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Happy Souvenir Sunday!

Every Sunday Stuck at the Airport unpacks the carry-on and re-packs for a fresh new adventure. It’s also when we look over the souvenirs we’ve accumulated through the week.

This week, we have this cute little Air Force One that photographer and world traveler Daniel Incandela found for sale at the Indianapolis International Airport.

At a Tweetup (a real-world gathering of folks who follow each other on Twitter) hosted by Alaska Airlines in Seattle, I came away with this great souvenir: a Best-Lock construction toy of an Alaska Airlines airplane.

I’m not sure what my favorite part of this souvenir is. The cute little airplane (that sells on-line for less than $5), the little pilot inside, or the fact that the package has a message about the dangers of plastic bags printed in 36 different languages!

And, because sometimes the best souvenirs are the stories our friends bring home from their trips, I’m including this link to Bob Rini’s Nine Pound Hammer  blog entry about his stop in Siena, “the arch rival of Florence.”

While there he learned the history of Siena through the story of how the 17 contrade (neighborhoods) compete against each other in a wild-sounding bareback horse race, the Palio,  that dates back to 1283.  Those neighborhoods each have their own flags and costumes; a tradition we now think every city should adopt.

(Courtesy Bob Rini; Nine Pound Hammer)

Have you found a great souvenir while stuck at the airport?

If it is: under $10; not a generic item (i.e. shot glass or mug); and “of” that airport, city or region, then please send a photo and a note about why you chose that souvenir.  It may just show up on a future Souvenir Sunday.

Categories: Souvenirs
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A new exhibit at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) features artwork by nine Los Angeles-based artists.  Titled, “of Intricacy,” the exhibit includes paintings (oil, acrylic and watercolor), wire sculptures, digital media, collages, and fiber sculptures.

The exhibition will be on display through October, 2009.  Look for it in Terminal 1 on the Departures Level in three areas: in the hallways leading to Gates 1 and 2, and in a display case along the main corridor.

(FLYAWAY by Lili Lakich)

There’s also a fun new neon and aluminum sculpture at the Van Nuys FlyAway Bus Terminal.  As I wrote a few blog entries back, rates for the LAX FlyAway bus from Van Nuys and Union Station are rising by $1 (from $6 to $7) in August.   It’s still a great deal, compared to other forms of transportation to and from the airport. And now, at least in Van Nuys, you’ll get “free” art.

Categories: Art, Exhibits
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It’s been a good news/bad news year for Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG).

For years, the airport topped the list for most expensive air fares.

But then, some good news: in an effort to keep travelers from driving to nearby cities to catch cheaper flights, Delta Air Lines announced in February that it was significantly reducing all domestic fares to and from the city.

But now: some bad news: as part of Delta’s system-wide capacity reduction, two international flights from CVG to Frankfurt and London will be cut starting in September.

The airport still offers service to Paris, Montreal, Toronto, Cancun, Punta Cana, Nassau and Amsterdam, but losing those routes has got to hurt.

It’s really too bad. Because, amenity-wise, CVG is a pretty great airport. It’s got:

• Free wireless internet in Terminals 2 & 3 and in the Cell Phone Lot;
• Carvel ice-cream and Gold Star Chili;
• An Equestrian Program that gives horse owners access to several miles of riding trails on airport property;
• And fourteen, priceless 20-by-20-foot Art Deco mosaics by Winold Reiss. The murals were originally in the city’s Union Terminal train station, but were moved to the airport to save them from being demolished. You can take a virtual tour of the murals here.
• And someone at that airport has a sense of humor.  Check out this video they found and posted on their Web site.

Categories: Wi-Fi
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Lambert-St.Louis International Airport has joined the growing list of airports that have opened “rest areas” for pets and service animals.

STL’s two gated pet parks are each 400 square feet, with park benches, trash cans, plastic clean-up mitts and fire hydrants.  The Main Terminal park has synthetic turf and is on the upper level, just outside exit MT-6. The East Terminal pet park has natural grass and some tree shade and is located outside baggage claim on the lower level

STL also has some new perks for people: two new pre-security dining venues.

Brioche Dorée Café serves salads, sandwiches, pastries, and other casual menu items. Missouri Vineyards, serves wines from local boutique vineyards (who knew?) and beyond.  In addition to a menu that includes fruit & cheese plates and other small bites, Missouri Vineyards will have regular Thursday wine tasting events.

Categories: Bars, Pets
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The Art & Culture Program at New York’s Albany International Airport organizes some pretty cool exhibitions and creates space for the work of a lot of wonderful artists.

I hoping, for example, that this steel and chenille stem chandelier by Ginger Ertz, featured on the airport Web site, is still on view when I visit the airport this summer.

And I’m looking forward to seeing the latest exhibition in the Airport Gallery. “Out of this World”  (June 26^th through  November, 2009) will feature the work of seven artists that will, promises the press release,  “tap the reservoirs of our known world to create forms that we feel both acquainted with and transported by.”

Not quite sure what that means, but the press release goes on to mention plastic dishware, pipe cleaners, pom-poms, tree stumps, sewer grates, and a staircase.

And all that sounds mighty intriguing.

Categories: Art, Exhibits
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