Two Events on Gray Days

(The Capitol dome made from Legos)

Aren't Legos the best toys?  Lego interlocking blocks were first popularized in 1958 but took a while to cross over from Denmark.  They were a big deal when my kids were young. The children loved Legos and I did too.

(Meredith, age 2 1/2, making what she called a "blue city," 1987)

When I learned that Crossgates Mall planned to feature a Lego display, I penciled the event on my calendar.  I've seen large Lego constructions in New York City, but this was just four miles from my home.  I made a point of going to the mall when it arrived.

(Thomas's Lego city, 1991)

(Thomas with a Christmas project, constructing a new Lego set, age 10)

Planned to coincide with the school winter vacation, The Lego Americana Roadshow featured American icons.  I picked up a map of the mall with each Lego location numbered with a check box alongside.  Children could check the boxes indicating that they had seen the pictured models, then return a fully-checked map to the mall's Lego store for a small prize.

(The Statue of Liberty in full detail)

The first construction I saw was the Liberty Bell. Then I passed the White House,  the Supreme Court, and the Lincoln Memorial.  The detail of the statues and carvings on these buildings was impressive, all made with Lego blocks.  I heard parents telling their kids about the buildings and their history.

(The Capitol's wings and branches look sprawling in miniature)

The Capitol Building was by far the most remarkable with its large ornate dome.  In size alone, it outdid the others. According to the accompanying sign, the U.S. Capitol took a team of eight builders 1700 hours to complete!

(Lego people on a ski trip...and a battle?)

A few dioramas were displayed in large glass cases.  I liked the winter scene with skiers on a chairlift going up a mountain.  But what were those guys in the background with guns doing??  A group of children and a couple of parents stood by.  One of them said that this was from the Lego Movie.  I moved on.

(Hands-on fun for kids)

In one of the large open areas of the mall, children played and created their own Lego models.  This was a popular spot.  I checked out all the play options.  I particularly liked the racing ramp.  Kids built cars at a nearby table and then ran them down the track.  I saw no sharing problems; everyone appeared to be having a good time.

The federal buildings had been built with mostly light-colored Legos.  Smaller buildings, such as Independence Hall in Philadelphia with its Colonial red brick design and white trim, were a refreshing change.  I admired the detailed window detail, and could imagine piecing together blocks to fit the 18th-century design.

(Independence Hall)

I wondered how many Lego blocks these constructions required.  Next to one model, I came upon a small kiosk where kids could guess the number, write it on a paper, and drop the paper in a slot box.  I wouldn't have the faintest idea how many Lego blocks would be in the Capitol!  I heard one boy say 10,000.  I would guess more.

I loved seeing Boston's Old North Church.  It didn't draw as much attention as the bigger buildings that children would instantly recognize, but those who wanted to check all the boxes would find it.  The sign read that it took three master Lego builders only 200 hours to make this wonderful model with its fine steeple.  Five 40-hour weeks with three people working continuously still sounded like a lot to me.

(Boston's Old North Church)

On another February day, in an entirely different venue, I went to "Cathedral in Bloom," a flower show at the Episcopal Cathedral of All Saints in downtown Albany.  The flower show has been at the State Museum for years.  This year, due to renovations at the museum, the show took place at the Cathedral.

(the sale table is a bounty of color against the gray stone of the Cathedral)

My friend, Karen, an Albany native whose interests are boundless, joined me for this outing. Bright bouquets in pots greeted us as we entered the building. Many of the floral displays were clearly meant to appeal to wedding planners.  We could imagine a bridal couple under an archway made of red roses, or having dinner at tables festooned with white blossoms.  Although we loved seeing the flowers, we had also timed our visit to include a tour of the Cathedral itself.

(Florists perfectly decorated the lovely Baptistery doors)

Many wealthy donors, famous architects, and stone carvers were instrumental in the construction of the cathedral from its beginning in 1884.  The plan was to build this first American Episcopal cathedral in an English Gothic style, paying tribute to its Church of England roots. The original design was grandiose, but today less than half of the cathedral is actually finished.  Much of the remainder is still called "temporary," despite the many large rose windows, delicate stained glass, intricate wood and stone carvings, and an apparent permanence these past 130 years.

(Tiny pipes just a couple of inches high in lower left rise to large wooden pipes in two "attic" chambers on both sides of the choir area)

The eastern end of the cathedral, the choir, is the only fully completed part of the building, thanks to a 1902 influx of cash from J. Pierpont Morgan.  I was drawn to this area, since it is the home to the musical part of the cathedral.  In fact, I have a tradition of coming here at Christmas to hear the Cathedral's renowned Men and Boys Choir.  The choir performs the Nine Lessons and Carols at Christmastime.  With the Anglican pageantry and incense, I feel transported to the famous equivalent of this service at King's College in Cambridge, England.

(The massive organ)

It takes a talented organist to handle the four keyboards, innumerable stops, couplers, foot pedals, and the additional console at the other end of the cathedral!  Two hands and two feet must be active all the time to make music flow through the 4000 pipes.  And three mirrors above the organ let the organist know what is going on around him at all times.  Talk about multi-tasking! 

(Flemish Renaissance carving from 1622)

I was interested to learn that the misericords (seats for clergy who may need a rest during a long service) in the choir loft, were not only imported from Brugges, Belgium, and 400 years old, but were a gift from Spencer Trask, of Yaddo fame in Saratoga Springs.

(a rose swag draping from the pulpit)

Before we left, Karen and I perused the items for sale, sniffed the Harney & Sons specially-made "Cathedral in Bloom" tea, and considered the tins of flower seeds. In the end, I bought a bouquet of yellow tulips to brighten my kitchen on this gray February day.