Ten Best NYC Movies

Posted by on December 5, 2011 No comments

The best New York City-set movies that you’ll find are the ones that give you an honest dose of what Manhattan is really like. Hustle, bustle and thick accents should abound, and the movie’s characters should take you on a virtual tour of their beloved city. If you search for “Best NYC Movies” online, you’ll get a list of classics, like “Raging Bull,” “Rear Window” and “West Side Story.” But the modern movie watcher probably wants to see New York as it is today, not as it was then.

1. Sidewalks of New York

Edward Burns directed, wrote and starred in Sidewalks of New York. Vignettes pull together to create one eternally linking story, ripe with cheating husbands, game-playing daters and one awkward-turned-charming doorman.

2. Serendipity

Kate Beckinsale meets John Cusack one Christmas Eve during a random shopping mishap at Bloomingdale’s. They decide not to exchange names but to leave the future of their relationship up to fate…which never seems to bring them back together. Years later, they both go on a manic search for the other through the streets – and shops – of New York.

3. The Devil Wears Prada

Anne Hathaway takes a job as an office go-to girl for an uber-popular New York magazine. She eventually shapes up and impresses her boss – but not herself.

4. Boiler Room

Giovanni Ribisi trades in running an illegal poker house for working at an illegal stock company.

5. How to Lose a Guy In Ten Days

Kate Hudson tries to scare Matthew McConaughey away by being too clingy and needy while McConaughey tries to get Hudson to fall in love with him.

6. Along Came Polly

Ben Stiller is an uptight newlywed who’s been slighted and Jennifer Aniston is his free spirited gypsy to the rescue.

7. Across the Universe

Set in 1960s Manhattan, “Across the Universe” shows what it was like to be a teenage in the time of peace, love and protests, set to Beatles covers.

8. Unfaithful

Diane Lane starts an affair with a young, handsome foreigner while Richard Gere loses his mind at the thought of his cheating wife. One dramatic scene starts with a good example of what a windy day can be like in the wind tunnel streets of Manhattan.

9. Julie and Julia

Amy Adams takes distraught calls all day long about the fallout of 911 and cooks her way through Julia Child’s cookbook in her tiny NYC kitchen.

10. Vanilla Sky

Tom Cruise lives the high life in a to-die-for Manhattan loft until an accident changes his life – and mind. The empty streets of Times Square aren’t realistic, but they are hauntingly quiet and vibrantly colorful.

The Déjà Visité Phenomenon

Posted by on December 1, 2011 No comments

Our minds can play tricks on us. There’s so much phenomena that’s both indescribable and proved by science – we may not be able to put a steady finger on why we feel the way we do sometimes, but scientists have at least been able to put a name to strange sensations.

Most people are familiar with déjà vu – the sensation that we’ve experienced something before. Familiarity with something, someone or an event that you can’t quite remember in full conjures up an eery, “I’ve been here before but I don’t know when” feeling. Déjà vécu takes déjà vu one step further by giving intense detail to the familiar event. Déjà visité is similar to both phenomena, but it’s much less common.

If you’ve ever traveled to a new place and have inexplicable knowledge of the location, you’ve experienced déjà visité. You may know your way around a new town, but not know why you know it. The difference between déjà visité and déjà vécu is the difference between spatial relationships and temporal phenomena.

However, this doesn’t mean that you had another life in which you lived in the town or landscape. The knowledge could come from something you don’t remember, an occurrence that’s lost in the back of your mind. In the book “Our Old Home, “Nathaniel Hawthorne writes about an experience he had when visiting an old, ruined castle. Unbeknownst to him why, he had complete knowledge of the entire layout of the castle. While this is considered déjà visité, the knowledge came from a poem he’d read years earlier and forgotten. Alexander Pope describes the same castle in accuracy in one of his poems.

Déjà visité means, literally, “already visited.” Similar phenomena include déjà senti, jamais vu and presque vu. When someone experiences déjà senti, they feel that they have already felt something before. A good example of this is having the feeling that you just spoke out loud, when in fact you didn’t say anything. Jamai vu is the opposite of déjà vu – a person is in a familiar situation that they do not recognize. The eeriness that accompanies déjà vu is the same, but the person doesn’t recognize a situation, person or place that they actually are familiar with. This may be a side effect of brain fatigue. Presque vu is also referred to as the “Tip of the Tongue” sensation – a strong feeling of knowing what you want to say accompanies the inability to find the right words.

Chronesthesia

Posted by on November 12, 2011 No comments

Chronesthesia is a phenomenon in which the brain is not only aware of what’s happened in the past, but also what will happen in the future. People who experience chronesthesia mentally time travel in subjective, or abstract, time. There are two main components to this experience: the first is similar to watching a movie and seeing a particular situation, group of people and setting; the second component has to do with the time period and whether it’s happened in the past, is happening in the present or will happen in the future. Experiencing this phenomenon, or furthermore, having the ability to time travel to the future, can greatly affect the way a person makes their decisions.

Neuroscientists understand a great deal about perceived, imagined and remembered space, but not much at all about perceived, imagined or remembered time. While scientists are currently researching chronesthesia, they’re still not positive of which parts of the brain are directly responsible for this knowledge. Recent studies have utilized resonance imaging to explore the neural correlates that are used during mental time travel. To figure out what parts of the brain correlate with which moments in time, subjects were asked to think of the same event occurring at different time intervals. For example, some subjects would have to form a detailed mental “video” of taking a walk at a specific time in the past, while other subjects would have to play the same image, but think of it as taking place in the future.

Chronesthesia is not an easy subject to wrap your mind around. Even if you’ve accepted that people can mentally time travel and even see the future to some degree, the next step is understanding how the brain does this. However, it’s important to remember that several past scientific discoveries were once deemed solely as the things of science fiction novels. Over time, though, truth was attributed to many of these now-proven facts. There are many inventors and scientists in the world who spend ample amounts of time on a project that the majority of outsiders believe is a waste of time, ridiculous or impossible. But in order to advance, one must open their mind up to at least the possibility of another realm of though and maybe even time. Humans generally think that time is linear, because up until now, all evidence to the contrary has been null. However, many physicists think that time is much more complicated than that.

Your Guide to Boat Hitching

Posted by on November 2, 2011 No comments

Recreational boating is a great way to experience the exhilaration of water sports and nature. You can fish, sail, water ski or explore a hidden cove with your family and friends. Unless your boat is in a mooring or a slip, you must hitch your rig to enjoy your favorite water activities.

Select a trailer hitch that matches your boat’s characteristics. One important consideration is trailer supports. Roller supports makes it easier to launch and load your boat, but they can damage certain fiberglass, aluminum hull and competition racing boats. Covered or padded bunk supports are less problematic.

The vast majority of boat trailer hitches connect to ball hitches that are welded or bolted to your towing vehicle. Clamp-on style bumper hitches aren’t recommended for continual towing or heavy loads. The weight that a loaded trailer exerts on the towing vehicle’s hitch is the tongue weight. Use a heavy-duty equalizing hitch if your trailer’s tongue weight exceeds 250 pounds. The surge brakes on these specialized hitches will lock up if you fail to follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions. Ensure that the size of your trailer hitch and the ball hitch match. Avoid using ball hitches that are too small.

A frequently overlooked area is tires. Your tires must support the combined weight of your boat and trailer. Ensure that your tires can handle your load and are properly inflated. Some boaters use smaller tires, because they make it easier to launch their rigs. The stress of more frequent revolutions and the weight causes smaller tires to overheat, shed tread and wear out quicker than larger tires. Bigger tires cushion your boat against potholes and give your boat a smoother ride. More is not better when it comes to trailer capacity. Avoid using trailers that exceed your boat’s requirements, because the stiff springs will jar and damage your boat’s hull.

You must take extra precautions when towing heavy rigs. A loaded boat can obstruct your rear view and create blind spots. Most jurisdictions require rear-view mirrors on both sides of your towing vehicle. Accelerating, passing and stopping will require more time. Longer rigs also need wider clearance for curbs and other obstructions. Find a large open area to practice braking and turning your trailer and boat. You can set up markers to determine your braking time and turning radius.

Proper boat hitching techniques ensures the safety of your life and property.

The Purpose of Travel is Adventure

Posted by on October 31, 2011 No comments

Why is it important to get away from the stress and demands that go along with life? Traveling for adventure helps you get away from it all and appreciate the beauty the world has to offer. The wonders of the world are waiting for you to experience its magnificent beauty. Traveling is important because you will return with a new sense of well-being.

Do you want to know what it is like to live in other cities or countries? How do other people in other parts of the world live? Traveling to a country that has different cultures can give you a deeper appreciation for your own life. It is easy to stay in a tedious routine and often people forget these world adventures exist.

Whether you decide to take an ocean cruise, or travel by air, there are many adventures waiting for you. The beauty of a sunrise or sunset in different parts of the country. . You can hike magnificent mountains or explore a lush rainforest. Take a peaceful walk on a beautiful beach or horseback riding in the surf.

These adventures will create memories that can serve you the rest of your life. Memories can create the feeling of vitality and energy when we remember our experiences. Traveling and taking photographs are a great way to keep that memory for years to come.

Traveling to a poverty-stricken region can help you to have empathy and gratitude about your own life. Learning the history of different parts of the world is interesting. When was the country founded and who were the first settlers?

When you return from your travel adventures, you will feel rested and energized. You will have many stories to tell and a lot of photographs to share with loved ones. Traveling is an adventure that everyone should experience.

Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon

Posted by on October 11, 2011 No comments

The birthplace of William Shakespeare, located in the United Kingdom, is a mecca for tourists and Shakespeare lovers alike. Stratford-upon-Avon is a lovely rural town on the river Avon. In fact, Stratford-upon-Avon is one of the most visited places in the United Kingdom. The town is easily accessible by air, road and rail, making it a desired travel destination for many.

In the town of Stratford-upon-Avon you have your choice of accommodations from quaint bed and breakfasts to hotels to guest houses rented out by the locals. Stratford-Upon-Avon also houses a large number of restaurants and bakeries, perfect for your palette. In addition, it is highly recommended you make a reservation on the Shakespeare Express for Sunday Brunch. The train leaves Stratford-upon-Avon at 12:32 every Sunday bound for Birmingham and returns at 15:01. During your travels you will enjoy a three course Sunday Brunch and breathtaking views of the English countryside.

Aside from seeing the former home of William Shakespeare, you will see the home of Anne Hathaway and can visit the Holy Trinity Church, where both Shakespeare and Hathaway are buried. Five homes in Stratford-upon-Avon are connected to William Shakespeare and his family and each is open to the public. Each of the sixteenth century homes is fully furnished with authentic furniture and décor dating back to the time when Shakespeare and his family lived in the homes.

In addition to the activities and sights that feature William Shakespeare, Stratford-upon-Avon is also home to the Harvard House, the home belonging to the man that created Harvard University. John Harvard was raised in the United Kingdom and immigrated to New England at the age of 30. After passing away at the age of 31, a court ordered that the money left by Harvard verbally toward the building of a school would indeed be used to build a school; and that is how Harvard University began back in 1637. The school later purchased the home of Harvard in Stratford-upon-Avon.

In short, Stratford-upon-Avon is a destination not to be missed when traveling through the United Kingdom. With a plethora of accommodations, pubs, inns and tea houses, Stratford-upon-Avon provides more to do than sightsee. Steeped in its rich culture and history, the town is both pleasant and educational for visitors and you will create unforgettable memories during your visit to Stratford-upon-Avon. Check out here for more information about visiting Stratford-upon-Avon.

Paris Syndrome: Not Your Average Letdown

Posted by on September 22, 2011 No comments

The nation of Japan, while a beautiful locale full of terrific people and wonders both natural and man-made, has established a solid reputation of oddness in recent years. The psychology field presents a shining example of this peculiarity in the form of a mental condition known as Paris syndrome. Prevalent in thirty-something Japanese women and affecting roughly a dozen people yearly, this transient disorder results from a tourist arriving in Paris and finding that her experience not only fails to live up to expectations, but falls so spectacularly wide of the tourist’s idealized vision that her psyche is temporarily crushed at the realization. Symptoms include severe depression, delusions and paranoia, with one male victim believing he was Louis XIV and two female victims thinking their hotel room was bugged and they were targets of a covert plot.

The presence of Paris syndrome originates in the way Parisian culture is displayed in the media versus its reality, and the way this conflict affects people raised in a certain mindset. Throughout modern worldwide media, with the movie Amelie being a prime example, a distorted picture of the city is presented to impressionable people. Paris is saddled in the media with an image of glamour mixed with warmth, impossibly clean streets and storefronts, and a cultural experience that promises elegance and enlightenment.

Reality casts a harsher perspective on the City of Lights, and it shows that the negative stereotypes have a decent basis in reality. Rude service at restaurants and hotels, dirty streets with animal leavings, purse snatchings and a growing homeless problem all clash with the unrealistic preconceptions of some Japanese tourists. They are in a unique position to suffer the most from dashed expectations due to their upbringing. Many Japanese families still raise their children to be uniquely humble and mild-mannered, also leaving them uniquely ill-suited to the true Parisian culture. Their media-fueled idea of Paris is one of inviting sophistication, and they are unequipped to deal with the possibility of neither being welcomed or experiencing a positive cultural enlightenment.

As Japanese families hold proudly to their culture, the strange issue of Paris syndrome isn’t likely to go away any time soon. Cases will continue to emerge unless the romanticized notion of the city is downplayed consistently and repeatedly, and in a world with enough depressing happenings, the cartoon-like perfection of fictional Paris will likely remain predominant in the public’s consciousness.

Gaudi’s Barcelona

Posted by on September 14, 2011 No comments

The city of Barcelona is dominated by the works of the famous architect, Antoni Gaudi. Although this beautiful part of Spain features a very cosmopolitan environment, it is also rich in history and famous for its centuries-old art. Barcelona has always been ahead of many other nations in its architecture, and the discerning traveler can see this in the extraordinary creations that are found throughout the city. In spite of the delightful works from the Renaissance and Romanesque periods, it is the structures designed by Gaudi that lure millions of tourists to Barcelona each year.

The Streets of Barcelona

Sightseeing in Barcelona is usually simple and inexpensive, as the city is very pedestrian friendly and quite compact. For this reason, many individuals choose to sight see on foot, as this is an ideal way to fully enjoy Barcelona’s best attractions. Many people would agree that taking a leisurely walk through the streets of the city is an activity all by itself.

The Fascinating Landmarks of the City

Barcelona offers a picturesque landscape of outstanding artistry and design. Gaudi’s most renowned creation, unfinished at the time of the artist’s death, is “La Sagrada Familia.” This structure receives several hundred visitors on a daily basis and is one of the most celebrated landmarks in Spain. Those who enjoy strolling on beautiful, well-maintained roads may wish to indulge in a walk down La Rambla Street, where the attractive, tree lined sidewalks create a pleasant backdrop for an afternoon outdoors. The Picasso Museum is also one of Barcelona’s most celebrated landmarks, and is worthy of a place on every tourist’s must-see list.

Shopping and Nightlife

Barcelona is also famous for its lively nightlife and terrific shopping districts. The city offer visitors a wide selection of pubs, lounges and clubs from which to choose for a night out on the town. There is also a vast array of stores and boutiques in the city, where specialty items can be found. In addition, one can choose to visit one of the numerous open air markets which are scattered throughout the area.

An Ideal Vacation Destination

Barcelona boasts a Roman origin, and its colorful history and social and economic development have made it a truly engaging city filled with many enjoyable activities and attractions, including theatrical performances, concerts, museums, festivals and exhibitions. The impressive works of Barcelona’s favorite architect were designed far ahead of their time, and Barcelona tourists should consider dedicating a significant amount of time to the exploration of Gaudi’s creations.

Blind Dining Worldwide

Posted by on August 22, 2011 No comments

Blind dining is the stuff of romantic comedies at Saturday Night Life sketches. Eating in pitch black clears room for a host of mishaps, funny stories and a few truly dangerous accidents. How do you know that someone isn’t standing right next to you, eavesdropping on your private conversation? How can you tell if your food is cooked-to-order before you bite into it? And how do you make your way through the crowded sea of tables and chairs? But while blind dining can be made into a joke, it’s actually a very real – and serious – culinary trend.

Blind dining plays on our most protected layers of trusting others. We may not have control over what the cook does in the kitchen when we go to a restaurant, but we can browse a menu, look our server directly in the eye and see exactly how overpriced that martini was. With blind dining, though, people give up those comforts – and, to some, those rights.

Blind dining, or dine-in-the-dark restaurants originated in Switzerland. Jurg Spielmann, a blind clergyman, decided it better to seat customers in a pitch black dining room. The waitstaff didn’t notice they – though were blind, just like Spielmann. After ordering meals in a dimly-lit waiting area, the blind hostess would ask people to line up behind her while she led them to her table. This was effective in turning the handicapped into the ones with the edge and those lucky enough to have their sense of sight into the disadvantaged.

But this wasn’t necessarily the point. The idea of blind dining, both Spielmann’s and other restaurateurs, is to heighten the senses other than sight. Without being able to see the dining room, you can hear the hustle and bustle of the waitstaff and the clink of silverware. Without being able to see your dining partners, you can tune into what they’re saying without the distraction of their facial expressions – which is, on the contrary, a difficult way to communicate, since nonverbal cues are sometimes more telling than words. Without being able to critique the presentation of your meal, you can experience the aroma and taste in a way you never have before. Plus, nobody will be able to see what a mess you’re making at the table of the fact that you gave up trying to use a utensil and are now eating with your fingers.

Tea: It’s journey to Britain explained

Posted by on August 5, 2011 No comments

The Duchess of Bedford was hungry between lunch and dinner at the fabulous Woburn Abbey in the 1840s. She had her servants bring up crust-less cucumber sandwiches, a few jams and biscuits and some Darjeeling India black tea – known for its nice wisps of flora. Her close friend, Queen Victoria, appreciated the gesture and so did England. They coined the period Afternoon Tea.

Today, among the venues decorously serving Afternoon Tea with British flair are marvelous major and local tea rooms and tea gardens. One may start with the posh Palm Court at London’s Ritz Hotel and sample the three-tiered sandwiches of chicken and horseradish or smoked salmon, following – or preceding – tea with champagne.

But, if one doesn’t want to reserve space three months ahead, there’s tremendous variety of atmosphere and budget available. The Louis Patisserie is a Hungarian cafe not too far from the Hampstead tube station. Its charming teas are offered with a budget cuisine.

The perennial award-winner of tea rooms is the Dorchester Bar in London’s Dorchester Hotel. Perched on velvet couches surrounded by marble columns, enjoy tea with Devonshire cream on fresh baked scones topped with strawberry jam. Spice cakes and raspberry macaroons may be followed with Laurent Perrier Rose.

During the Deco art period, London’s Wolseley Car Company sold expensive cars but couldn’t keep the clientele flowing and the business going. Today, the Wolseley’s high-ceiling showroom of Venetian and Florentine charm harbors a beautiful tea room and exquisite gift shops of antique silverware and gift boxes.

On Saturdays and Sundays, afternoon reservations are made for the Tea Cosy in fun-paced Brighton. It’s an eccentric place with memorabilia of the Royal Family, ribbons of the union Jack and Victorian lamps. There are Sussex Cream teas accompanied with the fruit preserves and finger sandwiches.

After enjoying the spas in Harrogate, go to Betty’s Tea Rooms and experience Betty’s collection of signature chocolates, biscuits, mince pies and puddings with a cup of fine tea. It is modern and relaxed with romantic Spindler paintings of Yorkshire sights. There’s wine and jazz and a choir singing carols.

The Leaf Tea Bar, which just moved to Bold Street in Liverpool, offers a contemporary and imaginative setting of two floors of space. There’s a monthly arts market and a vintage market as well. The late-night club scene may offer a DJ. With hundreds of teas, every palette should be pleased.