Yesterday I wrote about "The Ringling", a 20-acre art complex in Sarasota. It is the legacy of circus owner John Ringling who wintered there a hundred years ago.
His Ringling Bros.- Barnum & Bailey circus was the greatest show on earth back then, possibly better than the renown King Mango Strut.
It must have been like Disney World rolling into your town once a year. You get a sense of this inside the Ringling's Circus Museum.
The first building houses the world's largest miniature circus. It was created by Howard Tibbals of Knoxville, Tenn. For fifty-five years (since he was 15) he's been building rail cars and carving the thousands of people and animals that make up this replica of Ringling's circus in its 1920's golden age. He's still adding to it.
Mr. Tibbals took a break to make millions in the hardwood flooring business. It's fortunate because it allowed him to pay for the $10 million building that houses his little circus and the adjacent building's museum displays.
A miniature freak show is a part of the 3000 sq. ft. exhibit.
The walkway through Howard's Big Top led to full size circus displays. Many of them were interactive. You could imagine yourself riding a circus horse, walking a high wire, or
stuffing yourself into a tiny clown car.
Three clowns
What I liked best was Bruno Zacchini's human cannon. Mounted on a Mack truck, it shot people through the air for years. The sign on the side says their method "is a closely guarded family secret".
It's no secret that we had a great time ringing in the new year at The Ringling. I'm already looking forward to our next visit.
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You don't have to go far to get far away from Miami.
We stopped at a stilt house on Florida's west coast last week. The two of us had been longing for a quiet holiday, a lonely beach,
and of course, some old teeth.
Manisota Key had all this. While Pi chased sea birds Francesca and I walked the beach looking for seashells and shark teeth. There are millions of them, leftovers from a millennium of mollusks and those fast, finned creatures inhabiting these waters.
A few days later, we headed thirty miles north to Sarasota. We spent a day at "The Ringling", a twenty-acre complex that includes a Gatsby-era mansion, picturesque gardens, and an incredible art museum. Here are some of the things we saw...
The historic Asolo Theater, originally built in Asolo, Italy (near Venice), in 1798. In 1949 they moved it here.
Are there any more 18th century Italian theaters available? If so, we should move one to Coconut Grove.
The Ringling Museum of Art houses an extraordinary collection of European art. It was acquired by the guy who created all of this, circus magnate John Ringling, in the 1920's.
We enjoy the special exhibitions whenever we go there. Five years ago
they had a machine that swallowed you in a cloud. This time we saw a history of contemporary fashion design. The one above. by Issy Miyake (1978), would look great on Francesca. I'd be great to see her shoulders soar!
The newest room is a "Permanent Skyspace, Joseph's Coat", designed by artist James Terrell. That's another way of saying there is a large hole in the ceiling.
It really was a pleasure to relax and watch the vines reach up and clouds roll by.
You can see all this and more in Sarasota, just four hours away.
Tomorrow we'll visit Ringling's Circus Museum.
and in a few days I'll send out the 2013 list of the Good, Bad, and Ugly for Coconut Grove.
As the sun sets on 2013, Francesca, Pi, and I wish you a great new year.
When you see a cardboard box -'bout the size of a head- do you ever get the urge to wear it?
It happens to me.
I've been making box robot masks since Halloween '58.
Three of our handsome Mango Republic models (Dylan Natalia, and Ian) visited us Christmas morning.
Their delight obvious when they found robot heads waiting for them under the tree.
Now they can take them wherever they go.
If you play your cards right maybe you'll get your own next Christmas. If you can't wait that long, keep you eye out for those special head-size boxes.
Happy Boxing Day,
Glenn, Francesca, and the new country
The FDA announcement made it official last month, "microwave popcorn is dangerous". Producers have been ordered to stop selling this stuff at the end of March.
The popping bags are coated with "PFC's", chemicals that are likely to cause cancer. The "spices" inside (salt, fake butter, pretend lime, and dubious sweeteners) aren't doing our bodies any favors as well.
So let's do it better. Let's make healthy microwave popcorn. All you need is popcorn (we like the non-GMO, organic stuff at Trader Joe's, $2 a bag) and paper lunch bags ($2 for 50 at Publix). Pour a 1/4 cup of popcorn (or less) into a bag. Fold it over twice, and set it upright in a microwave oven. Set the timer for 2:45 (this can vary). When the pops have slowed down to one every 2 seconds, press "stop". That's it!
Pour out the popcorn and add salt and other spices (we like pepper, dried Parmesan cheese, curry powder, and so forth). You can add melted butter, coconut or olive oil.
That sandwich bag? Shake it out and use it a few more times. You can also add the spices, or, oil and spices, before you heat the popcorn. If you add oil before popping the bag will saturated but what the heck (the PFC's main job is to keep the outside of the bag dry). Now you are not feeding the cancer monster.
Shake the bag to spread the oil and spices around. It's great fun. Dancing and singing while you do this is even better. Now enjoy the new popcorn.
Merry Christmas from the Mango Republic and your friends,
Francesca, Glenn, and King Mango
One of our favorite people, Hunter Reno, stopped by the Mango Republic's Coconut Grove outlet today. She loved doing last minute shopping in an exotic country just ten minutes from her house.
You need not be a super mother/model/ tri-athlete/ TV host like Ms. Reno to stop by the store. All are welcome.
We sell simple t-shirts and whimsical art that make people happy. Our place on Palmetto Avenue will be open until 4 pm on Christmas Eve.
Our website, www.mangorepublic.org, like Burger King, never closes. Either location, can help you find that special last minute gift.
Glenn says "So long"
to another satisfied customer,
a hunter of presents no more.
As you might expect, starting a new country is no easy task. King Mango is financing the Mango Republic by selling t-shirts. He's been busy inking up extras this week. The latest batch is hot off the press and they can be seen at www.mangorepublic.org .
If you need further information, call us at 305-448-3775.
Merry Christmas from,
King Mango, Glenn & Francesca
The first building houses the world's largest miniature circus. It was created by Howard Tibbals of Knoxville, Tenn. For fifty-five years (since he was 15) he's been building rail cars and carving the thousands of people and animals that make up this replica of Ringling's circus in its 1920's golden age. He's still adding to it.
The walkway through Howard's Big Top led to full size circus displays. Many of them were interactive. You could imagine yourself riding a circus horse, walking a high wire, or 
.
