A Few of FR's Finest.Every Day.12-22 to 25-06..Polar Express - Christmas Weekend

December 22, 2006 | Dolly Howard

[DollyCali]

The magical train ride found in the Book and the Movie are the backdrop to the glorious adventure held nightly for 5 weeks in NE Ohio as part of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway (CVSR) offerings leading up to Christmas .

The story in a nutshell: A little boy, Jammie clad in jammies(FReeper material ) doubting Santa’s existence any longer, is whisked away one night on a magical train, that picks him up AT HIS HOME & takes him to the North pole where he views the magic of Santa, the elves and the life there. It is a short book with wonderful art work & was released in 1985.

At the Ohio Polar Express, this is captured in the several hour ride that parents & kids alike arrive in Jammies to participate in the fun. Thanks to the Polar express we now have a new dress category to add to Business casual etc. There will be Nighttime Jammies perhaps!

So very much goes on behind the scenes. For the ride of several hours for youngsters in wonderment along with their parents and grandparents, there is an amazing amount of ground work that is done. Professionals and volunteers all work together to make this a memorable part of the participating family holiday experiences. Many US cities have similar programs, we feel fortunate to be one of them.

Do you just decide THAT day, hey, lets go for the train ride tonight? Well, no NOT EXACTLY. The ride is sold out in late Summer and tickets chosen by lottery. There are actually two trains that converge in the North Pole. One begins in Akron heading North & the other begins in Independence heading south. They arrive at the N Pole about 15 minutes apart to gaze out the window at the merriment of Santa’s workshop, all the elves dancing (town folks, who have caught the spirit, Santa on sleigh, drummer boys, reindeer etc.

The deluxe Saint Lucie train car.which goes out each night is a luxury charter smf is sold out for next 3 years.. To say this activity is “in demand” is perhaps an understatement. This popular train, which runs in part through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park holds several other Christmas related series of Rides Mr. Jingeling's Holiday Express and Christmas Tree Adventure (train to neaby Peninsula & pick out /buy tree, return

In the story Polar express (as viewed in the movie) Director Robert Zemeckis revolutionized the art of animated film in 1998's WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT by dropping cartoon characters into the same frame with flesh-and-blood actors. In THE POLAR EXPRESS, live action and animation have merged seamlessly, resulting in sparkling super-realism. A landmark technique Zemeckis and his Sony Pictures Imageworks team call "Performance Capture" perfectly suits the tenor of this wondrous children's Christmas story by Chris Van Allsburg

A disillusioned little boy, just old enough to doubt the existence of Santa Claus, has the adventure of a lifetime one fateful Christmas Eve. Clad in his pajamas, he climbs aboard a magic train to the North Pole, driven by a kindly train conductor (voiced by Tom Hanks who starred in both of Zemeckis's Academy-Award winning films FORREST GUMP and CASTAWAY). Among myriad jaw-dropping moments, the train plummets brakeless through crystalline mountains in a simulated roller coaster ride. Going off the rails, skidding sideways, and snaking violently across a frozen lake, the train arrives at the North Pole (a vast, glowing city of brick buildings)

At that moment, the car carrying the kids detaches and they're sent tumbling down never-ending chutes and slides until they land in the middle of Santa's Workshop.

In the body of the thread are pictures/commentary from the last regular “run” of the season. Try to check back regularly for new additions. Your are invited to join in the “magic”

[Majie Purple]

[Majie Purple]

[Majie Purple]

Thanks much!

[La Enchiladita]

I had not read your conversation with GeeBee while I composed my answer.

But... feel free to write "Dear Abby" anytime. LoL..

[La Enchiladita]

Oooohhh, what kinda surprises..... diamonds? Hehe.

[DollyCali]

For anyone interested...just posted some pix of my freinds YOUNG 97 year old dad & a few others of my xmas tree,our local chinese restaurant etc. Hate to repost the very same pix at multiple threads... i ping a few but normally miss more than I remember

Here: (posts 268/279)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1757540/posts?page=269#269

[onyx]

LOL -- ok, Abby, is it time to cut it in half yet? I have asked Hildy in FR mail, but she hasn't answered me.

[La Enchiladita]

Happy, Healthy Christmas to WEEEEENIEEEEE....!!!!

Arf, arf!!

[Majie Purple]

I'm glad You are already starting to feel better from Your cold...
bummer to be sick at Christmas time...
But You & Your Hubby sharin' a cold...How romantic!
Teeheehee!
;oD

[La Enchiladita]

Yeah, it's time!! You put it in the oven more than an hour ago ... ?

[Majie Purple]

Sweet I usually have a cake too but spaced it this year...Oh well!

[onyx]

Oh, for sure --- it's been more than an hour. OK! BRB. Have knife, will slice.

[La Enchiladita]

Feel better soon, Diver Dave.

You'll be okay, as long as you don't eat my, Bernie's or onyx's cooking...
ROFL.

[Majie Purple]

visiters...I meant visitors, there...

[La Enchiladita]

I need to get a Kitchen Aide before I can make cakes.

[La Enchiladita]

Where's the beef? Hehe.

I forgot ask how much the roast weighs, duh. It's supposed to be 23-24 minutes per pound for rare. Ack, I hope you didn't cut it yet...

:( Worried.

[onyx]

I had the bone removed -- it is 3 lbs exactly.

[La Enchiladita]

Okay, it says for the 200 degrees method, 23-24 min. per pound for rare.

At 325 degrees, 17 minutes per pound. Internal temp=125 degrees.

[onyx]

OK, thanks!!!!
I'll go poke at it with a knife. I guess I mean, I'll go have a stab at it...lol.

[Majie Purple]