The International Museum of Dinnerware Design in Kingston, New York

Kingston's International Museum

of Dinnerware Design

Roy Lichtenstein designed

these dishes.

Melmac Flyte Dinnerware, 

Royale Dinnerware & 

Silverware

Mandarin Orange on Streamline

& Tricorn Dinnerware

I like the triangle saucer & plate.

Design II

"Captain Picard's Tea Service"

Look for it on Star Trek:

The Next Generation.

This "Garden" is a 73 piece

set of Dinnerware.

Viktor Schreckengost designed 

this winter scene Dinnerware 

with Deer.

I love the Loaf of Bread

Lunch Box.

Pierre Fossell designed Pieruett

& the accompanying Silverware.

Texas Ware Dinnerware

This 19-piece Lobster 

Dinner Set has everything 

from a Casserole to Serving

Plate & Dinner Plates.

I like unusual museums.  The International Museum of Dinnerware Design is interesting and quirky.

The First State Capitol in New York State: Senate House in Kingston

Following the Declaration of Independence, the Original Thirteen Colonies became States.  Each one started work to establish the rules for each branch of government. 

Governor George Clinton was sworn in at the first Ulster County Courthouse.  The newly formed State Assembly was meeting at Bogardus Tavern.  These historic sites no longer exist.

The room where the Senate met in a rented room at Abraham Van Gaasbeek's house.

This Dutch Home started with one room & has grown through the generations to what it is today.

Visiting Kingston, New York: The Stockade District

Kingston, New York was originally the Dutch community of Esopus when it was founded in 1652.  As part of Dutch controlled territory in New Amsterdam, the name was changed to Wiltwyck.  

These are the oldest buildings

in Kingston.

The Kingston Academy

They are located at The Four Corners.

The Persen House is now a museum.

The Roggen House

The Jansen House

The Old Dutch Church

The oldest buildings in Kingston are located in the Uptown section of the City.  Here are a few pictures from this changing section of Kingston.

Farm fields have been

developed for government

& business.

 

The Cordts Building 

The Ulster County Courthouse

MASS MoCA in North Adams, Massachusetts

MASS MoCA is an amazing

Contemporary Art Museum.

The old Arnold Print Works Mill was originally a Cotton Mill.  Its HUGE work spaces once held the Mill's machines.  The oversized windows allowed light into the building.  This is the perfect space for Artists to display their works.

Looking across the open

space at the museum's

spacious galleries

There is a lot to explore today and I am sharing works in a few of the galleries.

Wall Drawing 681C is from the

from the Dorothy & Herbert Vogel

Collection at the National Gallery

 of Art in Washington, D.C.

Looking across the open

space at the museum's

spacious galleries

This cavernous room provided 

Spencer Finch with the

opportunity to create a 

starry sky indoors.

I think the individual

light fixtures look like

constellations.

The huge wall of windows

in this gallery is a great 

setting for the sculpture

of the heart.

Visitors write notes on hearts

that are displayed on the

many strings extending

from the heart.

MASS MoCA has the space for experimentation.

The Bradley and Terrie

Bloom Gallery

Come in and play!

"Music belongs to everyone."

I play a giant Banjo.

This instrument looks

like it has a face.

Technologies of Relation

A curved arch with

hammocks

Different colored Floppy Disks

draw the eye to different

sections of the tapestry.

MASS MoCA has hosted extraordinary artwork since its opening in 1999.  I look forward to future visits and exploring new exhibits in these massive art spaces.

The Grant Cottage on Mount McGregor in Ganesvoort, New York

Mount McGregor, in eastern Saratoga County, was a resort area in the late 1800s.  The clean, clear air and beautiful mountain views drew visitors from the region and luminaries of the era including Susan B. Anthony and Mark Twain.  

This Cottage is the final home

 of President Ulysses S. Grant.

A bit of backstory:  There was no pension for Former Presidents until 1958.  Presidents served their term(s), left Office, and became Private Citizens.  The ability to provide for a President's family was up to the man's ability to provide through wealth, property, speeches, writings, etc.

Former President Grant was diagnosed in late October 1884 in New York City.  His days were numbered and there was so much left to do to provide for his wife, Julia and their children Frederick, Ulysses (Buck), Ellen (Nelly), and Jesse.  U.S. Grant was busy writing his memoirs.  

Since his diagnosis, President Grant's health was reported on daily.  There were news bulletins about his health, public speculation, and reports about his rush to finish the much anticipated memoirs. 

New York Banker, Joseph W. Drexel, offered the Former President his Cottage on Mount McGregor.  

President Grant, his family, friends, and his doctor arrived at this mountaintop Cottage on June 15, 1885.  He needed a quiet environment to finish his memoir and provide a peaceful place for his family  as he neared the end of his life.  

The Living Room

Why are the chairs so 

close together?

U.S. Grant had Throat Cancer and could not lay flat to sleep.

The drop leaf desk in the

corner of the Living Room.

This photo shows the brightly

colored 150 year old 

Living Room Carpet. 

I am amazed by how well the

home & its contents have

been preserved.

Electricity was added later.

This displays show Ulysses S.

Grant's height & the style

of clothes he wore.

There was time for a game

of Chess.

The family played Cribbage.

President Grant finished his manuscript on July 20, 1885.  Mark Twain promised to publish it, and did.

Three days later, at 8:00 am on July 23, 1885, the 18th President of the United States died, surrounded by his family.  

The Mantle Clock was stopped

to memorialize the time of

US Grant's death.

The funeral for the family was held here on August 4, 1885.

The President's Death Mask

A photo of the flowers

sent to the house for 

the funeral.

141 years later, the floral

arrangements survive.

The flowers dried & faded.

I amazed that the heating/cooling conditions from 1885 to now allowed these delicate historic memorials to remain intact.  

Grant's Cottage is just one

piece of our country's

250 year history.

It's just waiting for you to explore...

Star Trek Shore Leave 46 Convention in Lancaster, Pennysylvania

Our friends Dave and Kathy invited Eric and me to Shore Leave 46, the Star Trek Convention in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  It's been eight years since we attended Trekonderoga in Ticonderoga, New York.   It's time to get back into all things Star Trek, and more.  

After getting our Convention Tags,

I browsed the Shore Leave 46

Program & Schedule of Events.

Dave, Kathy, Eric, and I wandered around to get the lay of the land.

This Polaris Slingshot features

Battle Star Galactica Ships.

Eric takes a picture of the 

Cylon Raider Ship from the

Original Battle Star Galactica 

TV Series.

The Vendors Room and People in Costumes -

Lost In Space, the 1965 Series

Marta Kristen Kane, who played Judy Robinson on Lost In Space is signing autographs.

Two of the many Vendors at

Shore Leave 46.

A Star Trek Crew Member

from Star Trek First Contact

OR Deep Space 9 &

 Doctor Doom from the

Marvel Universe

The Emporium

Live Long & Prosper

'cause every girl's crazy 'bout

a sharp dressed man...

JK Woodward is here with

his Comic Books.

There are numerous authors here.  Book Sales are brisk.

The Star Trek Crewman on the

left is ready to fight....

The Vulcan uses reason

to defuse conflict.

I will return to the Vendor Room after completing my assignment for our son, Adam.  He wants an autograph from Sean Kenney as Captain Pike, from The Menagerie Episode of Star Trek Original Series and one from Julie Caitlin Brown, as Na' Toth, from the Babylon 5 TV Series.  

.

Adam gave me this handmade

Captain Pike Plush from a

Trekonderoga Convention

to show to Sean Kenney.

He was surprised to see this

rare piece of memorabilia &

offered to sign it.

I also got a signed photo

for Adam's Star Trek Wall.

Julie Caitlin Brown signed

a Na' Toth photo for Adam.

Highlights of Shore Leave 46:

Julie Caitlin Brown's

Q & A Session

I found out about the challenges of wearing prosthetics: Many hours in make up; The challenges of acting with a mostly immobile face;  The extra weight actors must deal with; and The Damage done to the face by adhesives.

Q & A with Sandra Lee Gimpel

& Sean Kenney

Sandra worked on the Original Star Trek Series as a Talosian in The Cage and The Menagerie Episodes, and as the Salt Vampire in The Man Trap Episode.

At 86 she continues her career as a Stuntwoman and Stunt Coordinator.  Sandra doubled for Debbie Reynolds and Bill Mumy.  Due to her diminutive height, she doubles for many young Actors.  Her autobiography is Stuntlady: Falling for the Stars.

Sean Kenney is best known for his work as Captain Christopher Pike in the Original Star Trek Menagerie Episode.  He later was a member of the Bridge Crew. 

Kenney played Doctor Howard Glass in the 1971 Cult Horror Film Corpse Grinders.  He has been working as a Professional Photographer since 1980.  His memoir, Captain Pike Found Alive! chronicles his life in the 1960s and 1970s.  

Q & A with Gina Yashere, Zoe Steiner & Oded Fehr

from Star Trek: Starfleet Academy TV Series

They described their experiences playing Lieutenant Commander Lura Thok, student Tarima Sadal, and Fleet Admiral Charles Vance.  Sadly, this Series will end with Season Two's Finale.  Paramount has made its decision.  There will be stories and adventures left untold...

The Scientific Presentations were great!  Dr. Kenneth Carpenter presented on the Hubble, Webb, and soon to be launched Roman Telescopes.  The Hubble Telescope looks for distant asteroids and takes photos of Stars, Planets, and Galaxies in Deep Space.  The Webb Telescope looks for Infrared Light, the heat in Deep Space.  Scientists have the ability to study the very first Stars and Galaxies, AND photograph the birth of new Star Systems.  

Dr. Kelly Fast of NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office presented on her work coordinating the search for Asteroids, cataloging and tracking them, and coordinating with International Counterparts.  Searching for and tracking Asteroids is only part of the work.  Matching the precise Defense Plan to an  approaching Asteroid is essential to keep Earth safe. 

As the crowds build at Shore Leave 46,  I struggle to identify some of the costumes. 

A Weyland-Yutani Biohazard

Team is removing Facehuggers

in Alien 3

Then I remember that Science Fiction is Storytelling and it covers many Historical Eras.  The characters attendees choose to come dressed as are limitless.

A classic Ren Faire Costume &

a Furling from the Star Gate 1

TV Series

An Infected Zombie &

a Star Gate 1 Soldier

A Victorian Steampunk Character

& a Steampunk Air Pirate

Star Trek Shore Leave 46 is a celebration of hope, adventure and imagination.