I love to entertain, and my living room is more of an old-style library than it is a living room.  You know, green baize, deep, dark velvets and dark woods, with shelves and shelves of books and brass fixtures.  So, finding furniture that fits in is a real challenge.

I found this replica of an Italian Globe that was actually a bar not too long ago and have found I really love it! 

I did have to do some minor assembly to get it put together when I got it, but it was so cool when I finally installed it in my library.  Closed, it looks like a Renaissance-era globe and is actually a rather nice conversation piece when people stop by in the mornings.  But in the evenings when my friends come over nothing brings a grin faster than when I open the top to reveal a really nice bar set. 

I don’t actually use the bottom shelf to store additional liquor, although one could and it would still be quite elegant.  I like the fact that it just looks like a globe until I want it to look different. You know, that little hidden surprise element that can make entertaining fun.  I do get gasps and giggles from new friends who have never seen me open the top to reveal a bottle of wine or good scotch when offering a drink.

I also like that it’s on castors, as I often will move the globe around the room depending on where I’m sitting that day when friends come over.  It’s nice to have that option without having to worry about breaking what’s inside when I want to move the little bar.

Opening from its hinged meridian reveals replica antique frescoes reminiscent of the domed ceiling contraspecto ("view from the heavens").  The stand is about 22 inches high, so it’s not too tall, and fits in nicely next to a sofa or fainting couch. And who doesn’t need a bottle of excellent brandy easily accessible from one’s fainting couch, right?

Posted by Noel.
 

Mad Men returns for a second season this coming Sunday on the basic cable channel AMC. If you haven't checked it out yet I would highly recommend doing so.

The series title is a reference to people working in a Madison Avenue advertising agency. Season one was set in 1960 and the second season finds the same characters in '62.

The series is truly first rate in every respect: acting, writing, directing - all the usual stuff that makes a television series or film satisfying. But one particular thing needs to be singled out - the attention to era detail. In short, it is fabulous and incredibly rare - at this level - for a television series.

What makes this series so fascinating is the time period in which it is set. It's a fabulous era in which to set a drama - and for some reason it has largely been unmined by playwrights, film directors and television producers.

What makes it great? For starters, it's like a strange time capsule that seems not that far removed from the present but also completely different. The characters look like us - especially the men - but their behavior is so 'out there' in terms of today's sensibilities it's hard to believe.

I remember literally gasping the first time I saw four guys light up - in an elevator with other people! And the rampant sexism that permeates absolutely everything - from unbelievably crude office remarks to a psychiatrist betraying the confidence of a female character by talking about her case behind her back with her husband - is both relentless and mind boggling.

However, the thing that is most fascinating about this era is that you can see the seeds being planted for a number of trends and movements that will ultimately transform society in ways that the characters in this series couldn't begin to fathom - at least when they were being planted in season one.

My favorite line from season one (I am paraphrasing) is when Don Draper (the main character) says to his mistress (who is the most sexually liberated, non-conformist woman on the show) - "I don't know whether you have everything - or nothing at all".

This is already one of my all-time favorite series. If the quality of the series can be maintained, and it stays on the air long enough to allow us to watch these characters navigate their way into the seventies - and I know that is a huge if - this has the  potential of being the greatest 'serious' television drama of all time. I know that there are other worthy candidates for such an honor but this series is that good.

Posted by Gregg Terry.

If you've ever taken a road trip through any part of America, you have no doubt seen some of the unique (and sometimes puzzling) roadside attractions that make our country so interesting.  When I was growing up in the Midwest, our family vacations often consisted of driving across two or three states to a theme park, stopping at every weird or promising-looking roadside attraction.

We saw everything from "mystery spots" to several items that laid claim to being the "world's largest" something-or-other.  At least to my impressionable mind, these little side trips were always infinitely more entertaining than the theme park we were headed toward.

Now that I'm grown and have my own family, I want to give my children the same experience.  Despite rising gas prices, we are planning a road trip for this summer.  We have no destination in mind just yet because the goal isn't to get anywhere in particular.  The goal is to see everything we can along the way.

In the process of planning this trip, we came across a website that gives you all of the information you could possibly want about finding the best roadside attractions.  It covers both the United States and Canada, so no matter where you go in North America you'll be able to see where the best, cheesiest, biggest, or silliest attractions are. 

You can search attractions by state, make your own map, read other travelers' tips, and even add your own tips when you discover a new gem.  Get started planning your completely unique road trip at RoadsideAmerica.com.  Maybe we'll see you out there on the open road.

Posted by Delana.