2 #Weddings in 1 Weekend ~ #Travel #CT #NJ Mini #vacation

The scenery around The Pond House in CT was beautiful!

I love weddings, and not just because I'm a romance author.  A celebration of love and commitment is always a happy occasion, and I always do my best to attend any that I'm invited to.  After all, families and friends often gather from all over for sad occasions such as a funeral, so I try to give just as much weight to the opportunities to see loved ones for the joyous events like weddings and baptisms.  Last fall, I took quite a trip (car ride, train ride, another car ride) to get from Cape Cod, MA, to Staunton, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley, for my cousin's wedding, which took a total of about 12 hours...I could have made it to Hawaii in that time I think!  But I had a great time with my siblings, and my sister and I explored an abandoned sanatorium in MD along the way (I also write ghost stories, and we're both a fan of all things spooky), and we finished off the long weekend with my niece's baptism.

That was the last wedding I went to until this weekend, and when we initially received two "Save the Date" cards for weddings on the same weekend, we panicked for a moment.  One was for my side of the family--my step-brother--and the other was for my husband's side of the family--his cousin.  And they were BOTH out of town.

Wedding #1 in Jersey City, at the Liberty House
What a view, the Manhattan skyline in the
background!

But when we compared the two cards, we realized we might be able to swing attending both.  The first one was a Friday evening, although all the way in Jersey City, NJ.  The second one was on that Sunday morning, in West Hartford, CT...which would be on our way home from NJ and only 2 1/2 hours from our return home on Sunday evening.

I'm thrilled to say both weddings and receptions went off without a hitch (that I saw, anyway), and it was great fun to see both sides of the family in one weekend.  Since we had Saturday to ourselves, my hubby and I also got to spend some quality time together (our teen boys had work and sports commitments, so they stayed home and also watched and probably play a lot of Fortnight).  We had a relaxing morning in the hotel, got to CT by 4 pm, and then walked around the very cute downtown area of West Hartford.  A little shopping, dinner outside at Max's Oyster House, and drinks on the rooftop of the Elbow Room.  

Cute restaurants and stores in West Hartford!

Hmmm...

We didn't get to stop at any haunted locations, which is always something I like to do when I travel, but I did notice a few slightly creepy aspects involved with both weddings:  the first one was on Friday the 13th, which is pretty brave...here's more on Why People Fear Friday the 13th in one of my Superstitions posts.  And the second wedding was on Asylum Road.  I feel like there's a story there I need to investigate!

One last practical part of the weekend that made me happy:  I got to wear the same dress!

Same pose, same clothes, at Wedding #2

Haunted History of #theDakota ~ #NYC #NewYork #Travel #paranormal #ghosts

View of the Dakota from Central Park

Because I have a strong fascination with all things spooky, I tend to seek out haunted places to visit when we go on trips.  When we spent a day in Paris during a London trip, I insisted on exploring the Catacombs.  We also spent a day at the Tower of London, which is surely home to some restless spirits.  In Maryland, I've explored the abandoned Glenn Dale TB Hospital.  Closer to home, I've taken tours of the Old Jail (oldest wooden jail in the entire country), and haunted locations around Barnstable Village. 

More recently, between Christmas and New Year's this winter, we went to New York City to spend some time with our best friends again...with our family in MA, and theirs in VA, NYC is an excellent--albeit expensive--half-way point.  And there's so much to see packed into such a small area!

Looking up from the street...I can believe this building is haunted

When I looked up a list of haunted places in NYC to see what would come up, I was intrigued by The Dakota.  This is an exclusive apartment building on Manhattan's Upper West Side, built in 1884 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  The list of celebrities who have lived--or currently live--here is very long, but one of the most well-known residents was John Lennon of the Beatles, who was murdered at the entrance of the building in 1980.  Some claim to see Lennon's ghost, but John Lennon himself apparently spoke of some supernatural encounters in the building before his assassination.  He mentioned an encounter with an apparition in the hallway, who he dubbed "the Crying Lady Ghost".

Site of John Lennon's assassination

Another frequently seen spirit is a little blonde girl dressed in early 1900s clothing, sometimes bouncing a ball.  There have been reports of other apparitions, including a figure resembling Edward Clark, head of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, who built the Dakota but died before the building's completion.

Residents and employees have reported seeing objects move on their own, including things too heavy for a person to lift.

The exterior of the building is a Gothic blend of gables and dormers, arches and balustrades, with ornate iron details.  It is imposing and intimidating enough to have been chosen to represent The Bramford in the horror movie Rosemary's Baby, in which a Satanic cult in the building try to impregnate a new resident with the Devil's baby.  Thankfully, that is a fictitious tale created by Ira Levin in his book of the same name.

This intricate & somewhat sinister ironwork goes all the way around the building

I would have loved to explore the interior of the building, but as I mentioned, it's the home of many famous and affluent residents, and there is security at the entrances.  But I took plenty of photos of from outside, and while I don't think I caught any ghosts on camera, it did give off a spooky vibe that sent a few shivers down my spine.

This was as close as I could get...at one time,
these arched entrances allowed carriages inside.
A Christmas tree was still on display in the courtyard.

Weekend in #NYC! Headed to #NewYorkCity #vacation

My October was a haze of author events and online promotions.  And that's a great thing, but as I mentioned, it was a bit overwhelming!  The paranormal aspects of my novels make the Halloween season incredibly busy, so now that November is here, I'm finally enjoying a tiny relaxation mode before the holiday frenzy hits.  And this little slice of "calm" involves a weekend trip to New York City, just me and the hubby and our best friends.

Last November, we all took a trip together to NYC--the two of us and our two sons, plus our best friends and their two daughters.  Eight of us in total.  We had big plans...about 10 sightseeing "musts" in addition to ideas on shows, shopping, and restaurants.

As it turns out, getting eight people coordinated to go anywhere is not very easy, especially in a busy city.  We made it to about three places we wanted to go:  Rockefeller Center, where we spent $100 to get our family of four up to the Top of the Rock Observation Deck.  The price confused me, but we did get some great pics, including this one which appears to be a cloud shark floating across the skyline:

Seriously?

Jekyll & Hyde Club - Times Square

We made it to Bryant Park.  And Dylan's Candy Bar, as a treat for all the kids, where we dropped $75 on...yes...candy.  A short turn around Central Park, a few shopping excursions, and a fantastic dinner at the Jekyll & Hyde Club (billed as New York City's most haunted restaurant...how could I resist?).



All in all, it was not enough time.  We missed things we really wanted to see.  And the kids seemed less than enthusiastic about all the walking.

So this time, it's grown-ups only.  A much deserved mini-vacation for the four of us!  Things on our list include the 911 Memorial, Gotham Comedy Club, Tommy Bahama Island, a bike ride in Central Park (if the Polar Vortex permits), and plenty of cocktails and conversation!

Now, what do I pack?  I better get off this blog and get busy.  I'd love to hear more suggestions of fun things to do in the City that Never Sleeps!

And I've got my Kindle loaded for the train ride...which I find an equally exciting part of the vacation!  Whether you're home or away this weekend, if you need a good read, check out my books: GULL HARBOR, SILVER LAKE, and DIVINE FALL.  Have a great weekend!

Waiting for a table for 8 last year at Jekyll & Hyde...with
a fun bar and plenty of creepy displays, it wasn't too hard!