Visiting Coney Island
Today I took the subway to the ocean – Coney Island, to be exact, which is equal parts seaside playground and altar to kitsch.
Here’s what I saw:
I also took this video – I like it better as a soundscape… close your eyes and just listen:
Woodstock
This is my first post in the 2010 WordCount Blogathon, or #Blog2010 on Twitter – a challenge to blog every day for a month. If you found me through the Blogathon and this is your first time at Tastee Pudding: welcome!
Today I celebrated my 34th birthday in Woodstock, New York.
The legendary music festival of ’69 actually took place in nearby Bethel, but Woodstock was also quite a hippie haven. A brochure for the town promises a celebration of creativity and the arts, and it’s hard to walk a block without encountering a gallery or some kind of public sculpture. It’s also a place where it’s hard to see where the symbolism of the past ends and authentic modern culture begins. (more…)
Roadtrip for a Cause
Tod and Justin Purvis
My friend Justin Purvis (who I met through Washington Improv Theater) suffers from Choroideremia, a degenerative eye disease that can lead to blindness. His brother, Tod, was recently diagnosed with the condition, as well, and the two of them have decided to do something to raise awareness of the disease, while undertaking a sight-seeing trip that they may not be able to enjoy in the future. (more…)
Let Jet Lag Fuck You Up
That’s essentially the message of this wonderful, surprising little article from the Boston Globe, by writer James Parker. Is he a Buddhist? A yogi? He must be:
(Jet lag) reminds us not just that we have bodies, but that we are bodies. Flout the time zones and you will feel unusual. You may even feel depressed, as gravity reasserts its claim upon your person. But so what? Be the depression. Lay aside the melatonin. Sweet hamster, forgo that Viagra. Don’t, please, start rising like a monk in the predawn hours, fours days before your trip.
And this:
Because really, if you’re not lagged to a standstill, how can you tell that you’ve gone somewhere? This is, in a phrase I intend to copyright, “the wisdom of jet lag.”
Do yourself a favor and read the article – especially if you’re traveling anytime soon. It’s lovely, and a very quick read.
Nontraditional Vacations
Farmers markets? Been there, done that. Take your commitment to eating local up a notch, and spend your next vacation on a farm:
A number of small farms in New York State are offering “haycations.” For about the price of a nice hotel room in Manhattan, you can stay on a farm and even perform some farming duties.
That’s the Village Voice’s Fork in the Road blog, summarizing a longer article in the New York Times. Here’s a peek at what your accomodations might look like:
Photo of Feather Down farm tent
If farm chores aren’t your idea of a great escape, here are some other non-traditional trips my friends have taken (more…)
