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Pride Journey: Oklahoma City
Since I began Pride Journeys 5 years ago, I have had the incredible opportunity to visit dozens of destinations around the world. Some destinations I visited once, while others left such an impression, that I was ...
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Sydney WorldPride plans a celebration like no other
Special to Windy City Times
WorldPride is heading Down Under in 2023. Sydney has been named the official location for WorldPride next year, and the cosmopolitan city is planning to go all-out to welcome LGBTQ+ guests from all over the world. ...
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Esquire: Chicago has three of the country's 'most fun' LGBTQ+-inclusive bars
Esquire magazine's editorial staff curated a list of the "most fun and inclusive LGBTQ+-friendly bars"—and the choices may seem surprising. The magazine chose the Uptown spots Big Chicks and Carol's Pub as well as the Andersonville ...
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ATTRACTIONS SkyBridge Michigan opens as world's longest timber-towered suspension bridge
SkyBridge Michigan is now open as the world's longest timber-towered suspension bridge. After more than a year in the works, SkyBridge Michigan made its debut to the public on Oct. 15, hosting thousands of guests on ...
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Philadelphia hosts street renaming ceremony for gay tourism expert
On Oct. 11, Philadelphia officials will honor the late civic pride booster, celebrated author and former Visit Philadelphia President/CEO Jeff Guaracino by renaming a portion of South 13th Street after the tourism marketer and LGBTQ+ trailblazer ...
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WORLD Trans women elected, Zambia protest, Spice Girl, public figures come out
Video below
On Oct. 2, two transgender women won seats in the Brazilian Congress, The Washington Blade reported. Voters in Sao Paulo elected Municipal Councilwoman Erika Hilton, a Black former sex worker who is a member of the ...
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Chicago voted 'Best Big City' for sixth straight year
Choose Chicago President and CEO Lynn Osmond announced that Chicago has been named the "Best Big City in the U.S." for the sixth straight year by Conde Nast Traveler through their 2022 Readers' Choice Awards. The ...
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21c Museum Hotel Chicago launches art-centered series
The spot 21c Museum Hotel Chicago, 55 E. Ontario St.—which blurs the line between a contemporary art museum and a boutique hotel—announced plans for its fall/winter 2022 season and 2023 edition of the "Art of"— a ...
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Pride Journey: Provincetown
I think it's safe to say that I found my new happy place. I had visited Provincetown, Massachusetts once before during the winter season and even then, I enjoyed my time there. Of course, P-Town is ...
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Pride Journey: Orlando
Orlando has always been a place close to my heart. Back in 2002, I attended graduate school there as well as worked in the music industry for a company that launched the careers of Backstreet Boys, ...
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WORLD Trans activist killed, abduction, BlueCity, OutRight, trans golfer
Video below
The murder of a prominent transgender activist in Argentina has sparked outrage across the country, The Washington Blade reported. Clarín, an Argentine newspaper, reported Alejandra Ironici, 45, was found dead in her home in Santa Fe. ...
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Index lists safest, most dangerous countries for LGBTQI+ travelers
The Star Observer noted that Brunei edged past Nigeria to emerge as the most dangerous country in the world for LGBTQI travelers, according to the annual LGBTQ+ Safety Travel Index. And for the second year in ...
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Gay-owned Galena inn receives honor from Tripadvisor
Hawk Valley Retreat & Cottages—a gay-owned bed and breakfast in Galena, Illinois—announced it has been recognized by Tripadvisor as a 2022 Travelers' Choice Best of the Best award winner for Bed and Breakfasts, ranking 13th out ...
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CTA launches celebration to mark 75 years of service to Chicago
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) turns 75 this year. In the coming months, as the CTA moves closer to its historic destination—a Diamond Jubilee Celebration in Daley Plaza, on Oct. 1—the public can participate in various ...
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Columbus, Ohio: A tantalizing mix of the old and the new
I have had the good fortune to visit Columbus, Ohio, several times—and there's a lot more to the 14th-most populous city in the country than The Ohio State University (and, yes, be sure to include "the"). ...
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Rolling into Texas
by Joey Amato
Palestine—just a hop, skip and a jump from Dallas—offers a blue dot of small-town charm I had a trip to Texas planned prior to the introduction of the anti-transgender bills in state Congress. I considered cancelling ...
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TRAVEL Descanso is Palm Springs newest gay resort
Descanso is the first resort for gay men to open in Palm Springs in more than 10 years, and "The response has been beyond expectations," said general manager Kent Taylor. Weekends are already booked through June, ...
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Chicago attractions named to U.S. summer travel list
Four Chicago area attractions have been named among the 150 best things to do in the United States this summer by Travel Lemming. The online travel guide's list highlights the publication's favorite summer events, experiences and ...
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COVID Latest travel update: 9.7% of country at 'Medium' or 'High' level
In the CDC's weekly update of COVID-19 Community Levels released April 29, 9.7 percent—or 314—of the 3,220 counties in the United States and Puerto Rico are now designated at a "Medium" or "High" COVID-19 level. That ...
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Travel confusion reigns as judge overturns mask mandate
On April 18, U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle—a Donald Trump appointee—struck down the Biden Administration's COVID mask mandate for airplanes and other public transport methods. A Biden Administration official ...
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CPDH's travel advisory shows almost 9% of U.S. at COVID's medium to high level
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is advising unvaccinated travelers to take special precautions if they plan to travel in the coming week to areas of the United States—such as parts of the upper Plains, ...
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COVID Chicago removes seven more states from travel advisory, makes adjustments
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) removed seven states from its weekly COVID-19 Travel Advisory—Alabama, California, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina and Oregon—and announced that it is ...
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Pride Journey: Iceland
The only way to describe Iceland is ... magical. It truly is. Iceland is like no other place I've visited in the world. It's topography, climate, people, culture, history, and nightlife blended together make Iceland a ...
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Sixteen more states off Chicago's COVID travel advisory
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) removed 16 states from its weekly COVID-19 travel advisory on March 15. Those states included Arizona, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi ...
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Twelve states removed from Chicago's COVID travel advisory
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) removed 12 states from its weekly COVID-19 Travel Advisory on March 8. Thirty-four states and one territory are still on the advisory. The following states and territories were removed ...
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COVID Five states and territories removed from Chicago travel advisory
The steep decline in COVID-19 cases around the United States is reflected in the Chicago Department of Public Health's (CDPH) weekly COVID-19 travel advisory, as five states and territories were removed from the advisory on March ...
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COVID One state now off Chicago's travel advisory
For the first time this year, the entire United States is not on the Chicago Department of Public Health's (CDPH) weekly COVID-19 travel advisory. Forty-eight states and four territories remain on the advisory after Maryland was ...
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Travel & Adventure Show features top destinations, actor Andrew McCarthy
The 17th Annual Chicago Travel & Adventure Show took place Feb. 19-20 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention & Conference Center in Rosemont and the event was truly a global affair. (The Chicago RV Show was in ...
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COVID All states still on Chicago's travel advisory
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) did not add or remove any states or territories from its COVID-19 travel advisory on Jan. 25. For the fourth consecutive week, every U.S. state and four territories are ...
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Chicago Travel & Adventure Show now Feb. 19-20
The 17th annual Chicago Travel & Adventure Show will now take place Feb. 19-20 at Rosemont's Donald E. Stephens Convention Center—two weeks after the original dates. The date change is due to the ongoing rise in ...
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COVID Chicago travel advisory remains unchanged
Chicago's COVID travel advisory remains the same. The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) did not add or remove any states or territories from its COVID-19 Travel Advisory on Jan. 11. For the second consecutive week, ...
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COVID Every state, four territories now on Chicago's travel advisory
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) added the only state and only territory that were not on its COVID-19 travel advisory last week—Montana and Guam—to the weekly list on Jan. 5. Every U.S. state is ...
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TRAVEL Phoenix: The warmth of sun and smiles
It's 75 degrees in December. Obviously, I wasn't in Chicago, although there's something to be said for the charm of the season's first snowfall. I was actually in Phoenix and, although it's only a four-hour plane ride ...
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COVID Chicago travel advisory only excludes one state and one territory
On Dec. 28, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) added two states—Louisiana and South Carolina—as well as the Virgin Islands to its weekly COVID-19 travel advisory. The advisory now includes 48 states and three territories. ...
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COVID Five states and Puerto Rico added to Chicago's travel advisory
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) added five states Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii and Texas as well as Puerto Rico to its weekly COVID-19 travel advisory on Dec. 21. The advisory is now at 47 states and ...
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Chicago Travel & Adventure Show taking place Feb. 5-6
The 17th annual Chicago Travel & Adventure Show will take place Feb. 5-6 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, in Rosemont. Travel enthusiasts will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with travel experts to help ...
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COVID Two states and territory come off Chicago's travel advisory
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) removed two states and Guam from its weekly COVID-19 Travel Advisory on Nov. 30. No new states were added to the advisory, which now stands at 38 states. California, ...
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COVID Chicago's travel advisory back up to 40 states and one territory
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) added two states to its weekly COVID-19 travel advisory on Nov. 23. The advisory stands at 40 states and one territory. Connecticut, whose daily COVID Case rate per 100,000 ...
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COVID Chicago's travel advisory down to 38 states, one territory
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) removed three states and returned one to its weekly COVID-19 travel advisory on Nov. 16. The advisory stands at 38 states and one territory. Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee—all of ...
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COVID Arkansas comes off Chicago's latest travel advisory
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) removed one state—Arkansas—from its most recent weekly COVID-19 travel advisory, issued Nov. 9. The advisory stands at 40 states and one territory. Alabama ...
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STAYCATION REVIEW The Gwen
Since opening in 2015, The Gwen, A Luxury Collection Hotel (521 N. Rush St.; https://www.thegwenchicago.com/) has earned plaudits from all over the globe. Some of the most recent honors came courtesy of the readers of Conde ...
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COVID Four more states removed from Chicago's travel advisory
On Oct. 26, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) removed four states from its weekly COVID-19 Travel Advisory. The advisory now includes 41 states and two territories following the removal of Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland and ...
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COVID Two more states and D.C. removed from Chicago's travel advisory
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) removed two states and the District of Columbia from its weekly COVID-19 travel advisory on Oct. 19. The advisory now includes 45 states and two territories following the removal ...
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TRAVEL Conde Nast readers select The Gwen as Chicago's best hotel
Conde Nast Traveler's readers have spoken—and their views of Chicago's hotels are distinctly different from those of another top travel publication. While Viceroy Chicago topped Travel + Leisure's readers' list of local spots to stay, ...
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COVID Connecticut removed from Chicago travel advisory
On Oct. 5, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) removed one state—Connecticut—from its weekly COVID-19 travel advisory. The advisory now stands at 47 states and three territories. Although the ...
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TRAVEL Conde Nast again recognizes Chicago as top big city
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, Choose Chicago and World Business Chicago announced Conde Nast Traveler recognized Chicago as the #1 Best Big City in the U.S. for the fifth consecutive year in a row in the results ...
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COVID California, Puerto Rico off Chicago's travel advisory list; others return
On Sept. 22, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) took one state and one territory—California and Puerto Rico—off its weekly COVID-19 Travel Advisory, while Connecticut and the District of Columbia returned to the advisory. The ...
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TRAVEL Local hotels make Travel + Leisure's 'Best' lists
Hotels in Chicago were among those honored in Travel + Leisure's annual best-of lists, with readers serving as voters. ...
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Get Out! LGBTQ travelers show how to travel safely this fall
By Ed Salvato, courtesy of the National LGBT Media Association
Just when we thought it was safe to hit the road, we were walloped by the Delta variant, the latest plot twist in the 18-month-and-counting pandemic story. The surprising data that fully vaccinated people could transmit ...
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Pride Journey: Colorado Springs
Did you know that Colorado Springs is also known as Olympic City U.S.A.? Neither did I. Not only is the city home to the U.S. Olympic Training Center, but Colorado Springs recently celebrated the grand opening ...
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The U.S. of Gay
Must sees and dos for out-and-proud wanderlusters
51 ab-fab road-trip destinations and pit stops one in each state and the District of Columbia that are must sees and dos for out-and-proud wanderlusters There are a million things to love about traveling the United States from our ...
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COVID Chicago adds four states to travel advisory
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) most recently added four states—Colorado, Maryland, Nebraska and South Dakota—to its weekly COVID-19 Travel Advisory. There are now 43 states and two territories ...
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COVID Chicago adds 12 states to travel advisory
Chicago added 12 states to its travel advisory on Aug. 10, recommending that unvaccinated people entering the city from those areas test negative for COVID-19 or quarantine upon arrival, according to NBC Chicago. The 12 new ...
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ATTRACTIONS Chicago's First Lady offers a premium architectural tour
Recently, USA Today selected the Chicago Architecture Foundation's Chicago's First Lady cruise as the best boat tour in the country—and it's easy to see why. (By the way, it also was voted the top boat tour ...
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Chicago adds five states, Puerto Rico to COVID travel advisory
On Aug. 3, Chicago added five states and Puerto Rico to its travel advisory, recommending that unvaccinated people entering the city from those areas test negative for COVID-19 or quarantine upon arrival, according to NBC Chicago. ...
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Passenger claims rainbow mask was banned; airline responds
On his flight out of Los Angeles International Airport earlier this month for a 46th birthday vacation in Greece, gay West Hollywood resident Scott Schmidt donned a rainbow-colored surgical mask in order to adhere to the ...
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STAYCATION 21c Museum Hotel's 'Love Is Love' package
The 21c Museum Hotel a chain of mid-size hotels known for being in medium-sized cities such as Cincinnati, Ohio; and Louisville, Kentucky took a leap in early 2020, opening its largest hotel here in Chicago (at 55 E. Ontario ...
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Ten incredible places to visit in Armenia
Armenia is one of the most fascinating places in the world, with rich millennia-old history, ancient monuments, majestic countryside, lush highlands and much more. I just came back from this country. It was my third time ...
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STAYCATION
Rating The Godfrey Hotel Chicago's Pride Month package
The Godfrey Hotel Chicago (127 W. Huron St.; https://www.godfreyhotelchicago.com/) is currently offering a Pride Month hotel package for June that includes overnight accommodations, a table for two at the I/O Godfrey rooftop, a massage at the ...
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Pride Journey: Palm Springs
Palm Springs is my happy place. The city and the surrounding area provide me with the perfect mix of relaxation and entertainment. Having been to Palm Springs numerous times prior to this visit, I wanted to ...
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Essential tips for your COVID-free travel
COVID-19 will make travel a bit more complicated this summer. Going to Europe? Taking a cruise? Visiting Hawaii, San Juan or St. Lucia? Or maybe you are planning a road trip? The rules for traveling responsibly ...
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Pritzker announces 'Time for Me to Drive' campaign
to jump-start Illinois tourism
Gov. JB Pritzker joined the Illinois Office of Tourism and industry leaders to kick off "Time for Me to Drive"—a new campaign to promote the return of travel across the state. In its first new campaign ...
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Essential tips for your COVID-free travel
COVID-19 will make travel a bit more complicated this summer. Going to Europe? Taking a cruise? Visiting Hawaii, San Juan or St. Lucia? Or maybe you are planning a road trip? The rules for traveling responsibly ...
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COVID: CDC updates domestic travel guidelines
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an update regarding domestic travel—and eased restrictions for travelers who are fully vaccinated. The CDC website stated, as of April 3: People who are fully vaccinated with ...
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CDC issues mask mandate for travelers
Starting in February, travelers and commuters will be required to wear face masks on nearly all forms of public transportation as part of a sweeping new order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ...
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ACTIVITIES Rollin' on the river, courtesy of the Chicago Electric Boat Company
Running out of ideas regarding what to do this summer? Well, it turns out there's nothing like going down the river in a boat built for two (with social distancing). I recently cruised down the Chicago ...
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TRAVEL San Antonio, a spot that defies and embraces Texas
Special to the online edition of Windy City Times
San Antonio is one city that encompasses what one may think of Texas—but also extends beyond one's perceptions of the state. Yes, there are the seemingly requisite cowboy hats and (emblematic of the notion that "everything ...
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WORLD Travel meeting postponed, Hong Kong ruling, African refugees, Grindr sold
The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association—scheduled to take place in Milan, Italy—has been postponed to September/October because of coronavirus concerns, an organizational press release announced. The release stated, "The outbreak of ...
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Make a pit stop in Indy for a gay ol' time
Approximately three hours outside of Chicago, Indianapolis, Indiana has a lot to offer travelers in terms of cuisine, history and nightlife. Start off by staying at the Conrad Hotel in Downtown Indianapolis to be centrally located ...
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theWit celebrating Warhol with package
theWit Hotel, 201 N. State St., is celebrating the arrival of "Andy Warhol—From A to B and Back Again," the acclaimed traveling Andy Warhol exhibit that has just made its debut in Chicago—with a hotel package ...
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TRAVEL Ireland, Northern Ireland: A land of rainbows
Possibly the friendliest country anywhere, Ireland is a lush, green island in the North Atlantic. The Republic of Ireland is divided in two, with Northern Ireland being a part of the United Kingdom. This splits the ...
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TRAVEL Louisville: Putting a twist on Southern hospitality
The South is renowned for many things—including food and its vaunted hospitality. However, it also has been maligned for, among other things, what non-Southerners might call "backward thinking." Well, take a look at Louisville, which one ...
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The Camino Project, an experiment in travel
Far removed from the constructs of your typical theater experience, Theatre Y evokes participation, both physical and emotional. The Camino Project is an experimental experience birthed from its writer, Evan Hill's and its director, his wife, ...
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Event promotes LGBTQ tourism in Israel
On Aug. 8 at Goddess and the Baker, 225 N. Lasalle St., the Israel Ministry of Tourism hosted a happy hour. The most eye-catching display, perhaps, was the rainbow cake peppered with mini-Israeli flags. Next to ...
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TRAVEL Driftless and daring: Mineral Point, Wisconsin
Thousands of years ago when the glaciers razed the Midwest and flattened the landscape, they left certain areas untouched, unmarred. These areas—known as the "driftless" areas—abound with lush, green, rolling ...
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