You never know what you might see if you just look up (Photo by xamad) This weekend, you might be attending a Fourth of July party, and you'll probably be craning your neck upwards to watch fireworks displays. As you gaze, though, cast your eyes a little further upward for a glimpse of the biggest and brightest parties of them all. You won't find paparazzi or a red carpet at these parties, just dark skies filled with dazzling stars of the celestial kind. A quintessential part of the amateur astronomer scene worldwide, star parties are held in public squares, at campgrounds, on mountaintops, and even on the Grand Canyon's North Rim. Open to the public, these nighttime gatherings and weekend campouts are an excellent way to become acquainted with astronomy and the wonders of the night sky. 2009 is the International Year of Astronomy, ensuring that telescopes will be set up on sidewalks, at observatories, or in parks near you. If you can't make it to the party, just step outside into the night, or plan a star party of your own. Suggested Sites... "Sky & Telescope" Event Calendar - find a star party near you. Space.com’s Star Party Survival Guide - tips for happy stargazing. Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events – 2009 - see what's up tonight -- literally. Night Sky Network - NASA's guide to clubs, events, and starry happenings. The Galileoscope: An IYA2009 Cornerstone Project - get started with an inexpensive telescope.

Directory categories: Star Parties, Astronomy Clubs, Astronomy Beginners' Guides, International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009), Astrophotography

Archived under: Astronomy, Celebrations, Events, Exploration, Holidays, Night, Outdoors, Planets, Science, Space, Stars, Summer

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"What are YOU doing this weekend?" (Photo by Veronica ML) Ah, the lazy days of summer are here. Wait -- "lazy?" We Americans are lazy enough already, according to this month’s American Journal of Medicine. That means it’s time to get out, get active, and to take advantage of some summertime activities! Nothing on your calendar? No problem! Ours is packed through the season. Here are just a few ideas for just this weekend: In major metropolitan areas, of course, there’s always something going on. If you’re anywhere near Chicago, this weekend is "Taste of Chicago," with free admission and filled with food and music. Speaking of music, everyone in Dallas is likely lined up for the "American Idol" auditions. If you missed registering in Texas, get your plane tickets now for one of the upcoming auditions in Los Angeles, Orlando, or Denver. Are there events geared toward those who want to get or stay fit this summer? Certainly! Remember the "Seinfeld" episode where Kramer swims in the East River because the pool is too constricting? It turns out there's a gaggle of like-minded New Yorkers who are swimming around Liberty Island today. If you can't make it, don’t worry; they have more events scheduled. Of course, you don’t have to live in the big city to find cool things to do. Wherever you are, you can still participate in "Take Your Dog to Work Day" (provided your employer approves, of course!), Some folks in Petaluma, California, however, will be skipping work with their pooches to visit the Sonoma-Marin Fair and enter the "World’s Ugliest Dog Contest." If the thought of big crowds and rats on leashes makes you want to just stay home -- or if you’re just saving all your energy for the Fourth of July weekend -- you can still get involved by watching other people push the limits of hockey, golf, or pure speed. Just don’t say you’re bored!

Directory categories: American Idol, Recreation in Manhattan, Chicago Travel Guides, Activities for Dogs, Sports

Archived under: American Idol, Animals, Boredom, Calendars, Chicago, Cities, Contests, Dogs, Eating, Entertainment, Events, Festivals, Food and Drink, Health, Outdoors, Pets, Recreation and Travel, Regional, Seinfeld, Sports, Summer, Swimming, Tourist Attractions, Travel, Vacations

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"Bit of a sticky wicket there!" (Photo by Peter Dutton) For many of us, croquet brings to mind leisurely Sunday afternoon games played in Grandma's backyard or at family picnics. But for some croquet fans, there's nothing leisurely about it -- and it's no mere game. Welcome to the fast-paced, cutthroat world of competitive croquet! Association Croquet players -- and their counterparts who play American six-wicket -- are as serious as hardcore golfers, adhere to the game's complicated rules, handicapping, mind-boggling jargon, and international tournaments. And lest we forget, croquet was even once an Olympic sport. Sure, casual players can stick to the friendlier nine-wicket version (known to the pros as "Backyard Croquet"), but even that game can have an edge. Modern Backyard Croquet players like a challenge, and have devised variations where they play on extreme terrain that borders on obstacle courses, on beaches, or on pavement. They play in snow and rain, and they play at night. They play in costumes, on bicycles, and with unconventional equipment. So, take some tips from extreme croquet players to liven up the next family picnic. We predict even Grandma will love the challenge of using a potato as a ball. Suggested Sites... Mondo Croquet - croquet played with bowling balls and sledgehammers. Smashing! Lakewood Croquet Club - extreme croquet club and organizers of the annual Champions Cup. Ads Featuring Croquet - beer ads would be better if more of them featured croquet. Oxford Croquet - more croquet information than you can shake a mallet at. Wicket World of Croquet - looking for some croquet action? Head to the tournament at the President Benjamin Harrison Home in Indianapolis.

Directory categories: Croquet, Extreme Croquet, Croquet Gear, Croquet Clubs and Organizations

Archived under: Croquet, Cultures, Fanatics, Games, Home and Garden, Outdoors, Recreation and Travel, Sports, Summer

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Come on in! The show's about to start. (Photo by Jon Williams) On June 6, 1933, an American tradition was born in Camden, New Jersey; for it was on this day that the world was treated to the first drive-in movie experience. The brainchild of Richard M. Hollingshead Jr., the "Automobile Movie Theater" was conceived as the ideal entertainment solution for the masses. By allowing patrons their own "private viewing boxes," Hollingshead's drive-in served not only the average moviegoer of the day, but also families with noisy children, smokers, people with disabilities, and even those lacking the proper attire for a social outing. The film shown that evening was a British comedy called "Wives Beware" (later known as "Two White Arms"), and admission was 25 cents a head, plus another quarter for the car -- $1.00 maximum. Though Hollingshead's theater lasted only three years, the idea caught on and soon other establishments began to open across the country. The craze peaked in the late '50s with over 4000 drive-in theaters in operation. The largest of these, the Johnny All-Weather Drive-In in Copiague, NY, had room for 2,500 cars as well as 1,200 guests in the heated and air-cooled indoor seating area. It also boasted a playground, a cafeteria, a full-service restaurant, and even a shuttle to move patrons around the 28-acre property. The inventiveness didn't stop there -- in other cities one could find fly-in theaters accommodating both cars and airplanes, mini drive-ins holding no more than 50 or 60 vehicles, and even venues like the Autoscope in Albuquerque which offered each of the 260 cars in its lot their own individual screen. (The Autoscope advertised that its movies could not "be seen from surrounding areas," which makes us wonder just what kinds of pictures they were showing ...) By the '80s, interest was waning. Most homes had color TVs and VCRs, and most drive-ins were being converted into flea markets, storage facilities, or parking lots. It seemed the end of the drive-in theater, but the turn of the century has brought about a bit of a revival. Modern drive-ins have solved the always-problematic issue of sound, which can now be transmitted through your car's stereo system (a vast improvement over previous methods, which included projecting the sound from large directional speakers flanking the screen, or hanging a crackling monaural speaker from your partially rolled-down window.) The drive-in has also evolved into other permutations -- we're currently seeing the rise of do-it-yourself alternatives and "guerrilla drive-ins," urban areas offering public al fresco movie experiences, and even bike-in movies for the green age. They might not look like your parent's drive-in, but it's still the perfect place to get lucky on a date. Suggested Sites... Drive-Ins.com - includes a drive-in museum, database search, reference library, and more. Drive-In Theater - dedicated to all the people who enjoy the nostalgic feeling of attending drive-in theaters across America. cinespia - organizes outdoor movie screenings at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Drive-In Movie Memories - documentary that explores how the drive-in became an entertainment icon. Drive-Ins Downunder - tribute site taking a look at Australia's drive-in past and future.

Directory categories: Drive-In Movie Theaters, Film History, Roadside Attractions, Car Audio Makers, Documentaries: Drive-In Movie Memories

Archived under: 1930s, 1950s, 1980s, American History, Anniversaries, Autos, Drive-Ins, Entertainment, Inventors, Movie Theatres, Movies, Nostalgia, Outdoors, Roadside Attractions, Society and Culture, Theatres, United States, Widescreen

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You wouldn't think a ruby-throated hummingbird could eat 12 times as much as Michael Phelps. (Photo by hart_curt) As the day burns by, I occasionally find myself drifting off, thinking of my "happy place," where I can relax most any time, commune with nature, and find my balance. For me, that spot has become my back patio during the summer, when ruby-throated hummingbirds by the hundreds inhabit my surroundings. These hummingbirds, who have returned to their place of birth for generations now, have become such an integral part of my family that their return migration each spring is a highly-anticipated event. Yes, even though their presence means I'll be filling hummingbird feeders daily (at present, I have eight hanging under the rafters), and will be constantly mixing sugar water for their human-made nectar. I feed so many that I go through roughly ten pounds of sugar for their nectar every week ... which means I save change and dollar bills all year long to be able to afford said expenses. (Last year's final total of sugar poundage was 210!) I'm not sure what it is about them, but having those hummers here helps make home, well, home. The flyers become so accustomed to me that they'll even indulge my fascination, and stand on my fingers as they drink from the feeders. Most importantly, their arrival signals that summer has arrived. And it's a sad, sad day when the final feathered friend departs for southern climes during the colder months. Here are a few other general hummingbird facts: Their wings can beat from 40-80 times PER SECOND! Flight speed is 30-50 miles per hour, and can be a lot more in a dive That unmistakable sound is due to their wing beats, but the chirping or squeaking noises they make are actually emanating from their tails They are the only vertebrates capable of sustained hovering Thanks to their incredible metabolism, can consume the human-equivalent of 150,000+ calories per day There are over 300 species, making Trochilinae one of the largest families of creatures Their diet consists primarily of sugary nectar, but also includes insects as a source of protein They do have predators Suggested Sites... Hummingbirds.net - resource for information on North American hummingbirds. Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center - fostering greater understanding, appreciation, and protection of the grand phenomenon of bird migration. Enjoyable Hummingbirds - features slideshows and video of ruby-throated hummingbirds. Hummingbird Pictures Guide - identify your hummingbird from these images. The Hummingbird Society - teaching about hummingbirds, and working to protect them.

Directory categories: Hummingbirds, Bird Migrations, Bird Houses and Feeders

Archived under: Animals, Bird Migration, Birds, In Character, Outdoors, Spring, Summer

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