A Trip To the Fair

I'm going to jump right back in as if three years haven't passed silently, ok? Ok.

All images © Monika Seitz Vega, 2020 // Thank you for not stealing my work

Flabob Fly In - 2017

On Saturday, May 20th, my husband and I rode to Flabob Airport in Riverside, CA to spend the day at the Flabob Fly In. Built in 1925, Flabob Airport is a gem. It's 1940s feel was perfect for the weekend event, where a varied and unique group of DC airplanes were on hand for tours, demonstrations, and flights. The event was spectacularly orchestrated -- big band music was pumped through speakers all along the runway, and the announcer at the mic was informative and entertaining. Despite planes of air show quality, the Fly In was a more casual event, relaxed and more intimate.

Many more wonderful photographs from the event can be found on the official Flabob Fly In website.
I can't wait until next year!

2016 Riverside Air Show

For those that are new to my website, welcome! It has been a while since I've published an entry, but I have definitely been shooting a lot of film and have so much to share. This is my 100th post! I highly recommend viewing this website and the photos within from a computer or tablet, I've found that the mobile template just doesn't do it justice.

On the eve of the 2017 Riverside Air Show, which takes place Saturday, April 1st, I am very belatedly sharing some of my favorite planes from the 2016 air show.

The air show, now in its 25th year, takes place each April at the Riverside Airport in Riverside, CA. It is a free event and has something for everyone, including stunt shows and demonstrations throughout the day, a huge variety of military planes from over the decades, and a fantastic classic car show.

For more info on the 2017 air show, click HERE. Expect photographs from this years' show soon!

The Flabob Express, a 1940s DC-3, is housed at Flabob Airport near downtown Riverside and is available for scenic flights, tours, and has been featured in movies, most recently 2016's "Rules Don't Apply"

The D-Day Doll, housed at Riverside Airport and regularly heard and seen in the skies above, served on D-Day over Normandy.

This Douglas C-47 is housed at the Palm Springs Air Museum and is available for flights and tours.

This 1940s Russian Antonov AN-2 biplane (here and image below) sadly crashed just a couple weeks after we saw it at the air show. We'd spoken to the caretaker of the plane, a volunteer, who said that he'd recently flown 13 hours one way to take it to a show in Texas. Luckily no one was injured during the crash. 

Universal Studios + The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Despite several weeks of soft opening, which allowed locals to experience the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood, there was a tremendous amount of excitement in the air when my family + I visited the weekend after the "official" opening in April.

I hadn't been to Universal since my Brownie troop took a trip there in second grade, so needless to say a lot of things have changed. In addition to the Wizarding World, which was the reason for our trip, I was looking forward to revisiting the parts of the park I remembered from when I was a kid, particularly the tram tour + "Psycho" set.

The Universal experience is very 3D heavy. Many of the big name attractions are 3D themed, including the new Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, housed in the absolutely breathtaking Hogwarts Castle. (I opted out of the Journey, though I did walk through the queue, the portrait hall especially knocked my socks off.) Even the tram tour now has two 3D experiences in addition to set and backlot features, one based on the Peter Jackson adaptation of "King Kong" and another that focuses on the "Fast and the Furious" franchise. 3D is totally not my thing, but I had a fantastic time taking in the sights and sounds, from Springfield, USA to the "Waterworld" stunt show to the bronze bust honoring longtime Universal Pictures director Alfred Hitchcock placed prominently right inside the main entrance to the park. All in all, there is definitely something there for everyone. (Except postcards. There is not a single postcard for sale in the entire park, not even at the Owl Post. This is unacceptable.)

Now the focus on the purpose of the trip -- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I had avoided reading anything about it ahead of time as I wanted it to be a surprise... and it was. The very most wonderful surprise. The experience of walking into Hogsmeade, much to my surprise, nearly moved me to tears. The attention to detail, from Moaning Myrtle haunting the restrooms to the animated "Wanted" poster of Sirius Black outside the Hog's Head, to the delightful frog choir performances and, of course, Hogwarts itself, is absolutely breathtaking. One of my favorite parts of Hogsmeade is the interactive window displays that those with Olivander's wands can do a spell in front of to activate something within the display, it is entertaining while also making participants part of the experience, which is a nice touch. Again, the magic is in the details, and the Wizarding World is loaded with them. I am looking forward to our next visit, which will likely occur after the rumored Diagon Alley expansion occurs.

Please enjoy the photographs below, captioned when applicable.

Hogsmeade entrance, "Please Respect the Spell Limits"

Hogwarts Express, just inside the gate and an ideal photo spot

Know someone who deserves a howler? Stop by the Owl Post, where owls depart regularly.

Dervish and Banges, where you can invest in your own "Monster Book of Monsters"

Zonko's Tricks & Jokes

Hogwarts Castle in the morning light

Dogweed & Deathcap, Exotic Plants & Flowers

The entrance to Hogsmeade from Hogwarts, I sat here for about an hour watching both the frog choir and Triwizard Tournament spirit rally while the sun set. It was absolutely enchanting.

Hogwarts Castle at sunset, with the girls from Beauxbatons dancing on stage

Hogwarts after sunset 

All photographs © Monika Seitz Vega, 2016
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