Blog
If Tiki Isn’t Real, Where Did it Come From? The History of Tiki
Tiki culture—the drinks, the food, the music, and most noticeably, the décor – looks like it came from somewhere. That’s the idea. Visiting a tiki bar is supposed to give you the feeling of escaping to a tropical, exotic paradise. But that tiki paradise never actually...
What Exactly is a Tiki Bar?
As I prepare for a tropical storm by painstakingly removing approximately 4000 pounds of tiki masks, thatched umbrellas, glass floats, and other potential hurricane projectiles from my yard, I blame my parents. Not for the storm, of course. But I’m blaming them for my...
The Never-Ending Quest for a Safe 4th of July
“Stay safe!” has become the most common parting wish bestowed by friends and strangers alike in these COVID-centric times. All across the country, municipalities have cancelled 4th of July celebrations to keep people from gathering so that they remain safe. But this...
How Memorial Day Became the Start of Summer
When did Memorial Day become the start of summer? While some people lay flags on the graves of the fallen during Memorial Day weekend, far more people celebrate this solemn holiday by stripping off their clothes and heading for the nearest pool or beach. When did...
Ruining the Legend of the Easter Dogwood
This afternoon, as we took a windy walk, we passed a dogwood tree in full bloom and I asked my daughter if she knew the legend of the dogwood at Easter. I hope the owner of the tree doesn’t mind, because I took a flower home for Good Friday. Then I started researching...
Amanda Smith: Overcoming Obstacles Through Faith
Born into slavery and living in a world dominated by white males, Amanda Smith overcame many obstacles to share the Gospel and promote education around the world.
Really Unhappy Valentine’s Days
On February 14, many people in the Western world celebrate love and chocolate, so it can be a happy occasion. If you are lacking one or both of these causes for revelry, Valentine’s Day may not be such a great day. Rest assured, however, that you are not alone in your...
Bootleggers — More Than Expected
Today is, at least according to one post on social media, National Bootlegger’s Day. This makes sense because January 17 was the day Prohibition took effect, and this year marks the 100th anniversary of that day. While smuggling of alcohol to avoid taxes had long been...
Who Was Eating out of That Manger Anyway? Animals at the Nativity
This year, as we looked over the collection and watched wobbling angels push shepherds off the edge of the table, my daughter asked what animals would actually have been at the nativity. She had her doubts about the turkey strutting around in the loft, as if thrilled that he had survived another Thanksgiving. I agreed that turkeys were unlikely since their native habitat is about 7,000 miles from Bethlehem. So, then I started to wonder what animals might really have been there eating out of that manger.
Not Dead Yet – Waterloo Village Still Worth Visiting Despite All Attempts to Destroy it
Expectations were low as we headed to historic Wateloo Village in northwest New Jersey. Even so, when we first arrived, it appeared that those sea-level expectations were too high. The 19th Century canal town is now owned by the state of New Jersey and all appearances...