More Than Dinosaurs

                                                              

I love going to museums, and I love taking my grandchildren, nieces and nephews to museums, too. In a society hooked on Social Media and the latest Xbox games, museums might appear to be a tame place to visit, but I am here to dispute that fallacy right now. Can a museum entertain better than a video game? Find out after the jump.

Princess Mia & Cinderella Party...South Philly Style

                                                                    

I was born and raised in South Philly and although I’m a South Jersey girl now, having moved to Audubon after my husband retired from the Fire Department; my heart belongs to the City of Brotherly love, Cheese steaks and block parties.

I love Audubon, New Jersey, because we have enough small pockets of wooded area to attract hawks, migrating birds, ducks, fox, possum, raccoon, native honey bees, butterflies, and of course, Turkeys. No, I’m not talking politicians. I’m talking wild turkeys. There are several males and females who stroll up and down our street.

                                                   

Every once in a while, I have to get back to my roots and I do that whenever I visit my family. My sister and brother and their families live in South Philly. Sometimes, I’ll go to Sunday mass at St. Monica’s church with my sister. If you remember from my “Life with Fred & Lucy” Episodes, my siblings and I went to St. Monica’s school. There were no lay teachers back in the day. We had NUNS! The good sisters of the order of the Immaculate Heart had to deal with the entire Maratea family which included all my cousins from the Tempesta and Deluccia Family. I know without a doubt that we kids drove the nuns crazy.

                                   Princess Mia with Mom and Dad

                                                                          

This past week, my brother’s granddaughter, Mia Rose, turned four. Mia is a cutie pie and a diva. I love this kid. My niece, Rita, and her husband, Eric, had a street party celebrating Halloween and Mia’s Birthday.

                                                                          

South Philly knows how to party and when we party, we do it right. There was a DJ playing music, several bounce rides and toss games, and of course, plenty of good food.

My niece hired a costume character to drop by and offer Mia a birthday wish. She had contacted www.tgifparties.com  Mia loves Cinderella and was very happy when the Disney Princess showed up.

                                                                    

I’m guessing that Cinderella had no idea what she was getting into when she dropped by. Most hired characters make an entrance, take pictures with the birthday child, play music and do a few games and then they leave. Not with my family.

                                                                   

Mia Rose, all four years of marvelous, took Cinderella by the hand to show off her bedroom, and then, her playroom in the basement. Cinderella was coerced into playing doll baby and doctor. Mia then declared that Cinderella was in need of a nap and had the princess lie down and go to sleep. It was hilarious watching this whole scene.

                                                                     

Cinderella may have expected this job to last maybe 30 to 45 minutes. I think she and her audio/video assistant were at Mia’s party for way over an hour. Mia was in her glory and I was impressed with Miss Deena, Cinderella’s alter ego.

                                         Mia, Cinderella and Uncle Mike                        

                                                     

One of my jobs at the Academy of Natural Sciences, www.ansp.org  before retiring was the Coordinator of the Birthday Program. I had a staff of delightful, caring people who were well-trained and well-versed in accurate natural history facts. My “Birthday Angels” made the Birthday Party Program one of the most successful programs at the Academy and it was because they made the birthday child, family and guests feel like royalty.

                       Princess Mia with brother, Jason and cousins

                                                                       

Deena did an outstanding job of going with the flow and, happily participated in all requests made by our family’s little princess. If I was still working at the Academy, Deena would have fit in perfectly with my “Birthday Angels.”

If you need a Cinderella for your little princess then please contact www.tgifparties.com  

Ask for Deena and tell them Aunt Marie sent you.

Steampunk Granny’s Cabinet of Curiosities: Cemeteries, Divine Hand, Body World, Grounds for Sculpture

                                                                  

I've been busy this past month with attending events all over the place. Just a few weeks ago, I headed over to the Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia to listen to the marvelous music of the Divine Hand Ensemble headed my Mano Divina.  The ensemble played funerary music...music that was commonly played from sunset to sunrise the next day at the graves of the newly departed to help them on their journey past that thin curtain that separates the living from the dead.

                                                                  

 

It was a custom that had fallen out of favor with the church during Pope Leo’s reign and that is such a shame because the music is beautiful and haunting at the same time.

                                                              

While my two friends and I enjoyed the music, I witnessed the spirit of a woman dancing around the tree above and to the left of the mausoleum when the Mano played the theremin. The cemetery, although very old, is well kept and the lovely and helpful staff plan out all kinds of activities during the year.

                                                                 

                                      

Please check their event page and do visit this cemetery. It is a step back into time and it is alive with natural beauty. Check it out here: http://www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org/index.php?m=1&p=1&s=1

Mano Divina and the members of his orchestra will mesmerize you with the beauty of their music.  

You can catch the Divine Hand this Friday at:

Friday, October 10, 2014
REEFER MADNESS with a live improvisational score by The Divine Hand Ensemble!
Plus vintage animated shorts with live scores!
Doors 7:30, Program at 8:00
$10, advance tickets:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/863924

Anti-drug cult classic REEFER MADNESS will be screened at PhilaMOCA accompanied by a live improvised performance by the theremin-led chamber orchestra The Divine Hand Ensemble. The evening will begin with vintage animated shorts accompanied by live scores.

http://divinehand.net/
http://www.philamoca.org/

                                                                                             

Body World Animals Inside & Out

When I’m not visiting Laurel Hill, I’m visiting museums. My friend, Denise, recently invited me to the Franklin Institute’s members’ opening night of Body World.

                                                                                             

You might, at first, think the subject matter more on the level of gore, but you would be mistaken. Our bodies and that of animals are so much than bone, muscle and arteries. We are all works of art.  Do yourself a favor and check this exhibit out.

                                                       

Chocolate at the Academy of Natural Sciences

Who doesn’t like chocolate? Maybe zombies, but for the rest of us, chocolate makes us happy. Here are some details, but the exhibit opens this weekend. If you go, buy me a bar of chocolate.

Join us THIS weekend, October 11-12, for the opening of Chocolate: The Exhibition! Enjoy activities all weekend devoted to the delicious science behind everyone's favorite treat. And yes, there will be chocolate to eat...
Get all the details and purchase advanced tickets: http://www.ansp.org/Visit/Events/Details/?eid=5859&iid=18112

                                                             

Sculpture for the Soul

This week, my fellow spirit investigators and I headed to Hamilton New Jersey to visit the Grounds for Sculpture. This place is amazing!! The statues were so lifelike and there were several times I made the mistake of confusing a real person for a statue. Don’t ask.

                                                                  

Seward Johnson conceived of and opened the grounds in 1992 with the mission of promoting and understanding and appreciation of contemporary sculpture and to promote emerging artists. The grounds are surrounded by beautiful nature and boasts two cafés and a restaurant. “Grounds for Sculpture” is even more important in today’s world due to the severe cuts to education. The first classes to get cut are always the arts and that is inexcusable. Located on 126 Sculptors Way, Hamilton, NJ 08619

                                                               

                                           

                                            I’ll let my pictures convince you to go.

 

                                                                 

Gilbert's Interview with the Creator of Devine Organics

                                                                      

 

Demetra Davis is a dear friend and colleague from the days before I retired from the Academy of Natural Sciences where my position was Manager of the Changing Exhibit Hall and Birthday Party Coordinator. Demetra, who was part of the WINS Program, not only worked in my department, but helped out with Safari Overnights, Outside-in, and Diorama Carts. What is Wins? Women in Natural Sciences, which is a free after school and summer science enrichment program at the Academy of Natural Sciences that introduces hundreds of high school girls to careers in science by providing hands-on science workshops. I knew from that first day that Demetra introduced herself to me in the Changing Exhibit Hall, that this young lady was going places. She has the entrepreneur spirit! Demetra has started her own business selling beauty products and she is my guest on my blog.

                                                                  

 

What inspired you to start Divine Organics?

I was inspired to start my business because there are so many products out there that don't do what they're supposed to do. They don't moisturize, they don't clean, and a lot of them are bad for you laced with more chemicals that natural ingredients. Also I've noticed a lot of the healthier options are too expensive. A lot of people will buy the cheaper stuff because it's cheap and they're harming themselves. I wanted to offer solutions to both problems.

Have your friends tried your products and if so, what did they like or dislike about the products?

Yes I make everything myself and I also allow anyone who wants to order from me to customize their order. Right now I offer body scrubs and whipped hair and body butters. I allow the customer to choose their ingredients.

 

Yes, I’m planning on selling this on line and people can find my products on these two sites. Life with Demetra and here. 

Here is the list and price of products available now:

 

                                                                      

So far I have three scrubs I love

Vanilla Coffee

Vanilla Lavender

Lavender Mint

Eucalyptus Mint

Vanilla Almond

Vanilla Lemon

You can customize your scrub by choosing your ingredients from the list below….

                                                                   

Exfoliates

• Dead Sea Salt (Body)
• Atlantic Sea Salt
• Lavender Dead Sea Salt (Body)
• Sherpa Pink Himalayan Salt (Body)
• Organic Coconut Sugar (Face and Body)
• Cinnamon Vanilla Nut Coffee (Face and Body)

                                                                      

Oils (All organic and cold pressed)

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Unfiltered and Unrefined)
• Jojoba Oil
• Sweet Almond Oil
• Sunflower Seed Oil
• Castor Oil
• Avocado Oil
• Rosehip Oil

                                                                       

                                                            

• Jamaican Black Castor oil
• Peppermint Castile soap
• Lavender Castile Soap
• Tea Tree Oil
• Lavender Essential Oil
• Peppermint Essential Oil
• Eucalyptus Essential Oil
• Organic Orange Extract
• Organic Vanilla Extract

I have 4 oz for $4, 8 oz for $8 and 12 oz for $14 available now and will add more sizes later this week.

Demetra Davis's Products can be found here and here.

I'm so happy for you, Demetra, and I want to thank you for visiting my blog. You can bet that I’ll be ordering my own body scrub to try out and I'll be telling everyone how much I love it. Best wishes to you.

Meet the Brains behind B17

                                                      

I love promoting people and I've done a few interviews over the last year that I'm very proud of.  Check it out on my interview page on my blog.

                                                                       

 

Some of the people I interview on my blog became my friend through Facebook or Twitter, but this interview that I'm sharing with you now is more special. I've known Dylan Evans for a long time. We worked together at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. Once a week, every Monday, I would work in Outside-in. Dylan Evans was a volunteer in Outside-in and in the Live Animal Unit. He was an amazing worker and wise beyond his years. I keep in touch with all my friends from the Academy and I was very excited to learn that Dylan Evans and Nick Fitzke were the brains behind B 17. Dylan Evans agreed to let little Miss Marie brag about her former volunteer. So let me do that now.

                                                             

                                                                            

Marie Gilbert: Dylan, I'm so happy to have you as a guest on my blog. Tell my readers a little bit about yourself and how you got involved with B17?

 Dylan Evans: B17 was an idea that my fraternity brother Nick Fitzke and I had going for a while. It wasn't until one day we randomly decided to put our ideas into motion. I came back from class (currently attending Temple University) sat down with Nick and created B17 into what it is today. Since I have no musical talent I decided to do what I know best music production/business. I currently work for Live Nation (over 4 years) and recently started working for Global Spectrum. I have been in the business and I wanted to branch into the college music scene at Temple because I see the opportunity for artist exposure, industry experience, and the opportunity to make money. My business partner Nick Fitzke is one of our artists/promoters/media designers. Finally, the last person of my team is a man named Darwin Paz. He is our last promoter and event photographer. B17's three man team is coordinated, efficient and effective in getting the job done and bringing the individual a unique concert experience. 

                                                                                                       

Marie Gilbert: What type of audience are you aiming to reach with your music?

Dylan Evans: For now B17's audience is primarily Temple University students as the bars and house shows we book are near campus. However, what makes B17 great is that were not just about having shows and parties. Artist exposure and promotion is what we do as well. Our diverse rooster of artists range from EDM dj's to acoustic singers. Currently B17 has 4 artists: DJ Nortap, DJ IAM, Kid Nova, and Katie Byrne. Our audience is anyone whose looking for good music and good times. We had a show at a bar called Maxis, over 300 people came and they sold out of PBR beer, Long Island Ice Teas, and yingling octoberfest beer. There was a 30 min line just to get in, and that was our first show! Currently B17 has a rap show planned for November 23. If shows are not your thing, we post all of our artists music on facebook.com/b17music.

Marie Gilbert: What future plans do you have in the works with B17 Production

Dylan Evans: The plans for the future of B17 are clear from a promoter stand point. Continue building an audience and start slowly building outside of Temple University. Build up a stronger audience allows for bigger venues to be booked. In addition the bigger B17 gets will allow me to start pushing our artists harder and harder to create more of their own content. As of now B17 artists all have their own original songs. My overall plan is to get them to create their own albums by the end of the year. 

Marie Gilbert: Where can my readers find your music?

Dylan Evans: For anyone interested on helping B17, please check out our music on:

https://www.facebook.com/b17music

https://www.facebook.com/DjNortap?ref=stream

https://soundcloud.com/djnortap

http://www.mixcloud.com/AMSherman516/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/DJ-IAM/288967834568868

Katie Byrne:
youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/KatieByrneMusic

Reverb Nation: http://www.reverbnation.com/katiebyrne

Kid Nova: https://www.facebook.com/pages/DJ-KiD-NoVa/357525930948930

SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/kid-n0va


Thank you so much Dylan for being my blog guest, and I'll be keeping an eye on your company's progress, maybe do a follow up interview with you. And for all my readers and music lovers out there, check out B17.



 

Goodbye Dr. Ruth Patrick

                                                                            

Ruth Patrick was born in Topeka Kansas on November 29, 1907 and died on Monday, September 23, 2013; she was one hundred and five years old.  One hundred and five years is a long time, but Dr. Patrick didn’t waste one day of those years.
                                                                           

                                                   Dr. Patrick is fourth from the left

She was an Environmental Scientist working eight decades at the Academy of Natural Sciences on 19^th and the Parkway in Philadelphia. She was called “The den mother of ecology” by the Harvard University biologist, E. O. Wilson.

                                                                         

What did she do? Well, she was the nation’s authority on river systems and had devised a model called the “Patrick Principle”, which was used to gauge the health of a body of water. She was an activist and an authority on diatoms.

                                                                     

Diatoms are single cell organisms that scientist use as indicators of the quality of water found in streams and rivers. She knew her stuff and people knew it. She was the first woman environmentalist to be appointed to the DuPont Company’s Board of Directors. She advised President Johnson on water pollution; Ronald Regan on acid rain; worked with Congress on legislation that led to the nation’s primary water pollution laws. Congress listened to her, Presidents listened to her, and corporations listened to her.
                                                                              

She was a petite woman who received the National Medal of Science form President Clinton in 1996. You can go on line and learn about her many accomplishments, but I wanted to talk about the Dr. Ruth Patrick that the staff at the Academy grew to love and respect.
                                                                      

 Dr. Ruth Patrick was a friendly patient woman who enjoyed talking with any of the staff, who took the time to sit with her while she ate her lunch in the Academy’s café. I would sit and chat with Dr. Patrick if I had some free time from my busy day. But, believe me, I wasn’t the only staff member that sat mesmerized as she talked about the collection of diatoms, or the research expeditions that she went on.

                          

She talked about her father, Frank Patrick, a lawyer with a love of nature. It was he who gave the young Ruth her first microscope. She talked about the early years at the Academy during a time when woman were not readily accepted in the field of science. She was proud of her work. Dr. Ruth Patrick was a woman who inspired others to greatness. She was a friend.

                                                                          

                                                                

Some people will read about her in the obituaries and say, “She lived a long life.” But to those of us, who got to know the woman behind the scientist, we’ll say, “Not long enough.”

Goodbye Ruth, you'll be a hard act to follow.  

Under Glass, A Victorian Obsession

                                                                  

Calling all lovers of science! The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is hosting a free event featuring Author John Whitenight on Tuesday, October 8th at 6:30 p.m. The event will take place at the Academy of Natural Sciences on 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103

 

 

                                                                      

 

 

 

Spend an evening at The Academy of Natural Sciences with author John Whitenight as he explores the role that natural history played in the everyday lives of people from the 19th Century. During that era an obsession developed with the natural world which has never been surpassed. Mr. Whitenight will be sharing images and information from his book, Under Glass, A Victorian Obsession, which is a comprehensive study of the incredible array of objects that were created and presented under glass. Included will be botanical arrangements made from wax and sea shells as well as domes and cases filled with beautiful birds of every description. The focus will be on how the Victorians not only embraced natural history but included it in their home décor.

 

                                                                          

 

John Whitenight was born over 50 years ago in a small upstate Pennsylvania town. By the time he was five years old he had developed an avid interest in art. This continued into his teenage years when he decided he would explore this talent further and ultimately share it with others by pursuing an Art Education degree. Upon graduation he began his art teaching career in a senior high school where he remained for the next 30 years eventually becoming the chairperson of the department. During this period he also acquired a Masters equivalence in decorative arts-related studies in Philadelphia where he now resides.

                                                                          

Always a collector of Victoriana, one fateful day in 1973 friends gave him a small glass dome containing three canaries. The following decades have been rich with the study of the why and wherefore of these lovely domed items. Currently, the author’s collection contains over 175 domed displays ranging in height from four inches to some over a meter in height.

http://www.ansp.org/Visit/Events/Details/?eid=3610&iid=12123


I'm sending a shout out to all my Steampunk friends; this is a lecture that would interest you. To all my Facebook, Twitter and Google friends, check out the Academy of Natural Sciences' site for the listing of all their family friendly events. Tell them Steampunk Granny sent you.

Spying at the Franklin Institute

                                                                           

Yes, my little zombie snacks, I do other stuff besides ghost hunting, Steampunk Events and writing about zombies. Sometimes, I head on over to Philadelphia and visit museums. A few weeks ago, I was at The Academy of Natural Sciences Bug Fest with my grandsons, and Nathan even got a chance to be a judge in the Cook Off; he ate bugs and liked it!

                                                                 

                                                   

This past Wednesday, my two friends and fellow renegades and I went to the Franklin Institute to see the new exhibit. Jean took her two granddaughters. We headed straight to the Spy Exhibit and had the best time learning about the original OSS organization that lead to what we know today as the C.I.A.

                                                                     

                               

                                 The girls and I even got to crawl through an escape hatch.

                                                                          

 

                                        We didn't get to see Maxwell Smart's Shoe Phone,

                                                                                   

We liked the kiosk that showed how the spies strapped cameras onto pigeons and sent them off to gather information.

                                                                                   

They had some weapons that even James Bond would have loved to use, like the items below.

                                                                                   

                                                                         

We were even able to make it to the Demonstration Theatre to learn about fireworks: how they’re made; how they work; why they’re loud.

                                                                                  

 The instructor was Al Bruno, and not only was he knowledgeable about the subject matter, but he made the whole demonstration fun for adults and children alike.

                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                     
                          Sunday, my sister Lucy and I are heading over to the Art Museum
             
                                                                                      

                                             I’ll try not to get yelled at again for touching the art.