The Hunt For Green October
There’s nothing better than to have your team right in the thick of it as Labor Day approaches.
In the case of Oakland, it is indeed a pleasant surprise to find the team playing so well. Having been through enough years where third place looked like a bonus, as a fan I am excited.
Baseball as a group activity is always fun. As spectators, there is plenty of good food and drink to go along with that. Prices climb as usual but nothing quite like a beer and a hot dog with your ballgame. Insert James Earl Jones and Kevin Costner gag here (from Field of Dreams). Be it family, friends, co-workers or even alone. Just a good time watching folks playing the game.
That’s not to say that some people don’t add their own brand of nonsense to the game. Everything from running on the field to running one’s mouth about the umpires to starting a fight over spilled beer. You know how expensive that is? Not that I’ve ever enjoyed a game in hand cuffs. The press box maybe…
On the whole, folks out for the game are good people. There to enjoy the day and have a good time. Those who try to take advantage of a moment usually don’t succeed. Oh, the days when Mary Lou ruled over section 121… Now some of that was comedy. A benevolent dictatorship, it may have been. But for folks who had tickets to seats there, finest kind!
Baseball is pretty much the same where ever it is played. No matter if it’s the big leagues, minor league or even Little League. Just ask the kids from Petaluma. Spectators get into a game and live and die on the pitch, hit or caught by their favorite player.
My wife and I watched a game on television the other night while out for dinner. She mentioned that she didn’t recognize any names on the team. It is true that the guys who she may have watched are all gone now. Some to other teams, some to retirement, some to obscurity – simply released or waived. Still, we watch and we have a good time. As the new crop brings excitement back to the game.
As it should be.
What to drink?
I’m often accused of falling into a rut. And on the subject of beverages, too.
Being diabetic, I’ve changed my drink of choice to something usually low in sugar content. As well, I try to reduce my intake of diet soft drinks.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t still enjoy a good beverage now and then. Just more in moderation than I used to.
Now, on the subject of rum… Yes, there is still nothing that satisfies quite like a proper Mai Tai. Made as it should be. Don’t skimp on the ingredients, especially the lime. I get that produce isn’t as cheap as it once was, especially citrus fruit. But do it right or don’t do it at all.
I am fond of Trader Vic’s Dark Rum. Mixes really well with diet tonic water. Brings all of the proper flavors to the party. And it goes quite well with a nice Kuba Kuba cigar! Bacardi’s Anejo Rum has been attractive and enjoyed, too.
In other spirits, Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey call my name. Jim Beam wins out over Jack Daniels. Regular Jack just leaves an after taste that I don’t prefer. Jim Beam has a smoother finish for me. That doesn’t mean that Jack has no attraction. Honey Jack and Gentleman Jack are truly enjoyable, sipped neat. And I have had some fine punch that used Honey Jack as a base.
Another cigar accompaniment was a nice peaty single malt whiskey from Portland. Sipping a nice glass, rolling the miles by… Ah, that’s the life. But this whiskey isn’t for everyone. In other adult beverages on the liquor side, I’ve enjoyed a fair selection of Gins, Scotch Whiskey blends from time to time.
Beer? Oh, that could fill a column all it’s own. I have been to Germany and Oktoberfest, so good “bier” is a must. Out of all the German “biers”, I really enjoyed the Andescher Dopplebock. And who doesn’t love a good pint of freshly pulled Guinness? Of the local brews, yes it’s Anchor Steam. During the days of steam locomotive operation, Anchor Porter was another well enjoyed after a long day. But Stone Brewing’s Arrogant Bastard Ale not only has a great name but goes so well with all kind of snacks.
Wine and I have a long history. Even before I was legally able to enjoy it, there was an education. My maternal grandfather discovered it as a hobby later in life. So there were plenty of weekend adventures that included a stop at a winery along the way. I’m a fan of the Silverado Vineyards, especially the Soda Creek Ranch Zinfandel. And on that trip to Germany, we sampled a good bit. My favorite from the Rheingau was the Johanisberg Reisling at Schloss Johanisberg. Many great meals here have enjoyed a glass of Dr. Loosen Riesling from the Mosel.
When it comes to soft drinks, the diet side of the product is most often the choice. Coke over Pepsi, all the time. But there are plenty of great diet drinks about. Stewart’s Diet Root Beer as one example. And not to say that I don’t enjoy an occasional full product. Wailua Soda Works Root Beer has to be tasted to be believed! The pure cane brown sugar makes it’s presence known in a delightful way.
I’m a coffee guy more than tea, although a fresh brewed cup of either has it’s charms. Decaf works best for me for medical reasons. And Peets more than Starbucks, that’s my choice.
Even something as basic as water? A fan of Calistoga Water with lime. Although at work we’re good Arrowhead customers.
All this talk of a beverage… I gotta go.
It only takes a moment
As enjoyable as Buena Vista Street is, it likely never would have come to pass if this had not come first.
Yes, I recall various quotes, especially the one from John Hench, about the area as a parking lot. And I wonder what DCA might have been if Disney had spent the bucks here the first time around. As much of a fan of exploring the Golden State as I am, the idea behind the park intrigues me. The concept of giving guests a taste of California without actually having to travel all the miles? Not as bad as it sounds. That is, if Disney had remembered that people are what really make this state what it is.
For example, I would have love to have seen guests interact with some of the state’s more colorful characters. In the San Francisco area, it could have been Emperor Joshua Norton. One of the Gold Rush era’s best loved eccentrics. A tourist attraction all his own. Or something later, a hold over from the Sixties, The Automatic Human Jukebox. Inside that small space worked a great trumpeter. (Even if he was busted for selling pot out of the back.) A street artist who entertained tourists of all kinds.
The list can go on and on. So many great people with great stories to share. Sadly, Disney cheaped out and didn’t follow through as they should have. And now, it is great to see more street-mosphere cast members out and about. Interacting with guests. Making smiles and memories.
Even Walt recognized that people are an important part of the experience. “You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality.”
Disneyland and California Adventure are not museums. You don’t walk through a gallery from one work of art to another, quietly admiring the work. No, here you are part of the experience, whether you intend to be or not. And that is what being part of the magic is all about. If there are no guests having a great time, then it is better as a parking lot.
But with the right bit of magic and the right guest experience, that smile is worth every penny spent to bring it to fruition.
And that’s just what Walt set out to do. Glad to see that that spirit keeps coming to life every day in those former orange groves and parking lots.
It’s not the years…
So, I mentioned that I should be heading east in October. Taking a ride along the route of Amtrak’s California Zephyr to Chicago for a start. When it comes to this, I have only traveled between Reno/Sparks and Denver twice. And beyond to Chicago, never.
It is a fair number of miles crossed in the three days between the San Francisco Bay and the Windy City. 2438 of them to be precise. With some of the best scenery that Amtrak has to offer along the way.
In the fall of 1980, I celebrated my first anniversary of employment with AAA. The first of what would become 26. And back then, it entitled me to a whole week of vacation. Careful planning would allow just the right amount of time to enjoy most of those seven days on the rails.
Departing on a Thursday, I rode Amtrak’s San Francisco Zephyr with brand new Superliner equipment from Martinez to Ogden. Friday morning saw a limousine (a.k.a. a van) ride to Salt Lake City and onward to Denver aboard the Rio Grande Zephyr – the last non-Amtrak intercity passenger train operating in the country. At that time, Amtrak followed the route of the Union Pacific over the Great Divide crossing through Wyoming and down into Denver.
Saturday was an excursion organized by the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club aboard a chartered train from Denver to Sterling and back – pulled by the Union Pacific’s last operational steam locomotive. I had a coach seat in the last car in the train, which happened to be in aboard the only dome car in the consist. A fun day, to say the least! (The UP operated the lounge car and the dining car for the trip. And they managed to run out of beer before the train got to Sterling. So, a few of us chipped in and bought a case of Coors for the ride home. I traded a cold one for a roll of Kodachrome slide film, which I then used for extra photos on the remaining photo run-by’s along the Platte River.) The day ended with a beer in the newly restored cocktail lounge at the Denver station and dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory in a former Denver Tramway power house.
Sunday I had plans to head off to Golden and visit the Colorado Railroad Museum. A miscue on my part put me on the wrong bus. (This was in the pre-Internet days, so I can be forgiven.) I did manage to salvage the day by visiting the Forney Transportation Museum instead. Really enjoyed visiting with the HO scale model railroad folks there
Monday was another chance to ride the Rio Grande Zephyr. Truly magnificent ride up the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Also picked up several Rio Grande hats at the station at Grand Junction – as well as a California Zephyr tablecloth purchased from one of the coach attendants. And who could forget a meal in the Silver Banquet, the dining car on the RGZ?
Tuesday, it was back aboard the San Francisco Zephyr for the ride across the Great Salt Lake and back across Nevada to home at Martinez. While riding aboard new Superliners was nice, I had enjoyed quite the renaissance those days before on the Rio Grande and the Union Pacific. Wednesday was a chance to catch up and be ready for work the next day.
So… what does this year’s trip hold in store? Frankly, a much quieter, less hectic pace. At least to start. If all goes as planned, a Saturday in October will see a mid-morning departure from Emeryville, headed east. Seven days later we’ll roll to our first destination and the fun will really start.
But that’s another story!
No Movie Tie-In Here
With the success of Carsland at California Adventure, plenty of folks are speculating what the next move is for Disneyland.
Sure, there is plenty of space ready for something new. Or a look about other areas of the Park can lead to screams of “replace” this and “bring back” that. Making the final call on what will come to pass will be one tough decision.
The history of Disneyland is littered with ideas that never became reality. Everything thing from Liberty Square to Westcot and then some. A whole bunch of great ideas that never got to the construction point. Do I hear a reference to Discovery Bay or the Western Rivers Expedition?
Right now, the next generation of kick butt theme park experiences in Southern California will probably have a wizard flavor to them. Meaning Harry Potter and company with their expanded presence at Universal Hollywood. All from the books, er… the movies, with plenty of ready made fans waiting to experience it all for themselves.
Knowing Disney and the folks at Imagineering, I have to doubt if they will surrender this battle and simply roll over, giving Universal it’s moment of glory. It is very unlike them to do so. No, there has to be something that keeps the guests coming back. Keeps them renewing Annual Passes at the high dollar rates.
But what will be the inspiration for this? Likely, it will have ties to something else. Something the public will have to part with their disposable income for. Probably a movie tie in. Safe to say, something that Disney owns. But right now? What could that be? Other than the Avengers and the Marvel world, there is not a whole lot that really sets that pace. And don’t forget, Disney can’t step into that world quite as fast as it wants to. Because who owns the rights to use those characters in a theme park setting? Universal.
Some of Disneyland’s best and most love attractions did not begin as movies. Take for example, Pirates of the Caribbean. It dates back while Walt was still alive and keeping his park going. Sure, it has since spawned 4 films and given Johnny Depp millions – with a 5th film lurking out there. Or the Haunted Mansion? Again, goes back to when Walt was alive. Generated one mildly forgettable comedy with another film in the works. Jungle Cruise? Same story.
And the image today? Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room. No movie behind the story presented here. No talking bird film inspired this attraction. Yet, still a guest favorite.
Movie tie-in’s are not a bad thing, as the Indiana Jones and Star Tours attractions prove. Same goes for all the Pixar spin-offs now in the Park, and around the world at other Disney parks.
One could write a dissertation on the in’s and out’s of what works and what does not work when it comes to attractions. Why some find favor with guests and other don’t. For my money (spent on AP’s over the years), Disney succeeds most when the guest becomes part of the experience. When your perspective becomes that of a character, you are invested in the experience.
Be it flying over London with Peter Pan or racing through the hills of Radiator Springs, being the focus of the events going on around you makes a connection on a level that works. Sure, it is easier if you have somewhere to start that connection from. Tying into a movie world is a great start. But it does not have to always begin there.
Somewhere, someone waits to share that next great idea that will become the next “must do” guest experience. A part of me wants to be blown away. Taken someplace new and exciting, off on an adventure that I haven’t seen or done before and in a way that I can’t experience any where but Disneyland.
One can only hope that it comes to pass.