I am still alive. I turned 29, and when I did my wife bought me a pass to Disneyland. Good times await.

Speaking of good times, and of awaiting them, I give you...

Walt & El Grupo

It opens September 9 in Anaheim. I hope to be there.

33

I recently had the beautiful privilege of walking through the doors of Walt's Club 33 for the second time. This is one of the greatest examples of what he was working on when he passed on, and one feels just a little closer to him while in the walls of the private restaurant. The old timey class is impeccable, and the food and service superb. I personally enjoyed the seared ahi, while the other five at the table chose the chateaubriand. We had wines and cocktails, cheese platters and complimentary profiteroles, desserts and coffee, and a wonderful time. However, I couldn't shake the slightest sense of melancholy due to a few small details. For example, the audio-animatronic vulture who is perched in the corner of the Trophy Room, capable of interacting with those dining below, is not, and never really was used. Or the fact that the restaurants dry storage was originally intended, and is designed, to be a dance club of sorts, with a second bar and a stage for a jazz band. These are typical examples of the worldwide, albeit slow, dilapidation that is sadly swelling within the legacy that Walt has left behind. And I guess all we can do is do what we can; enjoy whats left of it, and promote a spirit of conservation.

Castle in the woods

This is an amazing photo taken from Stuff from the Park's part 2 of the May 1956 Family Trip to Disneyland series. I'm going to say that this was taken from somewhere around the present day vicinity of King Tritan's fountain and the entrance of Tomorrowland. What a great example of how undeveloped the park once was.

The Triumph of the American Imagination

I put this site together months ago, as a quick source to sites that I respect and enjoy, however having just finished Neal Gabler's biography of Walt Disney, I feel a fresh sense of inspiration to get this thing going. My wish, if you will, is to delve into the land of Walt's imagination; what he had finished, what he had unfortunately left unfinished, and what his successors have left sadly unfinished and unimaginative.

Here - to steal a few great words - age will relive fond memories of the past, and youth will, with any luck, savor the challenge and promise of the future.