Photo credits: Amsterdam International Fashion Week, Peter Stigter; Portland Fashion Week, badlyricpolice; Tokyo Fashion Show, dat

Photo credits: Portland, Tokyo, Amsterdam

Tokyo: Fly nonstop from the past into the future.
An approximately 5 km run, the Imperial Palace jogging course is a great way to get a tour through Japanese history into modern day Japan. The route leads runners around the Imperial Palace, through the Marunouchi  business district, past the Budokan (which is home to sporting matches and concerts) and along Hibya Park. It is a great path with not too many hills, and the distance is challenging for novice runners looking to build up their strength, and a solid workout for intermediate and advanced runners. And, for those who enjoy flying at a slower pace, the route makes for a very pleasant walk.

Amsterdam: Fly through…a green lung?
When looking for a quality running workout, be sure to run through Amsterdam’s “green lung,” also known as Vondelpark. A getaway from the city, Vondelpark covers 120 acres and possesses beautiful, lush gardens; ponds, lakes, playgrounds, cafes and performance grounds. A nice, dirt path rings the park and the distance rounds out at about 5.5 km, making this green oasis a great place to turn to for a breath of fresh air (or several breaths, if you are running.)

Portland: Fly from the city to the hills.
Portland’s Forest Park is a huge network of trails, totaling at over 70 miles, and begins from the edge of Portland’s 23rd Avenue to the Tualatin Mountains. Few parts of the trails go uphill and downhill, making most of the running flat, so it is great for runners to utilize for improving pace. Home to more than 100 species of mammals and 100 species of birds, this makes for a fun, running adventure, as runners get to experience encounters with different wildlife, and glimpses of the Willamette River and downtown Portland.

So what are you waiting for? Put on those joggers and start flying!

Inspired by the annual theme, renowned soloists and ensembles quite often compose concert programmes especially for the festival. However the festival also features advance performances and foretastes of programmes that will be performed at venues elsewhere in the Netherlands later in the season.

The Canal Festival also puts an emphasis on giving young musicians an ideal opportunity to showcase their talents, with performances in lively busy public locations.

The event also includes a Children’s Canal Festival, featuring productions specially intended for children of all ages, from babies and infants up to teenagers.

Many of the concerts are accessible free of charge or at a low entrance fee.

The 8th edition of SAIL will take place from 19 to 23 August 2010. For five days long, the Amsterdam IJ harbour will serve as the backdrop for a festive programme full of music, culture and nautical riches. Preparations are in full swing and the event promises once again to be an unparalled nautical spectacle which includes:

• an impressive fleet of Tall Ships from all around the world Tall Ships from all around the world
• a unique collection of Dutch sailing heritage
• a variety of modern ships
• various impressive naval ships and replicas
• an extensive, accompanying programme on the wharfs
• activities, performances and expositions for young and old
• a unique atmosphere with thousands of boats on the water
• a daily closing ceremony with a breath-taking fireworks show

Fostering a culture of coffee drinking, poetry writing, and literary appreciation is the world’s largest independent book store, Powell’s Book Store. This Portland icon is conveniently located for locals and visitors alike to peruse miles of books themes from rock legend biographies to graphic novels, vegan cooking, international travel and rare books. Take a virtual tour of Powell’s:

Amsterdam couldn’t bare to separate its best bookstores from its fashion district, so relax and enjoy a good read after a tiring day of shopping.

Whether you’re hopping on the next toei train for a day of marathon shopping or to make your next business meeting, it’s important to have some literature along for the ride. Luckily, Tokyo has an assortment of curbside bookstores to fill your every literary need from poetry to murder mysteries and anime.