Atom Smashing

You probably saw the headlines earlier this month: Particle Accelerator Could Destroy the World! Apparently some scientists are worried that experiments conducted by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) will create one or more black holes that would swallow the earth. That didn't happen during the initial tests, but then a glitch occurred and the whole thing had to be shut down for two months. Why such a long delay? Well, not only is CERN the world's largest particle physics laboratory, but its Large Hadron Collider is the largest cryogenic facility in the world, using 96 tons of liquid helium to cool the air to near absolute zero. It will take almost a month to warm the facility enough for technicians to make repairs, then another month to get the temperature back down. This isn't the first time CERN has made headlines: In 1990, Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web here, bringing the world's first website online on August 6, 1991. Established in 1954, the laboratory is located below the suburbs of Geneva on the Franco-Swiss border. To see how you can visit CERN and learn more, please visit our website here.

Passing of a legend

Stax Museum

The recent death of Issac Hayes reminds us of a Memphis landmark he helped make famous. From 1959 through 1975, Stax Records helped bring cutting edge rock, blues, and soul acts from Memphis, Tennessee to the world. This is the label that produced Otis Redding's "Sittin' on the Dock of Bay" and where Hayes recorded the musical theme for Shaft. Demolished, rebuilt, and now home to Stax Museum, preserving the memory of classic music recorded on this very spot. To learn more about Stax museum, click here.

Changing of the Guard

In 2009, both of New York City's Major League ballparks, Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium, will be torn down after long years of service. Yankee Stadium, home of the Bronx Bombers since 1923, has hosted World Series games on 37 occasions, with the Yankees winning 26 titles. Legends such as Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and countless others have called this field home. Meanwhile, Shea Stadium, home of the New York Mets since 1964, has its own storied history. In addition to hosting four World Series, Shea played host to the Beatles for a 1965 concert, which shattered attendance records for that time. For more on Yankee Stadium, click here. For more on Shea Stadium, click here.

Jungle Girl

Bindi Irwin, daughter of “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin, starred with her famous father on her TV show, Bindi, The Jungle Girl. Following her father’s tragic death from a stingray attack in 2006, seven-year-old Bindi carried forward on her own. Now, two years later, she has proven her talents by winning the daytime Emmy for Outstanding Performer in a Children’s Series. The base of operations for both the Crocodile Hunter and his daughter is the Australia Zoo in Queensland, Australia, owned and operated by the Irwin family. To see how you can visit this very spot, click here.

Beach Spots for your Summer Vacation

Our June newsletter includes several historic beaches perfect for your summer vacation. Here are two examples:

Fort Pickens in Pensacola, Florida, served as a Union stronghold in the middle of Confederate territory throughout the Civil War. Later, Apache Indian Chief Geronimo was imprisoned in the fort for eighteen months following his capture. To learn more, click here.

The Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach is one of the most luxurious hotels in a region known for upscale tourism. The quality of this resort has made it an ideal filming location for several movies, including the 1960 Jerry Lewis comedy The Bellboy, the 1963 James Bond thriller Goldfinger, Al Pacino’s Scarface, and The Bodyguard, starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner. To learn more, click here.

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A Christmas Story Tour

Visit the house from A Christmas Story, now a museum for the film, located at 2159 W. 11th Street in Cleveland, Ohio. Scenes filmed at this location include the street scene in which Ralphie's father proudly displays his "major award" (a lamp shaped like a lady's leg), and the backyard scene in which Ralphie finally gets to try out his Red Rider BB gun. The house was sold via eBay auction in 2004 and opened to the public in 2006.

Click here to see the spot for A Christmas Story House!

Then stop by and visit the C & Y Chinese Restaurant at 2222 St. Clair Avenue, where the Christmas dinner scene was filmed. The restaurant still serves Peking Duck.

Click here to see the spot for C & Y Chinese Restaurant!

For more A Christmas Story nostalgia, visit the former site of Higbee's Department Store (closed in 2002), where Ralphie first spies the Red Rider BB Gun, and where he and his brother visit Santa Claus.

Click here to see the spot for Higbee's Department Store!

Silent Night Museum in Salzburg

The Silent Night Museum is at the historical birthplace of Joseph Mohr, creator of the carol "Silent Night! Holy Night!". It was opened in 1996 by author and film producer Hanno Schilf, who has written books and produced a documentary on Mohr's life. The museum is also a center of historic research about the carols origin.