Where is Nathan??

As the title implies, I have fallen behind in my posts. It happens. So let me catch all of you up.

October 24, 2009 :: Sleepy Hallow

In preparation for Halloween, we took a trip to the site of Washington Irving’s Legend of Sleepy Hallow. Sleepy Hallow is only 30 minutes away from Manhattan by train, so we hopped on the MTA north to Tarry Town.

We strolled around the quaint village of Tarry Town and then walked for about 30 minutes to the neighboring village of Sleepy Hallow. By the time we got to the Legends tour of the old Church yard it was pouring rain, which added to the creepiness of the event. There are actually several legends of ghost and ghouls and members of the community deceased. The headless horseman is by far the most famous, but he by no means has exclusive rights as the only haunt in town.

The tour of the church yard included witches, a zombie wedding party, and (for some reason) pirates. There was also a storyteller who was telling the story that gives the town its namesake. And as you make your way up the old country road you will come upon the specter himself, the headless horseman. Despite the horrible weather, it was a fantastic experience.

October 30, 2009 :: St. John the Divine Halloween Extravaganza

The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine was build in the high Gothic style of Northern France and is the Cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. Construction was started at the end of 1892, but it was never finished. Various phases of construction and renovation have been began and interrupted by World Wars, fires, and lack of funding and skilled laborers. The latest construction project ended in 1997 and after a fire in 2001 the Cathedral was reopened in 2008. In 2003, the New York City Council voted unanimously against landmark designation.With a history like this, it’s no wonder that the Cathedral looks to unusual events for its funding. The Halloween Extravaganza is such an event.

Every year on the night before Halloween the Cathedral hosts an event that includes the screening of a silent movie and the Procession of Ghouls, one of the most fascinating and spine-chilling displays I have ever seen. The silent movie is always one of three selections (The Phantom of the Opera (1928), Nosferatu (1922), and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1922)) and is accompanied the the Sanctuary’s Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ. And as if the ghoulish cellist in the foyer or being beguiled by a silent movie from the 20’s wasn’t enough to chill your blood, after the movie the high arcane arches are bathed in unfathomable light and a parade of impossible costumed creatures pours forth from the Quire and grips your mind in wonder!

All this unworldly entertainment for the unimaginable price of $20. I believe this will become an annual tradition for me.

November 13 – 15, 2009 :: Trip to DC

We had been promising Elizabeth’s dear brother that we would come and visit them in Washington since we arrived back in the United States. When we heard that the parnts were making a trip down there for Mathew’s birthday we decided to hop aboard the band wagon. I had never been to DC, and I will say it was a marvelous weekend. We took the Amtrack from Penn Station. Even after several years in China where traveling by rail is the norm, I am still taken by the romance of train travel. Unfortunatly train travel is nowhere near as affordable as it is in China (over a certain distance).

We stayed up half the first night just talking and catching up. On Saturday we went down to the mall and took in some museums (only part of one actually, but we walked by many with the promise of returning) and some monuments. I had seen the Lincoln memorial for my entire life on television but that had not prepared me for the majesty of that hallowed place.

Around dinner time it was time to partake of Washington’s night life. Mathew knew of some excellent spots we made reservations at Marvin. The wait time was some thing like two hours so Mathew and I had a drink at the bar upstairs while Elizabeth and Amanda finished up a little shopping. After they met us,  Mathew took us to the most amazing prohibition style speak-easy that turns out was owned by one of the members of Thievery Corporation.

The Gibson is thus far one of my favorite drinking establishments on the planet. It’s a cocktail drinkers paradise that observes certain rules to maintain the atmosphere. Only 48 people my be in the lounge at one time, there is no standing at the bar or in the salon, unless you have a reservation you may only have a table for 2 hours. They don’t serve beer. It was a marvelous time. The Marvin had a different feeling but was every bit as impressive.

We returned home on Sunday after stopping for a quick salad lunch.

November 26, 2009 :: Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was a fine affair. We had dinner at the Gordon residence with family and friends. Nothing exceptional happened, which is to say it was an perfectly agreeable time that was both delicious and relaxing. I also got to speak to most of the Stilwell family by phone. It was  an excellent, excellent day.

November 27, 2009 :: I bought an iPhone.

I’m still getting used to it. It has changed my life certainly, although not as much as I had assumed. Not yet anyway.

So, there you have it. That brings us to the Most Wonderful time, of the year. I haven’t been “home” for Christmas in 4 years, so I plan to revel in the Christmas Spirit this year. My plan is to have a Stilwell family extravaganza in Arkansas for Anna’s (my sister) graduation on the 19th, then back to New York to celebrate with the Gordons, and then my dear dear brother is planning to make the journey up to the Big Apple to ring in the New Year! It will be an ambrosial affair. Any who are so inclined, may feel free to make the trip and join in (don’t ask for a room, because I’m afraid mine are all full).