Jewel, the new over-the-top attraction at Changi Airport, hasn’t officially opened to the public. But thanks to ticketed previews for local residents and, of course, all the media reports, word has been getting around.
The venue is part mall, with 280 swank and unusual shops and restaurants, and part forest theme-park, with the world’s largest indoor waterfall right in the center.
The flow of the waterfall and the size of the droplets can be controlled. And somewhow each evening the water becomes a screen upon which two different 360-degree light & sound shows are projected each evening.
Take a look.
This video is courtesy of Changi Airport. I took a video too during one of the preview nights, but there were so many thousands of people and cameras in front of me that my version features the back of someone’s bald head.
The Cherry Blossom watch is on in Washington, D.C., with the National Park Service predicting April 1 as the peak viewing time for cherry blossoms in nation’s capital.
D.C.’s National Cherry Blossom Festival continues through April 14, but travelers arriving or departing at the two DC-area airports, Reagan National and Dulles International, get a sneak peek, thanks to a cherry blossom pop-up at Dulles International and Japanese music and calligraphy at Reagan National airports.
At Dulles International (at the intersection of Concourses A and B) travelers will find a whimsical cherry blossom pop-up park with a 15-foot, replica cherry blossom tree, park benches or bistro tables.
The park will remain on site
through May, with scheduled events through April 8.
Each Friday through April 12, travelers flying out of Reagan National will be able to hear performances by Japanese Koto musicians. A master calligrapher (to inscribe luggage tags) and a sketch artist will be on site as well.
Both airports have partnered with the official
National Cherry Blossom Festival to present the exclusive 2019 National Cherry
Blossom canvas tote bag. Any purchase of $100 or more at any two retail or
dining locations will receive the tote as a gift with purchase. (Look for signs
telling you how to redeem).
Find more details about the Cherry Blossom
Festival events, including a discount parking offer, at DCA and IAD airports here.
To mark the Chinese New Year and celebrate the Year of the Pig, Los Angeles International Airport will be hosting a Lion Dance for two days this week.
The Lion Dance symbolizes power, courage and good fortune. It also chases away evil spirits and bring happiness and good luck.
At LAX, the 20-minute Lion Dance will be performed by Wushu Shaolin Entertainment on Tuesday, February 5 at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m, and on Friday, February 8 at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m in the post-seurity area of Tom Bradley International Airport.
The terminal will also have festive decorations in honor of the Chinese New Year. Red envelopes with gifts and offers from LAX shops and restaurants will be handed out to passengers. So don’t shy away from the lion!
But wait – there’s more.
The 61st annual Grammy Awards take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 10.
To celebrate, on Tuesday afternoon February 5 LAX airport and the GRAMMY Museum will host a Grammy-themed event for passengers arriving in Terminal 2.
The event will take place between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and again from 2 p.m. to 4 pm and feature live music plus gifts for arriving passengers of official GRAMMY merchandise and souvenirs.
A five-case display showcasing the evolution of the gramophone award has been installed in Terminal 2 and will there all year long.
On Tuesday, down in the Terminal 2 baggage claim area, a giant gramaphone will be arriving to remind passengers that this is an especially festive week in LA.
Airports, airlines
offer holiday cheer for stressed out flyers.
This holiday season you’ll likely find long lines at security checkpoints, crowded gate areas and fully packed planes. But you’ll also get holiday treats, fun activities and perks. We’re updating our list.
Through December 26, more than 110,000 square feet of covered space between Terminals 1 and 2 is once again transformed into a pineforest surrounding a giant ice rink.
The market also includes more than 40 booths offering handicrafts and traditional Christmas treats, live music, kid’s activities and free ice-skating.
At London’s Heathrow Airport, British Bake Off winner Candice Brown and food artist Michele Wibowo teamed up to create a giant gingerbread model of the entire airport. Look for the airport terminals, the runways, control towers and thousands of details and decorations.
Fans of the airport’s popular and heartwarming series of holiday ads will even spot miniature versions of stuffed bears Doris and Edward Bair.
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is holding a pop-up Holiday Marketplace from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on December 18, 20 and 21.
Vendors will be offering many “made in Cleveland” and “made in Ohio” goods in the Main Terminal Food Court and on Concourses A, B and C.
For most of December, diners at OTG’s Marathi Indian restaurant in Terminal 1 at Toronto Pearson InternationalAirport will receive complimentary spice kits and a recipe for Chicken Biryani.
Marathi’s chef, Paul George, hails from India and is well known for his specially-curated spice blends. His spice blend for Chicken Biryani includes Fennel seed, Shaijeera, Cumin, Cashmirchilies, Black cardamom, Green cardamom, Cinnamon, Cloves, Javathri, Nutmeg,Bay leaf, Star anise, Black peppercorn and Poppy seed.
The selfie-friendly Snoopy statue on the mall at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is wearing a festive sweater this season, complete with 3D decorations, crocheted by local textile guilds.
And through January 6, Denver International Airport is offering free ice-skating with free skate rentals on the plaza between the main terminal and airport Westin. To keep spectators and skaters warm, there’s free hot chocolate and cider beginning at noon on Fridays.
Alaska Airlines will celebrate National Ugly Sweater Day on December 21 by offering early boarding on all Alaska and Horizon Air flights to any passenger wearing a festive holiday sweater.
Alaska Airlines offers early boarding on Dec. 21 for guests wearing holiday sweaters.
And bonus: United Airlines will be giving 2,500 bonus award miles to passengers who will ‘miss’ December 25 because they’re booked on the carrier’s seven international flights that depart on December 24, but don’t arrive at their destinations until December 26.
HMSHost is hosting pop-up mural painting at several airports his holiday season.
Local artists are being invited to sketch murals that travelers will be invited to paint.
There will be a mural at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on December 13 and one at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on December 15.
Each large-scale mural is different. At each airport, the artist will kick-off painting and then turn the art-making over to travelers, who will be treated to complimentary holiday drinks, sweet treats, holiday-themed giveaways and discounts to HMSHost restaurants.
“Our focus is on enhancing the travel guest experience while connecting with the local community. Studies show creative activity, regardless of artistic talent, lessens stress,” said HMSHost Vice President of Marketing and Communications Atousa Ghoreichi. “With the craziness holiday travel can bring, our interactive mural painting pop-ups will be a unique airport experience.”
Here are some pictures from the mural painting that took place last week at Miami International Airport. This looks like so much fun that I’m adjusting my schedule this week to be on site for the mural painting at SEA airport. Stay tuned.
Would you go to an airport if you don’t have to? What is there’s a party going on?
On Saturday, Dec 1, for the fifth year in a row, Pittsburgh International Airport is holding a Holiday Open House in the post-security side of the terminal and inviting the non-flying public to join in.
Festivities will include a live performance by LoveBettie, a chance to create your own giftwrap, a visit by the National Aviary’s African penguin, a juggler, an artist doing airbrush tattos and, of course, a visit from Santa.
Shops and restaurants will be offering special treats and discounts. And everyone gets free validated parking! Plus, there’s no sales tax on most clothing in Pennsylvania.
Beyond the party, this is a great time to see and learn about the art at the airport on a self-guided or guided art tour.
In addition to a shrine to Mister Rogers, who lived in Pittsburgh and produced his Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood program there, PIT’s art collection includes art prints by Pittsburgh-born artist Andy Warhol, a giant mobile by Alexander Calder, a Robot Repairt shop, and a large scale robotic figure named Arch.
Interested? The party runs from 10 a. m. to 6 p.m. To attend, non-ticketed guests must register in advance, arrive by 5 .m. and make to sure bring along a valid government-issued photo ID.
TSA’s blog has some helpful information for anyone heading home through San Diego International Airport after attending Comic-Con International this week – and for those traveling with collectibles and souvenirs from this or any other special event.
TSA suggests that if you’re traveling with a collectible item that has an original seal on it that you don’t want broken, that you ship it home instead of taking the chance that the seal will broken during a TSA search.
Getting dressed up in a costume to attend an event? TSA reminds travelers that neither replica weapons nor real weapons should be placed in carry-on bags and that while both replica weapons and real weapons can be packed in checked bags, actual firearms must meet packing guidelines and be declared.
And, TSA s suggests that if you’re traveling with a lot of brochures, comic books or other books that you put them in your carry-on bag and then place them in a bin prior before sending them through the x-ray machines.
Those items can show up as dense blocks and “Packing these items in checked bags may cause alarms leading to bag searches that can cause a significant slowdown in the screening process leading to delays and bags possibly missing their flights,” says TSA.
If you’re at Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday or Wednesday, July 10 and 11, make your way to Terminal 4 (post-security) to see a performance by the LA-based Bob Baker Marionette Theater.
The shows will be at 11 am and noon each day and if you’ve got a ticket to any terminal at LAX it should get you through the security line at Terminal 4 as well.
For the summer, Denver International Airport has turned its 82,000 square-foot open-air plaza between the Jeppesen Terminal and the Westin Denver hotel into a Pop-Up Park with native Colorado trees and plants and 9,000 square feet of turf.
Passengers and locals are invited to hang out in the park, which has lawn games, lunchtime fitness classes, lounge seating and a variety of scheduled music events and activities. More details here.
