Whether you like your accommodations cozy, cool or chic, you can find it all at one of Kansas City’s best hotels.

LUXURY HOTELS

The Westin Crown Center
Located within Hallmark’s Crown Center—an 85-acre complex of shops, restaurants and theaters—the hotel features 729 well-appointed guest rooms and suites. Enjoy 24-hour room service, as well as the Westin Heavenly Bed and Westin Heavenly Bath accoutrements. In addition, the hotel features three on-site restaurants; fitness facilities like an all-season swimming pool, a jogging track, and tennis and basketball courts; and a whirlpool, sauna and steam room.

1 EAST PERSHING RD. 816-474-4400

Intercontinental Kansas City at the Plaza
Known for contemporary elegance, the Intercontinental Kansas City is just steps away from the Country Club Plaza entertainment district. The Plaza is an outdoor museum of romantic Spanish architecture and European art, boasting more than 180 stores and distinctive boutiques and a variety of diverse restaurants.

401 WARD PKWY. 816-756-1500

The Quarterage Hotel
This charming hotel in Historic Westport surrounds you with Old World hospitality. It offers access to some of the city’s best shopping and entertainment. After a full day of sightseeing, relax in front of a fire in the lobby, which features handcrafted oak and brass trim and spectacular marble floors.

560 WESTPORT RD. 816-931-0001

BED AND BREAKFASTS

Woodstock Inn
Located in nearby Independence, the Woodstock Inn’s original building was built in 1900. In 1987, Charles Woodstock and Lane and Ruth Harold bought the building and turned it into an 11-room bed and breakfast.

1212 W. LEXINGTON ST., 816-833-2233

Dome Ridge Bed and Breakfast
The main attraction of this unique B&B is its distinct architecture: a geodesic dome. Beneath the dome’s many glass pentagons and hexagons are four cozy guest rooms.

14360 N.W. WALKER RD. 816-532-0474

Southmoreland on the Plaza Bed and Breakfast
Blending classic B&B ambiance with small hotel amenities, each room is named after a famous Kansas Citian and has a special feature, such as a treetop deck, fireplace or Jacuzzi.

116 EAST 46TH ST., 816-531-7979

BOUTIQUE HOTELS

The Raphael Hotel
Originally constructed in 1927 as the Villa Serena Apartments, the building was transformed in 1975 into a hotel with 123 well-appointed guest rooms and suites. Noted as one of the city’s most romantic restaurants, The Raphael Restaurant has a weekly changing menu of “creative Continental” cuisine. The hotel is conveniently located near Country Club Plaza and other landmarks.

325 WARD PARKWAY, 816-756-3800

Hotel Phillips
For 70 years, the Hotel Phillips has been welcoming guests into a pampering retreat. The hotel, which boasts a AAA Four Diamond Award, features the sophisticated Phillips Chophouse and the hip 12 Baltimore Café & Bar.

106 W. 12TH ST., 816-221-7000

Hotel Savoy
Open since 1888, Hotel Savoy underwent renovations in 1985, which transformed the rooms into antique-filled suites. The décor includes stained glass, Italian tile floors and carved oak woodwork. The Savoy Grill, open since 1903, is KC’s oldest restaurant; definitely make time for a meal here.

219 W. 9TH ST., 816-842-3575

KC’S CROSSROADS DISTRICT BLOSSOMS WITH ART OF ALL KINDS.

The line at Dolphin snakes out the door and around the corner on Baltimore Street. The wait is amiable, but a palpable sense of anticipation is building.

The serpentine train isn’t for an arena concert, nor is it for a department store shoe sale. It’s not even for garnering a table at a popular restaurant that doesn’t accept reservations. Instead, it’s for a photography show at Dolphin, which is a fine art gallery.

Welcome to First Fridays in Kansas City. Every first Friday of the month, the Crossroads District’s more than 100 galleries, shops and restaurants open their doors from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., beckoning to art lovers of all ages, cultures, tastes and backgrounds.

“Kansas City has probably been one of the Midwest’s best-kept secret destinations for art collectors,” says Marcus Cain, editor of Review, Kansas City’s art magazine. “The Crossroads District is a very welcoming urban neighborhood—a place where everyone opens their doors to invite in new people, and audiences are encouraged to open their minds to new experiences. It isn’t intimidating like many gallery districts in larger cities.”

A trolley traverses the square mile of this eclectic neighborhood, which is bounded by 15th Street, I-35, the Freighthouse District, and Troost Avenue. On First Fridays, some galleries and stores start the excitement earlier, while some stay open later—but all of them (including some small, working studios of artists that aren’t normally open to the public) pledge to be open during the evening hours.

“First Fridays have been going on for a number of years, but the consistency of it happening every first Friday really started in the fall of 2000,” says Kelly Kuhn, owner of Blue Gallery. “That’s when it began to take off, and it snowballed really quickly. Really, it’s a no-fail event. You don’t have to grab a Kansas City Star, or log onto a Web site. You just have to show up.”

When the event began, attendance was in the hundreds. Now, it’s grown to the thousands, and on a balmy fall night, 10,000—if not 20,000—people take part in the festivities. “We have had 4,890 people visit our business,” Kuhn says.

“It’s just really family friendly, and it’s not too loud, not too bright. It’s just a nice event,” says Peregrine Honig, owner of the boutique Birdies Panties and a local artist. “This is just a great way for people to come together.”

Besides Blue Gallery and Dolphin, two other must-visits include Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art and the Byron C. Cohen Gallery of Contemporary Art.

Today, the many visitors and residents keep the neighborhood vibrant and busy even on other nights of the month—but the Crossroads District wasn’t always so lively. In fact, it had become run down during the ’80s. About 20 years ago, artists moved into the district.

“A number of creative types bought buildings because they were affordable,” says Suzie Aron, past president of the Crossroads Community Association.

“Much like artists everywhere, they were able to see the beauty in an area that others had left behind,” Kuhn adds.

The artists’ acute, collective eye not only transformed the neighborhood, but also created such a welcoming environment that when city officials were looking to build a new performing arts center, they chose the intersection of 16th and Broadway in the Crossroads District as the site.

The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, designed by renowned architect Moshe Safdie, will be completed in December 2009. It will become the new home of the Kansas City Symphony, Lyric Opera and Kansas City Ballet.

Events inside the center will be accented by the art found not only in its galleries, but also the creative expressions on the streets. According to Aron, “The thing about the Crossroads District is you are just as likely to see a street performance given by a nonprofit arts organization as you are to see a couple tangoing, or a guy looking in a telescope at the moon.”

Café Sebastienne

Place an order for Monet’s haystacks, served with a side of Picasso—easy on the abstraction—and a glass of Whistler, straight up. Or, savor a plate of seared sea scallops on a grilled portobello mushroom, stuffed with spinach and brie, drizzled with balsamic reduction, and paired with a chilled sauvignon blanc.

The art at the café, located in the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, comes not only on the wall, but also in the dishes, making for a perfect beginning or ending to a First Friday experience. The café is decorated with Frederick James Brown’s 110-piece collection called “The History of Art.” His art is accented by Chef Jennifer Maloney’s symphony of flavors. In warmer months, she might serve a pan-roasted chicken breast with warm, coconut curry over jasmine rice. And during cooler times of the year, that same chicken breast might be served with a root vegetable purée. “Some people just come in for the art, but many come for the food,” Maloney says. “We say you can get free art with every meal.”

MILWAUKEE

“Art for Everyone” is the motto of Mike Brenner, owner of Hotcakes Gallery. Showing contemporary fine art in everyone’s price range, Brenner seeks artists with new ideas, both locally and from around the country. It was recently named “Milwaukee’s Best Art Gallery” by the Shepherd Express, the city’s oldest and largest weekly publication.

BOSTON

Founded in 1967, Alpha Gallery has an emphasis on painting, works on paper and assemblage. The gallery represents 20 artists from around the country with a concentration on the New York and Boston areas. In addition, it carries modern master prints and paintings by Picasso, Edvard Munch and Max Beckmann. The gallery represents the estate of Milton Avery, and also has had major exhibitions of American masters such as Fairfield Porter, Stuart Davis and Marsden Hartley.

617-536-4465

DENVER

Originally an art studio, Square 101 is more than just a gallery. It touts itself as an educational arts organization that helps emerging artists get seen. The space also displays special exhibitions, and is used for private parties and charity events. Located in the heart of Denver’s River North (RiNo) Art District, the gallery is open to the public on the first Friday of every month and by appointment as well.

303-557-8798

THREE MINUTES WITH THE MILWAUKEE BREWERS’ GEOFF JENKINS

PHOTO: JED JACOBSOHN/GETTY IMAGES

BORN IN WASHINGTON STATE and raised in Sacramento, Calif., Geoff Jenkins has been with the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park since 1998, spending seven months out of the year living in a Brookfield, Wis., condo and spending time in the Milwaukee area.

Because the left fielder plays 162 games a season with the Brewers, there’s not a lot of free time— about two days a month. During that time, he likes to hit the Milwaukee Zoo . “It is a great place. I have been all over the country and it is one of my favorite zoos,” he says. “It helps that the weather is usually great when I am in Milwaukee, so I can wander around the zoo for hours. It’s a very low-key way to stay active.”

If he feels like hitting some balls on his off days, Jenkins heads to Storm’s Driving Range (262-782-4010) in Brookfield, nine miles from the center of Milwaukee and just minutes from his home. “Right now, golf is not a competitive thing for me,” he says. “I like the sport a lot, but it is something I do for fun.”

During the off-season, Jenkins heads to Paradise Alley, just outside of Phoenix, for some well-deserved time off. Here are his top three favorite activities:

BARRETT-JACKSON CAR AUCTION
Held each January in Scottsdale, Ariz., it’s a main event for car enthusiasts.

SUPER BOWL
This season’s big game will take place in 2008 at the brand-new University of Phoenix stadium.

SHOW LOW
This city, located about two hours from Phoenix, is great for skiing and snowboarding.

History takes flight at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, located just six miles northeast of Dayton, on the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Launched in 1923, the National is the world’s oldest and largest aviation museum, attracting more than one million visitors every year.

While many people are fascinated with flying, others are drawn to the museum for personal reasons. “A lot of parents and grandparents flew in Word War II,” says Sarah Swan, a public affairs specialist at the museum.

Visitors who have family members who were in Vietnam are intrigued by the C-141 Hanoi Taxi, which joined the collection last fall. In February 1973, it was the first aircraft to arrive in Hanoi to retrieve POWs returning to the United States.

Certainly the 17-acre museum features enough aviation to satisfy any flight of fancy. There are more than 300 aircraft and missiles, along with engines and vehicles. You’ll even find a WWII 8th Air Force Control Tower and clothing worn by famous personnel, including Ronald Reagan.

Reagan’s pea coat is part of a permanent collection of uniforms, which includes both early flight suits and modern space suits. Also on display: General Jimmy Stewart’s A-2 jacket and P-38 ace Major Richard I. Bong’s B-3 sheepskin jacket and boots.

One of the newest exhibits, “Airmen in a World at War,” features World War II uniforms, decorations, honors and memorabilia from aircrews representing a variety of countries, including the United States, Great Britain and Germany.

Consider the U.S. aircrews’ “Mae West” lifejacket, named for the Hollywood star. The yellow jacket, which gave wearers a buxom appearance, provided buoyancy during water landings.

STROLLING THROUGH HISTORY

The museum makes it easy for visitors to grasp significant developments in the Air Force, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

User-friendly galleries are in chronological order, beginning with spotlights on the Wright Brothers and ending with the Missile and Space Gallery. The Early Years Gallery features the first military heavier-than-air flying machine. The plane was purchased by the Signal Corps for $30,000, and it remained the only Army airplane in use for nearly two years.

Fly forward to the Air Power Gallery, which houses the collection of World War II aircraft, including the Bockscar, the sleek silver B-29 Superfortress that, on Aug. 9, 1945, dropped the second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan.

The Cold War Gallery, part of the $22.7 million, 200,000-square-foot Eugene W. Kettering Building, houses one of four surviving Convair B-36s. The formidable intercontinental bomber, replaced by the B-52, was never used in combat. Some credit the peacetime to the plane’s mere existence.

The Research & Development Gallery features the only surviving XB-70 Valkyrie, an experimental plane built mostly of stainless steel and titanium that flew three times the speed of sound.

The latest gallery addition, the $3.2 million Missile and Space Gallery, opened in 2004. Constructed as a 140-foot-high missile silo, the gallery lets visitors view the Titan I and II from ground level or from an elevated platform. The gallery also features some items from the museum’s space collection, including the Apollo 15 Command Module and Mercury and Gemini capsules.

But not all aircraft on display are retired. “We have the world’s only permanent public display of a B-2 Stealth Bomber, which the Air Force is still using,” Swan says.

NATIONAL TREASURES

In the Presidential Gallery, the museum displays several presidential aircraft, including planes used by Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The plane that carried Roosevelt was specifically designed for presidential use. Nicknamed the Sacred Cow, it flew Roosevelt to the U.S.S.R. for the Yalta Conference in February 1945.

But the jewel in the museum’s presidential collection is the VC-137C Special Air Mission (SAM) 26000, the first airplane known as Air Force One, which was used by John F. Kennedy, and continued to serve as the presidential transport through Richard M. Nixon’s first term.

Visitors are permitted to walk through the famous aircraft; its distinctive blue-and-white color scheme is due to JFK’s insistence that he wanted the plane to have a special appearance. It set the style for presidential aircraft to come.

The 26000 carried Kennedy to Germany, where he gave his famous “Ich Bin Ein Berliner” speech, and to Dallas, before he was assassinated. Lyndon B. Johnson took the oath of office on the aircraft.

As Kennedy’s body was interred at Arlington Cemetery, the aircraft glided by at a lofty 1,000 feet, dipping its wings in salute.

MIDWEST AIRLINES offers daily flights to and from Dayton. Details can be found at

YOUR MUSEUM GUIDE

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE U.S. AIR FORCE
1100 SPAATZ STREET WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB 937-255-3286

Hours: Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.

The museum is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Admission: Free.

EDUCATION & EVENTS:

Imparting the story of aviation is a museum mission. To further the cause, the facility hosts regular family days. Upcoming family days are July 21 and Aug. 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Here are two upcoming and popular events also hosted by the museum:

GIANT-SCALE, RADIO-CONTROLLED MODEL AIRCRAFT AIR SHOW
AUG. 31 TO SEPT. 2

Sponsored by the Dayton Giant Scalers, the show attracts about 10,000 people over the weekend. Many perform aerobatics during daily shows.

DAWN PATROL RENDEZVOUS WORLD WAR I FLY-IN
SEPT. 21-23

Featuring authentic and replica World War I aircraft, the Fly-In takes place every other year and is hosted by the museum and the Great War Aeroplanes Association.

Smartphones are becoming the norm for businesspeople worldwide. So, what’s new?

Sony Ericsson Z750
This tri-band clamshell is the first phone in the U.S. to feature the new Mobile Services Architecture Java platform 8. The phones, now available in select markets, will keep the user upto-speed with updates from a number of sources, including the Web, true push e-mail and live tickertape RSS feeds that scroll across the phone’s desktop. The phone comes in Phantom Grey and Rose Pink. $399,

Cingular 8525
If your job demands a lot of texting, take a look at this full-featured Windows Mobile Pocket PC. The phone provides access to personal or corporate e-mail, Internet and business applications, at broadband speeds. The phones also feature a
2.0 mega-pixel camera with built-in flash and video capability. “Push to Talk” software will be available during the last half of 2007. $600

Nokia N95
This phone features a great five mega-pixel camera and VGA video with 150MB of memory, USB, infrared, Bluetooth, HSDPA, WLAN, GSM and integrated GPS. Listen to your music via its stereo speakers and 3.5mm audio jack, and plan your routes in 2D or 3D using the new map application with access to more than 100 countries. $749

Today, all ages can enjoy the natural beauty of Door County by hiking, biking, parasailing and horseback riding.

By varying the modes in which you explore Door County, you can experience the full flavor of this 75-mile-long peninsula, which boasts picture-perfect maritime towns perched on Lake Michigan, as well as orchard-graced, rural interiors. Door County’s diversity is one of the many reasons why it was recently named one of the top 10 vacation destinations in North America.

Door County lies just 150 miles north of Milwaukee; the two-and-a-half-hour drive from downtown is a scenic one, with views of Lake Michigan, well-kept farms, sparkling marinas and flower-bedecked villages.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Good old-fashioned hiking and biking are some of the best ways to explore the area. With five state parks, the peninsula is brimming with hiking and biking trails that meander from wooded areas to coastal views. Favorite destinations include Newport State Park, with its scenic beach on Lake Michigan; Peninsula State Park, boasting gentle bike paths; tranquil Nicolet Bay Beach, located in Green Bay; and Whitefish Dunes State Park, which features hiking trails that lead to the highest sand dune in Wisconsin and the county’s loveliest beach on Lake Michigan.

Door County has 10 historic lighthouses, the second most of any county in the United States. Eagle Bluff Lighthouse in Peninsula State Park and Cana Island Lighthouse are not to be missed, as is Pottawatomie

Lighthouse on Rock Island, located off of Washington Island, which is north of the peninsula. Both islands can be reached via ferry; once you disembark, hike or bike your way around and explore.

With 300 miles of coastline, Door County offers a host of water sport options. The majority of rentals take place on Green Bay, especially in the village of Ephraim and Nicolet Bay Beach. Pontoon boats are easy to navigate, can accommodate the entire family, and allow spectacular views of the tiny islets that dot the coast. For a bird’s-eye view of the peninsula, try parasailing, and if you’re in the mood to delve a little deeper, try scuba diving around schooners sunken in formerly treacherous waters.

For landlubbers, there are many ways to explore Door County’s rural interior. There are a number of stables offering horseback riding for all ages. One of the more unique ways to “get lost” in Door County’s countryside is via a corn maze offered by Dairy View Country Store.

And, since the county is a leading producer of cherries, leave time to visit a couple of roadside stands for fresh cherries, pies and dried snacks.

After wearing yourself out during active adventures, hop on one of the narrated trolley tours, offered in various themes, such as lighthouses, scenic vistas or ghost tales.

If you prefer to glide, hop aboard a Segway for lessons and group tours of Cana Island, Peninsula State Park, Ridges Sanctuary and Washington Island.

CULTURAL & HISTORICAL ATTRACTIONS

After a full day of exploring, relaxing at a musical or theatrical performance is the ticket. There are several companies that perform in a variety of outdoor settings, including the American Folklore Theatre and the Peninsula Players Theatre.

Also, the Door Community Auditorium hosts the Peninsula Music Festival each summer, while Birch Creek Music Performance Center features symphonies, percussion and steel bands, and jazz concerts during the summer.

Many of the peninsula’s historical attractions feature farming pioneers. There are a number of 19th century farms to visit, including Old Anderson House Museum, a renovated 1875 farmhouse located within Corner of the Past; Ephraim Village Museums, which features costumed docents and a pioneer schoolhouse; and The Farm, highlights of which are restored log cabins and a petting zoo.

SCANDINAVIAN HERITAGE

Many towns in Door County are proud of their Scandinavian heritage. Sister Bay, for example, is home to a resort hotel called Scandinavian Lodge.

Just down the road is Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant; from pancakes with lingonberries to Swedish meatballs, a traditional meal is at your fingertips in this native Norwegian log construction. Additionally, there are annual Scandinavian festivals, including the Washington Island Scandinavian Festival in August.

Not surprisingly, Door County is widely known for its Scandinavian-style, outdoor fish boils. Whitefish from Lake Michigan is boiled with onions and potatoes in a huge kettle over an open fire. When the meal is ready, the water boils over, causing big dramatic flames. There are 10 different restaurants that hold the dramatic fish boils, including White Gull Inn and Square Rigger Galley.

DINING AND LODGING

One of Door County’s most popular casual eateries is Wilson’s Restaurant. Famous for its ice cream, this landmark also serves burgers, fries and home-brewed root beer on an outdoor patio. Other no-frills restaurants include Digger’s Grill & Pizza, Fred & Fuzzy’s Waterfront Bar & Grill, and Neighborhood Pub & Grill.

As far as lodging goes, there is plenty to choose from. Scandinavian Lodge rooms come equipped with a kitchen and fireplace, and the property also boasts indoor and outdoor pools. Evergreen Hill Condominiums also features many of the same amenities.

For accommodations overlooking the bay or lake, spend your nights at Glidden Lodge Beach Resort, located along Lake Michigan near Whitefish Dunes State Park. Or, stay at the exclusive Hillside Inn of Ephraim, which overlooks Green Bay and the quaint Ephraim harbor. For those looking for a more intimate setting, there are plenty of historic inns and B&Bs, including The Inn at Cedar Crossing, which boasts quaint rooms with fireplaces and/or whirlpool tubs.

The peninsula’s variety, be it the ways to explore or its Scandinavian heritage, is the key to a wonderful Door County vacation.

MIDWEST AIRLINES offers daily flights to and from Green Bay.

Door County SHOPPING GUIDE

Door County is a thriving arts center bursting with studios and galleries. The peninsula has nearly 100 galleries, so make sure to pick up a special art shop map from a visitors’ center. Below is a taste of what Door County has to offer:

Native Affairs, LLC
STURGEON BAY

This contemporary American Indian arts and crafts store displays artwork from Native American tribes based in Door County and from around the U.S.

Scrimshanders
EPHRAIM

In addition to weekly demonstrations of indigenous American folk art, this shop sells heirlooms from all over, and focuses on items from Door County.

Dovetail Gallery and Studio
EGG HARBOR

This cozy gallery has a range of fine arts, and artist and owner Kathleen Beck creates carved and painted personalized Fabergé-inspired eggs.

Door County also has many clothing boutiques and specialty stores where you can find plenty of unique items—no chain stores here. In most towns, the stores are clustered together, making it easy to park your car and walk from charming shop to shop. Here are some of the peninsula’s well-known specialty shops:

Fish Creek Moccasin Works FISH CREEK AND BAILEYS HARBOR This is the place to go for handmade footware, including Minnetonka moccasins.

Child’s Play

STURGEON BAY This old-fashioned toy store is loaded with goodies that will charm and entertain kids of all ages.

Made in Britain, Ltd.

EGG HARBOR Food, tea ware, clothing and London Underground signs are some of the items that are “made in Britain.”

Tannenbaum Holiday Shop SISTER BAY Set in an old church, this store makes holiday shopping a year-round event.

It has all the makings of boffo box office. Wisconsin is hoping to have a blockbuster on its hands when it makes its world premiere Jan. 1, 2008. That’s when the state’s new film incentives, intended to carve out a piece of the $60 billion U.S. film economy, take effect.

The incentives, which proponents say will make Wisconsin a player in the movie-making industry, will provide a 25 percent state tax break on production costs, among other enticements, and hopefully woo the lucrative movie, television and video gaming industry to the Badger State.

Wisconsin officials hope to replicate the success of states like Louisiana, which also offers a 25 percent tax break and has seen its film economy soar from virtually nothing to a $500 million business in just a few years.

“Runaway productions” is the term the Hollywood film industry has used to describe the billions of dollars of film industry money that has left Tinseltown for more cost-effective locations.

The team most responsible for making Wisconsin a future player in the worldwide film economy includes a bipartisan coalition of state lawmakers, led by Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton and State Sen. Ted Kanavas.

Lawton, a longtime champion of building Wisconsin’s creative economy, says the film industry represents the next generation in the state’s evolution from a more traditional manufacturing base to the clean, green production of film and video-based products.

“There’s a tremendous public value in developing creative industry clusters,” she says. “Creative industries allow us to retool our manufacturing capabilities for the 21st century, and at the same time work to improve and re-image our state as a hotbed of creativity and talent.”

Film, adds Lawton, will “showcase to the world the wonderful attributes of Wisconsin, with its four seasons and rich inventory of sites, Great Lakes and inland waterways. We really have it all.”

In addition to bringing significant new economic impact to the state, Kanavas, the bill’s lead sponsor, says the industry has the potential to bring in a much-needed “cool factor.”

The supporters of this grassroots effort are George Tzougros, executive director of the Wisconsin Arts Board, and Scott Robbe, a film and television industry veteran. The two, along with a core group of volunteers, formed Film Wisconsin in 2005, which is now the official film office for the state. It is this group that pushed for passage of the incentive legislation.

Robbe is the first executive director of Film Wisconsin. He left a successful entertainment career in New York City to return to his native land and be a part of building a new industry from the ground up.

“There’s no question that filmmakers, most based on the East and West coasts, are looking for new film locations,” Robbe says. “Wisconsin will soon be ready for its close-up. Since the buzz was generated about our incentives, we have received more than 100 inquiries from companies representing about $100 million in production work. We have no doubt that this industry will create new jobs and have a positive economic impact on Wisconsin.”

That sentiment is shared by Alan J. Bailey, senior vice president and treasurer of Paramount Pictures, and one of the original architects of the Wisconsin legislation.

In a letter to the film office, he writes, “Wisconsin could clearly become a major player with the very attractive financial package offered and sufficient, in my opinion, for studios to make whatever script changes may be necessary to make film and television projects fit within the diverse cityscape and countryside available in your beautiful state.”

Other Wisconsin natives who have made their mark in the entertainment industry, including actors Bradley Whitford, Jane Kaczmarek and Tony Shalhoub and screenwriter David Koepp. Jim Abrahams and David and Jerry Zucker (creators of Airplane! and The Naked Gun movies) have also officially supported this effort.

The passage of the film legislation is just the beginning. While there continues to be an ongoing effort to move up the effective date of the incentives in order to accommodate several productions that have expressed an interest in bringing projects to Wisconsin in 2007, Robbe and Film Wisconsin continue to gear up for the Jan. 1, 2008 start date.

This Oscar-worthy drama is still being played out, but film fans from around Wisconsin are counting on a Hollywood happy ending.

DREAM FACTORY

During the Golden Age of Hollywood, MGM Studios, which in its prime cranked out more than 50 feature films a year, was dubbed the “Dream Factory.” A mammoth campus in Culver City, Calif., MGM provided a creative home for thousands of artists.

Some private investors and local filmmakers hope to bring a little bit of that dream to Milwaukee, with the recent opening of Chain Reaction Studios, tucked into the quiet residential neighborhood of St. Francis.

The complex is the first full-service studio in the state and will include five sound stages, editing suites, production offices and everything else film producers need.

The buildings are owned by developer Darrick Dysland, who was eager to transform the closed manufacturing facilities into high-tech film production space. RD Images, a commercial photography studio owned by Tom Davenport and Janine Sijan Rozina, is also an investor in the venture.

Lightning Rod Studios, one of the state’s most active production companies, is owned by Dan Kattman—a local entertainment attorney—and director Drew Maxwell. The company plans to move into the complex when finished.

“The studio was only a vision until the film incentives became a reality,” Kattman says. “The incentives will give producers the tools they need to do their work.”

The first thing that strikes you when you see the Hotel del Coronado is its picturesque beauty. It sits at the tip of the quaint island of Coronado in San Diego. There, the skies are often a perfect blue, creating a breathtaking backdrop for the Victorian beauty that is— as locals have come to call it—The Del.

The historic hotel was built in 1888 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977. With its mass of towering spires that reach for the sky, sun-drenched verandas that warm in the sun, and hundreds of windows that face the salty ocean breeze, it is no wonder The Del has long been a draw for Hollywood. In 1958, it was the backdrop for the comedy classic Some Like it Hot starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. The resort has also hosted a plethora of vacationing stars, from Charlie Chaplin and Humphrey Bogart to Brad Pitt and Madonna.

But even if you are not staying at The Del, a trip to the hotel is still worth it.

The Crown Room, decked out with wonderful crown-shaped chandeliers, offers an award-winning Sunday brunch that is a favorite for locals, hotel patrons and visitors to the island. Those who are planning a special event should make reservations at the hotel’s newest dining experience, 1500 Ocean, which opened last May. “It is a wonderful place to meet for a four-course dinner or just grab a cocktail and sit by the fireplace on our outdoor deck,” says Lauren Donoho, public relations director at the hotel. The Del also recently opened a brand-new spa in January.

The Del offers 20 on-site shops unique to the property. Venture around the mile-and-a-half-long island that is Coronado and peruse the shops by renting a single- or two-seater bike from the resort.

Guests of The Del should also take advantage of its great San Diego location: Do a little surfing on the site!

Everything about Las Vegas is hot— the weather, the gambling, the shows— so, if you get the urge for a massage in Sin City, why not make that hot as well? The use of heated stones in massage, which has its origins in Native American culture, can result in a delightful experience for those seeking a deeper relaxation than the average hand kneading can deliver.

The hot stone massage incorporates thermotherapy—the application of heat—and can utilize Swedish, aromatherapy, shiatsu or deep-tissue massage. Estheticians use stones of varying size and temperature to induce relaxation, balance and healing. Here is a sample of hot stone offerings available on the Vegas Strip.

At the Mirage, fatigued visitors can find rejuvenation with the Desert Hot Stone Massage. Choose between a 50-minute treatment ($135) or an indulgent 80 minutes ($175).
For total relaxation, add a soothing Aromatherapy Relaxation Bath ($50) before the massage.

Spa Mandalay, at Mandalay Bay, offers the 50-minute Mandalay Hot Stone Massage ($145), which features a Swedish-style massage. Patrons in need of a little more “release” can opt for a deep-tissue massage with the stone-work ($160). To complete your bliss, add the Mandalay Scalp Treatment ($30) and breathe deep as stimulating peppermint oil is massaged into the scalp to revitalize the soul.

Spa Bellagio’s LaStone Massage ($210), which uses heated basalt stones and cold marble stones to bring the body into balance, is 70 minutes of heaven. To get your back bikini-ready, add the Coconut Scrub ($25). The skin scrub is back-specific and uses fresh coconut, rice and vetiver along with a Bellagio specialty scent.

The MGM Grand features the Thai Raindrop Technique ($245), which fuses Thai table stretches with nine essential oils dropped onto the spine and distributed with a warm stone massage. After 75 minutes, your senses are sure to be awakened, so freshen up the tired tootsies with a Hot Café and Horchata Pedicure ($95). The treatment starts with a hot coffee foot mask and finishes with a sweet milk foot soak.

Want to perform your own hot stone massage? Just look for basalt stones that are smooth and heavy for their size. Lezlie Young, spa director at Spa Mandalay says, “Basalt stones are best. They are made from lava and meant to absorb and retain heat.” While the stones vary in color, most begin as slate gray and darken once introduced to massage oils. Marble stones for cold stone therapy (as in Bellagio’s LaStone Massage) and high-quality basalt and marble stones can be found at BasaltStones.