July, 2010

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Jul 10

The Colorado Ballet in Denver

Denver is known for a quite a few reasons and while the most famous of them have to do with either its geography or major sports teams, the city itself is incredibly full of great cultural elements and fabulous entertainment options. It is not only the largest city in the state of Colorado, but it is also one of the top tourist destinations, surpassing even some of the most famous ski resorts. The best Denver hotels provide luxury accommodations and are also excellent information resources on the top entertainment options and major attractions in the city.

The Colorado Ballet is based in Denver and is currently celebrating its 50th season. This is an impressive milestone for any establishment and when it’s arts related it also testifies to the quality and standard of excellence it presents. The anniversary also emphasizes the fact that it is one of Denver’s oldest arts establishments. It was originally established as an educational institution and was founded by two Denver natives Lillian Covillo and Freidann Parker .

Through the decades it has expanded and become the incredible performance based organization it is today and retains its focus on training and educating new generations of dancers. The school was actually established in 1950 and began presenting performances a decade later. The initial intention behind the early shows was to present a showcase performance for the students and the first public performance occurred in 1960.

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Jul 10

Phoenix Coffee Hangouts

No big city should be allowed to exist if it doesn’t have a coffee shop that’s open late. There are always the 24 restaurants and donut shops that can provide a safe haven for those who like to peek into the world when no one else is looking, but a true coffee house is something more. It’s not only an alternative to the bar scene, but it’s part of a tradition that’s all over Europe and Latin America, where intellectuals and artists can go to discuss their theories and obsessions.

Increasingly, the coffee house is also a friendly neighborhood hangout, where like-minded people can gather, people can hold business meetings, and those who work on laptops can come to be around other people, even if they are just focusing on their work. They’re also a nice haven for out of town guests, looking to soak in the local charm while enjoying a coffee and a pastry in the middle of their sight-seeing. For all the luxury hotels Arizona ‘s prided itself in for all these years, the coffee house has just started making waves.

In the 80s, there were a few places that people could go, like the now-defunct Willow House, but these were few and far-between. The anarchist-collectives running them weren’t always organized, either, logically, and it was hit and miss whether they’d be open. But now there are plenty to choose from, and the offerings are really top notch.

Fair Trade Cafe is a great example of a coffee house embedded in the community. They do offer only fair trade, hence the name, and it’s roasted by a group in Tucson. The clientele enjoys the friendly atmosphere, and it’s a nice place to get some work done, as well as find out what’s happening in the local community. Lola’s has two locations in downtown Phoenix, and both are lovely spaces with equal parts funk and ambience. The baristas pick the music, so spending time here is also an education in musical tastes. Lux , like Lola’s, roasts their own, and they use a machine that roasts only 7 pounds at a time. The result is a splendid cup, and the baked goods are out of this world. Lots of great choices.

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Jul 10

Who Needs Beaches When There’s Rock Climbing in Miami?

The X-treme Rock Climbing Center in Miami, is the perfect activity for any visitor, whether from out of the country, or out of state it’s hard to stay in shape while playing hard in Miami. Unless you like rock-climbing, then this is a perfect opportunity for you; the X-treme Rock Climbing is one of the best places to climb in the US. It has a variety of difficulty levels placed all over their 14,000 square foot facility. Rock climbing will take you out of your routine workout doldrums and bring in excitement.

The facility has many amenities, including top rope and lead climbing, textured climbing walls, and a great bouldering area. You can also sign up for yoga classes, use their wireless Internet connection, and before climbing, warm-up at their fitness center. The center also offers beginners and advance classes as well as rock climbing clinics. Once there, you will find an on-site pro shop, affordable equipment rentals and there’s plenty of supervision on hand. There’s something for everyone, so bring the entire family or just bring yourself. You’ll find the roofs and overhangs add a nice challenge if you’re an experienced climber, but their USA Climbing Certified route setters are there especially for the beginner. They also offer finger boards and campus boards for those who want to build finger strength.

Located at 13972 Southwest 139th Court, X-treme Rock Climbing Center is conveniently located near any hotel Miami USA offers its international guests. You’ll leave the center excited and wanting to come back everyday you’re here in Miami. If you’ve been to X-treme before, come back again, they change the routes frequently, so there is something new for regulars to climb. Hours are Monday and Wednesday – 3pm to 10pm; Tuesday and Thursday – 11am to 10pm; Friday 11am to 11pm; Saturday – 10am to 10pm and on Sunday – 10am to 8pm.