THE ACELA, GEORGETOWN, AND BETHESDA

Well, my first business trip via Amtrak's very cool ACELA!   

Working in Maryland was a good experience, especially since it is right on the outskirts of Washington DC.  Unfortunately since I was there for work,  there was no time during the day to do any sightseeing and an unusually mild rainy night made doing an evening tour of our nation’s capital something that wasn’t even a thought.

After my afternoon presentation and a short meeting, my boss and I decided to head into Georgetown for dinner. 

Georgetown is an awesome college town with plenty of shops, clubs and restaurants.  

Gothic architecture is abundant and adds to the charm of this old place!

We went to Clyde’s for dinner.  A bustling, casual eatery with a great filet mignon special!

While there, I asked one of the waiters about the location of the famous “Hitchcock Steps” as well as the house from the classic horror film THE EXORCIST.  

I was happy to find out that it was only a few blocks away!  After dinner, we headed off to check it out. 

It couldn’t have been a more perfectly spooky night for it.  It had rained most of the day and an eerie yet mild wind was blowing.  

Here are a few shots. 

PHOTO SET ON FLICKR
CHECK OUT THIS COOL VIDEO 

The steps are located on M Street, adjacent to an Exxon gas station.  In walking up the steep 75 stairs, it will bring you almost directly to 3600 Prospect St.  This is the location of the MacNeil residence in the film.  It looks different than it did in 1973 as an extension was added for the film.  In addition, the house is nearly 40 feet from the stairway. 

Ah, the magic of the movies!

RINGWOOD MANOR: HAUNTED?

OK, I’ve been coming up the beautiful Ringwood Manor for a few years now, and by recently stumbling upon this awesome website, I now fear, uh, I mean hear, it may be haunted!  WHAT FUN!

from:  http://www.unquiettomb.com/index/abandoned/ringwood-manor/

THE HISTORY
This Victorian style mansion was originally built in 1740 by the Ogden family and at this time, was much smaller than it is today. After many more portions were added on, George Washington’s photographer and head of the Iron Works, Robert Erskine, bought it. It was later sold to Martin Ryerson, who tore the original building down and rebuilt the current manor house that stands in 1807. In the 1830’s, Peter Cooper bought it and passed it on to his son-in-law, Abram S. Hewitt.
There is much history behind Ringwood Manor and I’m sure a simple search would bring up a lot of information, but the best site that I know of dedicated to the history of the manor is this one.
THE HAUNTINGS
There are quite a few ghosts that are said to manifest themselves throughout the mansion and the grounds. The first one is said to be a housemaid who was allegedly beaten to death in a bedroom on the second floor where footsteps, objects falling, and soft crying can be heard. Also, the door has been found open and the sheets on the bed rumpled. I’ve heard that it’s quite common at the manor for the caretakers to close the doors and lock them up tight only to find them wide open in the morning when no one could have possibly opened them.
Behind the Manor pond you’ll find a very old cemetery where it is rumored that hundreds of graves are, although many of the stones are missing. In one of these graves lies the remains of Robert Erskine who has been said to sit on his tomb at dusk and stare across the pond. Another claim is that if bricks are missing from his tomb, this signifies that Erskine is out wandering around. Some claim to have seen him around the grounds carrying a lantern.
In this same cemetery, it is said that the remains of French soldiers from the Revolutionary War lie in an unmarked grave near the General’s resting place and sometimes during the night voices speaking French can be heard in the distance.
Another well-known manifestation of the manor is that of a servant named Jeremiah, who was unhappy with how he was being treated.
It has also been said that Mrs. Erskine also haunts the manor.
The Ringwood Manor was given to the state of New Jersey in 1936 and has been opened as a museum. Vistors have claimed to have felt certain “presences” since it has been opened to the public. The park is open every day until dusk, so I would definitely recommend paying the manor a visit and seeing who…or what…you may meet.

THE GREAT FALLS , PATERSON & WEIS ECOLOGY, RINGWOOD NJ

This weekend, despite a lot of errands, etc… because of the spring like weather in the northeast, I managed to get in some photo time.

Saturday, I went to the heart of Paterson to The Great Falls.  Paterson used to be a beautiful city, but has fallen into much decay over the decades.  The Great Falls provides a beautiful diversion and should not be missed!  I have lived most of my life within a half hour of this amazing place and until Saturday was never there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Falls_(Passaic_River)

MY SET ON FLICKR

After breakfast at a local diner on Sunday, camera in hand as usual, took a ride up local winding Snake Den Road and ran across signs for the Weiss Ecology Center. 

Along the route, passed the infamous “purple house” which must be seen to be believed.  It looks a bit like a small airplane hangar.  Out in front, a sign reads, “Please go slowly-Little Kitty & OLD WITCH CROSSING!”  The Driveway even houses a purple (of course!) Volvo!

http://www.unquiettomb.com/index/oddities/purple-quonset-hut/

Down the road a bit, The Weis Ecology Center.  This is one strange place!

Most of you all know how much I love abandoned places and in the off season, a bunch of ramshackled cabins were right up my alley!  I seriously hate to see who actually rents these out, but my guess is that most were extras from the cast of DELIVERANCE!

A SET ON FLICKR

http://www.njaudubon.org/SectionCenters/SectionWeis/Introduction.aspx 

Here are the Cabin Rules/Rates:

The availability of furniture is not guaranteed by Weis.

The cabins are not heated. They also do not contain kitchen or bathroom facilities. It is suggested that camp stoves (such as Coleman) and ice chests be used for cooking and cold storage. Ringwood and West Milford provide sufficient grocery stores, and restaurants in the area are adequate. Bathroom and shower facilities are located in the basement of the Reception Center.

The cabins may not be sublet under any circumstances.

Only one person should be responsible for paying the rent each month so that one check is submitted for payment (for bookkeeping purposes).

Cabin Fee Schedule:

Monthly Rates: April 1 through October 31 

• $225 per month for a one room cabin. Note: Two month minimum rental.
• $260 per month for a two room cabin. Note: Five month minimum rental.
• $300 per month for large 2-room cabin.  Note:  Five month minimum rental.
• $340 per month for a three-room cabin.  Note:  Five month minmum rental.

DINING ROOM RATES:

• $50.00 per room for a 1/2 day, from 9:00am to 12:30pm or 12:30pm to 4:00pm
• $100.00 per room for a full day, from 9:00am to 4:00pm

NOTE:  excludes use of Weis' kitchen and stove.  Groups are required to provide their own plates, napkins, silverware, garbage bags, and any other items needed by the group. 

HACHI: A DOGS TALE

Not that long ago, my friend Sylvia told me about a DVD she rented, at the recommendation of her brother.  Hachi: A Dogs Tale. 

I had never heard of it, probably because it went straight to DVD. 

Usually when this happens, there is good reason… the film is a bomb and shouldn’t have probably been made in the first place!

Not the case with this one.  I was warned that it was a tear-jerker, but I never (well rarely) cry during a film but this one got to me. 

In addition to being a fantastic story of love and loyalty, it is well directed, photographed and acted.

Go out and rent it or better yet pick up a copy to own.

 

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH RICHARD GERE

Here is a review from Christopher Lloyd at TheFilmYap.com.

Hachi: A Dog’s Tale” is unapologetically a tear-jerker. You might resent being emotionally manipulated by this film, but I challenge even the most hard-hearted moviegoer not to spill some saltwater while watching it.
“Hachi” is based on a true story that is very famous in Japan of an Akita dog that waited every day at the train station for its master — even years after the man had passed away.
There’s an iconic statue of Hachiko at the station, and a Japanese film version came out in 1987, but the story remains largely unknown in the States.
Director Lasse Hallström teams up again with Richard Gere to tell an affecting Americanized version that retains many of the Japanese notes about loyalty and love between man and canine.
Gere plays Parker Wilson, a music professor who stumbles upon the lost puppy while disembarking from a train at his quaint little town of Bedridge. Hachi was sent from a Japanese monastery, but his shipping tag was torn off. The befuddled station manager (Jason Alexander) refuses to accept the pup, saying he’d have to just take it to the pound.
So Parker takes the little guy home, despite the stern warning of his wife Cate (the always-wonderful Joan Allen) that they not keep him. They’ve apparently recently lost a dog she was close to, and as middle-aged empty nesters, Cate isn’t eager to see a four-legged interloper.
Soon enough, of course, Hachiko (the name comes from the number eight, which was written on his collar tag) becomes a full-fledged member of the family.
The primary relationships is between the dog and Parker, but Allen has a great scene with Hachi where you can see the reluctance just melt away from her face.
Hachi is a loving but willful companion — for instance, he refuses to play fetch, despite Parker’s many training attempts. He also ignores his master’s instruction not to follow him to the train station for work every day. He even shows up again promptly at 5 p.m. to wait for Parker to step off the train again.
I don’t think I’m giving anything away in saying that Parker dies about two-thirds of the way through the film — after all, it’s the dog’s behavior after his master’s death that made his story so unforgettable.
The film really amps up the pulling of heartstrings at this point, as the dog continues his increasingly grim journey to the train station every afternoon, eternally hopefully that his master — his friend — will greet him again.
Eventually, a reporter hears the remarkable dog’s tale, and the town rallies around its most famous denizen.
The breadth and depth of Hallström’s work (“Chocolat,” “My Life As a Dog,” “The Shipping News”) suggests he might represent Sweden’s finest cinematic export since the Bergmans — Ingrid and Ingmar. He and rookie screenwriter Stephen P. Lindsey manage to toe the correct side of the line between overt sentiment and mushy smarm.

“Hachi: A Dog’s Tale” is a great, big wet lick to the face, and a welcome one.

ANDY WARHOL: AT AUCTION...

What do you get when you combine soda pop with pop art?
An eye-popping auction for $35.36 million.

WARHOL SET ON FLICKR

Andy Warhol's "Coca-Cola (4) (Large Coca-Cola)" easily exceeded expectations at Sotheby's on Tuesday. BBC reports that the black-and-white canvas painting was expected to fetch a mere $25 million. That would buy plenty of sugar water, but no Warhol.
All together, sales of 54 contemporary and post-war paintings have pulled in $222.4 million in recent days. Tobias Meyer, Sotheby's worldwide head of contemporary art, told Reuters, "In this new market, it was a huge success." Meyer also served as auctioneer for the Warhol sale.
No word who popped for this painting, but it's sure to be a welcome addition to any collection. After all, things go better with Coke.

(from Huffington Post)

DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK

OK, the original 1973 made for TV movie of the week, DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK with Kim Darby and Jim Hutton,  has to be one of my most favorite films of all time, so I was (and still am) skeptical about any sort of remake... Especially with Katie Holmes!

However the buzz and trailer have piqued my interest. 

It is set to open in theatres on 1.21.11.

OFFICIAL SITE

The original Classic:

ELTON JOHN: THE RED PIANO

Unfortunately, the Vegas run has ended.  I not only consider myself extremely lucky to have seen it back in 2006, but greatful to have gotten onstage during "Saturday Nights Alright For Fighting"...  I still cannot believe what a rush that was! 

 DVD AT AMAZON

FROM THE CAESARS WEBSITE:

He has survived the ups and downs of musical stardom for over 30 years. Commercially, creatively, on stage and on record, Elton John is a legendary artist — one who is still as relevant as ever.

Elton John's finely honed stage presence, a winning factor in targeting his tunes straight into the heart of America, is excess incarnate. In The Red Piano, the showy costumes are replaced by incredible video imagery and stage props, yet the end result is unmistakably classic Elton John.

Gregarious, show-stopping, outlandish and unforgettable. Words that could be Elton John as much as they are Vegas. Together with photographer David LaChapelle, Elton John has created The Red Piano — a career overview performance you won't soon forget.

The Red Piano takes the audience inside Elton John's world. LaChapelle creates a dreamscape dripping with rich imagery of Hollywood and Las Vegas icons — each moment created to give the viewer a new, three dimensional interpretation of Elton John and Bernie Taupin's most memorable recordings.

Don't miss your last chance to see this cultural and musical icon as he closes out his spectacular five-year run at Caesars Palace. One final engagement remains at The Colosseum in the show that USA TODAY called "the future of Las Vegas entertainment."

Please note that The Red Piano is designed with a Vegas theme and mature audiences in mind. The video imagery that accompanies the music may at times be considered risqué, and includes montage style scenes that include brief frontal nudity. The Video content is designed within the context of the songs and overall theme of the show.