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Editor: Vinohrady, meaning “vineyards” in Czech, is a residential district to the southeast of Prague’s Old Town. It is also home to the majority of the city’s gay bars (and clubs). To get there, take line A of the metro to Jiriho z Podebrad (prounounced “YEE-rzhee-hoh z POH-dyeh-brad”). You’ll find Stella (http://stellaclub.webpark.cz) hidden on a side street off of Francouzská. Intimate, dimly-lit, and cozy, this small bar is a favorite among locals and remains unknown to the majority of visitors to the city. No loud music means a real opportunity for conversation with that dashing Czech guy on one of the couches. However, be advised that since Stella is truly a local bar, English interactions are not guaranteed. You’ll likely have better luck in your native tongue at Saints (www.praguesaints.cz), a hangout popular among the expat community that is located only a few avenues away. About the size of Stella, Saints is usually not as crowded. Valentino (www.club-valentino.cz), a few blocks’ walk toward the center, is the city’s newest and hippest gay bar. Located behind the National Museum at the top of Wenceslas Square, Valentino draws a crowd of mixed ages and nationalities (although it is still predominantly Czech). The stylish bar at street level is connected via stairs to two underground club levels (and the scene becomes seedier the farther down you go). As the largest and most popular gay establishment in the city, it is definitely worth a stop during your stay. Meanwhile, Friends (www.friends-prague.cz), on Bartolomejská Street in the center, is just a short walk from the architectural splendors of Old Town Square.

SKY LIGHTS
A friend of mine recently suggested that I go see the Northern Lights. Where exactly do I go to view this beautiful lightshow in the sky?
—Darren, Nashville, TN

Editor: The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, shows up when excited particles from space collide with earth’s atmosphere, releasing energy in the form of colored light. Since we’re much better at travel than science, we’ll leave the details to the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Aurora FAQ (http://odin.gi.alaska.edu/FAQ). To see the aurora, head north! Very north. Chances of glimpsing those eerie overhead emanations are best near or inside the Arctic Circle. If you prefer to stay domestic, Alaska is your best bet. Think of Fairbanks, where many lodges and hotels organize viewing trips. Some will even give you a wake-up call should a light show occur during the night, as the period of greatest frequency is the hours around midnight. If you are truly adventurous, head to frosty Spitsbergen on Norway’s Svalbard archipelago—the world’s northernmost destination serviced by regular flights (the nearest international airport is Oslo, more than 1,300 miles to the south). There, for a ten-week period around the winter solstice, it is dark enough to see the Lights during the day. Hurtigruten (www.hurtigruten.us) offers a number of cruises to Spitsbergen, and their ships stop at other prime viewing points in Norway, such as Tromso. The company offers voyages to Greenland as well, another place to spy those greens and reds. Don’t forget Iceland either. Whichever destination you choose, go in winter (October–March) to maximize your chances.

NATURAL NEW YORK
Even though New York defines big city atmosphere, there must be some green spots there too. I know of Central Park and Battery Park, but are there other areas that are worth experiencing when visiting the Big Apple?
—Ethan, Cheyenne, WY

Editor: To get out of the clutches of the concrete jungle, head to the famed New York Botanical Garden (www.nybg.org) in the Bronx to catch nature in full bloom. On Wednesdays from late June through late October, they feature a particularly verdant farmer’s market at the gardens, so you can get some healthy snacks for the hotel. If you prefer Brooklyn to the Bronx, opt for the smaller but just as striking Brooklyn Botanic Garden (www.bbg.org). You can really get away from the city buzz at their outdoor summer yoga classes in a truly spectacular garden setting, and don’t forget the lush, perfume-soaked rose garden and the always-serene water lily pond. The BBG is located right on the edge of Prospect Park (www.prospectpark.org), one of the city’s best. Of course, no trip to New York is complete without a visit to Manhattan’s storied Central Park (www.centralparknyc.org). Its 843 acres of green connect the west side and the east side of the city, and hidden brooks, lakeside gazebos, and an impressive collection of trees are yours to discover. To do so, choose a free guide-led walking tour or just meander on your own. Be sure to check out www.nycgovparks.org for more on all the city’s park spaces. Also note that the streets of the city are getting greener too. Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Million Trees NYC initiative (www.milliontreesnyc.org) is in full swing, and thousands of new trees have already been introduced to the urban environment. April was declared Million Trees NYC Month, and the city is intent upon reaching its lofty planting goal by 2017. Bette Midler’s New York Restoration Project (www.nyrp.org) is also behind the arboreal effort.

[Published: June, 2008]