Category Archives: hobbies

TMB Model Train Club’s O-mazing Open House

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
November 30, 2016

Where can you see a three-ring circus, NYC subway line, and real prop used in a mob hit scene on The Sopranos?  At the Train Masters of Babylon Model Train Club HQ in Long Island!

Last Saturday, during the long Thanksgiving Weekend, I spent a couple of hours that sped by all too quickly at TMB’s Open House, which was free and open to the public, as all their Open Houses are.

Farmingdale, New York, USA. November 26, 2016. BAKE TURNER, of Melville, holds a blue Electromotivee Division EMD model train engine at the Train Masters of Babylon TMB Model Train Club's Open House. Visitors enjoyed a 4000 square foot O Gauge model railroad with 10 trains running on 19 scale miles of track and an underground subway system. Watching O Scale model trains traveling on tracks through various elaborate scenes was family fun, free and open to the public, during the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Farmingdale, NY, USA. Nov. 26, 2016. TMB club member BAKE TURNER, of Melville, holds a blue Electromotive Division EMD model train engine at the Train Masters of Babylon Model Train Club’s Open House. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

BAKE TURNER, a TMB Model Train Club Board Member, told me how the club – which is a Lionel Ambassador for 2016-17 – moved from Lindenhurst to their Farmingdale location four years ago, and they’re still expanding the elaborate O-Scale layouts, including developing one vertically up a wall!

Farmingdale, New York, USA. November 26, 2016. Tiny high wire aerialist model figure, about two inches tall, is part of the circus scene display at Train Masters of Babylon TMB Model Train Club's Open House. Visitors enjoy a 4000 square foot O Gauge model railroad with 10 trains running on 19 scale miles of track and an underground subway system. The free and open to public event was family fun during the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Farmingdale, NY, USA. Nov. 26, 2016. Tiny tightrope walker model figure, about two inches tall, is in circus scene display at Train Masters of Babylon TMB Model Train Club’s Open House. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Young children perched on parents’ shoulders; adults bent down to inspect the subway line; and lots of arms, short and long, pointed to trains whizzing around the 19 scale miles of track winding through fantastically detailed landscapes, towns, tall cityscapes….

Farmingdale, New York, USA. November 26, 2016. At TMB Train Masters of Babylong Model Train Club's Open House, visitors look at actual train display - complete with blood stains - seen in'The Blue Comet' episode of'The Sopranos'. Photo above layout is scene with character Bobby Baccalieri at L.I. model train store. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Farmingdale, New York, USA. November 26, 2016. At TMB Model Train Club’s Open House, visitors look at actual train display seen in ‘The Blue Comet’ episode of HBO’s ‘The Sopranos.’  (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

And then there’s the club’s star attraction: the actual train layout featured in “The Blue Comet” episode of The Sopranos HBO television series. It wasn’t until shortly after my visit I realized the layout was complete with “blood stains” from Bobby Bacala’s execution, so I want to return to the scene of that crime during a future Open House.

UPDATE:  January 2019

In the Jan. 2019 issue of Model Rail, the UK model train magazine, editor Richard Foster writes that The Blue Comet episode of HBO’s The Sopranos is his favorite TV episode featuring a model train.

Along with info about the episode and TMB Model Train Club, Foster’s “Backscene” article (page 146) includes one of my news photos of the actual TV prop on display during TMB’s Open House.

The Model Rail  January 2019 digital back issue is currently available for purchase at the PocketMags site (which I have NO relationship with).

TMB Open House:  PHOTO GALLERY 

Train Masters of Babylon: TMB site  |  2016-17 Lionel Ambassadors

Feb. 28, 2018 blog post: “TMB Model Train Club: Big Room with Big (& Small) Views“

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Antique Car Show at Old Westbury Gardens 2016

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
June 14, 2016

I literally & frequently had to hold on to my hat Sunday afternoon, since it was such a breezy spring day at the Antique & Collectible Auto Show – with hundreds of vintage, classic, and collectible vehicles – at Old Westbury Gardens.

Westbury, New York, USA. June 12, 2016. Flying Lady hood ornament with clear plastic insert in wings on 1940 red Chevrolet Super Deluxe sedan is on view at the Antique and Collectible Auto Show at the 50th Annual Spring Meet at Old Westbury Gardens, in the Gold Coast of Long Island, and sponsored by Greater New York Region, GNYR, Antique Automobile Club of America, AACA. Participating vehicles in the judged show included hundreds of domestic and foreign, antique, classic, collectible, and modern cars. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Westbury, New York, USA. June 12, 2016. Flying Lady hood ornament on 1940 red Chevrolet Super Deluxe sedan is on view at the Antique and Collectible Auto Show at the 50th Annual Spring Meet at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

After getting a cold soda at the refreshment table, I spotted Pastor Green and Miska – a Service Dog who helps Marine veterans – near the Free Hugs booth of Marine Corps League, North Shore Queens Detachment #240. Both the pastor and his Husky and German Shepherd mix partner were so patient as I captured photos of Miska with her arresting ice-blue eyes and white fur.

Westbury, New York, USA. June 12, 2016. MISKA, an NYPD (New York Police Department) Service Dog trained to help American veterans, attends the Antique and Collectible Auto Show at the 50th Annual Spring Meet at Old Westbury Gardens, in the Gold Coast of Long Island. Miska is part Husky and part German Shepherd, and has light blue eyes and white fur, and was with Pastor Green, of U.S. Marines, from Queens. The car show was sponsored by Greater New York Region, GNYR, Antique Automobile Club of America, AACA. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Westbury, New York, USA. June 12, 2016. MISKA, a Service Dog trained to help Veterans, attends the Antique and Collectible Auto Show at the 50th Annual Spring Meet at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Especially because this was the rain date for the event, some participants had other commitments to go to, so the trophy ceremony began early, explained officers from the Antique Automobile Club of America’s Greater New York Region chapter, which sponsored this 50th Annual Spring Meet.

Westbury, New York, USA. June 12, 2016. A yellow 1948 Bantam Roadster, owned by Wade Jacobs of Mineola, has reflection of man walking by nearby vintage black car on its hubcap, at the Antique and Collectible Auto Show at the 50th Annual Spring Meet at Old Westbury Gardens, in the Gold Coast of Long Island, and sponsored by Greater New York Region, GNYR, Antique Automobile Club of America, AACA. Participating vehicles in the judged show included hundreds of domestic and foreign, antique, classic, collectible, and modern cars. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Westbury, New York, USA. June 12, 2016. A yellow 1948 Bantam Roadster, owned by Wade Jacobs of Mineola, has reflection on hubcap of man at vintage black car, at  Antique and Collectible Auto Show at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

After winners got their good news and gleaming trophies, a few cars and then a few more and more began a slow procession through lush green grounds to the west gate of the Gold Coast mansion estate.

Westbury, New York, USA. June 12, 2016. MARK OFFENBERG, of Valley Stream, drives his silver 1973 Intermeccanica Squire SS-100 Italian luxury classic roadster while his passenger holds 3rd Place Trophy the car won in the foreign car category at the Antique and Collectible Auto Show at the 50th Annual Spring Meet at Old Westbury Gardens, in the Gold Coast of Long Island, and sponsored by Greater New York Region, GNYR, Antique Automobile Club of America, AACA. Car is the 46th of only 50 Intermeccanica's coachbuilt in Turin, Italy. Participating vehicles in the judged show included hundreds of domestic and foreign, antique, classic, collectible, and modern cars and trucks. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Westbury, New York, USA. June 12, 2016. MARK OFFENBERG, of Valley Stream, drives his 1973 Intermeccanica Squire SS-100 roadster while passenger holds trophy M.O. won at Antique & Collectible Auto Show, Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2016 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Postscript:

Driving home in Bob’s faithful 2000 Honda later that day, we passed a local business with a large American flag flying at half mast, likely in sympathy for the victims of the horrific mass shootings early that morning at the Orlando nightclub.

“Hold on tight because this is going to hurt like hell.” – John A Passara

2016 Car Show at OWG:   GALLERY

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New York Comic Con 2015

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
October 16, 2015

I’ve never been at a more bustling or friendly event than New York Comic Con was last Saturday, October 10, 2015, at the Javits Center.

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. October 10, 2015. L-R, Astronaut Robert (Beamer) Curbeam, who is currently tied for the record for most spacewalks (4) during a single spaceflight, and Captain JERRY LINENGER, a retired NASA astronaut and United States Navy flight surgeon, are two of the panelists on Secret Space Escapes - The Real Life Gravity Panel, at the 10th Annual New York Comic Con. Secret Space Escapes is a new series scheduled to begin November on the Discovery Science Channel. NYCC 2015 is expected to be the biggest one ever, with over 160,000 attending during the 4 day ReedPOP event, from October 8 through Oct 11, at Javits Center in Manhattan (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

NYC, NY, USA. Oct. 10, 2015. L-R, Astronauts ROBERT (BEAMER) CURBEAM and JERRY LINENGER are two panelists on Secret Space Escapes – Real Life Gravity Panel, at New York Comic Con. (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Those familiar with my photos and posts of Long Island’s Cradle of Aviation Museum over the years won’t be surprised my favorite panel at NYCC was about Science Channel’s new series Secret Space Escapes, which shares true stories of things going terribly wrong in space and how astronauts faced those challenges.

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. October 10, 2015. SOYEON YI, the first South Korean in space, is a panelist on Secret Space Escapes - The Real Life Gravity Panel, at the 10th Annual New York Comic Con. Secret Space Escapes is a new series scheduled to begin November on the Discovery Science Channel. Born in 1978, Yi went into space when she was 29, traveling on Russia's Soyuz TMA-12 to the International Space Station (ISS). NYCC 2015 is expected to be the biggest one ever, with over 160,000 attending during the 4 day ReedPOP event, from October 8 through Oct 11, at Javits Center in Manhattan (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

NYC, NY, USA. October 10, 2015. Astronaut SOYEON YI, the first South Korean in space, is a panelist on Secret Space Escapes – The Real Life Gravity Panel, at New York Comic Con.  (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Astronauts  ROBERT (BEAMER) CURBEAM,  JERRY LINENGER, and SOYEON Yi  shared their personal harrowing space experiences at the Secret Space Escapes – The Real Life Gravity Panel. It was an honor meeting them all, with their warmth and laser focus – and Soyeon was born the same year as my older daughter! My family’s looking forward to the premiere of Secret Space Escapes on the Science Channel, November 10th.

New York, NY, USA.  October 10, 2015. Cosplayers Princess Buttercup and Dread Pirate Roberts, New York Comic Con 2015. (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

NYC, NY, USA.  October 10, 2015. Cosplayers Princess Buttercup and Dread Pirate Roberts, New York Comic Con 2015. (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Of the thousands of creative, dramatic cosplayers, above are my sentimental favorites – Princess Buttercup and The Dread Pirate Roberts AKA Westley, from William Goldman’s The Princess Bride.

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. October 10, 2015. Visitors are playing STAR WARS Battle Pod, an aerial combat game set in the Star Wars universe, at the 10th Annual New York Comic Con. NYCC 2015 is expected to be the biggest one ever, with over 160,000 attending during the 4 day ReedPOP event, from October 8 through Oct 11, at Javits Center in Manhattan (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

NYC, NY, USA. Oct. 10, 2015. Visitors play STAR WARS Battle Pod, an aerial combat game set in Star Wars universe, at 10th New York Comic Con.  (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

One of the popular interactive attractions was STAR WARS Battle Pod Flat Screen Edition, with multiplay mode that allowed two players to play as a team.

And let’s not forget Artist Alley, which had vast aisles of talented comics artists – such as SANYA ANWAR,  PETER KUPER,  LUKE ROSS,  LOUISE SIMONSON & WALT SIMONSON – where fans had a chance to meet them, have comic books autographed, and some artists even offered option of commissioning original work.

NYCC had it all – astronauts, cosplayers, artists, games….  INCONCEIVABLE!

New York Comic Con 2015:  GALLERY 

Science Channel TV Shows

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