I like to mix it up here at Flyaway Cafe, providing you with a variety of tips, ideas, destination suggestions, opinions, trends, and humor. 

This morning I took a look back at what you read most during June, and there were some real surprises.  The top five posts were all found deep in my archives!

Here they are —

1. Green Architecture Before its Time: Frank Lloyd Wright & Taliesin West
2. Photo: Sydney Opera House
3. Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden
4. Photo Op: Boston Skyline
5. Titanic Artifact Exhibition Will Arrive in Atlanta

If you have ideas or suggestions about what you’d like to read about here, please leave them in the comments.

Thanks for making Flyaway Cafe a part of your blog reading habits!

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A.M., or "ante meridiem" in Latin, means before noon.

P.M., or "post meridiem" in Latin, means after noon.

One letter difference, but if you aren’t paying attention it could mean missing your flight.

It always amazes me how otherwise bright people can get totally confounded by departure times. 

There was a situation involving a friend who has a 12:30 a.m. departure.  While the rest of the gang was pleasantly imbibing at the airport bar, one friend was missing in action.  Boarding time came, and the gang got onboard the aircraft.  Still one missing friend.  Next thing you know, it was wheels up, and the gang was en route — minus one.

What happened to this responsible executive?  Did he deliberate no-show his pals? 

No, it was nothing like that.  It was those a.m. initials that him all off kilter.  Something he didn’t realize until he checked in for his flight, believing that it would depart a little after noon.

Moral of this true story — check your departure time.  Does it say a.m. or p.m.?  (I think the problem occurs mostly in the 12-1 a.m. time frame, because it’s dark and people think of it as night time rather than as being before noon.)

And if you’ve got to mix things up, better to be 12 hours too early for your flight, than 12 hours too late.

Photo credit: SXC

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Tonight is the season premiere of everyone’s favorite gal around town, Samantha Brown. This season will focus on the shorter vacation, that quick getaway weekend that is both easier to schedule and kinder on the budget.

Where are the great places for that weekend getaway?  Of course, it all depends on where you live, but since the season will have ideas from all around the world you’ll probably find something close to YOUR home.

Two episodes air tonight, the first at 10 pm, the second at 10:30 pm (times are both ET/PT), featuring two wonderful cities – Las Vegas and Austin, Texas.

In Las Vegas, Samantha hangs out downtown with the locals, and then enjoys a little time at the glamorous Wynn.  Las Vegas is known for it’s over the top experiences, and the Wynn doesn’t disappoint!

And in Austin, Samantha checks out the music and nightlife that Austin is famous for, as well as slowing life down to enjoy the natural beauty of the area.

These are two pretty great spots for a weekend getaway, and it looks like it’s going to be a great season!

Video courtesy of The Travel Channel

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Last fall I wrote about 10 things you should always carry onboard.  It’s still good advice, although a recent travel story from a friend made me re-read my post. 

I had missed the obvious – carry on your electronic gear!  Your iPod (or other music player), laptop, cell phone, Kindle, any of those thing – they all go in your carry on.  Your headset, too! 

The obvious reason is that you are bringing them to use on the flight –- which is probably why I didn’t think to mention them before.  But even if you aren’t going to use the items until you get to your destination, they are too fragile and expensive to be packed away.

While you’re at it, make sure you put on your re-charging equipment, ac adapters, and things like that in your carry on as well.  I know this can take up a lot of room, but after using your equipment on a long flight, you’ll want to re-charge everything.  If your bags go missing, at least you’ll have access to tools that can help you solve the problem.

Photo credit: SXC

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I picked up today’s Matchbook Monday from the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.  Last month I was visiting the city for a few days, and found myself at the MGM before a performance of Ka (a Cirque du Soleil performance).

Since I had about an hour to spare before meeting a friend to see the performance, and because I was looking for a quiet place to have a drink – away from the craziness, noise, and frenetic energy of the casino – and so I chose L’ Atelier du Joel Robuchon.

Walking to the door, I advised the maitre d’ that I wanted a quiet place to sit and enjoy a glass of wine.  He escorted me through the main dining area, which consists of a large open kitchen in the center of the room surrounded by a counter where diners are seated, to a small bar at the back of the restaurant.  It was a perfect location, away from the frenetic energy of the food preparation and the noise of gregarious diners.  And I appreciated that I wasn’t stuck in some corner where I’d be ignored, as so often can happen with a woman dining (or drinking).

With the help of the wine steward I selected a nice glass of red wine, full-bodied enough to stand on its own and not needing a food pairing to bring out its best flavor.  The wine steward was helpful, inquiring about my taste preferences, and made two suggestions, allowing me to choose. 

When served, the wine was opened in front of me, a nice touch that guaranteed me that the wine was fresh.  It was delicious, and I could settle back and enjoy some relaxation time before meeting up with friends.  The service was excellent, with my waiter checking back to see if I needed anything more without hovering or making me feel uncomfortable for just want to enjoy a good glass of red.  Bread and crackers were offered, although I declined.

I did have a chance to browse through the dinner menu, and it contained some delicious sounding items, including small tasting-sized portions and a complete multi-course tasting menu.  I spent a little extra time looking at the dessert menu (my favorite course), and was nearly tempted by La Framboise (fresh raspberry surprise inside white chocolate sphere, yuzu ice cream).

This is not a restaurant for the budget conscious.  A glass of good wine is going to run you around $25, and from a quick look at the menu, I’d guess that a nice meal and a cocktail is going to run you around $100+ per person.  Wine will increase that tab substantially.  Of course, since Joel Robuchon was named “Chef of the Century” that price may be a fair one.  People who’ve eaten there rave about it!

The stop off was exactly what I wanted, a half hour of quiet time, away from the crowds of people, before continuing on with an evening full of plans.

Would I go back?  Absolutely!  And I’m looking to try the tasting menu next time.

L’ Atelier is open for dinner only, Sunday – Thursday 5:30 – 10:30 pm; Friday & Saturday 5 –11:30 pm.

Photo credit: Personal collection

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Next month I’ll be going back to Guadalajara, Mexico, a city that I haven’t visited for about 15 years.

What I always loved about Guadalajara, was that it was a “real” city, as opposed to the beach cities.  Although tourism plays an important of the economic fabric of the Guadalajara, the city is also home to several universities, and, along with Mexico City, is a center for international commerce.

I’m sure that a lot of things have changed since I’ve been there, but I remember having a lot of fun shopping at Tlaquepaque, Tonola, Trocadero, and the Mercado Libertad.  And watching the glass blowers, artisans, buying delicious freshly roasted coffee beans, and savoring freshly made tortillas with a cold margarita.

Some of those landmark sites will still be there, of course.  But I know those of those little cafe, bars, and little shops that I loved are probably gone or have changed hands.  I’m going to try to find some of those old favorites, but am hoping that you can help me find some new ones.

Do you have some favorite places in Guadalajara?  A great place for a simple bite to eat and a cold beverage?  Some place that has a nice selection of local art?  The best place to find some nice gift ideas?

Please take a minute to either leave your suggestions in the comments, or email me directly.  I’m hoping you can make my time in Guadalajara the very best that it can be!

Photo credit: flickr

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If you haven’t done so already, please take a moment to vote in this month’s poll:

How will the rising cost of air travel impact your summer travel plans?

Cruise over to the side bar and check off the answer that most closely explains your plans for summer travel.

I’ll be leaving voting open for just a few more days.

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To learn about some of the things that you may have missed around the Travel & Culture Channel over the last few weeks, take a look at some of the tasty tidbits our bloggers have been writing about:

• Filipina Soul – A yummy sounding recipe for Putong Puti (Rice Muffins).
• Flyaway Cafe – Picks her 7 Family Vacation Destinations that are FUN & Educational.
• Geeky Traveller – Answers the questions Is the New iPhone 3G useful for travelers?
• Let’s Visit Asia – Unfortunately, Thai Airways Adjusts Fuel Surcharge (hint:  it’s going up).
• Sirened – An argument for decriminalization of drugs with Prescription Drugs Kill More People than Illegal Drugs.
• Southern Byways – Suggests Museum Exhibitions to See This Summer.
• Starked DC – Give us his Electoral College Forecast: 6/17 Update.
• Starked SF – Explores Reality Television: America’s Obsession with Losing and Failure.
• The Boston Traveler – Another yummy regional recipe, How to Make Boston Cream Pie from Scratch.
• The Chicago Traveler – A restaurant review, Green Zebra Offers Upscale Vegetarian.
• The DC Traveler – Something to think about, Place to Reflect and Remember.
• The Denver Traveler – A beautiful look at Colorado’s Capitol Building.
• The Disney Traveler – Spells out the 2008 Walt Disney World Park Ticket Prices in Simple Terms.
• The Hawaii Traveler – An eating guide,  Aloha, and Thanks For All the Fish.
• The Kuala Lumpur Traveler – Saving money is always important, Pak Lah latest cost cutting measures proved that the government can save.
• The Las Vegas Adventurer – Good news on a popular story, The Mirage Welcomes Tiger Cubs to the Secret Garden.
• The London Traveler – Shopping anyone –  Harrods or Harvey Nicks?
• The New York City Traveler – Outdoor urban haunts, 5 Favorite Rooftop Bars in New York City (and 1 in New Jersey).
• The Paris Traveler – Explain a culinary treat, Let’s Go To Italy (Or My Kitchen) and Eat Some Nutella.
• The San Diego Traveler – BIG golf news, Tiger Takes It In Sudden Death Overtime.
• The Seattle Traveler – Fact and fiction, The Legend & Money of D.B. Cooper.
• The South Florida Traveler – Keep cool, Cool Off at the Venetian Pool.
• The Switzerland Traveler – Simply beautiful, Even More Photos of Chateau Chillon.
• The Sydney Traveler – It’s about the animals, A Day at the Zoo.
• The Tokyo Traveler – The song and the game, Pachinko – Get your Gambling Fix in Tokyo!
• The Vancouver Traveler – It’s all about the music, 23rd Vancouver International Jazz Festival.
• Traveling the Green Way – Sustainable eating, On the Road: Finding Eco-Friendly Restaurants.

Did you miss some of the great posts?  You can make sure that you don’t miss out on a single thing, by subscribing to the entire channel feed.

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Today’s Back to Basics tips come from Laura McHolm, the co-founder of NorthStar Moving & Storage Co., and who is also an on-site storage and organizational expert. 

As you might expect, she’s got lots of great suggestions, and I loved her ideas to help make the classic family car trip an easy adventure.  I’ve chosen my two favorite tips to share with readers here today:

• Pack one backpack that stays in the car. Include your maps, files with your reservation information, first aid kit, camera, tickets, etc.  (Personal note:  this is a good idea for adult travel, too!)
• Wrap items like books with car games, deck of cards, sticker books, puzzle books, joke books, reading books, crayola crayons, fun masks, etc. as presents—try reusable bags to be eco-friendly. When you make stops along your route place the presents on the kids’ seats. When they come back to the car they will have an exciting gift to unwrap and play with! Bring extra backpacks to place the toys in once they are unwrapped.

You can also check the NorthStar website for packing tips that easily translate from packing to move and packing for travel.

Thanks for the tips, Laura!

Photo credit: flickr

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Today’s Matchbook Monday was picked up at a recent event that I attended, and simply says “Pick Abilene.”  It was a giveaway from the Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau as part of an event promoting Abilene as a destination for travel

Since you have to know a little something about a destination, before you can decide if you want to go there, I did a little research on what Abilene has to offer.

Abilene calls itself the “Friendly Frontier”, positioning itself as a balance of traditional Old West heritage and contemporary city.  It is in the central part of Texas, about 150 miles west of Fort Worth, and strikes me as a big small town.  Big in the sense that the population is over 100,000, but small in the sense that it is still very much of a community, rather than an impersonal city.  It looks like there’s lot to do in Abilene from visiting animals, enjoying arts and theater, viewing some historical sites, and shopping.

In fact, Abilene has evolved to become the commercial, retail, medical and transportation hub of a goodly sized piece of Texas real estate commonly called “The Big Country” or “The Texas Midwest.”  Housing and services are still considered in the affordable range!  Detailed information about doing business in the city can be obtained from the Abilene Chamber of Commerce.

I’m not sure if I’m driven to visit Abilene yet, but it’s home to some notable folks:

• Boxer Tex Cobb
• Singer Larry Gatlin (and the Gatlin Brothers)
• Actor Fess Parker (I remember his playing Daniel Boone)
• Country Musician Lee Roy Parnell
• Singer & Actress Jessica Simpson

Do you have a matchbook that you’ve been up in your travels?  A favorite hotel, restaurant, or bar?  Or just something kind of quirky that made you stop and smile?  Take a photo, and send it to me for a future Matchbook Monday.

Photo credit: Personal collection

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