Where-To-Go Wednesday - Monmouth Park Dawn Patrol and Waitress

What: Monmouth Park Dawn Patrol

Where: 175 Oceanport Ave.
            Oceanport, NJ

Who: All ages

Mom's view: You wouldn't necessarily think of a racetrack as a good place for a family outing. However,  Monmouth Park is a surprisingly fun place to go. First of all,  for those who don't mind getting up a little early on a Saturday or Sunday, there is Dawn Patrol. On the Dawn Patrol tour you will get to see a close-up view of areas that you otherwise would not be able to have such close access too  or that you would not be able to have access to at all including the trainer's room, the backstretch, and the starting gate. You may even get to see some horses close-up. You will also have the opportunity to try on a jockey's uniform if would like. You'll learn a lot of interesting facts about horses and Thoroughbred racing. All in all, it is a very interesting and informative tour. Dawn Patrol tours are given Saturdays at 8:00 am and Sundays at 8:00 am from June through August. There is no cost, but reservations are necessary. At the end of your tour, you will even be given a free ticket to attend that day's racing.However, there will be time between when your tour ends and the park opens for the day, and you will have to wait outside the gates during that time.  For more information or to find out how to reserve your Dawn Patrol tour go to http://www.monmouthpark.com/comment.aspx?ekfrm=123


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What: Waitress

Where: Brook Atkinson Theatre

             256 W. 42nd St.

             New York, NY

Who:Teens and Up

Mom's view: Just when you think making Broadway musical's out of movies is a tired trend, along comes a show to make you change your mind. Waitress is that show. This is a show that touches all your emotions. It is heartwarming. It is funny. It has a good story about Jenna a waitress and expert pie maker who is married to and pregnant by a man she doesn't love. All she wants is to escape from her husband and open her own pie shop. The plot is basically the same as the movie, but that doesn't make it any less of a good story. The acting is great from Jessie Mueller as the sweet but feisty Jenna right on down the line through the cast.  Every single character will make you laugh and most of them will touch your heart as well. The songs are good and not completely forgettable like so many musicals today. There are rollicking anthems like Opening Up, sweet ballads like She Used to Be Mine and fun comical numbers like Never Ever Getting Rid of Me.  The latter of which definitely provides the most hilarious moments in a show full of funny moments.   Waitress even has the best smelling theatre on Broadway courtesy of the mini pies being baked and sold right in the theatre. All in all, it is just a great fun  and extremely entertaining show at least for adults and teens. It is not a show for younger children due to the subject matter including sexual situations and language among other things. For more about Waitress or to order tickets go to http://www.waitressthemusical.com/index.php.

And that's our view. Tune in to tomorrow's Talking Topics post for more about Monmouth Park Dawn Patrol.

Photo credits: All Waitress photos by Joan Marcus