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Gadling Giveaway - Win a free night at any Hyatt Resort! {Gadling}
Oct 12th 2010 2:28PM Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa
Galley Gossip: Seattle - places to stay & things to do (with a 13 year-old boy) {Gadling}
Jun 30th 2010 2:11PM All great suggestions, though I've heard the Edgewater isn't quite up to the hype around it.
I live just outside Seattle and do the tourist thing quite often when my family comes to visit (including 12 and 11 year old nephews). Here are some things we enjoy doing when they are here:
Pike Place Market (sorry Heather, Pike is not possessive of the Market. First thing I learned when I moved here 3 years ago. PIKE not Pike's). See the fish throwing guys, walk through the first floor sampling the fruit and the chocolate pasta. Don't head to the lower floors unless you're into tchotchkes and the like. Head over to the "first" Starbucks. Go back to the fish throwers and head down the stairs by the golden pig. Stick some gum on the gum wall. From there head down to the water front and check out Ye Olde Curiosity Shop. It's full of all sorts of random stuff.
Riding the ferry to Bainbridge Island is a MUST. While there visit Mora Iced Creamery. Sample all that you'd like, but I'd suggest the chocolate ice cream with peanut butter and Oreos or head over to Cafe Nola (if it's the weekend) and have their Caramel Pecan french toast. If you've brought your car along with you, there are some gorgeous state parks with views of the Sound. If you kayak, this is a good place to do it.
EMP/Sci Fi Museum - unless the boy is VERY into music or sci fi novels, this will only take about an hour. The thing that will most interest him will likely be the music lab where he can play the guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, etc.
Seattle Center - there is an amusement park of sorts there, but it's not really of any consequence. There is, however, the Pacific Science Center. And if he's into science or how things work, etc. This is the place to go. My nephews LOVE this place. 3D movies, exhibits on bugs, rooms full of butterflies.
Riding the Duck isn't work the price, in my opinion, but it's a nice way to see the city and hit the water a bit. I much prefer the water taxi to Alki and the free shuttle that will drop you off anywhere you'd like on the beach. Head to Salty's for some seafood.
There's also many glass blowing places that have workshops the public can sign up for.
All in all, Seattle's a GREAT place to bring a 13 year old. I'm sure he'll have tons of fun.
How to pick the perfect travel smartphone {Gadling}
Jun 23rd 2010 4:01PM KATE - Will you be charged over and above your monthly fees for phone calls and data usage on your new Verizon BlackBerry in Europe. Phone = Yes and Data = Probably. I went to Verizon's site and checked out what the pricing would be if you made calls in France(Plans | International Services | Traveling Outside of the U.S. | France). Calls while you are in France will cost you 99¢ per minute or $1.29 per minute. Data usage while in France will cost you 2¢ per KB unless you pay at least $129.99 per month for GlobalAccess, then data will be free up to 100 MB.
As Scott said above, just because a phone is International capable, doesn't mean you won't be charged extra for using your phone abroad. Regular plans that most of us sign up for do NOT include free calls while abroad.
And as an aside, Android Market has a great App (APNdroid) that turns of the data part of your phone so you do not incur data roaming charges while abroad (used this in Canada last month to great success). I'm also a HUGE fan of T-Mobile's UMA feature and plan to use it while in Italy next year.
What I really wish is that I could call T-Mobile and say: I'm going to be in Italy in January, is there a feature I can add to my phone that will allow unlimited calls and data for the 2 weeks I'm there? And have T-Mobile say: Why yes there is. We've got a monthly add-on feature available for your account. For $XXX.00 per month you will be able to roam internationally with both data and voice without incurring additional charges. I'd be willing to pay $100 - $200 for that option, depending on how long I plan to be abroad. This charge by mb/KB is too difficult to track. Having a set $ amount to pay and unlimited usage would be ideal.
Until that happens, I'm taking my UMA BlackBerry, an unlocked Android phone with me and crossed fingers that I can get a pre-paid data SIM in Italy. I'm looking forward to reading the upcoming pre-paid article.
I think this article should be required reading for anyone when they purchase an airline ticket abroad. Very informative.
Jose Wows Judges, Cat Flirts on 'So You Think You Can Dance' (VIDEO) {AOL TV}
Jun 13th 2010 3:02AM Boo! I'm not a fan of this video thing but no review. I hope this season we will continue to have the great reviews we had last season. I've enjoyed how in the past the reviewers would list out each performance and give critiques. Fingers crossed that this video stuff is only for the introduction episode.
Jane After Dark: What Should Jane Watch Next? {AOL TV}
May 9th 2010 2:49PM 2 days ago my vote would have gone to The West Wing. However, I've been re-watching TWW on Bravo and they jumped from the end of Season 4 to the Santos/Vinick campaign in Season 7. I was very disappointed to have missed such meaty episodes and I also realized I couldn't care less about watching Santos/Vinick again, and how I would have much rather seen more of how TWW-ers dealt with leaving office and where they ended up. We got some of that, but we got much more campaign stuff. The later seasons pale in comparison to the first few seasons, it's a bit disappointing.
Same for Alias. First few seasons were great, but can we just forget some of the last few seasons?
So ultimately my vote goes to Gilmore Girls. Sure, it had its lackluster seasons and the fact that the Palladinos left/were forced out for the last season leaves you wondering what could have been. But on the whole, the show delivers and is infinitely quotable.
"Oy with the poodles already."
'Doctor Who' - 'The Eleventh Hour' Recap (Season Premiere) {AOL TV}
Apr 17th 2010 11:53PM I was very hesitant to watch the new season and, in fact, almost forgot to record it. Christopher Eccleston was the first Doctor I knew, but David Tennant was my Doctor. Ten minutes into this episode I accepted the new Doctor and was, again, carried away in the Whoniverse. I can't wait to see where we go this season.
'Chuck' - 'Chuck Versus The Other Guy' Recap {AOL TV}
Apr 6th 2010 1:49AM Good review and very satisfying episode. And if Sarah did destroy the cables, I'm pretty sure Chuck and Morgan can acquire some spares at their neighborhood electronics store. I'm sure Burbank's got one.
Hooray for Morgan totally calling the fake punches and round house!
Brit Tries To Figure Out American TV {AOL TV}
Mar 8th 2010 4:52PM It's always bothered me that invariably sticking out of the paper bag of groceries is a baguette. Sure I buy baguettes occasionally, but people on TV only seem to eat baguettes.
Win a trip to Bangkok from Gadling and lebua! {Gadling}
Feb 20th 2010 3:06PM My father was sent to Thailand during the Vietnam War just after I was born and was there for the first year of my life. If I won this trip I would love to take him with me. There's no way to travel back in time for him to experience my first words, crawling, my first steps, etc, but he could show me the wonderful place that both stole his heart with its beauty and broke his heart with the devastation of war. I can't think of a better shared experience.
Will Arnett says Arrested Development movie is underway {AOL TV}
Jan 12th 2010 10:18PM Illusionist.
