Hello, and welcome to Home Turf Media and the very first Carnival of Cities. We had lots of submissions, so thanks to all of the varied participants. Check the end of this post for the Carnival of Cities #2 contribution deadline.Be sure to visit our contributor’s blogs, poke around and leave a comment or two if you like the style and substance of their carnival post. For our contributors, please remember to write about the carnival on your blog so that the link-fest may begin.

I’ve grouped items geographically to help you navigate through the offerings.

Cities in the Americas

IntrovertGirl from Introversion takes a crummy, cold, windy Canadian day and makes it all cozy when she explores bookstores and coffee shops in literary Toronto. Are you a mocha and words lover? Read her post to find the best of both in Canada’s largest city.

Jennifer Miner writes for Suite 101 about Luxury & Resort travel, but she says that “luxury is more a state of mind than how much you spend.” Here are her ideas for some weekend relaxation with the best brunches in New York City. Breakfast or lunch — why choose? Have both!

Andrea Dickson on Wise Bread interviews San Jose, California seamstress sui generis/designer Amy Doan, aka Shrinkle, about the ins-and-outs of designing and selling her clothing line.

Local Girl takes her young daughter to the beach for the day. No big deal, except this is the Ko Olina Beach in Oahu, Hawaii because, well, she lives An Island Life. Kinda routine.

Brad Boose and his bits of brain (some bits are still under construction) are tracking the progress of a North Bank condo tower in downtown Columbus, Ohio. Join him for some urban renewal.

Kathy Maister at Start Cooking takes us on a mouth-watering tour of the Boston, Massachusetts Copley Square Farmer’s Market. Aren’t you inspired to cook up some fresh veggies after that?

American football fans in sunny San Diego, California are abuzz that Marty Schottenheimer was fired from his job as San Diego Chargers head coach. Carole Lane blogs all about it on the The San Diego Beat.

For Alli Crumley, Chattanooga is home. It may not be on the American Institute of Architects top list of architectural favorites, but the Walnut Street Bridge over the city’s Tennessee River holds a special place in her heart.

Cities in Asia, Australia and New Zealand

For local color from Oz, enjoy over one hundred photos from when Brisbane is Home’s David Jackmanson photoblogged Australia Day at Brisbane’s Southbank. I particularly liked the Redland Shire Ladies Drum Corps.

Rajesh P.I. of Open Windows writes that in Kerala, India, the city of Kochi needs a Pied Piper to lead certain obnoxious critters far from town.

Wes says I Love Brisbane, and he has some great pictures and thoughts on the famed Story Bridge that links the city’s north and south sides.

Kiwi Liz Lewis from Travel New Zealand cuts to the chase of the top 8 things to do when visiting Christchurch. I vote for the Avon River punting.

L.R. Newberry, The Traveling Mum, found a different view out of every ninth-story window of the pagoda in Nanning, China.

Che Jaafar Che Man (a.k.a CJCM) from his home in Kuala Lumpur has some media news: Malaysian bloggers were sued for defamation by the pro-government newspaper New Straits Times. Will this have a chilling effect on blogosphere dissent?

Andrew Bartlett, a Democrat Senator from Queensland, has been blogging in his Bartlett Diaries since 2004. He shares some poignant thoughts about Oriel Park, a favorite childhood hangout that he visited with his own daughter.

Ruth from Let’s Visit Asia recommends that you kick back in Thailand and enjoy the Rib Room and Bar at the Landmark Bangkok. I’ll take my steak medium rare, thanks.

David says let’s take over in Brisbane, Australia. He follows local antiwar political activists at a rally where the brother of “Jihad Jack” Thomas talks about “how Pakistan tortured my brother” and discusses Jack’s arrest and incarceration after September 11th.

Cities in Europe

Did you know that there are mountains in London? East London Life’s Jon Tillman tells us the interesting history of the “Beckton Alps” , a part of the East End that isn’t quite as redeveloped as Canary Wharf or the ExCeL conference and exhibition center.

Seafarer at Family Travel writes about visiting Pisa and Florence with kids, but the tips are good for any traveler to these beautiful Italian cities.

Summary

Please remember to read the carnival guidelines here on the Home Turf Media site. We made some exceptions to our rules for this first carnival event, since not everyone was aware of our policies, but to ensure the quality of the carnival we will be adhering to our guidelines in the future.

Only one post per blogger, so send your best-written, most interesting and timely city story. Confirm that your links work, and skip the profane stuff; we have a wide audience of readers of all ages.

Carnival of Cities #2 will publish on Monday, February 26th, with a deadline of 2 p.m. (1400) Eastern time on Sunday, February 25th. You can submit posts via Blog Carnival.