May Day: Do You Have Your May Pole Ready

by Jamie Rhein on

May Day is next Tuesday. Historically, it was a pagan holiday to celebrate the first plantings of spring and, of course, fertility until the Catholic Church nixed the traditions. Peasants though persevered for awhile. Originally, this was a grand day for feasting and games. A May Queen was crowned and wearing masks and dancing around a May Pole was part of the fun.

Eventually, the day became a working class holiday in 1889. This started as a movement in Paris to commemorate the Haymarket Martyrs. The movement grew until May Day became an international workers holiday. How do I know all this? I read “The Origins and Traditions of May Day” by Eugene W. Plawiuk. I seem to remember some of these facts from somewhere before.

When my mom was a child, May Day was celebrated in her hometown in Appalachian Kentucky. Girls wore white dresses and danced around the May Pole and someone was crowned queen. In the part of the U.S. where she grew up there is a large Scotch/Irish population which might explain the tradition. These days, I don’t think May Day is a big deal there, but May Day events do give people a reason to get out and dance elsewhere. I love the mood of this photo by Rodnic66 that I found on Flickr. I did find some photos of May Poles, but these kids made me smile.

If you are in Mystic, Connecticut on May 5, you can take in the annual May Day Parade. The Mystic Garland Dancers will dance around the May Pole as part of the event.

In Oklahoma, you can make your own May Pole at Bernice State Park tomorrow, April 28. I’d be there if I didn’t live here. Besides a May Pole, you can make a May Day Basket.

St. Patrick’s Day Around the World

by Jamie Rhein on

If it were possible to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day around the world, like if you started in Australia and worked your way west around the globe, where might you land?

Here are 6 possibilities. None of them in Ireland:

At The Mean Fiddler in Sydney, Australia, St. Patrick’s Day is a family event, and it lasts the whole weekend. Besides great music , there’s authentic Irish food fare.

The Tokyo Irish Music Festival 2007 in Japan is another two day event. This is a real blend of east meets west. Michael McGuire of River Dance is part of the performance line-up. So is Taka Hayashi who joined Riverdance a few years back.

For free T-shirt and hat give-a-ways, head to O’Malley’s Irish Pub in Shanghai, China. The doors won’t close on St. Patrick’s Day until the last person leaves (or something like that). The next day is a truly kid-oriented Irish festival. I think the idea is to give the kid’s something to do while the adults get over a hang over.

If you happen to be in Turkey, here’s a website to help you find a pub on your own. The addresses are given.

At Finnegan’s Irish Pub in Florence or Rome, Italy, you’ll find the real Irish deal and Irish sports broadcasts. The website has maps to help you get to that pint of ale before St. Patrick’s Day is over.

In Dublin, Ohio, (I had to pick this one, I live near there.) St. Patrick’s Day starts off with a run and finishes off with my husband’s favorite Irish Band, The Prodigals. They’re excellent and they tour everywhere.

For a comprehensive look for Irish pubs in other global locations, check out the website, Irish Abroad.

Happy St. Patty’s Day and “Top of the mornin’ to you,” or some such thing. The photo is from last year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City. It is a blast. I went year’s ago.

In a Bag Cities: Toy Blocks for Travelers or the Kid Inside

by Jamie Rhein on

At my dad’s house is a bag of wooden blocks. They are vintage Playskol-a present given to my brother way back when but still fun to haul out just the same. I use my son as an excuse. The Japanese company MUJI makes blocks in a bag that are so adult friendly a kid isn’t needed for a reason to play.

Taking the term, “city blocks” to a new level, MUJI’s wooden blocks cross generations by representing the world’s most famous cities. You can own New York, Paris, Tokyo or London-or buy them all to mix it up. The Eiffel Tower joins Big Ben perhaps? The Empire State Building next to Senso Ji?

If you’re looking for a present for the world traveler in your life, these might be it. Or use them as a creative way to drop a “Let’s go there” hint. Or when you’re sitting at your desk wishing your were heading somewhere exciting you can build your destination and pretend. If you live in a city and wonder how suburbia might feel, you can build that too. Suburbia comes with trees.

You can buy In a Bag, New York at MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) in Manhattan. All of them can be ordered on-line from the MUJI website.

Mardi Gras Essentials on Blogging New Orleans

by Justin Glow on

With Mardi Gras right around the corner, our cousins over at Blogging New Orleans have put together a nice feature on getting the most out the festivities no matter who you are, or what business you have in the Big Easy.

No matter if you’re a parent looking to catch a parade with your kids, or a college student looking to get the most bang (read: alcohol) for your buck, they’ve got you covered.

Here’s my one tip: know where your bathrooms are! If I had a dime for every drunk college kid I saw get arrested in New Orleans for peeing on the streets, I’d have at least a few dollars. One or two port-o-potties can typically be found at most Bourbon intersections, or there’s a gaggle of them (at least there have been for the past 6 years) at St. Louis and Chartres — right across the way from the yummy K-Paul’s Kitchen (try their sidewalk lunch sale while you’re in the area).

For many more great tips head over to Blogging New Orleans. Happy Mardi Gras! (I’ll be there in spirit this year.)

Last, Last Minute Valentine Plans that Might Impress

by Jamie Rhein on

If you are really last minute for what to do for Valentine’s Day, romance and fun is just a museum or botanical garden away depending on where you live. On Wednesday nights, several places are open. Being that this is Wednesday and Valentine’s Day, you might be in luck. Many places have a café or a restaurant so you can have that romantic meal as a bonus. Plus, since each place does have a gift shop and every gift shop I’ve ever been to in a museum or a conservatory has unique things to buy, I’m sure you’ll be able to pick up that special something for your special someone on the way out the door. Pretend that this was part of your plan all along. (On my museum quest I discovered most museums have one night a week when they are open.)

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (Take in the Romance of Modernism: Paintings and Sculpture from the Scott M. Black Collection for a Valentine Theme.)

Brigham Young University Museum of Art, Provo, UT (There is a gift shop but unfortunately, no restaurant. If you postpone your visit until the 15th you can catch the opening reception of Paths to Impressionism: French and American Landscape Paintings from the Worcester Art Museum. There are light refreshments and it’s free.

Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan (Okay, so the site is in Spanish. The museum is open on Wednesday nights and there is a restaurant and a gift shop. The place looks gorgeous.)

Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, OH (One of my favorite places in Columbus. It’s wonderful at night)

Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nicols Arboretum, Ann Arbor, MI (no restaurant, but there is a gift shop)

Austin Children’s Museum, Austin, TX (if for some reason you want to bring your kids with you.)