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Hong Kong is an amazing city. It has an incredibly rich cultural scene an incorporates much of its history and society into various performance genres. While maintaining its heritage through the arts it also has a progressive entertainment scene and attracts many world class performers to its stages. While it is part of the country of China, it also holds an autonomous political and social status. It has one of the most progressive cultural and arts scenes in the country. The Hong Kong music industry is an example of this, and representative of Chinese history and also the world music scene.

The Hong Kong Symphony Society is a non-profit organization that was originally established in 1982. There are several divisions to this multi-faceted organization that include The Hong Kong Symphony Band, The Chamber Orchestra, the Symphony Orchestra and the Digital Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Symphony Choir. Each of these divisions is staffed by professional technicians and musicians to bring the greatest quality of music in their particular genre or focus.

The Symphony of Lights is one of Hong Kong’s most amazing spectacle and audio events. It is a complicated technological arrangement of multimedia displays and lights that are coordinated to move in synchronization to the symphonic music. The visual and audio result is one of the most colossal and inspiring events that a person could hope to witness. It has been labeled by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest permanent light and sound show in the world. The event takes place ever night as long as the weather permits and begins at eight o’clock pm Hong Kong Time. Many tourists who are staying in a Hong Kong hotel are there to see this incredible show. There are two vantage spots that are recognized as having the most beautiful views and these are located along the Avenue of the Stars and on the Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront.

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I have been to two cities in Texas, well four if you count the one hour layover in Houston but that was spent walking out the front door of the airport and having a cup of coffee before continuing on to my destination of New York City, and the quick Barbecue meal I had in Amarillo before continuing on the road from Phoenix to Chicago.  The two cities I have actually spent extended amounts of time in, are Austin and San Antonio.  I had taken a visit to Austin to spend some time with my musician friend, Jimmy George.  He is well known throughout the cities and towns of Texas for his brilliant guitar styling and incredible song lyrics.  While I was visiting him, he had a few gigs in San Antonio.

So for the first time in my life, I hit the road with the band.  We were put up at a few of the best San Antonio hotels, that are steeped in history, and that just so happened to be located close to the famous San Antonio River Walk.  I must say, this was just wonderful as there are so many sites to see, events to partake in, and places to visit along the river.  I highly recommend this part of the city, and in the coming months there are events that are going on that are ‘must do, must see’ happenings.

This weekend the River Walk will host the Fall Arts and Crafts Festival.  This is one of the most unique festivals of its kind, where handmade items line the sidewalks surrounding the Chamber of Commerce and the banks of the river.  Many treasures are to be found whether it is jewelry one is looking for, or pottery, or stylish and funky handmade hats and clothes.

If this is too short of a notice, as the Festival is happening…today, then head to the River Walk next month for the Thanksgiving Day parade.  This takes place the Friday following the holiday, when at 7 o’clock sharp they throw the switch and more than one hundred thousand twinkling lights illuminate the canopy that is constructed above the River Walk.  The lights are then turned on each night throughout January 1st, as the Paseo Del Rio Holiday Festivities begin.  This is one of the most magical times to visit the city, so get down to the River Walk this winter, and enjoy the brilliance of the holdiay season.