Sunday Spontaneity Flight 10:25:21
Hawaii welcomes visitors again, a new Italian airline takes off, and train dining is possibly coming back
I’m turning 30 in a few months, and I’ve been thinking about what a new decade means to me. As much as I complain about the annoyance of NYE resolutions, expectations of when you turn a certain age, etc., it’s second nature for me to set big picture but low-pressure goals for myself. And in my 30s, I want to focus on a part of myself that also fuels my love for travel: ancestry.
While my ancestral DNA is diverse, I was raised Greek Orthodox (from my mother's side) and have always identified as a person of Greek descent. I fell in love with everything that comes with that — from the lively (read: very loud) family gatherings to the bottomless phyllo-covered treats, and the superstitions that keep us all on our toes. I’m planning to take my mom to Greece (her first time!) next summer, fingers crossed, and while the main reason for the trip is to spend time with her, I’m also hoping it pushes me to dive headfirst back into what made me want to go into storytelling in the first place: my heritage.
There’s beauty in exploring who you are through travel. My choice of place is associated with an ancestral connection, but of course, there are so many other reasons to pursue a place — whether it’s related to how you identify, a strong cultural interest, and pure curiosity. Whatever it may be, traveling to a destination can help you find inspiration and purpose, giving you clarity and guiding you into the next stage of your life. Ah, the power of travel.
Travel News
Hawaii is welcoming back tourists: After months of asking tourists to stay away from its shores, Hawaii is once again putting a pineapple out for travelers. After seeing a steady decline in COVID cases, the state governor feels confident about welcoming visitors again and is officially doing so on Nov. 1.
Out with the old, in with the new Italian airline: Just a few weeks ago, the world said goodbye to the beloved Italian airline Alitalia, but it was only to make way for a new name, Italia Trasporto Aero (ITA). While its initial fleet isn’t as expansive as its predecessor, ITA has big plans to continue. And since the airline needs to prove itself to be profitable by the end of its 2021-2025 business plan via a deal negotiated with the European Commission, my guess is they’ll be working fairly quickly.
Fun and/or Bizarre Trends
Traditional train dining might be making a comeback: This feature on Eater talks about the past of traditional train dining and how it might be making a comeback on Amtrak after they got rid of dining cars years ago. Much like airplane food, train dining has gone from a curated hot meal to microwaved “flexible” options after the more elevated experience wasn’t proven profitable for the company. But after bringing back traditional dining to select routes in June and getting a largely positive response from customers, in a post-pandemic world, there’s hope that it will make a widespread appearance on Amtrak trains yet again.
Travel via local radio stations around the world: National Geographic put out a story about the idea of mentally traveling through listening to radios around the world, thanks to a free-to-use website Radio Garden. And I have to say, it’s pretty freaking cool. Somewhat resembling the appearance of Google Earth, users can spin the globe and click on any of the green dots to start listening to local radio stations live streaming from a long list of countries around the world.
Things to do Next Weekend
New York
Sat., Oct. 30: Fall Foliage: Identifying Native Trees (Pleasantville): Learn about native trees that occupy Rockefeller State Park Preserve during the season that’s all about the foliage. Led by naturalist John McShane, this educational walk will teach you how to identify native trees, the process of leaves changing color, and more.
Cost: $3 per ticket
Sun., Oct. 31: Halloween on the Farm (Floral Park): Head over to the Queens County Farm Museum for a day of Halloween activities — from spooky hayrides and a haunted farmhouse walkthrough to a DJ dance party and a corn maze. And there will be plenty of food vendors and seasonal produce to provide a fall food fix, too.
Cost: $20 per ticket
Connecticut
Sat., Oct. 30: Sausage Fest (Stonington): If you’re looking to celebrate the greatness of fall without having to do so in costume, head over to Stone Acres Farm for a day of tasting seasonal brews, playing lawn games, and listening to Polka Bros, a Brooklyn-based polka/rock group.
Cost: $10 per ticket
Sun., Oct. 31: Harbor Point Howl-O-Ween Pet Costume Parade (Stamford): Pup or not, come to this doggo-focused event that is bound to have a million adorable moments. Wild, over-the-top costumes for dogs are encouraged, especially since there will be a few contests: Best Group Costume, Scariest Costume, Best TV Show/Movie Character, Best Owner/Dog Collab.
Cost: Free
New Jersey
Friday, Oct. 29 - Sunday, Oct. 31: Forever Forest 2021 Halloween Experience: A Nightmare Before Christmas (Egg Harbor City): Take a Nightmare Before Christmas fright trolley or hayride through the Forever Forest that will give you the Halloween spook you crave. In addition to scary activities, there will also be pumpkin decorating, the Christmas Tree Farm Walking Trail of Wonder, and S’mores, among other things.
Cost: $18 per ticket
Friday, Oct. 29: Art After Dark: Silent Disco (Newark): Taking place in the “haunted garden” at the Newark Museum of Art, come bop to the beat of tunes via a pair of glowing headphones. Three live DJs will be spinning tracks across the decades, and heat lamps will help keep the outdoor party going all night long. Come dressed in your Halloween best.
Cost: $13 per ticket
Pennsylvania
Sat., Oct. 30: 2nd Annual Fall Minifest (Pittsburgh): A costume contest, carnival games, live art installations, and pumpkin decorating make up some of the fun during this fall festival. But what really sets it apart from the rest is the food offerings: think curry chicken, veggie stew, and jerk chicken Alfredo. Talk about comfort food.
Cost: Free
Sat., Oct. 30: Snack Town Brewfest 2021 (Hanover): Come for an afternoon of food trucks, games, live music, and offerings from over 40 breweries and wineries. Hanover takes great pride in its snack food, so this event is focused on pairing tasty bites with your favorite beverage of choice.
Cost: $30 per ticket
Virtual
Sat., Oct. 30: Halloween Séance with Psychic Medium Patti Negri: Commemorate the spooky season from the comfort of home by participating in an intimate online seance. Led by psychic medium Patti Negri, you will get an opportunity to “request summoning a specific spirit,” according to the event listing, complete with explanations and lessons related to communicating with spirits.
Cost: $14 per ticket
Sun., Oct. 31: Halloween Life Drawing: The Exquisite Corpse: Put on by the London Drawing Group, this special Halloween-themed class will teach you how to draw the “Exquisite Corpse.” All you need is a piece of paper, something to draw with (they recommend charcoal but mention any pencils/pens will work), and your attention.
Cost: Donations (suggestion around $14)
A final thought:
I’m attempting to be more realistic with my time and how thin I stretch myself (a never-ending battle), and I’ve decided that due to wedding events/honeymoon plans, Sunday Spontaneity will be on hiatus until I’m back in mid-Nov. I will miss all of you dearly, but like the rest of life, it’ll fly right by and I’ll be writing to you again before we all know it. Travel Boldly ( & Safely), friends — appreciate you all x