Posts in the category "Events":

Ready for St. Patrick’s Day festivities?

The Chicago airports are. Today, Friday, March 12, Irish dancers from the Trinity Academy will perform at both O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and at Midway International Airport (MDW). Performances will be 3 to 5 p.m. at O’Hare (in Terminals 1, 2, 3, and 5) and at Midway in Concourse A near the “Battle of Midway” exhibit.

And if you are traveling through Philadelphia International Airport (PHL ) between now and Sunday, March 14th, the Gap store there would like you drop your pants.

Old blue jeans collected by Gap stores nationwide will be turned into cotton fiber insulation.  And anyone who leaves a pair of pants will get a coupon good for 30% off their next denim purchase.

The project is a partnership with the Cotton. From Blue to Green campaign, which has so far turned 200 tons of recycled jeans into insulation for more than 540 houses built in areas destroyed by natural disasters .

Categories: Airport shops, Entertainment, Events, Fun Stuff, Shopping
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The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is out of the chute and that means thousands of cowboys, cowgirls and rodeo fans from around the world are making their way to Houston – and through George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).

To make sure everyone feels welcome, airport greeters are fanning out to welcome travelers and offer them directions, rodeo pins, cowboy hats, and other memorabilia.  Rodeo fan or not: if you’re passing through the airport, keep an eye out for characters, cowboys, and performers.  The concert line-up at the livestock and rodeo show includes the likes of Brooks &  Dunn and the Black Eyed Peas.

Categories: Events, Uncategorized
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The Chinese New Year will be celebrated this Sunday and Singapore’s Changi Airport is ready with giant displays to welcome in the Year of the Tiger:

Changi Airport also opened up an Aviation Gallery in Terminal 2, with loads of information stations, interactive kiosks, and 600 tiny airplanes hanging from the ceiling.

Here’s a “please-touch” fire-fighting suit worn by airport emergency officers:

And here’s a bench in the Changi Aviation Gallery that doubles as a scale to show how airports tally up the weight of baggage.

(Photos courtesy Changi Airport Group)

Categories: Air Travel, Airplanes, Airports, Entertainment, Events, Exhibits, Festivals, History
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Two fun contests that reward travelers with travel popped up today:

Share a story or photo about a visit to San Diego North to enter the “Don’t Be Left Without a Story – Write Yours in San Diego North” contest.

The prize includes a three-night trip to La Jolla, surfing lessons (remember Gidget?) and tickets to Birch Aquarium.  You have until June 30, 2010 to enter.

Also, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is hosting the Original Memories Photo Contest.  Prizes include hotel nights and airfare credit, a swanky digital camera, and Flip camcorder.

Of course, Valentine’s Day weekend is just around the corner and some airports around the country are planning special treats for travelers.  Here are just a few examples of what you’ll find:

On Friday, February 12^th, The Food & Shops in the Central Terminal at New York’s LaGuardia Airport will be handing out free chocolates kisses from 11 am – 4 pm.

At Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, there will be a chocolate-covered strawberries sale in the baggage claim area February 12-14.  Last year, 300 dozen of these decadent treats were sold; this year they anticipate selling more than 360 dozen.

And in past years, volunteers in at least two airports were on duty to give passengers single red or yellow roses.  I’m waiting to hear if the tradition will continue this year and will let you know about that tomorrow – along with some other special Valentine’s Day events taking place at other airports.

In the meantime, if you know of any special Valentine’s Day events at an airport, please send the information along.

Categories: Airport shops, Contests, Events, Food, Free Stuff, Fun Stuff, Holidays
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Today, February 8, 2010, is opening day for a new Olympic History Museum at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO).

Designed to draw attention to efforts to bring the winter games to Reno in 2022 and to the upcoming 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, the museum celebrates the 50^th anniversary of the 1960 Squaw Valley Olympic Winter Games.

The museum has flags from all the countries that were represented at the 1960 Olympics,as well as photos, magazines, uniforms, the Longine Clock, and much more.  Passengers can have a picture taken in Olympian fashion while standing on the platforms used during the awards ceremony: the US flag hangs above the Gold podium, the Canadian flag above the Silver podium, and the British flag above the Bronze podium.

Today’s opening ceremony will kick off with an Olympic parade, complete with trumpeters sounding the Olympic Theme Song, Olympians carrying the U.S. and Nevada Flags, and a replica of the Olympic flame. The Squaw Valley Rescue Dogs, who will be traveling to this year’s winter games in Vancouver, Canada, will also be on hand.

The Olympic History Museum will be on exhibit at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport through the end of 2010.

Categories: Air Travel, Art, Events, History
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