Hip Young Things

The Twilight saga has been a phenomenon. Long before the movies were ever released, Twilight was a hit with tween and teen girls across the country.  Once the movies hit theatres, they raked in millions of dollars worth of sales.  With apparel, accessories, and even now comic books Twilight has become one of the biggest brands of the last several years.

Despite the vampire craze sweeping across the country, there is one thing that Twilight is notably without…a video game.  Browsing down the video aisle at the electronic store, you can find a video game for nearly every major action and kid movie to come out in recent years; except Twilight.  Critics are uncertain why this is and say that it will cause franchise owners to miss out on potentially millions of dollars in sales. Follow this link to read more.

While Santa Barbara, California is commonly considered to be a luxury oriented vacation destination, and something of an exclusive place to live, there are actually a number of inexpensive and even free things to do, see and experience in the city. This is a particularly attractive aspect of the city for family’s who would like to spend their vacation time their in the comforts of some of the luxury hotel suites . The free activity and entertainment options in Santa Barbara can be broken down into specific categories including but not limited to music, outdoor hiking and biking adventures and historic landmarks.

Santa Barbara is extremely rich in culture and this includes its music scene. And many of the musical offerings are free to the public. Through the months of June through August there are great concerts in Chase Palm Park and Alameda Park. You can also get involved in the music and join a weekend drum circle on the beach. Weekends also feature live music at Paseo Nuevo Shopping Center. For families and individuals who are looking for a great hike or bike ride, Santa Barbara has much to offer. The Botanic Garden has a great trail with solid markings that is beautiful at night. You can also hike to the top of Hot Springs Trail where you can enjoy beautiful views of the city and beyond. You can also find a spot to take a dip in one of the red rock swimming holes located at the end of Paradise Road.

Some of the intriguing cultural and historical landmarks of the city include the Victorian houses that can be found in the downtown area, as well as the Vedanta Temple and the Spanish built fort that dates from 1782, El Presidio . And finally, the non categorized, yet still free, activity is one of many people’s favorite things to do. Whale watching along Shoreline Park is one of the most exciting ways anyone could spend an afternoon. Bring a picnic lunch, binoculars and a camera and watch the water breaching spectacles of Humpback and Blue Whales as they enjoy the waters just off the California coast.

The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art is not only one of the major academic institutions of the city it is also one of its greatest museums. This double aspect of the facility is uncommon in schools though it represents one of the progressive and holistic aspects of the arts fields. There are two parts to visual arts and many scholastic programs focus on the techniques of creating the art, while having a premiere gallery adds prestige and demonstrates one of the ultimate goals with any art, which is to have it seen by as many people as possible. The museum is well supported by the residents of Philadelphia as well as many of the tourists who are staying in some of the city’s finest hotels .

In addition to the above mentioned attributes of the academy, the museum and school is the oldest in the nation. Charles Willson Peale , who was a respected painter and scientist, along with the sculptor William Rush and other artists established the academy in 1805. The current building in which the museum exists was built in 1876 and it was designed by the architects Frank Furness and George W. Hewitt. It has been designated as one of the Nation’s historic landmarks and demonstrates the history of arts and architecture in Philadelphia.

As part of its mission, the museum has collected great masterpieces from American painters since it was first established. It also includes in its prized collections some of the great works of previous instructors of the academy as well as honored alumni. The works in collection include contemporary as well as 19th and early 20th century works. In over 200 years of existence, the PAFA has mounted over one thousand exhibits. In addition to the various special academic events and exhibits there are various public programs that popular with individuals who are not otherwise associated with the school or museum. Some of these include special lectures, presentations and discussions among other things.