Photo of the Day (12/30/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Now that Christmas has come and past and with New Year’s only two days away it felt natural picking this shot of the ever-so-famous Mickey Mouse head. Why? I don’t know. Maybe someone out there put a trip to Disney World in Orlando or Tokyo on their 2007 vacation list. Sure it’s cluttered with tourists, but the mouse man has always been popular with the kiddies and the kid at heart. The fireworks show around the holidays is said to be an extra special site to see, so I’m told.

Anyhow, today’s POTD goes to vyxle. Taken on some type of Disney train in Tokyo, I wonder what puzzles the woman.

Tacoma’s Museum of Glass

by Adrienne Wilson on

Bummed? Yes, I’m a bit bummed and undecided on my recent trip to the Museum of Glass. Before I get down on what disappoints me let me tell you what’s hot and worth your $10. Upon entering the facility your attention is going to be directed to the Hot Shop on the left. Inside the Hot Shop museum-goers can kick back in the warm auditorium and watch the glass making process live. This is really cool if you know nothing about how all those fancy designs or simple glass vases are made. During the session I caught, there were three gentlemen working with the glass and an interpreter explaining the whole deal. The art, science and history of glass making are all explained. When the temperature inside the Hot Shop became too much to handle I excitedly walked off to head into the gallery where I was almost positive I would find tons of glass exhibits – not so much.

To my disappointment there were few glass installations. The ones featured were pretty impressive, but as I moved deeper down the halls I saw more contemporary art craziness; oversized stuffed horses making love and some questionable paintings. The horses were apart of the Fresh! Contemporary Takes on Nature & Allegory and overall I think they were indeed fresh, but it would have been better if they were glass. I haven’t a clue where the paintings came from, but there was an awesome one comprised of various greens blending in the swell of an ocean wave. Still there wasn’t enough glass in the building and that goes to include the building for my needs. Perhaps I expected too much, I mean how many glass artists are out there in the world?

That’s my take. Been to the Museum of Glass? What’s your opinion?

The Museum of Glass is located at 1801 Dock Street, Tacoma, WA 98402.

Old Idaho Penitentiary

by Adrienne Wilson on

My big day in Boise went out with a bang as I ended up behind bars at the Old Idaho Penitentiary. This was another attraction that appeared in my Google searches and ranked pretty high on the list of things to do. Prior to my trip to the Old Idaho Pen, I’d never been to jail with the exception of a never-ending game of Monopoly. The minute me and my pal walked into the old cells which haven’t housed an inmate since 1973, the temperature dropped about 4 to 6 degrees cooler. It was like an icebox. We walked the halls of death row and read about those who once lived, breathed and eventually hung to their death in the prison. Old weapons and a variety of shanks were displayed. A tattoo gallery explained the meanings behind common tats on inmates and gang tattoos. The gallery was actually very pleasing and nicely done.

Then there was solitary confinement… Dark, cold, teeny-tiny boxes, no bed, no nothing – just enough space to pace ten steps, turn around and do it all over again. I imagined long days of misery and then I quickly stepped out. It gave me the heebie-jeebies being there for only two minutes. It was only as we were leaving that me and my friend decided to watch the 18 minute film on the history of the Old Idaho Penitentiary. For some reason it didn’t sound all that great in the beginning and come to find out it wasn’t really worth our 18 minutes on the way out. If you go, skip the film and read up on all the history in the actually prison buildings.

2445 Old Penitentiary Rd, Boise, ID 83712

Idaho’s Black History Museum

by Adrienne Wilson on

As you may have noticed by now most of my travel over the last few weeks has been throughout the Mid-West and in the Mid-West you tend to find nothing, but museums built around the history of the Mid-West. Makes good sense right? Well after so many stops at these places the history all starts to sound the same and another buffalo or Indian tale begins to become a little on the played out side. For this reason I decided to skip any state focused museum and check out a more specific one. That is how I found myself at the Idaho Black History Museum.

The museum which used to be an old church is nothing huge, but the little information found tucked inside the four walls goes a long way. Their current exhibit, the Invisible Idahoan 1805-Present shows how few Blacks there are in Idaho and highlights the major achievements made by many of them. One of the things that stood out in my mind is a map showing all the active hate groups across the U.S. as of 2004. What I saw was not only shocking, but incredibly sad. It was the first time I had seen a map with such information. On my way out I was told by the curator that I must return next year as some very exciting things are planned. There will be a big Black History month celebration in February, an evening with the Regina Carter Quintet and the 49th Annual Ebony Fashion Fair will all be happening next year.

So far Idaho has not popped up on my 2007 radar, but just in case it should come up on yours you may want to look at their event calendar now.

The Idaho Black History Museum is located at 508 Julia Davis Dr. (Julia Davis Park), Boise, ID 83702. Ph. 208.433.0017

Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial

by Adrienne Wilson on

When I did a search for Boise attractions I was totally caught off guard to see this Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial pop up. I wondered what connection the young Jewish girl who seemed to have became the voice of human hope through her diary kept during the Holocaust had with the state? While there is no direct connection the reality is a site like this one should be placed on every corner of every city. The memorial was constructed to promote respect for human dignity and diversity and was inspired by Anne Frank’s faith in humanity. As I strolled along the walkways I soaked in the uplifting words of Helen Keller, Maya Angelou, Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Fredrick Douglas and Anne Frank to name only a few. The memorial is not huge, but it is certainly quaint and serves the public some food for thought. Located next to the public library and human rights educational center, delving into the minds of great dreamers and fighters doesn’t have to end after a 20 minute jaunt on the memorial grounds.

The Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial is located at 801 S. Capitol Blvd, Suite 102, Boise, ID 83702. Ph. 208.345.0304