November 11, 2015: Saluting All Our Veterans

Tanya's Daily Scoop
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Veteran's Day 2015

Happy Veteran's Day and Happy HUMP Day - yup it's already Wednesday! Man this week is flying by!
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“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”  --John F. Kennedy

2014 IPC Trip to DC

How will you be spending your Veteran's Day?

The kids have an all day choir workshop today that I'll be dropping them off to this morning, and then I think I'm gonna hit the stores!
Yup, Mommy is going shopping...

Traffic has been a beast all week long, but things were moving along very nicely today. I'm definitely grateful for that! 

Later tonight after all of my planned running around and before Dominic's Wednesday night class I'll start sorting through our camping gear in preparation of heading to Joshua Tree National Park this weekend.

As far as yesterday, Jet, Andrew and Chaplin were still planning on meeting us out there. Only time will tell, and we shall see.

Speaking of yesterday it was semi productive, but the only thing that I managed in terms of booking/travel was our 
getaway to Santa Barbara which happens in early December - we have lots of interesting and fun things planned for - stay tuned for more info on this one!!

​And in accord with interesting and fun things to do, TODAY is W2GW (Where to Go Wednesday). Elisa is focusing on The Bronx today and has listed some great choices! 

HERE are my hand selected choices for SoCal this coming weekend:

​Special Olympics Southern California Fall Games 
November 14 and 15, 2015

Fall Games attracts more than 1,100 athletes from across Southern California who will compete for gold, silver, and bronze medals and ribbons in six sports — bowling, floor hockey, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball. Save the dates for this year's competition, the weekend of November 14 and 15, in Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach and Irvine.
CLICK HERE for more Info

​OR what about...

THE GROVE CHRISTMAS WITH SETH MACFARLANE PRESENTED BY CITI

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14
7:30pm - 9pm

Join The Grove for our most spectacular Christmas event yet!

On Saturday, November 14, we will ring in the 2015 holiday season with The Grove Christmas with Seth MacFarlane.

Presented by Citi, the event will begin at 7:30 p.m.* and will include MacFarlane singing some of the holiday’s most cherished songs backed by a vibrant 70-piece orchestra. Special guests Meghan Trainor and Katharine McPhee will join him.

Plus, experience the annual lighting of The Grove’s 100-foot Christmas tree, a performance by The Top Hat dancers, the season’s first snowfall, the arrival of Santa Claus himself and a fantastic fireworks finale!
CLICK HERE for more Info

​I'm sorry but I'm gonna have to cut it short for today. I'm experiencing some technical difficulties - which are a pain in the butt!

I hope that you have a wonderful day and to see you back here again tomorrow when it's my turn to share a TBT story and lots of cute and funny Throwback Thursday pictures with you!

Ciao 4 Now,
​-T

Elisa's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 2 DAYS

The Bronx on W2GW

Happy Veterans Day to all our servicemen and women.  A Big thank you to their families who have and continue to know the meaning of sacrifice!
​Good Bless you all.

​Well, my gang will be celebrating Veteran's Day from the barn.  Yes, my girlies take any opportunity to ride.

We will be meeting up with their other two "musketeers" for another private riding lesson today.

​These kids are so committed to their riding!!

​As for today, it is also W2GW!  And as I promised, I am so EXCITED about my upcoming historical tours through the Bronx!

Did you realize how much there is to see and just how historic the borough of the Bronx really is?

The Bronx is home to my alma mater, Fordham University.  I lived in the Rose Hill section of the borough on campus during my college years and spent one memorable summer residing on Arthur Avenue in the Little Italy section.

But, unfortunately, I never had an opportunity to visit the Bronx from an historic perspective, which I'm happy to say, I will be doing now, nearly 30 years after graduating.

I found this wonderful site, Bronx Historical Tours, and they are doing a fabulous job of debunking the myth that the Bronx is a "dreary, isolated, dangerous and dark place" that the media, radio and Hollywood hype has instilled on the public for quite some time.

Sadly, even international tourist guides will have warnings about the Bronx that read, "Do not travel to The Bronx." And further, the Bronx is left off of  NYC Hotel maps as a tourist destination. 

The Travelin' Cousins on Arthur Avenue, Little Italy, The Bronx (July 2014)

So, we've got a prejudice going, but I'm here to bring some light and focus back on this historic and bright New York City borough!!

Lest we forget that The Bronx is home to the New York Yankees (aka Bronx Bombers) and the birthplace of hip-hop, and is one of five New York City boroughs and the third-densest county in the United States!

After going through their website with a fine tooth comb, I am impressed with what Bronx Historical Tours offers. So much so, that I will be embarking on a few of these in the coming weeks! I must also add, that I think the tour prices are very reasonable.

Whether a native New Yorker or just a guest, you may find the following tours of interest to spend part of your day or weekend:

Bronx Sightseeing Tour/Introduction to The Bronx ($45 per person + NYC Tax – Friday 10am – 2:00pm)
This 4 hour bus tour gives an oversight to this great borough focusing on The Grand Concourse and Little Italy/Arthur Avenue.

Grand Concourse/Historical District Tour ($25 per person 10am - 1pm)
3 hour guided walking tour of the South Bronx
Walk the Grand Concourse, the main thoroughfare of the Borough. Tour includes: 
- Stroll along the Bronx Walk of Fame, dedicated to famous Bronx residents
- See murals funded by the WPA during the Depression
- Discover great Art Deco architecture, the Bronx Museum & Yankee Stadium

Westchester Square - Multicultural and Historical Tour ($25 per person 10am - 1pm Sunday & Monday)
Westchester Square has a rich history, dating back to the 1700's and still bears origins as a Colonial era village. Offers a glimpse into New York City's connection to the Revolutionary War. 

​Bronx Little Italy/Arthur Avenue History & Pizza Group Bus Tour ($65.00 pp + NYC Tax – 10am – 2:30pm includes personal pizza)
Home to some of the most famous celebrities, musicians and politicians, authors and sports figures, Little Italy is full of culture, history and great food!
The 4-1/2 hour tour includes:
- Sightseeing the beautiful Harlem area
- Sightseeing the Historic District, Art Deco Grand Concourse
- Bus Tours near Yankee Stadium
- 10 minute stop at the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage
- Tour and Small Individual Pizza on Arthur Avenue, The Real Little Italy of New York
- Wine Tasting - If Available 

Fort Apache, The Bronx Walking Tour (call for price. Thursday 10am - 1pm)
Fort Apache The Bronx was the name given to the most notorious precinct in The Bronx, giving rise to negative images.  This neighborhood tour narrates one of the most powerful and memorable stories of a neighborhood bouncing back and rebuilding itself. 

Little Ireland in Woodlawn Tour ($80.00 – includes: Bus, Licensed Tour Guide, multi-course Lunch)
Spend some quiet time in the small Irish community of Woodlawn, the 33rd County of Ireland in The Bronx. National Historical Landmark Woodlawn Cemetery is on this tour, which is home to such influential respected figures as Sir Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, John Gates, F.W Woolworth, RH Macy, Isidor & Ida Straus, WC Handy, composer Irving Berlin, “Queen of Salsa” Celia Cruz.
This tour includes:
- Historic District, Art Deco Grand Concourse 
- Bus Tour Stops 20 minutes at Yankee Stadium
- Bus Tour Stops 20 minutes at The Edgar Allan Poe Cottage  
- 30 minute Tour of Woodlawn Cemetery  
- Lunch & Tour of Little Ireland in Woodlawn  

Bronx Street Art Walking Tour ($25 per person 10 am 1pm Tours
This 3-hour walking tour is a guided journey of Bronx Street Art viewing the latest outdoor murals.

For more information e-mail at bronxtours@gmail.com or call 646-831-1078.

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Wow!!!! See what I'm saying -- there is so much culture and history to The Bronx!!

I will do a full review as I embark on these tours!

​On a personal note, my dearest and beloved Grandma Rose is buried in the Bronx.  That is where she first lived upon arriving here in America back in the 1920's as a little girl.  

Today is the 7th Anniversary of her death. (insert tears).

When I drive over the Throgs Neck Bridge, connecting Queens to the Bronx, I can see the large cross at the cemetery where she (and my grandfather) are laid to rest and I am reminded of the love and strength she gave to me.

Above all, she encouraged me to always follow my dreams.  I know she is now my guardian angel. Can't wait to eat some sweets in her honor when I hit the Little Italy tour in a few weeks!!!

That's it for today folks!

-E
​xoxo