—Just opened in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood is the KGB Spy Museum, which explains and illustrates to visitors the history of the USSR/Russian intelligence agency with the aid of 3,500 espionage items. The museum is a relative of a military museum that two Lithuanians—Julius Urbaitis and his daughter, Agne Urbaitye—operate from a nuclear bunker in Kaunus, Lithuania. Julius and his daughter have spent years collecting objects for the KGB Museum. Visitors can see and examine the museum’s artifacts, or study the KGB’s evolution or take in interactive exhibits such as learning how to use Morse code and telephone switchboards, or even strapping into an interrogation chair for a lesson on the KGB’s sadistic tactics. The new attraction is located at 245 West 14th Street in Chelsea. Retail ticket prices are $28 for adults and $20 for children 7-17, students and seniors. For more information, visit , or call 917.388.2332.
—Has “Storm Tourism” Found a Home? As “storm tourism” begins to get a foothold on the supplier side, it has found a home in “ChaserCon,” the annual National Storm Chaser Convention. The next edition of the niche event—it’s the 21st—will be held February 8-10, 2019 at the Hyatt Regency in Wichita, Kansas, which is billed as being “dead center” in Tornado Alley. According to one published account, some see this as an opportunity to make Wichita a prime destination for storm chasing tours. ChaserCon was held in Denver for almost two decades, convention coordinator Roger Hill told the Wichita Eagle, but about four years ago, as the event grew in popularity, there was more push to “bounce it around some different places.” For more information, visit www.chasercon.com.
—The Flyer-San Francisco is the newest attraction at Pier 39 in San Francisco, combining motion seats, live action and computer-generated 3D imagery to take guests above San Francisco and under the Golden Gate Bridge, into Alcatraz and through the Redwood National Forest. A thrilling and inspiring attraction for all ages, The Flyer — San Francisco is a perfect introduction to San Francisco and a riveting ride for locals, who will see San Francisco in a whole new way. For more information, visit www.theflyer-sanfrancisco.com, or call 415.445.0120.
—The Mascot Hall of Fame, an attraction featuring U.S. sports mascots, and which was originally an online-only attraction, is now a reality in Whiting Indiana, which is about 16 miles from Chicago. Founded by David Raymond, who was the original Phillie Phanatic from 1978 to 1993, used to have an induction ceremony taking place each year in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The new Hall of Fame opened the day after Christmas last month. It is one of those “must-see-to-be-believed attractions. Ticket prices start at $12. For more information, visit www.mascothalloffame.com, or call 219.354.8814.
