Gadling Take FIVE: Week of June 20-June 26

With a week where we've added a new blogger to the Gadling fold, I didn't want to pass up the chance formally give Stephen Greenwood a hearty welcome. He's going to be dazzling us with posts from his current home in Hong Kong. Tune into his Dim Sum Dialogues.

This has been a busy weekend. With ComFEST, the mega community arts festival taking over Columbus's Goodale Park and terrific weather for each day of it, it does indeed feel like these are the days to enjoy oneself.

Here are five stories you might have missed:

• In Amsterdam, a branch of Russia's Hermitage Museum opened. Head there and you can see items that once belonged to the Russian court. As Kraig Sean mentioned, what isn't covered is how the Romanov's lost power. The thought of the family being lined up against a wall and shot by the Bolsheviks, still gives me pause.
• Willy's post on 10 things to do on Jost Van Dyke in the Virgin Islands has me wanting to head there for an eco-excursion.
• If you aren't feeling hungry, you will be after reading Jeremy's post on eating brunch in Kingston, Jamaica. Jeremy's adding posts on Jamaica to his lush series, Undiscovered New York.
• Catherine's post on Geographic Expeditions deals on travel caught my attention. I highly recommend guided tours. They are worth the money, particularly if your days off are a precious few.
• As a New Yorker who sizzles in the summer, Tom is on the lookout for ways out of Manhattan and chances to cool off. He's summarized the deals he's found in New England. You don't have to be a New Yorker to enjoy them.

Also, we're running a new series on airport layovers. There are a few more to come. Annie's post on Amsterdam this past week has one tip that did last December.

Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Festivals and Events, Food and Drink, Europe, Ecotourism, Caribbean