Las Vegas may soon have a competitor for the title wedding capital of the U.S. in Lower Manhattan as New York City upgraded its Marriage Bureau in a bid to attract couples who want a quickie wedding ceremony.

The bureau, which used to be housed in a small office marked by cracked floor tiles and plastic chairs in the municipal building opposite city hall was moved to a swanky 24,000 square foot palace.

Las Vegas may soon have a competitor for the title wedding capital of the U.S. in Lower Manhattan as New York City upgraded its Marriage Bureau in a bid to attract couples who want a quickie wedding ceremony.

The bureau, which used to be housed in a small office marked by cracked floor tiles and plastic chairs in the municipal building opposite city hall was moved to a swanky 24,000 square foot palace.

While millions of Americans are expected to jostle for choice spots on Jan. 20 for the historic inaugural of the first black U.S. president, some residents of Washington are temporarily fleeing the area away from the maddening crowds.

Tour agencies are grabbing the business opportunities the situation offers by coming up with affordable escape inauguration tour packages. Among those making the most of the desire of district residents to be away during the Jan. 20 week are a ski resort in West Virginia and hotels on Florida's Amelia Island which are offering discounted tours to residents of the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.

A leading budget carrier in the Philippines, Cebu Pacific, announced free domestic seats to its loyal patrons on Christmas.

In a statement, Cebu Pacific said the promo will run from December 25 to 26 or until its 100,000 seats have been sold out and travelers can use their tickets from February 1 to March 18, 2009.

The demand for gas-saving hybrids is so high that U.S. motorists are willing to pay $1,300 extra for a second-hand 2008 Toyota Prius. There is a long waiting-list for brand new models and even two-year old ones are selling for only a few hundred dollars less than a brand new one.

According to Power Information Network, a marketing information firm based in California, the average selling price of a slightly-used 2008 Prius with an average 8,000 miles on it, was $27,945 in June. Even two-year old models, with an average of 22,000 miles sold, for only $276 less the dealer's price for a new unit.