Destinations

What so great about summer other than the weather? Festivals! Summer is the best time for going to see new and exciting things happening in your town and the world. If you’re looking for something to do while your out and about these are only some of the events that will tickle your fancy.

The Capital Fringe Festival, Washington D.C. July 10-27: The Capital Fringe Festival features more than 500 performing arts shows at several venues around the Penn Quarter of D.C. It is an annual festival that was established to exhibit new, risk-taking art, and non-traditional performances from theater to dance to music and more.

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Washington D.C. June 25-29 and July 2-6: Sponsored by the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage it is an annual event that focuses on celebrating cultural traditions from around the world. There is everything from music and dance, to cooking and crafts, to storytelling and discussions of cultural issues. This year the program will be featuring issues concerning Bhutan, NASA, and Texas.

Essence Festival Back Home In New Orleans: The Essence Festival celebrated its return in 2007 and is continuing the traditional this year. It will have more than 200,000 of the nations best African-American musical talent. In addition one can listen to some of the finest speakers in empowerment seminars. Usually held over the Forth of July weekend.

Taste of Chicago 2008, June 27 through July 6: Chicago’s biggest event started in 1980 as a small food festival, Taste of Chicago has become the world’s largest outdoor food festival. It is an extravaganza of more than 3 million people tasting the cuisine of over 70 of Chicago’s favorite restaurants.

Notting Hill Carnival, London: Since 1964 the Notting Hill Carnival has celebrated the cultural traditions of immigrant population from the Caribbean. In the 1950’s and 60’s the immigrant population faced harsh racism and after the race riots this small party was design to bring people together to remember their cultural roots. The party now has more the two million revelers and is held in August on Bank Holiday synonymous with the Caribbean Carnival.

Sometimes you just have to take Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and go to the classroom in the city. Fortunately, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) is open late on Thursday nights… so you don’t have to put your job or your wallet in jeopardy. The Museum is free on the first Tuesday of each month, but half-price admission every Thursday evening from 6-9 attracts both tourists and locals alike.

Commuting up to the San Francisco Office once a week, I had been eyeing streetlight banners advertising an exhibit by Lee Friedlander, an award-winning and renowned photographer. Working primarily with a 35mm Leica camera and producing black and white silver gelatin prints, the SFMOMA exhibit showcased nearly 400 pictures, largely drawn from Friedlander’s personal work.

Displayed chronologically from the 1950s to the present, walking through the exhibit is like watching an artist unfold and develop. There are struggles, fixations, experiments, travels around the country and across the world, moments of quiet brilliance, and big, bold glory. Every photography class I have ever taken mentioned Friedlander, but that evening at the SFMOMA, I realized something about his work I would have never otherwise known. Friedlander’s use of his camera as medium was never for a moment an attempt to create images about aesthetic beauty - not to say that he hasn’t accomplished this in his work. But I believe his intention is to dialogue with the world around him and express his extraordinary and unique perception of every day life. Friedlander is applauded for his “social landscapes” and ability to isolate the “backdrop of modern life” with witty, lyrical and untraditional style.

The Friedlander exhibition runs through Sunday May 18th. Other artist exhibitions currently at the SFMOMA feature works by Gabriele Basilico, An-My Lê, Paul Sietsema, Paul Klee and Devendra Banhart, in addition to photographic, painting, and sculpture collections. The SFMOMA is located on 3rd Street between Howard and Mission, just off the 80 and 280 Freeways, ½ mile to the Powell Street and Montgomery Street BART Stations, and a short cab ride from the Caltrain Station. The Museum is also conveniently nestled in between the W Hotel and the St. Regis Hotel, both of which have very chic cocktail lounges recommended before or after your evening of art.

The Hacienda Xanatun is a prefect representation of when luxury mets philanthropy. This elegantly resorted 18th century plantation is on the National Geographic’s top 150 hotels that “best share the soul of their location”.

Located in the heart of the Mayan world, Merida Mexico, this hotel is a restoration of sisal plantation which was almost completely destroyed by hurricane Gilbert in 1988. Owners Jorge Ruz and Cristina Baker insisted on authenticity in their restoration of this historic location. Everything from the buildings to the furnishing are made from the finest local materials and designed by local master craftsmen. The buildings have a neoclassical look and each of the 18 suites are individuality decorated with hand carved furnishings, antiques, thick stone walls, beamed ceilings, and on each private veranda a hand woven Yucatecan hammock. The entire resort is surround by a beautiful nine-acre garden which is maintained by only eco-friendly produces.

In addition to the suites there are two swimming pools, one of which is craved out of the original water reservoir, a family chapel and a spa. The spa has a distinct local twist, a Maya therapist who was trained by her grandfather, a noted shaman, enhances her treatments with Mayan healing rituals.

Another unique local twist is integrated in the hotel’s dining menu. Every dish served is a fusion of Yucatecan and European cooking. Using only the best local ingredients to create savoy meals based off traditional Mayan cuisine. They also have a wine cellar the contains selections from all over the world.

All the staff at the resort come from neighboring Maya villages and were trained by the owners. They only add the to unique experience that one would get at Hacienda Xcanatun, they are always happy to share their stories with the guests. But this hotel does more then provide jobs for the local people it is a integral part of the local community. In addition to participating many community programs they also shock the hotel boutique with beautiful hand made crafts made by the villagers and local artists.