FeyGirl

Feb 29

Lake Worth’s Street Painting Festival: Cloudy Skies & Brilliant Streets

This year, the 18th annual Lake Worth Street Painting Festival was hosted on a cloudy weekend — but despite the constant threat of rain (and downpours to the north), Lake Worth’s vibrantly-colored streets were spared, save for a brief chilly rain on Saturday. Each February, over 400 artists from as far away as California and New York — even the United Kingdom — transform the streets into original art and masterpiece reproductions with just chalk and the pavement as their canvas. This year, more than 200 street paintings were created by 600 featured and amateur artists, covering more area than any other festival of its kind in the U.S.

As always, the crowds on Sunday were fierce, to view the fully emerged art and colorful concrete, as well as the street performers, musical entertainment, Food Courts, and Lake Worth’s shopping — fabulous consignment and antique shops line the streets. The artists are always lovely and open, despite the frantic schedule to complete their artwork during the two-day festival; there’s a friendly and communal atmosphere among them, as they participate and visibly enjoy the process and performance of street painting.

The Lake Worth festival began in 1994 by a small group of local residents, who wanted to revitalize their city — it is now touted as the country’s largest annual Street Painting Festival, attracting well over 100,000 visitors each year. Street painting however, can be traced to 16th-century Italy. Itinerant Renaissance artists, hoping to advertize their works and attract critical attention and crowds, used chalk and the streets as their makeshift canvas.

For More Information:

Street Painting Festival (Official Site)
Facebook Page
Lake Worth’s Street Painting Festival Brings Color to Downtown (Palm Beach Post)
Street Painters to Chalk Up Lake Worth (Sun-Sentinel)

Feb 26

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Feathers, Fur & St. Francis at the Ancient Spanish Monastery

During our recent visit to the most sublime historic site, the Ancient Spanish Monastery — also known as the Monastery of St. Bernard de Clairvaux, or the Spanish Monastery — we encountered an unexpected amount of wildlife in this tiny sanctuary, tucked away in North Miami Beach’s expanse of concrete. A significant cultural and religious monument, the Ancient Spanish Monastery remains one of the most important monasteries in North America, and the oldest building in the Western Hemisphere. It’s more than a tourist attraction or a premier wedding venue; this historic site includes peaceful gardens, a setting to meditate and worship, and an opportunity to enjoy Romanesque architecture from the twelfth century — offering you the chance to feel the medieval stones beneath your hands, truly a unique experience in south Florida, let alone the United States. Amidst the 870-year-old architecture (1133-1144) and winding gardens, we startled a hawk at the fountain; being in the middle of our annual South Florida winter drought, animals vie for water wherever they may find it. And the kitties! It seems as though — at least, to a casual observer — that the monastery is doing a superb job with TNR (trap-neuter-release) to control feline overpopulation, especially in (but by no means limited to) city centers. Most everyone knows how useful a few kitties can be to control rodent populations…. So kudos! And another thanks to publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst, who bought and shipped the abandoned Cloisters and monastery from Spain stone-by-stone (despite the fact that it was intended for his private California estate of San Simeon). Without the whims and extravagances of these fabulously wealthy magnates, we wouldn’t now have this serene and lovely spot to enjoy.

St. Francis watches over the critters in the gardens of the Ancient Spanish Monastery in Miami

A resident kitty relaxes and tries to hide in the gardens of the Ancient Spanish Monastery

A resident kitty in the gardens of the Ancient Spanish Monastery

For More Information:

Feb 23

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Miami’s Own Ancient Spanish Monastery

An absolute must for anyone interested with sightseeing historic sites in North Miami Beach includes the Ancient Spanish Monastery, a significant cultural and religious monument we’ve had the fortune to visit a few times. At nearly 870 years old, the Monastery of St. Bernard de Clairvaux, or the Spanish Monastery, remains one of the most important monasteries in North America, and the oldest building in the Western Hemisphere. It’s more than a tourist attraction or a premier wedding venue; this historic site includes peaceful gardens, a setting to meditate and worship, and an opportunity to enjoy Romanesque architecture from the twelfth century, offering you the chance to feel the medieval stones beneath your hands — truly a unique experience in south Florida, let alone the United States.

History

Built in the province of Segovia, Spain, from 1133-1144, the monastery was originally dedicated in honor of the Blessed Mother and named the “Monastery of Our Lady, Queen of the Angels.” It was quickly renamed in honor of the famous Cisterian monk Bernard of Clairvaux upon its canonization. For nearly 700 years, Cisterian monks occupied the monastery, until the Cloisters were seized, sold, and converted into a granary and stable in the mid-1830s, to help feed troops fighting Spain’s revolution.

In 1925, publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst purchased the Cloisters and the monastery’s out-buildings — he had been searching Europe for unique art and architecture to adorn San Simeon, his California estate. Upon finding the abandoned monastery, he dismantled it, and shipped the buildings stone-by-stone to America (nearly 36,000 stones in total), packed in protective hay in more than 11,000 numbered wooden crates. Ah, the whims of these exceptionally wealthy magnates — thank goodness for their crazy escapades, because they’re now being enjoyed by all, ironically. Unfortunately, hoof-and-mouth disease had spread in Segovia, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, fearing contagion, quarantined the sprawling shipment upon its arrival to the U.S., and burned the protective hay. During the re-packing process, however, the stones were misplaced in the previously numbered crates, and Hearst’s financial problems compounded the situation. For the next 26 years, they sat untouched in a Brooklyn warehouse — until they were purchased in 1952 for $19,000 by W. Edgemon and R. Moss. It cost $80,000 to transport the stones to Florida, and another 19 months and $1.5 million to re-erect the monastery. Today, some unmatched stones remain in a back lot; others were used in the construction of the present Church’s Parish Hall.

Museum & Exhibits

Although there is no museum in the strict sense, the monastery hosts a permanent exhibit of objects celebrating the history of this important cultural and religious landmark, including:

Markings of the freemasons who built the monastery
Life-sized statue of Spanish King Alfonso VII
Stained-glass windows
Medieval French altar
16th century Spanish hearse
Chapter house
Historic coat of arms of patron families

Contact Information:

St. Bernard de Clairvaux Church
16711 West Dixie Highway
North Miami Beach, FL 33160
(305) 945-1461

Hours & Pricing:

Monday – Saturday, 10 AM – 4 PM (closed due to special events)
Adults: $8 / Children: $4 (5 and under are free)

For More Information:

: Gardens and Exterior, Ancient Spanish Monastery, Miami

: Entry Arch of the Ancient Spanish Monastery, Miami

: Columns and Arches of the Courtyard, Ancient Spanish Monastery, Miami

: Romanesque Vaults, Ancient Spanish Monastery, Miami

: Prayer Well, Ancient Spanish Monastery, Miami

: Rod Iron Window of the Ancient Spanish Monastery, Miami

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Feb 15

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Masaru Emoto & His Water Crystals

Masaru Emoto, self-proclaimed “water messenger,” researched the true nature of water as a mirror of our minds with his pioneering studies into how water can respond to thoughts and intention. His groundbreaking images, taken with high-speed photography of crystals formed in frozen water, shook the scientific community twenty years ago, and continue to impact our role in protecting Earth’s most precious resource. His book The Hidden Messages in Water is an amazing and eye-opening read, if you haven’t already perused it. (Also check out Messages from Water Vols 1 & 2, Water Crystal Healing, and others.)

Born in 1943 in Yokohama, Masaru graduated from the Yokohama City University. A doctor of Alternative Medicine, Masaru’s current projects include President of OFFICE MASARU EMOTO, Chairman of I.H.M. Co., Ltd., Chairman of the International HADO Membership, and Honorary President of the International Water for Life Foundation. Some of the more profound, interesting examples of his studies include:

The words Angel and Holy Water resulted in rings of small crystals linked together. They are fascinating, and unlike any of the other captured water crystals.

"Angel," or "Holy Water" Crystal Formations

The Power of Prayer: The water at the Fujiwara Dam in 1995 was so polluted, that Masaru was unable to capture a beautiful water crystal image. Mr. Kato, a Budhist monk, offered a prayer for the water. After the prayer was given, the water created beautiful crystal formations like the one below, truly an amazing image, as such crystals couldn’t be obtained from the dam water previous to the prayer. True confirmation of the positive vibrations of pure thoughts and prayer upon water, regardless of how dirty we’ve made it.

The Power of Prayer: Buddhist prayer for filthy dam water at Fujiwara dam, 1995

Why not repeat I am beautiful to ourselves — and others — to create a beautiful world? The water did it…

"You Are Beautiful" Formation

“Yes we can change water by our consciousness.”

For More Information:

Feb 15

5 Comments

A Return to Bluefield Ranch

We finally made a return trip north to hike lovely Bluefield Ranch Natural Area in St. Lucie county, to investigate some of the trails we had previously missed. Sadly, my camera battery died halfway through the 5-hour hike (old battery, for shame!), but I prevailed with my iPod. The site provides a variety of natural Florida habitats, supporting diverse wildlife and plant species, including many on the threatened and endangered species list. More than 3,000 acres (3,285 in total) of scrub, scrubby flatwoods, prairie hammock, wet flatwoods, wet prairie, dry prairie, and depression marsh are protected at Bluefield Ranch, and are home to such wildlife as bald eagle, deer, coyote, alligator, turkey, wood stork, sandhill crane, burrowing owl, quail, and several species of snakes (including rattlesnake). Bluefield Ranch was purchased in the 1930s by David Iglehart, president of W.R. Grace & Company. The original ranch was comprised of more than 23,000 acres, and was used as a quail-hunting haven for America’s wealthy. In the ’60s, the land was turned into pasture for cattle — many existing structures are still visible, including a grain silo, cattle pens, and water troughs. Today hiking, biking, and equestrian trails wind throughout the area, accompanied by a few primitive campsites. (See images below, or “For More Information” for map and trail guides.)

During our initial trip, we believed Bluefield Ranch wouldn’t be far from the turnoff from the last “main” road — we were wrong. Expect some driving on a sandy and bumpy road, before reaching the trailhead. During our last trip, our poor car nearly got stuck in the deep sand — even losing its battery cables to the road’s ruts — definitely a first in our Florida hiking excursions. This time around, the road definitely seemed better, but I’m not sure if that’s because we now have a vehicle better equipped for such terrain.

Biking and horse trails are included, so share the trail where appropriate. Unfortunately, the horses were sharing the hiking-only trails, but at ground-level the entries to some of these trails can be initially confusing. And to date, there’s only one devoted hiking-only loop trail; I’ve read of efforts of biking enthusiasts to open up more biking trails, so I wonder if they’ll do the same for hikers. There’s certainly enough beautiful land to incorporate for trails. It’s a good 1.5 miles to reach the first (and main) hiking-only trail, but it’s worth it — in the far reaches of this trail, where the former Seminole Indian camp is located, breathtaking marsh and dense flatwoods envelop you. The Seminoles stayed in the scrub environments in the summer months, avoiding the flooded swamps and their gargantuan mosquitoes. They moved to the Cypress Creek swamp in the winter. In the 1940s however, they were evicted from their camp (at what is now Bluefield Ranch Natural Area), accused of stealing a calf from a rancher.

Another interesting bit of history: During the Prohibition, illegal stills were constructed on the site by bootleggers — for personal consumption as well as for providing an income to support their families. Their remnants can still be seen at Bluefield. Unfortunately, and despite our best efforts, we still haven’t found any bottles. Logging was also an active industry — sadly, the area was completely logged of its virgin trees in the 1920s and ’30s, as was true in many regions of Florida.

On our return from the hiking loop, we investigated some old structures off-trail, that ran parallel to the 1.5-mile entry walk…. We didn’t know if they were remnants of the ’30s Bluefield Ranch, or something else. Obviously others had done the same — dog tracks were mixed with those of deer. It looks as though the area at some time had been a camping settlement, with purposed (albeit now long-abandoned) trails and overgrown open areas. Interesting. Other sites along the hiking trail: An observation tower overlooking a large wetland habitat used by wading birds including herons, egrets, sandhill cranes, and wood storks. Magnificent vista!

After a solid 5 hours of hiking, the water finally caught up with me (sometimes it really is easier being a boy!). Stupidly I forgot my tissues — so as I was writhing in pain and walking at a snail’s pace, Dave finally cut off a bit of his shirt, for me to bring as I dug my hole. Ahhh, the joys of long hikes! The funniest part was meeting up with the other pair of hikers (our only encounter) on the return trip, as he was sporting that super-stylish half-shirt….