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If you’re heading to or through Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) anytime before May 29^th, 2009, seek out the photography exhibit by LA-based artist Marissa Roth in Terminal 1 (pre-security on  the arrivals level).

The exhibition includes two separate photography series, “In Hollywood” and “Downtown Los Angeles: Inside-Out.”  Each series has 16 photos and explores Roth’s fascination with life in the City of Angels, “revealing intimate behind-the-scenes images of the famous, as well as the everyday Angelino.”‘

Here are two images from the show: a portrait of actor Mickey Rourke and a remembrance of actor Health Ledger.

And no matter what city you’re in this weekend, keep in mind that if you have a Bank of America ATM, credit, or check card (and an ID)  you can get free admission to more than 120 museums around the country courtesy of the bank’s Museums on Us program.  The program kicks off its 12th season this weekend with 40 new additions – including the Phoenix Zoo, Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, The Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia, and the Detroit Science Center.  One museum you might check out this weekend is the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. They’ve got an intriguing exhibition about Martha Maxwell, “the first woman field naturalist who obtained and prepared her own specimens in the same manner as her male contemporaries.”  It’s called “Did she kill ‘em all?”

Categories: Art
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During my layover at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) the other day, I spent much of my time poking around the San Francisco of Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) gift shop in the public area of the International Terminal.

The store is bright, lovely, and inspiring.  And sometimes a bit intimidating because everything is so arty and beautiful.  Which is probably why, when a staff person rushed into the back room to get something,  I got such a kick out of seeing this smiley face balloon tacked to the wall.  When I asked permission to take this photo, they told me that the balloon just floated into the store one day from out in the terminal and they kept it because they thought it was some sort of sign.

Categories: Souvenirs
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Earth Hour, Earth Day and Earth Month may be over for this year, but the trend to go green is becoming a year-round thing at many airports.   Rare is the terminals that doesn’t at least have recycling bins these days.  And now many airports are embracing solar power and wind power.

My recent column in USAToday.com has a round-up of aiports generating some of their own juice.  Included: Denver International Airport, Fresno Yosemite International Airport, Oakland International Airport, Austin-Bergstrom Interrnational Airport, Long Beach Airport, Boston Logan International Airport and several others.

Here’s a link to the story: Solar Airports? It could happen.

7 acres of solar panels field at Denver International Airport

Categories: Energy, Environment
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As I reported today on MSNBC.com, airports and airlines are scrambling to respond to the government-issued alerts about travel to and from Mexico in the wake of the swine-flu outbreak there.

It’s hard to know what will happen next, but most airlines with flights to Mexico have posted policies offering to waive the change fee for travelers who want to adjust their itineraries or exchange their ticket for a different destination.  While Alaska Airlines is allowing travelers to make changes to an itinerary through May 20^th, most other airlines are asking travelers to make new plans by next Wednesday, May 6^th.

Stay tuned though: as the story unfolds and if, for example, the U.S. government places formal restrictions on travel to and from Mexico, the airlines may have to extend those offers.

Categories: Alerts, Health, Well-Mannered Traveler
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Based on a frightening number of confirmed deaths in Mexico from the swine flu and the fact that there are already 20 confirmed cases in the U.S., on Sunday the  U.S. government  declared a public health emergency.

The story will certainly change – quickly – throughout the week. For now, anyone with plane tickets to Mexico should rethink the trip and contact their airline about altering their plans.

On a quick review of airline Web sites Sunday evening, it seemed like most every carrier was waiving its change, and in some cases, cancellation, rules for at least the next week.

For information about the virus and some advice on what you can do to protect yourself when traveling, see the CDC Web site.

(Flu virus photo courtesy Dr. F. A. Murphy, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Categories: Alerts, Health
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