Category Archives: Fun

August 28, 2012 · 2:36 pm

Splish Splash & Parasailing


This past weekend was a whirlwind of water fun!

Saturday I spent the day at Splish Splash, Long Island’s premier water park. We started off with a simple ride – Two long yellow water slides and I took the one to the left, since apparently that was the “easier” of the two.  It wasn’t bad, but I closed my eyes the whole time. Instead of it being a free fall, there were two major curves that I went over super fast, and definitely made me scream.

The next ride was not scary at all, called Lazy River, in which you relax on a water tube and go through the length of it at your own pace. There are certain spots that have cold water spraying at you, which was refreshing and enjoyable.

After that we tried the Jurassic Park themed dinosaur ride, which I was a little apprehensive about going on, but agreed to do it after my friend said she’d do it with me in the double inner tube. It turned out to be much fun, and then we went to the Surf City area where there was a pool with simulated waves. That was pretty chill and enjoyed being in the waves, bopping to the loud music.

The next ride we did had a super long ride and looked a bit scary- It was inside a tunnel and complete darkness, but wasn’t so bad.

We took a break for lunch, and have to say was very upset that the Grill and ice cream truck were both there just for show. We shared Johnny  Rocket’s burger and fries meal, as well as our own mixed chocolate and vanilla shake.

After that was another scary looking ride that was quite high up and quite windy; I was most worried about the midsection, where we would be spun around. When I got up there I almost chickened out, but watched others go before me and it didn’t look so bad, so I did it. It turned out to be all good fun.

The park was close to closing at this point, but we managed to fit in two more rides. One of them was a little scary when I looked at it, but turned out to be not a problem an the last one, “Shotgun Falls,” was simply high powered short water slides that propel you into 10 feet deep water. That was all right, but since the lady didn’t have me take my flip flops off, one of the straps broke.

After we finally got out of the Splish Splash parking lot, we headed to a Japanese restaurant, Sakura something…  It was tucked away in the corner of a strip mall, so we weren’t sure about the quality of it, but was actually quite nice. We decided to get Hibachi grill, so the chefs gave us a show and cooked in front of us.

I had ordered the combination of chicken and salmon. The meal came with soup, salad, fried rice, vegetables, shrimp and the meat. Everything smelled great, looked delicious and was very filling- large poritons. The chicken, however, was a bit too chewy and had a weird texture but the salmon with sauce was simply wonderful.

Sunday it was Parasailing and Beach Day in Ocean City, NJ with my friend and a bunch of new friends. I got picked up at home, which was really nice especially since we had to leave early in the morning.

We got to the Parasailing place right on time and rode a boat to the middle of the ocean and prepared to take off from the back of the boat. We got attached (two of us at a time) to a large yellow parachute and the boat took off, allowing us to be carried up high into the air (500 feet).

It was amazing feeling- I loved being up so high and being able to see that beautiful view. I just didn’t like it when the wind made us turn a  bit, but overall was a very gentle, relaxing ride. I liked when we were being lowered, and loved being dipped into the water. Such an exhilarating time! Except that I went twice because there was an odd number in our group, and during the last half of the second time, I got a little queasy but the first time was so great.

After Parasailing, we headed to a nearby seafood restaurant. Since my stomach was still a little weak, I got the chicken fingers- They allowed me to order from the children’s menu so it came with fries and applesauce. I was able to eat maybe half of it, and one of the guys actually paid for it for me to make me feel better. That was such a thoughtful gesture!

We then headed to nearby Ocean City Beach for the remainder of the afternoon, and I spent the entire time in the ocean- Swimming in the waves, splashing around in the water. It was wonderful and loved the feeling of the cool spray.

Then, started our journey back to Queens, and ended our day at A Taste of Shanghai restaurant in Flushing. It was definitely good to go with people who know what to order. We started with crab meat soup dumplings (or Xiao Lon Bao) and pan fried pork buns. The soup dumplings were just okay- They weren’t really juicy enough for me, and the meat didn’t taste like crab. Also, I’ve been spoiled by real soup dumplings in Shanghai, China. The pork buns were very tasty though.

We then shared several dishes. First came the soup with fish, pickled vegetable and see through glass noodles, which was quite good with plenty of fish. We also had a couple of side dishes:  Potato slices were okay, but really plain and bok choy with tofu was decent- Very fresh.

The main dishes were better: Pork Shoulder and whole fish. The pork shoulder was a huge piece of meat, with the skin on the outside. Delicious meat bathed in a delightful sauce was tender and flavorful. The whole crispy fish was mouthwatering — In sweet and sour sauce, and had a topping of shrimp, peas, carrots and pine nuts. Fresh and perfectly crisped, the fish meat was light and yummy.

And since we shared everything, our meal was quite affordable. What a wonderful end to a wonderful & full weekend!

 

Address: 39-07 Prince St, #1 in Flushing, Queens

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August 14, 2012 · 11:09 am

Hershey Weekend

I spent a relaxing, pampered Girl’s Weekend in Hershey, PA the past couple days. We stayed at the Sheraton in York, PA which was a lovely, luxurious hotel with all the amenities and at a discounted price.

The first night, we went to Crimson American Grill, where I shared both an appetizer and a meal. For the appetizer, I got to try Loaded Fries- fries with melted cheddar, bits of bacon and green onion. It was delicious of course. As for the meal, I sampled the seafood platter, which came with fried cod and fried shrimp, crab cake, lobster… It was all very tasty. We also got a side. I chose the rice pilaf, but it was basically just rice. There weren’t really any vegetables, even though they’re supposed to be included.


Later that night, I went out with a couple of the girls to The Hop, which was across the street from the hotel. It looked like it was in a barn and it was fun in a hicks town kind of way. However, I couldn’t stand that everyone was allowed to smoke in there, so we didn’t stay for very long.

Next morning, we all met for complimentary breakfast at the hotel. It was good- Bacon, eggs, potatoes, pancake, orange juice. We decided to head to Hershey Gardens after that, and it was gorgeous! Rolling landscapes, beautiful fountains, Hershey-kiss shaped sculptures, pretty roses, colorful flowers,  lovely brooks and bridges.

We also got to check out the Butterfly House, which was wonderful and charming. Nice little waterfall, leading into a small pond with golden fishes and pretty flowers all around. There were quite a few different types of butterflies in yellow, orange, pink, dark blue and deep purple. They were also quite friendly – A few of them landed on my clothes and fluttered close around me.




We went to The Hershey Pantry for lunch and were very lucky to get a table right away (since there were 9 of us). I had the turkey club with bacon, lettuce, tomato, melted cheese, and chips. It was scrumptious- everything was fresh, crisp, flavorful and went together beautifully. And since Hershey is known for chocolate, I just couldn’t resist dessert- I tried the chocolate peanut butter pie, which was simply divine. I loved the taste of the chocolate, merged with the peanut butter on top.


Next on the agenda was Chocolate World, which I was most excited for because chocolate is one of my favorite treats. Chocolate World was huge, and quite crowded but definitely worth it.

We started off doing the free tour around the Chocolate World factory which took place in a ride. It was really cool to see the process of how they make Hershey’s Chocolates.


Then we did a Chocolate Tasting, which was held in Hershey University. We got to try Hershey milk chocolate, extra dark, Bliss, Artisan Confections, kisses and really savored them so we could identify the flavors, whether they were fruity, woodsy, earthy, citrusy, floral, coffee, nutty and/or buttery. Afterwards, we received a Hershey’s University Masters Degree in Chocolate Tasting, signed by Milton S. Hershey, Founder and D.P. Quigley, Master Chocolatier! Pretty awesome to have that distinct honor.

We also got to do a trolley ride that went through the town of Hershey, PA and got to learn about the history of Milton Hershey, the man himself and how he built his Hershey empire. It was really quite an inspirational story, especially because Hershey had failed so many times, but instead of giving up, he kept trying and look at what he accomplished through that tenacity. And the story was told in a fun, lively way- There was our main tour guide who was very knowledgeable and very sweet, and there was also an actor playing different characters from Hershey’s life. It was over the top hilarious, and thoroughly enjoyable. They also sang some songs, and passed out chocolate samples.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was so much fun to visit Chocolate World, and made me feel like a kid again. We headed back to our hotel after that and just relaxed, hung out in the pool (which was really gorgeous!) and jacuzzi for awhile.

We ended up having dinner in the hotel, and prices were actually not too bad. I ordered the crab cake sandwich with french fries. It was quite good. The crab cake was made of flavorful lump crab meat, bread crumbs, milk, mayonnaise, eggs, yellow onions, and seasonings. It was melt-in-your-mouth delicious and made even better with tarter sauce.

After eating, a couple of us went out to a club called Banana Max. I didn’t love it, because smoking is prohibited and I get headaches if I’m exposed to smoking too long, but at least it was better than The Hop. It also had a cover charge, which I pretty much never pay in NYC. However, Banana Max did have a nice dance floor, played great music and was pretty hoppin’.

All in all, a great trip with fun people, full of delicious meals, beautiful places, chocolate, lots of laughter and good conversation!

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August 9, 2012 · 2:22 pm

21 Summer Must Dos

It’s summertime! But don’t just sit back and unwind… FabFitFun has created a must-do summer list. Make a pact to complete as many of these 21 fab ideas to make sure that this summer is your best one yet!

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July 31, 2012 · 11:57 pm

Club Getaway Weekend


This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending Club Getaway Young Professionals Weekend with some friends. I was able to get a ride there, instead of taking the bus, which was great because I got door to door service–  Picked up and dropped off right at home.  Driving there also allowed us to get to Club Getaway earlier so that we could enjoy the happy hour under the Olmypic theme decorated tent. There was plenty of variety: Fruits, puff pastries, taco and mashed potato bars, cheese and crackers.

A little while later was dinner, which was a lovely affair. My only issue is that they always serve the same dishes for Friday night dinner: Salad, rolls, roasted potatoes with zucchini, peppers, tomatoes and some kind of chicken which was good the first time, but wasn’t so appetizing the 3rd time around. At least the dessert was tasty – Yellow cake with strawberries and whipped cream.

After eating, my friend and I hung out with some of the guys we met at dinner, then hung around outside – It was a beautiful, cool night. And there was a dance party in the Boathouse so that was fun. We also spent some time by the lovely gazebo and met more people, including a really drunk guy who was having a hard time holding a coherent conversation, but was quite hilarious. He was clearly interested in me and something might have happened if he wasn’t so intoxicated… At least we were entertained.

Saturday we got up nice and early to sign up for select activities, and for breakfast. I did the early morning stretch, and Beginning Fighting- Stunt Workshop with Alfredo, one of the Club Getaway volunteers who actually does this for a living. We learned how to punch, pull someone’s hair and drag them across the floor, choke, gouge someone’s eyes out- All pretend. The only thing that was missing was kicking.

I had signed up for trapeze early in the day, which I was terrified of but decided that I really wanted to try it because 1) I’ve always wanted to do it and 2) It’s really expensive to do elsewhere. However, it started to rain pretty badly halfway through so I didn’t get to my turn.

Instead, I ran into two of my friends who were on their way to archery and was about to join them, then decided to take the van into town since my other friend was heading that way. The little town of Kent is really cute and adorable. We chilled in the Kent Coffee & Chocolate Company and I got a delicious handmade Popsicle of blackberry lime, as well as some chocolate bon bons of unique flavors, such as chai, bacon, peanut butter & so on.

Once we were back on Club Getaway premises, I decided to see if I could try the trapeze now that the rain had lessened. There were a few people waiting, but I managed to get there in time to be in the line up.

When it was my turn, I felt ready until I started to climb that really high ladder- It was quite wobbly and I got pretty scared, but the ladies at the top were really encouraging and helped guide me up to the platform. I was already incredibly shaken from the climb, so it was hard for me to stand on the edge and try to reach for the bar, which I felt was quite far from me. The 2 ladies up there were a huge help, as they soothed my nerves (a little) and held on to me as I tried to grab the bar. I managed to get one hand on the bar, then quickly placed my other hand on it, did a little hop and I was flying through the air! It was incredibly terrifying, yet incredibly exhilarating at the same time. I swung a few times, and finally heard “And drop” which I couldn’t do because I was too scared (even though there’s netting to catch my fall) so I was led down slowly then had to slide down a pole to get to the ground.

I felt such a sense of accomplishment and pride for being able to face my fear and actually trapeze! One of the guys watching from below took some pictures, so they will be posted later.

After that exciting moment (that my friends all got to witness), we headed to lunch which is probably the best meal at Club Getaway, just because of the sheer variety of foods and desserts that we can choose from. There is pizza, taco bar, many different and delicious types of bread, turkey and stuffing, pastas, and so much more. As for dessert, there is ice cream (of course), a chocolate fountain with strawberries and marshmallows, cookies & cakes galore.

So after lunch, I was all prepared to do water skiing, swimming in the lake, slip n slide but nature had other plans for us… It started to rain again! So we headed to the Boathouse where there were a slew of activities. I played some poker, then Flip Cup which I’m quite good at – and it was a great way to meet some cool people. Then, my friend and I joined in a fun game that was a bit revealing but all in good fun.

The weather started to get better later in the afternoon, so my friend and I went down to the lake to do the Pontoon boat ride, and I got my very delicious non-alcoholic Mudslide drink. The boat ride was nice, if a bit on the slow side but with beautiful views and a relaxing feel.

I was a little upset though because I missed one of my favorite activities, karaoke which took place in a different location than usual. I had really wanted to sing my favorite duet, “Summer Nights” with Ajax (who actually remembered me from last year’s Club Getaway weekends!)

Dinner was nice- With all of my roommates together, and getting to meet some new guys. There was salad, roasted potatoes, huge pieces of broccoli, chicken (again!) but was seasoned quite well, and beef which was delightfully tender and full of flavor.

Right after dinner, we enjoyed and danced to the music of live band, Radio Riot. They played some really great songs, like my absolute favorite, “Jessie’s Girl” and “Rolling in the Deep.” I went up to dance in the front, with a bunch of different groups, singing along, jumping high, and generally having a good time.

After the live music, my roommates and I headed back to our cabin to get ready for the End of the World party. I wore my pretty black dress with colorful flowers on them, green glitter, nude sparkly lips and silver platform sandals. The party was rocking with great music & beats when we got there, but was entirely too hot and stuffy inside.

So we found some mutual friends, and hung around outside for awhile. As soon as we saw they were setting up for the campfire, we went down there right away to get good seats around the fire. S’mores (mmmm) are my other favorite meal at Club Getaway… Perfectly melted burnt marshmallows with sweet chocolate and graham crackers.

I also loved hearing and singing along with Dave and his guitar, doing such favorites as “Bye Bye Miss American Pie” and “Cecilia.” We stayed by the campfire for quite awhile, then rejoined the End of the World party at the Boathouse and ended the night by the campfire.

Sunday dawned bright and early, felt much harder to wake up but we managed to get up early enough to be the first few in line for the ever popular omelets that are made right in front of our eyes. I had ham, peppers, onion, and cheese in my omelet and also grabbed a little waffle, which is another popular breakfast staple, along with bacon, hash browns, and strawberries.

I knew I wanted to spend time in the lake, since I didn’t get the chance yesterday (as it was raining most of the day). I also wanted to try water skiing, even though I should’ve taken that time to do arts & crafts or archery because I ended up spending quite a bit of time just waiting for my turn to water ski and when it finally came, I wasn’t able to do it for very long until it started raining again…

At least I got a ride in the water ski boat, and then went to swim in the lake.
I went up on the floating trampoline and managed to climb all the way to the top of the slide, thanks to a really sweet guy, and we slid down together, holding hands. It was a bit scary, since it was so high up but totally worth it.

After that, I wanted to just chill at Lakeside Live, but went into the Boathouse where they were starting “Wild & Crazy Game Show” which I just had to be a part of… We were the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle team and did pretty well. Some of what we had to do: Have 1 team member wrap up the rest of us with toilet paper, and we won for being done first. Then there was the crazy building a wobbly cup tower, while one team member tries to bounce the ping pong ball into the cup (being held by another teammate) & each subsequent time, place the cup with the ball in it underneath. We won that round as well. Ultimately, we got 3rd Place- Not bad.

Then it was lunch time, and it came right on time. There was so much to choose from- Stuffed salmon, baked potato bar, pizza, chicken soft taco, pesto pasta, sweet fried chicken, and so on.

After eating, I said my goodbyes to the people I had met, and my friends and I made our way out. And I got a ride to my apartment, which was much needed as I quite tired, with a headache and stomachache… Too much fun and good food, I guess!

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July 21, 2012 · 2:47 pm

Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse & Newsadoozies

This past week my friend and I went to Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse for Summer Restaurant Week, which just started July 16. Michael Jordan’s is nestled in Grand Central and a nice little spot. They had a tantalizing RW menu, and we even tried one of the appetizers: the garlic bread gorgonzola fondue, which was as rich and     tempting as it sounds. The gorgonzola could’ve been thicker and warmer though.

As my appetizer, I chose the heart of palm salad with goat cheese. The vegetable was fresh and delicious, not too hard and not too soft. And it was a hearty portion. The main course was Filet Mignon in a gorgonzola sauce, along with truffle mashed potatoes. I also got to try my friend’s side order of asparagus. All of this was completely wonderful. The Filet Mignon was seasoned and full of great flavor, as well as crisped just the way it should be. The asparagus were bright green, crunchy, fresh and the mashed potato perfectly whipped.

The dessert was “Fat Boy” chocolate cake, hopefully not actually a descriptive for the person who ate it… This was a multi-layered chocolate cake with chocolate creme in between the layers and a darker chocolate topping, which was my favorite part. It was delectable, without being too sweet.

After eating my friend and I hopped in a cab to see Newsadoozies, a short comedic musical that our mutual acquaintance  co-wrote and plays the piano for! It was quite exciting and being shown at Upright Citizen’s Brigade, which is a little theater that shows lots of independent-type performances.

We sat in the front seat, center and it was thoroughly enjoyable. It’s a spoof on Broadway show, “Newsies” and “chronicles the news boys of New York City in their adventures of selling newspapers, finding love, and getting eaten by the members of an ancient evil cannibalistic sex cult.” The story was hilarious, unique, modern and a pleasure to watch. The songs and dance moves were creative, fun and well done. Plus, the Newsboys were all British, which made them undeniably more sexy and irresistible. I liked Cripply, a handsome Newsboy on crutches, with intense blue eyes and a sweet heart. There was also Smacky, cute and boyish with long hair, but also a drug addicted schizophrenic.

In the middle of all the crazy antics of the cult, newsboys, & energetic dance moves, there’s a bit of a love story between Cripply and a pretty but idiotic daughter. It’s a bit of innocence in the midst of the very adult themes. All in all, a great show!

I had a really enjoyable night out on the town!

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July 17, 2012 · 12:44 pm

Niagara Falls Weekend


This past weekend, I went with some friends to Niagara Falls on the Canada side. We stayed at my friend’s home Upstate  in the country for the trip, which was nice and comfortable-  A nice place to relax during our downtime.


While Upstate, we explored the town and woods, did some shopping, went out to eat, had ice cream, spotted a variety of animals, from deer (even baby deer) to horses. We even did a scary movie night one dark evening, enjoyed with with cheese and crackers.

Of course the highlight of the trip was visiting Niagara Falls on the Canada side for my first time ever! It was awe-inspiring, spectacular, gorgeous and incredible. We got sprayed by the mist as we walked along side it and then made our way to the Skylon Restaurant…

We went to the top of the Skylon Restaurant, which is revolving, and got to see some amazing views of Niagara Falls (pictured below) and Ontario from all sides. It felt so exciting to be on the top floor, and truly enjoyed the experience of being in such a nice restaurant with that breathtaking view.

I had the special, baby back ribs with sweet potato fries. The ribs were succulent, tender, perfectly seasoned with lots of yummy sauce. And the sweet potato fries were also tasty, sweet and crisped just the right amount.

After the meal, we went up a couple more flights to the Observation Deck where we got some more beautiful views of Niagara Falls. Then we purchased the group picture of us, and got to pick one of the lovely Niagara Falls background- I went for the night view of the Falls.

Next was the Maid of the Mist boat tour (pictured below). It was torture having to wait for the next boat in that hot sticky humid weather, but we finally were able to get on and rushed to the upper deck. It was standing room only, and as we got up there and felt that  cool breeze, we felt better. Soon we were on our way and loved feeling the wind and water. The boat went right into the middle of the Falls, which was just wonderful, getting to see the waterfall up close (we even spotted a rainbow!) and being sprayed by the refreshing water mist.


When we were done with the boat ride, we continued to walk along the Falls, enjoyed the view from a park and slowly made our way back to the car. It was such an exciting and fun day!

We had a day to relax from our trip, then took Monday to drive back to NYC. Along the way, we stopped at Cracker Barrel Country Store- A restaurant, as well as a shop with tons of old time novelty candy, bath & body products, DVD’s and other fun treats.

For lunch, I had the fried cat fish, which came with warm homemade corn bread, as well as 3 sides: Whole kernel corn, mac & cheese and hash brown casserole. As well as hush puppies, which were delicious. Everything was so good- and you could tell it was all homemade, and filled with lots of fresh flavor and butter.

After eating, I did some candy shopping in the Old Country Store and picked up caramel apple sugar babies, Mary Janes, old fashioned sour cherry, Now & Laters, Moon Pies.  Can’t wait to enjoy them!

I had an amazing time this past weekend, and finally got to see and experience Niagara Falls in all its glory!

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July 10, 2012 · 12:20 am

River Tubing Day


This past weekend I took a trip to Pennsylvania for River Tubing (my first time) in the Delaware River. I got to river tube with the two very good looking guides. It was a fun day of telling stories, laughing it up, singing pop songs, and relaxing in the cool water, under the warm sun. The river itself was quite lazy, but there were patches of more rapid areas which felt nice to go down.

Though I got stuck in the rapids at one point, when my inner tube disconnected from the guides and couldn’t paddle back to them so I stood up and walked back toward them. On the way, I hit my knee on a rock but it didn’t actually hurt much.

After 3 hours of river tubing we headed back on the bus and were taken into Doylestown, PA for pub party and BBQ buffet. The bar was hoppin’ with loud club music and the food was quite good: BBQ chicken, pulled pork, pasta salad, potato salad, corn bread.

When finished with the meal, I went with a couple new friends to explore the little town for a bit. We stopped at an old-fashioned ice cream shop for dessert. I got dulce de leche and expresso chip on a small waffle cone. It was a dripping mess but a delectable and delicious sweet mess.

We also happened upon a really cute shopping market and enjoyed Olive Oil Etcetera, which had a variety of olive oils, pasta, bath & body products and much more. I picked up Extra Virgin Olive Oil luxury soap in Lemongrass-Rasemary scent, which smells soo good and feels perfectly soft.

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July 5, 2012 · 11:18 pm

A Happy 4th of July

On this lovely Fourth of July/Independence Day, I finally got to see the new Pixar movie, BRAVE. It’s the first Pixar film featuring a heroine, which I found a little shocking, that it took this long to create. I thoroughly enjoyed being transported into Merida’s world of whimsy, magical forest, and royalty. Merida is a princess who wants to break tradition and forge her own destiny, so unleashes a deadly spell that she must undo before it’s too late.

Though I had a bit of an issue with Merida… She was impetuous, to the point of being unreasonable and extremely rude to her very elegant and beautiful mother, the Queen, her character changes throughout the story and becomes more endearing as she is forced to save the day. Also, the visuals and songs in BRAVE were excellent, as were the quite sentimental and heartfelt message.

After the movie, my friend and I headed over to another friend’s apartment (with a rooftop terrace with a gorgeous view of the Manhattan Skyline) for potluck and games. There was a pretty good spread: Cheese and crackers; white cake with frosting; strawberries; grapes; chips and corn/cheese/veggie dip; chocolate cookies; sugar cookies with the American flag imprinted on them; corn on the cob; steak and of course the American flag cake.

After hanging out in the apartment for awhile, we headed up to the rooftop to just hang out, play some games (Catch Phrase), chat, and generally have a good time. We had a perfect view over the water and as the sun slowly disappeared, it only became more beautiful, with the sparkling lights. Fireworks started around 9:30p and lasted for about half an hour. The fireworks were wonderful- A myriad of colors, shapes, sounds to form a delightful visual display.


God Bless the USA*

I’d thank my lucky stars, to be livin here today.
‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom, and they can’t take that away.
And I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.
And I gladly stand up, next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

*By Lee Greenwood

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June 29, 2012 · 6:00 pm

Freud’s Last Session


Earlier this week I got to see Freud’s Last Session for free with a friend.

In this play, Freud invites a young C.S. Lewis to his London home and they end up discussing and clashing on many different topics: The existence of God, love, sex and the meaning of life.

The dialogue was sharp, intense and kept us on our toes, made us think. The acting, by both men was superb and each brought believability to their character. Freud, played by Martin Rayner, depicted Freud well as an older gentleman with strong notions and hints to his philosophy. C.S. Lewis, played by Mark H. Dold, was handsome, idealistic with a very charming accent. Both managed to bring in facial expression, body language, and idiosyncrasies for their respective characters.

Though the play is low on action, as it is mostly a conversational debate, there are moments of humor. There were also moments of true passion and conviction, giving color to the performance.

As the meeting goes on, we see Freud’s health condition get progressively worse, signifying that it is toward the end of Freud’s life, which is a bit disturbing. But of course it makes sense, hence the title “Freud’s Last Session.”

Also, the set design was lovely- Freud’s study, filled with books, a desk, china, odds and ends of Freud’s collections, a space where folks can lay down and be “analyzed” and a large window to the side, letting in natural light and giving the room some cheer.

“Freud’s Last Session” is not for everybody, as some might find it boring but it is well written, well acted and quite an interesting discussion on some of the biggest topics in the world, between two very famous people in history.

 

Address: 340 West 50th Street

 

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June 24, 2012 · 11:59 pm

Tropfest New York 2012

Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of attending Tropfest New York 2012, “the world’s largest short film festival” (which originated in Australia) hosted by Hugh Jackman at Bryant Park. Alas, Hugh didn’t appear until later in the day but we still had fun spending the afternoon in the park.

Serendipitously, there was a street fair going on right near Bryant Park so we passed some of the time checking out the jewelry, clothes, accessories, bath & body, cosmetics and food/drinks. We then headed back to Bryant Park and sat & relaxed in the shade, sharing some great conversation and yummy snacks, all while enjoying live music.

Later in the day, Hugh Jackman finally made an appearance, looking very handsome and being very charming with that Australian accent of his. He talked a little about Tropfest and then we were shown “Best of Tropfest Films.” Most of these short films were extremely strange and we weren’t sure what to make of them.

We were then introduced to the panel of celebrity judges, who had the task of judging this year’s finalists- of which there were 8 total. The judges included Rose Bryne, Judah Friedlander and several well known industry folks.

After the intermission, was Part 2: Tropfest New York 2012 Finalist Films. All the films had to incorporate “bagel” somehow. These short films were also strange, but at least more readily understood. There were maybe 2 of them that I just couldn’t get into, as they were just too simple and didn’t tell a story very well.

But I quite enjoyed several of the short films (in order of appearance): “Elvis: The Lonely Hunter of Circle Beach” was adorable, about a too-adorable sweet dog who hunted bagels on the beach. “Elevator” which was a suspense/drama between the elevator and the young mother’s son. “The Break-Up Tour” took place in Greenwich Village, following a couple on a tour. This one has a wicked twist to a it. And “Thanks Dad,” a very moving, emotional, powerful piece about a horrific event that would change a family forever & the grown-up son finally confronts his abusive father about it.

Hugh Jackman had the filmmakers come up to speak about their respective films, while the judges, judged. I agreed with most of their awards: 3rd Place went to “Elvis: The Lonely Hunter of Circle Beach;” 2nd Place went to “The Break-Up Tour” but 1st Place was stolen from “Thanks Dad” and was instead, given to “Emptys” a documentary-like film about recycling. Now, don’t get me wrong- I love recycling and it’s something that I strive to do always but that film was certainly not better than “Thanks Dad,” which had it all — Plot, dialogue, emotion, story, good acting, message… “Thanks Dad” just really resonated, and had a beautiful hopeful ending. So I was quite sad that “Thanks Dad” (the one film that deserved it the most) didn’t win anything…

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