Visit the beautiful Martin Rutchik Concert Stage and Lawn at the Dallas Arboretum.
Bring family, friends, favorite food and beverages and enjoy one of the most breathtaking views of White Rock Lake. Voted Best Concert Venue by D Magazine, the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage hosts some of DFW’s best bands including Emerald City, Asleep at the Wheel, A Hard Night’s Day and many more.
Click here for the complete schedule.
Add a twirl to your sightseeing itinerary this winter. Take one of these Chicago ice skating rinks for a spin and you’ll also be stopping at one of the city’s top attractions
Skating In The Sky At John Hancock Observatory. Skate at 1,000 feet while overlooking the most amazing winter white views of Chicago and Lake Michigan. Enjoy a SKYY® High Cocktail when you finish, or bring the kids up to enjoy a morning of figure-eights or first steps on ice, followed by hot chocolates all round in our Lavazza Espression Café. Come and check out the world’s highest synthetic ice skating rink at more than 1,000 feet – the rink is 900 square feet and constructed of a state-of-the-art synthetic substance called XTRAICE. So bring the kids up and slide into 2013 with an unforgettable family outing.
Open until April 8. Visit here for more information.
Some people think Millennium Park is the Windy City’s version of Central Park, but they’re mistaken. Lincoln Park is Chi-town’s Central Park with its grassy knolls. sporting fields and spectacular skyscraper views. In addition to the views and paths, Lincoln Park also offers a top notch zoo – for free! That’s right the Lincoln Park Zoo is one of the nation’s last offerings of a free zoo experience. Day in and day out, the zoo and the park serve as a meeting place for friends, a place to bring kids for families (and nannies, let’s be honest) and the perfect place to work out. Don’t forget to visit the Lincoln Park Conservatory as well to take in exotic plant life.
Just because it’s a free zoo doesn’t mean they skimp on the diversity of animals! Over 1200 animals call LPZ their home. Lions and tigers and bears,oh my- and more! They live at LPZ amongst rhinos, hippos, pumas, gorillas, African monkeys, meerkats, Mongolian camels, giraffes and much more. There are plenty of reptiles and birds (penguins to pretty flamingos) to view as well. And about those views, up the hill in the park adjacent to the zoo, take in awe-inspiring views of the skyline with the John Hancock leading the way along the sparkling and enormous Lake Michigan.
Insider’s Tip: Stroll past the park and wander into the residential streets of Lincoln Park to ooh and aah over the beautiful mansions: from the park go west on W. Wrightwood Avenue until you hit Orchard, from there zig-zag about on other streets and enjoy!
Believe it or not, Central Park is not the only park in New York City. Brooklyn native and Deputy Director Scott Gutterman of one of New York’s coolest museums, the NEUE Galerie, knows that Brooklyn’s Prospect Park is the hidden gem for a perfect urban escape.
“As much as I love Central Park,” Scott told citybuzz, “I think Prospect Park is a fantastic place. They have amazing concerts in the summer, lots of beautiful meadows, and it’s a little more rolling and winding so it gets a lot of respect from the city.” 
Located in the heart of New York’s most populated borough- yep, Brooklyn- Prospect Park is the place where true locals go to hang out. Designed by the same architects who created Central Park, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, is bigger in some ways than its more famous counterpart: a 90-acre Long Meadow, 60-acre lake and Brooklyn’s only forest. But that’s not all, Prospect Park has the nation’s first urban Audobon Center, a zoo and every summer there’s the Celebrate Brooklyn! Performing Arts Center, on top of year round tennis, playgrounds, and twilight tours that are like an urban safari, but with wine and cheese! Of course, Prospect Park is also great for a romantic stroll and the perfect excuse to get out of Manhattan and visit- for most New Yorkers- the real New York City.
*** Scott Gutterman is the Deputy Director of the NEUE Galerie on Museum Mile near Central Park. NEUE Galerie focuses on early twentieth-century German and Austrian art, including famed works from Gustav Klimt, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Otto Dix.
William Penn laid out 7.5 acres of land in the heart of Philadelphia back in 1682, and he would probably be very proud of what it has become by 2010! Located in Historic Philadelphia, Franklin Square has been completely renovated, and is now open as an amazing spot for families or anyone who wants to see a little more green in their busy day.
There’s a mini golf course and a carousel for kids (or the kid in you), with a Stephen Starr snack shack, Squareburger, selling hot dogs, fries, burgers, and milkshakes made with one of Pennsylvania’s claim-to-fame items, Tasty Kakes! Besides these activities, the Square is fit for strolling, with interspersed benches and walking paths leading straight to the piece de resistance, the water fountain. Built in 1838, the fountain is a huge marble masterpiece, placed right smack in the center of the park for your viewing pleasure.
Thrill seekers, Sandy Lake Park is not for you. For the rest of us, this treasure of an amusement park has been delighting all ages for decades. With smaller scale exciting rides, like the Space Shuttle, Scrambler, and Tilt A Whirl, it’s almost like taking a trip back in time to childhood as you wait in the short lines to climb aboard.
Rides, however, are just the tip of the iceberg. Miniature golf, giant swimming pools, face painting, paddle boats, pony rides, and an arcade are all at your disposal. In fact, the arcade will certainly bring back memories with the original SkeeBall game and other “vintage” games that require skill. Frank Rush, who works tirelessly at the park to make sure families and groups alike have the time of their lives, can tell stories of the park that make everyone smile. The perfect place to host your next family picnic under the covered pavilions, Sandy Lake Park is a gem that continues to shine year after year.
Abbot Kinney Boulevard makes high end shopping beach chic in 
Venice Beach. The boutiques rule in Venice and big name brands are out, but don’t be fooled, style is less flip-flop mess and more artist casual. Here you can pick up summer dress ups and dress downs, a new favorite flannel at Steven Alan Annex, or dress your man in Stronghold jeans. Jewelry finds are always a little offbeat ranging from diamonds to antique typewriter keys. For home décor fanatics, Abbot Kinney shops like Floral and Plantation are frequent features in top design magazines.
And for those who work up an appetite from carrying around all those bags, Abbot Kinney has plenty of food options to finish off a successful day, but dining is anything but beachy. Options are fine and plentiful for any craving from Gjelina’s truffle pizza, Wabi-Sabi crazy rolls and Lilly’s French flavors to Hal’s famous cantaloupe martini. If hunger still strikes, LA’s most notable food trucks usually wander Abbot Kinney late night.
Insider’s Tip: This is not to miss! First Friday of each month is where you can shop late, sample every truck in town and party the packed street all night.
The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest and most prestigious annual marathon and part of the World Marathon Majors. A maximum field size of 25,000 participants begin in the rural town of Hopkinton and run the legendary course through eight cities and towns before finishing in Boston’s Back Bay area. The 2010 edition will mark John Hancock Financial’s 25th year as principal sponsor.
Truly a competition amongst the elite of marathon runners, to qualify for entrance all men under 35 years of age must prove they have finished a race in under 3 hours and 10 minutes. Wow!
With $9 million in prize money, the Sony Ericsson Open is currently the largest tennis tournament in the world for Title Sponsorship. But the main fact drawing tennis fans to this year’s tournament is that the top 15 men and top 50 women as ranked by ATP will be in attendance; this includes both Williams sisters and perennial champ Roger Federer.
The Sony Ericsson Open, considered one of the most prestigious titles in professional tennis, has been awarded “Tournament of the Year” by the ATP in eight of the last 10 years. The tournament grounds hold 18 different courts, and together with Stadium Court, which seats 13,800 spectators, there will be no shortage of excitement.
Two full days of music, food and plenty of tasty SweetWater beer from Atlanta’s favorite brewery. Join other earth enthusiasts in beautiful Candler Park in support of Mother Earth. Events include yoga in park, diesel to grease demonstrations, eco art, sustainable living forums, solar energy exploration, activism through music, alternate transportation in ATL, round table discussions for Georgia’s Energy Future, youth climate activism, eco book building, water conservation measure and much more. And best of all, it’s free to go!
Ranked as the largest fair in Florida, The Fair celebrates its 59th year in the spring of 2010. The Fair is an 18-day event that includes Pig Races, a Petting Zoo, Pony Rides, and a European style circus. Not to mention, there are the fair’s two live music shows: Everything Fitz, a family band featuring fiery fiddling and percussive step dancing; as well as Street Beat, a high energy explosion of urban rhythm, hip hop moves, and astonishing break dance acrobatics.
The fair is put on by The Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition, Inc. a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to enriching their community by promoting education and South Florida agriculture while showcasing and rewarding youth achievement. In its nearly six decade history, The Fair has donated over $8 Million in scholarships, awards and premiums.
When venturing out to Hollywood to witness the bright lights and eccentricity on the boulevard seems daunting, there is an alternative that takes out the chaos and adds some fun. Universal City Walk is truly one of a kind in that it’s a city within a city, offering everything from movie theaters to restaurants, candy shops to water ballet. Locals and tourists alike are always gathering in the one p
lace where acting like a kid is commendable.
Though rummaging through magnet stores and a shop completely dedicated to Pez seems over the top, the adults have their fair share of fun, too. Universal has some American dining favorites, from Hard Rock Café to Wasabi. If you are looking for a quick bite to soak up all the fun, Universal has adapted the mall-like food court and offers quick eats from Dodger Dogs to Panda Express.
Once the shopping and eating comes to a rest, Universal City Walk has a nightlife scene offering great alternatives for those who don’t want to venture to the other side of the hill. Places like Saddle Ranch and Howl at the Moon bring in large crowds and keep the excitement alive all night.
Whether it’s daytime fun or nighttime entertainment, the crowds never seem to stop arriving at City Walk. The next time you feel like driving to Hollywood, skip the traffic and expensive drinks and drive to the Walk.
Ah, the great outdoors. White Rock Lake is a Dallas landmark that brings people from all walks of life together for one common passion: outdoor beauty. A nearly ten mile hiking and biking trail provides runners, walkers and roller bladers a scenic route around the lake. The Audubon Societ
y has a specific bird watching area and wetlands site, and the picnic areas have ample space for a large BBQ or family reunion. If you love to fish, there are designated piers for catfish, sunfish and bass fishing where you can cast away.
Special events like the Rock Marathon, the White Rock Lake Trash Bash, and several others take place throughout the year, giving Dallas residents a chance to gather together and soak in rustic beauty amidst the surrounding concrete jungle.
Looking for an all-purpose, exquisitely maintained outdoor venue without the private club membership? Head to Crissy Field in the Marina District, where boredom and inactivity are not an option. This is where San Francisco spends its weekends: on windsurfing boards, kayaks, nature trails, dog-friendly beaches, bike paths, and open lawns.
Crissy Field is also the perfect place to photograph the Golden Gate Bridge, with no need to drive to the north viewing terrace in Sausalito, let alone 
pay for the toll or the fancy postcards. Not to mention you can kill two birds with one stone, since Alcatraz, “The Rock,” is just off the coast in the center of the bay. Stick around with your blankets and folding chairs for sunset over the bridge- it’s a soft, romantic light show you won’t want to miss.
Originally a US Mail Airfield, Crissy Field has been transformed by the community through years of native plant restoration, historic preservation, and refurbished park amenities. All the years have paid off as this is now an amazing venue for the beach, sightseeing, and everything in between.
The world-famous Longwood Gardens puts on an incredible holiday season spectacular. The Gardens located at the historic Kennett Square has elegantly decorated trees, beautiful poinsettas, an outdoor light display, ice-skating, organ sing-a-longs, strolling choirs, and hand bell concerts throughout the holiday season. If that’s not everything you’ve ever wanted in an outdoor holiday event, we don’t know what is!
The long anticipated and well publicized Dallas Arts District is finally open! As one of the largest- if not THE largest- urban arts districts in the nation, it has put the Big D on the map as a major player in the art scene. The new Dallas Arts District in downtown Dallas is a sprawling 68-acre, 19-block area of performing and visual art utopia that brings an imaginative world of art this city has craved for for decades.
Incorporating over a dozen venues, the Dallas Arts District crosses all genres and functions to create a city within a city. From One Arts Plaza, where you’ll find a dynamic mix of corporate, residential, and retail space featuring some of Dallas’ hippest restaurants and bars to the Nasher Sculpture Center, highly regarded as one of the foremost collections of modern and contemporary sculptures in the world to the internationally renowned Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, where some of the world’s finest acts have performed. With a massive collection of new and old, classic and modern, the buildings themselves are masterful works of art.
And don’t forget the new ‘kids’ on the art block, the Margot & Bill Winspear Opera House and the Dee & Charles Wyly Theater, as they don’t mess around… unless, of course, it’s comedy.
One would expect fashion legend Anna Wintour’s favorite New York street to be as glamorous as Vogue’s cover pages, but it is a street so small and hidden it’s only a lane.
Minetta Lane is one of the most tranquil and charming streets in the City. Boasting only a block of real estate, it doesn’t even house one store. Instead it has the beautiful Minetta Lane Theater complete with a balcony that shows off-Broadway plays.
Minetta Lane is in the heart of Greenwich Village, with bustling Sixth Avenue to its west and NYU bar-ridden MacDougal Street to its east. But you would never know how populated the area is when walking down this street, and that’s why New Yorkers love it. Walking down this lane is like going back in time, with some of the original 1800 buildings still standing proudly. The peace and quiet is an amazing escape from the hustle and bustle of New York without every leaving its heart.
***Anna Wintour is the legendary editor-in-chief and fashion icon of American Vogue Magazine. Ms. Wintour is widely regarded as one of the most powerful people in fashion by heavily influencing trends and emerging designers’ careers. Beyond the pages, Anna Wintour has been the muse of major motion pictures including starring in “The September Issue” and has been named “The Mayoress of New York” by The Guardian publication.