Serge the Concierge

Besides Petanque: 2CV and Solex 'Bastille Day' Rendez-Vous in New York

The Citroen 2 CV and the Solex are icons of the 50's and 60's in France and Europe at least
They would take you from point A to point B in a practical if not luxurious way.

The 'Bastille Day' Rendez-Vous kicks off at 10:00 am at Grant's Tomb (Riverside Drive and 122nd St) on July 13 in New York. Check the full map of the itinerary thanks to the Greater NY Citroën & Velosolex Touring Club site.



This is the Ninth Edition of the Event.

Will Lloyd Cole make a cameo appearance singing 2 CV?

Hard to believe but Velosolex models such as the S4800 (pictured below) can still be purchased in the US.

Even Catherine Deneuve rode one as that 1973 picture (courtesy of Velosolex America) shows.

Check the Velosolex America for details

Thanks to Katia of Pardon Me for Asking for pointing that Event to Me.

Related: Petanque in Brooklyn (at Bar Tabac) and other Bastille Day Events

Wind and Solar Powered 'Charge Station' for your Mobile at Glastonbury Festival

For the second year in a row, Gotwind will provide a solar and wind powered Recharge Station for your mobile devices (commissioned by Orange) at the Glastonbury Festival (UK) on June 27 to 29.

The station generates enough power to charge as many as 100 phones per hour.
And it glows in the dark as their illustration shows.

As for the music, Johnny Sharp says I still love Glastonbury. Here's why.

The Guardian site also offers its Free Glastonbury Album which includes bands from as near by me as Yeasayer of Brooklyn (don't know them, they play on Sunday ) and as far as Australia with Operator Please.

Did notice that Lightspeed Champion which I saw in concert at South by Southwest plays on Friday.

More Batteries: Charge your Tech Toys (Mp3, Cell Phone, PDA) with Solar power by using Solio

June 20 is World Refugee Day: Some 33 Million People according to the UN

It is not all about me, myself and I.
We might be complaining about high oil and food prices but things are not so bad when you compare that with the plight and triumphs of the world's 33 million refugees and internally displaced persons whose existence we are reminded of on June 20, World Refugee Day.

To mark the occasion Japan hosts the 3rd Annual Tokyo Refugee Film Festival, a Free Event opening on June 20 and closing on June 27.

You can Donate to support UN Refugee Agency projects such as the Nine Million initiative whose aim is to "provide healthy and safe educational opportunities for nine million refugee children by 2010".

Related: Menu for Hope 4

Add an Ace or an Edge: Japanese Phrasebook Free Audio Downloads

While looking for details on the Rough Guide to Tokyo (my illustration), I noticed a companion title, The Japanese Phrasebook.

As interesting or maybe more useful than the book itself for your survival kit are the Free Audio Downloads which will train your ears on issues such as Accommodation, Banks, Emergencies and much more.
You might not get lost in translation after all.

A good pick for the Consumed to Thrifty

If you cannot make it to Japan, you will at least have learned a few new tricks.

It will open your mind to different sounds and add a little shine to your armor.

Useful tips and tricks for Tokyo Thursdays #42

Related: Map your Tokyo Stay thanks to 'Tokyo Metro' Multilingual Site

Googlers and Microsofters Get on the Bus...

For the past 2 to 3 years, ever since I got stuck in bumper to bumper traffic on my way back from the Big Apple, when I go to New York I take the train.
It is a reliable, punctual, relaxing ride.
I can read, go over my notes, take a nap or whatever else I feel like.
All things I could not do if driving obviously.
Best of all a round trip ticket is around $10.
It is also more energy efficient and pollutes less.
A combination of these factors are behind the fact that companies such as Google (in California, since 2004) and Microsoft with The Connector (in Seattle, since September 2007) and Zurich Insurance in Europe offer Shuttle Buses to their employees.
In Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride...to work, Rhymer Rigby (Financial Times) mentions Green issues as one of the factors behind these offerings.
Another one can be to remedy the lack in some areas of reliable public transportation.
Rhymer Rigby notes that even though both Google and Microsoft buses are equipped with Free Wi-Fi some riders relax with a deck of cards.
With the price of gas ever higher, these services can amount to significant savings for employees as Jean-Baptiste Queru calculates in a blog post live from the Google Bus (November 2007).

Another plus is you will not have to call the office to let the know that you are running late, you are already on company property after all.

When such perks are not available, we might all be wise to consider car pooling whenever it is possible, not to forget telecommuting on some days.

Close enough to work, ride your bike to work and get your work out.

Have you changed the way you commute lately?

Does it make for a better day?

Going public on Green Day #30

Related: Less Gas, More Sweat: Bike to Work Week 2008

and Take the test 'Are you Green for Telework'

Free Opera and Ballet at the Drive In? Almost with 'Summer Big Screens' (in the UK)

What could be better than Free Slices of Culture in our Consumed to Thrifty times?
A perfect example of that is Summer Big Screens in the UK which offers open air Ballet and Opera programs by no less than London’s Royal Opera House on giant screens in a number of locations across the UK.

For example The Marriage of Figaro is on the program on July 16 at 7pm Live to Trafalgar Square; Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf; Chertsey Road, Sunbury; Lakeside Shopping Centre, Thurrock; Duthie Park, Aberdeen; Botanic Gardens, Belfast; Victoria Square, Birmingham; and Clayton Square, Liverpool.

If you cannot make it there The Royal Opera House  has planted its flag on You Tube where it offers video clips of past, present and future programs.

As for myself, my favorite place for almost free outdoors music is Central Park Summerstage (New York).

What is yours?

Tell us about special events in your neck of the woods.

Thanks to Globespotters for bringing Summer Big Screens to my attention.

Related: The Cure own Robert Smith is 48...London Concert Review

Tokyo Art Map, On Paper and It's Free (April-May Issue is Out)

I know it's almost the end of April.
I should have paid more attention to Tokyo Art Beat activities of late.

Anyway to complement their website and blog reporting on the creative scene in Tokyo, TAB decided to publish a paper map of what they deem to be noteworthy art events around the Japanese capital.

Note the 'trapeze' shape.

Here is how they describe the guide:

"The first issue (April-May) features 50 events grouped in 7 areas: Ginza, Kyobashi, Ueno, Roppongi, Shinjuku, Omotesando and Shibuya.
On each panel you will find 5 to 6 event details (title, short event description, schedule details) and a small map indicating the location of the venues.
In addition, a special section highlights the “Art Week” events happening in the Marunouchi area: Marunouchi Art Weeks, Art Fair Tokyo, New Tokyo Contemporaries, and so on.
The 50 locations (museums, galleries, shops and cafes) were selected from a list of the most popular venues among TAB users (combining recommendations on MyTAB and page views)."

And it's Free which will appeal to the Consumed to Thrifty crowd.

End of Tokyo Thursdays #36

Last week: Map your Tokyo Stay thanks to 'Tokyo Metro' Multilingual Site

Fun and Law...The 'Temple Festival', a London Oasis (Jan-May 08)

We usually enjoy a trip to the lawyer's office as much as one to the dentist.
Law can be a dry topic.

From January to May 2008, The Temple Festival in London will try to dispel that.
This event celebrates the 400th Anniversary of King James 1 granting the land (an oasis of greenery and peace between Fleet Street and the Embankment) to the barristers as our British friends call their lawyers.

It kicks off with a week-end of Free festivities on January 19 and 20 including mock trials and children's court as well as an organ recital in the Temple Church.

Think of the place as a treasure trove for history buffs with the foundations of Temple Church going back to the Crusades and Middle Temple Hall having hosted Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night first performances.

Fond of Vampire Movie Classics, February 20th will offer Nosferatu by Murnau illustrated by the organ of David Briggs.

The Temple also has a strong connection with music so they will showcase many talented performers including Angelika Kirchschlager (Mezzo Soprano) and Julius Drake (piano) in arias by Schubert, Schumann and Brahms on March 15.

Poetry and wine lovers get their treat on May 7th with a Madrigals and Wines tasting.

The above mentioned cultural events require reservations, prices vary.

Make sure you explore the gardens as well.

Thanks to Globespotters for bringing this very special place and celebration to my attention.

Other urban escapes: Pop Art!1956-1968, On Display at Quirinale Museum in Rome

The Spa at the Airport: Be Relax: Free 'Light Therapy' in Paris until December 30th

If you fly to Paris between now and December 30th, you can treat yourself to a free 'light therapy' session courtesy of Be Relax.

The sessions are offered "near boarding lounge E51 of Terminal 2E at Charles de Gaulle and near Gate R on the departures level of Orly’s West terminal are two dedicated light-therapy areas equipped with white-light emitting lamps, relaxation chairs, and a sound system playing soothing music".

I learned this much from Free holiday ‘light therapy’ at Paris airports by Nicola Clark (Globespotters).

This freebie is destined to promote Be Relax a new Spa at the Airport boutique/salon launching in Paris with plans to expand soon to other airports including Frankfurt, Milan, Rome and even Sharm el Sheikh.

The Globespotters piece also quotes the 'European Sleep Center' as stating that "a one-hour light therapy session per day for the first three days of a long-haul trip will help the body adjust to the new local time. For optimal effect, the light exposure should take place in the afternoon for a westbound flight and in the morning for an eastbound flight."

More pampering: The Clarence, Bono and the Edge Hotel Gig

Perk up your Compost with Coffee 'Grounds for your Garden'

Rather than dump the used ground coffee after you brew a cup or more, perk up your composting with it.
This is actually nothing new. My grandfather used it for his garden.

With their Grounds for your garden, Starbucks gives away on a first come, first serve basis all its used ground coffee.
They suggest gardeners mix coffee with leaves ans straw to balance coffee acidity.
It is part of Starbucks Waste Reduction and Reuse program.

No waste for this Green Day #10

Related: Wanna Compost? 'The Daily Dump' can help (from India, great tips)

Green Day Last week The Oxygen Tank is Out, Indoor Garden is In...Green Day