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[George]

PAGE 13 DANCE!!

[JoseSPiano]

So... As I was saying earlier, our first stop was the James Center in downtown Richmond.  Each year, they set up this great display of lights, and each year it seems to grow just a little bigger.  This is basically Richmond's Christmas Tree.  A few days after Thanksgiving, they have a their "Grand Illumination" where they flick the switch, and a good chunk of downtown Richmond lights up.  They even outline the buildings in lights - which you can see in the background of one of some of the pics.  -And which you'll be able to see clearly in the last photo post.

[George]

Nice pictures, Jose!

[George]

Today, I received a lovely card from TCB!

[JoseSPiano]

Then we drove up to the Jefferson Hotel.  The Jefferson is a truly beautiful hotel, and even moreso at Christmas.  When we entered the lobby, we saw this:

And here's a view from the upper level:

*The staircase of the Jefferson Hotel has long been fabled to have been the inspiration for the staircase in "Gone With The Wind".

[JoseSPiano]

The upper lobby is where the check-in area is, as well as where you can see a statue of the hotel's namesake:

[JoseSPiano]

If you look to the right in the pic I posted above, you can see the Gingerbread House that is set up in the lobby.  Alas, due to that pesky marble column in the way, it was hard to get a complete shot of the house, but here is a detail:

*I liked how they used Gummi-Worms for the icicles.

OH!, and it even came complete with it's own Dog House:

[JoseSPiano]

Underneath the Christmas tree, there is a display of folk dolls - all of which can be purchased in the gift shop, of course.  There are some classic figures (Santa, The Three Kings, Nutcrackers, etc.), as well as some historical ones too:

[JoseSPiano]

And before we leave the Jefferson Hotel, here are a few pics for some of our DRs in Arizona:

[JoseSPiano]

And, finally - for tonight at least - here is a pic of the Richmond skyline I took from the rooftop deck of Steve's building:

[JoseSPiano]

*And I owe a big Thank You to Steve for showing me how to set my camera up properly for night-time shots.  

[JoseSPiano]

DR Jane - If you ever find yourself in Richmond, the main restaurant in the Jefferson Hotel, Lemaire, actually features some haute vegetarian cuisine.

[JoseSPiano]

A shopdropper at work?

der Brucer

Possibly.  Or maybe just someone who hit the "+" key too many times by accident on the purchase screen.  

[George]

Great night pictures, Jose!  I wish I had a camera that could take pictures at night that well.

[JoseSPiano]

And while driving back from Steve's, I heard about the deaths of Michael Kidd and Oscar Peterson on the radio.  All I can say is that there must be some kickin' party with some great music and dancing going on somewhere right now.  

[JoseSPiano]

Great night pictures, Jose!  I wish I had a camera that could take pictures at night that well.

I didn't think I did until Steve looked at my camera and asked what "that" did and what "that" meant.  Well, after exploring some of the menus I had never seen before, and after getting some guidance from Steve about setting my exposure levels, I was able to take those pics.

He also gave me a great tip in regards to keeping the camera steady while taking a pic with a long exposure: If there is a "solid" object nearby - a building, a pillar, a wall, etc. - and if you can still get the proper angle/view, just place your camera against it while you take the picture to help steady your camera.  It's not a foolproof method, but it does help immensely.  *However, if you have one of those new digital cameras with the anti-shake feature, well, then just make sure that that is turned on.

[bk]

Second wave of people did, in fact, show up, so I'm quite behind and shall now attempt to write very fast notes.

[JoseSPiano]

bk - Sounds like you had another wonderful Christmas Eve Do!

[George]

I didn't think I did until Steve looked at my camera and asked what "that" did and what "that" meant.  Well, after exploring some of the menus I had never seen before, and after getting some guidance from Steve about setting my exposure levels, I was able to take those pics.

He also gave me a great tip in regards to keeping the camera steady while taking a pic with a long exposure: If there is a "solid" object nearby - a building, a pillar, a wall, etc. - and if you can still get the proper angle/view, just place your camera against it while you take the picture to help steady your camera.  It's not a foolproof method, but it does help immensely.  *However, if you have one of those new digital cameras with the anti-shake feature, well, then just make sure that that is turned on.

My camera was a Christmas gift from my parents last year.  It does have a night setting and I've set it on solid objects (my car, usually), but it's just not good enough to really make much difference for night pictures. But for the most part, it does take pictures during the day or with the flash that are good enough.

[JoseSPiano]

My camera was a Christmas gift from my parents last year.  It does have a night setting and I've set it on solid objects (my car, usually), but it's just not good enough to really make much difference for night pictures. But for the most part, it does take pictures during the day or with the flash that are good enough.

Try turning off your Flash when in Night mode - my camera will still use the flash in night mode.  That will cause the camera to take a longer exposure.  Additionally, another trick I use is to use the self-timer, this way I'm not pushing the button down and moving the camera while I'm taking the pic.

[George]

Try turning off your Flash when in Night mode - my camera will still use the flash in night mode.  That will cause the camera to take a longer exposure.  Additionally, another trick I use is to use the self-timer, this way I'm not pushing the button down and moving the camera while I'm taking the pic.

Thanks for the info.

[JoseSPiano]

Well, this creature is still stirring, and he really shouldn't be since he has to be up in five hours, so...  

Goodnight.

*Besides, Santa won't stop by until I'm asleep with visions of sugarplums dancing in my head.

[George]

Good night, Jose.

[singingnymph]

...a LOT of spaghetti was consumed, as well as tuna pasta salad, and our various and sundried desserts.  All in all - splendiferous.

Too stuffed to try the desserts, but they looked delicious. The spaghetti & tuna/pasta salad were wonderful, though.

[singingnymph]

Home safe from singing at midnight mass (which actually starts at 10 so it can be done by midnight). Now off to dreamland, so I can be up in time to sing tomorrow morning!