TOUR UPSTATE NY - revives local murderess, Eva Coo

Our Brooklyn, NY based theatre company brought an upstate murderess to life with the world-premiere of Isaac Rathbone's new play, "LITTLE EVA." The play occurs in the upstate New York county of Otsego, where the murderess, Eva Coo, was tried in 1934 and executed a year later, in Sing Sing Prison. Her crime: killing her ward and handy-man, Harry Wright, for the insurance claims, about 12 in all. Rathbone's drama focuses on the Trial in the Otsego County Courthouse in Cooperstown in 1934 and cuts back and forth to the people and patterns of Eva's life that have led her up to this point.

This trial attained National Press coverage, similar to the modern O.J.Simpson Trial, due to the lows of Depression and the lack of other news. Dorothy Kilgallen even covered the case with her youthful cosmopolitan flair, as a newbie journalist. Quite the excitement for a small, rural, railroad town.

We're so pleased to have had a successful run of nine performances in the Milford and Cooperstown areas to about 1, 000 people. We presented the show with the Greater Milford Historical Association in the Upper Susquehanna Cultural Center and in the Otsego County Courthouse (site of the original 1934 trial).

This area, and most of the land in upstate New York, is beautiful, particularly in the summer months. The air is fresh and the grass, lush with the heavy rains they've been experiencing, reminds us that enjoying nature should be an integral part of our existence. Even a mere day trip a few hours north of NYC would do everyone's psychological well-being a wealth of good. We're so accustomed to the hectic pace of the metropolis, that to slow down and smell the wet grass blended with the aromatic scents of hay and yes, manure, is revitalizing, as is acquainting with the friendly locals.

I am very grateful for having family in the area that were gracious enough for us to spend a month or two coming and going from their home. But I truly encourage you to find a respite in a local environment that allows you the freedom to spend a day or so reconvening with nature.


Enjoying the summer weather with family and friends...priceless. Cheers!

COLORADO IN SPRING

March 2009


Anyone's trip to Colorado will most likely include some trip to the mountains, since they're everywhere, and some entertainment, all-be-it concert, golf, Rockies game, theater, or drinking.


Our trip to visit some family included a visit to famous Red Rocks Concert Venue,

a couple National Park Trails - one was a 10 mile snow shoeing trek up a mountain, and some drinking. We even ate and drank at the top end of our hike snow shoeing. This was quite an experience and we had a dog with us, so she and we kept falling into hip high and deeper snow, off the trail that followed a creek or river up the mountain. We adventured this day in the late morning and arrived at KEYSTONE PARK by the rental hut at about 12:30pm to be off on our trail by 1pm. Somewhere enroute, we side-tracked and took a road less travelled and ended up on the opposite side of the creek/river and into more deep snow.

We did cross the beautiful snow-covered creek/river at a relatively safe point and reached the main trail again. But by this time, it was near 3:00pm and our rental shoes were due back at the hut before 4:30pm...hmmmm, not going to make it.

We ate a little and drank a little and headed back down, at first on snow-shoes. Finally, relinquishing our adventurous spirit, we removed the shoes and headed down the mountain trail on-foot to arrive at about 5pm at the rental shack.

Another simpler hike on a red rock carpeted trail was in WATERTOWN STATE PARK TRAIL. This beautiful wildlife trail runs next to a river leading to a dam and is about 7mi one way. We only adventured about 3mi to the dam and then 3mi back to the car lot. It was hot and we were getting hungry.

We also had an adgenda to hit up the GARDEN OF THE GODS by sunset , about 7:30pm, and watch the mystical color changes of the rocks over twilight.

On our spring vacation, we were also able to enjoy evenings for cocktails and/or supper in Denver, Boulder, Breckenridge, and coffee and sushi in Cherry Creek.

This was an eye-opening experience to really appreciate the wonders of America's purple mountains majesty and why so many Northeasterners enjoy moving out west. This mountainous region is lushious and still has the full four seasons of the eastcoast, just a little less rain, and a little more snow.

Ireland/Scotland 2008 Travel Journal - Part IV

State Land of Ireland - you have to see

Killarney National Park - Lady's View over the Lake - Moll's Gap - Gap of Dunloe

The National Park Main Gate entrance leads to a nature trail just under Lough Leane Lower Lake and around the upper part of Muck Ross Middle Lake and following to the Torc Waterfalls.

Driving around The Ring of Kerry on N72, N71, R568, N70 you encounter many natural wonders. Lady's View overlooking the Lakes and Black Valley.


The Gap of Dunloe, even a fun trek in the rain, is well worth the long walk uphill and down, about 4hrs.

Although, you can hail a Rickshaw Horse and Cart to take you half-way and haggle the price. The views of the glacieral-cut rocks and the echoing canyon lakes are truly awesome.

Ireland/Scotland 2008 Travel Journal - Part III

Highlights of the Southwest of Ireland

EXPLORATORY DRIVE FROM INCH BEACH TO DINGLE PENINSULA

Sun. 7/6/08

Route R561 out of Castlemaine along the cliff's edge overlooking Dingle Bay. Then onto N86 and to R559 Slea Head Drive. From the ancient ruins of Dunbeg Fort in Ventry and the Beehive huts of Slea Head, just past the Cross at Slea Head is a magestic lookout point, where you can see Skellig Islands in the distance to the southwest (and off to the left) and the three Blasket Islands straight out ahead on the water.


Dunmore Head has a small carpark and picnic tables which look down onto the rocky beach below, where it's a hotspot for surfing. Dunmore Head appears as a large grassy hill above the Blasket Sound. We climbed the green knoll of Dunmore Head and enjoyed the view and plenty of photographs at the apex overlooking the Blasket Islands and Blasket Sound. These panoramic views are some of the best on the southwest coast.

Ireland/Scotland 2008 Travel Journal - Part II

Part II - Ennis to Kilorglin - Southwestern Ireland
Sat. 7/5/08

With a breakfast of blood pudding, sausage, egg, ham, toast, and coffee, we stuffed ourselves after our late night revelries of drinking mead and wine at Bunratty Castle. Then off to Ennis to look for a phone store and to meander around town, while our parents pick up the rental car.

Ennis is a quaint town with single lane streets and shops on either side, much like some of the streets in the North End of Boston. With our new phone card in hand and the rental car ready to go, we left Ennis towards Kilorglin, where we will check into a cottage for the week.

Travelling along N18/N69/N70 route we made our way to Killrush and the Killimer Ferry. A beautiful drive along long stretches of open pasture that reminded us of Stateline, Pennsylvania, led us to the river crossing by late afternoon. Once the Shannon Breeze had carried us over the River Shannon into Tarbert, we picked up N69 to Tralee and then N70. After a long stretch of narrow roads with shrubbery and 80km traffic, we rounded a bend toward Kilorglin and arrived at our rendez-vous point, "The Fishery," over the River Laune.

Finally, we followed our landlord/guide, Sheila West, up the mountain on Banshagh Road just outside of the town center, marked by the Puck Goat. Up the windy mountain road, uphill, past a few cottages, we find the open gate on the right to the Old Ivy House, overlooking the McGuillicuddy Reeks. The house is set back from the low traffic road and serves as a picturesque base for the rest of our trip in the Southwest.