Nottingham has a delightful array of fascinating tourist attractions, suiting everyone from the history buff to the Robin Hood fan, but the city has a lot to offer beyond half-day excursions for out-of-towners. For those who live in the city proper, or in its surrounding conurbation, and for those who visit on day trips and holidays, there is music of all sorts, theater, dining, shopping, sport and nightlife. Entertainment is rich and plentiful in the modern city of Nottingham.

For classical music, there are several performing groups to choose from, including the Nottingham Symphony Orchestra, the Nottingham Philharmonic Orchestra, the Harmonic Society, the Bach Choir, the Symphonic Wind Orchestra, and the Early Music group Musica Donum Dei. The government also sponsors an annual series of orchestral concerts known as the Nottingham Classics, and the Nottingham Music Society hosts chamber music performances at the Castle Gate Congregational Centre.

The city is home to several other exciting music venues, including the Royal Concert Hall and the Nottingham Arena, which feature a wide variety of modern performers. More intimate shows are played at club venues such as Junktion 7, The Old Angel, the award-winning Rock City and its sister venues, and many more. Nottingham has a very lively pub and club scene, sustained by young adults from the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University. The local music scene has produced the bands Swing Out Sister, Ten Years After, Paper Lace, Tindersticks, Stereo MCs, Pitchshifter and Consumed.

The discerning theatre buff may attend plays at the Nottingham Playhouse, the Theatre Royal, and the Nottingham Arts Theatre. Smaller local theatres include Albert Hall Nottingham, the Bonington Theatre, the Clarendon Community Theatre, the Courtyard Theatre, and the Lakeside Arts Centre. Each year Newstead Abbey hosts summer theatre, with Shakespeare and other offerings, while in the winter time they present nostalgic Christmas pageants.

Dining out in Nottingham twenty years ago was a rather grim business, as the choices were rather narrow and bland. These days there are many fine restaurants, some winning national awards, including Hart’s, Jesse’s, Merchants, Petit Paris, Pretty Orchid, Punchinello’s, and The Mediterranean. There are a wide variety of local and ethnic cuisines to choose from in the city’s numerous restaurants, cafes, delivery places, and take-aways. Indian, Middle Eastern, Spanish, Italian, Egyptian, Caribbean, Mexican, Russian, Greek, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and even American food is available.

Sport is a prime diversion in Nottingham, with three major venues within direct line of sight of each other. The local football teams are Nottingham Forest and Notts County (the oldest Football League team in the world). The Trent Bridge cricket ground is home to the champion Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. Each year in the fall the acclaimed “Robin Hood Marathon” and a handful of shorter races are organized in the city centre. The National Ice Centre skating rink is where international skating stars train and compete in various sports, and the Nottingham Panthers play ice hockey. The city also has facilities for professional level rugby, tennis, rowing, sailing, and canoeing.

Victoria Centre and Broadmarsh Shopping Centre (with its cave exhibits underneath) are the two main sites for commercial entertainment, housing retailers such as Jessops/John Lewis, Debenhams, Marks & Spencer, and House of Fraser. Smaller retail sections can be found at The Exchange Arcade and the Flying Horse Walk. Designer shops have a home in Bridlesmith Gate; this is where designer Paul Smith got his start, and the home of the Nottingham School of Fashion which he founded. Hockley Village caters to an edgier crowd.

Some central entertainment areas for nightlife in the city include:
Lace Market, a historic area full of stylish 18th century factories and warehouses, now full of apartments, shops, restaurants, as well as the Galleries of Justice museum beneath the old County Gaol
Hockley Village, adjacent to the Lace Market, has shops, galleries, bars and pubs, restaurants, pavement cafes, and the world’s smallest cinema with just 21 seats.
The Waterfront/Castle area features The Waterfront bar, with outside balconies; the Canal House with a canal and bridge running right through the middle, a comedy club, karaoke bar, and more pubs and restaurants
The Corner House has bars, restaurants, a cinema and a gym, inside the old Evening Post building across from the Royal Concert Hall.
Old Market Square offers more bars, clubs, and pool halls, including the gothic club the Pit and the Pendulum.

In addition to the many year-round attractions, Nottingham also plays host to the historic Goose Fair for four or five days every October, at the Forest Recreation Ground. This gigantic attraction started as a trade fair over seven hundred years ago, in the days of King Edward I. It has been known at times for its fine cheeses, for wool and lace, and for the geese driven by the thousands to the city from Lincolnshire. Today the Goose Fair has evolved into one of the largest shows of its kind in the world, with over half a million people visiting every year, enjoying over five hundred rides and games, and hundreds more stalls for purchasing food, gifts and souvenirs.

In short, Nottingham is rich in culture and entertainment, and there is something good to be found for every taste and interest.

Article by Susan Ashby of Nottingham Singles. To read more articles like this or for dating in Nottingham visit http://www.nottingham-singles.co.uk

Susan Ashby
http://www.articlesbase.com/dating-articles/entertainment-in-nottingham-79112.html

From the Atlantic Seaboard to the Appalachian Mountains, North Carolina has all the bases covered for travel, whether it’s business or pleasure. Spanning from outdoor recreation to exquisite dining and from modern industry to historical legends, North Carolina is the place to travel any time of year. Each of the four distinct seasons has something to offer.

North Carolina was one of the 13 original colonies, although its history starts much earlier as the first English settlement in the new world. The mysterious “Lost Colony” on Roanoke Island was established by the Crown in 1585, composed mostly of men. By 1587, when an expedition had returned, the entire settlement was gone. There are many theories about whether they were assimilated into one of the many local tribes or if they had perished as the hands of natives or due to starvation; luckily, you can visit the archaeological site today and decide for yourself what might have been their fate. Roanoke Island also happens to be the birthplace of the first English child born in the New World, Virginia Dare.

Travel North Carolina from Border to Border

North Carolina is divided into four distinct regions, gaining in elevation as they move west. Consequently, travelers to the state can enjoy a wonderful combination of Southern warmth and Northeastern cool all in one journey. The Blue Ridge Mountains in the Shining Rock Wilderness Area is a majestic destination for hikers and backpackers within the Appalachian Mountains that wind their way through Western North Carolina. There are also a number of ski resorts and winter getaways in this elevated part of the state, as well as the highest peak east of the Mississippi River: Mount Mitchell.

Central North Carolina is a flat region known as Piedmont where all of North Carolina’s major cities are located. The Research Triangle, made up of Raleigh (the capital), Durham, and Chapel Hill, is where fast paced University life meets cosmopolitan charm and booming industry. Along with Charlotte, this region is North Carolina’s cultural center, hosting numerous arts and entertainment events and world class museums. Another key site is the state capitol building in Raleigh, built in 1840, which has survived the test of war and is still standing today.

Panning further east, you will enter the Coastal Plain region of North Carolina. Make sure that Kitty Hawk, on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, is a stop on your travels. The Wright Brothers made this the birthplace of modern aviation. Travel North Carolina’s Outer Banks, just off the mainland, for wonderful seaside activities including fishing, boating and simple summer sun relaxation.

From Sea to Snow, Travel North Carolina Head to Toe

Any time of year is perfect for planning travel to North Carolina. Airfare to North Carolina is also convenient for all kinds of travel with the choice of several major city destinations in different locales. The dynamic nature of North Carolina’s borders is sure to satiate the most eclectic of travel desires.

Elyse Morgan
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/leaving-nothing-to-be-desired-in-north-carolina-north-carolina-travel-information-96496.html

Don’t you just hate the long lines and crowded airports when getting on a commercial flight? If you wanted something more luxurious than that, you can fly with style with a private jet charter.

There are a number of private jet services that are already making their way out in the market for ordinary people like you. This is the best and the most modern way to travel. If you are looking for utmost comfort and total convenience, then there is no better option than riding on a private jet charter.

What makes a ride in a private jet better than commercial flights? For one, you don’t have to wait in long lines any longer. You dictate your time, so there would be no such thing as delayed flights. You do not have to be constrained by commercial air flight’s schedule. What’s even worse is sometimes your airline can cancel your flight for whatever reason, but with a private jet, you can actually forget all these kind of delays.

You can eat gourmet meals specially made for you, not those mass-produced food you find in normal flights. There is even a bar that you can get a drink or two. You can also enjoy a good film with their in-flight movies.

Ultimately, a private jet charter can give you total comfort. You don’t have to make your way through a crowd or strain your legs because you can barely move in your seat. The aircraft is spacious enough for you to roam around with ease. The customer service in private flights is totally top-class. They always ensure that you are comfortable and have everything you need right in front of you.

If boarding in a commercial airplane gets you all psyched because of the inconvenience it may bring, you can forget all the hassles when you board in a private plane. All you have to do is go to the airport or wherever your aircraft is located, board on it and get set for a luxurious flight ahead.

Private air charters are best for business trips. You can readily arrange ground transportation and even catering services inside the plane. If you value time more than anything else, then a private jet rental is the best thing for you. You can actually manage and dictate your flight itinerary. Private jets can also land to a number of destinations that usual commercial airlines are not permitted to go. This means that you can get to your destination faster and easier.

And of course, there is one thing that you can have in a private jet charter that you will never have in a commercial flight – privacy. To a lot of people this is very important, especially if you are on a discrete personal or business trip. Unlike in commercial flights where you get to ride with a bunch of strangers, hiring a private jet allows you to travel with your friends or family. Plus, you actually have the entire jet to yourself. You would get the privacy you want and the comfortable flight you definitely need. You can opt to do some business matters on the plane or do your personal thing.

You might think that flying with a private jet charter would be quite pricey. But you actually save a lot more than you can imagine if you are traveling in a group. It’s a cost-effective alternative than buying individual tickets from a commercial airline. Most private air charter can accommodate eighteen passengers at a maximum. If you come to think of it, if you divide the total cost for eighteen people, it would be more ore less the same amount of money that you pay for a usual commercial flight. What’s even better is that if you happen to have a number of stopovers during your flight you can save a lot on parking and hotel costs.

More and more business people are using private jet charters for their travels. Top management people like CEO and executive managers usually aboard private flights. Celebrities and high-profile people are also common customers of private flight services. More elite organizations also prefer to ride in private jet flights and travel as a group.

If you wanted to travel in style and in complete luxury, traveling on a private jet charter is your best option. You may have to pay a little extra, but the comfort and the privacy you’re going to get in return is well worth it.

Max Stephen
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/fly-with-style-with-private-jet-charter-services-98674.html

Aspen is one of the most popular ski destinations in the Unites States and perhaps one of the best well known in the entire world. Creating an Aspen ski vacation resort was the brainchild of Friedl Pfeifer, an accomplished skier from Austria who wound up in Aspen at the end of WW II.

With only a few dollars in his pocket he founded the first ski school in Aspen and partnered with Walter Paepcke to create to create what was then the world’s longest chairlift.

The sleepy mining town of Aspen was suddenly transformed into one of the most popular recreational nooks in America. Now Aspen is home to many ski resorts, hotels, and bread and breakfast cottages to accommodate the thousands of people which take an Aspen ski vacation each year.

Are you considering an Aspen ski vacation? If so, it is a very popular choice, and you will be surely be glad you visited Aspen. Aspen is surrounded by 4 mountains and offers more than 4500 acres of fascinating terrain. Aspen receives plenty of snow each year that is just perfect for skiing and other snow related sports.

Ajax Mountain is a big draw for the more advanced skiers. It has over 700 acres for skiing and a vertical drop of more than 3200 feet. Next to Ajax is the Aspen Highlands which is perfectly suitable for beginning and intermediate skiers. You may even spot some Olympic medalists on the Aspen Highlands, as it is a favored skiing spot for skiers of all abilities who seek an Aspen ski vacation.

The Buttermilk is smaller mountain and more suited for beginning skiers. This also is home to the longest terrain park and host to the ESPN Winter X Games. The largest of the Aspen mountains is Snowmass and it has over 3000 acres of skiing terrain and has areas suitable for skiers of all abilities.

Snowmass is perhaps the most well known Aspen mountain and is popular for an Aspen ski vacation. It offers some spectacular panoramic views.

Aspen is situated around 215 miles to the southwest of Denver and about 75 miles to the southeast of Eagle. Aspen has its own airport, Sardy Field, which makes flying into the resort town for an Aspen ski vacation very easy to accomplish.

Jane Wyvern
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/try-an-aspen-ski-vacation-61438.html