For the Outsider in All of Us...

Have you ever felt alone?  Or like you didn't really matter to anyone?  Maybe you just wish your circumstances were different.  Or people took the time to get to know the real you.  Perhaps you've always played it safe, followed the rules.  Life is passing you by while you watch from the sidelines.

Evan Hansen knows how you feel.  He's in the same boat.  And it's miserable.
 

The latest Second Stage Theater production - Dear Evan Hansen - is a musical drama with a touch of humor throughout.  It is creative and modern.  A take on life as an outsider that so badly wants to be normal.  He makes some questionable choices that ultimately get him noticed, but given the situation, it's hard to say he did the wrong thing...at least at first.  The show provides a unique look at the fragility of mankind.  The part we all play in making a difference...or not.  A deep and thoughtful adventure well worth the ride.

We were so happy to be able to enjoy the performance alongside Mia and her hubby on their recent visit to NYC.  A fun night out on the town for sure!

Andrea :)

Big Apple Fun with Mom and Dad

Illustration by Lisa Larson-Walker. Images by Thinkstock.

It's always a fun adventure when visitors come to the Big Apple for a few days.  Especially when those visitors are family!  Mom and Dad spent a long weekend finding plenty of new things to do and sites to see. We began with an early birthday celebration for Mom.  Might as well celebrate for the whole month, right? :)

The next day, we stopped inside the Chrysler Building to admire the art work that adorns the walls.  We also made our way over to the birthplace of Theodore Roosevelt, but it was closed for renovations.  Guess we'll know where to go next time they visit!

In the afternoon, we came upon mounds of snow along the sidewalk.  Not too strange for April THIS year, but quite bizzare on such a lovely day.  We discovered it was being created by a huge truck for use in the filming of a commercial.  Gotta love New York!  We finally made our way to Washington Square Park and ultimately the Angelica theater for a fun flick - Hello, My Name is Doris.  Sally Fields is a hoot in it!  Later, we ventured over to the Village Underground via Comedy Cellar for a night of non-stop laughs...and surprisingly tasty food!  We were excited to see a few comics we recognized from America's Got Talent and Last Comic Standing.  Definitely a fun time!

We stayed in Queens for most of Saturday as we visited the Museum of the Moving Image.  We all enjoyed the interactive exhibits and hanging out in Tut's Theater.  We even found a cupcake shop with movie themed treats.  We tried Little Rascals (s'mores), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (traditional chocolate), and Vanilla Sky (traditional vanilla).  All great choices!

Saturday night, we hit the Metropolitan Opera for L'Elisir d'Amore.  Since none of us speak Italian, it was a most pleasant surprise to find screens at each seat to translate the songs.  It was a comedic opera that had several funny scenes.  A love story gone awry.  And a neat experience for all of us!

We took it easy on Sunday.  We had plans to roam around Central Park, but the weather took a turn for the worst so we decided to stay indoors instead.  That evening, we made our way over to the New World Stages for a performance of The Woodsman.  Dad's request to see this show was the impetus for the whole trip.  It was quite a unique performance.  I enjoyed the collaborative creative efforts of the cast to come together to bring this play to life.  And, now we know how the tin man lost his heart!

We headed over to Junior's for some yummy cheesecake dessert after the show.  As we took a short cut in the middle of the avenue, we ran smack dab into another set of visitors from my home county.  The odds of that happening have to be extremely slim - a true chance encounter!

Do you enjoy being a tourist in your own city?

Andrea :)

Our March Date Nights

March was full of excitement all month long.  We enjoyed all the fun activities on our calendar - especially the date nights!  Chris took us on a indoor tennis adventure at Madison Square Garden while I found a hipster movie theater/restaurant in Williamsburg.

We watched two tennis matches - one more light-hearted and fun than the other.  Take a wild guess who was serious about winning. Those Williams ladies bring it - always!  The night started with some crazy shots and maneuvers from Gael Monfils and Stan Wawrinka.  We cheered for Monfils - definitely the crowd favorite for his playful nature!

At one point during the men's match, Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki joined them for a bit of mixed doubles action.  Serena was even wired for sound - super fun! Eventually, the ladies took the court for their match.  Serena dominated, but Caroline gave her a run for her money the first game.  We really enjoyed the mixture of fun and intensity throughout the night.  Definitely recommend checking out some elite tennis if you ever have the chance!

I wanted to find something a bit different for our date night.  It's always fun to mix it up a bit, right?  I came across a number of fun options in the trendy Williamsburg area of Brooklyn.  I decided that NiteHawk Cinemas would be the best bet for us.  The movie theater boasts a decent selection of dinner options as well as typical movie watching sweets and treats.

We ordered dinner that we really enjoyed while watching Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.  We had a great experience and definitely want to try the popcorn next time we visit!  And we also were really surprised by how much we enjoyed the movie.  A good mix of comedy and seriousness.  

Have you been on any unique dates recently?

Andrea :)

Wayne Brady and His Boots...

I've been intrigued by Kinky Boots for a couple of years, but hadn't ever managed to pull the trigger on purchasing tickets.  There was always something else to be seen.  And then Wayne Brady took on the role of fabulous drag queen Lola.  We were sold.

The show was super fun!  We thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish.  The story follows a young British fellow, Charlie, as he unexpectedly inherits his father's shoe factory.  Unbeknownst to Charlie, the factory isn't making any money.  Enter Lola - a remarkably funny and touching character.  Lola inspires Charlie to begin production on ladies' shoes for men.  The two become fast friends...and then the pressure and demands of running a business begin to take a toll.
 

I was incredibly impressed with the choreography and overall design (set and clothing/shoes).  Certainly worth seeing if you want a sure hit with everyone!  The music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper are upbeat and catchy, too.  We had lots of laughs watching Wayne Brady in his fantastic boots!  Check out this show if you want an exciting comedy with incredibly touching moments scattered throughout.  And if you can't make it to Broadway, I've heard the movie is pretty wonderful as well!

Andrea :)

ABC Reads: March Review

Today is the day to link up your ABC Reads!!  Here's a refresher on the terms of the challenge in case you missed it previously:

What does the challenge entail?  Well, I'm glad you asked.  There are 26 letters of the alphabet and Mia and I challenge you, during the course of 2016, to read a book that starts with each letter.  For example, Atonement (A), The Bell Jar (B), Catching Fire (C), and so on.  Makes sense, right? You don't need to go in order - if you want to start with S, go for it.  On the last day of each month, we'll host a link-up for you to share your ABC Reads.  We will award one point for each letter you review AND a bonus point for linking up with us!  At the end of the year (or when the first participant reviews a book beginning with each of the 26 letters), the winner will be awarded a $30 Amazon gift card.  So, what do you say?  Do you accept our ABC Reads challenge?

Each ABC Reads book that I read this month was fantastic.  I devoured all three.  Each one was well-written and more than held my attention.  Each broached heavy topics - murder, cancer, thoughts of suicide.  It was all very real and heartbreaking.  Two were true life stories written in memoir style with the other being a fictional work.  I completed the following letters: Y, L, and R.  Here are my thoughts...

The Year We Disappeared: A Father-Daughter Memoir by Cylin Busby and John Busby

I really enjoyed reading this one.  What an incredible story!!  John, a third shift policeman, is nearly murdered on his way to work in the late summer of 1979.  The book alternates between his perspective and Cylin's (his daughter) 9-year old voice.  It is well presented and gives an intriguing look into the politics and corruption of the police force in small town American.  Check out my full review HERE.

Life and Other Near-Death Experiences by Camille Pagan

I found this little gem via the monthly Kindle First emails I receive.  Such a creative and intriguing story surrounding the heavy topic of cancer.  The story begins with Libby being told she has a rare form of cancer.  In her denial and shock, she tears out of the doctor's office to head home and tell her one and only love (seriously...childhood friend turned high school sweetheart turned husband), Tom.  However, when Tom sees her so terribly broken up he assumes she's found out his secret.  And then the real fun begins.  It was a light-hearted tale that broaches many a tough topic.  Definitely worth a read.  Perfect for reading at the beach this summer!  

The Rising: Murder, Heartbreak, and the Power of Human Resilience in an American Town by Ryan D'Agostino

What a truly horrid and terrifying story.  Bill Petit finds himself beaten and tied up in his basement while two intruders do who knows what to his wife and two young daughters.  Miraculously, Bill escapes and rolls to a neighbors house to get help for his girls, but it is too late as the murderers have set the house afire.  It is absolutely heart wrenching, but a fascinating look into the power of human resilience.  For my full review, click HERE.  

Which letters did you cross off your list this month?

 

Andrea :)

50 Years!

On Saturday, Christopher's parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.  What an incredible feat!  And what a journey they have been on since that snowy March weekend in England.  A move to America, successful careers, two wonderful children, and so much more throughout the years!

We treated them to a doo-wop concert earlier this month and took them out for a family dinner on Saturday evening.  It was a lovely night with fantastic food that we all thoroughly enjoyed.

It really is remarkable to think about spending 50 years of life together.  Christopher and I have nearly 18 months behind us so we have quite a way to go...but I'm hopeful we'll get there someday!

Andrea :)

#collaboreads: A Memoir

Memoirs are one of my favorite genres to read.  I easily selected a book this month.  In fact, I was able to incorporate a book that was on my ABC Reads Challenge list.  Shameless plug - feel free to join Mia and me as we host a monthly link-up that provides a place for our fellow bookworms to review a book that begins with each of the 26 letters in our lovely alphabet over the course of 2016.  It's never too late to join the fun.  Learn more HERE!  Now...back to my selection for #collaboreads this month - The Year We Disappeared: A Father-Daughter Memoir by Cylin Busby and John Busby.

RIVETING.

What part of the book could you NOT get enough of?

I simply could not put this book down...at all.  I read it in two days.  I was caught up in the story from the first flip of the cover.  It alternated between Cylin, in her 9-year old voice, and her father's perspective on the tragic and miraculous events of his near murder in their small Massachusetts beach town in the late summer of 1979.  John was a respected third shift police officer with a wife in nursing school and three young children at home.  The book only covered a brief portion of time following that fateful night but did a great job of incorporating prior stories and events seamlessly into the story. 

ELEMENTS.

How did you relate to/care for the characters?
What's your thought on the plot line and twists and turns?

I related more to Cylin than John, but thoroughly enjoyed both perspectives.  Growing up, my dad was a principal (and later a teacher) so I could relate to Cylin's feelings about being in the spotlight and having people treat her in a certain (good or bad) manner based on circumstances she was unable to control.  I really felt for her and her brothers.  At the same time, I could identify with John's frustrations with the police force for not doing more to solve his case.  He was also left to deal with having so much of his identity stripped from him when he was unable to speak let alone go back to work.  I also had so much sympathy for John's wife.  Even though they had family nearby to help and great friends to lean on, she really had to be the strong and firm voice that held them all together...and it could NOT have been easy in any possible way.  There are a few twists and turns along the way, but the story is pretty straight forward.  I was surprised that more of the book didn't focus on the family's life after their eventual relocation.  However, I got caught up in the descriptive way life after the incident was presented that I didn't realize it until the book was finished.

ASSOCIATE.
What other books are like this one? If none, did it remind you of a particular TV or movie with it's themes and characters? Does it serendipitous-ly line-up with things going on in your life or the news right now? 

After watching Making A Murderer and following much of the unnecessary police violence incidents over the past few years, I was interested discover that our justice system was just as corrupt in the early 80s.  It's an awful shame, but I was shocked by the stories of low level criminals running the town at will.  John stood up to the corruption and nearly paid his life for it.  If nothing else, I recommend reading this book just to get a closer first hand account of the workings of the police department in small town America.  Similarly, I just finished The Rising: Murder, Heartbreak, and the Power of Human Resilience in an American Town by Ryan D'Agostino.  This one doesn't focus on corruption as much as recovery in the midst of horrible tragedy.  Ironically, a great follow-up read.

DESIGN.
You know you judged this book by the cover. What did you think of it? 
How did it relate to the contents of the novel? And the font and layout of the pages? 

The design proves intriguing.  John's police ID and an authentic, innocent image of Cylin with a pet turtle in their yard is a great snapshot of the family before life turned upside down.  Both images on the cover are addressed in the first part of the book bringing even more meaning to them.

STARS.  
How many out of five do you give this book? Would you recommend this book to a friend?  

I give this book 4.5 stars!  It is an incredible story, but I wanted a little more on life post-disappearing.  The focus was on everything leading up to the disappearing with a couple chapters after the family's relocation.  Definitely recommend giving it a read though!

Andrea :)