Holy Mary Blair! Check out the "It's a Small World" Android app!!

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.disney.na.itsasmallworld

This ardent Mary Blair fan just got a boost to her soul on this fine Thursday morning.  Never mind that she'll be recording a NEW interview for her book on a Pittsburgh-area radio station - THIS may have topped it!!!

At the left you'll find a screen shot for the new "It's a Small World" Android app! My fingers are actually ITCHY this very moment because I know I need to write at least this teaser blog post about it FIRST before I can actually download the app.  But I'm definitely going to review it in an upcoming blog post.

Imagine me, the ultimate Mary Blair fan, carrying around a part of one of my favorite rides from any Disney park along with me wherever I go?!

It's a Small Blair!!!! 

From the app's website: Enter this delightful world filled with vibrant settings, and meet fantastical friends along the way. Travel through the Snowy Alps, dusty plains, calm seas, and more as you tour different regions around the world. From beloved Disney characters to toy soldiers and mermaids, encounter new and familiar faces throughout your travels. With so much to see, start your joyful journey today!

It's rainy and cold in Chicago. I want a margarita. And I know which one I want. Hint: Mexican pavilion in Epcot.

Sometimes it's really very simple.  You wake up, it's cold and damp and rainy outside, it's only 48 degrees.  You are shivering.  You turn on the TV and your local news has some guy who's a mixologist on and he's concocting a margarita in honor of Cinco De Mayo on Sunday.  You notice it's a basic margarita recipe, save for the inclusion of vanilla bean-infused triple sec (which you think is a very good idea).  You talk to our hubby about what you've just watched and you plot a way to make such a margarita over the weekend.



Then you ponder other margaritas you've had in your young life and realize you may have had one of the most spectacular ones ever just about two years ago.  It was at Epcot in Disney World, in November, 2011.  You were happily ordering your dinner at the San Angel Inn, the nifty restaurant inside the Mexican pavilion, right near the Gran Fiesta tour boat ride featuring Donald Duck, Jose Carioca and Panchito. 



Then you saw the drink menu and something popped out like in a pop-up book and had you hooked.

The drink that haunts your waking moments on a cold, rainy Chicago day is the Orange Mango Fire Margarita and it is exactly what it says it is (from the menu online): El Mayor premium Tequila, ginger liqueur, orange juice, mango, fresh lime juice, a hint of tabasco sauce, served on the rocks with a Tajin chili powder rim.  It is $12.50 and you tabulate how may you could have for $100, but you don't order that many because one is sufficiently heady enough.

The Disney Food Blog (WHY DON'T I HAVE THIS JOB???) wrote about it back in 2010, when it was offered at the other World Showcase Mexican restaurant,  La Hacienda de San Angel (http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2010/09/27/review-epcots-la-hacienda-de-san-angel/).  Here is their photo of the drink:

This is all you want.  It is citrussy and spicy and packs a wallop.  This one drink has it all.

You do your level best to be back at Epcot within months.

Rye Playland Opening Day for 2013 is May 11! Special rates and a PARADE!!

Rye Playland is one of my favorite vintage parks, period.  If you're in the greater NYC area, DO plan on attending their 2013 season opening day on May 11!  It sure looks to be like a swell time!  There's a parade and entertainment and special rates!!

http://cortlandt.dailyvoice.com/news/rye-playland-opens-may-11-parade-and-entertainment

Here's a snap of yours truly with Ms. Zoltar, taken back in 2011 when Ben and I visited the park (and I fell completely in love with it):

Celebrate Arbor Day with a Visit to New Orleans' City Park and Carousel Gardens!

http://neworleanscitypark.com/

Thanks to my Facebook pals, I was reminded it is Arbor Day!  Which is super, because I'm going to have time today to work on our garden, prune the Ginkgo tree, and spruce things up in general (no, no spruces are involved, unfortunately).  But it got me thinking about the parks we visited for the book (which can be purchased directly from CreateSpace, because of course you want to do that: https://www.createspace.com/3840248 ) and I immediately was festooned with images of the beautiful-doesn't-fully-describe-it Carousel Gardens, part of New Orleans' magnificent City Park.

For those who've never been, City Park is huge, it contains all manner of entertainment and amusement, including an art museum, concerts, a dog park, recreational facilities of all sorts, and Carousel Gardens and Storyland.  Storyland is totally kiddie-sized, featuring various fairytale scenes and characters for kids to romp around in and around. 

Ben, my over-sized kid, making his way through the ACTUAL child-sized entrance to Storyland.

Mother Goose, herself. Avec goose.

 

 

Carousel Gardens is the amusement park, which contains wondrous things, like the ride it's named after, their gorgeous carousel, which battled the flooding from Hurricane Katrina, and WON.

The plaque, witnessing how the carousel WON.

Close-up of carousel horse.

There's also a miniature train ride, which circles the south end of the park, extending from the amusement park proper and into the "outside world" of picnickers and strolling couples and old folks settin' a spell under the magnificent oaks.

And about those oaks.  Here's my tribute to Arbor Day, thanks to the copious amount of photos taken at City Park.  Spanish moss drapes provocatively from nearly every branch, enveloping portions of the parks, providing cooling shade, and adding a touch of moodiness and magic.

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Arbor Day.  And if you're in the greater New Orleans area, now you know where to go.

The Iconic Log Ride at Knott's Berry Farm Gets an Update!!

http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/themeparks/la-trb-timber-mountain-log-ride-knotts-berry-farm-04201324,0,5696268.story

 

My memories of the Knott's Berry Farm log ride are from 1971, when my Mom and I rode it during the only "girls' only" vacation we ever took.  I recall the drop down at the end, the steepness of the flume, the splash of the water, the giggles of delight (from both of us).

It's heartening to know that Knott's will be re-furbishing this iconic ride, and utilizing some concept art from its early days.  This is a beautiful ride, considered by many to be THE best log flume ride out there.  I think I'd tend to agree.

When I visited Knott's in 2011 for my book, it was a blowy, cold day and I wasn't able to ride the log flume.  I actually became rather emotional about it, because I was planning to ride it in my Mom's memory.  But I think Mom would be proud of this great vintage park and its moving into the future, while embracing its past.

Santa's Village Azoosment Park 2013 Opening Day is Mother's Day!!!

Part of my job as a Vintage Amusement Park Maven includes trolling around Facebook throughout the day, lurking to find exciting information for my fellow vintage amusement park enthusiasts.  Well, here's a doozy for Northern Illinois park fans!  Copied from their Facebook page, the great folks at Santa's Village Azoosment Park say:

"2013 Grand Opening on Mother's Day May 12th ... Mothers on that day will be admitted FREE when accompanied by 2 full paid admissions. Hope to see all you Mothers out at the park on May 12th for a fun filled day to kick off our 2013 Season! ~ Jason & Don"

Folks, get yourselves out to this super East Dundee park!  The owners have been hard at work, adding even more rides and attractions in the past few months.  You recall the park was closed for years and sat dormant.  If you've been paying attention in the slightest to my mad ramblings, you also know this park has "adopted" a few of the iconic Kiddieland rides after that park closed.  All in all, Jason and Don are creating vintage park magic: bring back the nostalgic past and enriching the experience with the fresh and new.

It's not every day that a park essentially left for dead rises up again and comes back better than ever.  Santa's Village Azoosment Park is a miracle, incorporating rides, shows, animals, and attractions in one fun place!!



santasvillagedundee.com

A link to an article from last year I was proud to have been a part of:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-santas-village-amusement-park-20120814-001,0,6030321.photo

Witness the miracle of Keansburg Amusement Park!!

http://eb.gmnews.com/news/2013-04-11/Front_Page/Superstorm_proves_no_match_for_Keansburg_Amusement.html

Never underestimate the power and drive of a little amusement park that won't stay down for the count!  Read this article and learn about what's NEW at Keansburg for the 2013 season!!

I'm so excited to announce that I'm planning to re-visit the park in July, adding some updates to my book.  The above article says there's a new spook house and a renovated game room.  I'll be curious to see them both; the originals, which I enjoyed in 2011, were my favorite parts of the park.  But also, the vintage kiddie rides.  And I hear they're back as well!

Keansburg's got a new coaster, too.  And improvements to their waterpark area.

Jersey Strong, indeed!!!