​The Early History of Theme Parks in America

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Since the 19th Century, Americans have flocked to amusement parks to explore family-friendly entertainment. In fact, many of us can conjure up childhood memories of the park’s signature snacks or the cheerful call of the carousel.

The modern theme park springs from the centuries old concept of a “pleasure garden,” which is an area of public land set aside for recreation and entertainment purposes. In America, theme parks grew to include amusement parks, bandstands, concert halls, and zoos. Over the centuries, they have shaped our individual memories and the national identity of America.

Amusement Parks Before Themes

Early amusement parks in the United States began as picnic grounds that provided a place for working men to relax after work. They could also bring their families to enjoy inexpensive entertainment and food.

Expositions like the 1893 Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition created another model for the amusement park. It concentrated on shows, rides, and concessions to draw greater crowds. Each attraction helped boost the public’s interest in other shows, and the reciprocity brought in greater profits for the owners.

In the 1880s, Coney Island began its rise to amusement park fame. Steeplechase Park featured a changing array of attractions, and it became successful by appealing to people’s quest for novelty. Ambitious Dreamland Park offered dramatic spectacles and entertainment along with rides and thrills. They also included a few tawdry options, like side shows and the popular “freak show,” featuring people with unusual abilities or abnormal features.

In 1900, this carousel was located in Culver Plaza. Reprinted from Coney Island and Astroland

Santa Claus Land: America’s First Theme Park

Originally called Santa Fe, the town of Santa Claus, Indiana, selected its new name in the 1850s. The U.S. Post Office refused to grant the borough a post office because another town in Indiana had the same name, so the town’s residents selected the new name of Santa Claus.

As the only post office named Santa Claus in the country, the town began receiving thousands of letters from children writing their holiday messages to Santa. The postmaster, helped by local volunteers, worked to answer the enthusiastic letters from kids all over the country.

In the early 1940s, industrialist Louis J. Koch of Evansville, Indiana bought 260 acres of land to create an amusement park to leverage the town’s unique name. Santa Claus Land opened in 1946, offering a dreamy, Alpine village with a toy shop, rides designed just for children, and daily appearances from Santa himself.

Santa Jim Yellig was the town Santa for over 40 years, until his death at 90. Reprinted from Santa Claus.

Santa Claus Land became the first true theme park in America. Jim Yellig portrayed St. Nick at the park for four decades, and the park has thrived from the 1950s until the present day. In the 1980s, the park added Halloween and the Fourth of July as additional holidays, then changed the park’s name to the more appropriate, Holiday World.

In 1993, the Koch family added a water park, Splashin’ Safari. Over the years, the park added several wooden roller coasters, and it continues to offer free sunscreen and soft drinks. The park added Thanksgiving as a theme in 2006. From Santa Claus Land to Holiday World, the nation’s first theme park has entertained generations of Americans.

Disney

Since the 1920’s, Walt Disney has dazzled Americans with his beloved characters and innovative cartoons. The animator, voice actor, and film producer founded WED in 1951 with the clear objective to create a theme park that captured the magic of the Disney film experience.

For years, he visited many amusement parks around the country, conducting research and refining his vision. He obtained funding for the Disneyland project from the ABC network, and he agreed to produce a weekly television show that introduced his dream project to the Baby Boom generation and their parents.

The park opened with a flourish in 1955, and many Americans watched the grand opening on a record-breaking live broadcast. While the day presented some operational challenges (one ride stopped because of an electric overload, while a gas leak forced Fantasyland to close), the park drew one million visitors during the first ten weeks.

The park’s original financial model included an admission fee and separate ride tickets. The park soon moved to a semi-inclusive price of $2.50, allowing eight rides for one price. Most parks now follow the fully-inclusive price model, first introduced by the next big player in American theme park history, Six Flags.

Six Flags

On August 1, 1961, Six Flags over Texas, the creation of oilman and developer Angus Wynne Jr., opened in Arlington, Texas. Focused on the theme of Texas history, it offered an all-inclusive price model.

Visitors paid a single price for admission that included all of the park’s attractions. Food and souvenirs were the only additional expense for the guests.

Each section of the park focused on one of the six cultures that had shaped the state throughout its history, including France, Spain, Mexico, the Confederacy, the constantly evolving American culture, and Texas itself. The rides and attractions reflected Texas’ unique heritage in agriculture, industry, and a melting pot of Southern and Spanish culture.

Six Flags is the world’s largest regional theme park company, operating 30 properties in North America as well as multiple amusement parks around the globe.

Adventure Awaits

For many people, theme parks reconnect us to our childhood memories of thrilling rides, tasty food, and live entertainment. Take advantage of the early fall season that offers lower admission prices and reduced lines, and chase the thrills at a great American theme park.

Discover more boooks from Arcadia Publishing about Amusement Parks in America.

Why Olvera Street Should Top Your List of Places to See in L.A.

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As a tourist attraction, Olvera Street has its roots in the late 1920s, when Christine Sterling began a fundraising quest to save Avila Adobe. The oldest standing residence in Los Angeles had been slated for demolition. Her dream expanded to include all of Olvera Street, hoping to restore it to its original Mexican and Spanish heritage. Many of the original buildings were saved in the process, and craftspeople and artists opened businesses along the street, creating a place for visitors to learn about the early history of Los Angeles.

Olvera Street looking north in 1890. Reprinted from Los Angeles’s Olvera Street

The Historical Origins of Olvera Street

The real history of Olvera Street began with a pueblo built by 44 settlers in 1781. The homes, which were owned by Californios, included Avila Adobe, built in 1818 by wealthy cattle rancher Francisco Avila. The early 1800s Mexican pueblo became the seed of growth for American Los Angeles following the Mexican-American War. Floods, earthquakes, war, the Great Depression, racially inspired deportations, neglect, and restoration have all left their marks on Olvera Street and Plaza.

Today, over two million visitors are drawn each year to what is now designated the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument. To understand the raw historical truth of the birthplace of Los Angeles, William Estrada, historian and curator of the Historical Monument, has written a book called Los Angeles’s Olvera Street that is packed with an astonishing collection of vintage photos and historical information.

Docents from Las Angelitas lead free 50 minute walking tours through El Pueblo de Los Angeles Tuesdays through Saturdays. Visitors who’ve read the book will have a deeper appreciation of some of the highlights on the tour, like Avila Adobe, La Iglesia de Nuestra Senora La Reina de Los Angeles (The Church of Our Lady Queen of the Angels), Pico House owned by Pio Pico – the last Mexican Governor of California, Sepulveda House, El Kiosko (Olvera Street Plaza), Firehouse #1, and many of the other 27 historically significant attractions.

Sights, Smells, and Sounds of El Pueblo de Los Angeles

Olvera Street offers not only a glimpse into the Mexican history of El Pueblo del Los Angeles, but it provides a cultural immersion where visitors can shop, dine, listen to music, and attend festivals and events. It’s a place to visit again and again. Situated near both Union Station and a reasonably priced parking pay lot, visitors have easy access to the historic area.

Shopping

Stroll down the two blocks of Olvera Street, the birthplace of Los Angeles, and experience the same sights, sounds, and aromas you would if you walked down the street of any tourist town in Mexico. Shiny ceramic avocados, peppers, onions, and other vegetables hang from decorative rope next to strings of hanging gourd maracas painted green, white, and red. Brightly colored ukuleles, skulls, and smiling suns occupy space alongside decorative sombreros, blankets, leather flower coin purses, and lucha libre masks. Mexican vanilla, coffee, chocolate, and hot sauces fill shelves near myriad Mexican artisan tchotchkes. This pedestrian street, the historic heart of Los Angeles, is alive with color.

Dining

Mexico is a big country with regional cuisine specialties throughout, so Mexican food can mean a lot of different things. On Olvera Street there are about ten restaurants and a few stands and cafés to represent all of Mexico. Expect to find Olvera Street by following your nose! You can experience aromatic and delectable traditional Mexican fare like mole poblano, caldo 7 mares (7 seas soup), enchiladas, and fajitas.

Stop by a casual eatery for tasty taquitos with avocado tomatillo sauce and house horchata or steaming carne asada fries. For a yummy snack, get a dulce le leche churro fried and filled with warm caramel, then dusted with cinnamon and sugar at Mr. Churro. If you’d like to know a little something about Mexican food in Los Angeles before you go, check out the book Los Angeles Street Food: A History from Tamaleros to Taco Trucks by LA food writer Farley Elliott.

Music

Not only is the air filled with the scents of savory Mexican dishes and sweet fried churros, it is also filled with the sounds of Mariachi music. A traditional Mariachi group has various stringed instruments like violin, Spanish guitar, vihuela (a high-pitched five string guitar), and guitarròn (acoustic bass), along with trumpets. Sometimes there are other instruments – accordion, for example, and at times, if it is a small roving street group, there will be only one of each instrument. Music is generally traditional folk music. Some mariachis will be in restaurants, and others will be on the street. It is appropriate to tip if you stop to enjoy the music.

Olvera Street is also home to several cultural events, fiestas, and celebrations throughout the year. Check their website to see what’s happening during your visit, or plan to attend a particular event. Reading up on the area before your visit will enhance your experience and make it more memorable.

Iconic Images: Charleston, SC

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For our new Iconic Images City Spotlight Series, we decided to start with what we know and love best, our hometown of Charleston, SC. We love this city so much that we decided to base our company here all those years ago, and now we want to share with you some of the city’s most iconic locations, and images from both past and present. Plus, if you’re planning a visit, we’ve included some helpful travel tips to ensure you make the most out of your trip to “The Holy City.”

Brief History

Charleston, South Carolina is a major port on the Atlantic coast that prides itself on being a charming, historic center of Southern culture. First settled in 1670, it was originally called Charles Towne, for King Charles II (King of Great Britain & Ireland). Since its founding, Charleston has grown to be the hub of a large urbanized area that includes Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, Hanahan, and Goose Creek. The city is situated on a peninsula between the estuaries of the Ashley and Cooper rivers, facing the harbor.

In its infancy, Charleston served as a commercial center of trade for rice and indigo. Following freedom from British trade restrictions as a result of the American Revolution, Charleston prospered as the chief winter port of the United States until the War of 1812. Charleston operated considerable trade routes to and from the Caribbean, exporting cotton and rice, among other things.

Despite complications from multiple wars including the Civil War and World Wars I & II, Charleston continued to prosper. At present day, there are over 761,000 residents, with 45 new residents arriving daily. The largest public sector employer is Joint Base Charleston, while the largest private sector employer is The Boeing Company. Major exports include transportation equipment and computer/electronic products.

With a brief history of Charleston, from founding to present day under our belt, let’s explore some of its most iconic destinations to visit.

The Battery

Arguably one of the most popular spots to visit in Charleston, both for its history and beauty is The Battery. The Battery is both a landmark, and defensive seawall used to protect the port city during the Civil War. It has since become a destination for locals and visitors alike to enjoy a picnic, a stroll, or a great view of the harbour. Several other popular landmarks can be viewed from The Battery, including Fort Sumter, Castle Pinckney, the World War II aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, Fort Moultrie, and Sullivan’s Island.

St. Michael’s Church

One of Charleston’s many nicknames is “The Holy City,” and for good reason. Not only has it been credited with considerable religious tolerance since its founding, but it is home to over 400 houses of worship today. In the early days, the towering church steeples in the skyline helped ship captains identify the town and safely guide their ships into port. No doubt, some of the credit for the city’s nickname can be attributed to this as well.

With so many beautiful and historic churches to choose from, we decided to feature Charleston’s oldest church structure, St. Michael’s. Though the Anglican church was originally named St. Philip’s, the congregation quickly outgrew the small church, and upon rebuilding, it was renamed St. Michael’s. Little change has been made to the structure since the cornerstone was laid in 1752, except for the addition of the sacristy in 1883. The church now stands at 186 feet high. 

City Market

Another place of note and point of interest is the City Market on Market Street. Though there exists a common misconception that this market existed for selling slaves, it was actually the city’s first public market, also known as the “Beef Market.” It is commonly agreed to be one of the country’s oldest standing markets. Now, however, it is a bustling shopping center for tourists seeking wares and gift items from local artisans, including the iconic Sweet Grass Baskets, for which the city has earned another nickname, “The Big Sweet Grass Basket City”. 

King Street

Another must-stop, must-shop, and must-see in Charleston is King Street, where many of the cities finest retailers can be found. Lovely restaurants, cafes, bars, and galleries are also located along this main Charleston thoroughfare. Though many businesses have come and gone, King Street remains the epicenter of Charleston shopping.

Rainbow Row

The last, but certainly not least iconic destination in Charleston is Rainbow Row, a series of thirteen colorful historic houses located on East Bay Street in downtown Charleston. It represents the longest cluster of Georgian row houses in the United States, and is considered one of the most photographed parts of the city. 

Ready to visit Charleston now? Here’s some helpful tips from a local…

Top 5 Places to Eat:

  • Fuel – Refined pub eats with Caribbean twists in a repurposed 1950s-era gas station with a big patio.
  • Poogan’s Porch – Traditional Southern cooking served in a Victorian townhouse with porches & a massive wine cellar.
  • Husk – An ever-changing menu of locally sourced Southern dishes served in a restored Victorian-era home.
  • Fiery Ron’s Hometeam BBQ – Accommodates every appetite with traditional authentic BBQ, ribs, chicken, pulled pork, finger lickin’ sides and tasty desserts.
  • Magnolia’s – A refined take on traditional Southern cooking, served in a warm, sophisticated environment.

Top 5 Places to Visit:

  • Magnolia Plantation & Gardens – is a historic house with beautiful gardens, babbling brooks, and great views.
  • The Battery – Take in the beauty and history of the Battery with a stroll around its gardens and a picnic lunch
  • Isle of Palms – Enjoy a relaxing day at the beach, followed by cocktails, dinner, and live music at nearby restaurants
  • Shem Creek – Kayak or Stand-Up Paddle Board in the creek, then hit one of the nearby restaurants for some savory Southern fare
  • Holy City Brewing – Cool off with a local brew from Holy City Brewing

5 Fun Facts

  • Nicknames include Chucktown, The Holy City, and The Big Sweet Grass Basket City
  • Celebrities who call Charleston home: Bill Murray (actor), Darius Rucker (musician), Stephen Colbert (Comedian), Elise Testone (singer), Shepard Fairey (artist)
  • Founded in 1773, the Charleston Museum is the oldest museum in the United States
  • Fort Sumter National Monument, which commemorates the first shot fired in the Civil War, is located about 3.5 miles southeast of Charleston, in the bay.
  • The Dock Street Theater, built in 1736, is the first American theater and is said to be one of the most haunted places in Charleston

For additional reading and photos, check out these resources:

Hidden History of Old Charleston
Hidden History of Civil War Charleston
Charleston a Historic Walking Tour
All Charleston, SC Titles

Stories from St. Louis Cemetery: The City of the Dead

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If you’re an avid paranormal enthusiast in search of your next haunted travel location, then you absolutely can’t beat New Orleans. Not only is it considered one of America’s most heavily haunted locations, but it’s home to some truly historic sites as well. The very famous St. Louis Cemetery is both, so no trip made to New Orleans in the hopes of spotting a ghost or two would be complete without a visit.

Why Is the St. Louis Cemetery So Haunted?

Despite the fact that cemeteries are permanent homes to hundreds (if not thousands) of dead, the great majority of them don’t tend to be very haunted. However, the St. Louis Cemetery is a major exception, as it has been the site of multiple paranormal sightings for over 200 years.

As to why, many theorize that people simply want to see ghosts there, so they do. However, that doesn’t really account for the number of die-hard skeptics and generally level-headed people who have also said they’ve had a brush with a possible spirit within the walls of the St. Louis Cemetery. There are even multiple police officers who have a story or two to tell!

One theory has to do with the high number of graves and tombs that have been broken into over the years. (There are quite a few graves that have been allowed to fall into disrepair as well.) Many believe that’s a sure way to stir up a few ghosts! Another points to the number of voodoo rituals and séances that have been performed at the cemetery over the years.

Getting to Know the Ghosts of St. Louis Cemetery

When you consider the fact that the St. Louis Cemetery has been in existence for nearly three centuries, it only stands to reason that there have been countless people laid to rest there. That said, there are numerous ghosts and shades associated with the site. However, the following are some of the most famous.

Marie Laveau

If you want to know the most famous ghost of this location, then look no further than voodoo priestess Marie Laveau. She was a free woman of color who quickly rose to fame in the 19th century as one of New Orleans’s most famous voodoo practitioners. Locals have also reported seeing her walking the city’s streets ever since her death. Some even say she was brought back to life by a powerful voodoo spell.

As far as the St. Louis Cemetery in particular goes, many visitors have reported seeing her shade strolling among the graves. If you’re hoping to spot her yourself, keep an eye out for a woman of color wearing a head scarf and ceremonial clothing. You might even be able to spot her walking into the Glapion family tomb, which is the place where she’s said to have been laid to rest.

Henry Vignes

Henry Vignes was a seaman who was betrayed when his family vault was sold for personal gain by a trusted acquaintance whom he trusted with ownership. He is said to have been buried in the pauper’s field area for that reason.

If you’d like to spot Henry, keep an eye out for a solid form that almost looks alive. He will be tall, have very distinctive blue eyes, and be dressed in a white shirt. He is said to be looking for his family’s vault so that he can finally be properly buried.

“Alphonse”

Although no one truly knows how Alphonse met his end or who he is, many visitors claim to have met him. He appears as a young man who looks very much alive and approaches visitors. He takes their hands, asks for help returning home, and then promptly begins to cry before disappearing. He is said to be afraid of the Pinead family vault and has been known to tell some visitors to steer clear of it.

Other Citizens of the Cemetery

There are a variety of other noteworthy and interesting folks said to haunt St. Louis Cemetery as well. Some visitors even believe they’ve seen their ghosts. They include:

  • Barthelemy Lafon, a former architect and city planner who joined the notorious Lafitte brothers in acts of piracy after the Battle of New Orleans.
  • Paul Morphy, a chess champion famous all over the world.
  • Etienne de Bore, a Louisiana sugar mogul who was once a King’s Musketeer.
  • Several soldiers who fought and died in the Battle of New Orleans.
  • Bernard de Marigny, a gambler credited with introducing New Orleans to craps.

Should you decide to visit the cemetery yourself, always make sure you follow the rules. Don’t break into the cemetery at night. Instead, consider signing up for one of the site’s many ghost tours, as they’re considered to be one of the best ways to experience the cemetery. Happy phantom hunting!

10 Popular Halloween Costumes from 1996

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Halloween is more than just a night for fun activities like trick-or-treating, scary movie marathons, or epic parties. When you take a closer look at the costumes that are most popular each year, Halloween as a concept is also something of a time capsule. To know what people most wanted to be that year is to know which pop culture phenomena, characters, and public figures really had our attention at the time.

So, what about 20 years ago in particular? What had people of all ages talking, fantasizing, and dreaming way back in the year 1996? Let’s step back in time and take a closer look at which Halloween costumes were selling like hotcakes and why.

1. Ghost Face from Scream

Iconic horror movie characters are always popular costume choices when Halloween rolls around, so it’s probably not a surprise that the 1996 success of Wes Craven’s Scream spawned hundreds of takes on Ghost Face. Not only was the costume simple to put together and inexpensive, but it was the sort of thing that worked well for people of all ages.

2. Esmeralda from Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame

You can always rest assured that if a given year sees the release of a new Disney movie, that year’s Halloween will also see crowds of children dressed up as the characters from that movie. In 1996, Hunchback of Notre Dame was the hot new release, so hundreds of little girls couldn’t wait to dress up as Esmeralda.

3. Darth Vader

When a franchise is as beloved and enduring as Star Wars, it makes sense that you consistently see people dressed up as associated characters every Halloween. However, 1996 saw people getting excited about an upcoming Star Wars re-release in theaters that winter. The streets were filled with Darth Vaders of all ages that Halloween as a result.

4. Bacon and Eggs

Every Halloween sees couples and close friends trying to come up with the perfect idea for coordinating costumes. In 1996, food related options were especially popular, thanks to their quirkiness and easy-to-recognize aesthetics. Bacon and eggs were by far the most popular choice for couples and twosomes of every generation.

5. Fruits and Vegetables

Also popular among those with their hearts set on being food for Halloween 20 years ago were fruits and vegetables of all types. Popular options for both individuals and groups included pineapples, pickles, and bananas. You were just as likely to see “sexy” versions of these as you were quirkier, G-rated alternatives.

6. Tried-and-True Classics

These days, cultural appropriation on Halloween is considered a no-no pretty much across the board. However, that idea was just beginning to really take root in 1996. That said, you saw a lot fewer people dressing up as Indian braves, geishas, and belly dancers. Instead, people chose to revisit classic options like witches, vampires, pirates, and ghosts. Not only were such costumes easy to put together, even last minute, but they were socially safe options that carried zero risk of offending anyone.

7. Animals

Another popular option for people of all ages 20 years ago was that of various animals – bears, dogs, rabbits, and so forth. This was especially the case with onesie-style costumes, as many people liked recycling the costumes as pajamas after Halloween was over and done with. Which animal was most popular of them all? It was actually a cat, proving that even before the Internet officially became a really big deal, people just couldn’t get enough of furry felines.

8. Superheroes

Another choice that tends to be popular more or less every Halloween is pretty much any superhero, and 1996 was no exception. People of all ages dressed up as everyone from Iron Man, to Batman, to Superman, to Wonder Woman that year.

9. Exo-Skeleton Alien from Independence Day

Another 1996 blockbuster that spawned more than its share of iconic film costumes that Halloween was Independence Day. However, although you saw people recreating lots of characters from this action-packed Will Smith vehicle, exoskeleton alien costumes were by far the most popular, thanks to their comfort and affordability.

10. 50s-Inspired Costumes

Costumes that invoke 50s-era nostalgia have been all the rage for many years now, but you definitely saw your share of them in 1996. Not only was it cool to dress up in a poodle skirt, a Pink Ladies-esque jacket, or a John Travolta-esque greaser get-up, but it was comfortable as well. In many cases, people were even able to find items like jeans, white t-shirts, and leather jackets right at home in their own closets.

Warding Off Jack Frost: The History of the Hot Toddy

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When the cold weather demands a stiff drink, the perennial go-to is a Hot Toddy. A mixture of whiskey or rum with spices and hot water, this winter beverage has always been popular in the United States. But where did the Hot Toddy first come from? Today, we’re exploring the history of this favorite cold weather drink, and offering two recipes to try this winter season!

A Cold Day in Scotland… Or Maybe India?

The story of the Hot Toddy begins within the dampened streets of Edinburgh. As legend has it, the first hot toddies were made within Edinburgh’s pubs by mixing Scotch whiskey with a splash of hot water. This water was said to have been sourced from Tod’s Well, the largest well in the area, and giving the drink its name. These drinks were very popular during the 18th centuries, when they were used as a way to ward off the unrelenting Scottish cold.

Although this version of the legend seems quite plausible, it’s more likely that hot toddies truly began in British-occupied India. The word “taddy” in Hindi, which referred to a beverage made from fermented palm sap, actually dates back to as early as the 1610s, long before the Scots began serving the drinks in their pubs. By the mid-18th century, a taddy in India had come to refer to a “beverage made of alcoholic liquor with hot water, sugar, and spices.”

Whatever the actual origin may be, by the time the colonists were forced to brave the blustery New England winters, a Hot Toddy was considered the only acceptable remedy. The drink was typically served in large bowls to be shared by multiple patrons, and piping hot. In the colonies, the traditional recipe morphed slightly, combining rum, sugar, and spices with water, rather than whiskey. And in some pubs, the recipe even featured a combination of egg yolks and rum.

Serving Up the Modern Hot Toddy

Today, there might just be as many Hot Toddy variations as there are bars. Chances are good that if you ask two bartenders for a Toddy, you’re bound to receive two different versions of the classic drink. And in the newest additions to the recipe, you might even find a spritz of lemon juice.

As the cold weather slowly gears up across the country, consider serving up a bowl of Hot Toddy at this year’s holiday party – whether traditional or modern!

Traditional: Hot Toddy

Hot water
2 ounces rum or whiskey
½ teaspoon sugar (or more or less to taste)
Scrape of nutmeg (optional)

Heat water to boiling in a saucepan or kettle. Measure rum or whiskey into a tall mug. Fill to the top with hot water and spoon in sugar, stirring to blend. Grate some nutmeg on top if desired. Drink hot.

Modern: Hot Buttered (Maple) Rum

A combination of fresh ginger, cardamom and cinnamon makes this hot toddy irresistible on a frigid night. It takes very little fuss, too—the drink comes together in as much time as it takes to boil water. A pat of butter delivers silkiness, and the spices taste as though they are actively repelling viruses. Using maple rum lends sweetness that allows you to go easy on sugar.

2–3 cardamom pods
1 pat of unsalted butter (cultured butter works especially well)
A few slices of peeled fresh ginger
1 teaspoon of light brown sugar, or more to taste
Pinch of orange zest, or an orange twist
Pinch of nutmeg
Pinch of cinnamon, or a cinnamon stick
1 dram of maple rum, to desired strength
hot water
A few drops of vanilla (optional)

Add cardamom pods to bottom of a tall mug and muddle slightly with pestle or other blunt kitchen tool. Add butter, ginger, sugar, orange zest and spices. In a separate mug, combine rum and hot water and then pour over spice mixture. Stir to dissolve butter and sugar, add a few drops of vanilla if desired and serve.

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