1010, 2011

Kansas City Fountains

American Cities
414

Kansas City, Missouri is known for barbecue, jazz, blues, and its fountains. Sometimes called “The City of Fountains,” Kansas City has hundreds of fountains. In fact, only Rome has more. Most of Kansas City’s fountains have unique sculptures in or around them. Some of them are over 300 years old! The variety and frequency of these landmarks offer ample opportunities to take a mental break from the stresses of metropolitan life. Today, the fountains are appreciated for their beauty, but when they first were built, they served a practical purpose. The Humane Society created them to supply clean water to animals, including the 70,000 horses that lived in the city during the early 1900s. Ken Navarro

0910, 2011

Saint Petersburg, Russia

World Cities & Harbors
546

Like many Eastern European countries, St. Petersburg struggled for much of the 20th century (mostly while known as Petrograd or Leningrad). It witnessed most of the Russian Revolution in the early part of the century and went on to be devastated by a lengthy Nazi siege during World War II. After the war, the city continued to struggle under the stress of political and economic forces. Still, St. Petersburg is a beautiful city with a unique skyline and many historical and architectural sights. One of the most distinctive, featured in this video, is the spire of the the Peter and Paul Cathedral, the oldest landmark in the city and the resting place of nearly all Russia’s

0810, 2011

Michipicoten at Soo Locks

Shipwatching
486

The Great Lakes freighter Michipicoten, formerly known as the Elton Hoyt 2nd, was built in 1952 and renamed once it joined the Lower Lakes Towing Company, which names its vessels after local rivers. In November 2010, it was converted to diesel power, increasing its capacity and lifespan while reducing its environmental footprint. The Michipicoten primarily runs between Marquette, Michigan and Algoma Steel, but also carries other material and has also been certified to carry grain. In this eScapes video, the freighter slowly moves through the Soo Locks, as it does on its usual route. Chuck Loeb is a guitarist, composer, and producer. Known for his smooth jazz recordings, he is a versatile artist who has explored

0710, 2011

Colorado Springs

Scenic Earth
543

Visitors to Colorado Springs, near the foot of Pike’s Peak, would not be surprised to learn that this area originally inspired America, The Beautiful. Beauty is not in short supply in this amazing natural setting, where millions of years of prehistoric lake sediment and alpine glaciers have carved the landscape into a beautiful series of hills, mountains, and lakes, punctuated by impressive mountains. This landscape lends itself to skiing, hiking, and biking. The tradition of outdoor recreation in Colorado Springs might be one of the reasons why it is the site of the United States’ Olympic Committee and Olympic Training Center. Fourplay is a jazz “supergroup” formed in 1990. Permanently featuring jazz keyboard legend Bob James,

0610, 2011

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

World Cities & Harbors
579

At night, Dubai might be a spectacle of exciting nightlife, but early in the day, the desert city moves a calmer, more relaxing pace. As the sun rises over the Persian Gulf, there’s a clear contrast between the modern skyscrapers of downtown Dubai and the quiet desert on the outskirts. One of the unique sights of Dubai– seen in this video– is the great number of auras— traditional wooden water taxis that ferry locals and tourists across the Dubai Creek. An interesting feature of these boats is their rustic steering method: many are guided by a simple wooden rudder controlled by ropes and pulleys. Nils is a Munich-born guitarist, producer, and composer. Though most comfortable playing

0510, 2011

Indianapolis at Night

American Cities
520

After the sun sets, downtown Indianapolis has an exciting nightlife before a backdrop of beautifully-lit buildings and monuments. This eScapes video begins at the city’s Artsgarden, a free venue for art exhibits and performances. Other sights in this video include the Indiana Statehouse, just a few blocks away, and the Indiana War Memorial Plaza, including the Indiana World War Memorial, a prominent building that contains tributes to fallen soldiers and a collection of military artifacts. Larry Carlton is an award-winning guitarist and singer. A longtime studio musician, Carlton recorded on more than 100 gold albums from some of the biggest artists in pop and rock. His distinctive ascent on Steely Dan’s “Kid Charlemange” has been recognized

0410, 2011

Red Hook, St. Thomas

Tropical Beaches
589

Red Hook, on the east end of Saint Thomas, is an area known for its seaside shopping, dining, and its vibrant yacht harbor. As long as the weather permits landing in the harbor, boaters can find a full-service marina, a diving center, and a large new ferry terminal. Ken Navarro is an award-winning contemporary jazz guitarist. His impressive discography of nineteen top charting albums showcases his appeal to a wide range of listeners with inspiring compositions and superb guitar performances. Links U.S. Virgin Islands Official Tourism Site Wikipedia article: Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands Ken Navarro Official Site

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

0110, 2011

Juneau, Alaska (Gastineau Channel)

Scenic Earth
465

Juneau, Alaska, might lack the density and skyscrapers of most state capitals, but it’s big in another way: the consolidated city-borough of Juneau covers more than 2700 square miles of land area. Much of this area is desolate: Juneau is the state capital with the smallest population per land area, making a perfect destination for those looking for peace and solitary relaxation. Juneau’s location on the Gastineau Channel and its lack of nearby roads make boating a popular way to get around. Plenty of marinas and ferries service residents and visitors, and the channel is a popular cruise ship destination, as demonstrated by the Royal Caribbean ships seen docked in this video. Chuck Loeb is a

3009, 2011

Toledo Botanical Garden (Pioneer Garden)

Scenic Earth
445

The Pioneer Garden in the Toledo Botanical Garden re-creates a historical setting with plots filled with heirloom vegetables and flowers, grown organically, as in pioneer days. However, the centerpiece of the garden isn’t a re-creation: it’s the actual log cabin of Peter Navarre, a famed army scout and settler of southeast Michigan and northwest Ohio. Navarre, born to French parents and familiar with Indian society from a young age, was instrumental to American efforts in the War of 1812 and was involved in the death of British-allied Indian chief Tecumseh. His cabin, which originally stood elsewhere on Toledo farm, was moved to the Botanical Garden in 1975. Each year, the Garden hosts a “Peter Navarre Day”