San Diego, CA – THE SOFIA HOTEL – Sun-Kissed Opulenc…

THE SOFIA HOTEL

www.thesofiahotel.com

Why You’ll Love It

• Central Downtown location
• Free bike rentals to cruise around the city
• Complimentary yoga DVD and on-site gym

When the weather is a balmy perfect degrees year-round, it’s hard not to have a laid-back attitude. Slow your roll for a weekend (or more) at San Diego’s historic Sofia Hotel. Your sun-kissed tan, beach-blown hair, and carefree smile will thank you.

We’re all about a romantic walk down California’s coast, but how about a stroll into the past as well? The Sofia retains its signature 1920s charm while offering 21st century amenities.

Work up an appetite pedaling around Downtown with your free bike rental. The hotel’s Currant Brasserie serves up award-winning American cuisine so you and your beau can toast to a day of fun in the sun.

– Laura, Bloomspot Staff Writer

Downtown
150 W Broadway
San Diego, CA 92101
Between 1st Ave & Front St
(619) 234-9200
www.thesofiahotel.com

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

3.5 stars and 216 reviews on Yelp

“Super cute, comfortable, clean, and oh so chic. Close to everything! I will be back!”

Yelp Reviewer Claudia M., Long Beach, CA, 7/16/11
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“Awesome inclusions like free wi-fi, two free bottles of water a day, and complimentary bikes to cruise around and check out the city … Would definitely stay here again.”

Yelp Reviewer Liz S., Bridgeton, MO, 8/10/11
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“Hands-down the best boutique hotel we’ve ever stayed at.”

Yelp Reviewer MC S., Baltimore, MD, 4/20/11
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“The level of customer service from all the staff I talked to throughout my stay was outstanding …I cannot say enough positive things about this place.”

Yelp Reviewer Frugalista C., San Luis Obispo, CA, 6/26/11
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FEATURED ROOMS

DELUXE QUEEN ROOM

Includes one deluxe queen bed, pillowtop mattress, desk with ergonomic chair, wifi, flat-screen TV with HBO, iPod dock, in-room bottled water, coffee, and condiments, and weekend guided walking tour

DELUXE QUEEN STUDIO SUITE

Includes one deluxe queen bed, pillowtop mattress, one queen-size sofa bed, soaking tub with jets, desk with ergonomic chair, wifi, flat-screen TV with HBO, iPod dock, in-room bottled water, coffee, and condiments, and weekend guided walking tour

See full list of amenities

• Valid for selected dates only.
• Must redeem in one visit; no cash or credit back.
• 15.75% hotel tax will be added upon Bloomspot purchase.
• $7.95 guest service fee per night will be collected upon check-in.
• Cannot be used with other offers or existing reservations.
• Refunds allowed until 11:59PM PST on June 5, 2012. All sales are final after this date.

Just For Laughs…

Just For Laughs…

The Art of Jerico Santander…

Libit Jones…

Yuta Onoda…

Mel Odom…

How to Photograph a Lunar Eclipse… By Fred Espenak…

By Fred Espenak

A lunar eclipse occurs whenever the moon passes through the Earth’s dark shadow, which can only happen during a full moon. There are two or more lunar eclipses a year.

Types of Lunar Eclipses

Penumbral Lunar Eclipse. This occurs when the moon passes through the Earth’s penumbral shadow. These eclipses are subtle and hard to observe.

Partial Lunar Eclipse. This occurs when a portion of the moon passes through the Earth’s umbral shadow. These eclipses are easy to see with the unaided eye.

Total Lunar Eclipse. This occurs when the entire moon passes through the Earth’s umbral shadow. During the total phase (totality), the moon turns a vibrant red color. These are easy to see as well, with the unaided eye.

A lunar eclipse begins as a small notch slowly appears along one edge of the moon. During the next hour, the moon gradually dips deeper into Earth’s dark umbral shadow. If the eclipse is a total one, the last remaining minutes of the partial phases can be quite dramatic. The crescent of the moon grows thinner as darkness propagates through a night sky now deprived of moonlight. If you’re away from city lights, the Milky Way becomes bright and beautiful as the total phase begins.

No matter what kind of camera you own, there are a variety of techniques that you can use to photograph a lunar eclipse: wide-angle, telephoto, multiple exposure and star trail. While you can also use film cameras to photograph eclipses, this article specifically discusses digital camera use…

© Fred Espenak

The moon was photographed every five min. during the total lunar eclipse of Jan. 20-21, 2000, Dunkirk, MD. Nikon N70 SLR and AstroPhysics…Read More

Published on May 21, 2012 by mrcorypoole

Still pictures can be downloaded at http://www.corypoole.com
Become a fan at http://www.facebook.com/CoryPoolePhotography to be notified of new photos when they become available.

700 pictures through a Coronado Solar Max 60 Double Stack telescope were used to make this video. The Telescope has a very narrow bandpass allowing you to see the chromosphere and not the much brighter photosphere below it. The music was composed in Abelton Live.

Category:

Science & Technology

License:

Standard YouTube License

© Fred Espenak

Oct. 28, 2004 total lunar eclipse, widely visible from the USA. Composite of images captures the Moon at the beginning (r.), middle (c.) and end (l.) of totality. Nikon D100, 4 sec. at f/12, using an AstroPhysics 105 EDT Refractor (4″ F/6) and AP 2X Barlow for a focal length of 1200mm.

© Fred Espenak

July 16, 2000 total lunar eclipse, Maui, HI. Nikon 8008 SLR and 35mm NIKKOR lens in multiple exposure mode to capture the entire eclipse on one frame of Kodak Royal Gold 100 film. Basic exposure of 1/125 sec. at f/5.6 was increased to 1/8 sec. within 15 min. of totality, then set to 4 sec. throughout totality. A second metered exposure captures morning twilight and silhouetted palm trees.

© Fred Espenak

Star trail during the total lunar eclipse, Jan. 21, 2000. Nikon 8008 SLR, 50mm NIKKOR, f/16 opened to f/5.6 during totality, for a total exposure time of 2 hrs. and 30 min. on Kodak Royal Gold 400 film. The narrow lines that parallel the Moon’s path are images of bright stars.

© Fred Espenak

Jan. 21, 2000 total Lunar Eclipse, Dunkirk, MD. Nikon N70 SLR on an AstroPhysics 130 EDF +, f/12, Kodak Royal Gold 100 and 400 films. The moon was photographed at five min. intervals throughout the eclipse. You can see every stage of the eclipse from start to finish. Individual images scanned, composite created using Adobe Photoshop.

Rock & Blues Festival…

The 2nd Annual Rock ‘N’ Blues Festival is coming up on June 23 & 24, 2012 and features a free Friday night pre-Festival party including three great bands (Road Ducks, Levee Drivers and John the Conqueror) at High Tides, the venue site. Saturday Festival headliner and closer is the legendaryJOHNNY WINTER. Click here for the updated brochure

Read more: http://www.colonial-beach-virginia-attractions.com/blues-festival.html#ixzz1wSlhsclw

The Colonial Beach Blues Society is putting on a Blues Festival! Not only will you get to see 12 prominent acts perform, but the event benefits autism research. What a great way to spend a June weekend!

Read more: http://www.colonial-beach-virginia-attractions.com/blues-festival.html#ixzz1wSlo6Qx8

Here are all the details:
COLONIAL BEACH ROCK & BLUES FESTIVAL

• Date: June 23 & 24, 2012
  Saturday and Sunday
  Rock & Blues Festival begins at noon both days
  To Benefit the Organization for Autism Research (OAR)

• Location: Outdoors at the “Black Pearl” Tiki Bar next to High Tides on the Potomac 205 Taylor Street, Colonial Beach, VA 22443
  For tickets, contact cbbluessociety@gmail.com, or stop by the Populuxe shop at 222 Wilder.

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Read more: http://www.colonial-beach-virginia-attractions.com/blues-festival.html#ixzz1wSlwVJXZ

• For tickets, contact cbbluessociety@gmail.com, or stop by the Populuxe shop at 222 Wilder.

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The lineup for the 2011 Blues Festival (June 25 & 26) included the following renowned acts:

• Ubangis - Rawk-n-roll from the suburbs of Maryland! Together for just over 20 years, this group brings a steamy slew of surf, rhythm & blues and punk. Online at http://www.ubangis.com
• Bill Kirchen - Best known for his work in the seminal rock-n-roll honky-tonk band Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen, Bill has released eight critically-acclaimed records since that band’s demise in 1976. He’s come to be recognized as one of the world’s finest guitarists. On the web at http://www.billkirchen.com
• Nighthawks - Based in DC and making music for going on forty years, “The Hawks” have toured relentlessly and, although branded as a blues combo, they’ve shared the stage with rockers Carl Perkins and Warren Haynes, as well as blues legends Muddy Waters and Hubert Sumlin. Their website is at http://www.thenighthawks.com
• Big Daddy Stallings - All you’ve got to know about him is that his debut CD One Night Lover hit at #1 on XM Radio’s Bluesville – the station presided over by none other than B.B. King! On the internet at http://www.bigdaddystallings.com
• Stacy Brooks - Since garnering a 2007 WAMA (Washington Area Music Association) nomination for New Artist of the Year, Ms. Brooks has become one of the hardest working women in showbiz, playing nonstop up and down the East Coast. Stacy’s music digs deep into the Chicago and Delta blues’ styles while adding highly innovative takes on the forms. Online at http://www.stacysmusic.org
• Duffy Kane - Maybe the finest Texas blues player since Stevie Ray Vaughn, Duffy’s played festivals and shared stages with such legends as Johnny Winter, the Nighthawks, and Smokey Wilson, to name a few. On the web at http://www.duffykane.com
• Beach Project - Local coffeehouse favorites have graciously agreed to open the Blues Festival. Look for a subtle but captivating mix of Folk, Americana, and some of the bluesier Dylan tunes.
• Anthony “Swampdog” Clark - Competed in the 2010 Washington, DC “Battle of the Blues Bands” and won against some stiff competition. He has achieved national recognition for playing a harder-edged, funk-tinged version of the blues. His website can be found at http://www.anthonyswampdogclark.com
• Little Bit A Blues - Made up of guitarist and composer Warner Williams – one of the finest acoustic pickers around – teaming up with non-parallel harp player Jay Summerour. Together they bring the largely forgotten style of the Piedmont blues – an eastern seaboard style that incorporates fiddle tunes, ballads, country and popular songs, ragtime, and gospel. On the internet at http://www.littlebitablues.com
• Cathy Ponton King - Out of Washington DC, Cathy has a style and bearing all her own, even though she is continually compared to artists like Bonnie Raitt. Her voice is like velvet, with a rich, sassy edge, and her band takes a backseat to no one. Ms. King has jammed with or opened for Albert King, Son Seals, Paul Butterfield, Willie Dixon, Bob Margolin, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Albert Collins, Delbert McClinton, Carl Perkins, and many, many others. Online at http://www.cathypontonking.com
• Andy Poxon - A sixteen-year old wunderkind blues guitarist who sings and writes his own songs, Andy was recently nominated by the Washington Area Music Association for three awards: Best Blues Recording, Best New Artist of the Year, and Best Debut Recording. And he’s ONLY SIXTEEN!!! On the web at http://www.andypoxon.com
• Blue Voodoo - It just wouldn’t be a party without southern Maryland and Northern Neck stalwarts Blue Voodoo. This blues/rock power trio out of Columbia, PA was founded by Bob Noble in 1998 and this edition features veterans John Schatt on bass guitar and Dodd Gross (update: Mark Frey is the current drummer) on drums. Mr. Noble’s played with the Lovin’ Spoonful, the Supremes, Ben E. King, and even with members of pop-metal band Ratt. His website can be found at http://www.bobnobleband.com
• Fiddlin’ Big Al Chidester - The last of a vanishing breed – the traveling troubadour bringing songs of peace, freedom, and political hypocrisy a’la Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger. Listen for him on KRFP Radio Free Moscow 92.5 FM where he deejays and hosts a talk show. http://www.myspace.com/fiddlinbigal

Read more: http://www.colonial-beach-virginia-attractions.com/blues-festival.html#ixzz1wSm7GxQg