Were you among the crowd that went wild as the Beatles arrived at NY’s Kennedy Airport on Feb. 7, 1964? Were you in the TV audience two days later as 73 million people watched the Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show to screaming fans? If so, then you remember the moment Beatlemania hit US shores!

The impact made during the next 6 months by those 4 lads from Liverpool is legendary. 20,000 fans attended the group’s first public concert in the US on February 11 at the Coliseum in Washington, DC. The next day, police were forced to close off streets around Carnegie Hall in NY, due to fan hysteria incited by the Beatles' performances. Their singles and albums sold millions of records, and at one point in April 1964, all 5 top singles in the US were Beatles songs!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVtZ2O8gWrg

Beatlemania reached world-wide proportions that year, thanks in part to the release of their first feature film, A Hard Days’ Night. The Beatles managed to remain relevant throughout decade, exploring different genres, releasing another film, and continuing to impress us with concept albums and new sounds. Music critics young and old praised the songwriting genius of Lennon & McCartney. But in 1970, the Beatles disbanded, with the members pursuing different solo careers. We were sad to see them go, but grateful for the legacy they left us: 18 albums, 30 top-ten singles, and a lifetime of memories built around tunes we still can’t get out of our heads.

The end of January marks 2 sad anniversaries for America’s space program. On January 27, 1967, all 3 crew members of Apollo 1 were killed in a cabin fire during a launch pad test. Apollo 1 was to be the first manned lunar landing mission, set to launch that February. Astronauts Grissom, White, and Chaffee were strapped into their seats of the command module in the stages of a launch simulation, when a fire broke out. Ultimately, the inward opening design of the hatch door, intended to keep the crew safe in space, made it impossible for them to make it out of the capsule in time. As a result, the 3 men perished within a minute and a half of the first sign of fire.

On January 28, 1987, the space shuttle Challenger began its ascent into the skies above the Kennedy Space Center. Aboard was Christa McAuliffe, a social studies teacher from New Hampshire, who was the first civilian ever to be included in a mission. Just 73 seconds after lift-off, Challenger exploded as hundreds on the ground watched in disbelief. Millions more witnessed the tragedy on live TV. None of the 7 crew members survived.

Although both of these failed “firsts” were hugely devastating for the country, and a major setback for the space program, much was learned and applied toward the safety of future missions. Man did eventually walk on the moon, and the space shuttles continued to rendezvous well into the 21st century, despite the disastrous 1970 Apollo 13 mission and the mid-air disintegration of the Shuttle Columbia in 2003. Each trip into space, whether classified as success or failure, is a learning experience that expands our scientific knowledge. But science can only take us so far. So much has, and always will, depend on the brave souls who risk it all to explore what lies beyond.

The day The Cavern Club opened its doors in Liverpool, the owner had no way of knowing that his plans for a Paris-type jazz lounge would eventually have a major impact on the world. It was 55 years ago, January 16, 1957, when 600 jazz fans crammed inside and hundreds more lined up in front of #10 Mathew Street, hoping to get into the basement-level club. The popular venue became the home of many local bands, including a talented little group calling themselves The Beatles.

The Beatles’ first performance at the Cavern Club on Feb. 6, 1961 featured John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe, and Pete Best on drums (eventually replaced by Ringo). Although jazz music was the main attraction for the club’s nighttime patrons, the Beatles established themselves as the signature act, playing rock-n-roll to crowds during lunchtime gigs. Between 1961 and 1963, the Beatles logged 292 performances at the Cavern Club. http://primetime.unrealitytv.co.uk/i-was-there-when-the-beatles-played-the-cavern-itv/

Besides the Fab Four, making their way onto the Cavern Club stage were legends such as Manfred Mann, The Hollies, Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones, John Mayall’s Blues Breakers, Queen, The Kinks, Supertramp, and hundreds more. The club was demolished in the 70s to make way for work on the railway system, but a replica was built on the original site in 1984 that includes 15,000 bricks retrieved from the original building. Although the Cavern Club has changed hands many times, it is still a thriving live music destination and one of Liverpool’s top tourist attractions. It revisits not only the legacy of The Beatles, but also showcases up-and-coming talent as well as established artists. http://www.cavernclub.org/venue

Back in the early 1980s, an NBC program executive looked at his daughter’s beloved blue Smurf doll and decided that a series based on the Smurfs might be a good addition to the Saturday morning cartoon lineup. And he was right, because by 1982, the Smurfs were a household name and one of NBC’s most popular cartoons ever!

Originally called the Schtroumpfs, the little blue characters were created in 1958 by Belgian cartoonist Peyo. An American media entrepreneur saw them while travelling in Belgium, and acquired the rights to the characters, which were then renamed and marketed as “Smurfs.” Smurf dolls and other merchandise soon began popping up on shelves all over the US. It was one of these dolls owned by the executive’s daughter that lit the fuse for the long-running Hanna-Barbera cartoon series and several full-length movies.

The latest Smurf movie hit theaters last summer, capturing the imagination of yet another generation of fans while triggering Smurfy fond memories for those of us who already knew them well. We hope the fun never ends, and that Papa, Baby, Smurfette, Brainy, Clumsy, Jokey, Lazy, and all the rest keep coming back with more Smurf-tastic adventures!

Hard to believe it’s time to bid farewell to 2011! Every Dec. 31^st the old year gives way to a new one, and folks mark the occasion with celebrations and traditions in anticipation of good health and good fortune in the coming year.

The most popular tradition by far is the ball drop in Times Square. Since 1904, crowds have gathered to usher in the new year and watch the famous Waterford crystal ball make its 1-minute descent. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kate-kelly/the-times-square-ball-dro_b_803034.html On the other US coast, the Tournament of Roses parade has been a major New Year’s Day event since 1886. And for polar bear clubs all across the US, January 1st is the time for the annual dip into frigid waters. Brrr!

Food plays a huge part in the new year traditions. Down south, a hearty helping of black-eyed peas and cornbread is eaten by those wishing for health and wealth. Up north, a traditional “good luck” dish might consist of sauerkraut and sausage. Some cultures serve cakes with actual coins baked in, and the person who gets the piece of cake with the money in it will supposedly have good luck all year (assuming they don’t break a tooth!) http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Holidays-and-Events/New-Year/Good-Luck-Foods/Top.aspx And be warned--superstition says stay away from chicken and turkey, because their wings symbolize a chance that all that good luck will take flight!

Of course, it wouldn’t be much of a celebration without music! Some of us remember the days when Guy Lombardo’s orchestra performed live from the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center, where celebrants danced cheek-to-cheek as the strains of "Auld Lang Syne" played at midnight. If you’re a bit younger, you probably consider Dick Clark’s New Years Rockin’ Eve (now hosted by Ryan Seacrest) a mainstay of the evening as you count down the seconds to the new year.

Which brings me to my own favorite tradition – the annual popping of the cork and the champagne toast!

Cheers, and happy 2012 to all!

Do you have a favorite game you play on Christmas? - http://bit.ly/vOHVRg

The signs are everywhere – the holiday clock is ticking! Stores are jammed, parking lots are overflowing, tempers are short. We’ve all read about people fist-fighting over Barbie dolls and getting pepper-sprayed in the battle for a bargain! I know, some of you started early; stocking up on holiday goods at last January’s sales, stashing away gifts since Halloween, home decorated inside and out right after Thanksgiving… I applaud you. But more than likely, you’re rushing around, trying to figure out how to fit in shopping, baking, wrapping, decorating, and entertaining, all in the brief time that remains.

And while all those things DO need to be done, one thing we really need to make time for is remembering what the December holidays are all about. Don’t let your focus be solely on material things. Make sure you allow some time to share the spiritual side of this wonderful month with family & friends, before the new year dawns and we are once again caught up in the frantic pace of our daily lives.

May we offer this helpful suggestion: Avoid the crowds, curl up with your laptop, find some fabulous gifts online, and let us deliver them to your door. It's one more thing to cross off that list, and one more chance to spend time at home with your family instead of out in the trenches! Happy Holidays & Happy Shopping!

Coke drinkers are a funny lot. This fall, the manufacturers came up with the delightful idea of White Coke, frosty holiday-themed cans featuring a polar bear family, to be sold through February. Who could’ve guessed that Coke drinkers do not like their beverage to come in a white can?

Turns out, the white cans were confusing for some who mistook them for the silver Diet Coke cans. Some people even claimed it tasted different! The company learned their lesson about changing the taste, after that huge debaucle with New Coke some years back! Nevertheless, the cans were pulled early from the shelves.

Coke did have good intentions, though. The white cans were intended to raise awareness of the plight of polar bears, with cartons printed with “Help protect polar bears’ habitat.” To their credit, Coke is donating $3 million to the polar bear conservation effort in spite of not being able to “raise awareness” as planned! http://www.businessreviewcanada.ca/business_leaders/coke-changes-classic-can-to-white-for-polar-bear-awareness

Companies are always feeling the need to change their products to keep up with the competition, reinvent themselves or their product to stay relevant. It’s obvious that die-hard Coke fans don’t need change, don’t WANT change, and that the familiar red can with its tried-and-true beverage inside is fine, just the way it is!

Each year, the President makes an official pronouncement in the White House Rose Garden, where he issues a presidential “pardon” to a turkey, thereby sparing the turkey’s life and sending it to live out its days on a farm. But how did this tradition start? Here’s what I found out.

One turkey-related tale involves Tad Lincoln, the son of President Abraham Lincoln, who reportedly begged his father not to kill Jack, his pet turkey, to be served up for Christmas dinner. Supposedly, the President agreed and the turkey was spared, but there is no proof that this charming bit of folklore has any basis in fact.

It has long-been believed that Harry Truman was the first US President to officially pardon a turkey. Although Truman was the first President to receive a turkey as an annual gift from the National Turkey Federation, he usually indicated to the press that the birds were indeed destined for the dinner table. Historians have found no evidence whatsoever to support the claim that he “pardoned” any of them.

So even though everyone seems to remember the turkey pardon as being a very old tradition, the most concrete evidence of its roots goes back only to 1989, when then-President George H.W. declared “… this fine tom turkey… will not end up on anyone’s dinner table. Not this guy. He’s been granted a presidential pardon as of right now…” Bush went on to publically bestow a pardon upon a turkey each subsequent Thanksgiving while in office, thereby establishing the tradition that is still observed today.

Personally, I am thankful that our founding fathers did not agree with Benjamin Franklin’s suggestion that the turkey be named our national bird. I would hate to think that each November, we could all be carving our Thanksgiving eagles!

http://www.chron.com/life/article/The-turkey-was-almost-our-national-bird-1732163.php

An icon of America’s automotive history is 100 years old this month! Chevrolet Motor Company was launched on Nov. 3, 1911 in Detroit to compete against Ford. By 1927, Chevy overtook Ford as the country’s most popular brand, remaining on top for 52 of the next 83 years.

No other automotive brand has imbedded itself in American culture the way Chevy has. We can hum the jingles and recite the slogans, like “Eye It, Try It, Buy It,” “See The USA in Your Chevrolet,” “The Heartbeat of America,” and my personal favorite, the catchy “Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie & Chevrolet!”

The Beach Boys boasted about their real fine 409 and fuel-injected Stingray. The Ramones urged on their lil’ Camaro, while Prince worried that his little red Corvette moved too fast. And the number of songs that mention Chevy in the lyrics keeps growing. Here’s a partial list—how many more can you come up with?

American Pie - Don McLean “…drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry…”

Crocodile Rock - Elton John “Had an old gold Chevy and a place of my own…”

Night Moves - Bob Seger “..out in the back seat of my ’60 Chevy…” (Seger also sang “Like A Rock,” which was a major marketing campaign for Chevy trucks in the 90s.)

Chevy Van - Sammy Johns “We made love in my Chevy van & that’s alright with me.”

Rock & Roll Heart - Eric Clapton “I get off on 57 Chevys, I get off on screamin’ guitar…”

You can hear these and many more Chevy-related songs for free at www.pandora.com/chevy100.

What’s YOUR favorite Chevrolet memory?