Hershey Felder channels Beethoven via a father and son who knew him in Vienna in a glorious production at San Diego Repertory Theatre's Lyceum Theatre. The staging is glorious, the story moving and Felder plays many Beethoven pieces. From left, Jessica John, Richard Baird and Catalina Zelles in "Gabriel," a riveting North Coast Rep drama set on the island of Guernsey in World War II. Sold out houses and rave reviews have extended the run to March 24! - photo courtesy production director Christopher Williams MUSICALS OLD AND NEW, INTRIGUING DRAMA, AWARD WINNING MIX OF WORK PROVOKE, ENTERTAIN AMUSE AND BRING THE GENIUS BEETHOVEN BACK TO LIFE STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER and theater marketing/media departments IF YOU LOVE  theater and warm temperatures, that should be enough of a hook to draw you to San Diego for a week or even a few days. Feed the artistic soul, warm the heart and hands, chill out and maybe catch a whale watch tour. Cygnet Theatre in Old Town undertakes Tony Kushner's two-part epic, "Angels in America" opening March 6. In our dozen years of frequenting San Diego's many fine playhouses, this season offers one of the most varied and satisfying dockets we've experienced. Fabulous theater in a fabulous part of the world. Here are favorites from the region's bountiful playhouses. (Alphabetical order.): CYGNET THEATRE.  "Angels in America." Old Town. Ambitious two-part multi-award winner by the brilliant playwright Tony Kushner "a gay fantasia on national themes" focuses on two troubled couples, one gay, one straight -- and much more.  Redemption, forgiveness, salvation, politics, morality are all explored. March 6-April 20. Seven hours, two parts, running in repertory. "Pride and Prejudice" caps the always inventive Cygnet season.  cygnettheatre.com . Add Jeremy Wilson and Cashae Monya star in the intriguing "Hedwig and the  Angry Inch." DIVERSIONARY THEATER . "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." 4545 Park Blvd. Outcast turned rock underdog, "Hedwig'' took Off-Broadway by storm and Diversionary's inventive production promises "to catapult the audience into the outrageous original story." A sex-change operation goes wrong with both hilarious and horrifying results and a theme with both personal and universal breadth. March 15-April 15. diversionary.org Intrepid Theatre's plays unfold at the Lyceum downtown in Horton Plaza. INTREPID THEATRE COMPANY . At the Lyceum Theater downtown, Horton Plaza.  This top caliber organization pushes the envelope, explores a range of work both new and classic.  Intrepid plans an intriguing "lab" this spring to workshop and modernize its upcoming production of Shakespeare's "Titus Andronicus." Keep your eye on Intrepid, for its ambitious, eye-opening work such as a brilliantly acted "Art." After "Titus Andronicus," "Joe Turner’s Come and Gone" by August Wilson concludes the eighth season season.   intrepidtheatre.org Actress Jeanna de Waal, right, portrays Princess Diana in a new LJPH musical. La JOLLA PLAYHOUSE . "Diana." Mandell Weiss Theatre. A new beautifully staged musical in the state-of-the-art LJPH features Jeanna de Waal takes the title role in this world premiere musical with the Tony Award-winning Memphis team of Joe DiPietro writing book and lyrics and David Bryan collaborating with music and lyrics. Playhouse artistic director and 2017 Tony winner Christopher Ashley directs. Through April 14.   lajollaplayhouse.org "Chaps" promises a foot-stomping, energetic time at the theater in an adventuresome musical comedy at Lamb's. LAMB'S PLAYERS THEATRE.  "Chaps." Coronado. Prepare for another lively presentation laced with plenty of country tunes. The new Lamb's musical is described as "Monty Python meets the Wild West." It's set in WWII during a live BBC Broadcast from London. The storyline: a studio crew must act fast to fill in when Tex Riley's Singing Cowboys are late. March 5- April 14. Lambsplayers.org MOXIE THEATRE: "Hookman Mar. 15 – Mar. 24. Fresh. Imaginative. Irreverent. That describes Moxie's quality work. "Hookman" features a homesick college freshman girl with a weird roommate while a hook-handed serial killer is about. Billed as "an existential slasher comedy" it promises bloody humor. moxietheatre.com "Smokey Joe's Cafe" offers a spirited revue of blues and rock 'n' roll hits. NEW VILLAGE ARTS.  "Smokey Joe's Cafe." Through March 10.Carlsbad. High-energy tune-filled musical revue with 39 block-busting rock 'n roll and blues songs, ably acted by a winning cast of nine singers-dancers-actors and a terrific five-piece band. in favorites from the '50s and '60s.. "Servant of Two Masters" and "Little Shop of Horrors" follow."  newvillagearts.org North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach offers an enticing mix of quality work in a small, welcoming venue. NORTH COAST Repertory Theater . "Gabriel." Solana Beach.  Through March 24. Intriguing, beautifully acted story set in World War II, directed by Christopher Williams. A stranger appears, changing the dynamic in the Nazi occupied island of Guernsey in the Channel Islands. "All in the Timing," a lively satire directed by David Ellenstein and the Tony winning "A Walk in the Woods" follow.   northcoastrep.org SAN DIEGO REPERTORY THEATER.  "Hershey Felder's Beethoven." Downtown. Lyceum Theatre in Horton Plaza. Brilliant production by pianist-actor-writer Felder, whose Chopin, Liszt and Bernstein are stunning, too. Through March 24. sdrep.org Jeffrey Scott Parsons is the lead in "Crazy for You" ending a successful run this weekend, here with the tapping ensemble. SAN DIEGO MUSICAL THEATER .  "Crazy for You." Horton Grand Theatre. High energy Gershwin musical stylishly directed by Kirsten Chandler with engaging tunes, bravura vocals, a crack orchestra, snappy dancing and splendid costumes. Followed by "Freaky Friday March 22-31 and "Sister Act" April 26-May 26. Final weekend for "Crazy...." Through March 3. sdmt.org WELK RESORT Theater : "Menopause the Musical" follows a smashing "Mamma Mia" run. Features four sassy women at a lingerie sale, singing their way through hot flashes, night sweats, sex problems, memory loss and more. Hit parody set to classics from the '60s to '80s.March 15-June 2. welkresorts.com/san-diego/theatre/ Norwegian Cruise Line's Spirit took our veteran travelers around southern Europe and into the Greek Isles and, here, Valletta, Malta. UP NEXT:  Come with us to as we rediscover the pleasures of Norwegian Cruise Line, which we chose for our 115th cruise recently, touring the Greek Isles, with stops in Malta and Italy. What makes NCL special for veteran cruisers?  We'll give you reasons to try the line if you're new to cruising or have many happy cruises under your belt. We'll look at the dining options (including abundant tables for two and flexible times) and we'll consider the ports of call and well organized tours as part of the lure. Meanwhile, remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekends for a fresh look at travel, the arts, nature, family and off-beat fun.

Cygnet's final holiday show in its longtime venue in Old Town features a spirited production with a genuine heart, the classic "A Christmas Carol" featuring the gifted Sean Murray as Scrooge. HOLIDAY JOY ABOUNDS AS SAN DIEGO TIPS ITS THEATRICAL HAT TO THE YULE STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER (and courtesy theater marketing departments) UNLESS YOU'RE a real Grinch, you'll find something to tickle your funny bone with a raft of rousing productions on the boards now playing in the San Diego area. This theater loving corner of the state is recovering from COVID's blow which left houses dark, stages bare and seats empty. We're among happy legions celebrating live theater's rousing comeback. Jefferson McDonald and Mathew McGloin delight for a holiday encore of  "2 Pianos, 4 Hands" at North Coast Repertory Theatre. We visit 15 San Diego theaters on a regular basis, proud that the city is blessed to have many enchanting theater venues. As grateful members of the audience we give thanks for talented actors, directors, designers, marketing pros and volunteers whose patient persistence keeps us in the limelight. Happily, we offer our annual holiday roundup of "the best on the boards" in theater loving San Diego. NORTH COAST REPERTORY THEATRE:  After an imaginative sell-out performance of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," the popular "2 Pianos, 4 Hands" returns to delight holiday crowds Dec. 15-31. It's a fast-paced blend of comedy and virtuosic musicianship, with two accomplished actor-musicians presenting personal anecdotes, music snippets and bits of musical history. The intimate house offers excellent seating and a pleasing mix ranging from musicals to world premier dramas, comedies and classics.  The steady, creative hand of artistic director David Ellenstein crafts a season that satisfies older patrons while drawing new younger crowds.  He gives imagination a whirl with a lively blend of familiar comforts and new challenging work.  northcoastrep.org    Cygnet's charismatic artistic director Sean Murray, in night cap, stars in a spirited "A Christmas Carol." CYGNET THEATRE.   Capping a rousing, beautifully acted run of "The Little Fellow....." a risqué comedy about a flamboyant madam, Cygnet Theatre in Old Town presents its popular holiday show through Dec. 26.  Cygnet's engaging  "A Christmas Carol," features artistic director Sean Murray's clever adaptation with the versatile Murray himself perfect as Scrooge. A fine 7-person ensemble puts magic, music and imagination in this beautifully rendered adaptation. As Cygnet wraps its tenure in Old Town, it prepares for its new, renovated home at the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Performing Arts Center at Liberty Station.  Cygnet is also sponsoring a one-woman show featuring the music of the legendary Billie Holiday. "Lady Day" at Emerson’s Bar & Grill recounts Holiday’s life story through the songs that made her famous.  www.cygnettheatre.com Gifted actor Bryan Banville plays the lead role of Buddy in ''Elf,'' at Welk Resort Theatre. A terrific cast, endearing songs, spirited dancing and fast paced scenes are sure to enhance the Christmas spirit. THEATRE AT THE WELK.  The beautifully designed theater, at 8860 Lawrence Welk Drive in Escondido, presents a delightfully uplifting production of "Elf, the Musical." A comedy with soul, it's based on the children’s book and hit Will Ferrell movie about a human boy, Buddy,  raised as a Christmas elf at the North Pole.  A polished cast plays multiple roles as Buddy returns to New York City to find his human family and restore the spirit of Christmas to the jaded Big Apple. Award-winning San Diego actor Bryan Banville plays the lead role of Buddy with tenderness, vulnerability and a voice to melt even the heart of a scrooge. Flashy choreography, multiple costume changes and a first-rate ensemble make this fabulous holiday entertainment for kids of all ages.  Nov. 18-Dec. 24.  welkresorts.com Girl singers with flair and beautiful harmonies from the "R*E*S*P*EPC*T" sell-out join guys from "The Million Dollar Quartet" in a holiday extravaganza at Lamb's. LAMB'S PLAYERS THEATRE:  Following a brilliantly acted "Jane" -- a riveting, flawlessly delivered take on Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre " -- Lamb's Players presents a polished and tuneful show with favorite top-drawer singers.  "R*E*S*P*E*C*T*F*U*L*L*Y Christmas," runs through Dec. 24. It's a lively vocal creation featuring casts of both "RESPECT" and "Million Dollar Quartet" with a nod to holiday favorites. If you saw either of these first-rate productions at Lamb's, you're in for a musical treat as these tuned up guys and gals collaborate for the holidays.   lambsplayers.org The Plaids present a jazzy holiday treat at San Diego Musical Theatre SAN DIEGO MUSICAL THEATRE:   Harmony reigns in a holiday edition of the popular doo-wop musical comedy “Forever Plaid.” In this Yuletide version, the long-dead 1960s-era men’s vocal quartet, the Plaids, are resurrected for one night to give the holiday concert they never were able to sing in life. Runs through Dec. 24 The theater presents an admirable mix of musicals, including "In the Heights," which introduced Lin-Manuel Miranda to the world, and the perennial favorite, "Little Shop of Horrors."  SDMT's lively "Forever Plaid " closes the 2022 season. The popular grassroots enterprise made its name with romantic comedy and favorite musical theater offerings thanks to musical-loving founders Gary and Erin Lewis who launched the endeavor in 2006. It has a loyal following for its varied repertoire.  sdmt.org   Taking a bow, the ensemble of "1222 Oceanfront: A Black Family Christmas" at New Village Arts. NEW VILLAGE ARTS .  This delightful 99-seat theater in Carlsbad headlines its 20th anniversary season with "1222 Oceanfront:  A Black Family Christmas," through Dec. 24. San Diego playwright Dea Hurston’s 2021 lively contemporary holiday musical features fun original music by Milena (Sellers) Phillips, who also stars in the show’s lead role. It’s the story of widowed family matriarch Dorothy Black, hosting a Christmas Eve celebration at her elegant beachside home with her adult son and extended family when unexpected family drama erupts. The musical delivers a joyous mix of original holiday songs with a modern nod to traditional carols.  The ambitious Carlsbad venue produces year-round musical events, cabaret and concert readings of Broadway musicals.    newvillagearts.org Diversionary Theatre has a new look, and a slate of four intriguing works with LGBTQ themes. Here, the cast of "A Glass Menagerie," a top production with four fine actors. DIVERSIONARY THEATRE . The current season at our nation's third oldest LGBTQ theater includes "The Glass Menagerie," the Tennessee Williams classic of a complex family in the 1940s, facing an uncertain future. Lisa Berger deftly directs a first-rate cast featuring Shana Wride, believably endearing in her excess as Amanda, the overbearing mother. Luke Jacobs does a fine job with Williams' poetic narration. The theater is devoted to gay themes and playwrights, including Williams. Diversionary is a small, mind-challenging venue which opened season 36 in its recently renovated space, including a cozy cabaret. Diversionary's enterprising playbill espouses love, honesty, humor and hope with a  mission to inspire and celebrate diverse LGBTQIA stories.     diversionary.org "Man and Moon" caught the eye of critics and subscribers alike. MOXIE THEATRE:  Watch this ground-breaking company,  known for its generosity to students, and for its diverse repertoire of "female focused" work. Some of the region's best actors have graced Moxie's stage where each season presents surprises and delights. "Man and Moon" just wrapped, featuring the touching story of a transitioning man, Aaron, and Luna, a young girl with a passion for outer space. Watch for more imaginative Moxie works on tap.  moxietheatre.com ROUSTABOUTS THEATRE CO .: This talented, daring company  features some of San Diego's finest actors and has produced a range of funny, touching and acerbic pieces.  Now, enter an ambitious youth program. The Roustabouts Youth Division presents a concert reading of "Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," the Tony winning musical which follows the biblical story of Jacob's favorite son, Joseph, and his eleven brothers. Joseph is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and is imprisoned by an Egyptian noble before a resolution. Actor Phil Johnson co-directs (company co-founder, brilliant in "A Jewish Joke") with a talented local cast. The readings are Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Scripps Ranch Theatre.    theroustabouts.org Scripps Ranch Theatre presents lively, evocative work with humor and heart, here "A Christmas Carol: A Radio Play." It's not on this holiday, but look for it. SCRIPPS RANCH THEATRE . Creative use of space on the campus of Alliant International University provides a welcoming forum for an interesting, diverse season.  In past years, Scripps celebrated the holidays with Scripps Ranch Theatre and Oceanside Theatre Company’s “A Christmas Carol: A Radio Play.” Watch for an encore of the radio play about the story of the Christmas-hating Ebenezer Scrooge and his epiphany. Highlights of the upcoming, ambitious season are "Chapatti," a touching story of romance set in Dublin, and "Vanity Fair," adapted from the W.M. Thackeray novel. We hope for a return to the holiday show in 2024.   scrippsranchtheatre.org   The classic Dr. Seuss story of the cranky Grinch is at Old Globe. OLD GLOBE:  Celebrate the holidays as the Old Globe Theatre is once again transformed into a charming, snow-covered Who-ville. The popular family show is in its 20th year, "Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" is a whimsical musical based upon the classic book. It's up through Dec. 24. featuring memorable songs including “This Time of Year,” “Santa for a Day,” and “Fah Who Doraze,” the delightful carol from the animated classic. theoldglobe.org                         Actor Matthew Broderick rehearses a scene from "Babbitt," which is playing to raves for its elegance. Through Dec. 10, La Jolla Playhouse limited run.  La JOLLA PLAYHOUSE . Carrying on this venerable, top drawer theater's dedication to the unique, La Jolla Playhouse has unveiled its 2024/2025 season, featuring a world-premiere musical, "The Ballad of Johnny and June." And while it's not exactly a holiday show, "Babbitt" offers a thinking person's alternative to the usual lighter yuletide entertainment with Broadway star Matthew Broderick starring in "Babbitt." Christopher Ashley directs the story of a 46- year-old real estate broker in mid-life angst. The Sinclair Lewis novel is adapted for the stage in this already sold-out production, extended through Dec. 10 with a wait list for tickets.   lajollaplayhouse.org WITH THIS BOUNTY,  the holidays are in full flower as theaters march on after a few complicated years. A bang-up, eagerly anticipated holiday theater season begins!  As the lively arts emerge from the shadow cast by COVID, it is important to support local theater, symphonies, chorales, bands and buskers. And remember that a pair or two of tickets to a play or musical makes an excellent holiday gift -- wherever you live. Honolulu's City Lights tour offers a hop on and off option. UP NEXT: While we're in the holiday spirit, take a ride with us on Honolulu's  much loved Waikiki Trolley. Climb aboard for a festive holiday lights tour aboard the trolley.   You'll see highlights of the downtown  area, with a special will take you through the city's historic downtown where you can hop on and off. Remember to explore, learn and live!

Children's pools, playgrounds, rowing ponds for all ages, beautifully kept greens greet the eye at Central Park East. A calming stroll along the perimeter of Central Park is a must. PARKS APLENTY: NEW YORKERS LOVE TO PLAY, READ, RELAX, EAT, SPEND TIME IN THEIR PARKS STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER A summer day is enjoyed by these two folks, sunning and enjoying a bite of lunch in Bryant Park's gardens. PARKS ARE at a premium in the middle of large, congested cities. No one loves their parks more than New Yorkers, those fast-talking subway travelers. They live at a frenetic pace, these taxi honking, gesturing folks who eat, play, relax, take the sun, play cards or chess, people-watch, unwind and even nap in their beloved parks. New York City has more than 1,700 parks, playgrounds, and recreation facilities across the five boroughs. They are well used by the city's 8.3 million residents and 63 million annual visitors. NEW YORK's park properties range from swimming pools to wetlands and from woodlands to skating rinks. Free concerts continue through the summer in Central Park. One of our favorites -- and millions of others -- is Central Park, that magical 843-acre green space featuring rolling meadows, peaceful bodies of water, concert areas, food trucks and a famous restaurant. In 1857, landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and architect/landscape designer Calvert Vaux won a design competition to construct thepark with a plan they titled the "Greensward Plan". Construction began the same year, and the park's first areas were opened to the public in late 1858.MUCH SMALLER but equally lovely Bryant Park in Midtown, is a 9.603-acre privately managed public park. It sits between Fifth and Sixth Avenues and 40th and 42nd Streets in Midtown Manhattan. So you'll find a mix of businessmen and women, tourists and patrons of the nearby Main Branch of the New York Public Library. Sound equipment is readied for a concert, while a few folks are taking their seats early in Bryant Park. Both parks have a lively performance schedule. Bryant's "borrow a blanket, grab some food" offerings feature NYC's acclaimed Drilling Company. We saw "Hamlet" there; "Othello" runs Aug. 30-Sept. 7 on various days. Accordion masters perform a wide range of styles this summer, along with five free Carnegie Hall concerts and three New York City Opera hour-long cuttings of "La Boheme," "Carmen" and a Pride Concert celebrating New York's diversity. CENTRAL PARK'S equally popular Summer Stage Series is an outdoor festival of the arts held each year at Rumsey Playfield. Performances are mostly free, except for a few big-name benefit concerts that help fund Summer Stage programming. Shakespeare comes to Bryant Park (here) and Central Park as well. We always stop at Central Park's Strawberry Fields, a wonderful living memorial to the world-famous singer John Lennon. Financed and dedicated by his widow, Yoko Ono, it movingly celebrates the life of the songwriter and peace activist, best known as singer and composer with the Beatles. Every time we've wandered through, we've heard someone playing the guitar. Strawberry Fields invokes tourists and New Yorkers to "Imagine" a better world, as John Lennon asked. People pause, reflect and often leave a flower or note in this touching, beautiful place. Both parks have wonderful, user friendly websites with maps, events and more: centralparknyc.org; bryantpark.org The AKC Museum of the Dog is a barking good treat in NYC. UP NEXT: With a wealth of museums to pick from, we write about several a year. This time we returned to several of our favorites and a new kid on the block. We paid a visit to a museum designed to honor and pay homage to man's best friend. The AKC Museum of the Dog is a unique, one of a kind museum with paintings, photos, videos, games, sculpture and more devoted to every manner of canine. Among other features, a self-portrait dog match machine takes your portrait photo and matches you to a lifetime dog. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us Fridays for a new look at travel, the arts, nature, pets, family and more at www.whereiscookie.com

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 BACK THAN L.A., MORE SOPHISTICATED THAN LAS VEGAS, PALM SPRINGS OFFERS CLASS, CALM, ART, NIGHT LIFE, BEAUTY The signature big horn sheep welcomes people to Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTO By BRUCE KELLER A STROLL through downtown Palm Springs, California, is a nod to the dozens of famous folks who lived in the area. Here they are remembered today -- embedded in the sidewalks of this glitzy desert town, whose official beginning is dated at 1876, when the Agua Caliente Reservation was established. The Cahuilla people lived here centuries before, and gave the town its name, "Se-Khi," or boiling water. Elvis Presley's home is one you'll stop by on our favorite tour, Viator's 2.5 hour Palm Springs Celebrity Tour. Take a trip to Palm Springs, which boomed because of Hollywood. Downtown Palm Springs is lively and sophisticated, not as noisy as Las Vegas and less frantic than L.A. Tucked into a lovely corner of the Sonoran Desert, Palm Springs is known across the world for its stylish hotels, beautiful golf courses and top rated spas and nightlife. It is also noted for many fine examples of midcentury-modern architecture, shopping compared to Beverly Hills, golf on perfectly manicured greens, vintage boutiques, lively theater and acclaimed restaurants. Its casinos are friendly, the eateries have a gracious "old world" feel, and if you're drawn to nature, you can soak up the beauty of the surrounding Coachella Valley. There, hiking, biking and horseback riding await. Fantastic female impersonators offer a top-drawer show at Oscar's. Here, "Lady Gaga" as performed by Judas Joe Manson, one of four fabulous actors. WE VISIT frequently, from our San Diego base, just two-plus hours from home through a lovely desert terrain (one can avoid the freeway for most of the journey.) We find Palm Springs more sophisticated than Las Vegas, with an enticing variety of entertainment from fine live theater to excellent live music and a stunning female impersonators' revue at Oscar's featuring fabulous impressions of Barbra Streisand, Judy Garland, Bette Midler, Liza Minnelli and Lady Gaga. Director Dan Gore has assembled 150 years of experience in his crack cast headed by genial emcee Tommi Rose, with veterans Logan Walker and Brent Allen and newcomer Judas Joe Manson giving spot-on performances as the ladies. Oscar's is a classy cabaret every bit the equal of its Vegas counterparts. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway takes you to the top, for a thrilling view; there might still be snow on the mountains. The draw of the town can't be denied. It's intoxicating. It's easy to relax beneath the mountains, sipping a coffee or wine around the pool or from your balcony at the lovely Hilton Palm Springs, a pleasant walking distance to shops, restaurants, clubs and casinos. PALM SPRINGS is more laid back and sunnier than Los Angeles. In more than a dozen visits, we've never had bad weather. Balmy 70-degree winter temperatures are the rule and for us San Diegans, it's half the distance of Las Vegas, with its much less dependable weather. Check out Viator for various fun tours in the area. Don't miss the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, up, up, up to the still snowy mountain top where you'll mingle with sun and scenery seekers from around the globe. We noted license plates from New England, the Midwest and Canada in the Hilton and Tramway parking lot. The blend of city excitement with the beauty of the natural environment makes an intoxicating lure. And who doesn't enjoy 70 degree weather, when half of the country is still swathed in snow. Christene "Cookie" Meyers, Bruce Keller enjoy a desert hike. WE LOVE the variety of a Palm Springs day. On one Saturday, we enjoyed a lovely nature walk in Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, took a splendid docent tour at the beautiful Palm Springs Art Museum and enjoyed a show at Oscar's. Dining options abound. Our favorites are Eight 4 Nine Restaurant and Lounge with continental flair, and Sammy G's Tuscan Grill, also excellent. Both offer fine, precise, personalized service. Fan palms are native to Palm Springs. Here, on a hike at Agua Caliente. Walking around town, the tourist sees thousands of palm trees, most not native to this part of the world. The lovely California fan palm is native, though. To experience the region's original landscape -- before 100-plus golf courses and manicured resort lawns, drive 10 short minutes west to the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation (means hot water). Take the delightful hike from the Trading Post to see the world's largest oasis of native fan palms. They cluster near the oasis because of the enormous amounts of water they demand. Fun celebrity home tour PALM TREES are part of the romance of Palm Springs, though, and movie stars planted hundreds around their homes when Hollywood discovered the balm of Palm Springs. The stars came because studios insisted they be no more than began "reasonable driving distance" from Hollywood -- about 140 miles in the 1940s. Many of the stars lived in studio-built cottages, many still existing in the "Movie Colony," whose streets are marked. Theater in a small welcoming venue at the Palm Canyon Theatre, which recently ended a run of "Camelot." "Pajama Game" is on now with a run through March 15. Dozens of sidewalk stars honor the famous folks who lived in Palm Springs, from U.S. Presidents to actors. "Golden Palm Stars" are embedded in the city's main streets and it's fun to walk downtown and admire them -- a lively mix of the rich and famous -- movie stars, literary figures, TV personalities, diplomats, civic leaders, philanthropists, artists and U.S. Presidents with ties to the town and region. Nixon, Ford and Reagan all built homes here. The 2.5 hour Celebrity Tour through Viator/Trip Advisor, will take you past the homes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Cary Grant, Jack Benny, Marilyn Monroe and even Albert Einstein. We leave a piece of our hearts on Palm Springs each visit, hoping we'll return. pschamber.org; pstramway.com; oscarspalmsprings.com; viator.com/tours/Palm-Springs; palmcanyontheatre.org; eight4nine.com/ A diverse permanent collection, including works by world-class sculptors and painters awaits, with an impressive variety of murals, paintings and changing exhibits. Next week, we visit Palm Springs Art Museum. UP NEXT: Come with us to explore the Palm Springs Art Museum, a treasure trove of world class art and sculpture. Then 150,000 square foot museum houses a diverse permanent collection, with innovative changing exhibitions and excellent docent-led tours to enhance your visit. We'll take you along to visit this world class museum with a lovely bistro and two outdoor sculpture gardens as well. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh look at art, nature, theater, family, travel and more: www.whereiscookie.com.

Gratitude comes in family size for Christene "Cookie" Meyers, in center, surrounded by her clan of siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews, adopted family and the next generation. GATHER TOGETHER, ROLL MERRILY ALONG, COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS, BE GRATEFUL FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY Editor's Note: Our annual Thanksgiving essay is dedicated to our American friends and family and extended clan and pals abroad who celebrate their thanks on other days. Cookie and Grandpa Gus on Thanksgiving Day, 1950. (Gus is amused at Cookie's attempt to open a bottle of Coke with bare hands.) STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER (and from family archives) From Stephen Sondheim's "Merrily We Roll Along, in revival at Hudson Theatre, New York City, a story about friendship, change, loyalty, loss and gratitude. The three characters are a composer, playwright and theater critic. Yesterday is done, See the pretty countryside Merrily we roll along, roll along, Bursting with dreams...Traveling’s the fun, Flashing by the countryside Everybody merrily, merrily, Catching at dreams WE SANG "Over the River and Through the Woods" years ago, to please our grandmother Olive who taught us the melody and lyrics. Today I'm humming Sondheim, whose musical, "Merrily We Roll Along," I saw during its short original run in 1981 and recently in a splendid revival. Perhaps it was ahead of its time, as director Hal Prince said 40 years ago. Now it is receiving raves and I know why. It's a story about love and enduring friendship. We need friends and family now more than ever, so celebrate them and let them know. We give thanks for our family, gathered to celebrate at our late summer wedding. I think of Gran Olive and the lessons she passed on. Thanksgiving came on the heels of her Nov. 19 birthday, so it was an extension of that -- a bonus time to play music, Scrabble, cribbage and pinochle, to visit, cook together, gossip and feast. Thanksgiving aboard Celebrity Century, with niece Amarylla, mum Ellen, sister Robbie, and Cookie. Friends were invited -- "strays," as gran called them. That included the Catholic priest, widowed neighbors, a favorite teacher -- divorced and alone -- and later college and newspaper friends whose families lived on the other side of the country. Gran's turkey wiggle recipe Cookie entertains on cruise ships, often during the Thanksgiving holidays. MY GRANDPARENTS lived next door, so we didn't have far to go -- not "over the river" or "through the wood" but "down the steps and across the grass," our revised lyric. We were lucky to grow up with grandpa rents. Having two homes was a luxury and our grandparents' plant and antique-filled house was safe haven from the tumult of our own hectic digs. But there was joy in the chaos of our home, and I miss the holiday activity -- rehearsing in the music room for our traditional after-dinner concert, the wallop of ping pong paddles and balls in the garage game room, the milkman's faithful trudge up the back steps bringing beverages, cheeses and butter right into the kitchen. I remember the reassuring slap of the morning paper against the front door, cats jumping on our beds to awaken us, dogs bringing their favorite fetch toys, fish to feed, plants to water, phone calls from those who couldn't make it. Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers in 2007, celebrating Thanksgiving at a Cuban restaurant. One of Gran's beautiful tables. OUR PARENTS would chat and tease, making appetizers and drinks for their open house. Next door, Grandpa Gus whistled "Red River Valley" while helping gran Olive stuff and tie the bird. We relished that alluring smell of turkey roasting, pumpkin pies baking, her famous mincemeat cookies cooling. I was in charge of setting several tables in the dining room, living room and kitchen-- two or three small ones for the kids. Granddad carved after sharpening his knife on a slick black stone. Then, a weekend of leisurely prepared leftovers, including gran's famous "Turkey Wiggle." Everyone raided the frig for sandwiches -- turkey, cranberry, mayonnaise, lettuce, cheese, stuffing, sweet potatoes and pear chutney. Tupperware with green and black olives, radishes, dill pickles, cucumber chips. IT ALL SEEMS very Norman Rockwell, a "Father Knows Best" recollection. Naturally, our lives were more complex than that. There were arguments, losses, At left, Thanksgiving for Keller and Cookie is usually on the road, here in the Bellagio, on the Las Vegas strip. disappointments, illness, sorrow. As I grew older, married and embarked on my newspaper career, there were more empty chairs at the family's home table. The loss of two husbands, three siblings, parents and grandparents has changed my holidays. For Keller and me, Thanksgiving means a trip somewhere. Siblings and friends are scattered across the U.S., so as our Thanksgivings split into smaller groups, not one massive gathering as in days of yore, we hit the road. THIS THANKSGIVING, we're exploring in Kauai. We'll soon be relaxing with my Georgia sister and brother-in-law, meeting a pair of great nephews, enjoying our southern family. I'm thankful for memories -- corny, sentimental, glorified by time, knighted by my affection for those departed and still on Earth. Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers, thankful for theater. SO LET US CELEBRATE friendships and family, those old and deep bonds with people we may not see or talk to except on holidays but hold dear in our hearts and memories. We're thankful to be fit enough to exercise, walk, travel, explore the world. We're thankful for our recent honeymoon to Europe, and the hope that we have many traveling years ahead. NOW, BOTH Keller and I are orphans, the senior members of our families -- his small one and my giant, scattered clan. We miss our elders and sometimes don't feel ready for our positions. This photo is from Thanksgiving 2021: We'll be back in Atlanta soon to celebrate with David and Misha Minesinger, Georgia based sister and brother-in-law. Our friends feel the same -- all miss their families and carry sentimental memories of Thanksgiving Day. Although I've not been a regular church goer for decades, I always play this wonderful old Dutch hymn on the nearest piano -- whether on a ship, or a host's home Thanksgiving on the Napali Coast, 2022. Give thanks for the beauty of nature. We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing He chastens and hastens His will to make known; The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing; Sing praises to His Name; He forgets not His own. FOR ALL our blessings, I am thankful: health, travel, music, nature, friends, family. In my heart, I have Thanksgiving 365 days a year. Richmond's Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond, Yorkshire, is England's longest running theater, dating to 1899, with a few years of silence during the war and when the building served other purposes. It is beautifully restored and a grand, popular venue. UP NEXT: Richmond's Theatre Royal is the oldest still operational theater in England, a charming, small venue where regular performances and concerts are held as they have been since 1899. Known officially as the Georgian Theatre Royal, it opened with "As You Like It" and continues to offer classical works, concerts and a variety of productions including a recent sold-out presentation of "The Buddy Holly Story." We sat for a few minutes in the "Royal Box" where we admired the stage and house of the country's oldest working theatre in its original form. It is both a thriving community playhouse and a living theater museum. Remember to explore, learn, live!

The Allen Elizabethan Theatre features a classical setting for three plays each season at Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Three theaters offer a dozen plays for the 2019 season, a far-reaching variety from "Macbeth" to "Hairspray." ASHLAND, OREGON FEATURES WORLD CLASS FESTIVAL, CABARET, FINE HOTELS, LOVELY PARK STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER The Allen Elizabethan Theater will feature "Macbeth" while the Thomas Theatre features "How to Catch Creation." View from a suite at Ashland Hills Hotel, a beautiful way to preface or follow a play. Rogue Valley surroundings are peaceful and picturesque. SEEING TEN PLAYS in a week can be a downright dizzying experience. But it's energizing, intriguing, and fun. Ashland, Oregon's world famous Oregon Shakespeare Festival brings out the theater buff in even the unwashed. But for lifelong devotees, the festival offers a stimulating banquet of delights. For me, the festival represents a half-century plus of family trips to Ashland, to immerse ourselves in world class theater in a setting dear to our collective heart. THANKS TO an enterprising visionary, Scotsman Angus Bowmer, we frequent the festival in an arts-friendly, walkable town. Bowmer lived in the Rogue Valley long before World War II, championing theater and building interest in a small offering of plays. Through his persistence and clever promotion, his 1934 dream became a flourishing festival. Thank the drama gods that clever Bowmer devised a way for the town's popular boxing matches to fund his deeper passion, theater. Today his name graces one The Bowmer Theater lobby readies for a performance. of the festival's three very different venues. The Allen Elizabethan Theatre and Thomas Theatre are the other two venues. Ashland relies on theater to keep its impressive number of shops and restaurants afloat. BELOVED LITHIA Park near the complex welcomes strollers, who find high-quality buskers entertaining and beautiful birds, trees and water to enjoy. A quality pair of sister hotels leads the parade of fine places to stay: the historic and beautifully appointed Ashland Springs Hotel downtown, and the pretty Ashland Hills Hotel and Suites, a quick mile from the center of the action in a beautiful hillside setting. Strollers in Lithia Park pause to enjoy Bach played by a world class cellist, one of many treats in Ashland. The festival's first production, the bard's "Twelfth Night," has been performed many times and Bowmer's shoestring enterprise now boasts a budget of more than $40 million. The festival enhances the state's economy, last year contributing more than $128 million. Our family is part of the 88 per cent of theater goers who travel more than 125 miles to attend the Festival. We've chatted in the Bowmer, beneath a portrait of the founder, with friends from our two favorite hotels. Fellow guests come from as far away as England and Canada, and many U.S. states to the Tony-winning festival. AND WHILE Shakespeare is still offered -- this season a brilliant "Othello" and "Henry V" -- there are stimulating new plays, and fresh takes on old favorites for 798 performances. This year, we enjoyed a spirited, gay version of "Oklahoma" -- the romances featured two same-sex pairs. Known for its daring casting, OSF's "Oklahoma" featured two same-sex couples. Here Curly talks to Aunt Ellen --photo courtesy OSF Luna is a relaxing place to unwind for a bite at Ashland Hills Hotel, with tasty food, pleasant environment. Curly was a woman and Ado Annie was a guy, Ado Andy. OSF thinks outside the box, pushes the envelope in gender-bending ways, expanding possibilities with interesting ethnic casting and a rejection of cliches and party-line interpretations. Next season's line-up will offer the Broadway hit "Hairspray" for its musical, and "Macbeth" will be presented in the outdoor theater, along with "All's Well That Ends Well" and a musical "Alice in Wonderland." Cookie enjoys a sip of water from an iconic fountain in the center of Ashland. The water is supposed to be healthy, full of minerals. A DARING, inventive recent play, "Indecent," which we saw in its world premier at the La Jolla Playhouse, runs in the Bowmer along with "Between Two Knees" in the Thomas. "As You Like It" plays the Bowmer, too." Something old, something new, that's OSF. Backstage tours, lectures, forums, and a popular Green Show enhance. Oregon Cabaret Theatre offers a pleasant addition to the theater scene in Ashland. For more than three decades, the Cabaret has offered first-rate dinner theater. Shakespeare one afternoon, a classic drama that evening. Musical theater the next afternoon. A new, cutting edge play at night, a bite to eat, a rest, another play or two. Members have a beautiful lounge in which to relax and enjoy a beverage and snack. Memberships are as little as $35, a wonderful way to support this imaginative endeavor. DINNER THEATER is alive and well in Ashland, too. Oregon Cabaret Theater entertains in an historic, welcoming setting -- with a fine menu and famous desserts. This picturesque little town of Ashland has a thriving dinner theater, one of the country's most successful. And it performs on Monday when OSF is dark. Steps from the Festival in a beautifully converted church, the Cabaret personifies Ashland's blend of sophistication and appeal. We have been devotees of the Cabaret as long as we've been coming to the Shakespeare Festival. It never fails to entertain, and the food is delightful. This year's "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" featured a tasty French inspired menu. The holiday show looks wonderful and the run has just been extended. The cabaret -- like Ashland itself -- satisfies both town and gown tastes, delighting all the senses. osfashland.org.; theoregoncabaret.com; ashlandhillshotel.com; ashlandspringshotel.com Cookie, right in the red plaid, and her niece, Amarylla, with her two youngsters, James and Peny, enjoy Filoli. UP NEXT: Filoli is decked out for the holidays. The extraordinary country house south of San Francisco is set in 16 acres of formal gardens on the eastern slope of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The house is celebrating the season with color and light and a fresh new take on holiday decor in every room. The spectacular gardens are open during this magical time with special holiday touches by day and elegant lighting in the evening. Find out who owned this magnificent estate and how a visit has become such a popular tradition for thousands in the Bay Area and beyond. Artisan markets and entertainment, delightful food and even horses make an outing a family friendly event. Nest Café. Meanwhile, remember to explore, learn and live and catch us Fridays for a fresh look at travel, the arts, nature, family and living outside the box.

When the hotel siren sings seductive songs, answer the call and book yourself in! Las Vegas has some of the world's top hotels, and the Strip is home to many of them. Our travelers like hotels that reflect their cities. Here, gaudy glitter appeals -- as shown by New York New York's mimicking skyline. Today, we begin a three-part look at some of our favorite hotels, highlighting a few of the world's top ranked properties, and why they appeal. The series continues with our next two posts. Remember to explore, learn and live, and visit us Wednesdays and Saturdays at: www.whereiscookie.com STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER I LOVE a grand hotel. Give me a room with a view, a comfy king bed, tasteful decor with eye-catching art and 24-hour room service. Slippers, a robe, deep bathtub, wine chilling and I'm in heaven. The Spanish Steps in Rome drew our travelers to the Hassler. My love affair with fine hotels began as a teen when my grandmother invited me to spend the night at the Northern Hotel in Billings. I remember plush red velvet curtains in the dining room -- giving it the look of a bordello (although I didn't know what bordellos were in those days). The ambiance was romantic and although I was too young to appreciate that aspect of grand hotels, I drank it in. Couples danced to jazz in the bar where we had a drink -- cokes for me and my sister, bourbon for Gran. An organist played tango music in the lobby as we entered the elevator and as we stepped into the suite, we delighted in fresh flowers, a huge bathroom, separate sitting area and chocolates on the pillow. MY GRANDPARENTS were regulars at the hotel and the manager made certain we were upgraded. The sleek Altis Belem in Lisbon is a stylish, contemporary hotel within walking distance to the Belem Tower, a Lisbon landmark. A welcoming outdoor cafe beckons guests to drink in the waterfront air. So there we three were, perusing the room service menu in the Northern, having a slumber party in our robes. Gran, my sister Peny and I ordered French dip sandwiches, shrimp cocktail, fruit platters and creme brule. We watched TV until midnight -- "Seventy-Seven Sunset Strip" -- and nibbled on our room service. After a day of music lessons and a matinee (it was "Psycho," and the infamous Bates Motel bore no resemblance to our palatial digs in the Northern) we lazed about. THAT WAS in the early 1960s, and in the 50 years since then, I've developed a "10 Best Hotels." My ranking system is purely personal and entirely subjective. I consider my initial impression and the treatment we receive at registration. I consider my first impression of the hotel's design -- is the art tasteful and calming. Does the room provide a view -- of the park, the ocean, or something equally pleasing. Does the bellman offer to bring ice right away? Barcelona's famous Sagrada Familia is a reason to pick a hotel within walking distance. IS THE CONCIERGE available for booking theater tickets or city tours? If we're on a club floor, are there liberal hours, with breakfast and afternoon hors d'oeuvres. If we're in a new city or unknown part of town, safety is a consideration. I want a coffee maker with good coffee, a newspaper delivered in the morning and left discreetly out the door. I want a robe and slippers, a good restaurant within the hotel or within easy walking distance, a frig for chilling the wine, a big bathtub for soaking. I ask for a map at registration and determine if we can easily and safely walk to the beach, park, theater, festival, museum or bistro. (In Ashland, Oregon, the Ashland Springs is a block from the three-theater Oregon Shakespeare Festival.) I love neighborhoods, and hotels with character make themselves part of the neighborhood. We were steps from the Gaudi House and Sagrada Familia cathedral in Barcelona's Ayre Hotel and could gaze daily at their intricate mosaics. In Las Vegas, I like to look down on the strip, watching the New York Skyline light up or strolling a few blocks to gaze upon the Eifel Tower, Vegas style of course. Rome's fabled Trevi Fountain is walking distance from the famous Hassler Hotel, which attracts our travelers for its elegance and proximity. MY FAVORITE hotels have unique features, charming touches, special appeal.. The Dorchester in London was a favorite of Elizabeth Taylor's. Rock stars and classical musicians love it. Members of the Royal Family have wined and dined in its glamorous banquet rooms. Hyde Park is across the street and Mayfair with its shops and eateries awaits. The Hotel Westminster in Paris has location in spades - - you're out the door a few blocks to the magical monuments and museums of Paris. The Le Meridien Bora Bora has bungalows on the water with glass floors for viewing manta rays and brightly colored schools of fish. The hotel says, "You're in French Polynesia now. Relax, enjoy." The Ashland Springs Hotel in Ashland, Oregon, is steps away from the city's internationally known Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The Grand Hyatt Sao Paulo has the feeling of Brazil in its native inspired artwork and an international clientele to appreciate its woodwork and service. The Hassler in Rome atop the Spanish Steps has proximity to many of Rome's historical delights, including a short walk to the fabled Trevi Fountain. It also boasts stunning, old-world architecture and is filled with beautiful tapestries, fountains and paintings. Just a pleasant taxi ride out the door of Sao Paulo's elegant Grand Hyatt, Cookie and Keller enjoy the market. I like hotels that reflect their city's environment. In Lisbon, we love the Altis Belem, for its gorgeous harbor view on the Tagus River and its contemporary design. It's also a short walk to the Belem Castle and Monument of Discoveries, both world landmarks. The Altis Belem exhibits the city's rich connection to the sea. The Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Bangkok displays fine taste and elegance with a tux-clad string quartet in the lobby. The 1904 Gaudi House in Barcelona is a draw to our travelers, who chose a nearby, elegant hotel. In Teton Village, closer to home, the Alpenhof offers old-world service in a spectacular setting. Alpine inspired paintings and a gourmet breakfast are two of the enticements, along with genuinely friendly welcome. When people say, "Who cares where we stay? We're never in our room," I disagree. I spend hours in my room. It's part of my vacation. I care very much where I stay. I want my hotel to be beautiful, full of charm and beauty, reflective of the culture of the city it inhabits. COMING SATURDAY: More about why we like specific hotels and what entices us and keeps us loyal. Location, location, location is part of the charm. Remember to explore, learn and live and check us our Wednesdays and weekends at: www.whereiscookie.com

Oversized European soaking tubs, eco-friendly products, robes and slippers await at Pan Pacific Hotel Seattle. Room with a view, attentive staff, location, amenities all figure in choosing your hotel STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER A five-star hotel should offer uniqueness and elegance. GOOD HOTELS are plentiful. Grand hotels are not. Truly "great hotels" have elegance and uniqueness, eccentricities and special touches that make us feel pampered. Perhaps a rooftop terrace with stunning panorama, beautiful tapestries, eye-catching doors, spacious bedrooms with good reading lights a separate sitting area, original works of art, and luxurious courtyards or lobbies. Spectacular views and individual glass-floor bungalows over the water make Le Meridien Bora Bora a prestige hotel. They should reflect the culture of their region. In Turkey, you'll want to be reminded of the Ottoman influence with brass beds and plush carpets. In French Polynesia, the island life and creatures of the deep should be emphasized. In Rome, Florence, Paris, London, Madrid or Barcelona, you'll want to feel the blend of history and style. The balance of old-fashioned luxury with a relaxed atmosphere is not easily accomplished, but top hotels achieve it. THE CACHET of a four or five-star hotel has to do with what it offers and how it delivers. WHAT DETERMINES a top hotel and what are a few of our favorites? How are they rated? Barcelona's famous Sagrada Familia in its Gothic glory is within walking distance of a range of quality hotels. Hotels are generally ranked from one-star -- the simplest accommodation -- to five-star, which implies luxury, superlative service, and the highest standards of comfort. Five-star hotels offer originality in architecture and design, high-grade materials in construction and decor (marble bathrooms, antique furniture) and special touches such as fresh flowers and plants. Style must not trump substance. Fine hotels court the traveler, just as cruise ships attract with their distinctive style, amenities and design features. AS WITH the world's top cruise lines -- Crystal, Oceania, Seabourn for example -- prestige hotel properties maintain a high staff-to-guest ratio, gourmet dining, and 24-hour room service. Guest rooms offer ample space, fine furnishings and decor, premium bedding, and luxury bath products. Room amenities generally include high-speed Internet access and CD and/or DVD players. Many five-star resorts offer additional recreation facilities such as tennis courts, golf-course access, spa services, a top-notch fitness center, and pools. Fine hotels in Europe's ancient cities often tout proximity to famous landmarks, such as Rome's iconic Trevi Fountain. Rome's best hotels are located within easy walk to its historical sights and ancient public fountains. THE TERM "five star hotel" is associated with the ultimate luxury and, by implication, expense. We've stayed in plenty of three- and even some two-star hotels, which can be good finds with convenient locations and period architecture. In Rome, for instance, the Accademia is delightful. Owned by a small group, Travelroma, it is a pretty little boutique hotel near Trevi Fountain. For about 60-100 Euros more, you may choose the five-star Eden, a quick stroll to the famous Via Veneto. The Trastevere is two-star in the lively Trastevere district of Rome, with 20 small and pretty rooms. San Francisco's Hotel Diva near Union Square, offers style, pet and kid focus and a sense of playfulness in decor. THE OMNI in Los Angeles blends old-world elegance with modern amenities, as befitting Los Angeles. In San Francisco, Hotel Diva boasts style and personality in spades -- and dog friendly rooms for Nick and Nora. The three-star Scalinata di Spagna in Rome sits at the top of the Spanish Steps near Keats' house, has charming rooms and a picturesque rooftop garden. So do your shopping. The hotel business suffers from a lack of standardization which allows marketing-driven inflation. A few hotels claim six stars and a distinctive Dubai Hotel, the Burj al- Arab, promoted itself as "the world's first seven-star hotel" for a time. The distinctive shape of Burj al-Arab attracts Dubai's international clientele. WELL ESTABLISHED prestige hotels are usually content to claim the traditional five. There's actually no international ratings body, so hotels can claim as many stars as they like. That's where homework comes in. Check references, as you would when hiring. To achieve the five-star standard, a property must be consistently good over a long period. Hotel reviewers and travel professionals who rank hotels look for these winning qualities: discreet and attentive service, complimentary house car and VIP transfer services, personalization -- "getting to know you" touches such as remembering your name, excellent bed with support a high-thread count sheets such as Frette. (Ritz-Carlton, Grand Hyatt, Sofitel and Four Seasons are excellent.) Grand Hyatt Sao Paulo in Brazil offers roomy elegance. ALSO IMPORTANT to critics are the property's food, drink and room service (a buffet breakfast included in the price is a draw). A good in-room coffee maker is desirable. A room with a view is a big draw -- here of Sao Paulo lit up at night. And my personal pet peeve is powdered creamer. Awful. I love finding small half-and-half containers in the mini bar. A comfy bathroom is important and I enjoy finding luxurious, eco-friendly amenities such as offered in Seattle's "green thinking" Pan Pacific Hotel -- along with slippers, robes, flowers, soaking tub and spectacular Space Needle views. PEOPLE WHO travel with pets or children are being increasingly courted by the hotel industry. The travelers' male Yorkie, Nick, enjoys his stay at the Omni Los Angeles. Omni Hotels offer pet floors and many boutique hotels pamper your pooch with gifts and treats. The Los Angeles Omni brought a bag of goodies and a pretty little stainless steel water bowl for our Yorkies, Nick and Nora. Four Seasons is kid friendly. Children can feed the koi in Bali's Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay. AN ATTENTIVE concierge is essential. During our annual pilgrimage to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Gigi, at the lovely boutique inn, Ashland Springs Hotel, helped us choreograph dinners and tickets to the popular Chocolate Festival. I plan most of our trip details myself, but when I need an efficient concierge, I want someone who can score a last-minute theater ticket, as our concierge at Hotel Diva did in a recent San Francisco stay. Rome's many piazzas and baroque showpieces are within walking distance of its myriad hotels. MANY GREAT cities, such as Barcelona, offer an enticing array of variously "starred" hotels -- we've enjoyed the Ritz Carlton Arts, Majestic, Hilton, Princess and others. Decide what you want then see which one delivers it to your personal desires. I'm not much of a poolside basker, but pools are important in the tropics and in many of the world's great locales. Le Meridien Bora Bora has one of the prettiest, if you can pull yourself away from your glass floor view of the wonders of underwater life. JUST AS Rome wasn't built in a day, top rankings don't materialize overnight. The hotel industry knows that a property must earn its kudos. It also knows that negative word of mouth can have a devastating effect. Most professionals agree that quality, service and consistency are primary considerations, but that all the extras count. The attractive Alpenhof Lodge in Teton Village is up next. COMING WEDNESDAY: Our look at top hotels continues with a visit to Teton Village and its Alpenhof Lodge, which combines old-world European service with fine food, quaint rooms, friendly staff, mountain setting and an appealing full breakfast in a nicely decorated room with a view. Remember to explore, learn and live and check us out Wednesdays and Saturdays at: www.whereiscookie.com

The Murray's classic style includes nods to Montana and the west, with a contemporary flair. Elegance, comfort and western suggestions abound, with artful accents. HISTORIC BUILDING OFFERS HISTORY, COLOR, AMENITIES, COMFORT STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER IF A BUILDING can give and receive love, then Livingston, Montana's Murray Hotel is a veritable Valentine of mortar, imagination and memories. The venerable historic hotel -- a favorite of my family when I was growing up in the 1950s -- has history, chutzpah and plenty of heart. But by the 1970s, the building had begun to languish. Built 110 years ago, it needed paint, plywood, carpets, modernized plumbing, and plenty more. Dan and Kathleen Kaul to the rescue. They transformed the four-story building with love and money, tastefully restoring it with a sense of humor and abundant style. "Check your guns at the front desk," the vintage sign suggests. The Murray Hotel is a Livingston icon, with a colorful history and immaculate restoration of its rooms. ONE WELL known movie director, the late Sam Peckinpah, obviously didn't heed the warning, because the suite he favored still has the bullet holes he shot through the ceiling after, we presume, an ample dose of firewater. Personal touches are part of the landscape and lore of the Murray. Since its grand opening in 1904, the Murray Hotel’s guest registry has read like a who’s who of history and Hollywood. Celebrities such as Buffalo Bill and Calamity Jane have graced the threshold of what was once an elegant railroad hotel. The Murray was also home to Walter Hill, son of railroad tycoon, James J. Hill. More recently, colorful personalities like motion-picture director Peckinpah rented what had been the largest suite in the place, designed for a creature-comfort-loving heir to the Burlington railroad fortune. ROYALTY have bedded down at the Murray, too. The Queen of Denmark once spent the night, but no one seems to know if she was amused or impressed. Humorist Will Rogers and his buddy Walter Hill liked the place so well they decided to share its splendor with their favorite saddle horse, hauling him up to a third floor suite, via the hand-cranked, 1905 Otis elevator. WE TRANSPORTED our Yorkies, Nick and Nora, in this delightful vestige of bygone days on a trip to the Murray last week. It was their third or fourth visit to the dog-friendly Murray -- our 15th or so -- and we tried a suite we'd not visited before, one with a pleasant fishing and angling motif. Fishing memorabilia -- part of the charm. Each suite has a different motif. We were on the second floor, and knew we'd hear the railroad whistle a couple times during the night -- the station is just across the street. But I decided to forego the convenient earplugs, and enjoy the nostalgic sound of the freight trains. No problem. I liked it, having grown up with that comforting and musical sound.. Look closely and you'll see two Yorkshire terriers cuddled in the tapestry and armchair. We also wanted to watch Ken Burns' magnificent "Roosevelts" series on PBS. No problem. We had a fine TV, comfy chairs and a frig for chilling our wine. Many of the suites have microwaves and frigs since some are designed as condos and privately owned. When the owners aren't visiting, the public is welcome to enjoy. Our fisherman's suite had all kinds of angler's memorabilia -- a poster on dozens of trout, paddles artfully arranged on the wall, fishing signs, and beautiful pillows and tapestries of fish, bears and birds of the northern Rockies. THE KAULS' sense of community pride is apparent at other places in Livingston. The enterprising couple has purchased many buildings and rentals, owns a tasteful furniture store with beautiful western and log tables, chairs and more, and they have restored and refurbished rentals. But the Murray is the most visible and ambitious of their endeavors. THEIR CAPABLE, well trained staff will gladly guide you to one of Livingston's eateries, including the next-door Second Street Bistro, with its extensive wine list. gourmet appetizers and inventive main course offerings. The Bistro was packed inside and at the streetside cafe tables. And on the hotel's other end, the Murray Bar was packed, too, with live country and rock music, and a crowd of locals and tourists enjoying the fishing lore on the walls and reasonably priced cocktails and beer. THE MURRAY is proud of its celebrity roster -- those famous folks who have shared space and rubbed elbows with cowpokes, railroaders, and other travelers and locals. Livingston continues to attract a steady stream of writers, musicians, movie stars and history lovers. A fellow writer stopped us in the parking lot to admire Nick and Nora. He knew they were named after the famous husband-wife detective team of "The Thin Man." Myrna Loy, a native Montanan, and William Powell, played the dapper Nick and Nora Charles. The California man, who was working on a piece on historic U.S. hotels for a guidebook, said, "Ah, it's good to know we have Mr. and Mrs. Charles in residence." COMING UP: Rip roarin' fun awaits the theater lover at the Jackson Hole Playhouse, where "Paint Your Wagon" is packing in appreciate houses. More about this historic, nearly century-old venue. And we're on to the Wapiti Valley, a last gasp for autumn in the Tetons and more. We strive for a sense of fun and discovery in our pieces! Remember to explore, learn and live, and catch us Wednesdays and weekends at www.whereiscookie.com

Five versatile actors deftly portray 42 colorful characters in a delightful production of "Around the World in 80 Days" held over at North Coast Repertory Theatre. Prepare for a brilliant theatrical trip by boat, train and imagination. FABULOUS THEATER DELIVERS AS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PREVIEWS THEATRE WEEK WITH LIVELY MIX OF TOP PRODUCTIONS Katherine Ko as Tong, Ben Levin as Quang in San Diego Rep's funny, sad, fascinating production of "Vietgone," a fast-paced melange of war, family, social trials and love. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER and courtesy San Diego theaters THERE'S MORE TALENT in San Diego than one can shake a maestro's baton at. On any given evening, choose from nearly three dozen theatrical offerings -- musicals, comedies, dramas, period pieces, classics and cleverly crafted world premiers. WE ARE REVELING in a romp on the boards to preview San Diego Theatre week, Feb. 15-25. Cygnet Theatre in Old Town features a drama about the last wife of Henry VIII Reduced tickets are offered for 29 venues. Check out the websites of these highlights we're sampling, and more: Kate Rose Reynolds, left, and Andrea Agosto perform flawless roles in Diversionary Theatre's challenging "Cardboard Piano." * "Around the World in 80 Days." North Coast Repertory Theatre. Watch suave adventurer Phileas Fogg circle the globe with his faithful and flamboyant servant, encountering danger, romance and comic turns. Stylish direction and dazzling costume changes showcase the versatile Will Vought, Loren Lester, Omri Schein, Lovlee Carroll and Richard Baird as they brilliantly deliver 42 eccentric and loveable characters. Through Feb. 11. northcoastrep.org The Lyceum in Horton Plaza is home to San Diego Repertory Theatre. * "Vietgone." San Diego Repertory Theatre. Bold, sexy, funny love story is delightfully acted, mixing rap music, motorcycles, comic book aesthetics and martial arts with a thought-provoking story of race, war and surviving by one's wits. As a family flees from Vietnam at war's end, it faces struggles and stereotypes in America with humor and heart. Through Feb. 18. At the Lyceum. sdrep.org * "The Last Wife." Cygnet Theatre. Engaging, wonderfully acted historical fiction about the only wife to survive the tempers and whims of Henry VIII. The title references the audacious king's sixth and final wife, Katherine Parr, whose brains, bravado and quick thinking kept her head on her shoulders. Nimble direction and fine writing give new life to a nearly 500-year-old period, with contemporary twists. Through Feb. 11. In Old Town. cygnettheatre.com Manny Fernandes and Allison Spratt-Pearce deliver star work in "The Last Wife" at Cygnet Theatre in Old Town. Danny Stiles, left, and Steven Freitas are down-on-their-luck workers who scheme a strip act in "The Full Monty" at SDMT. * "The Full Monty." San Diego Musical Theatre. An endearing company of guys play a sextet of unemployed Buffalo steel workers who decide to pay their bills by taking it all off. Raucous humor, a sassy female ensemble; endearing, catchy pop-rock score deliver thumbs-up stage version of the hit 1997 hit film proving there's more to a first-rate performance than perfect body types. SDMT is a bravura grassroots effort of a musical-loving local couple! Through Feb. 25 at Horton Grand. sdmt.org * "Cardboard Piano." Diversionary Theatre. A teen-age daughter of an American missionary falls in love with a local teenage girl in Northern Uganda. They marry in secret, circa 2000, before civil unrest upends their lives. Diversionary again pushes the envelope with four fine actors, in an absorbing, sometimes shocking play which confronts weighty issues: same-sex relationships, intolerance, America’s relationship with Africa and the human capacity for forgiveness. Through Feb. 25. diversionary.org La Jolla Playhouse has introduced many musicals and plays that go on to Broadway *"The Cake." La Jolla Playhouse. Rely on top-drawer work at the theater co-founded by Gregory Peck. LJPH's current drama drama also explores same-sex marriage. The play has humor, pathos, sharp direction and an almost edible set. The storyline features a a native North Carolina woman returning home from New York to ask her late mother's best friend to make her wedding cake. Beliefs are challenged, old values take on new clothes and the notion of love is explored as two brides head for the altar. Through March 4. At the Potiker Theatre. lajollaplayhouse.org Check out SanDiegoTheatreWeek.com for more details and offers. Wherever you are, support local theater. A well trained group of docents from Birch Aquarium educates enthusiastic whale watchers as Flagship follows the great gray whale's southern migration. UP NEXT: We've a whale of a tale to tell you, with our latest adventure in search of the great migrating gray whales. We got up close with several mothers this week -- and even a newborn -- on their way south to the Baja's warm waters with Flagship's fine whale watching tour. Remember to explore, learn and live, and catch us Fridays for a fresh look at the arts, nature, family and travel. To book, flagshipsd.com

Christmas morning on Hawaii, "the Big Island," presents a double rainbow to passengers aboard a Body Glove trip down the Kona coast. Today begins a two-part series on holiday wish lists.    bodyglovehawaii.com                                                                                                                                                     YULETIDE GREETINGS FROM AROUND THE WORLD! CONSIDER PLANNING A BUCKET LIST TRIP AS THE OLD YEAR ENDS AND A NEW ONE BECKONS DREAMS Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers afloat last Christmas. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER The holidays in Hawaii are always colorful.  In downtown Honolulu, Nutcrackers surround a  merry Christmas tree and shop windows herald the arrival of Santa and his reindeer. IF YOU'RE HOME this Christmas, enjoy! But if you're yearning to kick the holiday up a notch, consider spending Christmas elsewhere next year.  Start planning now to get the best prices. Holiday hotels often sell out and prices increase for air as time gets closer. Here are a few ideas to jump start your dream. At Oscar's in Palm Springs, every day is a holiday with great shows and lively crowds. MUSEUMS and aquariums make wonderful family outings during the holidays and two of the finest we've visited are in Hawaii and New Zealand:                       New Zealand's Te Papa Museum  Honolulu's Bishop Museum   IF YOU love music, Vienna has one of the world's most famous chorales, the Vienna Boys' Choir. Their Christmas concerts will give you happy goosebumps. This venerable Austrian city offers of Skiing is a huge winter draw and favorite holiday pursuit in many western states, here Montana . delightful old-fashioned Christmas with sparkling holiday decorations and warming, fragrant gluhwein. The city boasts gorgeous imperial architecture. Outdoor Christmas markets display hand crafted ornaments and a bounty of tasty snacks. www.wien.info          Yuletide worldwide A tour guide in the tropics dons his Santa hat for a holiday tour. IN PALM  Springs, the Living Desert Zoo and Botanical Garden in nearby Palm Desert is a magical place.  More than 750,000 twinkling lights illuminate the park after dark, and it's a wonderful way to see the critters. The city's WildLights Holiday Festival is a drive-through holiday tradition to delight locals, tourists and families. Our favorite venue there is Oscar's Bar and Cafe, a lively cabaret fun any time.  The yuletide is special, though, with a delightful docket of drag shows with holiday flair.   livingdesert.org ; oscarspalmsprings.org Las Vegas was our choice for a recent New Year's Eve, here at the Bellagio. IN MY HOME state of Montana, skiing is a big winter attraction. Everyone knows Colorado has a lucrative corner on winter sports, but the Treasure State also offers resorts, B&Bs and a wide range of lodging at Big Sky, Whitefish, Bridger Bowl, Red Lodge and elsewhere. Lift tickets are cheaper, too, than in more famous resorts. SINCE KEVIN   Costner's TV's smash "Yellowstone," my beloved state has become a "bucket list" favorite for tourists, but there are still sanctuaries and unspoiled terrain to be found if you do your homework.  If you're a cross-country skier, Whitefish is close to Glacier National Park and its spectacular mountains. Glacier's breathtaking switchbacks and splendid cross-country skiing are tops. Happily, it's not yet "discovered."  In nearby Wyoming, Jackson Hole Fireworks are a big draw in many destinations, here on Waikiki Beach. Mountain Resort is a beautiful ski destination in the spectacular Grand Tetons. To access skiing in these two states, you can easily fly into Billings or Cody and rent a car. And Bozeman has many flights now, including a non-stop from Atlanta which my southern family uses. www.visitmt.com ; jacksonhole.com Vienna is a wonderful place for a holiday visit. Palaces, parks and churches are aglow and a renowned choir awaits to serenade you.  LOOK ON the internet for fun Christmas vacation ideas for families.  You'll find hundreds of ideas, of cities, towns and villages across the world offering everything from beach basking to winter sports.  Most tourist destinations have winter festivals and an opportunity to visit Santa. There are movie nights with holiday themes, tree lighting and fireworks festivals on New Year's Eve. One of the most spectacular fireworks events we've experienced is in Hawaii, on Waikiki Beach at Hilton's Hawaiian Resort. www.hiltonhawaiianresort.com Strasbourg in France goes all out for holiday light displays. EUROPEAN CITIES  and villages have celebrated the holidays for centuries. You'll find Christmas Markets from Vienna, Austria, to Cologne, Nuremberg and Freiburg in Germany, Ghent and Brussels in Belgium, and Prague in Czech Republic. Copenhagen in Denmark and many small Norwegian towns also have fabulous holiday displays.  We spent one yuletide in Bergen and Alesund on a Viking cruise and loved the festive immersion. Strasbourg in France shows off its local wares and goodies at Europe's oldest and most lavish market with Christkindelsmarik, dating to 1570. Performers tell the "Christ story" in elaborate costumes making the city a top Christmas destination. www.europeanbestdestinations.com/christmas-markets/ About to tuck into trdlenik in Czech Republic are Bruce Keller and Cookie. Vienna and Prague offer delightful old-fashioned Austrian and Czech Christmas spirit. Both are known for magnificent Gothic architecture, a spirit of gracious welcome and unique folkloric traditions. These two magnificent cities create an other-worldly feeling at their famed Christmas markets. Shoppers find beautifully decorated wooden huts filled with treats, unique craft gift items and ornaments for next year's tree. My favorite delicacy is spit-roasted ham. Keller loved trdelnik, a traditional hot sugar-coated pastry with nuts and cinnamon. IF YOU   really want to feel close to old Santa, head for Rovaniemi - Lapland, Finland. Rovaniemi is just north of the Arctic Circle and Finns believe it makes a better home for Santa than the North Pole. You'll meet Kris Kringle in this frozen winter wonderland of deep snow and pine forests where kids make cookies with Mrs. Claus and enroll in Elf School. Families enjoy husky-dog rides, tobogganing and the Northern Lights. For a super frosty stay, check into the Arctic Snowhotel, made entirely of ice, with has an ice bar, ice restaurant, ice chapel, Finnish sauna, and snow sauna. Are you packed yet? www.arcticsnowhotel.fi/en/ Cygnet Theatre's multi-talented Sean Murray plays an endearing Scrooge in the theater's popular "A Christmas Carol." Soon, Cygnet moves to a new home to be known as "The Joan." BEST BETS : Two holiday shows up through Christmas Eve deserve special attention in the San Diego area. "Miracle on 34th Street" is playing at Carlsbad's New Village Arts Theatre. It's a delightful radio-play musical take on the beloved 1947 movie about a young girl and Santa. Inspirational, moving and fast paced, with a strong cast, it is a lively production about a little girl's yearnings, the need to believe and the uplifting power of love. Favorite holiday tunes are cleverly interwoven in this revamp of the beloved film classic. Then Sean Murray creates the world's most endearing Scrooge in Cygnet Theatre's "A Christmas Carol."  Dancing, singing, comedy, lively staging and a heartwarming story make "Miracle on 34th Street" a hit at New Village Arts in Carlsbad. The venerable Old Town venue features director Sean Murray's poignant adaptation and his portrayal of the irascible but ultimately endearing Scrooge. A fine 7-person ensemble puts magic, music and imagination in this beautifully rendered production. As Cygnet wraps its tenure in Old Town, it prepares for its new larger home at the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Performing Arts Center at Liberty Station. It will be known as "The Joan," in honor of its major donors. For tickets to both: newvillagearts.org ; cygnettheatre.org   Start now to make your bucket list a reality, here on the Queen Mary 2. UP NEXT: New horizons for 2025. Why not take the trip or cruise you've been longing for? Start planning now for next year's holiday and you can make it work. Whether it's a summer or fall trip, or a goal for next Christmas, you can make it happen. If you're single, consider a low-interest loan or sharing a cabin. If you're a couple or family, figure ways to save and cut back on other areas and start a trip savings account.  Cruise lines sometimes offer deals for traveling with the family, as a single, or with generations. We'll offer ideas for holiday travel, and for fulfilling a bucket list dream.  It's possible to make a lifelong wish come true in the new year.  Think outside the box and remember, as a wise man said, "Everything you've ever wanted is sitting on the other side of fear.” — So don't be afraid to embrace an idea and make it a goal. Meanwhile, remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on travel, performance, nature and the arts.   www.whereiscookie.com

"Cambodian  Rock Band" is like no other musical. The writers of this column saw it recently at Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The fine production comes to La Jolla Playhouse soon. -- photo courtesy Oregon Shakespeare Festival STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER and courtesy theaters' marketing depts FROM THE  groundbreaking rock musical about a father and daughter and a southeast Asian band, to classic comedy by Neil Simon, a romantic adventure, a musical romance, historical drama and a stocking full of holiday shows, theater lovers can see a new production or two each week through year's end -- and be delighted with the mix. Jamie and Cathy are played with finesse by Michael Louis Cusimano and and Racquel Williams in Cygnet's "The Last  Five Years," on tap through Nov. 17. CYGNET THEATRE.  "The Last Five Years." Through Nov. 17. Billed as "an emotionally powerful and intimate musical" always energetic Cygnet features this charmer about two struggling New Yorkers in their twenties -- a novelist and actress -- who fall in and out of love over half a decade. With catchy solo turns, the music and lyrics showcase Jamie and Cathy as their relationship deepens and changes, and they face challenge both to the relationship and their individual desires.  Then Cygnet's always charming holiday musical tradition, "A Christmas Carol" with Sean Murray's clever adaptation. It runs Nov. 27-Dec. 29.   cygnettheatre.com Award winning internationally acclaimed David Sedaris' witty "The Santaland Diaries" comes to Diversionary Theatre. DIVERSIONARY THEATRE . "The Santaland Diaries."  This small, mind-challenging company presents a work written by comic and essayist David Sedaris.  His humorous account of a stint working as a Christmas elf in "Santaland" at Macy's department store is a sure holiday spirit pleaser. Sedaris first read the essay on National Public Radio's Morning Edition during the 1992 holidays and the story of the very unmerry elf has become a sardonic holiday classic. Diversionary continues its excellent tradition of LGBT work. Nov. 21-Dec. 22.  diversionary.org The approach to La Jolla Playhouse in evening. "Cambodian Rock Band" promises to delight opening soon.   La JOLLA PLAYHOUSE . "Cambodian Rock Band" Nov. 12-Dec. 15. We recently saw and loved this innovative production at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. It is absolutely ground-breaking, touching, mesmerizing. Epic in its sweep, it is both play and rock concert, thrusting us into the life of a young woman with a mission: to discover family history from 30 years earlier. She knew little about her musician father who fled Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge's brutal assault on the land, its artists and thinkers. A gifted cast performs a mix of contemporary Dengue Fever hits and Cambodian oldies. A stellar ensemble presents "Ring Around the Moon" at Lamb's Players Theatre. A lively holiday show follows.   The San Diego connection is playwright Lauren Yee, UC San Diego alum, who brilliantly brings the Cambodian rock scene of the ‘60s and ‘70s to life. We're excited to see it again, a masterful story about the power of survival, family loyalty and enduring music. lajollaplayhouse.org LAMB'S PLAYERS THEATRE:  "Ring Around the Moon." Christopher Fry’s 1950   adaptation  of Jean Anouilh's "Invitation to the Castle." A romantic adventure about love, identity and money, it's winning praise for its lovely staging, strong ensemble work and light-hearted comedy.  Through Nov. 17.  Then the popular and always unique "Lamb's Festival of Christmas" runs Dec. 5-29.   lambsplayers.org Lisel Gorell-Getz as Mags, and Debra Wanger as Liz at Moxie. MOXIE THEATRE:  "Handbagged." Through Nov. 17. This ground-breaking company presents works by and about interesting women in a mission to showcase diverse and honest looks at the female gender. "Handbagged" features two characters, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher ("Mags") and Queen Elizabeth II ("Liz,") with their older and younger versions played by four talented actors. The title references the handbags of the two same-age women who ruled with purses over their wrists. The play explores who really had the upper hand behind closed palace doors. It's winning raves.   moxietheatre.com New Village Arts' intimate space is a perfect venue for an imaginative production of "Around the World in 80 Days." NEW VILLAGE ARTS . "Around the World In 80 Days." Nov. 8-Dec. 22  The classic tale gets a new twist with original music as the mysterious, wealthy, lonely Victorian Phileas Fogg determines to circumnavigate the world in 80 days. On this belief, he has wagered his  fortune. Will bandits, buffalo, chivalry, an unreliable but faithful valet, and unrelenting inspector from Scotland Yard keep him from his impossible task? We follow Fogg and his eccentric companions aboard steamships, locomotives, and pachyderms as they learn about love, themselves, and the unanticipated.  With original pirate rock ‘n roll music by The Shantyannes.    newvillagearts.org Lenny Wolpe, as Willie Clark and James Sutorius as Al Lewis are endearing in "The Sunshine Boys," extended to Nov. 24. NORTHCOAST REPERTORY THEATRE: "The Sunshine Boys," is winning raves for its delightful rendition of Neil Simon's beloved comedy, the story of two cranky old actors who reunite for a final hurrah. North Coast Rep's ambitious artistic director David Ellenstein crafts a varied lineup for the theater's 38th season which opened with "Amadeus" and includes a Harold Pinter classic. The intimate house offers not a single bad seat and this production promises laughs and a perhaps a tear with the smile.  northcoastrep.org    "A Christmas Story" promises to delight, based on the popular movie (seen here), at San Diego Musical Theatre, with its ambitious season. SAN DIEGO MUSICAL THEATRE:  "A Christmas Story" runs Nov. 29-Dec. 29 after SDMT's sold-out production of "Man of LaMancha" with Robert J. Townsend as a moving Don Quixote. The lively holiday show is based on the classic film about family, a coveted gift ("you'll shoot your eye out") and growing up. The ambitious SDMT season includes the romantic comedy, "She Loves Me," Erin and Gary Lewis turned a lifelong love of musical theater into a San Diego gift. Tony winning "Rent," always winning "Little Shop of Horrors" and more. Musical theater buffs Erin and Gary  Lewis founded the enterprise in 2006. It features that dying breed, live orchestra, and has a loyal following for its inventive and varied varied repertoire. sdmt.org   SAN DIEGO REPERTORY THEATRE : "Hold These Truths" Ryun Yu plays all 37 characters in an emotionally charged production, "Hold These Truths" at SD Rep. Nov. 14-Dec. 8. One-man tour de force starring Ryun Yu in a work written by Jeanne Sakata. The story tells of a Japanese-American man who spent 50 years trying to avenge the injustice done to Americans of Japanese ancestry after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The actor plays all 37 characters in what promises the Rep's usual electric, thought-provoking theatrical experience. It comes on the heels of a brilliant comedy, "Bad Hombres, Good Wives." sdrep.org WELK THEATRE.  Welk Resort's always popular holiday show opens Nov. 22, a family musical entertainment.   "The Addams Family." Through Nov. 10. New musical comedy, with fun twists but loosely based on the TV show.  Campy action and a veteran cast.   "Welk home Home Nov. 22-Dec. 29 promises swinging sounds of traditional songs, contemporary work and a perfect family entertainment. Then the Broadway classic, “A Chorus Line” is up Jan. 10-March 22. This is one of the writer's "Top 10" Broadway shows, a concept musical about Broadway dancers auditioning for spots on a chorus line. Don't neglect the resort's excellent tribute shows. welkresorts.com Train passengers arrive from many UK cities in York. UP NEXT:  Train, train, train...... England style.  Come with us to trace the evolution of rail travel as transportation evolved from stagecoach to trains. We ride the rails, old and new, as Cookie and Keller  explore the United Kingdom's long love affair with rail travel.  We take you to York's fabulous Railroad Museum, then catch a vintage steam train for a delightful 90-minute journey. Next, we go inside the beautiful Orient Express cars when rail travel was elegant and try a Britrail pass to London and more.  Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us Fridays for a novel look at travel, the arts, nature and family.