It’s no secret that air travelers are spending more time in terminals than ever before, given the current “perfect storm” of security delays, a congested air traffic system, and budget woes for airlines.

It’s a pleasure, then, to find a glimmer of “blue” sky starting to peek through the storm clouds here in our hometown of New York City.  After four years of construction, JetBlue Airways new Terminal at JFK International Airport is set to open its doors within weeks (Oct 1, 2008).  The $750 million terminal is linked to the iconic 1962 TWA terminal designed by Eero Saarinen, which has gone unused since TWA’s demise in 2001.  (more…)

With the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games slated to begin on August 8 at precisely 8:08:08 p.m. China Standard Time, we asked our in-house spiritual advisor to illuminate the esoteric meaning of 8-8-08. That’s a lot of 8s, right? Well, two out of three. Modern numerology uses reductive addition, so 2008 is a 1 (2+0+0+8=10=1+0=1), not an 8. 8s indicate success and completion, while 1s signify purpose, action, fame and ego. Sounds like a winning combination for this year’s Olympics!

With Pisces rising and the chart ruler, Neptune, in the 12^th House of concealment, the horoscope for the Olympics (yes, events have horoscopes for the place and time they’re “born,” just like people) promises mysteries and surprises. And with Uranus in the 1^st House indicating upsets, keep an eye on the underdogs!

Leo is the sign of royalty, so it’s no wonder that on this day we’ll be celebrating the 20^th birthday of Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice of York and the [censored] ^th birthday of our own esteemed chairman, Yvonne Middleton!

 -Jay

Hoping to win by at least a nose? Opening day at Saratoga is this Wednesday, so I’m brushing up on my handicapping skills. If you need to do the same, why not dust off your copy of Picking Winners, the classic primer by Harvard grad and Washington Post horse racing columnist Andrew Beyer? It was first released in 1975 and remains virtually unchanged. Aaand they’re off! -Jay

For young ones, there’s The Little Engine That Could. For the rest of us, there’s Greg Mortenson. Three Cups of Tea follows Mortenson as he loses his way on the descent from K-2 (after failing to summit), then turns his crushing personal blow into an extraordinary achievement in a real-life tale that proves a lack of experience is no match for true passion. Nursed back to health in the remote Pakistani village of Korphe, Mortenson - who, back in the U.S., lived out of his car and booked just enough hours as a nurse to support his mountaineering - makes a promise to the townspeople to return and build a school. It’s a promise that takes on a life of its own, and today his Central Asia Institute has built more than seventy schools for boys and girls in isolated villages across Pakistan and Afghanistan. At a time when cultural misconceptions are fanning the flames of worldwide unrest, Mortenson’s schools are a testament to the power of education as a tool for peace and understanding. And www.penniesforpeace.org offers a great way for children to get directly involved in Mortenson’s work, providing a true-life lesson in the spirit of “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.” — Lucy Vlahakis

During a recent weekend spent in Annapolis, MD, I ventured to the local crab house, ready to indulge in the region’s dining tradition of steamed crabs with Old Bay seasoning.  Our host immediately notified us that the restaurant had run out of crabs.  Dinner conversation that night (while enjoying other gifts from the sea), brought to my attention the struggling blue crab population.  I’ve since learned that one-third of the country’s blue crabs are caught from the Chesapeake Bay, and that its population has fallen nearly 70 percent since 1990.  The decline has been attributed to increased fishing, habitat loss and reduced water quality.  My crab-free meal was a gentle, but poignant, reminder of my own eco responsibilities. - Trish

The nautical theme is in full sail - and on sale - right now at the Ralph Lauren flagship on Madison & 72^nd. If the boat, beach or garden is calling your name, you need to check out the deals on sheets, blankets, throw pillows, candles and more. You’ll find cushions for your boat ($87), queen linen flat sheets ($122) and king navy-and-white cotton flat sheets ($87). Floor sample bargains include the Cape Lodge Bed ($8,313) or Club Chair ($4,431), Noble Estate Dining Chair ($1,433), and Modern Hollywood Ottoman ($1,071). Don’t miss the boat!

What’s the next best place to the Hamptons? It’s Bloomingdale’s, according to our (wo)man on the street, who purchased $5,000 of designer clothing for a scant $500 yesterday! One black cashmere short-sleeved sweater from Ralph Lauren Black Label was originally $600, marked down to $240, and rang up at $60! Other unbelievable deals included a black cashmere Sonia Rykiel sweater ($79), an off-white Akris cashmere blazer ($220), a Ralph Lauren Black Label navy silk blouse ($79), and a yellow silk Gabrielle Strenesse blouse ($58).

What are you doing still reading this? Go now!

Turning a blind eye to the exchange rate, I planned my summer vacation in Croatia and Montenegro.  We started in Dubrovnik and found the Old Town, or “Grad,” surprisingly pristine, with marble walkways, and beautiful architecture.  Walking the city wall afforded us breathtaking vistas of the Adriatic Sea and an eagle’s-eye view of the city.  There were some lingering signs - though minimal - of the early 1990 conflicts, including bullet holes in outlying buildings.

The public ferry took us to Lopud, part of the Elafiti Islands.  With approximately 400 residents, Lopud is considered the most developed of the group.  We stayed in the home of a local woman who spoke virtually no English, but hand signals and grateful smiles worked wonders.  Each morning, she prepared the most glorious breakfast of fresh squeezed lemonade, salami, cheese, and eggs, the latter courtesy of the chickens on her nearby farm.  We timed our trip on the cusp of the high-season, so found great weather, but spartan crowds.

Returning to the mainland, we drove south into Montenegro.  The roads are strikingly similar to the most heart-racing turns of California’s Pacific Coast Highway.  But the country is quite tranquil.  We stayed in Budva, and explored the old town and neighboring Sveti Stefan, which is currently being transformed into a luxury resort.  Day trips included the Bay of Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage site.  Here we embarked on a rather taxing, but ultimately worthwhile, hike to castle ruins perched high above the village of Kotor.

The trip exceeded all of our expectations, and Croatia and Montenegro have quickly been added to our list of travel favorites.

If you’re visiting M&G’s hometown - New York City, New York - over the next several months, take advantage of some “once in a lifetime” opportunities.  June 26th to October 13^th marks the lifespan of the highly anticipated outdoor art installation, “The New York City Waterfalls,” by Danish artist Olafur Eliasson.  A series of four artificial waterfalls as much as 120 feet high and 80 feet wide have been installed in locations from the Brooklyn Bridge to Pier 35 in Manhattan, adjacent to the South Street Seaport.  Visit www.nycwaterfalls.org for more information on hours and best vantage points for this stunning exhibition.

This summer also marks your last chance for a visit to “The House that Ruth Built,” the venerable Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NY.  The Yanks final home game, before they move to the adjacent newly constructed stadium of the same name, is Sept. 21.

We’ll say goodbye to the somewhat less beloved (but memorable) Shea Stadium this year, as well, with the NY Mets final home game scheduled for September 28^th.  The Mets move next door to Citi Field in 2009.