It’s April and our extraordinary new Sky is here! We’ve been hard at it, creating a fun to read, dynamic new lifestyle magazine that showcases the energy and influence of Delta, the world’s largest airline. We think the new Sky really hits the mark!

Our premiere April issue features gorgeous cover girl Heidi Klum introducing “Our World Now”, our inaugural story chock full of hot trends, tastemakers and tons of cultural “dish”. As you page through the magazine you’ll enjoy dazzling photography, celebrity interviews, our favorite haunts, the world’s great chefs, fashion and style, games, humor and, of course sizzling destinations and relaxing retreats!

Our new Sky is “onboard, online and on newsstands.” For the first time since the merger, Sky is available on board every Delta and Northwest aircraft, read by an estimated 5.2 million readers each and every month. And, if you’re not flying every month, you can catch the new Sky as a digital magazine on deltaskymag.com. Our new website will provide even more great information, including three terrific blogs, a newsletter (if you sign up!) and tons of best restaurants, shopping and insider tips from experts in the world’s great cities.

And, for the first time ever, Sky will be available on newsstands at more than 2,500 Barnes & Noble, Borders, B. Dalton and Waldenbooks bookstores for $3.99.

Starting today….it’s a brilliant new Sky.

Take a look. Tell us what you think. Tell us what you want. We’re looking forward to becoming your travel concierge!

The Sky Magazine team

Heigh-ho, Travelers!

I do hope you’ve been traveling in spite of the wintry weather. Cold is no excuse to stay home and get a case of the blahs. In fact, I’ve got a deal that will add a little sparkle to your lives: The Ruby Anniversary Package at California’s Sheraton Universal Hotel. Rubies are, of course, the symbol of a 40th anniversary. And 40 never looked so good. The Sheraton Universal—a.k.a. “Hotel of the Stars”—got a $25 million makeover last year, and you’re invited to help her celebrate.

Sign up for the, er, gem-dandy package and you’ll stay in the oh-so-luxe executive suite, enjoy a six-course meal with wine pairings at the hotel’s California’s Restaurant and savor dessert en suite (think: chocolate and Dow’s Late Bottled Vintage Port). The cost is $349 per night (based on double occupancy—wink! wink!). You also have the option of upgrading the package to $844 by including a pair of ruby dangle earrings from GEARYS of Beverly Hills—the perfect gift for your beloved. Hmmm . . . perhaps the Sheraton should throw in a copy of “The Ruby-at” by Omar Khayyam, as well. After your stay, just click your ruby slippers three times and you’ll be home in a jiff.

If you have an anniversary story to share—40th or otherwise—please, fill us in on the details! We’re all ears. . . .

Your faithful correspondent,

Wanda “Ruby Tuesday” Lust
Delta Sky Magazine

Recently the Omnivore sat down at Stamey’s Barbecue in Greensboro, North Carolina, with some really resourceful Birmingham–Southern College students. The four fraternity brothers have figured out a way to get actual course credit for traveling across five states wolfing down ribs, pulled pork, brisket, pork rinds, and some pretty exotic stuff like barbecue spaghetti and barbecue nachos. Learning never tasted so good.

Trying to take notes while talking to four young men who all want to tell you how good the barbecue was in Lexington, North Carolina, at Honey Monk’s, is a little like trying to shake hands with an octopus. “I am here to study barbecue,” said Jeff Vaughan, a business administration major from West Palm Beach, Florida. Or was that Matt Lee, a pre-engineering student from Cullman, Alabama? “It was sort of tough and crunchy on the outside, but sweet and juicy on the inside,” said Art Richey, a poli-sci major from Russellville, Alabama. Will Foster, a business administration major from Alpharetta, Georgia, who had his first taste of pork rinds in the Tar Heel State, said, “My heart said ‘NOOOOOOO,’ but my gut said, ‘yes.’”

These are smart lads, who somehow talked their English instructor into letting them take January off to get a clue about ’cue while posting their results on a Web site. Now why didn’t I think of that when I was in school?

“We’ve gotta do a 10-page paper when we get back,” one of them said. “Writing’s hard,” one of them says, starting a sentence, “sitting down for 30 minutes before I get anything on paper,” another one says, finishing it.

From Greensboro, they headed east to Greenville, North Carolina, where they hope to eat at the legendary B’s Barbecue. Then it’s on to Wilber’s in Goldsboro. In South Carolina, they’re going to try Sweatman’s in Holly Hill.

They’ll be in Georgia this week, hitting Athens, Newnan, Macon and other areas. Then they’re ’Bama bound. They’ll want to know where to go, so contact them via their Web site and give them suggestions.

You know you want to help them all make A’s.

David Bailey
Delta Sky Magazine