“But there are advantages to being elected President. The day after I was elected, I had my high school grades classified Top Secret."
~~ Ronald Reagan
40th President of the United States (1981–1989). Prior to his presidency, he served as the 33rd Governor of California (1967–1975), and was a radio, film and television actor.
President’s Day is also well known for large department stores holding big sales and attracting many bargain shoppers throughout the Presidents’ Day long weekend holiday.
Discounts on furniture, appliances, clothes, etc., but it's also a big day for big automakers who have huge discounts on their cars, trucks, hybrids, etc.
Besides auto demand not growing as quickly as in the past, fewer people are owning cars and many have been opting for big-discount leasing deals. Depending on a potential auto purchaser, the huge discount offerings on cars may far outweigh the option of leasing.
Until the late 1980s, corporate businesses generally closed on this day, similar to present corporate practices on Memorial Day or Christmas Day.
Originally it was known as George Washington's birthday, a United States federal holiday celebrated on our first president's birthday, February 22nd.
Now it is celebrated on the third Monday of February and is referred to as Presidents' Day.
The holiday was first implemented by an Act of Congress 136 years ago (1879 which was about 90 years after Washington's inauguration year 1789). The main purpose was solely for government offices in Washington D.C., and in 1885 it was expanded to include all federal offices.
In 1968 President Lincoln’s birthday (February 12th) and President Washington’s birthday (February 22nd) were combined into Presidents’ Day to honor both presidents by the 90th Congress.
On January 1, 1971, the federal holiday was shifted to the third Monday in February by the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.
There have been 136 celebrations (counting the first President Washington’s birthday celebration in 1879 which was later combined with Presidents’ Day beginning 1968 and officially implemented by Congress in 1971.
The very first attempt to create a Presidents Day actually occurred in 1951 when the "President's Day National Committee" was formed by Harold Stone bridge Fischer of Compton, California, who became its National Executive Director for the next two decades.
The White House has celebrated Presidents’ Day in various ways throughout the years. To view a slide show of President’s Day celebrations throughout the years visit the White House, President Barack Obama, photo gallery titled Celebrating Presidents’ Day.
Photos include page one of President George Washington’s Inaugural Address (photo above left is a snapshot of the whitehouse.gov Web site).
Across the country, many public and private parks include performances in honor of Presidents Washington and Lincoln. The National Park Service also features a number of historic sites and memorials to honor the lives of these two presidents, as well as other important leaders.
Will you be taking advantage of the various sales this Presidents' Day? Are you doing anything special to celebrate Presidents' Day?
RESOURCES:
♦ Presidents’ Day – What Does it Mean? http://usparks.about.com/od/historicalparks/a/Presidents-Day.htm
♦ Presidents’ Day, History Channel http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/presidents-day
♦ Presidents’ Day, History Channel Videos http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/presidents-day/videos
♦ Why Do We Celebrate Presidents’ Day?, DoSomething.org, http://www.dosomething.org/blog/why-do-we-celebrate-presidents-day
♦ Presidents Day, 2014, Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nigel-hamilton/presidents-day-2014_b_4788962.html
♦ Guide to Getting Monumental Savings During Presidents Day Weekend Sales, GoBankingRates.com, http://www.gobankingrates.com/savings-account/best-presidents-day-sales-discounts/
♦ Presidents’ Day 2014: A Guide to Great Sales, The Fiscal Times http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2014/02/14/Presidents-Day-2014-Guide-Great-Sales
♦ Shoppers’ Guide to Presidents’ Day Sales, Fox Business, http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2014/02/14/shoppers-guide-to-presidents-day-sales/
♦ Washington’s Birthday on Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington's_Birthday
♦ Lincoln’s Birthday on Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln's_Birthday
♦ How Abraham Lincoln lost his birthday holiday, ConstitutionCenter.org, http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/2014/02/how-abraham-lincoln-lost-his-birthday-holiday/
♦ Presidents Day, 2014, Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nigel-hamilton/presidents-day-2014_b_4788962.html
♦ The Key To It all/Lincoln’s Birthday, 2014, Townhall.com, http://townhall.com/columnists/paulgreenberg/2014/02/11/the-key-to-it-all-lincolns-birthday-2014-n1792872
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All photos courtesy of Wikimedia; If any screen shots were taken from video and websites credit will be mentioned. All other photos will be credited as required.
“…He looked like something that had gotten loose from Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade …”
~~ Harpo Marx
(Nov. 23, 1888 – Sept. 28, 1964)American comedian, film star and second-oldest Marx brother
Obviously, the Marx Brothers shopped at Macy's. Did you know that 155 years ago today, October 28th in 1858 Macy's had the first day of business? Happy 155th to Macys!
One of the most popular department stores around is still described by many as being the “largest store in the world,” (however South Korea has a store twice the size).
Macys has a history of traditions and culture including being featured in the 1947 movie "Miracle on 34th Street," sponsorship of the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City since 1924, and also sponsoring New York City's annual Fourth of July fireworks display since 1976.
Founded by Rowland Hussey Macy between 1843 and 1855, four retail dry goods stores were opened, including the original Macy's store in downtown Haverhill, Massachusetts, (established in 1851) to serve the mill industry employees of the area.
All four Macy’s stores would fail, but Macy would learn from his mistakes.
He moved to New York City in 1858 and established a new store named "R.H. Macy Dry Goods" on Sixth Avenue between 13th and 14th Street.
He strategically positioned the location to be far north of where the other dry goods stores were at the time.
Born in Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, as a teenager, Macy worked on the whaling ship, the Emily Morgan.
While working on this ship, at the age of 15, Macy decided to get a red star tattooed on his hand. Little did anyone know that he would carry this star theme with him and incorporate it on all of Macy's emblems and logos.
Still touted as the most popular department store in the world, Macy's biggest asset is its brand.
The vision of Macy and his little red star tattoo on his hand as a 15 year old (approximately 140 years ago), is a testament of how far imaginations and dreams can go. Below is a collage of some of the many Macy's logos and themes over the years that incorporate the star:
Other Resources
► The Department Store Museum
Photos courtest of Wikimedia unless otherwise specified.
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“…If there is one constant about Grand Central, it is certainly my awe every time I enter the main concourse. I have certainly been there a million times, but I am still always amazed. There is a little part of me that is envious of all the Metro-North employees that are employed in this beautiful building, and see it every day. I’ve taken photos here a million times as well, and I don’t think I am ever pleased with any of them, for they never seem to do the place any justice. Beauty can be found throughout – not just in the concourse or on the front façade. The little details always captivate me, from the stylized GCT monogram, to the little sculptural acorns that can be found all over – a symbol of the Vanderbilt family.…”
~~ iRideTheHarlemLine Blog
Hard to believe, New York City’s most historical landmarks and business train station in the country, Grand Central Station, www.grandcentralterminal.com turns 100 today.
Exactly 100 years ago, the keys to Grand Central were first given to the stationmaster on Feb. 1, 1913.
Formally named Grand Central Terminal (GCT), but popularly called Grand Central Station, is a commuter rail terminal station at 42nd Street and Park Avenue (89 East 42nd St.) in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States.
Built by and named for the New York Central Railroad in the heyday of American long-distance passenger rail travel, GCT is the largest train station in the world by number of platforms, which total 44, and 67 tracks along them.
The tracks are on two levels, both below ground, with 41 tracks on the upper level and 26 on the lower, though the total number of tracks along platforms and in rail yards exceeds 100. The terminal covers an area of 48 acres.
Today will begin the celebration which starts with the West Point Brass and Percussion Band performing the world premiere of “Grand Central Centennial Fanfare.”
Grand Central was once a long-distance train terminal but now serves commuters going to and from New York’s northern suburbs via Metro-North Railroad. A New York City subway station also connects to the building and the complex has dozens of shops and restaurants, including the venerable Oyster Bar.
According to the travel magazine Travel + Leisure in its October 2011 survey, Grand Central Terminal is "the world's number six most visited tourist attraction", bringing in approximately 21,600,000 visitors annually
Several of Grand Central’s businesses will be offering special 1913 deals to celebrate including a 75 cent cocktail at Michael Jordan’s The Steak House N.Y.C. and a 19 cent slice of cheesecake at the Oyster Bar.
Celebrations will be planned throughout the year, including a performance by artist Nick Cave on March 25-31 and a parade of historic trains on May 10-12.
Other Resources
► Grand Central Station Wikipedia
All photos courtesy of Wikimedia and screen shots taken from video and websites. All other photos will be credited as required.
Please visit this blog frequently and share this with your social media and professional network. Thanks.
“…He looked like something that had gotten loose from Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade …”
~~ Harpo Marx
(Nov. 23, 1888 – Sept. 28, 1964)American comedian, film star and second-oldest Marx brother
Obviously, the Marx Brothers shopped at Macy's. Did you know that 154 years ago today, October 28th in 1858 Macy's had the first day of business? Happy 154th to Macys!
One of the most popular department stores around is still described by many as being the “largest store in the world,” (however South Korea has a store 2X the size).
Macys has a history of traditions and culture including being featured in the 1947 movie "Miracle on 34th Street," sponsorship of the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City since 1924, and also sponsoring New York City's annual Fourth of July fireworks display since 1976.
Founded by Rowland Hussey Macy between 1843 and 1855, four retail dry goods stores were opened, including the original Macy's store in downtown Haverhill, Massachusetts, (established in 1851) to serve the mill industry employees of the area.
All four Macy’s stores would fail, but Macy would learn from his mistakes.
He moved to New York City in 1858 and established a new store named "R.H. Macy Dry Goods" on Sixth Avenue between 13th and 14th Street.
He strategically positioned the location to be far north of where the other dry goods stores were at the time.
Born in Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, as a teenager, Macy worked on the whaling ship, the Emily Morgan.
While working on this ship, at the age of 15, Macy decided to get a red star tattooed on his hand. Little did anyone know that he would carry this star theme with him and incorporate it on all of Macy's emblems and logos.
Still touted as the most popular department store in the world, Macy's biggest asset is its brand.
The vision of Macy and his little red star tattoo on his hand as a 15 year old is a testament of how far imaginations and dreams can go. Below is a collage of some of the many Macy's logos and themes over the years that incorporate the star:
Other Resources
► The Department Store Museum
Photos courtest of Wikimedia unless otherwise specified.
Please share this on your LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media networks you enjoy! Thanks!
