December 2010 - The Culture Mom

31Dec

Review: The Magic of Mummenschanz Hits the NYC Stage Again

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The only thing better than experiencing the show Mummenschanz at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts in NYC this week was the expression on my son's face throughout the entire performance. He was riveted and did not stop smiling from the show's start to finish. The show was unlike anything even I, myself, had ever seen before and I shared his enthusiasm, which was one reason I glanced at him constantly throughout the show. The look on his face exemplified everything I feel about culture and bringing it into my children's life. Not only do I Read More

29Dec

Wordless Wednesday: New York City in all its Holiday Glory

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I spent the most glorious day in the city with my son, frolicking in the snow and showing him all the best Christmas sites - Rockefeller Center, Washington Square Park, the Train Show at Grand Central, the store windows at Macy's & Lord & Taylor, Herald Square, the light show at the Saks 5th Avenue, the tree at Lincoln Center. There is nothing quite like the city during this time of year. It's magical. Take a look. Read More

28Dec

My Best of 2010 List

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First of all, I must preface my list by saying that though I am a culture vulture, I do not get to see or do half of what I'd like to. Reason: kids. I have no complaints as I'm in a new chapter of life, but my pre-baby life was indeed more culturally satisfying. Still, thankfully, I have a great husband who allows me to fulfill a side of me that needs to be culturally enriched. And given the fact that we live right outside NYC and pay premium prices to do so, I see and do as much as I can. So, on that note, here is a short top 10 of my richest Read More

26Dec

Our Jewish Christmas

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I grew up in a home with a mother who was desperately trying to shed some of her Jewish identity that she felt was forced down her throat. Her parents had kept a strictly Kosher house. Though they weren't religious, she felt denied.....denied of having the experience of even just knowing how other people lived. She lived in a very Italian neighborhood, so I am sure that Jewish people were a minority. She loved Christmas and felt that she was an outsider looking in from year to year. The house surrounding her own were smothered in Christmas lights Read More

25Dec

Winter Break: Our Visit to the Stepping Stones Museum in Norwalk, CT

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I recently attended the re-opening of the Stepping Stones Museum in Norwalk, CT. After two years of construction and a few months of closure during renovations, they re-opened with a much larger space than before. I have been bringing my kids to the museum since they were very young, so when we pulled into the parking lot, they jumped with joy at the thought of the fun they knew they were about to have. I honestly think that the changes make the museum even better than it was before. It's much more spacious, so no matter how many people show Read More

25Dec

Groovey Concert: David Weinstone and The Music for Aardvarks Band at the Jewish Museum

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David Weinstone and The Music for Aardvarks Band will perform two concerts for kids at The Jewish Museum on Sunday, January 23 at 11:30 am and 2:00 pm. These performances will feature never-before-heard songs from the band’s forthcoming album, All I Want!, scheduled for release in March 2011. Families will also hear favorite songs that celebrate being a kid in New York City such as City Kid, Subway, Jack Hammer Joe and Staten Island Ferry, and songs in celebration of nature such as Welcome to the World and Big Old Tree. David Weinstone, the Read More

21Dec

Post Holiday Giveaway: Jada Toys Battle Machines Car Twin Pack

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I'm having a post-holiday giveaway, since it's not going to be in anyone's hands by this weekend. It's an awesome giveaway and I hope that you'll all enter. It's meant for boys and girls, so don't be blindsided by the many mentions of my 6-year-old son! On the first night of Hannukah, this was actually the first gift that he received. When he opened up the package and saw a set of Battle Machines by Jada Toys, he literally jumped with glee. It's a radio controlled game of tag. Each vehicle is equipped with a infrared laser and sensor. This Read More

21Dec

Angelina Ballerina The Musical Ticket (Four pack) Giveaway

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You've seen a lot about Angelina Ballerina here on The Culture Mom. My daughter was obsessed with her when she was 3, 4, maybe even 5. When she left that phase (she’s 7 now), I was kind of sad myself. The sweet, innocent mouse introduced my daughter to ballet. Her books taught her valuable lessons and morals. I think that she is a wonderful role model for little kids. Which is why I am happy to announce to you that the Vital Theatre Company, the award-winning theatre company and producer of the long running family show "Pinkalicous, The Read More

20Dec

Black Swan: A Psychological Twister

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Black Swan, Darren Aronofsky's psychological twister set in a New York professional ballet company, is a tale of good and evil. It's not a film that I left saying I loved. It's not the easiest film to watch. Nonetheless, the film is a powerful exploration into a world that I know very little about and one that I am so glad that I took the time to see. This isn't supposed to be a feel good film, even though it is about a beautiful world (of ballet) and is certainly fascinating. It takes you skillfully behind the scenes of the profession and leaves Read More

20Dec

Review: The Collection and A Kind of Alaska: Two Plays by Harold Pinter

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The first Harold Pinter play I ever read was when I was in high school. It was The Birthday Party. As an acting student, I was immediately drawn to Pinter's writing style. For me, Pinter's plays are dark, yet shed light on the truth lurking behind relationships. His plays are also enlightening, capturing elements of history, through silence, controlled dialogue and tension. Over the next decade, I would immerse myself in his work including The Caretaker, Betrayal and The Homecoming. When I was living in London, right down the road from Hackney, Read More