Empty Voices

The next time you’re in Virginia, put some time aside from all the theme parks and living museums, and check out a different piece of history at Fort Monroe’s Casemate Museum in Hampton, Virginia.  The fort itself was constructed from 1819 to 1834, although the site’s fortifications stretch back as far as Captain John Smith in 1608 who wanted to build a fort at Point Comfort, which was the colonial name for this part of the country.  Fort Algernourne was built here first in 1609.  During the war of 1812, though, after the capture and burning of Washington D.C. in 1814, the nation realized better coastal defenses were needed.  The first and the biggest of these defenses was Fort Monroe.  Generally speaking, a casemate, also known as a casement, is an armored building from which guns may be fired, from the original idea of a fortress’ vaulted chamber.  During the Civil War, the casement at Fort Monroe was used as a prison, where the former Confederate President, Jefferson Davis, was held.

Inside the biggest stone fort in the United States (not to mention the only fort still operating with a moat around it), you will find the Casement Museum.  To get inside, drive across the moat and provide your license and registration to receive a day pass.  The museum itself covers the history of the fort from its origins in the 1830s, the Civil War, both World Wars, to the present day.  You’ll be able to see where Jefferson Davis was kept prisoner, and there are also restored rooms that depict what life was like at the fort during the Civil War.  Afterward, you’ll be able to go on a walking tour of the fort and see more historic areas.

Many people who stay over night in the Hampton area have found this museum one of the best parts of their trip to the Hampton-Williamsburg area.  Indeed, going inside Fort Monroe and visiting the Casement Museum is a little like time traveling: You’ll find out about the famous people who were there, what happened to them, and why the fort was built the way it was.  It’s a trip that’s relaxing and casual, and, most important these days, it’s free.

From the incredible architectural, engineering and design feat of the Brooklyn Bridge to the bridges that dot the interior of Central Park, New York is the city for bridges…just something about walking across a bridge, is a bit more enchanting and romantic in feeling, than simply walking down the street.  The tunnels and the bridges through Central Park however, were not originally conceived as part of the park, but just a means for traffic to traverse the park, without interrupting the layout and the landscaping of the park.  They had originally planned for walkways, but the bridges were an addition to the original design by Vaux and Olmsted, the famous designers.

The Commissioners for the city’s Parks and Recreation Department made the suggestion to add the bridges shortly after the bridle paths were laid out.  Other aspects of the design which had the commissioners considering a change was the previously failed systems of highways.  These were the days before traffic lights, and with the horses and riders, and the walkers, and the cars, bridges were the best solution in Central Park for the organization of the traffic going through on a day to day basis.

One of the interesting aspects of the bridges, and a testament to the talent and the foresight of the planners, is that many of the bridges were made to blend in to the surrroundings, and quite a few of them are impossible to notice unless you are aware that they are there in the first place.  Vaux and Olmsted remained steadfast to their belief that structures in a public park must serve a function.  And while walking through the park today, there are many beautiful structures, their bridges remain.  Many of the hotels offer tours of Central Park, check here for a list of those in the neighborhood, and next time you’re strolling along, keep your eyes peeled for the hidden bridges in New York City’s grand park.

There are many entertainment and cultural attraction options available for tourists who visit Long Beach, California and of course these same attractions continually entertain and satisfy the city’s residence. It’s not far from the greater Los Angeles area and while there is plenty to do in that major neighbor, Long Beach has a great performance scene of its own and there’s no need to travel to LA for a great evening out. Tourists who visit the city and enjoy a great stay in one of the Long Beach hotels frequently ask about the local theatre scene and consequently enjoy a performance at the Long Beach Playhouse.

And for those lucky enough to currently be staying in the city, or have near future plans to visit it they will be able to attend a performance of the company’s current production of Our Town by Thornton Wilder. This production is directed by Sharyn Case and includes a full cast of extremely talented and committed actors. Our Town is probably the most famous play by this exceptional playwright and it is also one of the more difficult ones to produce. Most of the audience members will likely already be familiar with it and make the production original and fresh as well as contemporarily meaning takes some major dramaturgical efforts. However, what it has going for it, other than the fact it’s a great play, is that it touches with essential human aspects, which seem to remain timeless in significance.

The script is also a long one, it’s three acts, which can sometimes put pressure on the production when playing for an audience who has gotten incredibly used to two act plays that wrap up neatly in a two hour time period. However, once again the quality of the production and the strength of the script can be combined to create one of the most powerful theatrical experiences on today’s stage. Wilder received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his work on this play.

Georgia keeps getting cooler all the time.  Not that it needs any help, or excuses, since it’s always been one of the more interesting places in the country.  There’s a very diverse population, with a fascinating history, and it seems like it’s always been ripe for seeing new works of live art.  This coming season, one of the more exciting events, which will likely fill Georgia’s hotels with interesting rock and rollers form all over, is the Pink Floyd Experience.  The show has a pretty big price tag, but from all the reviews and the word of mouth, it’s definitely worth the cost of the ticket.

Seeing this in Atlanta will also be another boost to the value of the show, since the music community here is very open, but at the same time immensely discerning.  That’s exactly the kind of crowd this show needs, with its amazing special effects, and complex music that changed the way we listen to rock.  Pink Floyd itself is a spectacularly interesting story, with lots of strange and sudden changes, and a lot of loss.  They’ve singularly raised the bar on the idea of concept albums, taking the cue from the Who and pushing it to new extremes.  One of the long-times themes of the band, madness, has worked its way into a lot of the work, and it makes for interesting stories for the next generation.

Pink Floyd’s earliest clues that madness would haunt the band came from its magnetic front man Syd Barrett.  He could not hold onto the chord keeping him in this world, and he left the band after creating music that moved rock into the realm of art.  The Wall, one of their most successful works, was based in part on him, and turned out to be excellent fodder for fans who felt uneasily on this side of sanity themselves.  The original members aren’t playing in the Pink Floyd Experience, but the ones who are playing tribute to them have got the sounds down solid, and carry an enormous passion for the music.  It will be a night to remember for a long time to come.

There are only two words I want to say about Fort Lauderdale, Florida and they are spring break! Okay, that’s not true, if I had to come up with a selection of words to say about this amazing Florida city there would be a great deal more, I was just trying to emphasize the introduction to what was one of the greatest vacations I have ever had and possibly ever will have. It wasn’t even my idea to go and I had to be talked into it once my friends had already decided they were going. I mean, I had two papers I was supposed to write and a book that I was supposed to read as well as a few other miscellaneous minor assignments. I had originally taken for granted that I would be studying and writing all that week.

About six weeks before spring break happened I was already burned out. That whole year I was burned out to tell you the truth. It was my junior year of college and the novelty and freshness of the first year was long gone and the rather cocky and leisure sophomore year of one uping the freshmen in coolness was also gone. My junior year was actually more academically difficult and I was already beginning to be worried about getting graduate school decisions made and application materials ready. So naturally I never gave a thought to having a good time that semester though I certainly could use one.

And I can’t be more thankful to my friends for talking me into going in on a cool place to stay and dragging me along on the most fabulous trip I could imagine. Aside from the great times we had on the beach, on a daily basis mind you and also were we met a ton of gorgeous people, we also had some great food in some of the local restaurants. I had a great steakhouse chicken sandwich at a place called Mangos. Mike had a tuna wrap, which he said he loved and Tim had a half pound hamburger if I remember correctly. In addition to the food Mangos had a great atmosphere and the live music was incredible. It’s definitely one of the highlights of my trip.

The Lion Theatre recently hosted a production by the Los Angeles based Athene Theatre. The production was Sam Shepard’s play True West and it was performed at the midtown 42nd street theatre. Today was the final performance scheduled for this show. Shepard’s plays are no stranger to New York though his settings are frequently dessert and southwest locations. Many of his plays deal with certain mythological aspects of American culture and society. In the case of True West, it is typically considered to be more of a standard traditional narrative work than most of Shepard’s plays.

True West is primarily focused on the relationship between two brothers and their competitive rivalry nature. Austin and his older brother Lee are the two main characters and Austin is at their mother’s house sitting and trying to write a screenplay. Lee shows up after not having seen his brother in over two years. Past issues are brought into the present and the two end up in personal and professional relationship entanglements. There are plenty of struggles and futile but sincere attempts at connection, as is a common in Shepard’s work. Ultimately the past is not resolved and the future is uncertain.

The play was originally produced at the Magic Theatre in San Francisco and has also been on the Steppenwolf stage in Chicago. This production starred a relatively unknown Gary Sinise and John Malkovich. This production was transferred to New York where it gained attention and critical approval at the Cherry Lane Theatre. John C. Reilly and Philip Seymour Hoffman starred in a Broadway production in 2000. And while Broadway is always a big draw for tourists in some of New York City’s finest five star hotels, many are also equally or sometimes even more attracted to some of the more edgy and experimental works found throughout this great city.

I’ve been away from the Valley of the Sun for over fifteen years, and don’t get back nearly as often as I’d like, but when I do I sometimes find myself the kind of luxury hotels Arizona is famous for, resorts spread across Scottsdale, Phoenix, and Tempe, that offer comfort, style, and a bit of relaxation.  As tempting as it is to stay in the hotel all day, there’s friends to see and places to explore in Phoenix.  After living there for years, one place I’ve yet to really see is the Mystery Castle.  Near South Mountain Park (head South on Central Avenue, pass Baseline Road, two miles later take a left on Mineral Road), you’ll find this home listed on the Phoenix Historic Property Register.

It wasn’t time. It just couldn’t be time, yet. Was it? Yes, shucks, Jaime reached over and shut off the alarm before the snooze period was over and it went off again. Then she jumped up and quickly brushed her teeth and hoped in the shower. This was it, this was her big day and although she could barely sleep the night before, she was wide-awake and eager to start the day that could very easily change the course of her life. She laughed at the dramatic announcement she made in her head. It was true though, if her offer on this house in Plymouth was accepted, she would be moving not only across town, but to another state. She quickly dried off as she thought about the possibilities. She was too nervous to eat though she was more than able to drink a cup of coffee and was ready to go when her friend Jessica picked her up to take her to the airport.

“So, this is it. You might really move away from me” complained, though half heartedly her friend. Jessica was excited about the possibilities for Jaime and she knew it was a dream of hers, she just couldn’t imagine not being able to drop by every other day or so. And what would she do on the weekends? Who would she go to the movies with or go shopping with? Of course she didn’t’ say all of these complaints aloud but she thought them to herself as Jaime talked non-stop about her new house in Plymouth. They arrived at the airport too soon for Jessica and she forced a smile as she waved her friend away. Click here to see some possible hotels to stay at in Plymouth.

A week later Jessica returned to the airport with a brave face to pick up her friend who bounced out of the terminal into the luggage area. “I got it! It’s mine!” she cried. And then before Jessica could manifest a response Jaime told her that the house near Billington Sea, which was actually a warm water pond, was beautiful but too big for herself. That of course was her way of inviting her friend to come and live with her. But Jaime was a writer, she could live and work anywhere. Jessica was a nurse, she needed a place to work. Jaime assured her there would be plenty of options for her and guaranteed her that she would support her until she found something. Without much thought Jessica agreed and the friends planned their move.

Right now, I have an out-of-town guest napping on my sofa; we have about a week before she has to move on, and I’m considering where we can do in Santa Monica, California.  She’s seen the places I usually take people, such as the one hundred year old Santa Monica pier; the Third Street Promenade and its nearby English tea houses, restaurants and pubs; even the art museum at Bergamot Station (once a trolley station; now a place for fifty art galleries).  So, what to do?  Where to go?
 
Perhaps a trip to Magicopolis might be in order!  Magicopolis is a one hundred and fifty seat theater for magic and illusion.  It’s best to call or visit their website in order to get advance tickets, because they sell out often.  Currently, they’re running, “Escape Reality” at the usual theater times — i.e., Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m., and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m..  Magic shows in the evening run around two hours, while the matinee runs a little over ninety minutes.  There’s a magic shop here and a magic bar; if you come in early, you’ll find magicians performing some pre-show close-up magic.
 
This magic venue has been running since 1998, ever since master magicians Penn and Teller helped out at the opening ceremony.  Run by Steve Spill, a magician who began his life-long interest in magic at one of the world’s rare private clubs for magicians, the  Magic Castle in Hollywood.  There, he studied and talked with magic greats, such as Dai Vernon, Francis Carlyle and Charlie Miller.
 
If I provide my guest with enough interesting things to do, perhaps next time she’s in Santa Monica, she’ll find one of its terrific hotels to be closer to such places as Magicopolis and I’ll have my living room free again!

Everyone who makes Florida a vacation destination already knows most of the top places to go: Disneyworld, the other happiest place on Earth; St. Augustine, the oldest European-based city in the country; Universal Studios Florida, one of a number of Universal Studios theme parks proliferating about the globe (for instance, there’s one on Sentosa Island, just off of Singapore).  Everyone knows, too, that there are great places to stay in Florida — fine, luxury hotels that make traveling an absolute pleasure — but what about destinations people don’t think of immediately?  How about something different?

Here’s a few sights and landmarks you might not have otherwise expected to see while in Florida: The Coral Castle in Florida is a man-made structure that doesn’t resemble a castle, but draws in visitors year after year.  It’s a collection of heavy coral rock, artfully and mysteriously arranged, by a man named Ed Leedskalnin, a Latvian immigrant who excavated and carved and installed over two million pounds of the rock, although he himself was only about five feet tall and weighed just a hundred pounds.  He wanted to impress a 16-year-old girl named Agnes Scuffs, who had already jilted him the day before their wedding.  In Ochopee, Florida, you might stop in at the Skunk Ape Research Headquarters.  While it’s true that the headquarters look a lot like a roadside attraction, the two brothers who run the place are tracking down the Florida equivalent of the Pacific Northwest’s Bigfoot, aka Sasquatch.  Apparently, the Floridian version of Big Foot is pretty smelly, providing a reason for the name Skunk Ape.  Also in Ochopee, you can find America’s smallest post office.  It used to be a shed for irrigation pipe, and once a fire destroyed the Ochopee general store, which contained the post office, the office moved into the 7×8 shed.  Because the town’s population is about eleven, there hasn’t been a real pressing reason to move it since then.

Of course if the sights in the preceding paragraph don’t suffice, there’s always Dinosaur World in Plant City, Florida (it was formerly Gator Jungle, which was a gator farm and swamp walk); over ten years now, though, it’s been Dinosaur World, aka, “The World’s Largest Dinosaur Park.”  You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see a full size Ultrasaurus and two Tyrannosaurus Rexes out by the interstate!