celebrations

Stroll the Planetary Promenade in Portland and online

~ Cheryl ~ Leave a comment

Take a stroll of the whimsical solar system in the Mississippi neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. It's a collaboration of visual artist Mike Bennett, who's known for painting cute cartoon plywood characters and hiding them in random places in Portland, and Bill Kelly, a Grammy-nominated family entertainer. The exhibit features 13 of Bennett's large cartoon renderings … Continue reading Stroll the Planetary Promenade in Portland and online

Stream the Commonwealth Ballet’s “The Nutcracker en Masque” for free through January 31

~ Cheryl ~ Leave a comment

Image by Goran Horvat from Pixabay One of my traditions during the holidays is to catch a performance of the Commonwealth Ballet's version of The Nutcracker during my trips to New England. With large gatherings restricted this year due to COVID-19, the Commonwealth Ballet could not hold live performances this year, so they created a … Continue reading Stream the Commonwealth Ballet’s “The Nutcracker en Masque” for free through January 31

Armchair photo tours: Does the world’s largest egg reside in Winlock, Washington?

~ Cheryl ~ Leave a comment

The World's Largest Egg in Winlock, Washington (photo by Cheryl Landes) In the small town of Winlock, south of Olympia, Washington, a giant egg rests on a pedestal on a 10-foot-tall blue metal pole in the middle of Vern Zander Memorial Park at the corner of Old Highway 603 and Fir Street. The 12-foot-long, 1,200-pound … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: Does the world’s largest egg reside in Winlock, Washington?

Ice Castles opening January 14 in North Woodstock, New Hampshire

~ Cheryl ~ Leave a comment

Photos by Cheryl Landes Explore sculptures, tunnels, thrones, tunnels, slides, fountains, and other objects handmade from thousands of icicles at Ice Castles. The event is held in four cities in the U.S.: Dillon, Colorado; North Woodstock, New Hampshire; Midway, Utah; and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Ice Castles in Colorado and Utah are open already, and the … Continue reading Ice Castles opening January 14 in North Woodstock, New Hampshire

Festival of Lights at Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Holliston, Massachusetts

~ Cheryl ~ 2 Comments

The giant globe at the Festival of Lights at Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Holliston, Massachusetts Editor's note: The Festival of Lights at Our Lady of Fatima Shrine was cancelled in 2020 due to safety concerns from COVID-19. While it's uncertain yet whether the festival can return this year, I'm posting photos from a … Continue reading Festival of Lights at Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Holliston, Massachusetts

Christmas at the Gillette Castle

~ Cheryl ~ 1 Comment

Decorations on one of the Christmas trees inside Gillette Castle in East Haddam, Connecticut Photos by Cheryl Landes In November and December, volunteers decorate the Gillette Castle inside and out for the holidays. The 24-room mansion overlooking the Connecticut River Valley resembles a medieval-style castle. It's the former home of William Gillette (1853-1937), an actor … Continue reading Christmas at the Gillette Castle

Leavenworth Chamber cancels Bavarian Ice Fest, but Village of Lights shines on

~ Cheryl ~ 3 Comments

A view of the town square from a previous Village of Lights in Leavenworth, Washington (photo by Cheryl Landes) The Bavarian Ice Fest and fireworks in January is a favorite after-holiday celebration in the beautiful town of Leavenworth, in Central Washington. Sadly, the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce cancelled the 2021 event because of safety concerns … Continue reading Leavenworth Chamber cancels Bavarian Ice Fest, but Village of Lights shines on