Where-To-Go Wednesday- The Ride in Masquerade and Tick, Tick... Boom!

We were given free tickets to The Ride in Masquerade for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own based on our experience.

What: The Ride in Masquerade

Where: Starting at 8th Ave and 42nd St
             New York, New York

Who: Recommended for 6 and up

When: Through November 6 ONLY

Mom's view: The Ride in Masquerade is very similar to The Ride with a Halloween twist. You will still get to see many of the famous sites in New York including Times Square and Central Park while riding a temperature controlled bus. You will still get to learn about these locations in a fun and interactive way where the bus itself is as entertaining as your two hosts. There will be flashing lights, there will be waving and singing and maybe even a little dancing. There will be entertainment in and outside of the bus. However, some of the entertainment will be Halloween related. As you enter the bus, you will be given masks to join in the Halloween fun. Once on-board you will hear some spooky Halloween music. The information you will be given while on your ride will focus a little more on ghost tales and legends of famous hauntings than at other times of the year. The performers on the street you will see will have a little more Halloween spirit to them as well - masked dancers or a mysterious singer hiding behind a veil and all dressed in black, for example. Don't worry, except for maybe to very young children,  it is a lot less scary than it may sound. It is a whole lot of fun though. For more about The Ride see our previous posts: Where-To-Go Wednesday: The Ride and The Ride. For further information or to book tickets go to https://experiencetheride.com/. Just remember while The Ride takes places all year long, The Ride in Masquerade only takes place through November 6.


******************************************************************************************************
We were given free tickets to Tick, Tick... Boom! for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own based on attending a performance of the show.

What: Tick, Tick... Boom!

Where: Acorn Theatre
             410 W. 42nd St.
             New York, NY

Who: Recommended for ages 13 and up

When: Now through November 20, 2016

Mom's view: Tick, Tick ... Boom! is an autobiographical play by Jonathan Larson the composer of Rent. It is the story of a man questioning his life choices and whether he should really try to make it in Show Business or get a so called real job. When Jonathan was alive, he performed it as a one man show. After his death, it was turned into a three character Off-Broadway show with one person playing Jonathan and two others playing various other parts. The Keen Company is currently presenting that version of the show at the Acorn Theatre through November 20. The show plays a lot better than it sounds. It actually moves along quickly and is fairly entertaining. It is not as heavy as it sounds either. There are a lot  of funny parts.   The performances are all enjoyable. Nick Blaemire is a good choice for Jonathan and Ciara Renee and George Salazar shine in a variety of roles many of them quite amusing. The music although not especially memorable is fun to listen to and shows the potential that Jonathan Larson later realized with Rent. It really makes you wonder what could have been if he hadn't passed away at such a young age. Tick, Tick ... Boom !, although not as adult oriented as Rent, is not really suitable for young children either. They would probably be bored with the show anyway. For more information or to order tickets go to http://www.keencompany.org/main/.

And that's Mom's view. Tune it to tomorrow's Talking Topics post for Aurella's view of The Ride in Masquerade and Tick, Tick ... Boom!