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Greece and Macedonia Wine Tasting
Rebel Wine Bar
Tuesday, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
March 5, 2024
Expand your wine adventures to new frontiers at “From Greece to Macedonia” tasting event on March 5th at 7PM inside Rebel Wine Bar.
For $35 per seat, guests will sample five distinct varietals from the storied winemaking regions alongside light bites while exploring millennia-old traditions with your host Winebow spirits.
Enjoy a choice of Mediterranean reds, whites and rosés in a guided seated format discussion lead by expert staff conveying the rich wine history of these lush rolling lands where many great ancient journeys began and fine wines first fermented.
We look forward to welcoming new and familiar faces to a memorable tour for the senses at this cultural wine experience next month only at Rebel Wine Bar. Please see our website to guarantee your seats as space is limited.
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The company has been based in Valencia Spain for the last eighteen years
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Office Telephone: 0034 962120052
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The seven key innovations of resilient cities are set as city models, which will be detailed over the next several weeks here at “Eco-Compass.” While no one city has shown innovation in all seven areas, some are quite advanced in one or two. The challenge for urban planners will be to apply all of these city characteristics together, to generate a sense of hope through a combination of new technology, city design and community-based innovation, which together will create the Resilient City.
The first is city model is the Renewable Energy City.
1. Renewable Energy City. Urban areas powered by renewable energy techniques and technologies from the region to the building level. Renewable energy enables a city to reduce its dependence on fossil energy and its ecological footprint and if using biological fuels can be part of a city’s enhanced ecological functions.
Renewable energy production can and should occur within cities, integrated into their land use and built form, and comprising a significant and important element of the urban economy. Cities are not simply consumers of energy, but catalysts for more sustainable energy paths. Cities can become more and more a part of the earth’s solar cycle.
While some solar city projects, such as those in the indented paragraph below, are underway (including Treasure Island in San Francisco) there are presently no major cities in the world that are powered entirely by renewable energy. Vauban is a 100% renewable suburb in Freiburg, Germany. Cairo has a plan for 20% renewable energy by 2020 based on wind and solar. Movement towards a renewable-energy future will require much greater levels of commitment from cities themselves-from the local governments and municipalities, large and small that make up metropolitan areas.
Urban planning is necessary to create the infrastructure needed to support solar and wind power at the scale necessary to help power a city. While finding locations for large wind farms near urban areas has been controversial (such as the wind farm proposal that was defeated off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts), there are significant opportunities to harness solar and wind power. Studies are also now showing that wind, like PV solar can be integrated into cities and their buildings. A study from Stanford University examined the potential for wind power in regions and in cities. Researcher Cristina Archer said “The main implication of this study is that wind, for low-cost wind energy, is more widely available than was previously recognized.”
Hydro power has been used in cities such as Vancouver, British Columbia and Christchurch, New Zealand, for decades. Few people see much more potential for hydro power due to the impact of large dams but the role of geothermal power appears to be offering a similar level of base load renewable power.
Dongtan, Masdar and North Port Quay – renewable city models for the future.
Dongtan. . . “It is designed to be a beautiful and truly sustainable city with a minimal ecological footprint. The goal is to use Dongtan as a template for future urban design. As China is planning to build no less than 400 new cities in the next twenty years, Dongtan’s success is of crucial importance.” — World Business Council of Sustainable Development
Dongtan is a new Chinese city near Shanghai which is designed to use 100% renewable energy in its buildings, it will be self-sufficient in water and food sourced from the surrounding farmland, and it will feature a zero-carbon public transport system powered entirely by renewable-energy. What happens to cars in the city is not yet clear. Energy plant will burn rice husks, normally just waste, near the city center and the energy will be generated on a decentralised model, using combined heat and power.
Masdar City in the United Arab Emirates is an important first example of a city built from scratch with 100% renewable energy and zero car use (in theory anyway). It is being built with a 60MW Solar PV plant to power all construction, and eventually a 130MW Solar PV plant for on-going power as well as a 20MW Wind farm and geothermal heat pumps for cooling buildings. Electric automatic pod cars on an elevated structure will be the basis of the transport.
North Port Quay in Western Australia will be home to 10,000 households and is designed to be 100% renewable through solar PV, small wind turbines called wind pods and a nearby wave power system. The development will be dense and walkable with an all-electric transport system featuring electric public transport and electric private transport all linked to the renewable power through battery storage in the vehicles (see Went, Newman and James, 2008).
New models of how we can make cities 100% renewable are needed but rebuilding our present cities is just as important. Cities like Adelaide have gone from zero to 20 percent renewable energy in ten years by building four large wind farms.
The shift in the direction to the renewable city can occur through many actions: demonstration solar or low energy homes created to show architects, developers, and citizens that green can be appealing, procurement actions that source regionally produced wind and other renewable energy to power municipal lights and buildings and locally and green building standards and requirements for all new public as well as private buildings.
Few cities have been as active in seeking and nurturing a reputation as a solar city as Freiburg, Germany. Known to many as the “ecological capital of Europe” Freiburg has adopted an impressive and wide-ranging set of environmental planning and sustainability initiatives, many focused on renewable energy. Through its Solar Region Freiburg program, the city has sought to actively support solar energy as an important element of its economic base, and even a form of local tourism. A series of “solar tours” have been organized, for instance, as a way to visit and learn about their innovative solar energy projects in the city. And there are many such projects, from dramatic individual residences (e.g. Rolf Disch’s Heliotropic House) to prototype experimental homes (e.g. the Freiburg zero-energy house) to business structures (e.g. the zero-emission Solar Fabrik, the Solar Tower, high-rise office building), and public buildings and installations. The city has also become home to an impressive number of scientific and educational organizations dedicated to renewable energy to ensure it has an economic edge in the next industrial era.
Freiburg has, moreover, incorporated solar energy in all major new development areas including Resielfeld and Vauban, new compact green growth areas in the city. Both active and passive solar techniques are employed in these projects, and the city also mandates a stringent energy standard for all new homes. In Vauban, some 5,000 zero-energy homes—homes that produce at least as much energy as they need—have been built and a zero energy office complex was added in 2006, along with two solar garages where PV covers the roof of the only allowable parking in the area.
This emphasis on solar energy has in turn set the tone and context for what other businesses and organizations could do. The Victoria Hotel in the center of Freiberg, for instance, now markets itself as the world’s first zero-emission hotel, boasting that all its energy needs are satisfied through renewable energy sources, including solar hot water and photovoltaic panels on the hotel’s rooftop. A host of other environmental features are employed, including providing all guests with free transit passes for riding the city’s exemplary public transit system.
The City of Adelaide, in the State of South Australia also envisions itself as a renewable city, as a part of its larger green city initiative. It has designated solar precincts for the installation of photovoltaics on the rooftops of buildings, including Parliament House. There is a solar schools initiative, with the goal of 250 solar schools (schools with rooftop installations, and that incorporate solar and renewable energy into their educational curricula). This idea has since been taken up by the new Australian Federal government to be applied to every school in the country. And most creatively the city has been installing grid-connected PV street lamps that produce some six times the energy needed for the lighting. These new lights are designed in a distinctive shape of a local mallee tree. This is one of the few examples of solar art or solar ‘place’ projects.
Along with incentives (financial and otherwise), solar cities recognize the need to set minimum regulatory standards. Barcelona has a solar ordinance, which requires new buildings and substantial retrofits of existing buildings must obtain a minimum of 60 percent of hot water needs from solar. This has already led to a significant growth in that city in the number of solar thermal installations.
Transport can also be a major part of the renewables challenge. The more that public transport moves to electric power the more it can be part of a renewable city. Calgary Transit’s creative initiative “Ride the Wind” provides all the power needed for its light rail system from wind turbines in the south of Alberta. Private transport can now also be part of this transition through a combination of electric vehicles and new battery storage technology (together called Renewable Transport by Went, Newman and James, 2008 – see www.resilientcitiesbook.org). Electric vehicles not only can use renewable electricity to power their propulsion they can be plugged in during the day and through their batteries enable the power system to store four times their consumption in renewables. Thus they can provide a critical role in enabling renewables to build up as a much higher proportion of the grid. This breakthrough in technology will need to be carefully examined to ensure that cities use it to be fully sustainable and do not use it to justify further urban sprawl.
Renewable power in a city enables it to use energy for creating healthy and livable environments without anything like the impact of fossil fuels. But by itself it will not be enough.
Check back next week for the #2 city model resulting from innovations of resilient cities.
What do you think? Leave us a comment.
Peter Newman is Professor of Sustainability at Curtin University in Perth, Australia. He is the co-author of Cities as Sustainable Ecosystems, Green Urbanism Down Under, and Resilient Cities: Responding to Peak Oil and Climate Change.
Peter Newman is a renowned Australian academic and planner who invented the term ‘automobile dependence’ to describe how we have created cities where we have to drive everywhere. For 30 years since he attended Stanford University during the first oil crisis, he has been warning cities about preparing for peak oil. Peter’s book with Jeff Kenworthy, Sustainability and Cities: Overcoming Automobile Dependence was launched in the White House in 1999. Newman is the Professor of Sustainability at Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia, where he is best known for his work in reviving and extending the city’s rail system. From 2001-2003, Newman directed the production of WA’s Sustainability Strategy in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. It was the first state sustainability strategy in the world. From 2004-2005, he was a Sustainability Commissioner in Sydney, advising the government on planning issues. From 2006-2007, he was a Fulbright Senior Scholar at the University of Virginia Charlottesville and he returned there in early 2008 as Harry Porter Visiting Professor. His new book with Tim Betaley and Heather Boyer in late 2008 will be Resilient Cities: Responding to Peak Oil and Climate Change.


Guests of Qingdao will have a nice stay at Seaview apartment. Such facilities as an elevator and free parking are available on-site.
Many Qingdao sights, including Qingdao Underwater World, Protestant Church and Qingdao Site Museum of the Former German Governor's Residence are approximately 30 minutes' walk away. Qingdao city center is 8 km away. Guests can dine in Barcarolle Fish Dumplings (Qutang Gorge Road) located within a 5-minute walk of the property.
Qingdao Railway train station is a 20-minute walking distance away.


About Aria Reserve Miami
Aria Reserve Miami is the last reserve of its kind, featuring the tallest waterfront twin towers in the United States. At the lobby level, residents enjoy valet parking, a 24-hour front desk staff, and access to a personal concierge for all other needs. Built precisely with today’s modern Miami city dweller in mind, the Sky lobby at Aria Reserve is equipped with a full-featured business center, multiple conference and meeting rooms, flex offices and co-working spaces, and a coffee & refreshments center.
Aria Reserve Miami will be at a spectacular location, in front of Biscayne Bay, 5 minutes from Downtown Miami and Brickell, and 15 minutes away from Miami International Airport and the Beaches. Known as the “Magic City”, Miami boasts a unique and exciting mix of hip urban culture and laid-back seaside vibes. Aria Reserve Miami residents can enjoy all the best Miami has to offer, with immediate access to the neighboring Opera, Ballet and Theater at Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Miami Arena, Art & Science Museums, the pristine beaches and nightlife of Miami Beach, and Brickell’s financial district.
Melo Group excels in the creation of this beautifully designed project, a firm that seeks to exceed customers' expectations through innovation and harnessing technology. The lavish design is the impressive work of Arquitectonica. Aria Reserve interiors are the work of Arquitectonica Interiors in collaboration with Morada Design.
The residences include the most enticing features such as unobstructed and direct bay/ocean views with sunrise-sunset flow-through from East to West, two high-speed elevators, office/media room, and more.


Orange County Coastkeeper volunteers to lay oyster beds across the Newport Beach coastline as part of the organization’s “Living Shorelines” project. In collaboration with Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Long Beach, this project revitalizes eelgrass and oyster populations to improve marine habitat and public health in Orange County.
Restoration of oysters is critical to the health and resiliency of the Newport Bay ecosystem. Oysters increase the abundance of fish and wildlife through their creation of complex habitat and improvement of water quality through filter feeding. They also stabilize sediments and buffer erosion, and wave energy, which can reduce the impacts of sea level rise.
Chains of volunteers passing oysters from the shore to the restoration site in the water
Oysters support healthy fish and wildlife populations and improve water quality
- Katie Nichols, Marine Restoration Director
- Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach students
- Westcliff Park, Newport Beach, CA 92660
- Friday, June 7: 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Volunteers laying oyster shell down on the mud
RSVP to email@example.com with your shoe size for rubber boots
20 YEARS OF ORANGE COUNTY COASTKEEPER: For twenty years, Southern California residents have relied on Orange County Coastkeeper to be their leading voice in protecting clean water. The organization works collaboratively with diverse groups in the public and private sectors to achieve healthy, accessible, and sustainable water resources for the region. Coastkeeper achieves this through innovative, effective programs in education, advocacy, restoration, research, enforcement, and conservation.
Coastkeeper is a member of the International Waterkeeper Alliance, which has 236 different independent programs across 29 countries. For more information, visit www.coastkeeper.org or call 714-850-1965.
Photo Credits: Matt Sylvester


Have you ever thought about the effect that water might have on your creativity? Or noticed the way that your writing flows better when you’re near water, watching as your words tumble and flow onto the page? If you’re anything like me you might have noticed it subconsciously or intuitively. I tend to feel more creative when Im walking near water, even if it’s the quiet urban canal near where I live in Edinburgh.
But it’s definitely more inspiring when I’m out and about near moving water: watching a waterfall, walking along the shore watching the waves roll in or sitting by a harbor and watching the movement of people, water, and boats.
Henriette Anne Klauser in Write It Down, Make It Happen suggests changing your environment and getting near water to write.
Being near water, especially moving water, gets ideas to flow Streams, showers and waterfalls stimulate creativity. To create aha! moments in your life, to capture and expand your insights, for inspiration about the shape of your dreams, get near water, especially moving water.
Going across water, especially by ferry, has a similar effect for me: waking me up and signaling that I’ve moved to a different place, not just geographically but the way things feel and the way my creativity starts to flow.


Belington is a City in Barbour County, West Virginia, along the Tygart Valley River. The population was 1,788 as of the 2000 census.
Belington was founded in 1769. Originally it was known as the Barker Settlement, after Elias Barker who had settled there with his brother William Barker. In 1785 or so, it was called Yeagers, taking its name from a settler, George Yeager, and his sons. In 1855, it took its current name, Bealington, from John Bealin who had opened up a store there, and who would later move to Kansas. It is not known when the spelling of the name was changed, but the City of Belington was chartered in 1906.
After the June 3, 1861 Battle of Philippi, considered by some to be the first land battle of the Civil War, the Confederate forces, having been routed by the Union Army in Philippi, retreated south. The Confederates made camp near the Laurel Mountain Road, today a winding single lane dirt road that crosses the mountain to connect Belington with Elkins, WV. On July 7–11 of 1861, the Confederates were forced out of their works on the road near Belington in what has come to be called the Battle of Laurel Hill. This was the most prolonged engagement of "The First Campaign," the 1861 series of clashes in Western Virginia that determined Federal control of the area.
Modern Belington now has its own comprehensive website, HERE.


Question: What is the capital of Kerala?
Answer: (A) Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram, also known as Trivandrum, is the capital of Kerala, India. It is located on the west coast of India, on the Arabian Sea. Thiruvananthapuram is a major tourist destination, known for its beaches, temples, and backwaters.
What is the Capital of Kerala?
However, the state’s administrative and political heart is located in the city of Thiruvananthapuram.
The choice of Thiruvananthapuram as Kerala’s capital has historical significance. Here are some key reasons behind this decision:
- Historical Legacy: Thiruvananthapuram has a long and storied history as a center of governance and culture in Kerala. It was the capital of the former princely state of Travancore.
- Geographic Location: Thiruvananthapuram is strategically located on the southwestern coast of India, making it accessible and well-connected.
- Administrative Importance: The city is home to the State Secretariat, the Government House, and the Kerala Legislative Assembly, emphasizing its administrative role.
While cities like Kochi, Kozhikode, and Kannur are significant urban centers in Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram holds a distinct position as the capital and plays a pivotal role in the state’s political and administrative affairs.
Please visit us to learn more about Questions and Information.


Thailand Feb 2020
Thailand! The land of amazing food and islands.
We leave Langkawi and head up to Thailand. Langkawi to the first Thai island is a day sail, and we anchor down in Koh Lipe a short sail later. And boy are we in Thailand immediately. Clearly a popular party day island, DJ on the beach and a beach bar, life is lovely. Unlike most other countries where you need to go from one check in port to another, Thailand allows you a flexible 3-5 days to travel from Langkawi to Phuket, which allows you to explore these beautiful islands (Koh) along the way. We are travelling with our friends Waterhorse, and we are all keen to get into the water and go for a dive. The waters of the Malacca Straits are a beautiful green, but milky and we haven’t been able to get in the water for a few months now.
First thing the next day we head up to the next island, a know dive site and in we go. Very remote, nice and clear and we all have a great dive at Koh Rok Nok.
The following day we head off further north towards Phuket and anchor of Phi Phi Island. The anchorage is crazy busy with tour boats and tourists and we head into shore for dinner, and there are hundreds of stalls and cafes all serving amazing smelling food. Spoilt for choice, we are in Thai food heaven.
We officially check into Thailand the following day, all the official offices are in one spot and we are done in 30 minutes – the most efficient check in ever!
We explore Phuket and sail around to lots of different anchorages as we prepare to say goodbye to Waterhorse who are heading off to Sri Lanka, as we prepare to head back to Langkawi to leave the boat for 6 months to work in Adelaide.
We head back around Phuket and notice some big cracks have developed in our solar supports/dinghy davits. After some seriously creative rope tying to support the structure, we frantically contact a marina and book in to see if we can organise stainless steel welding.
Amazing, within a few days, all cracks are beautifully welded and for extra security we have added 2 more diagonal supports to our structure, which is now starting to resemble a spider’s web. Job done, we check out of Phuket and head back to Phi Phi island for one last Thai meal.
On the way back down we stop at the famous Emerald Cave, where you can swim through a cave into a beautiful cavern. We wait patiently for a break in the tourist boats and then swim in and have the place to ourselves for about 4 minutes. Still, very pretty
For our final day in Thailand, we head back to Koh Lipe, and have a terrible night of weather, where we up anchor at 11pm as the wind has swung and many other boats in the anchorage are dragging. It’s a wild couple of hours, but eventually we head back up to another location and pick up a mooring that we had used earlier in the day.
And that’s it, we are back in Langkawi prepping to leave the boat for 6 months (or so we thought)
And then COVID happened


Most interesting facts on the history of the Eiffel Tower
Named after the French engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, the Eiffel Tower is one of the world’s most famous tourist spots. It is a pride for France and no one visiting Paris can miss a tour to the Eiffel tower. Still, if you are not much interested in visiting this place then take a look at the most intriguing facts related to the history of the Eiffel tower. Definitely, after this, you will be planning a Paris tour to see the Eiffel Tower.
Built for the 1889 World Fair
Many of you might not be aware of the fact that the Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 World Fair and was planned to be demolished after twenty years from the completion of its construction. The fair was organized to mark the 100th anniversary of “the storming of the Bastille”, which is also known as the Prise de la Bastille.
Tower was called monstrous in 1889
History sometimes reveals such facts that take you by surprise. One such is that the Eiffel tower after its construction was completed in 1889 was called by the Parisians and artists of that time as “useless and monstrous”. In fact, many of the Parisians also started a petition to get the tower dismantled.
Played a great role during World War I
In the history of the Eiffel tower, Gustave Eiffel has played a very important role. His company not only led to the creation of an iconic tower but he also ensured that it remains free from the threats of destruction. He turned the Eiffel Tower into a huge radio antenna, thereby giving a new purpose to it. Interestingly, this helped the French military a lot in sending and receiving wireless messages. That is why even today the contribution of the tower is considered quite great in the WWI for French Military.
Not designed by Gustave Eiffel
Are you shocked to hear this? Yes, you might be and why not because all your life you must have heard that Gustave Eiffel designed the gigantic Eiffel Tower. Unfortunately, this is far from the truth as in reality the company – Compagnie des Établissements Eiffel of Gustave Eiffel was in charge of the construction of Eiffel tower. The tower was designed by two engineers who worked for his company – Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier.
Bonus Point: Gustave Eiffel did design later the Statue of Liberty spine.
Certainly, the history of the Eiffel tower must have impressed you, but the tower will overwhelm you far more than this. So, plan a trip to Paris and do not forget to visit the splendid Eiffel tower.


PALP – Pontedera
Piazza Curtatone e Montanara
56025 Pontedera (PI)
The PALP is located in Pontedera, in the heart of western Tuscany, 15 minutes from Pisa, 20 from Livorno and 40 from Florence.
HOW TO REACH US
To reach Pontedera by car, take the FI-PI-LI highway (a major road linking Florence, Pisa and Livorno) and take the Pontedera exit. The FI-PI-LI is connected to the A1 motorway where you can enter directly in Florence: once you are on the freeway, follow it in the direction of Pisa-Livorno after about 40 km there is the Pontedera exit. Arriving from the A12 Genova-Rosignano motorway, to enter directly in FI-PI-LI, exit at Pisa Centro: once in the freeway, proceed towards Florence for about 20 km and take the Pontedera exit (caution) : from Pisa, the exit to take is not Pontedera-Ponsacco but the next one).
Once out in Pontedera, follow the signs to the center and park near Corso Matteotti.
ON THE TRAIN
To reach Pontedera by train you need to get off at the F.S station. Pontedera-Casciana Terme. The Pontedera-Casciana Terme station is on the Pisa-Florence route, about 15 minutes from Pisa and 40 from Florence. To get from the north or from the south you need to reach the Santa Maria Novella station by fast trains: from Florence SMN there are trains to Pontedera every 30 minutes. Arriving at the station of Pontedera, the PALP can be easily reached on foot in five minutes by exiting the main exit of the station and walking towards the center.
The nearest airport to Pontedera is Pisa’s Galileo Galilei which is about a 15-minute drive away. The Galilei is adjacent to the highway FI-PI-LI in which you can directly get out of the airport. Once in FI-PI-LI, follow it in the direction of Florence and exit at Pontedera. Otherwise, from the airport it is possible to take the Pisa Mover public transport that connects to the Pisa Centrale station: from Pisa Centrale a train leaves for Pontedera approximately every 30 minutes.


Why should a three-bedroom house in L.A. cost hundreds of thousands more than a similar three bedroom in Nashville? It can be really confusing to start comparing homes and realize that they have widely different price tags. But there’s generally some method to the madness. In fact, a good bit of research and statistics that go into determining what the worth of a home is. Both independent research organizations and government agencies track tons of data about the real estate market. Where homes are selling, what kinds of homes are selling, and what people across the country are paying for property. In short, all that research comes down to one truth: all real estate is local.
So much of what determines the worth of a home has to do with the location of that home. The U.S. is a big country with hundreds of major cities and thousands of small towns, each unique in its own way. What’s going on at the local level often determines what a home is worth.
One of the biggest factors driving the price of homes in a particular area is the economic law of supply and demand — how many homes are up for sale and how many people want to buy a home in that area. When there are plenty of homes on the market but not as many people want to buy, the prices of those homes fall. Demand is below supply.The opposite happens to prices when an area is very desirable but there aren’t many homes up for sale.
Prices can also be affected by neighborhood perks. A home near a nice park, trendy retail area or restaurants, or other feature can be worth more than a similar home that’s further away. School districts can have a pretty sizable effect on value, too. Even if you don’t have kids and don’t plan to, buying a house in the top local school district means a higher price tag. Homes in a top school district can even hold their value better in an economic downturn.
Sales of comparable homes in the same or a similar neighborhood can also influence the value of a home. In a neighborhood where several houses have sold for more than their asking price, a similar home might be able to command a similarly up-sized price. Unfortunately, the same factor can work also against you. If you’re selling a house after several similar, nearby homes sold for cheap, you may end up with lower bids.
Of course, local conditions aren’t the only factor that affects home prices. Other details can push a particular home’s price higher or lower. A home with unusual features or a unique history might sell for a higher price. A home that would make a good investment or that has good renovation potential might sell for more. Sometimes economic factors can affect home prices as well. High interest rates, a weak job sector, or tighter requirements for borrowers could all affect the supply and demand for housing, which could temporarily send prices higher or lower depending on the situation.
What decides how all these perks and data add up to a price tag for a particular home? That’s generally the job of appraisers. Appraisers consider all the data, all the records, all the local perks and come up with a number.
You’ll get the full experience of a home appraisal when you choose what home to buy — a lender will require one to make sure the loan they give you isn’t worth more than your new home.


Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite. Marble may be foliated. Geologists use the term “marble” to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however, stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone. Marble is commonly used for sculpture and as a building material.
Marble has been used in construction for thousands of years. It was widely used by Greek and Roman sculptors and architects. Places named after the stone include Marble Arch, London; the Sea of Marmara; India’s Marble Rocks; and the towns of Marble, Minnesota; Marble, Colorado; and Marble Hill, Manhattan, New York. The Elgin Marbles are marble sculptures from the Parthenon that are on display in the British Museum. They were brought to Britain by the Earl of Elgin.


National Parks Board (NParks) is organizing a year-long “City In A Garden” (CIAG) Photo Competition which started from 2 July 2011. Comprising of 4 different themes starting with different submission dates, the competition aims to capture the essence of “City In A Garden” through the lenses of Singaporeans. Also, this competition will lead up to Singapore Garden Festival 2012, where the winning entries of “My City in a Garden” theme will be exhibited then. http://ciagpc.nparks.gov.sg/
The schedule of the 4 different themes:
1) Our Parks and Garden
Our parks are designed to cater to a wide range of lifestyle needs. These idyllic green spaces complemented with the various amenities available, such as spas, pony rides as well as sports facilities, make parks and gardens key preferred destinations for recreation. Whether for leisure, nature appreciation, a quiet evening walk or sports, your park experience can be special every time. There is a park for everyone.
- Activities in parks: community gatherings, family outings, sports
- Park landscapes
- Examples of places to visit (eg: East Coast Park, Pasir Ris Park etc)
Photo submission has closed. (The winners' photographs will be exhibited on 16 Sep 2011, 12-3pm at Raffles Place.)
2) Trees & Forests
In conjunction with the United Nations- sanctioned “International Year of Forests”, we celebrate the age-old guardians that form the backbone of our garden city – trees. They can be found in nature areas, and also along roads and park connectors. In short, they are everywhere. Just look up – and be surprised at the trees that make Singapore an urban forest. Look out in particular for our heritage trees, the majestic mature trees that are conserved and treasured as important aspects of our national history.
- Heritage Trees and Heritage Roads
- Roadside greenery, park connectors
Photo submission closes on 26 Sep 2011.
Singapore may be well-known as a bustling city-state and a centre for commerce – but it is also rich in biodiversity. Our local flora and fauna, which may often be hidden from the public eye, are waiting to be captured and revealed through your lenses. Visit our parks and nature reserves to uncover the wealth of nature’s treasures there.
- Flora (Plant life)
- Fauna (Animal life, exclusive of domestic pets)
Photo submission closes on 5 Mar 2012.
4) My City in a Garden
Singapore’s goal is to be a city where greenery is seamlessly and beautifully woven with the urban landscape. This vision is the next stage in the evolution of the Garden City and will be realised in the lives of all in Singapore. In this City in a Garden, greenery co-exists in harmony with daily life – whether at home, at work or at play.
- What is your City in a Garden vision?
- Green Citycapes
- Scenes of greenery integrated with hardscape
Photo submission closes on 7 Apr 2012
The first exhibition of the winner’s photos will be held on 16th Sep at Raffles Place from 12-3pm.
The 11 winning photographs for this theme, together with other selected entries, as well as visuals relating to Clarins Sustainable Development initiatives, will be exhibited at Hort Park from 8 – 23 October.
Prize Sponsorship by Clarins:
Overall winner amongst the 4 themes a fully paid expedition to Burkina Faso, West Africa (worth $20,000) with Clarins ethno-botanist Jean-Pierre Nicholas, who founded the “Jardin du Monde”, an association dedicated to restoring traditional medicinal plants for rural population who have no access to modern medicine.
The prize ceremony will be presented in June 2012 during Singapore Garden’s Festival (SGF) 2012.
Junior Category (7-12 years old) Presented by Clarins
Cash Prizes worth $5,000
Children can submit photographs for any of the four themes mentioned above. This category will be open in Nov 2011 and will close in Apr 2012.


The team of Etna Tribe, made up of young people who love nature and long to share this love with everyone, cannot wait to show you the wonders of the highest active volcano in Europe: mountEtna. The presence of the volcano does not, in fact, represent a menace for the inhabitants of the surrounding villages (paesi etnei), but instead it is our pride.
Excursions on Etna
Our excursions on Etna are studied in order to allow everyone to spend a gloroius day discovering old craters, breathtaking views and incontaminated nature. For those who simply want to relax and enjoy the view it will be possible to use the cable car and the jeeps to go up to 3000 m. (near the top of the mountain), while the most adventurose will be given the possibility to do some trekking surrounded by nature, and discover places from which you will be able to enjoy a breathtaking view.
The volcano Etna is a tresure waiting to be discovered. Our excursions will also allow you to visit some of the most hidden and evocative places of the volcano, amongst which one of its lava caves,which you will be able to explore with helmets and lamps provided by one of our guides who will assist you, and the famous Bove Valley.
The soil of the volcano is very fertile and productive. During our excursion you will be given the possibility to taste and buy some of the best local products (honey, wine, olive oil) in one of the best biological farms of Zafferana Etnea (the city of honey).


I have pleasure in presenting Marsa Alam desert & diving experience through Marsa Alam Adventure Safari company. As an organizer and desert guide for the past 30 years, I have specialized in providing groups with the opportunity to enjoy the very best of our Egyptian desert including the Eastern desert. Our trip locations are all carefully chosen for their historical and cultural sites. Personal service has become synonymous with Marsa Alam Adventure Safari. Our equipment and camping facilities meet the highest standards and our personnel are acknowledged professionals within their individual fields. From your arrival in Egypt to your departure, our team is committed to your welfare, safety and enjoyment. The tours are flexible and can be combined to create an itinerary to suit your own personal requirements. If you have any questions with regard to our tours, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will be delighted to assist you.


Rocky Mountain National Park owes its existence to the tenacity and vision of Enos Mills. The straightforward stories Mills told of his wilderness adventures with snowslides, wild beasts, and even wilder weather are exciting and fun. James Pickering, a foremost expert on the life and writing on Enos Mills, has collected the stories that truly express Mills’ experiences in Colorado. The reader is transported to the turn of the 19th century as Enos Mills guides them through the Rocky Mountain wilderness.
For the first quarter of the twentieth century, the names Enos Mills and Estes Park were virtually synonymous. Together with annotations to aid in locating places and identifying Mills’ references and allusions, James Pickering presents Enos Mills to a current generation of readers through Mills’ own essays.
James H. Pickering, a longtime summer resident of Estes Park, is a professor of English at the University of Houston, where he has also served as dean, provost, and president. He has published seventeen books on Colorado and the West, including This Blue Hollow: Estes Park, the Early Years, 1859-1915.


Homeowners Insurance in and around Katy
Would you like to create a personalized homeowners quote?
We also offer Homeowners insurance in:
- Cinco Ranch
- Towne Lake
- Brazos Country
- Pecan Grove
- Cane Island
- Sugar Land
- Missouri City
- Jersey Village
- Nottingham Country
- Green Trails
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Being a homeowner comes with plenty of worries. You want to make sure your home and the possessions in it are protected in the event of some unexpected catastrophe or mishap. And you also want to be sure you have liability insurance in case someone stumbles and falls on your property.
AGENT Jerry Kroll, AT YOUR SERVICE
Outstanding coverage like this is why Katy homeowners choose State Farm insurance. State Farm Agent Jerry Kroll can offer coverage options for the level of coverage you have in mind. If troubles like wind and hail damage, sewer backups, or drain backups find you, Agent Jerry Kroll can be there to help you file your claim. Get in touch with State Farm Agent Jerry Kroll today to check out how a State Farm policy can protect your home here in Katy, TX.


Located on the Forked River, in Forked River New Jersey. Townsend’s Marina offers annual slip rental as well as a full list of mechanical services to keep you boating this summer. A fully stocked ship store makes essentials such as ice cubes, snacks, and soda just a few steps away.Situated approximately one mile from the Barnegat Bay, Townsend’s Marina is located only a few minutes from some of the best fishing spots! Once entering the bay from Forked river, Barnegat inlet is only a short boat ride away. If you’re looking to relax “on the hook”, Tices Schoal is just a few minutes away! Anchor in the bay and walk to the beach for a nice afternoon. Local amenities include “The Captains Inn” family restaurant, “The Captains Inn Dockside Tiki Bar”, and the “Southwinds Grille”, all within walking distance of the marina grounds.
Copyright 2010. Townsend’s Marina. All rights reserved.


The hostel is at 4592 Bessemer Rd.; Nelsonville, Ohio 45764 (about an hour drive southeast of Columbus). It is located near the corner of Conner Rd. and Bessemer Rd. up on the hill. The hostel is close to the new Route 33 Nelsonville/Buchtel exit. At the end of the exit ramp, go toward Route 78. Just before a right turn, take a left on Burr Oak Blvd. In about 50 feet, take a right onto Sylvania Ave. (You will see storage units and a massage parlor there).
In about an eighth of a mile, at the first intersection, take a right on Bessemer Rd (township road 22). You will see the property easily by the solar panels on the blue and green building near Bessemer Rd. (Bessemer Place), and the signs.
You can park down by Bessemer Rd., Parking uphill, perpendicular to the road.
For the driveway, take a left on Conner Rd. before you get to the hostel signs. On Conner Rd., go past one house close to the road, then take a right at the driveway just before a chain link fence and another house, and go all the way up the driveway. If a car is at the top of the driveway, you can go straight up the driveway and park before taking a right to go up closer to the house, leaving room for the car at the top of the hill to back out.
The house has a green metal roof, white siding and a brown block bottom. Nobody but Chad Kister is ever allowed on the first floor of the house, it is the second floor that is the hostel, as clearly marked.
If you park on Bessemer Road, please park uphill perpendicular to Bessemer Road to leave room for more cars, and walk up the walkway and ring the doorbell at the upstairs (second floor) door. Do not walk on the west side of the house, as clearly marked.
There are four doorbells, one on the mailbox, two on the front side of the hostel and one by the back, north door of the hostel. If for some reason there is no answer from ringing the doorbell(s), call 740-


“Riding down to Port Warwick from Richmond, the train begins to pick up speed on the outskirts of the city, past the tobacco factories with their ever-present haze of acrid, sweetish dust and past the rows of uniformly brown clapboard houses which stretch down the hilly streets for miles…”
So begins Lie Down in Darkness, the wrenching first novel published in 1951 by Newport News native William Styron. While he named the fictional city where his tragedy was set Port Warwick, its characters, rumored to be based on prominent local families, were controversial and can still raise the ire of older residents. Lie Down in Darkness launched a brilliant literary career, as Styron wrote novels, plays and short stories including The Confessions of Nat Turner, for which he won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1968, and Sophie’s Choice, winner of the National Book Award in 1980.
Port Warwick’s signature feature, the handsome square at its center, is named “Styron Square” to honor the life and work of its famous native son. The two main streets of Port Warwick, Loftis and Nat Turner Boulevards, are named for characters in the author’s novels. In addition, Mr. Styron took on the task of naming the remaining streets and parks in Port Warwick. Given free reign, Styron decided to honor great American writers.
“In naming the various thoroughfares and squares of Port Warwick,” said Styron, “I have chosen outstanding American literary figures from the nineteenth and twenty centuries. These artists seem to me ones who are indisputably lodged in the pantheon of American literature. Limitation in number has forced me to exclude many illustrious writers deserving of recognition; therefore my choices reflect a personal leaning. But the overall selection of names does, I think, represent the best in the great flowering of American literary art.”
Mr. Styron attended the dedication of the Styron Square Pavilion in 2001, and while his health did not allow him to revisit Port Warwick, he stayed in communication with Port Warwick developer Bobby Freeman, assisting in reviewing plans for buildings, adding street names and selecting the quotations that appear in the marble base of the Natural, the sculpture on Phillip Roth Street.


Trimble UX5 UAS
Executives from Trimble, headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., announce the availability of the company’s next generation Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) - the Trimble UX5 aerial imaging rover with the Trimble Access aerial imaging application. Combined with the Trimble Business Center photogrammetry office software module, the Trimble UX5 offers a complete UAS photogrammetric mapping solution specifically designed for surveyors and geospatial professionals.
Trimble's UAS for photogrammetric aerial mapping allows surveyors and geospatial professionals to collect data with an unmanned aircraft for large projects. A wide variety of traditional surveying applications such as topographic surveying, site and route planning, progress monitoring, volume calculations, disaster analysis, and as-builts in industries such as surveying, oil & gas, mining, environmental services, and agriculture, can now benefit from aerial imaging by allowing professionals to safely collect large amounts of accurate data in a short time.
The Trimble UX5 can provide a safer method to collect data compared to traditional surveying methods, according to a company press release. Flights are fully automated, from launch to landing, and require no piloting skills. The operator facilitates the aircraft's operation and built-in safety procedures can ensure safe and successful launches. Data collection can be performed remotely without exposing individuals to hazardous terrain, environmental contaminants or heavy equipment and machinery.
Incorporating a mirrorless 16-megapixel camera with a fixed focal-length external lens, the Trimble UX5 provides high-resolution imagery and accurate deliverables.
Designed to operate in real-world conditions, the Trimble UX5 is capable of flights between 75m and 750m (approximately 246ft and 2,460ft) above ground level and can be flown in light rain and windy conditions, up to 65kph (approximately 40mph).
The Trimble UX5 airframe is comprised of a carbon frame inside expanded polypropylene. Impact-resistant plastics and composite fibers are used for the aircraft components, including winglets and belly plate. This design and choice of materials creates a rigid aircraft with strong torsional stability and the ability to withstand rough landings.
Trimble Business Center allows surveyors and other geospatial professionals to combine aerial photography with data collected from GNSS receivers, total stations, 3D laser scanners, and more. By combining imagery from the Trimble UX5 and any Trimble VISION instruments, users can visualize their project from both aerial and terrestrial perspectives, measure points within the images, and create 3D models of the infrastructure and terrain.
The new Trimble UX5 aerial imaging solution, including the Trimble Access aerial imaging application, is available now through Trimble's Survey Distribution Channel in markets where UAS commercial operations are permitted. The Trimble Business Center photogrammetry module is available now.


Nuffield UK heeft een speciaal evenement georganiseerd voor internationale varkenshouders. Topigs Norsvin geeft een virtuele rondleiding door het Delta Canada Research Center op 19 januari a.s. Heb je interesse om hierbij aanwezig te zijn? Via deze link kun je jezelf registreren: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/131856003857
Informatie ontvangen vanuit de organisatie:
Programme* (UK time):
- 15:00 – 15:30: Presentation on Delta Canada & the Canadian Genetics Program
- 15:30 – 15:45: Q&A
- 15:45 – 16:30: Real Time Virtual tour of Delta Canada and Observation of CT Scanning
- 16:30 – 16:45: Q&A
About the venue:
Located near Woodlands in Manitoba, Canada, this new research centre has been built with the latest technology to provide maximum animal welfare, highest level biosecurity, and minimal environmental impact. The location is isolated from other pig production and yet it is still close to Winnipeg Richardson International Airport, which makes it possible to export high-health boars and semen with the highest genetic value to our customers.
Delta Canada houses 2600 pigs and tests 7500 young nucleus boars of the TN Tempo sire line and the Z-line dam line every year. Delta Canada, just like the Delta centre in Norway, is equipped with IFIR feeding stations for individual feed intake registration and a CT scanner that makes it possible to improve carcass composition, robustness, and meat quality faster and with greater accuracy.
Meet your host:
Originally from the UK, Mike Shaw received his BSc in Animal Science from the University of Leeds and MSc in Pig Production from the University of Aberdeen. Before coming to Canada almost 20 years ago, he worked for 5 years in the UK and France for a global swine genetics company. In Canada he worked inside of Maple Leaf Foods at GAP Genetics, Landmark Feeds and Elite Swine Inc., overseeing the genetic and multiplication departments before moving to Topigs as part of their acquisition of Maple Leaf Foods Genetics Division. Most recently Mike managed the CAN$15m Delta Canada project from conception to completion.
*This event will take place over Microsoft Teams – the access link will be emailed to all those registered at a later date. If you have any questions or problems signing up, please email Charlotte@nuffieldscholar.org.


(September 14, 2017, Boston) Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), the national theatrical union representing stage directors and choreographers across the United States, and the New England Area Theatres (NEAT), the association representing theatres in and around the greater Boston area, announced the signing of their first Collectively Bargained Agreement (CBA).
SDC President Pam MacKinnon noted the importance of this signing. “Through this Agreement, New England theatres and SDC have articulated a huge vote of confidence for the quality and professionalism of work in the New England region. We are proud to represent stage directors and choreographers working and living in the Boston area and we look forward to participating more fully in the advancement of live theater in the region.”
Producing Artistic Director of Lyric Stage of Boston and President of NEAT Spiro Veloudos said, “With this Agreement, more artists will be encouraged to apply their art. Union directors will now play a significant role in the ongoing development of Boston as a place to work, much like union actors, designers, and musicians have already accomplished. We, as producers, applaud the work of our negotiating team.”
This agreement codifies employment of directors and choreographers in NEAT theatres, setting minimum fees and conditions, effective September 1, 2017.The Agreement also includes provisions covering developmental work, fight choreography, health and pension benefits, and royalties for extended runs.
NEAT member theatres include Actors Shakespeare Project, Boston Playwrights Theatre, Gloucester Stage Company, Harbor Stage Company, Lyric Stage Company, New Repertory Theatre, Nora Theatre Company, Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre, Speakeasy Theatre Company, Stoneham Theatre, Underground Railway Theatre, Vineyard Playhouse, Wellesley Summer Theatre, and Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre.
SDC was represented at the bargaining table by members of the SDC Boston Steering Committee, which includes: Benny Sato Ambush, Melia Bensussen, Judy Braha, Russell Garrett, Daniel Gidron, Jim Petosa, Larry Souza, and Bob Walsh.
SDC is the theatrical union that represents over 4,000 professional stage Directors and Choreographers throughout the United States. Its mission is to foster a national community of professional stage directors and choreographers by protecting the rights, health, and livelihoods of all its Members.
SDC has jurisdiction over the employment of directors and choreographers working in the following areas: Broadway and National tours, Off-Broadway, ANTC (Association of Non-Profit Theatre Companies, New York City), Resident Theatre (League of Resident Theatres – LORT), Resident summer stock companies (Council of Resident Stock Theatres – CORST/TSS), Dinner Theatre (Dinner Theatre Agreement- DTA), Regional Musical Theatre (RMT), and Outdoor musical stock (OMS).
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This custom-veneered Douglas Fir library was designed as part of a very special project in collaboration with interior designer Jill Macnair. The library was manufactured in our Peckham workshop and delivered to its beautiful new home in the hills of Highland Perthshire, Scotland.
Related project: Perthshire Kitchen
Material: Custom-veneered Douglas Fir
Design: Jill Macnair and Jacob Alexander
Photographer: Beth Evans
This project was the cover feature of ELLE Decoration April 2020.


Hotel Nassauer Hof contact & location
A coveted hotel in the Wiesbaden city centre
The Hotel Nassauer Hof is right in the heart of the Wiesbaden Germany city centre in one of the most prestigious areas of the state capital of Hesse. It is directly opposite the historic Kurhaus and just a short walk away from numerous shopping facilities, theatres and museums. The trade fair and congress centre is 15 minutes walking distance away. Frankfurt and the international airport Frankfurt/Main are reachable in 30 minutes by train or car.
Nearest bus stop: Right outside the restaurant is the stop "Kurhaus / Theatre“
For the entrance to the car park please enter into your SATNAV:
Spiegelgasse 9, 65183 Wiesbaden
- Contact Info
- Contact Us


Attractions in Limassol
Famous for its cosmopolitan aura, Limassol can boast of its popular marina and picturesque seaside promenade which attract thousands of tourists throughout the year. Featuring many shops and nightclubs, it is undoubtedly one of the top European tourist destinations and the Harmony Bay Hotel is the place to fully experience it. The recent shopping development complex of My Mall is located less than 15 minutes from Harmony Bay Hotel and is a popular attraction housing a wide range of high-street shopping brands while also including some dining venues and exciting entertainment options.
If you are on a family holiday, a visit to Fasouri Watermania Water Park and to the Limassol Zoo will be a delight for the children. You should also not miss a walk around the Historical and Classical Motor Museum of Cyprus and, if you seek adventure, Sayious Adventure Park will become your favourite destination on the island!
Beyond its contemporary cosmopolitan side, Limassol has great sites and historical monuments which are definitely worth a visit, introducing the visitor to a more sophisticated aspect of the area. Take some time to admire the archaeological site of Kourion, which includes the ruins of an amphitheater adorned with beautiful mosaics and Roman foundations. Another characteristic cultural monument of the area is the Sanctuary of Apollo, where you will see the ruins of ancient baths and dorms being unveiled.
Important sites are also the historic castles of the Colosseum dating back to the crusade and the Limassol Castle at the harbor, said to have been the setting of Richard the Lionheart’s wedding. You can also visit churches and monasteries of noteworthy beauty, such as St. George Alamanos.
While exploring the many beauties of the area, do not miss a visit to traditional hamlets such as Omodos and Koilani, so as to admire typical views of Cypriot architecture and immerse yourself in a sweet sense of tradition and warmth. The wine festival, organized at the end of August, holds a special place in the heart of the locals and will surely impress you. If you are here in February, you will have the chance to dance to the rhythms of the famous Carnival of Limassol.
For the more adventurous guests, we suggest venturing out to explore the famous Troodos mountains at a distance of approximately 1 hour from Limassol. Apart from the unique natural beauty that surrounds, the Troodos mountains are the home to numerous picturesque villages and to ten Byzantine churches and monasteries that are adorned with stunning coloured murals. Since they are sites belonging to UNESCO World Heritage, paying them a visit will definitely excite you. Additionally, the Geopark Visitor Centre of Troodos mountains is also a noteworthy as it showcases the geological importance of the mountainous range.
And for those who enjoy good wine, you will be thrilled to take a tour or our infamous wine routes, especially that of Commandaria! Cyprus is famous for its long tradition of wine making from ancient times, and the variety of Commandaria is the world's oldest wine label, with Richard the Lionheart being the greatest admirer. A visit to the various winery villages is the ultimate wine lovers’ experience, as it is these same ancient varieties that are being produced until this day and in the same traditional ways. Taste the wine that Richard the Lionheart himself named "the wine of the Kings and the King of Wines".


Travel to Germany with YCA!
25th Anniversary Usedom Music Festival and Berlin
September 21 to 30, 2018
Join us for eight unforgettable days of seaside beauty, urban excitement, and great concerts! On this unique custom trip created by Young Concert Artists just for our friends, begin with four glorious days on the unspoiled Baltic Sea island of Usedom, combining the natural beauty of this peaceful resort island with magnificent music at the 25th Usedom Music Festival, including performances by three YCA artists: pianist Nathan Lee, violinist SooBeen Lee, and accordionist Hanzhi Wang. Enjoy leisurely days on the dune-backed beaches combined with world class performances in historic venues.
Usedom Island – virtually unknown to Americans – is the second largest island in the Baltic Sea and known as the “sunny island.” The island boasts 25 miles of sandy beach (the longest in Europe) and a string of Imperial Spa towns where we stay, and features a distinctive style of architecture.
Then spend four days in Berlin, one of the world’s most exciting and eclectic cities. Berlin offers an unparalleled combination of vibrant culture, museums, cutting-edge architecture, fabulous food, and fascinating history. Take in Berlin’s iconic sights from the Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag to Museum Island and Frederick the Great’s Sanssouci palace. Hear the Berlin Philharmonic in their striking home, and exclusive private concerts by YCA artists: pianists Benjamin Moser and Dasol Kim, and violinist Viviane Hagner. Stay in Berlin’s finest hotel, cruise the River Spree by private yacht, and savor gourmet meals by Michelin-starred chefs – you’ll experience Berlin as an insider.
Friday, September 21
Arrive Berlin and check into Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin. Afternoon and evening at leisure.
Saturday, September 22
Depart Berlin for Usedom Island by private transport to our hotel in Ahlbeck (approximately 3 hours).
Check into the luxurious Romantik Seetelhotel Ahlbeckerhof, facing the beautiful Baltic Sea. Enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of this turn-of-the-century resort town of sand dunes and sparkling sea. Stroll the boardwalks, relax in a covered beach chair, and enjoy the sea air.
5:30 pm Early Dinner in the hotel in order to depart at 7 pm for those wishing to attend the Festival Opening Concert at 8 pm, approximately 45 minutes away.
8 pm: Opening Concert of the 25th Anniversary Usedom Music Festival in an historic power plant in the village of Pennemünde, featuring the Baltic Sea Philharmonic conducted by Kristjan Järvi. The program entitled “Nordic Pulse” includes works by Sibelius and contemporary Nordic composers, followed by a reception with the artists.
Sunday, September 23
Enjoy the morning and lunch at leisure.
3:00 pm Concert by accordionist Hanzhi Wang, 2017 Winner of the Young Concert Artists International Auditions, in the historic 15th-Century St. John’s Church in the village of Zichow. Having astonished the YCA Jury with her stage presence and brilliant mastery on, of all instruments, the accordion, she is poised to redefine repertoire from Bach to Piazzolla.
5:30 pm An early dinner with Thomas Hummel, Director of the Usedom Music Festival at the fish restaurant “Zur Alten Fischräucherei” in the village of Rankwitz.
7:30 pm Concert by violinist SooBeen Lee, 2016 Young Concert Artists International Auditions Winner, in the 13th-century St. Michael’s Church in the village of Krummin. At age 17, SooBeen Lee has appeared as soloist with every major Korean orchestra, for the United Nations Secretary General, and for the King and Queen of Malaysia at the Korean “Blue House.”
Monday, September 24
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Day tour of Usedom Island by private bus including lunch. Sight-seeing highlights include several historic churches and a castle.
7:30 pm Dinner in the gourmet restaurant “Blauer Salon” in the hotel.
Tuesday, September 25
Morning boat ride on the Baltic Sea (weather permitting) and a visit to the Pennemünde Historical Technical Museum (the “rocket museum”), the birthplace of modern rockets.
Lunch and afternoon at leisure.
7:30 pm Concert by pianist Nathan Lee, 2015 Young Concert Artists International Auditions Winner, in the Hotel Esplanade in Ahlbeck. Just 15 years old when he won the YCA Auditions, Nathan Lee has already wowed audiences from the Seattle Symphony to the Orquesta Filarmónica del Boca del Rio in Mexico and at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall.
9:30 pm Dinner with Nathan Lee at “Kaiserblick” Restaurant in the hotel.
Wednesday, September 26
10 am: Drive by private motor coach to Berlin (2 ½-3 hours).
Check into the Hotel Adlon Kempinski, in the heart of Berlin on Pariserplatz, across from the famed Brandenburg Gate. Berlin’s finest hotel pre-1945, it has been recreated in its original location and remains the city’s grandest.
Lunch at Restaurant Quarré in the hotel, followed by a walking tour including the Reichstag, the haunting Holocaust Memorial by Peter Eisenman, and along Unter den Linden, the “Champs-Elysées” of Berlin.
6 pm: We are guests of distinguished YCA alumnus pianist Benjamin Moser for a private performance in his home. Laureate of the International Tchaikovsky Competition and Artur Schnabel Piano Competition, Benjamin Moser plays throughout the US and Europe, from the Munich Symphony Orchestra to the London Philharmonic.
“Berlin Welcome Dinner” at the home of Dr. Magda Gohar-Chrobog, Young Concert Artists of Washington Board member, and Jürgen Chrobog, former German Ambassador to the United States and Deputy Foreign Minister of Germany.
Thursday, September 27
City sightseeing tour by private motor coach, including the Berlin Wall Memorial, Checkpoint Charlie, Alexanderplatz TV Tower, Gendarmenmarkt, and the Hackesche Höfe’s courtyard shops.
Lunch at the historic Cafe Einstein, a classic Viennese coffee house renowned for its Wiener Schnitzel and Apfelstrudel.
Visit Museum Island’s Pergamon Museum with its 2nd century Roman Market Gate of Miletus, and 6th Century BC Ishtar Gate and Processional Way of Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II; and the Neues Museum of Egyptian treasures including the famous bust of Nefertiti.
Visit the lavish Berlin Cathedral, and see the Hohenzollern Royal Palace being reconstructed.
8 pm: Concert by the Berlin Philharmonic in their acoustically renowned home, the Philharmonie. The program, conducted by Semyon Bychkov, includes Dvořák’s Symphony No. 7 in D minor, Bruch’s Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra with pianists Katia and Marielle Labèque, and Detlev Glanert’s Weites Land for orchestra.
Dinner before or after the concert in the hotel as you wish.
Friday, September 28
10 am: See the city from a different perspective on a Spree River cruise on the private yacht “Aida” (weather permitting).
Lunch at the Roof Garden restaurant atop the Reichstag, followed by a tour of the dramatic glass dome in this history-laden building, strikingly rebuilt by Sir Norman Foster for use once again by the German Parliament. Tour of the Boros Sammlung of contemporary art, a private collection housed in a converted WWII bunker.
6 pm: Enjoy a private performance at Steinway & Sons, Berlin, by YCA pianist Dasol Kim and YCA alumna violinist Viviane Hagner. Currently garnering attention for his ongoing performance of the complete Beethoven Sonatas in Korea and Switzerland, Dasol Kim plays with major orchestras around Europe. Viviane Hagner is a regular soloist with leading orchestras worldwide since the age of 13, when she performed in the historic “Joint Concert” in Tel Aviv with the Berlin and Israel Philharmonic Orchestras.
Dinner at the 2-Michelin-starred restaurant Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer with the artists!
Saturday, September 29
Day-trip with private bus and guide to Potsdam to see the exquisite UNESCO World Heritage Site “Palaces and Parks of Potsdam.” Tour the 18th century royal palace and gardens “Sanssouci,” the Rococo summer palace of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia. Lunch at the lovely Italian restaurant Villa Haacke in Potsdam.
After lunch, visit Glienicke Palace and Park, designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel for Prince Carl of Prussia in the early 19th-century, and nearby Glienicke Bridge, the infamous “Bridge of Spies” where, during the Cold War, captured spies were exchanged on this border between East and West Germany and made into the movie of the same name starring Tom Hanks.
Returning to Berlin, optional visit to the Museum Berggruen, a fabulous collection of modernist masters including Klee, Picasso, Braque, Matisse, and Giacometti, interwoven with African sculptures, assembled by art dealer Heinz Berggruen and bequeathed to the city.
Cap off our trip with a celebratory Dinner at “Sra Bua by Tim Raue” in the Adlon Hotel. This pan-Asian restaurant combines Asian flavors with the culinary signature of Germany’s celebrated star chef, Tim Raue.
Sunday, September 30
Breakfast at the hotel. Private transfer to Berlin airport provided for your departing flight.
YCA USEDOM MUSIC FESTIVAL & BERLIN PATRONS’ TRIP
$6,450 Per person, based on double room occupancy
$7,800 Per person, single room
Included in the tour cost is a tax-deductible contribution to Young Concert Artists, Inc. of $1,500 per person. You will receive a tax-deduction receipt for your gift.
Nine nights Hotel:
Four nights in a Sea-view or Side Sea-view Suite in the 5-star Romantik Seetelhotel Ahlbeckerhof, in the historic spa town of Heringsdorf on Usedom Island. Hosting Kaisers and Kings since 1890, the flagship hotel of the luxury Seetelhotels offers an imperial experience in architecture and ambiance.
Five nights in a Deluxe Room at the 5-star Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin. The legendary original Hotel Adlon, opened in 1907, was one of the most famous hotels in Europe. The current hotel, opened in 1997, offers luxurious accommodation, extensive spa services, three restaurants, and the premiere location in Berlin.
Meals, including all drinks:
Eight buffet breakfasts at the hotels
Transfer between Berlin airport and Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin upon arrival and departure; private transportation between Berlin and Usedom. Private transport to and from events and dinners as needed, and private transport to/from Potsdam.
Entrance and guides to all sites in the itinerary
A knowledgeable English-speaking guide will accompany us when touring. Young Concert Artists will also provide assistance throughout the week.
Trip price does not include:
Meals and other items not specifically mentioned as included
Personal costs including telephone calls and personal services such as: travel; room service, laundry, and valet service; mini-bar items and à la carte orders.
If due to weather, flight schedule changes, or other uncontrollable factors, additional hotel nights are required, patrons are responsible for their additional hotel, transfers, and meal costs.
Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance is not included, but recommended.
Events, activities, programs and artists may be subject to change.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
Young Concert Artists, Inc. (“YCA”) reserves the right to cancel the tour prior to departure for any reason including insufficient numbers of participants, as well as the right to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the tour at any time. If YCA cancels the tour prior to departure, participants will receive a full refund of any monies paid to YCA. If bookings fall below the minimum required, participants will be advised of itinerary alterations or trip cancellation no later than June 29, 2018. Cancellations by participants must be received in writing by YCA, and charges are calculated as of the day notification is received in writing by YCA. If a participant cancels, the following scale of charges is incurred: For written cancellation received by YCA by June 22, 2018 or before, $300 cancellation fee per person; from June 23 through July 20, 2018: $750 cancellation fee per person. Cancellations received from July 21 through August 24, 2018 result in forfeit of $1,500 per person; and cancellations received from August 25 through September 21, 2018 result in forfeit of $2,500 per person. After the tour has commenced, it is not possible to issue any refunds. No refunds are given for any unused portion of the tour including, but not limited to, missed meals or other events. A package of cancellation, baggage, and medical insurance is recommended.
A $1,000 per person deposit is required to confirm a space for the trip. The balance is due in full by July 13, 2018. Deposit and balance payments are preferred by check to Young Concert Artists, Inc. or wire transfer. If you wish to pay by credit card, there will be a 3 % surcharge.
Young Concert Artists, Inc. (“YCA”) acts as the agent for the suppliers of services (including, but not limited to, ground transportation, meals, and lodging) provided in conjunction with the tour. YCA is not liable for the negligent acts, omissions, defaults, or failure to perform of suppliers. The Participant releases YCA from any and all liability resulting from acts or omissions of the suppliers of services, including, but not limited to, loss, damage, delay or injury, or damage to Participant (including death) or personal property. YCA is not liable for losses or delays arising from sickness, quarantine, government restraints, war, acts of terrorism, weather conditions, earthquakes, or acts of God. In no event shall YCA’s liability exceed the amount received by YCA from Participant.
YCA has no special knowledge of hazards regarding health or safety in the destinations visited by Participant. Participant agrees to assume full responsibility for his/her safety. Participant assumes all risks of damage or injury in connection with any risks and agrees to indemnify and hold harmless YCA against any and all claims arising from Participant’s travel to such destinations.
Dates, schedules, program details, and costs stated by YCA’s itinerary and brochure are given in good faith and based on information available at the time of publication of the brochure and of pricing the tour and are subject to change and revision at any time by YCA. YCA does not guarantee the rates of any suppliers and reserves the right to substitute alternate suppliers if deemed necessary by YCA. YCA reserves the right to change Participant’s itinerary if, in YCA’s sole discretion, such change is advisable to protect Participant’s safety. No refund shall be due from YCA in conjunction with changes in rates or itineraries, substitution of suppliers, or Participant’s decision not to complete a tour itinerary. YCA reserves the right to refuse to accept any Participant, cancel any tour at any time, or request a Participant to withdraw from a tour if, in YCA’s sole discretion, such refusal, cancellation, and/or withdrawal are in the best interest of Participant or other tour Participants. Participants are encouraged not to purchase airline tickets until after receiving a letter stating that they are confirmed on the tour, and YCA does not accept liability for any airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable ticket to the tour departure cities and return. Baggage and personal effects are the sole responsibility of the owners at all times.
For information and reservations, please contact:
Mark Hayman, Executive Director
Young Concert Artists, Inc.
1776 Broadway (Suite 1500), New York, NY 10019
Tel: (212) 307-6655 or email@example.com


What happens at the end of Moore's Law? Where do we go from here? Find out this summer with Professor Junichiro Kono! This course is open to ALL undergraduate students in the US, Asia, and Europe. All you need to do is go to http://online.rice.edu/courses/elec-261/ and click on Enroll Now. Once you are registered as a visiting student, you can access the course. Don't miss this amazing opportunity to be on the forefront of innovation!


Sunday, October 11, 2009
Maldives is the ideal
If you are looking for sun, sand and sea, then Maldives is the ideal tropical holiday destination. Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, is an island nation consisting of a group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south of Lakshadweep group of islands of India, about seven hundred kilometers (435 mi) south-west of Sri Lanka. Known for massive lagoons with varying depths and infinite shades of blue and turquoise, dazzling underwater coral gardens; Maldives is any tourist's paradise.


Pair of silver salt bowls. Vintage Georgian antique item, circa 1816. Hallmarks for Edinburgh and 1816 7cm in diameter and 4.5cm high. The item "Sterling hallmarked silver vintage Georgian antique pair of footed salt bowls" is in sale since Sunday, April 21, 2019.
This item is in the category "Antiques\Silver\Solid Silver\Bowls". The seller is "country_choice_trader" and is located in Louth.This item can be shipped to North, South, or Latin America, all countries in Europe, all countries in continental Asia, Australia.


After several meetings and discussions, we decided to use “Recovery” as the main concept of our project, and intended to visualise the ocean environment to deliver our concept. Particularly, we are going to apply sound, animation and interactive equipment to our site.
So far, we have a 3D environment and an animation for the main projected wall.
Firstly, we would like to attract the visitors’ attention to our main projected wall. So we would like to do a 3D light show on the wall. Here I attached the animation I have created so far.
I used Blender for 3D modeling. Particularly, I applied a modern hologram texture in Cycles render for the pillars to make a better light effect.
Here I attached a picture of the test result. As we are still learning projection mapping by Madmapper, we can only map a picture on the wall now. We will keep studying in the following weeks before presentation.
When I was creating the animation and 3D view, I always asked myself “how can I create environments in which people can get immersed and how can I connect the (e)motion with the environment”? Then, the theory of Relative Motion came into my mind. Basically, I moved the shining pillars and arches to make visitors feel like they are walking into the main arch and watching the scene inside, which is the 3D environment of the ocean.
3D Environment of the undersea
According to our project brief, we need to combine environments and motion with media and digital technologies to create an augmented environment (live event, installation). So I started to think about “What elements related to ocean can I use to augment sensorial experiences in the specific site?” Because we wanted to visualise how the Winged Victory was buried under the Aegean Sea, I chose the seaweed and sand ground to create an undersea view. To make the scene more real, I referred to a video tutorial by EnigmaToots to do the glowing sand ground and the reflective sea surface.
I used the cloth modifier for the seaweed, so that they are actually swaying once I rendered out the animation. To be more immersive, the whole animated scene will be accompanied with sound effect in the future.
Animation: Making more animation with different elements for the main projected wall.
Mapping: Learning the mapping method and testing it in the sculpture court.
Sound: Attaching the sound effect to the animation of the pillars, and try to make a deep sea sound for the animation.
EnigmaToots, 2014, Creating Underwater Scenes In Cycles, Online available at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq0y8J59GJs (accessed 12th February, 2016).


In The News« back to News list
Barker Pacific Buys Self-Storage Facility
LAKE ELSINORE, CA-Barker Pacific Group of Los Angeles has acquired a 100,000-square-foot, 600-unit self-storage property called Elsinore Valley Self Storage from DGS Development Partners for $5.28 million. Barker Pacific acquired the self-storage and RV storage facility in this Western Riverside County city through an affiliate, Union Development Co.
The newly acquired store will be re-branded to the company’s self-storage portfolio name of Storage Solutions. The transaction brings BPG/UDC’s total number of Storage Solutions stores to 19 serving the Southern California markets of Los Angeles, Orange, Santa Barbara, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.
Barker Pacific Group was founded more than 25 years ago to specialize in the development and acquisition of institutional quality office, retail, and residential projects in select US cities. Storage Solutions is the self-storage division of Union Development Co., which has been developing real estate in Southern California for more than 100 years.
The firm holds more than 1.7 million square feet of property in its portfolio including retail shopping centers, industrial parks, and self-storage facilities and RV and boat storage facilities that are branded under the Storage Solutions name. Both companies are based in Cerritos and co-owned in a joint venture by BPG and New York-based Angelo, Gordon & Co.
« back to NEWS list


Cemeteries are integral components of communities and are generally established adjacent to the critical resource needed for their support - a population base. St. Michael’s Cemetery, once a rural cemetery serving a colonial population, is today an eight- acre green space in the heart of urban, historic Pensacola, Florida. It is one of the two oldest extant cemeteries in the state of Florida (the other being Tolomato Cemetery in St. Augustine) and reflects the social history of the community it is associated with. The cemetery is on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing property to the Pensacola Historic District.
Historical research and early maps indicate that the land in and around the modern cemetery was in use as a burying ground beginning in the mid to late 18th century. The earliest surviving above ground markers in St. Michael’s Cemetery, however, are associated with Pensacola’s Second Spanish Period (1781-1821). The cemetery is an open-air museum that is a testament to the diverse history of Pensacola.
Pensacola drew immigrants from around the world. The cemetery is the resting place of Captains of Industry, victims of Yellow Fever epidemics and steam ship explosions, along with those who died in child birth, as infants, and of old age.
There are approximately 3200 marked graves in the cemetery with subsurface anomalies possibly several thousand unmarked graves. Tombstones in the cemetery reflect not only status and ethnicity of individuals but also reflect society as a whole on the Florida Gulf Coast frontier. One has only to walk down the extant colonial road bed at the south end of the site to experience the strong sense of place and identity in the cemetery; a feeling of community.
Today, primary stewardship for the cemetery is provided by St. Michael’s Cemetery Foundation of Pensacola, Inc. The nonprofit Foundation works with the University of West Florida and many community groups and individuals to preserve this historic site. Research at historic St. Michael’s Cemetery is focused on expanding our knowledge of the history and physical development of our community.
One project, The Search for the Hidden People of St. Michael’s Cemetery, identified unmarked burials at the site utilizing remote sensing techniques. In-depth historical research focused on the burial patterns reflected in the Pensacola Bay area, individuals who lost their lives in Pensacola during the colonial period, and how the landscape of St. Michael’s evolved over time in relationship to the community it serves. An in-depth history of the cemetery, results of the remote sensing survey, landscape reconstruction, and a colonial mortality database is now available. The ongoing research, conservation, and preservation efforts at St. Michael’s Cemetery are an excellent example of preserving our past to benefit our future.


National Geographic Giant Traveling Map of North America
February 11 - March 8, 2013 • Jackson, Starkville, Oxford
*Note – Use the contact information below to register
The National Geographic Giant Traveling Map of NORTH AMERICA will be in Mississippi February 11-March 8, 2013!
On this 26’ x 35’ map, students traverse the continent from Alaska’s Aleutian Islands to the Panama Canal and from Iceland to Baja. Along the way they use their bodies to represent physical features, go on a westward journey to track population growth, and play an action-packed game of Simon Says. Older students looking for a challenge compare U.S. state carbon dioxide emissions and explore major watersheds of the continent.
To book your group visit, contact the location nearest you.
February 11-23 - Museum of Natural Science, Jackson
Contact: Yolanda Hawkins, 601-576-6030 firstname.lastname@example.org
February 25-March 2 - Mississippi State University, Starkville
Contact: Dr. Kenny Anthony, email@example.com (preferred), 662-325-4870
March 4-8- University of Mississippi, Oxford
Contact: Dr. Ellen Foster, 662-915-3760, firstname.lastname@example.org
To register for the Oxford event, go to http://bit.ly/10DGQSA" />


Tennessee Housing Market Trends
Loan Wolf Capital is a Tennessee-based lender, working with real estate investors in Nashville, Memphis, Franklin, Murfreesboro and across the State of Tennessee. Our team has expertise in the real estate market, and we’re available whenever you have questions or needs based on your loan. Tennessee real estate continues to shatter records! Tennessee's residential real estate market continued to set new records in May, according to the latest Tennessee Association of Realtors Market Update.
Single-family home sales shot up more than 48% compared to May 2020, with 9,702 units sold this May versus 6,546 last year. This marks the biggest one-month year-over-year sales volume increase of all time in Tennessee. It was also the twelfth month in a row Tennessee experienced positive sales. Currently, home sales are leading 2020’s record pace by 29.5%.
Luxury homes priced $750,000 and up saw a massive 291% year-over-year increase, followed by homes priced from $500,000 to $750,000, which saw a 166% increase. Tennessee also saw an 82.8% rise in homes priced from $250,000 to $499,999.
"We are witnessing the most energized Tennessee real estate market in history!" says Chairman of Tennessee Association of Realtors
Loan Wolf Capital is the leading local hard money lender in Tennessee. We always have cash on-hand, because we’re one of Tennessee's only direct lenders. Our commitment to outstanding service means we never sell or broker your loan, and perform all lending operations in-house. We provide Fix & Flip and construction loans. We also have a buy & hold program along with a transactional funding program for those investors in need of short term capital to close a deal.


The CFA Franc
The CFA Franc (Central African Franc) is the currency of Gabon, Chad, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, and Equatorial Guinea. The CFA Franc is pegged to the Euro with a rate of 1 Euro = CFA 655.957. At present, 1 US Dollar = CFA 443.67.
If traveling to a country that uses the CFA Franc, it will be difficult to change currency before arriving in your host country. Most currency exchanges in international airports do not have the CFA Franc. Be sure to use a bank to change currency, not people who offer such services informally.


// Join the Mediterranean Contract Forum
The Mediterranean Contract Forum is an annual international event organized by the Institute of Development. Professionals who attend explore new emerging markets through meetings and presentations to promote innovation.
Save the date for the 7th International Contract Forum Meeting! A shared vision from the Caribbean and the Arabian Gulf
Don’t wait any longer and become a part of the Contract Forum 2023. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect with global professionals. Reserve your date now with a save the date for the Mediterranean Contract Forum, a shared vision from the Caribbean and the Arabian Gulf.
What is the Contract Forum?
It is an international event organized by the Institute of Development and framed within the Contract Sector. It is held annually with the aim of allowing professionals to explore new emerging markets through meetings and presentations, as well as promoting innovation in the creation of new spaces.
Companies in the furniture, upholstery, natural stone, and lighting industries, as well as professionals in architecture, interior design, engineering, construction entrepreneurs, and hotel operators participate in the event, where you can discover the priority markets of the Contract Channel, with the presence of international specifiers. North America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and the Maghreb were some of the protagonists of the last edition.
Among its main activities, it is also worth highlighting the presentations by the most relevant international experts in the channel, emphasizing the equipment of spaces for collective use and marble and natural stone, great competitive values of the Region of Murcia.
With the aim of generating new business opportunities and establishing direct contacts with project leaders worldwide, the Mediterranean Contract Forum features B2B business meetings in which leading architecture and interior design firms, contractors, habitat sector companies, and developers of technologies applied to project management, among others, participate.
Learn about previous editions
Did you miss the previous editions of the Mediterranean Contract Forum? Here’s a summary of past editions:
6th Mediterranean Contract Forum. A shared vision from the Caribbean and Gulf
This global event took place in 2022 and offered a detailed view of different regions of the world, including the Caribbean, Arabian Gulf, and Mediterranean.
We continued to promote a shared vision of the challenges and opportunities for contract businesses in the markets of the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Arabian Gulf. The event featured prominent project specifiers and decision-makers from the three regions, establishing a common thread among them that passes through Cartagena-Murcia, facilitating market feedback. The forum served as a space to share experiences, knowledge, generate new angles of collaboration, and business opportunities.
The forum was used to follow up on past actions that have been held physically or online and to advance future actions such as the Contract Business Meeting held in Dubai (coinciding with Murcia Week at the Spanish Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai).
VI Mediterranean Contract Forum. A shared vision from the Caribbean and Gulf
V Mediterranean Contract Forum. Creating spaces / Integrating solutions
During the event, international trends in contract project design were analyzed, with a special emphasis on the shared vision between the Mediterranean and Latin America. The main markets of interest in Latin America were also explored, and the situation at that time, perspectives, and new opportunities for connection with the United States, Europe, and the Mediterranean region were discussed.
In addition, the challenges and opportunities presented by development in the Mediterranean area as a growth engine in the contract sector were addressed. In this context, roundtable discussions were held in which entrepreneurs shared their experiences and success stories, enriching the event with their knowledge and insights.
In summary, the Mediterranean Contract Forum was an opportunity to delve into the trends and opportunities in the contract sector, strengthening collaboration between professionals from different regions and promoting growth in the field of project design and development in the Mediterranean area.
You can download the program for the VI Mediterranean Contract Forum from this link.
IV Mediterranean Contract Forum. Virtual Meeting. Colombia and Peru Contract Sector
The event, held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, featured the participation of companies interested in accessing the contract channel as a way to internationalize. During the presentations, the current situation and prospects of priority markets were addressed, analyzing how projects and collaborations with international companies were being worked on. Strategies to stimulate market dynamics in the current situation were also debated, identifying new needs and solutions.
In another presentation, the importance of design and creative collaboration as central elements in new solutions and strategic basis for maintaining and improving the position of Murcian companies in international markets was highlighted. The exchange of ideas and collaboration among professionals was promoted to find innovative solutions adapted to the changing needs of the sector.
In summary, the IV Mediterranean Contract Forum was a successful virtual meeting that allowed Murcian companies in the Construction Habitat sector and related services to explore opportunities in Colombia and Peru, strengthening international collaboration and promoting internationalization through the contract channel.
You can download the program of the 4th Mediterranean Contract Forum from this link.
III Mediterranean Contract Forum. International Meeting
The III Mediterranean Contract Forum, focused on the internationalization of Murcian companies in the Construction Habitat sector and related services, addressed priority markets and existing projects thanks to the presence of international specifiers in Murcia.
The presentations analyzed the current situation, challenges, and opportunities in the North and South American and Caribbean markets for Mediterranean companies. In addition, the potential of the Mediterranean for business cooperation and the generation of business opportunities was highlighted.
The plenary keynote conference by Edgar González (IE School of Architecture and Design) and the company Chapman Taylor delved into the importance of design and architecture in the contract field.
In summary, the III Mediterranean Contract Forum promoted collaboration and internationalization in the Construction Habitat sector and related services, exploring opportunities in various international markets.
You can download the program of the 3rd Mediterranean Contract Forum from this link.
II Mediterranean Contract Forum. Cooperation in the Contract Channel: Internationalization Strategies
The II Mediterranean Contract Forum aimed to promote business cooperation in the Contract Channel and delve into the key aspects of this channel for internationalization. The event brought together companies in the furniture, upholstery, natural stone, lighting, and other Habitat-related sectors, as well as architects, interior designers, engineers, builders, and hotel operators.
Presentations focused on the importance of business cooperation in the Contract Channel, especially in internationalization processes, addressing keys, approaches, and strategies. In addition, there was an activity with companies and professionals, sharing experiences and knowledge on the topic.
Key aspects of the Contract Channel, both in market entry and internationalization processes, were debated, fostering dialogue between entrepreneurs and professionals in a roundtable discussion.
Finally, progress was presented on the 2018 Contract Region of Murcia Action Plan, showcasing the initiatives and strategies that would be carried out to boost the sector in the region.
In summary, the II Mediterranean Contract Forum was an enriching event that promoted business cooperation and internationalization strategies in the Contract Channel, bringing together Habitat sector professionals and companies to share experiences and knowledge.
You can download the program of the 2nd Mediterranean Contract Forum from this link.
1st Mediterranean Contract Forum. International Meeting in the Region of Murcia
The main objective of the 1st Mediterranean Contract Forum was to identify priority markets for companies in the Region of Murcia interested in using the contract channel as a means of internationalization. The event featured the presence of international influencers in Murcia and was aimed at companies in the Construction Habitat sector and related services.
The presentations addressed various topics, starting with the international perspective of design in contract projects, highlighting the restaurant as the centerpiece of a hotel and the importance of industrial craftsmanship collaboration. Additionally, destination markets in Europe, such as the Algarve and the Costa del Sol, were analyzed as priority areas for international investment.
Europe as a platform market was also examined, with a focus on Qatar and the regional vision in the Middle East. Destination markets with differential value for the Spanish offer were explored, including Latin America, the United States, and the Caribbean.
The event concluded with a panel discussion on how Brexit could affect prescription and the contract channel, addressing internationalization strategies and business cooperation in this context.
In summary, the 1st Mediterranean Contract Forum was a successful international meeting that allowed companies in the Construction Habitat sector in the Region of Murcia to explore opportunities in various international markets, fostering collaboration and internationalization through the contract channel.
You can download the program of the 1st Mediterranean Contract Forum from this link.


Xenon International Academy Goes Abroad
Xenon & several other Pivot Point Member schools traveled to Dublin, Ireland and London, England to study abroad.
WICHITA, KS – Xenon International Academy and fellow Pivot Point Member schools including: Pivot Point International Academy, Penrose Academy, Beau Monde and MC College went international. Xenon was part of a dynamic group that had the opportunity to travel to Dublin, Ireland and London, England from October 6th through October 14th for continued education and European inspiration.
Eight people represented Xenon on the trip—four staff members and four students. All were from the Wichita campus.
The trip was certainly one for learning and growing as a stylist, but also getting a taste of the cultural differences.
“From the start we were immersed in culture, diversity and fashion,” said Kim McIntosh, Xenon Owner & President.
The first stop on the 10 day excursion was Dublin, Ireland. While in Ireland, the group visited traditional Irish pubs, beautiful gardens, cathedrals and castles.
“Ireland was breathtaking— the most beautiful place I’ve ever been to,” said Courtney Swick, Xenon Student.
They then traveled by boat on Ulysses, the world’s largest ferry, to Holyhead, in Wales. From there, they took a train on a 3 hour scenic journey through the Welsh countryside to central London.
Once in London, the group went on a guided tour to visit the most historic and breathtaking places in the country. They saw attractions such as the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Parliament and of course, Buckingham Palace.
The group also attended the Salon International Show at the ExCel Center and the Alternative Hair Show, which is one of the most prestigious hairdressing events that hosts leading teams and artists from around the world.
The Alternative Hair Show had such interesting and unique ideas and themes and “our students were absolutely awestruck,” said McIntosh.
One of the most industry-focused days, was when the group learned Vidal Sassoon hair styles and techniques. They had the privilege to train under Yolli Tencopple & Joakim Roos, some of the industry’s best instructors, at the L’Oreal headquarters in London.
“The trip was such a great learning experience. Pivot Point did such a good job putting it together and keeping it organized. If I had the chance to go again, I would go in a heartbeat,” said May Elliott, Xenon Master Educator.
This is one of the many study abroad trips Pivot Point has offered and will continue to offer its students and staff for the opportunity to become an even better-rounded stylist.
“Our students and staff are privileged to have been a part of such a dynamic group of schools on this trip. This trip has offered entrance into a new and exciting educational experience and we are so lucky to have been a part of it,” said McIntosh.
— Hannah Kern, Corporate Communications Coordinator