Kansas City, Missouri is known for barbecue, jazz, blues, and its fountains. Sometimes called “The City of Fountains,” Kansas City has hundreds of fountains. In fact, only Rome has more. Most of Kansas City’s fountains have unique sculptures in or around them. Some of them are over 300 years old! The variety and frequency of these landmarks offer ample opportunities to take a mental break from the stresses of metropolitan life. Today, the fountains are appreciated for their beauty, but when they first were built, they served a practical purpose. The Humane Society created them to supply clean water to animals, including the 70,000 horses that lived in the city during the early 1900s. Ken Navarro

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

At night, Dubai might be a spectacle of exciting nightlife, but early in the day, the desert city moves a calmer, more relaxing pace. As the sun rises over the Persian Gulf, there’s a clear contrast between the modern skyscrapers of downtown Dubai and the quiet desert on the outskirts. One of the unique sights of Dubai– seen in this video– is the great number of auras— traditional wooden water taxis that ferry locals and tourists across the Dubai Creek. An interesting feature of these boats is their rustic steering method: many are guided by a simple wooden rudder controlled by ropes and pulleys. Nils is a Munich-born guitarist, producer, and composer. Though most comfortable playing

Indianapolis at Night

After the sun sets, downtown Indianapolis has an exciting nightlife before a backdrop of beautifully-lit buildings and monuments. This eScapes video begins at the city’s Artsgarden, a free venue for art exhibits and performances. Other sights in this video include the Indiana Statehouse, just a few blocks away, and the Indiana War Memorial Plaza, including the Indiana World War Memorial, a prominent building that contains tributes to fallen soldiers and a collection of military artifacts. Larry Carlton is an award-winning guitarist and singer. A longtime studio musician, Carlton recorded on more than 100 gold albums from some of the biggest artists in pop and rock. His distinctive ascent on Steely Dan’s “Kid Charlemange” has been recognized

Shanghai, China (Riverfront at Day)

Old and new come together along Shanghai’s Huangpu Riverfront. The Bund, a historic district with a limit on building heights, sits opposite the Pudong district, full of towering skyscrapers and commercial development. These skyscrapers are symbolic of Shanghai’s modern economic prosperity as the commerce capital of mainland China. Visitors and residents fatigued by the city’s booming activities can find relaxation in city parks such as the Lujiazui Central Green, featured in this video. Bob James is recognized for his role in establishing smooth jazz music. His influence on the genre is unmatched and extends into hip-hop, where his work is often sampled. A keyboardist, James may be best known for “Angela,” the theme from the TV

Las Vegas Strip

Known today as one of the world’s major resort and gambling cities, Las Vegas has long specialized in offering adult entertainment. For much of Vegas’s early history as a railroad boomtown, gambling (and alcohol, under Prohibition) was illegal in the State of Nevada. That was only a minor setback, however: gaming was still active on a small scale in the city’s many speakeasies. Recognizing opportunity in the influx of workers arriving to construct the Hoover Dam, Nevada legalized gambling and Las Vegas’ most famous industry took off. In only a few decades, Vegas had eclipsed the West’s other resort towns (like Galveston, Texas) and become known for its casinos, restaurants, and live entertainment. Today, Las Vegas

Louisville, Kentucky

American Cities
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Downtown Louisville is filled with beautiful architecture and even when it’s not beautiful, it’s distinctive: like the giant baseball bat attached to the Louisville Slugger Museum. This eScapes scene takes you on a relaxing tour of downtown Louisville’s civic buildings, including City Hall (which houses the Metro Council) and Louisville Metro Hall (which houses the Metro Mayor). Outside the Metro Hall, the former Jefferson County Courthouse, stands a 1901 statue of Thomas Jefferson. A more recent, white statue of King Louis XVI stands on the nearby corner– a reminder of Louisville’s namesake. The Rippingtons is a Grammy-nominated American contemporary jazz band. Since its formation in 1985, the band has hosted many well-known musicians that have launched

Denver, Colorado

Denver, Colorado originated as a mining settlement in the mid-1800s. Since its location was determined by gold prospects, it is one of the few cities in history to be founded away from existing transportation routes or bodies of water. Today, Denver is a thriving commercial center with numerous industries and a wealth of tourism attractions. The 16th Street Mall, shown at the beginning of this eScapes video, is a mile-long pedestrian center filled with over 500 shops, restaurants, and bars. It opened in 1982 and was designed by famous modern architect I.M. Pei, who also designed the Louvre’s glass pyramid, the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee has been a Great Lakes port since 1835, and its port has been important through the city’s long history as an industrial powerhouse. Over the past decade, Milwaukee has created a more postindustrial economy, but the Port of Milwaukee is still an important transport center for the city and the entire western Great Lakes region, including Chicago and Minneapolis/St. Paul. The waters around the port are important to recreation and the city’s developing tourism industry. The Milwaukee Boat Line’s Iroquois, seen in this video, is the oldest passenger vessel still operating on the Great Lakes, and offers a variety of entertainment excursions. Walter Beasley is a contemporary jazz saxophonist and a full professor at Boston’s

San Diego, California

San Diego, California has a close relationship to the Pacific Ocean it sits on. A popular destination for boating, surfing, and fishing, San Diego also houses the U.S. Navy’s largest base on the West Coast. This eScapes scene begins with a view of a modern fish bones sculpture adorning Embarcadero Marina Park. Seaport Village, an open-air commercial mall on the seaside, can be seen in the background. This sample video ends with a reverse view of the San Diego skyline from Coronado Island, just across San Diego Bay from downtown. Most of the city’s skyscrapers are close to the same height– due to the proximity of San Diego International Airport, they’re limited to 500 feet– but

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tusla– Oklahoma’s second-largest city– has long been a hub on the oil industry, but is now transitioning to a service-based economy with an emphasis on culture. This eScapes tour of Tulsa begins with a relaxing view of the clouds drifting over the University of Tulsa’s Bayless Plaza. Bayless Plaza, a landscaped gathering place in the middle of the university campus, houses the historic Kendall Bell, traditionally rung by graduating students at the completion of their final exams. Gota (full name Gota Yashiki) is a jazz and pop percussionist, vocalist, and producer. Before his solo debut, he worked with artists including Seal and Sinead O’Connor. Today, Gota still collaborates with other artists often, but is an accomplished

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Kansas City Fountains