Ilsley Heads South to Sunnier Palms This week, Ilsley travels to Fort Pierce, Florida to visit Sunnier Palms, a natural haven for nudists. The club has 12 acres of natural pine forest surrounded by canals and citrus groves. It's the perfect place to delight the senses as guests feel the warm Florida breezes caress their bodies or catch the fragrance of citrus blossoms. The area is used by the Audubon Society for the annual bird count, and the club is involved in many flora and fauna preservation projects. Butterfly habitats can also be found on the grounds. Activities at the club include the music of the B-Naturals each Sunday. Another highlight is Artful Day, held each year. Sunnier Palms is truly a place to get back to nature and appreciate the things that are often taken for granted in the textile world. The Ilsley is a traveling trophy commissioned to commemorate AANR's 75th Anniversary as the credible voice of reason for nude recreation in North America. Ilsley is traveling to nearly 40 AANR clubs and resorts across the U.S. and Canada. Throughout his tour, special themed events and celebrations are planned at host clubs along the way. The award is named for the late Rev. Ilsley Boone, the founder and first Executive Director of AANR's predecessor, the American Sunbathing Association. Boone is perhaps best remembered as the flamboyant clergyman who served as plaintiff in the 1958 case of Sunshine and Health v. Summerfield. That case went all the way to the United States Supreme Court and established, once and for all, First Amendment protection for nudist publications. Ilsley ends his tour in August 2006 at the Association's 75th Anniversary Convention at Deanza Springs Resort outside San Diego, California. You can track Ilsley's weekly progress on his year-long tour right here on the AANR website. 
Forbes Picks Best Topless Beaches Forbes magazine has named its picks for the top topless beaches for 2006. To make a list, the editors imposed a set of general criteria such as a recognized consensus to go topless, consistently sunny weather, beautiful scenery, as well as a young, fun crowd and easily accessible amenities. The article also cites figures on the ever-growing nude travel trend from nude cruises to clothing-optional resorts that has blossomed into a $400 million dollar industry. One reason given for the increasing desire for nude vacations is that nude travel appeals to a sense of adventure and serves as a break from the reality of the textile world. Read more and see if your favorite beach is on the list at Topless Beaches. Nude in the House The annual Carleton Place nude challenge in Ottawa, Canada, contains the following components: A secret address, one nude model, and 10 photographers, each with one camera, one lens, and one roll of film. The photographers are given the address of the shoot only moments before he or she is supposed to be there. Each photographer has only 30 minutes to photograph the model and while they are shooting, Alan Mirabelli is photographing the photographers photographing the model. While this all sounds very cloak-and-dagger, the resulting images of the model--and the photographers talking photos of the model--are turned into an exhibition at the Lux Gallery in downtown Carleton Place. This is the second year Nude in the House has taken place, and the second year people have been lined up in the street to attend. The show runs through February 10 at Lux Gallery, 11 Lake Avenue West, in Carleton Place. Read more at Nude Art. Bingo in the Buff For those who think Bingo is just not that exciting, now there's Bingo in the Buff. Members of a New Zealand nudist club held a "bare bum" Bingo game for their biannual campout by the sea. Approximately 200 nudists basked in the New Zealand sun at the Taranaki Naturist Club, where other naturist events besides Bingo were enjoyed.  |
