Film Feast

Santa Barbara rolls out the red carpet for another edition of Film Feast, a special tasting-menu program. The Film Feast coincides with the 27th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Jan. 26 – Feb. 5, and California Restaurant Month, a state-wide celebration of California’s cornucopia! A stellar cast of restaurants, bars and tasting rooms that serve up three-course tasting menus spotlighting local cuisine, inventive cocktails and Central Coast wines and beers. Several Film Feast participants take the silver-screen drama tableside with movie-themed menus celebrating classic and contemporary films. Reserve your own star treatment with Film Sleeps, featuring cinema-centric lodging specials at Santa Barbara’s best resorts, hotels, inns and bed-and-breakfasts. Visit sbfilmfeast.com for more information.

Posted in Arts & Culture, California, Culinary, Film, Santa Barbara | Leave a comment

2012 Quicksilver Rincon Classic

The event where legends are made, the Rincon Classic is the oldest and most revered surfing contest in Santa Barbara’s rich surfing history. Showcasing generations of the areas best surfers at the Queen of the coast, the Classic is a locals only event, serving as a community gathering each winter. To guarantee optimal conditions the Classic has a six week waiting period from the originally scheduled date. Over its 29 year history the event has showcased such house hold names as Tom Curren, Chris Brown, Kim Mearig, Davey Smith and Dane Reynolds to up and coming stars, Lakey Peterson, Conner and Parker Coffin, Demi Boelsterli and Kilian Garland. For every known name there are a handful of underground rippers that will always own the line up at Rincon. Check out Santa Barbara’s website, or http://www.santabarbaraca.com/includes/events/index.cfm?action=displayDetail&eventid=10742 for more information.

Posted in California, Santa Barbara | Leave a comment

Spring Training Special – FREE Tickets with 7-Night Stay

Come to Sanibel West on Sanibel Island and enjoy more than just Spring Training Baseball. Relax in your spacious two bedroom / two bath condominium, surrounded by six acres of tropical grounds with more than 500 feet of private beach. Every condo includes a fully-equipped kitchen and screened-in porch. The screened-in, heated pool is the perfect meeting place after a tennis match or a day of boating. Private boat docks, barbecue grills and free wireless Internet are all available to guests. Free ticket offer available 02/24/12 – 04/05/12. Click here for more details.

Posted in Deals, Florida | Leave a comment

Santa Barbara Film Festival

Santa Barbara rolls out the red carpet for another edition of Film Feast, a special tasting-menu program coinciding with the 27th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Jan. 26 – Feb. 5, 2012, and California Restaurant Month, a state-wide celebration of California’s cornucopia! A stellar cast of restaurants, bars and tasting rooms serves up three-course tasting menus, spotlighting local cuisine, inventive cocktails and Central Coast wines and beers. Several Film Feast participants take the silver-screen drama tableside with movie-themed menus celebrating classic and contemporary films. Reserve your own star treatment with Film Sleeps, special cinema-centric lodging specials at Santa Barbara’s best resorts, hotels, inns and bed-and-breakfasts. Visit sbfilmfeast.com for more information.


Posted in California, Santa Barbara | Leave a comment

43 Winter Specials in California

Winter is cool in California! Check out these winter specials that are running now.

Posted in California | Leave a comment

Winter Special in Florida

Island Time begins at the Bridgewater Inn!  Built out over the water just steps away from the “fishingest bridge” in heart of historic Matlacha Village. Enjoy the area’s best sunsets, freshest seafood, lively arts (and artists), music, boating, fishing, birding, manatee and dolphin watching from your room or suite.

Bridgewater Inn is proud to be a 10 year Superior Small Lodging accommodation as well as having been voted “Best Motel/Inn in Pine Island” and receiving a Green Lodging Designation from the State of Florida. And now, take advantage of the WINTER SPECIAL, offering rates as low as $79 through February 9, 2012. Click here to learn more.

Posted in Florida, Hotels | Leave a comment

Holiday Celebrations in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is inviting its friends and visitors to join in the Christmas spirit! Check out this two festive celebrations:

Santa Barbara Downtown Holiday Parade – December 2, 2011
Downtown Santa Barbara will be filled with cheer as marching bands, holiday floats, performance groups, local personalities, and of course, Santa Clause, parade down State Street.

Santa Barbara Parade of Lights – December 11, 2011
Thousands of spectators will cheer on illuminated boats parading along the coastline during the 26th annual Parade of Lights. A brilliant fireworks display will follow.

More information on these events and many others can be found at www.SantaBarbaraCA.com.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A Lesson in Cajun Culinary Delight

French-Acadians (now known as “Cajuns”) who were exiled from Acadia, now present day Nova Scotia, adapted their food preparedness to their ever changing environment. They found their niche in southwest Louisiana creating what is now known as Cajun cuisine. This style of food is pleasing to the pallet and hearty on the dinner plate.

While the Spanish, European, German, Italian, Caribbean, African, Native American melting pot is now known as Creole cuisine, a cross section of each blends together for great taste and good eating.

The cuisine served in Iberia all has one thing in common: seasoning. Each dish comes well seasoned, yet not over seasoned. All of the ingredients found in meals served in Iberia complement one another for a true culinary delight.

Visit www.iberiatravel.com for more information.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

From the Water to the Table: A Seafood Journey

A culinary journey in Houma, LA, begins on the open water. For many years, Houma was described as the “little oil and fishing” village. The village turned city is one of the top producers in Louisiana for crude oil, natural gas and seafood. It accounts for more than 20% of the state’s production in both industries.

From the boat, to the processing plant, to the restaurant, and finally on the plate – the entire journey awaits. Visitors can chat up local fishermen as they uphold long family traditions in an ever changing industry, explore a shrimp processing plant or discover how a blue crab becomes a “soft shell” crab.

The seafood journey is not complete without a visit to one of many Cajun restaurants serving up platters of fresh seafood made to preference – boiled, fried, on the half shell, or in an étoufféé, gumbo, or jambalaya. Seasons here are not categorized by winter, spring, summer or fall, but crawfish season, shrimp season, crab season, etc. And no visit would be complete without a stop at a local meat market where fresh sausage, jerky, and other delights can be enjoyed on the spot or shipped home.

Louisiana culture has always included food as an important part of providing for family, friends and guests. The preparation of food is a labor of love and a direct reflection of hospitality.

Visit www.houmatravel.com to make plans today.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Culture in the Heart of French Louisiana

The culture in South Louisiana is seasoned with a taste of Cajun French and Creole. Lafayette is a flavorful combination of spirited festivals, savory cuisine, outdoor activities, breath-taking scenery and a rich history.

Lafayette is at the heart of Louisiana’s Cajun Country, an area known for its unique cultures. Visitors find a distinct brand of fun with renowned Cajun and Zydeco music, distinctive cuisine, world-class museums, cultural attractions, festivals and something new happening every week. For some, it has become an addiction that makes Lafayette and Cajun Country special – the plate lunch places, the unique live music venues, the wonderful food that can be found everywhere from gas stations to fine dining establishments, and the year-round festivals and events showcasing local musicians, artists and cuisine.

Lafayette has long been known as a Mecca for great Cajun cuisine and Zydeco music. With three world-class art museums, a professional symphony orchestra, and numerous art galleries, arts-related events and performances, Lafayette can offer everything from local culture to cultured experiences. From the dizzying spin of a Cajun two-step to the graceful swirl of the prima ballerina…from funky Cajun dance hall beats to the violin concertos in all their symphonic glory…from spicy boiled crawfish to the finest in Creole dining…Lafayette has the best of both worlds. Visit www.Lafayette.Travel to learn more.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment