Culture
- Culture, Dance, Day Trips, Entertainment, Events, Explore with Cassie, Food, Latest News, Music, Nature, Suburbs, Travel
WXPN’s Xponential Music Festival is Summer Staple in Camden, New Jersey
Story, photos by David Krakow Ah festivals. The all-you-can-eat buffets of concert going. Although I’m of an age where folks went to concerts mostly and festivals hardly at all, they do hold a special place. I was living in San Francisco at the beginning of the 1990s and was able to jump on the Lollapalooza bandwagon with such folks as guiding spirits Jane’s Addiction, Alice In Chains and some new Seattle quintet called Pearl Jam. Later that decade I moved to New Orleans and took in two Jazzfests. By that time they were already as much pop and rock fests as jazz fests but any musical fest in New Orleans…
- Beach, Culture, Day Trips, Dessert, Drink, Explore with Cassie, Fitness, Food, Health, Latest News, Nature, Restaurants, Television, Travel
Hitting Up Virginia Beach, VA Early in the Season Makes Bonding with Locals a Breeze
Story by David Krakow My wife Jamie and I were in Virginia Beach, VA the first weekend in March. Late morning our first full day, it was time to take a walk on the beach. Did I mention it was early March? Jamie’s Fitbit was ready to sue us as our walk lasted only one block. In fairness, the visuals were perfectly engaging including rough ocean, generic beach sculptures and pretty condominiums. It was just short – and cold. We have a friend who owns a time share in the Oceannaire Resort Hotel and week nine of the year happens to be their week. They could not go, so early…
- Architecture, Art, California, Comedy, Culture, Dessert, Drink, Explore with Cassie, Food, Latest News, Restaurants, Travel
Views and Chews for Days with Hilton San Francisco Union Square in California
Story, photos by Cassie Hepler Driving into San Francisco, California during a picture perfect summer day was breathtaking. And a little confusing when I reached a toll for the Golden Gate Bridge ($4) and never carry any cash on me. Part of the allure of California and the West is the no toll roads unlike the opposite every two mile tolls it seems on the East Coast. And of course they don’t take credit cards so the lady waved me by and told me to expect something in the mail and to fight it… welcome to San Fran! (Update: It’s all done electronically now and the toll without FasTrak is…
- Animals, Culture, Dessert, Drink, Education, Entertainment, Events, Explore with Cassie, Food, Music, Nature, Science
Catch a Buzz at PA’s Drexel University’s Academy of Natural Sciences Boozy Botanicals Art Deco-Era Event
Whatever lies behind Door 19 must be more mysterious than anything in the proverbial door numbers one, two or three. Story, photos by Sharon Kozden “Every great advance in science has issued from a new audacity of imagination.” — John Dewey I suspected that I was in for a wild night at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University‘s Door 19 event, cleverly named Boozy Botanicals. My vivid imagination envisioned scenes straight out of Little Shop of Horrors, all man-eating plants and specialty cocktails infused with the likes of stinging nettles or mugwort, ferns and fronds serving as swizzle sticks. Maybe my previous assignment at the Academy (Xtreme Bugs, featuring…
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Philadelphia Film Center Rolls Out Red Carpet for Paul Dano, Screens Directorial Debut of ‘WILDLIFE’
The theater formerly known as the Prince Theater was renamed; marquee now boasts new signage. “And there are words, significant words, you do not want to say, words that account for busted-up lives, words that try to fix something ruined that shouldn’t be ruined and no one wanted ruined, and that words can’t fix anything. Telling.” – Richard Ford, Wildlife Story, photos by Sharon Kozden The 2019 Academy Awards are in the bag, the suspense over until next year. Your personal favorites either won iconic trophy statuettes or were left out of the picture. For the record, I was disappointed over Glenn Close’s loss. And yet, one of the best things…
- Culture, Dance, Dessert, Drink, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Food, Latest News, Music, Restaurants
Heritage Hosts Hip Hop Artist Chill Moody and Dock Street IPA Release in Northern Liberties, Philadelphia
Story, photos by Jeni A night of nicethings with Chill Moody was named quite amply as the evening was comprised of all nice things and a chill mood. I am a frequenter of Heritage for its yummy Gose on tap, atmospheric live jazz tunes, and amazingly crafted small plates. I jumped at the opportunity to see an original act there outside of its normal whimsical strummings. The event boasted specialty summer kick off beers by Dock Street Brewery, specifically nicethingsIPA and the hip hop artist Chill Moody spitting out rhymes to a hype crowd. When I arrived, I had been hoping for a few friends to accompany me who would also…
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United Kingdom Fast Fashion Store Primark Crosses Pond to King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
Primark takes up residence at the KOP Mall. Story, photos by Sharon Kozden Is there a better time to shop the King of Prussia Mall then on Labor Day weekend just days before the onset of a new school year? In a word and for this writer, the answer is an unequivocal no. So what was I thinking when an assignment found me at KOP’s Primark clothing store at the beginning of September? Mind you, I could have chosen a different date. Apparently, I wasn’t thinking. Still, I arrived early, hoping to avoid the crowds’ onslaught along with the potential for chick fights often known to ensue at super sales.…
- Art, Culture, Dance, Day Trips, Dessert, Entertainment, Events, Explore with Cassie, Fitness, Latest News, Music, Sports, Style, Suburbs
Cirque du Soleil’s VOLTA Electrifies Audiences Under the Big Top in Oaks, PA
Vibrant background colors and name-zapped graphic create visually arresting poster. Story, photos by Sharon Kozden (event photography courtesy of Cirque du Soleil) Step right up! It’s showtime, folks. Over the summer, the circus came to town at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA. The renowned Cirque du Soleil arrived with its Under the Big Top production of VOLTA, and Oaks was woke! For some time preceding Cirque’s descension at the Expo Center, the locals and passers could witness the construction progress of a large tent (one that seated 2,500). People were talking. Something grand-scale was in the offing. A big deal in little but mighty Oaks. Word of…
- Architecture, Beach, Casino, Culture, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Food, Latest News, Restaurants, Sports, Travel
Lisbon, Portugal is the ‘Bestest’ Hip, Hilly, Coastal Capital City in Europe
Story, photos by Kelly Kusumoto My most recent trip to Lisbon, Portugal was my fourth in three years and, by far, the bestest. I guess before I go on, I should let you in on an inside joke. While attending college, I met a classmate from Lisbon. In our very first class, we hit it off and have been close ever since. We even started an indie game development company together, which is why I have been frequenting Lisbon so much. He loves his country and is proud of all its accomplishments. Jokingly, any time he brags about something Portuguese, he always tells me how they love to go big…
- Beauty, Culture, Drink, Education, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Latest News, Music, Style, Technology, Travel
A Unique, Online Gift Guide for Last Minute Holiday Shoppers
Story by Explore, submitted photos/video The year of 2018 has been our best yet for Explore! While our publisher Cassie Hepler moved across the country to Phoenix, Arizona, it has helped expand the blog and gaining more traction and faithful followers every day. We have made some new partnerships and awesome blogger/influencer friends in the Valley of the Sun to California and beyond. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all who have helped us succeed in this crazy, exciting blogging world. From the East Coast to the West Coast, we looking forward to exploring more and outside the USA for 2019. In the meantime, as we…
