The Gypsy is Out

No blogging this week.  I'm running our church's Vacation Bible School -- a week-long wild rumpus.  Change nothing about yourselves, and I'll see you soon!

And just to keep you occupied in my absence, my favorite YouTube of late.  All you Minnesota girls know just how true this is!

Mad Men's Manhattan: Travel Back in Time

Bert Cooper: “New York City is a marvelous machine, filled with a mesh of gears and springs, like a fine watch . . . wound tight, always ticking.” 

Don Draper: “Sounds more like a bomb.” 
— Conversation at the Sterling Cooper office, Season 1, “New Amsterdam”

Sleek skyscrapers. Impeccable coifs.  Curvy secretaries oozing cool as their sharp-suited bosses cut if close one more time.  The boozy cool of Mad Men sure has me hooked.  I love the mystery of Don Draper, the wit of Peggy Olson, and I aspire to be as meltingly fabulous as Joan Holloway Harris. 

But perhaps the biggest character in the TV series is the lovely New York City herself.  From the smoky caverns of Sardi’s (where Don has dinner with Bobbie) to the slinky rooms of the St. Regis (Pete’s favorite hotel hangout)… from Bloomingdale’s (where Pete and Trudy register for wedding gifts) to Henri Bendel’s (“which, as Bert Cooper points out, has the distinction of being the first clothing store to use headless mannequins”)… and the towering glass palaces of Madison Avenue… New York shines in this homage to the 1960s. 

Mad Men may be set in a bygone era, but many of the places where the television show is set are still part of the New York landscape.  And Mark Bernardo has written the perfect guide to help you find them -- Mad Men’s Manhattan: the Insider’s Guide.  Filled with tidbits about everything from the real-life firms on Madison Avenue to the bars, clubs and nightclubs haunted by the Draper and his cronies, Mad Men’s Manhattan finds the fact in the television show’s fiction.

The ebook’s pages are filled with rich descriptions of the television show’s landscape as well as elegant details about the true histories of each location.  Additionally, a detailed map makes navigating through the city a breeze.  And Mad Men’s Manhattan is punctuated with evocative photographs as well. 

That's the Mad Men version of me!
Mad Men’s Manhattan is the guide for anyone wanting to plan a sleek night on the town or a few days immersed in the fabulous world of Sterling-Cooper. 

Mad Men’s Manhattan is available as an ebook download for $4.95 – a 1960’s price for today’s technology.  You can purchase Mad Men's Manhattan here.  

Want more Mad Men fun? 
And here's a little treat for you, too...

Where to Go and What to Do with Your Tween in Dallas, Texas

Guest blogger: Julie
Today's guest blogger, Julie, is an eleven year old who spends her summers in Dallas, Texas.  On Monday, tween blogger, Julie, shared her restaurant recommendations.  Today she is blogging about her favorite things to do and places to go in Dallas.

My name is Julie and I am eleven years old. I visit Dallas every summer. Tweens always have to be entertained, or we’re dying of boredom. These are a few of the things I like to do in when I visit Dallas.

If you love to shop like I do, the Neiman Marcus store in Downtown Dallas is a great place for you. As soon as you walk in the door, your jaw will drop when you see how amazing it is! My Aunt and I went there to pick out a dress for my cousin's wedding. I loved everything I saw there! I love the Neiman Marcus store, and I know you will too! [Neiman Marcus: 1618 Main Street, Downtown Dallas]
Neiman Marcus' flagship store in Downtown Dallas



An interesting museum in Dallas is the Sixth Floor Museum. I love it there because it has so many of President John Kennedy's belongings. From his pictures all the way down to his tableware! It is interesting to go outside and sit on the grassy knoll because I know it has a story behind it. The 6th Floor Museum is on street that President Kennedy was shot. I definitely recommend putting the JFK museum on you places to go list. [The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza: 411 Elm Street, Downtown Dallas]

Dealey Plaza, site of President John F. Kennedy's assassination

The Sixth Floor Museum in the old Book Depository in Dallas

If you are in the mood for fresh and tasty fruits and veggies, it is always fun to go to the Farmers Market just south of downtown Dallas. It is so cool to go to because I always see something new. I love it there! [Dallas Farmers Market: 1010 S. Pearl Expressway, Downtown Dallas]
The Dallas Farmers Market
My favorite place to go of all time is the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Wax Museum! It's so cool because everything in it is made of wax. My favorite character that's made out of wax is the witch from the Wizard of Oz! The Wax Museum is located in Grand Prairie Texas. You will have great family fun there. [Ripley's Believe It of Not: 601 East Palace Parkway, Grand Prairie, Texas]
Julie poses with Bella and Edward from "Twilight" at the Wax Museum
The Katy Trail is my favorite walking trail. It is safe, free, and 3 ½ miles long. I can’t do 7 miles, so I stick with 5. It’s our favorite place to go on family walks. The spirits are always bright at the Katy Trail. And it is dog-friendly. [Katy Trail: entrances vary, but the trail runs from the SMU campus to the American Airlines Center; visit the Friends of the Katy Trail website to download a trail map.]

Thank You!  Julie (age 11)

Thank you, Julie!  Great suggestions!  
Note: All photographs courtesy of Julie and her dad.