If you’ll be traveling to Ellis Island (why would you do that?) before January 12th, you’ll be in time to catch the “Alcatraz: Life on the Rock” Exhibition. The place has a rich and weird history. Alcatraz is now a national park, but it was a brutal prison, home to Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, and my personal creepy favorite Robert “Birdman” Stroud. There are videos, letters and a prison phone you can pick up to hear prisoners’ stories as well as artifacts like homemade shanks and old prison guard paystubs. The traveling exhibition has a replica of a cell called “Life on the Inside”. Check it out:

On a miserable, rainy Saturday morning someone decided to take a little trip to the end of the earth. The vessel of choice was a ferry, run by Statue Cruises. After standing in a super long line, in front of a lady with really bad umbrella manners, we got on the ferry. It was a pretty short trip but I, of course, had to use the facilities. To be honest, I was surprised it wasnt the most foul thing ever, but it was still kind of a mess so I gave it 2 flushes. Sometimes the seasick ladies dont make it to the bowl.The windows were cool tho.