JetBlue detailed what it called the first step in its Logan expansion plans with an increase of a total of 11 flights to 12 US cities starting May 1.
Besides its previously announced plans to resume flights between Boston and San Francisco with seasonal service, the discount carrier says it will add second daily flights to Charlotte, N.C.; Chicago O’Hare; Pittsburgh; and Raleigh/Durham, N.C.; a third flight to Buffalo, N.Y., and Long Beach, Calif.; sixth and seventh flights to Dulles; and a ninth and 10th flights to JFK.
JetBlue said in October that it was planning to increase its Logan presence.
Analysts have characterized the growth in Boston as very smart as it targets gaps left by other airlines, which either have dropped routes or are no longer serving them as well as they might.
Boston is already JetBlue's second-largest city, behind New York, and the carrier offers service to more destinations than any other at Logan.
Sebastian White, a JetBlue spokesman, said that he was not sure when the airline would disclose further expansion but expected that there would be more news in the first couple months of 2009.

PORTLAND, Maine--Need a shot of good news, some glad tidings of the season? How about this:
An anonymous donor is subsidizing tickets for the eight remaining Portland Symphony Orchestra Magic of Christmas concerts. Tickets, originally ranging in price from $25 to $55, are now $25 (plus $5 for phone or internet orders through PortTix). Or save the fee by purchasing in person at the box office, 20 Myrtle St., Portland, Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m.
All concerts take place at Portland City Hall's Merrill Auditorium. Here’s the schedule:
Dec. 18 and 19, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 20, 3 and 7:30 p.m., Dec. 21, 1 and 5:00 p.m.

Spirit announced Tuesday that it will launch nonstop daily service from Logan to Atlantic City, N.J., starting May 1.
To mark the event, the discount carrier is offering one-way fares as low as $9 today and tomorrow on its website.
The special deals are only good on a half dozen days in May, and to get the $9 rate you have to be a member of the carrier's $9 Fare Club, which entitles you to at least $9 off the price of any fare -- but to join you either have to pay a $39.95 annual membership fee or get a Spirit MasterCard and charge at least one item a month on it.
Non-Fare Club members can buy tickets under the deal for $18.

Still haven't gotten your Christmas tree?! Good word, well, I know friends who do the same thing, and I won't judge. But know that there is a great way to get that tree this time of month -- up at Killington, Vermont's Festival of Trees. This weekend over 100 fully decorated Christmas trees will be raffled off. Children can play and work in Santa's workshop, which includes storytelling, a toy-making session with Santa's elves, and a visit from the Big Red Guy himself. Check it out in one of my Top 11 events! A portion of proceeds goes to the Rutland community Cupboard. Festival is held at Killington Grand Resort Hotel and runs from Dec. 18-20.

American is going to announce this week that it will reinstate nonstop service between Boston and San Diego on April 7. The carrier stopped running the once daily transcontinental flight in September after the summer's record-high fuel prices made long-haul routes less appealing than shorter ones.
American cut domestic seat capacity by 12 percent this year, and it has slated a 6 percent reduction for next year. But in addition to bringing back the profitable and popular San Diego flight, American also plans to begin offering on April 7 a third daily flight between Boston and St. Louis, a fourth daily flight between Boston and Los Angeles, and a ninth daily flight between Boston and Dallas-Fort Worth. Starting May 1, American plans to offer a third daily flight between Boston and London and resume its daily seasonal flight between Boston and Paris.
But with the deteriorating economy, it's hard forecast how long these additional flights will remain viable.
"This is the first time people don't know what kind of demand we're going to have two to three months from now," James K. Carter, vice president for American's Eastern sales division, told a roomful of the carrier's Logan International Airport managers during a meeting detailing the service changes.
By Nicole C. Wong, Globe Staff

At long last. Delta will start offering in-flight Internet service starting Tuesday.
The service, dubbed Gogo, will be available initially on five MD-88 aircraft flying between New York's LaGuardia and Logan and Washington's Reagan airports, and on one Boeing 757, which will fly different domestic routes.
Next year, the airline will charge flat fees of $9.95 on flights of three hours or less, and $12.95 on longer trips. The service will be free through the end of this year.
Delta expects 10 aircraft to be in service by the end of this year and to have its entire fleet outfitted by late 2009. And the airline says passengers should see Internet access on planes operated by its Northwest subsidiary by late next year.
Competitors American Airlines offers WiFi on flights from New York to Miami, San Francisco and Los Angeles, Air Canada and Virgin America expect to have the service soon.

Paris – I want Stéphane Chevassus to cook all of my vegetables.
This is my first impression when I taste his braised cabbage with butter that held my fish aloft at Au Vieux Chęne. If a chef can knock your socks off with plat du jour cabbage, he’s got my vote. Plus, I tried it at home and though it was tasty, I couldn’t hold a candle to Chevassus’s cabbage.
I checked in again recently with mom and everything was up to snuff – a light but creamy pumpkin velouté, fish dishes done just right, little chocolate pastilles (white, milk and dark) served with coffee. Prix fixe lunch for 14 euros and cabbage from heaven.

Au Vieux Chęne
7, rue Dahomey
75011 Paris
+33.1.43.71.67.69
Closed Saturday & Sunday

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Globe travel correspondent Joe Ray writes his own blog, Eating The Motherland and contributes to the English language version of Simon Says! the French food and lifestyle blog run by French food critic Francois Simon.

As New England thaws out after a major overnight ice storm, photographer Essdras Suarez and I are finalizing plans for a trip Monday to North Dakota.

We plan to report on wind in its many forms in the windiest state in the lower 48. While talking with a contact in Fargo earlier in the week, he said: "My wife said last night, 'oh, I'm just ready for a blizzard.' She's looking forward to the first of the season, when the place sort of shuts down, and we're required to just be."

Looks like she'll get her wish this weekend. Here's the map from the National Weather Service in Bismarck:

And an excerpt from their alert: "Strong winds of 25 to 35 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph, will likely accompany the snow. Winds of this magnitude can produce significant blowing and drifting snow, which could produce blizzard conditions across the area. ... Bitterly cold temperatures are also expected to spill in across the region Saturday night. Temperatures are forecast to drop below zero on Sunday morning, and will likely remain below zero across most of the region through Tuesday. These temperatures, combined with the strong winds, will likely produce dangerous wind chills of 25 to 45 degrees below zero during this time."

As we move about our famously crazy holiday month, be sure to make time for things having nothing to do with shopping, family or crowds. Take it down a notch in Portland, Maine this Saturday at Zackery's Restaurant and Lounge. From 6-9 p.m. they will host live holiday jazz, while you indulge in special chef creations, uncork a bottle of luscious red wine, and all this fireside. Jazz musician, Richard Marsters, will be on horns, flute and vocals while you relax, filling your bellies and your souls. To make reservations call 207-774-5601 x3365.

Touring lavishly decorated homes and places of business is an industry unto itself this time of year. And this weekend, Rhode Island gives you two choices to see holiday decorating at its best.

The Christmas Tour of Inns and B&Bs; of Newport County will be open to the public Dec. 13 and 14 from 4-6 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person or $18 per person for both days. Call 401-847-7081 for more information, or check out their website for details.

And two, the 17th Annual Homes for the Holidays House Tour in Bristol, R.I., happens the same days from noon to 5 p.m. The tour includes several homes, including Linden Place Mansion decorated in a "Christmas Wedding" theme. Tea and light refreshments will be served as you take in its grand beauty. Call 401-253-0390, or visit online for details.

Wassail has roots in medieval England referring to the Norse "ves heill," meaning to "drink to the health," and that's why Vermont made it a weekend. Wassail Weekend in Woodstock, Vt. has been growing by leaps and bounds for 24 years, welcoming visitors near and far to celebrate the holiday season in some unique ways.

Wassail Weekend is indeed for all ages, as all can enjoy the house tours, music, bountiful food, shops that are open late, and holiday activities spread throughout town. The highlight of the weekend is the Wassail Parade through the center of Woodstock with over 50 horses and riders dressed in holiday costumes and period dress from the early 19th Century. Vermont has a knack for slowing things down, and getting back to basics. May just be what you need this particular holiday season. Wassail Weekend runs from Dec. 12-14. For more information call 888-496-6378.

Things are getting serious at sea for Rich Wilson, who is racing solo in this year's Vendee Globe. I wrote about his challenge here in an earlier post. Today, Globe colleague Martin Finucane has the latest here. Says Wilson, who's rounded Cape Horn and is heading into the thick of a storm: “This is the scary part of it all because you’re so far away from anything."

It doesn't get any more festive and jolly then seeing the Christmas Revels take to the stage. The Revels return to Cambridge for their 38th annual winter solstice celebration, this time featuring Thomas Hardy and rural England for its holiday inspiration. Familiar carols, anthems and rounds, country dances, and lots of old favorites in “novel” settings takes over Sanders Theater -- and audience members are encouraged to sing along!

To make the night even more complete, The Revels and UpStairs on the Square in Harvard Square offer a festive Christmas Revels Dinner Package (includes tickets and fixed-price meal). Take a moment to view the menus at online, and see if this is a better option.

The performances are too many to list -- 18 in all -- so take a peek online to see which best fits your schedule and get tickets to the best show in town this month! Tickets for adults are $52, $42, $25 and children under 12: $42, $32, $15. Free Parking for The Christmas Revels is available at the nearby Broadway Garage. Nearest T stop is Harvard Square on the Red Line. Contact Alan Casso at 617-972-8300 ext. 22 for information.

My favorite little venue to pop in and see fantastic music has tickets available for both shows this weekend. Escape the Box Store Crazies and grab a date and get to Tupelo.

On Saturday, Dec. 13, blues guitar great, Ronnie Earl will be playing. It's the names you don't know that you sometimes have to look out for. Earl has played along with Blues greats, B.B. King, Stevie Ray, Santana, Clapton, Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters and the Allmans. You don't get those gigs without talent that could stand alone if it had to. Few tickets remain....grab them now!

And on Sunday, Dec. 14, the rock, pop and latin extravanganza of deSol is on board to deliver their cross cultural music, proving again that with art and music, there simply are no rules or borders. Check them out in the above video.

Light pollution is real folks, and if you haven't ever looked at a wide open sky away from the lights of cities and suburbs, then you have to plan a night to do so immediately. It can make black-clad cashmere wearing city folk, turn into crunchy granolas in minutes. And guess what, it's a full moon this weekend and Adams Family Farm in Wilmington, Vt. has a full moon sleigh ride on its calendar for Friday, Dec. 12!

A sleigh pulled by Belgian draft horses, will take you into the fields and woods of the Adams Farm, where gazing up into the open Vermont Sky, on a night lit by the full moon, will make you forget the holiday stress around you, and melt you like butter into a state of tranquility. Don't worry about the cold, the sleigh stops at their old log cabin deep in the woods and serves up warm cocoa and a fire to warm the toes. Reservations are required, and ride is weather permitting. Call 802-464-3762 or visit online for more information.

So you’ve always wanted to party with John Mayer? I’m sure it’s big fun. Ask Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Simpson or Jennifer Love Hewitt.
Turns out that making your dream come true will cost at least $25,000. That’s the starting bid on eBay for a seven-day, six-night vacation, which includes a four-day voyage aboard the Mayercraft Carrier 2 (which looks suspiciously like the Carnival Splendor) for you and three friends, roundtrip airfare to LA, and accommodations at the Casa Del Mar on the Sea of Cortez, both on the night before your voyage and upon your return.
The ship will depart March 27 from San Pedro, Calif., and while on board you’ll get to hang with Mayer (no, not for the whole time; face it, you're not that fun), admission to all concerts on the ship, admission to the One Splendid Evening charity event, and you’ll get John Mayer's signed guitar, along with a complete collection of his CDs and DVDs.
And it’s all for charity. Auction proceeds will go to Musicians on Call, a New York charity, that brings live and recorded music to patients in healthcare facilities.
So you're having second thoughts about John Mayer? You can also bid on vacations that involve Yo Yo Ma, Tony Bennett, Celine Dion, Lang Lang or the Nickelodeon show "iCarly.''
All of the auctions end Thursday at 8:05 p.m.

Imagine a region covered in men and women suited up like Jolly Ole St. Nick. One place, one weekend. A beautifully magical sight in the Mount Snow region as Dover, Vt. celebrates its 3rd Annual Walk of the Santas this weekend, Dec. 12-14.

A portion of the proceeds made goes to the Deerfield Valley Community Cares heat assistance program, and though the cost of oil is down, many still don't have enough money to properly heat their homes. This is an easy opportunity to get your shopping done, and help others by doing so! Check out my blog entry last week which highlights the event! The weekend will be full of great activities including a Santa Charity Walk, Valley Wide Scavenger Hunt, Arts and Craft Fair, Gingerbread House Exhibit, Santa Sleigh Rail Jam and more. For more information, visit online or call 802-464-6698.

What happens when travel bloggers come together for a good cause? Passports with Purpose. The authors of DeliciousBaby, Nerd's Eye View, and Wanderlust with Lipstick joined forces with several other bloggers to raise money for Heifer International. Here's how it works: Each time you donate $10 to Heifer International, you get a chance to win a prize of your choice from a lengthy list. The not-so-shabby raffle prizes include: a two-night stay for a family of four at the Wildflower Inn in Lyndonville, Vt., a three-night stay at the Wyland Waikiki in Hawaii, a Flip video camera, and a Peg Perego Primo Viaggio infant car seat. The fund-raiser runs through Dec. 29.

Sleeping beneath the stars isn’t an option in wintertime, unless you are cultivating your survivalist instincts. An alternative is to break out the sleeping bags and head for the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, where families have the option of sleeping under, for instance, an enormous blue whale. This unique after-hours opportunity (no Ben Stiller sightings are promised) includes a screening of the IMAX film “Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure” and a spooky dinosaur-fossil exploration by flashlight. It’s designed for children ages 8–12 and their caregivers. Guests sleep either in the museum’s Milstein Hall of Ocean Life, under the 94-foot-long whale; beneath famous dioramas in the Hall of North American Mammals; or among the geological formations in the Hall of Planet Earth. The program dates are Friday, Jan. 9, and Friday, Feb. 6. The sleepover runs from 5:45 p.m. to 9 a.m., and the cost is $129 per person ($119 for AMNH members). It includes the movie and the fossil exploration, an evening snack and light breakfast, cots for all participants, take-home activities, and a live-animal exhibition (seasonal). To register, call 212-769-5200 or visit www.amnh.org/sleepovers for more information. Note: all participants must register in advance, and one adult is required for every 1–3 children attending. Space is limited and sells out quickly. The museum is located on Central Park West at 79th St. In Boston, the Museum of Science likewise sponsors overnight programs, but they are limited to museum members and their families (usually held in June), or to organizations such as Girl Scouts, Cubs Scouts, schools, and youth groups. For more information on their programs, which are also in high demand, families can call the membership department at 617-589-0180, and agencies can call 617-589-0350, or email overnights@mos.org.

Haven't got your tree yet? No problem - the Wright Museum in Wolfboro, New Hampshire has 65 fully decorated trees awaiting your arrival. A charity benefit for local needs, the 10th Annual Festival of Trees has three remaining dates, Dec. 10 and 13 and 14, where all 65 trees will be auctioned off. The atmosphere is a part of the event as two levels of the Wright Museum will be lit up by the trees, and the stage will have non-stop entertainment to make all those refreshments go down extra easy.

Visitors will be able to tour the unique collection at the, otherwise closed for the winter, Wright Museum that features artifacts to illustrate the Second World War's significant and lasting impact on American life. Tickets: adults $5, children $2, family $12. Contact Sandi Johnson at 603-569-3337 for more information.