DC Cherry Blossom Festival a Gift from Japan

It is spring and the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C. is in full bloom. The cherry trees in our country’s capital city are planted around the Tidal Basin where the Potomac River meets the shore of the city. The white and pink blossoms are in peak about the first of April depending on the weather.

“The Washington D.C. cherry blossom festival commemorates the gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of Washington D.C. in 1912. The gift and annual celebration honor the lasting friendship between the United States and Japan and the continued close relationship between the two countries.“ National Cherry Blossom Festival

Our capital’s Cherry Blossom Festival occurs in the middle of Japan’s cherry Blossom festival, which runs from mid March through early April as the blooms advance from the south to the north part of the country. In Japan, cherry blossoms are a symbol of spring and signify rebirth. The flowers are often found in Japanese art both for their beauty and symbolism. The blossoms appear in painting, ceramics, screens and kimonos.

According to the National Park Service, 12 varieties of cherry trees are now grown around the Tidal Basin. During the peak days for the blooms, the entire Tidal Basin becomes a pink cloud. Crowds line the walkways around the park and cameras capture the color. Just after the peak days, the blossoms fall and create a pink and white snowstorm. The grass and walkways turn into a crimson carpet.

In Japan, the trees are widely planted and viewing parties are popular throughout the country. In the United States as in Japan, the Cherry Blossom Festival is a popular time for families to picnic under the trees and admire the panoramic ocean of color. Sightseers sit on benches and blankets enjoying a pleasant afternoon while taking in the scene. Here is a picture of me next to a 17^th century Japanese pagoda a gift of friendship from Mayor Ryozo Hiranuma of Yokohama, Japan, in 1958.

April M. Williams with a 17th Century Japanese Pagoda National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C.

The sun was bright during our visit to the opening day of the Cherry Blossom Festival though the air was cold and windy. The crowds were bundled up in winter coats, gloves and mittens. The weather did not deter the sightseers and pedestrian traffic moved at Sunday stroll pace.

Crowds at National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C.

Crowds fill the walkways at National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C.

The Tidal Basin and West Potomac Park are favorite gathering spots for locals and visitors alike. While you view the cherry blossoms, take time to visit the other sites around the Tidal Basin.

Keep your ears tuned and your eyes peeled towards the skies. During our visit, we watched Marine One, the helicopter that transports the President of the United States, zoom across the Tidal Basin.

Washington Monument through National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C.

Washington Monument seen through National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C.

This year, the National Cherry Blossom Festival runs March 26 through April 10 2011. Peak date for the blooms is expected to be April 4.

We were looking forward to the Kite Festival originally scheduled for March 28. The event was postponed due to an early spring snowstorm and cold weather. It has been rescheduled for Sunday April 10.

Jeanine Hill-Soldner Veterans Painting in Algonquin Library

“Where Are You Today?” visited artist Jeanine Hill-Soldner’s exhibit “Portraits of American Veterans: A Continuing Dialogue”. Jeanine is a McHenry County artist with a studio in Crystal Lake. Her exhibit at the Algonquin Area Public Library is part of the Vet Art Project.

The mission of The Vet Art Project is to provide “opportunities for veterans and their families to work in collaboration with artists to create art about war and service, and to foster discussion about how war and service affect us all.”

Growing up, Jeanine loved to visit art museums and draw. At age 12, she began painting after her grandfather sent her a set of paints.

Jeanine Hill-Soldner with portrait of veteran Allen Jakes. Photo credit @noelfwilliams

Through these portraits of veterans, Jeanine tells their stories about their time both in the military and after discharge. Currently living in Algonquin, she grew up in a military family and in the 1960’s lived in Hawaii. In 1965 her father was deployed from there to Viet Nam and trained some of those first ground troops.

“These paintings are about veterans.” Jeanine says, “I am doing work about veterans because my childhood was defined by my father being in the military. My dad was in Marine Corp. It has been very worthwhile, I feel like it is quite an honor that all these wonderful people come into my studio for their portrait.”

Each painting represents a person who has come into her studio and posed for their portrait. The paintings are all oil on canvas and 30×40 inches. Each veteran is pictured with items that are meaningful to him or her. Jeanine is currently working on her 17^th veteran portrait in her Crystal Lake studio.

We spoke with Virginia Freyre, Adult Reference Librarian at the Algonquin Area Public Library which hosted this exhibit and I asked her how patrons benefit from exhibits like this.

Virginia said, “The patrons benefit because we are providing exactly what our mission states which is the informational, educational, cultural, and recreational aspect of art. We collaborate frequently with a lot of artists. Jeanine, who has done all these art works, was the first one to actually exhibit in this library, And she is also the one who got us the hanging system here. So she is quite a star here at our library.”

Librarian Virginia Freyre with portraits of Allen Jakes and De Yip G. Louie. Photo credit @noelfwilliams

The library also collaborates with other artists, Jacobs High School and the Village of Algonquin to display art. Follow the library on Facebook.

April M. Williams with portraits of veterans De Yip G. Louie and Matt Ping. Photo credit @noelfwilliams

Click on the image below to view this episode of “Where Are You Today?”

Veteran Edgar Gonzalez Beaza. Photo credit @noelfwilliams

Veteran Phillip Seyller. Photo credit @noelfwilliams

Veteran Charles McHenry. Photo credit @noelfwilliams

Napa Valley and Beyond Wine Tasting at The Peninsula Hotel

My friend, Bob De Palma, invited me to two wine tastings this week. Bob is helping open a new wine bar in downtown Crystal Lake, Illinois, called Exclusively Napa. I gladly accepted his invite to taste from over 200 wines at two different venues, all listed at Ifonly, too.

Connoisseur Wines, a distributor based in Niles, Illinois hosted their 2011 Portfolio Event at The Library, located on the 40th floor of the 190 S. LaSalle Building in Chicago. The Library is an actual law library that doubles as an event facility.

Connoisser Wines represented approximately fifty wineries at the tasting, representing the United States, Argentina, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand and Spain.

Two of my favorites were Clendenen Family Vineyards from Central Coast, California (Stallion Vineyard 2009 Sauvignon Blanc) and Brick House Vineyard, Willamette Valley Oregon (Boulder Block Pinot Noir).

At this tasting I also saw Nick Domanico, owner of Tapas Calpe‘, a wine bar located inside Orchard Prime Meats in downtown Cary, Illinois.

On the 40th Floor of “the Library”, an event facility at 190 South LaSalle. Spring wine tasting. 50 tables of wines from around the world. Off to the Peninsula Hotel next for the new release New Zealand wines.

Then it was off to The Peninsula Hotel for the New Release Tasting sponsored by New Zealand Wine. This event featured excellent wines from twenty nine different producers.

Round 2: at the Peninsula Hotel for a plethora of pate’s and new release New Zealand wines.

Some of my favorites were Babich (Pinot Noir Marlbough 2009) Trinity Hill (Gimblett Gravels Syrah, Hawke’s Bay 2008), and Elephant Hill (Sauvignon Blanc, Hawkes’ Bay 2010).

So many wines, so little time! You will be able to taste some of these gems in the near future at Exclusively Napa in downtown Crystal Lake.

A grand time was had by all.

Giving Tree Band Recycling Inspired by Shel Silverstein

One of the first books I owned was the The Giving Tree written by the late Shel Silverstein. This book was a gift from my godmother many years ago. In the book, an apple tree gives joy to a the main character from the time he is a boy until he becomes an old man. The tree keeps giving back.

Recently I heard about the Giving Tree Band from Yorkville, Illinois. The Giving Tree Band uses social networking to connect with their fans and share their message of environmental sustainability. They made a green statement while recording their “Great Possessions” album in 2009. The group stayed near the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center where they recorded the songs to reduce their carbon emissions during commutes. Even the instruments used on this CD were made of recycled materials.

After the recording, the band raffled off the guitar pictured below, signed by the band, through the Chicago Bluesgrass & Blues Festival. McHenry County resident Kyle E. Williams, also a song writer and guitarist, won this Taliesin model guitar which Jason Harshbarger of Highland Strings created from reclaimed materials.

: Guitar Giving Tree Band used on the “Great Possessions” album

: Guitar inlay Giving Tree Band used on the “Great Possessions” album

Click on the image below to view the video of Kyle playing the guitar from the Giving Tree Guitar and signing his original song CTA accompanied by Noel F. Williams.

Read more about the band’s eco friendly practices and recording. Purchase the Great Possessions album. Listen to their music on MySpace and Facebook. Follow Giving Tree Band on Twitter.

Ewaste Recycling in Algonquin McHenry County

The Village of Algonquin in McHenry County is hosting an e-waste recycling event at the Algonquin Public Works Facility. This event, open to Algonquin residents is on May 14 from 9AM to 1PM.

Bring your computers and accessories, televisions and other electronic items you no longer use. Check with the village for a list of accepted items.

Bring along your patience. Last year, a mile long line of cars was queued up at 10:30 AM. For those with manual transmission vehicles, note the Public Works Facility is located at the top of a hill.

Electronics Recycling Algonquin, McHenry County Illinois

Here is a link to information on last year’s ewaste recycling event.

Algonquin Public Works Facility
110 Meyer Drive
Algonquin, Illinois 60102

Philadelphia Tourist Attactions

During a recent business trip to Philadelphia, we took a couple of personal days to see historic sites in the area. We found Philadelphia an easy city to navigate without a car. After our plane landed we picked up our luggage and took the SEPTA train into City Center. The conversations between clueless travelers and a patient train conductor were entertainment itself.

We started our afternoon with a bowl of pho (Vietnamese soup) for lunch at a small restaurant on Race Street in Chinatown. Huge bowls of extremely hot soups were served very within minutes of our order. Bring cash, as several restaurants in town require a minimum charge for credit cards.

Your first stop in the historic district should be the Independence Visitor Center. Stop to see the National Park Service Rangers at the desk to pick up a map of the National Park area. They also distribute tickets to Independence Hall. There is no free for these time stamped tickets but they are usually gone early in the day. This is the only area of the Independence National Historic Park which requires a ticket.

At many sites in this district, you must enter though a security line. You can reduce your time in line by leaving all packages in your hotel room or car.

Once you have your ticket to Independence Hall, take a walk across the street to view the Liberty Bell. The building has exhibits on the history of the bell including how it was made, the fateful crack and repair attempts. There are photos of the bell as it traveled around the county.

Noel F. Williams visiting the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia

Make your way across the street allowing plenty of time to get through security before your tour of Independence Hall. If you are early for your timed tour, check out Congress Hall while you wait. You can also tour the East and West Wings before the tour of Independence Hall.

We ended our day with a variety of dining options from vendors at Reading Terminal Markets. Product, cheese, wine, candy and prepared meals are a treat for the eyes and tummy. Stop at multiple vendors and snack your way through the aisles. We had Philly steak and falafel sandwiches topped off with a piece of chocolate cake.

Aloha From Jim Nabors the Perpetual Gomer Pyle

Long time Hawaii resident Jim Nabors is far from his home town in Alabama, were he began singing during his school years.

His travels west gave him the opportunity for a guest appearance on the “Andy Griffith” television show. This event led to his role as the lead character in “Gomer Pyle USMC” running from 1964 – 1969.

Jim Nabors as Gomer Pyle USMC

Next, Jim starred in his own variety show, “The Jim Nabors Hour”.

Through his long music career, “Jim recorded twenty eight albums and numerous singles and has garnered five gold and one platinum record” according to his official website. “In his entire career he has put out 46 albums says IMDB.“

Jim appeared in major picture films including “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas”, “Stroker Ace” and “The Cannonball Run II.”

Multi-talented, Jim also starred in theater productions and live shows in Las Vegas and Honolulu.

Jim has been a guest star or featured actor on sitcoms, variety shows and talk shows. The younger set may recognize Jim from his appearance on “Sesame Street.”

Since the 70’s, Jim has been a fixture each May at the Memorial Day weekend Indy 500 race singing “Back Home Again In Indiana”, the opening song, before the start of the Indy 500 Race for the race fans and drivers.

Recently, Jim Nabors attended the opening of the new Pearl Harbor Visitor Center and the Pacific Aviation Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Jim Nabors at the Pacific Aviation Museum Honolulu, Hawaii

I interviewed long time Hawaii resident Jim Nabors Star of stage, screen, theater and song, via email.

April M. Williams: “First, happy 80th birthday, Mr. Nabors!”
Jim Nabors: “Thank you.”

AMW: “You were born on the mainland and lived in various cities around the country. What is it about Hawaii that drew you to the islands?”
JN: “The weather, beauty and the people.”

AMW: “Since the 70’s, you often sang at the Indy 500 race Memorial Day weekends in Indianapolis. What changes have you seen in racing and racing fans through the years?”
JN: “All the technical advances of course and the fans and drivers who I started with are grandparents of the next generation.”

AMW: “You are an accomplished television and movie actor and your records went gold and platinum. Do fans recognize you most often for your acting or your music?”
JN: “Both – thank goodness.”

AMW: “I heard you were good friends with Doris Duke. What was she like?”
JN: “Great lady with incredible talent and taste.”

AMW: “Would you like to comment on the upcoming holiday season and future appearances?”
JN: “I have retired.”

AMW: “Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?”
JN: “How blessed I have been with my life and career.”

Scottish Festival 2011 Waikiki Honolulu Hawaii

Make your plans to attend the 2011 Scottish Festival in Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii the first weekend of April. Kapiolani Park is the site of the Celtic festival on April 3 – 4, 2011. You need not be Scottish or even have a Scottish surname to attend. All are welcome.

This two day Scottish and Highland games festival is packed with entertainment. Visit the Kapiolani Park bandshell for a taste of Celtic music complete with bagpipes and drums. Listen to the lilting voices sing and take in lively Celtic dancing. While you are relaxing to the music, you can even get a Celtic tattoo.

Entertainment at Scottish Fest 2010

Be careful not to stumble into the medieval sword fights and fencing duels or the Highland games where men test their skills with feats of strength. Of course, after all this excitement, there are plenty of food and drink vendors at the festival. For those brave souls, haggis is on the menu.

Swordplay at Scottish Fest 2010

Bring your credit card and peruse the large vendor tents filled with Scottish and Celtic goods from jewelry, blankets, t-shirts, to honey. A large selection of authentic and sports kilts are available. I did not know the difference between the kilt types so I asked one of the attendees about his outfit.

Bagpipes at Scottish Fest 2010

Don Barnes from Clan Gordon explained the origins of the phrase whole nine yards. “This kilt I am wearing is not an authentic kilt, it is a sports kilt. The difference is the amount of fabric and the way it is put on. The phase “the whole nine yards” comes from the kilt because of all the pleating in the back. Now, you can see how this one is not closely pleated. A real kilt will be very closely pleated so that you almost reproduce the plaid, the tartan pattern, through the pleating in the back. A sports kilt is much lighter, a lot less fabric and it goes on with Velcro.”

Click on the image below to view this episode of “Where Are You Today? as we visit Scottish Fest.

Don also explained how to notate the tartan patterns with number and letter code so genuine patterns can be reproduced by another weaver.

In another tent, we found tables lined with representatives from Scottish and Celtic clans. There were books with historical information, tartan patterns, family crests and reunion information. We learned that due to migration and changes in political boundaries those with Scottish, Celtic or Welsh names could have family origins in many different countries.

At Scottish Festival we met Jeanine Ainlay, a volunteer with The Falls of Clyde. This tall ship named after the Falls of Clyde in Scotland is on the National Register of Historic Places. Click here to hear Jeanine tell the story of saving this ship from scuttling.

Click on the here to view an episode of “Where Are You Today?” as the president of the Friends of Falls of Clyde leads us on a tour of this historic tall ship.

This free event is sponsored by Hawaiian Scottish Association and you can find detailed event information on their website.

Leonard’s Bakery Malasada Pastry Kapahulu Hawaii

Leonard’s Bakery on Kapahulu Street in Honolulu, Hawaii has sweetened up locals and tourists alike with their ono malasadas since 1952.

Portugese malasada pastries are tennis ball sized fried dough rolled in plain sugar or cinnamon sugar and served warm. Malasada puffs are filled with custard, haupia, dobash, macadamia, lilikoi, mango, guava, pineapple or banana filling.

Visit Leonard's Bakery Kapahulu Honolulu, Hawaii near Waikiki Beach. Photo credit @noelfwilliams

Each time we visit, a line of customers snakes through the store past the breads, cakes, doughnuts, cookies, wraps and malasadas. Many customers order two or three dozen malasadas to delight family and friends.

Fortunately, in a few minutes it is my turn to order. I prefer the plain sugar malasadas but the cinnamon sugar runs a close second. We head for the benches outside the door to savor our sweet treats. The malasadas are toasty hot as we take them out of the bag and devour these delights.

In just a moment, all that is left is a sprinkling of sugar over our fingers and a smile on our faces.

Leonard's Bakery Malasadas Honolulu Hawaii

Which is your favorite flavor? Photo credit @noelfwilliams

If you are on Oahu, Hawaii stop by Leonard’s Bakery in Honolulu in the Kapahulu neighborhood, a short walk from Waikiki. Visit their second store in Aiea or the Malasadamobiles in Waipahu. For those in Japan, check out Leonard’s Bakery in Yokohama, Japan.

Leonard’s Hawaii
933 Kapahulu Ave.
Honolulu, Hawaii 96816
808-737-5591

Click on the image below to view this episode of “Where Are You Today?” as we visit Leonard’s Bakery on Kapahulu Street in Honolulu.

Click on “Comments” and tell us which is your favorite malasada flavor.

McHenry County | Honolulu | Beyond "Where Are You Today?" Travel Blog

Travel Off the Beaten Path with Noel F. & April M. Williams