Madame Tussauds New York

 We were not financially compensated for this post. We were given tickets to Madame Tussauds New York for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are our own based on our experience visiting the museum.

 Me - Madame Tussauds, wow! It was really fun. There are so many different kinds of wax figures. Some of them look real; and some of them don't. In the room where you came in there was a fountain. It was really pretty. All around the fountain were the wax figures of movie stars.  There was a room with singers like Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift and Katy Perry. Katy Perry and Taylor Swift didn't look real. Carrie Underwood did. I really liked the figures of Carrie Underwood and the Beatles. There was a room with sports figures like David Wright, Derek Jeter, and Serena Williams. In another room, there were political people including some Presidents and their wives and William and Kate. There was a room with New York icons like the Statute of Liberty, and a Rockette. They even had a statute of Madame Tussaud herself. She was really small. I didn't like the 4D Superhero movie because I had a bad headache. Otherwise, I probably would have liked it. Madame Tussauds was super fun, and if you have the chance you should totally go there.

Mom - I have always liked wax museums. The best one I have ever been to is Madame Tussauds. I  been to Madame Tussauds in London and New York. I went to the one in New York several times. It really changed a lot from the first time I went there to the most recent. I like that about it. I also like at as you walk around there are plaques near each figure to tell you who the person is. There are also plaques that provide more information about the wax figures in general like how they are made. Unfortunately, it takes much too long and the museum is generally much too crowded to have time to stop and read each plaque. The information on them is very interesting, however, and I would have liked to have had time to read them all. Over ten years passed between my first visit to Madame Tussauds and my most recent one. In that time, the museum has changed a lot. It would be interesting to go every few years or so and see how much things change in that time. The changes in the museum are reflective of the changes that have taken place in the world during the same period of time. Some people who may have been really famous at one time have faded from view while others have become famous. Life goes on and on and the world keeps changing and Madame Tussauds changes right along with it. They only thing that doesn't change is that it remains the most famous wax museum in the world.

And that's our view. Who would you most wanted to see represented in wax at a Madame Tussaud's location?

 Tune in tomorrow for Funny Friday.

Where-To-Go Wednesday - Madame Tussauds New York

We were not financially compensated for this post. We were given tickets to the Madame Tussauds New York for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are our own based on our experience visiting the museum.

What: Madame Tussauds New York

Where: 234 West 42nd Street
            New York, New York

Who: 5 and up

Our view: The nice thing about Madame Tussauds is that their wax exhibits are always growing and changing. Therefore, just because you've been there once doesn't mean you shouldn't go again. They also vary from location to location so if you been to Madame Tussauds in New York, for example, that doesn't mean you shouldn't go to the one in London or somewhere else if you have the opportunity. The figures at the museum are so lifelike and include a good mix of past and current famous figures. The museum is divided into sections. You can go through the museum at your own pace and spent as much or as little time at each section as you want.  In the New York Museum, the sections include the following : Opening Party which features movie actors and actresses. Spirit of New York which features New York icons including groups of people like the Rockettes, specific people like Matt Lauer, and places like the Statute of Liberty. The Gallery which features Presidents (although not all the Presidents) and other famous people like Will and Kate, and Helen Keller. Those are just a few of the 10 or so sections of the museum. There are also athletes, singers and superheros among others. There is pretty much something to appeal to just about everyone. There is even a wax figure of Madame Tussaud herself (which is pictured above). There is also a 4D superhero movie that young boys and any other superhero fan will love. If you go to the museum, be aware, that there is a lot of music playing throughout the museum so I wouldn't bring anyone who doesn't like loud noise or a baby that you expect to sleep through the museum. Also, be prepared to do a lot of walking and be advised that large crowds may make maneuvering a stroller through the museum difficult. However, anyone who is old enough and healthy enough to walk it will really enjoy themselves.  It is definitely the next best thing to a live citing of any of the people represented at the museum. It actually may be even better since you can get closer here than you probably would be able to get to the actual people. For more information, about Madame Tussauds in general  go to
http://www.madametussauds.com/. For more information about Madame Tussauds in New York specifically go to http://www.madametussauds.com/NewYork/ and/or read our previous Where-To-Go Wednesday post regarding Madame Tussauds at http://saysmesaysmom.blogspot.com/2012/10/where-to-go-wednesday-madame-tussauds.html.

t

And that's our view. We will also be discussing more about Madame Tussauds New York in tomorrow's Talking Topic post.

Tips for Tuesday- Misc.

Me - Today I am recommending leggings. I love leggings. They are soft and comfortable. They are also easy to move around in.  There are a wide variety of styles, colors and patterns of leggings. Not all leggings are super skinny tight leggings. I don't like that I kind I wear more loose fitting leggings. I absolutely hate jeans. I never wear jeans.I only wear leggings.



Mom - I was given three pairs of earrings for review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Today I am recommending SundaySales. Sunday Sales is an Etsy shop that you will want to check out if you are a sports fan or if you know someone who is a sports fan. She makes beautiful earrings which are replicas of football, baseball, hockey, and/or basketball jerseys. She also makes some other earrings, such as, Yellow Submarine earrings. Prices run about $8 a pair or you can get a set of 4 for $30.00. These earrings make great gifts for all jewelry loving sports fans or anyone who takes dressing up in their favorite team's colors really seriously. For more information or to place an order go to SundaySales

And that's our view. Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.

Raising Hope

 Me - Raising Hope, wow! Raising Hope was one of my favorite shows. I am sad that it ended. Why do they keep ending all my favorite shows? Hope was so cute! I wished that had used her as more than a prop. She hardly did anything until the last couple episodes and by then it was ending. I think that they should have wrapped up things more in the last episode. It just ended with everybody dancing at a wedding. On the last episode, they had Kenny Loggins singing Danny's Song which since than has become my second favorite song after Let It Go. In the show, the characters of Burt and Virginia had had a baby when they were teenagers and yet they loved each other so much. They stayed together and were happy together and supported each other. They hardly ever even fought. However, they were not always so nice to their son, Jimmy. Jimmy got a serial killer pregnant when he was a teenager and that's how he ended up with Hope. The show starts with Jimmy getting custody of Hope. The whole show Jimmy is in love with , a girl that he works with, Sabrina. At first, she had a boyfriend named Wyatt. Later, she does end up getting married but not to Wyatt. Maw Maw, Virginia's grandmother is really funny. She is always getting confused about everything. Sabrina's cousin, Shelly was really funny too. She was Hope's daycare teacher. She sang funny songs she made up. One of my favorite episodes of the show was called Bro-Gurt, Raising Hope Season 2 [HD]. It was a spoof of The Wizard of Oz. It was really funny. The whole show was really funny. I will miss it.

Mom - Recently two of my favorite shows ended. One of them was How I Met Your Mother for more about that go to http://saysmesaysmom.blogspot.com/2014/04/how-i-met-your-mother.html. The other was Raising Hope. Raising Hope was never one of the most popular shows on television, but everyone in our family loved it. It was definitely one of the funniest shows that probably not a lot of people ever saw. It was about Jimmy Chance who had a one night stand with a girl who turns out to be a serial killer and as a result is left with a daughter to raise on his own. Believe, me it plays a lot better than it sounds. It is really a hilarious show and not creepy at all. Jimmy take his baby daughter, Hope, and goes home to his Mom and Dad who are not much older or experienced then he is.They had him when they were only fifteen. I love that even though Jimmy's parents Burt and Virginia married young and have never had a lot of money (or luck), they are portrayed as a loyal loving couple who really care about each other. Let's face it, loyal loving couples who don't fight a lot or pick on each other or put each other down all the time are rare on TV. The other member of the Chance household is MawMaw, Virginia's grandmother. She is played by the always hilarious, Cloris Leachman. One of the funniest running jokes of the whole show is that in the opening credits it says " and introducing Cloris Leachman" even though she is the most experienced of the whole cast having starred in at least two previous TV series Mary Tyler Moore and Phyllis and movies as well including The Last Picture Show and Young Frankenstein. The character of Sabrina starts out as Jimmy's unattainable crush, but their relationship develops as they show goes on. I like that although Sabrina is Jimmy's dream girl. She is not a perfect golden girl. She has flaws just like everybody else. When the show started, Hope was just a baby and didn't do much. However, even as she got older she still didn't do much. In fact, quite often she was more like a prop than a character in the show even though the show was called Raising Hope. She finally seemed to be getting to do and say more in the last few episodes. It is too bad she was not given much to do until the show was almost over because after all, the show is called Raising Hope, and the twins who played Hope were very cute. The final episode of Raising Hope was okay. It was not the best final episode I have seen, but it was not the worst. It didn't really give closure in  a way that some other shows do. No great life change occurred for the Chances. They didn't really change from the beginning to the end of the show. They weren't any richer. They weren't any smarter. They were, however, still the same close loving family they had always been, and maybe that is enough. Sometimes, life just goes on and that's a good thing.

And that's our view. What show are you most sorry to see end this year?

Upcoming Event: Love Your Park Week May 10-17

What: Love Your Park Week

Where: Philadelphia Parks and Recreation

When: May 10 -17    




Love Your Park Week is a celebration of Philadelphia Parks including:

Service Projects
Fun Events
Educational Programs
Family Activities
More



Saturday May 10, 2014 

I Love Your Park Week Kick Off Service Day taking place at more than 80 neighborhood parks throughout Philadelphia from 9-12

This year, volunteers will clean and green the Parkside Evans Recreation Center and celebrate the grand opening of the adjoining Philadelphia PumpTrack, the city’s first public pumptrack.  A

pumptrack is a small dirt course of bumps, jumps and berms, designed for BMX and mountain bikes, which one can navigate without pedaling by using weight shifts and gravity. The Parkside Evans Recreation Center and Philly Pumptrack are located at 53^rd Street and Parkside Avenue, Philadelphia. At the Parkside Evans Recreation Center, volunteers will be clearing paths, prepping the tennis courts, mulching trees, and painting the building. At the Philadelphia Pumptrack, volunteers will finish plantings, clear invasive vegetation, plant trees, and mulch around plantings.  Breakfast will be served to volunteers. After cleaning and greening the park spaces, there will be a grand opening of the Philadelphia Pumptrack with a PumpJam party organized by the Friends of the Philly Pumptrack. This family-friendly party will feature some of Philadelphia’s best food trucks, vendors, and the opportunity for all to take inaugural rides on the pumptrack. A pumptrack is a fun biking course that teaches riders essential riding skills while building fitness, all in a low-risk environment. 9am – 4pm. 53rd & Parkside Avenue.
Other activites for Love Your Park Week include the following:

Saturday May 10

Historic Penn Treaty Park - Pie in the Sky Festival: 
Head to the park for some kite-flying and food trucks. The perfect spring day! 12pm – 6pm. 1341 N Delaware Ave. penntreatypark.org

·

Fitler Square - Spring Fair: 

Celebrate the 52nd Annual Spring Fair with flowers, books, raffles, white elephant gift exchanges, and plenty of games for the kids! 400 South Croskey St. 10am – 4pm. www.fitlersquare.org

Sunday, May 11th

Shofuso Japanese House and Garden – Mother’s Day Tea Ceremony:  

enjoy a traditional Japanese tea ceremony in a beautiful, authentic setting. $. 1pm. Lansdowne & Horticultural Drive, 19131.  www.shofuso.com 

Franklin Square - Mother's Day Fest: 

Bring Mom and Grandma to Franklin Square for a brunch buffet, flower craft activity, and tickets for the Parx Liberty Carousel and Philly Mini Golf! Tickets are $25 to attend. 11am – 1pm. 200 N. 6th St. historicphiladelphia.org/franklin-square  

Schuylkill Banks –  

Mother’s Day Boat Tour to Bartram’s Garden. Walnut Street Dock, East side of the Schuylkill River beneath the Walnut Street Bridge. 19103.  $. 12pm, 1pm, 2pm. www.schuylkillbanks.org

Monday, May 12 

 

Malcolm X Memorial Park - Art in the Park: '

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation proudly present Art in the Park, a FREE arts and crafts traveling class. All ages are welcome! 4pm-6pm. 52nd and Pine St. www.philavisualarts.wix.com/camp

Tuesday, May 13th

 

A Community Vision for East and West Fairmount Park - Launch Event – 

PennPraxis and the Penn Project for Civic Engagement will unveil "A Community Vision and Action Plan for East and West Fairmount Park" in partnership with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Fairmount Park Conservancy, and the William Penn Foundation. Join stakeholders for the unveiling and a walking tour. 6pm at Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse in East Fairmount Park. design.upenn.edu/pennpraxis

Wednesday, May 14th

  

Louis I Kahn Park – Kahn Park Summer Concert Series: 

Join the Friends of Kahn Park for the kickoff event in their Summer Concert Series. They will welcome the band Zydeco-a-Go Go to the park to thrill the crowd. 328 S. 11th St. www.kahnpark.org 

Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse – Party in the Playground: 

Enjoy a playful cocktail reception with hors d’oeuvres from popular food trucks, music, drinks, a silent auction, and the presentation of the 2014 Ida Newman Magic of Play Award to Alex Gilliam, founder of Public Workshop and The Building Heroes. Tickets available at smithplayground.org. 6pm – 8pm. 3500 Reservoir Drive, East Fairmount Park.

Thursday, May 15th

Yards Brewery -  PARKx: 

Have a beer with the Fairmount Park Conservancy and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and enjoy a night of thrilling stories and discussions on the Philadelphia park system by park users who have had especially interesting experiences. 8pm. Yards Brewery, 901 N. Delaware Ave. www.myphillypark.org  

Hawthorne Park - Jazz in the Park: Jazz-lovers rejoice! Hawthorne Park will again host the Jazz Bridge for FREE, live concerts with various jazz peformers this spring and summer. Concerts will take place every third Thursday of the month from May to August. 7pm – 9pm. 12th & Catharine Streets. www.hecphilly.org  

Friday, May 16th

Cedar Park - Picnic at Cedar Park: 

Bring dinner and your favorite snacks to a moonlit spring picnic in Cedar Park with neighbors! 6pm – 8pm. 4900 Baltimore Ave. 6pm – 8pm. www.cedarparkneighbors.org

Wissahickon Environmental Center - Edible Bugs Dinner:  Come hungry and learn about the delicious and sustainable practice of eating bugs.  $5 per person.  Registration required. 6pm. 300 Northwestern Ave, 19118.

Fairhill Square - Festival de Primavera (Spring Festival): 

Take in some fresh air at Fairhill Square’s spring celebration! There will be all sorts of games, activities, arts and crafts, and nature exploration for children of all ages! 4pm. Huntingdon & N Lawrence St. providencecentershcj.org

 

Saturday, May 17th

Clark Park - Party in the Park: 

 Join us for the 2nd annual party to celebrate LOVE Your Park Week! The event will feature live music, food trucks, games for young and old, raffle prizes, and a beer garden! 4pm – 8pm. 43^rd Street & Baltimore Avenue. www.friendsofclarkpark.org. 

McPherson Square Park - McPherson Square Park Festival: 

 Come join the Friends of McPherson Park in a fun-filled day! There will be games, resource tables, snacks, and great music for the whole family! 11am – 3pm. 600 E. Clearfield St.

Marconi Plaza – Spring LOVE Your Park Fest: 

Join the Friends of Marconi Plaza for a morning park cleanup followed by pony rides, face painting, pizza, and hot dogs. The American Cancer Society will also hold a Relay for Life event from 10am to 10pm. 10am – 3pm. Broad St. and Oregon Ave. friendsofmarconiplaza@gmail.com

 

Etting Park - Swap & Meet: 

Come join in a clothes swap and flea market! All are also encouraged to donate clothes to Dress for Success, an organization striving to aid disadvantaged women by providing professional wear and career counseling. 10am – 3pm. 3200 N. Marston St. 

Morris Park - Morris Park's 102nd Birthday Bash: 

Help the neighborhood celebrate the 102nd anniversary of Morris Park joining the Fairmount Park system!  There will be a fundraiser for the Friends of Morris Park with lots of fun activities, music, and more! 12pm – 4pm. North 68th St. facebook.com/morrisparkrestorationassociation

For more information  about Love Your Park Week  or to volunteer go to http://loveyourpark.org/.

For  questions about the LOVE Your Park Week Kickoff Service Day, contact Erin Engelstad, Park Stewardship Coordinator, at 215-988-9334 or via email at eengelstad@fairmountparkconservancy.org.

For more information about the new pumptrack go to http://www.phillypumptrack.org/.

Tune in Monday for another Talking Topic. 

Funny Friday - Food Sharing

Me -

When I was little I ate my cat, Gigi's food, when my Mom and Dad told me that it was not my food it was Gigi's food, I spit it back into her bowl.

Mom -

When Aurella was little, she was eating cheese, she grabbed my hand, put the rest of the cheese in my hand and pushed my hand away.

The Little Mermaid

Me - The Little Mermaid, wow! I like The Little Mermaid. I have seen two different versions of The Little Mermaid and liked them both. In the movie version, I like the songs and the characters. I don't like the character of Sebastian though. He is annoying. My favorite song is Part of Your World. I liked the show The Little Mermaid too but not as much as the movie. The song were just okay, but I really liked Misunderstood sung by the Fish Witch. All of the characters were okay, but my favorite was the Fish Witch. The Fish Witch was funny, and he sang a good song. I liked the dances in the show. I didn't like the ending of the show. It was better than the original story, but not better than the Disney version. The workshop before the show was a lot of fun. My sister kept raising her hand to answer questions. When they called on her she spoke so quietly I had to repeat whatever she said. They called me her translator. I got to make a paper fish. It had big lips so I called it Kissy. Aurella made a sea horse. We had a lot of fun at the show.

Mom - The original story,  The Little Mermaid by Han Christian Anderson is kind of depressing. Disney's The Little Mermaid  is very happy or at least it ends up that way as do all Disney princess movies. Literally Alive Theater's The Little Mermaid is in between the two extremes. I don't really like the Hans Christian Anderson version of the story. I do like the Disney version of The Little Mermaid. I enjoyed Literally Alive Theater's version as well. I like the songs a little better in the Disney version except my favorite song out of all the songs in both versions is a song from Literally Alive's version called Misunderstood. I have not been able to get that song out of my head since I saw the show. Everyone in our family is in agreement that if a download of the song was available, we would definitely get it. I also like the live version because its much more engaging to have it happening right there in front of me than to watch it on a screen. I like the movie version because you can watch it again and again which doesn't interest me to so much as it interests my children. Of course, I like The Little Mermaid herself in both versions. While she is known as Ariel in the Disney version in the stage version she is called Coral.  In the movie, I also like Ariel's friend, Flounder, whom my younger daughter used to call Clownder. In the show, I like The Little Mermaid's sisters who are called Pearl and Shelly. They are much more distinct than Ariel's sisters and much more supportive of their sister. All in all there is a lot to like in both versions, and it is fun to see different versions of the same basic story.

And that's our view. What movie would you enjoy seeing a stage version of?

Tune in tomorrow for Funny Friday.