Waltz sounds and champagne spirits this winter over 300 classic Viennese ball nights will provide the perfect opportunity to dance and party at some of the city’s most attractive locations. The undisputed highlights of the Viennese ball season are the Vienna Philharmonic Ball at the Musikverein (Jan 20, 2011, www.wienerphilharmoniker.at), the Coffee House Owner’s Ball at the Hofburg (Feb 25, 2011, www.kaffeesiederball.at) and the Opera Ball at the State Opera House (Mar 3, 2011, www.wiener-staatsoper.at). Continue reading →

A night of Austrian waltzing tradition to the soundtrack of the great entertainers awaits at the 41^stKaiserball on 31 December 2010. This year’s event, themed “That’s Entertainment”, promises well-loved melodies from artists including Frank Sinatra and Robbie Williams. Also Maya Hakvoort, who played the leading lady in the Austrian musical “Elisabeth”, will perform at midnight. Continue reading →

This Victorian castle resort and National Historic Landmark, located just 90 miles north of New York City has more than 40 theme programs throughout the year, an award-winning eco-friendly 30,000-square foot Spa (voted #3 Hotel Spa in the United States and Canada byTravel + Leisure magazine’s Worlds Best Awards), and an abundance of outdoor activities including hiking on 85 miles of trails, mountain biking, tennis, golf, rock-climbing, ice-skating, cross-country skiing, and more (seasonally available). Continue reading →

The Austrian Tourist Office presents the inaugural DANCE AUSTRIA!, fun evening of a dazzling collection of original performances by Austria and New York’s most gifted dancers and musicians. The extravaganza will include entertainment by… Continue reading →

It turned out to be a metatarsal stress fracture. A broken bone in my foot. But a few days before my long-planned trip to Las Vegas, when my foot all of a sudden started bothering me, I had a decision to make. It wasn’t until the day after I came back from the trip that an x-ray revealed the hairline fracture in the long bone connected to my second toe.

But back to the beginning of the story.  The story of limping around Las Vegas. I can’t think, off the top of my head, of another city where “never leaving your hotel” still equals a good time. Continue reading →

An easy weekend getaway, with lots of opportunities for dancing, is Mount Airy Casino  Resort, just 75 minutes from NYC.

There’s a nightclub, a lounge and a piano bar, all with great dancing, and if that won’t give you your fill of dancing in two days, pick the special doo-wop weekend or the Learn to Salsa Fridays weekends or the PBS Ballroom show taping weekend, and you’ll be in cha cha heaven. Continue reading →

Before my most recent trip to Madrid, my favorite city in the world after my hometown of New York City, I did a little research to discover where to go ballroom, swing and salsa dancing. I quickly found a nascent but growing scene of aficionados. And I joined them.

When I’m in Madrid, I channel my inner Madrilena. I go to the movies (in Spanish! without subtitles!), shop at the Corte Ingles and now, go out dancing. Continue reading →

I’ll tell you what. I wish every city I visited had a place like the Cicada Club, a Sunday night supper club happening at the Oviatt building on Olive St. in Los Angeles.

I am so so glad I found out about this venue for my trip to LA and we were able to take in  the fabulous dine and dance and show experience.

The Oviatt building is a 1928 art deco former department store, with original Lalique decorative glass and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and now an event space. My cousins said they went to a wedding there. It has its own myspace page and The Cicada Club has a facebook fan club. Continue reading →

Spent the weekend in Reading, PA at the Mid Atlantic Air Museum’s   World War II weekend, not for the vintage plane rides or military memorabilia show but to dance to the Swing Fever Band on Saturday night, their Glen Miller style band. Everyone was dressed in uniform and/ or 40s dresses, hats and gloves. I wore a vintage blouse, a swing skirt and red red lipstick. Next time, I’ll remember to add short gloves, a hat with a veil and seamed stockings, maybe a flower in my hair. Note to self: Ask mom for the mink shrug, the one which closes around the neck with the mink head biting its tail. How could I have forgotten to at least add a pearl necklace! Continue reading →

I recently sailed on NCL’s Norwegian Spirit on a 7 day cruise from NY Harbor to New England and Canada with calls at Martha’s Vineyard, Boston, Halifax and Saint John followed by one day at sea on the return to NY.

The Spirit, a 1966 passenger ship that joined the NCL fleet (of 12 ships) in 2004 (from Star Cruise line previously in service as SuperStar Leo,) takes its relaxed attitude seriously. Several passengers I spoke with cited the “casual atmosphere” as what attracted them to the line and keeps them coming back. Continue reading →