Category Archives: Hedonism

In the years before we had to endure Instagramselfiesfrom the AmalfiCoast, mid-winter was one of the hottest times on the Sydney social calendar.

For an epic 14-year run, Bastille Day would be marked in Sydney with the grandest party of them all, the Cointreau Ball, the ultimate celebration of the '80s and '90s.

On par with today's Met Ball in New York, and dressed up as a promotion for the French liqueur, it was really more of a licence for a boozy knees up, where titled socialites would disappear under dinner tables and get up to all sorts of a mischief before dessert had even arrived.

Remember, this wasan era when such things were rejoicedrather than frowned upon.

Today's PS Spotlight shines back on those days of unbridled hedonism, when 400 or so of this town's most glamorouscitizens would converge on a secret location in a fleet of limos to indulge in an all-night event (one went for 48 hours) of bacchanalian delights, a sort of Mardi Gras at the Ritz, which Sydney has not seen since the lastCointreau Ball was held in 1999.

And yes, a much youngerPS managed to get along to a few Cointreau Balls, and while some of the memories are admittedly a little hazy,a few areindelible.

Like the year Sheila Scotter, the grand dame of Australian society who retained an imperial air about herself well into her dotage and was the founding editrix of Vogue Australia in 1962, turned up dressed as Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, wife of Nicholas II, the last Tsar of Russia. It was a fitting costume as she sailed into the room.

Get the latest news and updates emailed straight to your inbox.

Society set hairdresserJohBaileywas dressed as a living Academy Award one year, his hairless body (thanks to a painful wax session) entirely covered in gold paint that also camouflagedhis goosebumps. Bailey was pulled around the exclusive party on a specially made podium on wheels, towed by a glamorous Oscars "presenter" carrying a huge envelope emblazoned with the words: "And the winner is ..."

Another year Johdescended a grand staircase in a huge showgirl-inspired number replete with ostrich feathers and giant peacock fan tail behind him with the wingspan of a small private jet. The feathers didn't last though, after working the dance floor,Joh's crumpledplumage was a shadow of its former self by night's end, a sight that would have him in rehab according to today's petty puritans.

The brainchild of public relations dynamo Deeta Colvin, the Cointreau Ballwas the first eventin the country to bring dodgem cars and ice rinks into parties. Each year outrageous themes were thoroughly embraced by the party set who turned it into the ultimate costume party, the result ofmonths of meticulous planning.

Before he ended up in jail for dealing cocaine, Gough Whitlam's self-proclaimed "adopted" grandson (although the Whitlam's disowned him years ago)Andrew "Baci" Whitlam turned up to one Hollywood-themedCointreau Ball asLiz Taylor, but there was no room in the limo for the wheelchair he planned to take with him.

A newly single Johanna Griggs arrived dressed as Marilyn Monroe,aspiring party girl and magazine wunderkind Mia Freedman dressed up as aroller girl(complete with skates), while newlyweds Charlotte Dawson and Scott Miller were the hottest "it" couple in town. They truly lookedhappy together.

Of course the Cointreau Ball generated its own controversies, too. In its later years one scribe pennedit had lost its cutting edge: "a predictable mishmash that's become a self-regarding outing for B-grade celebrities who look like they've been dressed by Helen Keller and Ray Charles." He was never invited again.

That was also the year when some of Sydney's socialites had been bumped from the guest list in favour of soap stars, leading anothercolumnist to declare it was "more E Street than Queen Street".

But that didn't stopLeo Schofield from turning upin what looked like a creation from a Venetian masked ball. His daughter Nell went for a cocktail commando number.

Hotfashion designer of the dayLeona Edmiston wore a body suit that was covered, top to toe, in glittering sequins. Game show host Larry Emdur channelled Hugh Hefner, turning up with a bevy of his New Price Is Right models to finish off the look.

And who could forget television host Kerri-Anne Kennerley and husband John when they came as the Queen and King of Hearts?Indeed,the photoshaunted KAK for years to follow.

Today we now look back and smile and remember what a swell party it was.

See the article here:

PS Spotlight: Remembering celebrity fancy dress for the grand Cointreau Ball - The Sydney Morning Herald

WASHINGTON Its strange how six months can feel like six exhausting years when theyve produced nothing but a string of nonsensical superlatives.

As Donald Trump celebrates the first eighth of his ridiculous amazing, stupendous, unsurpassed presidency, we mere mortals are left to ponder what we have learned. Well, here are some takeaways:

Facts do not matter to this White House. Trump has publicly lied about important matters more than 100 times since becoming president. These are not just equivocations open to dispute; theyre flat-out, verifiable untruths. For example, he said he has accomplished more and signed more bills into law than any previous president. Not true. His staff follows his lead, disseminating statements that are lies.

Trump not only failed to drain the swamp, he deepened and widened it. He has filled top posts with Wall Streeters and business cronies, doling out jobs like mints to loyal minions. After he promised not to touch Medicaid, which serves the disabled, poor and elderly in nursing homes, we were introduced to a Trumpcare plan that called for disqualifying 75 million and taking another 22 million off health insurance.

He is a costly public servant. He is on track in his first year to spend more taxpayer money on personal travel than President Barack Obama did in eight. We also pay for security at Trump Tower, his hotels and his golf courses. His re-election committee (of course he wants four more years after 2020) has raised millions to pay legal fees and rent for office space in Trump Tower.

Trump does not care that he has the lowest approval rating of any president since polling started (about 70 years). His base loves him even though he has done nothing for them since taking office. Is it any wonder that 34 percent of Americans do not believe in scientific evolution, according to the Pew Research Center? Is it surprising that a majority of Republicans believe that colleges and universities are a negative influence on the country? (Pew again.)

Trump has set the precedent that a presidents conflicts of interest do not matter. Refusing to divest himself of his holdings, he has put his son Junior (the one who loves meeting with Kremlin operatives) in charge. His wealthy daughter and son-in-law have offices in the White House. His hotels draw foreign leaders who want to curry favor. Fees at his Mar-a-Lago golf resort have doubled to $200,000.

Getting rid of excessive and overlapping regulations is one thing. Gutting environmental protection and consumer protection regulations as Trump is doing is another. A future column will detail the astonishing number of actions the administration quietly has taken to further the interests of big business to the detriment of Americans who love their parks, want to breathe clean air, drink clean water and buy products that wont hurt their children.

The artful dealmaker has not managed to make any good deals. Even with a GOP-controlled House and Senate, he could not repeal Obamacare. Instead he sabotages it by eliminating advertising, shortening the enrollment period and not enforcing the mandate to buy insurance or pay a tax to keep premiums low. Wages are not increasing. Exporters of American goods and services will be hurt by the lack of free trade he is engineering. No wall. No tax reform. No infrastructure plan.

The number of investigations caused by Trumps inexplicable fondness for Vladimir Putin, the Russian thief, thug and murderer, is unparalleled for a first term. Trump refuses to admit Russia meddled in our elections yet wants a national registry of all Americans personal information to root out voter fraud the experts say does not exist. Hey, Russia, Trump will make it easy for you to re-elect him.

The United States is no longer the leader of the free world and fighter for human rights in the eyes of our once closest allies. After seeing Trump up close and personal at international meetings, some say openly they may never again trust us.

Trumps misogyny, hedonism, lack of discipline, coarse language, bullying and refusal to read briefing papers or attempt to learn what he doesnt know diminish us. The man who convinced millions to watch him say Youre fired every week parlayed celebrity into the White House, but the applause is fading. Only 12 percent liked his disgraceful health care plan. It died.

2017 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Continue reading here:

What we've learned from 6 months of Trump - Circleville Herald

Living The Dream, by Lauren Berry.Photo: supplied

Living the Dream

Lauren Berry

Virago, $29.99

This witty debut from Lauren Berry focuses on two young women in London whose dreams seem out of reach. Emma Derringer works at an ad agency; she blogs on the sly and privately keeps her hopes of being a novelist alive, in the face of a soul-crushing job she hates. Clementine Twist has returned from New York empty-handed, finding casual bar work and living with her mum as she desperately tries to advance a career as a screenwriter. The gal pals bond over random hedonism and cynical banter, while resenting other characters who seem to have their lives more together. Berry writes clever, overheard-sounding dialogue and her satire of two woman-children in their late 20s does have sardonic bite. The main trouble, though, is the novel's resolution a belated coming-of-age that skirts around rather than delves into problems the characters face, and feels surprisingly shallow and unearned.

View post:

Fiction review: Living the Dream - The Sydney Morning Herald - The Sydney Morning Herald

The Canadian art-rockers are bigger, bolder and more fearful of the future than ever on their colossal fifth album

Arcade Fire have spent a career making a virtue of their own pomposity. Since 2004 debut Funeral, theyve been unafraid to wrestle with big ideas that most bands wouldnt touch with a barge pole. If it sometimes appears as though they believe societys ills can be solved, or at least diagnosed, through the medium of grandiose art-rock records, you nonetheless have to admire their conviction that music ought to represent something more than mere content. Thankfully, after the ambitious-but-uneven Reflektor (2013), Everything Now marks an emphatic return to those lofty standards.

Every song that Ive ever heard is playing at the same time, its absurd, declares starry-eyed frontman Win Butler on the albums title-track, which is certainly one way to describe its mash-up of Dancing Queen and Talking Heads Road to Nowhere. Uplifting, incisive and sublime would be another.

On the flipside, the empty hedonism of Signs of Life and the self-loathing, suicidal youths of Creature Comfort one of whom, Butler notes, Came so close/ Filled up the bathtub and put on our first record, serve as a reminder of the cruel irony that in this age of total connectivity, weve somehow contrived to make ourselves more isolated and alone than ever. Everything Now might occasionally marvel at how far weve come, but its tempered by notes of dread at where were going.

Aptly enough for a record about information overload, its also had the veritable kitchen sink thrown at it, employing myriad styles, multiple big-name producers and the sort of ingenious, overblown marketing campaign thats become the norm for this band. On the two-hander of Infinite Content and Infinite_Content, the same song is presented in contrasting styles one as a knowing postmodern thrash, the other as a languid acoustic ramble but ultimately its the albums sense of humanity, not its innate clever-cleverness, that elevates it to something special. If you cant see the forest for the trees, just burn it all down,urges Butler as the mournful synth-pop of closing track We Dont Deserve Love builds to its climax, no longer sermonising from his pulpit, but howling in empathy from the ether.

Details

Release Date: July 28, 2017

Read more:

Arcade Fire - 'Everything Now' Album Review - NME - NME.com

Review Summary Pros

Designed for adventurous couples who want to add a bit of spice to their vacation, the all-inclusive Hedonism II is a popular mid-range nudist resort tucked into a quiet, private section of Negrils Seven Mile Beach. With a wide variety of activities and entertainment, this adults-only resort encourages guests to explore their wild side and indulge themselves. There is both a prude and a nude section of the resort to accommodate different comfort levels, and property highlights include the nude beach, waterslide, and a variety of pools and whirlpools on both sides. And guests that want to explore the area are close to a variety of restaurants, bars, and shops in downtown Negril.

Swinger-friendly, exhibitionist-friendly mid-range resort on Seven Mile Beach

The fact that this resort has "Hedonism" in its name should give some indication as to the scene here. The property draws a mostly mature crowd (couples in their 40s and 50s), including large parties (such as the Fluffernutters) of like-minded (that is to say, open-minded) guests looking to socialize, and in some cases, swing. But besides exhibitionists and swingers, there are also plenty of mellow couples just looking for a little bit of raunchiness and liberation. The resort is divided into "nude" and "prude" sides to accommodate different comfort levels; on the nude side, nudity is required at the beach, pool, and hot tub, though public sex officially is not allowed (that being said, it does happen).

The nude pool is the liveliest (and most PDA-centric) part of the resort, but adventurousness is encouraged everywhere, from the rooms (there is a mirror above every bed) to the nightly themed parties (Sexy Pirates and Booty, Pajamas and Pasties, to name a couple). There are plenty of non-sexual activities, too, including water sports, basketball, tennis, and popular evening performances. Those who want to exercise a bit before de-robing can do so at a fitness center with Lifecycle and Lifestep equipment.

The property was formerly owned by SuperClubs, and some improvements have been taking place after the sale to a group of former guests. Still, there are certainly some signs of wear throughout. Guests also report that there can be issues with getting hot water and pushy vendors at the beach.

The vibe is not only respectful but secure: Upon arrival, guests will pass through several security gates before reaching the circular drive and open-air lobby. A large front table serves as the welcome and reception desk, with benches and a small, colorful seating pit in the center of the room. The opposite side has two small private rooms, one with public computers and free Wi-Fi, and the other with a tour desk and information on local attractions and activities. Guests can walk right through the lobby to the large main restaurant and dining area, which features a big stage and open doors to the rest of the resort.

A private section of Negrils Seven Mile Beach

Located off the busy Norman Manley Boulevard, Hedonism II is tucked away from the road, on a private and secluded section of Negrils beautiful Seven Mile Beach. The beach itself is a small area of land that juts out from the rest of the island, making it isolated, and the greenery and gardens provide further shelter. Although no other buildings or hotels are visible from the property, the hotel is a short drive from a variety of restaurants, bars, and shops, as well as local attractions and craft boutiques.

Basic, dated rooms, all with mirrors above the beds

The rooms here are quite basic: tile floors, dated floral bedding, and white stucco walls are the norm, and some guests have reported issues getting hot water. There is visible wear and tear. Since the new ownership took over, rooms have received some upgrades, such as fresh paint jobs, but there is more work to be done. Classic Rooms are older, and include flat-screen TVs and mini-fridges, while the newer, Premium Suites (on the nude side of the resort only) are larger, with nicer, more spacious bathrooms. Some also feature patios or balconies with hot tubs. All rooms have mirrors above the bed and there is some porn to be found on the TVs. Guests that prefer a quieter room should book on the less expensive prude side, while guests that want to party late and be close to the pools and beach should book on the more lively Nude side. Guests have access to the entire resort, no matter which side they book on.

Spa, casino, and lots of entertainment

The wide assortment of nightlife options and an energetic entertainment crew are some of the main draws here. With live music, dancing, theme nights, costume parties, and shows, something is always going on at Hedonism II. The pools, hot tubs, and beaches are also hubs of activity, and there are options on both the nude and prude side (nudity is required at these areas on the nude side). The prude side pool has been spruced up and looks more upscale, while both the pool and the hot tub on the nude side can get pretty raunchy, especially at night.

There are a ton of water sports available, including scuba diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, and sailing, while on land squash, shuffleboard, table tennis, regular tennis, and basketball are on offer. There is also a sizable spa offering a range of treatments, as well as a steam room, sauna, and a fitness center with Lifecycle and Lifestep machines.

For food and drink, this all-inclusive resort offers five bars, three restaurants, buffets, a piano bar, and a nightclub. Appetizers and cocktails are offered on the beach at sunset. Pizza and burgers are served at the nude pool from midnight until 4 a.m.

See the original post here:

Hedonism II Hotel - Jamaica | Oyster.com Review & Photos

Film Streams and the Joslyn Art Museum will hold a special screening of Marie Antoinette at 7 p.m. Aug. 15 at the Ruth Sokolof Theater, 1340 Mike Fahey St.

The screening of the Sofia Coppola film coincides with Joslyns exhibition Bijoux Parisiens: French Jewelry from the Petit Palais, Paris.

In the film, Kirsten Dunst plays Frances ill-fated queen, who overcomes her isolation in the royal court through the pleasures of her extravagant lifestyle, her hedonism to the soundtrack of several garage rock and New Wave classics.

Dana E. Cowen, Joslyns associate curator of European art, will kick off the evening with an introduction to the exhibition. Film Streams director of education, Diana Martinez, also will offer a critique of Coppolas portrayal of excess in Marie Antoinette.

Following the film, there will be a short presentation about the historic Marie Antoinette. The talk will be moderated by Juliette Parnell, a professor of French at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She will highlight the affair of the diamond necklace, a scandal that rocked Versailles and France in 1785.

Tickets are $9 general, $7 for students, seniors, teachers, military and those arriving by bicycle, and $4.50 for Film Streams members. Get tickets at bit.ly/2tMUd7e or through the Film Streams box office, in person or at 402-933-0259, ext. 15.

To request a Spanish or ASL interpreter, patrons can contact dene@filmstreams.org or call 402-933-0259, ext. 21.

The screening and discussion are part of Film Streams Community Development Program, which facilitates partnerships with other nonprofits and community groups for film-related events.

Follow this link:

Film Streams, Joslyn team for screening of 'Marie Antoinette' - Omaha World-Herald

Authors Note: I recently found this column I wrote 23 years ago, dated Feb. 6, 1994. I hope readers can relate because of the good times they had with their first pickup truck.

We were joined on a sunny April afternoon in 1983 a free spirit and an eager help-mate.

We met on the asphalt, but we blazed a trail across dirt and gravel, from the farm fields of Central Kentucky to the sandy beaches of Floridas east coast. It was a perfect marriage, entered into by willing participants on a collision course with outdoors fun. Hedonism meets raw power on the open road.

Now our life together is in the ditch.

Weve been pulled from each others embrace by the reality of time and metal against metal, rubber on the road. The good times are over. The end is near. My pickup truck is dying. Sure, she cranks to life when I turn the key, as faithfully as ever. The spirit is willing, but the body just cant get it done anymore.

All we have are memories now.

When the good times were rolling. Our kids and dogs in the bed of my first pickup truck. (Art Lander Jr. Photo)

My pickup truck makes noises like a wounded animal. Colored fluids drip onto the snow. When I put her in gear the transmission sounds like its gargling marbles, and the rear brakes are gone. All four tires are nearly bald, and the struts dont strut anymore.

For over a year the odometer has been stuck on 161,291, like some grotesque clock with a shattered face.

Our war stories dont seem funny anymore. Its too quiet inside the cab. I feel sad sitting in a parked truck that isnt going anywhere. Its a helpless feeling. I feel for her because to me she is the embodiment of the passion of youth.

Looking back, both our lives have changed in the last decade. We started fresh, turned our backs to the suburbs and moved to the old farmhouse down the long gravel lane. A front yard with a view of woods and fields stretching to the horizon.

Real land provides all we need. Silence in the grip of snow and cold. Coyotes howling at the Harvest Moon. Hawks soaring on updrafts.

Trees for shade in summer and wood for heat in winter. Clear well water. Fertile, warm soil in spring for a vegetable garden. Theres deer, wild turkeys and abundant small game.

We were young and slim as poplars. Her red paint was as smooth as water cascading over bedrock. Now were both worn, rough around the edges, like a deers coat in late winter.

At first we played all the time camping, fishing and hunting leaving town behind for as long as the money lasted. We motored to Beaver Creek Wilderness in March for long backpacking trips. My stomach growls at the thought of rainbow trout sizzling in the skillet.

In May we netted shrimp and caught coolers full of sea trout from the Indian River near Melbourne, Florida.

Theres nothing quite like a summer sunrise on White Rocks in Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, followed by the long hike down the winding footpath to Ewing, Va. A cool pop on the steps of a country store.

October was special, bow hunting in the mornings, then fly fishing the afternoons away catching bass from the Kentucky River. We made so many trips together. Journeys of spirit.

Now we have a wife and a family. There are farm chores to be done and children to take to school. Now we stop for diapers or milk at the store on the way home from work, instead of driving backroads till dusk and sleeping under the stars.

Theres a story behind each dent on her body and scratch across her gentle curves.

The tail light was cracked the day we cut up the big ash tree felled by the tornado.

The tailgate is long gone, replaced by a cargo net.

We were rammed into as we sat at a stoplight. Cities always proved more dangerous than rural backroads.

Like a horse with colic, my truck is ailing. We both know how bad it is. The four-wheel-drive refuses to engage and the engine light blinks off and on, unsure of whats happening.

The hardest part is what to do next. Should I put her up on blocks in the front yard like some trophy or sell her away to a man of the tools? Will her flame die when I turn my attention to another?

I know one thing. There will never be a better pickup truck in my life. Never.

Art Lander Jr. is outdoors editor for NKyTribune and KyForward. He is a native Kentuckian, a graduate of Western Kentucky University and a life-long hunter, angler, gardener and nature enthusiast. He has worked as a newspaper columnist, magazine journalist and author and is a former staff writer for Kentucky Afield Magazine, editor of the annual Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide and Kentucky Spring Hunting Guide, and co-writer of the Kentucky Afield Outdoors newspaper column.

See the article here:

Art Lander's Outdoors: The good times are long over, but memories remain from beloved first pickup truck - User-generated content (press release)...

Ibiza is one of my favourite holiday destinations. I've been travelling here for over ten years, each time discovering something new. Whether it's hedonism or holism you're looking for, Ibiza has something to suit everyone.

Beaches and Beach Clubs There's no better way to explore the island than by hiring a car and giving yourself a few days to tour around. There are over 40 beaches on the island to discover, after all. Car hire is relatively cheap, but choose your insurance carefully so you don't get stung at the end of your trip. There are plenty of very narrow, winding roads to deal with particularly in the mountainous regions.

El Chiringuito at dusk

If you're looking for long lunches Jockey Club on Ses Salines, Amante and El Chringuito de Es Cavallet are some of my favourites. El Chringuito does exceptional food, but you need to book in advance as it's immensely popular. If you like seafood, I recommend the sharing spaghetti frutti di mare. It's rich with locally sourced prawns, mussels and clams with a tasty garlic and lobster infused sauce. The portion for two is enough to comfortably feed four. If you like your meat, you can't go wrong with their slow roasted lamb shoulder or "Iberian secret", a lightly marbled cut of pork that's packed with flavour.

Amante Beach Club on the South East of the island is a particularly picturesque location - it's set up on a cliff above Sol D'en Serra Beach. Whether you come for lunch, sundowners or a romantic dinner, it's simply idyllic. Top dishes include their signature fish croquetas, the monkfish, king prawns and squid served with "sofrito marinero" and their succulent fillet steak.

Looking down from Amante's restaurant

For a bit more of a party vibe, Cotton Club is a beach club located on Cala Tarida. The menu is a fusion of Asian and Mediterranean with a wonderful selection of sushi. It's also an excellent place to people watch. If you're looking for the perfect sunset spot with cocktails to match the view, head to Experimental Beach Club on Cap Des Falc.

The view from Cotton Club's roof

If you like your beaches without the club, Cala Mastella is one of the best and has an incredible seafood restaurant, Es Bigotes. It's rustic, authentic and famed for apparently once refusing to serve the King of Spain as he arrived without a booking.

Sa Pedrera, otherwise known as Atlantis, is another beauty found on the South West coast down a rocky trail. It's not an easy path, but it's worth the journey. The historic hotspot is laden with century-old carvings of extraordinary faces and other creatures across the rocky cliffs. As for the other 40 or so beaches, their secrecy is part of the island's charm. Go and spend some time in some of the more traditional bars and restaurants and get chatting to the locals.

Formentera If you're staying for more than just a couple of days, Formentera is an absolute must. It's easily reached by ferry or a private yacht (if you're feeling lavish!). It's a heavenly world of white-washed houses and miles of sandy white beaches. It's paradise. If you're a competent driver, renting a scooter and driving around on its rough terrain is an incredible way to spend your day.

Outside Juan y Andrea with @heloisenangle

Ferries and catamarans leave Ibiza Old Town every 20 minutes. You can buy return tickets directly from the boat for 20 return - slightly cheaper than the ticket office - and you'll still get a discount on scooters. Tip - don't buy tickets from your hotel as they will charge extra. The average ferry is around an hour, but you can spend it up on the sun deck sipping on a 2 beer. Private excursions start at around 500 for a basic vessel and go up into the thousands for a super yacht.

If you're just popping in for lunch Beso Beach or Juan y Andrea are the perfect place for a long, lazy lunch with delicious food followed by a swim in the beautiful, clear water. If you're a seafood lover, try Juan y Andrea's sharing paella or their baked fresh fish. If you want to spend a night on the island, there are plenty of good options. I love Gecko Beach Club - it's pure luxury and has an insanely good chef.

Evening Dining There's a vast range of restaurants and one to suit every palette. Bambuddha Ibiza is one of the best on the island. It's an all round wonderful culinary experience with some of the finest Pan Asian food I've tasted paired with fantastic service and beautiful surroundings. STK Ibiza, is another restaurant that delivers a high-end experience. It's famed for its delicious steaks and an incredible raw bar.

The quiet before the storm at Bambuddha Ibiza

Wandering around the Old Town gives me that real holiday feeling. I love exploring its web of cobbled streets and the multitude of boutiques. Down by the marina, there's a bustling market with jewellery and gift stalls. If you follow the roads to the top of Dalt Vila there's a beautiful 14th century cathedral, Santa Maria d'Eivissa. My favourite restaurant here is La Oliva where you can enjoy a Mediterranean menu on a candlelit table underneath the stars. La Tana is another favourite with excellent food, wine and service. If you're looking for authentic, modestly priced tapas La Bodega, located beside the drawbridge, is hands down the best you'll find here.

Walking up the Old Town's drawbridge

I often stay at my friend's apartment around Cala San Vicente towards the North of the island. On the far side of the beach you'll find a place simply called Restaurante and Chill Out - On The Beach. It's not high end luxury, but it's a wonderful place to relax or have an evening with live music. It's family run, and serve up some tasty tapas and juicy burgers with a chilled, but buzzing atmosphere throughout the day and night.

On The Beach - Cala San Vicente

In the nearby town, San Juan, you'll find one of my most-loved restaurants, Giri Caf. It's part of The Giri Residence, a boutique hotel and spa. They use local, organic and sustainable produce, much of which is grown in their garden that surrounds you whilst you dine. The food is presented as beautifully as it tastes. I highly recommend the beef cheek wrapped in filo or the flame-roasted sea bass. They also serve up an exquisite breakfast with a varied selection of fresh juices, divine poached eggs sourced from Ibizan hens and, my favourite, home marinated salmon on focaccia. If you're feeling a little fragile from the night before, it's the perfect place to recharge and relax on one of their comfy outdoor beds.

Recovering at Giri Cafe

San Juan holds a midsummer party every year, around the 23rd June. Hundreds fill the decorated streets to dance to live music and jump over a bonfire as part of a cleansing ritual. It's the perfect opportunity to hang out with the locals and experience one of Spain's great traditions.

Nightlife Highlights Ibiza is the party capital of the world and, even if you're there to relax, it would be a shame to not experience some of the incredible clubs. Personal highlights for me include Circoloco at DC10, Together Tuesdays at Amnesia with residents Chase and Status, Disciples and Sigma, Ants at Ushuaa, Guy Gerbers' Rumours at Destino, Solomun Sundays at Pacha and Elrow at Amenesia.

The ultimate opening of 2017 is H Ibiza. It may have replaced iconic superclub, Space, but it's been fully fitted with a state of the art Soundsystem and glows with giant LED screens and incredible ceiling displays. Even the toilets are mesmerizing. Residents include Steve Lawler, Hardwell, Steve Angello and Black Coffee. If you're in Ibiza over the weekend, head to Black Coffee on Saturday. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

H Ibiza

The island has changed dramatically over the years, but its hippie soul is still there. Once you're off the airplane which, let's face it, is likely to have a drunken 'Brits on tour' group on it, you'll find some truly magical places. The island has an incredibly high-level of quartz in its soil - some say that's where it gets that special energy it's known for. And, whether you're wanting to come and explore or just want to have some hedonistic escapism, everyone is welcomed with open arms.

Check out my Instagram @francesca_ny for travel and fashion guides

See the original post here:

Ibiza: Where To Eat, Party And Beach - HuffPost UK

tienne de Crcy, Omar Souleyman, Project Pablo and more will also perform at the 3rd annual event

Published Jul 18, 2017

The festival will take place at the Quai de l'Horloge and at Hangar 16 in the Old Port of Montreal on September 8 and 9. On those days, the event will feature the likes of Hudson Mohawke, the Underachievers, Sam Paganini, Kevin Saunderson, tienne de Crcy, Omar Souleyman, Victor Ruiz, Eagles & Butterflies, Branko (Buraka som Sistema), Mall Grab, Johnny Trika, Mad Rey et Folamour, Kgoon, Grandbuda and more.

Also a spotlight will be shone on local acts such as Project Pablo, Atroxx, Rico Shae, Kris Tin, Nymra & Sofisticated, Zepha, Obsolte Collective and TGV.

Speaking of the festival, organizers stated, "At the edge of the river, the musical experience is a paradox between nature and the building where the past and the future confront. An independent and eco-responsible festival where landmarks are deconstructed to give way to hedonism and the unpredictable."

To learn more about programming and tickets, head to the festival website here.

Learn more aboutAncient Future Festivaland other summer festivals on Exclaim!'sSummer Festival Guide.

Read more:

Montreal's Ancient Future Festival Reveals 2017 Lineup with Hudson Mohawke, the Underachievers, Sam Paganini - Exclaim!

Yeah, but now Im getting old, dont wear underwear I dont go to church and I dont cut my hair Jimmy Buffet Pencil Thin Mustache

Some of you know that before I retired, I spent my twilight years, professionally speaking, researching, and eventually writing a book about the Alabama-Florida Gulf Coast since World War II. The project involved spending a lot of time down there, so much time that my publisher began to wonder if I would ever finish I promise, it is almost done. Just one more Mullet Toss. Even a serious scholar like myself can get sidetracked by half-naked women throwing fish. Well, The Rise and Decline of the Redneck Riviera is available on amazon.com and in your favorite upscale bookstore shameless plug. In putting a book together an author has to decide what goes in and what is left out. Because one of the things I left out was a chapter titled Here Come the Christians, Im gonna tell you what was in it, so you can clip this column and when you buy the book you can stick it between pages 188 and 189. Of course, there have always been Christians on the coast. Coastal communities have churches a plenty. Go inland a bit and you find even more. Its still the Bible belt you know. But generally speaking, tourists dont do church. It just doesnt fit the laidback hedonism that Jimmy B. sings about. And the weekly rental cycle works against it. You check in on Sunday afternoon, check out Saturday morning. Yet for some the beach is synonymous with church. They are the ones who go down to the coast for spiritual renewal. The ones who go to a church retreat. Though Church groups had been slipping off to the coast for years, this recent wave of coastal Christian retreating can be traced to the early 70s, and roughly corresponds to the rise of the Moral Majority and the Evangelical Right. Young Evangelicals, like young folks everywhere, wanted to go to the beach. But Evangelical parents, like parents everywhere, did not want their children exposed to the sin and degradation they had heard existed there. So parents and preachers decided to take their kids down as a group, maybe with other kids from likeminded churches, so they could keep them insulated and isolated. They rented a motel carefully chosen to be away from bars and nightclubs where the youth could devote their time to sun, surf, and scripture. (Co-ed swimming allowed so long as the girls wore t-shirts over their already modest bathing attire.) Then after a week or so of carefully orchestrated, heavily chaperoned fun and fellowship they headed home, usually with stories about the ones who almost got caught doing what they werent supposed to do. Pretty soon some motels began to cater entirely to a church clientele, who were cleaner, neater, and less trouble than the regulars. Christian Retreats sprouted up all along the coast. But remember, these were Evangelicals, so it was not long before they began to leave their little islands of spirituality and go out to save souls. The odds seemed to favor the sinners for, as a young missionary I know observed, Its pretty hard to witness to someone who is drinking a beer and wearing a thong. Still, they were out there trying. In time the Evangelical impact was felt in other ways. Since Evangelicals didnt spend money at bars and clubs, every motel they took over meant less business for local watering holes. Evangelicals also put pressure on businesses in the area to clean up their acts crack down on underage drinking, cancel wet T-shirt contests, and cover up topless dancers. In other words, take the redneckery out of the Riviera. Particularly troubling to beach-bar-bunch was the way the invaders began pressing local governments to enforce the rule that says alcohol cant be sold within 500 feet of a church or school. If a Christian retreat was declared a church, then bars and such within the limit would have to close down. Which was just fine with Evangelicals. Until the rule backfired. Down on the coast a church was having difficulty finding property for its new worship center. No one would sell the congregation a site because locals feared that the presence of a church would hinder growth in the area. Put a church there and the property around it becomes less valuable commercially because businesses built there couldnt serve alcohol. So, the preacher went to the county commissioners and asked that his congregation be authorized to waive the 500-foot ordinance so they could buy the land and build. And the commissioners agreed. This allows the church to be a presence in that community, the preacher told the press. Its a good thing. Now some folks wont think so. Some folks will think its a deal with the devil, a compromise that should not be made. But me, I side with the preacher. I also side with business folks. Then again, you knew I would.

Harvey H. (Hardy) Jackson is Professor Emeritus of History at Jacksonville State University. He can be reached at hjackson@cableone.net.

Read the rest here:

Coexistence at the beach - Opelika Observer