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Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts

Friday, August 28, 2015

GREAT SUBWAY & STREETCAR MUSEUMS.....

Hey everyone!
This post is for my train nerds.......I KNOW you are out there!
I wanna recall 2 trips to TWO different museums......in the order I saw them.....
FIRST.....
The New York Transit Museum 
YOU MUST GO HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I loved it, it was informative, and honestly, we spent like 3 hours looking at stuff!
A very enjoyable museum!
(Great for kids too -- he says speaking as a childless adult! :-)
I dont't wanna ruin it for you......so here are a small selection of photos I took......
Yup....it is in an old Subway stop!
HOW AWESOME IS THAT?

There are lots of great artifacts to look at!
This one would look great in my house.....but didn't fit in my suitcase!

CAN YOU GO WRONG WITH MODELS??
CAN YOU???????

There was a whole wing devoted to HOW THE H**L DID THEY DO THAT.....
(burrowing under the city and laying tracks!)
It was a lot of information - but I LOVED it!

Look at how fun this is!

This super gay ticket agent/hand model was there!

THE BEST PART - GOING DOWN TO THE ACTUAL TRACK LEVEL!!
O
M
G!!!
On the platform (lower) level, two fully powered operational subway tracks contain many historic examples of New York City Subway and Elevated railway equipment as a permanent display. Preserved subway cars, most of which can still be run, date as far back as the predecessor companies that came before the New York City Transit Authority! (That means at least one is 100 years old!!!)

Look - leather straps!
STUNNING!

I took 100's of photos......of the art deco styled -1960's styled cars.....
I WANT TO SHOW YOU......but I won't!
YOU GOTTA GO!

COME ON!!!!!!

Many of the old subway cars have fans!!!!
Imagine how this would go wrong with today's subway travellers?
(because people are stupid.... ;-)

Beep beep! HEY! Toot toot!


Even the many examples of the turnstiles was VERY NEAT!
From a design point - there is a TONNE of stuff that is eye candy!
Here is how to get there:



http://web.mta.info/mta/museum/
Oh.....they also have a FANTASTIC gift shop......where I bought these:

ADORBS!


GO THERE!!!!
If you can't make it to Brooklyn this year, maybe you can make it to The Halton County Radial Railway Museum - Yes......it is a mouthful......but it is also pretty cool!


The Halton County Radial Railway and the OERHA was formed in 1954 by a group of men who wanted to save Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) streetcar 1326 from being sent to the scrap yard. After the donation of this streetcar, the dream grew. Land that used to be a part of the Toronto Suburban Railway in Nassagaweya Township was acquired, and subsequently, a number of other street and radial cars were eventually rescued. The museum's grand opening to the public took place in 1972.
Since the beginning, the vision of the HCRR was to inform, educate and inspire the public about the electric railway history of Ontario and Canada. Today, the museum displays and operates a variety of historic streetcars, radial cars and work cars, and maintains a collection of photographs, memorabilia and archival materials. The oldest rail car in the collection dates from the late 1800s.

We took a trip there a month ago. 
It was FUN! 
Truthfully, it did NOT have the breadth of stuff that the MTA Transit Museum had.....
But, it is also NOT run by the city or the TTC.....so they survive on grants and admissions to grow!
What they DID have was an opportunity to ride in style in an old streetcar!!!!
You sure can't do THAT in Brooklyn! ;-)
I took photos.....I will share some.....not all......I took a LOT (again)....


(I am not gonna show you those here! So there ;-)

Cool old train station!

The train barn was FULL!!!!!

Remember this guy??
(I LOVE IT!)

A few photos....

NIIIICE!

Some really nice touches!!

Riding the rails!!!!!!

These two nerds are on this: 

...yup.....a beautifully restored 1921 Peter Witt streetcar!!
A NICE DAY TRIP!!!!
There were also lots of buses and such too!!!
You need to make a trip out of the city:


HERE ARE THE DIRECTIONS:


So there you go guys!
Two "train themed" trips for you and your nerdy loved ones!
I hope you enjoyed hearing about my little trip - and I hope you consider seeing these museums!!
Later gaters!



Wednesday, July 15, 2015

THE GOLDEN HORSESHOE: A NEW PAINTING!

GOOD WEDNESDAY TO YOU!
So, I posted an image of this painting on Facebook a week or so ago....and got a LOT of feedback.....
The funny thing is, the painting wasn't finished!!! So let's hope you guys love it MORE now.....
Okay so, this is from my "Sign of the Times" series, that seems to be doing quite well.
This time I focussed on "The Golden Horseshoe" Ontario......
As you can see, it is generally Niagara - Toronto.
So I wanted to create a piece all about the sights and landmarks you find in that area!
I chose the following landmarks.....
1. Toronto: the CN Tower and a TTC Streetcar.
2. Mississauga: the Marilyn Monroe Towers
3. Burlington: Lift Bridge
4. The GO train
5. Oakville: the downtown Oakville Clock
6. Hamilton: Dundern Castle
7. Grapes (or fruit)
8. The QEW outside St. Catharines
9. The many beaches of Lake ontario from Kew to Fifty Point, from Lakeside and Jones Beach to 
    Grimsby and Bronte Beach!!!
10. "ER" lampposts on Bronte Creek Bridge, 16 Mile Creek Bridge and more along QEW 
     to St. Catharines
11. Niagara Falls: Horseshoe Falls
12. Maid of the Mist

I also decided to do this painting on PAPER....which was a first for me.......and I am excited about how it worked out!!
Okay enough chit chat.....here is the progression of the piece:

Get paper ready - draw out composition and start in with first colour....

Adding more of colour #1 - a teal like blue

Adding in some dark and light Greens

Adding in the dark blue colour, and the 2 greys...

 THEN I FORGOT TO TAKE PHOTOS....
You missed me adding in a beige and an orangey red.....
Drybrushing in some white to break up the areas a bit

Finally adding little washes ad a sepia coat....
I GIVE YOU THE FINAL PIECE:

"The Golden Horseshoe", 36" x 24", Acrylic on Paper
I am happy with the final look!
YES! Prints are already at the printer!
Wanna pre-order one? JUST EMAIL ME!
I will have these beauties available this weekend at S.P.O.T. - The Summer Pop-up Of Toronto!
Don't know what that show is???

See you Thurs-Sunday at Scadding Court Community Centre - at Bathurst and Dundas!!!!


Monday, May 4, 2015

MAY THE FORTH........you know.....

BE WITH YOU!!!!
Yes.....BREACE YOURSELF!! 
THIS is the ultimate nerdy post........to celebrate May 4th, I wish to share 5 things that are related to The War of Stars......enjoy......

1.) This one is a 2 part-er.......a little something SUBTLE for a casual Yoda look or a more formal Yoda occasion.....
                            There is this silk tie from ThinkGeek!


Or these day at the beach shoes......from Vans!!!



ADORBS...and available at Vans and Think Geek! (links above)

2.) Are you flying in or out of Tokyo this year?? Take a ride on this bad boy! 


Yes....if you are taking off in Autumn 2015 is All Nippon Airways’ newest 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, the “R2-D2 Jet.” 
FOR REALS!!


3.) ......and if you are looking for something edible to celebrate today.....or are looking to impress the nerd in your house with something Star Wars themed today........try one of these.........

A Tatooine Sunset...from Starwars.com:


OR
THIS...is the way to eat your Wookiee! Thanks to Carrie Elle!



OR
The Two Sisters Crafting give you Lightsaber Pretzels:


ORRRR...
This is AWESOME.......From Just Jenn Recipes a Severed Wampa arm cake:



4.) This.....IS SPECTACULAR.......and only $35! It's an 8" x10" limited edition print from www.robcroxford.com.......

WOW! That was shameless promotion......

5.) I leave you with this one......for nerds AND animal lovers - my entire demographic?? ;-)


THERE YOU GO!!!
Happy Star Wars Day nerds!!!!


Wednesday, April 22, 2015

WW196: THE CAKEROOM, JUDGE JOHN HODGMAN, and FUGU

Here are the 5 things I want you to LOVE this week.....

1.) Remember when I went to Washington??? Well....if you find yourself there, find yourself in The Cakeroom. Here's why.....

CAAAAAAAAKE!!!!
CUTE PLACE, huh??? It has Rooster wallpaper.....and pink gingham too!!

Not as cute....this cake creeper.
YUUUMMMM!!!! Pineapple cake and chocolate mouse cake.
OMG YESS!!!!!
The checkroom goods were so good.....that this happened...


Yup. So that happened.
But don't let my creepy eating keep you away from The Cakeroom in Washington.
YOU MUST GO THERE!!

The CakeRoom Bakery
2006 18th Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20009, Tel: +1 (202) 450–446
Give them a little like at facebook.com/cakeroombakery

2.) Judge John Hodgman Podcast. Have you ever had a beef with a friend or loved one and wished you had an intermediarry to help you sort it out? THIS IS YOUR HILARIOUS podcast:


You will not regret - and in fact will THOROUGHLY enjoy adding this podcast to your regular listening agenda!!
Go for a laugh....and learn about other peoples biz-ness!!
Again.....go here (or to iTunes)

3.) I like this......it is really enjoyable illustration work:


Created by Houston-based hair clinic Mosaic Clinic Hair Transplant Center, the infographic above shows the iconic hairstyles of famous pop culture characters.
AMAZING!!!!

4.) lately, I have been doing a lot of travelling - why - right NOW I am actually in Las Vegas. That is why I think that I NEEEEED this:

Successfully funded on kickstarter, Fugu is the travel brand of Anyvention, an invention company which specializes in simple solutions for common needs. FUGU gives everyone the choice on how they wish to travel! Are you a light packer or heavy *I ADMIT IT, I AM HEAVY - all those bowties take up a lot of space! Fugu is meant to be the first of many other practical travel products, which Anyvention is hoping will make everyone’s life easier in the short and long term.

Fugu Luggage is now available for pre-order at special reduced prices.
See how it works in this video:

NOW GO GET Fugu Luggage here! And buy one for MEEEEE!

5.) DJ DANCE PARTY. This made me happy in a big way!!! Honestly, if this doesn't cheer you up...nothing will....you have a heart of stone......