ArcaMax

Singer-songwriter Maia Sharp remembers what it was like when she was a struggling musician trying to get gigs. “It was on a Monday night at 10 p.m. at Molly Malone’s Irish Pub in Los Angeles,” Sharp said. “The booker told me I needed to bring 50 people to get called back. I brought 51.” These days, the artist – who has also written ...Read more

I'm really into “second cities” these days. For generations, Industrial Age powerhouses in Europe turned into what we would call “the rust belt,” while their elegant “first city” counterparts enjoyed the luster of the Information Age. But over the last decade or so, the rust has become a trendy accessory, and industrial ruins have ...Read more

The U.S. and Taiwan could feasibly manufacture weapons jointly, according to Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, in remarks that risk angering and escalating tensions with China.

“We are open to suggestion and innovation in that regard,” Wicker said at a briefing in Taipei on Saturday. “And that will depend on the ...Read more

Get your magic carpet ready! We’re going to do a little time travel through several centuries at museums in Amsterdam that really know how to engage kids, whether we are talking art or history.

Amsterdam is celebrating its 750th anniversary this year with many special events, neighborhood festivals, ...Read more

The seven-man band AMPERS&ONE boasts quite the international lineup. Group leader Kamden and Kyrell are from the United States. Brian hails from Canada. Mackiah is from Australia, and Jiho, Siyun and Seungmo are from South Korea, where the group is based. Formed in 2023, the septet recently released their latest mini album, “Loud & Proud.” ...Read more

Uppsala, Sweden’s fourth-largest city, is the best day-trip from Stockholm – it’s just under an hour away by train. This happy town is Sweden's answer to Oxford, offering stately university facilities and museums, the home and garden of botanist Carl Linnaeus, as well as a grand cathedral and the enigmatic burial mounds of Gamla Uppsala on...Read more

Got your rain jackets? You may need them if you are heading to the mountains for a last-gasp summer getaway, to escape the never-ending heat or perhaps planning a fall getaway.

You may need your rain jacket for late-afternoon thunderstorms, as some of our relatives, unfortunately, discovered a while back. They opted for large garbage bags, ...Read more

Besides spending a week in Michigan visiting family this year, musician Stella Cole said that all of her travels have been for work. It will continue this fall when she kicks off a four-week U.S. tour. “Then we’ll do shows in the U.K., Germany, France and Switzerland, followed by another three-week U.S. holiday tour,” Cole said. “We’re...Read more

I can’t think of any two people more prominent in the minds of French citizens than the Virgin Mary and Emperor Napoleon. And they share an important date: August 15 – when it’s believed she ascended into Heaven, and when he was born. Of course, churches across France recall Notre Dame (our lady). But city halls recall Napoleon, and his ...Read more

Don’t you love it when you find yourself ahead of the crowd? I don’t mean budging in line, but rather when you have discovered something or someplace before most people.

That’s what I was patting myself on the back for when I read the The Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) 2025 ...Read more

Some people dream of quitting their job and enjoying the quiet life. Not Leonidas G. Demas. After he retired from his career as an attorney, he pursued his passion for filmmaking. Demas wrote a script for the film “A Spartan Dream,” which has a mid-August release date. “Over the years, I had developed a love for Greece, visiting many times...Read more

August is vacation time in Europe. Entire towns seem to shut down as locals head to seaside escapes, eager to enjoy unforgettable beaches and the culture that comes with them. Let’s close our eyes, tune in to the rhythm of the waves, picture a sunset glinting through a drink in your hand, and join them. Here are some of my favorite seaside ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Hello, gorgeous! Minnesota may be the Land of 10,000 Lakes. But is it also the land of 10,000 beautiful views?

That many at least. But what are the best of the best, the loveliest vistas in the state, the sort of views that give you a catch in the throat, that give literal meaning to the cliche “breathtaking”?

We’ll get ...Read more

HARTFORD, Conn. — A beloved holiday tradition in Connecticut is coming to an end. Lake Compounce has announced that the amusement park’s Holiday Lights event will end after the 2025 season.

The 175-year-old event offers a wintertime tradition with thousands of lights, the “tallest Christmas tree in the state” and rides, games and crafts...Read more

With the exception of Israel, no foreign entity elicits as much bipartisan support in Washington as Taiwan. The self-ruled democratic island is David to China’s Goliath, a relatively small pseudo-country (the United States and much of the world don’t recognize Taiwan as a state) under constant threat from the Chinese Communist Party that has...Read more

Ready to build your own temple? No need to be an ancient king, either. The Denver Museum of Nature and Science temporary exhibit, Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia enables kids to design their own temple starting with rusty “red stone,” using “sandstone” for ...Read more

Tinpo Lee’s acting career has ranged from “General Hospital” to the Denzel Washington film “Roman J. Israel, Esq.” But ask him which role was his favorite and he will almost always include the ones with his daughter Peyton Elizabeth Lee. He has fond memories of guest starring on her series “Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.” The duo also ...Read more

Still haunted by the legend of a vampire count and the legacy of a communist dictator, Romania is complex – with an epic history, a multifaceted ethnic mix, and an unusually rich cultural heritage. It may not be the easiest place to travel, but for adventurous souls, it's exceptionally rewarding.

If you go, start in Romania's capital, ...Read more

How’s your stress level? I know it’s the middle of summer and we are supposed to be relaxing. BUT if we are on vacation, we have to watch the youngest travelers like a hawk in an unfamiliar environment. We may have experienced flight delays, lost luggage, car trouble, bad weather, annoying relatives … the list goes on and on.

AND if you ...Read more

Multilingual recording artist Miist has had a busy couple years, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. “I just came back from an amazing trip to Italy and France, and this past weekend to Los Angeles for recording a new single, ‘I Think I Lost a Day,’ with the incredible Tayte Nickols and the local band, Familiar Faces, at Apogee ...Read more