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Travel Stories, Cruise Reviews, and Cultural Adventures
Theater's Southern California comeback marks return to the boards
Celebrating a joyous return to live theater at San Diego Repertory Theater are, Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers, here before...
Christene Meyers
Oct 27, 20217 min read
Show time: Zoppe Italian Family Circus hits the mark in the Big Top
Acrobats and trapeze artists exhibit their prowess and daring in a jaw-dropping act. Zoppe Italian Family Circus is on tour in...
Christene Meyers
Oct 20, 20214 min read
New York's Little Island offers a creative, restful oasis in the busy city
Little Island is New York City's latest attraction, a brilliantly conceived "island" at Pier 55 in New York, the gift of two...
Christene Meyers
Aug 18, 20213 min read
Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga rock Radio City Music Hall in bravura birthday show
Tony Bennett sang to two packed houses Aug. 3 and 5, capping a two-night concert celebration of his 95th birthday, attended by Bill and...
Christene Meyers
Aug 3, 20214 min read
Oregon Cabaret Theatre: toasting a theatrical institution in Ashland
A lovingly restored 1911 church is home to Oregon Cabaret Theatre, a mainstay in Ashland, Oregon's cultural scene. After surviving the...
Christene Meyers
Apr 7, 20215 min read
Birthday bravo: Honoring Bruce Meyers' well lived life in the theater
Bruce Kemp Meyers celebrated life and shared his acting talents, despite chronic heart problems. Bruce Meyers played Daddy Warbucks in...
Christene Meyers
Mar 31, 20215 min read
Oscar's in Palm Springs for bawdy, brilliant drag shows
Big hair, tights and roller skates for artist Marina Mac, who brought the house down with a high-stepping performance on Oscar's balcony....
Christene Meyers
Mar 10, 20213 min read
Presidential inauguration's music, poetry enhance a historic day
Lady Gaga's moving rendition of the National Anthem set the tone for a day of musical celebration. Music highlighted the inauguration,...
Christene Meyers
Jan 20, 20214 min read
Helsinki hurrah: Finland's finest city boasts art, churches, water, sauna
Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers pay their respects to Jean Sibelius in Helsinki. LIVELY SCANDINAVIAN CITY IS FUN BECAUSE IT'S...
Christene Meyers
Aug 13, 20203 min read
Rasputin, royalty, opulence and intrigue: murder at Yusupov Palace
After a closure of nearly three months, Yusupov Palace is again open. Its opulent rooms and appointments reflect the grandeur of royalty...
Christene Meyers
Jun 25, 20205 min read
St. Petersburg: to Russia with love in a city of palaces, art, history
St. Petersburg's architecture reflects its glory days as a city in Imperial Russia. The Hermitage Museum is home to one of the world's...
Christene Meyers
Jun 18, 20205 min read
Estonia - Baltic treats abound with history, art in beautiful Tallin
Tallinn's Old Town is one of the best preserved of any city in the world. Tourism opens up there this week. A stunning 19th Century...
Christene Meyers
Jun 11, 20204 min read
Windmills - Finding beauty, peace, comfort as virus sends our world into a tailspin
The village of Zaanse Schaans on the banks of the Zaan river, features tidy houses, working windmills. If you've always wanted to visit...
Christene Meyers
Mar 19, 20203 min read
Oregon Shakespeare Festival: world class theater offers quality, variety in sublime setting
The 2020 season at Oregon Shakespeare Festival includes ten promising productions in three venues. Here, the Allen Elizabethan Theatre...
Christene Meyers
Mar 6, 20205 min read
Palm Springs idyll: nature, dining, music, theater, art, golf and more
Lovely hotels are part of the allure of Palm Springs, here the pool area of the Hilton Palm Springs in the heart of downtown. MORE LAID...
Christene Meyers
Feb 21, 20205 min read
A bus turned hotel means vintage fun for two children of the '60s
Bohemian Bus Beautiful represents a delightful retro-inspired alternative to traditional hotels and hostelries. CONVERTED BUS PROVIDES...
Christene Meyers
Feb 7, 20203 min read
Welk Theater's balm, calm, fun helps in best, worst times of our life
During a period of challenge, loss and tragedy, a fine production of "A Chorus Line" at Welk Theatre, buoys the spirits. This week's...
Christene Meyers
Jan 17, 20205 min read
It's beginning to sound a lot like Christmas as holiday shows debut
Soap star Eric Martsolf of "Days of Our Lives" soap fame headlines a zippy, pretty and nostalgic holiday show at Welk Resort Theatre,...
Christene Meyers
Nov 29, 20193 min read
Theater thrives as San Diego playhouses harvest autumn treasures
"Cambodian Rock Band" is like no other musical. The writers of this column saw it recently at Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The fine...
Christene Meyers
Oct 31, 20195 min read
Rijsttafel anyone? Dutch specialty nods to Indonesian connection
As artfully designed Blue Pepper opens for the evening, Cookie pauses with staff to survey the Amsterdam restaurant. Awaiting the first...
Christene Meyers
Oct 24, 20194 min read
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