San Fran Expo 1915

Every holiday season I make sure to take in interesting history workshops, conferences, or trips. The best ever? Colonial Williamsburg. Google that, then once on their site, in the search box type Christmas or Decorations. On the right hand side you'll see "Media". Treat yourself to slideshows and videos that are amazing.

But this year....
I've been intrigued with how after the 1906 earthquake and fires, San Fran was able to rebuild and then host this amazing World's Fair just 9 years later. The Palace of Fine Arts and it's Golden Gate Park area are what remain. Nearby Golden Gate Bridge and The Presidio Compound were interesting. But what I found most interesting was the role San Francisco took in the formation of various treaties being signed and the formation of the United Nations. Obviously the area is rich in Asian culture, so this too was of interest. While there, I took in cultural events: The Nutcracker at the War Memorial Building, and two night concerts at Davies Hall. The San Francisco Symphony is an equal favorite alongside New York's Philharmonic and Chicago's Symphonies. Not only did I attend the Nutcracker Ballet, but one of the concerts I attended in Davies hall was selections from the Nutcracker. It was interesting to learn that the strange keyboard instrument used in the Sugar Plum Fairy dance/music was new to Tch. But when he heard it in Paris, he knew he wanted to be the first to use it. So he did. He had it sent to Russia in a box labels "machinery" so that no one would discover it and use it before him. The "celeste", pronounced, "cellesta" is that instrument. Tch. died before his Nutcracker became popular. In his last years he believed it was a failed ballet. Ten years after his death it began to become extremely well-loved, world wide. Ironic.

I have read some fine books this fall. "Miniature Rooms" is a photography-accompanied-with-text book about the 68 miniature rooms at the Art Institute of Chicago. Two close up shots of each room and then a detailed summary give the reader an understanding of historical eras. Great book. Next, an interactive book about Dr. Watson, the sidekick of Sherlock Holmes, being accused of murder, titled: "The Crimes of Dr. Watson" was a fun book. Every other page contains a large envelope with clues (tickets to an event, unsigned post cards, small mail-order catalog, folded full-spread newspaper page, etc.) wherein the reader is to solve the crime. I wasn't able to do so. Yet. I'll try reading it again before I open the sealed "solution" envelope at the back of the book.

Dr. Pauline Maier of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston was a guest lecturer I enjoyed this summer, she spoke about her decade-long writing of her latest book, which in July had not yet gone to press, "Ratification". So, seeing her on Book TV on CSPAN 2 this fall, was a lot fun. She gave her t.v. address at the National Archives in DC, a place I often enjoy going when I'm in Washington. Like these other historians I've learned from, she is unassuming, has a quick wit, and is very well schooled in the specifics of this era. Getting the Constitution ratified was no small matter, and I look forward to reading this fine book.

Of the many places I've been during the Holiday Season, each is unique. LA (with it's Disney decorations and fireworks & the Rose Parade) and San Francisco offer warmer weather. NYC offers wonderful window scenes at Macy's, Barneys, Lord-n-Taylors, Saks 5th Avenue, etc. & Broadway shows. Salt Lake City has the most amazing lights and fabulous, free music as well as the best food anywhere. Philadelphia has great concerts. Milwaukee, Wisconsin has an amazing German influence. It's German food and culture are celebrated, as are all it's many ethic cultures annually at this time at a Cultural Fest held downtown. Great music, food, and ethnic dancing in costumes. But it is "The Domes" of Milwaukee's south side, 3 amazing glass domes, that is unique. One dome is "Arid/Desert" themed, another is "Tropical". But the 3rd one changes according to seasons: a mass of landscaping design and floral color unrivaled anywhere. What they do with summer flowers in the winter, especially the holidays, complete with a train that travels thru the various floral displays, is really very, very cool. Portland, Oregon has their amazing pine scent, year round really, and laid back people, it's just a fun place to be during the holidays. Albuquerque and Santa Fe have their amazing luminaries: candles in sand-bottom-filled paper bags.... on roof tops, on sidewalks, everywhere. Chicago has wonderful German foods & festivals and the Joffrey's presentation of The Nutcracker, 2nd to none, anywhere. Denver has great lights: City and County building downtown. But....

... back to Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. It outdoes them all. What a great place any time of the year, but during the holidays.........amazing place. Everything and everywhere is decorated with greenery and colorful fruits, herbs & spices. Ornate wreaths and window boxes from common foods. The music is Colonial Era. Everything is candle lights. There's simply no place like it. Re-enactors in historical costume. It's stepping back into time. A time of refined graces, old world social etiquette, Virginia ham and hot spiced cider. A dust of snow may settle, but otherwise, the weather is temperate, day and most nights.

Home, however, near a warm stove and family, with our Danish Christmas decorations and tree ornaments from when the kids were small, remain my favorite. Instead of fighting crowds and traffic, which sometimes has to be done in order to experience and see much of what I mentioned above, I can relax with PBS, the Home & Garden Channel, the BYU Channel, old Christmas movies. I listen to The Carpenters on CD while drawing at my art table. Aromas waft of family and Danish recipes being baked. Sometimes we ski or go tubeing in the fresh snow of nearby mountains. We hear from family and friends.
And by the end of the holiday, seed catalogs begin arriving in the mail.
Be well, do good...