The Island beckons. Every June like a rite of passage to the summers of my life is the…read moreDonauinselfest (Danube Island Music Festival) emanating from Vienna. In probably the world's largest free music festival, 275 bands and singers entertain up to 3 million people over 2 I/2 days. The crowds are indeed huge ... 99.9% arriving by public transit.. The other .1% can walk over the bridges from their residences. A tribute concert to the legendary Falco and a closing late-nite concert by Rainhard Fendrich were among this year's largest audience draws. When Rainhard Fendrich sang the ersatz Austrian national anthem "I Am From Austria", a hundred thousand people sang along - cigarette lighters and smart phones illuminating the night sky. It was thrilling! Each year I swear I am not going to deal with the massive crowds of tens of thousands of people squeezing onto the underground and streetcar. But like a moth drawn to the flame, I somehow find myself back amid the throngs on the Island. I swear that I am not going to go to the Donauinselfest next year ... but I'll be there!!

The quality of food in Austria is very high. Fruits, veggies, meats, artisanal products have very…read morelofty standards. The annual Genuss Festival in the Stadtpark (City Park) in central Vienna is a good place to test this out first hand. More than 190 merchants and food purveyors from every region in Austria come to Vienna to exhibit and sell their wares at this food-fest institution. The beautiful Stadtpark is the perfect backdrop for all this goodness. The only reservations I have about the Genuss Festival is that it is a bit overwhelming ... and way over-crowded. There's a point you can't take anymore. Fortunately that time this year came after I enjoyed some Viennese Schnecken (escargots), Saibling Pesto and bread, and a tasty Vorarlberger Kaspress Knödel!

Another win for Vienna! Man I really don't mind paying my…read moretaxes to a city that puts on events like this. Just outside the historic and beautiful Karlskirche is a four day mini pop festival with numerous live acts performing throughout the day and night. Plenty of place to chill out and watch the music and enough food and drink stands to quench your thirst or satiate your appetite and NO ENTRANCE FEE AT ALL! Like Charlie Sheen Vienna is WINNIG!