Heading the opposite direction from our summer travels, we concluded the summer of 09 with a trip north and into the past. Massachusetts, being one of the oldest settlements in the "New World", has a fascinating and involving history, both political and literary. We settled on a long weekend in Sudbury, about 20 miles west of Boston, largely because we got a great offer through Travel Zoo. (If you don't know that site, check out http://www.travelzoo.com/ - we have enjoyed our various stays through its services.)
Anyway, Sudbury is home to the Wayside Inn, as in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "Tales of a Wayside Inn", reclaimed from history by none other than Henry Ford, who used it as a summer home. It is now a restaurant and a BnB, and its grounds feature the removed-from-its-original site-and-reconstructed Red Brick Schoolhouse which reportedly is the school attended by Mary of little lamb fame. It also has a rebuilt gristmill, still used - the flour, cornmeal, and bran ground there is used by the restaurant for its delicious breads served wth meals. (The gristmill is also the site of the plastic "duck race" on Labor Day to raise funds for a children's hospital. We have a "six quack" of entries - their words, not mine - so wish us or them luck. The ducks are released upstream of the mill and then careen down a waterfall and stop a few yards down stream.)
A few miles north of Sudbury is Concord, of grapes and revolutionary war fame. We spent a while walking over the "Minuteman Bridge" (which Ralph Waldo Emerson called the "shot heard round the world"), and pacing the old Boston Post Road which begins the "battle road" of April, 1775. We also visited the Emerson home known as the Old Manse, which was owned by the Emerson family and borders the Concord battlefield. Years after, it was the temporary home of Nathanial Hawthorne, who authored "Mosses from the Old Manse" there which contained his early short stories like "Young Goodman Brown". (He also wrote graffitti on the windows by etching the glass with his wife's diamind ring. The words are still there.) And, of course, you can't spend too much time in Concord without mentioing Henry David Thoreau - a main shopping street in town is named for him; he was a good friend of Hawthorne; his Walden Pond cabin is a few miles south of town; and he, Hawthorne, and Emerson are all buried on "Author's Ridge" in the nearby Sleepy Hollow Cemetary. Down the road a piece is Lexington where the battle continued and essentially began the Revolution.
Another short - well, about 50 minutes - trip southwest of Boston is Quincy, home to the birthplace and residences of John and Abigail Adams and John Quincy Adams, the first father-son presidents (we won't be visiting the homes of the second). They are also buried nearby, in a crypt under a Unitarian church that John Adams helped raise funds to build. Fact I did not know (or at least remember): John Q. Adams is the only president to return to Congress after his presiency, serving 17 years in the House of Representatives, where he literally died while giving a speech one day at the age of 81. It was a slight thrill to stand on the same porch that John Adams did and walk down the "President's Hall, used by John Quincy, when he stayed in his "summer white house" there.
Some great natural areas abound as well - Boston has "Blue Hills Reservation", a huge public park that borders Quincy and Milton, with some fabulous trails through the woods and up to a few hills (only 500 feet above sea level, so not a lot like West Virginia) but with an astounding view of Boston and its harbor. Nice trek through piney woods.
An instant return to the 21st century as we drove onto I-93 and I-95 at 65 miles per hour back to our lovely little Carriage House Inn in Sudbury.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
"Shanandoah..."
Go ahead, I dare you to not have that song in your head as you read this.
West Virginia was lovely and we celebrated our departure, and our anniversary, by hiking up to the top of the Seneca Rocks, 1000 feet from the valley floor, about three miles round trip. And then it was down the mountains into Virginia and a relaxing BnB in Staunton (pronounced as if the 'u" wasn't there). Staunton is home to the American Shakespeare Company, performing in a replica of the Blackfriars Theatre, Shakespeare's indoor theatre in London. The small company performed a rousing production of "The Merry Wives of Windsor", one of the comedies that I have not seen. Very funny - almost the invention of sitcoms, with trickery, puns, and jokes, including a "stand-up" dialog where a teacher and a student dscover that some Latin declensions sound absolutely vulgar in English. "Horum est" indeed!
Staunton is also close to the southern end of Shanandoah National Park and its Skyline Drive. Choosing to enter the park 1/3 of the way up the drive, we discovered that Sundays are "no fee" days. We also discovered that, contrary to the website, the lodges on the drive had rooms available. So we were able to get a fabulous room at Skylands, overlooking the western side of the mountain. Which enabled us to explore a little more of the park: Dark Hollow Falls, a short but steep walk of about 1.5 miles round trip. It was tough to ignore the little voice in the back of our heads whispering, as we descended toward the falls, "you have to walk this back up...you have to walk this back UP..." But we made it. Enough to allow us to walk up (you get to walk down after!) to Stony Man Point, another mile or so to a rugged cliff, supposedly on the "forehead" of a face-like outcropping, just in time to watch the sun set into the mists over the western Appalachians. Walking back in the dusk, a few deer and their fawns took a moment out of their evening meal to watch us go by. We returned to Skylands and sat on the porch once again, watching as the stars above and streetlights far below began to twinkle on.
West Virginia was lovely and we celebrated our departure, and our anniversary, by hiking up to the top of the Seneca Rocks, 1000 feet from the valley floor, about three miles round trip. And then it was down the mountains into Virginia and a relaxing BnB in Staunton (pronounced as if the 'u" wasn't there). Staunton is home to the American Shakespeare Company, performing in a replica of the Blackfriars Theatre, Shakespeare's indoor theatre in London. The small company performed a rousing production of "The Merry Wives of Windsor", one of the comedies that I have not seen. Very funny - almost the invention of sitcoms, with trickery, puns, and jokes, including a "stand-up" dialog where a teacher and a student dscover that some Latin declensions sound absolutely vulgar in English. "Horum est" indeed!
Staunton is also close to the southern end of Shanandoah National Park and its Skyline Drive. Choosing to enter the park 1/3 of the way up the drive, we discovered that Sundays are "no fee" days. We also discovered that, contrary to the website, the lodges on the drive had rooms available. So we were able to get a fabulous room at Skylands, overlooking the western side of the mountain. Which enabled us to explore a little more of the park: Dark Hollow Falls, a short but steep walk of about 1.5 miles round trip. It was tough to ignore the little voice in the back of our heads whispering, as we descended toward the falls, "you have to walk this back up...you have to walk this back UP..." But we made it. Enough to allow us to walk up (you get to walk down after!) to Stony Man Point, another mile or so to a rugged cliff, supposedly on the "forehead" of a face-like outcropping, just in time to watch the sun set into the mists over the western Appalachians. Walking back in the dusk, a few deer and their fawns took a moment out of their evening meal to watch us go by. We returned to Skylands and sat on the porch once again, watching as the stars above and streetlights far below began to twinkle on.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
"Country Roads....West Virginia!"
We flipped a coin from Harrisburg...north or south. I think maybe we saw an ad for West Virginia or something, because south won. And we are glad it did. A cyber-search led us to a little "town" (unincorporated) called "Cabins". Probably because there are about 100 cabins and cottages to rent. We chose Harmon's North Fork cabins, located along the Potomac River (the north fork of it, clever name, no?). The cabins are about 15 years old or less and are literally located along the river. Each cabin has a jacuzzi in the bedroom, air-conditioning (needed these 85-95 degree days), and a full kitchen. Front porch with a view of the river and a swing. Comfortable. Gorgeous. And not right on top of the neighboring cabins (some of which have hot tubs if you want to pay a little extra).
In addition, there are a lot of things to see if you get bored sitting on that porch or wading/swimming in the Potomac. (So Washington threw a dllar across the Potomac? We swam across! Well, walked. It's a fairly narrow and shallow river out this way.) Hike up a trail to a 900 foot high outcropping of sandstone to see the river and surrounding farmlands. Drive an 8 mile road up to "Dolly Sod", an Allegheny plateau, 3500 feet above sea level, where another 8-mile road takes you along the top of the world. Stop and walk through Bear Rocks where bare rocks mark a path through blueberries, mountain laurel, and scappy "one-sided" pines holding on for dear life against the wind and the rocky soil. Drive the 16 mile road through Smoke Hole canyon. Seneca Rocks. Seneca Cave, the largest in WV. Spruce Knob, the highest point(4800 feet). Or just relax in the jacuzzi with a bottle of local wine, cheese, and fruit after a fun day of driving, hiking, or sightseeing. Sound like a commercial? Sorry. It's just a great place to spend a few days and one to which we would return.
In addition, there are a lot of things to see if you get bored sitting on that porch or wading/swimming in the Potomac. (So Washington threw a dllar across the Potomac? We swam across! Well, walked. It's a fairly narrow and shallow river out this way.) Hike up a trail to a 900 foot high outcropping of sandstone to see the river and surrounding farmlands. Drive an 8 mile road up to "Dolly Sod", an Allegheny plateau, 3500 feet above sea level, where another 8-mile road takes you along the top of the world. Stop and walk through Bear Rocks where bare rocks mark a path through blueberries, mountain laurel, and scappy "one-sided" pines holding on for dear life against the wind and the rocky soil. Drive the 16 mile road through Smoke Hole canyon. Seneca Rocks. Seneca Cave, the largest in WV. Spruce Knob, the highest point(4800 feet). Or just relax in the jacuzzi with a bottle of local wine, cheese, and fruit after a fun day of driving, hiking, or sightseeing. Sound like a commercial? Sorry. It's just a great place to spend a few days and one to which we would return.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Baseball, slots, and flat tires
Lots of things to keep one busy in Harrisburg. Thursday night, after dinner, we took a stroll to City Island, down a few blocks from the hotel and across the steel Walnut Street bridge, closed to vehicular traffic since 1972. A sign announced a ballgame tonight! Harrisburg has an AA team affiliated with the Washington Nationals called, appropriately enough, the Senators. So we bought a reserved seat for $8 and went on to "root, root, root for the home team". But, like their namesake senators, they just couldn't get it together. We left after the 7th inning stretch with the score at 5-1, in favor of the Binghamtown Mets, affiliated with...well, you can figure it out.
And then there's the car. After getting some articles from our car, the valet staff discovered that one of my tires was almost flat. By the time they reached me, it was completely flat. So the valet (Russ) and I (and another employee who was on his day off but passing by) took off the spare and changed the tire - the first time I've had to do that with the Honda in nearly 8 years. Then off to Firestone to get it fixed. Nope, can't fix it, slow leak, need a brand new one. Oh well, maybe I'll get to the Capitol tomorrow. But while they were fixing, I took a nice walk in the sunshine along the Susquehanna, learning the history of the town through roadside markers (it's their "Susquecentennial" - that's what they're calling it - 150 years since John Harris established the town) and getting some exercise - a little more than a mile round trip from Firestone.
And a side note to our travel: on the way to Harrisburg along I-78, we stopped for a brief sojourn in Bethlehem, PA, and the new Sands casino, built to resemble an old steel plant. We dropped their welcome package pretty quickly, even though it was penny slots, but I managed to make back my own investment (plus $15) with the "Hee-Haw" slots. Of course, then I spent the winnings on lunch at the Irish pub. Oh well, at least it's closer than Atlantic City.
And then there's the car. After getting some articles from our car, the valet staff discovered that one of my tires was almost flat. By the time they reached me, it was completely flat. So the valet (Russ) and I (and another employee who was on his day off but passing by) took off the spare and changed the tire - the first time I've had to do that with the Honda in nearly 8 years. Then off to Firestone to get it fixed. Nope, can't fix it, slow leak, need a brand new one. Oh well, maybe I'll get to the Capitol tomorrow. But while they were fixing, I took a nice walk in the sunshine along the Susquehanna, learning the history of the town through roadside markers (it's their "Susquecentennial" - that's what they're calling it - 150 years since John Harris established the town) and getting some exercise - a little more than a mile round trip from Firestone.
And a side note to our travel: on the way to Harrisburg along I-78, we stopped for a brief sojourn in Bethlehem, PA, and the new Sands casino, built to resemble an old steel plant. We dropped their welcome package pretty quickly, even though it was penny slots, but I managed to make back my own investment (plus $15) with the "Hee-Haw" slots. Of course, then I spent the winnings on lunch at the Irish pub. Oh well, at least it's closer than Atlantic City.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
What's there to do in Harrisburg??
Summer of 2009 was the first one in over 20 years that we did not go to the AATE convention. Patty decided that, after years of her traipsing arond towns while I went to theatre workshops, it was my turn to explore while she learned about dolls - specifically Madame Alexanders. So here we are in beautiful downtown Harrisburg, PA. Now a lot of people said to me "Harrisburg? What can you do in Harrisburg?" But our philosophy is "no matter where you go, there you are..." so there must be something! It is the state capital, after all.
And, true to form, there are a number of things unique to Harrisburg - not the least of which is its Capitol - one of the few that does not have a gold dome, but rather a multicolored mosaic. And the Pennsylvania State Museum, just down the street, is also quite interesting in its presentation of natural and cultural history of the state. Do you know the difference between a pond and a lake? A lake, through succession, becomes a pond when it is smaller and shallower, though it did not specify a particular depth. A hill, on the other hand, becomes a mountain when it is over 1000 feet tall. Some fabulous displays on animal life in PA and one of the nicest collections of transportation vehicles since the Ford Museum in Michigan.
And still to come: City Island, in the middle of the Susquehanna River; the Harris Mansion (founder of the town) and seeing "Harry Potter" in IMAX.
And you thought there was nothing to do in Harrisburg.
And, true to form, there are a number of things unique to Harrisburg - not the least of which is its Capitol - one of the few that does not have a gold dome, but rather a multicolored mosaic. And the Pennsylvania State Museum, just down the street, is also quite interesting in its presentation of natural and cultural history of the state. Do you know the difference between a pond and a lake? A lake, through succession, becomes a pond when it is smaller and shallower, though it did not specify a particular depth. A hill, on the other hand, becomes a mountain when it is over 1000 feet tall. Some fabulous displays on animal life in PA and one of the nicest collections of transportation vehicles since the Ford Museum in Michigan.
And still to come: City Island, in the middle of the Susquehanna River; the Harris Mansion (founder of the town) and seeing "Harry Potter" in IMAX.
And you thought there was nothing to do in Harrisburg.
Monday, May 4, 2009
One of the best concerts ever
Happy Birthday, Pete Seeger. For those too young to know him, you probably know his songs - "Turn, Turn, Turn", "Where Have All The Flowers Gone?", "Wimoweh", "We Shall Overcome" or his versions of others, especially those by Woody Guthrie like "This Land is your Land". He turns 90 this month and a few friends got together to pay tribute - with a few thousand fans in the audience. It was a fundraiser really for his Clearwater sloop, an educational ship that trolls the waters of the Hudson River urging environmental concerns. The packed Garden was happy to donate, myself included (thanks to friend and former clleague Jim Sauer). And what a lineup! I didn't recognize every name, but the fact that all of them felt touched in some way by his music, his activism, his life was astounding. After an brief appearance by Native American narrators, John Mellencamp led it off, followed by appearances by actor Tim Robbins (he sang later, too, with his son) and the NY Labor Chorus. One performer said he was glad we were singing under this president and not the former - several very liberal opinions were expressed, not the least of which was Billy Bragg singing part the "The Internationale". Ani DiFranco, Bruce Cockburn, Tom Paxton, Eric Wesberg, Dar Williams, Bernice and Toshi Regon, the blues man Taj Mahal, Steve Earle, Emmy Lou Harris, Kate and Anna MacGarrigle with their children, including Rufus Wainwright, Teddy Thompson, Joan Baez, Bela Fleck, a poetry reading by actress Ruby Dee, and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and that was just before intermission! Afterwards, we heard from TV producer Norman Lear, Tom Chapin with Oscar the Grouch (singing, appropriately "Garbage, Garbage" - Carol Spinney came out with Oscar later), Kris Kristofferson (who amazingly sang the old camp song "There's a Hole in the Bucket..." with Ani DiFranco), the Irish singer Tommy Sands, Richie Havens, Jay Ungar and Molly Mason (who will be in Chatham later this month), Arlo Guthrie, Del McCoury, John Hall (from the group Orleans), Ben Harper, Pete's sister Peggy who read from her journals, Rambling Jack Elliot, Roger McGuinn (of the Byrds), Dave Matthews, Bruce Springsteen (who did an amazing version of "The Ghost of Tom Joad" with Tom Morello, and, of course, Pete Seeger, whose voice was never the greatest and is showing his age, but his banjo picking and his enthusiastic gait strutting on and off stage several times sure didn't look 90. And I'm sure I missed a few.
Those who left after the finale of "This Land" missed Pete's grandson Tao Rodriguez-Seeger leading the entire cast and garden in "Bring 'Em Home" and "This Little Light of Mine", two others popularized by Pete. And he introduced us to the family - his older (!) brother John (95 - good genes in that family), Peggy, and his grandchildren.
I'm not a big fan of arena shows - but this show was filled by true fans of Pete and these artists - they were respectful of those they didn't know that well (very few catcalls of "Bruuuuce" at inappropriate times) and they were fanatic about those they did. And the artists were amazing too - no egos demanding more time or "headlining". It was truly one of the best concerts ever.
Those who left after the finale of "This Land" missed Pete's grandson Tao Rodriguez-Seeger leading the entire cast and garden in "Bring 'Em Home" and "This Little Light of Mine", two others popularized by Pete. And he introduced us to the family - his older (!) brother John (95 - good genes in that family), Peggy, and his grandchildren.
I'm not a big fan of arena shows - but this show was filled by true fans of Pete and these artists - they were respectful of those they didn't know that well (very few catcalls of "Bruuuuce" at inappropriate times) and they were fanatic about those they did. And the artists were amazing too - no egos demanding more time or "headlining". It was truly one of the best concerts ever.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Where does the time go?
Wow - I really thought retirement meant relaxing - nothing to do but read, write blogs. Hmm. I have certainly managed to keep busy. Some travel. In January, we went to Disney World and stayed at our "home" in Sarasota Springs Resort. I directed a production of Neil Simon's "Fools" that ran in March in Westfield. I helped build the set and hang the lights for Cranford's "Peter Pan" that opened May 1st. And did a little work around the house. And garden.
We've also seen several concerts and shows. We're new fans of Two River Theatre in Red Bank, watching their fabulous productions of "Mary's Wedding" and "Melissa Arctic". And we're getting set for new travels coming up in August. Hmm. Good thing I'm retired.
We've also seen several concerts and shows. We're new fans of Two River Theatre in Red Bank, watching their fabulous productions of "Mary's Wedding" and "Melissa Arctic". And we're getting set for new travels coming up in August. Hmm. Good thing I'm retired.
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