Madison Museum to host Houdini exhibit MADISON, Wis. (AP) — One of the 20th century’s most famous performers who spent his childhood in Appleton will be the subject of an exhibit at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. ADVERTISING The
Madison Museum to host Houdini exhibit
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — One of the 20th century’s most famous performers who spent his childhood in Appleton will be the subject of an exhibit at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art.
The show about magician and escape artist Harry Houdini will examine his life, legend and cultural influence. The Madison museum is its only Midwest venue.
The exhibit includes works by contemporary artists who have been influenced by Houdini, historic photographs, Art Nouveau-era posters and silent films.
Handcuffs, shackles, a straitjacket, a milk can and a packing trunk are also showcased in the context of their original presentation. There are also two of his private diaries that have never been shown in public.
“Houdini: Art and Magic” starts Feb. 11 and runs through May 13.
East Caribbean may get ferry system soon
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — The eastern Caribbean may soon have an inter-island ferry system.
A British investment company says it plans to lease a “wave-piercing” catamaran to Barbados-based Fast Caribbean Ltd., which hopes to transport people and goods between Barbados, Grenada, St. Vincent, St. Lucia and Trinidad.
Lorraine Johns of London-based Montrose Global LLP said in an email Wednesday that they believe the service will have a “positive impact on travel and trade within the region.”
Johns says Fast Caribbean is working closely with Trinidad to determine the 367-foot vessel’s configuration.
Trinidad Transport Minister Devant Maharaj says the private ferry system will be based in Port-of-Spain. It’s not clear when the service might begin.
N.Y. winter carnival goes on without ice
LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (AP) — Helicopter rides have been canceled and the outhouse races have been moved to a parking lot, but the 51st annual Lake George Winter Carnival will go on, ice or no ice.
The southeastern Adirondack lake is usually frozen by now, and many of the annual festival’s events traditionally take place on the ice. But the unusually warm winter has kept the lake from freezing over.
The four-weekend event started on Saturday with a parade, outhouse races and chili cook-off. There will be rides in tethered hot-air balloons and a monster truck. But none in a helicopter, which usually lands on the ice.
Ice for the ice castle had to be trucked into Lake George village.
L.A. tourism rose to 26.9 million visitors
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A record number of tourists visited Los Angeles last year
The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau says 26.9 million people came to town — a 4.2 percent increase over 2010 — and they spent more than $15 billion.
Tourism officials say the increase was prompted in part by an improving U.S. economy and improved and new attractions.
The bureau says Australia generated the most overseas visitors, while the number of Chinese visitors jumped 25 percent as several airlines added new flights from China during the year.
The year also saw increases in the percentage of visitors from Canada and Mexico.
