On April 24, the Pompano Beach in South Florida will be having its annual Seafood Festival. Seafood gourmet aficionados and fans will surely be thrilled at the announcement of this much awaited event. Be prepared for mouthwatering delectable goodness of seafood recipes. Expect a day full of seafood lovin’ and bonding with your most cherished friends and family members. Almost any kind of seafood in any type of recipe will be cooked on this event.

At the festival almost any type of cooked seafood can be seen. Expect lobsters grilling at a nearby station. Savor the mouthwatering treat that shrimps cooked in special herbs and spices have to offer. Got a squid addiction? No problem, the squid pasta will help solve that. Fish and chips are a popular gourmet at the Festival and so as Catfish desert (desert??) in cold-cream sauce. Ah, the awesome goodness that seafood can bring.

Kitchen experts will also be present to teach you some basic tricks on how to prepare and cook lobsters the right way. First, freeze the lobster for about 10 minutes with the rubber bands still attached to its claws (watch out for your fingers!). Next, gently put the lobster in a pot of boiling water that is sprinkled with salt, place the lid firmly on the pot. Remove the lobster when it achieved a red color and allow cooling before handling.

Pry the tail gently to separate the shell from the lobster meat. Using a pair of kitchen shears cut across the underside of the lobster and remove the shell. Use a nutcracker or a crab shell cracker to remove the claw shell and expose the beautiful and tasty claw meat. Place on a tray. Lobsters are best served with lemon butter sauce. Yum!

If you’re a culinary seafood aficionado then this event is definitely a much see for you.

[I:http://exporubens.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/LJJames2.jpg] As a Biker I love to take long Rides on my 2007 Harley Davidson, Nightrain. Some times a trip to Connecticut where one has the freedom of choice to decided if they want to wear a Helmet or not is a great place to go. Often I head up to the NY Catskill Mountains, Where a Burger and a Beer at Nicks Waterfall House in West Conesville can be the perfect end to a day of Cruising threw the Mountains.

Then there is another of my Favorite places to ride to, The Lake George NY area. My Uncle has a small Cabin in the Mountains right outside of the town of Lake George where I often stay. The area has some great long and winding roads for riding, These roads will relax even the most stressed Motorcycle rider.

There is so much history to the Lake George NY area. While on a trip one year riding around with no real destination in mind, I found myself in front of Fort Ticonderoga (fort-ticonderoga.org). Being very interested in American History I had to stop in and take the tour. The Fort was built between 1755 and 1759 and has plenty of stories to tell. It had a big roll in the American Revolution. As I walked around the Fort the I could almost imagine I had traveled back to the 18Th Century, The things I learned reminded me of the sacrifices our fore Fathers made to secure the Freedoms we enjoy and let slip threw our fingers every day.

Another thing I like to do is ride on some of the less traveled roads. Riding on a road where you see nothing but Forests and small Waterfalls for miles is very relaxing. I like to search out small little Dinners and eatery’s, Stopping at them and trying some of the foods they have to offer.

I recently met up with my Mother, Sister, Brother, Nieces, Nephew and other members of my family at the Lake George Escape Evergreen Resort Campgrounds (LakeGeorgeEscape.com), I found it a great places for me to relax for a few days. There where plenty of activities for the kids and many activities I could enjoy with the kids. In the resorts game room I won my Nieces and Nephew many prizes and I played (or maybe Battled is a more accurate word) Air Hockey with my younger Brother in the game room for hours. The resort has a pond and two pools to Swim in. Each week at the resort during the Summer has a thyme and while we where there it was Halloween week. The Camp Grounds has Nightly Hay rides around the Camp Grounds and since it was Halloween week my Brother came up with the idea of throwing out candy to all the kids as we took a Hay ride around the grounds one night. The Cherry on the top of this great resort has to be the on Grounds full service Tiki style Bar where most Nights they had a DJ to help keep the party going!

Many other things I have stopped to enjoy while riding around and staying in the Lake George area is White Water rafting, Hiking and many Trips to Six Flags Great Escape & Splash Water Kingdom. The park was known as Storytown USA when it first opened in 1954. As a Kid I used to love to watch the gun fights in its old western area known as Ghost town. The park may be much larger now and have many modern day Rides and attractions, but all the old Story town, Jungleland and Ghost town areas from the 50’s and 60s are still there! Then of course there is the town of Lake George it self with many great stores for shopping including a new shop I found last year called DILLIGAF’s. Many Arcades, Museum’s, Para Sailing, Night Clubs and Many Places to eat including some Waterfront Restaurants. Now in my opinion no trip to Lake George can be Complete without a Paddle wheel Cruise on the historic and scenic Lake George itself. The lake is known as the Queen of American Lakes. There are Two maybe three Companies you can use, But I recommend you take your trip on the Lake George Steamboat Company’s (lakegeorgesteamboat.com) Minnie-Ha-Ha. I have Pictures of me getting on this Boat with my Family that go back many years. [I:http://exporubens.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/LJJames8.jpg]

As Bikers We are always looking for Great places to ride to alone or with our friends and family that offer both great riding areas and many things to do. I have found Lake George to be a great area for both!

Maybe I will see you there! Your Bro L.J. James AmericanBikerX.com Listen to LJs Radio Show at BikerLowDown.com

[I:http://exporubens.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/LJJames2.jpg] Right now for most Americans money is getting a bit tight. We all still want to have those great family trips that we take every year, but we have to watch how much we spend. Well I just had a great time with my family in New York’s Catskill Mountains that didn’t put us all in the poor house.

I was in the Catskill area with Family for the Christmas Holidays. My younger Sister has three kids. Which makes me an Uncle and I always enjoy spending time with my two Nieces and Nephew, The Youngest is 6 years old and the oldest is 13 years old. Now when the age gap is that far apart it can make finding something they all want to do very difficult. Well We where also looking for something to do that not only the kids but us adults could enjoy as well.

It took some time but my younger Brother came up with the idea of Snow Tubing. It sounded good to me. The Kids loved the idea and so did my Sister, Her Husband and even my Mother. OK so then came the part where the money comes in. I called up Windham Mountain to get their Snow tubing times and rates (http://www.windhammountain.com/mountain/tubing) . When they told me their snow tubing rates I was surprised as they where not too bad $20 a person for two hours $25 for four hours and they had a Friday night special of only $15 dollars from 4pm to 9pm ! Only $15 for Five hours, I was sold as it just happened to be Friday.

So the group of Nine of us piled into two vehicles and we where off to do some tubing on Windham’s 650 foot snow covered snow tubing slope. We where Lucky as the weather was warm for December in the Catskill Mountains. The Slope was perfect, there where about ten lanes to slide down and the Snow Tubing staff kept the line moving. [I:http://exporubens.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/LJJames9.jpg]

Let me see if I can explain how everything went. When we got up to the Slope we grabbed a large canvased covered Snow Tube then picked a lane. We could go down the lane in groups or by ourselves. I have to say my first trip down caught me by Surprise. It has been a few years since I have been sleigh riding but I know I never went that fast down the old hill. Now hearing me say how fast the slope is, may make you think you or your kids might be scared. Don’t worry about that, I saw kids as young as three years old tubing down the Slope and they were loving it!

At the bottom of the hill there are mats placed at the end of every lane to slow you down safely, Along with attendants ready to help you if you needed it( I didn’t see anyone who needed any help). Now anyone who has gone Sleigh riding as a kid remembers the trip down the hill was always the fun part, It’s the walk back up that is work. Well not at Windham’s snow tube park. The canvases that cover the snow tubes have long straps that hook up to a conveyor so all you have to do is sit in your tube and then slowly slide back up the Slope! The Straps also make it perfect so the attendants can spin you (only if you ask nicely) as you are sliding down the slope.

After about three hours of snow tubing everyone but my brother and his girlfriend was getting tired. So we went into the large Ski lodge, which is only about ten feet from the snow tubing lanes. While inside the lodge we all enjoyed some nice hot Chocolate while sitting by the Fire place.

I am not a big fan of winter activities, But I have to say we all had a great time even if we didn’t make it the full five hours. Life can often get a little crazy and too fast paced, Every once in a while we all need some affordable old fashion family fun, (With a few modern convinces of course)

I am LJ James AmericanBikerX.com Radio Show BikerLowdown.com

Most of the time, people in craft fairs would find it wonderful and simply mind boggling to hang around your booth or your table if you give out freebies in some form or another. Freebies come from the word “free” and by free, it means a no-contract or strings attached form of some deal. Nothing in this world is ever free, which is why the concept of freebies would always attract people no matter how trivial or small it may seem.

Free items do not need to be very expensive, very large, or very big. At the most, the freebie should be part of your products. For example, if you are into the wood works industry, perhaps a small statuette, or maybe a paperweight would be a suitable freebie for your booth.

Forget not that you also need to have your name (or your company’s name) in the product’s face. At least, when they look back, they would know the company (or the person) that gave them that particular freebie. Perhaps try and recruit a friend as well through that form of advertisement.

Food industry freebies often come by with using samplers. These are small tidbits of food, usually served cocktail style and laid out in trays for the masses to take one and eat. You would be more familiar with samplers if you visit your local grocery more often and notice the free food on toothpicks that they serve. It’s certainly a crowd drawer, right?

Make sure to have your name out in catchy and bright colors, to attract attention (unless the over all theme of your booth is supposed to be dark, then go otherwise). And make sure to give your best when it comes to freebies. Those items will be like your business card, your first impression as well. If your first impression doesn’t give a good flavor to the audience, the freebies worth becomes nil.

There are a variety of places to go fishing in Alaska. Making a decision can be difficult with all the choices. Well, one place to consider is Sitka, which is one of the premier fishing and tourist destinations in the state. Here are a few of the great reasons that you’ll want to make Sitka your destination for your next Alaska fishing trip.

Low Rod Hours - A top reason to visit Sitka is the low rod hours per fish. This is one of the main reasons it is considered the top fishing spot in the area. You will find the fish plentiful, which means you’ll be catching them frequently and having a great time. It definitely beats waiting for hours for one fish to bite.

Used to be the Capital of Russian America - You’ll also be interested to know that Sitka used to be the capital of Russian American back when Alaska used to be owned by Russia. This means that not only will you have some great fishing available, but there are a variety of interesting historic sites that you can visit and enjoy while you are in the area as well.

Excellent Fishing All Day - You’ll get great fishing all through the day at Sitka. The reason for this is that the tides and the currents are very mild in the area. This allows you to catch bottom fish all through the day. Most spots in Alaska are not like this and only provide good fishing at particular tiems.

Halibut and Salmon - If you enjoy fishing for both halibut and salmon, than Sitka is the place to be. You can fish for both of these fish all in the very same day. This doesn’t happen in most other fishing areas around the state, so it’s definitely one of the reasons to choose Sitka if you enjoy fishing for these kinds of fish.

Salmon are Ocean Bright - There are many salmon to fish for in Sitka, and the great thing is that they are ocean bright. Other fishing spots offer you salmon fishing but the fish are dark because they are close to spawning. When you are fishing on the outer coast of Sitka, you’ll be able to catch those ocean bright salmon, making it a great place to visit for fishing.

Bait Fish Attract Large Fish - The location of Sitka as well as the currents bring in the bait fish. With all the bait fish, you can be sure that the big fish are right behind them. This means it is a great place to go fishing all the time. It’s not wonder that this is the premier fishing spot in Alaska.

Plenty of Wildlife - Sure, you will see a whole lot of fish, but that is not the only wildlife in the area that you can enjoy. Many types of wildlife are around that you’ll get to see. A few of the wildlife you’ll lay eyes on at Sitka include humpback whales, sea otters, albatross, eagles, porpoises, puffins, and a whole lot more.

The Sport Fishery is New and Un-crowded - The sport fishery in Sitka is fairly new. This means that it is not very crowded and there are plenty of fish for everyone to enjoy a great time fishing.

Fishing is Great No Matter the Weather - It doesn’t matter whether it is storming or sunny, you’ll still be able to go out fishing when you visit Sitka. One days that are sunny and beautiful, you can go out and fish in the outside waters. However, even if it is stormy, you can still fish on the inside waters since they are protected.

King Salmon Fishing is Great - Sitka is recognized as a premier spot for fishing because the king salmon are biting all through the summer. It doesn’t matter what time of summer it is, you can still catch the king salmon that you want. The outer coast of Sitka is where they come to feed. This means that they are available all the time instead of just during spawning as they are many other places.

When trying to make a checklist of the things you will need for the fair, always think of the essentials and the things that will be needed for the entire day, for the booth, and for your products as well. Don’t forget the things for personal comfort too, because that will be in essence, what will determine how you will interact with customers during the big day.

For the business operation, make sure to bring these. Your products or merchandise that you will need for the big day, labels and signs that pertain to your product, boxes or bags for purchasing customers, extra price tags should the ones on your product get removed, damaged or is unclear.

You’d also need a complete inventory listings before and after the show, to confirm how much you had sold during the day. String and wrapping paper for the large items, and bags, either paper or plastic for the smaller ones.

You will need to disseminate information to the customers as well, in case they will want to come back for the next day’s affair. Make sure to have large booth signs with clear fonst of what your product’s names are, brochures and flyers could also help. Those who’d be interested to sit down and take their time browsing your items can also do with a catalog. Have business cards printed out and ready the day before, and don’t forget to hand out invitations to your friends.

Don’t forget to bring your schedules too, so in case you’d forget what part of the day this event happens or where this is going to be held. Special order forms can also help, for those who like to buy in bulk. This would be a great help, and a great convenience for both you and them.

As a buyer I always see to it that I am deeply satisfied with every purchase. I always go to craft fairs where I can find unique and useful things for my own use. I also love giving away such items as presents and gifts to my friends, relatives and colleagues. They always admire these unique finds that I sourced out from craft fairs. It is very ideal to give away because its not pricey thus, would not make a huge indent on my pocket.

As a consumer I have guidelines on how I come up with my purchase. There are wide options to choose from and it can be a bit confusing and overwhelming at first. Before going out, I already have in mind the things that I need to buy in order to save time and effort. Before coming to craft fairs I already have a detailed plan on what to buy and what not to buy.

Firstly, I look for quality products. For me, quality means a reasonable price tag for a product. I really dont mind spending more on an item which I deemed has the better or the best quality among its contemporaries.

Secondly, a good attitude by the seller is a big plus in being successful in trade shows. There are times that I was able to buy stuff only because the seller was very accommodating and courteous all the time. I am one of the people who vouch that a sellers attitude is equally important with the product that she sells. It is true that hospitality can win you customers. That is the reason why a good relationship with your buyers is extremely important in the world of selling.

These are mostly the things that consumers like me look for in trade shows. This may be helpful for people who are thinking of establishing a business in the craft fairs industry.

If you are (considering|thinking about buying a hybrid car, you may be hearing rather a lot of “talk”. Some people think the hybrid car is the best thing since sliced bread. Some people say it’ll just pass. Yet other people again say they think they can save a packet, but you’re not certain it’s really worth it. What’s the truth, and how do you separate fact from fiction with all of the stuff that is being thrown at you? Below, you can read and consider the usual hybrid vehicle myths.

Hybrid cars are just the same as electric cars: This is not true because hybrid cars are fuel-powered most of the time. However they have what are called ‘battery assists’. The assist is powered by a nickel-metal hydride battery pack that is rechargeable.

You are guaranteed to save money with a hybrid car: If you are doing city motoring, you may save fuel and you may not. The same goes for long-distance driving. There are so just many different factors involved. It has been said that if everyone bought a hybrid car, the fuel consumption would decrease by just 10%. That’s not a very big decline, now is it?

A hybrid vehicle’s battery can run flat: A hybrid car’s battery should not run flat when you are actually driving it. The engine of a hybrid vehicle does not idle when stopped (at a red traffic light for example). What does it do then? Well, it recharges its battery. So there’s no need to worry about a hybrid vehicle stopping on that score.

A hybrid car’s rechargeable battery lasts only for two years: A hybrid car certainly would not be worth buying if this was the case. A hybrid vehicle’s rechargeable batteries usually come with an eight-year guaranty.

If I run out of gas, I can keep driving on the hybrid vehicle battery: Keep in mind, a hybrid car’s battery is an assist. That means that hybrid car’s still run on fuel. After you run out of gas, the battery may keep the car running for a little while. However, the car will stop running very soon.

Hybrid vehicles will soon put normal car dealers out of business: This probably won’t happen anytime soon. The reason for the delay has to do with the how much hybrids cost. Many people simply can’t afford one. Furthermore, people just aren’t certain whether they will actually save money by buying a hybrid car. So, they are loathe to join the stream of people who want to own a hybrid car.

Hybrid cars will only save you about 88USD per annum: I did hear something on the news the other day, but it may not be true. If there’s something you really want and there’s a lot of gossip surrounding it, you simply have got to start digging around and do of your own research. There are many different types of hybrid car, and many different manufacturers make them. This means that there may be much more involved than we have discussed here. A hybrid car may help you, and it may not, but the final decision is up to you.

Therefore, please don’t worry a great deal about what people say. They probably have only listened to others passing on rumours Do your own research and think it out for yourself. Use the Internet to get your information. The manufacturer’s advertising is also rather useful, if you stick to reading the facts and gloss over the gloss. Check that what the literature claims is also in the warranty.

It takes more than mental preparation to stay up and handle a booth in a craft fair. There’s more to it than just guarding the booth all day or looking bored about it. As much as possible, first and foremost, the one who should be guarding the booth is the owner himself. This is most recommended when you are a starter at the field of craft fairs. There’s a reason why, and it will be explained later.

Firstly, if this is your first time, it is rather unwise to try and hand your position out to other people when handling a booth in the craft fair. As the owner, it is your responsibility to carry your booth. Just think of the impression people would have when they know that you, as the proprietor, is not available at the site. As the owner, it is your responsibility to promote your products and your booth.

Primp your booth up appropriately and with simple effects. Avoid being an attention grabber too much, especially if you are not sure of what you’re doing (being a newb if you are one). Observe and learn from other people in the fair as well, especially those that seem to have years of experience behind them. Talk and converse, share ideas and learn from the over all experience.

Have at least someone to watch out for you too. You will have to eat and do your “businesses” sometime during the day, so have someone you trust (be it a family member or a relative) to go and stand post in your booth or table while you do your thing. Have that person also be very familiar with your product or craft in case someone comes along and asks about it while you were away.

Handling a booth will be a very different experience each time, but with each experience, you will find that the job will only get easier and easier. Take notice and you won’t have to have a hard time during the craft fair.

Pork, peanut and pine nuts can be appreciated in a festival dedicated to it in Virginia. It is an excellent festival with nothing but only the three p’s, and spending the rest of the day with your family in it, can be described as one of the greater things in life. Welcome to the Pork, Peanut and Pine Festival in Surry County, Virginia.

It is a country festival located in the fields. A family day with nothing but nature, straight drinks, Blue Grass and country style music in the air, and the afternoon sun beating down on you and your family with a warm and comfortable glow. You can find yourself walking lazily under the shades of tall cedar trees that line the River Road. If you’re not comfortable with the sun, there are shades and refreshment stands for your enjoyment and comfort as well.

The barnyard in town is the hub for all exhibits regarding pork, peanut and pine. The festival is mostly headed on weekends so there’s no rush to get right back to work the next day. The venue is most found on Chippokes Plantation State park, where the crepes bloom at the same time. Crepe myrtle trees are some of the more stately trees donwn South, being heat-resistant and hardy. A symbolic tree for the stalwart people of the Southern.

Pine and peanut had always been the cash crops for the Southern folks for almost four centuries. Their art, craft, and culture revolves around these products. Not until ten years after that they had added the red meat into their roster of festivals. Pork has slowly evolved into what we know it is, today.

The County Civil sells food and refreshments at the site. Craftsmen and registered artisans will also display their wares and products for exhibition and for purchase. Most of the craftsmen are returnees, with some as old as 1976. Regulars, in the local’s terms.