April in Newport

[Shelley Dziedzic]

This used to be under another catagory but can't seem to find it. Back in Sept. I was looking into getting a group together to see some of the sites: Astor's Beechwood, the TITANIC movie model in Fall River- and Maritime Museum, homes First Class Survivors rented or owned, The Breakers and Gertrude Whitney's Titanic Memorial inspirations, several Lusitania memorials, the hotel where Molly B. summered n 1913, Ellen Bird's house,Miss Hays' grave, Tennis Hall of Fame tribute to Mr. Behr,Clinch Smith's gazebo and summerhouse, etc. and a taste of the Gilded Age. So much to see in the area. Hotels for April run about 76$ per night. I had hoped to look into a bus if numbers warrant it. There is also a Mr. Harris who is finishing a wonderful book on Titanic Newport people. I have found a large hall at no cost (benefits of being a churchlady) and Mr. Harris gives a dynamite lecture which will have you sitting RIGHT on the edge of your seat. He has found out some very exciting things about First Class. Sept. would be the other month under consideration. April seems to be tough with Easter and BTS convention. I would need to get an idea now how many are interested- we could do it in both months. Amtrak runs to Kingston, planes into Green, Providence -with a shuttle service to Newport. Any thoughts?

 

[Randy Bryan Bigham]

Shelley,

September would be much more convenient for me. I really would love to come and have gobs of Lucile stuff and other fashion things to show you.

Randy

 

[Carole Lindsay]

Shelly:

Sounds great! How many days would this take? Seems a lot to see in a weekend.

Also, did Clinch Smith have a house in Newport and was it designed by Stanford White? He's my one of my favorite passengers, and it's hard to find anything written about him, except for his part in the Harry Thaw trial.

Carole

 

[Shelley Dziedzic]

Yes- Clinch did have a Newport house-am not sure if it was a Stanford White house but will find out this weekend. The tour is planned over a Fri- Sunday.

 

[Shelley Dziedzic]

It took a year to work it all out but here it is at last. No date has been set yet. I am trying to get a feel for the best time in May- am leaning toward the last weekend. There is an email button for your feedback on the second of this 2 page proposal-sorry I cannot ever seem to be brief about anything. As usual there's the webpage and music and far more than you may want to know! Hope all societies will be represented. Would love to see everyone- we can all be too elegant together. Am brushing up my tango- just you wait till I get these knees fixed!
http://www.revdma2.c om/gildedage.html
Thanks for the commercial opportunity Phil!

 

[Erik Wood]

Shelley, you should hire yourself out to organize Titanic get togethers all around the country. You seem to be very good at it. I am most impressed.

Erik

 

[Randy Bryan Bigham]

Shell,

I can't wait to hear all the details! I am looking forward to that garden-room "Lucile" fashion show! I will do my best with the speech but remember I have never given a public talk and hope I can pull it off! The Costume Society will want to be a part of this in some way and of course I will bring what I can of my collection and hope people will enjoy seeing it.

For those of you who aren't members of TI (like me), I still hope you'll turn up. This will be an incredible event in perhaps the most beautiful venue ever for a convention. Shell's great taste and connections with the Preservation Society there will ensure this to be a really memorable occasion.

Randy

 

[Shelley Dziedzic]

Although a TIS event- please know we are always delighted to see everyone at our gatherings and hope that THS, BTS, and all other Titanic Societies around the world will be represented. The "I" in TIS has always meant INTERNATIONAL! A more detailed description and price list shall be available very soon. It takes a long time to coordinate these events and being a natural detail "freak"- I must tweak to perfection before posting. Of course the aim is to give everyone a taste of the age we have come to know so well- to set Titanic as a jewel showcased in the aura of Edwardiana. I also know that there is not another living soul on earth who can reveal the entire persona of Lucile as well as Randy- not only her career and impact on the fashion arena, but also as a complex and oft-misunderstood figure in the world of Titanic. Although our ladies attending shall wallow in beauty and elegance, Dear Gentlemen- you ALSO shall be charmed and amused, entertained and enlightened. And yes- there will be BEAUTY unequalled in one of the most charming cities on the ocean. I must also confess to receiving the MOST exquisite delight in planning this for Beloved Boat People everywhere.

 

[Shelley Dziedzic]

Thanks Erik- am saving a waltz on my dance card for you. Plans are progressing. There will be a marathon reading of A Night to Remember beginning Friday afternoon- this is done at Mystic Seaport, reading Moby Dick on board the Charles Morgan once a year, and is enthusiastically received by the community. There is some thought to a large screen viewing of the movie Friday evening- there's such a difference in seeing it on a bigger screen. Remember the days before VCR when we set our clocks for 4 a.m. to peer at our 15 inch b/w TV sets? The charity focus for the event is Titanic's children- about 11 years ago funds were raised to purchase neonatal equipment for New York's St. Vincent's Hospital- one place where Titanic's little passengers were taken for care. Danielle Steele- who does not give out autographs- has donated an autographed first edition of No Greater Love for the event auction Saturday night.I believe she has a dozen children herself- and was supportive of the cause. Randy's presentation Saturday afternoon on Lady Duff Gordon and fashion of the era is garnering interest from the preservation and textile &design community and promises to be a highlight of the weekend. Please send suggestions and comments. Will post updates.

 

[Tracy Smith]

Will you also be doing the maritime museum in Fall River?

Wish I could come; I'd make it a dual purpose visit because I'd also visit my relatives in Riverside and Barrington.

 

[Randy Bryan Bigham]

Tracy,

Please come! I want to meet you and what a great place to be when we meet. I hope everyone here on ET who can make it will turn up. I'll be happy to meet all of you.

Randy

 

[Shelley Dziedzic]

Tracy- Newport can be achieved in one long day of driving from N.C.-I would suggest stopping overnight in Baltimore though! Yes- Fall River is still on the docket for Sunday afternoon-the Titanic model is well worth the stop - and I will be glad to do an impromptu Lizzie Borden House tour too if anyone is interested!

 

[Randy Bryan Bigham]

Which reminds me - everyone keep your eyes peeled for Shelley on MTV's "The Real World" coming up in the next few weeks. It airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. Eastern Time/9 Central. The kids are heading to Fall River to be Lizzie-fied by our own Miss Shell!

 

[Kate Bortner]

I'm so glad I stopped by this thread. I'm there! Shelley, anything you need help with, just drop me a line. Heaps of Titanic stuff, Lizzie Borden's house, AND meeting all of you!!! I must have died and gone to heaven!!!!! Let us know when the dates are finalized so we can make plans. yipeeee! I love this side of the country!

 

[Shelley Dziedzic]

We can use one more Angel Miss Kate. Start packing! I am praying for severe editing on that Real World thing...oh to be on the cutting room floor.My children threaten to leave home if I embarrass them-the pressure-the pressure. Randy-you scamp- reminding us about it. I may have to tell them out there about your upcoming birthday Thursday! By the way Kate- do you tango?