Archive for December, 2009

Amber

December 31, 2009

It is easy enough to overlook the obvious, but this stylish hotel restaurant with generous frontage on Michigan Avenue across from the glittering new Nordstrom store has been quietly transformed from a glorified coffee shop. Decorated in stark black and white but with warm amber lamps on tables, it is hung with John Hendry’s historic [...]

Raging Bull

December 30, 2009

Martin Scorsese’s brilliant, brutal and beautiful black and white boxing movie with Robert De Niro giving his best ever performance as the bull Jake La Motta. Re-released with a spanking new print for its 20th anniversary.

The Ruffnecks

December 28, 2009

Every city has a band like the Ruffnecks – hard working blue collar players who keep grinding out the good stuff for what seems like an eternity. As the music world continues to tease Las Vegas and its potential as ‘the next Seattle’, the Ruffnecks simply do it for the love of music. A Las [...]

Classical Rising Stars

December 27, 2009

Ravinia is the spot to catch today’s superstars perform in summer concerts under the stars. In rest of the year the music festival becomes a major musical launching pad for tomorrow’s superstars. 18-year-old baby-faced phenomenon Lang Lang is a pianist that has the classical music world abuzz. His December 8 concert already has sold out [...]

Glistening Snow

December 26, 2009

IMG_1769

December 24, 2009

Indoor Safari

December 22, 2009

A window opening to Lisbon city from the Centro Cultural de Belém

December 19, 2009

KKTUS

December 18, 2009

With Torches Through The Underworld

December 17, 2009

A dramatic new subterrenean attraction offers a torchlit trudge through the tunnels and stairways running either side of the Wien river as it passes beneath the Naschmarkt. The walk is an eerie extravaganza of flickering shadows and damp brickwork accompanied by bagpipes and drums to highlight the 30-second echo. All participants receive a flaming torch [...]