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US Supreme Court is Open for Public Visits

With the recent retirement announcement of Justice John Paul Stevens, the Supreme Court is getting a lot of attention. The highest court in the land, charged with ensuring equal justice under law, occupies a majestic building of classical Corinthian style, and is located across from the US Capitol Building and the Library of Congress in Washington DC. The Supreme Court, both the building and the court itself, has always occupied a special place for me. Perhaps it was those years in law school spent studying the decisions of the Court. Perhaps it’s because these are supposed to be the best and brightest legal minds. Perhaps it is because these life time appointments are steeped in legal wrangling and maneuvering the likes of which are rarely publicly seen. Whatever the reason, the Supreme Court building always instills me with a sense […]

Flame On at Museum of Fire Fighting

If you’re looking for a short respite from intense Arizona weather, duck into the air-conditioned Hall of Flame Fire Museum and the National Firefighting Hall of Heroes for a glimpse of heat of a different kind. The museum covers about an acre, and has an impressive display of fire history exhibits. A catalog accompanies the exhibits, allowing you more detailed information. There are impressive displays of over 100 fire trucks and their apparatus, covering a period from 1725 – 1969, all of which have been beautifully and painstakingly restored. The collection also boasts over 10,000 smaller objects related to the history of fire fighting. In addition, the library has over 6,000 publications (books, journals, magazines, catalogs, etc.) and over 50,000 graphics (mostly photographs but also some paintings and other artwork). While young children may be bored with many of the […]

The Desert Comes Alive in Palm Desert California

Over the past decade or so, Palm Springs and the surrounding desert communities have been working hard to change the stuffy image that they have long suffered from. No longer just a haven for the retired, blue-haired geriatric set, the Coachella Valley has broadened its appeal and you’ll now see families and couples of all ages and genders. One of the great spots to visit in the area is The Living Desert in Palm Desert. Founded in 1970, it is a zoo and botanical garden based entirely on the ecosystem of the desert. The Living Desert currently occupies about 1,200 acres of land, is a pioneer in environmental education and native wildlife rehabilitation, is active in captive breeding and plant propagation programs, and sustains itself through an aggressive membership and volunteer program. When you walk around the facility it is […]

Shopping: C.O. Bigelow’s in NYC

One of my favorite parts of traveling is finding a new discovery. Sometimes that’s a quirky little restaurant, a fabulous museum, a neighborhood hang out, or some place fun for a little shopping. Sometimes the spots is something everyone knows about, and I’m late to the discovery, and sometimes it’s something special all for me. One of my favorite NYC discoveries was C.O. Bigelow in Greenwich Village. Oh sure, I’d seen their products sold in other stores across the country, but there’s nothing like visiting the original store. Founded in 1838, C.O.Bigelow’s is the oldest continually operating apothecary-pharmacy in the country. That’s 170 years! The store still fills prescriptions at the back of the store, but as you work you way back there you’ll pass through goodies galore. There’s a focus on homeopathic products and remedies, along with hard-to-find and […]

USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor

Honolulu may be known for its sun and sandy beaches, but it is also home to one of the most sobering military history sites that I’ve ever visited — the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. The Memorial, dedicated in 1962, honors the site where World War II began for the United States, with the bombing that entombed 1,102 crew members on December 7th, 1941. The memorial was designed to span the hull of the sunken battleship, yet never touch it. The structure is 184 feet long, with two peaks at each end, and a deliberate sag in the middle. Alfred Preis, the memorial designer, sums it up like this: “Wherein the structure sags in the center but stands strong and vigorous at the ends, expresses initial defeat and ultimate victory… The overall effect is one of serenity. Overtones of […]

Netherlands Carillon Rings Out Over DC

Located on the Virginia shore of the Potomac River, opposite the District of Columbia and bordering the northern end of Arlington National Cemetery, the Netherlands Carillon is adjacent to the Unites States Marine Corps War Memorial. The site is park of the National Park System. Set among thousands of tulips in a park setting, the 127-foot high tower was a gift to the American people from the Dutch. It was a symbol of friendship characterized by a common allegiance to the principles of freedom, justice, and democracy that has weathered temporary differences. The bell carillon was originally installed in a temporary tower in 1954, and was then moved to its current location in 1960. It was officially dedicated on May 5th, 1960, the anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands from the Nazis, meaning the 50th anniversary is nearly upon […]

Paul Revere House in Boston’s North End

In Boston’s North End you’ll find the small wooden home that was the starting point for Paul Revere’s infamous ride. He lived in the home with his wife, five children, and mother, remaining in the home long after the ride that made him a legend. The house was eventually sold around 1800. The Paul Revere House still stands today and is downtown Boston’s oldest building. The home was opened as a museum in 1908, one of the first historic house museums in the country, and today it is one of the few buildings remaining from the colonial era. Although it has been renovated substantially over the years, about 90% of the building is original back to 1680. Some of the original items include two doors, three window frames, and portions of the flooring and rafters. The heavy beams and large […]

Driving the Crookedest Street in the World

For one block, San Francisco’s Lombard Street is the crookedest street in the world. You may have seen that one block in photographs, movies, or on television, but the full length of the street is much more than just that one block. The street runs east and west, and starts at The Presidio, runs through Cow Hollow, Russian Hill, Telegraph Hill, and finally ends at The Embarcadero. For much of that distance, it’s a pleasant, but relatively boring street. That one crooked block between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets (on Russian Hill), however, is what’s made Lombard Street famous. The crooked block is paved in brick, and has eight S-turns, in a switchback design, and was originally designed to ease the natural grade of the street. Houses and townhouses line both sides of the street, and despite the incredible driving and pedestrian […]

Shopping at Hilo Hattie’s

A trip to the islands isn’t complete without shopping at Hilo Hattie’s. Some people might call it touristy, but I think of it as one of the rituals of an island visit. During the 1950-60’s, Hilo Hattie was the stage name for a popular Hawaiian entertainer whose real name was Clarissa Haili. She was originally a teacher, but achieved fame as a singer and dancer, popularizing a comedic hula-style dancing. In 1963, a Hawaiian store opened for business, naming the store after the very popular Hilo Hattie. The store aims to provide one-stop shopping for Hawaiian goods and products and is the largest Hawaiian retailer and manufacturer of the same. In memory of the original Hilo Hattie, who passed away in 1979, the store gives scholarships to University of Hawaii students who are pursuing degrees in Hawaiian studies and music. Powered […]

Udvar-Hazy Center Near Dulles Airport

If you find yourself with spare time while waiting for your connection at Dulles Airport, consider getting off property for a few hours at the Steven F. Udvar- Hazy Center. A part of The Smithsonian Institute, the Center is a companion facility to the National Air and Space Museum (map), and is located near Washington Dulles International Airport (map). The two locations have the largest aviation and space collection in the world. Udvar-Hazy is the President and CEO of International Lease Finance Corp. (a major player in the commercial aircraft business), and the major donor to the Center. The name honors his efforts to the funding side of the Center in addition to his career in aviation. The facility is immense, and full of displays, large and small, famous and relatively unknown. Among the famous are: the Enola Gay, the SR-71 […]