Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, was the most successful entertainer of all time. His contributions to music, dance and fashion made him beloved by audiences all over the world for more than four decades. Sadly, his life was cut short all too soon.

The evening starts simply: A romantic scene with a girl and a guy as he asks her to marry him. He leaves and she wonders, “Should I or shouldn’t I?” The lovely girl falls asleep on a bench, and that’s when the treasure trove of wondrous and magical aquatic athletics takes off.

Santa Barbara is beautiful, has great weather, and has some special places to accommodate visitors to the “American Riviera” every day of the year. One of those special places is the Bath Street Inn. As evidenced by the people we met there who came from all over to stay at this charming Bed & Breakfast. We met newlyweds on their honeymoon, with “Just Married” painted on the back window of their car, as well as a mid-west businessman who told us he’d been coming here for years for work trips and considered Bath Street Inn his “home away from home.” A student and her mother traveling from San Francisco to San Diego and a thirty-something woman taking a break from being a single mom in L.A. were there, too.

Many movies are currently being made into musicals. For Billy Elliot, it’s a transition that not only makes sense, but which opens up additional possibilities. Because the story line is about dance, Billy Elliot not only fits the stage, it belongs on stage. There is an energy elicited with live dance performances that can never be captured in quite the same way on screen.

As the house lights dim, a huge mirrored ball descends from the ceiling and starts spinning, spilling light everywhere in the theatre. Disco music accompanies the glimmering effects, and the energy and excitement of this roaring musical takes off. It’s rare to find a show where the audience starts clapping right at the beginning, but that’s what happens with Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

Imagine having your own beautiful cottage in the middle of a vast winery. Then imagine yourself standing in your own private patio, overlooking gently sloping mountains dotted with rows and rows of bright green grapevines.

Fall is a wonderful time to visit Manhattan, and one of the awesome things about the city at any time of year is the variety of cuisines available. In this issue of Agenda, we feature two delightful restaurants in the Big Apple that offer scrumptious food and charming ambience inspired by two different countries—France and Italy. So join us in reading about Orsay Brasserie & Bar and Bar Italia in New York, New York.

The Napa Valley Wine Train is a collection of early 20th century dining cars, dessert cars, a wine-tasting car, lounge cars and 5 locomotives that keep it chugging along 36 miles of track. The last car is the Vista Dome Car, which is the most romantic.

The Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa, California is a little like the wine they produce and sell. You don’t know how good it is until you try it! The 2008 Trinitas Zinfandel they graciously give each guest was outstanding, as was our stay at this very special resort.

Sitting in the lobby of the people-friendly and pet-friendly Cypress Inn in Carmel, California, you can’t help but feel nostalgic for Doris Day. Although not physically present, her aura fills the halls and walls of this lovely hotel, which she co-owns, in downtown Carmel.