Friday Travel Ticker: Ribs or lobster?

The Democratic National Convention is now a year away. It opens Sept. 3, at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, N.C. . . . . The Republicans meet the week of Aug. 27, in Tampa, Fla. . . . . Pacific swordfish, Maine lobster or spice-rubbed pork ribs are your choices at the Peninsula Beverly Hills weekend barbecue, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 5-9 p.m. Three-course meals run $59, (310) 975-2855 . . . . Not that we’d ever advocate such behavior but an Amsterdam escort agency is promoting Mile High Sex Flights. Insert your own “fasten seat belt” joke here _______________ . . . . Tickets are now on sale for the sixth annual Sierra Oro Farm Trail Passport Weekend, a self-guided tour that includes tastings at 11 wineries and farm-fresh food sampling at 17 farms in Butte County, north of Sacramento. Tickets for the Columbus Day weekend event are $25 and include a free wine glass and free tasting at all stops . . . . Regent Seven Seas Cruises, which currently sails out of Port Everglades, is moving its operations to the Port of Miami in fall 2012 . . . . SpringHill Suites by Marriott is partnering with local artists nationwide for gallery events and lobby displays . . . . Hawaii’s Hilton Waikoloa Village is offering aqua hula classes, low-impact dance workouts in shallow water, Mondays through Fridays . . . . Travel quote of the day: “About this time, someone is telling you to get on the plane. ‘Get on the plane. Get on the plane.’ I say . . . I’m getting IN the plane! IN the plane! Let Evel Knievel get ON the plane! I’ll be in here with you folks in uniform!” (George Carlin on pre-boarding announcements.)