Blessings of the Animals - College Avenue Presbyterian Church

Metal Souls

During the Solano Stroll earlier this month, we came across some intriguing metal sculptures.  They are made by an artist under the name "Metal Souls."  Here are a few pictures.  Their website is www.metalsouls.com.

Solano Stroll in Albany, CA

Here are some pictures from the Solano Stroll two weeks ago.  Lots of things to do/see for all ages.  Has to be one of the larger street festivals in the Bay Area.

One of two slides:

The view down Solano Avenue:

An attraction in which a child can strap inside a ball and bash around:

Very large spherical puzzles (and a smaller commercial counterpart):

Tea on the Queen Mary

We had a great tea service on the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA.  Good food.  Good tea.  Good service.  Fantastic atmosphere on an extraordinary vessel-turned-hotel.

Diana, Legacy Of A Princess, A Royal Exhibition aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA

In Association with the Pink Ribbons Crusade, the Queen Mary is now presenting, " Diana:  Legacy of a Princess, which is a priceless collection of evening gowns, dresses, personal accessories, photographs, heirlooms, and other cherished memorabilia associated with Princess Diana, Kate Middleton, and the Royal Family.

Also, the Queen Mary features The Tea Room, which is open Thursday through Sunday for lunch.  When we visited the Queen Mary, we enjoyed a beautiful view, white tablecloths, an assortment of fine loose leaf teas, and a delectable selection of savory tea sandwiches, scones, and pastries.  They also have a choice of Children's Tea selections, as well as gluten free sandwiches.

A portion of the proceeds from this exhibition supports breast cancer research and prevention in Southern California.

The Historic Queen Mary, now open as a hotel and entertainment venue, highly recommended!

Since her Maiden Voyage in 1936, the Queen Mary has been regarded as one of the grandest ocean liners ever built, and she was considered the only civilized way to travel by the elite of high society.  She was celebrated for her impeccable design and rich elegance.  The ship moved gracefully across the Atlantic, carrying kings and queens, prime ministers and presidents, athletes and entertainers.  During World War II, she even served the Allied cause and played a significant role in virtually every major campaign by carrying more than 800,000 troops across nearly 600,000 miles of ocean.

The Queen Mary retired in 1967, and was purchased by the city of Long Beach.  Now, the Queen Mary has been turned into a hotel, with restaurants, galleries such as current galleries of Winston Churchill's art and another one about Lady Diana.  Years ago, I went to a beautiful wedding and reception on the Queen Mary that was magical!

Nowadays, without the rumble of the ship's engines, sound does travel through the walls.  Complimentary earplugs are even available at the front desk of the hotel.  Still, visiting the Queen Mary, whether for the day visiting the Lady Diana exhibit with friends and enjoying high tea, staying on the hotel and having a delicious dinner at one of the restaurants, or getting married on the Queen Mary, which is what my young son wants to do someday!

When I saw a picture of my favorite actresses, Audrey Hepburn,  boarding the Queen Mary in 1951, I felt delighted as I was walking on the promenade of the ship!


The Queen Mary
1126 Queens Hwy
Long Beach, CA  90802
Queen Mary.com
(562) 435-3511