0210, 2011

Saint Paul Trainwatching

Trainwatching
486

Railroads are a significant part of the history and culture of Saint Paul, Minnesota. Nicknamed “The Last City in the East,” Saint Paul was a hub on the “Milwaukee Road,” the railroad network that stretched from the Great Lakes to northwest Washington. It was also the headquarters of the Great Northern and Northern Pacific Railways. Today, Saint Paul is still a hub for rail traffic and provides plenty of venues for trainwatching. The Twin City Model Railroad Museum even lets visitors watch trains from the comfort of the indoors– albeit on a smaller scale. This eScapes video takes you to the St. Paul neighborhood of Dayton’s Bluff, which offers a great view of four busy rail

2909, 2011

Long Beach, California (Rainbow Harbor)

Long Beach, California, just south of Los Angeles, is named for the five miles of beaches that run along its coast. Very much a marine city, Long Beach is the second-busiest seaport in the United States, a popular cruise ship port (and home port to Carnival Cruise Lines) and offers thousands of marina slips, a strong fishing culture, and was the site of a naval shipyard for 55 years. Visitors can even spend on the night on a historic ocean liner: the RMS Queen Mary, now converted to a hotel. This eScapes video features a nighttime panorama of the Long Beach waterfront, starting at the colorfully-lit Queensway Bridge and spanning the entire skyline, including the Pike

2609, 2011

Shanghai, China (Riverfront at Day)

World Cities & Harbors
464

Old and new come together along Shanghai’s Huangpu Riverfront. The Bund, a historic district with a limit on building heights, sits opposite the Pudong district, full of towering skyscrapers and commercial development. These skyscrapers are symbolic of Shanghai’s modern economic prosperity as the commerce capital of mainland China. Visitors and residents fatigued by the city’s booming activities can find relaxation in city parks such as the Lujiazui Central Green, featured in this video. Bob James is recognized for his role in establishing smooth jazz music. His influence on the genre is unmatched and extends into hip-hop, where his work is often sampled. A keyboardist, James may be best known for “Angela,” the theme from the TV

2409, 2011

Detroit, Michigan (Skyline at Dusk)

Detroit, Michigan is known as the “Motor City” so it may be appropriate that the standout on its skyline is the Renaissance Center housing the headquarters of General Motors. In this relaxing view from across the Detroit River in Windsor, Ontario, the glossy dark facade of the Renaissance Center is a sharp contrast to the older buildings that make up the rest of downtown. Other landmarks visible in this video include Cobo Center on the far left, and the Detroit Princess, a riverboat offering dinner and entertainment cruises on the Detroit River since 2005. Marion Meadows is a smooth jazz saxophonist and composer. Skilled with both the tenor and soprano saxophones, Meadows has collaborated with jazz

1809, 2011

Madison, Wisconsin

American Cities
497

This relaxing view of Madison, Wisconsin could easily be mistaken for a view across an inlet of Lake Michigan– except Madison lies in the middle of the state, removed from the Great Lakes. Still, Wisconsin’s capital has great lakes of its own: the “Four Lakes” of Mendota, Menona, Waubesa, and Kegonsa surround the city. Looking at the downtown skyline, the Wisconsin State Capitol is impossible to miss. This is no accident; a local law prohibits any buildings within a mile to be taller than the capitol dome’s pillars. Although low, the downtown skyline remains dense with government buildings, the University of Wisconsin, and more. Joyce Cooling is a contemporary jazz guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. She has

1209, 2011

St. Anthony Falls, Minneapolis

American Cities
453

One of the only waterfalls on the Mississippi River, St. Anthony Falls offers more than a scenic outlook and relaxing ambience. The entire city of Minneapolis was built around the power of the falls, both literally and figuratively. Early entrepreneurs used the falls to power saw and flour mills, which attracted more settlers and led to the creation of the city. At the turn of the century, Minneapolis led the United States in flour production. By the mid-20th century, however, the flour boom was over and Minneapolis’ position had been lost as new power sources and transportation methods developed and Western crops suffered. Today, a hydroelectric plant still draws power from the falls, but the mills

0509, 2011

Lima, Peru (Costa Verde)

World Cities & Harbors
432

Lima, the capital and largest city of Peru, is situated in a unique physical environment. Despite its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, this South American city is located entirely in a desert, making it the world’s second-largest desert city (after Cairo). The interaction of the ocean and the land creates an interesting climate. Lima is usually cloaked in fog or clouds, and the temperature remains in the 60-70 degree range year-round even though it is a tropical desert region. This eScapes video features Lima’s Costa Verde and one of its common sights: paragliders. The cliffs on the coast provide updrafts ideal for paragliding for those looking for the thrill– or relaxation– of flight. Candy Dulfer has

0109, 2011

San Diego, California

American Cities
496

San Diego, California has a close relationship to the Pacific Ocean it sits on. A popular destination for boating, surfing, and fishing, San Diego also houses the U.S. Navy’s largest base on the West Coast. This eScapes scene begins with a view of a modern fish bones sculpture adorning Embarcadero Marina Park. Seaport Village, an open-air commercial mall on the seaside, can be seen in the background. This sample video ends with a reverse view of the San Diego skyline from Coronado Island, just across San Diego Bay from downtown. Most of the city’s skyscrapers are close to the same height– due to the proximity of San Diego International Airport, they’re limited to 500 feet– but

2208, 2011

St. Louis (Gateway Arch at Dusk)

American Cities
479

The Gateway Arch is instantly recognizable, as is the St. Louis skyline that bears it. This 630-foot monument, standing inside the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, celebrates the United States’ westward expansion and the role St. Louis played in it. Nearby, on the Mississippi River, steamboats and ships pass by to their own relaxing beat, as they have since the first days of westward expansion. Grady Nichols is a smooth jazz saxophonist who is quickly rising in the genre. With four released albums and collaborations with legends including Jeff Lorber and Paul Brown, Nichols is becoming a presence on the smooth jazz charts and a popular opening act and sideman for legends including Bob James, David Benoit,

1908, 2011

Seattle at Night

World Cities & Harbors
426

This beautiful night view of Seattle might only be outdone by the view from the top of the famous Space Needle, prominent in the skyline. Built for the 1962 World’s Fair, the Space Needle was designed to have a futuristic Space Age theme. This design is reflected in tower’s “flying saucer” top and even in the names the builders gave to its paint– names like “Re-entry Red” and “Galaxy Gold.” On the nearby Elliott Bay, ferries transport people to and from suburbs separated from Seattle by the many waterways of the Puget Sound. Elliott Bay is also a popular route for dinner and entertainment cruises. Paul Hardcastle is an English musician who crosses genres with his