Day 5 of the 5 day B&W challenge
A re-edit of the Disney Quest building at Downtown Disney
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Monday, December 29, 2014
My Disney Pin Collection Monday!
Monday, already! Wow! I want to share with you today one of my favorite Mickey Mouse pins. As I love Pirates of the Caribbean, this is a pin near and dear to my heart. Not just because of the attraction, but because it's Mickey as well. Mickey is pretty dapper in his pirate attire, don't you think?
Thursday, December 25, 2014
WISHING YOU ALL A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
We want to wish all our subscribers and readers a Very Merry Christmas! Have a blessed day everyone!
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
NEWSIES in Chicago! A Must See
You know what a "newsie" is, right? No? Well, let me explain.
In the late 1800s, the newsboys were the lifeblood of the newspaper publishing industry. They were the primary distribution system for almost every newspaper and stood on street corners hawking their wares. Because of their loud screams, they were never well received but they were endured. And they endured with terrible living conditions, and many who were orphans. They were poor. Dirt poor. They usually slept on the streets and often slept right in front of the newspaper offices so they could be the first ones to buy their bundles of papers and get to selling. Thousands of them. No coats, no shoes for many of them, and no education.
In 1898, with the Spanish American War increasing newspaper sales, several publishers raised the cost of a newsboy bundle of 100 newspapers from 50¢ to 60¢, a price increase that at the time was offset by the increased sales. After the war, many papers reduced the cost back to previous levels, with the notable exceptions of the New York World and the New York Morning Journal.
In July 1899, a large number of New York City newsboys refused to distribute the papers of Joseph Pulitzer, publisher of the World, and William Randolph Hearst, publisher of the Journal. The strikers demonstrated across the Brooklyn Bridge for several days, effectively bringing traffic to a standstill, along with the news distribution for most New England cities. They kept others from selling the papers by tearing up the distribution in the streets. The boys also requested from the public that they no longer buy either paper until the strike was settled. Pullitzer tried to hire older men to do the boys' job, but the men understood their stance and wanted no part in defying the boys. Several rallies drew more than 5,000 newsboys, complete with charismatic speeches by strike leader Kid Blink.
So named because he was blind in one eye, Kid Blink (Louis Ballatt) was a popular subject among competing newspapers such as the New York Tribune, who often patronizingly quoted Blink with his heavy Brooklyn accent depicted as an eye dialect, attributing to him such sayings as "Me men is nobul." Blink and his strikers were the subject of violence, as well. Hearst and Pulitzer hired men to break up rallies and protect the newspaper deliveries still underway. During one rally Blink told strikers, "Friens and feller workers. This is a time which tries de hearts of men. Dis is de time when we'se got to stick together like glue.... We know wot we wants and we'll git it even if we is blind." Although the World and the Journal did not lower their 60¢-a-bundle price, they did agree to buy back all unsold papers, and the union disbanded.
This brings us to the Disney movie that was released in 1992. A wonderful musical movie was produced that starred a young Christian Bale with a cast featuring Ann-Margaret, Robert Duvall, Max Casella, Bill Pullman and David Moscow just to name a few. Based on a book written by Harvey Fierstein. Names were changed in the movie from the real "heros" of this story. Music for the movie was written by Alan Menken (of Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Pocohontas and Hunchback of Notre Dame fame) and lyrics by Jack Feldman.
On May 16, 2012, Disney announced that Newsies was an open-ended engagement. The original cast of the Broadway production featured Jeremy Jordan as Jack Kelly, and John Dossett as the newspaper tycoon, Joseph Pulitzer. The musical premiered at the Paper Mill Playhouse in 2011 and made its Broadway debut in 2012. On November 13, 2013, it was reported that the musical will launch a North American tour in October 2014, commencing in Schenectady, NY, prior to an official opening in Philadelphia, PA. During the 2014-15 season, the tour will play 25 cities, over 43 weeks. 
My husband and I were lucky enough to get tickets for the third nights performance in Chicago. The show is running at the Ford Center for Performing Arts/ Oriental Theater from December 8, to January 4, 2015. The cast for the tour includes the following:
Dan DeLuca does a stellar job in the lead role of Jack Kelly, Katherine is played by Stephanie Styles and she has a beautiful voice. Crutchie is brilliantly played by Zachary Sayle, Davey is played by Jacob Kemp and Joseph Pulitzer is played by Steve Blanchard.
Rounding out the cast were Vincent Crocilla, Josh Assor, Benjamin Cook, Sky Flaherty, Jordan Sauels,DeMaris R. Copes, Julian DeGuzman, Jeff Heimbrock, Jack Sippel, Josh Burrage, Ginna Claire Mason, Angela Grovey, Merideth Inglesby,Michael Ryan, Jon Hacker, John Brady, Mark Aldrich, Bill Bateman, James Judy, Evan Autio, Chaz Wolcott, Stephen Hernandez, and Kevin Carolan. A fine job was done by all, and in our humble opinion, the stage show was 10 times better than the movie. With a bit of a change up in the story line from the movie, there were a ferw surprising moments, and some added music that was absolutely beautiful. The classic songs Sante Fe, Carrying thee Banner, Seize the Day and King of New York were still here, and done to perfection.
Dance Captain: Andrew Wilson, Assistant Dance Captain: Johh Assor, and Fight Captain: Kevin Carolan.
We had balcony seats, but there really is no bad seat in this beautiful older theater. If you have never attended a show at the Oriental, it's a treat. (except for some of the grumpy ushers they have working in the balcony. We saw Beauty and the Beast here several years ago, and I told my husband that the usher that told he she would take my camera away from me if she saw it, was the same one we ran across this time. It is a 2,253-seat theater hosting Broadway shows in a renovated historic cinema built in 1926.
Of course, no pictures or video was allowed during the show, but I did capture these pictures before the show started, and at intermission time.
If you have the opportunity to see this in Chicago before it leaves in only a couple weeks, please do try, or catch it in a city near you in the coming months. You will be happy you did.
Monday, December 22, 2014
My Disney Pin Collection Monday
This is one of my favorite pins from EPCOT at the 2012 Food & Wine Festival. We loved the experience, and I love Duffy, so I just had to get this pin!
Friday, December 19, 2014
Disney's Newest Restaurant at Boardwalk!
Below you will find a link to follow to the Disney Food Blog site. This contains great information on the new restaurant at Disney's Boardwalk Resort! Check it out!
http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2014/12/19/first-look-photo-tour-trattoria-al-forno-at-disneys-boardwalk-inn/
http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2014/12/19/first-look-photo-tour-trattoria-al-forno-at-disneys-boardwalk-inn/
FOODIE FRIDAY!
The Grey Stuff................yes, it is delicious!!
BE OUR GUEST Restuarant in Magic Kingdom
Thursday, December 18, 2014
THROWBACK THURSDAY! Waiting for Santa
Not really Disney related this time around, but I was more than likely wishing Santa would bring me something Disney related!!
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Monday, December 15, 2014
My Disney Pin Collection Monday
Since we were just on the cruise a little over a month ago, I had to share one of my favorite DCL pins. It's so adorable! Captain Mickey!
We remember Walter Elias Disney December 5, 1901- December 15, 1966
On this day in 1966, we lost a great man, a genius in my opinion. A man who with his imagination and artistry enriched and changed the lives of so many, including myself.
He died on December 15, 1966, from lung cancer in Burbank, California. He left behind a vast legacy, including numerous animated shorts and feature films produced during his lifetime; the company, parks, and animation studio that bear his name; and the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts).
Walt was an American business magnate, cartoonist, and filmmaker. As a prominent figure within the American animation industry and throughout the world, he is regarded as a cultural icon,known for his influence and contributions to entertainment during the 20th century. As a Hollywood business mogul, he and his brother Roy O. Disney co-founded The Walt Disney Company.
I was eight years old when Walt Disney passed away. I think I remember hearing about it, but, that was a very long time ago. 48 years is a long time. So many things have happened in the Disney company in those years. Some things Walt would not be too proud of, but other things I really believe he would have been very excited about, and given his stamp of approval. Some of those things have happened recently. Just as a small example, the Fantasyland expansion at Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.
Forever missed, always loved. Thank you Walt.
He died on December 15, 1966, from lung cancer in Burbank, California. He left behind a vast legacy, including numerous animated shorts and feature films produced during his lifetime; the company, parks, and animation studio that bear his name; and the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts).
Walt was an American business magnate, cartoonist, and filmmaker. As a prominent figure within the American animation industry and throughout the world, he is regarded as a cultural icon,known for his influence and contributions to entertainment during the 20th century. As a Hollywood business mogul, he and his brother Roy O. Disney co-founded The Walt Disney Company.
I was eight years old when Walt Disney passed away. I think I remember hearing about it, but, that was a very long time ago. 48 years is a long time. So many things have happened in the Disney company in those years. Some things Walt would not be too proud of, but other things I really believe he would have been very excited about, and given his stamp of approval. Some of those things have happened recently. Just as a small example, the Fantasyland expansion at Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.
Forever missed, always loved. Thank you Walt.
Saturday, December 13, 2014
Friday, December 12, 2014
FOODIE FRIDAY!
This is a sample picture of some, or all of the things to may get in your "camp-tins" when you take the Wild Africa Trek, and you stop for your lunch break. There are some great food to try and taste. Some I liked, some I did not. I passed the meats to Paul, as dried or smoked things are not my "cup of tea." The flower was even edible, and very yummy!
Thursday, December 11, 2014
THROWBACK THURSDAY!
Always forefront in our minds, is our experience on the Wild Africa Trek we did in October of 2012. As I have mentioned here in the past, this is one of the greatest experiences of our lives. I look forward to doing this again in the next year or two.
If you have never had the chance to experience the Trek on a trip to Walt Disney World, do yourself a favor, and book it! You won't regret it.
A link to information about this back stage tour is below.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/animal-kingdom/wild-africa-trek/
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Monday, December 8, 2014
My Disney Pin Collection Monday
Here are two of our favorite pins! We wore these pretty much most of the time on the cruise. I ordered these from E-Bay as part of Paul's birthday surprise when I got all the goodies for him to open before he got to the big gift of the cruise itself!!
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Friday, December 5, 2014
FOODIE FRIDAY!
Here is Paul on the first day of the cruise 10/31/14 before we even left port...........getting that first ice cream cone of the trip!
Happy Birthday Walt Disney!
Today would be Walt Disney's 113th birthday. Sure, way past the time anyone would possibly be alive, but his birthday none the less.
Today on the blog we honor the man who has brought so much joy into the lives of so many Disney fans. Friends of ours from all over the world are raising a glass to this talented, genius of a man, who's humble beginnings made him who he was.
Happy Birthday Walter Elias Disney!
Today on the blog we honor the man who has brought so much joy into the lives of so many Disney fans. Friends of ours from all over the world are raising a glass to this talented, genius of a man, who's humble beginnings made him who he was.
Happy Birthday Walter Elias Disney!
Thursday, December 4, 2014
Throwback Thursday!
.jpg)
This picture is from a wine seminar that we attended during the Food & Wine Festival in 2012. This particular seminar was presented by Martin Codax out of Spain. It is a wine co-op that has been around for many, many years. We really enjoyed this, and actually wound up meeting up with the presenter at The Swan quite by accident later on in the evening. We had a great conversation with her, and she gave us her business card. Mariola was so sweet. She invited us ti visit her in Spain............who knows! Maybe some day we will!
Since discovering this wine at the seminar, it's frequently purchased by us, and we really enjoy it!
A little history of the winery:
From the beginning MartÃn Códax established a dialogue and a link with the Salnés’Valley society, where its winery is located. The winery was founded thanks to the idea of a group of winegrowers; as a winery made by people for the people. Set up by 270 members, the winery also relies on the collaboration of 300 families whose grapes are supplied to us. As a big family, we work together in order to ensure our wines have the highest possible quality.
Bodegas MartÃn Códax was founded in 1986 and was named after the most known Galician troubadour whose medieval poems, the oldest of Galician-Portuguese language, are preserved. In the poems, the troubadour sings to love and to the sea of our coastline.
Since it’s founding, Bodegas MartÃn Códax has grown and developed; always supporting its people, its land and its culture. The culture is promoted in more than 40 countries over the world.
A project that started with the dream and efforts of a group of winegrowers is now a reality and it is this reality which has let Bodegas MartÃn Códax become a symbol of Galician wines inside or outside of our borders/country.
A project that started with the dream and efforts of a group of winegrowers is now a reality and it is this reality which has let Bodegas MartÃn Códax become a symbol of Galician wines inside or outside of our borders/country.
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Monday, December 1, 2014
My Disney Pin Collection Monday
I love this pin! Had to post a video so you could get the full effect!
.mp4)
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Showing Our "Disney Side" outside!
This year, we didn't have quite as much Disney decorations outside, as our Mickey and Eeyore blow-up decorations bit the dust. Motors burned out. Darn! Well, in place of them, I made a Mickey wreath, and it turned out great!!
Below is our way of showing our Disney Side outdoors!
I am really proud of the way the Mickey wreath turned out!
Below is our way of showing our Disney Side outdoors!
I am really proud of the way the Mickey wreath turned out!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)