I finally reached another milestone in my education and in my life. I graduated with honors from New York University with a 3.813 GPA. Quite an accomplishment from someone who last graduated from Cornell University back in 2010. I was a lot of hard work and one big balancing act of time but I walked across the stage of Radio City Music Hall with the energy and enthusiasm of any undergraduate.
You can read my blog on “Grad Alley” a few days before the Graduation Ceremony:
I came a long way from the first meeting I had at the college back in October of 2019. I had visited Georgetown University the summer before and realized that it was not for me. When I got the email from New York University in the Summer of 2019 I thought, let me check this out. It is closer to home and I would be going to school in Manhattan and Greenwich Village to boot. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made.
Before the Graduation Ceremony began.
The graduates settling in for the start of Graduation.
As a returning college student (I am not going to lie, this is my fifth time to college and this is the fifth college I have graduated from), I was a little intimidated by my classmates at first. I did not know what a Google Doc or a Google Slide was the first day of class. I did not even bring my computer into the class the first (I knew better from that day on) and was still using my 3G flip phone (which got a lot of chuckles from my classmates). I also was older than everyone by over twenty years but with that comes years of work experience, travel and knowledge of the ever changing Hospitality industry that keeps evolving and will continue to in the future.
Justin before the start of the ceremony.
I got up to speed really quick with a new iPhone 13 Pro (whose picture and video taking ability has transformed this blog) and a new HP computer and watched many Google YouTube videos to keep me up to speed. By the end of the first semester, I was an old pro at all of these functions and for the first time in my life got straight “A”s in my classes. It was a long time in coming that I had to prove this to myself. And at New York University no doubt (NYU).
The theater filling up with students and parents.
It had been a long journey over the last year and a half. Running in and out of New York City for classes in between my job at Bergen Community College. Countless late nights writing papers, researching subject matter and trips to libraries on both campuses to finish projects. This on top of working on Executive Boards for the Fire Department and Men’s Association in town, volunteer work that I do and squeezing in blogging on seven sites. There were times I almost had to pull an ‘all nighter’.
The stage before we started the graduation.
The video of the organist before the ceremony started:
What I found over that year and a half was a whole new way of looking at the Hospitality industry. I had never really thought about Sustainable tourism, Dark tourism, LGBTQ tourism and Diversity in tourism. I had never categorized it in the sense it was different things to different people. My professors had their way of teaching it and I had my own and going forward I used both when creating projects and my own expectations from my students. They gave me a different perspective of looking at the way a place could market itself and I took it one step further and asked of my students how can small towns and musty historical sites be made unique and interesting by marketing them in a different way. Break the mold of what they were doing and present it in a format that they might not have thought of in that light.
The NYU Bagpipers opening the ceremony.
Video of the Bagpipers entering Radio City Music Hall:
What really opened my eyes were the three GFI (Global Field Intensification) courses that I was able to experience. On my first meeting with my faculty advisor, he told me that he was planning a trip to Prague for a week and then insisted that I must come on it. He kept going and going until I finally said “yes”. I knew nothing about Prague or really where it was located. I kept thinking it was in Russia. Two Professors decided to do back to back GFI’s, the first one going to Paris and the second to Prague. Since my brother was getting married in Sicily, it gave me an excuse to go on both. It opened my eyes to a different world that changed me.
Our Dean welcoming the graduates and their parents and guests.
Paris is a more amazing city than I could have imagined. As intense and cultural as New York City but in a totally different way. The countless independent shops, restaurants, cafes and flea markets opened my eyes to a city not overrun by chain stores and each neighborhood had its own cultural identity. Every day it was a new adventure or trying new restaurants or experiencing new foods served in a way that I had not seen in the States. Since it was a Culinary Tourism class, I had to lead a tour of gourmet shops, bakeries, chocolate and candy shops and the gourmet department of a department store. I had never been to Paris before, knew nothing about the city and had not spoken the language since the 1980’s (I had three years of high school French). Somehow I charmed enough shop owners with my broken French to welcome my class in to try their products. It was a huge success (Google “Exploring Paris Block by Block”) for the details on the trip.
The ceremony was about two hours and most of that was calling names of graduates.
Then off to Prague for another wonderful experience exploring the history, food and culturally delights in the city. We visited all the touristy spots you would normally see on the tour but our tour guide, Jana, really had us exploring the city from a different perspective from someone who lived in all these areas. Everyday we experienced something new and in the time that I got to explore the city on my own, I walked the entire city as I would in Manhattan and got to pass all the local shops and restaurants and experience things as a local would living in Prague.
Then it was off to Abu Dhabi and Dubai during their Winter tourism season and that was a true eye opener. It was like going home as I discovered my Arabic roots (though they are about 400 years old and through my mother’s Sicilian heritage). All the men looked like me and that made me feel more at home. Though we had a pretty tight schedule again seeing all the sites that are popular with tourists, I had to stay an extra day because of the flights and got to explore Abu Dhabi on my own.
When the ceremony was over we were all applauded.
Me crossing the stage to finally graduate from Graduate School:
I walked the entire part of my neighborhood around the hotel and discovered the more localized view of the city through the eyes of the Omens, Saudis, Indians and other ethnic groups that made up the majority of the population that make this city run. I walked through their neighborhoods and visited their shops, restaurants, bakeries and stores and saw the city through their eyes. This was the city that I wanted to experience. That and a flat tire coming back from Al Ain left us eating at a local ‘hole in the wall’ restaurant where the site for thirty American students shocked the restaurant owner who could not believe that he had a full restaurant on a quiet Tuesday night. These were the experiences that I got in classes at NYU.
My blogs on “Exploring Abu Dhabi and Dubai Block by Block”:
As we all prepared for the excitement of graduating, I thought back to my first day of class and arriving on the NYU campus right before Labor Day weekend and having no clue what to expect. I have a clearer idea now how the world ticks and how much I had been exposed to in such a short period of time. My Professor who had taken us to Paris was now leading a class over the summer to Barcelona and I really wanted to stay to experience that as well.
The end of the ceremony at 6:00pm.
When all of the students and parents took their seats, the ceremony started on time at 4:00pm. We were greeted by the Radio City Music Hall organ player who made his appearance and then disappeared behind a wall. Then came the NYU Bagpipers who opened the ceremony for us. This was followed by a speech by our Assistant Provost and then by our Dean of our College for the School of Professional Studies.
In the hallway of Radio City Music Hall after graduation.
Then we had to endure the one thing I hate, the student speech. I have sat through countless junior high, high school and now five colleges of students saying things like “life long friendships” and “what we learned from the past will carry us into the future” and ” the people who influence us”. I have heard this same speech over and over again that I could have memorized it and bet on what she was going to talk about. I bet by the time the ceremony was over, everyone was going to part ways and many of my classmates would be traveling back to the countries they originally came from and run their tourism boards. I did not know too many of my classmates who were going to stay in New York City.
Me after graduation was over and Radio City orchestra seating had emptied out.
Then we walked on stage row by row and they called our names over the loud speaker so that family and friends could see us walk on stage. I was so thrilled to hear my name and that a got a nice applause. I was not sure that anyone noticed me as I crossed the stage. This made me feel like a million dollars. I could not believe that I had graduated from such an exclusive college like NYU and with honors. That was quite the achievement for me.
Maricel and I in Radio City Music Hall before the usher kicked us out.
As the rows and rows of classmates made their way to the stage and walked on and off, I looked behind me to see people leaving the theater before the ceremony was over. I thought it was wrong for people to not wait until all the graduates to finish but I will be honest. The second the last classmate crossed the stage, the music started, the confetti and streamers came down and then they wanted us out of there. There was a show that night and they needed to clean up. I wasn’t even out of the orchestra seating before the usher was asking us to leave so they could clean up.
One last shot when the usher turned her back for a second.
Me talking to my friend, Reema, after the ceremony.
We were able to snap some pictures before we left when the usher’s back was turned and then we had to leave. They closed the doors behind us and then the ushers kept everyone off the stairs and everyone had to leave the hallway so there was quite the crowd just outside the door. I bet the show in the evening went off without a hitch.
The end of the ceremony.
While we were outside, Maricel and I took lots of pictures around Radio City Music Hall and then finally had to go across the street because the crowds outside got to be too big as more people had to leave the entrance to the theater and make their way out to the street. It was packed with graduates and their families either taking pictures or trying to cross the street. There was grid lock for about a half hour.
Leaving Radio City Music Hall after graduation.
Outside Radio City Music Hall.
All the graduates and their family and friends had taken over Sixth Avenue and we were all over the place taking pictures. Funny enough with all the time I had been spending in the Times Square/Theater District for my blog on the Streets of Times Square, I got to know all the buildings quite well and we made our way over to 1251 Sixth Avenue to take pictures before heading back over to the hotel.
Me in front of 1251 Sixth Avenue. No one paying that much attention to us. We decided to have some fun with it.
Me as the worldly graduate.
Having some fun by the fountain.
Having some fun at graduation.
Maricel wanted to take more pictures so we went to Times Square with the other tourists but we took one more picture in front of Radio City Music Hall before we left.
My best friend, Maricel and I outside Radio City Music Hall after graduation.
We went to the TKT Booth Stairs where everyone in Times Square was hanging out and complete strangers were wishing me congratulations and well wishing me in my future. That felt really good and I appreciated it.
Me having some fun in Times Square and the ladies below were cheering me on and wishing me well in my graduation from college.
After all the picture taking (trust me there are dozens more shots of me all over Times Square), we headed back to the Marriott Marquis. I had made plans so that we would be having dinner at the Broadway Lounge, their signature restaurant, for graduation night. The views and the food are always amazing. This is where Maricel and I eat when each of us has a very special occasion in our lives.
What a wonderful dinner. The food and the views at the restaurant are just spectacular and the service is always very nice. We had to practically barge our way to a window table when the host gave our first table away. I had to calm a manager down when we took the second table. I had to explain that it was my graduation dinner and my friend wanted to be sure I had a window table. After that, he was fine with it.
While we were ordering we were taking pictures of the restaurant and then each other. Now that graduation was behind me, we could have a little fun and be silly. It was such a great meal.
Me photographing MaricelMaricel photographing me.
Then we had dinner. The Broadway Lounge on the Eighth floor of the Marriott Marquis has always been a favorite place of mine to go for dinner for a special occasion. The views are amazing and the food wonderful.
The view from the Broadway Lounge window.
We had the most amazing Graduation meal once we were seated. We started with their fiery Chicken Tenders which was a pretty generous portion for an appetizer. These lightly breaded chicken breast tenders were rolled in a hot pepper and spicy sauce and served with creamy Italian dressing.
Ryan’s Spicy Chicken: The fiery Chicken Tender with a ranch sauce
I was in the mood for a burger and Marriott does such a nice job with these. Both the regular burger and the Smashburger are excellent, and I decided on the Smashburger while Maricel had the short ribs and mashed potatoes.
The Short Ribs and Mashed Potatoes
The Broadway Smash Hit burger with French Fries
For dessert we shared the ultimate dessert treat, the Strawberry Tower, which is layers of pound cake, fresh strawberries and vanilla ice cream and strawberry sauce topped with fresh whipped cream, cheesecake bites, wafer cookies and a giant lollypop which tasted like bubblegum. With a $32.00, it was a little pricy but since it was my graduation night it was the perfect way to end the meal and it was delicious.
The Marquis Strawberry Tower at the Broadway Lounge for my Graduation dessert.
Me getting a photo op with that delicious dessert.
When I got back to the room was the ultimate surprise for me. Maricel decorated the room for my graduation. I was shocked and touched that she got this done in between the time we had arrived to check in and the time I left to get to Radio City for the 3:00pm check in for graduation. I was so touched. No one had done something like this to me before.
Maricel surprised me by decorating the room for my graduation.
The room at the hotel decorated for my graduation.
Me on my graduation night at the hotel in the room decorated for me by my best friend.
Earlier this year I had watched Cliff Richards duetting with a ghostly Olivia Newton-John after her passing for a Christmas video singing “Suddenly” from the movie Xanadu. In part of the video, I watched Olivia Newton-John wheel a cake out for his 75th birthday and totally surprising him in an earlier video. I said to myself “that is something only a real true friend does” and wished someone would do that for me in my lifetime. Maricel did this that night. When a real friend knows what you are going through and has the opportunity to react, it makes all the difference in the world to someone. Tonight, it was me!
With the beautiful views from the room of Times Square and having the ultimate view of where the ball drops directly in front of us, I could not have asked for a more perfect graduation night. I had had different experiences on the nights of my high school, Michigan State University and Culinary Institute of America graduations but this is the one I will always remember. When a friend shows you the ‘top of the world’, you could not ask for more.
The view of Times Square from our room and the famous ‘ball’.
The view of the ‘ball’ from Times Square.
The view of the room at night.
The view of Times Square from our room where the ball drops.
The next morning the Breakfast buffet was absolutely the best way to end the evening. The food was excellent and the selection was wonderful. We were able to eat Club M, the private members room that was nice. It was the perfect breakfast.
The amazing breakfast buffet the next morning.
The amazing breakfast the next morning.
The breakfast buffet was very extensive.
It was an amazing graduation and now on to new experiences to see and new ideas to embark on. It has been quite the journey.
Justin Watrel, Graduate Class of 2024 School of Professional Studies New York University with Honors.
What a true friend does:
Cliff Richards and the late Olivia Newton-John “Suddenly”.
Watch as she rolls out the 75th birthday cake for him for his ’75th Year Concert’. A real friend can only pull this off!
I still can’t believe that all things come to an end.
On Friday, May 17th I graduate from Graduate School at NYU. It has been a long ride since October 2019 when I came on campus for the first open house. The there were those dozen Zoom meetings during COVID preparing us for classes when they resumed. I thought the campus would never open up again and then it did when I entered in September of 2022. It figured that was the semester my boss gave me three classes to teach. Talk about a balancing act with three classes to teach and four classes to take.
Still here it is a year and a half later and this adventure has taken me from Washington Square Park to Paris, Prague, Abu Dhabi and Dubai with stop overs in Palermo and Punxsutawney, PA. That trip to see the groundhog really changed me.
Then came ‘Grad Alley’, our last official event before graduation. On an extremely gloomy night with a storm approaching, I headed in Manhattan for my last day of being a student before graduation. I almost did not head in because the threat of rain. I waited until almost 4:00pm and nothing and I thought ‘what the hell, there is free hot dogs involved’.
There was much more than that and I ended up having a wonderful time. I wish more colleges did something like this. This was a great to spend a great night in the City and my last night as a NYU student.
The Undergraduates in front of the fountain in Washington Square Park. They had graduated that afternoon.
Grad Alley at 5:00pm at the start of the event.
The crowds were huge as I guessed that everyone else thought the way I did, throw caution to the wind. It looked like everyone had a blast. There was all sorts of campus entertainment, games, music and especially the food. Campus foodservice did an excellent job supplying the food and drinks.
Me getting in line for the first Cotton Candy I have eaten in a decade.
The entertain was excellent. The professionals knew how to perform for a crowd. The first person I watched was the Electric Violin player. She was great!
The electric guitar player that evening.
She was excellent and knew how to engage the crowd. She played the classics and then the pop tunes. She kept it going for three sets.
Keeping going through the second song.
This street fair wrapped around the southern right corner of Washington Square and two full city blocks of entertainment and food.
The crowds just kept growing for that early evening.
The man on stilts played games with the crowd.
There was a lot of great entertainment all over the place. On top of the people on stilts playing toss with students, there were mimes amusing parents and jugglers having a ball showing how it is done.
This young woman was throwing things up and around.
As I made my around the blocks of tents I stopped in for hot dogs, soft pretzels, cotton candy, grapes and trail mix, bags of chips, the ice cream carts for eclair ice cream bars and ice cream sandwiches, popcorn and soda. I stopped figuring out how much I ate after the second ice cream bar and soft pretzel. This is when I am in high heaven. I love ‘Carnival food’. I have not eaten things like this in so long that I really enjoyed it. “Junk Food” is very underrated.
The tents of food and entertainment by Washington Square Park.
After my several snacks, I stopped to see the entertainment and that was enjoyable. The first stop was the wonderful jazz music of the 9th Street Stompers playing all the Cole Porter and Count Basie classics.
The guys did a wonderful job and I could see that they had been playing for years. It was fun to hear songs from the well known Broadway shows.
The group kept all of entertained and it was hard to see at times because the crowds were so large. I was able to get this picture in during a quick lull.
Then I walked around to where everyone was playing carnival games but the lines were so long, I said to myself that there was other things to do. That’s when I stopped over to see the NYU Cheerleaders perform.
I can see the reason why we did so well in sports. Our cheerleaders do such great a great job and use such great music for their routines.
After another round of snacks (I am sorry but those soft pretzels and caramel corn were so good!), I walked around some more and then stopped to listen to the NYU Songwriters perform. These kids were really good.
The NYU Songwriting Program
Candice singing about being a “Strawberry Shortcake”
Video on Candice singing “I’m a Strawberry Shortcake”. She was really good:
We went into ‘Ho Down’ mode when this cowboy sang some classic tunes and then his own country music.
I am telling you I want to see the kid in Nashville because he will shock all the southerners with his talent. NYU produced a talented cowboy who could lead the ‘Texas Two Step’. His original songs were terrific.
Getting some Churros before they were all gone. I am not sure who in NYU food service was running the show but they did a terrific job! There was plenty of food for everyone.
Then it rained for about fifteen minutes and that really thinned the crowds. It did not even rain that hard but the crowds cleared out. I just pulled out my umbrella and continued to listen to the NYU Songwriters perform. I really enjoyed this.
All good things come to an end and 8:00pm rolled around. Before I left, I had another hot dog (the ladies gave me a double hot dog and I thanked them in both English and Spanish) and soda and stopped to eat. That’s when I saw the line for pictures with ‘Lady Liberty’ disappear. She had real patience as I finished up eating. She could not have been nicer and we took a great picture and had a nice talk.
Justin with Lady Liberty.
With all that food in me and still humming some of the NYU Songwriters tunes, I decided to walk back to Port Authority. The rain had stopped and it was a warm night. I stayed long enough to see the campus wrap things up pretty quickly.
All good things do come to an end even after a wonderful evening in Manhattan. Even pass 8:00pm, people were still milling around.
As I walked up Broadway (my favorite route), I passed the Empire State Building lit for our graduation. I can not believe that I have been part of this for the last two years. It is still surreal to me.
The Empire State Building lit for NYU Graduation
I still can’t believe that I am done and will be graduating on Friday night. A year and a half has gone by so fast. The travels through Manhattan have taken me to Paris, Prague, Palermo, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. In a year and a half, I have seen the world and then some!
Passing through the NoMAD neighborhood on my way home.
It was a great night and a lot of fun. I could not have imagined that I would have had this much fun on my last night on campus but this being my fifth time to college and my third graduation ceremony I will be attending I am becoming a pro at this.
‘Grad Alley’ was a great time and the best way to spend my last day as a student at NYU.
Justin Watrel at Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen on April 19th, 2024.
I have been volunteering at Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen (HASK) since September of 2003 ( I have mentioned this in many of my blogs) and it has been a wonderful and very humbling experience. I have clocked in many hours since I started and have seen many volunteers come and go along the way. On April 19th, 2024, I finally reached my reach goal and achieved the 2500 hour status.
This had always been a goal of mine since the first Volunteer lunch I attended back in 2003, my first year of volunteering at HASK. I always remember the pride that everyone felt when they achieved their 500, 1000, 2500 and 5000 hour awards at that lunch.
In the old days (pre 2008 meltdown), the 500 and 1000 hour award winners got a beautiful plaque, the 2500 hour winners got a engraved clock and the 5000 hour winners got an beautifully engraved silver bowl. We have not done those things in years but there is still that sense of accomplishment when we hit those milestone hours. I felt it at the recent Volunteer lunch in April 2024.
I have been volunteering at HASK since September 30th, 2003. It was the wanting to help the volunteers who were assisting at the piles downtown after 9/11. I had just moved home from the island of Guam and wanted to do something to help the effort in New York City. That and as a Culinarian and Hospitality Major, I thought I could put my cooking skills to some use for the 9/11 effort.
At that point though, Mayor Bloomberg had closed the piles to volunteers and machinery took over. So the volunteering was over. The Italian restaurant downtown, which had been supplying all the food for lunch and dinner was shutting down from feeding volunteers. The owner told me he no longer needed anyone but suggested I volunteer at a soup kitchen which there were a few in the City that needed help. The economy sucked at this time and they were all busy. A year and a half later after settling in at home, I looked into volunteering again.
While participating on a walking tour of Brooklyn for a ‘Trends in Retail’ class at the Fashion Institute of Technology (where I am an Alumnus), I saw on our volunteer board on campus Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen and decided to volunteer the next week. The was September 30th, 2003.
I have seen many changes over the years going from a small buffet line to a massive one created before COVID and then after the closing of the line on March 13th, 2020 and the pivot to outside takeout service. Now we only have outside take out service, sandwich drop off and pantry service, where people order their groceries with us and pick them up when they ‘place the order’ with us on site and pick them up while they are there. It’s a new system that seems to be working well.
In between my last semester at NYU, where I will graduating with my Masters in Global Hospitality Management on May 17th and my classes I have been teaching at Bergen Community College this semester, I have been volunteering more between classes. That’s how I finally finished the 2500 hour goal. I by no means will be stopping. There is now the 5000 hour goal to accomplish but it is that sense of joining all those other volunteers who achieved that goal and that sense of pride of giving back to a City we love so much that makes it worth it. Please note that I did not get the clock but with cellphones no one really uses them in the house anymore. One more thing to dust. It’s just that sense of accomplishment that means so much to me.
The lunch was really wonderful. We started off with a very inspirational talk by Reverend Anne, who talked about the pride of giving and then our Volunteer Coordinator Steve talked about the people who accomplished the milestone hours.
The volunteers who accomplished milestone goals. I entered the 2000 hour plus category. My name proudly added to the listing right in the middle of the listing.
Reverend Anne giving her inspirational speech that afternoon.
The volunteers at HASK enjoying the talk that afternoon just before lunch was served.
The lunch was a lot of fun and the food delicious.
The table was set with fresh salad, rolls and a dense Chocolate cake for dessert.
The Buffet line had Mushroom Ravioli, Roasted Broccoli, Stuffed Chick and Fish entrees and vegetables. The food was plentiful and wonderful. Everyone really enjoyed the lunch that afternoon.
The Mushroom Ravioli
The Roasted Broccoli
The Stuffed Fish entree
The Stuffed Chicken entree
The rich Chocolate cake for dessert.
It wasn’t the food that meant so much to me that afternoon even though lunch was really good and the Stuffed Chicken delicious, it was joining that rank with the people who had achieved so much that afternoon and whom I respected for their work at HASK. That sense of us giving back to the community that meant the world to me.
The irony is that the person I so much wanted to be like, Oswaldo, who I met on that first day volunteering and who achieved his 500 hour award at that first luncheon I went to twenty-one years ago, was there that day at this luncheon. I had not seen him since our Pre-COVID days and was now only volunteering on Wednesdays, when I was teaching class. He now only volunteers on Wednesday mornings.
When I reminded him of our years of volunteering together and that first Volunteer Lunch years ago, he just laughed and also wondered where the time had went. He also noted when I brought up the achievement of the 2500 hours and the clock, he laughed and said he did not know where his was anymore.
I guess we all go full circle in life. Like I said, I do not need a clock to mark this milestone. I am just proud that maybe I am making a difference in people’s lives. Whether a person is homeless, working poor, disabled or maybe a new immigrant to this country and to New York City, I am helping them to achieve their dreams as well. A place to rest and eat can give anyone a breather is always a helping hand. Isn’t this what God wants from us in the ‘Platinum Rule’? Treat those as they would want to be treated?
As I look forward to graduation from NYU and a new chapter in my own life, it is another sense of accomplishment along with my Masters that makes me feel fulfilled and humbled. This is how we grow and change in life.
Plus now I have another 2500 hours to accomplish. Maybe they will bring that silver bowl back some day!
The Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. Executive Team picture in the Bergen Room on the Bergen Community College campus for the project “Dining at the Bergen Room: the Ultimate Dining Experience” on April 24th, 2024.
In my live classes, I open my consulting company, “Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc.”, for business and the whole class bands together and we have one big project. In the era of post-COVID and online learning, I was lucky that I was able to teach one of the live classes on the Bergen Community College, Paramus Campus. It was such a pleasure welcoming students back to campus with live lectures and conversing with them.
The Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. corporate logo of the six trees
In the past, I have created these projects under the Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. banner, the main consulting company, the Orion Malls banner, a Mall design company and the Buscomonzefi.com banner, my Tech Division. Each business does its best to be creative, forward thinking and have a thought producing presentations. I also challenge the students to top on another in their presentations and build on what they have seen others do in the past.
Professor Justin Watrel, CEO & Co-Founder of Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc.
Two semesters ago we created the project “It’s Cultural on Campus-Bergen Community College” publicizing the Gallery Bergen, The Ciccone Theater and the Bergen Room Bistro to the outside community. It was a ‘Digital Campaign’ to bring people to the Bergen Community College campus from all over Bergen County, NJ to enjoy all the wonderful things to do and see on our campus. The project was a huge success and all the Professors and Departments involved really enjoyed the Presentations (See Day Two Hundred and Sixty-Six):
Day Two Hundred and Sixty-Six: “It’s Cultural on Campus”:
One of my counterparts on campus loved the campaign and ‘hired’ (asked me) to expand the project for a “Digital Campaign” for the Bergen Room and expand the project with all new menus, commercials and create a special Themed Dinner for the student dining room. This resulted in “Dining in the Bergen Room”:
I got Professor Drakeford and Professor/Chef Morrisey involved in the project and we worked together to see the best ways to promote the success of the Culinary Program’s Student Run Dining Room.
I created the Teams two weeks before the Spring Break and got them started on their project. When we returned from the Spring Break, we arranged for the class to dine in the Bergen Room. Chef Morrisey and his Team of Culinary Students created a special menu for us when the Bergen Room was closed and the students got feast on a four course meal courtesy of the Culinary Arts Department.
Having lunch with my students at the Bergen Room on the Bergen Community College Campus in Paramus, NJ:
We started the Testing Menu with a Pumpkin Carrot Ginger Soup.
Then we had the second course with a Toasted Green Salad with a light Cream Dressing.
The main course was a Chicken in a Creamy Peppercorn Sauce, Baked Pasta and Roasted Brussel Spouts.
The meal was completed with a Cream Cheesecake that tasted more like a cream cake and topped with Fresh Strawberries.
All the Teams got to dine with one another and get to know each member in a less formal setting.
This meal got the students to know their product better and look around the Bergen Room and see how they could take this student run dining room and transform it to a special themed event that would dazzle myself and the other Professors and bring in the paying public. Here are some of their ideas:
Along the way, I had various speakers come in to talk to the students. Professor Tim Blunk from the Art Department and the Curator for Gallery Bergen, our on campus Art Gallery came in to talk to the students about the artists that are available on campus and the number of students on campus who are looking for projects for their portfolios. He also discussed some of the happenings at Gallery Bergen.
Professor Jim Bumgarner, the head of our Theater Department, came in to talk to the students on the student singers, actors and dancers that study at the college. He discussed upcoming shows and theater events planned for the future. He added too that there are a lot of students looking to add to their resumes on projects like this.
Our last in house field trip was to the Horticultural Department and to the Greenhouses in Ender Hall. Dr. Steven Fischer, who is head of the Holocultural Program, gave us a tour and talk on the growing seasons, the plants that are grown and available in the greenhouses, the arrangements that are created for the Bergen Room Bistro.
The tour of Greenhouses on our last inhouse field trip with Dr. Fischer explaining the greenhouses.
Asking questions about the floral arrangements used for the Bergen Room.
Discussion of the grounds of the Horticulture Department grounds.
It was a good tour and opened the students eyes on how events were decorated and where the flowers came from and how they were grown. The students were creating their centerpieces for their theme dinners and I wanted them to see where they would get the flowers from.
My President and SVP of Operations on the field trip to the Greenhouses.
We finished our last Board meeting the week before the Presentation and then the Executive Team had a week to make the adjustments. We would be presenting the Project in the Bergen Room Bistro on April 24th, 2024.
The new Corporate website for the Bergen Room Team:
The Presentation Day had some hiccups along the way but overall it was a great Presentation. I was so proud of the students. Each of the competing Teams set up for extra credit a table in the Bergen Room on how their Dining Experience would be set for the evening of their meal. I have to say that the Teams did a nice job with the decorations and all received extra credit for their place settings. There was a lot of creativity in this class.
The were the three Team tables on how they would be set for their ideas for the Student Fundraiser.
Team One’s Display Table
Team Two’s Display table (The Wining Team)
Team Three’s Display Table
The Three Teams then started their Presentations to Chef Morrisey and his student staff, invited guests and friends of the students who came to see the Student Consultants ideas. What creativity! Each team had to present their theme, their menus, music for the event, artwork, floral arrangements and Social Media campaigns. It was an afternoon of a lot of creativity and though that went into each Teams ideas.
Here are their Commercials promoting the Bergen Room:
Team One:
Team Two:
Team Three:
Here are their Presentations from the afternoon. Each Team had to ‘pitch’ their ideas to the Culinary Team.
Team One:
Team Two:
Team Three:
The Teams competed for the prize being the most creative and effective project to sell the Bergen Room Bistro to the outside community.
Team Three even created for extra credit a AI version of visiting the Bergen Room.
After the Team conclusion, it was time for questions and answers. The point of the whole project was to get the students ready for a career in business and marketing and there were questions of why the project was taken so seriously. The answer I had for one parent was that you want your son or daughter to get a good job out of college? It is better they get their lumps here than on a new job. They will be more prepared for the workforce.
One parent did compliment me in that his son was so excited about the project and it really showcased his son’s talents in filming and graphics. That was nice to hear that students are excited about their work. I know that these are the students that will get good jobs out of college and be prepared for Corporate expectations.
I couldn’t more proud of a group of students that banded together to showcase this wonderfully run student dining room.
Have you been there yet?
I took pictures with my Executive Team before the Presentation. I very proudly wore my Alumni Chef’s Jacket from when I graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1998. I don’t think it had been out of the dry cleaning plastic since that time.
Professor/Chef/CEO Justin Watrel with SVP of Operations Ayesha Zulfiqar and President Tugay Bera Bozogluer.
Professor Justin Watrel with the winning Team Project from Team Two. I was very impressed with their work. The Team was lead by Vice-President Mauricio Benitez and Team Leader Dennis Shkembi.
My group picture with Team Three lead by Vice-President Taner Ender and Team Leaders Kane Cheng.
Our Corporate picture for the Bergen Room Team at the end of the Presentation.
I am so proud of my students each semester. I like knowing I am training the next group of Executives for their future.
Also check out my blog on the blooming of the Gardens throughout the year and the many special events: Day Two Hundred and Sixty Two on MywalkinManhattan.com:
The crowds constantly watching at the full position the eclipse.
I went the Brooklyn Botanic Garden to see the solar eclipse that started at 2:10pm and was finishing up by 4:00pm on April 8th, 2024. It was a day of a lot of excitement all over New York City to sites sponsoring events.
The start of the eclipse at 2:10pm.
It was a mixture of clouds and sun that afternoon.
Originally, I was supposed to go to the Clermont State Historical Park in Germantown, NY for the event but we had a speaker at NYU that evening so I decided to change my plans when I saw that the Brooklyn Botanic Garden was having a similar event so I signed up there as well and would decide depending on the weather. It ended up being a very sunny morning and I wanted to go into the City to see the Eclipse. The first thing I wanted to do was eat lunch.
840 United Deli Corp. at Washington Street
840 United Deli Corporation at 840 Washington Avenue
Because the gardens would not allow outside food to the event, I stopped at 840 Deli Corp. for a quick lunch when the other two take out places I go to in the neighborhood were both closed. One of the local construction workers suggested a Cheesesteak on a hero roll so that is what I ordered. What a good suggestion! It was delicious.
Before I left the little bodega cat walked away from me.
The selection of sandwiches and snacks here are extensive and you can get sandwiches in both roll and hero rolls, and they are sizable.
The selection of snacks and drinks.
The gardens were not opening until 1:00pm so I took my lunch to the steps by the Brooklyn Museum right around the corner from the entrance of the gardens. The sandwich was delicious and had such a nice flavor. Not quite a Philly sandwich but the guy did a really good job.
The steps by the Brooklyn Museum.
The Brooklyn Museum Cherry trees were in full bloom.
I just relaxed, enjoyed the sunshine and really enjoyed the cheesesteak. It was great. Not quite Philly (no Cheese Wiz) but still good. I ate and just people watched. It was so nice to just sit outside and enjoy lunch and people watch. It is so underrated.
How could you not love a Brooklyn Cheesesteak.
This was the best lunch. It was nice to have a cheesesteak again.
Do not miss the Cheesesteaks here.
The Cheesesteak was great!
After lunch I got back to the gardens and got in line which went on and on after me. I got in line at the right time and into the gardens quickly and received my solar glasses (Thank you Warby Parker). Since I had about an hour, I walked around the gardens. Everything was starting to bloom, and the gardens looked dazzling.
The crowds entering the Cherry Blossom lawn as it just started to bloom. It will be in full bloom in about three weeks.
Walking towards the Japanese Gardens.
The Cherry Trees by both the Cherry Blossom Lawn and the Japanese Gardens were in full bloom and looked spectacular that afternoon. There was such a variety of colors.
The Japanese Garden in bloom with cherry blossoms.
The Japanese Garden was in full bloom with cherry trees and spring flowers surrounding the pool. The sunlight gave it a colorful appearance when it reflected off the water.
The small house by the pond in full bloom.
The Japanese Gardens made quite a show that afternoon and Mother Nature really shows here stuff at the beginning of the Spring.
The Cherry trees by the pool.
Right around the corner from the Japanese Gardens is Daffodil Hill where hundreds of yellow trumpet Daffodils were in full bloom and the contrasts of green and yellow made quite a sight.
Daffodil Hill
The beauty of Daffodil Hill at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
Before I staked out a place to see the eclipse at 2:10pm, I decided to walk around and see more of the gardens and take more pictures. Daffodil Hill was in full bloom and was just peaking since I was here last time. Hundreds of beautiful trumpet daffodils swayed in the window. I never get tired of staring at it.
The beauty of Daffodil Hill should not be missed when it is in full bloom.
My next stop was the Fragrance Garden. All the tulips were in full bloom, and it was a colorful show of various hues looking an elegant design.
The Fragrance Garden in full Spring bloom and was a rich variety of colors and scents.
The fountain in the Fragrance Garden.
Then I walked through the Magnolia Garden which was just coming into bloom. The forty-degree weather recently really affected the trees. Some of them looked like they got hit with frostbite. Still, it was magnificent display of pinks, purples and dark rogues.
The Magnolia Garden.
The Magnolia Garden in bloom with Daffodil Hill behind it.
The Magnolia Garden by the sun dial.
The Magnolia Garden were vibrant in their colors and played beautifully off one another.
The Magnolia Garden by Daffodil Hill
Some of the season smaller flowers were in bloom too and these are usually only blooming for about a week, similar to the crocuses. I love the contrasts of the large old oaks and the small delicate flowers.
The deep purple Virginia Bluebells.
The Virginia Bluebells were in full bloom when I visited and with their deep purple hue make quite a statement against the large oaks that have not quite opened yet.
The Virginia Bluebells just around the corner from the Cherry Blossom lawn.
The Virginia Bluebells by the Cherry Blossom lawn.
The edge of the Rose Garden’s fountain was still not in service (the weather was still in the 40’s recently) but the tulips were in full bloom with their colorful statement.
The fountain on the edge of the Rose Garden.
The flowers were fully open on this warm Spring Day. The colors contrasted so nicely. The crowds started to grow around this part of the garden and the Cherry trees were just starting to open.
The crowds growing for the Eclipse by the Cherry Blossom lawn.
The Cherry Blossom lawn ready to burst open to show their magnificent colors.
The crowds started to grow all over the gardens and families talked while their children ran around the lawn.
The gardens started to show their brilliance.
The walk through the gardens is delightful.
People exploring the gardens by Daffodil Hill.
I came across these vibrant little yellow flowers that lined the lawns and hills right near the entrance to the Children’s Garden.
The tiny yellow flowers on the hill near the Children’s Garden.
This beautiful yellow blanket lined the sides of the hill and was such a nice contrast to Daffodils Hill.
The vibrant tiny yellow flowers.
These tiny yellow flowers lined the hills just past the Magnolia Garden.
The Natural waterway with more flowers.
The Children’s Gardens were in full swing with activity that afternoon. The gardens are always busy with families on the weekend, but it looked like the staff was preparing more beds as the weather was finally starting to warm.
The beds were being prepared for planting in the Children’s Garden.
Flowers right now dominate this garden which by the middle of the summer will be filled with fruits and vegetables.
The Children’s Garden building has been around since the turn of the last century.
Families were here to see the eclipse and it was mostly staff working here that afternoon.
I loved these signs. How creative!
I finally settled in and sat in a small incline across from Daffodil Hill so I could admire the flowers in between the glimpses of the solar eclipse. We lucked out and it started off as a sunny day. We had some cloud coverage during the show but with the glasses on, it was an interesting show.
The sun as the celestial show begun.
The problem with the eclipse was that we were too far away from the path to really see the show so you could only see it through the glasses. The sun still looked like it was shining.
Just as the moon started to cross the sun.
The clouds kept rolling in and out, but it was not as gloomy as they thought the weather would be that afternoon.
The start of the show as the moon started to cross the sun.
Only through the glasses could see the passing which took a little over two hours to finish and it was not a complete eclipse from our viewpoint. It was still interesting to see.
The crowd was really getting into it and everyone was becoming the experts by the end of the afternoon.
In between the moon crossing the path of the sun (you could not look at this all the time), I admired the flowers blooming around us.
The Magnolia Gardens right across from the incline where we were all sitting.
It was a nice break from looking at the sun. I picked the best location in the garden to both view the eclipse and the flowers.
The moon crossing the sun at the midpoint. You could see nothing without the glasses.
The sun was totally covered by about 3:20pm and then started its movement away from the sun.
The moon moving away from the sun.
By 4:20pm, the eclipse was over, and most people left the gardens by that point. Others just relaxed and enjoyed the beautiful sunny afternoon that we were finally having. It had been such a cold early Spring (so much for Phil’s prediction). with temperatures in the low 40’s until just recently.
Some of the crowd lingering at the end of the show.
I left the gardens around 5:00pm after most of the crowds left and enjoyed one more walk around the gardens. Some of the flowers were at their peak and would not be in bloom when I returned the next time. I wanted to enjoy them now.
Leaving the Magnolia Garden.
Passing the Japanese Gardens when the crowds were gone, I finally got to enjoy the paths.
The path by the Japanese Garden
The Magnolia trees around the corner from the Frangrance Gardens.
The Cherry trees in the Japanese Gardens were in full bloom and were quite a show themselves. It was so colorful reflecting off the pool.
The beauty of the Cherry trees in full bloom.
The paths around the Japanese Gardens pool were crowed.
The vibrant light and dark pinks and mauve of the trees.
The Japanese Gardens at their peak bloom.
I took the subway back to Greenwich Village that night for our talk on campus. Even in Greenwich Village, the flowers put on quite a show. I love the contrasts of urban gardens against the old brownstone apartments. These flowers were a block from the NYU campus.
West 12th Street in bloom in the Spring.
Walking around the Village on that late afternoon was a nice way to cap off this unique afternoon. There will not be another eclipse in about a decade, but we can wait for it.
West 12th Street in the Spring.
West 12th Street by our campus building is always a treat to walk down in the Spring, Summer and the holidays.
West 12th Street in the Spring.
Greenwich Village is very unique in its own way with nicely landscaped properties and lots of potted plants. Until the next eclipse there is still a lot of Manhattan to explore!
There was a lot to explore in this part of Pennsylvania after Groundhog’s Day was over.
I had gone out to Punxsutawney, PA for the Groundhog’s Day celebrations on February 2nd and because of time and travel ended up spending three nights in the area. Once at the Community Center in Punxsutawney the night before Groundhog’s Day (highly recommended to save money as you will never be in your hotel room), I settled in for the night. It costs $10.00 to spend the night and you get to see the last showing of the movie “Groundhog’s Day” for free while eating fresh popcorn.
The Community Center in Punxsutawney, PA is the best place to spend the night before Groundhog’s Day.
The second night I spent in Indiana, PA just south of Punxsutawney because everything was sold out between Route 80 and Punxsutawney and they wanted a two night minimum with the few hotels and B & B’s selling around $400.00 a night. Just twelve miles down Route 119 and the hotels were practically empty in Indiana and I paid $85.00 at the Quality Inn. A much better deal and you get to explore the small town of Indiana, a college town and the County seat with its vibrant downtown of restaurants and stores and three interesting little museums.
My last night was just outside Mahanoy City, PA where I would be attending church services at our family church for the first time in fifty years and paying respect to my great-grandparents and my godparents who are buried in the cemetery on the hill. I had not done that in eight years as well. Trust me when I say there is not many places to stay in the three mining towns that surround the main mine company, Blaschak Anthracite and the open mine you can see in the middle of these three towns. It was an interesting look into my family’s past in the mining industry.
It is always fun seeing the Groundhog (this is Edwina of Essex at the Turtle Back Zoo).
The day after Groundhog’s Day, I decided to explore the area around Punxsutawney knowing that I had the full day to get to Mahanoy City, which was only two and a half hours away. I had spent Groundhog’s Day night in Indiana, PA and wanted to explore it a bit more. Once the Groundhog’s Day celebrations are over, there were food trucks and demonstrations in the Green but after an hour of this and a second visit to the Punxsutawney Historical & Genealogical Museum for a second time, there was not much else to see in Punxsutawney so I headed for Indiana to check in early at my hotel and visit the Jimmy Stewart Museum in Indiana, PA. That was an interesting experience as I did not know much about his past or his military service and that of his family.
Punxsutawney Phil seeing his shadow in 2024.
My Groundhog’s Day blog in Punxsutawney, PA in 2016 and 2024:
(this also gives you my visits to see Staten Island Chuck and Edwina of Essex in New York City and New Jersey respectively and all the museums and cultural sites that surround them).
I was spending the night at the Quality Inn in Indiana, PA and knew nothing about the town when I booked the trip. All I know is that the hotel room was reasonable and it was away from the crowds of Punxsutawney. Indiana is a much different town. Its downtown is vibrant and lively with all sorts of shops and restaurants.
It is a college town, home to the University of Indiana, PA and the County seat of Indiana County. It is also home to actor Jimmy Stewart and his namesake museum is right downtown. For a small community, it has wonderful restaurants and three small museums to visit. Just watch the parking downtown. I got a ticket because I thought the parking was free like it is in New Jersey on a Saturday. I had to mail in a $12.00 ticket when the meter ran out.
Before I checked into the Quality Inn, I checked out the Jimmy Stewart Museum at 835 Philadelphia Street, which is the main street of Indiana. It is part of the library complex and is an interesting museum on the actor’s life in town and in Hollywood. In this tiny space was the story of the actor’s life and the contributions both he and his family made to the community.
The Jimmy Stewart Museum at 835 Philadelphia Street
After the museum, I walked around the downtown to explore all the stores and restaurants and enjoyed looking at all the historical buildings in the downtown.
Historic Downtown Indiana, PA.
Just off the downtown with the historical homes and churches near the Historical Society.
I got back to the Quality Inn Hotel just south of the downtown and went back to relax for the rest of the evening. I slept really well considering that I had not gotten much sleep the night before. After a good breakfast, it was off to visit the Indiana Historical & Genealogical Society. That was an interesting little museum.
The entrance to the Historical and Genealogical of Indiana County at 621 Wayne Avenue.
The Indiana Historical & Genealogical Society was a small but interesting museum that told the story of the town from the time of the Native Americans to the era of the mining companies dominating industry to modern day life.
The front gallery of the museum.
The galleries flowed though the history of the town from its successes of the coal mining companies and conditions and strikes that came with it to its modern day era as a college town.
The development of the unions.
The second-floor Military exhibition covered from the area’s participation in the Revolutionary War through WWII. The area’s population saw more than their fair share of action during the wars.
The Military display
After I toured the museum, I walked outside and toured around the grounds and looked over the Crawford House which is a Victorian home that is part of the Society. This is only open for special tours and during the holidays.
The Crawford House
I toured the downtown quick enough to realize that I had gotten a ticket when I left my car in a downtown parking spot too long. So much for free parking on the weekends. Be very careful when parking in Downtown Indiana. There are no signs posted about parking hours especially if you are from out of town.
I left Indiana and made my way back to Punxsutawney for one last tour of the town. Things had calmed down a lot since the previous day but still the Green was busy with food trucks, outdoor vendors and bands. There was still a sizable crowd in town.
The Green in Downtown Punxsutawney.
I revisited the Punxsutawney Historical & Genealogical Society, touring the Bennis House, the other historic home that was part of the museum. It gave me a chance to really tour the house and admire the displays. Both houses display such interesting artifacts on the local history.
The Bennis Mansion
The Punxsutawney Historical & Genealogy Society at 400-401 West Mahoning Street
The Bennis House is filled with historical furnishings, artwork and had an interest dollhouse display that expanded through many rooms.
The Log Cabin dollhouse in the Dining Room.
The museum takes you on a journey through the excesses of the Victorian Age in the town with its growth from coal mining through the generations of the Bennis family who lived here until the 1980’s.
The Lattimer Mansion across the street most of the Society’s collection of local, Native American and Groundhog’s Day memorabilia. Some of this is on the Groundhog’s Club and the other display cases is on the movie (which was not shot here). It is an interesting little museum.
The history of Groundhogs Day in Punxsutawney.
The museum is very unrated in that there are so many interesting displays shown throughout each building and so much local history on how important this area once was for industry and travel and not just for the groundhog’s Day celebration.
The display from the movie “Groundhogs Day” with Bill Murray.
After another quick tour of downtown, I stopped for lunch at Punky’s Pizza for lunch. I could not leave town again without having one of their fantastic calzones. That alone is worth the trip.
This amazing little pizzeria is in one of the nicest historical buildings in Punxsutawney and was extremely busy during the Groundhog festivities. The couple of times I have eaten here the food was excellent and the family who run the pizzeria are super nice.
The entrance to Punxsy Pizza
Knowing that I had an almost three hour journey in front of me I needed a good lunch and their calzones more than met that.
The Punxsy Pizza calzone could feed two people.
God, I love coming here when I am in town and I swear the night before Groundhog’s Day and on Groundhogs Day you will wait in line to get in here.
These taste even better than the picture.
After my tour of the Green again and lunch, I took a quick stop at the Community Center to see about ten minutes of the last showing of the film “Groundhog’s Day”, it was off to Mahanoy City for the next day’s tour and church services.
When I left Punxsutawney, I took the longer way through the Amish farms and the back roads passing through small farming towns. The Amish have really turned some these small communities around.
As they have moved in and taken over some of dying communities, they have made the farms vibrant again and these tiny towns with their historic churches and cemeteries and tiny downtowns are seeing new life. The homes are all being renovated and rebuilt and new businesses are sprouting up catering to the new residents.
It was interesting to see the young families in horse drawn carts driving through the roads and leaving the farms on business and to church continue their traditions in communities that were left for dead since the 1970’s. You see this transformation in each of the small towns that I passed. It will be interesting to see what this area looks like in the Spring and early Summer when everything starts growing again.
I finally reached Route 80 again, that never ending highway back to the eastern part of Pennsylvania. I got to my hotel in the early evening with the trip taking longer than I thought. It was dark by the time I got to the Comfort Inn.
The Comfort Inn in Mahanoy City/Frackville, PA.
The Comfort Inn in Frackville/Barnesville, PA at 1252 Morea Road.
This hotel may be ten years old but I swear I thought it was brand new. They take such good care of it and it is such a welcoming place. The rooms were bigger than I thought and even had small kitchens and sitting areas for business. This made this convenient to get work done. They just need more outlets and better Wi-Fi. I slept like a log that evening and did not want to get up for church services. I had not slept that well in a long time. The beds were so comfortable you will want to stay in bed all day.
After I dressed for church that morning, I went down for breakfast. Hotels are having this annoying habit since COVID of closing breakfast at 9:00am and that means having to wake up earlier than you want. The breakfasts at the Comfort Inn were well worth it.
The breakfast buffet at the Comfort Inn.
After a long travel the night before and not being hungry when I arrived at the hotel, I was starved the next morning.
They had lots of choices.
I dived right in knowing that after church services I would be on my way traveling through the three towns before my trip home. I love breakfast!
The eggs and sausage on the line.
I think I had three breakfasts that morning.
I settled on the homemade waffles to start.
After hitting the buffet about four times ( the other guests seemed perplexed at this guy in a suit going back to the buffet so many times), it was off to Sunday services at St. Mary’s Byzantine Church.
This is our family church on my mother’s side of the family and I had not been here since Easter services fifty years ago. We had visited our great aunt and her family at Easter and had come to services here that day. Even in such a depressed town, it is one of the most beautiful churches I had seen.
I swear that I had to park a block away and I had seen better condition housing in Paterson, NJ and that is saying a lot. People here have no respect for their homes and treat them horribly (that is the kind word I use when blogging).
The inside of the church is a contrast of worlds as it is a beautiful place of refuge from the outside community. I had never seen such elegant and detailed artwork with paintings, statuary and iron work. This was a church built to make a statement.
The inside of the church before services.
The front of St. Mary’s Byzantine Church before service started.
I had time before services started and was just stunned not only at the beauty of the inside of the church but on the vibrancy of the artwork and the colorful, elaboration on the way it celebrates God. This church was built with a very different mindset than some of the Catholic Churches I have been to over the years.
The ceiling and chandelier’s.
The stained glass windows were artwork on to themselves and the banners were so vibrant.
The stained glass windows.
The banners were interesting to look at up closely.
The beauty of the banners.
The banners that line the front of the church.
When I walked around the church admiring the artwork, I caught the attention of many of the regular parishioners who were probably not used to seeing such over dressed person in a suit and tie at church. After services were over, more than one person walked up to me to ask who I was.
Celebrating God with respect.
The artwork along the walls and ceiling were gorgeous.
The back of the church.
Walking up to the altar after services were over.
Catholic services are very different from the Byzantine Catholics from the Roman Catholics. The lecture is continuous without stopping for anything. The priest talks and talks and then you sing, cross yourself and then talk again. It is not like being in a Roman Catholic church where it is stand up, sit down and then stand up again and keep repeating that all through the service. It was a lot of chanting and almost singing your way through the service. I was not used to a hour long service that was continuous. It was a different way of looking at the same service. Very different from the Reformed service I sat through for the Epiphany.
The Sunday Pentecost Services 2020.
After the services were over, I had a chance to talk to Reverend Carroll and the other parishioners, who were dying to know who I was and what I was doing here. It was like new blood had arrived. It was a very interesting morning service.
After the services were over, I ran back to the hotel to change and then I started my tour of the three towns that surrounded the mine. This would be an interesting experience in life in a mining community and discovering my roots in this part of Pennsylvania. Even though my family is from Hazelton, it is still a similar experience.
My first stop was up the road past Mahanoy City to Cemetery Hill where all the church’s graveyards were located overlooking the valley. I had thought this was an odd place for a set of cemeteries but things must have been different in town when they were created and maybe they wanted them out of sight. Frankly, the dead have the best views of the area.
I went to pay my respects to my Great-Grandparents. my Godparents and my second cousin and great uncle who were all buried in the family plot on the hill. It was very touching and humbling to visit my family here. I was always told that they know you visit and you know when they are there. I got got a good feeling to let my family know that they are not forgotten. I feel the same way on Christmas Eve when I visit the cemeteries by my home.
The St. Mary’s Byzantine Cemetery up on the hill overlooking the valley.
This is only the second time I have been here. The first time that I came here, I was just passing through in 2016 and the priest took me up to the cemetery. It was a cold, very gloomy and misty afternoon. With all the mist, it looked like something out of a horror film. This time around the visit was a bright sunny afternoon and could admire the views from the hill. You could see the working mine in the background from the hill.
After my visit to my family, I made my way back to downtown Mahanoy City to walk around and see what the town was all about. Talk about depressed. It was sad to see so many of the houses here were falling apart as well as most of the businesses are closed. I counted two pizzerias (that both had horrible TripAdvisor reviews), a Chinese restaurant and two bars that you had to be buzzed into. Most of the businesses on the Main Street were closed or boarded up. The tiny Historical Society was shut tight on a weekend and on a late Sunday afternoon there was not much open.
Downtown Mahanoy City on a Sunday afternoon.
Here and there were some bright spots. A few of the businesses including the florist from the last trip here were still open. There was an open park near the high school and when you drove up Cemetery Road towards the back of the city up on the hill, there were two blocks of homes where the houses were in pristine shape like its own little enclave. That’s why I think St. Mary’s Church was such a treasure. Such beauty in the middle of all of this.
I did come across this interesting monument on dedicated to the “Molly Maguire’s”, a militant group of miners who protested the mine owners.
The plaque dedicated to the men who faced such hardship “The Molly Maguires”
The statue in the display of intolerance of the “Molly Maguires”.
Near the sculpture was also home to the B & B I had planned to stay out but was closed for renovations and for the season, the Kaier Mansion B & B.
The Kaier Mansion was once home to a Brewery millionaire. Now it just sits in the middle of the downtown. It is funny how the beautiful sits among the business district. Maybe for a future stay. This is at 729 West Centre Street in Downtown Mahanoy City, PA.
After my walk around the downtown area and getting some strange looks from the few residents that I saw and who all managed to say hello to me, I left to explore the next town that surrounded the mine, Shenandoah.
Driving through Shenandoah was a bit better than Mahanoy City. The lower part of the downtown was a bit more vibrant than Mahanoy City and there were more businesses that were open (but not on this Sunday). There was a small section down by their Historical Society where I could see a block of buildings that had been renovated and there were a few restoration businesses and some ‘hipster’ businesses across the street. It looked a group of artists had moved in and were trying to do something so there was some hope here.
One of the highlights of Downtown Shenandoah was the Pennsylvania Anthracite Miners Memorial on the northern section of the main street in a small park that was not well maintained. This beautiful memorial to the memory of the miners who sacrificed their lives for the mines were honored here. The memorial was life size and just amazing in its details.
The Anthracite Miner’s Memorial in Shenandoah, PA.
The Anthracite Miner’s Memorial dedicated to the miners who dedicated their lives to the field.
As I exited out of Shenandoah down Route 924, I passed the area where they were strip mining and wondered what that was really doing to the environment and to the current roster of miners who were still working in the mines. Blaschak Anthracite is still mining this area and you can see the open mines from the highway. This is the company these towns were created for. It made me wonder what these three towns must have been like when it was still a vibrant industry and all the other manufacturing had not left the area.
The last town that I traveled through on the way back to Route 81 and then home was Frackville, another small mining town that again had more life in it than Mahanoy City but not by much. The core of the town was falling apart like the other two towns. There again was more small businesses trying to keep it together but it was not until you got closer to the highway exit that there was some vibrance to the town. It just seemed that the closer you got the main roads, the more people could hop on and then off.
One of the institutions that I do remember outside the church from my childhood is the Famous Dutch Kitchen at the Route 61 exit by Route 81 in Frackville. I remember coming here with my parents back in the 1970’s when we visited my great aunt and her family. I still order the same thing when I come here, the Turkey Croquettes with Mashed Potatoes and their vegetable, usually corn but I had canned string beans that did not measure up.
To start my traditional lunch in Frackville, I waited to have lunch here. I still tasted those croquettes from eight years earlier in 2016 when visiting the Groundhog and had waited for them again. They never miss. This restaurant has good old-fashioned Pennsylvania Dutch cooking which I love.
The Dutch Kitchen Restaurant at 433 South Leigh Avenue in Frackville just off Route 61 and 81.
I always have to start with the homemade Pierogi with a side of sour cream. These are a real treat when they are cooked in butter and a little onion. They are so light and delicious. With a couple dabs of the sour cream makes them even better.
The potato pierogi with sour cream on the side
For my main part of the meal, I ordered the Turkey Croquettes with mashed potatoes which was the first thing I ordered here when I was a kid. They still taste the same with the wonderful turkey gravy on the top of both them and the mashed potatoes. The green beans were straight out of can and I should have never ordered them. I thought they would be fresh.
The Turkey Croquettes with Mashed Potatoes and turkey gravy with a side of string beans.
This is the best late lunch on a cool afternoon. I was thinking about these since I left Punxsutawney. There are just some places that stick with you over the years and the Turkey Croquettes at the Dutch Kitchen is one of those things. They are that good!
For dessert, I bypass all the Apple and Cherry pies and the cakes for the Shoo Fly Pie, which they make homemade here. It is so good with the savory taste of the molasses and the buttery crust is the perfect combination to satisfy any sweet tooth.
The Shoo Fly Pie at Dutch Kitchen is so good!
The one thing I really love about this place is the prices are so reasonable. They do not gouge people like restaurants by me. The whole bill with the tip was less then $15.00. I actually gave the waitress a bigger tip because I felt she earned it she was so attentive.
It was the perfect way to end my adventure through coal country. It to me is a step back into time to a part of my life that I am revisiting from a Easter vacation long ago. It is nice that some things don’t change.
While time has done a number on these three towns, here and there are special gems in each of them. The places look like they are falling apart but it is the resilience of the people who live there and the small business owners who are keeping the spirit alive. You just have to see the special things that are tucked here and there.
I will keep coming back to return to my roots and discover more about this area of Pennsylvania.
Groundhog’s Day in 2024:
My review on Exploring Punxsutawney, PA for Groundhog’s Day:
Something drew me back to the area for Easter the next year. Maybe I did not get to see enough of the area in one day and wanting to revisit sites that were closed. Another was of an Easter memory from fifty years ago when my family joined my Great Aunt at the family church, St. Mary’s Byzantine, for Easter services when we were children. I still remember that night service as a little kid and just wanted to see it again.
I had always planned on going back but it was tough to travel with family commitments and other plans that came up. I finally had an open holiday and then put together a game plan and the got going. Another thing that I missed out on was visiting the small museums in the area that always seemed closed the last two times I visited. I was able to get in touch with one Board member of a small museum in Mahanoy City and he got in touch with the other places that I wanted to visit so I had appointments the first two days.
Then there were Easter church services at St. Mary’s Byzantine Church. When the Reverend for the church called me back on services, he informed me of both the Saturday night Mass, which is the one I was taken to fifty five years ago and the Sunday Mass, so they were also part of the plan.
I got off early that Good Friday afternoon, having to be in Mahanoy City by 1:00pm for my first tour and as I toured down Route 80, the warm weather was finally hitting us and all the buds were bursting on the trees and flowers as I drove through the Delaware Water Gap.
Traffic was not that bad on Good Friday and I made it to Mahanoy City by noon and headed to the cemetery to pay my Easter respects to my Great-Grandparents, and my Aunts, Uncles and Cousin who were buried in the family plot up on the hill over looking the town of Mahanoy City, PA.
The peacefulness of the cemetery during the day when it was sunny and nice. You can see the mines from this part of the hill.
Paying my respects to my family
It is a very humbling experience when you face family members whom you have never met or were once part of your life over thirty years ago. Still you should let your family members know that you still care.
Seeing the past and the present at the cemetery on Good Friday. It’s funny to see where my roots lie
After I paid my respects, I checked into my hotel where I would be staying for the weekend. I highly recommend the Comfort Inn Barnesville at 1252 Morea Road in Barnesville, PA. It is one of the few places to stay in the area.
I lucked out and got a terrific room on the first floor and rested for a bit. The rooms may be reserved but the beds at Comfort Inns you will sleep so soundly in. I had the best night’s sleep for the next two days.
Don’t underestimate the rooms at the Comfort Inn. It was a wonderful stay!
After a good rest and unpacking, I met my tour guide for the afternoon. Paul, who was one of the Board members of the museum met me in Downtown Mahanoy City. What is sad about Mahanoy City is how depressed the town is and the sheer potential the town has as an incubator for cottage industry.
Downtown Mahanoy City could be more with some splashes of paint and better signage
Paul and I met and said our hellos and then drove to Downtown Shenandoah, PA for our tour of the Greater Shenandoah historical Society Museum at 201 South Main Street.
The Greater Shenandoah Area Historical Society Museum at 201 South Main Street
I have to say that was extremely impressed with all the cultural sites that I visited over the weekend. These communities are hiding these ‘little gems” when they don’t use social media or a modern website. Still the couple that run this museum do a wonderful job and could not have been more welcoming to me.
We were at the museum for about an hour with the curator and wife as they walked me through all the exhibitions of this interesting museum.
The main front gallery
Each of vignettes had a different theme from old businesses of the community to the impact of Mining on the community to the booms and busts of the economy and to daily living in the community of Shenandoah, PA.
The Mining exhibition
Mining was the source of the economy and when the mines were at their peak of production so was the community which once boasted over 20 jewelry stores and clothing stores catering to the various incomes of the workers.
The Religious/Church Room
Religion was a big factor of the community and the Religious Room of the museum has one of the most impressive and extensive collections of items at a time when religion and worship was separated by ethnic group by country of origin and type of religion practiced. When all these churches started to close and consolidate with intermarriages and modern times, the museum was able to collect all their objects.
Life in a Mining home
Life in a Mining town was not easy especially to a Mining housewife, who had to do a lot with little. Even for every rung on the ladder, the life of a homemaker and wife was a lot of work and the display shows times of limited water in households, the start of electricity in the homes and modern conveniences after the war years.
The Shenandoah High School memorabilia
The Shenandoah High School had a very prominent place in the local community and there has been pride in the education of this small town.
The formalities of daily life of the middle class
The museum really does a nice job showing the booms and busts of a one industry town and each exhibit has great detail to explain its story (please see my blog ‘VisitingaMuseum.com) for information on this museum.
After the tour was over, the couple explained some of the new businesses coming to the town and optimism in a town that is seeing a slow rebirth. I could see that with the renovation of buildings surrounding the museum.
The gentrifying part of downtown
The possibilities of the old downtown are right there
After the tour and before we headed back to Mahanoy City, I took Paul to lunch as a thank you for arranging everything for me. He suggested Francesca’s Ristorante & Pizzeria at 10 North Main Street. The food was excellent.
Francesco’s Ristorante & Pizzeria at 10 North Main Street
The pizza here is excellent. We both had Cheese slices and shared an order of Fried Pierogi. Talk about a nice relaxing meal. Their red sauce is the best and really was well spiced.
Lunch that afternoon
The Cheese pizza is excellent and full of flavor
The Fried Pierogi were from Mrs. T’s down the road
Over lunch, Paul was explaining the challenges that these towns were facing with the economy. I could see that with a dwindling mine presence and low level warehouse jobs popping up. The towns also had a possibility of small cottage industries opening and arts communities blossoming but you had to make a commitment to all these. I think he saw this as well.
After lunch, we headed back and then we toured the Mahanoy Area Historical Society Museum at 1 West Centre Street #5. I discovered what a beautifully organized and well designed little museum they created in honoring Mahanoy City’s past.
The Mahanoy Area Historical Society Museum at 1 West Centre Street
The inside of the museum dedicated to the Mining industry
The Mining industry was the driving force of this town
A large portion of the collection on the school system
The collection of memorabilia from the Mahanoy City schools was extensive and interesting
The main gallery
The museum does a nice job telling the story of Mahanoy City and the various aspects of the community. While not as big as the museum in Shenandoah, this museum has its own stories to tell and shows the progression of the town to hopefully the next chapter in its development.
After we left the museum that afternoon and planned to meet again the next afternoon, I decided to walk around town and take pictures. Just like Shenandoah, as an outsider, I can see a lot of potential in these towns. Not just for business but in tourism as well. I really think the mines themselves should offer tours to show how the modern mining industry operates.
I then toured around the town, taking pictures of exterior businesses that did not have pictures on TripAdvisor and some of the historical sites hidden in the town. The first one was the Silliman Mansion, once home to a prominent family who owned many businesses in town, now part of the water company.
The former Silliman Mansion is now offices at 46 North Main Street
Then I walked all over the town, looking at the homes and businesses many of which could use better signage and a splash of paint.
Looking down Main Street during the afternoon
I then walked down Centre street to look at the former Kaier family mansion, the home of the brewery family who company site I had just visited where there was nothing left. The house is now a bed and breakfast.
The former Kaier mansion at 729 East Centre Street
The home was built for the Kaier brewery family. I wondered why they would build a home in the downtown center and after the tour of the town it became clear. Proximity of walking to the brewery and to make a statement to the town of ‘here we are’.
The Kaier Mansion plaque
The front of the mansion in the early Spring
I then walked down Centre Street which is the main avenue of town to the Molly Maguires Park. This is a monument to the Irish miners who fought against the oppression of the mining bosses and dangerous conditions of the mines. The park sends a bold statement of who these men were and their story.
After my tour of the town on my own, I went back to the hotel to relax and ended up falling asleep. It had been a long day of running around and I read for a bit and went to bed.
I have to credit Comfort Inn on one of the best night’s sleep in a long time. I slept so soundly that I barely wanted to get up. Also the hotel has a very nice complimentary breakfast buffet with waffles, sausage and eggs. Not fancy but a good way to start the day.
The breakfast buffet
The waffle bar in the morning
Creating a Sausage and Egg bagel sandwich. I love breakfast!
Paul and I met the next day for a morning tour of the Smith Mansion, a beautiful home on the edge of town and the home of the Smith family.
The mansion is not a museum per se in the traditional sense. It is someone’s personal home that I was given permission to tour and this is through appointment only. The tour of the home is well worth it. The owner has put such wonderful care in maintaining this large home even going as far as buying the Smith descendants coach, oil portraits and family photos so they are preserved in the house.
The owners greeted us on the front porch and then we entered the home. They had been moving the gating around and that’s when J realized that this was a private home.
The owner and his partner explained that they bought the house from the family descendants. What I thought was interesting is that they also bought the couch and family photos and portraits. I guess all the family heirlooms meant nothing to them. Still they looked so nice staying in the home.
The family couch and portraits still remain in the house as they should had.
The beautiful Living Room and Dining room
The detailed Dining Room
The Smith Family in 1890
The Arboretum on the Third floor in the Tower Room
The Library on the second floor
The Music Box in the Library
The video of the Music Box playing
After we toured all three floors, we finished the tour in their Rock Garden in the back of the house. The flowers were just starting to bloom.
The Walled Rock Garden in the back of the house
The face staring at me in the wall
This is where we ended the tour. The owners explained that there is. Lot of upkeep to the home which I agree. Anytime you buy a home like this be prepared to work.
After the house tour, Paul took me on a tour of the area, taking me through parks, small lake communities and around the Mining factory, explaining to me how the community functions. It was an interesting tour and I told him they should do this for a special event at his museum.
We said our goodbyes and then I left for some lunch. Since some of the restaurants were not open yet and I was tired of eating pizza, I went to New Hunan House in Downtown Mahanoy City. The place so cheery from the outside I figured a new family must have opened it. It did not look this nice when I had passed through in the previous February.
After lunch, I decided to explore the three towns that surrounded the mine. The first thing I did was walk around Mahanoy City and walked around the downtown and some of the side streets. The town is very worn. You could see as employment at the mine declined so did the towns around it. I could see this with all the pictures and displays at the museums. These were once vibrant communities with strong retail bases.
Downtown Mahanoy City on a quiet afternoon
After I worked off lunch, I drove over to Shenandoah and walked their downtown again. The museum was closed and it did not seem that a lot of stores were open either on the Saturday before Easter.
There is a lot of potential in Downtown Shenandoah. You can see this in the architecture.
I visited the Miner’s Memorial again which sits at the top of the downtown. This beautiful memorial I have visited on my trips to Shenandoah and is a testament to its mining past.
The sad part of this small park is its condition. It always has so much garbage and needs a good sweeping.
I find this monument very touching and think about how my family though a hundred years ago was once part of this tradition.
After walking all of Shenandoah’s downtown and some of the side streets, I drove to Frackville to see their downtown. It was just as depressed as the other two towns but like Mahanoy City and Shenandoah, you will see those hidden gems, the clever pieces of art snd and a few wonderful restaurants.
Downtown Frackville on the Saturday before Easter it was so quiet.
While walking around I came across Frontier Woman and Child which was once a sculpture in front of local restaurant
I also came across this sculpture for Easter in front of someone’s home
Walking the downtown area in Frackville is really a combination of small businesses mixed in with housing. There was not much to see and because of Easter the next day, most everything was closed in town. Even Dutch Kitchen, which I had looked forward to eating at on Easter, was going to be closed and closed early on Saturday night.
I got back to the room around five and relaxed until 7:30pm and arrived for the evening Easter church service at St. Mary’s Byzantine Church at 621 West Mahanoy Street. The church was busier than the two times I had been there in the past and most people were dressed up.
St. Mary’s Byzantine Church at 621 West Mahanoy Street
The inside of the church on Holy Saturday for mass
The Alter at the church decorated for Easter
The beauty of the Alter
The doors lead to where the scriptures and readings are done during the ceremony
The Alter was decorated for Easter
The service was really nice and the church was so beautifully decorated with flowers for the Easter services. I did not realize that the formal services were on the Saturday night before Easter. This was the service I went to with my mother and Great Aunt fifty-five years ago.
It was an hour and a half service of singing and chanting in both English and Slavic, which I was not used to as it differed so much from the Roman Catholic services.
It is such a beautiful church too with all the stained glass, beautiful Alters and even the doors were really elaborate. It was going back in a Time Machine to 1975. After the service was over, I went with the other parishioners to the meeting room next to the church for the ‘Blessing of the Baskets’, where the priest blesses the food for the Easter dinner.
The blessings of the baskets
The blessing of the baskets
After the blessing, I went back to the hotel and went to bed. I was going to be back for the Sunday services as well for Easter Day.
After an excellent night’s sleep and a good breakfast I arrived at the church for Easter Day Mass which was similar but shorter than the formal mass the night before.
Arriving Easter morning at St. Mary’s Byzantine Church at 621 West Mahanoy Street
The front of the church with the picture of St. Mary
The inside of the church
The stained glass window in the front of the church
The cross by the Alter
The stained glass and paintings over the door way
The stained glass and paintings over the other doorway
The banner by the front of the church
The beautiful insides of the church at Easter
The elegant details of the church
It was a nice service and I am glad that I was able to come to both masses. It was a nice way to spend Easter. After services were over, I said my goodbyes to Reverend Carroll and headed back to the hotel, changed and checked out.
The service has not been posted yet but this one is similar to the one I experienced
Since I had some time on my hands, I decided to take a drive around the area. Most places were closed for Easter, so I traveled to the town of Tamaqua, PA just south of Mahanoy City and just walked around the downtown. The owners of the Smith Mansion said that this was the up and coming arts town, so I walked all over the downtown.
The sign welcoming you to Tamaqua, PA
It’s a nice historic looking downtown but nothing out of the ordinary. It has some beautiful buildings and a nice looking theater of the arts.
The river running through the downtown
The historic downtown
The historic firehouse downtown
The Tamaqua Arts Theater, the catalyst of the Arts district at 125 Pine Street in Downtown Tamaqua, PA
Literally nothing was open and like myself, the last of the people were arriving home from church and there were very few people walking around. So I headed home taking the back roads and the local highway through MacAdoo and Hazelton, where my family was from. They were just as quiet.
I got back to New Jersey in record time and was back to the Delaware Water Gap in less than an hour.I was getting hungry at this point and took a detour down the Route 46 East Highway to see if any of my favorite spots might be open for Easter.
Humpty Jrs. Was closed but Hot Dog Johanny’s in Buttzville, NJ was open and packed with cars. I made the stop and had my Easter dinner there.
I love their hot dogs and fries and another part of my childhood memories having come here in the early 1970’s. I must have had the same idea as everyone else because the crowds kept coming while was eating.
My Easter lunch, a deep fried Hot Dog and French Fries and an icy Birch Beer
I swear the menu had not changed in fifty years
The hot dogs here are amazing
So are the fries
The views by the river are spectacular
The views up stream as well
There is nothing like sitting outside on a warm sunny day with a hot dog. This was the best Easter dinner. Just relaxing and delicious. After I finished my meal, I walked the grounds on this early Spring and admired the river and all the buds bursting. It really was a beautiful day.
I continued up Route 46, passing all the places I had visited before. Even Hackettstown was quiet with only a few restaurants open. I needed something sweet to complete my meal and remembered that Dover Dairy Maid was up Route 46. I took a chance and they were open too and crowded.
I love the homemade ice cream here and their fresh whipped cream. I got a medium Sundae and since they give you a choice of flavors, I tried the Birthday Cake, the Cotton Candy and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough(all of which I highly recommend. I just sat around the picnic tables and ate watching families come and go. I guess everyone was like myself, just enjoying a nice afternoon of out.
The ice cream here is amazing
Yum!
After I was done, I headed home. It had been a productive and relaxing weekend and the change of of pace was really nice.
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