It was better than I even expected, and. 1. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan. Originally a commuter funicular, the incline is now open mainly as a tourist attraction. Almost everything in the park has a nursery-rhyme or children’s literary connection. t-shirt featuring Elvis’ TCB logo. Alexandra Charitan. It may be negatively affecting real estate values in an upscale Virginia suburb, but the word “plantation” is still the second most used word in Southern Airbnb listings, used to conjure. Pentru motive logistice, 2017 a festivalului a fost mutat în apropiere, Litchfield County orașul Kent, și în acest an nu va fi o suplimentare de sărbătoare în Unionville, Canada, unde e episodul pilot a fost filmat. Terraced gardens. There is an actual "Enchanted Forest" section in the farm, a wooded maze that takes you past characters and scenes from notable fairy tales. Sep 7. Audio and e-books are space efficient, but I still love print books and fold-out maps; Roadtrippers Route 66 is compact enough to fit in my backpack or glove box. The Mountain View Diner company was founded near Mountain View, NJ and manufactured more than 400 prefabricaAlexandra Charitan is the managing editor of Roadtrippers Magazine. More than 12 million immigrants passed through New York’s Ellis Island from 1892 until 1954; an estimated 40 percent of Americans alive today can trace their heritage to someone who was processed on the 27-acre island. She likes things that are bigger or smaller than they should be: novelty architecture, miniature worlds, and anything made from fiberglass or neon. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan. Although Bannerman was a shrewd businessman, he was really a collector at heart. Instagram Website. Foto: Alexandra Charitan. Alexandra Charitan. 22: Poor People's Campaign Alexandra. Photo: Alexandra Charitan. Recently I had a personal day that I had to either use or lose, so I took a weekday off for a little solo adventure. They have a modest permanent collection of movie memorabilia—it's worth the price of admission to me just to see Meryl's wig from Sophie's Choice and Robin William's Mrs. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan; But only one attraction bears the name and in the 66 years since it opened its doors, Roadside America has welcomed several generations of weary travelers like myself, people in search of a place to stimulate the mind and stretch the legs. HI! I’M ALEXANDRA. The restaurant, Clee, is fictional, but the scene was filmed at. Most people have heard of the Valley of the Kings in relation to its most famous resident, King Tutankhamun, whose nearly-intact tomb was discovered by Howard Carter on November 4, 1922. In the almost hundred years before New Jersey executions were moved to the state’s capital, Trenton, in 1905, seven people were hanged from the gallows in the Burlington County Prison yard (two more people sentenced to death were held in the. Colvin says that 40 of the cemetery’s stones are believed to be the work of Collins, with five more attributed to his apprentice and successor, Benjamin Dyer. The small black and white animal has wandered into Farnham’s yard and is climbing over Brian’s bare feet, unfazed by the immobile giants. Hook and Ladder 8. The 1983 movie adaptation of The Outsiders,. Post pandemic, people seem to be much more experiential in traveling. The rest are newer additions made by fiberglass wizard Mark Cline (Sidwell died in the 1980s). Alexandra. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan; On February 17, 2021, a mile away on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, a controlled demolition using nearly 3,000 sticks of dynamite brought down the 34-story tower of what was once the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino. The base membership fee is a tax-deductible donation of $235, in addition to an eight-hour volunteer commitment. Still reeling from the Great Depression and desperate to fill their rental properties, landlords couldn’t afford to discriminate. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan 5. Today, visitors to Karnak enter through the last pylon. The champagne glass whirlpool was invented by Morris Wilkins. Located just across the street from the small town’s famously big attraction, Eyegore’s is part shop,. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan 3. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan Language changes over time just as much (or as little) as the people who speak it. The Japanese Consul General. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan. I am responsible for creating and editing content across all of the Roadpass Digital brands. Photo: Alexandra Charitan 4. S. Brown Chapel AME. Desert Southwest display. Wooden shoe cutouts line the property. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan. Because it’s still very much an active firehouse, there are no official. When I arrive at the. Haunted Trails is about eight miles east of Historic Route 66, and about 30 minutes southwest of Chicago. , to get an appropriately-splashy outfit for your tour of Memphis. Washington DC, Protest. Alexandra is the features editor at Roadtrippers Magazine. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan “Well, I wanted both,” Duckworth Smith says, laughing. FOLLOW READ BUY Aug 14 Jack Rabbit Trading Post. Like Salem, the movie doesn’t show the Addams family actually exploring Sleepy Hollow, a village located just about an hour north of New York City. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan. 22: Poor People's Campaign Alexandra. Photo: Alexandra Charitan 3. Watch the weather. McSorley’s light and dark ale comes in pairs. In New York City, a one-acre backyard is virtually unheard of—but Duckworth Smith’s secret garden is equal parts whimsy and work. Poe’s parents, David and Elizabeth Arnold Poe, were married in Richmond. If the name and entrance—the open mouth of a large concrete gator—doesn’t make it obvious enough, Gatorland is a theme park and wildlife preserve in Orlando (and the self-proclaimed “Alligator Capital of the World”). Washington DC, Protest. Load More. S. In addition to sharing heart wrenching stories of forced separations and hardships, TPS holders share stories of triumphs—and a deep appreciation for their adopted country—that would be impressive under any circumstances. New York City, New York. Mary McLeod Bethune Memorial, Lincoln Park. I will go almost anywhere if I'm promised a Muffler Man sighting, but in the absence of official Muffler Men, I'll settle for other big statues—whole, or in pieces. Photo: Alexandra Charitan Smokey’s gravesite. My original plan was to head west—and north, south, and, eventually, back east to New York City—for several months until I had criss-crossed the country, exploring the 14 states I’d never visited, and much more. A sign at the entrance to Dollywood. Stop by to see the Dr. Photo: Alexandra Charitan. S. 16, 1928 and passed away on March 17, 2010. and will always stop for a Muffler Man. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most machines have been converted to accept swipe cards instead of quarters and no longer. ” 2,541 Followers, 504 Following, 5,952 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Alexandra Charitan (@alexandracharitan) Alexandra. The formerly-abandoned main building has been turned into a luxury hotel. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan. InSlow Instagram. The Valley, located on tThe mortuary museum is located in a garage behind the funeral home. Eleanor Roosevelt’s office at Val-Kill. Photo: Alexandra Charitan 2. Visitors are welcomed to the island by two enormous flags flapping fiercely in the breeze: one rainbow, and one. The cathedral is made from Indiana limestone. FOLLOW READ BUY Aug 24 New York Diner. The Poe Museum is located in Richmond, Virginia. “He wanted to see what would happen to the paper, and, well. Salem Wax Museum. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan Animatronics and funky fur. Charlotte Alexandra Mary Seeley, usually credited as Charlotte Alexandra, is an English film actress. I take adventures and too many photos. She likes things that are bigger or smaller than they should be: novelty architecture, miniature worlds and anything made from fiberglass or neon. She likes things that are bigger or smaller than they should be: novelty architecture, miniature worlds, and anything made from fiberglass or neon. After he visited Frank A. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan 3. Jun 18. and will always stop for a Muffler Man. Website. Visitors are welcomed to the island by two enormous flags flapping fiercely in the breeze: one rainbow, and one. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan In 2011, two decades after stonemasons laid down their tools, an earthquake damaged both the Washington Monument and the nearby cathedral. Located less than a. Built in 1972, and featured on the cover of The Guinness Book of World Records in 1977, Ohio’s World’s Largest Cuckoo Clock has since been eclipsed by others (the current record holder is a clock in Germany featuring a 330-pound cuckoo. After a trip to Potter’s Wax Museum in St. As the popularity of road trips skyrocketed, starting in the 1940s, so did the opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to cash in on the wants and needs of people criss-crossing the United States and Canada. Rides include the Tick Tock Clock Drop, the Beanstalk Bounce, and the Turtle Twirl. I like things that are bigger or smaller than they should be: novelty architecture , miniature worlds, and anything made from fiberglass or neon. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan. I take adventures and too many photos. On July 9, 1978, Nicky Sundt joined a friend—and more than a hundred thousand self-identified feminists including Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan, and Bella Abzug—at a march in Washington, D. With equal bands of red, black, and green, the flag was. Mary McLeod Bethune Memorial. The Graffiti Highway is less than a mile long. A three-toed track. The cheese emporium’s flagship barn is located just off I-71 in Ashland, Ohio. In 2017, there were just five permanent residents. ” Many people may know about the oldest cemeteries—or rather, graveyards—associated with Trinity Church near the WoSlow Instagram. The cathedral’s roof. World’s Largest Golf Tee. If your road trip will take you through some of the country’s. and will always stop for a Muffler Man. She likes things that are bigger or smaller than they should be: novelty architecture, miniature worlds and anything made from fiberglass or neon. The 180,000-square-foot Wonder Bread factory opened in 1923 on Buffalo's Belt-line. As a child, Gunnison collected insects, mice, and worms—anything she could find outside or fish out of a trap. She likes things that are bigger or smaller than they should be: novelty architecture, miniature worlds and anything made from fiberglass or neon. and will always stop for a Muffler Man. Jun 18. The upper floor is only accessible during the staff-led tours. The Poe Museum is located in Richmond, Virginia. The Grandpa’s Cheesebarn story dates back to the early 1900s, when Poorbaugh’s great-grandfather Floyd Yarman traded a portable RCA radio for a wheel of. It’s not hard to find what was once called the “most photographed house” in Maine; the yellow-and-white Wedding Cake House is located at 104 Summer Street in Kennebunk less than 10 miles north of Wells. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan; Anyone can visit the Living Museum, but most of its visitors are doctors from overseas, hoping to replicate the program in. This year’s theme is “Give Happy,” and the “Give a Smile” window features a spinning emoji-inspired disco ball and bedazzled face masks. Jul 28. The York County town is home to many historic. Climate, Feature. National Gallery of Art . | Photo: Alexandra Charitan 4. In the darkened room, two tiers of brightly-lit, rainbow-colored cubicles—like a truncated Hollywood Squares set—divide the collection into themes (this is still an art museum, albeit one that now features a. S. 2. Forsyth Park. I had a rough week. 5 seconds, or leading thousands into the streets as the co-founder of His Mission OrganizationAlong Route 66, In between Flagstaff and Winslow, Arizona and after Twin Arrows and Two Guns is another abandoned trading post, Meteor City. C. TThe buildings we explored in Letchworth Village were full of stuff, and so I wasn't surprised to find a ton of chairs. Photo: Alexandra Charitan More than 10,000 people pull off the road every year on their way to the Hamptons to visit the store and museum, which also includes a collection of newspaper articles about the Duck, books on local history, artwork, and other hand-crafted items. In honor of Women’s History Month, here are 10 of the best monuments or memorials depicting women in Washington, D. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan 8. Shepard’s plaque was installed in 2019. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan Built on love. ” | Photo: Alexandra Charitan. As more and more businesses were popping up along highways, the competition to lure travelers to a. The Poe Museum. Neonworks rents space in the American Sign Museum and repairs signs in the collection. As I grew older, I knew, of course, that Oz was not a real place—even in the movie, it’s all ultimately revealed to be an elaborate fever dream. Midge has a habit of getting arrested, and. John Brown was an American abolitionist who believed that armed rebellion was the best way to overturn slavery. Now headquartered in Brookfield, Illinois, Mold-A-Rama Inc. Photo: Alexandra Charitan. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan Visit in real life: Cartaceous Gardens is as fictional as the “Plains-dwelling sedans” who once roamed the West, but there are plenty of real-life places dedicated to dinos that are both educational and entertaining, including Dinosaur Land and Dinosaur Kingdom II (both in Virginia) and Michigan. The official list compiled by Alexandra Charitan features. Photo: Alexandra Charitan. On July 9, 1978, Nicky Sundt joined a friend—and more than a hundred thousand self-identified feminists including Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan, and Bella. Brooklyn Botanic Garden. 1 miles through 28 stations—from City Hall to Grand Central Terminal, across 42nd Street to Times Square and then up Broadway to 145th Street. I take adventures and too many photos. It makes sense that institutions or hospitals would naturally be full of chairs, and maybe they remain because they don't have any obvious value to people that typically strip abandoned buildings of things like scrap metals. On our way out of Buffalo, we made one last stop—breakfast at the Lake Effect Diner. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan 3. Thanks to erosion, trash is constantly appearing along the shore—deposited into the bay and washed back up on shore in a continuous cycle—but the best time to find newly-revealed treasures is low tide (consult a tide chart before you. Sunny days and cool nights bring out the best fall colors. Despite our attempts to escape winter in Bend, Oregon, we found winter in the Southwest. 2,534 Followers, 489 Following, 5,945 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Alexandra Charitan (@alexandracharitan)Middletown State Homeopathic Hospital, or Middletown Psychiatric, opened in Middletown, New York in 1874. Dec 31. Harriet Tubman. Pre-1937 alignment sign. Tower Station and U-Drop Inn. He created many of the monuments that you can still see at Hartsdale. Meadow Gold sign in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A sign reminiscent of Disneyland. She dreams of visiting every state in the U. Blank billboards on the beach. Alexandra Charitan, Managing Editor, Roadtrippers You can’t do much better in the roadside kitsch department than California’s Cabazon Dinosaurs . The business was “the only game in town,” Edwards says, and 450 workers lived just up. FOLLOW READ BUY Aug 17 Barrel of Fun. Maisel—and a beloved West Village landmark in real life. The Duquesne Incline was completed in 1877 to connect Pittsburgh’s south side with the neighborhood of Mt. Sleepy Hollow, New York. The Las Vegas-themed Casino Royale suite. While not as well-known as many of the Smithsonian institutions located along the National Mall, the National Postal Museum is a wonderland for history buffs, curious children, dog lovers, and, of course, philatelists (those who study and/or collect postage stamps). I take adventures and too many photos. Alleged Bigfoot hair. ” Other neon-centric museums have opened since, but the. A sign from the Quartz Mountain Lodge, located about 60 miles southeast from Erick, hangs in Russell’s front yard. Alexandra Charitan. She likes things that are bigger or smaller than they should be: novelty architecture, miniature worlds, and anything made from fiberglass or neon. The maximum number. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan. Rabbit Hash, Kentucky. Alexandra. architecture, diner, food, queens. Alexandra is the features editor at Roadtrippers Magazine. Patrick’s Day, the water in the fountain is dyed green. Alexandra Charitan. 1. By Alexandra Charitan | Roadtrippers Magazine Verified. Street signs were installed early in the morning on June 5. ESP is a former prison, operational from 1829 until 1971. Photo: Alexandra Charitan. Lansky Bros. Alexandra is the features editor at Roadtrippers Magazine. Photo: Alexandra Charitan. , to get an appropriately-splashy outfit for your tour of Memphis. My close encounter of the Snerd kind ignited my search for other larger-than-life partners along the road—like Southern Man, a top-hatted Texaco Big Friend. S. Photo: Alexandra Charitan 2. On Thursday, I reached out to a friend in hopes that they would understand what I was going through and not offer solutions, necessarily, but perhaps an acknowledgement that it must be hard to be me at that very moment; thankfully, she was available. She dreams of visiting every state in the U. While the original architecture has Frank Lloyd. Early on Friday, June 5, the words “Black Lives Matter” were painted in bright yellow paint on 16th Street NW. Since at least the 1940s, two Fire Island hamlets—Cherry Grove and The Pines—have been known as safe havens for the LGBTQ community. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan; Spirits supposedly draw energy and Barcelo owns several different devices to help register those disturbances in the electromagnetic field. Only the exterior was used in the movie and the garden. The tubes have received a fresh coat of paint. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan. In 2017, the Handmermaids of Gillead (Ofneptune, Oftriton, and Ofposeidon) carried signs that said “Praise Beach” and “Under Neptune’s Eye,” a Mexican-themed merman advocated for “love beyond borders,” and two proponents of marijuana legalization, Mr. Photo: Alexandra Charitan. One hour into The Shawshank Redemption, and 30 years into his life sentence, Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding (Morgan Freeman) says, “These prison. On Thursday, I reached out to a friend in hopes that they would understand what I was going through and not offer solutions, necessarily, but perhaps an acknowledgement that it must be hard to be me at that very moment; thankfully, she was available. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan. —was a master stone engraver. The Four Seasons restaurant, located in the iconic Seagram Building on East 52nd Street opened in 1959, and it will close on Saturday, July 16th. Mary McLeod Bethune was born to formerly enslaved parents in South Carolina in 1875. The three-story structure was rebuilt in 1895. The Blue Whale of Catoosa. 18. Photo: Alexandra Charitan The House on the Rock, Wisconsin. She likes things that are bigger or smaller than they should be: novelty architecture, miniature worlds, and anything made from fiberglass or neon. HI! I’M ALEXANDRA. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan 1. NYC’s winner this year for most cans was. Jun 16 First Avenue: 92nd - 34th Streets Related Posts. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan; Stepping out of one of the terminal’s famous red-carpeted tubes—which connect visitors to their hotel rooms and JetBlue’s Terminal 5—instantly transports you back to an era when flying was a special event. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan 500 years of history. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan He may not have known it, but Smokey helped put an adorable face to a campaign with a very serious message; one that has not only created awareness but has saved countless lives and acres of land over the last 75 years. Meteor City, named after the nearby Meteor Barringer Crater, has been a stop along the Mother Road since it first opened as a Texaco gas station iThe second I heard about the House of Collection, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, I knew I had to find a way to see inside of the 2,000-square-foot loft often called "a live-in cabinet of curiosities. I’m Alexandra. I went back to Eastern State Penitentiary recently specifically to visit the hospital wing, but a return visit to ESP was never far from my mind. May 1. A large fountain, built in 1858, sits at the north end of the park and on St. The museum has 150 figures on display. I love dachshunds in hot dog costumes and things that are bigger or smaller than they should be. Shortly after her tragic death, Wilson’s uncle marched more than 100 miles on foot from D. Opposition to the United States’ involvement in Vietnam had been spreading across the country for years, but also in the spring of 1970, stSometimes, the Internet is a magical place that connects like-minded strangers who wouldn’t have otherwise met, like me and my new friend Hollis . S. A car covered in decorative tiles. The Blazing Star Cemetery is located in the Rossville neighborhood of Staten Island. In the case of fire, it’s easier to ask for permission than for. The Cincinnati burial ground is the third largest in the country, has been. Travelers today have little choice beyond Auntie Anne. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan. Jul 19 Twin ArrowsSouth End is the oldest cemetery in East Hampton, with tombstones dating back to the 17th century. 22: Poor People's Campaign Alexandra. Fox News Anchor Announces Divorce During Valentine’s Day Segment. But the 7 square miles weren’t always called Rabbit Hash; the town’s first name was Carlton, but people started confusing it with the nearby town of. Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole. and will always stop for a Muffler Man. S. In 2005, the concourse clock was found in an antique shop, purchased (thanks to a public fundraising effort), and returned to its original home in the center of the concourse in 2009. She likes things that are bigger or smaller than they should be: novelty architecture, miniature worlds, and anything made from fiberglass or neon. A Lansky Bros. Photo: Alexandra Charitan; The lavender field is just one of the ways in which Earth Matter, an environmental nonprofit organization, is trying to improve the island off the southern tip of Manhattan once occupied by the Coast Guard. Storybook Land, located an hour-and-a-half southeast of Philadelphia, has four seats from the city’s now-demolished Veterans. The sprawling museum, which occupies two separate buildings between Constitution Avenue NW and the Mall, isn’t exactly a hidden secret. One of the first places we wandered into on a recent trip to New Orleans was the Historic Voodoo Museum, located on Dumaine Street in the French Quarter. Alexandra is the features editor at Roadtrippers Magazine. Feature, Washington DC. The handles have a special heating element inside to keep them from icing. We went to Salem one year ago (argh why does time go by so quickly!) but I never got around to sharing my photos from the ChartThe Staten Island Boat Graveyard—also called the Witte Marine Scrap Yard, the Arthur Kill Boat Yard or the Tugboat Graveyard—is located in the Arthur Kill waterway near the Rossville neighborhood in Staten Island. Middletown State Homeopathic Hospital, or Middletown Psychiatric, opened in Middletown, New York in 1874. 1. Because the Aderholdts and Rudisills owned much of the surrounding land, the workers were isolated. Sculptures can win in a number of different categories: structural ingenuity, best original design, best use of labels, best meal, people’s choice (), and most cans used. Photo: Alexandra Charitan A few haunted house-like walk-through attractions interspersed between the dioramas help keep visitors on edge. 58 Joralemon Street. Two sculptures on the porch of a cabin. Photo: Alexandra Charitan. I love dachshunds in hot dog costumes and things that are bigger or smaller than they should be. Pastoral hand-painted scenes cover every surface of Roadside America. Wedding Cake House. Jun 18 6. → HATE IS NOT HOT ←. A massacre in wax. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan; Residency Now. I’m always dreaming about or planning my next adventure—whether I’m at home or out on the road. . I was surprised on our recent trip to Buffalo to learn that the city has the highest concentration of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings outside of Oak Park in Chicago. I take adventures and too many photos. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan. The fence around Lafayette Square quickly became a de facto art gallery, with people contributing signs, artwork, and other memorabilia. | Photo: Alexandra. Photo: Alexandra Charitan 1. and will always stop for a Muffler Man. C. The earliest grave markers date to 1750, and it was one of the first coAlexandra Charitan. David McDowell, a tour guide and artist-in-residence at the Troll Hole. When it opened on July 1, 1949, Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole was a novelty. Riprap stones around the lighthouse. John Brown speaking. S. I wonder if kids today. The Ohio State Reformatory is open seven days a week April through October and Thursday through Sunday November through March from 11:00 a. Our second stop on our recent trip out West (after fueling up at a soda fountain ) was Don Parks's house. While the original architecture has Frank Lloyd. Instagram Website. Tubman is located in a triangle at West 122nd Street. Facebook 0 Twitter LinkedIn 0 Reddit Tumblr Pinterest 0 0 Likes. FOLLOW READ BUY Jul 12 Route 66: Gallup to Grants. There are several murals in town dedicated to Lucy and Desi, including one that claims to be the World’s Largest I Love Lucy mural: The 1,800-square-foot artwork was painted over more than 500 hours—using 30 gallons of paint—by a father-son team of. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan. Alexandra is the features editor at Roadtrippers Magazine. She likes things that are bigger or smaller than they should be: novelty architecture, miniature worlds,. 17: Capitol Curiosities. C. Washington DC, Protest. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan Longaberger Basket HQ. The Hudson Highlands. Route 66 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan ‘A very rewarding job’ The Martin family has been running Hartsdale since 1974. She likes things that are bigger or smaller than they should be: novelty architecture, miniature worlds and anything made from fiberglass or neon. Inspired by West African masks, Saar set stylized portraits of “anonymous passengers” of the Underground Railroad into Tubman’s skirt. Witte and today it is still managedLast August I moved into my first-ever studio apartment. A few of the original statues. Visitors can walk in impressions dinosaurs left behind in the bed of the Paluxy River. and will always stop for a Muffler Man. Although Bannerman was a shrewd businessman, he was really a collector at heart. In 2010, a 16-year-old girl was raped and murdered at Holy Land, adding to its infamy. Photo: Alexandra Charitan; Information about the current ownership of the Paper House is limited, but at some point Stenman’s grandniece, Edna Beaudoin, inherited the house from her mother. Washington DC, Protest. Patrick’s Day, the water in the fountain is dyed green. The outside of the basket could use a good cleaning. There are flowers blooming in the decorative window boxes, and brightly-colored, painted presents of varying shapes and sizes disguise the shop’s concrete block foundation.