Tuscan Walking Tours.

Gillian Arthur has lived in Tuscany for more than a decade and heads an organisation called Piccolo which runs tailor-made walking tours for small groups in Tuscany. She is known for her ability to discover the people, places and unspoilt landscapes that are not always obvious to the first-time visitor. Tours are self-guided. You choose your own destination and set your own pace. Detailed instructions and maps of well-researched routes plus Gillian's expert advice on all aspects of the area are supplied whileaccommodation and luggage transfers are arranged.

Sound Factory

618 W 46th St between Eleventh and Twelfth Aves (212-643-0728)


Subway: C, E to 50th St. Hours vary with event.



The long-awaited new incarnation of the legendary Sound Factory finally opened in January 1997. The space is different, but the sound system is allegedly the very same one. However, the club does not have DJ Junior Vasquez, and for many that means it will never be the Sound Factory. In any case, the new model is much more mainstream than its namesake. Unlike the original Factory's streetwise black and Latin gay audience, the new Factory crowd is mostly straight and suburban (they grab cheap flights to thailand and come up for the weekend). DJ Jonathan Peters spins an attack-oriented and, frankly, cheesy brand of hard house, with snare rolls and breakdowns seemingly every other minute. Although closer to the politics of club promotion than its predecessor, the club is also keeping alive the long New York after-hours tradition of free munchies, offering a generous spread of fruit, cookies, potato chips, coffee and more, although it now has a full bar.

Songs and Tales Under African Skies

This interactive eco-musical for children explodes onto the stage with the intoxicating beat of African drums for the festive season. An exciting production, it gives insight into the folklore and cultural life of the people of Africa, as well as the importance of preserving the environment. Young audiences can participate imaginatively in the show, which combines ethnic storytelling, poetry, vibrant song, pulsating rhythms and dance in a dynamic multi-lingual theatrical experience.