Grand Central

New York City is potentially the most busy and bustling destination in America.  It remains a hot commodity as it is home to hundreds of attractions, restaurants, and more.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2011 there is 8,244,910 proud New York City residents that find beauty, comfort and happiness in the quirky qualities of the Big Apple.  From Broadway to Times Square to Grand Central, the beauty of New York City is quite evident and the hidden unknown's within remain secretive to the average dweller wandering it's streets.  The secrets that even the most seasoned NYC resident are spread out all across the city.  Beneath City Hall contains a hidden subway station that has been inactive for over 65 years.  The architecture with it's high-arched ceilings, intriquite tiles and skylights, dazzle the abandoned station with sunlight.  Even more unknown is another underground subway station considered a "gallery" of street art.  The only ones that know of it's whearabouts are the artists and the attendee's of the "Underground Project's" opening night; a one night show.

One of New York's City's most popular destinations contains multiple hidden gems unknown to most.  Grand Central Terminal, home to 68 shops, 35 dining options, subways, buses and taxi stands is a prime location for transportation and shopping.  One of it's secrets is Franklin Delano Roosevelt's underground passageway that lead to the Waldorf Hotel.  One thing the average person may not know of is the Metro-North Lost & Found Room.  There is an 80% recovery rate for lost items and a 100% recovery rate for laptop computers.  The room contains all of the lost items with tags of the time and location at which it was found.  Travelers with lost items can check the Metro-North website to see if their item had been turned in without having to travel there and risk no recovery.

Grand Central's most interesting secret is called the "Whispering Gallery."  It's an archway situated right outside of the Oyster Bar & Restaurant and it holds a compelling and mysterious acoustic property.  If one person stands at one side of the arch and another person stands at the arch diagonally across, they would be able to hear eachothers whispers as it travels over the arch.

The terminal also houses formerly secret tennis courts which have reopened and are open to the public.  The Vanderbilt Tennis Club includes a full-size tennis court, practice alleys, a fitness facility, lockers and a reception center. Prices to play at the club range from $90 to $250 for the day and private lessons run for $160-$195 per hour.  The courts reside on the 4th floor, a tough find for any New Yorker without prior knowledge of the whereabouts.

Resources:

http://www.nycgo.com/slideshows/new-york-secrets

http://www.grandcentralterminal.com/

http://gothamist.com/2008/03/07/some_grand_cent.php
http://gothamist.com/2011/09/28/a_photo_tour_of_grand_centrals_new.php#photo-1

Dr. Seuss Memorial

      Thinking back to one's childhood stems memories of cartoons, tinker toys and trips to the playground.  But the epitomization of most children's youth is the work of Dr. Seuss.  His whimsical drawings and far-fetched ideas draw the attention of any impressionable and imaginative mind.  His books entertain with creative characters and unique rhymes and are popular amongst all age groups.  Born Theodore Suess Geisel in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1904, Dr. Seuss had many other expidentures before committing to writing children's books. He worked in advertising, magazines, served in the army and won Oscars for his war documentaries.  The climax of his writing career initiated it all in 1937 with the publication of his first children's picture book, called And to Think I Saw it All on Mulberry Street.  Following this publication he proved in the rest of his books that it is possible to engage children with using a limited vocabulary while also teaching a lesson. Amongst his 46 books are the classics known to many as Green Eggs & Ham, The Cat in the Hat, Oh, The Places You'll Go, and many more.

         After his death in September of 1991, his books were translated into more than 15 languages and over 200 million copies were sold world wide spreading his childish cheer and exuberance into people's lives.  His books provided the source for eleven children's television specials, a musical on Broadway and a motion picture.  His other successes include two Academy awards, two Emmy awards, a Peabody award and the Pulitzer Prize.  The works of Dr. Seuss will continue to live on in written text as well as visual motion pictures. 

        All of his successes are depicted in the bronze statues at the Dr. Seuss National Memorial.  The sculpture garden is located at the Springfield Museums.  This location is ideal for the sculptures because most of Geisel's inspiration was from living in Springfield.  At the corner of the "Quadrangle" in Springfield sits a sculpture of Dr. Seuss and the Cat in the Hat, as well as Horton the elephant stepping out of an open book, with Thing One, Thing Two, Sam-I-Am, Sally and her brother and also Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose.  Also at the Quadrangle is the storyteller, Gertrude McFuzz, the Grinch and his dog, Max, the Lorax, Yertle the Turtle.  Experience the lifesize reality of Dr. Seuss's most popular works and walk through an imaginative world of wonders.










Resources:
http://www.catinthehat.org/memorial.htm
http://childrensbooks.about.com/cs/authorsillustrato/a/drseuss.htm

Puppetry Museum

Typical family vacations often include visitation of famous landmarks or theme parks.  Although vacations take place away from home and in unique and different locations, they often don't include activities that stray from the norm.  For thorough enjoyment and entertainment families should choose original activities and interesting places to visit.  Museums are always a popular choice for kids but this one in particular puts a unique spin on the traditional museum.  The Ballard Institute & Museum of Puppetry in Storrs, Connecticut is not only a museum of puppetry but is a functioning school as well.


It's story originates with Frank W. Ballard starting the fine arts puppetry program at UCONN in 1965.
Since it's commencement, the program has expanded and become world renowned. The beauty of it is not in the student's capability to make puppets, but in the academic aspects of the art, such as the history of puppetry as well as puppet techniques.  They learn the essentials of writing scripts, designing and building puppets as well as performing with them.  UCONN's puppetry program releases it's graduates into different realms like theater and doesn't restrict them to just puppetry.  Alumni from the program have gone onto working on Broadway, Hollywood films and other prestigious outlets.

The museum offers a unique vacation possibility for children and adults alike.  The original collection only included the works of Ballard and UCONN students but now on display are marionettes, shadow figures, rod and finger puppets, and even historically significant puppets from all over the world, some that are centuries old. 

When puppets come to mind, the connotation is often negative.  They are often described as creepily realistic and this stigma is the result of their depiction in scary movies, such as Dead Silence.  In this film the ghost of a murdered ventriloquist haunts its victims through a puppet. When considering visiting this museum, one should be aware that the puppets on display are of the same nature as the ones seen in that movie.  Although innovative and creative, some may consider them as being more creepy than they are beautiful.  But the history and eclectic characteristics are worth learning about and viewing.  Each puppet embodies the hard work, commitment, and planning involved in creating such a detailed piece of art work. 

One of the most prominent displays is that of shadow puppetry.  In 2007 existed a shadow puppet display with puppets from all around Asia and European countries.  Shadow puppets are defined as being used to "cast shadows onto a projection surface of some type, so that the audience sees the shadow of the figure rather than the figure itself." It can be insinuated that this technique is employed for the purpose of mystery and suspense rather than for the purpose of aesthetics.  There are two types of this kind of puppetry; direct shadows display figures placed directly on the shadow screen and projected shadows are those constructed on plates and projected onto the shadow surface with an overhead projector.  

Don't let the creepy wooden puppets deter you from visiting this fascinatingly unique museum full of character and imaginative exploration. Tours of the museum can be provided and there are other opportunities such as workshops and lectures year round.




Resources:
http://www.damnedct.com/ballard-institute-museum-of-puppetry-storrs/
http://www.ctmuseumquest.com/?page_id=1095

Allston-Brighton

In a blur of one-way streets and bustling movement my Mother and I found ourselves lost amongst one of Boston's many quaint neighborhoods.  At the time the area was busy and exceptionally appealing because of it's vast diversity and abundant choices of places to eat, shop and more.  While driving through this area it seemed quite eclectic but after some research I found out it had way more to offer than what meets the eye. 

This underestimated town of Allston-Brighton, or Allston as it's "hipster" inhabitants call it, is known mostly for it's small ethnic restaurants, private karaoke studios, hookah bars and lively music scene.  If you're looking for something to do in this area, there are endless possibilities.  Liquid prizes are offered at Rock 'N' Roll bingo night at Model Cafe; Urban Renewal sells secondhand clothing and unique home furnishings in a secret home-goods section; and Big City, Boston's pool hall, pizza kitchen, and beer bar offers competitive foosball on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights.  But the fun doesn't stop there.


One thing that most New Englander's miss out on is the freedom and fun found in city life.  One thing present in Allston that you can't find in a quiet little country town of Connecticut is karaoke.  When people think of karaoke, they often associate it with large rowdy crowds and an eager willingness to drunkenly belt out their favorite tune- but in Allston the karaoke crowds wish to be more secretive and unknown.  Within a strip of auto shops there is a world of "private karaoke suites" that can be rented out for private parties.  You can rent out a karaoke suite at Do Re Mi Karaoke on Cambridge Street by the hour and portray your inner rockstar in a secluded setting with leather couches and shiny disco balls. A regular room for 1-5 people start at $30 an hour and party rooms for 1-10 people start at $80.  Do Re Mi provides 19 private suites with new state of the art equipment including wide screen tv's, karaoke systems with new songs and a newly renovated lobby.  Do Re Mi also features 13 different language choices to suite the town's diverse community.  The options include languages from French to Vietnamese to Portuguese and a little bit of everything in between.

One hang out spot that is particularly underestimated is that of the hookah bar.  It is often given a negative connotation but in actuality it can be a trendy and interesting way to spice up an evening.  Habibi's Hookah Lounge in Allston is considered "Boston's most authentic hookah lounge." Walking down the steps into the underground lounge enters you into a new exotic world.  Although the menu is small the atmosphere is grand and eclectic.  Their food menu consists of drinks, snacks, sides and desserts but the main course is "Starbuzz" or "Al-Crakher" tobacco.  The flavors are especially enticing and should potentially catch the attention of even the least interested individual.   The list includes delicious flavors of apple cinnamon, classic mojito, bubblegum, licorice, cola, mango, honey, cafe latte and more.

What draws in most people to Allston is it's abundant character and and many charming qualities. This charm lures in artistic and expressive people to the area and provides a substantially positive stigma for incoming college students.  Like college students in any area, they thrive on the abundant options of cuisine such as vegetarian and vegan asian cuisine at Grasshopper, curry from Madina's Kitchen, Japanese ramen noodles from Ken's Noodle House, and traditional southern comfort food from Deep Ellum.  These restaurants are just few of the many hiding away in Allston waiting to be found and favored.

Although some see it's reputation fading as Harvard takes over and it becomes more of a college party town, it remains a lively and bustling area full of character and endless possibilities.







Sources:
http://mysecretboston.com/top-secret/rock-city-ramble
http://clearflourbread.com/
http://doremikaraoke.net/
http://Habibislounge.com/menu.html
http://mysecretboston.com/nightlife/bingo-night
http://allstonsfinest.com/allstonsfinest/bigcity/bigcity.swf

Jonathan Pasco's

Located on South Main Street in East Windsor, Connecticut, Jonathan Pasco's restaurant provides a homey environment, exceptional food and a lively history.  As a member of the Christmas campaign fighting in the Battle of Trenton, Pasco helped renew British spirit in the Revolutionary War.   Legends suggest that Pasco was captured by the Indians during this war along with hundreds of other soldiers.  As encouragement to not attempt an escape, he was forced to marry an Indian wife and carry around the skin of a fellow tortured soldiers. He managed to return from the war unharmed and built his home in East Windsor at 31 South Main Street.

The unique environment provides the perfect space for small weddings and rehearsal dinners, christenings, baby showers and bridal showers.  They offer special menu options for private parties as well.  Different menu options include special occasion, dinner buffet, lunch buffet, brunch party, cocktail party and dinner party appetizers. Their traditional menus include a wine and beer list, a dinner and brunch menu, and a lounge menu.  They also serve Thanksgiving dinner and provide a special menu for that including appetizers, salads, desserts, and traditional entrees, such as fresh roasted turkey, black oak ham and rotisserie prime rib of beef.

Not only is it home to traditional eats, but it's home to paranormal activity as well.  The Greater Hartford Paranormal Society visited the restaurant in 2010 and observed experiences that confirmed the events reported by it's staff and patrons.  Employees of the restaurant reported sightings of a tall old man as well as the paper towel dispenser automatically going off even with no movement in front of it.  They also heard unfamiliar voices after the restaurant had closed, and glasses would tip over.  The manager, Mary Jane Hill explained to a Coventry student interviewer in 1996 for a student news story, that an employee kept turning the heat off and it would repeatedly get turned back on. This happened 8 times to the same employee within that one night. She also explained that it is believed that two of the ghosts are those of Jonathan Pasco's children who died during a smallpox epidemic.  Patrons reported a cold uneasiness in particular corners of the restaurant. The team experienced a spirit running back and forth across the restaurant and communicated with the spirit to find that it's name was Ames and he was there for protection from men with guns.

Once they entered one of Jonathan Pasco's son's old rooms, they encountered a woman sitting in the corner wearing a long white dress.  After questioning, they learned that she didn't know where she was and that she was injured.  Her name was Jeannie and she suffered a miscarriage at age 18.  

Located on the first floor was the spirit of a young boy named Peter who was seriously injured.  There was another spirit named Billy who wandered into the room often to check on Peter. The last stop of the Paranormal Society was the ladies restroom which employees reported was the place of many strange occurrences in the restaurant.  Right as they walked in, they encountered a spirit walking back and forth repeatedly.  They found that her name was Beth and she was there because it was her job to clean the bathroom.

Although you may feel a cold spot, or see a spooky apparition, it is worth the risk for this unique restaurant.  The old brick home provides a place of tradition and delectable food for anyone with a big appetite and a curious mind.



Sources:
http://jonathanpascos.net/
http://www.myhouseishaunted.org/?p=2535
http://articles.courant.com/1996-10-08/news/9610080509_1_ghosts-haunts-project-restaurant-manager-challenge-program

Danvers State Hospital

With it's overwhelming immensity and distinct characteristics, the Danvers State Hospital in Danvers, Massachusetts was home to thousands of mentally ill patients.  It was built in 1874 to relieve other asylums of their overcrowded populations in Boston.  The new hospital was built on a site known as Hawthorne Hill and was chosen for the new psychiatric hospital for it's scenic beauty and vast acreage. It was thought that a welcoming and fresh environment would be the most therapeutic treatment to cure insanity. The creation of the hospital sparked some controversy with the public because of its magnitude and cost.  The 70,000 square foot building cost $1.5 million.

Like most mental hospitals during the 1800 and 1900s, Danvers faced overcrowding, limited funding and staff shortages.  At its inception, it was meant to hold only 500 patients but the hospital faced over 2,000 residents by the 1930s.  Patients began to receive lower levels of care and endured a plethora of new treatment techniques being administered as ways of therapy in psychiatric hospitals across the world.  These treatments were used to restrict and control any unruly patients and included the lobotomy, electroshock therapy, insulin shock therapy, and drug therapy.   These harmful and abolishing treatments were created to subdue difficult patients.  After initial research on animals, the lobotomy became a popular way to make patients more calm.  In order to do so, the nerves running from the frontal cortex to the thalamus needed to be cut and removed from the brain. As said by Walter Freeman, an American physician, it would be a procedure recommended "for everything from psychosis to depression to neurosis to criminality." It was also considered to "short-circuit" the problem psychotic patients faced such as repetitive thoughts.
Danvers underwent the deinstitutionalization process in the 1960s, and patients were transfered to community-based group homes and other mental hospitals in Massachusetts. In the mid-1980s the farthest wings of the building were closed and the entire building was shuttered in 1989.  The entire facility was closed in June of 1992.

Although the hospital closed, it faced it's debut in 2001.  It was the filming site for a movie called Session 9.

The horror thriller highlighted an asbestos cleaning crew within an abandoned mental hospital who witnessed the hospital's past coming back to haunt them.  It was also the site for another film called Home Before Dark in 1958.  It included footage of the hospital during it's operation.
Since its closure the site has drawn photographers and ghost hunters alike, causing the arrest of over 120 people for trespassing.  These thrill seekers believe the assumption that the building still remains home to the once disturbed and troubled spirits of the patients that lived there. The original building as well as 2 other wings, were later turned into a residential community called Avalon Ban Danvers with 500 apartments and condominiums.  Although it's true form was altered, the beauty and sheer vastness of Danvers State Hospital along with it's history will always remain.

 Resources:
http://www.opacity.us/site22_danvers_state_hospital.htm
http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/lobotomy.html
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0261983/
http://www.opacity.us/article9_all_souls_that_haunt_this_site_can_expect_arrest.htm

Ten Thousand Villages

Although some things sound too good to be true, it's true that third world countries can be directly impacted by your purchase of a fair trade item. Connecticut is home to a unique fair trade, non-profit retailer named Ten Thousand Villages. Located in South Windsor and West Hartford, just 2 of its 390 retail outlets, this non-profit retailer provides amazing opportunities to artisans in third world countries in exchange for their hand-made goods.

 Ten Thousand Villages takes pride in creating long-term relationships with talented artisans in hopes to improve their quality of life.  The purpose of these relationships is to provide an income for artisans through the sale of their hand-made and authentic products in America.  The most important part of these long-term relationships is commitment.  Ten Thousand Villages stays committed to working with an artisan group to lengthen and hopefully increase their success.  This commitment involves consistent buying from the artisan groups so as to not decrease their "full business potential."

Ten Thousand Villages sells products from more than 130 artisan groups from 38 different countries and 5 continents. Many artisans working with TTV use recycled materials such as newspaper, magazines and glass as well as natural materials and natural dyes. Some artisans also use sustainable wood or “good wood” which comes from farms that replant trees after they are harvested.
Their products range from jewelry, stationery, musical instruments, home and festive décor, toys, games, and spices and spreads. You can snuggle up to a “Gold Horizons” alpaca throw, hand-made in Peru, or use green tea lemongrass shea butter soap handcrafted in Ghana. The option to purchase goods made in such remote places promotes a way to infuse one culture with the ideals and traditions of another.

When purchasing a product from Ten Thousand Villages you are not only receiving a completely hand-crafted item, but you are encouraging the fair trade market and sustaining the artisan's ability to thrive in their environment.  This valuable income helps previously under or unemployed artisans pay for food, healthcare, housing, and education, providing them with opportunities that would have never been presented to them before.

Fair Trade is described as providing the consumer with the opportunity to “enliven developing countries, relieve exploitation and promote environmental sustainability by purchasing fair-trade labeled products. The beauty of fair trade is that the organizations that participate don't decide what the profits are used for. Each community can determine this on their own. The most beneficial part though is that they can use these funds to reinvest in their efforts to produce goods.

Fair Trade USA is an organization like Ten Thousand Villages dedicated to promoting fair trade and creating innovative ways to elevate the benefits for third world farmers and artisans. They are innovating fair trade in the following three ways; strengthening farming communities, including more farmers and farming communities and engaging consumers to increase market demands. Since 1998, the fair trade movement has helped families earn more than $225 million in income.

Resources:

http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/

http://www.youtube.com/user/tenthousandvillages/videos?view=0

http://www.fairtradeusa.org/