Backstage at the Latvian National Opera

The grand 19^th century theater was built on the grounds where a bastion of the city’s defenses had formerly stood; the site went from being a fortification of a military nature to a cultural one, providing a home to theater, opera and ballet for the next 150 years. Today, it stands on the banks of the Rīga canal resplendent not only in architecture but also in its contribution to the cultural scene of Europe: Latvijas Nacionālā opera un balets, home to the Latvian National Opera and the Latvian National Ballet.

August Volz's "Nymph" and the Latvian National Opera

We gathered for our tour on the steps facing the square and Bastejkalna parks, formal gardens with meandering paths, fountains and expanses of lush green grass providing a backdrop to the ornate National Opera. The fountain visible just to the north was created in 1887 by August Volz, and features a maiden balancing a large seashell above her head, four cherubic children frolicking with dolphins at the base. Legend has it that work on the fountain took forever to complete because Volz had fallen in love with the young woman who posed for the sculpture, and only finished it after she agreed to be married. The statue we see today is actually a replica, as the original Nymph was made of zinc – the city could not afford bronze at the time it was commissioned. However, this frugality was what possibly saved the sculpture from being carted off to Russia during WWI along with most of Rīga’s bronze monuments, and in 1986 sculptor Mirdza Lukaža created a bronze replacement, the original removed to Rundāle Palace park. Volz also created the statue of Roland in Ratslaukums and the lions in Vērmanes dārzs.

From the statue we turned our attention to the ornate building before us. When the center of Rīga was redesigned in 1856 a site on the Rīga canal was chosen for the new theater, and in 1860 a design by architect Ludwig Bohnstedt was chosen and construction begun. The neo-classical building was opened to the public in 1863 as the Rīga German Theater. Not even twenty years later a major portion was destroyed by fire, although Rīga's chief architect Reinholds Schmaeling faithfully followed Bohnstedt's original design and completed its reconstruction by 1887.

Soon after Latvia declared its independence on November 18^th, 1918, the Latvian National Opera Company was founded. Joined by the first professional Latvian ballet ensemble in the 1920s, the opera house was a cultural center for the next twenty years. In 1944, following the illegal occupation of Latvia by Soviet Union, the Latvian National Opera became the Latvian S.S.R. State Opera and Ballet Theater and remained as such until 1990.

Backstage with the set

Multiple small-scale renovations to the building were completed in the 1950s, but it wasn’t until 1990 that a complete reconstruction and restoration was begun. The work of architects Imants Jākobsons and Juris Gertmanis to the front of the house and to the stage enabled the National Opera to re-open with the production of Jānis Mediņš’ Uguns un nakts (Fire and Night) in 1995.

Sarkanā zāle

In 2001, a new annex was completed, providing offices and a rehearsal stage, as well as additional performace space. Jaunā zāle (the ‘New Hall’) seats 300 and hosts chamber operas, concerts and lectures. It, along with the main hall, the red hall and the beletāžas zāle are also available for rental; I attending a beautiful wedding reception in the jaunā zāle a dozen years and one week ago (laimīgu laulības jubileju K & A!!!)

Over the course of their September-June season, the Latvian National Opera and Ballet sees more than 200 performances, and many world-renowned musicians have launched their careers in the great hall including conductor Andris Nelsons, operatic sopranos Kristīne Opolais and Marina Rebeka, mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča, and tenor Aleksandrs Antonenko. Mikhail Baryshnikov was born in Rīga, and trained there until leaving the country in 1964 to pursue an international career. In recent years he has returned for multiple projects including a solo show “Letter to a Man” at the Latvian National Opera.

An enormous paldies to our wonderfully knowledgeable guide Mārtiņš, who was so patient with our questions and easily passed on to us his enthusiasm for the history of this grand building. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to take the stage of the National Opera, and I will not soon forget the chance to see the majestic chandelier up close, climb the spiral staircase in the red room, emerge on the Ionic portico for a look over the gardens, or peek into the President’s alcove.

Tours are about 45 minutes in length and are conducted in Latvian, English, German or Russian. For more information on scheduling your tour, please visit the LNO website.

Washington DC on foot, part 2

It had been a long day of walking on Day 1: The National Mall from the Capitol to the Potomac River, however the boys were still excited about our second day in Washington DC, which would feature a little less walking and a little more exploring...

Day 2: Ford's Theater, the Old Post Office Tower and the International Spy Museum

With the Washington Monument closed until 2019, there are few options to get a bird’s-eye view of the National Mall, so a visit to the Old Post Office Clock Tower was an easy decision. While the Old Post Office is currently used as the Trump International Hotel, the tower is still operated by National Park Service. However, to enter visitors must circle around to the back and enter through the doors next to the Starbucks. 

Admission is free, and the tower observation deck is open Thursday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm (closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas). Dating back to 1899, it was used as the city’s main post office until 1914. Nearly torn down once in the 1920s and a second time in the 1970s, Trump redeveloped the property into a luxury hotel in 2016. The Old Post Office Clock Tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places in April 1973.

In September of 1941 President Franklin Delano Roosevelt told (his friend) Supreme Court Justice Frankfurter "If any memorial is erected to me, I know exactly what I should like it to be. I would like it to consist of a block about the size of this (referring to his desk) and placed in the center of that green plot in front of the Archives Building. I don't care what it is made of... but I want it plain without any ornamentation, with the simple carving, 'In Memory of _____.'" I would say they fulfilled his wishes exactly, if not for the enormous Memorial on the Tidal Basin... 

We admired the simple stone and the facade of the National Archives, and then crossed Pennsylvania Avenue. A main artery of DC, Pennsylvania Avenue is a National Historic Site and a unit of National Mall & Memorial Parks. This unique site preserves locations related to the creation of the Federal City, Presidential Inaugurations and other historically significant events.

Across the street from the FDR Stone and the National Archives is the US Navy Memorial and Plaza. Daily interpretive programs at 10am and 2pm meet at the Navy Memorial, an opportunity to learn more about Pennsylvania Avenue and its many impressive memorials. If you can't catch a program, explore on your own. Stanly Bleifield's famous statue, The Lone Sailor overlooks the Granite Sea, a map depicting the world's oceans, using an azimuthal projection centered on Washington, DC. Surrounding the Granite Sea are two fountain pools honoring the personnel of the American Navy and the other navies of the world, and 26 bronze high reliefs commemorating events, personnel, and communities of the various sea services.

Continuing north. On April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth assassinated Abraham Lincoln at the box seat at Ford’s Theater. Timed-entry tickets let you see the site, although the theater still holds performances so call ahead/arrive early to guarantee you can get in. The basement museum has Booth’s pistol on display, but we crossed the street to the visitor center that also has displays and interactive exhibits. Adjacent is the Peterson House, where President Lincoln spent his final hours before passing away at 7:22am the following morning; the house was closed to tours on our visit, but the visitor center provided insight into the timeline of events, the aftermath, and the fateful event itself.

Ford’s Theater was the second opportunity for the boys to complete a Jr. Ranger booklet in DC, and I recommend a stop even if not able to secure tickets for the theater tour. After the previous day's mileage the boys were happy to find that our next destination was just around the corner... 

All books about President Lincoln!

If you are a James Bond movie fan you’ll be interested in visiting the International Spy Museum. All sorts of undercover tools of the trade are on display. Although advertised as being a ‘kid favorite,’ my sources suggested it might be a bit heavy on signs with dense text and lighter on the fun displays my kids were looking for. As a happy middle ground we skipped the $23/adult entrance fee and hit the gift shop instead, allowing the boys to browse all the coolest gear and gadgets without the lengthy reading required in the museum. Whether our visit inspired Lauris to choose a spy theme for his eight birthday is a mystery, but I know that reverse-mirrored glasses and secret codes have been the norm around our house since.

On our way east we stopped in at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. That morning we had heard a portion of a ceremony in passing, as fallen LE officers from the previous year were being honored - we didn't want to intrude and watched from a distance. This time in passing we had the Memorial to ourselves, and after a reflective stroll through the shaded walks we turned once more towards our hotel.

One final memorial I would like to mention is the Victims of Communism Memorial. The Memorial is in honor of the more than 100 million men, women and children that were struck down by 20th century totalitarian regimes, and features a 10ft bronze replica of the Goddess of Democracy erected by students during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.The design and statue are the work of sculptor Thomas Marsh, and the inscription reads "To the more than 100 million victims of communism and to those who love liberty" and "To the freedom and independence of all captive nations and peoples." Located at the intersection of Massachusetts and New Jersey Avenues and G St. NW within view of the US Capitol, the memorial was dedicated by President George W. Bush on the 20th anniversary of President Reagan's "tear down this wall" speech in front of the Berlin Wall with these words:

     ...(Victims) include innocent Ukrainians starved to death in Stalin's Great Famine; or Russians killed in Stalin's purges; Lithuanians and Latvians and Estonians loaded onto cattle cars and deported to Arctic death camps of Soviet Communism. They include Chinese killed in the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution; Cambodians slain in Pol Pot's Killing Fields; East Germans shot attempting to scale the Berlin Wall in order to make it to freedom; Poles massacred in the Katyn Forest; and Ethiopians slaughtered in the "Red Terror"; Miskito Indians murdered by Nicaragua's Sandinista dictatorship; and Cuban balseros who drowned escaping tyranny... We'll never know the names of all who perished, but at this sacred place, communism's unknown victims will be consecrated to history and remembered forever. We dedicate this memorial because we have an obligation to those who died, to acknowledge their lives and honor their memory."

Resources

There were three resources that I found invaluable for planning such a condensed trip, as well as getting the kids enthused about viewing ‘a bunch of monuments.’ The first is “Washington: The Nation’s Capital” brochure by the National park Service, featuring a large map of all the Park Service and public sites in addition to the location of information kiosks and restrooms. To get a copy contact the Park Service, or download a copy online.

Everyone knows it isn’t pleasant to carry around a heavy, cumbersome guidebook, and so I was relieved to find the Lonely Planet Make My Day: Washington, DC guidebook. A flip-and-match format allows you to get the meat of each attraction in a quick look, the fold-out map in the back is a complete city map with bikeshare & public transportation as well as street index, and a pocket in the back can store stamps, receipts or other important papers as you hike your way across the city.

Finally, the kids got into another Lonely Planet book, Washington, DC City Trails: Secrets, Stories and Other Cool Stuff. Reading about the National Mall beforehand allowed them to identify the monuments and memorials on our wanderings; did you know that the north wall of the Lincoln Memorial originally misspelled the word ‘future’ euture, and although it was fixed the mistake is still visible?

The last time we were in DC the boys were too small for much of a tour - see my previous Washington DC post here. Therefore, our goal was to pack as much as possible into our short time in the city, to get an overall perspective on DC and prepare for more in-depth exploration of museums and other sites on a future visit. A walking tour of the National Mall is an ideal way to see the city, and if you plan your route ahead you can see it all on foot, even with children; just be prepared with comfortable walking shoes, plenty of fluids, sunscreen, and patience to stop and rest as needed. We made it home from DC tired, but satisfied we had made good use of our time there, and we’ve already gotten the start of a list for our next visit: Theodore Roosevelt Island, Arlington National Cemetery, the Pentagon, the National Zoo…

The Lost Colony on Roanoke Island

Happy National Park Week! Today it's back to North Carolina, to Fort Raleigh!

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site preserves the location of Roanoke Colony, the first English settlement in the present-day United States. The colony was led by Sir Walter Raleigh, and was established in 1584. But sometime between 1587 and 1590 the settlement was abandoned, for reasons unknown; ultimately the fate of the "Lost Colony" remains a mystery.

We visited Fort Raleigh on a visit to the Outer Banks, making the Roanoke Island stop on our way home from Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Located 3 miles north Manteo, NC, our first stop at the historic site was the Visitor Center.

Exhibits explore the history of the English expeditions and colonies, the Roanoke Colony, and the island's Civil War history and Freedmen's Colony, and the boys were soon engrossed in their Junior Ranger booklets. This site also preserves the cultural heritage of the Native Americans who lived in the area, and in-depth heritage stories tell the history of the island from multiple perspectives.

Just outside the Visitor Center is the First Light of Freedom monument, which commemorates the Roanoke Island Freedman's Colony that was set up during the American Civil War. We followed the paved trail towards Albemarie Sound and soon came to the 1896 Monument, which marked the beginning of preservation efforts of this unique site.

The earthen works that are visible in this area are not 430 years old, instead they are a part of a reconstruction from 1950. The reconstructed fort allows for a visual to accompany the story of the Lost Colony that is being told through the exhibits and informational placards.

The Fort Raleigh historic site is also home to Paul Green's outdoor symphonic drama, The Lost Colony. This Roanoke Island Historical Association production has been performed in the Waterside Theatre every summer since 1937, except for during World War II.

From the theater visitors can take the Thomas Hariot Trail, a 0.3 mile loop through the maritime forest. Or for a view of the Croatan Sound you can backtrack to the parking area at the end of National Park Drive and hike Freedom Trail, a 1.25-mile trail that winds through the maritime forest to the western edge of the park.

Finally, a highlight of the historic site - the Elizabethan Gardens. The sunken gardens are managed by the Garden Club of NC and are an example of a period garden. The 10 acre gardens were created as a memorial to the first colonists, and include a replica Tudor gate house. Open 7 days a week, there is an admission fee to this area of the site.

Cafe and Then Some, featuring Viva Greenvegas!

“Something to offend everyone” is the motto at Cafe and Then Some, downtown Greenville’s comedy dinner theater. In business since 1979, Cafe and Then Some combines great food with hilarious entertainment for an evening of make-your-sides-hurt fun.

We headed downtown to check out the new show, Viva GreenVegas: “Join Toy Pettigru, Mary Louise Earl McDaniel Hampton Pinckney, Veranda Bannister and her daughter Madison, a Greenville city policeman, two Reedy River crayfish and a host of others as they attempt to explain exactly what is going in in Greenville with all the trendy restaurants and new construction of apartments and condos!  And where the hell all the people are going to come from to support this madness!”

The comedy troupe is spot-on in this newest show, poking some good-natured fun at Greenville’s restaurant scene and current events. The cast includes Susan Smith, Maureen Abdalla, Jim Wilkins, Traysie Amick and Bill Smith, and the show ran the gamut of comedy with one-liners, funny costumes, musical numbers and enough witty repartee to keep the laughter coming.

The cafe opens for dinner at 6:30, but another option is going for drinks and dessert (served at intermission). The menu ranges from standard to southern, but make sure to save room for dessert; their "Homemade Sin" is a chocolate chip cookie baked during the show and smothered in ice cream, chocolate sauce, whipped cream and peanuts. Or try "The Elvis!," a miniature peanut butter and banana sandwich, battered, deep-fried and rolled in powdered sugar and cinnamon, topped with a mixed berry puree and mini marshmallows. The drinks menu is reasonable, and the service always friendly and cheerful. The show starts somewhere after 8pm and goes around two hours – admission is $20+tax. Make reservations in advance as the venue frequently sells out, and to stay up to date on the newest shows (and get alerts on opening night which is usually free), check out their facebook page. Shows run Wednesday through Saturday, and the dialogue often changes over the course of time as the cast fine-tunes the skits based on audience response. 

This article is part of the Food on Friday series.

Echoes of the song festival / Dziesmu svētku atskaņas / Part 1

Our four days in Baltimore passed in a blur of concerts, what felt like several years of Latvian culture boiled down into 100 hours of events. With three young children along (and an abundance of family and friends we wanted to catch up with), we knew we would not be able to do everything – but that didn’t stop us from trying!

Our largest obstacle to fitting everything in was arrival time, as we were set to arrive in Baltimore on Friday night. This meant we wouldn’t be able to attend the opening ceremony (svētku atklāšana), about which my friend Daina had this to say; “While the official opening event (atklāšana) has traditionally been less than exciting, this festival's opening featured enough interesting people (Latvia's Minister of Culture! Latvia's Ambassador to the US!) who kept their remarks brief, as well as high quality musical performances that indicated the great concerts we were to experience during the festival. The East Coast Combined Choir's performance of Ēriks Ešenvalds' stirring Dvēseles dziesma was particularly beautiful.” After the opening ceremony the Song Festival continued in earnest with various acts taking the Printful Stage, as well as with the Sacred Music Concert (garīgās mūzikas koncerts). The one event that I regret missing most was the dance party that evening with Iļģi; luckily we were to have more opportunities to hear them play, but more on that in a bit…

Saturday we took a quick look at the svētku market before heading out into the heat of the day to see the Peabody Library and Bromo Seltzer Tower, missing the Jaundeju skate (new choreography contest) at the Lyric Opera House. Here’s a view from backstage with members of the dance group Sienāzītis, the children’s group that traveled all the way from Longford, Ireland to the festival...

We used a moment of quiet in the early afternoon to check in at the mobile passport station, and then while dad set out to take care of a few obligations, the boys and I headed to the Sheraton for the theater production Emīls un Berlīnes zēni. Based on the children’s novel Emil and the Detectives by German writer Erich Kästner, the production was an adaptation performed by the San Francisco Theater Workshop. Director and producer Māra Lewis brought a cast of 18 to Baltimore, and the family-friendly show was a hit with parents and children alike; the kids had all gathered at the foot of the stage within the first 10 minutes and were kept enthralled for the duration, while the parents enjoyed the positive values put forth such as honesty, hard work and teamwork. My three boys give 6 thumbs up to the show. Parole – Emīls!

The next morning we headed downstairs to the Fells Point room for bērnu nodarbības (children’s activities). Overflowing with energy, the kids made puzuri out of straws, decorated mittens with Latvian designs, played with helium balloons, and in general, caused a ruckus until mom declared it to be pool time. Only complaint? Who puts 50 children in a room together with their parents with no coffee…

While dad took two of the kids to the pool (another enclosed space with 50 kids and no coffee), the third joined my sister and me on a tour of the art and the fashion & folk costume exhibits. The latter showcased contemporary fashion alongside traditional dress, and featured a number of current designers with their take on folk patterns & symbols.

The art exhibit brought together an eclectic collection of work, all by Latvian-American artists and relating to the theme “On the Road to Latvia’s Centennial.” After browsing the pieces, more than one of which was the work of a familiar name, we took in the view of the harborfront, Latvian flag fluttering in the steady breeze coming off the Patapsco.

The folk dancing show (tautas deju lieluzvedums), one of the primary events of the weekend, took place Sunday afternoon at the Royal Farms Arena. 778 folk dancers came together to reflect the changing face of Latvian folk dance, the selected dances highlighting the evolution of patterns, movements and music over the last 100 years. The dancers came from all over the world: 32 dance troops from the US, Canada, Latvia and Ireland, and the 26-dance program was strewn with crowd favorites ranging from Vidzemes polka to Gailis un vista.

From there, a portion of the attendees headed to Christ Lutheran church for the SŌLA concert. Daina writes “Attending the Sōla concert was a true musical treat. The program had been well chosen – the first half contained works by Latvian composers, and the second part presented Latvian folk songs in choral arrangements. The beautiful setting of Christ Lutheran Church with its excellent acoustics only added to our enjoyment of this outstanding choir’s concert.”

Meanwhile we were trying to get the boys fed because that evening we were lucky to have vecpaps Jānis around to watch the kiddos while we relaxed aboard the Spirit of Baltimore. Setting sail from the Inner Harbor, we watched the sunset over the city while enjoying hors d’oeuvres, and soon were slipping past a dark Fort McHenry. The lively accompaniment of Iļģi filled the boat and floated out over the water as we navigated all the way out of the Inner Harbor to the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The conversation and laughter of long-time friends reunited echoed from the shore, if only for one magical evening on the Chesapeake.

To be continued…..

Cat in the Hat at Gunter Theater and a Reedy River Duck Derby Repeater

It is May in Greenville, which means there is no shortage of things to do downtown! Every weekend choices must be made in regards to how much is too much, and this weekend was no different. Watching the Kentucky Derby (congratulations American Pharoah, on winning the 141^st Run for the Roses!) didn’t make the cut, but the boys attended their first theater production – Cat in the Hat!

March 2^nd was Dr. Seuss’s birthday, and during that week there were several events celebrating the famous children’s book author. The celebration continued last week and this week with the South Carolina Children’s Theater production of Cat in the Hat at the Gunter Theater.

The Theater is part of the Peace Center arts complex located adjacent to Falls Park in downtown Greenville and includes the Peace Concert Hall, the outdoor amphitheater on Reedy River (TD Stage), the Wyche Pavilion and Gunter. Named after donor Dorothy Hipp Gunter, the 400-seat theater opened in 1990 along with the rest of the Peace Center complex after a four year fundraising campaign. The six acre site was originally home to the Greenville Carriage Factory (built in 1858) and its paint shop (1904), which at one point was home to Duke’s Mayonnaise; both buildings were renovated and are now incorporated into the Peace Center campus. 

  

The Hipp family was known for their commitment and contribution to the Greenville community, and among other Greenville landmarks named in honor of the family is the Liberty Bridge in Falls Park. The Liberty Corporation was founded by W. Frank Hipp and the Liberty Bridge honors him and his children: Francis M. Hipp, Herman N. Hipp, B. Calhoun Hipp, and Dorothy Hipp Gunter. Emerging from the Cat in the Hat production the boys joined the crowds headed towards the bridge and Falls Park for the Rotary Club of Greenville’s 11^th annual Reedy River Duck Derby.

There were booths and activities set up all through Falls Park, the same as last year. The boys had a blast playing games and spending the morning with dad. They listened to a reading of “Goodnight Greenville” by Kate Geib, Miss Greenville Teen USA 2016, and met the other duck, Yucky Ducky. Greenville County’s Soil and Water Conservation District’s Yucky Ducky teaches kids about conservation and how to keep our rivers, lakes, and streams clean. Vilis and I joined the three guys at Chicora Alley shortly before the derby started.

Yucky Ducky and Kate Geib

Last year we secured a viewing spot at the Wyche, Burgess, Freeman & Parham overlook, giving us a glimpse of the ducks as they were released and went over the falls. This year we opted to head down to the grassy area at the base of the falls, to get a different perspective of the ducks on their journey, and for the view of the winners reaching the gate.

Photo: Eugenia

Once the ducks have finished the journey over the falls and through the rapids and pools underneath, they reach a chute that allows only one duck at a time through it; this is how the winning ducks are selected, with the rest meeting their end on a butcher block to be unwittingly fed to the Greenville Ladies’ Auxiliary at the Annual Gala (little known fact, revealed here for the first time).

Photo: Eugenia

Just kidding. But that’s what happens when a blogger leaves her laptop unattended while in the middle of writing a post… Check out this video from a duck's perspective!

Reedy River Duck Derby 2015 from MHCproductions.com on Vimeo.

Too much Halloween (but the kids aren’t complaining!)

There, I’m done with Halloween. I know, it’s not until tomorrow – but still, I’m done with it. I’ll open the door and pass out candy while my husband goes trick-or-treating (with the kids, I think), but otherwise I’m Done.

pumpkin carving is a serious business, bandannas required

  

Friday we headed to Taylors for Enchanted Tracks. At the Greenville County Rec area “Pavilion,” the Safe Kids Upstate sponsored event was billed as a fairytale trick-or-treat experience. Typically the Thursday through Saturday before Halloween, the kids get to trick-or-treat with some of their favorite fairytale (read Disney) characters and play carnival games in a safe environment. We paid $5/child in advance ($7 at the door) and had a great time – but it would have been better had it not been freezing outside. The temperatures really dipped for a few nights only, and I regretted not taking gloves and snowsuits for the boys. They most enjoyed the ride on George the Train*, which looped around and through the woods for a spooky but not scary treat for children and adults alike. The lines were not too bad, although certain carnival games and the train proved a longer wait. I felt slightly let down by the treats, as I had been led to believe there would be more non-candy treats like stickers and trinkets, when in fact it was almost 100% candy. We might return next year, depending on the weather.

Saturday it was a neighborhood block party, complete with Halloween parade, giant blow-up bounce house/slide, chili cook-off, tons of games and good food. It was spooky how exhausted we were afterwards.

Sunday it was off to Boo in the Zoo. We went last year and learned a good lesson; buy tickets beforehand. This year we probably avoided a good hour’s wait in line by jumping in the "pre-purchased" line, and it was shortly after the gates opened (albeit on the last day of this two-weekend event; for more information on cost, times and schedules please visit the Greenville Zoo’s homepage). However last year I remember the crowds diffusing once past the front gates, this year it was crowded! It was hardly worth the wait to try and see any of the animals (since we are there almost once every two weeks anyway), and if it hadn’t been for all the amazing costumes I would regret going. The boys came home with a bag full of candy and little Halloween trinkets (which have mostly broken in the 48 hours since) as well as a couple of cans of Pepsi. Yeah, Pepsi. If we go next year I will buy tickets in advance and we’ll go the first weekend of the event.

Happy 1st birthday Kiko!

Yesterday we had tickets to SC Children’s Theatre’s “Tell me a Story Costume Party.” We enjoyed the Pirate production early this fall and often go to storytime, so knew we would not be disappointed with their Halloween Boogaloo! The boys (skeleton & dinosaur) stared wide-eyed as witches, robots, princesses and animals (and a full McDonalds set: fries, burger & shake) arrived, and listened with rapt attention to the two stories read and enacted. Audience participation and a Halloween parade got the kids moving, and children didn’t leave empty-handed; each participant received a Halloween-themed finger puppet to take home. I hope the boys want to go next year!

I was disappointed the Roper Mountain Science Center didn’t put on their environmentally-themed “Green Halloween” this year, but I’m not sure we would have been able to squeeze in another event. It’s lucky the boys haven’t overdosed, although the rate of sugar consumption in this household has increased in the last week. Let’s see if we can make it through the actual holiday to the weekend… Oh, and HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Bū-čas!

Had to put this one in here Monique...

* George the Train was originally built by the Kiwanis Club in 1952 and ran in McPherson Park (then known as City Park and just around the corner from our house) until the 1960s. In March of 2001 the Greenville County Rec department brought it back to Greenville from Hattiesburg Mississippi, and it's been running its route at Pavilion ever since.