Karen Misuraca has two relaunches to share: the expansion of her iPhone app, California Coast North (Sutro Media), complete with more than 260 place descriptions and 2,800+ color photos; and the release of the 8th edition of her guidebook Fun with the Family Northern California (Globe Pequot Press),...

This spring, American Airline’s Blackatlas.com launched a video vignette on the dual nation Caribbean Island of St. Martin/Sint Marteen with Elaine Lee making her debut as guest host. The segment also includes her companion travel blog/guide. If the video is well received, it’s possible she will...

Erin Van Rheenen’s story “Alcatraz, a blooming garden spot” appeared in the Los Angeles Times. We all know the story of the dangerous criminals who were locked away on Alcatraz, but Erin’s story offers a look at the softer side of the island. http://articles.latimes.com/2011/may/22/travel/la-tr-alcatraz-20110522  

A top expert on Cuba and author of Moon Guidebook to Cuba (11th edition), Chris Baker recently appeared on NPR affiliates serving the Central California Coast. If you didn’t catch the broadcast, no worries—it’s available as a podcast. Click on the link to his Moon blog and you will see his link:

http://www.moon.com/blogs/cuba-costa-rica/cuba-expert-christopher-p-baker-interviewed-npr....

Dick Jordan’s blog post about the Connected Travel Technology Showcase in San Francisco features video clips of many of the products on exhibit. Curious? Log on to http://talestoldfromtheroad.com/2011/05/20/qik-video-2/  

Tom Wilmer, a contributing writer for The Tasting Panel Magazine, and photographer John Montgomery teamed up for “The Hallmark of the Future,” an article in the May issue. The article focused on sustainable practices at Wente Vineyards in San Francisco’s East Bay.  

Ginny Prior’s article on taking her son for a college visit to Eugene, Ore., ran in the Hills Newspapers and on contracostatimes.com. “Still Living in the ’60s” By Ginny Prior I’m not one to live in the past, but when the phone rang outside an ice cream parlor at the University...

Sheila O’Connor’s story “The Magna Carta, a Great Charter at the Legion of Honor” appeared on Examiner.com, complete with a two-minute video. Very well spoken, Sheila! http://www.examiner.com/world-travel-in-san-francisco/the-magna-carta-a-great-charter-at-the-legion-of-honor-photos  

“Paradise Found,” Jennie Nunn’s story on Lupita Island, in Tanzania, was published in the April issue of C Magazine (no links available, sorry to say!). As she reports, “On this remote isle in Tanzania, it’s never been so luxurious to be a castaway.”  

The Neiman Marcus Kitchen computer On Saturday, May 21st, 35 BATW members and friends traveled through 2,000 years of computing history. And, courtesy of Mark Coker of Smashwords, took a peek into the future of their craft. The May meeting, hosted by the Computer History Museum, began with a generous...