travel

  Nearly everyone enjoys magic. When done well. As a journalist I’ve covered many such shows, for decades, including those at Los Angeles’ Magic Castle and the late, great, Harry Blackstone, Jr.’s stage shows, to name a few. The best word to encapsulate those experiences is: delightful. Magic shows have the power to lift one’s spirits in powerful ways to relax and allow the wonder of the unknown to transport the audience to another realm. Segerstrom Hall, Segerstrom Centerfor the Arts, Costa Mesa, California, is featuring a magic show, The Illusionists –Live From Broadway. I couldn’t wait to see it. It spotlights seven key performers and a bevy of female and male attendants. There are plenty of stunning effects, but some of the performers reek of the dark side, which is apparently their schtick, but is a long way from tuxedo-clad practitioners of yore. From the onset there seemed to be a current that was uncomfortable to me. Too much grittiness, hint of violence and some things downright creepy. The show runs from Feb. 3, to 7th. Then moves on to the Pantages Theater, Los Angeles. In case anyone wonders – what is the difference between an illusion and a trick I’ll offer this: usually an illusion conjures a back-story, is complicated, with some surprise woven into it…Such as Andrew ...

ENTER TO WIN A TRIP!  An all-expense paid trip to the Fabulous Food show in Cleveland, OH! Got a funny travel video or photo on hand?  Submit it and you could win a trip to the Fabulous Food Show in Cleveland, Ohio, courtesy of Orbitz, A Fork On The Road and the Fabulous Food Show. Here’s how to enter: 1. Follow @MarkDeCarlo on Twitter and @MarkDeCarloTV on Instagram. 2. Tweet @MarkDeCarlo on Twitter and @MarkDeCarloTV on Instagram your funny travel photo or video (max 30 seconds in length)  both with #AFOTR to qualify to win. Photo or video with the most likes and retweets will win the trip! 3. Enter as many photos and videos as you like with #AFOTR.  All contest entries are due by 11:59pm on Friday, November 6, 2015. Winner will be notified on November 7, 2015, for travel to Cleveland the following weekend. Must be eighteen (18) or older to win. Restrictions apply. SHARE with THIS LINK! [soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/users/41358123" params="auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%" height="450" iframe="true" /] OFFICIAL RULES NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OPEN TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES (EXCLUDING PUERTO RICO THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS, AND OTHER COMMONWEALTHS, TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS), 13 YEARS OR OLDER. 1. By entering this CONTEST (the "Contest") and accepting the terms herein, ...

by Angela Rocco DeCarlo Flying low over the Chicago lakefront kindles pride and joy at once again returning home. I always think: Leonardo DaVinci would have given anything to be in my seat. Poor thing...he believed it was possible, but missed the chance by 400 years. First-time visitors to Chicago may be unprepared for the splendor seen from an airplane seat on the way to O'Hare. And that is nothing compared to the delights of Michigan Avenue and the sprawling museum campus along the lakefront with the Field Museum of Natural History, Museum of Science and Industry, Adler Planetarium, Aquarium and the jewel in the tiara, the Art Institute of Chicago at Michigan and Monroe. The breathtaking expanse of blue Lake Michigan waters cheek to jowl with sandy beaches, Navy Pier, all crowned with beautiful evocative skyscrapers is nothing short of thrilling, even for a native, currently living in exile in the shadow of Disneyland. Having covered travel, with my column, The Business Traveler, and other articles, I've seen my share of cities in America and Europe...and in my view, none can compare to the visual beauty of Chicago's combination of open skies, majestic buildings and startling quality of summer light, akin to ...

By Angela Rocco DeCarlo When living in Chicago I covered California more frequently than other venues. Health spas. Theme Parks. Beaches. The entire state seemed to be a playland where the perfect entertainment could be located and devoured. Loved it. Now thatI’m living in exile in Southern California it is fun to display the land’s end treasures for Midwesteran pals who come to visit. When my friend, Dianne, and her family visited me recently, I wanted to give her a taste of Orange County, California, to take back against the next nasty Chicago winter. What could be better than lunch on the beach and a shopping spree on Balboa Island? As a Chicagoan I’m fascinated by the surfing culture of the Pacific Ocean beaches. I’ve been to the charming surfing museums in Huntington Beach and get a kick out of watching surfers calculating waves to catch the best ride back onto the sand. In fact, I’m still agog by my son’s next door neighbor’s garage which houses endless racks of wetsuits, ...

HOW TO MAKE TURKISH COFFEE You will need to have a Turkish coffee pot, a spoon, sugar and coffee that has been ground to a fine powder. Although most people use the Arabica beans, it really doesn't matter what kind of coffee you use. However, it should be a medium roast, because you will actually roast it again while making it. You can get the Turkish coffee in several different ways: A. Purchase a special Turkish Grinder (regular electric grinders with blades spinning at a high speed will NOT do the job) and grind the coffee yourself. We do have these available at our store if you are interested. B. Grind it at your local grocery store! Yes, that's right. You may not have noticed, but most grinders (99.9%) at your local grocery store in the U.S. have a Turkish coffee setting! Just select the "Turkish Coffee" setting and grind your beans. C. Buy it ready made from Turkish Coffee World. We sell it in our store but you can also find it at most Mediterranean stores if you live in a big city. Preparation Measure the amount of cold water you will need. Place your pot of water on the stove and turn the heat to ...

While visiting the marvelous and glittering Los Angeles, there are also places where all the hustle and buzz of the city can almost be damped by the soothing waves of the Pacific Ocean. One of the best areas to settle down and enjoy the charm of Los Angeles is Santa Monica, a beachfront area in the western part of the city. To truly experience Santa Monica, one of the best accommodation options presents itself under the name of Le Meridien Delfina Hotel, a trademark of luxury and elegance in Santa Monica, California. Located close to the ocean and near some of the most exciting attractions in the area, including the Santa Monica Pier, Getty Museum and Venice Beach, this hotel is a perfect choice for people who are looking for excellent services and a charming atmosphere.  Mark and I were happy to find this boutique gem over a weekend of lazy getaway from ourselves. Among the wonderful amenities and services available in this exclusive Santa Monica hotel, the spacious and pleasantly furnished rooms, the famous restaurants, the heated swimming pool, the valet parking options, the fitness room and the business facilities are just some of the exquisite features of Le Meridien Delfina… ...

  As the countdown continues to New Orleans Jazz Fest, I can already taste those delicious creatures in my mouth.. I'm talking about crawfish...  And Bevi Seafood Co, is teasing my taste buds ever so with their latest post on how to eat those yummy critters.  Take a look: "The beads have been swept away and the French Quarter is the cleanest it has been all year. Mardi Gras is over and the city of New Orleans is in observance of Lent. Even if you are not Catholic, everyone in the city abides by one distinctly Catholic rite: seafood on Friday’s. Living next to the Gulf of Mexico, this religious sacrament is not necessarily a sacrifice for New Orleanians; instead it has morphed into a celebration of family, food, and the traditions of South Louisiana. If you don’t have a crawfish boil to go to on Friday, stop by Bevi Seafood Co. We’d be happy to have you at ours. Though, there is some crawfish etiquette we hope you’ll follow as you learn why New Orleans is the only city that celebrates the most somber time in the Catholic calendar. Crawfish boil etiquette from Bevi Seafood Co. Don’t eat on the obituaries. Most crawfish ...

I've been a long time fan of Henry Winkler, ever since I saw him on Happy Days and The Fonz actually responded to my fan mail. :) Today I came across an American Airlines commercial featuring a piano bar in economy class (this was before the ripped it out to cram more an more seats and make more and more money). Gone are the days of live music in the air, and the days of treating people like human beings and not cattle.  Now that we have more options, the little details like ambiance lights, no-fee extra leg room, and our own little tv with satellite included, keeps most of us savvy travelers running to Virgin America and JetBlue.  Buh-bye AA! Did they not realize the draw of the piano bar alone could be a step towards persuading us to go back to flying American?

Space Travel with Virgin Galactic's Steve Attenborough and MIT's Professor Sara Seager! https://soundcloud.com/aforkontheroad/space-travel Space. The Final Frontier. This week on A Fork on the Road Show, Yeni and Mark countdown to consumer space travel with Stephen Attenborough from Virgin Galactic, then trip out with NASA’s #1 Planet Finder, MIT Professor Sara Seager to talk about the long term future of humans traveling to far off Earth-like Exoplanets. Blast off with our annual Space episode!

Cupcakes are an easy sell. Add Nutella, and they’re a hit. Best of all, swirling the Nutella directly into the white batter before baking creates swirly, chocolatey tops that have no need for frosting – saving you a step. And if you have kids who like to lick the frosting off their cupcakes and leave a sticky stump, the Nutella is baked right in. Self-frosting Nutella Cupcakes 1/4 cup butter, at room temperature 1/4 cup mild vegetable oil 1 cup sugar 2 large eggs 1 tsp. vanilla 1 3/4 cup all purpose flour 2 tsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp. salt 1/2 cup milk or half & half 1/2 cup(ish) Nutella Preheat the oven to 350F. In a small bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder and salt; add half to the butter mixture and beat on low speed just until combined. Add the milk and beat just until combined, then add the remaining flour mixture and beat just until combined.In a large bowl, beat the butter, oil and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth. Divide the batter between 12 paper-lined muffin cups. Spoon the Nutella into a small microwave-safe dish and microwave it for 10-20 seconds, until softened but not liquefied. Drop ...