Company Affair

Fort Wayne is a place that breathes Americana, with the mythical ideas of that perfect land of opportunity. The quality of life is pretty high here, and there’s a wonderful sense of place that the locals seem to take great pride in. There are multiple cultural influences that come through here and reside here, and one of the influences, of course, is that of the Irish. There is a strong Irish-American population here, as evidenced by the enormous success when Guggenheim Grotto played in town at the end of February. It’s events like that that make visiting here a wonderful experience.

Not that it isn’t already pretty wonderful. There are excellent hotels where you can find spectacular hospitality, with all the charms of the Midwest, and all the sophistication of a truly contemporary lodging experience. There are also plenty of local attractions, and lovely ways to spend your days here. But it does seem to really come alive when live concerts bring out the locals and the visitors, coming to hear music and give their energy to the bands. This event was held at the Come 2 Go Music Hall , a rather surprisingly lively place to hear great concerts. It also functions as a place with a religious mission, so it’s somehow unlikely to host such an eclectic variety of bands.

But the acoustics are fantastic, and the atmosphere is always alive. Guggenheim Grotto was a perfect fit, because this duo from Dublin is best heard in intimate spaces, where it sometimes sounds like they’re singing right to the audience. Their own particularly broody and melancholic sounds came alive in the Fort Wayne night, giving everyone a taste of what’s happening right now in the contemporary Irish music scene. They’ve been on a splendid run of tours in the U.S., and with each visit, we’re left waiting for the next one.

Melbourne has many splendid things to offer travelers of all ages.  There is a gorgeous blend of the old and the new here.  The Aboriginal cultures have been here for thousands of years, and their influence is everywhere, whether visible or not.  The European traditions still speak of a high regard for graciousness and chivalry, and there is also a tremendously contemporary attitude that runs through the cultural life of the city.  There is a splendid metropolitan feel here, and easy access to natural areas of great beauty.  There are so many things to recommend Melbourne, and it’s certainly a lovely place for a hotel.  Melbourne, Australia can offer a splendid time for the business traveler as well as the tourist.

Our hotels offer a spectacular level of hospitality, and it’s almost an art form here.  You’ll feel entirely welcome, and soon find yourself relaxing in the heart of splendor, enjoying the spacious and sumptuously furnished lodgings.  After a few winks, you might enjoy a work out in state of the art facilities, or a delicious meal served by top chefs who are trained in classical and contemporary cooking.  Then it’s off to see the city, and there are marvelous adventures in store for you.  Melbourne has been at the cutting edges of culture in the world for a few decades now, and has some interesting histories that are still unfolding.

In the music scene, everything has happened here, and sometimes first, and sometimes twice.  It’s been a very lively place in the international music scene, and its contributions are consistently underrated.  But not when you’re here, and you’ll realize how lively it actually is.  When hiphop first started making its way toward a second wave in the 1980s, and made its major contributions to the canons of world music, it was also big in Melbourne.  It faded away in the 1990s as far as the record companies were concerned, but has actually been extremely lively, and in the past ten years, has undergone some major evolutions.  Melbourne hiphop is now a form all its own, with roots in African-American culture that are very profound, but also touching ground in the U.K. reggae scene, and has been adding some local twists to make it something worth looking for while you’re here.