Humble until the end, Casey Abrams recently spoke on his elimination from American Idol.
The bearded crooner told MTV he had a feeling his name would be called on Thursday night. Not because he did poorly, but because he was so impressed by his competitors.
My performance was pretty good," he said. "But seeing Jacob kill it and then seeing Haley kill it, seeing Scotty and Lauren kill it and Durbin obviously... it just made me feel like, 'These guys are incredible. These guys could carry the show. I don't really need to be here, so if I go home tomorrow, I'm prepared.'"
The bearded crooner told MTV he had a feeling his name would be called on Thursday night. Not because he did poorly, but because he was so impressed by his competitors.
My performance was pretty good," he said. "But seeing Jacob kill it and then seeing Haley kill it, seeing Scotty and Lauren kill it and Durbin obviously... it just made me feel like, 'These guys are incredible. These guys could carry the show. I don't really need to be here, so if I go home tomorrow, I'm prepared.'"
On a personal note, Casey's goodbye to contestant Haley Reinhart - which included a kiss - forced him to clear up all rumors about the two dating. He just refers to her as his "special music friend."
"I was completely on random mode. I didn't plan on ending up on Haley; it just happened that way. Nothing was planned," he said of his hug and kiss-filled farewell on stage.
Does the talented singer (he plays cello, bass, drums and clarinet) have any parting words of advice?
"Don't take yourself too seriously. Take music seriously, but not yourself."
Set alongside several other hotels, between 5th and 6th Avenues – yes, the famous 5th avenue, a.k.a the shopping haven – the Iroquois New York will make you feel at home, assuming your home is equally an urban luxury. Upon arriving I was greeted by the courteous bell staff and found a moment of solace in the small library hidden in the back of the lobby. I had to peek into my luggage in search of a jacket, and sitting amongst the fresh tropical flowers, oak bookcases, and overhead plasma – which I later found out was a handy flight information screen – I felt very comfortable, like I was in a friend's (very upper class) living room. 
The only thing that might actually tear you away from the bed after a long day is Triomphe - the hotel's elegant restaurant, ranked by Zagat guides – the top name in restaurant rankings – as one of Zagat's top 25 picks. The intimate restaurant might get overlooked by tourists passing-by, but once seated and presented with a menu, there's little you will want to miss. For that very reason you should go for their fabulous tasting menu with accompanying wine pairings. 
Nonetheless, we ventured forward, and just after we began our descent into the cauldron of Death Valley our temperature gauge stared rising... and rising. The rabbits, gophers and small wildlife that we had seen earlier had all but disappeared. Apparently, the all-consuming heat of Death Valley is too much for even them. In fact, it seemed to be too hot for much of anything, as not only could we not see any wildlife, but there seemed to be no vegetation at all. 
Finally, we reached our destination. Amidst the desolate valley, we found our oasis: the 75 year old Furnace Creek Inn. A seeming mirage, with its lush gardens and tropical pink and yellow-orange stucco walls beautiful even at night. Unfortunately, the five star Furnace Creek Inn was under renovations while we were there, so we'll have to wait until our next visit to tell you more about the Inn. Fortunately, the Furnace Creek Ranch is right around the corner. 
We decided to check in, and made our way to our room in the Furnace Creek Ranch, where we would spend our first night. As we stepped out of our car and into the dry desert heat, we decided that it might be best to go to sleep right away, as the temperatures rise quickly in the morning to highs of 125 degrees. 
For those wanting to explore, there is plenty to do at The Furnace Creek Resort and within Death Valley National Park. The Ranch offers daytime or moonlight horseback rides, champagne carriage rides and hay wagon rides. The surrounding areas offer many attractions including the ghost towns of Rhyolite and Death Valley Junction, the Amargosa Opera, Charcoal Kilns (that look like 25-foot beehives), Mosaic Canyon, Stovepipe Wells Village, "Scotty's Castle" museum, the "Badwater" region (the lowest spot in the Western Hemisphere at 282 feet below sea level). 
At 5,400 feet, Dante's View is the best place to get a good look at the wonders of Death Valley, including Mushroom Rock, Badwater, Zabriskie Point, and the ruins of the Harmony Borax Works. 
After spending several days in Rome, where I took in all the usual sights and sceneries, I didn't know what to expect from the 16th century villa. But beyond any expectations, I was in awe as I went up the hillside, into the tree-lined setting where the castle-like luxury hotel lay. A vast departure from city hotels, inside the Villa Grazioli I found myself transfixed on the pictorial depictions on the ceilings. As grand as any museum, but equally inviting, I couldn't believe I would actually be staying there. 
With its secluded location, I was initially worried that I might run out of things to do, but I didn't realize that the Villa Grazioli would be in itself a destination. With a film-worthy history – the villa was built by a Cardinal, used as an arms depot in WWII when it was nearly bombed, and then abandoned for use by homeless neighbors who ravaged the building – I spent several days just discovering the villa and surroundings. On the first floor of the main building, there is a gallery of frescoes that fill the walls and ceilings of the entire floor, by acclaimed 18th century painter G. P. Pannini. The famous works take you into a time of opulence and discovery, at the height of the villa's glory days. 
Fine, I'll start with the toilets. When you need to or not, you really must visit the men's washroom just outside the Capitol Grille and the Oak Bar. It is entirely green-and-black-striped in true Art Deco style--complete with shoe shining chairs (I'll admit it, I sneaked in!). When you're there, you'll truly feel as through you're stepping into the past. When the hotel opened in 1910, it became the center for Nashville's social, political, and business circles. In fact, it was at the Hermitage Hotel that a very famous and important meeting took place in 1920. It was during this meeting that the single swing vote was cast, providing Tennessee women with the right to vote. In short, the place reeks with social and political history. 
Famished after a long day on the road, my travelmate and I dined in hotel's posh, subterranean Capitol Grille, where the vaulted ceilings and massive supporting columns create an atmosphere of coziness that belies the room's relatively large size. The restaurant's comfortable high-back chairs and loveseats, and spacious layout, offer plenty of space between the tables for a private and romantic atmosphere. As a starter, I can highly recommend the "Tasting of This Evening's Soups", which is just what it claims to be: three little cups of delicious soups, perfect for comfort food fans like me. 
My companion ordered the pan-roasted jumbo prawns, which are prepared with a unique combination of ingredients that includes watermelon, cucumber, pearl pasta, avocado, and lemon coulis. The combination worked well, a refreshing twist from the ordinary. While I would have liked to be more adventurous with my main course, there is something about those vaulted ceilings and the patina of history that made me feel obliged to order a Grilled Tennessee Black Angus Beef Tenderloin. The waiter assured me I would not regret my decision, and he was certainly right. The steak was perfectly prepared and artfully seasoned. 
The linens, which are of the finest quality, and the many fluffy pillows, make this just about the most comfortable sleep we can imagine. In fact, even through we'd just arrived in Nashville, we found ourselves tempted to order up a movie and popcorn and spend the night lounging around indoors! Did I mention the rooms have Jacuzzi tubs? 
And it's not just country music anymore. Nashville, known nowadays simply as "Music City" is advertised as a vibrant cultural Mecca. On the weekend we visited, the scene was enlivened by an international Harley Davidson owner's convention. Where else but in Nashville would the makers of the quintessential American road machine celebrate their hundredth anniversary? Live to ride, ride to live, baby.
