Good Morning & Hello Friday!!

• There is a Green Card update. It’s not what I had hoped for but progress nevertheless (#1).
• Mega travel plans are in the works — at least through the first half of 2023 (#2).
• And the most fabulous pre-birthday dinner celebration. It may possibly be my best birthday ever (#10 below). Turns out getting older isn’t as bad as *they* say! Definitely more aches and pains but if you’ve still got your wits about you, it can also be pretty cool! Everyone’s situation is different but for me, as I’ve gotten older, my life has become way more spontaneous, exciting and fun!

And on that note, please scroll down for this week’s Top 10.

1. Green Card Update (from 26 Federal Plaza NYC)

1. Still no 10-year green card renewal. BUT I did snag the I-551 stamp for my passport which provides temporary evidence of my permanent resident status while the Green Card renewal is underway.
2. Why the years-long delay you ask? COVID!! The woman at her appointment at the window next to mine was not having it. She went ballistic when told COVID was the reason her passport has been in limbo for over 2 years. “COVID IS OVER!” she screamed at the hapless USCIS worker. Another screaming match at the check-in area required armed guards to calm everyone down. Things are tense down at Federal Plaza.
3. Bottom Line: despite my disappointment about only being able to travel internationally thru August 8, 2023, I am relieved to use my Lindblad credit to rebook the Faroe Island expedition (see #2 below).

2. Faroe islands***** booked for June/July 2023

1. I’m on the June 2023 Lindblad/Nat Geo Expedition to the Faroe Islands. The itinerary also includes the Shetland Islands and Iceland but my primary interest is the Faroes!
2. But in addition to the cruise, I’m creating an extended European tour built around stays at various Soho Houses, prior to embarking on the ship.
3. I’m planning a week in each city, staying at Soho Houses in Paris, London, Amsterdam, and Berlin (see pics below). Then I will head to Oslo for a quick visit to the new Snohetta-designed National Museum before boarding the highspeed train to Bergen and the 14-day cruise. And then, sadly, my international travels are once again done pending the green card issuance.

3. Birding: one of the fastest-growing, nature-based tourism types in the world (I’m a big fan)

1. Birding is growing throughout the world but is an especially big draw in Alaska (see my pics above).
2. Hundreds of thousands of visitors come to Alaska yearly, boosting the local economy and supporting the conservation of bird habitats, according to research by the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Audubon Alaska.
3. Birders usually travel in smaller groups and show interest in visiting roadless and remote regions. They spend more, stay longer and engage in more activities, according to the report.

“This industry (birding) runs on our ability to provide an experience of beauty and inspiring nature that is not available in other parts of the country or the world.”

Natalie Dawson, Research Biologist, Univ.Alaska Fairbanks

4. Vegas Casinos Up Their Dining Experiences

1. The D downtown is getting Vegas’ first-ever bacon restaurant serving a 24/7 menu with 14 variations of house-cured bacon with flavors ranging from lemon pepper to brown sugar, teriyaki, Cajun, jalapeno, buffalo, salt, and vinegar, applewood bourbon, truffle, and chocolate-dipped. (Source: News3LV)
2. At the Wynn, Whales (who also happen to be wine connoisseurs) can spend $10,000 for a single seat at one of three exclusive Domain H. William Harlan wine dinners starting September 10. Each dinner will be hosted by a Harlan expert and served in unique settings. But the kicker for oenophiles is that their attendance bumps them to the top of Harlan’s waiting list.
3. For those of you (like me) who are not wine experts, here’s what Robert Parker had to say about Harlan’s 1994 Cabernet: “immortality in a glass” and “the single most profound red wine not just in California, but the world.” (Source: Robb Report)
4. At the Bellagio, the new Garden Table in the Conservatory (one of the most photographed attractions on the Strip), can be reserved for brunch or dinner through September 10. (Source: LV Weekly)

5. Meanwhile in Miami…a floating members-only club made of four solar-powered yachts

1. Hospitality start-up ArkHAUS is launching a floating lifestyle club with 360 memberships starting at $5,000 a year.  Click on the link above to check out the video. As of this week, they’ve raised $310K of the required $1.5MM.
2. The club will be made of four solar-powered yachts built to withstand Category 4 hurricanes.
3. Besides Miami, they’re also looking at NYC, San Diego, San Francisco, LA, Mexico, Dubai, Paris, and Istanbul.
4. Ten of the memberships are NFT “forever memberships” — four of which have been sold. (Source: BusinessInsider)

6. And then there’s Bark Social: the first-ever social club for dogs and dog lovers

1. Bark Social first opened in DC and currently has clubs in Bethesda, Baltimore, and (maybe) Philadelphia.
2. They’re planning to open in LA (but not until 2024). Info is remarkably hard to come by, which raises a few red flags. I’d say they might be having problems raising funds.
3. Membership is $365 a year ($1 a day!). Events sound fun and the concept is definitely cool and on-trend but something doesn’t seem quite right. Let me know if anyone has any first-hand experiences with Bark Social.

7. Another kind of club: vinyl sales up 361% since the start of the pandemic

1. Per Luminate’s Midyear Music Report vinyl album sales are up 27.4% this year alone.
2. Gen Z is behind the growth with artists like Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift pressing their albums on vinyl, making pop the fastest growing genre on vinyl. Taylor Swift sold 800,000 more vinyl records in 2021 than she did the year before.
3. Harry Styles broke the modern-age record of vinyl album sales in a single week when his third album, “Harry’s House” sold 182,000 albums.
4. Target and Walmart have even doubled their vinyl sales.

8. The Soho Target opened 2 days early. it is magnificent!

1. The best news ever!!! Finally, a place in my neighborhood where I can easily pick up household items. The rows of laundry detergent almost had me in tears!
2. Also, I was there an hour after they first opened, and kudos to the staff and management. Everyone is extremely prepared, friendly and helpful.
3. WELL DONE TARGET!!!

9. Off to Bozeman with a stellar itinerary!

1. I was worried that 5 days was too long but now that I’ve scheduled the week, I barely have enough time.
2. Every day is jam-packed but I am especially excited about exploring the architecture (Fred Wilson’s buildings in particular), Head West and Boot Barn for western wear, The Architect’s Wife Furniture Store (“where modern meets mountain”), catching Kelley Mickwee perform her country repertoire at Live from The Divide, and, of course, so many fabulous restaurants and bars (where will I be celebrating my actual birthday??).

10. And finally, a quick gander at my pre-birthday celebration at Corner Bar.

1. Best birthday ever! Corner Bar, Nine Orchard, and the Mattos team outdid themselves.
2. Thrilled that we were able to schedule the dinner prior to my trip to Bozeman and before Brad jetted off to Europe for his Civitella Foundation residency.
3. My only regret: not being able to invite all my friends but we will make up for lost time when I’m back in town.

And with that, my friends, it is a wrap.

Not sure what, if anything, I will be posting next Friday. However, the following week, look for the BOZEMAN SNAPSHOT OF AMERICA. I’m very excited about this trip – hopefully it will live up to my expectations. And with that, wishing you all a fabulous weekend!