Best Art Museums in the USA

The United States truly boasts so many great art museums that it’ll be almost a ‘crime’ leaving anyone out! However, after much debate and deliberation with the team, we've come up with a selection of ten of the best art museums you can visit in the US. There are as follows:

Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

The Museum of Modern Art, also known as MoMA, is without a doubt one of the best art museums in the USA. The museum is located in New York City on 53rd street, and boasts the best collection of modern masterpieces in the world by artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali among other notables. Besides great painting masterpieces, the Museum of Modern Art boasts other great collections on display such as sculptures, architecture and design, modern photography and films. The MoMA is also an excellent art museum as it boasts programs aimed at teens and families such as hands-on workshops, play areas fro kids and talks on art making techniques.

Boston Museum of Fine Arts

The Boston Museum of Fine Arts is one of the best art museums in the USA and also one of the most visited museums in the country. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts is located right in the center of Boston and it’s one of the largest museums that you’ll ever set foot inside! The museum boasts three floors featuring paintings, collections and exhibition areas such as the renowned Art of the Americas Wing. The Art of the Americas Wing is one of the biggest attractions at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts since this area contains over 50 galleries exhibiting pre-Columbian art works and ceramics, as well as colonial works by American painter John Singleton Copley. There are also plenty of programs, events and activities to suit everyone such as gallery tours, studio art classes, museum concerts and MFA First Fridays.

Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is located in NYC in New York State and it’s one of the most famous museums in the US where you can view American Art. The Met, as it’s also known as, boasts hundreds of great collections on world art and so many exhibits such as American decorative arts, European paintings and Egyptian art that you can easily spend an entire afternoon there, and still not get to see everything that the Metropolitan Museum of Art has on offer

National Gallery of Art

The National Gallery of Art is located in National Mall in the heart of Washington DC, and it's just a short walk north of the Smithsonian Institution, which is another must-see museum in District of Columbia. The National Gallery of Art is, without a doubt, one of the best art museums in the USA and the best thing about it is that admission is free!

Another reason why the National Gallery of Art receives so many accolades and it’s renowned across the United States is because the National Gallery of Art is the only museum in the US boasting the only Leonardo Da Vinci. The National Gallery of Art is also one of the largest and most interactive museums in the country, so you can really a nice afternoon here without getting bored! There are many great collections on American and European art, and you’ll be able to also enjoy free audio tours.

Japan salutes fans, victorious Puerto Ricans after being eliminated from World Baseball Classic

Despite the disappointment of its first elimination from World Baseball Classic play, Japan still staged a commendable display of sportsmanship on Sunday night. Moments after Puerto Rico's 3-1 victory over Japan was complete, the two-time defending champs assembled along the third-base line at AT&T Park. First they saluted the crowd, which was heavily in favor of Japan all night long. Then they turned and offered a salute to Puerto Rico's players, who were busy celebrating its first-ever berth in the World Baseball Classic final.

Though you could see the loss was already weighing on the Japanese team in both their faces and gestures, it was still a friendly moment befitting an international competition that aims to bridge countries and cultures, nine innings of diplomacy at a time.

Top 10 Hispanic baby names in 2012

Top 10 Hispanic baby names in 2012

 

Top 10 Hispanic baby names for boys in 2012

Boys' names are usually more conservative and traditional than girls' names, and this year they were even more so. There were few changes in the top 10 list, with Santiago in the number one slot and Matías in second place (up one place from last year).

Leonardo climbed 14 places from his position last year and remains just outside the top 10 list, at number 11. No doubt he owes his ascent to the popularity of actors Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem's baby boy

 

1.       Santiago

2.       Matías

3.       Sebastián

4.       Mateo

5.       Nicolás

6.       Alejandro

7.       Samuel

8.       Diego

9.       Daniel

10.    Benjamín

Top 10 Hispanic baby names for girls in 2012

First place once again goes to Sofía, who has been at the top of the list for six years. Isabella remains in second place and came on strong this year, committed to dethroning Sofía, but in the end wasn't successful.

In general, the top 10 list saw little change compared with last year, with Camila, Valentina, Mariana, Valeria, Gabriela, and Daniela taking the first few spots.

The only new entries in the top 10 list are Ximena and María José, knocking out Gabriela and Daniela. This is the first time that the most popular compound name for girls, María José, appears on the top 10 list.

 

1.       Sofía

2.       Isabella

3.       Valentina

4.       Camila

5.       Valeria

6.       Luciana

7.       Ximena/Jimena

8.       Mariana

9.       María José

10.    Victoria

    The Strangest Beer in America

Short's Brewing Company: Key Lime Pie

At first blush, the beers from Short's Brewing seem like a high-concept joke. What else can one think about Pistachio Cream Ale, PB&J Stout, and Strawberry Short's Cake?

But these weirdos work, none better than Key Lime Pie. Graham crackers, marshmallow fluff, and fresh limes conspire to create a tart-and-sweet treat that won gold at 2010's Great American Beer Festival.

Wynkoop Brewing Company: Rocky Mountain Oyster Stout

Originally an April Fools' Day joke, this audacious beer became reality this fall when the Denver brewery cooked up a rich, inky stout flavored with Rocky Mountain oysters, better known as bull testicles.

Though the stout may only seem suited for Andrew Zimmern, it drinks like a smooth, chocolaty dream.

Flying Dog Brewery: Pearl Necklace Oyster Stout

Are Rocky Mountain oysters too off-putting? Fine. Try this silky, roasty stout from Maryland's Flying Dog, which is made with locally harvested Rappahannock River oysters.

Drink the stout, then down an oyster, and the beer's sweetness will draw out the bivalve's corresponding flavor, while accentuating the stout's briny nuance.

Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales: Noble Rot

Noble Rot is a brew that beer lovers and wine drinkers can agree upon. The daring Delaware brewery infuses the beer with two additions of unfermented grape juice, including viognier grapes infected with botrytis fungus (the namesake "noble rot"), which create dessert wines like Sauternes.

The result is tart, lightly spicy, and subtly sweet, with a dry finish

Twisted Pine Brewery: Ghost Face Killa

One of the world's hottest peppers is India's bhut jolokia, commonly called the ghost pepper. Colorado's Twisted Pine has instead incorporated the bhut jolokia into its appropriately named Ghost Face Killa (a riff on Wu-Tang Clan rapper Ghost Face Killah).

It's as crisp as it is fiery.

Willoughby Brewing Co. Peanut Butter Cup Coffee Porter

Many beers are made with hazelnuts, pecans, and chestnuts, but peanuts have been largely overlooked. But on a recent trip to Cleveland, Ohio, I serendipitously discovered this ingenious porter from Willoughby Brewing.

It tastes a bit like the love child of Starbucks coffee and a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.

Hispanic American Firsts in the NFL

    Hispanic American Firsts in the NFL

    

First Hispanic American Drafted by a NFL Club: Joe Aguirre, End (St. Mary's College of California) Picked by the Washington Redskins in the ninth round of the 1941 draft.

First Hispanic American Quarterback in the NFL: Tom Flores (Pacific), Oakland Raiders (AFL) 1960

First Hispanic American to Win All-League Honors: Joe Aguirre, End (St. Mary's College of California), Washington Redskins, 1943

First Hispanic American to Win Individual League Statistical Championship: Steve Van Buren, Running Back (LSU), Philadelphia Eagles 1944 (punt return yardage)

Steve Van Buren

First Hispanic American Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: Steve Van Buren, Running Back (LSU), Philadelphia Eagles 1944-1951, elected 1968

First Hispanic American Selected First Overall in the NFL Draft: Jim Plunkett, Quarterback (Stanford), New England Patriots 1971

                                                                  Steve Van Buren

How much you know Puerto Rico?

How much you know Puerto Rico?

Find out go to this link and take the quiz 

http://gotoquiz.com/MCZXt

What Is the Relationship Between Puerto Rico and the U.S.?

 What Is the Relationship Between Puerto Rico and the U.S.?

Many travelers wonder about the exact nature of the relationship between Puerto Rico and the U.S. And, to be fair, it can be confusing, because it is a unique social, economic, and political compromise. For example, bookstores in the U.S. put travel guides to Puerto Rico in their "International Travel" section rather than "Domestic Travel," where it belongs. On the other hand, Puerto Rico is technically part of the United States. So ... what's the answer? Find out here.

Is Puerto Rico a U.S. State? 
No, Puerto Rico is not a state, but rather a Commonwealth of the United States. This status provides local autonomy to the island and allows Puerto Rico to publicly display its flag. However, the government of Puerto Rico, while ostensibly a local responsibility, falls ultimately on the U.S. Congress. The elected governor of Puerto Rico occupies the highest public office on the island

Are Puerto Ricans U.S. citizens? 
Yes, Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, and make up about 1.3% of the total population of the United States. They enjoy all the benefits of citizenship, save one: Puerto Ricans who live in Puerto Rico cannot vote for the U.S. President in the general elections (those who live in the United States are allowed to vote).

In What Way Is Puerto Rico Autonomous? 
For the most part, the day-to-day governing of the island is left up to the local administration. Puerto Ricans elect their own public officials and their model of government closely resembles the U.S. system; Puerto Rico has a Constitution (ratified in 1952), a Senate and a House of Representatives. Both English and Spanish are the official languages of the island. Here are some other quirky examples of Puerto Rico's semi-independent status:

·                        The winner of the 2006 "Miss Universe" pageant was Miss Puerto Rico, not Miss USA.

·                        In the Olympic Games, Puerto Rico fields its own athletic team, separate from the Americans.

·                        Puerto Ricans don’t file federal income tax returns, unless they work for the Federal government.

In What Way Is Puerto Rico "American"? 
The simplest answer is that it is at the end of the day U.S. territory and its people are U.S. citizens. In addition:

·                        Puerto Rico's currency is the U.S. dollar.

·                        Puerto Ricans serve in the U.S. armed forces.

·                        The island uses the U.S. Postal Service.

·                        The American flag flies over Puerto Rico's Capital

                      

                     for more information visit:

                      lhttp://welcome.topuertorico.org/index.shtml