Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
The Annual Visit to Holiday Inn
Settle in for the annual nesting event with a big bowl of real (meaning shaken over the fireplace in a wire basket on a stick) popcorn and an abundance of favorite beverages in order to head out to Holiday Inn in Midville, Connecticut.
This inn is only open on holidays so we have to hurry! By 1942 standards when this movie was made there were 15 holidays. Please note this modern day employers, you know who you are, who now only have 10 or 11 holidays.
Along the way, we stop in at the Club Pierre. Back stage in the dressing room, Bing's peach preserves explode because they "don't like the night club air." As the peaches fall down from the ceiling on Fred and Bing, Bing mutters, "Dawn patrol."
Out to the floor show where we sit at the table reserved for the band. We watch Fred and Lila dance.
While at the club, we run in to Marjorie Reynolds who insinuates to Bing that she is a big star by grandly proclaiming, "I'm Linda Mason." Bing's facial reaction is priceless.
Finally, we arrive at the inn.
Soon it is New Year's Eve and Marjorie sings to welcome us to Holiday Inn.
Bing and Marjorie serve up the food while "kissing the old year out, kissing the new year in."
Meanwhile, Fred is dumped by Lila and comes to the inn "feeling good." There is the famous dance with Linda/Marjorie. Mr. Weston gets a big kick out of the bossy woman who all but tackles Bing and declares, "I don't want Ted Hanover (Fred) I want you!" - wink, wink.
This inn is only open on holidays so we have to hurry! By 1942 standards when this movie was made there were 15 holidays. Please note this modern day employers, you know who you are, who now only have 10 or 11 holidays.
Along the way, we stop in at the Club Pierre. Back stage in the dressing room, Bing's peach preserves explode because they "don't like the night club air." As the peaches fall down from the ceiling on Fred and Bing, Bing mutters, "Dawn patrol."
Out to the floor show where we sit at the table reserved for the band. We watch Fred and Lila dance.
| The women remark annually about Lila's party dress. Attention Designers: It-has-sleeves! We want sleeves, too. |
While at the club, we run in to Marjorie Reynolds who insinuates to Bing that she is a big star by grandly proclaiming, "I'm Linda Mason." Bing's facial reaction is priceless.
| Wow! Linda Mason! |
| Our Hosts: Bing and Fred |
| Oh, oh. Bing and Linda find out they misrepresented themselves. "OK, so you're a fake and I'm a phony." |
At the inn, we meet the delightful and sage Mamie and her two children. Mamie eventually saves the day and ensures the happy ending by setting Bing straight about love and women. She gently admonishes her children when they follow her every where by asking them:
| "Is your name Mamie?" Then Bing and Marjorie sing.... |
---Bing-Crosby,-Marjorie-Reynolds-712695.jpg) |
| "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas..." |
Soon it is New Year's Eve and Marjorie sings to welcome us to Holiday Inn.
| Note another sparkly evening dress - with sleeves. |
Bing and Marjorie serve up the food while "kissing the old year out, kissing the new year in."
Meanwhile, Fred is dumped by Lila and comes to the inn "feeling good." There is the famous dance with Linda/Marjorie. Mr. Weston gets a big kick out of the bossy woman who all but tackles Bing and declares, "I don't want Ted Hanover (Fred) I want you!" - wink, wink.
The next morning, instead of offering Fred a bicarb, Bing pours coffee and advises, "Take a slug out of the mug." Fred cannot remember Marjorie/Linda and Bing purposely misleads him by talking about a Consuelo Schlepkiss.
More holidays follow but the holiday season is jam packed and we have to run over to Barbara Stanwyck's for "Christmas in Connecticut" where her Uncle Felix is making goulash.
Happy Holidays everyone!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Puppy Weston's Fabulous Weekend Getaway
A warm welcome to Puppy Weston.
Looking spiff in a new collar and bells to guarantee lots of petting everywhere.
First, a little shopping.
Samples from the delightful owner, then this was sniffed, picked, and purchased.
Then to Dawgdom for more samples, petting, and the purchase of a sausage chew.
A little something for somebody else.
The Puppy Weston friendly inn. She entered the lobby with a huge announcement of herself, happiness, and chutzpah.
The welcome gift from housekeeping.
Her couch by the fire after dinner.
The walks.
Mrs. Weston's form of Address by Hotel Staff.
Looking spiff in a new collar and bells to guarantee lots of petting everywhere.
First, a little shopping.
Samples from the delightful owner, then this was sniffed, picked, and purchased.
Then to Dawgdom for more samples, petting, and the purchase of a sausage chew.
A little something for somebody else.
The Puppy Weston friendly inn. She entered the lobby with a huge announcement of herself, happiness, and chutzpah.
The welcome gift from housekeeping.
Her couch by the fire after dinner.
The walks.
Mrs. Weston's form of Address by Hotel Staff.
Puppy Weston's Mom.
As in "Puppy Weston's Mom,
may she have another cookie?"
Parting words as Puppy Weston was at the front desk and receiving special attention during check out.
"Puppy Weston, you can visit again any time.
Oh, and you (meaning Weston humans)
may come too."
Monday, December 5, 2011
Annual Mark Twain Holiday House Tour
On the first Sunday in December, I meet friends in West Hartford for the annual Holiday House Tour that is sponsored by the friends of the Mark Twain House. We assemble at one friend's house and then bundle into a car. Our first stop is at a coffee shop in West Hartford Center to stock up on coffee and pastries. This is to fortify ourselves for the next 4 - 5 hours of house touring.
We always start at the Mark Twain house. This has received some bad press lately due to the fact that an employee was helping herself to funds - so we are even more happy to support. We've been multiple times but always hear new information. It is decorated in the way that the Samuel Clemens family would have celebrated. It is always wonderful to see the room at the top of the house where some of America's most famous works were created.
The private homes on the tour are always beautifully decorated and architecturally interesting. My favorites are the homes built in the 1920s or 1930s - this year a 1930 Tudor on Scarborough Street. I also liked the old Veeder home which is now the Connecticut Historical Society Museum and Library. Besides the interesting exhibits there, we delighted in the hidden latch under the mantel that opened the secret cabinet behind a wall. The house was built during Prohibition after all
This year we also fit in the tour of the Governor's residence. This iconic house was recently renovated and redecorated under the auspices of the not-for-profit, The People's Project.
The tour is always wonderful and the owners are most gracious to open their homes and welcome hundreds of guests. There was an article in December issue of Hartford Magazine about the tour last year. Yes, we were some of the folks partaking of the mimosas.
We always start at the Mark Twain house. This has received some bad press lately due to the fact that an employee was helping herself to funds - so we are even more happy to support. We've been multiple times but always hear new information. It is decorated in the way that the Samuel Clemens family would have celebrated. It is always wonderful to see the room at the top of the house where some of America's most famous works were created.
 |
| From the Mark Twain House site |
The private homes on the tour are always beautifully decorated and architecturally interesting. My favorites are the homes built in the 1920s or 1930s - this year a 1930 Tudor on Scarborough Street. I also liked the old Veeder home which is now the Connecticut Historical Society Museum and Library. Besides the interesting exhibits there, we delighted in the hidden latch under the mantel that opened the secret cabinet behind a wall. The house was built during Prohibition after all
This year we also fit in the tour of the Governor's residence. This iconic house was recently renovated and redecorated under the auspices of the not-for-profit, The People's Project.
The tour is always wonderful and the owners are most gracious to open their homes and welcome hundreds of guests. There was an article in December issue of Hartford Magazine about the tour last year. Yes, we were some of the folks partaking of the mimosas.
 |
| From Hartford Magazine |
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