misswithers

yup yup I’ve been here

The Pantelios side of my Greek family is from Kephalonia. Last week we buried my yiayia next to her mother who immigrated to America in 1919. Most of my relatives have since moved to Athens or Mikonos. I still want to see my island.

The Magic Castle is the private clubhouse for the Academy of Magical Arts, Inc, a very special organization devoted to the advancement of the ancient art of magic. The purpose of The Academy is to encourage and promote public interest in the art of magic with particular emphasis on preserving its history as an art form, entertainment medium, and hobby. Beginning with a charter membership of 150, the Academy has grown into a world-renowned fraternal organization with a membership of nearly 5,000.

The Magic Castle began its life as a private home built in 1908 by banker and real estate magnate Rollin B. Lane. Mr. Lane owned much of what is now Hollywood, dreaming of turning his land into orange groves, farms and ranches.

The Magic Castle is the world’s most famous club for magicians and magic enthusiasts and home to The Academy of Magical Arts, Inc.

The Magic Castle is the showplace for some of the greatest magicians from around the globe. We also take great pride in showcasing the magnificent building that houses the Magic Castle. Built in 1908, this storied mansion has watched Hollywood grow and change for almost 100 years while never losing its original charm.

you people are all arseholes

Since adolescence Peter had been a passionate collector. He was greatly fond of collecting unusual things. Traveling around Western Europe, the Russian Tsar never missed an auction where “wonders” brought from Eastern colonies were on sale: unusual shells and plants, stuffed animals and birds, coins, medals, and so on. At the end of the 17th century, anatomy became a fashionable hobby. Artistically prepared specimens of human fetuses – alone or in groups – fabricated by Frederik Ruysch, one of the leading anatomy specialists of that time, were very popular. Peter purchased Ruysch’s unique collection and sent it to St.Petersburg. Together with other things collected by the Tsar, such as instruments, natural rarities, artifacts, books, as well as archaeological finds, the Ruysch collection laid the foundation and became the pride of the first Russian museum opened for the public, the Kunstkammer.

A great part of the Ruysch collection has been saved. Some of his fetal “preparations” are exhibited in the Round Hall. You can also see a piece of the Monster-Tree, the pine-tree, with a branch piercing its trunk, which grew where Peter I decided to lay the corner-stone of the new Kunstkammer building. The Tsar also had also decreed that his subjects throughout Russia should send “monsters”, “ugly ones”, and other marvels to the Museum. People were fond of such things then, mostly from curiosity. But Peter collected them for the enlightenment of his nation, “to instruct and teach about Nature – living and dead – and about the artistry that flows from the hands of men.”

Various objects from early ethnographic collections of Peter’s time are now exhibited in the Round Hall (formerly, the Anatomical Theater). The skeleton of Nicholas Bourgeois is exhibited there. Bourgeois was a French giant whom Peter had brought from Calais. At 2 meters, 18+ centimeters (7 feet, two inches) he was more than 18 cms. (7 inches) taller than Peter himself. His duty was to stand on the footboard at the back of Peter’s carriage. When Bourgeois died at 42, the Tsar decided to preserve his skeleton. Since then, it has been displayed in the Round Hall of the Kunstkammer.

In memory of the founder of the Museum, some of Peter’s clothes, a copy of his death mask, and a mold of his hand are kept there.

My great grandmother lived in that house. My dad used to visit there often- his family lived across the street.

The Porvoo Doll and Toy museum was founded 1974 by Evi Söderlund, who dedicated 35 years in researching and collecting items to the museum. The collection, which is generally regarded as the best of its kind in Finland, consists of approximately 1000 dolls and hundreds upon hundreds of toys, all from the period of 1800- to 1990. All items were used in play by children of the period and each holds an interesting history. Mrs Söderlund personally collected the dolls and toys during her travels in Finland and foreign countries. The museum represents the accomplishment of a life time of dedicated work and the achievement of a very personal dream, says Mrs Söderlund. She is pleased to share her dream with today´s public and especially its children.

So Chris,” I finally whispered, knowing he was waiting for the question, “what’s the deal with this bridge?”

He leaned back, getting as comfortable as one can on a rock, grinning like a Cheshire cat. “It’s called the Bridge to Nowhere. Back in the 1930s, they tried to build a highway through the East Fork to connect the San Gabriel Valley with the desert,” he said, motioning eastward over the mountains. “But the great flood of 1938 washed away all those plans and the highway, leaving only the bridge.”

Chris paused, then added, “It rained steadily for 4 days.”

Annual Bonnie & Clyde Ambush reenactment

My great-great-grandmothers Victorian house has been turned into a Bed and Breakfast- “The Nockels House”

http://www.adamsstreetbandb.com/home.html

OK, its called the Adams Street House, but it oozes Nockels.