By Angela Rocco DeCarlo ©2009 -

They’re back!

Sadly, there was no train exhibit last year at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Yorba Linda, CA, and plenty of train enthusiasts were disappointed, especially those who had enjoyed the trains the previous two years. But this year the train exhibits have returned, bigger and better, thanks to the dedication of various model train clubs, including the Southern California LEGO© Train Club and Train Collector’s Association and Empire Railway Museum, Perris, California. This is a “must-see” holiday event for the entire family: A tradition to treasure.

It’s hard to tell who is more thrilled by the 1,500 feet of track, 13” tall multi-layered landscapes with 14 trains running on six tracks – adults remembering their own toy trains as children or the children they have with them, experiencing the romance of trains as their fathers and grandfathers once did. The exhilarating displays call for repeat visits to fully appreciate the charm of the two rooms of trains. The entrance lobby is taken up with a ginormous LEGO© landscape, while the traditional mountain of trains keeps company with the George Washington “Crossing the Delaware” painting in a separate room.

The LEGO© cityscape is spectacular, with skyscrapers, heliports, street cafes, miniature vehicles of all kinds, including, of course, moving trains. There is a 20 foot-long suspension bridge and a 15 foot-long cable-stayed bridge and two others. There’s even a little pirate’s cove hidden beyond “civilization.” It is difficult for the eye to accommodate the fabulously diverse features, so the museum made a little game to help the children along.  Two whiteboards list items for viewers to find. The day we were there, the items viewers were encouraged to locate were: Superman; four American flags (hint: look for Superman at one of the flags); sea monster (look under a bridge); five helicopters, two pizza trucks and much more. It was not an easy task – but made the experience more challenging. Older kids especially liked circling around to find as many of the designated pieces as possible.

The second display room, in addition to the mountain of trains, had an 8’ x 8’ glass-enclosed, button-operated inter-active game. The children could push a button to make the helicopter fly, the RR gate go up, the conductor emerge from the station and other actions. Wonderful vintage videos of the opening of Disneyland, 1955, played on, with then-Vice President Richard Nixon and family cutting the ribbon to start the Disneyland Monorail train and having a tough time doing it. Walt Disney had to rip it apart with lots of laughs all ‘round.

In this room the huge mountain of six levels of moving trains – all different sizes, tiniest at the top, largest on bottom – was enchanting. The landscape was dressed for autumn on two sides with a beautiful winter scene of a snow-dappled village, complete with an infinitesimal flying Santa sleigh at the top, on the other side. The children never tired of going round and round to marvel at the trains rushing through tunnels and over bridges, finding something new with each look. They have asked to go back again.

When you go, be sure to inspect the various cases along the walls, which contain marvelous Lionel trains – invented in 1901 by Joshua Lionel Cowan. Initially, the animated trains were used to attract window shoppers in New York City. Each year the Lionel Company produces 300 miles of track and has built 50 million train sets.

Each year my own Christmas fireplace tableaux features a Lionel engine from one of these trains – a last remnant of a post-WII Lionel train set. The set belonged to my husband, Dan, when he was a boy, but the rest of the set – tracks and trains– were flooded out in the basement of our suburban Chicago home years ago. Only the treasured heavy black metal engine remains.
In his memoirs, Richard Nixon wrote: “All through grade school my ambition was to become a railroad engineer.” His father, Frank, who built the family home, which is located at the Museum, had been a street-car motorman in Columbus, Ohio, before the family relocated to California.

Today, with our ability to fly across the country in the time it would have taken Nixon’s father to travel by horse and wagon from Whittier to Anaheim, the romance and wonder of the adventure trains once represented is hard to imagine. This exhibit rekindles that amazement of travel and trains and the longing to explore, which is engendered by powerful trains cutting through the countryside.

Don’t miss the full-size steam engine, “Chloe,” a sugar plantation engine, displayed next to the presidential helicopter (go inside the helicopter for extra fun) east of the Nixon home at the edge of the library property. On your way to the helicopter take a peek in the windows of the White House East Room replica with its glorious crystal chandeliers and oil paintings.

Something of the horse and wagon remains in modern trains and their tracks. It is said the width of the early train track – 56.5” wide – replicates the width of two horses and the wagons they pulled. Going farther back, there were roads of wood rails in Germany in 1550, which had horse-drawn wagons hauling freight and people. The iron rails and wheels arrived about 1776 and by 1789 a flange was added to allow the wheel to gripe the rail. Once the steam engine appeared – 1803 – in Wales, the world was changed forever. Various inventors are credited with the steam engine, among them James Watt, but there are others.

Of course, everything goes back to the Romans and train track widths are no exception. The width of modern train tracks are approximately the width of ancient Roman chariots’ wheels.  The engineer of the Knott’s Berry Farm full-sized steam engine first shared this with me. Further research indicated he was on the mark and the Romans can take another bow for their contributions to Western culture.

The Romans were in England 54 B.C. and didn’t leave until about 425 A.D. They left their beautiful roads, walls and centrally heated villas with hot running water to go defend the Empire elsewhere. It would be more than 1000 years before an Englishman would again have a hot bath in a warm house – and longer than that for fast transportation. They didn’t call it the Dark Ages for nothing. Technology and trains threw a bright beam of enlightenment across the land.

“A Holiday Festival of Trains,” Nixon Museum, runs until Jan 10, 2010.
Nixon Presidential Library & Museum
18001 Yorba Linda Blvd
Yorba Linda, CA92886
714-993-5075 – www.nixonlibrary.org
Admission: adults, $9.95; seniors $6.95; children 7-11 $3.75; children 6 and younger are admitted without charge.
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Jazz is a very adventurous puppy.  She loves to jump like a kangaroo and has tons of energy.   Since she’s growing so fast and increasingly strong, Jazz prefers the D&T all weather, multi-purpose harness on her trips in and around the city.   Her trainers like the fact that it’s light weight, durable, and adjusts as she grows.   I like the fact that it matches with everything she wears!   And for such a strong puppy, the D&T harness gives me back the control, which lets her know I’m the master, and can handle her strength now, and years from now.
On our park excursions, we made sure to note specifics on each off leash dog park and here are our findings:
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HERMON PARK DOG PARK

5566 Via Marisol

Los Angeles, CA 90042

(323) 255-0370
http://www.hermondogpark.com/

Hermon Park in the Arroyo Seco Dog Park is located between Monterey Road and the Arroyo Seco Parkway/110 Freeway. This 1 1/3 acre fenced dog park has separate areas for large and small dogs. The park is open during daylight hours everyday dawn til dusk. It has lots of water containers for its thirsty visitors and benches and a tree for shade for the owners.  Park features include barbeque pits, children’s play area, picnic tables, lighted tennis courts, and a diva’s favorite… art in the park!  This park is unstaffed and mostly dirt, not grass, but it has plenty of friendly faces.   Make sure to visit the website for upcoming events like “Yappy Hour” this coming June 28 from 5pm-7pm.
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BARRINGTON DOG PARK

333 South Barrington Avenue,

Los Angeles, CA 90049

(310) 476-4866

www.fobdp.org/

Barrington Dog park is an unstaffed 1,5 acre park in the area of Brentwood.   Covered in woodchips, dirt and some grassy areas, this park offers pooper scoopers to its visitors.  The large dog area is large and L-shaped, and when compared to the small dog area, this place looks like the garden of Eden.  Most of the people here are friendly and will introduce themselves and say hello.   This friendly approach is carried on to their dogs, who are very well behaved during this diva dog’s visit.
Facility Hours Of Operation:  Everyday  – Dawn to Dusk
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GRIIFFITH PARK DOG PARK

North Zoo Drive  Los Angeles, CA

323-913-4688
http://www.laparks.org/dos/parks/facility/dogparks/griffithParkDogPk.htm

This 1.6 acre dog park is located 1/2 mile west of the 134 Freeway at the John Ferraro Soccer Field, next to the Autry Museum and across from the main zoo parking. There are two separate fenced areas, one for larger dogs and the other for small or timid dogs. The restroom there is portable, which, to no surprise, I wasn’t too thrilled about.  Jazz didn’t really object to this since her restroom was all over and she had someone picking up after her.  Since I didn’t have the same luxury, our visit there was not lengthy.  Park hours are from 5:30 am to 10:30 pm everyday.

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LAUREL CANYON PARK -8260 Mulholland Dr.  Los Angeles, CA 90046

http://www.laparks.org/dos/parks/facility/laurelCanyonPk.htm (818) 769-4415

This adorable dog park is located in the hills of Studio City. It is completely fenced with water and even a hot dog stand. Park hours are Saturday to Thursday 6 am to sunset and Fridays 11 am to sunset. Great space with grass, trees, benches, picnic tables, and water bowls.  Celebrity sightings are common at this park, maybe even celebrity puppies.  To get there, take Laurel Canyon Blvd and go west on Mulholland Blvd. Go about a 1/4 mile and turn left. Parking lot below.
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RUNYON CANYON PARK

2000 N Fuller (Fuller and Franklin)

Los Angeles, CA 90189

(323) 666-5046

http://www.laparks.org/dos/parks/facility/dogparks/runyonCynDogPk.htm

Ready to spot celebs while parading your snazzy pup up the mountain?  This popular hiking trail is an off-leash area where you can enjoy views of Hollywood, the Wilshire District, and the skyscrapers of downtown L.A.  It is about a 2 mile round-trip from end to end in the park and if you forget the baggies, they have plastic baggies for you at the entrance. The top of the trail is located off Mulholland Hwy (about 2 miles east of Laurel Canyon Blvd) at Desmond Street in the Hollywood Hills. The bottom part of the trail is located at the end of Fuller Ave. and parking is available on the street. The trailhead might be kind of tricky to find from Fuller, but you’ll probably see other people going to or coming from the trail. At the Vista entrance there is a unmanned stand where you can get a granola bar, or banana for a $1.   The hike combines great exercise for you and your pet, and it offers some of the best views of the city.

Diva dog Jazz, loved her trips in and around Los Angeles dog parks.  She made lots of friends and got lots of great comments on her D&T harness and fabulous leather leash.   Even the fru-fru doggies at the Bretwood location were jealous!  Aaaahhhh, the sweet life of a pampered pup!
Follow Jazz on her next adventure when we look for the puppy friendly hotels and doggie day spas in the area.  For D&T Products, check out their site at:  www.DeanTylerProducts.com

(San Marcos, California) – In recent years, the uniqueness and beauty of
bamboo cutting boards have prompted many consumers to take notice and bring
them into their kitchens. But now a new development in the Totally Bamboo
line is “shaping up” to raise that interest to an even higher level of
innovation. Totally Bamboo’s Tropical Series Cutting & Serving Boards sport
a creative, fun tropical in-lay design on shapes like surf boards,
pineapples and Ukuleles.  These fanciful designs are great for parties or
everyday use.

Bamboo products in the Totally Bamboo line are not only beautiful, they are
durable and long-lasting as well. Bamboo is a renewable resource and is
harder than traditional hardwoods. Designed with earth friendly living in
mind, the Tropical series of cutting boards are made from organically
cultivated bamboo and is free from formaldehyde adhesives, dyes or stains.

Prices for the Tropical line range from $12.99 – $24.99 for these unique

boards and are available at www.totallybamboo.com

Media/PR Contact: Todd Brabender/Spread The News PR – (785) 842-8909  todd@spreadthenewspr.com

Lets face it, most men, even those metrosexuals, really do not realize that girls do not wake up soft, shaven and smelling oh-so-pretty.   And if you think you are one of those women who do, stop lying to yourself.  You don’t.  One week sans razor, a half way decent hair product  and some deodorant…. and you would be hanging out with a pint of ice cream on a Friday night in no time.

Shoes (fabulous ones) were not meant to always be comfortable.  I can not say that I know anyone who has worn their heels to work out. If you want a pair of shoes that feel like running shoes, then well… you have to buy running shoes.  Fabulousness sometimes means that our feet will have that occasional blister and perhaps a soothing pedicure, but so what.

SO. I have discovered Compeeds.  These small, invisible, comfy god sends that let me wear even the bitchiest of stilletos in comfort.   Carrie Bradshaw would be envious.

Unless you are hiking the Incan Trail, a girl needs shoe choices.  And now, with my discovery, I no longer am challenged to pack comfortable shoes versus my diva pair.  I bring 8 maybe 10 pairs knowing that I don’t have to look life a softball player on my travels to be comfortable.

Ultimately, now, all my heels are practical shoes.