PDF - American Lifestyle Magazine

AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
THE MAGAZINE CELEBRATING LIFE IN AMERICA
The Greenbrier Resort - pg. 6 | Allegheny Mountains - pg. 14 | Austin Patterson Disston - pg. 24 | Starting a Fish Tank - pg. 21
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American Lifestyle IN THIS ISSUE
34
PAINTING THE
NEW MEXICO HORIZON
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
6
A SLICE OF
SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY
A Visit to the Greenbrier
24
THE ART OF
RENOVATING HISTORY
Austin Patterson Disston Architects
2
AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
14
THE HEART OF THE
ALLEGHENY MOUNTAINS
Discover Greenbrier County
32
HERE’S LOOKING AT YOU
The Hidden Truth About Spyware
Cake
anyone?
21
THINKING INSIDE THE BOX
Starting a Tank of Finned Friends
44
TIERS OF JOY
Talents of Margaret Braun: Cake Artist
46
A HISTORY OF
TWISTS AND TURNS
Erno Rubik’s Cube
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
3
[D] INING
a
slice
of
SOUTHERN
hospitality
Text and Photography Courtesy of The Greenbrier Resort
THE STORY OF THE GREENBRIER
A VISIT
TO THE
GREENBRIER
BEGINS AT THE SPRING FULL OF
SULPHUR WATER THAT REMAINS
AT THE CENTER OF THE RESORT
PROPERTY. IT ISSUES FORTH BELOW
THE GREEN DOME OF THE WHITECOLUMNED
SPRINGHOUSE
THAT
HAS BEEN THE SYMBOL OF THE
GREENBRIER
FOR
GENERATIONS.
S
ince 1778, people have come to “take the
waters” to restore their health. In its first
125 years, the resort was known by the
name White Sulphur Springs.
Due to the isolated location, development
proceeded slowly until a stagecoach route
was carved through the forested mountains. By the 1830s, the resort attained
its first period of prominence as planters,
judges, lawyers, and merchants from the
southern states congregated in the refreshing mountain village.
The resort originally consisted of only rows
of cottages, many of which still stand today. The cottages of Baltimore Row were
designed by John H.B. Latrobe, a Baltimore lawyer, and son of famed architect
Benjamin Latrobe. His style became the
basis for the design of the new Copeland
Hill cottages.
By the eve of the Civil War, White Sulphur
Springs’ reputation as the most fashionable
social resort in the Southern states was well
established. This led to the 1858 addition
of the first large hotel on the property, officially named the Grand Central Hotel,
but known to long-time patrons as The
Old White Hotel. The hotel boasted three
stories of porches to catch summer breezes
and ample space to promenade displaying
one’s fashionable attire.
The resort was closed during the Civil
War. Over the course of the conflict, both
sides occupied the grounds, using the hotel
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either as a military headquarters or hospital. Shortly after the
war’s end, the resort reopened.
Its prospects were incalculably
enhanced with the arrival of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.
For the next 100 years, White
Sulphur Springs was one of the
classic railroad resorts of the
country. Trains brought visitors
from New York, Washington,
Richmond, Atlanta, Louisville,
Chicago, Cleveland and scores
of points in between.
In 1910, the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railway purchased the
historic resort property and embarked upon a major expansion.
By 1913, additions included The
Greenbrier Hotel (the central
portion of today’s hotel), a new
mineral bath department (the
building that includes the indoor
pool) and an 18-hole golf course
(now called The Old White
Course) designed by the most
prominent golf architect of the
day, Charles Blair MacDonald.
In 1914, for the first time, the
resort was opened year round.
That year, President and Mrs.
Woodrow Wilson spent their
Easter holiday at The Greenbrier,
and Joseph and Rose Kennedy
traveled from Boston for their
October honeymoon.
Business was booming in the
1920s. The Greenbrier took its
place on the fashionable society
resort circuit that stretched from
Palm Beach, Florida to Newport,
Rhode Island. The Old White
Hotel, a summer-only hotel,
was torn down in 1922. This
led to substantial expansion and
rebuilding of The Greenbrier
Hotel at the end of the decade.
Cleveland architect Philip Small
redesigned the hotel’s Main
Entrance, and added both the
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
7
[D] INING
Virginia Wing to the south (with
porch lines echoing Mount Vernon) and what is now the signature North Entrance façade. Mr.
Small was mixing elements from
the resort’s Southern historical
roots and motifs from The Old
White Hotel.
Rhododendron Spa Café:
The Rhododendron Spa Café features a
menu of lighter-fare snacks, juices, and
smoothies. Located adjacent to the
indoor pool, the Rhododendron Spa Café
is the ideal spot for a light lunch
or afternoon snack.
Architectural Digest described Draper as “a true artist
of the design world [who] became a celebrity in the
modern sense of the word...”
During World War II, The
Greenbrier was put to two quite
different uses by the U.S. government. The State Department
leased the hotel for seven months
after the U.S. entry into the war
and used it to intern German,
Japanese and Italian diplomatic personnel, along with their
families, until they could be exchanged for American diplomats
stranded overseas. In September
1942, the U.S. Army purchased
The Greenbrier, converted it into
a two thousand-bed hospital and
renamed it Ashford General
Hospital. For four years the resort served as a surgical and rehabilitation center, and 24,148 soldiers were admitted and treated
at the facility.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway reacquired the property in
1946 and initiated a comprehensive redecoration of the hotel interior by noted decorator
Dorothy Draper. The origin of
The Greenbrier’s distinctive décor goes back to Draper’s legendary post-war redecoration,
when she was at the peak of her
fame. Architectural Digest described Draper as “a true artist of
the design world [who] became
a celebrity in the modern sense
of the word, virtually creating
the image of the decorator in
the popular mind.” When she
retired in the 1960s, Carleton
Varney took over her firm. He
has decorated The Greenbrier for
over three decades.
When The Greenbrier reopened
in 1948, after the war, Sam Snead
returned to where his career had
begun in 1936. For many years,
he was the Golf Pro Emeritus,
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until his death in May 2002.
More than any other individual,
Snead established The Greenbrier’s reputation as one of the foremost golf resorts in the world.
Over the years, Arnold Palmer,
Jimmy Demaret, Dwight Eisenhower, the Prince of Wales, Bob
Hope, Bing Crosby, and the Rev.
Billy Graham have enjoyed golf
at the Greenbrier.
In the late 1950s, the U.S. government approached The Greenbrier for assistance once again. It
wished to construct an Emergency Relocation Center—that is, a
bunker or bomb shelter—for
use by the U.S. Congress in
case of war. Between 1959 and
1962, during the Cold War, the
classified, underground facility
was built in conjunction with
an above ground addition to the
hotel, the West Virginia Wing.
This secret facility was known
informally as the “bunker.” For
30 years, the owners of The
Greenbrier—the railroad that
eventually evolved into today’s
CSX Corporation—and the federal government agreed that, in
the case of an international crisis,
the entire resort property would
be converted to government
use, specifically as the location
for Congress in the event of a
national emergency.
Above ground, life proceeded
normally as The Greenbrier
upgraded the historic cottages,
rebuilt The Greenbrier Course
under the direction of Jack Nicklaus, added extensive conference
facilities, hosted international
golf matches (the Ryder Cup and
the Solheim Cup) and, in short,
did all the things necessary to
stay competitive in the increasingly crowded luxury resort market of the 1980s and 1990s. But,
because of the agreement with
the government, most of the
property was closed to residential
development until the final closing down of the underground
bunker in 1995.
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
9
[D] INING
The Greenbrier Course
The Greenbrier Course was designed
by Jack Nicklaus, who teamed with Joe
DiMaggio in 1979 for the first round on
the newly completed course.
Greenbrier Ballroom:
The ballroom at the Greenbrier plays host
to several lavish balls throughout the year.
In rich tones of crimson and rose, it is a
fairytale come true.
Greenbrier guests enjoy more
than 50 recreational activities
including The Greenbrier OffRoad Driving School, where
guests experience the thrill of offroad driving on miles of trails.
Other recreational activities include indoor and outdoor tennis, walking and exercise trails,
falconry, sporting clays, trap and
skeet shooting, indoor and outdoor pools, croquet, horseback
riding, carriage rides, bowling,
fishing and mountain biking.
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AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
For guests who wish to relax and
be pampered, The Greenbrier
Spa has the answer. In 2001, the
spa was renovated and now features a variety of treatments designed to refresh and renew.
New treatments include the Olive Oil Body Scrub, the Papaya
Body Mask and the Phyto-Organic Facial. Vichy showers are
utilized for body exfoliation
treatments such as the Honeysuckle Scrub, Moor Mud and
Glacier Clay Wraps. The Zephyr
hydrotherapy tub utilizes salts
and offers color therapy as well.
range of services offered in The
Greenbrier Spa.
All baths feature freshly drawn
waters—either the White Sulphur Springs sulphur water or
the Alvon Springs mineral water,
in private tubs. For the ultimate
in relaxation, Swedish full body,
aromatherapy and ThermaStone
massages are available. Facials,
manicures, pedicures and full
hair care services complete the
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
11
[D]INING
Greenbrier’s true specialties:
cuisine. Executive Chef Peter
Timmins, a Certified Master
Chef, leads The Greenbrier’s talented culinary brigade.
named for the resort’s famed
designer. Sam Snead’s at the Golf
Club serves lunch and dinner
with a view overlooking all three
golf courses.
Dinner in the Main Dining
Room is a memorable event from
start to finish, with magnificent
décor, sparkling chandeliers and
a meal prepared by world-class
culinarians, many of whom
were trained in The Greenbrier’s
very respected and renowned
Culinary Apprenticeship Program.
For a more intimate dinner setting, guests may dine in the elegant Tavern Room. For dancing,
guests may choose the refined
Old White Lounge or the contemporary Slammin’ Sammy’s.
For à la carte lunch, Greenbrier
guests can dine in Draper’s Café,
Pictured above:
Baltimore Parlor
Once the summer retreat of General Robert
E. Lee, the guest houses of Baltimore Row
offer some of the best views of the north
lawn. Available with two, three, or four
bedrooms and private baths. Each cottage
has a living room with fireplace, dining
room, and porch.
Pictured at right:
Junior Suite
Junior suites are the largest single rooms at
The Greenbrier. They offer king-sized beds
or two double-sized beds and separate
sitting areas.
The Greenbrier also offers fine
shopping with a corridor of
unique shops including The
Greenbrier Shoppe, the Carleton Varney Gift Gallery, and
The Greenbrier Gourmet shop.
The Art Colony, located in
Alabama Row, gives visitors the
chance to view and purchase
distinctive handmade items.
Open year-round, the Christmas
Shop at the Depot offers holiday
gifts and decorations.
An afternoon tea and concert is
a Greenbrier tradition that began
in 1931. This daily treat offers
delightful musical entertainment
along with tea and homemade
cookies in the plush Main Lobby. Interior and exterior tours as
well as slide presentations offer
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AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
Chef Timmins
Chef Timmins has been executive chef at The
Greenbrier since January 1999. He was Chef
de Cuisine at The Greenbrier from 1994 to
1997, when he left to become executive chef
at The Baltimore Country Club. Chef Timmins
began his culinary career at the age of 17 in
his native Ireland, where, in 1974, he began
an apprenticeship under master chef Roger
Nobel at the Royal Hibernian Hotel in Dublin.
Chef Timmins attended Culinary College at
St. Mary’s College, Dublin, and later lectured
there. He became a member of The Irish Culinary Team in 1991 and competed at the IKA,
Culinary ‘Olympics’, in Germany in 1992.
A stay at The Greenbrier Resort
is an experience of a lifetime that
has many guests returning year
after year. [AL]
Greenbrier “Daley” Bread Pudding
Preparation:
one pound loaf Greenbrier Daley bread
(or other good quality cinnamon
raisin bread)
8 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
6 eggs
4 c. milk
1 c. granulated sugar
1/2 c. raisins
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Cut the bread into
1” squares, spread on a baking sheet and toast in the preheated oven until light brown, approximately 8 minutes.
Pack the toasted bread into a 2 1/2 quart baking dish
and drizzle with the melted butter.
guests insight into the property’s
incredible history.
With 802 guestrooms available
in the hotel, guest and estate
houses, The Greenbrier provides exquisite accommodations
for every traveler. Decorated by
the famous designers Dorothy
Draper and Carleton Varney,
the brilliant florals, well-crafted
woodwork and 16-foot windows
welcome guests in style.
With thoughtfully arranged seating areas, guests can gather with
friends or cozy up with a favorite book. Throughout the Main
Lobby area are several smaller
areas for writing, reading, backgammon and bridge. Within
these incredible surroundings,
guests are treated to one of The
from the kitchen of Chef Timmins
Ingredients:
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk,
and sugar until the sugar is dissolved. Add the raisins,
vanilla, and cinnamon. Pour the custard over the bread,
and leave to soak about 10 minutes. Reduce the oven
temperature to 350 degrees. Bake the pudding in the
preheated oven until slightly puffy and firm, or about
45 minutes. Serves 8.
Vanilla Sauce
Ingredients:
Preparation:
1 c. heavy cream
1/4 c. granulated sugar
2 egg yolks
1 1/2 tsp. all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/8 tsp. salt
1 medium scoop vanilla ice cream
1. In a small saucepan, combine the cream and sugar and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. In a small bowl,
whisk together the egg yolks, flour, vanilla, and salt until smooth and pale yellow.
2. Pour a little of the hot cream into the yolk mixture, whisking rapidly until smooth, then pour all of the yolk mixture
back into the pan of cream. Cook over very low heat (do not boil), stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the
cream has thickened slightly. (To test, run your finger across the back of the cream-coated spoon; if it leaves a clear trace,
the sauce is ready.) Remove from the heat, stir in the scoop of ice cream until melted and strain the sauce through a fine
sieve. Serve warm or at room temperature. Makes 1 1/2 cups.
Peach Coulis
Ingredients:
Preparation:
4 Greenbrier peach halves, drained
1 c. peach juice
(reserved from peaches)
1. Puree peach halves in a blender or processor until smooth. Add reserved liquid and mix.
2. Use as a sauce on bread pudding, pound cake, or ice cream. Store tightly covered in the refrigerator.
Yields 2 1/2 cups to 3 cups, depending on size of peaches.
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
13
[T]RAVEL
The picturesque Herns Mill Bridge, a
covered bridge in Greenbrier County
TUCKED
INTO
LANDSCAPE
OF
THE
VERDANT
WEST
VIRGINIA
IS AN ENCHANTED GEM OF A
COUNTY, OFTEN REFERRED TO AS
AN
“UNDISCOVERED TREASURE.”
D
espite its nickname, this county
has received national acclaim and
notoriety. Small towns are the heart
and soul of America and there are
none quite like the ones you’ll find
in Greenbrier County.
During the early 18th century,
the area now known as Greenbrier
County was largely uninhabited.
There were no known permanent
Indian villages in the county and
only a few trappers roamed the
area. It wasn’t until 1750 that colonists began to arrive; however all
attempts to colonize the valley by
Europeans failed until 1769. At that
time, forts sprung up to protect the
colonists, followed by handfuls of
native limestone buildings — a testament to the colonists’ determination to populate the valley.
14
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
the
hear t
of
the
ALLEGHENY
mountains
DISCOVER
GREENBRIER
COUNTY
Text and photography courtesy of Greenbrier County CVB / www.greenbrierwv.com
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
15
[ T]RAVEL
The Civil War reached the county in 1861 and several battles
were fought in the area including the Battle of Lewisburg in
May 1862, and the Battle of Dry
Creek in August 1863. Were the
towns made up of Confederate
or Union sympathizers? Suffice
it to say that Lewisburg was a
southern outpost during most of
the war, and the entire county sat
below the Mason-Dixon line.
Lewisburg’s historic district encompasses the heart of the City
of Lewisburg. Buildings of architectural interest abound—including the Old Stone Presbyterian Church. A Civil War Battle
fought in the city center, rounds
out the district, along with antique and specialty shops, inns,
bed & breakfasts, and art galleries. A self-guided walking tour
can be obtained from the Visitors
Center or Lewisburg City Hall.
Head to Jefferson Street and
check out Andrew Lewis Park,
discovered and named in the
early 1750s by Andrew Lewis.
The park includes a spring now
enclosed in a stone springhouse.
This spring supplied water to the
earliest settlements in Lewisburg
and Fort Savannah.
If you have a hankering for good
theater, “The Other Carnegie
Hall” offers a diverse performing
arts series, as well as art galleries,
pottery, weaving, dance and art
studios, classrooms, and meeting areas. There’s an old joke that
goes, “How do I get to Carnegie
Hall? Practice, practice, practice.”
Pictured at right:
Three women indulge in an afternoon of
shopping on the streets of Lewisburg.
Pictured below:
The Old Stone Presbyterian Church, dating
back to 1796, stands in Lewisburg. The
historical building is still fully functional and
offers weekly services.
fought in the city center, rounds out the
district, along with antique and specialty shops, inns,
bed & breakfasts, and art galleries.
A Civil War Battle,
Another way is to take a trip to
Lewisburg in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. This Carnegie
Hall is only one of four still in
continuous use in the world. In
1902, steel baron and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie built
the Lewisburg Carnegie Hall as a
classroom building for the Lewisburg Female Institute. It later
became the Greenbrier Women’s
College, and was used for that
purpose until the college closed
in 1972. Today, Carnegie Hall
stands as a well-respected and
nationally recognized center for
performing arts, award-winning
arts education programming and
a showcase for works by local and
regional artists. It is also one of
the few theatres in West Virginia
that offer year-round live theatrical and musical performances.
Greenbrier County offers a shopping experience like no other. In
this age of giant mega-malls, it is a
refreshing change of pace to find
old-fashioned downtowns filled
with unique shops, antiques, and
art galleries. Try Aggie’s Something Sweet, Something Country, for Fenton art glass, stained
glass, artistic lamp shades, Boyd’s
Bears, decorative flags, designer
greeting cards, home décor,
chocolates and sweets. Antique
Cabins and Barns specialize in
recovery and restoration of 19th
century hand hewn log and timber frame structures, and carry
antique wide plank flooring,
hand hewn beams, weathered
barn wood, and handcrafted
farm tables. The Harmony Ridge
Gallery, one of the area’s newest
galleries, features American art
and craft items including jewelry, pottery, and glasswork. An
in-house café is a perfect place to
grab a bite to eat to fuel up for
more shopping. To gear up for
outdoor adventure, try Serenity Now Outfitters. The fullystocked fly fishing stop offers
backpacking gear, river supplies,
canoes, kayaks, luggage racks,
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AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
17
[T]RAVEL
gifts, books, guided fishing trips
and instruction.
America). In 1884, the first organized golf course began in White
Sulphur Springs. The Montagues
needed a place away from Scotland to play, so they created their
own course and club. Today,
you can still play the original
course, where sheep roam freely
and keep it “mowed.” Guests are
urged to leave their clubs and tees
at home, and instead take to the
course at Oakhurst with replica
equipment, gutta-percha balls,
and buckets of sand and water,
all included in the greens fees.
Now that you have all your
outdoor gear, let the adventure
begin! The Greenbrier River
Trail offers 76 miles of outdoor
adventure, running along the
Greenbrier River from Caldwell
to Cass. Originally part of the
C & O rail systems, this trail
provides access to the river for
fishing, canoeing, horseback riding, cross-country skiing in the
winter, and hiking and biking
year-round. Featured in Backpacker Magazine as one of the
top ten hiking trails, Greenbrier
River Trail runs adjacent to five
state parks and forests beginning
at Greenbrier State Forest, near
Droop Mountain Battlefield and
Watoga State Parks, Seneca State
Forest, and ending at Cass Scenic
Railroad State Park.
Greenbrier County holds a special spot in the hearts of golfers.
Few, however, know that golf
actually began in Greenbrier
County (at least on this side of
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AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
Oakhurst Links is
America’s first golf
club. Watch for
wandering sheep, who
now, as in times past,
are used to keep the
greens well clipped.
Lewis Keller, pictured in
argyle socks, is the
present owner of
the oldest organized
golf club.
Top off the day with a relaxing
dinner at some of West Virginia’s
best restaurants. Three Greenbrier County restaurants — the
Pictured at rightt:
Biking on the Greenbrier
River Trail
Pictured below:
A fisherman casts out his line
on the Greenbrier River.
Today, you can still play the original course,
where sheep roam freely
and keep it “mowed.”
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
19
[N] ATURE
world-famous resort The Greenbrier, The General Lewis Inn,
and Food and Friends, were
recently featured on the Food
Network’s “Best of…” series.
The General Lewis Inn is famous
for specialties like country ham,
chicken, steaks, mountain trout,
and homemade pecan pie and
fruit cobblers. For a fun girls’ day
out, try Miss Ashley’s Tea Room.
Afternoon tea is served with finger
sandwiches, scones, and desserts.
The Greenbrier Valley Baking
Company is located in a restored
bakery building, and serves rustic
artisan breads, coffee, European pastries, and light lunches.
An open bread production
area for viewing puts a creative
spin on lunch. Jim’s Drive-In
offers hamburgers, homemade
chili, barbeque, English style
hotdogs, and ice cream brought
right to your car. Whether you’re
in the mood for sandwiches and
french fries, family dining, or
an elegant dinner, Greenbrier
County has the perfect place
waiting for you to discover. [AL]
The General Lewis Inn is
the perfect spot for lunch.
The oldest parts of the
inn were built in 1834,
and it offers a fascinating
collection of antique glass,
china, kitchen utensils,
tools, and firearms.
thinking
INSIDE
the box
S TA RT I N G
A TA N K O F
FINNED FRIENDS
Article resourced from “Creating an Aquarium” from The American Humane Association
A TANK FULL OF FISH OFFERS A WINDOW THROUGH
WHICH YOU CAN OBSERVE NATURE IN MINIATURE.
BUT FISH ARE NOT “EASY” PETS; YOU’LL NEED TO
SPEND TIME, MONEY, AND ENERGY TO CARE FOR
EVEN A GOLDFISH. SINCE FISH ARE EASY AND CHEAP
TO REPLACE, MILLIONS DIE PREMATURELY FROM
IMPROPER CARE AND NEGLIGENCE. YET WHEN YOU
ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CARING FOR ANY
ANIMAL, YOU MUST OFFER THE BEST POSSIBLE CARE.
Food & Friends serves
American cuisine in downtown
Lewisburg and was featured on
the Food Network.
20
AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
A
quarium stores offer supplies,
fish, and advice. Since store employees are not always fish experts, do some research on your
own first. Visit the library and
your aquarium-owning friends
to determine the type of tank
and fish most suitable for your
budget and space. Once you
have the fish in your home, it’s
too late to experiment.
When you’ve decided on the
equipment and fish you want,
inspect the shop. Are the tanks
clean and the fish healthy? Are
dead fish floating in their tanks?
What is their replacement policy
on fish that may die in the first
few days? If they don’t care for
the fish before you get them or
guarantee their health for at least
two weeks, shop somewhere else.
TANK
In general, buy the largest tank
your budget and space will allow.
The more water your tank holds,
the less it will be affected by outside temperature changes. Avoid
fish bowls or odd-shaped tanks
that look trendy, but are often
unsuitable for fish. Keep in mind
that fish make horizontal laps
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
21
[N] ATURE
don’t choose fish that are too
big for your tank or they’ll look
cramped and unnatural. If you
choose young fish, be sure their
adult size will still be compatible
with their other tank mates and
the tank size.
across the tank more than swimming vertically, so resist buying
that fashionable tall, thin tank.
FILTRATION
Fish constantly add waste and
toxins to your tank environment,
so filters are needed to keep the
water clear and fish-friendly by
removing particles and neutralizing the evil toxins. The best
beginner’s filter is an undergravel
filter, which consists of a plastic,
slotted tray that fits the bottom
of your aquarium and sits about
a half inch above the bottom.
HEATING
Some species, such as goldfish,
thrive in unheated water, but
most tropical fish need a water
temperature of 70 to 78 degrees
Fahrenheit—higher than normal
room temperature. A quality
heater and an aquarium thermometer will help to maintain
a constant, healthy temperature.
Purchase a heater with about five
watts of rating for each gallon
of water.
LIGHTING
Since your tank cannot be kept
in direct sunlight, provide artificial light with a fluorescent bulb
in a hood that covers the top of
your tank. Fluorescent light is
cooler, cheaper to operate, and
showcases your fish’s natural pigments better than an incandescent light. The hood keeps your
thrill-seeking fish from jumping
out, reduces evaporation of tank
water, and aids in regulating the
water temperature.
WATER
Most tap water contains chlorine
and ammonia that can kill your
fish. Ask your fish dealer whether
you need to purchase a chemical
additive that immediately neutralizes these toxins. Set up your
fish’s future abode several days
before you purchase your new
pets so the water temperature has
time to stabilize and toxins have
a chance to dissolve.
22
AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
NUMBER
Too many fish can also make
your tank look cramped and
unnatural and be unhealthy for
your fish. The total inches of fish
in your tank should not be more
than the number of gallons it
holds. For example, if you have
five three-inch fish, then you
have 15 inches of fish, and your
tank must have a capacity of at
least 15 gallons.
The hood keeps your
thrill-seeking fish
from jumping out,
TEMPERAMENT
More than likely, you’ll want to
have a variety of fish species in
your tank, commonly called a
community tank, so be sure that
the fish you choose can coexist in
peace and harmony.
PREPARATION
Rinse everything that’s going in
your aquarium with tap water,
including the aquarium itself,
and check it for leaks. Don’t use
any soaps or cleaning solutions,
since even minute amounts can
be toxic to your new pets. To
protect your fish against toxins,
designate a special bucket and
scrubber just for aquarium use.
PLACEMENT
Choose carefully where to place
your tank. Exposing it to direct
sunlight or near a heating or
cooling source can promote algae growth and fluctuate the water temperature. Since your tank
will require at least three electrical sources (the light, heater, and
pump) set it near an outlet.
Once your tank is assembled
and filled with water, it will take
several Olympic weight lifters
to move it, so be positive about
the location and confident that
the stand or table will be strong
enough to support it.
ASSEMBLY
Assemble the undergravel filter
and place it in your empty tank,
then connect the air tubes to
your air pump. Add the rinsed
gravel to the tank, making some
slopes and hills to create an exciting landscape. Then gently pour
treated tap water onto a saucer
placed on your gravel to prevent
it from disturbing the gravel. Fill
the tank three-quarters full, then
put in your decorations. Before
planting live plants, wait two
days for temperature and water
conditions to stabilize. When
you have achieved decoration
utopia, finish filling the tank
with water. Attach the heater to
the middle and back of the tank,
so it won’t interfere with the
aquarium hood. Give the thermostat a few minutes to adjust to
the tank temperature, and plug
the heater into the outlet. When
the indicator light on the heater
turns off, that is the temperature
the heater will maintain.
CHOOSING FISH
You can fill your aquarium with a
hodge-podge of colors, sizes, and
shapes of fish, but remember that
every species developed in a specific environment. Water quality,
temperature, food requirements,
and seasonal changes can be challenging to mimic. Some fish are
very hardy and relatively easy to
keep, while others are so fragile
that a temperature drop of a few
degrees will send them to their
graves. As a fish rookie, select
fish that are easy to care for and
can survive the minor mishaps
that occur in the beginning.
SIZE
Fish have little else to do but
swim back and forth, staring out your tank sideways, so
Fish species can be divided into
three temperament categories.
Social varieties play well with
others, like danios, tetras, Corydoras, mollies, guppies, and
swordtails. Semi-social varieties
can be kept with fish of equal
size without becoming equally
aggressive, such as the barbs,
gouramis, and angelfish. Aggressive varieties must be kept singly or in pairs such as the jewel
fish, oscars, and male betas. Also
be aware that some fish lay eggs
while others bear live young,
like guppies and mollies. If you
get a live-bearer, provide hiding
places for the youngsters so they
won’t be eaten by the larger fish.
Don’t forget that the offspring
will need a place to live as well,
so be sure your tank can hold the
additional residents.
HEALTH
One sick fish can infect all the
inhabitants of your aquarium. If
you don’t have an isolation tank,
carefully select each fish. They
should swim surely with fins
held alert, and not have spots
or signs of fungus or bacteria on
their bodies. If the tail isn’t in
good condition, the body looks
like it has a kink in it, or the fish
behaves differently from his tank
mates, don’t choose him.
Take your finned friend directly
home and float the bag in the
aquarium for five to ten minutes
to allow the water temperatures
to equalize. Now open the bag
and add tank water until the
water volume doubles in the
bag. Wait another five minutes,
then gently net the fish out of
the bag and place them in your
tank. Avoid adding the water
from the bag into your tank as
it could contain contaminates.
New tanks must grow healthy
bacteria to provide good water
quality. When you add fish for
a new tank, these bacteria cloud
the water for several weeks while
they multiply and stabilize. Start
your tank with a few hardy fish
and build up your fish community over a period of weeks.
FOOD
All fish do not require the same
food, but commercially-prepared
food should basically satisfy each
appetite and dietary need. Dry
fish food choices include ones
that can affect growth, breeding, color, and a number of other
needs. Most dry foods come in
flake form with a few specific
types in floating pellet form for
larger varieties of fish. To accommodate tiny mouths and
stomachs, both flake and pellet varieties can be broken up
by rubbing them between your
fingers. Some experts feed their
fish twice a day, but many believe
that once a day will suffice. All
agree that overfeeding is one of
the most harmful and common
errors in fish care. Establish a
feeding time and stick to it.
Fish eat a relatively small amount
for their total size, so offer your
fish a small meal, dropped into
their tank. If they consume all
the food in two to three minutes and continue to come to the
surface looking for more, add
another pinch. Bottom feeders
will take care of some of the food
that falls among the gravel, but
not large amounts. Remove any
food left after five minutes.
DAILY CARE
Daily care of your fish should include their feeding and a quick
observation to make sure they’re
all healthy and present. Make
sure the filter and air diffusers are
working and the temperature is
stable. Weekly maintenance includes scraping algae off the inside of the glass walls, trimming
excess growth and dead leaves
from the plants, and replacing
the charcoal and floss in supplemental filters. Once a month,
you should gently “vacuum” the
gravel in the tank with a siphon
hose along the top of the gravel.
This should remove about onethird of the water which you replace with treated tap water at an
equal temperature. Keep these
guidelines handy and above all
else, never flush a live fish. [AL]
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
23
[A] RCHITECTURE
Exterior of Greenwich Stone
An addition to this stone and stucco renovated Tudor
Revival house displays the appreciation for detailing
and history that connects this style to the late 19th
century and early 20th century English Arts and Crafts
movement. The Tudor Revival style in America required
expensive materials such as the stone walls, slate
roof, and copper gutters used in this house.
WHAT TO KEEP AND WHAT TO
THROW AWAY?
WITH THIS
SOCIETY
DILEMMA
OF
ARCHITECT
WE ALL GRAPPLE
IN
OUR
ABUNDANCE,
BUT
MCKEE
PATTERSON
CONFRONTS IT DAILY WITH A PASSION IN A BIG WAY: RENOVATING
AND ADDING TO ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT HOUSES.
H
is interest was sparked more than twenty
years ago when he went into partnership
with David Austin, AIA, forming, with
the addition of partner Stuart Disston,
AIA, Austin Patterson Disston Architects in Southport, Connecticut. He
was working on renovating a gracious
1840s Federal house and marveled at
the crafting of stair details and moldings,
but “[he] needed to be very clear in the
demolition process—where to stop, or
else the builder would throw everything
away,” explains the architect, “as it is generally much easier to start from scratch.”
the
ar t
of
RENOVATING
history
AUSTIN
PAT T E R S O N
DISSTON
ARCHITECTS
Article by Judith Chapman
©Jeff McNamara
24
AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
The firm has grown and flourished to
a staff of 30 with a satellite office in
Quogue, New York, working on new custom construction as well as renovations.
Mr. Patterson’s honed ability to discover
what’s significant about a house and keep
it, has resonated with the large body of
early 20th century houses in Fairfield
County. The firm espouses a contextual
design approach that seeks to connect the
built structure to a broader whole, establishing a dialogue between the structure
and those who inhabit it. Applauding
quality design regardless of budget and
working with clients’ design sensibilities,
the firm’s design process considers and reflects the local vernacular, a larger regional tradition, the surrounding landscape,
and the site itself.
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
25
[A] RCHITECTURE
Entry Bungalow with Pergola
Originally built in 1913, this large Craftsman-style
bungalow received a thorough renovation with
additions under the design guidance of partner
McKee Patterson, AIA. A new prominent entrance
with casement windows and door was created from
what was the rear stair. The pergola design takes
its cue from the typical Craftsman-style detail of the
house’s rafter tails.
His clients share his passion and the team
works together to save the soul of the structure...
©Jeff McNamara
Tudor Revival, Spanish Revival,
Colonial Revival, Craftsman
style, and English Arts & Crafts
were the styles the prominent
families built in the heyday before the Depression. With the
building of additional rail stations on the New York-New
Haven line, the population of
Fairfield County doubled. These
were business men who traveled
26
AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
and made money. They wanted
the pedigree, tradition and rootedness they saw in Europeans and
this architecture gave it to them.
“The high quality of the material
used, the fluid plans of the houses
which often feature large foyers
or gallery front halls, and the
general finesse of the details and
design make them really fun to
work on,” notes Mr. Patterson.
His clients share his passion and
the team works together to save
the soul of the structure while
meticulously bringing all the
systems – mechanical, electrical,
communications – up to date
and adding or changing spaces.
So when a handsome Craftsman-style house seemed to be
Pictured above:
Rearview of Greenwich Stone
This new addition to an early 20th century
Tudor Revival stone house features a family
room with bar and exercise room
overlooking the new pool.
©Jeff McNamara
(cont. on page 30)
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
27
[A] RCHITECTURE
Kitchen
The new kitchen recalls the character
of the Arts and Crafts period with its focus on
craftsmanship, materials, and individualized
design. Architect McKee Patterson, AIA, uses
bronze mesh to face the upper cabinets and large
oversized rubber tiles on the floor. Mahogany
cabinets and white marble are classic high quality
materials used in the early 20th century.
Breakfast Room
A new breakfast room in this Craftsmanstyle house features built-in bookcases and
a banquette. The mahogany wainscotedpanels mirror the use of mahogany in the
restored butler’s pantry.
©Jeff McNamara
28
AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
©Jeff McNamara
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
29
[A] RCHITECTURE
slated for demolition because no
one could figure out what to do
with the 25 foot high oak paneled living room that divided the
two sides of the house, Mr. Patterson had the right vision. Save
the room, as it was the core of
the house, but lower the ceiling creating a hall and rooms
above to properly connect the
second floor. “The room now
has a much better scale and the
plan of the house works,” notes
the architect. The oak beams
were saved and used for built-in
cabinets, the oak paneling was
refinished, and the Arts & Crafts
light fixtures refurbished.
Pictured at left:
Living Room
The original awkward 25-foot-high ceiling
in the living room was lowered by 12 feet,
creating a well proportioned room. The
oak beams were saved and used on the
ceiling as well as cabinet facing in other
parts of the house. The original oak wood
paneling was carefully refinished and the
Arts and Crafts light fixtures brought back
to life.
Greenwich Stone Library
This small circular library also acts as
a transition room between the original
Tudor Revival stone house and the new
addition which contains a family room
and exercise room. A small reading
room adjoins the library. Both feature
wenge, a lush dark African wood, and
rug-like flooring of English Victorian tiles
set in figured quarter-sawed white oak.
Pictured below:
“We even saved and rechromed
circa 1913 bathroom fixtures like
the wire washcloth holders. No
one even makes those anymore.”
And that’s the point. Few new
projects can duplicate the detailing in these architecturally
significant houses and they certainly can’t duplicate the richness
age brings to a house. “It is also
equally important to know when
to stop in the refurbishing process or else you lose the patina
of age.” Mr. Patterson seems
to have struck that balance. For
more information about Austin,
Patterson, Disston, go online to
www.apdarchitects.com. [AL]
Tudor Pool House
To complete the elements of this estate that
includes a large renovated Tudor Revival
house, tennis court, pool and gardens,
architect Patterson designed a pool house
and guest house. Faced in stucco and
half-timber with a wooden pergola, this
charming structure plays off the design of
the nearby main house.
©Jeff McNamara
Pictured below:
Partners in Design
David Austin (seated on left),
Stuart Disston (seated on the right),
and McKee Patterson (standing).
some notes
ON STYLE
The Tudor Revival became popular with 1920s suburban homes.
Loosely based on late medieval
styling, these houses frequently
showcase decorative timbers.
Modern Tudor houses suggest
the structural framework with
ornamental (false) half-timbering, often with stucco or masonry
veneered walls. Some borrow
ideas from late Medieval palaces,
and feature overlapping gables,
parapets, and beautifully patterned brick or stonework.
©Peter Margonelli
30
AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
©Adrianne dePolo
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
31
[T]ECHNOLOGY
h e re’s
LOOKING
at you
on yourself if you are just finding out that you’ve installed one
of both of these on your system.
You have plenty of company.
THE HIDDEN
TRUTH ABOUT
S P Y WA R E
Bonzi Buddy is one of the first
programs I can recall that was
both a disguised form of spyware and immensely popular. A
seemingly friendly purple ape,
the Bonzi Buddy is described as
“your interactive friend and traveling companion on the Internet!
He walks, talks, sings, browses
and searches the Internet with
you.” In reality, it is adware that
displays targeted advertisments
and resets the browser home
page. Even worse, the targeted
demographic is children!
Article by Robert Stanley
THE
HELPFUL
LOADED
TO
BONZI
YOUR
BUDDY THAT YOU
DESKTOP
LOOKS
DOWN-
CUTE
AND
INNOCENT WHILE IT’S TELLING YOU A JOKE, BUT
THE REAL JOKE IS ACTUALLY ON YOU. BONZI BUDDY
IS A FORM OF SPYWARE, A PROGRAM THAT TRACKS
YOUR INTERNET USE WITHOUT YOUR PERMISSION.
T
he other day, while watching a television commercial, I
discovered that AOL has spyware protection. The commercial involved people who had,
no doubt, finished an amazing
tour of the AOL offices. I’m assuming the tour had concluded
and these visitors were trying to
“stump” the resident AOL genius
with questions about their software capabilities. When asked if
AOL could handle spyware, he
responded, “AOL helps prevent
spyware, which can slow down
your computer up to 500%.”
That really is slow. AOL is suggesting that my computer can
actually process slower than it
would when it is powered off.
There is so much misinformation circulating that most people
cannot possibly have an under-
32
AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
standing of exactly what spyware
is or why it is a problem.
Spyware is a broad term, but to
put it succinctly, it’s any program
that sends data back and forth
from your computer over your
internet connection without your
permission. This could include a
broad range of software, as simple as pop up ads, or as dangerous as a program that sends spam
using your internet connection.
But what really upsets most users
are the programs that track your
internet usage without you even
knowing it.
Many people associate viruses
with spyware, despite a very clear
difference. Viruses generally attempt to not only infect the
host computer, but infect other
computers as well. This means
that viruses can install themselves without direct human interaction. Spyware, on the other
hand, is installed by the user.
You might be trying to stop me
now to explain that you never
installed any spyware, and yet
it’s filling up your computer
and slowing everything down.
This is exactly the problem with
spyware; it gets onto your system through user deception, or
through users interacting with a
program. I say interacting with a
program, but much of the time
it’s due to the user’s inaction with
the program, or at least their
refusal to read any of the text
displayed during the program’s
installation. I don’t mean the
really long terms of service sec-
tion, though it’s a good idea to
read that as well, but rather the
checkboxes and options given
during the install. All too often,
I’ve watched as someone left the
“install 3rd party extras” box
checked during the installation.
For example, Adobe Reader, a
program used for reading PDF
files, will install a yahoo toolbar
if you do not deselect it during
the installation.
Surely you’ve received a forward
from a friend or coworker boldly
proclaiming that they’ve found
the “cutest” little game or screensaver. In fact, these programs
have traditionally been some of
the biggest purveyors of spyware.
There are two rather famous examples that circulated within the
last few years. Don’t be too hard
I came across the second program, floating among my coworkers at the office. It was an
addictive game called “Elf Bowling”. It was popular way back in
1999 and tracked the usage of its
users. I’ve never been interested
in this sort of software, and I’d
encourage those who have an affinity for it, to see if you can’t fill
that need in some other way.
If you’re using a program that
encourages, or at least facilitates
illegal activity, there is a very
good chance it contains spyware.
Some of the biggest offenders
most recently have been the file
trading programs.
Context is important when deciding how you want to expose
your computer. Every time you
install a program, you’re giving it
permission to perform a number
of actions that could be potentially detrimental to your computer. If a developer wanted to,
he or she could take all of your
files from your “My Documents”
folder and upload them to a
server. For this reason, it is imperative that you learn not just a
list of do’s and dont’s for how to
handle yourself online, but how
to interact with technology and
the internet in general.
Just as you wouldn’t find a random babysitter to watch your
children, you shouldn’t go clicking any link that is pointing you
toward software or a web page.
When I decide to install a program, I look to see what reviews
there are for it. This does not
mean that you have to read them
all. You can easily scan a list of
search results for any bad reviews or warnings. Searching for
“Bonzi Buddy” returns results
such as “ConsumerWebWatch
refers to BonziBuddy as a ‘Backdoor Santa’” and “Bonzi buddy is
a download ‘helper’ application
for the Bonzi site which tracks...”
But be careful! Some developers
are deceitful enough to post fake
reviews on their own site.
Once you’ve scanned for bad reviews, check out the actual site
of the company that makes the
software. Many times users interact with a third party in order
to get the software, instead of
downloading it directly. Usually
you’ll see a link that says “Visit
Developer’s Site,” or something
relatively close to it. If you get
to the site and it’s launching, or
trying to launch pop up advertisements it’s usually indicative
of the mentality of the developers. If the site is professional, and
doesn’t ask you for a whole lot of
personal information in order to
reach the download, you’re about
as safe as you can be. This is not
an end-all solution; there is no
way to know that everything is
straight forward until you are actually running the software.
As of late, many reputable companies have begun actively installing spyware on their users’
computers. Sony is facing a huge
backlash for installing hidden
software when one of their copy
protection CDs is used on a computer. Not only do they track all
sorts of usage information, but
the software is completely invisible and can’t be seen unless
someone is using an advanced
spyware detection program. As
large companies grow more and
more aggressive toward their
customers, more of this type of
software will emerge.
I use a Mac at home, which cuts
down on the spyware problem.
But I will clarify that spyware can
just as easily exist on the Mac as
it can on a Windows computer.
Just to prove it, I run a program
called “Little Snitch” that notifies
me every time a program is trying to contact a server. I can then
choose to allow or deny each
connection depending on what I
think the program is trying to do.
Much of the time, the software is
simply visiting a website to see if
an update is available. Even this,
if I was never asked, constitutes
spyware. With “Little Snitch,” if
a program behaves strangely, I’ll
be forewarned.
At work, I use a Windows computer. Unfortunately, there isn’t
anything nearly as simple as Little
Snitch that I’ve been able to find.
If you’re familiar with technical
jargon, or know someone who is,
a program called “Kerio Personal
Firewall”, a program that is free
to try for a month, has the same
basic functionality. I would actually advise against using this unless you consider yourself good
with computers. But it’s there
for you if you’re worried about
exactly what a program is trying
to do over the internet.
If you’re in a position where your
computer is already overloaded
with spyware, there are several
options. If you can afford it, have
your computer taken in and handled by a professional. Many of
the options I’m about to discuss,
while being as simple as possible,
are still going to raise questions
that you won’t know how to answer. In my experiences in resuscitating my friends’ computers, a
portion of my decisions are only
informed guesses. I cannot stress
enough how important it is to
enlist the help of someone who
knows how to do this, and does
it often. They are more likely
to recognize names of spyware
programs and the files on your
computer than you or I. If all
else fails, Microsoft offers a free
spyware support hotline.
I’m going to list the popular
spyware removal tools and give
a brief overview of their functionality in general. Ad-Aware
SE, Spybot - Search & Destroy,
Windows Anti-Spyware Beta,
and all of the major anti-virus
products are capable of removing
spyware. These programs search
your computer for known spyware and ask you what should
be deleted. Knowing what to delete will be a struggle for those
with limited spyware knowledge.
Much of the time, it will be spot
on, but there is no guarantee that
it won’t wipe out an infected directory and take a couple of your
digital pictures with it.
At this point, you should have a
better idea how to identify spyware. Having this knowledge
may go a long way in what programs you decide to download
or links you click. Sometimes
even your closest friends might
send you an email containing a
program they didn’t intend to
send you.
If we do the math from AOL’s
commercial, and you had spyware installed on your computer,
spyware was actually draining
speed from outside the computer itself. By following my advice
and ridding your computer of
spyware and also keeping it free
from new spyware, your whole
life should change overnight. I’d
daresay that you will be 400%
faster at everything you do. [AL]
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
33
[S]PECIAL FEATURE
p a inting
the
NEW MEXICO
horizon
ALBUQUERQUE
I N T E R N AT I O N A L
B A L L O O N F I E S TA
Content courtesy of www.eballoon.org and the AIBF website
Photography by Raymond Watt
“AS WE WERE RETURNING TO THE INN
WE
BEHELD SOMETHING FLOATING IN THE
AMPLE FIELD OF GOLDEN EVENING SKY, ABOVE
THE CHALK CLIFFS AND THE TREES THAT GROW
ALONG THEIR SUMMIT. IT WAS TOO HIGH UP, TOO
LARGE, AND TOO STEADY FOR A KITE; AND, AS IT WAS
DARK, IT COULD NOT BE A STAR. . . THE VILLAGE WAS
DOTTED
WITH
PEOPLE
WITH THEIR
HEADS
IN
AIR;
AND THE CHILDREN WERE IN A BUSTLE ALL ALONG THE
STREET AND FAR UP THE STRAIGHT ROAD THAT CLIMBS
THE HILL, WHERE WE COULD STILL SEE THEM RUNNING IN
LOOSE KNOTS. IT WAS A BALLOON, WE LEARNED, WHICH HAD
LEFT ST. QUENTIN AT HALF PAST FIVE THAT EVENING...THE NIGHT
FELL SWIFTLY. ROADSIDE TREES AND DISAPPOINTED SIGHT-SEERS,
RETURNING THROUGH THE MEADOWS, STOOD OUT IN BLACK AGAINST
A MARGIN OF LOW, RED SUNSET. IT WAS CHEERFULLY TO FACE THE OTHER
WAY, AND SO DOWN THE HILL WE WENT, WITH A FULL MOON, THE COLOR
OF A MELON, SWINGING HIGH ABOVE THE WOODED VALLEY, AND THE WHITE
CLIFFS BEHIND US FAINTLY REDDENED BY THE FIRE OF THE CHALK KILNS.”
— ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON, “AN INLAND VOYAGE”
34
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
W
ho hasn’t stopped to gaze up at
a hot air balloon busily bobbing
and nodding with the gentle
breeze? They are full of innocence,
trusting the whims of Mother
Nature. Hot air balloons are also
an ingenious application of basic
scientific principles. Warmer air
rises in cooler air because warm
air has less mass per unit of volume. Mass can be defined by the
measure of how much matter
something contains. The actual
balloon, called an envelope, has
to be as large as it is to hold the
necessary amount of heated air to
lift it off the ground. For example, to lift 1000 pounds worth of
weight, you would need almost
65,000 cubic feet of heated air.
To help keep the balloon in the
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
35
[S] PECIAL FEATURE
Hot air balloons are also an
ingenious
application of basic scientific principles.
36
AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
air and rising, hot air needs to
be propelled upwards into the
envelope using the burner.
THE ENVELOPE
The envelope is constructed
from long nylon sections called
gores. The gores extend from the
base of the envelope to the crown
and are made up of many smaller
panels. The main part of the envelope is normally made from a
combination of nylon or polyester, the same type of material
that parachutes are made of. It is
very tightly woven and is coated
with a material that makes it
extremely air tight and durable.
Nylon works very well in balloons because it is lightweight,
but also fairly sturdy and has a
high melting temperature.
The skirt of the envelope, the
part of the envelope closest to the
burner, is made from a material
called Nomex. Nomex is an industry standard flame resistant
material, commonly found in
the suits of firefighters.
The material used at the top
of the envelope is Hyperlast, a
nylon material that has been
around for many years. The fabric is woven from a heavier yarn,
giving it additional strength. A
silicone coating added to both
faces of the fabric helps protect
the envelope from the growth of
mold or fungi.
THE BURNER
Hot air balloons have their own
special engine—the burner. This
propels the hot air up into the envelope to make the balloon move
upwards into the air. Modern hot
air balloons use propane in the
burner to heat the air. The propane is stored in cylinders that sit
in the balloon basket, along with
the passengers and the pilot. The
propane is highly compressed in
canisters and flows to the burner
in liquid form. When the pilot
starts the burner up, the propane
flows to it and is ignited by a
pilot light. As the flame burns,
it heats up the metal in the surrounding tubing, which in turn
heats up the propane that flows
through it. This process changes
the propane from a liquid to a
gas, before it is ignited. The gas
makes for a more powerful flame
and an overall more efficient fuel
consumption. The pilot must
keep firing the burner at regular
intervals throughout the flight to
ensure that the balloon continues
to be stable. Naturally, the hot air
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
37
[S] PECIAL FEATURE
larger sizes (20+) used for public
flights. These days most baskets
are woven from Kooboo and
Palambang cane, as these materials are extremely sturdy and relatively lightweight. The cane has
proven to be the most hardwearing and durable material, even
more so than aluminum or some
composite plastics. The basket
needs to be very durable and
rugged as it is constantly shifted
from place to place. When the
balloon lands, a large amount of
force is exerted on the basket as
it hits the floor and grinds to a
halt. The flexibility of the cane
helps with the balloon landing,
absorbing some of the energy.
Ballooning has come a long way
from Pilatre De Rozier’s first hot
air balloon launch on September
19th, 1783. The “Aerostat Reveillon” carried a sheep, a duck
and a rooster and stayed afloat
for fifteen minutes before crashing back to terra firma. The first
will not escape from the hole at
the very bottom of the envelope
as hot air rises, and the buoyancy
keeps it moving up. To move
the balloon downwards, the pilot
pulls on a cord, which opens “the
parachute valve,” a circle of fabric cut out at the top of the envelope. Hot air escapes, decreasing the inner air temperature.
To move horizontally, the pilot
changes the vertical position of
the balloon because the wind
blows in different directions at
different altitudes. If the pilot
wants to move in a particular direction, they simply ascend and
descend to the appropriate level
and ride with the wind.
THE BASKET
The basket is the bottom part of
the balloon, which carries the
passengers, pilot, and propane
gas cylinders. Baskets come in a
variety of shapes and sizes, some
smaller for more intimate flights
(two to three people) up to the
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AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
39
[S] PECIAL FEATURE
manned attempt came about
two months later on the 21st of
November, with a balloon made
by two French brothers, Joseph
and Etienne Montgolfier. The
balloon launched from the heart
of Paris and flew for 20 minutes.
Gas balloons underwent an overhaul in the late 1950s. The U.S.
Navy needed a less-expensive
alternative to their hydrogen/
helium balloon training program. Several innovators from a
small company in South Dakota
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AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
made a hot-air balloon envelope
from calendered nylon, using an
on-board butane burner in the
gondola. On October 22, 1960,
Ed Yost, in Raven Industries®’
first Vulcoon®, flew to 9300
feet in a half-hour flight in this
forerunner of all modern hot-air
balloons. Propane, coupled with
much larger burners, is the fuel
of choice now.
Ballooning in New Mexico dates
back to October 12, 1907, when
a gas balloon lifted off from the
Territorial Fair Grounds in Albuquerque with Joseph Blondin as
the aeronaut. In April of 1972,
after determining the largest
number of balloons ever assembled in the world, Sid Cutter and
Tom Rutherford staged the first
hot air balloon rally in New Mexico, at what were the beginnings
of the Coronado Mall. Thirteen
balloons took part, and 20,000
people turned out for the spectacle in the sky. The following
year, thirteen countries took part
in the “First World Hot Air Balloon Championships,” held at the
New Mexico State Fairgrounds.
The event had already caught on.
By 1978, Albuquerque was playing host to the world’s largest
ballooning event.
Gas balloons became part of the
Balloon Fiesta in 1981. In 1993,
the Balloon Fiesta hosted the
37th annual Gordon Bennett
Cup, the world’s oldest and most
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
41
[S] PECIAL FEATURE
prestigious gas balloon race. In
1994, Balloon Fiesta hosted the
8th World Gas Balloon Championship and in 1995, Fiesta
launched America’s Challenge
Gas Balloon Race, a distance
race that broke distance records,
dating back to 1912.
Today the Balloon Fiesta includes
special events like the weekend
and Wednesday mass ascensions,
Balloon Glow®, Night Magic™
Glow, and the Special Shape
Glowdeo,™ where more than
100 uniquely shaped balloons
are showcased.
Extensive media coverage originates from more than 50 nations,
with live satellite broadcast to
Japan, and television documentaries prepared by Great Britain,
West Germany, the Netherlands,
and France.
Each year, the Balloon Fiesta is
organized by a full-time paid
staff of less than 12 people, an
all-volunteer board of up to 24
members, and thousands of volunteers working every facet of
the event. [AL]
In 1992, the name Kodak was
added to Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, a reflection of the event’s evolution into
the world’s most photographed
event. The Balloon Fiesta has
literally changed the face of the
ballooning sport by showing new
pilots and owners what a thrilling and safe experience ballooning can be. Drawing entries from
more than 28 different countries
each year, the Balloon Fiesta has
truly become international in
stature. In 2002, Kodak stepped
down from the title sponsorship
of the Balloon Fiesta.
42
AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
43
[A] RT
“A visit to her studio would find the “Icing Queen”
immersed in her latest masterpiece, the sounds
of the Jazz Vipers saturating the room with good
ol’ New Orleans’
swing.”
t i ers
of
PURE
joy
TA L E N T S O F
MARGARET BRAUN:
CAKE ARTIST
Article by Keller Rose
MARGARET BRAUN HAD SOMETHING OF AN EPIPHANY
TWELVE
HER
YEARS
OILS
EDIBLE
AND
PAINTS,
AGO,
WHEN
ACRYLICS
SHE
FOR
TRANSFORMING
TRADED
ICING
HERSELF
IN
AND
FROM
Self-titled cake:
“Queen of Symmetry”
FINE ARTIST TO CAKE DESIGNER EXTRAORDINAIRE.
M
aking a living as an artist was
familiar territory for Braun,
born into a family of musicians
and creatives. Her father was an
amateur musician, deeply passionate about music, and a hardworking salesman. Her mother,
alive and well, is an educator
and jewelry designer. Her alto
sax playing brother is part of the
hottest swing band around, the
New Orleans Jazz Vipers, which
Braun, bubbling over with pride,
deems “the best thing since sliced
bread.” Not one to suppress her
emotions, it is undeniable the adoration Braun has for her family.
Braun is also the type of person
who can establish an instant rapport with whoever she meets. This
special proclivity for effortless
44
AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
camaraderie has earned Braun
clients from all over the country
and world, including celebrities.
When asked about star clients,
she has a great attitude, noting,
“My clients are my clients. There
is an element of fun at first, but
it doesn’t last long.” Not surprisingly, her dream clients are simply people who are easy to work
with and have great taste. The
process of designing a cake for
an event involves a lot of back
and forth, so an effective working relationship is essential for
success. It can take up to a week
to complete the actual artwork.
Braun’s work ethic is reminiscent
of a 16th century painter—focused, intense, and completely
absorbing. She takes on limited
projects, as each confectionary
creation demands her full attention and creativity.
Braun is a self-described “dinner
party baker,” preferring to bake
one beautiful tart or cake for her
audience. She enlists the help of
a baker to handle the production
baking her business requires, allowing her to focus her energies on designing and painting.
A visit to her studio would
find the “Icing Queen” immersed in her latest masterpiece, the sounds of
the Jazz Vipers saturating the room with good
ol’ New Orleans’ swing.
On the rare instance
that she suffers from
artist’s block, she finds
fresh inspiration from
fashion, architecture, mundane
supermarket products, packaging, and even dreams. Yes,
dreams. She admits her design
problems are often solved after a
good night’s sleep.
Sleep is a rare commodity during
Braun’s busy season. The highly
sought after designer attributes
much of her success to her work
ethic, which she further defines
as a willingness and attraction to
work very intensely. Relaxation,
though difficult to come by in
the busy season, is of equal importance in keeping a healthy
balance. The focused cake designer escapes to the Catskills
with her husband, two hours
away to a place she has affectionately dubbed “the little red
cabin, where [they] go and eat
soup.” Braun is very particular
about the projects she takes on.
She bypasses the wackier appeals,
preferring to accept the requests
that allow her to create something beautiful. Not one to shy
away from a challenge, however,
Braun once took on a project
that required her to create 2,000
individual wedding cakes and
transport them overseas, to a
“very far away land,” she explains
with a laugh. Temporary painters and cake builders were hired,
and something of a Renaissance
workshop took up residence in
her New York City studio.
Her signature style is a nouveau
twist on Baroque art, with elegant embellishments and Rococco flourishes. Her most popular
cake design, “Baroque in Patent
Leather” was inspired by a pair
of Miu Miu shoes, and speaks
to the marriage of modern and
renaissance that influences so
many of Braun’s designs. The
elaborate orange and fuschia
multi-tiered cake with pearlized
tassels and intricate scrolling
graces the cover of Cakewalk,
Braun’s highly praised book.
Though this famous cake is often
replicated, Braun encourages
her clients to make customized
alterations, ensuring that no
two cakes are ever alike. She is
in constant pursuit of fresh design techniques, experimenting in her studio daily. For as
intricate and delicate as her
masterpieces are, Braun swears
she’s never had any mishaps.
“I never will. Underline and
capitalize that. It can’t happen,
so it won’t happen…knock on
wood,” she adds superstitiously.
“All About Bows”
photographed by
Richard Cohen
Previously a fine artist, Braun admits she’d one day like to get back
to her art, especially sculpture in
metal and glass. When asked if
she’d ever consider leaving New
York, she confessed she grills
herself every winter, without fail.
“Why am I still here,” she asks,
when the thermometer dips into
polar bear zone. She has fantasies
of living in Italy one day, or maybe owning a house in New Orleans, in close proximity to her
beloved swing music. Her future
destinations are unknown at this
point, but it is certain wherever
she leaves, she will be missed,
and wherever she goes will become a better place. A bit wistful
that I had run out of prepared
interview questions, I found myself wishing her a good day and
week, as if she were an old friend.
This charismatic and compelling
“cake diva” proves that you don’t
have to be president to change
the world, as she spreads joy and
warmth with every sugar fruit
and icing petal. [AL]
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
45
[H] ISTORY
IT IS THE PUZZLE THAT MANY HAVE RESORTED TO PEELING OFF THE COLORED STICKERS IN A FRUSTRATED
FRENZY. THE WORLD’S BEST PUZZLERS CAN UNSCRAMBLE THE RUBIK’S CUBE IN SECONDS. THE MOST POPULAR
PUZZLE IN HISTORY IS THE BRAINCHILD OF ERNO RUBIK.
tried to hold together the elements of a simpler, 2x2x2 cube,
by means of an elastic rubber
construction that threaded its
way through all 8 elements.
Even at this simple level, it soon
became clear that such a device
could not work.
I
ts official birth date is 1974 when
the first working prototype came
into being and a patent application was drafted. The place was
Budapest, the capital of Hungary. The inventor’s name is now
a household word. At the time,
Erno Rubik was a lecturer in the
Department of Interior Design
at the Academy of Applied Arts
and Crafts in Budapest.
a
histor yof
TWISTS
and turns
Although 1974 marks the inauguration of the Cube, the processes that led to the invention
began a few years earlier. The
famous puzzle was not the result
of a fortuitous accident. Erno
Rubik had a passionate interest
in geometry, in the study of 3D
forms, in construction and in exploring the hidden possibilities of
combinations of forms and material in theory and in practice.
ERNO
RUBIK’S
CUBE
Text and photography courtesy of the Rubik’s
Official Online Site // www.rubiks.com
Erno Rubik set out to create
a three dimensional object, of
high aesthetic value, which was
not only richer in configuration
variations and more of a mental challenge than any puzzle in
existence, but one that would
also continue to be one selfcontained unit, throughout its
manifold transformations.
After conceiving the idea of the
3x3x3 Cube, Erno Rubik first
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AMERICAN LIFESTYL E
Inspiration came on a lazy, summer day as he was watching the
Danube flow by. Rubik’s eye was
attracted by some pebbles, whose
sharp edges had been rubbed and
smoothed away in the course of
time, bringing into being rounded shapes of great but simple
beauty. The interior of the Cube
elements had to have the same
rounded architecture. The brilliant interior mechanism, which
is basically cylindrical, took some
time to reach its final form. For
ease of manipulation, the balance
between tightness and looseness
had to be just right, and tolerances had to be exact. Finally,
the 54 outer surfaces of the individual elements were given their
colors—six simple, but distinct
colors, each one unifying and
differentiating one single face of
the Cube.
When the Cube was complete,
Erno Rubik demonstrated it to
his students and let some of his
friends play with it. The effect
was instantaneous. Once somebody laid his hands on the Cube,
it was difficult to get it back! The
compulsive interest of friends
and students in the Cube caught
its creator by surprise.
Eventually a manufacturer took
on the job of tooling up for
mass production and making
the puzzle available to the public
at large. It took the best part of
three years, but at last, towards
the end of 1977 the first Cubes
appeared on the shelves of the
Budapest toyshops.
During 1978, without any promotion or publicity, the Cube
began very slowly to make its
way through the hands of fascinated youths into homes, playgrounds and schools. Word of
mouth spread the news and by
the beginning of 1979. There
was growing interest in the Magic Cube throughout Hungary.
Some Western World academics
were also most interested in it.
In September, a deal was signed
with Ideal Toys to bring the
Magic Cube to the West.
marketing and licensing company. Seven Towns Ltd., based in
London, England.
The two men made a pact
to translate the Hungarian
success of the Cube onto the
world stage. Dr Laczi headed
back to Hungary to pave the
way with the prevailing Hungarian bureaucracy, while Tom
Kremer set off on a world tour of
toy manufacturers.
In September 1979, Tom Kremer,
armed with a convincing marketing plan, succeeded in persuading
Stewart Sims, of the Ideal Toy
Corporation, to order the production of one million cubes.
With the country being both
physically and culturally behind
the iron curtain at the time, the
growing popularity of the Cube
did not cross over to the West
until Dr Tibor Laczi, “discovered” the Cube on one of his
frequent business trips to Hungary. He fell in love with it, and
sensing its potential consumer
appeal, brought it to the Nuremberg Toy Fair in February 1979
in the hope of finding a potential
German toy distributor. Though
he had limited success, he did
stumble across a man who was
The Cube made its international
debut at the Toy Fairs of London, Paris, Nuremberg and New
York in January/February, 1980.
With Erno Rubik demonstrating
his own creation, the Cube made
an immediate impact. The Cube
was remanufactured under stricter Western quality standards and
renamed Rubik’s Cube in honor
of its inventor.
destined to make a crucial difference in the Cube’s history.
with Seven Towns, he is still deeply engaged in creating new games
and puzzles, and remains one of
the principal beneficiaries of
what proved to be a spectacularly
successful invention. [AL]
Tom Kremer, a successful toy and
game inventor himself, whose
mother language was also Hungarian, ran at the time his own
Erno Rubik has not changed
much over the years. He runs the
Rubik Studio, which designs furniture and toys. Working closely
AMERICAN LIFESTYLE
47