Where Few Divas Dare To Tread

By Josie Villa-Singleton a.k.a Travelista Mama Shelter’s unique name corresponds to its equally new concept.  Normally staying in a boutique hotel designed by  Phillipe Starck does not come cheaply, especially in a major city.  Mama Shelter changes all that.  The rates at Mama Shelter start at 79 Euros.  Anyone who’s stayed in a fine but functional Parisian budget hotel knows this rate can’t be beat. The first photo shows a typical Paris budget hotel room at a cost of around 100 Euros, the second shows the rooms at Mama Shelter. Mama Shelter showcases Phillipe Starck’s whimsical eye with graffiti grazing the ceilings and a unique mix of materials that include concrete, glass, and wood.  The eating areas combine old-school or shall I say Old World long wooden tables and benches.  The tech addicted can dine and surf at tables equipped with built in computer screens.  I-Macs, free Wi-Fi, Kiehl’s toiletries and five star bedding await you in your room.  All I can say is “bonjour, baby” and bye-bye to stiff, scratchy sheets.  You’ll find live indie rock and electronica music across the street at La Fleche D’or. So here’s the ...

By Josie Villa-Singleton a.k.a Travelista Rail Europe recently began promoting The Eurostar high speed train that runs from London to Paris. November 14 marked the start of the new service provided by Eurostar which decreases travel time by 20 minutes (at speeds of up to 186 mph), making the journey from London to Paris 2 hours and 15 minutes. Tickets for the journey vary in price ranging from $97 to $400 depending on when the ticket is booked and what class seat is selected. The cheeky “get a little Paris with your London” Rail Europe campaign touts that “…you’ll be drinking wine in Paris while the lager foam from London is still on your lips”. The accompanying website provides a cute game where you can create “mashups” of London and Parisian animated icons. You can even enter your own mashup version of London and Parisian symbols or icons for a chance to win a trip to London that includes a stay in Paris via the Eurostar of course. Trains leave from the refurbished and central (near Oxford Circus and Covent Garden) St. Pancras station in London ...

By Yeni Alvarez Last Valentine’s Day, I had a tour de force culinary experience.  It started with an invitation to a popular restaurant I had heard of, but was afraid to try.  I’m speaking of Dining in the Dark at OPAQUE. Opaque’s mission is to engage all the senses in a pitch-black dining room, while eager guests are taken from one course to the next, softly guided by their respective blind or visually impaired servers. Let me start from the beginning.  We first walked in to the lounge area and were greeted by friendly staff, who reacted as if they knew something we didn’t when we announced it was our first time.  They knew we were in for a treat. We picked our meal in the dimly lit romantic lounge and waited for our server to guide us to our table.  Behind closed curtains we entered.  Hands on my guide’s shoulder we went, slowly making our way between pockets of fading conversations in a sea of darkness. The maze ended up in a comfortable corner near the entrance to the kitchen. At this point, our ears were still getting adjusted to the mumbling, as we picked up on various voices at the same time, being ...

Title: Running with The Bulls in Pamplona Location: Pamplona, Spain Link out: Click here Description: The Pamplona festival – also known as the San Fermin Festival or Sanfermines– is held in Pamplona, Spain every year from July 6-14. The most famous part of the festival is the bull run or encierro when 12 bulls charge through the streets of the old city. Although the festival begins on July 6, the bulls do not run until July 7 and then run for 7 consecutive mornings at 8 a.m. until the end of the festival. Anyone over the age of 18 can run with the bulls and there is no charge to participate. Start Date: 2009-07-06 End Date: 2009-07-14 El festival de la corrida de toros de Pamplona - tambien conocido como el Festival de San Fermin - toma lugar en Pamplona, España anualmente en Julio.  Este año será de Julio 6 al 14.  Lo que hace famoso al festival es el "encierro" o corrida de los toros cuando sueltan a 12 toros a la carga en las viejas calles de Pamplona.  Aunque el festival comienza Julio 6, los toros no corren hasta Julio 7, y por 7 días consecutivos de las 8 a.m. hasta el fin del ...

In the mood for a little blood? Vampire-Con 2009, the world’s first convention devoted solely to Vampires is pleased to announce the Lucent Dossier Experience as they reveal their darker side at Vampirella’s Ball on Sunday, August 16, 2009. The Lucent Dossier Experience is an acclaimed underground vaudeville cirque – a bewitching alchemy of glamour, magic, and beautiful expression.  Their unique and interactive choreography, inspired costuming, original music and mystical body art are brought together by the spirited performers to create a mesmerizing high-concept spectacle of human light that casts an alluring spell over its audience. Surreal, magical, theatrical and absurd, the Lucent Dossier Experience has been called “a far superior take on circus” by The Washington Post and “a burst of energy & sexual tension” by Spin Magazine.  Lucent Dossier was a hit at Coachella Art & Music Festival, was featured in Panic! At the Disco’s video “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” and at its core is a playground for the innovative genius child in all of us. Vampire-Con swoops into Hollywood, CA for a weekend-long event beginning Friday, August 14, opening with a two-day Vampire Film Festival at the New Beverly Cinema and then flies to The Music Box Theatre @ ...