Where-To-Go Wednesday - Haas Brothers: Uncanny Valley

We received complimentary tickets to the Museum of Arts and Design for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: Haas Brothers: Uncanny Valley

Where: Museum of Arts and Design

             2 Columbus Circle

             New York, NY

Who: All ages

When: Through August 16, 2026

Nikolai and Simon Haas are twin brothers and artists who started out making furniture before becoming full-time artists. Their work is a unique cross-section between art and design. It is both carefully crafted and extremely playful. 

They are perhaps best known for their whimsical sculptures. These creations resemble real creatures and yet don't. This makes them both fun and perhaps a little unsettling. Punny names like Cheetah Hayworth, Fleece-A-Kudrow, and Mouth-Ew Broderick only serve to blur the line between fantasy and reality even further. 

In addition to numerous imaginative creatures, the exhibit also features other works by the brothers. These include Endless Paintings, which are digital landscapes programmed to constantly redraw themselves; ceramic creations known as Accretions; and even some pieces of furniture,

And that's our view. For more about this exhibit, the Museum of Arts and Design in general, or to purchase tickets to visit the museum, go to madmuseum.org.

Tune in tomorrow for Theater Thursday.

All pictures used in this post are our own.  Any concerns regarding image usage can be addressed here.

Tip for Tuesday - Books: The Women in White & Breaking Into Song: Television Musicals From Glee to Crazy Ex-Girlfriend ; & Misc.: Brightroom 11" Clear Storage Bin

We may have been given complimentary copies and/or access for review purposes to any books, products, and/or any other visual or audio media mentioned below. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

Books: The Women in White 

                           &

           Breaking Into Song: Television Musicals From Glee to Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Today we recommend The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen. In 1964, four young women became subjects in a parapsychology experiment. Afterwards, they mysteriously vanished, and no record of the experiment ever occurring is left. Years later, on the heels of a betrayal and needing a place to stay to start a new life, Riley takes a job as caretaker to a mysterious older woman named Betty, who leads an isolated life mired in the past.

This book is partly a touching story of female bonding and partly a heartbreaking thriller. The characters are multifaceted and interesting, even the apparent villain, Dr. Silas Trimble. He is a dedicated man of science. However, manipulation of his subjects and his complete disregard for their mental health and wellness render him more evil than admirable. 

The scariest part, as revealed by notes at the beginning of some chapters, is that although the book is not based on a true story, similar experiments have been conducted, sometimes even without the subjects' knowledge and/or consent. This begs the question of whether some scientific knowledge is worth the cost of dangerously manipulating people's lives. 

However, while this is certainly a book that raises many important ethical questions, it nicely skirts the line between being informative and entertaining. It never becomes too academic. It offers an exciting story full of characters who, for the most part, are easy to connect with and care about. 

Today, we recommend Breaking Into Song: Television Musicals from Glee to Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. The subtitle of this book is very misleading. Although Glee and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend are very different, they are also very similar in that they are both television series that largely revolve around music. However, this book is much more inclusive than that. It covers the full gamut of music on TV, not just full-blown musical series. It begins with the earliest variety shows and includes one-shot musical episodes of various television series as well.

As for series, it examines both the hits like the aforementioned Glee and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and flops, including the much-maligned Cop Rock, and provides an overview of what worked and what didn't and why particular series never really caught on. Single musical episodes are thoroughly examined in the same way. If you are the kind of person who cringes whenever a character (or person) on TV instantaneously bursts into song, this book is definitely not for you. However, if that's exactly your jam, you will definitely want to read this in- depth book!

Misc.: Brightroom 11" Clear Storage Bin

Today we are talking about the Brightroom 11" Clear Storage Bin. This product is a mixed bag. On one hand, it is lightweight and made of durable plastic with built-in handles that make it easy to carry. On the other hand, its interior space is small, limiting its usefulness. Also, because it is so lightweight, it immediately takes on the weight of whatever you place in it, which further limits its usefulness, particularly if you will need to move it around. 

And that's our view. The Women in White was published today.  Breaking Into Song: Television Musicals From Glee to Crazy Ex-Girlfriend will be published this Thursday, August 6, 2026. Brightroom 11" Clear Storage Bin is available at Target.

Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.

All pictures used in this post are our own.  Any concerns regarding image usage can be addressed here.

More Theater Monday - Belly

We received a complimentary ticket to Belly for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own. 

What: Belly

Where: 59E59 Theaters

             59 E. 59 St.

             New York, NY

When: This event took place July 22, July 24 & July 25, 2026

Belly is an extremely thought-provoking show. It is told through stories of three related women and examines the destructive way women are taught to feel about themselves and their bodies. Ellie is a competitive swimmer under intense pressure to stay fit for her sport. Katie is her pregnant aunt, who can never do enough to keep healthy for her growing child. Susan is Katie's mother and Ellie's grandmother, dealing with the grief of losing her husband and the effects of aging. Each of these women has an unhealthy relationship with food in some way.

The show was written and performed by Riley O'Shaughnessy. She effortlessly floats from one role to another and back again with the adjustment of a jacket or moving to a different location on the stage.

The story is quite personal to Ms. O'Shaughnessy and not only because she wrote it. She can relate to her subject matter very well since she herself suffered from an eating disorder, as is revealed at one of several points during the show when she breaks the fourth wall and addresses the audience as herself. During these breaks, she gets quite emotional and reveals surprising things about eating disorders. The audience can't help but be moved as well by this deeply affecting show. 

And that's our view.  Belly was part of 59E59's East to Edinburgh Festival and will soon be heading to the festival. For more information or to purchase tickets to see it there, visit www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/belly

Tune in tomorrow for Tips for Tuesday.

Photo credit:

Photo supplied by the production. 

Images used in this post were sent by publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms and are used by permission.  Any Concerns regarding image usage can be addressed here.