Savannah Banana at Fenway Park

On Sunday July 6^th, I went & saw the Savannah Banana baseball team vs the Firefighters at Fenway Park in Boston, MA. From start to finish, it was truly a memory I’ll remember for the rest of my life. There was never a dull moment. It is truly The Greatest Show/Game. Very entertaining. The Savannah Bananas were formed in 2016 by the owners Jesse & Emily Cole. When creating the team, they wanted to make the experience all about the fans, and they have a saying “Fans First!” If not familiar with the Savannah Bananas, they are a team from Savannah Georgia known for their entertainment during games, which includes everything from dance routines, comedic sketches, and trick plays. You never know what will happen at a game, which makes it even more fun. It still includes your traditional baseball, just with a twist. There are 11 rules in Banana Ball which include

Win the Inning, Get the Point: So whichever team has the most runs in that inning wins a point. However, in the final inning, every run counts.
Two-Hour Time Limit: No new inning can start once the 2 hours are up.
No Stepping Out: A batter is called for a strike if they step out of the batter’s box with both feet.
No Bunting: Bunting is not allowed, and a batter is out if they attempt to bunt.
Batters Can Steal First: Batters can steal first base on a wild pitch.
No Walks: Instead of a walk, a batter can sprint to first base on a fourth ball. The catcher must throw the ball to every fielder before it becomes live, allowing the batter to advance further.
No Mound Visits: To keep the game moving, coaches are not allowed to make mound visits.
Fans Can Make an Out: If a fan catches a foul ball, it is considered an out.
Showdown Tiebreaker: If the game is tied after the time limit or nine innings, a one-on-one showdown between a batter and pitcher with one fielder determines the winner.
Banana Ball Challenge: Any fan can challenge a ruling on the field.
Golden Batter Rule: A team can send any batter to hit in any spot in the lineup once per game.

A few hours before gates officially opened, they opened the plaza, which allowed the fans to have a chance to shop for merchandise and interact with the players from both teams. Then, they have a Before the Peel show party. During this time, I had the opportunity to meet my favorite player #8 Jackson Olson, also known as their Greatest Showman!

They even have a player on stilts at almost 11 feet tall which is very unique. All the players are extremely talented, and I can’t say it enough, but I’m glad they’re making baseball fun and interactive. I first heard/saw them on a tv in one of my local restaurants back in 2024, and I’ve been hooked since. If you’re not familiar with them, I definitely recommend going to a game, and catching their livestream games when you can whether on ESPN or their YouTube channel. You guys won’t be disappointed. The Savannah Bananas are truly The Greatest Show! They have sold out every game within just a couple of hours.

Also, to make sure you don’t deal with ticket scalpers, you can only purchase tickets through their site. To do that, you have to apply to their lottery system and get drawn before buying tickets. You can also apply to their K club which gives you a chance to buy tickets before anyone else. Members of the K Club also receive perks like guaranteed access to purchase tickets before they sell out to the general public and early access to events. They also get to skip the game day entry line and have the opportunity to purchase up to six tickets for each event, and a chance to purchase VIB meet and greet with the players privately on the field. The VIB meet and greet offers fans a 45-minute experience with the players, and also a poster for the players to sign. They also perform the song Hey Baby twice: once during the Before the Peel show, and then again during the game. So before you go to the game, make sure to know the dance. Also about an hour before the game officially starts, you will see the players on the field warming up.

It was a fabulous game. Both teams did great, but the Savannah Bananas were on fire. Amazing trick plays, hits, dances, and they even brought out a couple Red Sox alumni which included Jackie Bradley Jr. 2018 World Series champion, and Bill Lee- Boston Red Sox hall of famer. The Savannah Bananas even won!!! Way to go Savannah Bananas! Their winning dance number was to Dancing Through Life from Wicked!

Sunday may have been my first game, but it is definitely NOT my last Savannah Banana Game! I am already looking forward to going to another one!

Once a Savannah Banana, always a Savannah Banana!

I have linked their YouTube channel and website down below.

https://m.youtube.com/@TheSavannahBananas

https://thesavannahbananas.com

Ice Castles (North Woodstock, NH)

13/03/2020Leave a comment

A couple of weeks ago, I took a trip up to North Woodstock and visited the Ice Castles. Visiting the Ice Castles has always been something I wanted to do during the Winter, and it is definitely a place worth visiting. I was absolutely blown away when I arrived, especially seeing how tall and how much work goes into creating these ice sculptures. It’s even prettier seeing it all lit up. Ice Castles is located on 24 Clark Farm Road North Woodstock, NH. There are numerous Ice Castle locations around the state which include: Colorado, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Utah, Wisconsin, and Alberta Canada. As customers walk around and through the tunnels, they will notice an ice throne, water fountains, and finally an ice slide. They even have smaller tunnels for the smaller children to crawl through.

When visiting, I would recommend going down the ice slide. However, the line was too long, and I didn’t want to wait. It is one of the ice castles popular attractions. They open in late December to early January and remain open through late February to early March. Tickets are fairly inexpensive, about $20 per person. I would recommend buying tickets online early in the season. Although later in the season, the ice castles are larger, and all built up. I would also recommend going at night because it is beautiful when it is all lit up. Also, when buying tickets online, you also have the option of adding a sleigh ride. Finally, at the end they have a little shop where you can buy hot chocolate and souvenirs. After experiencing it, I am looking forward to visiting again next winter.

Fun Fact: It takes 25,000 tons to create the ice castles.

If you are interested in checking out Ice Castles New Hampshire, click here: https://icecastles.com/new-hampshire

Lindt Chocolate Shop (Carlisle, PA)

30/04/201902/09/2019Leave a comment

Hello chocolate lovers. This week’s blog post is on Lindt chocolate. I recently stopped at the Lindt chocolate shop in Carlisle, PA. Everyone knows Lindt is known for its delicious Swiss chocolate & truffles. The Lindt store that I stopped at is located on 40 Logistics Drive Suite 100 Factory Outlet, Carlisle, PA. The atmosphere of the store is comfortable with the sweet aroma of delicious mouth watering chocolate. It is definitely worth the stop if you’re passing through Pennsylvania. The staff were very good, making sure to answer any questions you have. Customers also get a free chocolate to taste when they arrive.

They have a wide selection of chocolates, and when customers arrive, they have the option to pick from season special chocolates that may be left over from the recent holiday, or they can pick any of the chocolate truffles of their choice, to create 1 or 2 lbs. of chocolate. I chose to go with a half-pound. The flavors that I picked out of the big variety were Mint, Dark Chocolate, Blueberries and Cream, Fudge Swirl, Orange, Cappuccino, & Red Velvet. My favorites were Red Velvet, Orange, Mint, and the Dark Chocolate.

They’re open Monday-Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm, and on Sunday’s from 11 am to 5 pm.

I would recommend visiting the Lindt chocolate store to anyone who’s looking for a great place to stop for chocolate in Carlisle, PA. If you are interested in checking out the Lindt Chocolate store, click here: https://www.lindtusa.com

Fun fact: The Lindt chocolates for the USA are actually made at the Lindt factory in Stratham, New Hampshire, and is then shipped to the distribution centers in Carlisle, PA and Charlotte, NC.

Remembering the Notre Dame (Paris, France)

15/04/201902/09/2019Leave a comment

It was absolutely devastating to hear that the famous Notre Dame cathedral is burning down. I went to visit the Notre Dame when I was in Paris last year in the Spring of 2018. It was one of my favorite attractions, definitely at the top of my list. As a remembrance of the Notre Dame Cathedral, I thought I would share some of the pictures I took while visiting.

The grandness of the interior hall is absolutely beautiful.

Here are a few photos of the museum that is located within the cathedral. The loss of so much history is devastating.

Notre Dame has some of the most beautiful stain glass throughout the cathedral. Hopefully some of it will survive the devastating fire.

The relics and tombs that line the sides and back of the cathedral were important artifacts of history.

Unfortunately, the front facade is all that may be left intact.

Our prayers are with all of those affected by this devastating fire in Paris. We are thankful that there were not any causalities that are known at this point in time.

#RememberingNotreDame

If interested in reading more about my Paris experience, click here: https://sundownpointe.com/2018/08/29/top-six-to-do-in-paris/

Longfellow’s Wayside Inn (Sudbury, MA)

03/10/201802/09/2019Leave a comment

Recently, I visited Longfellow’s Wayside Inn in Sudbury, MA. It started out as a two bedroom home in the year of 1707. Then, in the year of 1716, it was named Howe’s Tavern. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow would frequent the tavern, and wrote his famous poems about the tavern including The Tales of the Wayside Inn. Longfellow’s Wayside Inn is the oldest operating inn in the United States, and is located on72 Wayside Inn Rd in Sudbury, MA. It’s also a famous historic landmark in Massachusetts. A history fact that we’re all familiar with is the ride of Paul Revere. Paul Revere rode all the way to Lexington, MA before being captured by a British on his way to Concord, MA. In fact, he stopped by the Tavern at Longfellow’s Wayside Inn on his way to Lexington, MA. In 1923, Henry Ford purchased Longfellow’s Wayside Inn property along with 3000 acres and added three other famous attractions to the property, which include The Grist Mill, The Martha-Mary Chapel, and The Redstone Schoolhouse. The Inn is a living museum with rooms preserved with period furniture and living history actors that are happy to share historical stories with the patrons. The dining restaurant serves tasty food and tavern provides appetizers and a full bar.

First, the grist mill was built in 1929, and operates using a water wheel to turn the mill used to produce corn meal and flour. All of the products produced from the grist mill are used in Longfellow’s Wayside Inn’s food or sold in the gift shop. Visitors who also visit the grist mill, will find the beautiful waterfall as a great place to have a picnic and take pictures when visiting Longfellow’s Wayside Inn.

Next, the Martha-Mary Chapel was built in 1940 by Henry Ford as he was developing the property. He named the chapel after his mother-in-law, Martha, and his mother, Mary. This chapel has been recognized along with the inn as a historic landmark in Sudbury, MA. It has also become a very popular destination for weddings. If you’re in the area, you will hear many great stories about Longfellow’s Wayside Inn and the Martha-Mary Chapel.

Finally, The Redstone Schoolhouse is a one room schoolhouse that taught grades one through four, and was built in the late 1700’s on Redstone Hill in Sterling, MA. Henry Ford purchased the school because it wasn’t being utilized and moved it onto the property near the Martha-Mary Chapel in Sudbury, MA at the Wayside in 1927. A fun fact about the Redstone Schoolhouse is that the nursery rhyme Mary Had A Little Lamb was based on a true event at the schoolhouse and was written by Mary’s classmate. The schoolhouse is open mid-May through mid-October, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11:30am to 5pm. The school has been restored to a one room classroom, and is a great place to stop for a little history lesson of Mary Had a Little Lamb. The onsite historian was happy to share stories of the times about what went on throughout the school day years ago. It is a great place to take the kids for a live history lesson.

Finally, Longfellow’s Wayside Inn is a great place to go if you want to learn some history about Longfellow’s Wayside Inn, The Grist Mill, The Martha-Mary Chapel, and The Redstone Schoolhouse. I highly recommend visiting if you are in the area of Sudbury, MA. If you are interested in checking out Longfellow’s Wayside Inn online, click here: http://www.wayside.org

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Category: Travel/Events