Jaunted

Tags: Stupid Ideas / Denver Travel / Balloons / Colorado Travel / → All Tags

Balloon Boy Story Deflates In Face Of Possible Criminal Charges

For the hour or so that the nation stopped on Thursday, dying of anticipation and worry for the boy that supposedly had floated off from his family's backyard in a homemade balloon, we were entertained, titillated, alarmed...but most of all we were duped. It was declared over the weekend, after authorities spoke with the Heene family and after the boy, Falcon, made the statement that "we did this for the show" during an interview with Wolf Blitzer, that the whole incident had been a hoax to gain publicity.

Publicity for what? Well, a reality show of course, although one that doesn't exist and probably never will if felony charges are filed as promised. The Heenes, a storm-chasing family that regularly conducts science fiction-y experiments (hence the balloon) and has been featured on several dramatic episodes of Wife Swap had been shopping around a reality show following their family life; a "Jon and Kate Plus 8," but more like "Richard and Mayumi Plus 3 Boys Living Dangerously." So dangerously, that everyone believed that Falcon was indeed inside the balloon, only to later discover that he was hiding in a box in the garage's attic at home.

more ›

Tags: Breaking News / Balloons / DIA / Denver / Denver Travel / → All Tags

Homemade Balloon Lands Near Denver Airport, Wife Swap Son Missing

Update 8am EST 10/16: The boy was found hiding in the attic at this house. Since then, the family has been interviewed several times, managing to embarrass themselves when the boy possibly revealed it all as a hoax on Larry King Live and then vomited live on air during the Today Show. We're sure this story will continue.

This afternoon, an emergency story gripped the nation and the internet as it was announced that a 6 year-old boy, Falcon Heene, had taken off in a homemade UFO-shaped balloon and was floating towards Denver International Airport, causing helicopters and air traffic authorities to mobilize in order to track it and bring it safely to the ground.

The balloon, a weak craft with a plywood bottom and a small door through which it is believed the child entered, floated between 5,000 to 7,000 feet for hours, taking off from near Ft. Collins and landing a field near Hudson, CO. The child was not inside of the craft and the search for him continues.

In the meantime, we have realized (as has Huffington Post) that the boy is the son of one of the families featured on the popular TV show Wife Swap. The family, the Heenes, were the reckless family who were stormchasers and daredevils; the wife was switched to a ultra safety-conscious mom. The episode was so spectacular that it opened the season for the show, and one of the children notoriously says "F*ck these rules" to the swapped mom. Check out a clip of that here.

The video, after the jump.

more ›

Tags: Recessionomics / Barack Obama / Stimulus Package / → All Tags

How Does The President's Economic Recovery Plan Affect Travel?

Yesterday in Denver, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law, his job-creation and spending bill aimed at getting the economy back on track. Comprising $787 billion in spending, there's something for everyone in the stimulus package; while the American Society of Travel Agents called the bill "a missed opportunity" for its failure to help small-business owners, you may already be a winner thanks to infusions for these sectors:

Road-trippers and commuters. -- One provision in the $82.1 billion slice dedicated to tax credit payments will allow buyers of new cars to deduct sales or excise taxes on vehicles up to $49,500 (as long as you make less than $125,000). City dwellers got some goodies too: You can now set aside $230 a month in pre-tax dollars to pay for public transit to get to work (up from $120) if your employer participates in a program like TransitChek.

more ›

Tags: Accidents / Airlines / Airline News / Airline Travel / Airline Fees / Continental / → All Tags

Denver Jet Crash: Scary, But It Could Have Been Way Worse

A Houston-bound jet skidded off the runway and caught on fire during takeoff in Denver Saturday night, resulting in 38 injuries but no fatalities. Some witnesses said the Continental 737 hadn't left the ground yet when it veered off the runway and into a ravine.

There's no doubt it was a terrifying situation for the 112 passengers on board, who had to exit the plane via inflatable slide, but I'm sure most of them consider themselves lucky right now, like they just got a new lease on life. Just think about how much worse it would have been if the plane was a few hundred feet in the sky before going out of control.

It also sounds like the evacuation went pretty well. College student Emily Pellegrini told the Denver Post that she just "went with the flow off the plane," leaving behind her cell phone and carry-on bag. Somebody's been paying attention to the passenger emergency procedures demonstration.

Investigators are on the scene, and the cause of the accident is under investigation. Not surprisingly, the incident has resulted in some delays, but for one fortunate group of fliers, that probably doesn't seem like a big deal right now.

[Photo: AP]

Related Stories:
· DIA Crash Injures 38 [Denver Post]
· Accident Coverage [Jaunted]

Tags: Beer / Fall Travel / → All Tags

Fall Travel: Say "Scumps!" at the Great American Beer Festival

It's Friday. You've been working and you've just about had it. Unless you're one of those lucky people already at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver this weekend, in which case: We hate you. Now get off the Internet and buy us a pint!

The fest, administered by the Brewers Association, is a brewers' competition and a tippler's delight with some 1,800 beers. But you can't actually get a pint of any of them--instead, they are served in one-ounce tasting portions more familiar to fans of "Sideways" than, well, "Beerfest."

The show is sold out according to its organizers, but for the dedicated drinker Craigslist shall provide. The party runs through Saturday at the Colorado Convention Center.

Related Stories:
· A 750 Mile Taxi Ride For A Beer [Jaunted]
· Boozy Travel: World Beer Festival [Jaunted]
· Beer coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: duggus]

Tags: Celeb Travel / DNC / Charlize Theron / Movie Set Travel / → All Tags

Celeb DNC Travel: A Protest, Onscreen

Please, I'm here to work! Charlize Theron keeps her head down en route to the premiere of her new politically motivated movie "Battle in Seattle" in Denver yesterday.

The directorial debut of Theron's beau Stuart Townsend costars Ray Liotta, Andre 3000 and Channing Tatum and takes place during the 1999 WTO protests in Washington state. While negotiations faltered inside, nonviolent crowds outside prompted the city to call in the National Guard, but talks eventually had to be relocated to Qatar. (Liotta plays the embattled mayor!)

Hopefully the flick won't induce traumatic flashbacks in any DNC visitors who may have also been active in that movement.

Related Stories:
· Where Real "Grey's Anatomy" Nurses Hang Out In Seattle [Jaunted]
· Celeb DNC Travel: Sheryl Feels Inspired [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: JustJared]

Tags: 2008 Candidates Travel / Celeb Travel / Ben Affleck / Scarlett Johansson / Democratic National Convention / Republican National Convention / → All Tags

Political Celeb Travel: First-Class to Denver for the DNC

The Democratic National Convention will be held August 25-28, and we bet a lot of people would love to be there whether they support presumptive nominee Barack Obama or not. And stars are no exception: Gossips are predicting an unprecedented level of celeb sightings next week in Denver.

more ›

Tags: Political Travel / Prostitution / Protests / → All Tags

Denver Gearing Up for Sex and Violence at Democratic National Convention

The Democratic National Convention is just eight days away, and the mile-high city of Denver is gearing up for four days of speechifying, glad-handing, and baby-kissing as Barack Obama officially accepts his party's nomination for the presidency. And while organizers are looking forward to a week of virtuous pronouncements, other groups are expecting the seedy side of the DNC to rear its ugly head.

News crews from CBS reportedly discovered a "concentration camp" that was built by local police to house all the protesters they expect to arrest during the convention. A warehouse on the north-east side of town was equipped with metal holding pens, fences topped with barbed wire, and a sign that warns of "electric stun devices used in this facility."

Meanwhile, an organization called Street's Hope is planning on reaching out to the 40,000 prostitutes they estimate will be in town to entertain the philandering delegates. The group aims to offer a way out for sex workers who want to leave their lives of prostitution, offering outreach, counseling, and lots of prayer. One can't help but wonder how many prostitutes they estimate the Republican convention will draw. Would they low-ball the figure to make the GOP look a bit more saintly?

In any case, if you're headed to Denver, be careful of where you protest and who you go to bed with, because plenty of sanctimonious moralists will be watching your every move.

Related Stories:
· News Crew Crashes Denver's DNC Concentration Camp [The Raw Story]
· Who Will Save the Hookers at the DNC? [Demver]
· Political Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Street's Hope]

Tags: Smoking / Crime / Airline Hell / Bad Seatmates / Christina Szele / → All Tags

Smokin' Szele Plans to Cop a Plea

Infamous JetBlue passenger Christina Szele will plead guilty to at least some of the federal charges she's facing, according to the Denver Post, citing court documents in the case.

Szele, you'll no doubt remember, reportedly sparked up a cig on her flight between New York and San Francisco and flew into a rage when a flight attendant snatched it from her lips. She was booted off her A320 after it made an emergency pit stop in Denver.

With the plea, it's unlikely she'll get the maximum penalty she could've drawn, but US Attorney Troy Eid is definitely making an example of Szele--just like he promised.

Related Stories:
· JetBlue Flier to Plead Guilty [Jaunted]
· Smokin' Szele Indicted by Federal Grand Jury [Jaunted]
· Drunken Air Rage: Summer's Hottest Trend! [Jaunted]
· Bad Seatmates coverage [Jaunted]

Tags: Smoking / Crime / Airline Hell / Bad Seatmates / Christina Szele / → All Tags

Smokin' Szele Indicted by Federal Grand Jury

Christina Szele, the enraged passenger who allegedly punched a flight attendant after he snatched a lit cigarette from her lips, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver. They say there's enough evidence to prosecute on the original charges of assault and interference with a flight crew--and the jury adds that another charge of assault is in order for Szele's behavior toward a second FA.

The US attorney in the case, Troy Eid, says he's not afraid to make an example of Szele, who authorities say caused such a ruckus that the pilot on her flight had to make an unscheduled stop at Denver International to toss her.

The "anything-goes-on-an-airplane" culture must end. Mess with a commercial flight crew and expect to face the consequences.

And consequences there certainly may be: If found guilty of the interference charge, Szele faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000!

Related Stories:
· Press Release about the Indictment [Official DOJ Site]
· Nicotine Fiend Flips out on JetBlue [Jaunted]
· Bad Seatmates coverage [Jaunted]

Tags: Christina Szele / Drugs / Drug Travel / → All Tags

Flying High: Potentially Great News for Snoop, Potheads

Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation is a Colorado-based group that says marijuana is less harmful than alcohol. And what better time to get that message out there than after a boozed-up passenger got thrown off her JetBlue flight at DIA.

Says SAFER Excutive Director Mason Tvert:

Adults should be allowed another option for relaxing and dealing with their anxiety when they fly. It is irrational and potentially dangerous policy to continue allowing passengers to get drunk before and during flights while prohibiting them from simply making the safer choice to use marijuana prior to boarding.

We can think of at least one travel guru would probably get behind this effort: Rick Steves. And come to think of it, SFO already has one pre-boarding pot lounge. Book those flights now, Snoop!

Related Stories:
· SAFER [Official Site]
· Group Calls for Airport Marijuana Lounges [KUSA]
· Nicotine Fiend Flips out on JetBlue [Jaunted]

[Photo of Snoop's 2006 arrest at BUR: US Weekly]

Tags: Missed Connections / 2008 Candidates Travel / Restaurants / Bars / Gardens / Botanical Gardens / LGBT / → All Tags

Missed Connections in Denver: Candidates Travel Edition

The Democratic National Convention won't happen till the last weekend in August, but campaign staffers were finally able to take a brief travel break with the media anointing of the Democratic nominee for president.

While political road warriors take a break, we're thinking ahead to the convention--and the delightful Dems coming to the Mile High City. Drinking liberally? Try dating liberally:

Hambrger Mary's :: Tasty burgers and stalk-y patrons tantalize at this LGBT-friendly restaurant with a full bar. 700 E. 17th Ave.

more ›