Category → Museums and Exhibitions
Skating and museums
We went ice skating at the Bear Mountain rink today. Trish is on the left edge of the frame, and Mechel is the fellow in the grey and red jacket in the center of the frame:
Fun day in…. Paterson?
We went to the Paterson museum today. The museum showcases America’s first industrial city, and the various innovations that were born there.
John Holland developed the first military sub here:
The radial engine for the Spirit of St Louis was made in the Wright brothers’ factory here:
A Jacquard loom. Paterson was a major silk manufacturing center:
Most of the trains used to build the Panama Canal were made in the museum building, which used to be the Rogers Locomotive works:
Silk wrapping things:
A couple of the locomotives were outside:
Next we went to nearby Lambert Castle. It’s a private museum, and I thought admission was pretty steep. Interesting inside though:
Vintage shields from firefighter helmets:
Next we went to Dey Mansion, where George Washington lived for a time during the war:
The thing on the bed is for tightening the ropes that support the mattress:
Stony Point
We went up to Stony Point today for a mini-reenactment:
They had dress-up costumes in the museum:
When we got home, I did some macro work around the garden:
At the Liberty Science Center
We went to the Liberty Science Center today:
Here Mechel is drilling for oil using an exploratory rig. It’s designed to show how much work it takes to find oil, but he never did find it, so maybe it’s just broken:
They had a special exhibit on skyscrapers, and they had this beam from the world trade center. Seeing it bent this way was quite sobering:
New York Botanical Garden
We went to the New York Botanical Garden today. This sums up Mechel’s attitude:
We went to the Children’s Adventure Garden portion of the garden first:
I see you!
Run Baila!
Under a Caterpillar made of flowers:
I harassed a bee for a while:
My interpretation of Henry Moore’s Large Two Forms (1966)
Bubbie on the move:
Zaydie and the kids:
Don’t fence me in:
We visited the Rose Garden next:
We rode the tram to the Haupt Conservatory, where Mechel spotted five planes doing skywriting:
The interior of the conservatory is quite large, and has several climate types. This is from the rainforest area:
And the desert section:
Orchids:
Henry Moore’s Working Model for Standing Figure: Knife Edge (1961)
Come again soon!
Norwalk Aquarium
We took the kids to the Norwalk Aquarium today.
Feedin’ the seals:
The jellyfish were really hard to photograph.
Mechel! Look out!
It’s always time for a snack break.
Miscellaneous beasties:
What do you think this is:
Battle of Stony Point
On Sunday we went to the Stony Point Battlefield State Historic Site to see the events associated with the 228th anniversary of the capture of the Stony Point.
Mechel and Baila with a cheval de frise in the background:
The staff then staged a mock engagement:
After the reenactment, we walked up to take a look at the lighthouse. The weather suddenly became ominous, which made for a great photograph:
We narrowly missed getting wet!
Krazy City
Bubbe and Zaidy took us and the kids to Krazy City today.
The usual rides:
We played mini-golf there:
They had an activity center with a gold mining-type operation. The bag of dirt placed in each pan contained bits of minerals:
They also had a fossil finding activity that had them sifting through sand they scooped into the trays:
There was also a play area with air-driven ball canons. For a half hour or so, Baila ran around collecting the balls while Mechel loaded them into his cannon and pelted unsuspecting youngsters. A good time was had by all!
On our way out, we stopped at the lego store:
Crayola Factory fun
We went to the Crayola Factory today. They don’t actually make crayons there, but it was still fun.
One of the exhibits they have allows children to draw on an glass wall:
The upper two stories are the National Canal Museum. Mechel took a ship through some locks:
Mechel and Zaidy built a crane to unload the barges:
Out the window, I could see the windows of the next building:
Bubby and Zaidy:
Mechel and Baila watch a movie about the locks:
They had a train section, and Mechel and Baila played in a wooden train they had on display. Mechel practised his drumming:
Back in the Crayola section, we bought a baseball cap and handbag that Mechel and Baila colored with special pens that become permanent once ironed and washed:
Bubbe and Zaidy were very patient:
My attempt at “artsy” shots:
We then went to Lost River Cave in Hellertown, a few miles down the road. The store associated with it was quite ecclectic:
Going down:
Watch your head:
They have chunks of minerals set up that glow when subjected to ultraviolet light:
The river at the end of the cave. Where does it go? Nobody knows:
Rock formations:
It was a long day, but we had fun!
Bronx Zoo Adventure
We went to the Bronx Zoo yesterday with Bubbe and Zayde and the new big lens. We got there around 1pm.
First we went to the aquatic bird area:
Quite the day!