Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

My hostess, Lynn, took me to the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Here I am eagerly anticipating the start of the show! We're going to see Big Bad Voodoo Daddy!

Cabot and Lynn got to meet Scotty Morris of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy! BBVD is an awesome band that plays swing music and Scotty is the lead vocalist/musician and one of the founders of the band. This picture was taken by the very kind man standing behind us in line. At the last moment, the batteries died in our camera and the man offered to take our picture an email it to us. Cheers, kind stranger! Notice how Scotty and I are wearing matching pin stripe!

Warm Welcome

What a wonderful welcome I received when I arrived in Arkansas.

Here I am with my new friend, Mad. We're going to have so much fun together! I can't wait to explore and learn all about Arkansas.

Love, Monsters & Mythology

While Cabot has been gallivanting all over the place, I've been doing some interesting things as well. Yesterday I went to a book signing and met the author, Stephanie Dray who writes historical fiction and fantasy. She gave a wonderfully interesting talk about love and monsters and how those themes play a major role in mythology. Stephanie Dray has a new book out: Lily of the Nile, which tells the story of Selene, the daughter of Cleopatra and Mark Antony. Although Selene played a major role in history, she isn't really talked about. I can't wait to learn about her. While Lily of the Nile is a historical novel, Stephanie Dray also writes paranormal romances under the name Stephanie Draven. I'm looking forward to reading Poisoned Kisses, just in time for Valentine's Day!

Cabot Explores More of Hudson, NY

Parade Hill, the park overlooking the Hudson and the Catskill Mountains was given to the town for public recreation in 1795. How cool is that.

The view from the Promenade on Parade Hill. In the distance are the cloud covered Catskill Mountains. In the middle of the river you can barely see the Hudson Athens lighthouse, built in the mid 1800s.

Cabot decided to take the trolley down to the park by the river.

These trolleys are, in effect, the local bus service in Hudson. We said we didn't mind when the driver said he had to stop for gas.  He was a little embarrassed that his trolley wasn't cleaner, but we said we didn't mind. All the cars look like this. Sadly he also told us that the trolleys were being replaced by a more modern bus service come the new year. Phooey!

We drove down to the bottom of Warren Street to the Amtrak train station. It was built in 1874, and is the oldest continuously used station in the state.

Behind the station is a beautiful park right next to the Hudson River. In the summer there are free concerts and a paddlewheel boat that does sightseeing cruises.

Henry Hudson did in fact stop here on his trip up the river. Actually he was grounded on the island in the river. Across the Hudson, the Catskills are home to the legendary Rip Van Winkle.

Everywhere you look there is a beautiful view.

Across from the station, we saw a notice put up by Time & Space Limited, a great cultural center in town. They have simulcasts from the Metropolitan Opera and filmed plays from the current season of the National Theater of London and others.

On his way back home, Cabot waved good bye to more country cousins who are lucky enough to have their own Christmas tree!

Cabot on Warren Street in Hudson, NY

In December 2010, Cabot paid a visit to a friend in Hudson. Hudson, NY is about 2 hours north on NYC on the Hudson River, nestled between the Catskills & the Berkshires. It has a famous, Historical District, called " one of the richest dictionaries of architectural history in New York State."The town was founded in 1785, and became an important whaling ports, despite being many miles from the sea. For a while after that, it was an industrial center before going through an economic downturn. More recently, it has become a well known arts and antiques center. 

 Warren Street (the main drag) is lined with fascinating shops and galleries. Cabot is staying in a nice apartment right on Warren Street above a wonderful antique store (the blue building).

So Cabot is going to take a walk down Warren Street to look at the beautiful buildings. The first thing he saw was a car sporting reindeer antlers!

We are at the top of Warren Street looking west towards the river. The colorful building is Mexican Radio, a well known restaurant.

Walking down Warren Street we see beautiful buildings. The one with the mansard roof was built in 1811.

The Spotty Dog, beer, books & art supplies. How can you beat that!

 Nice decorations!

For some reason, the owners of this building tried to make it look like a pumpkin!

Some country cousins in the window. For some reason, people in Hudson like to put toy rats in their windows though these were the only ones Cabot could find.

More beautiful buildings.

 The Hudson Opera House, built in 1855 and NY State's oldest surviving theater. Next to it is Ca' Mea, a good Italian restaurant.

Of all things, a Jamaican grocer! Mmmmm, beef patties!

Nearly at the bottom of Warren Street. Here are the oldest buildings, a few dating from the late 1700s.