Virginia Naivete: Dinosaur Kingdom

Since I'm still learning about Virginia, it was not a big surprise that I haven't heard about Dinosaur Kingdom yet - but I'm pretty excited to check it out.

Mark Cline has created a world in which Union soldiers come across lost dinosaurs in Virginia and then use them as weapons against the Confederacy.



yep... that's a raptor on a Civil War era wagon.



ummm... Mom? Remember that time that you took us to the Natural Bridge in like '95 and we all complained about the detour? Dinosaur World would've really sweetened that deal.

Ernest Shackleton/ Endurance Beer

I was really happy to hear the story about two cases of Ernest Shackleton's whiskey being retrieved recently from the South Pole [details], and I've been scouting around Charlottesville for some Endurance Beer as my own boozy tribute to the explorer's spirit.





For those of you who don't know the Shackleton's story: get excited. It's insane.

Ernest Shackleton and his crew on the Endurance were making an attempt at crossing Antartica from sea to sea - crossing the South Pole in the process. The Endurance ended up being packed in by ice, and was slowly crushed. The most amazing thing about this story is that with grit, fortitude, and probably some of that whiskey, every single one of Shackleton's men survived.



The second most amazing thing about this story? The importance that Shackleton put on keeping a journal. Through the disaster Shackleton encouraged his crew to keep records of what was unfolding - meaning that there are remarkable accounts of the ordeal.

I'm sure his 7th grade English teacher (or whoever taught him the value of record-keeping) was super proud.

moremoremore on Shackleton - Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Journey

Dirt! the Movie

What do you say, Charlottesville? Shall we plan a screening?



I think so, too.

More on the film here.

Ear Candy: Dawes

When My Time Comes is totally lovely. Hoping Dawes will swing back through Charlottesville this Spring.

Some pics from the band from the road:







seeeee you next time, guys.

Dream Travel: Luxury Stay at Angkor Wat

When I was living in Thailand last year one of the trips I had planned was to Siem Reap, Cambodia to see Angkor Wat. I ended up returning back to the US early to take a job on the Alabama, and so unfortuantely never made it.

While my trip to Angkor Wat would have been super-budget and no frills, today I've decided to faux-plan a luxury stay.

First of all, the main reason for the trip: Angkor Wat


photo by Trey Ratcliff.

Angkor Wat was built in the 12th century and dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, and later served as Buddhist temple. It's the go-to example of Khmer architecture, and has an outer wall that encloses the 203 acres that comprise the site. There's also moat. It's been awhile since I crossed over a moat.

A lot of people do early morning hikes to watch the sun come up at the temple, and so that would defintiely be on the itinerary.

As for where to stay, I think I would go for the Amansara Resort:







... and then head over to the Hotel de la Paix for a meal at Meric:



ok. Let's book it.

...the actual trip I would have taken would have probably cost me $15 a day. Just saying.

Tolstoy; Virginia Festival of the Book

ohhh books. I've hardly been reading at all of late, but just yesterday started Anna Karenina - and, well, everything you've heard is true. It's remarkable. I'm now a quarter of the way through it. It's that freaking good.

My friend Megan became absorbed by Anna Karenina last Fall, but before hearing her describe the book and characters I was always pretty intimidated by Tolstoy. No more. Treat yourself and go get a copy.

Or don't and go to the Virginia Festival of the Book instead.



Here are my top author/ event picks:

Tonight! at 8pm - UVA Culbreth Theater: Mentors, Muses and Monsters: Writers on Their Influences

Friday March 19th, 2:00pm - Barnes & Noble: Peter Neofotis, author of Concord, Virginia: A Virginia Town in Eleven Stories at the Virginia Stories event

Friday March 19th, 4:00pm - Central JMRL Library: Heidi W. Durrow, author of The Girl Who Fell From the Sky at the Race Matters: Novels of Extended Families event

Saturday March 20th, 4:00pm - UVA Bookstore: Kim Addonizio and the Best New Poets of 2009

Happy reading!

photo by Jim

Picton Castle

I'm starting to feel some very serious adventure-envy towards my friend Brad who is taking an around the world trip on this lovely - Picton Castle:



That's right. An AROUND THE WORLD trip. Literally. All the away around it.

Here's an abbreviated version of their itinerary:

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia; Panama; Galapagos Islands; Pitcairn Islands; Gambier Islands; Tahiti; Rarotonga, Cook Islands; Fiji; Bali; Cape Town, South Africa; Namibia; St Helena; Fernando de Noronha, Brazil; Lesser Antilles; Brazil; Lunenburg, Nova Scotia



Amazing.

The boat departs in April, and Brad has promised postcards. I have promised not to turn completely green with jealousy when they arrive in my landlocked mailbox.