Westminster 2008
For many the Westminster Experience is generally watching
at home on television the two televised evenings of Group Judging
and Best In Show. It could also include watching the streaming video
of various breeds from the Westminster site and reading reports in
periodicals such as this. For those who travel here each year, it
has become an annual pilgrimage that is planned year long and is permanently
marked on our calendars. We look forward to not only the ‘Big
Event”, “The Garden” but the numerous specialties,
social events and “The Big Apple”. New York itself is
an awesome city to visit with its diverse cultures, restaurants and
shopping. This year Wendy Anderson and I had also agreed to be correspondents
for Champions Canine Newspaper.
Wednesday, Feb. 6
We arrived in the early afternoon on Wednesday and
would have to wait till 7:00 pm to pick up the dogs that were travelling
with us. The new airline policies, thank you Air Canada, prevented
us having them in the cabin with us and required they go as ‘cargo’,
hence not even on the same flights as us. We decided to rent a car
and visit some outlet malls in New Jersey and do some shopping before
heading in to the city and eventually back to the airport to collect
the dogs. I said shopping....sorry I meant SHOPPING....everything
is on sale at this time of year and with all the social events you
need a lot of new outfits. After a productive afternoon we were starting
to feel the effects of the early wake up call to catch 6:00 am flights
and headed to the city to check in.
We were staying at the New Yorker conveniently located a block from
Madison Square Gardens. Most exhibitors with dogs stay here or at
the Hotel Pennsylvania. Both these hotels charge premium rates for
the dog show week. If you are not bringing dogs and have just come
to watch there are many affordable hotels within walking distance.
The Yorkie Specialties are held at the New Yorker and the Toy and
Shih Tzu Specialties are held at the “Penn”. The Sunday
Shih Tzu Specialty is held in New Jersey. There are numerous other
specialties for Sporting and Working dogs which are held primarily
in New Jersey. After checking in we braved the New York traffic for
our trip to the airport, picked up the dogs who arrived safe and sound
and were off to Shih Tzu breeder Eileen Nicholas’ to drop off
a bitch for breeding and have a quick visit. When we finally arrived
back in our room and settled the dogs in, sleep came quite easy. The
plan for the next day was shopping and a Broadway play in the evening.
Thursday, Feb. 7
We set out in the morning and blitzed the 10 floors
of Macy’s. Wendy had a shopping list of 2 evening gowns and
a cocktail dress plus several smart casual outfits. She had hoarded
her wardrobe budget and saved it for New York as there would be plenty
of selection at good prices. She got some great buys on casual wear
but passed on several promising dresses.
We headed north towards Times Square and decided to have lunch at
a traditional NY street vendor. They are world famous,,,,they even
compete for awards each year....yes....”The Vendys “ They
serve everything from traditional hot dogs, sausages, gyros, halals,
tacos, crepes, Chinese to brownies, mini doughnuts and roasted nuts.
We ‘dined’ on a chicken/lamb gyro loaded with veggies
and secret white and hot sauce....YUMMY....it was then off to line
up for discounted tickets at the Marriott. We were able to get two
Orchestra seats in the 6th row for the musical Grease that evening.
We then ventured further north to 59th street and Central Park on
our way to Bloomingdale's.
Bloomingdale's had an unbelievable selection of dresses
and we spent the next few hours trying on quite a variety. Wendy ended
up with an armful to choose from but only purchased a striking red
full length strapless number to wear to the Have A Heart Ball the
following evening. She left a gorgeous full length black dress and
a classic knee length cocktail dress behind as they were a bit pricey.
We still had all day tomorrow to search out more bargains. Most stores
were running sales of up to 70 % off original prices and some had
another 30 % off that sale number. Macy’s and Bloomingdale's
also offered an additional 11 % ‘Visitors Discount’ card
you could pick up at their visitor centers. Do the math...a $1000
dress could be had for around $190. We cabbed it back to the New Yorker,
grabbed a quick takeout Chinese snack of chicken and vegetables which
we ate in the room while we rested before headed off to the theatre.
 
The musical ‘Grease’ on Broadway was awesome. Great dancing,
singing, WOW....we would be humming ‘We Go Together ....Like
Rama Lama Lama Ke Ding A De Dinga A Dong”...for the next few
days.......Afterwards we had munchies of chicken weggies with sweet
potato fries and a great glass of red wine at Saju on 44th street
in the Theatre District before retiring to the New Yorker to rest
our weary bodies for another adventurous day tomorrow.
Friday, Feb. 8
We awoke and headed over to the Hotel Pennsylvania
for the Progressive Toy Dog Club show and 10:30 am Shih Tzu judging.
This is a Specialty show for all Toy breeds and we were particularly
interested in the Shih Tzu judging. There were quite a few dogs from
Canada entered in Shih Tzu including Kim Kroeplin's Shih Tzu Special
'Missy', several nice dogs from Patti and Mark Paquette's Souyen Shih
Tzu. Wendy Paquette was Best of Winners with a lovely female Shih
Tzu and Jody Paquette showed her handsome black male Shih Tzu Special
Jay-Z. We also watched Pekingese which was well represented with Robert
Denis, Beth Ferrier, Debbie McFarlane, Micheline Pigeon, Tom and Diane
Curley showing dogs. Norm Fargo and Sarah Drake were showing several
client dogs.
After judging we continued to check off our shopping
list and headed for Lord and Taylor to scout out dresses with no success.
It was then off to Saks on Fifth Avenue. Wendy found a floor length
black evening gown from the Tadashi Collection at a great steal. We
then ventured in to the “American Girl” doll store across
the street and picked up the new 2008 American Girl Doll “Mia”
and accessories for Wendy’s daughter. Along the way we found
a great wholesale outlet for mens and ladies clothes and Richard added
a new tuxedo, black suit and two dress overcoats to his wardrobe while
Wendy managed to find a casual red coat to add to hers. Our search
for a suitable cocktail dress was looking futile. We decided to go
back to Bloomingdale’s and take another look at the one Wendy
wanted the previous day with the hope that it was on sale. As luck
would have it they gave us another bargain and Wendy was smiling ear
to ear. The important shopping was now done. On the way back we stopped
and found a matching pair of shoes for Wendy’s red dress at
one of the many shoe stores along the way. We grabbed another quick
snack to eat in our room while we prepared to get ready for the Have
The Heart Ball later in the evening.
The "Have The Heart Ball Valentine's Bash"
was held at the Essex House Hotel near Central Park and benefited
Take The Lead and Search And Rescue. We had a great evening of dancing,
drinking and socializing. Another feature was a draw for $10,000.
Wendy was quite disappointed that we did not win as she was already
planning a day of "power shopping" if she had won. It was
then off to bed for a great nights sleep after another long but enjoyable
day.
Saturday, Feb. 9
We had an opportunity to sleep in as judging was not
till 1:30 pm. The Metropolitan Shih Tzu Specialty had a good entry
of Canadian dogs, but unfortunately no one won a major win on the
day. After judging we had booked a ‘Spa’ session at the
nearby Athena Spa. The couples package included a 1 hour body scrub,
hot tub, aromatherapy rose petal bath, steam room, Hwangto Igloo dry
sauna, champagne, and fruit followed by a 1 hour massage. After our
four hour pampering session we stopped in at the Ayza Cafe and Wine
Bar on 31st Street just west of Broadway and for a light dinner which
started with a butternut squash soup, goat cheese salad and a chicken
panini. We indulged ourselves in a wine sampling served in flights
of an exquisite selection of red wines which complemented each course.
It was then back to the hotel for a nap before heading out to the
Chronicle Party at the Manhattan building around the corner from the
New Yorker.
The Chronicle party was an exciting night of music,
dancing, food and BEVERAGE.....The popular bash was well attended
and most overindulged in the multitude of free cocktails, beer and
wine. It not only featured a great band, but performances by “Tribute”
singers Liza Minelli, Cher and Diana Ross.....GREAT PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!
 
 
 
 
 
Sunday, Feb. 10
We decided not to travel over to New Jersey for the
Specialty and stayed in the city to attend the Annual General Meeting
for the American Dog Show Judges Association followed by their Annual
Reception at the New Yorker.
Results from the New Jersey Specialty: Best Of Breed
was Am Can Ch Ying’s Miss Congeniality “Missy” owned
by Kim Kroeplin and handed by Eduardo Texeira. Best of Winners was
a Souyen’s Victoria Secret owned and handled by Eduardo/Luis,
Patti and Sarah Paquette. Best in Sweeps was Patti’s Souyen’s
Beauty Secret.
Each year Dachshund breeders and dog show aficionados, Iris Love,
Anne Radice and Liz Smith host one of the most popular and well attended
parties of the year. Over 800 guests are treated to an awesome culinary
feast at the world renowned Tavern On The Green restaurant in Central
Park. This year’s theme was a Roman celebration with hosts dressed
in Roman period attire and the rooms were decorated in a Roman flair.
It was a “CELEBRATION” in honour of the Westminster Show
Dogs in general and Dachshunds in particular. There was a large contingent
of Canadians who enjoyed the festivities including Lynda Torrance
who handles for Iris and who acted as an 'unofficial host'.
Getting There and Shopping- Feb.
6 - 10, 08
Progressive Dog Club- Feb. 8, 08
Metropolitan NY Shih Tzu Fanciers-
Feb. 9, 08
New Jersey- Feb. 10, 08
Iris Love's Dachshund Bash- Feb.
10, 08
Westminster All Breed- Feb 11, 08
Westminster- Shih Tzu Casual- Feb
12, 08
Westminster- Shih Tzu Judging- Feb
12, 08
Westminster All Breed- Feb 12, 08
Getting Home-Final Days- Feb. 13-15,
08
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