More than 50 participating merchants will hold in-store events such as trunk shows, informal modeling, fashion seminars, hors d’oeuvres and refreshments.

The event will pair fashion design with food and wines. Among the individual events will be the Shops on El Paseo Trunk Show; El Paseo Fashion’s Day Out with music, wine, hors d’oeuvres and demonstrations; the Runway Bar El Paseo Fashion Show, featuring designs from 15 top El Paseo stores; ASID Project Runway, featuring ASID-member interior designers with celebrity judges Cheryl Tiegs and Kathy Ireland; Men’s Night, featuring the men’s line of Jamie Paul Holahan;

fine dining and premium wine tasting, featuring 10 celebrity chef demonstrations, 35 of fine dining restaurants from throughout Southern California, and more than 40 premium wines and champagnes purveyors;

and the Designer of the Week Fashion Show.

For more information, visit www.fashionweekelpaseo.com

Actor and director Matt Dillon will be honored with the Guadalajara International Prize at the festival’s inauguration gala on March 12.

During the Guadalajara International Film Festival, Dillon will also participate in one of the master classes given by acclaimed professionals in the Talent Campus Guadalajara.

France will be the guest country of honor, and representing his country in the festival will be French actor Niels Arestrup, who will present, after the inauguration ceremony, the film “A Prophet” (Un Prophète), nominated for an Oscar in the Foreign Language Film category this year.

Other French films to be shown during the festival include Claude Chabrol’s “Bellamy” starring Gérard Depardieu, and Jan Kounen’s “Chanel Coco & Igor Stravinsky.

Another guest of honor is Andalucia, Spain, which will also be presenting its films at this year’s edition of the festival.

Among the films to be presented from Andalucia is Alvaro Pastor and Antonio Naharro’s “Yo, tambien,” winner of the Silver Shell for Best Actor and Best Actress in the San Sebastian International Film Festival in Spain, as well as the Public’s Award in the 39th International Film Festival Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

To be honored at the festival on March 13 is Mexican actress Maria Rojo, a leading developer and promoter of Mexican cinema and winner of several international and national awards.

In addition to her participation on the big screen, Rojo has been in theater and various television projects.

One of her most recent appearances on film was in the movie “Under the Same Moon” (La misma luna).

The festival will be full of different cultural activities, appealing to families, adults and children of all ages.

For more information on the festival, to get tickets and to see the festival’s program, visit www.ficg.mx

The event will include a series of live acoustic sets at Aloft properties across the country throughout the year.

Currently going in to its third year, “Live in the Vineyard” (www.liveinthevineyard.com) is the brainchild of Bobbii Hach-Jacobs and Claire Parr.

It is an intimate grassroots music festival held at a number of boutique wineries in California’s Napa Valley every April and November.

Acts currently confirmed to take the stage at the upcoming April 2010 “Live in the Vineyard” event include Train, Melissa Etheridge, Back Street Boys, Macy Gray, Tonic and Ryan Star among others.

Tickets for the exclusive events cannot be purchased — they must be won through radio station promotions and online contests and through special Aloft Hotels promotions, including a giveaway at www.facebook.com\alofthotels

In addition to the April and November festivals, Aloft will host “Live at Aloft Hotels” shows featuring “Live in the Vineyard” acts at several hotels, including performances from Five for Fighting at Aloft Charlotte Uptown at the Epicenter on March 11; Ryan Star at Aloft Rogers-Bentonville on March 12; Emerson Hart, lead singer of Tonic, at Aloft Nashville Cool Springs on March 24 and Aloft Birmingham Soho Square on March 25; and Diane Birch at Aloft Houston by the Galleria on April 29. For more information, visit www.liveatalofthotels.com .

For hotel information, visit www.alofthotels.com.

Travel Impressions’ New Orleans packages include roundtrip airport/hotel transfers by private van, hotel accommodations for four nights, hotel tax and service charges. Sample rates, quoted per person double occupancy and travel dates of April 22 to 26 are as follows:

Holiday Inn French Quarter from $509 per person, French Quarter Chateau Lemoyne from $545 per person, and InterContinental New Orleans from $635 per person.

Guests will also receive a complimentary upgrade, continental breakfast daily and cocktail voucher.

The Loews New Orleans Hotel is priced from $729 per person, the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel is priced from $775 per person, and the W New Orleans is from $825 per person. Airfare is available from gateways nationwide and can be easily added to the cost of the hotel package.

www.TravelImpressions.com

Jazz Fest is a 10-day cultural feast in which thousands of musicians, cooks and craftspeople welcome 400,000 visitors each year.

The event showcases delicious Louisiana cuisine in two large food areas, crafts artisans from the region and around the world demonstrating and selling their work, and unforgettable music on multiple stages including performances by Pearl Jam, Simon & Garfunkel, Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison, Lionel Richie, Anita Baker, The Neville Brothers, Allman Brothers Band, My Morning Jacket, Darius Rucker, Widespread Panic and hundreds more.

It is held at the Fair Grounds Race Course over the course of two weekends — April 23 to 25 and April 29 to May 2.

Tickets to Jazz Fest are additional and not part of Travel Impressions’ hotel packages. For more information about Jazz Fest, visit www.nojazzfest.com

For more information, call 800-284-0044 or visit www.TravelImpressions.com

THE HUGELY SUCCESSFUL WEXFORD OPERA FESTIVAL TOASTS A SUCCESSFUL 58TH FESTIVAL AND PREPARES FOR A 15 DAY OUTING IN 2010!

Following an incredible 58th year in October 2009, the Wexford Opera Festival has this week announced that the 59th annual festival promises to even better with an artistic programme spanning 15 days, 3 days longer than initially announced, opening on Saturday, October 17th and running until October 30th 2010.

Taking place in the recently unveiled Wexford Opera House, 2009 saw the festival enjoy another successful year, with their production of The Ghosts of Versailles by Oscar-winning John Corigliano securing one of four nominations in the Best Opera Production category in the Irish Times Theatre Awards.

Originally commissioned by the New York Metropolitan Opera in 1987, John Corigliano re-qrote it for the MET’s 2009 season but due to costs the production was cancelled.

The 2010 programme sees a rich tradition of excellence continue with Virginia by Saverio Mercadante, The Golden Ticket by Peter Ash and Donald Sturrock, and Hubička (The Kiss) by Bedřich Smetana in store for opera lovers around the globe.

For more information on the Wexford Opera Festival visit http://www.wexfordopera.com

http://www.wexfordopera.com

St. Patrick’s Day is always a big reason to celebrate in Northern Ireland. Now there is one more reason to celebrate.

Smooth Hound is offering lodging discounts to Northern Ireland destinations just in time to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

St. Patrick’s Day is always a big reason to celebrate in Northern Ireland. Now there is one more reason to celebrate. Smooth Hound is offering lodging discounts to Northern Ireland destinations just in time to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

St. Patrick’s Day celebrates the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.

The holiday is observed on March 17, and even though the holiday falls during the Catholic season of Lent, the church restrictions on eating meat are lifted and the holiday is celebrated with the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.

What used to be a religious holiday has evolved into a huge event celebrated by both Irish and non-Irish people and in some places the holiday is observed over an entire week, not just one day.

County Fermanagh has a variety of activities to celebrate the holiday. First, there is a lecture on St. Patrick and displays of Irish Traditional and Ulster Scots dancing and music, but that’s not all.

There is also fun for the entire family at the St. Patrick’s Day Family Fun Day. There will be bouncy houses, football competitions, parades, bands and much more fun for everyone.

Belfast also features some St. Patrick’s Day fun as well. Visitors to Belfast can enjoy a carnival that winds through the streets, a free concert and more.

The concert is free for visitors but a ticket is required as space is limited. Tickets can be obtained from the Belfast Visitors Centre.

County Down is known as St. Patrick’s country and on St. Patrick’s you can join other revelers in the St. Patrick’s Day Walk.

The walk is organized by the Down District Council and the Lecale Ramblers and includes a meandering route of country roads and green lanes.

This event is free, which makes it even better, and along the way at a secret location, walkers will be treated to a wee dram of whiskey, coffee or tea.

Visitors to Londonderry will be treated to Seachtain na Gaelige. This annual festival celebrates Irish heritage, language and culture.

For more information contact:
Smooth Hound
Simon Haughtone
http://www.smoothhound.co.uk
info@smoothhound.co.uk

DUSSELDORF, GERMANY – People who have booked hotels in Dusseldorf for an Easter break may want to enjoy the sights and sounds of the city’s annual funfair.

Held around the religious holiday each year, Dusseldorf’s Osterkirmes will open on April 3rd this year, the weekend of the holy festival.

Running for nine days, visitors can expect a host of exciting rides to keep thrill-seekers happy, numerous traditional fairground games and a wide range of stalls selling food and drink to make sure that everyone has a good time.

Dodgems, Ferris wheels and carousels are among the rides on offer, with new attractions added each year.

It will be located in Staufenplatz, which is easily accessible from the city centre, on the edge of the Grafenberger forest.

The fair is open every day from 14:00 until 22:00 (local time), with individual prices attached to each attraction.

Evenings at the event promise to be particularly colourful, with the bright lights of the rides illuminating the park and firework displays taking place some nights.

If you’re heading to the Easter funfair in the city this year, we strongly advise that you book your hotels in Dusseldorf as soon as possible, given the huge popularity of the event.

Click the Late Rooms banner above for last minute hotel roooms all over Europe.

The Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival will be held in the World Trade Center Curaçao, but will also include a number of concerts all over the island a full week before the festival.

Said Brenda Benjamin, director of marketing for the Curaçao Tourist Board, “With hoteliers offering special package deals to cater to every type of jazz-loving traveler attending the North Sea Jazz Festival, we are poised for a tremendously successful and unprecedented music event in Curaçao.”

The Kura Hulanda North Sea Jazz Festival Package, good from Sept. 1 to 10, offers guests a fourth night free, after staying three nights, with a complimentary buffet breakfast at the Astrolab Observatory Restaurant, as well as a complimentary scheduled shuttle service to all Festival events to the World Trade Center, the venue for the Festival.

The package also includes daily complimentary shuttle service to the nearby Beach Club and Lodge Kura Hulanda and Beach Club.

Prices start at $860 for four nights, based on double occupancy and inclusive of all taxes and service charges.

The Hotel Kura Hulanda Spa & Casino is a Small Luxury Hotel of the World. For more information, visit www.kurahulanda.com

Divers may want to stay at the Atlantis Diving & Apartments where they can dive all day and then hear jazz all night.

Atlantis Apartments is offering a special from Sept. 1 to 7 where guests receive a seven-night stay for the price of six and can experience unlimited shore diving at no extra charge.

Rates start at $679 for a one-bedroom apartment, double occupancy. Rates for a two-bedroom apartment, for four people, start at $935 per night. For more information, visit www.atlantisapartments.net .

Downtown Diving’s special rate of one guided dive for $45 includes dive gear and two guided dives including dive gear for $75, per person.

Those looking to get PADI certified will be able to take an open-water course, complete with an open-water manual, logbook and dive equipment for $300.

The Floris Suite Hotel’s Curacao North Sea Jazz Fine Dining Package includes a four-night stay, along with a specialty welcome drink, daily champagne breakfast for two, and one dinner for two at the hotel restaurant Sjalotte.

It also includes welcome drink, five-course dinner, wines, water and coffee/tea. For more information, visit www.florissuitehotel.com

For more information on the jazz festival, call 800-328-7222 or visit www.Curacaonorthseajazz.com

The biggest and most spectacular horticultural event in the world is back, and London breaks website Show and Stay has ticket and hotel packages for the Chelsea Flower Show from just £92.50pp.

Every spring the RHS Chelsea Flower Show’s mixture of inspiration and imagination attracts Royalty, celebrities and other greenfingered fans, and this year will be no different.

Chelsea Flower Show breaks with Show and Stay combine tickets to the country’s hottest horticultural extravaganza and a room at a nearby hotel, just a short walk from the breathtaking show ground.

With tickets and hotel starting at just £92.50pp, booking with Show and Stay offers great value and unrivalled convenience.

Last year’s event sold out, so book your package now to make sure you’re definitely there to experience the imagination and inspiration of the 2010 Chelsea Flower Show.

Go to www.show-and-stay.co.uk/CFS  for more information

• Dragon Boat Festival, 16th June 2010, nationwide

Together with Chinese New Year and the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival is one of Taiwan’s three major annual holidays. Because of its origins and customs, it is related to the remembrance of Cyuyuan, a poet in the Warring States Period, who tried to commit suicide by drowning himself in a river to protest against the cruel government.

Legend has it that when the poet jumped to his death into the river, the local people rowed their boats to and fro in search of him. This slowly envolved into the dragon boat races. Today, dragon boat races are a popular activity.

Each year, most local areas in Taiwan hold their own races. For example, the Taipei Dragon Boat Festival will be taken place at Dajia Riverside Park from 28th and 30th May 2009. During the Festival, there are dragon boat races and spectators eat glutinous rice dumplings called zongzih.

• Ghost Festival, 1st August – 3rd September 2010, Keelung

The Ghost Festival combines the Buddhist Ullambana (deliverance) Festival and the Taoist Ghost Festival, both of which honour dead spirits. The seventh lunar month is known as ‘ghost month’ and each year a different Keelung clan is chosen to sponsor it.

Highlights of the event include folk-art performances, the opening of the gates of hell and the release of burning water lanterns.

At this time, families make offerings to their ancestors and ghosts of the underworld.

The festival takes place in the large port town of Keelung, just outside Taipei. Keeling is also renowned for having some of the best nightmarkets for food in the country.

• 11th Taroko Gorge Marathon – 6th November 2010, Taroko Gorge

The Taroko International Marathon, said to be the world’s only marathon held at a gorge in a mountainous area, takes place at Taiwan’s scenic Taroko National Park.

This annual event draws thousands of long-distance runners from all over the world, offering participants the chance to tour through the winding roads of the majestic marble-walled Taroko Gorge.

Athletes can opt to compete in a full or half distance marathon, or in fun runs of just a few kilometres.

During the run, runners will pass lofty mountains, deep canyons that cut off from the main gorge, head-spinning precipices, elegant waterfalls and wild rapids.

• Taipei International Flora Expo, 6th November 2010 – 25th April 2011, Taipei

This year, Taiwan’s vibrant capital, Taipei, will transform into a garden city as it hosts the Taipei International Flora Exposition for the very first time. Over six million tourists are expected to attend the Expo, which will showcase Taiwan’s achievements in horticulture, science and environmental technology to the theme of ‘Rivers, Flowers, New Horizons’.

The Taipei International Flora Expo will be held in a newly built exhibition centre with 14 halls spread across an area of 91.8 hectares in four parks: Yuanshan Park, Taipei Fine Arts Park, Xinsheng Park and Da-jia Riverside Park. Events, floral displays and exhibitions will be held at some of Taipei’s most celebrated cultural and artistic attractions, including the Taipei Fine Arts Museum.

www.taiwan.net.tw