The Further Adventures Of No-Sense-Of-Direction Girl and Don’t-Plan-Ahead Boy

I saw this today on The Further Adventures Of No-Sense-Of-Direction Girl and Don’t-Plan-Ahead Boy

If you are driving on the New York Thruway, and you happen to miss the exit for 84 (the uneducated might think this is the fault of the girlfriend/navigator but all of the signs were CLEARLY stolen by gnomes in the middle of the night), it’s a good idea to make sure you have enough cash to get off at Albany. Because if both people assume that the other person isn’t so ditzy as to leave without any cash, you’ll have to pull the car over and search through several pairs of jeans, backpacks and a purse. And if your combined efforts still can’t find five dollars, and there aren’t any rest stops, and it’s a pretty good situation for a deus ex mechina twenty to show up, and it doesn’t, and you’re getting closer to Albany, well, that’s a very romantic bonding moment. Really.

On the plus side, I think we have seven days before we’re technically on the run from the law.

Via The Further Adventures Of No-Sense-Of-Direction Girl and Don’t-Plan-Ahead Boy

New Jersey Travel Photo Contest

I saw this today on the Stickley Museum blog and thought some of you might like to enter, or at least have a look at the entered travel photos.

I’ve seen some amazing Craftsman Farm photos in our Flickr group! If you have a great picture of The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms, why not submit it to Great Destinations NJ’s New Jersey photo contest? The best pictures showing the beautiful side of our state will be in a full-color coffeetable book of New Jersey photograhs. Details here!

Via SM@CF blog — Do You Have A Great Craftsman Farms Photo?

Renn Faire!

A recent trip to the NY Renn Faire!

On Saturday, Germaine invited me to go to the NY Renn Faire. Germaine is Bethie’s friend from high school, but being sisters means I get to steal her clothes and her friends. Score! I was really excited to go, since it’s been a few years since my last joust

When Allison had her wedding, all the bridesmaid wore full garb,
so I have a complete outfit, but it’s packed away since I didn’t
anticipate needing a corset and full skirt in Beijing. I’m a bit
disappointed that I didn’t get the chance to wear it again, how often
do you get a second wear out of a bridesmaid dress?

Germaine’s friend, like a true geek, uses his iPhone to get directions.

After a great deal of ribbing and careful ID scrutiny, we got beers
and went to watch the joust. The joust announcer said how worried
everyone had been about the local pollution, but it turns out we’ve got
a good clear day, so none of the horses have to wear breathing masks.

Then we went to the knife and star throwing games. This picture
shows that it is far more dangerous to be right next to what I’m trying
to hit.

Here’s one from the target’s perspective!

Via Simpson’s Paradox » Blog Archive » NY Renn Faire

Museum Day At Craftsman Farms

Traveling to New Jersey? Ok, no one travels to New Jersey. Stuck in New Jersey and looking for something new to do? Next month is MUSEUM DAY which means free admission to local attractions, like the Stickley Museum.

Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms is participating in Smithsonian Magazine’s Museum Day on September 27, 2008. Museum Day is a chance for you (and a friend!) to get free admission to participating museums. Smithsonian has this to say about the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms:

Designed, built, and lived in by early 20th Century designer Gustav Stickley, it is one of the most significant structures of the American Arts and Crafts Movement. The site, which consists of 30 acres and nine historic buildings has been designated a National Historic Landmark.
Exhibits

Stickley’s home, a massive log structure of his own design, has been restored and interpreted for tours. An original Stickley cottage is also on view and scenic walking trails are open. Shop containing extensive collection of reference books, as well as pottery, tiles, and more.

To get your Museum Day pass, look in the September 2008 issue of Smithsonian magazine or get your card online.

Via Museum Day 2008 on The Stickley Museum At Craftsman Farms blog

Guide For Visiting Journalists

Kaiser Kuo has written a brilliant Guide for Visiting Journalists, to avoid the awkward Bylines-At-Customs type of writing so scathingly described by Huo Lei Feng, and to avoid the shallow cliches that make us cringe. Here’s an excerpt:

Topping the list of forbidden clichés is the phrase
“coming out party.” As apt as it may have been when first used with
reference to the Games shortly after they were awarded to Beijing back
in 2001, after appearing in 75.4% of stories about the 2008 Olympics in
the seven intervening years, it now incites English-speaking expats to
an ugly, violent rage. Use it at your own peril; you have been warned.

Please do not write “Beijing is a city of stark contrasts” and
refrain from using any variation thereof — “a city of startling
juxtapositions,” or (needless to say) “a city of yin and yang.” Not
that it isn’t a city of, um, rather pronounced differences; it’s just
too damned lazy an observation to make. A special enjoinder to
photographers: please resist the temptation to position yourself in a
hutong with a decrepit but charming tile-roofed courtyard home in the
foreground and a shiny, hyper-modern steel-and-glass skyscraper rising
behind. No using Blade Runner comparisons for Beijing. You’ll want to
save those for Shanghai, believe me.

The bureaus of reputable western papers here in China have a rule
against quoting taxi drivers. But since Beijing’s cabbies are so
fabulously colorful, you will be permitted one exception. Make it a
good one. Helpful hint: That story about efforts by our city’s cabbies
to learn English phrases? That one’s been written several thousand
times so please, anything but that one.

Dead on, Kaiser Kuo! (But it’s still ok to try to work “as if by an occult hand” into your stories.)

Via Simpson’s Paradox » A Guide To Visiting Journalists

05.22.08 Part 2: Yorktown, Virginia

Thursday, 22 May 2008 - Part 1 (10:30 am - 2 pm)
Yorktown, Virginia

From The Historical Park, I set off to explore the town. Not as big or exciting as I expected, but I did enjoy my time at the beach!

Old Yorktown, Virginia * http://www.yorkcounty.gov/tourism/

Yorktown was named after England’s York and was established as a port for shipping tobacco to Europe. It is the 3rd part of Virginia’s infamous “Historic Triangle” that connects it with Jamestown and Williamsburg. Yorktown is a small village of roughly 203 citizens (2000 census) and is considered a “Census-designated place” in York County, Virginia. It is also York County’s county seat and is one of the eight original shires that formed in colonial Virginia in 1634. Yorktown is most famous for the surrender of General Cornwallis of the English army to General George Washington of the newly forming United States of America in 1781. It was this surrender that effectively ended the American Revolutionary War even though the war continued for another year. It was here as well that another American war - the American Civil War (1861-1865) prominently figurred as a placehold in being a major port that supplied northern and southern towns thereby placing it into being a battlefield a second time. There are only 9 buildings that survive from the Colonial period as well as many of the earthworks dug by the besieging American and French forces. There is also a memorial to the French war dead of the battle. Its a small quaint town. Nothing like Jamestown or Williamsburg and holds an attraction of its own. While I was visiting, most of the museums of historic buildings were closed and there were no activities. It does have a nice public white-sand beach great for summer activities and a little bit of shopping. Its a nice exit to the excitement of Jamestown and Williamsburg. Rating 3.5 stars out of 5. Visited 5/22/2008.

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Kokoro Sushi (Denver, Colorado)

Kokoro Sushi Restaurant
http://kokorodenver.ypguides.net/
303) 432-0600 * 5535 Wadsworth, Arvada * (55th and Wadsworth)
A small healthy fast food joint off Wadsworth, part of a chain of a similar diner that’s in the style of Tokyo Joes somewhat, but more sushi and Japanese fare than Tokyo Joes. Specializing in lunch and dinner, they do have a healthier menu than most fast food restaurants and its nutritious and speedy. When I can’t do Tokyo Joes, Kokoro is my next choice, especially since I quit fastfood restaurants (unless I can’t help it). I like the Broadway location better than the Wadsworth, but both do me well. They even have a drive-thru and offer deliver by JEEVES by calling JEEVES at 303-534.TOGO or log onto the JEEVES website at www.deliverybyjeeves.com. Rating: 4 stars out of 5.

05.22.08 Part 1: Off to Yorktown

Thursday, 22 May 2008 - Part 1 (8:00 am - 10:30 am)
Yorktown, Virginia

Early to rise and checked out of the Janus International Hostel and out to explore the final section of the Historic Triangle. Driving down the Colonial Parkway, I found my way to “Yorktown”.

Yorktown Colonial National Historical Park * http://www.nps.gov/colo * PO BOX 210, Yorktown, Virginia 23690 *

Another National Park of the Historic Triangle, is a small museum and visitor center where the staff will orientate you on the history of the Battlefield, dioramas showing scenes from life around the battle, and a mock ship you can board. The Visitor center is surrounded by British defensive earthenworks, a 16 minute film on the history of the battle is presented within on the “Siege of Yorktown”. General George Washington’s military tents can be viewed, and artifacts from the siege. After the visitor center, drive the self-guided driving tour around the battlefields for seven miles viewing American and French siege lines, visit the Moore House, the site of the surrender negotiations ending the Siege, where the British army grounded their weapons in an elaborate ceremony. I’m a history buff, but I’m not much on historic battlefield sites and exhibits, so I can’t say it was one of the highlights of my trip. The center and park was put together very nicely though but the driving tour was confusing. Rating 2.5 stars out of 5. Visited 5/22/2008.

WSJ’s Best Of The China Blogs

The WSJ’s China blog has some recent items of note:

–Great Wall adventures. Trips to various parts of the wall, with an emphasis on those accessible from the author’s home in Tangshan, Hebei province. [Great Wall Blog]

–Street art is pretty rare in China, which makes this collection of Shanghai graffiti photos something of a treat (h/t Simpson’s Paradox). [Juxtapoz]

–A detailed look at Beijing’s subways, line-by-line. Includes maps, history, photos and lists of major sites by stop. [CNReviews.com]

–For more on getting around the Chinese capital, here’s an intro to Beijing A to B, a new guide to the city’s transportation systems. Currently available: roads and subways, in English. Coming soon: bus info and Chinese. [Beijingologist]

–You’ve read the book, now watch the dance. “Wolf Totem”: the ballet. [The Foreign Expert]

–A scholarly review of Amy Hanser’s scholarly book “Service Encounters,” a study of three vastly different retail environments in the northern city of Harbin, where the author’s fieldwork included working as a salesclerk in each setting. [China Beat]

Via China Journal : Best of the China Blogs: July 8

05.21.08 Part 5: Dinner in a Colonial tavern in Williamsburg

Wednesday, 21 May 2008 - Part 5 (4:00-8:00 pm)
Williamsburg, Virginia

All the running around and driving at Jamestown made me famished when I realized I hadn’t had lunch yet. So I figured, a nice meal at a Colonial tavern in Williamsburg would do the trick. The drive back to Williamsburg wasn’t more than 15 minutes, and since Williamsburg activities were slowing down for the evening, it was a good time to find parking and setting out into Williamsburg for day 2 of wanderings and excitement. I wasn’t sure where I was gonna go, but the attractive barmaid lured me into Chowning’s Tavern without hesitation ….

Josiah Chowning’s Tavern (Duke of Gloucester Street, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia)

A wink from a cute barmaid lured me into this fine and festive, speedy service establishment. Fashioned in Colonial style decor and architecture, as is every establishment in Colonial Williamsburg, lies Josiah Chowning’s tavern in the heart of the old town. They boast a daytime menu that has quick fresh fare such as pulled pork, beef brisket, hickory-grilled hamburgers, salads, and other sandwiches. In the evening, it becomes a true 18th century rum and alehouse, serving light fare, local ales and wines, rums, and Colonial Williamsburg’s own draft root beer. Balladeers lead guests in rousing sing-alongs and constumed servers invite patrons to play popular colonial games. I feasted on the small and pricey, but delicious crab cake sandwich while sitting with a couple from Texas as there are no private tables at this pub. Entertained by fiddlers and violinists, a magician, and comedy … my quickly served dinner snacking on bowls of peanuts while awaiting the food gave my feet a good rest and my spirit an uplift as I tried to figure out entertainment for the rest of the evening. Rating: 4 stars out of 5. Visited 5/21/08.

Afterwards, I wandered around Williamsburg, watching some more re-enactments, parades, and battles. Then to wind up the evening I figured I’d do the Ghost walk and hang out at the William and Mary bookstore until the tour began.

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