Join The South Beach Wine and Food Festival

During the South Beach Wine and Food Festival you can sample selections from over 40 restaurants and 100 wine and spirits suppliers as well as see Food Network stars and culinary personalities that have included Michael Symon, Trisha Yearwood, The Deen Family and more.

There will be plenty of deals to whet your palate. Along with delicious samples to try like Castello® Danish Blue Cheese slices that are perfectly sized for a burger and made to melt, transforming your entrée into an epicurean sensation that is as beautiful as it is delicious. Those attending the Festival can preview this not-yet-on-shelves cheese atop a special Chef Michael Symon signature recipe at the Castello® cheese space at the Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village. 
During the festival enjoy a tasty treats that have included those that help support FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. This treat was a special edition Key Lime Pie Shake  in which Shake Shack donated $2 from every milkshake sold. The delectable treat features vanilla frozen custard blended with a slice of key lime pie from The Sugary Monkey, and will be available at the Miami Beach Shake Shack only. 
Plan Your Trip To The South Beach Wine & Food Festival:
For tickets to the South Beach Wine & Food Festival visit https://sobeseafoodfest.com/.

Wexner Center for the Arts Presents Via Brasil

Supported in part by a generous grant awarded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Wexner Center presents the Via Brasil project starting in Feb. This exhibit includes Cruzamentos: Contemporary Art in Brazil, the largest exhibition of contemporary Brazilian art to show in North America. Also include is Cruzamentos: Contemporary Brazilian Documentary, a presentation of more than 30 contemporary Brazilian documentaries rarely seen in North America screening January through April.
While visiting the Wexner Center exhibit Via Brasil you’ll find a wide array of complementary performing arts events to enjoy. Plus,  educational programming including a symposium, gallery talks, graduate-level seminar, and events designed to engage students, families, and teens. And, the first English-language translation of essays by influential film critic, professor, and historian Paulo Emílio Sales Gomes, to be published in late 2014. A symposium surrounding his work will be held later in fall of 2014.
The initiative is also accompanied by a website, www.wexarts.org/viabrasil, which provides a holistic look at not just the Via Brasil project itself, but other related content including news, recipes, cultural facts, photo galleries, and more, all working to provide a context and deeper experience with the contemporary art and culture of Brazil, developed and designed by an internal Wexner Center marketing and design team.

Learn More:

To discover more about the Via Brasil, and other exhibits at the Wexner Center for the Arts, The Ohio State University call (614) 292-3535 or visit http://wexarts.org/.

Sun King Brewing and Gen Con Continue Epic Partnership

Sun King Brewing returns as the creator of the Official Beer of Gen Con in 2014. Sun King will hold an Official Beer Tapping Party on August 13, and operate an Official Gen Con Beer Garden on Georgia St., which is outside the Indiana Convention Center.
“Since our first partnership with Sun King Brewing in 2012, they have demonstrated tremendous passion, expertise, and support for our convention,” said Gen Con Vice President Scott Elliott. “In 2013, Gen Con’s attendees came to Indianapolis from all 50 states and 32 countries. The Beer Garden has become another terrific destination and gathering place for this growing global Gen Con community.”
Visit Gen Con on their website to vote for the name of the 2014 beer prior to the convention. In past years, fan-named beers have included Ale of Destiny in 2012, and Flagon Slayer in 2013. It’s up to you to help decide the name of this year’s brew.
Along with the beer-related activities on Georgia St., there will also be live music, entertainment, and some of Indy’s best food trucks will participate on-site to celebrate. The Official Beer, to be named soon via a fan vote, also will be sold at many participating bars and restaurants throughout central Indiana during the convention.

Vote for Gen Con in NUVO’s Best of Indy 2014

If you ever been to Gen Con Indy, you know it’s one of the best conventions of the year. Filled with fun for gamers and families, the event grows bigger every year.

Now, you have a chance to show your support by voting for Gen Con in NUVO, which has nominated Gen Con for two “Best of Indy” categories for 2014!

Gen Con is up for nomination for “Best Local Event You’ve Always Wanted to Go to But Haven’t Yet” and “Best Film Festival.”

Get in the game, and show your support for Gen Con by voting at http://www.nuvo.net/indianapolis/bestofindy/Page.

Register and View Upcoming Events At Gen Con

Visit www.gencon.com to view all the events and start registering for your favorite activities.

By Josh Schubert

Photo Credits: Sun King Brewing

Join The Wearable Art Runway Show: Herron Sculpture In Indianapolis


Be there tonight at the Herron Sculpture Building at 1350 Indiana Ave in Indianapolis, for Wearable Art Runway Show: Herron Sculpture, featuring the works of Herron’s exceptional Art Students; including Josh Schubert! Check out more here –https://www.facebook.com/events/762666117085327/

See you there!


Photo Credits: IUPUI/Herron

Best Of Ansel Adams At Eiteljorg Museum

The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in Indianapolis is sharing 75 photographs personally chosen by the late Ansel Adams to represent the best of his life’s work. This rewarding exhibit reveals the passion of a man dedicated to capturing the beauty of nature and preserving it. 
This is an opportunity to view many of his most famous and best-loved photographs. These photos include architectural studies, portraits and magnificent landscapes that stir our imaginations. Perhaps, that is what Ansel Adams is best known for; stirring our imaginations with his striking photos that remind us nature is all around us, and it’s up to us to protect it.
Throughout the exhibit there are opportunities to join discussions and workshops like Photography: Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Headed in Mid June with local professional photographer, Lyle Mannweiler, who shares his adventures in Yosemite with Ansel Adams and others while touring the Ansel Adams exhibition. 
Bring your camera and join the Photo Walk Along the Canal with experts from Roberts Camera. Together, you’ll walk the canal in White River State Park, and your guides will share great tips on how to perfect your shot. They will also have gear you can test out, so, don’t be afraid to take your best shot and ask questions. Stick around after the walk, and enjoy a visit to the Ansel Adams exhibit for FREE!
Take a moment to relax on the comfortable seats behind the main staircase in the Eiteljorg Museum, where you’ll find a insightful video of Ansel Adams, which is filled with interviews from those who knew him.
Plan Your Visit To The Eiteljorg Museum 
The Ansel Adams exhibit runs through August at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, located in White River State Park in downtown Indianapolis. This is one of the engaging exhibits at the museum that inspires a appreciation and understanding of the art, history and cultures of the American West and the indigenous peoples of North America. 
For current exhibits, tickets, festivals, and upcoming events like the 25th Anniversary Gala – Under the Silver Moon at the end of May or the  Indian Market and Festival I n Mid June visit http://www.eiteljorg.org/.
Photo Credits: Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art

Celebrate National Marina Day At Fishermen’s Village

Located in Punta Gorda at 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Fishermen’s Village is celebrating National Marina Day with music,  events for boaters, sailboat races, and a Nature Fest.
National Marina Day will be celebrated at marinas across the nation, and highlight the importance of the marine industry, and enhancing our waterways.
The festivities offer the opportunity to learn about Wildlife preservation, and meet local guides who specialize in outdoor recreational activities. There will also be many vendors that sell boating products and services on hand to answer any questions.
During National Marina Day Fishermen’s Village Marina is offering two nights free dockage for individuals. This is a great way to all the festivities, sample tasty food at the restaurants, tours of the marina, and evening entertainment from 5-9 pm in Center Court featuring The Reconnections Band.

Plan Your Visit To Fishermen’s Village Marina 

National Marina Day will be held from 10:00 to 6:00 PM on Saturday, June 14th.  For event details and to make dockage reservations, call the Marina Harbormaster at (941) 575-3000 or visit http://www.fishville.com/.

Photo Credits: Fishermen’s Village

The Orangutan’s At The Indianapolis Zoo Are Amazing

The world has many amazing animals, and among these are the Orangutan’s that now live at the Indianapolis Zoo. The Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center is a rare treasurer hat is home to largest group of orangutans in any American zoo.

When you visit be sure to check out the kiosks set up throughout the exhibit that reveal more about orangutans in the wild. One of the important aspects of the Orangutan Center is revealing how the loss of suitable forest habitats have impacted the orangutans and other animals, and how you can help.
The Indianapolis Zoo has already stepped in to help reestablish their home in the wild by supporting an Indonesian reforestation initiative that began in Borneo’s Kutai National Park. While the forest will take years to grow, when everyone joins together we can make a difference as you’ll learn on your visit.
Did You Know? – Orangutans also have opposable thumbs and opposable big toes, and incredible upper body strength, which makes easy for them to climb as high as heights of 150 feet above the ground!
While in the exhibition you cannot help but be amazed at how graceful the orangutans are as they swing back and forth upwards of 70 feet high across the “functional forest.” Throughout the exhibit the orangutans have the freedom to go where they please or wander off to one of the three Oases where they can seek solitude from the others.
Do not miss a visit to the Efroymson Family Exploration Hub to experience first-hand the puzzle solving skills of the apes as they work together at several interactive stations. The orangutans here are into tech; in fact, they have the world’s first orangutan vending machines. And, they’re also learning new language skills on the computers in the Tim M. Solso Learning Studio. And, this is just the beginning of groundbreaking ways the orangutans at the Center will utilize technology.

UPDATES FROM THE ZOO

The Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center recently welcomed Kim, a 39-year-old orangutan, and her baby Max. They moved from the Jackson Zoo in Mississippi to Indianapolis because of the state-of-the-art facilities, expert veterinary staff, skilled ape caretakers and management philosophy.
Kim and Max have made some great improvement, and are adjusting well to their new home. For Orangutan’s the habitat is ideal because it was designed with cables, fire hoses, ladders and other features to encourage climbing. This is especially helpful for Kim, who was a bit over weight when she arrived.
Plan Your Visit To The Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center At The Indianapolis Zoo

To save on your tickets, and learn more details on the center and events at the Indianapolis Zoo and White River Gardens visit their website.

Titanic Museum Is A Timeless Treasure In Smoky Mountains

The Titanic Museum in the Smoky Mountains is a timeless treasure that takes you back in time to experience the life of those who traveled aboard this great ship. Inside, you’ll find that all of the priceless Titanic artifacts displayed in the museum were either carried from the ship and into lifeboats by passengers and crew, or were found afloat soon after the sinking and quickly salvaged by rescue boats.
Everything at Titanic Museum is done on a large scale; from the amazing fireworks displays and events to the perfect re-creation of the Titanic’s Grand Staircase. And, it is a moving experience to view the collection of more than 400 authentic Titanic artifacts on display in the museum’s 20 galleries.
It’s amazing to think that since opening that the Titanic Museum Attraction has quickly become one of the region’s premier destinations and has been voted among one of East Tennessee’s “Top Five Attractions.” John Joslyn, co-owner of the Titanic Museum Attraction shared his thoughts on the museum, “Every day the Titanic honors each and every one of them by telling their stories and bringing them to life for our guests. Our visitors truly experience what it was like onboard the world’s most luxurious ocean liner.”
In addition to being a world class museum in the truest sense of the word, Titanic Museum Attraction is also highly interactive and offers a hands-on experience for children, teenagers and adults. The ship is anchored in water to create the illusion of Titanic at sea, and a two-hour self-guided tour gives guests the sensation of sailing on the original ship’s 1912 maiden voyage. Upon entry, each guest receives a boarding pass bearing the name of an actual Titanic passenger or crew member whose fate is revealed on the Memorial Wall at tour end. Along the way, powerful emotions surface as you:

* Walk Titanic’s Grand Staircase
* Touch the frozen surface of an “iceberg”
* Feel the chill of that fateful “Starry Night”
* Study some of the largest, most detailed Titanic models ever built
* Grip the ship’s wheel and follow the Captain’s commands
* Tour world-class galleries and the rare historical artifacts they hold
* Sit in a Titanic lifeboat and listen to actual survivors tell their stories
* Send an SOS from the Marconi Wireless Room
* Test their balance while standing on mini-decks built to show the ever-steeper slope of Titanic as she sank
* Watch children eight years and younger explore the special interactive Tot-Titanic Play-and-Learn Room
* Dive to Titanic’s wreck site via spectacular underwater camera footage

The Titanic Museum offers a unique experience you’ll will never forget!

Plan Your Visit To The Titanic Museum:

The Titanic Museum Attraction is open daily, and is conveniently located to all areas of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is best to purchase tickets in advance or make reservations by calling 1-800-381-7670 or online at www.TitanicPigeonForge.com – this is especially a good idea for events during the holidays.

Pigeon Forge is closer than you think. And, to explore more area attractions, upcoming events, dining, and lodging options for your trip visit the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism website at www.MyPigeonForge.com.

Hilton Garden Inn Gatlinburg – Perfect For A Smoky Mountains Getaway



Located on River Road, the Hilton Garden Inn is just around the corner from the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. This made it easy to plan our visit to the park while enjoying a hearty breakfast cooked the way we like it at the Garden Grille. It was a buffet, and all you can eat – there was plenty of good food to pick from – more than we could eat.

The Hilton Garden Inn has a spacious lobby, so there was plenty of room to eat breakfast and talk with folks in town for the Fall Rod Run Car Show in Pigeon Forge. We all agreed that the staff at the Hilton Garden Inn were very helpful, especially when it came to directions to avoid traffic. If you’ve been here during peak seasons you know traffic can be challenging. They also have complimentary parking!
One suggestion the Hilton staff had was using the Trolley that is just a short walk away. They were right – it is an affordable way to get around Sevierville and Pigeon Forge. And, the Trolley makes is easy to get around to area festivals like the Fall Rod Run Car Show, and visit some of the exciting attractions like WonderWorks, Ober Gatlinburg, and Dollywood. 
After visiting Dollywood, and other sites it was nice to come back and relax in our cozy room. There are 118 spacious guest rooms and suites with amenities that include complimentary WiFi access, a refrigerator that is great for snacks and drinks, along with a microwave, and coffeemaker. The Gatlinburg Convention Center is within walking distance, and for those in town on business there is an over-sized work desk with a comfortable chair, in addition to a 24-hour Business Center.
Did You Know? – Hilton Garden Inn is the first in LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – Certified hotel in Tennessee, which means it has several environmentally friendly features like the indoor chemical-free saltwater pool and whirlpool.
Another advantage to staying at the Hilton Garden Inn is we could walk to local restaurants like The Park Grill. If you want a taste of the Great Smoky Mountains, The Park Grill is the ideal place for locally sourced selections like their fresh Fresh Mountain Rainbow Trout or Hickory Grilled Moonshine Chicken. Speaking of moonshine, after dinner we walked a few blocks to the Old Smoky Mountain Distillery to sample some moonshine, and we enjoyed a free concert featuring Monroeville. 

Our stay at the Hilton Garden Inn was memorable, they have a wonderful staff, and with perfect location in Gatlinburg, we were able to enjoy everything we wanted to see on this trip. We look forward to coming back soon because there’s so much more than we imagined to experience in the Gatlinburg, and the Great Smoky Mountains!


Plan Your Stay At The Hilton Garden Inn in Gatlinburg, TN

With the Hilton Honors program you can also save with a Guaranteed Discount on your trip. Members can enjoy late check-out, and earn points on other trips or airline and rail miles. To explore rates and current packages available at the Hilton Garden Inn in Gatlinburg visit their website. 

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