Snowfall Record in NYC

It took, what felt like hours, to decide if I should drive or take the train to NYC today for the NY Times Travel Show this weekend. The big winter storm discouraged my buddy Chick from driving south but not me. Regardless of the warnings and accidents, I was on my way by 2pm and made Beacon for a connecting Metro-North train ride by 4 pm.

Beacon got pummeled in several feet of snow with cop cars and emergency crews doing their best to help dig out the city. Tree limbs hanged dead down on live electric wires and cars were buried so deep it was hard to tell if they were vehicles or snowdrifts.

The train proved the wisest form of transportation. It wasn't a second late and I sat next to a friendly woman from Manila who told me her life's story. She also gave me a fabulous description of her favorite Filipino restaurant in Queens and what I should order if I go.

Once at Grand Central Terminal I was told that the monthly record for snowfall that had stood for 114 years had been broken in the last 2 days. Manhattan had received 36.9 inches, the most ever for a single month.

I hurled my 20 pound backpack over my shoulder and trekked northward. I was determined to walk 40 blocks to get my exercise in in lieu of my nightly run.

I almost always stay with the same friends while in the city, my favorites being a Doctor/Anesthesiologist couple on the Upper East Side with two young kids that love card tricks and Italian food.

Walking from Grand Central 40 blocks proved treacherous. Stupidly, I wore thin canvas sneakers but dodged deep puddles and jumped snowbanks until the last five blocks when I slipped and got soaked. I felt so smug avoiding the worst of it until that happened. Nobody should venture to NYC in February without Mukluks.



During my trek, I remembered why this city survives as well as it does. It has a wonderful sense of humor. Even in the worst of snow storms someone found the energy and good nature to build a little snowman and seat him at a bus stop. Restaurant owners did the same by turning Frosty into an advertisement for a fine dining establishment.

Finally, after a 4 hour journey and several layers of wet clothes, I met up with my friends at my scheduled arrival. Not a minute shy but a few seconds early. The small dryer in their beautiful apartment was a blessing in disguise.

Now, onto the New York Times Travel Show in the morning. Check back soon.

Nunzio and Vitale Tie the Knot

ALL NEW POSTS HAVE MOVED HERE.

Anytime I've videotaped a wedding I've begged for this to happen - the cake to be smooshed between the faces of both parties. Sometimes newlyweds need to break the formality of the moment and just have fun. Of course, none of the couples I worked with ever did.

Nor I have been to a wedding where the maid of honor is 8 months pregnant, the parish priest gets drunk, a strip girl is invited as a guest to the father of the groom or lines of cocaine are sucked up by the cousins.

Since opening on February 14th, 1988 in New York City, Tony n' Tina's Wedding has performed in over 100 cities worldwide including Japan, Australia and many European cities. With the help of local actors the off-Broadway show is now playing in Schenectady at the Proctors Theater.

This performance is the ultimate experience in audience roll-playing. Not knowing this in advance was detrimental. I mistakenly wore jeans and sneakers, went alone and ate a full meal before I left home. But Mrs. Vitale, Tina's mom did not reprimand me for my dress and I made friends by sneaking a smoke outback with the groom's best man. The flaming videographer loved my hair and necklace and Sister Albert Maria made us chime in with "Jesus is Just Alright With Me."

This show is definitely over-the-top, middle fingers are flying, the MC tells dirty jokes, the best man drops his drawers while his date ducks under the table, the groomsmen peel off their shirts to dance the YMCA and Tina's ex-boyfriend crashes the party. This is an absolutely crazy, out-of-control, hilarious good time for mature audiences only.

The Biggest Travel Show of the Year

After another quick assignment here in Buffalo it's back to NYC for the New York Travel Show. This is a must-see for fans wanting to meet travel tv personalities like Andrew Zimmer, Samatha Brown and Rick Steves.

Last year, I got the chance to shake hands with authors Patricia Schultz and Marie Javins. This year I'll be bringing copies of their books, "One Thousand Places to See Before You Die" and "Stalking the Wild Dik-Dik" for both women to sign.

Besides familiar faces you're sure to learn from a trade day schedule of conferences, workshops and the show floor itself with over 150 countries represented. There are seminars to introduce you travel agency owners, managers, line agents and meeting planners.

Tip: If you're planning to travel to Africa this year (or any year) there are dozens of travel agents with photos, slides and discounts for the Dark Continent. Some on site-specials can only be found at the Travel Show so fork over the $20 at the door and get yourself a front row seat into the travel secrets of industry gurus.

The Year of the Tiger

Every year Lois of Greenfield Center invites 40 friends to her beautiful home to celebrate the Chinese New Year. It's a reunion dinner to usher in wealth, happiness, and good fortune for all.

Lois decorates the kitchen in bright red hanging lanterns and mini dragon party favors. Tsingtao beer and rice wine flow easily between bites of dry noodles and spring rolls. Families bring their little ones to tear through the house scaring the wits out of the growing guppies in Lois’s aquarium.

The cooking process is done in record time with the help of two gigantic restaurant-size cooking woks. Friends pitch in mixing up dishes of classical Chicken Chop Suey with seasoned oil, bean sprouts, green peppers, water chestnuts, fresh mushrooms, bamboo shoots, bunches of bok choy, and, of course, shredded fresh ginger root. Sticky white rice tops off the delicious entree.

There is but one caveat - chopsticks. You need to know how to use chopsticks. But, that's a bonus in my book because the chewing tempo slows allowing everyone a chance to digest their food and share in conversation. The woman to my right parties with pop-singer Pink and on my left, another gal can't get enough of NPR's Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! with Peter Sagal. I was in good company.

Party Time in the French Quarter

While in Vancouver, B.C. I overheard several locals speaking French. That surprised me because I thought Montreal and Quebec City were the only Canadian cities with a large francophone population. Apparently not. I read recently that Vancouver has over 63,000 residents whose first language is French and another 300,000 who speak it as a second language.

It was last summer and ever-so briefly when I discovered a busy road under a concrete bridge on an island called Granville. I sort-of just stumbled into the area but was glad I did. The arts, culture and foodie community (lots of al fresco dining) was just what I was looking for and not finding in the Gaslight or Heritage Districts.

Bilingual Granville is currently the home of a lively $4 million French Quarter set up specifically for athletes and visitors to the Olympic Games. Construction crews were working on an additional ferry stop for commuters when I was there. There are four big circus tents with entertainment, a food showcase and a sports bar thriving at triple capacity now through Feb. 28th.

If any of my readers are there and dare to contribute party-time photos, I'd gladly post them here.

Flower Power at the Olympics

While traveling through Vancouver last year I picked up three little stuffed Olympic mementos - mascots Quatchi, Sumi and Miga. They made adorable gifts. The red knitted mittens with the Canadian maple leaf was also an ideal souvenir.

But, it turns out that the most cherished keepsake at the Olympics Games comes with petals and stems. It's the hypericum berries and green spider mum bouquets with monkey grass that represent the true glory of the games.

For these simple arrangements are made by women with physical and mental disabilities, alcohol and drug problems and others with a history of abuse. When these women see their creations in the hands of winning Olympians, they too feel a sense of pride, achievement and confidence and perhaps even a second chance at life.

For more information on this story, read the news clips at Just Beginnings.

A Traveler's Cafe

Is it too late to mention all the wonderful places that my friends over at GoNomad visited in 2009? I hope not because here's the link to some of their experiences in countries like Australia, Brazil, France, Chile and more. While you're at it, bookmark their blogs for ideas and photos where you too can travel in 2010.

If you're heading on a day trip to Deerfield, Massachusetts, 20 miles north of Northampton, do stop by the GoNomad Cafe and say hello to Max Hartshorne. His cafe is a fixture for locals looking to hear stories of adventure, check out the latest photos of Tanzania and Kilimanjaro on the walls and enjoy a fresh maple pumpkin latte. It's also a wi-fi friendly zone with computers if you don't have a laptop.

Stop Excessive Profits for Insurance Companies

There's still plenty of fight left in the 70 or so advocates for health care that rallied in downtown Albany today. Armed with banners, signs and stories citizens from all over New York State gathered at Westminster Presbyterian on Chestnut Street to march south to the headquarters of the New York Health Plan Association on State Street. We chanted slogans like "What do we want? Health care for all!"

Young and old, insured and uninsured, all raised their signs and voices high hoping to be heard by greedy profit takers inside 90 State Street. A NY study recites that the top five for-profit insurance companies (including NY Health Plan) broke records in profits in 2009 while cutting off coverage for their members.

Another study shows that health insurance lobbyists have been shamelessly spreading lies about the 'prior approval' bill that aims to prevent unnecessary insurance rate increases.

More visuals of the gathering check out my FLICKR healthcare page.

Varenka Highlights

Acrobatics at the Opalka Gallery

Alexy performs a difficult move during the Albany Tula Alliance Valentines Banquet Fundraiser at the Opalka Gallery on the Sage College campus. As you may have read, both Alexy and Misha (playing accordion) along with two girls from "Var'enka" group stayed with me this week. It's been quite the adventure.

The Opalka Gallery is a wonderful space for showing videos, looking at art, watching a performance and mingling with guests. The vaulted gallery accommodated about 60 attendees last night that came to enjoy wine, hor'dourves and Russian entertainment.

As I took photos I could hear a gentleman behind me claiming that this was the best performance he'd ever seen! Another gal with Russian roots drove all the way from Pittsfield, Massachusetts to meet new faces and watch the show.

I showcased a 20 minute program on the big screen that Benita Zahn and I shot for WMHT a few years back. It won a NY State Emmy Nomination in 2008.

A beautiful stainless steal authentic Russian Samovar was raffled off. Our own board member, Mary Emerson took home the prize. Cookies, coffee and green tea wrapped up the evening.

Celebrities with Heavy Accents

This dancing bear was left without a cave to crawl into after the Russian Winter Festival yesterday so I let him hibernate at my place. A Russian accordion player named Misha also needed space so he too took an extra bed.

My home is quickly turning into a favorite pit-stop for wayward Russians but I'm truly enjoying their company. Over a table of pepperoni pizza and Russian moonshine, I learned how surprisingly talented my new guests are.

Misha and Alexy (the bear) work together for a world renowned dance group called Barynya. If fact, Misha (Mikhail Smirnov) founded the group in 1991 at age 24. It's flourished into a traveling performance troupe featuring Russian, Cossack, Ukrainian, Jewish and Russian Gypsy traditional dancing.

Music from alien instruments like the balalaika, garmoshka accordion and Gypsy guitar are also played. Barynya has performed in the prestigious Carnegie Hall, the United Nations, the Smithsonian Institute and the Russian Embassy in Washington D.C. The group performs tumbles, jumps, spins, splits, leaps and kicks with the greatest of ease.

So popular are they that they were showcased on "Superstars of Dance" on NBC last year. Misha was one of the judges for a season.

To view more photos of the event, click here.

Russian Winter Festival Kicks Off at 10am

They arrived by bus from NYC yesterday and jumped right back into action. Tanya rushed them to Watervliet school to perform for the students. Then they returned to my place, ironed their dresses and were rushed to Saratoga Springs for the annual "Dance Flurry."

I'm talking about my Russian guests, Olga and Izika, two of eight semi-professional dancers from the town of Tula, Russia. They call themselves "Varen'ka" and will again repeat their national dance performance at today's second annual Russian Winter Festival at the Washington Ave. Armory.

Skip breakfast this morning and try some warm blini pancakes, sweet-scented barankas and nut and honey pies. For more information on this fabulous cultural event, go to The New Russian Center website.

Put PilotGirl Productions to Work

With so many dozens of production companies in the Capital Region it's becoming increasingly difficult to stand out from the crowd. Combine that with an ongoing recession, PilotGirl Productions is really feeling the pinch this winter. I loathe the drive to NYC every week and parking my car in worrisome places and asking friends to take me in but it's the only way to make a buck.

But Empire State Film Production Credit program in NYC increases work for all. It gives refundable film production tax credit of 30 percent for big tv series like Fringe, Gossip Girl and Law and Order. And, the Made in New York Incentive Program provides an additional 5 percent tax credit for qualified productions shot in New York City. Benefits include free permits in all five boroughs, a concierge service, hotel discounts and no charge for police.

Despite the unions, traffic and permit obligations, New York City has paved the way for smoother shoots for television hits that were once shot in Hollywood and Toronto.

Now, if the Capital Region could do the same (we need several SALT-like films a year), our local crew base and production services could easily provide.

Save those Stubs!

I have some sage advice for travelers. Don't ever toss out your airline boarding stubs, especially if you're flying Delta or any of Delta airlines partners. Save those stubs like you would tax returns, at least for 6 years.

After returning from Tunisia, I noticed that my Delta Sky Miles account wasn't properly credited for the flight home. This eluded me because I properly handed the Sky Miles card to the airline agent while in Tunis and watched him type in the numbers and then hand the card back to me along with an airline ticket.

When I returned home, I tossed the ticket stubs in the garbage. I didn't need them anymore.

But, alas, the Tunis agent must have punched in the incorrect numbers because the transaction never made it to my Sky Miles account.

I'm currently battling corporate to rightly give me the miles but they refuse to budge without that small, torn-up piece of white paper. It's as if they treat a ticket stub with more importance that a passport or luggage.

But, here's the part that really makes my blood boil. Corporate can see from their computer records that I boarded both flights. Proof of my traveling from Tunis to JFK with a connecting flight in Paris on January 1, 2010, is easily retrievable from their extensive passenger data-banks. They don't dispute that.

Their claim is that their "policy" makes "no exceptions" for errors on their part.

In conclusion, this too is another in a series of expensive lessons learned - this one costing the equivalent of approximately $425 worth of free travel. Ouch.

Independent Women

Skype is a necessity for any traveler. My Russian guests are as addicted to the service as I am. Here, Paul struggles to learn the American keyboard so he can phone his family.

It's been an absolute delight sharing my home with foreign guests. They are grateful for the hospitality and eager to help. The girls are extremely traditional and would rather use the sink and stove over the dishwasher or microwave. Both are homesick already for their husband and children, I can see it in their eyes.

Paul is a little amazed to see so many independent single women in America. He marvels at how we can maintain a house, car and business on one meager salary. I try to explain the concept of debt, credit cards and a little bit of luck.

There's no denying that America has it's share of problems but our freedoms and equality try to give everyone the opportunity to live, love and succeed as they wish. 'Try' being the key word.

They are off to visit NYC today through Friday. I give them my best advice on restaurants, museums and attractions. The girls scored some cheap hotel rooms on the Upper West Side facing Central Park. They are minutes away from my favorite spot, the American Museum of National History.

"Crif Dogs" and "Rice to Riches" are also on their list of unusual but popular neighborhood eateries.

I worry the pending snow storm might disrupt their bus service coming home but I'm sure they'll find a way. They seem a lot more resilient and flexible than most women, single or married, that I know.