Upright & Stowed

I'm Baaaack. And Delta's Got a 747!

I've been suffering a mild dose of Bloggers Block.  Three reasons.  1. I've been busy with work activity ... 2. I've been busy with dating activity ... 3. I haven't traveled since November.   But I feel a tad bit of inspiration coming on, so here goes.

I've always been an airplane geek.  I can see most any commercial aircraft and tell you what make and model it is.  As such, it has always seemed odd that Delta – one of the the country's largest international carriers (and purchaser of the former Pan Am) – has never had a 747 in its fleet.  Not so any more.  

With its merger with Northwest, Delta has inherited a fleet of 747's, each of which is being painted in Delta colors. For all you airplane geeks like me, check out this fantastic video of the first Delta 747 getting its new paint job.  It's awesome.  (Special hat tip to Trey for breaking through my Bloggers Block!)

Inauguration Day, in Pictures

If you like photography, like to travel and/or like what happened to the world on Tuesday, click on this link to view 48 pictures from around the world, each snapped on inauguration day.  Stirring.  Amazing.  Historic. Hopeful.

Diva Dress-Down (Do Not Miss This!!!)

I love a Broadway musical. And I love a Broadway musical diva. If you do too, then check out this audio recording of diva-extraordinaire Patti LuPone, from a recent performance of Gypsy.

What you will hear is truly AMAZING. And not because of Patti's warbly, messy, diva-esque singing at the beginning. But because of what follows. Patti proves that she is a Diva with a capital D. And, in my opinion, this particular performance was right on the mark. Click the arrow ... now!

A Poem for the Day

Dreams

Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.

– Langston Hughes

The Front Page

If ever there was a time to take in what the world is saying, it is now.  Check out the fantastic Newseum website for the most amazing window into the front pages of newspapers worldwide.  Here's a thrilling and stirring cover from one of our New York area papers. 

The newspaper – as we know it – may be headed for the history books, but it is moments like now that remind us of the power of the printed image.

A Week of Heroics

What a week!  I have never felt so warm and wonderful during such a cold January.  Why?  Because everywhere I look, I see heroes.

On Thursday, a flight crew landed a crippled US Airways airplane in the frigid Hudson River (!!!) at 54th Street (!!!) and there was not a single serious injury or loss of life.  Heroic, to the extreme.

On Sunday, many of the most inspiring and heroic musicians of our lifetime (Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springstein, Pete Seeger, Bono, and the list goes on) helped us celebrate the incoming President with a kick-ass concert in front of the most heroic American of all time, Abraham Lincoln.

On Sunday evening, I headed to Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln (again!) Center to listen to a conversation between two of my personal cultural heroes, composer Stephen Sondheim and NY Times columnist Frank Rich. 

Today, we honor a towering American hero, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  His lessons have never seemed more meaningful, important or inspiring.

And tomorrow, we celebrate the newest American Hero, as he becomes our 44th president.  No matter what this man achieves or fails to achieve in office, he already has changed the way we think about, feel and see our world.  He has infused the world with hope.  In the dark shadow of the Bush administration, that is truly heroic.   Sing Hallelujah for Barack Obama, hero extraordinaire.

Words for the Weekend

Miraculous

Hilarious

Disastrous

Delirious

Grievous

New New York Times

If you’re lucky (or unlucky) enough to have ever been my boyfriend, my house guest or the recipient of an invitation to stay the night, you know that I am ritualistic – maybe even fetishistic – about my morning coffee and The New York Times. It’s the way I like to start my day: The smell of coffee ... the rush of caffeine … the comfy chair … the familiar feel of the paper in my hands.

But there are occasions when the ritual is not possible (when I’m out of town, when I sleep too late …), and it is those days that have taught me to love the Times online. In fact recently I've found myself bringing my laptop to my paper-reading spot so that I can search things on the web that grab my interest as I read the physical paper. Very interesting.

So I read with great fascination an article in this week’s New York magazine about the young internet minds that are bringing the Times into the information age. The vision of these young Timesians is inspiring. Their efforts are allowing the Times to stay what it is: not a newspaper but the preeminent source of news coverage and reportage.   Read the article here.  I think you’ll be intrigued too.  (photo)

Where Am I?

It's easy to tell when life is busy for David:  I post a "Where Am I?" contest.  This shot was taken in 2003.  Springtime, which explains the waterfall in the distance.  The answer may be easy for some, so here's a twist.  Not only must you answer the question "Where Am I," but also, what's the name of the amazing hotel I was staying in while visiting?  It's legendary.

Bang Bang

I'm in an extended NYC stint, with no travel plans on the books (this will change soon).  So take a look at this fantastic ad for the new, partially complete Standard Hotel in New York City.  The Standard is the property that floats above the soon-to-be-completed High Line park. 

The ad is so perfect, and the price is so cheap, I might have to check in.  Anyone want to check out the banging with me?

Hat tip to my long-time partner in all things travel, Billy, for this.