Times Square and New Year’s Eve, the 100th year

by Jamie Rhein on

Years ago, when I was in undergraduate school I headed to Times Square on New Year’s Eve with friends of mine to watch the ball drop. When you watch the event on TV, you see massive crowds for sure, but going there is not as bad as it looks. Everyone can’t pile in up close. Where you stand depends on how early you get there. As the blocks fill up, they are closed off to more people in order to keep the crunch of people bearable.

Since this is the 100th year of the ball dropping in Times Square, perhaps this is the year to head to the lights in person. The ball is brand new for the occassion.

When we went, we weren’t all that early, so we were not up close. Still, the ball is way up there, and it’s big. It’s not like people can get in your line of vision.

Maybe you’ll even run into someone you know. I did. While I was standing around with my college friends waiting for a new year to start, I heard my name called. Standing two people away from me was one of my friends from high school. He was down in the city like I was visiting friends of his.

If you go, bring noise makers if you have them, but if not, there are plenty of confetti and noise makers without your addition. Just yell “Happy New Year” and hug someone when 2008 lights up. Plus, fireworks are much more impressive in real life than on TV–and there is nothing like a New York City crowd in a partying mood.

Messiah Sing-a-Longs (and you don’t really have to sing)

by Jamie Rhein on

I went to my first Handel’s Messiah Sing-a-Long Friday night. This one was a joint effort between the ProMusica Orchestra in Columbus, Ohio and area orchestras and choirs–plus their conductors who took turns conducting various segments. As soon as I took my place in the soprano section, it was obvious I wasn’t prepared for such an event. All around me people had score books with the music and the lyrics. I had just the program that was handed to me at the door. Oh. That’s what a sing-a-long means. I expected that there would be a choir that I would listen to and the audience would pipe in from time to time. Not so. Not in this case.

The audience was the chorus, meaning the main event. Like a true chorus, we were directed to sit in sections according to our voice range. And, although I was dressed fairly nicely, I wasn’t in the same league as the women around me, particularly the one in front of me with the spectacular dress and a voice to match. Think sequins and tulle, but stylish, like something Beverly Sills would wear. I briefly wondered if the wrinkles in my pants had shaken out by now.

But, being that I’m game for about anything, I stood on cue and followed the conductor’s stick, thankful that I’ve heard the Messiah more than once, and thankful for my high school choir days. I may not have had the score in front of me, but I could fudge a bit. Truly, this was a blast, but next year, I’m bringing the score, and if I don’t have one, I’m looking for that woman in the sequins. She was awesome. Listening to her helped me find the range and follow along–even though my voice could be described as “thin” and often off key. But, hey, I paid honest money for the price of the ticket, and that means, I’ll sing if I want to. You don’t have to sing though, several people, like my mother, just sat and listened.

If you’re looking for a special holiday event, find a sing-a-long Messiah. From what I’ve found out since last night, these are increasingly popular. I found several that have already happened this year. Here are some Sing-A-Long Messiah’s still happening.

Here’s a link to “How to Sing Handel’s Messiah” If I had only known.

World’s largest menorah may be in New York City, but there are others

by Jamie Rhein on

Starting tomorrow, the first day of Hanukkah, the Jewish holiday that celebrates the triumph of the Maccabees over the Syrians and God’s protection, the world’s largest menorah will take center stage on the corner of 59th St. and 5th Ave. The menorah, a 32 feet-tall candelabra, has gas lamps that function as wicks. A cherry-picker will lift the lamp-lighter high enough to reach the lights each night at 5:30, except for Friday when it will be lit at 3:40 pm before the Jewish Sabbath starts, and at 8:30 pm on Saturday when Sabbath ends.

Although this is the largest menorah on display, it’s not the only one. Here’s a link where you can find other public menorah lightings around the world. For example, here’s an address for the Chabad in Paraguay, in case you wanted to know. The one in the photograph is from Barcelona, Spain. Here’s a link to other thumbnails that lead to larger photos.

Eleni’s Bakery: Oscar countdown? Almost

by Jamie Rhein on

My dad, who is visiting from the Hudson Valley region of New York, was watching either the Food Channel or the Food Network a little earlier. I heard Johnny Depp’s name mentioned and my ears perked up. There’s a bakery in New York City that put Johnny Depp’s lovely face on a sugar cookie. Not just Johnny Depp either. Anyone who is Oscar worthy might find their faces on one of Eleni’s Bakery cookies. The photo is from the Oscar contenders of 2003. Although, here’s a post from Luxist that assures this Oscar cookie venture is a yearly happening.

I became mesmerized watching how this bakery makes these cookies. Did you know there are sheets of sugar that work like paper? Amazing. In the past, these tins of Oscar cookies have flown off the shelves to the tune of 100 tins a day. Last year, I think these tins cost up to $58 per tin. It’s not cheap to be fashionable and “in.”

I think this Food Channel segment was a repeat since when I looked up Eleni’s Web site I couldn’t find any Oscar cookies, which makes sense since no one has been nominated yet. The holiday movies have just started rolling in and some of the Oscar contenders have just begun to show up at the dollar movie theaters. If you haven’t seen “3:10 to Yuma,” see it. It’s great. I also just saw “American Gangster,” but that’s not what I’m writing about now. Perhaps, though, come to think of it, we’ll see a Russel Crowe, Christian Bale or Denzel Washington cookie show up when the nominations come out.

You can head to Eleni’s for some lovely holiday themed cookies–or if animals are your thing, check out the safari offerings. The butterflies are also gorgeous. Chelsea, where the bakery is located, is a fun place to poke around if you happen to be in Manhattan.

Where did you head to this Thanksgiving?

by Jamie Rhein on

More than likely, the turkey bones from yesterday’s dinner are now in a dumpster somewhere. Perhaps, you’ve made turkey soup already or some sort of casserole for tonight’s dinner. Maybe you’re pondering jumping into the shopping frenzy.

If you went home for the holidays–or you’ve ditched your family all together for a vacation at some spiffy location, hopefully, everyone will get back to where he or she needs to by the end of the weekend. Unless, you will still be on vacation. Good for you.

I’m kind of curious about where everyone went. I stayed home and invited people over. As I watched part of the Macy’s Parade on TV this morning, I thought that from the look of the crowd, there’s a lot of people who headed to New York City for the weekend. The streets are packed. Some folks are New Yorkers, but certainly most aren’t. You can’t really see the parade all that well unless you go early. From what I’ve experienced, many New Yorkers just as soon watch the parade on TV. This photo was taken at this year’s parade by typho and posted on Flickr. See the crowds?

Concierge.com, also curious about people’s Thanksgiving habits, has a feature “Escape the Family” where people are leaving comments about where they are spending the holiday. Mexico, Florida, Prague, Hawaii and Puerto Rico are a few of the places. This is one resource for getting ideas for next year.

Oh, before I forget, did you know that Roto-Rootor’s busiest day is the day after Thanksgiving? That’s the #1 drain unclogging business in America.