At workshop, experts to teach travel writing

At workshop, expertsto teach travel writing
Aspiring travel writers can learn from experts at a workshop Aug. 14-17 in Corte Madera, Calif., in Marin County, north of San Francisco.
Faculty at the 12th annual Book Passage Travel Writer & amp; Photographers Conference includes author Isabel Allende, and editors from several travel book publishers including Lonely Planet, Moon Guides and Fodor's. Other staff members include travel editors from newspapers and national magazines.
Students work in classes with experts in their field. Afternoons are devoted to panel discussions. Evening programs feature talks by conference faculty.
Cost is $595, including workshops, lunches and a dinner. Housing is extra -- most students stay at the Best Western Corte Madera Inn ($129/night).
For more information, call (800) 999-7909 or visit www.bookpassage.com on the Web.
Delaware Art Museumfeatures Bearden show
Romare Bearden, a black painter considered one of the last century's finest American artists, is receiving his due from museums this year, including a major retrospective this fall at Washington's National Gallery of Art.
But Wilmington's Delaware Art Museum is stealing a bit of thunder with an exhibition called "Romare Bearden: Narrations." This unique show presents 63 Bearden gouache and watercolor works done as three series involving aspects of black life and culture. Many of the pieces have not been exhibited before.
One series, "Bayou Fever" (1979), was created as a concept for a ballet about the rural south that was to have been performed by New York's Alvin Ailey dance troupe, though it was never produced.
The second series, "New York Scenes" (1979), depicts city street life and was used as the backdrop for John Cassavetes' 1980 film "Gloria."
The third series, "Jazz" (1981), deals with the musical world centering on Harlem's Apollo Theater and Cotton Club and was intended as a book.
Wilmington is holding a jazz festival today through June 22 in various parts of the city in conjunction with the Bearden show, which closes July 20. The Delaware Museum is at 800 S. Madison St.; call (302) 571-9590 or visit www.delart.org on the Web.
Vancouver Art Galleryopens 'The Big Picture'
British Columbia's Vancouver Art Gallery has opened "The Big Picture," an exhibition of 75 photography-based art works by 20 leading North American, British and European artists, including Cindy Sherman, Thomas Struth and Jeff Wall.
Produced between the late 1960s and 2001, the images, says the museum, are "at the convergence of photojournalism, fashion photography, street photography, photoconceptualism and digital photography."
The show closes Sept. 1. The gallery is at 750 Hornby St., Vancouver; call (604) 662-4719 or visit www.vanartgallery.bc.ca on the Web.
Too woo back Americans,French offer discounts
The French have Woody Allen on their side vowing not to eat "freedom fries," but it takes more than celebrity promotions to overcome travel obstacles.
So the French travel industry is rolling out some alluring discounts in hopes of bringing Americans back. Take, for example, the upscale Sofitel hotels offering a four-nights-for- the-price-of- three package from June 27 through Sept. 14 at certain hotels in Paris, Lyon and Marseilles. Relais & amp; Chateaux, an international chain of hotels and restaurants, also is offering four nights for three or three nights for the price of two in select French hotels through October, if booked by June 30, while six Concorde Hotels invite Americans to stay three weekend nights for the price of two through Aug. 31.
Not to be outdone, Air France is dropping rates as low as $354 round trip to France. Rail Europe has a 30-percent reduction on Eurostar fares between Paris and London, 40-percent to 70-percent early-bird discounts between France and Italy, Belgium and Switzerland, a 50-percent summer special on all Thalys routes, and up to $130 off Eurail and EurailSelectpass multiple country pass. Check www.franceguide.com for all discounts and www.raileurope.com for rail deals.
Combined dispatches