The Lion King

 

When it comes to broadway shows, The Lion King is the ultimate experience.  I saw the show about a year after moving to New York City way back in 2008.  My parents have been to the city nearly every year to visit for a few days and somehow they had never been to see this quintessential show.
 

This year, I surprised them with tickets for their respective birthdays.  Since Mom's is in April, I sent them crafted tickets in her birthday card.  They were SO excited and we settled on a date in early September (Dad's birthday month) for the show.

I bought us tickets about five rows from the stage in the orchestra.  AMAZING!!  The other time I had watched it with a friend in the balcony so this was really a treat for me as well!  We loved the show, especially the opening scene where the animals all gather on stage by walking up the aisles.  Fascinating to see everything up close!

The way the animals are created using a collection of humans for larger ones like the elephants and graceful ballet artists for others is phenomenal.  The score and voices are excellent as well.  And, honestly, the bits of humor in the story line can't be beat.  The Lion King is such a fun and lovely show.  It is the absolute best (in terms of production) that I have ever seen.

It was an honor to be able to treat my parents to this fabulous show!  They are always there for me...and have allowed me to experience SO much over the years.  I was happy to be able to celebrate our birthdays in this unique way.  And, of course, it wouldn't be a true birthday celebration without (cheese)cake at Junior's afterward!

Andrea :)

Saturday States: Mississippi & Alabama

Mississippi

State Nickname: The Magnolia State

Years of Family Trip: 1995 and 2004

Cities Visited: Jackson, Natchez, Vicksburg

Can't Miss Tourist Attractions:
Mississippi River and the Coca-Cola Museum

You certainly can't miss the Mississippi River when visiting this crooked letter, crooked letter, humpback, humpback state.  McKinley even managed to find a Civil War cannon on a bluff overlooking it!  We also visited the capitol building in Jackson and the Coca-Cola Museum in Vicksburg where they had just celebrated 100 years!

Alabama

State Nickname: The Yellowhammer State 

Year of Family Trip: 1999

City Visited: Gulf Shores

Can't Miss Tourist Attraction: Orange Beach

Over and Out

We took a joint trip to Gulf Shores with the Burns family in the summer of 1999.  We had a blast carpooling from Kentucky to shores of Alabama with our walkie talkie nonsense and occassional games!  We spent time on the beach, stayed up late playing cards, and Amanda even gave me a new hair style one night!  Mini-golf was a highlight of the trip as well.  Renting a condo to share with family was the perfect way to enjoy Alabama's Gulf Shores!

Have you been to Mississippi or Alabama?

Andrea :)

An Unthinkable Tragedy

An unthinkable tragedy struck our nation 14 years ago today.  I remember exactly where I saw the twin towers tumble into ash.  The sight was so unfathomable that I actually thought it was a movie.  It couldn't be real.  It couldn't be happening in America.  It just couldn't.

But it was.  And nearly 3,000 people lost their lives.  Some were travelers heading out on their next adventure, some were professionals taking part in a one-day conference, some were servicemen who risk their lives regularly to save those in need.  No matter who they were, they should still be here with us today.  Instead, an act of violence so vile that no words can do it justice took them.

Visiting the 9/11 Memorial Museum over the holiday weekend forced me to relive this horrendous day all over again.  And it made me realize each day is precious.  Every moment in time fits together with the next.  Some lives were spared by acts as simple as a morning eye exam while other required bold and brave action in the face of death to rescue others.  Life is a fragile thing.  We must use each day wisely.

If you ever have a chance to visit the 9/11 memorial fountains, I encourage you to spend a few hours in the museum as well.  It is a phenomenal tribute to the lives lost.  One room is entirely dedicated to them.  There are interactive elements that allow you to learn about each person as a way to honor their memory.  I could have spent hours scrolling through the names there.

The historical rooms recounting the tragedy and aftermath are incredible.  Parts of these rooms are difficult to digest providing a true emotional reflection on that day.   The detail is impeccable...perhaps even overwhelming.  I suggest allowing several hours to really see it all.

I've never been to a museum that was more meaningful.  Maybe it's because I remember these events actually occurring rather than just reading about them in a history book.  Maybe it's because of the scope of the tragedy and the way it has forever changed our lives.  Maybe it's because I live in New York City now.  Whatever the reason, I highly suggest checking it out for yourself.

Andrea :)

A Perfect End to Summer: Baseball & Ice Cream

Sadly, summer is coming to an end.  Everyone is headed back to school, and fall is just around the corner now.  I couldn't think of a better way to close this fun-filled few months than a trip to the ball park!  My parents have been to the city to visit numerous times, but had never ventured up to the Bronx to check out the Yankees.

We caught a great game over Labor Day weekend.  The Tampa Bay Rays were in town.  The game went back and forth with the home team finally pulling out the victory.  We saw at least three home runs that I can recall so there wasn't much of a lull in action at this game!

We enjoyed seats in a shady part of the ballpark, but that didn't mean it wasn't hot.  The weather had been fairly mild, but really peaked over the holiday weekend!  Guess that was summer's way of saying she wasn't quite ready to turn in for the year!

And when it's hot and humid out, there's only one treat that truly satisfies - ICE CREAM!!  We really got our money's worth at a unique ice cream shop in Chinatown!

We loved being able to watch our ice cream come to life before our very eyes at 10 Below.  We all selected a different flavor...and I managed to get photos of each being made despite the tight conditions in the small shop! #bloggerwin

Complete process of making Strawberry Shawty...YUM!

I tried three of the flavors we ordered and each was delicious!!  I don't think it is possible to go wrong with the ice cream combos at 10 Below!  We enjoyed Monkey Business, Cookie Monster, Strawberry Shawty, and Key Lime Pie (pictured going clockwise below).

The shop is hidden in the depths of Chinatown and not very close to the subway, but you better believe Chris and I will be back before too long!

How did you spend Labor Day weekend?

Andrea :)

Exploring LIC with Mom and Dad

Christopher and I have lived in Long Island City for just over a year now. After our first summer in LIC, it is safe to say this little pocket of Queens really comes alive at this time of year. The two big recurring weekend events are Smorgasburg and LIC Flea. We've been to both a handful of times. And really enjoyed introducing my parents to the area with these two events over Labor Day Weekend.

You can't really say you've experienced Smorgasburg unless you try the Ramen Burger. It really hits the spot. A little salty, a little savory, a little tangy. Somehow, it just works. Mom and Dad gave it a shot though Dad was a bit more skeptical than Mom. In the end, they gave it a thumbs up!

We opted for cold treats at LIC Flea & Food since it was such a hot day! The gelato macaroon sandwiches are absolutely delicious. We ordered a passionfruit and vanilla one...and neither disappointed! While debating on our treat selection, we browsed the market style booths and a couple really caught our eye. Chris and I couldn't pass up the creative sign of Queens with our first home of LIC designated on the upper left side.

We spent a bit of time walking along the water at Gantry Plaza State Park, too. There are great views of Manhattan and the Queensboro Bridge, lots of unique benches, and, of course, the Pepsi Cola sign! Mom and Dad also enjoyed the scenery from our apartment rooftop. LIC is the perfect spot to watch the sun set over Manhattan's east side. Stunning views!

Andrea :)

Health & Fitness in August

I'm one month into marathon training.  It's going well.  It started off rough though.  Really rough.  But after a month, I'm good.  Well...as good as I could have hoped at this point! Surprisingly, I stuck with my schedule of running (sometimes in more of a walk/run pattern) four days a week.  It was great in the beginning.  I felt like it really helped me to get back into the swing of things.  However, as the month progressed and my body got used to running those short(er) runs during the week, it started to feel a little repetitive to run back-to-back on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Given that and a number of other reasons, I decided to make a switch for September.  I am going to cut back to three runs per week.  As the mileage increases both during the week and on the weekend long run, I want to ensure I give myself a proper amount of time to recover between runs.  We'll also be gone for a portion of the month and I know it won't be realistic to keep up with all the runs then so I am attempting to keep things somewhat attainable.

My only other update to the schedule is the addition of a half marathon the second weekend in October.  Originally, that was scheduled to be my final long run (20 miles), but after further reflection I think a timed race at that point will be more beneficial for me.  Mostly, I feel it will give me a realistic idea on my pace for the marathon itself.  Either way, I am looking forward to the challenge/test!

Andrea :)

Saturday States: Tennessee

Tennessee

State Nickname: The Volunteer State

Years of Family Trip: 1995 and 2004

Cities Visited: Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga, Gatlinburg

Can't Miss Tourist Attractions:
Smoky Mountains in Gatlinburg, Opryland (Hotel) in Nashville, Graceland and The Civil Rights Museum in Memphis

Walls of Wonder 

Graceland is just one of those places.  Even if you don't particularly like Elvis, you just have to check it out.  It's legendary.  One of a kind.  Little did I know how completely true those statements would ring after I laid eyes on the place myself.  The exterior isn't anything out of this world.  It's fairly simple as far as mansions go.  There is an elaborate gate providing an entrance to the place, but the house itself is pretty standard.  At least on the outside.  Inside is a different story.  The carpet is the shaggy variety and finds its way pretty much everywhere - including the walls!  Yes, the walls are carpeted.  I can't really imagine how that conversation went, but I'm sure there were a slew of questions involved!

YOU can't sit here!!

My family has been to our fair share of museums, but without a doubt the most powerful one I have ever stepped foot it is the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.  Not only are you able to roam the grounds of the Lorraine Motel and see a replica room where Dr. King was assassinated, but the actual museum is outstanding.  We experienced several interactive elements including a bus and a lunch counter where passengers and waiters/customers yell angry words to give you the feeling that so many felt in those tragic times.  It was unreal to walk in those shoes for that brief time.  Over a decade later, I still clearly remember my raw emotions as I made my way through the exhibit.  If you do nothing else in all of Tennessee, don't miss this museum!

Have you ever been to Tennessee?

Andrea :)