A Spectacular Christmas in New York’s

"K2T Wisata"

Are your Christmas holidays taking you anywhere near New York City? You have booked a flight to New York and a hotel in New York for this Christmas Eve and you are not sure how to celebrate it? Keep on reading, we have a great suggestion.

New York City is a place where a lot goes on all the time. The Big Apple, as it is sometimes called, is a very cosmopolitan city in which you can find, at any time, all kinds of events going on, and many that will certainly match your tastes.

A Christmas trip to New York City is something very special. The whole city changes with the Christmas lights and a special atmosphere, as New Yorkers and visitors wait for the great day to come, often accompanied by snow, Christmas songs, warm drinks, yummy food and lots of markets and stores to buy the presents for your loved ones or a treat for yourself.

Do you feel a bit overwhelmed with all the so-called “not-to-be-missed” events New York City has to offer? In that case, this time we will not be of much help, as we would like to let you know about one more very important event going on in New York City this December, for Christmas time: the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

As every year, the Radio City Music Hall puts up a special event to celebrate Christmas in New York City. The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is an enduring Christmas tradition, an annual musical stage show featuring an original musical score, as well as over 140 performers, with outstanding sets and more than 1300 magnificent costumes. This amazing Broadway show is seen every year by over two million people, both tourists and New Yorkers, who take a tour to the Radio City Music Hall to enjoy the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, one of the most watched live shows in the United States. Check availability, prices and BOOK YOUR RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR SHOW

The performance is a “revue”, which is a popular theater entertainment that consists in multiple acts combining music, singing, humorous sketches and dancing. This genre, the “revue,” first originated in the 19th century’s American melodrama and popular entertainment.

Located in midtown Manhattan, right in New York City’s Rockefeller Center, the Radio City Music Hall, also known as “the showplace of the nation” was once a leading destination for all tourism in New York City, which led to declaring it a city landmark in 1978.

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular debuted in 1933, surprising its audience with highly elaborated special effects like indoor fireworks, indoor snowfall, live animals and a Santa Claus flying above the audience. Nowadays, on its 77th edition, it is still considered an “unparalleled Christmas show” and known for its universal appeal. It is the kind of place where to take your friends, family and specially your children during your Christmas vacations in New York, as it is an experience they will enjoy and will never forget.

The star performers of this year are, same as in 1933, the Rockettes. Founded in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA in 1925, the Rockettes were originally called the “Missouri Rockettes”. They are a women’s precision dance troupe that performs, every year, on five shows a day, seven days a week. The Rockette’s most famous routine –one you have probably seen at least once on TV- is the one they include at the very end of every performance: a chorus line executing, in perfect unison, an eye-high leg kick.

The flawless precision of this dance company can be best admired in their all-times “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers”, which has become legendary. It is during this performance that the audience is taken on a magical ride to Santa Claus’s workshop in the North Pole, where they can see how playful rag dolls come to life.

Other than this performance, the Rockettes perform every year – since 1957- in the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade and the America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which took place the past November 25th. Traditionally the tree lighting ceremony, another New York City’s classic at the NBC’s Rockefeller Center, also includes a performance by the Rockettes.

Our tour in New York to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular lets you choose between six different performance times. If you are a morning person, or if you know your kids get tired in the evening, you may want to book a Matinee Performance. There are 4 options at 9:00 am, 10:00 am, 11:00 am and 2:00 pm. The remaining two show times are for the Evening Performances, which take place 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm.

In the price of the tour is included the admission fee for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and all related taxes and handling costs. Transportation is not included but, upon request, we can help you find appropriate pick up and drop off services to and from your hotel in New York City if you need them.

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular runs for 90 minutes with no intermissions. The show is already on at this time – since November 5th- in the Radio City Music Hall, and it will still be showing until December 30th, 2010. So you still have a few days. Do not miss your chance! Book your flight to New York, choose a nice hotel in New York, book your ticket for the Radio City Music Hall and get ready for a Spectacular Christmas!

Dream Voyage Aboard Disney's Newest Ship

"K2T Wisata"

The Disney Dream, the newest addition to the Disney Cruise Line, will be taking to the seas with its 4,000 passengers for the first time Jan. 26, 2011. The Maiden Voyage is almost booked to capacity. The next available cruise date is Jan. 30, 2011, but cabin reservations are going fast. This is only the beginning. Disney Cruise Line is building a fourth cruise liner with its Maiden Voyage set for April, 2012. Disney Fantasy is accepting reservations now so you can be aboard for the first of its many voyages.

Disney Dream's contruction began in March 2009 at a world-renowned German shipyard in Papenburg. Don't know where Papenburg is? It is in the upper northwest corner of Germany on the river Ems bordering the Netherlands. The ship reflects the glamour of the golden age of cruising during the 1930's. Although that means nothing to the little ones, the adults will appreciate the elegance and sophistication that was a part of the era incorporated into the ships decor. Comparing the Dream to its sister ships, Wonder and Magic, it is approximately 40% larger. Total number of beds on the Disney Dream is 5007, 1,900 more than Disney Magic or the Disney Wonder. All that additional space makes Disney Dream two decks taller and over 150 feet longer.

There is something for everyone onboard. An adults-only entertainment area called The District is home to 5 distinct lounges and nightclubs. Kids clubs, activity centers for tweens and teens, and a plethora of unique interactive programs and wondrously themed immersive spaces, musical live shows, first-run films, Digital 3-D movies and fun-filled family deck parties are all a part of the experience. To top it off, and your kids are going to love this, Disney Dream features the first water coaster at sea called "The AquaDuck". A 4-deck drop from the top of the ship that safely carries its riders over the side of the ship and back. How's that for a thrill. Not for the faint at heart or those who have a fear of heights.

So, grab those mouse ears and brush up on your Disney characters, your in for a wild ride of "can you buy me this Dad" and "let's go Mom" and "smile for the camera". At least you won't be worried about how much the food costs or trying to figure out what's left on your dining plan because it is all inclusive.

Disney Dream is scheduled to sail to Bremerhaven, where shipbuilder Meyer Werft will officially deliver the ship to Disney on Dec. 9. Final supplies will be loaded, and the remaining crew members will board the ship before it sets sail for its home in Port Canaveral, Fla. The ship is scheduled to arrive just after the New Year.

Homemade Hushpuppies

"K2T Wisata"

I received several comments about my hushpuppies when I posted that I made  them when testing my new turkey fryer. Several of you asked for the recipe and I am finally posting it. Sorry that it took me so long.

Hushpuppies are  definitely not something I grew up eating. They are a southern food for sure and are often served in restaurants in Oklahoma and other southern states.

The first few times I had them I did not really like them. They seemed very dry and not very tasty to me. What I learned though was that hushpuppies can be very good, if cooked right.

Hushpuppies are basically deep fried corn bread and corn bread can be dry and crumbly if not prepared right.

Hushpuppies are the same way. All it takes is a nice moist batter to make a good hush puppy.

My sister and brother in law were recently visiting and I discover that my brother in-law loves hushpuppies.  My sister and I grew up in Oregon, but my brother in-law grew up in Texas, so he knows about good hush puppies.

My husband and kids love hushpuppies, so I decided that since my brother in law enjoyed them so much it would be a perfect time make some.

The turkey fryer worked great, but really you can use any deep fryer or even a pan with oil in it. You are basically frying them just like you would any other fried food.

What are your thoughts on hushpuppies? Have you ever had them? Do you like them?

Hushpuppies

• 2 cups cornmeal ( You want to use fine cornmeal or they will be gritty. I do not recommend the stone ground cornmeal for these as it will effect the texture.)
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 3/4 cup canned creamed corn
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 egg
• oil for frying

Whisk together the cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
Stir in corn, milk, and egg and stir just until combined.
Heat oil to 350 degrees.
Drop batter by the spoonful into hot oil. Do not over fill the pan or they will not cook as well. It will take several batches to cook all of these.
Fry hush puppies for about 5 minutes. If you are frying these on the stove top you may need to turn them while frying in order to brown all sides.
Enjoy!

the Café la Miell

"K2T Wisata"

The Café la Miell is situated in Niihama in Ehime, Japan. It  lacked the space needed to accommodate the number of daily customers.  To combat this shortcoming, the owner wished to open a new café across the street that would be able to hold 80 customers.  To create the new Café la Miell, the designers -Suppose Design Office  utilized the one meter drop of the site so that instead of having a standard two story café, as the client requested, the café would become a split level space with one floor at the building’s base level, and one at street level.

Since the café needed parking, the wall facing the cars is completely opaque, yet, as customers turn the corner, the café’s dominant concrete components part to allow light to flood into the seating area.  From the inside, the dialogue between the heavy concrete and the open glass creates a pleasant setting to enjoy a coffee.

Vitra’s Home

"K2T Wisata"

Vitra’s Home Collection presents their new showroom in Weil Am Rhein, Germany. The eccentricity and modernistic structure was designed by architects Herzog & de Meuron. Vitra House is a part of the ever-expanding Vitra Campus that started as an industrial park with the manufacturing facilities. The furniture’s brand already features buildings by Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid, Tadao Ando and etc.

 

Vitra House is geared toward the general public. The five-story structure is comprised of 12 separate houses and will display products that are designed primarily for the private home. For more information and photos click here

 

apartment block

"K2T Wisata"

In 2005 architects Shusaku Arakawa + Madeline Gins designed a building of nine apartments known as Reversible Destiny Lofts. These colorful apartments are located in the Mikata area of Tokyo. This creative architecture is structured by many spheres, cylinders and cubes stacked up like bricks and much likes the very popular Nintendo DS game “Brain Age”.

Resembling a combination of Legos, the apartments feature outlets that need to be pulled down from the ceiling, rainbow-hued walls, exits that you have to crouch to use, and circular windows. The interior is designed so that people can experience body-activating slopes and bumps, a contrary condition to the world trend of structure. The project is based on a theory called “Reversible Destiny” which aims to change the mortal destiny of human beings through interaction with our surroundings.