James Parks Blog
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- 2026 | 13 Posts
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- 2024 | 47 Posts
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- 2020 | 53 Posts
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- 2018 | 27 Posts
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Celebrate U.S. Bowling League Day in Nassau County
Celebrate U.S. Bowling League Day in Nassau County
Happy U.S. Bowling League Day! Every September 3rd, we get to celebrate a pastime that's been bringing friends, families, and communities together for over a century: league bowling. And what better way to mark the day than by spotlighting some bowling history, local legends, and the fantastic alleys right here in Nassau County.
A Little Bowling History
Bowling has been around for thousands of years, but 10-pin bowling as we know it today has its roots in the United States. In the 1800s, Connecticut banned nine-pin bowling due to its association with gambling. The solution? Add a tenth pin and keep rolling. The American Bowling Congress (today's USBC) was later founded in New York in 1895, set...
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Happy Calendar Adjustment Day!
Happy Calendar Adjustment Day!
(Yes, that's a real holiday — and no, it's not just an excuse to skip Monday's staff meeting.)
A Little History Lesson (Don't Worry, It's Short!)
Calendar Adjustment Day is celebrated every September 2nd to remember the time in 1752 when Great Britain (and its American colonies) switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. That bold move came with one small hiccup: they had to delete 11 whole days from the calendar. People went to bed on September 2nd and woke up on September 14th. Imagine explaining that to your boss: "Sorry I missed that deadline... those days literally didn't exist."
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National Eat Outside Day: A Nassau County Celebration
National Eat Outside Day: A Nassau County Celebration
Every August 31st, we're given a guilt-free excuse to take our food, our friends, and our folding chairs outdoors—because it's National Eat Outside Day! And here in Nassau County, we have the perfect backdrop for it.
A Brief History of Dining al Fresco
Eating outside is hardly new. From medieval feasts in castle courtyards to Victorian-era picnics with parasols, people have always loved pairing fresh air with good food. The Italians even gave us a fancy name for it—al fresco—which just sounds classier than "let's grab the cooler."
Fun fact: the very word "picnic" comes from the French pique-nique in the...
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National Slinky Day: A Spring in Your Step and in Your Community
National Slinky Day: A Spring in Your Step and in Your Community
You know that satisfying shh-shh-shh sound as a Slinky makes its way down the stairs? That's nostalgia, fun, and a tiny bit of physics all rolled into one coil. And what better way to celebrate National Slinky Day than by bouncing through some history, fun facts, and—because we live in Nassau County—pointing out the amazing local toy shops where you can snag one for yourself.
A Brief History of the Slinky
The Slinky was born in 1943 when naval engineer Richard James accidentally knocked a tension spring off his desk. Instead of collapsing into a sad little heap, it "walked" down to the floor with that iconic bounce. His wife Betty came up with the name "Slinky," and by 194...
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Playing by the Book: Celebrating National
Playing by the Book: Celebrating National "According to Hoyle" Day in Nassau County
Every August 29th, we celebrate National "According to Hoyle" Day—a holiday dedicated to playing by the rules. The phrase "According to Hoyle" comes from Edmond Hoyle, an 18th-century British writer who literally wrote the book on card games. If you've ever heard someone say, "that's not how you play!" and wished you had the rulebook handy, you can thank Hoyle for setting the standard.
A Brief History of Hoyle
Edmond Hoyle published his first rulebook in 1742, covering Whist (a precursor to Bridge). His name became synonymous with accuracy and fair play. By the 19th century, "according to Hoyle" was common slang for doing...
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