This month’s issue of Global Traveler has a wonderful article on London, with plenty of great suggestions on what to see and where to stay and dine. I shared the piece with daughter Jenny, as she and her fellow students would be spending a month in the area during their study abroad experience. Our family had actually stayed in London for several days a number of years ago when Jenny’s big sister was studying in England, so she had already had the opportunity to experience some of that delightful city’s offerings. We visited St. Paul’s, the British Museum and the National Gallery, shopped at Harrods and took in a play in the West End. There was not enough time to see everything we wished, so Jenny has been looking forward to getting back to London.

 In just the last two weeks on daytrips in to the city, she has toured the Tower of London (and has decided the jewels alone would make it worth being Queen of England), spent some time in the museums, visited Harrods (again!) and thoroughly enjoyed a production of Sister Act: The Musical at the Palladium Theatre. That is not all she’s taken in, though. No, as a nursing student, Jenny has also visited some lesser-known attractions in London that have been, at the very least, eye-opening.

First stop was the Hunterian Museum, located at the Royal College of Surgeons. John Hunter, an 18th-century surgeon, collected and preserved thousands of specimens of plants and animals (and assorted human body parts) in order to better understand anatomy and improve medical treatment and surgical techniques. His original collection was purchased by the government in 1799, given to the Royal College and grew exponentially over the decades. Even though a large portion of the collection was lost during the bombing of London during World War II, Jenny was amazed at the number and variety of items on display.

They then proceeded to the Old Operating Theatre, dating back to the 1820s and the oldest in all of Europe. It’s actually located in the attic space of a church which adjoined St. Thomas’s Hospital — convenient, I guess, whether the surgery was successful or not. Actually, a large skylight just above the operating table provided good light, and the gallery gave apothecaries and physicians-in-training the opportunity to observe and learn. This was, of course, in the days before anaesthesia was available (except for opium and alcohol, that is), so speed was important. Jenny’s group saw a demonstration of how an amputation might be done, including the knives and other instruments used. Her one-word assessment: “Gross!” Usually, these modern nurses-to-be would also visit the Florence Nightingale Museum, also located at St. Thomas’s, but it is closed right now for updating.

Just this past Wednesday the group took in a little more medical history when they visited St. Mary’s Hospital and the lab where Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928. Fleming had been working with staph bacteria before he’d left on a two-week holiday. On his return, he was clearing away Petri dishes that had become contaminated with mold and happened to notice that the bacteria in those dishes seemed to have been killed by the mold. Jenny found this quite instructive and deduced a few nuggets to live by: Taking a break from work can be good for you in unexpected ways, and perfection in housekeeping could be detrimental, also in unexpected ways. (I would say that when she was a teenager in our house, she had already embraced that last philosophy!)

It just goes to show that there are always fascinating places to see and new things to learn that are often off the beaten track from the usual tourist destinations in the cities we visit. Follow your own interests and inclinations, grab a map or Google a bit and create your own personalized tour.

– Patty Vanikiotis, proofreader

Last week I took a four-day, five-night jaunt to Las Vegas. My best friend from college joined me for the girls’ getaway. The last time I had visited Vegas, I was about 10 or 11, and it was one of many stops along a cross-country family road trip. Needless to say, I had yet to experience true “Las Vegas.”

After an uneventful flight, we landed, grabbed our bags and a shuttle and headed over to the Wyndham Grand Desert. McCarran International Airport is literally a hop, skip and a jump from the city center — a convenient feature. We were not staying on the Strip, but we were only a few blocks away. Once we settled into our room, we walked up to the Strip to grab some lunch and wander about. That night we took in our first Vegas show, Australia’s male revue, The Thunder from Down Under. The corny Excalibur show was good for a few laughs.

Having checked the weather, we knew our only day of sun would be Thursday, so we decided to take the morning and relax by the pool. We followed up a morning of sun with lunch and a manicure, then we headed over to the Fremont Street Experience. Fremont Street, the “original” Las Vegas strip, has been reinvented as a sort of street fair experience. The world’s largest TV screen, canopied over the several city blocks of the Experience, plays shows every hour on the hour. Spray paint artists and street musicians, as well as other entertainers, line the streets; and casinos, eateries and more abound. We followed up Fremont Street with dinner on the modern-day Strip.

Friday, we began the day with a visit to the Las Vegas sign and then went in search of bingo. No casinos on the Strip offer the game because, as we were instructed, having a bingo room simply takes up too much room. We decided to play bingo at Palace Station casino. Sadly, we lost — both times. For dinner, we headed over to the Venetian, where we enjoyed Italian at Canaletto. After dinner, we took in La Reve, the Wynn’s Cirque du Soleil show. We chose this show based on the glowing recommendations we received from everyone we asked. Even concierges and staff who were not fans of the Cirque series highly recommended La Reve. It did not disappoint, and I would highly recommend it for any of you in the Vegas area. Our Las Vegas night on the town was capped off by cocktails and dancing at Blush, the Wynn’s boutique nightclub.

Saturday was our last full day in Las Vegas. We started off with a delicious brunch buffet at Paris. Despite the long entrance line, the overwhelming selection of food was well worth the wait. We enjoyed afternoon massages at Mandara Spa at the Paris and then spent the rest of the afternoon and evening exploring the Strip. We wandered around all the major casinos, including Caesar’s Palace; caught the Bellagio’s fountain show; grabbed dinner at Bally’s; checked out the Mirage; admired the lion habitat at the MGM Grand; and played some slots at Planet Hollywood. We wandered a lot and got a good taste of the famed Las Vegas strip.

Thankfully, we were scheduled to fly home Sunday, so we avoided the flight cancellations caused by the big snowstorm that hit the East Coast last weekend. We arrived home on time and ready for the work week — and another snowstorm. There is so much to see and do in Las Vegas; it’s overwhelming, but I think we sampled a bit of what the city is known for — we gambled (a little bit), ate at a buffet, enjoyed shows, relaxed in a spa, explored and much more. Viva Las Vegas!

– Kimberly Krol, eFlyer editor, circulation and public relations executive

As I mentioned in a blog a few weeks ago, I was happy to return to London this October after an almost five year hiatus. I spent more than three months in the city during my junior year at Syracuse University, and I was eager to return. And, once again, London did not disappoint and I made the most of my time there.

I arrived early in the morning on Wednesday and checked into the InterContinental Park Lane. To refresh and rejuvenate after the long flight, I enjoyed a reflexology treatment and spent about 15 minutes in the spa’s flotation bed. After catching my breath, I enjoyed lunch and a Champagne flight on the London Eye. The Champagne flight is available to all passengers of the London Eye. A consultant comes on the pod with riders and everyone enjoys a bottle of bubbly as they soak in the sights of London.

On Wednesday night, I was able to attend the exclusive Vanity Fair/London Restaurant Festival Week launch party at Quaglino’s. Following the reception, I enjoyed the opening night of Pierre Koffman’s pop-up restaurant on the roof of Selfridges. The pop-up restaurant was originally intended to be only open during the festival, but due to its popularity, it has been extended through November. Should you find yourself in London next month, check it out. I dined a table away from Tom Parker Bowles. The pistachio souffle is a must!

Thursday, I enjoyed a morning stroll through Covent Garden market. I watched all the vendors set up shop and enjoyed the sounds of a classical music busker ensemble. In the afternoon I made my way over to the Tate Modern. Pop Life, an exhibit featuring the work of Andy Warhol and others, is currently at the museum. It was my first visit to the Tate Modern. Afternoon tea at Harvey Nichols was a perfect way to wind down in the afternoon. I spent a relaxing evening enjoying dinner at Theo Randall, in the InterContinental, and cocktails and dancing at the nearby Met Bar.

When Friday rolled around, I was disappointed I only had two more days in my favorite city. But, boy, I filled them. In the morning, I visited the Judith Blacklock Flower School for a flower arranging lesson. I spent the afternoon browsing Borough Market and enjoyed lots of delicious treats. In the evening, as a special treat, I enjoyed the InterContinental’s cinema suite. Due to technical difficulties, the EatFilm launch, a part of restaurant festival week, was canceled. The event showcased a food movie, followed by a dinner with a menu inspired by the film. No worries, watching Chocolat and having a special company come in to teach me about chocolate and how to make my own helped me create my own EatFilm night.

On Saturday I visited the Tower of London in the morning. In all the time I spent in London, I had never made it to the Tower. I enjoyed lunch at the Royal Academy with GT representative Joanna Percy. We also took in the Anish Kapoor exhibit. I took a trip down memory lane in the late afternoon, taking the Tube to Edgware Road and walking around the old neighborhood and past our old townhouse. In the evening, I went to the theater and saw Oliver, which was great! Those children could really perform.

And, alas, Sunday came and it was time to return home. I’ll save my thoughts on Heathrow’s Terminal 5 for a different day.

– Kimberly Krol, eFlyer editor, circulation and public relations executive

Over the weekend, I saw HAIR on Broadway with my parents. HAIR was the first show my dad took my mom to when they first started dating in the ’60s. My parents were far from flower children, who are the main focus of the show, but they lived through all of the elements that make up the main story lines of the show. The musical is bringing these story lines back to modern audiences.

The show reflected the generational change in attitudes toward war between parents and children during the Vietnam War era. The main character, a high school student, struggled with many things that all teenagers struggle with, including appeasing your parents and finding your own identity, coupled with vast generational differences, the war and the reality of a draft.

My parents thought the show was well done. I felt that while the singing proved uplifting, the story line was still heavy. Themes ranged from recreational drug use to the burning of the draft card. The themes came through clearly. The audience was a great mix of people, from those who lived through the generation to people my age, locals and tourists alike. At the end of the show, everyone was on their feet, singing and dancing — especially the 100 or so people from the audience they invited to dance on stage!

After the show, my parents recapped how they lived through listening to my father’s draft pick on the radio and leaving their fate to a lottery. Luckily, my father was not picked in the draft, but my uncle was deployed overseas, but not to Vietnam. Today, they speak about it calmly, but I’m sure their nerves ran through them differently then. I came to a new understanding of the “flower power” generation after seeing the show. I can’t imagine the real-life scenarios of people burning their draft cards or the protests and riots that arose.

Whether you lived through the ‘60s or not, HAIR is another Tony award-winning musical that is a must-see your next time through NYC!

–Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher

I love what I do for a living. Every day is different, with its own set of ups and downs and highs and lows. Each day poses new, exciting challenges. In my opinion, when someone enjoys what they do for a living, it shows in their personality. You can see the love of the job behind every genuine smile. Another profession where I find the people truly enjoy their jobs: performance artists, particularly those found on Broadway! I enjoy watching them almost as much as they enjoy performing.

I have always admired Broadway performers (or any performer for that matter), as that once was a goal of my own. I know well the blood, sweat and tears that go into performing. Not to mention, most performers do not make a million dollars a year. They do what they do for the love of being on the stage and entertaining those around them.

This past weekend I saw In the Heights, last year’s Tony Award winner for Best Musical. One of the many special show elements? The original lead actor was also the show creator. Talent, success and creativity come together in this show, and I want everyone I know to take part in the experience. So, I hope you have the opportunity to see the performance one day.

I enjoyed the show so much, thanks in large part to the music and the amazing Latin street dancing, but also because of the beauty and emotion behind the story, which was translated to the audience through the talented performers. Any audience member could find some element to relate to — no matter your cultural background, age or socio-economic background. If your life experiences include providing a better life for your children, not letting your parents down, living to an old age or the joy and heartache of finding and losing love, then you will walk out of the show feeling inspired.

–Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher