Paris without Picasso…until 2012

New York City's first multi-day festival toasting the cocktail is upcoming this weekend (Oct. 3 and 4): The Manhattan Cocktail Classic. Seminars include "Glasses & Tools: How Do You Choose the Right Glass for a Drink?" (The Study at Astor Center, $50 ticket includes one drink). The final event is pricey: On Sunday evening at The New York Public Library's Astor Hall, for $100 (including two drink tickets), a dozen bars will be serving up iconic "New York" cocktails to the sounds of a live, big jazz band. But you can find more affordable events on the listings page: Manhattan Cocktail Classic. Can't make it? Find a classical cocktail bar on a handy Google map from The Dizzy Fizz. Nationwide: 9 Places to Party Like It's 1929 Worldwide: What cocktails to drink, how to drink 'em, and the right toasts to say MORE ELSEWHERE Newyorkology's Drinkology newsfeed

We all want to inspire children to travel. Can children's books be the ticket? The blog Frill Seeker Diary says yes! Here are its picks... Feel free to post your own thoughts in the comments. Bridge to Terabithia, Katherine Paterson From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, E. L. Konigsburg James and the Giant Peach, Roald Dahl Jumanji, Van Allsburg Madeline, Ludwig Bemelmans Meet Kirsten, Janet Beeler Shaw Number the Stars, Lois Lowry The Boxcar Children, Gertrude Chandler Warner The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak My pick for all time best is the Madeline series. Just sayin'. [10 children's books that inspire wanderlust]

Autumn is arguably the best season for visiting national parks. The weather is crisp and beautiful, and summer's crowds and peak-season prices have both disappeared. If you have parks on the brain, you're not alone. PBS is now showing the new documentary from Ken Burns entitled "The National Parks: America's Best Idea." This past Saturday, September 26, was also National Public Lands Day, when admission to all 391 national parks was free. If you're feeling inspired to get out into nature, check out these lodging deals for fall and winter at three of our greatest national parks: Grand Canyon Room rates at the Grand Canyon's Maswik and Yavapi Lodges are usually $90 to $170 in the summer. From November 29 through March 4, however, prices start at $82 per room and top off at just $105. (Note there are blackout dates for these special rates around Christmas and New Year's.) The special seasonal rates are valid for single or double occupancy, and kids 16 and under stay free. For bookings, call 888/297-2757 or visit GrandCanyonLodges.com. Yosemite At the historic Wawona Hotel, located between Yosmite Valley and the giant trees in the Mariposa Grove, rooms with shared baths start at just $79 for midweek stays from October 25 through November 24. Earlier in October, many dates are available for $89 a night. Check out the calendar of special rates here, or call 801/559-4884. Zion To celebrate its one-hundredth year as part of the national parks system, Zion is offering $100 rooms at the Zion Lodge from October 28 through November 24. (Rates are normally $159.) When booking, be sure to reference the promotion code "100FOR100" to get the discount. Visit ZionLodge.com or call 888/297-2757 for more details. National parks: Deals inspired by Ken Burns' new doc

In 1973, an 11-year old traveling with his family on a cruise ship tossed a message in a bottle overboard. It survived more than 30 years at sea. The sealed bottle of Tab soda was recently discovered by a 26-year old vacationer on Middle Caicos, in the British West Indies. Connecticut's Stamford Advocate reports that the message said: "I am on the Vistafjord. Write back to Andrew Tallos." The child included his mailing address. The newspaper traced down Tallos. His sister remembers the event better than he does, saying that the entire family helped him throw the the bottle into the sea. You're no longer supposed to throw things off of cruise ships. But, regardless, this is a neat story. [Stamford Advocate via USA Today's Cruise Log]