Hip Young Things

When I made the choice to move to vancouver island , it was a decision I based on two people who had influence my life. The first person, was my father. He was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. I had been there once, or so I was told as I was too young to remember it. But the way that he spoke about the Pacific Northwest…in the middle of a summer in Phoenix, just made me wish that I was there.

There are many beautiful cities in Canada to consider moving to toronto , Montreal, Ottawa…but I wanted Vancouver. The second person, who played a role, in seconding my opinion, was an artist who owned a house on the island. I had seen her photographs of ship yards, of the long white masts pointing to the blue and grays of the sky, all the while back-dropped by the mountains and water…both of which were equally blue and gray. I listened to her stories of nights spent having a bit of wine and talking with the locals. I thought about this and knew that I was kind of over, for the time being, the reds and oranges and the white hot heat of the Arizona desert. I needed something completely different.

I needed a new apartment , I needed new air to breath, and I needed new things to see. See, I’m a painter too, and what we see every day, for some reason, affects how we feel every day. Like picasso in his blue period , I was needing some blue. And I wanted to be in a town, where the locals actually talked with one another. A place where sending a text about having coffee, seemed a ridiculous alternative to just having coffee. It is a very good thing, to take oneself out of the day to day, familiar environment from time to time. To see not only what you discover, but what in turn…just happens to discover you.

Centuries ago, in marshland territory, Dutch and free African settlers in the 1700s, cleared the area and created a pasture, naming it Noortwyck.  The English arrived and conquered the settlement, now known as New Netherland in 1664, and after that became a hamlet distinct from New York City to the South.  It officially became a village in 1712, and then referred to the following year as Grin’wich, and so the famous site of Greenwich Village in New York became a reality  two hundred and ninety-seven years ago.  It grew in size, in 1822, when an epidemic of yellow fever hit New York and citizens fled to the better air of Greenwich Village.  Today, the Village serves as a landmark of Bohemian culture, and a central area for new ideas and movements of all kinds, including politics, art, and culture.  Once the 20th Century began, it was the home of experimental theater and art galleries and small presses.  Today, you’ll find one of the largest legacies in this small area, the Whitney Museum of American Art.

You’ll also find the Cherry Lane Theatre, begun in 1924.  This is the Big Apple’s oldest and continuously operating off-Broadway theater.  It was originally a farm silo in 1817, then a tobacco warehouse, and a box factory.  Then Edna St. Vincent Millay and members of the Provincetown Players transformed the structure in to the Cherry Lane with the play The Man Who Ate the Popomack.   This was a vital company in the 1950s, developing the Theatre of the Absurd and The Living Theater.  It became known as a place where aspiring playwrights could perform their work.

Currently, until March 14th of this year, you can see Extinction by Gabe McKinley, starring two TV stars, James Roday of Psych, and Michael Weston of House and Six Feet Under.  The play is a dark comedy about friendships and what happens when they’re about to become extinct. You may want to stay near these places, so look for these  small hotels in Greenwich Village and New York.  You’ll find these accommodations offer a great deal of charm and character and even architecture.  Stay close to the places you want to see, and do it with the comfort and service that fits you best.

Cape May holds a special place in many different hearts, and when you come here to visit, it will enter your heart, too.  There is so many wonderful things about Cape May that it’s sometimes dizzying to think how so much beauty can exist in one place.  There are plenty of things that would recommend a Cape May hotel and not all of them are based simply on the place.  There is a hospitality that comes naturally to a place like this.  Life close to water simply does something wonderful to a person, where the rhythms of nature start to take over everything.

It’s no surprise, then, that Cape May has so many local authors writing nature guides to the Cape.  After just a few moments here, you’ll see how the presence of nature is splendidly overwhelming.  It certainly helps to have so much shoreline to daydream on, and the constant sound of the surf reminding us of what’s really important.  The rhythms of the sea are our own rhythms, after all, and the mysteries of the ocean are always right here.  A look at the watercolor work of Patricia Rainey can help to give just a sample of the natural views that await you.

Paul Kerlinger is another local who’s been enraptured by the wonders of nature here, and he’s been keeping a watchful eye on the incredible birds that can be seen here.  They change with the months, although some of them are always nearby.  Seabirds, egrets, and owls are just a few of the critters that you might catch a glimpse of while you’re visiting.  There’s so much more in store, and every visit will provide new glimpses into the wonders of the world, making this a very enviable spot to spend some time getting in touch with nature.

The Ogunquit Museum of American Art is a small gallery space that is also the only museum in the state of Maine that is devoted soley to American art. The museum was founded in 1953 by Henry Strater who designated Charles S. Worley Jr. as the primary architect for the building in which the museum is housed. Since its original establishment the building has gone through many renovations and adjustments though the intention of the museum remains strong and the permanent collection continues to grow. At present, the permanent collection includes over 1600 pieces. The museum is open in the summer months, which coincides with the main tourist season and this is great news for the guests in the Ogunquit hotels who enjoy great art with their great vacation.

Among the artists that are included in the permanent collection is the New York born Steve Hawley. He was born in Brooklyn in 1950 and studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, where he received his diploma and also his graduate diploma. After graduating he began instructing at the school as well as at Tufts University in Medford, MA. Hawley has received a great deal of critical recognition and positive viewer response. He has been featured in articles that have appeared in American Art Now, Weekend Art World and the New York Times among many other magazines and news papers. Some of the galleries that are currently featuring his work include the Smithsonian Museum of American Art, The Arkansas Art Center, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, The Portland Museum of Art and of course the Ogunquit Museum. Since the museum is located on three acres of land right on the coastline of Maine, it stands to reason that an afternoon there would be the perfect compliment to any summer afternoon.

Orlando is a fascinating city, and it’s truly a box of surprises.  There are times when it seems as though culture has decided to take a long nap, and things come to a grinding halt.  In moments, however, something new starts up, and it’s livelier, wilder, and hotter than anything that had ever come before.  It moves at a snail’s pace until you’re sure that it’s moving backwards, and then it turns into the mad hare, and darts ahead to prove to everyone who’s paying attention that the world is shifting in sudden, frantic directions.  It’s always a pleasure fest, though, for tourists, where Florida’s famous for its fantastic luxury hotels that offer a constant source of gorgeous distractions.

If your tastes are for simply getting away from it all and holing up for awhile with the one you love, you may not even notice the cultural waves crashing around you, but if you are interested in the speed of culture, and the velocity of a dream, then you might want to look into timing your trip to coincide with the Fiesta Medina.

This event has been going on for over two decades.  It’s a Latin-themed musical fest, that lasts for 8-10 hours or more.  The admission is traditionally very reasonable, so people can bring the whole family, and this is a very exciting way to get involved in the local community, and also see what’s interesting and innovative musically.  Hiphop and salsa are always big, and reggaeton is going to be well-represented this year for sure.  If your trip doesn’t coincide here, check out this site, because they have a good eye and ear for local Latino culture.  They sponsor many different events throughout the year, and they have broad commercial appeal, but also might be a bit off some of the tourist maps.

I’ve landed in New York City exactly once, and flown over the city twice.  The landing was to change planes at JFK, the fly-over was during a trip to Connecticut.  So I can say I’ve seen New York, but I can’t say I’ve ever been there, and I believe most people would heartily agree with that statement.  It’s a place I’d like to go, to have a chance to walk in Central Park, or to see theatre on Broadway (and Off-Broadway), and to visit some of the planet’s great museums.  Somehow, I’ve managed to make it to some surprising cities (including Leningrad, when it was Leningrad and not St. Petersburg).  When I do, I’m going to find a little place to stay for about ten days and see the city right.  Sure, I’ll go to the Empire State Building or to the Top of the Rock at 30 Rockefeller Center, and I’m sure I’ll take one of those five hour ferry rides around the Statue of Liberty, and even go inside the Statue of Liberty, but what I’ll really be looking for are those small museums that most out-of-towners aren’t familiar with, such as the Frick Collection.

This collection, kept inside the Frick mansion, houses decorative arts and European paintings.  This museum is a museum that doesn’t feel like one, it’s more of a private home, and the building itself is an art work.  Its courtyard and stone building takes up a city block; the rooms inside are painted like a Renaissance fresco, and nearly every bit of furniture you’ll see inside comes from the 1500s, over four hundred years ago.  The most recent art work you’ll find comes from the 1880s; that is, French Impressionism.  The rest is from the century before that, and one particular piece is about seven hundred years old.

For now, I can only take a tour of the collection virtually, but at some point, I’m going to land in New York and actually stay for a few days.

I remember the moment I fell in love with William Shakespeare. I don’t mean that in the romantic sense in case anyone has already become disturbed by that statement. I meant it of course in the poetic sense and anyone who loves the bard will known exactly what I mean and will likely remember their moment of discovery as well. And I’m not talking about a first encounter with reading one of his plays or even seeing a live production for the first time. For every lover of Shakespeare, okay I mean for many, there is an epiphanic moment that occurs during a particularly fabulous performance or production or even moment of “ah ha” reading a play that will forever bind one’s heart and soul to the great plays of this Elizabethan writer.

So, with that elaborate introduction, I set the plot in motion and say that mine occurred very recently. In fact it was last October when I was in DC with my father. My father is a lobbyist and had to be in town for his work. I always find this to be particularly tedious and am not interested in his field. I also happen to be a sophomore English major in college and have been more interested in the twentieth century American writers than anything else. Last semester I took a Shakespeare class, it was required and didn’t really want to. During the last week of October my dad told me he had to go to DC for a couple of days and really wanted me to go with him. You see, my part time job is taking notes for him in these situations and sort of acting like a secretary. Generally I would stay in the hotel room and type up his notes.

Anyway, while we were there I noticed an ad for the Folgers Theater production of Much Ado About Nothing. It happened to be on our list of reading for the semester and my idea was to see the play and not have to read it. So, I talked my father into taking me to it. What happened was utterly amazing. I had never imagined Shakespeare could be so dynamic, spectacular and well, easy to understand. It was like it took place in a sort of Caribbean carnival context, though I believe it was set right there in DC. It really felt like more of a contemporary play and I didn’t have any trouble getting it, if you know what I mean. Ultimately I couldn’t wait to read the play after I saw that and was excited to tell my instructor about it when I returned to school. The funny part is he thought I saw it because I was interested in Shakespeare, not because I was trying to get out of reading a play. I decided not to make much ado over it

If you really enjoy all the things that the nature of the maintains and plains provides than finding a room at one of the quaint hotels in peaceful Fort Collins Colorado could be the right place for you. There are many ways to experience the wonderful outdoor setting. The town is nestled at the foothills of the great Rocky Mountains. Horsetooth Mountain is the name of the grand, tooth shaped, peak that is the majestic setting in the western sky. With in those mountains and the surrounding are outdoor enthusiasts and find many lakes, forests, plains and sunsets to enjoy. The hiking trails are plentiful but not crowded and the lakes are filled with fish for the taking.

This city has taken an active roll in preserving the environment that is so loved. Colorado State University has a The Warner College of Natural Resources which teaches those who want to learn all about how to manage the natural resources of the earth. The staff and scientists are known around the world for there knowledge and the teaching of it that takes place here. They couldn’t come at a better time now that the world is ready to take on preservation of the land, sea and air for the future generations to enjoy.

The college did not rise out of the current main stream acknowledgement of the pollution in the world. It was started in 1909 and was committed to natures well being over a hundred years ago. It has grown to be the most complete natural resource college in this country. They also offer small programs to the novice with interest as well as the kids. There are group leaders ready to take your child for summer camp and show them how to explore the great outdoors and appreciate the gift that nature provides the human race.

The art of screen painting began out of necessity.  A grocer from Czechoslovakia noticed in 1913, that the heat, the sun and the humidity was wilting his produce displays.  Upon moving his displays inside his store, he then had to come up with a colorful way to entice people inside.  His name was William Oktavec, and he had no idea that he was about to change a bit of art history, he really just wanted to sell his fruits and vegetables.

Oktavec painted his window screens, and just a few days after he did this, one of the regular shoppers of his store came in and asked if he would paint her screens.  She had a favorite photo she had found in a calender, and she wanted that reproduced.  Soon, the Czechoslovakian grocer was the artist of the neighborhood, painting the screens of businesses, houses, restaurants and the luxury hotels of the city of Baltimore.  Not only were the painted shades decorative, but they offered further privacy as well, for even though people could not see in, the inhabitants could still see out.  Soon this became a pastime of many of the people of the neighborhood, and creativity was flowing.

Tom Lipka was a famous screen painter, and in his memoirs he states that in the years of the 1920’s through the 1940’s you could not walk down any of the streets in Baltimore, without seeing someone hard at work, painting their screens.  This tradition fell out of practice in the years following WWII, but in 1988, Elaine Eff formed a society, the Painted Screen Society, in order to educate the people of the city about this tradition that seemed so long gone.

During this year, PBS produced a film about the tradition, “The Screen Painters“, which not only gained awards but illustrated to the country this time honored tradition. Now when locals or visitors walk down the city streets, they will notice the brightly colored paintings, some of them more like murals, and a bit of history is revealed.

Plymouth, Massachusetts doesn’t need to do anything other than exist to represent its major historical significance. It was founded in 1620 and stood as the original settlement for the pilgrims who arrived on the Mayflower. It is one of the oldest municipalities in the entire country and is the oldest in New England. It also holds the distinction of the being the oldest continually inhabited English settlement that continues to exist in the modern day United States. All of this, or at least the original settlement status and association to the Mayflower is likely known and impeded in the symbolic history understanding of most Americans. Its legendary status is also one of the major reasons so many people visit it and stay in a hotel Plymouth.

It is also conveniently located, nice of the original settlers to consider the ease of tourists almost four hundred years later, near Boston, which makes it a perfect day trip for visitors to this great Massachusetts city. Also, knowing that it is about forty miles south of Boston makes it easy to locate and visual for people who are planning their trip from across the country.

One of the major historic and mythological associations to Plymouth that has not yet been mentioned her is its having been the location of the first Thanksgiving. This took place in 1621, a year after it was founded. The story is often told that Chief Massasoit had formed a peace treaty with the pilgrims and after a successful season of harvest he and many other members of the Wampanoag tribe joined the pilgrims for a tremendous feast and celebration. The memory of this event has been celebrated continually and in 1941 it was recognized as a federal holiday. It continues to be celebrated in Plymouth and every year there is a great parade and a reenactment of the initial feast. This event draws numerous visitors every year who feel that it brings them closer to the true meaning of the holiday.