This weekend: Celebrate Black History Month in Philly

New York City has ramped up this year's Winter Jam festival by erecting a nine-story ski jump in the park to host the Red Bull Snowscrapers pro snowboarding competition on February 5, followed by a day of winter sports and music in the park on February 7. The action is free to watch at East River Park, at F.D.R. Drive and Houston Street. On Thursday, 16 top pro snowboarders, including Olympic gold medalist Shaun White, will compete on the 90-foot-tall ramp, a.k.a. the Snowscraper—the largest structure ever built in a city park for a special event, according to the city's Parks & Recreation Department. The 80-foot-long hip (the down slope that snowboarders land on after their aerial tricks) is essentially a double-sided pyramid that runs perpendicular to the ramp, so the riders must angle themselves to land on the right or left side, making for some interesting maneuvering. Adding to the entertainment will be a spectator village featuring musical performances by headliner Anthrax, along with bands Black Gold and Valient Thorr, with sponsor tents set up with samples for the crowd. The gates open at 3 p.m. and the competition is scheduled to start at 5:45 p.m., with the finals taking place two hours later. Anthrax will cap off the night with a performance at 8:55 p.m. The sports action continues in the park on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., where people of all ages can tube down a 70-foot-long snow flume, snowshoe and cross country ski through a snow field (weather permitting), and scale an ice-climbing wall—with all equipment provided for free. Those who'd prefer to just watch the action can head over to the Future of Snowboarding Invitational to witness up-and-coming Olympic hopefuls tackle the ramp, take in a performance by the Skyriders professional trampoline acrobats, or cheer on participants in a snow-sculpture-making contest. The Pride of New York Warming Hut & Winter Market will provide a break from the cold with free samples from New York State farmers and producers, and various vendors will have tents set up for free demos of the latest gear. Local bands Apollo Run and Dujeous and singer Jenda White will perform throughout the day. If you can't make it to NYC, but still want to see the pro competition, you can watch the Red Bull Snowscrapers event online at go211.com Thursday starting at 6 p.m. (ET). In the New York area, MSG Plus will air the jam session at 6 p.m. and the finals at 10 p.m. Or watch a delayed broadcast of the event on February 15 at 5 p.m. (ET) on NBC. Here's a video preview of the snowboarding: MORE How rock bands find free places to crash—and how you can, too

If President Obama sticks to his word, it's likely that travel restrictions to Cuba—imposed almost continuously since 1962 and tightened under President Bush—will be eased during his tenure. He suggested as much on the campaign trail and specifically promised to allow Cuban Americans to visit relatives and send money without limits. The approach squares with a shift in attitudes. A recent poll by Florida International University found for the first time that a majority of Cuban Americans wants to end the embargo that bans most U.S.-Cuba trade and travel. There's growing support in Congress, too, although even without it, Obama could use his executive power to allow a more extensive number of religious and education groups to go. (Religious leaders recently wrote Obama a letter urging him to change Cuba travel policies.) The Associated Press has outlined the negative and positive signs for improvement in U.S.-Cuban relations. Among the latter, that the Castros aren't immune to Obamamania: "No one can doubt the sincerity of his words," wrote Fidel Castro in an online essay last week in which he also described the president's face as "intelligent and noble." On the heels of the Cuban Revolution's 50th anniversary, Worldfocus hosted an online radio show with a panel of experts on U.S.-Cuban relations. In the meantime, as experts and policymakers debate the issues, it remains almost impossible for Americans to legally visit the Caribbean island. The State Department's Cuba page details a few exceptions, mainly for professionals engaged in journalism or research and those affiliated with religious groups. (One BT reader, Susan, shared her plans to visit Cuba with a religious mission this February.) Global Exchange runs thematic research delegations, but they're open to only those Americans whose jobs directly correlate. Rates, not including airfare, start at $2,350. Would-be travelers to Cuba might note that TripAdvisor already has reviews for 410 Cuba accommodation options, and La Casa de Ana in Havana is the highest rated B&B.; A veteran visitor shared his tips with us in the story, Inside Cuba. In late 2007, we set off a heated debate among readers when former editor Erik Torkells blogged, Mr. Bush, Let Us Go to Cuba. Now that the possibility of vacationing in Cuba is edging closer to reality, would you add the island to your travel list?

When Mike Guerriero was laid off from his pharmaceutical marketing job in late 2007, he decided to follow his dreams. Or at least the dreams of someone who "lives to party": He packed up a car and spent about seven months on road trips, traveling from one street festival to the next. In Party Across America!, Guerriero reviews the best and most surreal festivals. I recently chatted with the 32-year old about his cross-country travels. Here's an excerpt from the interview: Name a festival that’s great for families.The Gasparilla Pirate Festival in Tampa, Fla. is like Disneyland during the day for the kids. They get this 165-foot long ship, and businessmen in Tampa get selected to play the pirates. There's a three or four–mile parade. The adult portion starts at night when the parade winds into downtown and becomes a big street party. What's the best party we haven't heard of? The World's Largest Disco in Buffalo, N.Y., the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It's the biggest weekend of the year in town, but no one outside of Buffalo knows about it. There are about 8,000 people discoed out: platform shoes, bell bottoms. Some B-rate '70s celebrities show up. I actually spent the weekend with the actors who played Greg, Peter, Bobby, and Cindy Brady. They invited me to Niagara Falls with them. What's the best thing you ate at the festivals? At St. Paddy's Day in Savannah, Ga., which had 500,000 attendees. I had some amazing green grits with honey and butter at Rail Pub. Or maybe its was the sweet pecan pie at the Jackson, Miss. Jubilee Jam. You can't walk ten steps down the street without seeing pecan pie there. How about the strangest thing you ate? Rocky Mountain oysters at the Testy Festy in Clinton, Mont. Not only was it the strangest thing I've ever eaten, I've never seen so many people eat so many of them. Bull testicles? What do they taste like? Remember those hush puppies at your grade school cafeteria? I think if you deep fry anything enough it's gonna taste good. Did you go to any famous parties that lived up to their hype? At the Kentucky Derby, the entire city of Louisville just explodes. It's one big citywide celebration. And I've always heard stories about the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, but actually seeing the number of gearheads…. It was intense. Any lessons you gathered the hard way? Make your hotel reservations early. Or pack a tent. These parties are the biggest in the country for a reason—a lot of people come into town. I had to camp out five or six times. Check out a goofy-but-effective promotional video for the book, with clips from festivals the author visited. SLIDE SHOW FROM BUDGET TRAVEL See images from America's Wackiest Festivals

The Michelin guide is well known for being very picky about the restaurants it awards "star" ratings to, and the exceptional restaurants usually charge astronomical prices. But the guides also list "Bib Gourmand" awards that are, the guide says, not official stars, but recognition of places offering good food at prices of $40 (£28) or less per person for three courses. That may seem like a splurge, but London is one of the world's priciest cities. It's also arguably the world's culinary capital. A trip to London without sampling one of its renowned restaurants because of the high tab would be like not seeing Westminster Abbey just because it charges an outrageous $17 (£12) admission fee. Sometimes, you have to splurge. The 2009 Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Ireland doesn't go on sale in the States until April, but here's a sneak peak at some of its Bib Gourmand restaurants. One pick is The Modern Pantry, which is a casual, fusion restaurant with a dining room and a takeaway counter in the Clerkenwell neighborhood (47-8 St John's Square, 011-44-20/7553-9210). A sample dish: "A main course of onglet steak (an inexpensive French cut) had been marinated in miso, and was served with cassava chips instead of the more usual potato." Dinner for two comes to $99 (£70), before wine. Next up is Hereford Road, which opened in October 2007. Says one reviewer, "From the deep-fried calf’s brain starter to the use of laverbread and piccalilli elsewhere, you could only be dining in Britain," (3 Hereford Road, Westbourne Grove, herefordroad.org, 011-44/20-7727-1144). Here are the other new additions to the 2009 guide: Le Cassoulet, Croydon, Surrey [Also named "best local London restaurant of 2008" by Time Out London] Giaconda Dining Room, Camden Market, Camden Medcalf, Islington Mango and Silk, Richmond-upon-Thames (011-44/20-8876-6220) Dehesa, Soho Gordon Ramsay Foxtrot Oscar (Chelsea, 011-44/20-7352-4448).