Theater Thursday - Hoagy Carmichael's Stardust Road

We were given complimentary tickets to Hoagy Carmichael's Stardust Road for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own. 

What: Hoagy Carmicheal's Stardust Road

Where: Theater at St. Jeans 

             E 76th St. 

            New York, NY

Who: Recommended for Ages 12 and Up

When: Through December 31, 2022

Hoagy Carmichael's Stardust Road is allegedly the story of six friends and the man who brought them together. However, the show has no dialogue but consists only of Hoagy Carmichael songs. Accordingly, it is unclear that there actually is a story to the show or anything that connects these songs. 

That being said, however, it is not a bad show. The singing voices are lovely. The dancing is excellent. The costumes are beautiful.  Highlights of the show include a couple of delightful tap dance numbers and Heart and Soul, one of Carmichael's most well knowns songs that is often heard only as a piano duet with no words. If you enjoy Hoagy Carmichael's music you will love this show as you will hear as many of his songs as you can possibly cram into 90 minutes. 

The York Theatre is quickly becoming not just the home of musicals but specifically the home of the musical revue. At least five of their last seven shows were more or less musical revues, although two of them were the same show, Cheek to Cheek, which ran two seasons in a row. While there is nothing wrong with musical revues, we wish they would go back to more of a balance between revues and shows with dialogue and more clear plots.

For more about Hoagy Carmichael's Stardust Road or to purchase a ticket to one of the few remaining performances, visit yorktheatre.org/stardust-road

Tune in Sunday for this week's Sunday Scoop.

Photo credits:

All Hoagy Carmichael's Stardust Road photos by Carol Rosegg

Where-To-Go Wednesday - Susan B. Anthony House & Museum

What: Susan B. Anthony House and Museum

 Where: 17 Madison St.

               Rochester, NY

Who: All ages

Me - The Susan B. Anthony House and Museum were interesting. I didn't know a lot about Susan B. Anthony before so I learned a lot. It was a good time to visit because of everything that is going on now. Also, in the Spring we saw a show about the suffragists. Although she was not a character in the show, she was definitely a pioneer in the movement.  In fact, we have a lot of reasons to be grateful to Susan B. Anthony and women like her. Visiting her home reminds me that even though women can vote now, the fight is not over. We have to continue fighting not only for voting rights for all, but equality for all. 

Mom - Now when women are back to fighting for rights that they had allegedly already won, it's a great time to visit the Rochester home of Susan B. Anthony House and remember one of the pioneers of the original Women's Movement. This historic house is where Susan was living when she was arrested for voting in 1872. It was also the headquarters of the National American Woman Suffrage Movement.

Guided tours of the home are available daily except for Mondays and major holidays. Tours are reasonably priced at $15 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and active military members, and $5.00 for students. Tour sizes are limited though and tours must be reserved in advance online.

Next door, to the Susan B. Anthony House, is the Visitor's Center. All tours of the house begin at this location. There is also a small museum and a gift shop there. The museum includes such exhibits as one on the Susan B. Anthony dollar and one on her relationship with fellow activist, Frederick Douglass. 

And that's our view. For more information or to register for a tour of the Susan B. Anthony House, visit https://susanb.org

Tune in tomorrow for Theater Thursday.

Tips for Tuesday - Books: A Woman's Persuasion & How to Self Publish Your Book

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

Books: A Woman's Persuasion and How to Self Publish Your Book

Today we are recommending A Woman's Persuasion by Jeanette Watts. This book is a retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion in which the star-crossed lovers are both female. The character names remain the same, Anne Elliot and Freddie Wentworth. In Austin's book, however, the latter is usually called the more formal, Frederick. 

Here the pair met in college. Due to pressure from her family and worry that a relationship with Freddie would adversely affect Freddie's military career, Anne broke it off with her. None of this is a spoiler since it all takes place before the beginning of the book. The book takes place when they run into each other again years later. Anne has never really gotten over Freddie, but it doesn't seem as though Freddie feels the same way and picking up where they left off doesn't seem likely. Still, they keep running into each other . 

The book is sweet and feels old-fashioned even though it is set in the current day. There is plenty of romance not just that between Anne and Freddie although a lot of the romance takes place off the page. It is not very long and the chapters are quite short. Thus, it doesn't take long to read. Whether you love Jane Austen retellings, you like tales of star-crossed love, or you just have a little bit of time and you need a quick romantic pick me up, you may enjoy this book.

Today we are recommending How to Self Publish Your Book by Jan Yager. This book extensively covers everything you need to know if you want to publish your own book. It is divided into three sections which cover the writing and preparing of your book, publishing your book, and publicizing your printed book respectively with each section broken down into chapters covering more specific aspects of each step. The book is quite thorough on its own, but it also includes plenty of references throughout as well as in an index in the back to further help you in your self publishing journey. 

Some may find this book overwhelming because there is so much that goes into publishing your own book. Others may find it calming and helpful like a guiding light leading them step by step on their path to getting their book published. Either way, if you are even thinking about self publishing a book, you are definitely going to want to read this book

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

Sunday Scoop Week of 12/25/22 What's Happening This Week and More

A) Beginning Performances

B) Cast Changes

C) Closing Soon

D) Run Extensions

E) What's Happening This Week and More

A) Beginning Performances

Truth's A Dog Must Be a Kennel

The Fool leaves Shakespeare's King Lear before the blinding. Before the killing starts. In this new solo play, Tim Crouch draws on ideas of virtual reality to send him back to the future of the play he left. Back to a world laid waste by division and trauma; a world where the revolution will take place on a screen. Truth’s a Dog Must to Kennel switches between stand-up and an audacious act of collective imagining. It’s a celebration of live performance and a skewering of the state we’re in now.

Soho Playhouse (15 Vandam St.)

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.sohoplayhouse.com

B) Cast Changes

Hadestown

Tom Hewitt Joins the cast of Hadestown as Hades starting 1/3

Patrick Page final performance in the role 12/30.

Walter Kerr Theatre (219 W. 48th St)

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.hadestown.com

C) Closing Soon

A Christmas Carol

Jefferson May's one-man show

Nederlander Theatre (208 W. 41 St.)

Closing 1/1

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.achristmascarolbroadway.com.

Almost Famous

Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre (242 W. 45th St.

Closing 1/8

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.almostfamousmusical.com

Death of a Salesman

Hudson Theatre (141 W. 44th St.)

Closing 1/15

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit  www.salesmanonbroadway.com

Stranger Sings! The Musical Parody

Playhouse 46th St. at St. Lukes (308 W, 46th St.)

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.strangersingsthemusical.com.

D) Run Extensions

Titanique

When the music of Céline Dion makes sweet Canadian love with the eleven-time Oscar®-winning film Titanic, you get Titanique, a musical celebration that turns one of the greatest love stories of all time into a hysterical and joyful slay-fest. Want to find out what really happened to Jack and Rose on that fateful night? Just leave it to Céline Dion to casually hijack a Titanic Museum tour and enchant the audience with her totally wild take, recharting the course of Titanic’s beloved moments and characters with her iconic song catalog. A one-of-a-kind musical voyage bursting with nostalgia, hilarity and heart, Titanique features powerhouse voices in show-stopping performances of such hits as “My Heart Will Go On,” “All By Myself”, and “To Love You More,” backed by the unparalleled energy of a full live band.

Daryl Roth Theatre (101 E. 15th Street)

Now closing on 5/14

E) What's Happening This Week and More

1) ArtDesk Magazine Published Inaugural Art Desk 100

Now Available Online

2) Ballet Hispanico School of Dance Winter Adult Classes

Beginning 1/17 Registration Now Open

3) Holiday Break Activities in the Five Boroughs of NYC 

4) Ice Theatre of New York at Rockefeller Center

New Year's Eve 12/31

1) ArtDesk Magazine Published 

Inaugural ArtDesk 100

Contemporary Artists, Dancers, Opera Singers, and Philosophers 

Made the 2023 List

In honor of ArtDesk magazine’s tenth anniversary in 2023, the magazine published the ARTDESK 100 in its Winter 2023 issue on December 18, 2022 and online at readartdesk.com/feature/the-artdesk-100

These early to mid-career voices in contemporary art, performance, theater, animal wellbeing, and social innovation are recognized for pushing new frontiers in creative work. The ARTDESK 100 features a range of talent, including dancers Kyle Abraham and Tiler Peck; visual artists Karyn Lyons and James Perkins; filmmakers Sterlin Harjo and Robert Eggers; director Camille A. Brown; playwright Annie Baker; conductor Thomas Guggeis; and physicist Steven Prohira. All 100 honorees are featured on the cover (see page 2).

In addition to the print magazine, the ArtDesk 100 is now available online at

readartdesk.com/feature/the-artdesk-100. To learn more about ArtDesk, please visit readartdesk.com and across social media as @readartdesk.

XXX

2) Ballet Hispánico School of Dance Announces

Winter Adult Class Series Beginning January 17, 2023

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

Ballet Hispánico, the largest Latinx/Latine/Hispanic cultural organization in the United States and one of America's Cultural Treasures, announces that registration is now open for Winter Adult Classes in the School of Dance.

With seven different series available, there’s a class for everyone! All levels are welcome in every style: Ballet and Ballet Fitness, Flamenco, Hip Hop, Salsa, and Zumba. Get in shape, brush up on your dance moves, and meet new friends!

Absolute Beginner Ballet with Victoria Vargas – Tuesdays at 7:15pm

Designed to introduce basic principles, Absolute Beginner Ballet is the perfect class for the new dancer, providing the necessary tools to allow class members to understand how a ballet class works and how the muscles in one’s body need to engage to achieve the simple but complex steps of this dance style.

Ballet Fitness with Victoria Vargas – Thursdays at 7:15pm

With a focus on floor barre technique and center ballet work, this series is recommended to those who wish to build solid technical foundations in ballet, stay in shape, and prevent or recover from injuries. Ballet Fitness is for dancers looking for a low-impact form of exercise to strengthen their cores and extremities using different targeted exercises to keep the body challenged.

Flamenco with JoDe Romano "La Chispa" – Saturdays at 2pm

Join School of Dance faculty member, and former soloist and choreographer for the Jose Greco Dance Company, JoDe Romano "La Chispa", for an Adult Flamenco class series, exploring castanets, movement techniques, inspirational music, and more. ¡OLÉ! 

Hip Hop with Anthony 'AntBoogie' Rue II – Tuesdays at 7:15pm

Learn elements of hip hop grooves, culture and ability to express yourself on the dance floor. Work on choreography, musicality, and your ability to perform. This class will clean movements, correct bad habits, all while learning fun and energetic routines that delivers an enriching cardio workout.

Beginner Salsa with Marisabel Vasconez – Mondays at 6:45pm

Get your body moving with us while learning the basic steps, shines, and partner work found in New York's Salsa On2 timing. All steps are safe for all ages and no partner is needed. This class explores the Latin dance of Salsa through body isolations, rhythm, and partner work which are explained and demonstrated in detail using dance kinesiology and theory.

Beginner/Intermediate Salsa with Marcus Valentin – Thursdays at 7:15pm

This class is designed as the continuation of Beginner Salsa and is also ideal for those who have prior training in this dance style. This series will give you the opportunity to take your training to the next level! Steps are safe for all ages and no partner is needed. 

Zumba with Tamika Myers – Saturdays at 1:45pm

Zumba class that will offer a total workout that combines all the elements of fitness – cardio, muscle conditioning, balance, flexibility, boosted energy, and a serious dose of awesome each time you leave. You'll energize yourself to the beat of Latin rhythms while dancing and working out!

Classes begin the week of January 17, 2023 at Ballet Hispánico’s studios at 167 W. 89th Street, NYC and are sold in complete series packages by genre. For more information and to register, visit ballethispanico.org/school/additional-learning/adult-classes.

XXX

3) 5 NYC Boroughs in 5 Days 

During the Holiday Break 

Farm, Ferries, Foods & Holiday Lights

Here are some family-friendly activities in all five boroughs each weekday of the holiday break, including on Christmas Day. From farms and ferries to lights, light fare, and light shopping, there’s a little something for the entire family to enjoy throughout the week. 

Sunday OR Monday (Christmas Day & Christmas Day Observed) STATEN ISLAND – Just like the FREE Staten Island Ferry, bring the family to the NYC Winter Lantern Festival at SIUH Park in Staten Island where kids GO FREE and it’s open on both holidays.  Kaleido Arts & Entertainment Group, the creators of the NYC Winter Lantern Festival, and the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com are gifting FREE admission to kids 12 and under to “Journey to the East”, located steps from the Staten Island Ferry and Empire Outlets. The spectacular show of lights at the ballpark features over 1,000 handmade Chinese Lanterns created by over 100 artists. Visitors can wander through a world inspired by Chinese myths and legends.  Kids 12 and under when accompanied by a paying adult can attend the festival of lanterns for FREE just by using the code “SIAKids” at checkout.

 

Tuesday (12/27) MANHATTAN – Head to Battery Park and sail to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island through Statue City Cruises.  The Crown is sold out, but you can still head halfway up to the pedestal and enjoy free admission to the Statue of Liberty Museum and Ellis Island Immigration Museum with every Statue City Cruises ticket purchase. Trace your family heritage on Ellis Island, learn the history of the Statue of Liberty and take in those amazing panoramic views.

 

Wednesday (12/28) BROOKLYN – Sail the Hudson on NYC Ferry over to Brooklyn to enjoy the panoramic views of the Harbor from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade or Brooklyn Bridge Park. Enjoy the great outdoors, grab a bite along the waterfront or just enjoy the scenery.  And you might even stumble upon some cool holiday light displays and decorations along the way.

 

Thursday (12/29) QUEENS – Escape the hustle and bustle of NYC without leaving the City by heading to Queens County Farm Museum (QCFM).  QCFM showcases the 325-year history of agriculture as a way of life in New York City and is an NYC Landmark. QCFM offers free admission 354 days per year and hosts a wide variety of acclaimed education programs and public events, including being NYC’s second Winter Lantern Festival location. With more than 47 acres to explore, make sure to enjoy some Pumpkin and Spice (we’re talking about the farm’s pigs), along with other goats and furry friends to see, feed and enjoy.

 

Friday (12/30) BRONX – Head to the busiest shopping corridor in the Bronx in the Fordham Road Business Improvement District where more than 300 small businesses from jewelry and clothing stores to children’s toys, electronics and other unique NYC staples await.  After a busy day of shopping, head nearby to the Bronx Little Italy where for over 100 years, the neighborhood has welcomed generations of families into their local, family-owned small businesses to dine on authentic Italian food and shop for all the holiday groceries one may need to chef up an Arthur Avenue-worthy dinner at home.  Enjoy an early New Year’s dinner with loved ones too.

XXX

4) Rockefeller Center brings Ice Theatre

 of New York, Inc ®

 in for

New Year’s Eve

Saturday, December 31, 2022

Ice Theatre of New York (ITNY) is proud to hit the ice at The Rink at Rockefeller Center on December 31, 2022 from 8pm-11pm in celebration of New Year's Eve. To help ring in 2023, ITNY Ensemble members Sarah France and Aaron Singletary will be doing atmospheric skating. To skate along with the performers, please sign up for tickets at https://www.rockefellercenter.com/buy-tickets/#the-rink. Watching from up on the Plaza is free.

For more information, visit icetheatre.org/new-years-eve-at-rockefeller-center.html.

XXX

And that's the scoop. More Theater Monday/Talking Topics will be closed tomorrow. Tune in Tuesday for Tips for Tuesday.

Theater Thursday: Joy

We were given complimentary tickets to Joy for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: Joy

Where: NBPAC 

             11 Livingston Ave.

             New Brunswick, NJ

Who: Recommended for Ages 8 and Up 

When: Through December 30, 2022

The new musical Joy is the story of inventor and entrepreneur, Joy Magano. Her story was previously told in the motion picture, Joy starring Jennifer Lawrence. The current musical presents a a much more upbeat version of her story than the movie did. This is not say that the musical is happy from start to finish or that it does not attempt to accurately portray her struggles. However, it thankfully does not consistently dwell on the negative throughout the story as the film did.  Accordingly, this a much more palatable and enjoyable version of the story although it does at times seem to go a bit overboard in the other direction particularly in the somewhat sappy conclusion.

Despite its unrealistic ending, the show, on the whole, is both interesting and inspiring. There are some nice songs too including the rousing opening number, Welcome to My World as well as Is This as Good as It Gets an aggressively energetic number sung by the character of Joy's young daughter. Not all of the songs are particularly memorable, however,  

Erica Henningsen shines in the lead role of Joy. She is better than she's ever been and definitely the primary reason to see this show. Overall, the show leaves you happy which is a lot more than can be said for the film. 

And that's our view. For more about Joy or to purchase tickets, visit georgestreetplayhouse.org.

Tune in Sunday for this week's Sunday Scoop.

Photo credits:

All Joy production photos by T. Charles Erickson

Where-To-Go Wednesday - The Salem Witch Trials: Reckoning and Reclaiming

We were given complimentary tickets to the New York Historical Society for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own. 

What: The Salem Witch Trials: Reckoning and Reclaiming 

Where: New York Historical Society

Who: Recommend for Tweens and Up

When: Through January 22, 2022

When you think about the Salem Witch Trials, they feel like something fantastical that could never possibly have really happened. A visit to the exhibit ,The Salem Witch Trials: Reckoning and Reclaiming, however, brings that period of time to life and makes it all too real. The exhibit consists of numerous documents from that time period including pages of testimony, warrants, depositions and more. There are also objects that belonged to people involved with the witch trials including John Proctor's sundial and Rebecca Putnam's loom. Proctor's wife Elizabeth was accused of witchcraft and put to death. Putnam's family was involved with numerous allegations of witchcraft. If you are familiar with the play The Crucible, Arthur Miller's take on the witch trials, much of what you see at the exhibit will have a familiarity to it and will really bring alive the time period and characters of the play all of whom were based on real people. The exhibit also includes fashions from Alexander McQueen's collection meant to celebrate his relative Elizabeth How, who was also condemned as a witch and put to death, as well as portraits of contemporary people who identify as witches. The photographs are meant to reclaim the word"witch" as a representation of female power rather than something to silence and control women. 

For more about The Salem Witch Trials: Reckoning and Reclaiming, go to www.nyhistory.org/exhibitions/salem-witch-trials-reckoning-and-reclaiming. For more about the New York Historical Society in general or to purchase time tickets to visit, go to www.nyhistory.org

Tune in tomorrow for Theater Thursday.

Tips for Tuesday - Books: The Big Book of Spy Trivia & Misc.: Lively Paws - The Pee Boss

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

Books: The Big Book of Spy Trivia

Today we are recommending The Big Book of Spy Trivia. This captivating book is brimming with fun facts and interesting information about the world of spying. It includes information on ancient espionage, modern espionage,  and both foreign and domestic espionage. The KGB, Mata Hari, and the Trojan Horse are only a small sampling of the topics covered in this book. It also includes information on spies in the entertainment world like James Bond.

This book is a very quick and easy read. Each chapter is divided into very short sections of not more than a few pages. Each section is headed with a question and the section that follows answers that question. Whether you are a huge spy fan or you just have a moderate interest in the subject, this book is a very fascinating read.

Misc: Pee Boss

Today we are recommending Lively Paws - The Pee Boss. This product makes cleaning pet stains quicker and easier. It not only eliminates stains but odors too. It is safe for use on most surfaces including carpets, tiles, wood, and more. It is safe for your family and good for the environment too since it is not a detergent and does contain any harmful chemicals or bleaches. 

For more about Lively Paws, visit livelypaws.com.

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

Fun Facts About Food

 Here are some fun facts about different foods.

Me -

Potatoes -Potatoes used to be so valuable that you could trade them directly for gold.

Macaroni and Cheese - They found a recipe from the 1420s that is remarkably similar to today's Macaroni and Cheese.

Pickles - The average American eats 8.5 pounds of pickles every year.

Cheese - There are about 2,000 varieties of cheese.

Ice Cream - In the 1700s, ice cream was only enjoyed by the elite.

Mom - 

Hamburgers  - The largest hamburger ever weighed over a ton and was 10 feet in diameter.

Hotdogs - In Hawaii, they eat more hot dogs per capita than in any other state.

Popcorn - In 1949, popcorn was temporarily banned from movie theaters because it is so noisy to eat.

Peanut Butter and Jelly -  Peanut Butter and jelly sandwiches have even been made in space on the International Space Station.

Chicken Nuggets - Mcdonald's makes 4 and only different shapes of chicken nuggets.

What fun facts about different foods do you know? 

Tune in tomorrow for Tips for Tuesday.