The Mount Washington Resort

My wife and I are on the same page when it concerns the giving of birthday presents. We would appreciate more an experience as opposed to a physical gift.

I had heard other people talk about the beauty of The Mount Washington Resort. So I looked into it; completed in 1902, so it had the vintage vibe we both like, is situated deep in the woods of New Hampshire just northeast of the White Mountains, and the price was reasonable. Trifecta!

I called the number and made the reservation. The gentleman asked me what the occasion the stay was for so I told him it was for my wife's birthday.

After having lunch in Ashland, NH, I asked my wife, "Isn't a classic movie star buried around here?"
She looked it up and discovered Claude Rains is buried in Moultonborough, about 30 minutes away...in the direction of the resort. Off we go!

We find Red Hill Cemetery and locate his headstone (his name is difficult to read, it being black on black).

Claude Rains' home until his death.

The resort was beautifully lit up at night.

We have arrive and check-in, find our room, and open the door. Hmmm, this looks nothing the picture of the room I booked. My wife opens a door which we discover is the bathroom. We stand there with our bags trying to figure out what to do next. She looks in the bathroom and sees another door. I thought it was a closet, but she opens it and...



...this is our room! I said, wait, don't unpack, this is obviously a mistake. A room this size rents out for $700 a night. I go downstairs to the Front Desk and speak to the woman who checked us in. I explain the size of the room and how much I was quoted. She looked at her monitor and said, "You are here for your wife's birthday, right?" Correct, I reply. She looks at me and says, "We upgraded you as a gift." Pick.up.jaw.from.floor. I thanked her several times and returned to the room. My wife asked me what happened. I told her to unpack as they upgraded us to this room for her birthday.

The Great Hall was bustling with people. There was sampling of wine and dessert being offered.

In 1944, both the World Bank and the International Money Fund were created in this room.

We woke up early for a morning swim and were greeted with these mountain views.

The view from the back of the resort.

This is video is from the bridge crossing the river in the back of the resort.

The breakfast buffet was outstanding! I indulged in an omelet and the sausages were infused with blueberries. 

The mountain views from our table. The view I have at home when I eat breakfast is a wall. 

One of the amenities the resort offered was afternoon tea. I had never experience this, so I made a reservation for two. We had talked about attending afternoon tea in Boston, but never got around to it.

We sampled a charcuterie board from local vendors.

Goodbye!

2018 Turner Classic Movie Film Festival, Part II: The Films

Here are three movies I attended at the Festival.

Wow! Much of the cast was on-hand to present the movie. Starting second from left, Neidermeyer, Babs, Hoover, D-Day, Otter, "Charming guy with guitar", a studio executive, and John Landis. I bumped into John Landis on the stairs!

The Lee Marvin classic, "Point Blank". This movie has been remade several times without the same stellar results.

Hot damn! This is a movie you see on the big screen. However, I was not around in 1968 to see it. To see San Francisco in '68 and the high-octane car chases on the big screen really was a great experience.

2017 Turner Classic Movie Film Festival, Part II: The Films

Most of the films screened at this festival are not in my scope of interest. Sometimes, they will show a few that are a must see on the big screen. Here are 4 I saw that year:

I promise you that figure at the podium is Alex Trebek. He was presenting, "The Bridge on the River Kwai".

TCM screens a movie at midnight. It is usually something ultra rare, had a cult following, never screened, or bizarre. That year it was, "Zardoz".  The first aspect of the movie which bothered me, was Sean Connery went from James Bond to a red diaper. WTF? How did that happen? Did his agent lose a bet? There are no words to describe this film in any known language. It must be watched to be believed. Everything you will ever hear about it is true. I beg of you not to take any sort of hallucinogen before you watch this movie. You will regret it in the worst way possible!  Someone in our group baked gingerbread Zardoz cookies. 

Micheal Douglas interviewed by Ben Mankiewicz before the screening of, "The China Syndrome".

This was a real treat! It really is something special to see all these cinematic masterpieces on the big screen.

2017 Turner Classic Movie Film Festival, Part I: Exploring LA

The first stop after we land is In-N-Out Burger. Fortunately there is a location just outside of LAX. I alway order number #1. My order is top and my wife's is on the bottom as she likes the sauce on her fries. 

We met friends Robby and Zinnia Cress for dinner. Robby suggested Bob's Big Boy in Burbank. Midway through the meal, he tells me they shot a part of Heat here! It's the scenes where Don Breedan shows up to work as part of his parole and when Neil recruits him to drive the getaway car. 

The world famous record store, Amoeba Records. I went in, "just to look around", and walked out with 4 Blu-rays. 

The Griffith Observatory is the sight of many movies and tv shows. Oh, and you can learn about about the cosmos, if you are into that thing.

The Observatory also has amazing views of the city. 

Shhh! Don't tell my wife...

Did she or didn't she?

Larry Edmunds Bookshop 6644 Hollywood Blvd.

My wife and I both hard core bibliophiles and cinephiles. So whenever we visit Los Angeles, we make it a point to visit Larry Edmunds. She always picks up a several books for research and pleasure. I have purchased a few books myself, mostly about the local history of Los Angeles. One cannot underscore the depth of material within the four walls. Not only do they sell books and vintage posters, they hold readings, screenings, and book signings. The shop has been open for 82 years and has been frequented by scores of actors, producers, and directors.  

Charlie Chaplin's old studio is now the home of Jim Henson's Company.

Kat Von D's Tattoo Parlor

Cantor's Deli

Season seven, episode one of Mad Men was filmed here. Don was, "visiting", California and met Pete here for lunch. 

Drinking Herradura Tequila at the infamous rock and roll bar, The Rainbow Bar and Grill, with cousins, Nick and Rod. 

More alcohol consumption with Nick. This one hooked me on Micheladas so now everytime I eat at a Mexican restaurant I order one. Here we are at Oscar's downing 25 ouncers. 

Galbi King Los Angeles

Nick suggested Galbi King Korean BBQ in Westside Plaza for dinner. I haven't this good Korean BBQ since my San Francisco days. 

Warner Brothers VIP Studio Tour 2013

On our last day in LA, my wife and I took a tour of the Warner Brothers studio. A friend of hers from the TCM Film Festival connected with someone on Twitter who works at the studio. He was kind enough to get us on the VIP tour and pay for two of the tickets. The VIP allows you to get off the tram and walk around a bit. You are shown areas the normal tours do not see. I was looking forward to this!

Warner Brothers has a very rich history in the movies. Aside from being in the business for 90 years they have also produced some of Hollywood's most famous movies.

This was my second time at the Warner Brothers studio. Back in 1995/6 my uncle worked at the studio on their computer systems. I was in LA and he suggested I meet him for lunch at the studio and then I could wander around. Hell yeah! Sounds like a plan to me.

Hallways used in "Ocean's Thirteen"

A street used in gangster movies from the 1940s

Same street facing the opposite direction.

This where the upside down kiss was filmed from "Spider-Man".

The building from, "The House of Wax", with Vincent Price.

The alleyway from "Friends" Monica and Rachel use in the episode with Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Storefronts, above and below, used in "Two Broke Girls"

The famous Warner Brothers water tower.

This is a parking lot used to simulate the top of the hospital in "E.R."

Exterior of the EL from "E.R"

Courthouse from "The Dukes of Hazzard"

The church from "Ocean's 11" (1960)

The house James Dean's character lives in from "East of Eden"

The exterior of The Belle Auroure from "Casablanca"

The kite scene from "Big Bang Theory"

.

The marquee from the end of "Yankee Doodle Dandy"

The theater used in the episode of "Big Bang Theory" where they steal "Raiders of the Lost Ark"

A park used in "Big Bang Theory"

The interior of Belle Auroure from "Casablanca"

Actual props from "Casablanca" except for the piano which is a replica. 

The space capsule from "Big Bang Theory" when Howard goes to space.

The Lincoln Continental from "The Matrix" and the Ducati 996 ridden by Trinity from "The Matrix Reloaded"

The Batmobile from the first series of "Batman" movies.

A Tumbler from "Batman Returns"

A Dodge Charger from the "Dukes of Hazzard" movie.

An actual Batman costume!

A car from one of the "Harry Potter" movies.

Yes, this is the actual Friends set! The same couch from the TV series. After the series ended, Warner Brothers kept the entire set for posterity. Even though I was not a dedicated fan of the show, this was a cool thing to see.

The Chinese curio shop where Gizmo the Mogwai was purchased in "Gremlins"

The office building from "Argo"

The street corner from "National Lampoon's Vacation" where the hubcaps are stolen.

Courthouse exterior from "Night Court" and countless other television shows and movies.

This is the workshop of the studio. It has been featured in "Black Legion" with Humphrey Bogart and "White Heat" with James Cagney.

This is Soundstage 16 and at 98 feet tall, it is one of the biggest in the world and the biggest in North America. Any movie that requires a massive set is filmed here. Some movies shot here are  Ghostbusters, Jurassic Park, the Batman trilogy, The Goonies, and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

It too dark inside Soundstage 16 to see anything. Damn!

The tour ended with a visit to The Warner Brothers Museum. It is designed to archive and display the history of the studio. You are not allowed to take your phone or camera inside. Housed here are some of the most memorable props ever shown on the big and small screen. 

There are costumes from Harry Potter, Batman, Big Bang Theory, Watchmen, 300, The Town, and Heartbreak Ridge.

Some of the props from the Hangover are the crowbar, the fake baby, the tooth, wedding swag, and the baby carrier.

Some Best Picture Oscars are included. Worthy to note, a shorter base was used for the first year only on the construction of the statue.

There was one piece that caught my attention. It was the actual piano used in "Casablanca". The same one Rick uses to hide the Letters of Transit and Dooley Wilson plays on. It was encased in clear to protect it. It is not owned by the studio but merely on loan from it's owner. It went to auction in late 2014 and was sold for almost USD 3.000.000!