Jessie Voigts's Blog, page 228
April 26, 2016
Exposing children to the arts - An Open Letter to Fine Art Museum Directors
On a recent trip to Florence, I had the pleasure of sitting down for a cappuccino with two American expat friends of mine. Both lead guided tours on the art and history of Florence and teach courses at the local universities. Our meeting spot, the coffee bar at the Palazzo Strozzi museum, turned out to be a popular place for the Florence museum elite. With only a bachelor’s degree in women’s studies, I felt a bit intimidated, but I never felt out of m...
Enjoying The Great Outdoors With Elegance
Planning for a vacation is an exciting time for everyone, whether it’s for one or for a family. For some, it happens once a year, for those lucky ones, it happens more often, either way, thinking where to go and when to go is fun to do. What is not as exciting is the actually planning and getting everything ready, as far as searching for the right location, how to get there, the cost, or wondering if the hotel or resort will be as nice as it looks o...
April 25, 2016
Pursuing Happiness: A Documentary about the Happiest People You Know
Americans spend billions of dollars a year trying to get happy – but what is the secret to actually finding happiness? How do America's most positive people actually fulfill the "pursuit of happiness" that is promised to us as a right? Documentarian Adam Shell ("Put the Camera on Me" and "Finding Kraftland") wanted to find the answer – so he asked.
Adam says that the gap between our desire for happiness and our failure to find actual examples of happ...
April 24, 2016
Celebrate National Barbecue Month with Brazilian Churrasco
For Evandro Caregnato, grilling isn’t just something he does—it’s part of who he is. Born in southern Brazil, Caregnato grew up watching his father, Davino, prepare skewers of marinated meat, peppered with fresh herbs, before being placed over an open fire.
Called churrasco in Brazil, this cooking method is passed down in families, not culinary schools. It’s a casual style that begs families and friends to come together to sample different skewered meat...
Are You Ready for an Education Abroad?
By working as a student advisor for predominantly Chinese international students at an ESL school, I have been exposed to a different world I never envisioned. I thought I could relate to the students on a deeper level, because I came to the states from Mainland China about seven years ago as an international student. However, the comportment of Chinese international students has changed so much in the past decade. According to SEVIS r...
Florida Culture for the Week of April 25, 2016 by Josh Garrick
Florida Culture for the Week of April 25, 2016 by Josh Garrick
NOW to May 8 – Mad Cow’s 14th Annual Cabaret Festival
Yes, Virginia -- America’s definitely got talent. Over the course of 17 days, Mad Cow Theatre will host 32 performances, ranging from jazz to pop to Broadway and more. Headliners for the 14th annual Cabaret Festival include Broadway star Andrea McArdle, the very first Annie in the Broadway show of the same name; a cappella sensation t...
Visiting the small fishing village of Las Galeras, Dominican Republic
Las Galeras is a beautiful town on the coast of The Dominican Republic. It has sparkling oceans, sandy beaches, and small restaurants. Every afternoon, you can see local fisherman arrive on the shore with their catch.
Children splash in the water and play in the sand. A few places along the shore serve snacks and drinks. It is a great place to spend a vacation and relax.
I spent a month in Las Galeras, and one of the things that I enjoyed was the...
April 23, 2016
Hooked: Behind the Scandals - Nicky Guadagni Brings Seven Notorious Women to Life at Stratford's SpringWorks Festival
As a Dora-Award winning actor, Nicky Guadagni is no stranger to centre stage. In her one-woman show Hooked, all eyes are certainly on her and audiences are utterly captivated by her “exquisite, note-perfect performance” (Brian D. Johnson, Maclean’s Magazine).
In this production – adapted from Canadian poet Carolyn Smart’s book of the same name – Guadagni plays no less than seven scandalous women. All of them hooked on love, liquor, or drugs – someti...
Forty Things I’ve Learned in Italy
After reading Diana Baur’s post entitled Forty Things I’ve Learned in Italy, I couldn’t help but be inspired to write my own.
You see, Italy has this way about her. Those of us that have fallen under her spell have a certain understanding of each other. Perhaps, you have fallen too.
San Gimignano Air
1. There is no real need for a clothes dryer.
2. It is possible to have a full-body culinary experience.
3. You can never have too many vowels.
4. The...
April 22, 2016
How to Shop Online To Give Back to Global Artisans
When we travel, we always buy art and textiles from local artists. It's one of the best souvenirs (besides experiences), and really brings back your travel experiences, when you're at home. But what about when you can't always travel - or need a special gift from a place, and aren't headed there soon? I can recommend our friends Bret and Mary at Green Global Travel (you already love their site) - today they are launching a Fair Trade Boutiq...
