Monthly Archives: May, 2023
Study Reveals the World’s Best Observation Decks for Travelers on a Budget
BERLIN, May 2, 2023 (Newswire.com) - Omio, Europe's leading booking platform for travel, has released a ranking of the world's most affordable observation decks. The study analyzes the entrance fees for the 70 most popular viewing platforms in the world, followed by an offset of the ticket prices against the official height of the building. The result is a well-curated list of the best views for the best price.
In almost every city, observation decks are among the most popular attractions for tourists. This ranking reveals the wide range of ticket prices, starting at $1.14 for the Torre Panorâmica in Curitiba (Brazil) to the Empire State Building in New York City (United States), where the entrance costs around $79.
"Top of Africa" offers the best price for money
The popular viewing platform "Top of Africa" (732ft) on the top floor of the Carlton Centre in Johannesburg offers visitors a unique panoramic view as far as Soweto and the best deal for the money. The entrance fee only costs $1.67 and beats all other observation decks surveyed in the price per foot category ($0.002 per ft). The deck is finally scheduled to reopen in summer 2023.
Table 1: Top 10 best observation decks for travelers on a budget.
| Destination | Observation deck | Height | Ticket | Price per ft. | |
| 1 | Johannesburg, South Africa | Top of Africa | 732ft | $1.67 | $0.002 |
| 2 | Istanbul, Turkey | Istanbul Sapphire | 856ft | $2.68 | $0.003 |
| 3 | Curitiba, Brazil | Torre Panorâmica | 359ft | $1.14 | $0.003 |
| 4 | Riga, Latvia | Riga TV tower | 1,207ft | $3.96 | $0.003 |
| 5 | Cairo, Egypt | Cairo Tower | 614ft | $2.14 | $0.004 |
| 6 | Belgrade, Serbia | TV tower Avala | 673ft | $2.78 | $0.004 |
| 7 | Plzeň, Czech Republic | Cathedral of St. Bartholomew | 338ft | $1.56 | $0.005 |
| 8 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Christ the Redeemer | 2,297ft | $14.36 | $0.006 |
| 9 | Barcelona, Spain | Torre de Collserola | 945ft | $6.00 | $0.006 |
| 10 | Warsaw, Poland | Palace of Culture and Science | 945ft | $5.68 | $0.007 |
From $24 to $79: Observation decks in the US are expensive
The Empire State Building in New York City is probably the most famous observation platform in the world. The viewing deck attracts around 3.5 million visitors per year. The study reveals that visiting a skydeck in the US is rather expensive. The most expensive observation deck is the Empire State Building and a ticket to the 102nd floor costs around $79.
Good that the Big Apple offers plenty of alternatives. The deck of the One World Trade Center only costs about $47 and a ticket to the Top of the Rock observation deck costs about $43.
The Statue of Liberty offers the worst deal for travelers. The monument that includes a viewing deck in the crown is only 305ft tall but one ticket costs $24. A ticket to The Strat in Las Vegas is also around $24 but at least the building is 1,148ft tall.
The best deal for an observation deck in the US is the Willis Tower in Chicago. A ticket to the visitors' floor on top of the 1,450ft-tall building costs only $30.
Further information on the study can be found at the following website: www.omio.com/c/worlds-best-budget-views
Contact Information:Janie Steinke
janie@abcd.agency
Related Files
PR US - Best views - Omio.pdf
Original Source: Study Reveals the World's Best Observation Decks for Travelers on a Budget
Santa Maria Valley Becomes Sizzle Central This May
Santa Maria Valley is Sizzle Central
Santa Maria Style put West Coast barbecue on the map 150 years ago. Now, Santa Maria Valley is 'steaking' its claim. Tune in, follow along, and come see how this slice of California's Central Coast celebrates Barbecue Month, #SantaMariaStyle.
SANTA MARIA, Calif., May 1, 2023 (Newswire.com) - Big, bold and ready to showdown and throwdown — this is Sizzle Central. A 30-mile stretch of California's Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley and its expert Santa Maria Style pit masters are prepped and ready to share their expert flavor (and hot takes) with the rest of the world. In honor of National Barbecue Month, Santa Maria Valley will transform into Sizzle Central, an unscripted, spicy and unexpected celebration of all things Santa Maria Style barbecue and is guaranteed to make the culinary world take notice.
No soggy bottoms.
Sauce is out, spice is in, and Santa Maria Valley is entering the chat with tips on how to grill Santa Maria Style. Santa Maria Valley will be calling out barbecue techniques via its social media channels, challenging the status quo and even offering grilling tips in a Home Chef Throwdown, where anyone can upload their personal barbecue "how tos" to Instagram and/or TikTok tagging @SantaMariaValley and using #SizzleCentral hashtag.
To kick things off, Santa Maria Valley is sharing just what you need to get started. An updated Santa Maria Style Cookbook is available to download for free and is full of Santa Maria Style recipes and tips.
Tri-tip + wine country = A match made in heaven. Sip on that, Texas.
So, what sets Santa Maria Style barbecue apart from the rest? (There is no competition as far as Santa Maria Valley is concerned.) Here at Sizzle Central, barbecue isn't a smoke show, rather, it's a spiced-up, red-oak-fired, perfectly wine-paired flavor found in a foodie's dream destination.
"Santa Maria Style barbecue is in a category of its own compared to other styles of barbecue because of how we cook the meats," said Jaime Flores, Santa Maria Valley pitmaster and founder of the Santa Maria Barbecue Festival. "We cook on an open pit and control the heat by raising and lowering our grill. This open pit style allows the meats to cook evenly and the red oak smoke flavors the meats, which are seasoned with a dry seasoning usually consisting of salt, pepper and garlic. With these attributes to our style, there is no reason to sauce the meat."
Each year, hundreds of people gather in mid-May (May 13, this year) for the annual Santa Maria Barbecue Festival, a celebration of grilling Santa Maria Style. The cornerstone of the event is a professional competition with local celebrity judges that vote on the Best Barbecue in Santa Maria Valley as local businesses and professionals compete for bragging rights and the first-place Branding Iron award. There is also a separate competition for "best backyard cook."
"The differences between East, West, North and South vary greatly," said Anthony Minniti, Santa Maria Valley pitmaster. "Each style differs in cooking time, temperature, rub or no rub, and, when applicable, the sauce. I love them all, however, I think Santa Maria Style is the purest form of barbecue because of its balance and simplicity."
Santa Maria Style barbecue started in the mid-19th century when the rancheros gathered to help each other brand their calves each spring. As a thank-you to fellow vaqueros — America's first cowboys — the host would prepare a Spanish-style barbecue, consisting of beef barbecued over a red-oak fire, served with Pinquito beans, bread, salsa and homemade desserts. The region's flagship varieties also pair perfectly with barbecue — cool-climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah — all "bold but gentle" and paired perfectly with barbecue.
So, what are you waiting for? Come to Sizzle Central (whether in person or at home) and experience Santa Maria Style barbecue either for the first time or again and again. Of course, there's no better way than to get the complete Santa Maria Style experience than in person. With 15 beaches and 34 tasting rooms all within a 30-minute drive, Santa Maria Valley is the perfect home base to do more for less. Explore all you can do in and around the valley. For more information, visit santamariavalley.com.
Media Note: Media interested in speaking with a pitmaster, joining the Home Chef Throwdown or experiencing the region to check out all its flavors, please email nicole.shearer@kps3.com. Media Familiarization Tours are available for interested media on assignment.
Photo Cutline: This May (aka National Barbecue Month), Santa Maria Valley is Sizzle Central. A variety of multimedia and photo assets are available for download and media use.
About Santa Maria Valley:
Serving the greater Santa Maria Valley in the heart of California's Central Coast, the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau is a nonprofit association that facilitates local tourism and provides information on the region's many attractions and visitor services. Famed for its fine wines, natural wonders, agricultural heritage and flavorful barbecue, the Santa Maria Valley offers a broad range of cultural, sporting and historical experiences. For details on Santa Maria Valley lodging, wine tasting, travel deals and e-newsletter alerts, visit santamariavalley.com or call (800) 331-3779.
Contact Information:Nicole Shearer
Director of Public Relations
nicole.shearer@kps3.com
530-448-6485
Original Source: Santa Maria Valley Becomes Sizzle Central This May
FirstNet, Built With AT&T, Teams With First H.E.L.P. to Support New England First Responders With #ResponderReadiness Training
#ResponderReadiness Small Group Discussions
During #ResponderReadiness workshops First Responders work in small groups to have candid conversations about stress management and resilience building techniques.
WORCESTER, Mass., May 1, 2023 (Newswire.com) - First H.E.L.P. and FirstNet®, Built with AT&T, have doubled down on their commitment to provide first responders with world-class mental health training through First H.E.L.P.'s #ResponderReadiness Workshop Series.
During First H.E.L.P.'s four-hour workshops, first responders explore the "3P's" of responder readiness: performance, persistence, and prevention. Through small group discussions, participants examine the impact that operational stress and trauma have on their careers and families, and take a deep dive using scenario-based training to practice difficult conversations about mental health and suicide prevention with friends, family members, and co-workers. First responders also practice resilience skills using First H.E.L.P.'s #RANGEofResilience.
Upcoming #ResponderReadiness workshops scheduled for Concord, NH, and Chicopee, MA:
- 15 May: #ResponderReadiness Workshop in Concord, NH, for the NH Fire Academy and EMS Resource Center.
- 16 May: #ResponderReadiness Workshop and a #RANGEofResilience Instructor for First Responders near Chicopee, MA.
"A combination of organizational, individual, and family readiness is the keystone of an agency's ability to serve their community. In the #ResponderReadiness Workshop, First H.E.L.P. places emphasis on getting far ahead of a potential wellness crisis by developing healthy, positive behaviors that foster an organizational culture that is ready to serve," said Joe Willis, Chief Learning Officer, First H.E.L.P. "While the workshop directly addresses suicide prevention and crisis resource awareness, the primary focus is on resilience and early correction of undesirable behaviors."
First H.E.L.P. tracks first responder suicides throughout the nation. According to data collected by the organization, 86 New England First Responders were known to be lost to suicide since 2017.
AT&T is working to ease the burden for communities by providing this First H.E.L.P. high-quality training to New England first responders at no cost. FirstNet is the only nationwide, high-speed broadband communications platform dedicated to and purpose-built for America's first responders and the extended public safety community. Shaped by the vision of Congress and the first responder community following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, FirstNet is built with AT&T in public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority, an independent agency within the federal government.
"AT&T's commitment to our public safety community goes beyond our FirstNet network connectivity," said Dr. Anna Courie, DPN, RN, PHNA-BC, Director, Responder Wellness, FirstNet Program at AT&T. "We are dedicated to working with First H.E.L.P. to bring mental health resources to first responders across the country—especially in rural areas with limited access. This program with First H.E.L.P. will better equip first responders mentally and physically and help our public safety community stay safer."
First H.E.L.P.'s goal for 2023 is to bring its #ResponderReadiness workshop to 1,200 first responders throughout the nation.
"This training will provide important tools that are missing in first responder duty bags," said Christy Lister, a First H.E.L.P. volunteer and co-host of the Beyond the 1st Response podcast. "It is a game changer and will help provide resiliency and normalize conversations about mental well-being."
First H.E.L.P.'s training program reinforces the strategic priorities established by the FirstNet Health and Wellness Coalition (FNHWC) to support first responders and their families. The mission of the FNHWC is to integrate responder, community, industry, and academic capabilities to support the health, wellness, and readiness of American first responders.
The two organizations hope to see this training reach as far into these rural communities as possible. While the training is open to federal, state, and large municipal responders, priority will go to smaller communities.
Visit 1stHELP.org or email Contact@1stHELP.org to learn how to bring this training to your community.
FirstNet and the FirstNet logo are registered trademarks of the First Responder Network Authority. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
Contact Information:Joe Willis
Chief Learning Officer
joe@1sthelp.org
573-337-9484
Original Source: FirstNet, Built With AT&T, Teams With First H.E.L.P. to Support New England First Responders With #ResponderReadiness Training
Professor’s Beloved Board Game ‘Personal Preference’ Gets a 21st-Century Makeover Thanks to Dedicated Fans
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., May 1, 2023 (Newswire.com) - After three-and-a-half decades, a popular board game, Personal Preference, is getting a major upgrade. The 1988 game, which sold hundreds of thousands of copies and became a favorite of Hollywood celebrities, is finally spawning a new, updated version. Thanks to the efforts of a group of devoted fans and the game's original creator, retired Purdue Professor Don Carlston, players both old and new will be able to enjoy a modern take on this classic favorite.
What's unique about Personal Preference is the expertise that went into its creation and the devotion of its enthusiasts. The original game was based on Professor Carlston's academic research and was created to serve as an icebreaker and help people get to know each other better.
Some cards in the original game became dated and, over the years, countless fans reached out to Carlston with requests for new cards or offers to buy the rights to the game so it could be updated. Eventually, he decided to team up with some of his most persistent fans to make the new edition a reality. This core team was bolstered by a group of 50 diehard devotees who came together over Zoom during the pandemic to play test and evaluate potential topics. "It really was an international team effort," says Carlston, "with volunteers from the U.S. and Canada and even Great Britain. And the result is a version that is even better than the original."
Carlston suggests that the lasting success of Personal Preference is because "most people enjoy hearing others' impressions of their likes and dislikes, and they also enjoy revealing and explaining their true tastes and preferences. These are the things that define who we are, so they are also the best way to get to know and connect with others." Now, as we come out of the isolation of the pandemic, the dedication of a group of devoted Personal Preference fans will give old and new players alike a fun, new way to reconnect with friends and family.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/personalpreference/personal-preference-updated-edition
Contact Information:Don Carlston
CEO, Inventor
personalpreferencegame@gmail.com
7657140256
Original Source: Professor's Beloved Board Game 'Personal Preference' Gets a 21st-Century Makeover Thanks to Dedicated Fans