Sunday, June 30, 2013

That Big Organ? It Played Beautifully

 
The Mistress has just been all over lately, and I must say,  I do enjoy I good mix of interesting things to see and do. Yesterday, it was just beautiful and warm, what a better day to have the visiting Capital Street Duo back for the Wanamaker Organ Day. You know I enjoy listening to a big organ play beautifully!!! After being on vacation, I'm still a bit relaxed.... so a nice laid back summer look ruled the day........
 

And no shaving....I've been getting  very nice comments about the five o clock shadow...... and yes, a messenger bag is a must for me, for sunglasses, two cameras, cell phone, wet wipes......



Then it was out the door and hit the train to the Wanamaker Building for the concert.



The Wanamaker Grand Court Organ, here in Philadelphia, is the largest operational  organ, let me clarify that, pipe organ in the world, located within a spacious 7-story court at of the Wanamaker's Building in Center City. The Wanamaker organ is played twice a day, Monday through Saturday, and more frequently during the Christmas season. The organ is also featured at several special concerts held throughout the year, including events featuring the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ Festival Chorus and Brass Ensemble, which today it was, as we heard the two part concert. What a glorious sound in the cavernous court.








In its present configuration, the Wanamaker Organ has 28,604 pipes in 463 ranks. The organ console consists of six manuals with an array of stops and controls that command the organ. The organ's String Division forms the largest single organ chamber in the world. The organ is famed for its orchestra-like sound, coming from pipes that are voiced softer than usual, allowing an unusually rich build-up because of the massing of pipe-tone families. The artistic obligation entailed by the creation of this instrument has always been honored, with two curators employed in its constant and scrupulous care. You can read more about the history of the organ here, it's quite interesting.The eagle is also a delight to see, which we sat right next to. Loved this shot......



 German sculptor August Gaul’s 2,500-pound bronze bird came to America for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in 1904. When John Wanamaker purchased it for his famous department store, he had to strengthen the floor with extra girders. Soon “Meet me at the eagle” became a catchphrase for Philadelphians as well as suburbanites who came downtown to shop.  And all those feathers you see are all hand pressed using real feathers for the detail, all 5000 of them!!! Though the store has since been acquired twice, first by Lord & Taylor, and now Macy’s, the eagle still rules the Grand Court.

After a great concert, if was off to my favorite Cuban joint to eat....Mixto!


 If your ever in Philly try it! All the waiters are scorching hot, very personable and provide great service, all while wearing painted on Levi's,  and Mixto makes, by far, the best mojitos in the city!!!! After par taking in ,well, I have no idea how many mojitos... we went to the historic Giovanni's Room.....




 the oldest gay bookstore in the nation to get some beach reading rags, like Attitude, and my good ole DNA, and for more serious reading Quentin Crisp's The Naked Civil Servant. Another must if your in the gayborhood. The staff there is ever friendly, and if you can't find what your looking for, it can be ordered. After such a lovely day with the Capital Street Duo, it was time for them to hit the road, so hugs and kisses were given and then the Mistress had  45 minutes to kill before hitting the local rail back to my fair hamlet, so why not hit the Loews Hotel....


 for some more libation, and keep the mojitos rolling......

 
And the bar tends were great and fun to watch..... what talent......
 
 
I don't know what he was making but he looked good....... I mean the drink looked good....
 
 
It was a lovely rail ride back to the Casa.

36 comments:

  1. Anonymous6/30/2013

    That organ was huge! I'm down for a mojito or three in this weather.

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  2. I'll admit, that does look like a great day, but when did you ever pass up experiencing a big organ play beautifully?

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  3. What a perfect summer day! LOVE MIXTO and the waiters there-agreed! The Wanamaker Eagle just sits there. Also, like a lot of other people in town, it has a permanent pissed-off look on its face. Why you may ask? If you'd be stuck inside Wanamaker's for the better part of a century and then have it turn into Lord & Taylor and worse yet, that dump Macy*s, you'd be a little upset yourself. That store was once gorgeous, Im surprised Macys even continued the wonderful organ tradition. Because they sure can ruin the beauty of most stores they take over. nice post Mistress

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    1. macy's HAS to take care of the organ; it has been designated a national historic landmark. and we native philadelphians would not have it any other way. in fact, we NEVER call the store macy's; it will ALWAYS be wanamaker's to us.

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    2. You got that right sister!

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    3. @ Bryon- I don't have anything against Macy's except they sure can load a store so damn full it's un bearable to look at. And messy. That's why I never shop them.

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  4. Now, if I may be as bold for a up in her years woman, I must say your looking quiet delectable!!!! What flair for summer! The day looks marvelous, music, good friends and mojitos!!! Could life be better? The Wananmaker Organ is something to see and hear-what a gem.

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    Replies
    1. Mrs Goldberg-DeWolfs, are you looking to adopt?

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  5. Speaking of organs...

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    1. Let me take a stab.....you play one?

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  6. My head hurts. I read your blog and I LEARN things. Sigh. You must be quite the tourist and a good hang. I'd travel anywhere with you! Thanks for all the info. For such a pretty one, you sure are smart! - Uptonking from Wonderland Burlesque

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    1. a good hang. For a pretty one, you sure are smart. Keep the sweet nothings up and I'll do anything you want.

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    2. A good hang? I see you have seen the tree of knowledge with all it's bounty!

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  7. were we going commando yesterday? ;-)

    I heard the concert on WRTI-FM yesterday; beautiful music as always.

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    1. You know, one can only wear so many layers some days, so it's nice to let the boys out on occasion to play! So glad you were able to hear it on the WRTI!!!! Ms Pasternak was present and a good interviewer has ever.

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    2. my girls are ALWAYS out! :)

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  8. It was a lovely day in the city yesterday! I go through the store on my lunch breaks, so I often hear the noon performance! Looks like a great day you had, and I agree with Anne Marie above. Commando? hmmmmmm, well it was hot.Adorable!

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  9. Your always up to something, never sitting still I swear. Looking good there, and that organ is huge! So is the pipe organ;)

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  10. It is a great thing that they keep the Wanamaker organ going, it's amazing to see. We played with the organ once in the court. It's out of this world to hear on the deck also. Looks like a great weekend. I love taking a summer day to mill about the city, stopping for a drink. That stubble is looking mighty good, love guys with stubble in the summer.

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  11. Was there a music not in your pocket or are you just happy too see us? LOL! Not only the organ but Giovanni's Room, are both must visits and are a testament to the longevity things have in Philly. When in Philly we always stop at Gio's Room. Nice post

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    1. You mean a music note? I don't know, but it might put an eye out.

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  12. I'd say you were stylin and profiling honey!!! Sounds like a wonderful weekend, and that mojito looks mighty refreshing. I so need to go see and hear that organ sometime on one of my business trips there.

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  13. Lookin might sexy these days aren't we! Macys. Well that may be alright for some. But for me its still Wanamaker's. One of the great buildings of Philadelphia. Meet me at the Eagle! Astounding and lavish building interior. Tip: walk around the rear of the building--the Juniper Street side. Don't be afraid. There's a remnant of the original facade! Overlooked by time..

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  14. Absolutely breathtaking organ. I would have given anything to witness this in person! Very nice weekend!

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    1. I'm so confused at this point. Are we talking about the pipe organ or the Mistress's organ?

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  15. INCREDIBLE. Beautiful instrument! And what an enormous organ! (I know, an understatement.) A perfect weekend to me. And I can't help but wonder if the houseboys helped paint on those pants!?! I am stealing your style.

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  16. Nice cool weekend Mistress! You were brave to sit under that bird.

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  17. Thank you for sharing your weekend with us from the drinks to your handsome self to the organ. That is just amazing. Ok, I'm hooked. I want my own, but I am going to need a bigger house.

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  18. Love your style cutie! Cool, collect ,and nice and revealing.... don't change a thing! I have been to see the organ too, not into the sound, but it is something too see for sure for sheer size. And all my best reading materials have come from Giovanni's Room.

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    1. revealing about sums it up. First we saw her gams, then the sturdy rod and tackle box, now a large organ. Is this gonna turn into a Lucus film?

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  19. Good Lord, I have never read a post or comments with the words organ, shot, large instrument, sheer size,enormous organ and played beautifully so many times...followed by a drink. We are talking music here aren't we?

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  20. Wow, what a nice weekend out! If I ever meet it to Philly I'd love to see your organ! That's incredible and in a store yet!?! Love the stubble -keep it! As for Mojitos? They make me do the most evil things.

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  21. I always loved going to Philadelphia and seeing the Wanamaker Organ, and the place for dinner sounds to be right up my alley. Now aren't white jeans usually Not revealing? I want that shirt, pass it here.

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  22. I so want to come live with you. The things you could show me. I love your style. And who else could handle a day with a big organ and control themselves.

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  23. That looks like a spectutaclar day!!!! That's organ and your words are very interesting. So lucky to have that in your back yard so to speak! And I love watching proper bartenders make drinks, so old school when their even dressed proper.

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Go ahead darling, tell me something fabulous!