Saturday Quote
As I was going to St. Ives,
I met a man with seven wives,
Each wife had seven sacks,
Each sack had seven cats,
Each cat had seven kits:
Kits, cats, sacks, and wives,
How many were there going to St. Ives?
As I Was Going to St. Ives
Canadian Pacific Railway’s Holiday Train Stopping Locally
Canadian Pacific’s Holiday Train will stop in Fort Edward and Ticonderoga on Saturday, November 29, 2014.
On Saturday, November 29th, Canadian Pacific’s Holiday Train will stop in Fort Edward at 12:30 pm and Ticonderoga at 3:00 pm.
Tracey Brown and the Holiday Train band will perform at each stop.
To learn more about the Holiday Train go to: http://www.cpr.ca/holiday-train/canada
Independent Film Producer Provides Update on Movie Filmed Locally in April 2014
The producers and film crew making an independent short movie in and around Huletts Landing in April 2014 (seen here), recently provided an update on the movie.
Back in April, a film crew and actors descended on Huletts Landing and Whitehall, where they shot an independent short movie.
I recently heard from one of the producers, Jeremy Leach of Lost City Creative, who gave me an update on where things presently stand.
We wrapped up filming in mid/late April after thirteen days of filming. If memory serves, we spent 3 days in Brooklyn, one travel/shoot day going upstate from Brooklyn and the next nine days splitting time between Whitehall and Huletts Landing. One of our biggest concerns before heading up to Huletts was the state of the lake. I was told it had been one of the coldest winters on record and as of April 12th, our first day of production, large portions of the lake had not thawed. Because we had several scenes on the lake, this was a cause of great consternation. However, upon arriving at Huletts on April 15th (in a torrential downpour), we were relieved to find the lake had completely thawed. Apparently, it had gone out two days before we arrived!
Upon beginning the edit, we were delighted to find that many of the scenes from the film, including those filmed in and around Huletts Landing, really capture the beauty of the landscape. The scenes we filmed there are important because they are essentially the first time our main character is immersed in a completely natural environment, a significant stage in the film. We were honored to be able to work with such wonderful people both in Huletts Landing and in Whitehall before, during, and after production.
The first thing we had to do once we finished filming was to cull through and organize the many hours of footage. That took some time because we filmed several complicated scenes, many of which included a variety of long takes. Initially we were unsure of the potential length of the film but after going through all the footage and putting together some rough assembly edits, we’re thinking it could potentially be anywhere from 75 – 90 minutes long. Right now, we are working on and are close to completing a rough cut of the entire film, creating a story arc by assembling the visual building blocks of the film. From there, we will review and move on to a fine cut, where we will start incorporating more complex sound design and begin the arduous process of color correction.
Finding free time to edit while juggling work/personal responsibilities can be challenging, often resulting in a process that takes longer than expected. That said, we’re hoping we can have a finished film by early spring of 2015. After it’s finished, we’ll begin the process of submitting the film to festivals and arranging screenings. I’ll keep you updated with our progress for some follow-up posts for your blog.
Friday Afternoon Fun – For Real
I search the Internet far and wide to bring you Detroit reporter Charlie LeDuff, giving a Detroit squatter a taste of her (his? It’s somewhat in question.) own medicine.
This is actually true.
Wheel of Musical Impressions with Adam Levine & Jimmy Fallon
Large Bird Spotted in the Casino
NFL Network Series Focuses on NY Giants
Tonight (Tuesday) at 9 p.m., the NFL Network will be premiering the first episode in a four-part series called Finding Giants. There will be a new episode every Tuesday through October 21.
The show is a must-see for New York football fans, providing viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the front office of the Giants and the process of finding the future stars for the organization.
Casino Fun Begins Here
I stand in front of the Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
This past weekend, while Lynn was speaking at a conference in St. Louis, I was able to spend a few hours sightseeing. Our beer connoisseurs will know that St. Louis is the home to Anheuser-Busch. The beer brewing process is indeed an interesting one and Anheuser-Busch has been doing it for over 100 years. I thought I would share some pictures and experiences of the tour. (All pictures can be clicked to see full-scale.)
A short introduction to Adolphus Busch begins the Anheuser-Busch story.
Memorabilia and historical artifacts in the entrance include one of their early red delivery trucks.
As you wait for the tour to begin, a large painting of their well-known Clydesdale’s hangs near the start.
While I took the walking tour, there are many different tours available.
The Clydesdale horses were indeed impressive.
One thing I learned, is that only male Clydesdale’s pull their classic carriage.
The carriages were housed inside.
These are the carriages that appear in parades and in television commercials.
The harnesses for the horses, are likewise, extremely large.
The horse’s name hangs above were they are housed in the stable.
As the tour progressed, I captured this bronze statue of the Anheuser-Busch eagle as we went into the brewery.
Row after row of huge mash tanks, were the beer ferments, took up over three stories of one building.
The Beachwood aging tanks, where the beer sits on top of beachwood chips to give it added flavor. One tank holds the equivalent of 250,000 individual six-packs.
After the wood does its thing, the shavings are recycled into mulch.
A sampling of the many beers brewed at the St. Louis facility. Cheers to the brew-masters there!
Video: Rory McIlroy’s Tee Shot Lands in Man’s Pocket
Playing in the second round of the Tour Championship in Atlanta, GA, Rory McIlroy’s tee shot on the 14th landed in a grove of trees surrounded by spectators. A guy was moving away from the area to clear the way for the ball when it seems to have bounced off the tree and into the right pocket of his shorts.
Visiting Maine? Try Kennebunkport
Two questions I enjoy asking people from other states are; “What areas of your state are the most scenic?” and “Where are some great places to visit in your state?”
I have consistently been told from residents of Maine, that Kennebunkport, the town where former President George. H.W. Bush has his summer retreat, is a great place to visit in Maine.
So without further adieu, I share some pictures that were forwarded to me of Kennebunkport, ME. It’s a little over fours hours from Huletts. (Click all pictures to see full-scale.)
Former President George. H.W. Bush’s summer compound from the ocean.
Another view of the Bush vacation home.
St. Ann’s Episcopal Church is also located on Walker’s Point.
One of the largest boats docked downtown.
The tour guide also demonstrated how Lobster was caught.
Bits of Everything
Saturday Quote
“It was a wonderful, chaotic universe of clashing colors, temperaments and emotions, of brave deeds performed sometimes against odds seemingly insuperable, mixed with mean and shameful acts of pure skullduggery, cheapness, snide tricks, filth and greed, moments of sheer sweet courage and magnificence when the flame of the human spirit and the will to triumph burned so brightly that it choked your throat and blinded your eyes to be watching it, and moments, too, of such villainy, cowardice and depravity, of such rapaciousness and malice that you felt hot and ashamed even to find yourself reporting it.”
Paul Gallico
Describing his time as a sportswriter.
Great Day Trip: Norman Rockwell Museum of Vermont
The Norman Rockwell Museum of Vermont is located in Rutland.
One short day trip from Huletts Landing is the Norman Rockwell Museum of Vermont located in Rutland.
The famous American artist, Norman Rockwell, known for his covers of the Saturday Evening Post, moved to Vermont in 1939 where his work began to reflect small-town life.
The museum itself is very easy to find, being located near the corners of Rt 4 and Rt 7, just two miles east on Route 4. (You will need to go through Rutland if you’re driving from Huletts.)
The museum’s picture and painting collection is quite extensive. It’s a great place to purchase Rockwell art.
To illustrate of how life imitates art, I post below the famous Rockwell piece “The Soda Jerk” from 1953 and a shot from the Soda Fountain from the 1960’s.
“The Soda Jerk” from 1953.
The Huletts Landing Soda Fountain in the 1960’s.
Learn more about the Norman Rockwell Museum of Vermont here.