Travel Stories, Cruise Reviews, and Cultural Adventures

Distinguished bass player Bert Turetsky delighted Jewish Festival jazz lovers. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER The 20th...

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Three distinctly different venues -- each with its strong suits and personality --...

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS You  have to love a city that in a few week's time offers vocal jazz with Manhattan Transfer in the historic Balboa Theatre and classics played with vintage instruments by Bach Collegium in the The art deco charms of the 1924 Balboa Theater are thanks to careful restoration. It is the grand dame of downtown, adjacent to Horton Plaza and the Lyceum. imposing venue of Balboa Park's History Center. Add a world-class Puerto Rican brother-sister chamber

Bruce Keller and his mother, Jean Keller, board a harbor cruise at Oceanside, where Jean taught Keller to paint as a lad. STORY By...

San Francisco's inventive Personality Hotels offers a stylish flash drive "bracelet" of images and information, including this.  Your...

Trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos plays magnificently as "La Trompeta" and band leader . -- Production photos by Daren Scott  By CHRISTENE...

This publicity photo shows Vereen's joy in life and his engaging personality. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Ben...

Actor Ben Vereen is touring a fast-paced one man show which may appear in an expanded version down the road. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS...

The Ashland Springs Hotel holds center stage on Main Street.     Writing by Christene Meyers    Photos by Bruce Keller        One of my favorite William Holden movies is "Shangri-la."  It's set in a Utopian village in the Himalayas and director Frank Capra captures beautiful mountains, soothing forests and low-hanging clouds that seem to say "touch me, come in, enjoy." It is a magical place.      Shangri-la lives! The hotel's gracious lobby is artfully decorated in the styl

You’ve got to love a town where National Public Radio news includes the morning surf report.  Start your San Diego day with the weather...

Nick and Nora, nicknamed Hodad and Wingnut by Keller, enjoy beach life  at Wind and Sea, a world famous surf spot. The drama continues...

Cookie and pups enjoy the Natural Stage Based in San Diego until Montana has the good sense to warm, we are thrilled that we can play...

The migrating gray whales off the coast of  San Diego did a dance for us while paragliders whished and whooshed across the sunset....

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS Theater in San Diego is as varied as the jewels in a royal crown, each one offering its own unique light and sparkle. In five years of reflecting on the gems here, I’ve never seen a “faux stone.”  The talent pool is large and varied, the fare is a lively mix of drama, musicals and new experimental work, and – this is a critical element – the actors, musicians and crew are passionate.  It shows. Sunday’s matinee of “Man of LaMancha” at Cygnet Th

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTO By BRUCE KELLER It was not an AARP convention, but there were many grey heads and paunches aplenty at...