Boston & Brick's online newsletter for October 2017
THE MASONRY MONTHLY
OCTOBER 2017
2005 Lincoln Ave., Pasadena, CA 91103 | 626-296-7700 | www.bostonbrick.com
America’s Spookiest Locations
the added fear factor of it being the spiritual home of a local legend: The Jersey Devil.
Halloween is, without question, America’s spookiest holiday. Traveling haunted house experiences crop up all over the country beginning in October, but they can’t hold a candle to locations that have long been believed to be home to paranormal inhabitants. If you’re feeling extra brave this month, check out these “haunted” locations.
The myth states that the Jersey Devil was born in 1735 and quickly grew horns, wings, and hooves. It has been spotted in the forest ever since, even lending its name to the state’s professional hockey team. Campers in the Pine Barrens claim to hear a ghastly presence, and some even observe mysterious drifts across the cedar swamps.
Winchester Mystery House San Jose, California
A medium from Boston told Sarah Winchester that her family was haunted by every person ever killed by a Winchester rifle. Given that her husband and infant daughter had recently passed away, she took his words to heart. To build a home for the spirits, she began construction on what is now known as the Winchester Mystery House. She continued building the house for her entire life, 24 hours a day for 38 years. The home features many design choices that lend themselves to a spectral presence. There is a seance room, doors that open to brick walls, staircases that lead directly into the ceiling, and acoustics that channel sound into secret listening places. During the Halloween season, the house offers candlelit tours that are sure to send shivers up your spine.
Stanley Hotel Estes Park, Colorado
When Stephen King checked into the Stanley Hotel on vacation with his wife, he wasn’t looking for inspiration, but he found it. Their stay in the hotel inspired “The Shining.” The book, along with Stanley Kubrick’s film adaptation, quickly turned the Stanley into a destination for thrill-seekers and paranormal investigators. The hotel has played into its newfound reputation, offering ghost tours late at night. Recently, the proprietors even created a hedge maze to allow visitors to recreate the harrowing chase scene from the movie. At last check, there were no Jack Nicholson impersonators on-site, but who knows what the future holds?
Pine Barrens New Jersey
Dave Laverdiere
A heavily forested area dotted with ghost towns and abandoned mills is going to be creepy as a matter of course. New Jersey’s Pine Barrens has all of this, plus
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FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT FALL
Just because summer is over, that doesn’t signal an end to fun. How about those Halloween parties, sweater weather, and football season? The list goes on and on. In fact, fall might be the most interesting season of them all. Here are five facts you probably didn’t know about the season. 1. It was originally called “harvest.” The reasons for that should be fairly obvious. In a world that was far more agricultural, the season was defined by the harvesting of crops. It’s also a reference to the harvest moon, which was essential to farmers during the season. The names “autumn” and “fall” have no known origins, but fall is used almost exclusively in America. 2. Fall babies tend to be impressive. Not only does the world’s most common birthday, October 5, land in fall, but those babies have built an impressive resume. The British Department for Education found that they tend to do better in school and also tend to live longer. 3. Weight gain is most common in the fall. It’s not only the Halloween candy or Thanksgiving turkey. Researchers believe it’s primarily caused by lower levels of vitamin D. As the days shorten and temperatures
drop, we tend to get less sun. It’s another reason to be careful about diet and exercise this season. 4. Autumn is good for the economy. “Leaf peeping,” which is a slang term for fall foliage tourism, is more than just a funny name. It’s also a $3 billion industry in New England alone. So, if you thought winter and summer were the only seasons that brought along seasonal tourism spikes, you thought wrong. 5. People fall in love more in the fall. Men and women’s testosterone levels tend to spike in the autumn, which makes women even more attractive to men than in the summer months. A data study on Facebook also found that more people change their relationship status
from “single” to “in a relationship” during the fall than any other season.
TESTIMONIAL Here’s what a happy client had to say about one of our services. “I started this project with a request for a sweep, inspection, and chimney cap installation. The guys showed up on time, did the work efficiently, kept my house clean, and were extremely pleasant. The inspection report was detailed and included snaking a camera up the chimney to show me the recommended repairs. I ultimately hired Boston Brick & Stone to repair my smoke chamber, repair my crown, and apply Fireguard to my flue. They also fixed my rusty, old damper, removed my gas appliance, and installed a log lighter so I could burn wood in my fireplace (as it should be). I am very pleased with the quality of work.” –K evi n L. (Arcadia, California)
CHIMNEY
•Chimney inspection •Chimney restoration and repair •Chimney construction •Chimney sweeping
FIREPLACE •Fireplace inspection, restoration, or repair of an existing structure •Installation or reconstruction of new structures HARDSCAPE •Backyard patios
•Outdoor kitchens and barbecues •Outdoor steps, walkways, and paths •Retaining walls •Outdoor fireplaces •Driveways
HISTORICAL RESTORATION Our restoration work includes:
•Restoration of the main lobby chimney system of the El Tovar Hotel on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. •Repair and restoration of the chimneys in 56 original historic cabins on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. •Historical chimney restoration for the lodge in Bryce Canyon National Park. •Faithful restoration of the chimneys on the Nottingham and Arden properties in Beverly Hills.
BRICK RESTORATION AND CONSTRUCTION DRIVEWAY CONSTRUCTION
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ON THE RIGHT PATH
Is It Time to Repair Your Damaged Driveway?
The first part of your home guests enter isn’t your front door; it’s your driveway. Ideally, most driveways are functional and go completely unnoticed, but a crumbling, eyesore of a driveway can distract from even the most beautiful house. Here are four signs that it’s time to repair or even replace your driveway: 1. Cracks Over time, cracks form in concrete or asphalt. A bad crack can easily bring down your home’s curb appeal. You might be able to patch some small cracks on your own, but this will likely lead to discolored spots up your driveway, which also isn’t great for the aesthetics. 2. Potholes Going over a pothole with your car can hurt your tires and your suspension system. Plus, it’s a major tripping hazard for foot traffic. Minor potholes can be pathed temporarily, but the ground
beneath the driveway will still expand and contract, leading the pothole to inevitably reform.
SAUSAGE AND BARLEY SOUP When it’s time to repair your driveway, you want a company that can do a job that lasts. Boston Brick & Stone offers Pasadena masonry contractors who employ a special process, providing you with the best possible product. We never use asphalt, which deteriorates quickly, but instead rely on only the best concrete and masonry options for high-quality driveway repair. Make sure every part of your home is beautiful and in top condition. It’s a great time of year to warm up with a cup of soup, and this comforting, guilt-free dish comes together in a flash. 3. Rough Appearance As the years go by, constant exposure to the sun’s UV rays can cause home driveways to fade in color. While the problem appears purely cosmetic, UV exposure can actually weaken the structural integrity of your driveway, leading to further damage. 4. Drainage Problems The Grand Canyon formed after thousands of years of water erosion. We’re not saying a damaged driveway will lead to the next great natural wonder, but don’t underestimate the power of water. If your driveway is uneven, water will gravitate toward certain areas. This can weaken those sections of your driveway and lead to cracks and potholes.
MEME CORNER
Ingredients
• Cooking spray • 6 ounces turkey breakfast sausage • 2 1/2 cups frozen bell pepper stir-fry • 2 cups water
• 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can Italian-style stewed tomatoes, undrained and chopped • 1/4 cup uncooked quick-cooking barley • 1 cup coarsely chopped fresh baby spinach
Directions
1. Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add sausage; cook 3 minutes or until browned. Remove from heat. 2. While sausage cooks, place stir-fry and 2 cups water in a blender; process until smooth. 3. Add stir-fry puree, tomatoes, and barley to sausage in pan. Bring mixture to a boil over high heat; cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in spinach; cook 1 minute or until spinach wilts.
Recipe courtesy of midwestliving.com
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SERVING THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA
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2005 Lincoln Ave., Pasadena, CA 91103 | 626-296-7700 | www.bostonbrick.com
INSIDE
page 1
America’s Spookiest Locations
page 2
5 Fascinating Facts About Fall
page 2
Testimonial
page 3
4 Signs of a Damaged Driveway
page 3
Sausage and Barley Soup
page 4
The Acropolis of Athens: Tips for Your Trip Back in Time
THE ACROPOLIS OF ATHENS: Tips for Your Trip Back in Time
Temples of Athena and Zeus, and many other world-famous sites costs around 12 euro, but keep in mind you can visit each site only once per pass. Due to the scorching heat that hits the area in the summer, you may want to visit during late winter or early spring. To absorb the incredible history of this ancient monument, it’s a good idea to either pay for the audio guide as you enter or go to the “Watch, Read, Listen” section of ricksteves.com and download his audio guide for free. You can also get a full tour from a local guide. Head to toursbylocals.com/ Athens-Tours to find the perfect guide for your trip.
When people think of a vacation to Greece, the first images that come to mind are often the picturesque beaches of Mykonos Island or plates of delicately layered moussaka. But no trip to the cradle of Western civilization would be complete without a visit to one of the most incredible historical sites in human history — the ancient Acropolis of Athens. Around 468 B.C., while Athens was enjoying its status as the greatest cultural hub of the era, Pericles initiated a robust reconstruction of the Acropolis. Almost half of the population was on the public payroll during
the project, generating what would become many of the most memorable structures in history, including the famous Parthenon. Today, the ruins of the Acropolis still stand, a testament to the ingenuity of one of the most advanced civilizations of the classical age. If you plan on exploring the breathtaking ruins and the Acropolis Museum, which houses over 4,000 artifacts from the site, it’s a good idea to avoid the Mediterranean cruise hordes and get there early, as close to 8 a.m. as possible. A four-day pass to peruse the Parthenon, both
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