Must See Museums: A Christmas Carol in NYC

"Marley was dead: to begin with. There was no doubt whatever about that. The register of burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it: and Scrooge's name was good upon 'Change for anything he chose to put his hand to. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail."

So begins Charles Dickens' Christmas classic, A Christmas Carol. But how did Dickens, a struggling writer with six children, come to write his classic tale? Such is the stuff of fairy tales and museum exhibitions. And the Morgan Library and Museum in New York City puts that question at the heart of their holiday program this year.

From now until January 10, 2010, Dickens' original manuscript of "A Christmas Carol" is on display at the Morgan. Drop by and see Dickens' work in his own hand... the additions and deletions, the editing of details, and the work of one of the English language's most influential authors (and one of my favorites).

Can't make it to New York? The New York Times has a high resolution version of the manuscript online, so you can peruse it in your jammies.

The Morgan Library and Museum
225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street
New York, NY 10016
(212) 685-0008
http://www.themorgan.org

Admission
$12 Adults
$8 Children (under 16)
The Morgan also has student and senior rates.


Merry Christmas, and God bless you, every one!

In reference to: A Christmas Rewrite, as Dickens Edits Dickens - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Don't forget to check out Passports with Purpose, and help us build a school! 

Passports with Purpose: Win Two Nights in Paradise

This year I’ve had the opportunity to stay at three of KiwiCollection.com’s luxurious properties: Ashford Castle, The Merrion, and the Hotel Cipriani.  Now you have a chance to do the same.  KiwiCollection.com is sponsoring my prize for Passports with Purpose: a two-night stay at the Shangri-La Hotel in Vancouver, B.C.

Named for James Hilton’s fictional paradise, the Shangri-La Hotel strives to bring paradise to Vancouver with a distinctly Asian flavor.  From your elegantly appointed room, you’ll be bathed in light by the floor-to-ceiling windows looking out on Vancouver’s streets and toward the mountains. 

And all of the luxuries of this five-star hotel are at your command.  Dine at Market by Jean-Georges, the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant which has won rave reviews. Relax at CHI, the spa at Shangri-La, where the staff will pamper you in soothing elegance. 

The Prize:
A two-night stay for two at Vancouver's most luxurious hotel, the Shangri-La Hotel courtesy of The Gypsy’s Guide and KiwiCollection.com. 

How to Win:
Visit the Passports with Purpose prize site.  Pick a prize.  Make a donation. 

We are holding an online raffle.  With each $10 donation you make to PwP, you get a chance to win the prize of your choice. And the prizes are incredible: cameras, travel gear, hotel stays, kids’ gear...

Then spread the word!  Email this link to your friends. Tweet about it.  Post about it on Facebook (and join our Facebook group).  Blog about it.  Oh, and you can talk about it, too!

• For more info, read my blog post about Passports with Purpose.
  
• The list of prizes is available here. 
  
• The full rules are available here. 
• All proceeds go directly to American Assistance for Cambodia (AAfC), a registered non-profit organization.
• The fundraiser begins November 30, 2009 and ends December 21, 2009. 
• Winners will be notified by email on January 5, 2010.
  

What happens to the money?
All proceeds go directly to American Assistance for Cambodia (AAfC), a registered non-profit organization. Read more about Passports with Purpose here.  And I’m happy to answer any questions you may have, too.  Leave a comment or email me: aknickerson (at) mac (dot) com.

Many, many thanks to KiwiCollection.com for donating this fantastic prize!  They represent the world’s most luxurious hotels and are worthy of a look. 

All images courtesy of the Shangri-La Hotel.

Passports with Purpose 2009

As a former teacher, I know that nothing changes a life more quickly than access to an education. Think about it: someone taught you to read. As a result you are reading my words right now. You also learned to do some math. And then you learned that the world is a great big giant ball spinning through space and filled with amazing places to visit and billions of other people with talents and interests and perspectives to share. Chances are you learned a lot of that in school.

Now imagine you didn’t have a school. Imagine you live in a place without schools for your children -- or your grandchildren.

That’s life for many people in rural Cambodia which is why Passports with Purpose has decided that this year we are raising money to build a school in Cambodia through American Assistance for Cambodia (AAfC). Our goal: $13,000.

What is Passports with Purpose (PwP)?
In 2008 four travel bloggers got together and said, “Let’s do some good with our blogs.” They recruited a bunch of other bloggers, including me, and together we raised more than $7000 for Heifer International. This year’s group of travel bloggers is even bigger, and so is our goal.

How does Passports with Purpose raise money?
We are holding an online raffle. With each $10 donation you make to PwP, you get a chance to win the prize of your choice. And the prizes are incredible: cameras, travel gear, hotel stays, kids’ gear.

You still don’t believe me? Check back tomorrow to read all about the incredible prize I'm donating -- sponsored by KiwiCollection.com.  Click their link for a clue! 

• The list of prizes is available here.
• The full rules are available here. 
• All proceeds go directly to AAfC, a registered non-profit organization.
• The fundraiser begins November 30, 2009 and ends December 21, 2009.
• Winners will be notified by email on January 5, 2010.
  

So, how can I help build a school this holiday season?

• Visit the Passports with Purpose prize site.
• Pick a prize. 
• Make a donation.
  

Then spread the word! Email this page to your friends. Tweet about it. Post about it on Facebook (and join our Facebook group). Blog about it. Oh, and you can talk about it, too!