as vacation home development called CLU Preserves.This is a long lead-up to the news that DeNapoli Capital Partners, a hospitality acquisition, development and management company, is now operating the C Lazy U. As the Wall Street Journal reported two years ago, the dude ranch's role in the hospitality industry has been changing, with fewer guest ranches in absolute numbers, fewer that remain not only family-owned but also family-run, fewer that have resisted the temptation of subdivision into ranchettes and more that have been transformed from classic equestrian-focused ranches to a broader resort format. DiNapoli, based in southern California, has been involved in such high-profile luxury hotel and resort brands as Four Seasons and Hyatt, and in Denver, it owns and manages the classy, theatrically themed Hotel Teatro.
At its peak, the C Lazy U achieved Mobil's Five Star ranking for 25 years in a row as well as Four Diamonds from AAA -- unusual in the relatively rustic world of guest ranches. The Four Diamond Teatro, which opened in 1999, has recently renovated its guest rooms with obligatory flat-screen televisions, iPod docking stations, sybaritic new bedding and a passel of other upmarket facilities and services. Some of that polish is being applied to the C Lazy U, which is getting the Hotel Teatro-style treatment. The Kevin Taylor Restaurant Group, which operates the fine-dining Restaurant Kevin Taylor and more casual Prima Ristorante in the Teatro, is consulting on modernization of the C Lazy U's menus. And the ranch, which is probably going to provide shorter alternatives to the standard mandatory one-week stay, is also getting such Teatro-style room enhancements as those iHome docking stations, Beverly Hills Black Edition beds and beautiful linens.
It makes me think, ironically, of the '60s TV comedy called "The Beverly Hillbillies," in which the backwoods Clampetts began shaking up the southern California social scene. Things have come full circle with southern California hotel standards that are going to shake up expectations of dude ranch guests at the venerable C Lazy U.
C Lazy U Ranch, P.O. Box 379, Granby, CO 80446; 970-887-3344. Hotel Teatro, 1100 14th Street, Denver 80202; 888-727-1200 (reservations) and 303-228-1100.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
TED is Dead
United's no-frills carrier the latest casualty of the world airline crisis
United Airlines' TED, launched with great fanfare five years ago to compete with such low-fare carriers as Southwest and Frontier, will fly into the sunset by early 2009. Seventy planes (15 per
cent of the fleet, including less fuel-efficient 737s) will either be retired or retrofitted as mainline United planes, including a first-class cabin that will theoretically produce more revenues. United is expected to cut 1,100 jobs as well. Bloomberg, which tracks financial data, reported that while United's stock has been the worst 2008 performer among 14 publicly traded airline stocks, it rose 61 cents to $9.14 yesterday. Leave it to Wall Street to find cheer in other people's misery.
And, for travelers, there's more probably more misery to come. Bloomberg also noted that US airlines have already announced 5 percent capacity cuts, but quoted Ray Neidl, a securities analyst with Calyon Securities, as saying that airlines "need" to cut 20 percent to achieve some kind of industry--wide financial stability, given the current price of fuel. That's going to leave a lot of travelers scrambling for fewer seats, paying much more to fly, taking the train (Amtrak is already seeing record passenger loads), Greyhound, filling our tanks with increasingly expensive gas or staying close to home.
Addendum on June 6: Today's New York Times ran a business analysis called "Big Airlines Rush to Go Small." Reporter Micheline Maynard's piece began, "With fuel prices almost double what they were a year ago, airlines have switched strategies from expansion to downsizing." And she proceeded with a laundry list of which big airlines are becoming smaller and in what way, also noting, "For passengers, it all means a system that made flights cheap and plentiful is slipping away." And that's pretty much what I have concluded.
United Airlines' TED, launched with great fanfare five years ago to compete with such low-fare carriers as Southwest and Frontier, will fly into the sunset by early 2009. Seventy planes (15 per
cent of the fleet, including less fuel-efficient 737s) will either be retired or retrofitted as mainline United planes, including a first-class cabin that will theoretically produce more revenues. United is expected to cut 1,100 jobs as well. Bloomberg, which tracks financial data, reported that while United's stock has been the worst 2008 performer among 14 publicly traded airline stocks, it rose 61 cents to $9.14 yesterday. Leave it to Wall Street to find cheer in other people's misery.And, for travelers, there's more probably more misery to come. Bloomberg also noted that US airlines have already announced 5 percent capacity cuts, but quoted Ray Neidl, a securities analyst with Calyon Securities, as saying that airlines "need" to cut 20 percent to achieve some kind of industry--wide financial stability, given the current price of fuel. That's going to leave a lot of travelers scrambling for fewer seats, paying much more to fly, taking the train (Amtrak is already seeing record passenger loads), Greyhound, filling our tanks with increasingly expensive gas or staying close to home.
Addendum on June 6: Today's New York Times ran a business analysis called "Big Airlines Rush to Go Small." Reporter Micheline Maynard's piece began, "With fuel prices almost double what they were a year ago, airlines have switched strategies from expansion to downsizing." And she proceeded with a laundry list of which big airlines are becoming smaller and in what way, also noting, "For passengers, it all means a system that made flights cheap and plentiful is slipping away." And that's pretty much what I have concluded.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Krazy About "Kooza"
Cirque de Soleil touring show now dazzling Denver
My name is Claire, and I'm a Cirque-a-holic.
Fortunately, Cirque de Soleil sends a touring show to Denver practically every year, sets up it yellow and gold "Grand Chapiteau" tent in a Pepsi Center parking lot and dazzles Denver audiences. "Kooza" premiered last night for its month-long run, and my husband and I were there. (In the spirit of full disclosure, we have seen every Cirque show that has come to Denver, including "the horse one," and when we were at a convention in Las Vegas a few years ago, seeing three resident Cirque shows was one of the redeeming features about being there).
"Kooza," like other Cirque shows, has a story line -- usually a bewildered wanderer led into a magical world -- but this is a thin thread really links incredible acrobats, trapeze artists, tightrope walkers, jugglers, dancers and comedians and allows audiences to relax and breathe between the show's heart-stopping acts. See the trailer by clicking here.
Show after show, act upon act, these are universally performers. Hint: Go to "Kooza," if only for the two amazing men whose act involves a pair of giant "hamster wheels." Take a look at the YouTube video that just hints at the power of this act. Every ride at neighboring Elitch's pales beside the apparatus on which the perform.
Cirque is celebrating its silver anniversary this year. It traces its origins to Baie-Saint-Paul, a small town northeast of Quebec City, where Gilles Ste.-Croix founded a street theater that he called Les Échassiers de Baie-Saint-Paul (the Baie-Saint-Paul Stiltwalkers). These gifted street performers played to local and tourist crowds, striding on stilts, juggling, dancing, breathing fire and playing music. One of the locals who was enchanted by the troupe was Guy Laliberté, who with Ste.-Croix and others founded Cirque du Soleil. Their dream was to take a Quebec-based company around the world.
Fast-forward to 2009, and the dream has come true -- and way more. Twenty resident and touring troupes are electrifying audiences in North and South America, Europe and Asia. Cast and crew are astonishingly international, representing 40 countries. Unsurprisingly, many are from Eastern Europe and China, where circus arts and acrobatics are widely taught and the talent pool is deep.
Show after show, act upon act, these are universally performers. Hint: Go to "Kooza," if only for the two amazing men whose act involves a pair of giant "hamster wheels." Take a look at the YouTube video that just hints at the power of this act. Every ride at neighboring Elitch's pales beside the apparatus on which the perform.
Cirque is celebrating its silver anniversary this year. It traces its origins to Baie-Saint-Paul, a small town northeast of Quebec City, where Gilles Ste.-Croix founded a street theater that he called Les Échassiers de Baie-Saint-Paul (the Baie-Saint-Paul Stiltwalkers). These gifted street performers played to local and tourist crowds, striding on stilts, juggling, dancing, breathing fire and playing music. One of the locals who was enchanted by the troupe was Guy Laliberté, who with Ste.-Croix and others founded Cirque du Soleil. Their dream was to take a Quebec-based company around the world.
Fast-forward to 2009, and the dream has come true -- and way more. Twenty resident and touring troupes are electrifying audiences in North and South America, Europe and Asia. Cast and crew are astonishingly international, representing 40 countries. Unsurprisingly, many are from Eastern Europe and China, where circus arts and acrobatics are widely taught and the talent pool is deep.
"Kooza" will be in Denver through September 20. Tuesday through Friday ticket prices are $60-$130 for adults, $38.50-$87.50 for children to age 12 (slightly higher on weekends). Westword is promoting a 25th-anniversary special at 25 percent off,; I think you have to register to obtain tickets at this discount. The apaper is also running a contest for free "Kooza" tickets. Otherwise, buy on-line or call 800-678-5440.
Guidebook for Rock-Climbing Families
Climbing routes and much more make this book an excellent resource for climbers of all ages
My husband is a former rock climber, so we have shelves full of climbing guidebooks. I don't ever look at them, because they are way out of my universe. When he and I first met and he enthused about climbing, I took a one-day class and learned very, very basic climbing and rappelling. I enjoyed it enough to wish that I had learned to climb when I was younger -- much younger. Tristan Hechtel, now just graduated from high school here in Bould
er, is one lucky young climber who did start when he was very young. He probably can't even remember when he didn't go climbing with his mother. Sibylle Hechtel's engaging new book, Fun Climbs Colorado: Best Family Climbing Vacations, is based on her first-hand experiences.
er, is one lucky young climber who did start when he was very young. He probably can't even remember when he didn't go climbing with his mother. Sibylle Hechtel's engaging new book, Fun Climbs Colorado: Best Family Climbing Vacations, is based on her first-hand experiences.I don't have a young child anymore, but if I did, I'd want this book because it includes not only well-researched and achievable routes but also other useful information for any family trip. The climbing information is very clear and includes everything I imagine parents would want to know: How easy each climbing area is to reach. What the approach is like. Type of rock. What gear that is needed. The recommended age range. Camping options. Whether there is cell service. Whether dogs are permitted. Even (should an emergency arise) the location of the nearest hospital. I also like her assessment of the pros and cons of each climbing area. These might include ease or difficulty of the approach; accessibility; crowds; convenient camping or not.
And of course, there is detailed information on each climbing route, including grade rating (a standard numerical system), plus key spots along the route described, numbered and keyed to a photograph. She also gives one to five stars to routes in the book. One star means "not that great, included for completeness" to five stars for routes she deems "absolutely fantastic climb, worth doing several times."
For any vacationing family, the additional travel tips are great -- perhaps if the weather is not conducive for family climbing, in case youngsters want a break from climbing, to accommodate any non-climbers in the family or as add-ons while a family is in the vicinity of a recommended climbing area. Hechtel has scouted out where to buy groceries and supplies if camping, hotels/motels if not camping, restaurants and "What Else Can We Do That's Fun?"
And of course, there is detailed information on each climbing route, including grade rating (a standard numerical system), plus key spots along the route described, numbered and keyed to a photograph. She also gives one to five stars to routes in the book. One star means "not that great, included for completeness" to five stars for routes she deems "absolutely fantastic climb, worth doing several times."
For any vacationing family, the additional travel tips are great -- perhaps if the weather is not conducive for family climbing, in case youngsters want a break from climbing, to accommodate any non-climbers in the family or as add-ons while a family is in the vicinity of a recommended climbing area. Hechtel has scouted out where to buy groceries and supplies if camping, hotels/motels if not camping, restaurants and "What Else Can We Do That's Fun?"
Clear maps, excellent graphics and comprehensive contact information for all resources make this an invaluable guide for climbing families -- and, come to think of it, also for climbers without kids who want more peripheral details than most climbing guidebooks include. Fun Climbs Colorado: Best Family Climbing Vacations sells for $22, 15 percent of which is donated to the Access Fund, national advocacy organization for climbers and the preservation of climbing sites.
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