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Burning Man – Black Rock Desert, Nevada

LAST MONDAY OF AUGUST TO FIRST MONDAY IN SEPTEMBER.

ISN’T THIS A BUNCH OF HIPPIES DANCING AROUND IN THE DESERT?

We prefer to think of it as 70,000 free-spirits bringing their creative energy together to enjoy one of the world’s biggest arts and culture festivals.

RIGHT ON.

No kidding. Since its organic inception in 1986, when founder Larry Harvey and friends spontaneously burnt an effigy of a man on a San Francisco beach, the festival has grown into a mind-boggling plethora of artistic expression, from supersized sculptures to interactive performances. Each night is a flaming, kaleidoscopic circus of light, sound, music and dancing.

IT MIGHT BE TIME TO LET GO OF ALL OUR TRADITIONAL, MATERIALISTIC HANG-UPS AND JOIN THE FUN.

That’s the spirit. The festival is not a spectator experience: be prepared to dive headlong into costumes and connections. Most attendees join a themed camp and help out by constructing the realisation of the camp’s ethos. Past camps have included concepts like Playasos, a light-hearted community of people who love spontaneous play and exploration; or ‘…and then there’s only  LOVE’, for the ‘romantics’ who look forward to meeting up in the Orgy Dome. For real.

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South Beach Food and Wine Festival – Miami Beach, Florida

FEBRUARY OR MARCH.

FOOD, WINE, THE BEACH – THESE ARE SOME WINNING INGREDIENTS ALREADY.

This food and wine extravaganza has been running for 15 years and attracts foodie superstars from not only the United States but all over the world. This kind of culinary clout draws in more than 65,000 guests who partake in over 80 different events over five, flavour-packed days.

THE REAL QUESTION HERE IS, ‘DO WE GET TO TASTE?’

Absolutely. Outside of cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs such as the likes of Bobby Flay and Martha Stewart, there are tasting events like the luxurious Oyster Bash, top notch fruits of the sea with matched wines, or the best burger competition – where the crowd gets a say in who gets crowned best burger chef for the festival.

I CAN’T DECIDE WHAT TO EAT.

If the veritable smorgasbord of events is too much to take in, then get into the Grand Tasting Village on the last day. There’s a little bit of everything on offer so you can stroll and sample at your own pace.

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Maine Lobster Festival – Rockland, New England

EARLY AUGUST.

THIS LOOKS LIKE A TASTY WAY TO SPEND A DAY.

What started as a community initiative to boost interest in local seafood has become a world-regarded festival celebrating the superior quality of the region’s marine produce. Tasty indeed.

DO WE ALL SIT AROUND GORGING OURSELVES ON LOBSTER?

And butter – don’t forget the butter. Each year, close to 10,000 kilos of these delicious crustaceans are cooked up with over 750 kilos of melted butter. We are not even kidding. Luckily, if you feel the need to burn off some of this extravagant eating, the festival organisers have cooked up some seafood-themed activities so you can justify round two.

NOT JUST EATING COMPETITIONS?

Break up the gorging by joining the joggers in the 10km road race; or have a go at the Lobster Crate Race, where competitors hop from crate to crate across the open water; or just cheer on the festival’s reigning Sea Goddess at the Maine Street Parade. There are also cooking demonstrations and competitions, so you can take a little lobster inspiration from the locals back home with you.

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Floating Lantern Festival – Ala Moana Beach

MEMORIAL DAY IN THE USA (LATE MAY).

NOW THIS IS A PRETTY SETTING FOR A FESTIVAL. WHAT’S GOING ON?

Part memorial day, part celebration of cultural harmony, this serene lantern festival starts with a sounding of the pu, a Hawaiian conch shell. The call of the pu sanctifies the beach for the beginning of the festival.

AND ONCE THIS BEAUTIFUL BEACH HAS BEEN BLESSED, WHAT HAPPENS THEN?

A series of local customs and rituals designed to call people together in peace and harmony. There’s a performance of the hula and an Oli chant.

AND THE LANTERN PART?

There are six main lanterns which carry the prayers offered for victims of war (that’s the memorial bit). Then there are prayers for those who have died as a result of natural and man-made disasters, famine, disease, and water-related accidents. We’re not entirely sure why prayers are said for these victims exclusively, but we’re pretty sure you could get away with floating your own lantern for whoever you want. In the end, it’s the sight of hundreds of candlelit lanterns floating over the water under the setting sun that brings beauty and peace all around.

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Sundance Film Festival – Utah

JANUARY.

AH, WE HAVE TO LINE UP WITH THE CELEBRITIES IN THEIR SKI GEAR FOR THIS ONE.

Despite being a showcase for up-and-coming films, this festival has always had Hollywood’s attention – its founder and patron, Robert Redford, being one of LA’s old-school stars.

WE’RE NOT REALLY INTO THE HOLLYWOOD BLOCKBUSTERS.

Don’t worry, despite the tinsel-town connections, and its reputation as one of the biggest film festivals in the United States, there is a firm commitment to independent and up-and-coming film-makers.

THE NEXT BIG THINGS?

The festival has given a start to some of the world’s most highly respected filmmakers, like Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh, Darren Aronofsky, Jim Jarmusch and Robert Rodriguez, and has launched films like The Blair Witch Project, Donnie Darko, Napoleon Dynamite and Saw onto the international stage.

HOW DO THEY KEEP IT REAL?

Anyone can enter their film in one of the many categories available. There’s a staggeringly popular documentary category, narrative feature films, short films and even virtual reality projects. You’re guaranteed to see something unique.

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South by Southwest – Austin, Texas

MARCH.

WHAT’S GOING ON HERE – IS IT A MUSIC FESTIVAL? A FILM FESTIVAL? A COMEDY FESTIVAL?

All of the above and more. SXSW runs for nine days in March and totally overruns the Austin city streets with new music, art, comedy and movies, along with speaking panels packed with a who’s who of pop culture, new media and the arts.

SOUNDS LIKE WE’RE GOING TO HAVE A FULL DANCE CARD.

There are more than 2000 different acts from all over the world so you might want to think about some pre-planning. Either that or you could stumble around town and see what kind of Next Big Thing you can bump into. SXSW is famous for showcasing up-and-coming talent so be prepared to add bragging rights to your Twitter feed.

AND THE SPEAKING PANEL PART – WHAT’S THAT ABOUT?

There are all kinds of interactive panels on issues as diverse as design, technology, urban strategy, fashion, broadcasting, travel, and gaming; each panel is packed with carefully recruited expert keynote speakers all with reputations for being game-changers and visionaries. Expect wall-to-wall digital hipsters.

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Soho’s Intimate Art Galleries – New York

In the late 1970s and ’ 80s the Soho gallery scene was in full swing, when exhibits by artists like Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat attracted hordes of black-clad hipsters and well-heeled collectors. But as boutiques and restaurants mushroomed, galleries closed or moved, and artists sought pastures new. By 2000 Chelsea had become the center of the gallery scene. However, a surprising number of important galleries still remain in Soho, here’s a selection of places worth exploring for temporary exhibits and their permanent collections:

Ronald Feldman Fine Arts Gallery (31 Mercer St, tel: 212-226-3232). Serious conceptual art by museum-quality artists.

Martin Lawrence Galleries (457 West Broadway, tel: 212-995-8865). Well-known and emerging artists: paintings, sculpture, and graphic design.

Franklin Bowles Galleries (431 West Broadway, tel: 212-226-1616). A ‘Blue Chip’ gallery featuring valuable works by Chagall, Dalí, Miró and more.

Louis K. Meisel Gallery (141 Prince St, tel: 212-677-1340). Owns the largest pin-up art collection in the world.

June Kelly Gallery (166 Mercer St, tel: 212-226-1660). Contemporary works by African-American artists.

Clic Gallery and Bookstore (424 Broome St, tel: 212-219-9308). Monthly shows by emerging photographers, and a curated selection of high-quality photography books (pictured).

Margarete Roeder Gallery (545 Broadway, 4th Floor, tel: 212-925-6098). Specializes in drawings by Merce Cunningham, and contemporary German prints.

Soho Gallery for Digital Arts (138 Sullivan St, tel: 212-228-2810). Important young art gallery presenting new artists. Off the beaten path in both its location and curating.

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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta – Albuquerque, U.S.A

FIRST WEEK OF OCTOBER

WHAT ARE WE TALKING HERE? PARTY BALLOONS?

If you go in expecting something like that, then you are going to be totally blown away (pun intended). This annual fiesta in New Mexico is the largest hot-air balloon festival in the world, with more than 500 of these spectacular aircrafts taking to the skies for nine days each October.

THE SKY LOOKS MAGICAL.

The sight of enormous balloons floating serenely through the New Mexico skies in all their kaleidoscopic colour is breathtaking. Keep your eyes peeled for the quirky and unusually shaped balloons – there’s nothing quite like seeing a skyscrapersized turtle floating overhead.

CAN WE JUMP ON BOARD AND GET A VIEW FROM UP HIGH?

While the festival is flooded with hardcore enthusiasts and serious professional balloonists who compete in races and other exhibition events, it’s also open to curious onlookers. It’s possible to walk around the field while the balloons are being lit and inflated, and book a ride on one also. Get in early though, as rides in the balloons sell out fast.

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Spending Wonderful Time in New England

These four getaways provide the quintessential Americana-by-the-sea experience

Gurney’s, a famed Montauk, Long Island resort in New York, now has a sibling in Newport, RI. Management has taken over the former Hyatt Regency on Goat Island, and it’s jazzing up the scene to provide a modern New England experience. Consider the new partnership with Porsche, which provides house car services to guests and the liaison with the company, Blade, which runs seaplane flights between Manhattan and Newport, landing right on property, which fronts both the Narragansett Bay and Newport Harbor.

Joyce, the hotel’s concierge, can provide assistance booking that seaplane, or with setting up a private clambake overlooking the water. She can also arrange sunset sailing excursions with food provided by Scarpetta, the hotel’s Italian restaurant, and with boat trips to the private Rose Island with picnic lunch or dinner.

Note: David Bodette  is the general manager of Gurney’s Newport Resort & Marina and welcomes direct contact with luxury travel advisors.

There are plenty of vacation- style activities available on property; the pool has nine cabanas and 10 daybeds for lounging. Fancy some sunset gazing? A three-tiered deck has 11 fire pits with views overlooking Narragansett Bay and Pell Bridge for the best sunsets in Newport.

For the top digs at Gurneys, book the two-story, two-bedroom Liberty Suite, which also has two bathrooms, a large living room and dining area. Best part? The 1,250-square-foot suite has two balconies with direct views of the lighthouse and Narragansetts Bay. The Premier Suite is also a great option; with 1,320 square feet, it’s located at the top levels of the hotels Tower building and has panoramic views of the Narragansetts Bay and Newport Harbor. If these two suites are taken, there are several one-bedroom accommodations, which range in size from 750 to 1,000 square feet.

What we love: There are 30 bi-level suites here, which work well for families; there are also 100 rooms that connect. Nearly every room at Gurneys has water views. The Tower rooms face Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay. The Lighthouse Wing overlooks the hotels new marina on Newport Harbor, which now has slips for up to 125-foot yachts.

For assistance sorting through it all, contact Lisa Herzog, the reservations manager.

Arriving by air? Providence Airport (T.F. Green Airport) is about a 35- to 40-minute drive to the resort. Private jets can land at Newport State Airport.

Gurneys has a nine-room spa, which should be booked at least a week out for treatments. The spa senior supervisor, Andrea Giacomozzi can provide personal assistance in booking treatments, including a couples massage.

Tip: The hotel is pet friendly; a fee is charged and doggy amenities are provided.

There is an array of special events in Newport year-round that draw crowds, including The Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, the Newport Jazz Festival, the Newport International Polo Series and the Newport

Folk Festival.

Those still on the docket for 2017 include the Newport International Boat Show (September 14 — 17) and the Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival (September 21 — 24). We say its worth heading north for the Bowens Wharf 27th Annual Seafood Festival (October 14 — 15) in downtown Newport, RI. For a New England holiday experience, save the date for November 24 for the City of Newport’s Illuminated Boat Parade. The Bowen’s Wharf 47th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting will be held December 2.

Just nearby, clambakes, bonfires, and perhaps a spot of croquet on the lawn are just some of the activities to be had at Castle Hill Inn, a coastal resort overlooking Narragansett Bay, RI. There’s a strong historic vibe at this Relais & Chateaux resort, which is set on a 40-acre peninsula with views of the coast. There’s a series of guestrooms and suites in the original 19th-century Agassiz

Mansion, and 26 waterfront accommodations in the Harbor House, Chalet, Cottages and Beach Houses, which have just been renovated. The Mansions Turret Suite (the bath area is set in the turret!), which serves up 270-degree views of Narragansett Bay and the Long Island Sound, has also been renovated.

Want to try your hand at some local activities? They come with a luxury spin, such as a hot-air bal-loon ride, skydiving and visits to local vineyards and farms. Then  there’s always the option of a cruise on Casde Hill Inns private yacht during the warmer months, or a ride in the resorts water taxi, which can cruise you right into Newport Harbour.

Good news for those seeking some added pampering; the spa, a.k.a. the Retreat at Casde Hill by Farmaesthetics, has a new relaxation area outside of its two treatment rooms, giving guests the option to linger in luxury.

Andy Smith is the general manager of the resort. For assistance with booking, contact Lew Gordon, the revenue and reservations manager.

On Cape Cod in Massachusetts, Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club is set on a bluff overlooking the bay. It’s located just outside of Brewster, a quaint New England village with bay beaches, antique shops, sea captains’ homes and tree-lined streets, all just 90-minute drive from Boston and Providence and a one-hour flight from New York.

The summer months are the most popular at the resort, with most weekends selling out in advance. The Presidential Bay Collection and Mansion guestrooms are the first to sell out. The resort is open year-round, with seasonal activities including museum and gallery tours, cranberry bog tours, dining, hiking and biking on the Cape Cod Rail Trail.

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Have a Cup of Tea in The Exclusive Mercer Hotel Lounge – New York

Rather than jostle with the evening crowds, a weekday breakfast at Balthazar is a great way to experience this Soho institution.

The breakfast here is not overly pricey, and both the food and the company are worthy of note – Balthazar in the morning has become an unofficial meeting and deal-making spot for writers, editors, and new media tycoons who work nearby – The Huffington Post’s New York headquarters are around the corner, as is the head office of Gawker.com. Balthazar bakery is next door, so the bread basket is a heavenly assortment of freshly baked rolls, raisin bread, and slices of fresh whole wheat and rye, ideal for dipping in soft-boiled eggs cooked to perfection. Or, dig into fresh croissants, eggs benedict, or a creamy quiche.

For more celebrity-spotting, or to feel like one yourself, enjoy a glass of wine or cup of tea in the Christian Liagre-designed lounge of the nearby Mercer Hotel. It’s really only meant for guests, but if you’re well-dressed and discreet, no one will mind you sitting a while on one of the leather banquettes or inviting armchairs and soaking up the sophisticated library-like atmosphere. Keep your eyes peeled for high-profile models, directors and actors who stay here, and are often interviewed in the lounge.