Niagara Falls Takes a Beating Buffalo News Weaving history, reporting and rumination, Strand dives headlong into what could have been treacherous waters for a lesser writer, melding a compelling narrative of ravaged nature, unchecked industry and government deceit with Niagara kitsch.
An Awesome Piece of Engineering The Guardian You open your book with the comment: "I went to Niagara because I wanted to laugh at it." What transformed you into a Niagaraphile?
Keeping the Meter Running Niagara Gazette The meter may be running low on Niagara Falls’ latest venture into paid parking machines downtown.
Another thing to thank Mom for -- she's nothing like some of the screen's worst mothers, such as Angela Lansberry in "The Manchurian Candidate" and Tony Soprano's dear Livia.
May 10, 2008
I've gone to my farm in Kentucky for the weekend. It's a great place to relax, do a little hard physical labor, and forget about the rest of the world. If you don't have such a place, I highly suggest you get one.
In the meantime, here's a little something that I found for you to read with your morning coffee.
See you on Monday.
J. Peterman
From The Wall Street Journal:
"I went to Niagara Falls because I wanted to laugh at it," confesses Ginger Strand in "Inventing Niagara." She doesn't mean the waterfalls, which awe even the most jaded MP3-zombie, but the tawdry environs and tumbledown American city that border them. Whereas the city of Niagara Falls once evoked the hymeneal and sexual - honeymooners and Marilyn Monroe - today the cataracts are a mere cloud in the eye of the slot players at the nearby casinos.
Ginger Strand - the name conjures up a gum-snapping, wisecracking Jean Arthur character - seeks out the vivid denizens of the place. She spends time with Billy Jamieson, for instance, an opium-tea drinker who bought the grave-robbed mummies and Barnumesque oddities of the defunct Niagara Falls Museum in 1999 and keeps such quaint artifacts as an electric chair in his cavernous loft. "You wanna hold a shrunken head?" Billy asks Ginger. Who wouldn't?
Billy has the carnival-barker spirit that once gave the city brass, if not class. The daredevils who went over the falls in barrels hold no charm for Ms. Strand, but she finds irresistible the story of Harry Colcord, who crossed over the water in 1859 while strapped to the back of the French tightrope walker Blondin. Partway across the swaying rope, 190 feet above the maelstrom, Blondin stopped and said to Harry, "Get off." He did, slowly, giving the tired aerialist a few minutes' rest before climbing back on for dear life.
Share the Eye:
Falls Firsts: A Timeline History.com 1678 - Franciscan monk and explorer Louis Hennepin becomes the first European explorer to encounter the falls.
Preserving the Falls Niagara Heritage Partnership In the work to be undertaken by the State upon the Niagara Reservation, it is to be hoped that whatever is done shall tell toward a general result that shall be lastingly satisfactory, nothing being wasted on matters of temporary expediency.
Evolution of the Falls infoniagara.com The Story of the Falls began 600 million years ago. The future site of the Great Lakes stood at the centre of a broad, shallow sea that covered much of North America.
still thinking about today...
My "experience " with Niagara Falls is only through the cinema. I watched the Marilyn Monroe movie (Niagara) many years ago, and thought the Falls were worth seeing one day. That day has never arrived. The recent development of high rise hotels and other urbanization has changed the wind patterns. The wind now obscures the view from the Canadian side because of excessive mist.
Photographs show the Falls to be very impressive, but I'm not I like the commercialization. I think I prefer the Grand Canyon.
I would be interested in other people's comments on Niagara Falls.
Everyone have the best weekend possible. I'll try not to upset the "morals and standards committee" over the weekend.
I could only resist for a moment!
Ms. LaDonna, have a great weekend and don't drink too much coffee!
O.K. Spinner I'm ready for the ruler....sorry. I'll try to behave.
My experience of the Falls is also only through cinema. In addition to the Marilyn Monroe classic, they also feature prominantly in the second SUPERMAN movie (the one with Terence Stamp).
Interesting point about the wind patterns. I had no idea. However, not seeing them from the Canadian side isn't a disaster because I've always heard it said that the Canadian Falls were more beautiful than the U.S. Falls and the Canadian Falls can only be seen from the U.S. side.
I'd still like to see them in person some day. I'm sure it would have been better the way they were. But, after all, it's still Niagara Falls. Better to see them under current conditions than not at all.
Brooklynite said...
I went to the Canadian side to see the Falls as a teenager with my family and I remember being mesmerized by the spectacular site. Took a tour where raincoats were provided and you were brought down behind the Falls. How sad that such a beautiful site is ruined.
I also visited the Canadian side of the Falls as a child. I remember standing behind the falls, in what felt like a cave, in my yellow rain coat, feeling the "rain" hit my face, and the mist wrapping me in a blanket, it was magical.
P.S. And, that was without coffee!
Brooklynite said...
Yes, that was it exactly. I went at night, or perhaps it seems that way because of the darkness in the cave. Everyone was all abuzz with excitement at being slightly spayed on by the Falls.
To: Brooklynite,
I remember the lights being on in the cave during the day, which just added to the wonderful adventure. You felt like you were in a different time and place! Loved it!
Brooklynite said...
To: La Donna
Your memory tops mine. I don't remember the area being over-developed then. I do remember a big clock made of flowers. Also remember getting a favorable exchange rate. Yes, things have surely changed.
Spinner said...
I went to the CA side when I was in college. I was dating a guy that lived in Buffalo at the time and went home with him. He was showing me the sights in the area. I was also impressed. I had no idea that it has been so infringed upon. I do remember some years ago that a part of one wall fell in, making the spectacle somewhat diminished. Anyone see the "before" and "after"?
I must go now as my husband returns this evening after being gone for 10 days. The party time is over and I have to clean house...OOPS! Just ruined my image!
To Spinner:
I like you even more, now! ; )