This past spring break was an interesting one. After living in and near NYC for a lot of years, I decided it was time for my kids to have a NYC staycation.

We stayed in hotels, went to museums on 42nd Street like Madame Tussaud’s, took a bus tour, ate in Chinatown and Korea Town, went to the top of the Empire State Building, visited the Statue of Liberty and toured Ellis Island, went to the 9/11 Memorial, explored the orchids at the Botanical Gardens in the Bronx and had pizza on Arthur Avenue, indulged in cupcakes at Carlos Bakery, strolled through Soho, munched on hamburgers at Five Guys in Times Square…wow, I’m tired from reliving it all. But I want to relive it for you here, so I can wear you out.

Here are highlights from our weeklong staycation in New York City:

- We stayed overnight at The Westin New York at Times Square, where they offer a WICKED Night Out, an exclusive WICKED-themed hotel package. As fans of the show, the experience of seeing the cast perform in an intimate setting was a one of a kind, in addition to our fabulous views of the NYC skyline from our room.  Find out more about our experience here.

The Westin New York at Times Square at Times Square is located at 270 West 43rd Street and you can get more info about the WICKED Night Out at their web site, www.westinny.com.

- We took a 3-1/2 hour bus tour of the film and TV sites in NYC via On Location Tours, along with an animated tour guide and a bus full of tourists. The guide mentioned sites used in Sex and the City, Gossip Girl, GhostBusters, Serendipity and to off the beaten path to Manhattan neighborhoods including SoHo, the Meatpacking District, Greenwich Village, Tribeca and the Upper East Side. We were shown where Taylor Swift lives and driven by film and TV shoots. The guide gave out yummy black & white cookies and there were several opportunities to take quick strolls and get off the bus. It was a great way to see all sides of the city, even natives will enjoy it.

Information about On Location Tours can be found at http://onlocationtours.com.

- We went to see the extremely creative and utterly wonderful CATCH ME! (Attrape-moi) at the New Victory Theater, featuring the six young talents of Flip FabriQue, an up-and-coming troupe from Quebec City, Canada, whose members have performed with Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Éloize, 7 Fingers and more. It’s one of those fearless, fast-paced shows that takes athleticism and showmanship to new heights in a high-flying spectacle that highlights the artists’ (men and 1 woman) individual talents, including aerial hoop, aerial straps, banquina, juggling and trampowall, among others. Read the rest of my review here and check out the New Victory’s upcoming shows here.

The New Victory Theater is located at 229 West 42nd Street.

- We had lunch in Korea Town, not once but twice, at a place called Mandoo Bar. They make the dumplings in the window and then serve them sizzling hot and they’re divine. When you sit down, they bring salad and Korean pickles over. I lunched on Spicy Ramen Soup with Tofu, the kids had bibimbap, steamy delicious meat and veggies served in a hot stone bowl. The waiter adds hot sauce and rice and stirred it up in front of us. 

Mandoo Bar is located at 2 West 32nd Street in NYC’s Korean Town. For more info, visit http://mandoobarnyc.com.

- We spent an entire day at the annual orchid show at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. Chandeliers are the theme of the NYBG’s 13th annual orchid show. Each year showcases a different design. Along with the show’s massive chandelier, the exhibit features hanging baskets and columns of orchids and plants and it was all ogle-worthy. The NYBG offers classes on orchid care, as well as gardens that are available all year. We rode a 25-minute tram around the park to take in all its offerings and look forward to future visits. Our visit also took us to nearby Little Italy where we indulged in the real thing – Italian pizza and pastries.“

The Orchid Show: Chandeliers” runs at the New York Botanical Garden’s Enid A. Haupt Conservatory through Sunday, April 19. Price of admission varies, with tickets costing $20 for adults on weekdays. For more info, visit www.nybg.org.

c- I hadn’t been to Madame Tussaud’s in years, since BlogHer 2010, so when my daughter asked to go during spring break, I was happy to oblige. I took both my kids and one of her friends, and we spent about 90 minutes taking the tour. There are six themed, interactive environments showcasing nearly 200 masterfully crafted, lifelike wax figures, that includes Woody Allen, Bette Midler, Nicolas Cage, Hugh Grant, Oprah Winfrey, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Donald Trump, Marie Antoinette, The Dalai Lama and Maya Angelou. The tour is historical and interesting for pop-culture lovers like my kids, who loved the new Taylor Swift and Jimmy Fallon fixtures.

Madame Tussaud’s is located in Times Square on West 42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. Ticket information is here: https://www.madametussauds.com.

- We also stayed over-night at Wyndam Garden Chinatown on Bowery, a hotel right in the center of Chinatown. The hotel is clean, cozy and gave us complete access to the area including Soho, LES, Tribeca and Little Italy.

The Wyndam Garden Chinatown is located at 93 Bowery and booking info can be found here:  wyndhamchinatown.reservations.com.

- We each used a CityPASS for reduced admission to some of the city’s best attractions. It gives free entry to all top iconic places but also to many unique tours, as well as easy access. There are over 80 attractions to choose from. We went to the top of the Empire State Building, an attraction my kids had long awaited. They enjoyed going up 86 floors and looking down on a city they live near and love, but the crowds on the top were pretty intense. The CityPASS also took us to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, two places my kids had yet to visit, and a visit, which took a full day, and the 9/11 Memorial Museum.

Information about the CityPASS is located at http://www.citypass.com. New York CityPASS is a booklet of admission tickets to 6 must-see tourist attractions in New York City. You’ll save 41% compared to combined regular box office prices.

- Other stops included Carlo’s Bakery in Times Square where we waited 45 minutes for a cupcake made by the Cake Boss chef; burgers and fries at Five Guys Burgers & Fries; Shanghai Cafe at 100 Mott Street for an authentic Chinese meal; Taqueria Tehuitzingo on 578 for high-quality, low-cost Mexican fare and Full Moon Pizzeria at 600 East 187th Street in the Bronx for real Italian pizza.

I want to emphasize what a treat it was to be a tourist in my own town. As a New Yorker, I saw the city through a slightly different lens and it was very impressive. It was also very crowded. We actually ended our tour at the 9/11 Memorial, which was fitting and a wake up call to the reality we are living in. We were also reminded that life has changed immensely since I first moved to NYC and went to some of these same sites for the first time by the extra-tight security at many venues. The security checks made the lines longer and added to the time at each venue and the tourists are certainly spilling in, but we just blended right in and I love New York even more than I did before. And that’s really saying something.

Disclosure: The CityPASS, On Locations Tour, hotel visits and Madame Tussaud’s were complimentary to facilitate the writing I am doing here and on other web sites, but as always, all opinions are my own.

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A Saturday afternoon spent at the New Victory Theater is the perfect one for my kids and I, and this past Saturday was no exception. My daughter and I went to see the extremely creative and utterly wonderful CATCH ME! (Attrape-moi), featuring the six young talents of Flip FabriQue, an up-and-coming troupe from Quebec City, Canada, whose members have performed with Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Éloize, 7 Fingers and more. We ventured to a 12pm show which we found full of other families with (much younger) children than my tween. But after being an avid theater-goer at the New Vic for the last five years, she knows better than to estimate by the audience’s average age. I will admit, that as a middle-aged adult, I thoroughly enjoy the New Vic’s programming, and she had no doubt she would, too.

CATCH ME! is one of those fearless, fast-paced shows that takes athleticism and showmanship to new heights in a high-flying spectacle that highlights the artists’ ( men and 1 woman) individual talents, including aerial hoop, aerial straps, banquina, juggling and trampowall, among others. Inspired by their real life story, the premise of the show is simple: 6 friends find themselves together after ten years apart and in one summer’s day, they reunite sharing stories of their time apart. But of course, no words are necessary when you can move like they can. I couldn’t help but peek at my daughter’s amazement every now and then, nor could I avoid catching the smile on the eldlerly patron in the seat next to me.

CATCH ME! (Attrape-moi) has a running time of 75 minutes with no intermission, and is recommended for everyone ages 5 and up.

General Ticket Information Tickets for CATCH ME! (ATTRAPE-MOI) at The New Victory Theater (209 West 42nd Street) are $10, $13, $18 or $25 for Members based on seat locations, with full price tickets starting at $15. Theatergoers who buy tickets for three or more NEW VICTORY shows qualify for free Membership, with benefits including up to 35-percent savings on tickets all season long, invitations to special events and unlimited free ticket exchanges. Purchase tickets online or by phone at 646-223-3010.

The NEW VICTORY box office (209 West 42nd Street) is open Sunday and Monday from 11am-5pm and Tuesday through Saturday from 12pm-7pm. For more information, visit the NEW VICTORY website.

Disclosure: I was provided with complimenatary tickets to facilitate this review, but all opinions are my own.

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I’m mad about the productions brought to the NYC stage by my friends at the New Victory Theater. I’ve been blogging about them since the beginning of TheCultureMom in early 2010. I always know I’m going to get high-quality, innovative and completely original programming and bring it into the creative minds of my children.  Literally every production is mind-blowing. They ooze with talent and creativity, often from around the world.

The New Victory Theater’s latest production, PINOCCHIO, making its U.S. premiere at The New Victory Theater through March 22, 2015 is no exception. Winner of two 2014 Helpmann Awards for Best New Australian Work and Best Presentation for Children, PINOCCHIO comes to New York after a successful run at the Sydney Opera House.

Through the use of songs, video, brilliant actors, a bright set and costumes, a live band and unusual lighting, the tale of a puppet brought to life by the lonely Gepetto is told over the course of two hours. The 19th century story has been updated considerably and is proven to be exciting and electric in this version with bold ballads, angsty anthems and a plot knotted with tabloid twists. This updated production is simply gorgeous on so many levels and left me smiling. It also kept my son on the edge of his seat, which is a lot to ask of a special needs child who doesn’t go to the theater as frequently as his mum.

The cast is simply sublime. They use music and song skillfully to tell the story, dance and act their hearts out. They are all easy on the eye and fully engrossed to the story. It is obvious that the writers and producers paid careful attention to every detail in putting the show on. They presented the tale to 16,000 people in Australia before bringing it to the U.S. so it is obvious that they wanted the show in perfect condition before their arrival. It features some of Australia’s major musical theater talent, including Nathan O’Keefe in the title role with Paul Capsis as the twisted Stromboli and acclaimed actor and singer Mitchell Butel as Foxy, as well as Danielle Catanzariti as Blue Girl, Jude Henshall as Kitty Poo and Alirio Zavarce as Geppetto. The creative team includes Rosemary Myers (Artistic Director, Windmill Theatre), director and creator; Julianne O’Brien, writer; Jonathon Oxlade, designer; Jethro Woodward, composer and musical director; Chris More, video designer; Geoff Cobham, lighting designer; and Carol Wellman Kelly, movement.

PINOCCHIO has a running time of 2 hours including one intermission, and is recommended for everyone ages 7 and up.

General Ticket Information

Tickets for PINOCCHIO at The New Victory Theater (209 West 42nd Street) are $10, $13, $18 or $25 for Members based on seat locations, with full price tickets starting at $15. Theatergoers who buy tickets for three or more NEW VICTORY shows qualify for free Membership, with benefits including up to 35-percent savings on tickets all season long, invitations to special events and unlimited free ticket exchanges. Purchase tickets online or by phone at 646-223-3010. The show will appear on these future dates:

Saturday 3/21 2pm, 7pm

Sunday 3/22 12pm, 5pm

The NEW VICTORY box office (209 West 42nd Street) is open Sunday and Monday from 11am-5pm and Tuesday through Saturday from 12pm-7pm. For more information, visit the NEW VICTORY website.

Disclosure: I received these tickets complimentary to facilitate my review but all opinions are my own.

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CIRQUE ZÍVA at the New Victory Theater, with artistic direction by Danny Chang and choreography by Angela Chang, is a superbly performed piece of physical theatre. If their purpose was to demonstrate the incredible capabilities of the human body, they achieved it without a doubt.

The Golden Dragon Acrobats are flexible and well balanced athletes, actors and artists who were trained in their craft from early childhood. There are acrobats spinning around within metal rings, strong women standing on each other, while keeping smiles on their faces, men leaping through hoops, and juggling acts. One of them, Ya Nan Hou, impressively tosses and turns a table on her legs while reclining.

Other acts include flag waving, group ropes, unicycles, nine people riding one bike and a man who creates a tower of six chairs and does a handstand on its top. It’s funny, I have seen so many photos of people riding a bike together in India – they do it in daily life! I’ve also seen a 57 year-old man who did a handstand on a tower of chairs without a wire on his back for safety, as opposed to ZÍVA acrobats.

After intermission, a female contortionist was hanging from strips of blue silk cloths. I didn’t understand why they had to combine her with two men performing a strength and balancing act. We had to choose which one to watch. Another contortionist, Ping Gao. impressed us with twisting trays of wine glasses around her body. She put the trays on her legs, hands and even her head. We thought that the glasses were not real or even glued, but at the end of her act she emptied some liquid out of the glasses.

Although most of the performers are from Asia, the music is not. The costumes are very colorful, which adds to the movement of acrobats and the beauty of the stage.

We came on a very rainy day, and it was our first visit to the New Victory. I like the idea of locker space downstairs to store coats during the show, as well as extra cushions for the kids seats. In addition, you can pre-order intermission snacks (at reasonable prices), thus avoiding a long line.

The only thing I would change is that I would have added an M.C. who would communicate with the kids and make them laugh. I understand that most the actors are not American, but it’s a family show. Kids deserve to be talked to.

A Show for Autistic Children

This performance has been specially adapted for individuals with autism or sensory sensitivity and everyone is welcome to enjoy the show in a relaxed atmosphere. In order to make the show more accessible to individuals on the autism spectrum and their families, these provisions were made:

• Sound in the production will be lowered and staff will warn of any upcoming loud noises during the show.
• Lights in the seating area will be dimmed rather than fully dark during the performance.
• A Relaxed Atmosphere allows patrons to talk and vocalize as they wish, as well as leave and re-enter the seating area as needed.
• An Activity Area will be available with a live video feed of the show, coloring sheets and fidget toys if patrons need to take a break from the seating area.
• A Calming Corner will be available with fidget toys and bean bag chairs if patrons need a quiet place to relax.
• Autism Specialists will be available throughout the performance to provide assistance as requested or needed.
• A Family Restroom (gender-neutral) will be designated.

CIRQUE ZÍVA is playing until January 4th. Tickets can be bought here.

About the author: Liat Ginsberg is a mother and a former Journalist for the Israeli newspaper Maariv. She taught at the Film and Media department at Hunter College.

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One thing I love about the New Victory Theater is that I always know I’m going to get high-quality, innovative and completely original programming.  Literally every production is mind-blowing.

So, of course, after seeing the latest New Victory production, Bello Mania, I can say the same thing.  I  knew very little about former Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey clown Bello Nock, who directs and stars in this new show along with a talented troupe of circus performers.  When he first came out on stage, looking exactly like he does in the photo above, I was mesmerized and so were my kids.   His signature skyscraper red hair makes him easy on the eye at first sight.  It’s easy to keep watching him for two solid hours as he goes from one antic to another.  From walking on a high wire while balancing a high wire to tumbling high in the air on a trampoline, he comes across like a real daredevil who doesn’t quite realize his true talent. Bello is joined by a terrific team of performers including his daughter, Annalise, who is following in his footsteps to become a circus performer an every act is equally exciting.

Next up at the New Vic is ” The Intergalactic Nemesis Book One: “Target Earth” takes to the stage in a new genre: a sci-fi, live-action graphic novel. With an uncanny combination of comic book meets radio serial, mediums converge as three actors, a Foley artist and musician perform all the voices, sound effects and music for 1,250 hand-drawn, full-color-and-larger-than-life comic book panels projected on to a two-story-high screen. The Intergalactic Nemesis Book One: “Target Earth” will run at The New Victory Theater, 209 West 42^nd Street from April 5 through 13.

I’m giving away  four tickets to The Intergalactic Nemesis which is running at the New Victory from April 5-13 and is recommended for everyone ages 7 and up.

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Last night was a great night for me and for the MamaDrama network.  We recently teamed up with the New Victory Theater, a theater that you’ve seen me mention many times on this blog to bring a group of writers with their children to their premier 2012-2013 production, URBAN.  It was a night to remember in more ways than I can describe.

First of all, I brought my son with me.  He has sensory issues so I often bring my daughter instead to avoid conflict, but he loved everything from start to finish.  He held his focus on all of the activities at hand at Dave and Busters, where we conducted a New Victory Theater circus workshop, had dinner and played games in the arcade. More importantly, he loved the show and through the experience, I was able to introduce him to a whole new culture.

Secondly, we are actually regulars at The New Victory Theater, where we are amongst many moms, dads and kids eager for the special performances they present from around the world. It is always a treat for me to go to a show at the New Vic, always.

And, of course, the show was brilliant.  The performers hail from Cali, Colombia (specifically, from Circo Para Todos, the barrio-based professional circus school).  They were disadvantaged and displaced youths prior to becoming performers, and the story of the show is about who they are, where they came from and how they have survived.  The show’s message is so important: that anyone can break out of their environment and make it in this world and is one that any adult or child can understand and appreciate.

Our night started at Dave and Busters on 42nd Street where we were introduced to an official 45 minute New Victory Theater’s workshop.  The instructor based the experience on a circus theme to help bridge the gap between audience and arts participation.  We learned to juggle scarves and act like we were on stage, deepening our experience to create, watch, reflet and connect to the show’s performances we would see a few hours later in URBAN.  It was fun to watch all the kids react to the instructor, clearly a professional actor with knowledge of what it takes to perform professionally on stage.  Some kids were natural born entertainers (not mine, but that’s okay).

Then we experienced a full on D&B dinner extravaganza.  Pretzel eggrolls, spinach dip and chips, shrimp, beef, mini pizzas and chicken on skewers and more, as well as beer and wine for the adults. We listened to a few representatives from D&B who told us that in November they’re going to offer a new menu, featuring steak with alfredo.  My son couldn’t wait to play games after dinner and he literally pulled me by force into the other room to get going out of excitement.  He showed off his driving skills playing one electronic car game after another and played a few rounds of ski ball at the end, collecting a cup of tickets we’ll have to go back to redeem.

And then it was time to cross the street to go see URBAN. I didn’t tell Max what to expect, but I’d read a bit about the show.  It’s coined a “a take-no-prisoners acrobatic tour de force that balances risk and reward, defiance and delight.” The cast comes off the streets, clearly fortunate to be traveling the world doing what they love best.  It’s like Cirque du Soleil on steroids in the ghetto – (Revision: What I mean to say is that URBAN is just as good as Cirque but louder and edgier; it’s about a group of people who are so talented and have proven that they can do anything including writing with their feet and leaving a mark on the next generation).  These men and women can do anything  – from walking the trapeze or tightrope to jump roping while singing songs that inspire.  Their whole mantra is that they write with their feet, they are poets.

Circo Para Todos was established by Circolombia’s director, Felicity Simpson, and has become Colombia’s National Circus School.  Circo Para Todos works with young people from the most in-need barrios of the region, allowing them to transcend their difficult backgrounds in the most spectacular way: as world-class artists on stage performing with a volcanic energy that can be felt in the very back row. It is now a key institution in South American and world circus training, and its model has been used to create similar circus schools in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and South Africa. All of Circolombia’s URBAN artists graduated from Circo Para Todos.

Watching these brave teens and young adults who have made it to NYC to perform after years of hardship and strife was awe-inspiring.  I am not sure if my son understand the gravity of their situations prior to joining the Circus, but when the performers stood on stage and told their stories (in Spanish and English, translated either way), his ears perked up and he listened to their hardship.  Their dancing was so uplifting and heartfelt that I wanted to jump up and cheer for them all for making it to NYC.  Their story is a story of survival.  I can’t even fathom the thought of what they all experienced growing up – sleeping on the streets, not having enough to eat.  If my son could only understand a small amount of what they went through after watching them dance with their hearts and souls on their sleeves, I’ll be very happy.

The night was not only special for me, but it was special for my son and twenty other bloggers and their children, all thanks to a brainstorming session between MamaDrama and the New Victory Theater a few short months ago that prompted the planning of this unforgettable event.  If you’re looking for a night out on the town with your kids, consider URBAN.

URBAN is recommended for everyone 8 and older.  (My son is 7, and he was fine.)

Performance Schedule: Fri 10/19 7pm; Sat 10/20 2pm and 7pm, Sun 10/21 12pm and 5pm

Tickets for URBAN at The New Victory Theater (209 West 42nd Street) cost $25, $18, $12 and $9 for New Victory Members and $38, $28, $18 and $14 for Non-Members based on seat locations.  The New Victory Theater box office (209 West 42nd Street) is open Sunday and Monday from 11am-5pm and Tuesday through Saturday from 12pm-7pm.

For more information, visit www.newvictory.org. For a taste of URBAN, watch this video:

New Victory is offering YOU a 20% off discount code to their upcoming production of MOJO: MDMojo3412

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The New Victory Theater continues to bring first-rate theater for kids to New York City.  I make every effort possible to get my kids into the city to see their shows.  They have the most beautiful, visual, innovative productions this side of the Atlantic Ocean.  I’m a huge fan.  And so are my own children.

Ahhh HA! is a provocative blend of dance, acrobatics, aerial work, evocative visual imagery, humor and original music. Returning to The New Victory after 12 years, the multi-talented Do Jump! ensemble fuses physical skill, comedy and moments of heart-stopping beauty, and sets it all to live music by the Afro-Hebrew ensemble Klezmocracy.

Founded in 1977, Do Jump! utilizes a groundbreaking approach to explore aerial arts as part of physical theater performance. The company has toured extensively through the U.S. and Canada, including the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., The Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles and the Ordway in Minneapolis.

Ahhh HA! is playing March 30th-April 14th – you can buy tickets here.

There are some key dates to note during this time period:

Check out this video from the show:

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But when I got a request from one of my favorite bloggers turned IRL friends, Rebecca from BeccaRama, I couldn’t say “no”.  First of all, I was flattered to be short-listed; secondly, the topic is blogging, which I love to talk about.  It’s a challenge called the My 7 Links Challenge where I have to curate my own blog posts and pin-point my favorites in certain categories, like the most “beautiful” or “popular” or “controversial”.

At first, I wondered, how am I up for this challenge?  Don’t my readers think of me as purely event focused and NYC-centric?  After all, I talk a lot about theater, travel, films, reading, television, etc.

Well, if you haven’t realized it, every now and then, I let down my guard and write about my personal life.  It isn’t always here on this blog, however.  Sometimes I guest post over at friends’ blogs where I can escape the attentive eyes of my family members, or simply to garner more comments than I would get here.  And you know what?  These are the blog posts that I treasure the most, being able to start a conversation amongst my readers and peers.  I admit that I do have some controversial parenting skills – some that I have written about, some that I haven’t.  I did write about how I regretted quitting my full time job to trade in my paycheck to become a SAHM, but I have never written about the fact that I used Benadryl to get my kids to sleep on planes when they were younger.  My good friend,  Scary Mommy, did that instead.

But, who knows?  Maybe I will.  For me, the comments and conversation have created a forum and outlet like none other I have ever experienced.

I’m actually looking forward to digging into my  own archives and pointing out some of my more personal stories to you.  Think what you may, but I do aim to write more of them.  The question is, which blog will they go on and will you be able to find them?

My most beautiful post:  One of the first posts I wrote for New York City Moms, a site that is now defunct but  truly brought me into the mom blogging world, was this one about the bond between my first child, and how quick it was to form.  But with my son, it took much longer to form.  Here it is: They Had Me at Hello .

My most popular post:  Well, I might have to say that my recent BlogHer post was quite popular.  I came back from BlogHer happy yet conflicted.  The comments really helped me grapple with the experience.

My most controversial post:  Like I said, I don’t blog personal very often, so when one post about work vs. staying home over at Scary Mommy garnered 90 comments, I was chuffed. (If you haven’t noticed, yes, I am a huge fan of hers).  There was a bit of debate over the fact in the comments that I never liked being home, but, for the most part, I got a lot of support and realized that I’m not alone feeling this way.

My most helpful post: Since I blog a lot about culture, I was honored when the New Victory Theater asked me to be a guest contributor to their blog.  The topic was Integrating Culture Into Family Life.  I enjoyed writing this post and I’m still proud of being asked by one of the best kid’s theaters in New York City for a feature.

My post whose success surprised me: One day I was lying in bed with a terrible sinus infection and I got the news (on Twitter, of course), that Amy Winehouse had died.  I was instantly dismayed and blogged about how much I despised the fact that people were pointing immediately to hard drugs as the cause of her death and seemed to be undermining the news that she had left the world before her time.  I found the discussion on Twitter as heartless.   Sympathy for Amy Winehouse led to various commentators, many of whom had never visited my blog before, some of whom belittled me for ignoring what had happened in Norway (the shooting) that same day.  Strangely enough, today’s news says that the toxicology reports of her death state that she had no illegal drugs in her system when she died.

My post I feel didn’t get the attention it deserved:  Well, I don’t blog personal often, so when I do, not many people stop by for a read.  I really liked this one: I’m Not Perfect.  How do I Know? Ask My Kids.

My post that I am most proud of: Well, this is hard for me.  I still haven’t written that great post that will help change the world.  I’m working on it.  Advocacy is a priority and I hope to be getting involved in some very special projects that will help me achieve that goal; stay tuned.  Meanwhile, I wrote a blog a few months ago called Advocacy: Teaching Kids to Make a Difference in which I described a clothing and toy drive that I spearheaded at my synagogue’s nursery school.  It got little attention, but I was proud of it regardless.

To end, I have to talk about one more post of significance to me.  One of my first personal posts right here on this blog was called Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes about aging and losing track of time.  Since I started writing this blog and since I have entered into this amazing community of bloggers around the world, I have been inspired and am on a daily basis by Rebecca mentioned above who recently started her own business, KidzVuz, I have been compelled to make changes in my life.  I am not afraid to do anything and am more pro-active than ever.

My 7 Links Challenge has become 8.

Now I get to nominate 5 Bloggers I love to name their 7 links:

1. TheTwinCoach.com
2. MommyShorts.com
3. DustyEarthMother.com
4. TheseLittleWaves.com
5. MarriedMySugarDaddy.com

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World-renowned experimental theater company, Mabou Mines, returns for a third time with Peter and Wendy, an adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s celebrated story about the exuberant and fleeting nature of childhood.  Rising Celtic vocalist, Siobhan Miller, will join a cast that features eight of the original 1996 cast members, including Karen Kandel and Basil Twist.  Peter and Wendy will run at The New Victory Theater from May 6th through May 22nd.

In her OBIE Award-winning role as The Narrator, Ms. Kandel tells the story, embodies Wendy and gives voice to all of the characters – at least a dozen of them – from Peter to Hook to The Lost Boys.  All characters are brought to life using Bunraku-style puppetry, cloth and paper.  Original Celtic music, composed by Johnny Cunningham, beautifully supports Barrie’s lyrical language.

Peter and Wendy (New Vic 1997, 2002), created by Liza Lorwin, Julie Archer, Johnny Cunningham and Lee Breuer, has enjoyed critical and popular success since its full-length premiere at Spoleto Festival USA in 1996. It has been presented in New York City, at regional theaters throughout the U.S., and at international theater festivals in Dublin and Edinburgh.  Peter and Wendy has received numerous awards, including a Village Voice OBIE Award for “Best Production,” and for Ms. Kandel, a 2009 Edinburgh Festival Fringe Herald Angel Award in addition to an OBIE for “Outstanding Performance”.

Directed by Lee Breuer, Peter and Wendy features set, puppet and lighting design by Julie Archer, with associate light design by Steven L. Shelley, and fight direction by B.H. Barry. Lindsay Abromaitis-Smith, Sam Hack, Jenny Subjack Piezas, Sarah Provost, Jessica Chandlee Smith, Jessica Scott and Amanda Villalobos complete the puppetry team, while live music will be performed by Aidan Brennan, Tola Custy, Stepha Geremia, Alan Kelly, Laoise Kelly, Siobhan Miller and Jay Peck. Costumes are by Sally Thomas, and sound is designed by Edward Cosla.

For showtimes and to order seats, visit the New Vic site.

Disclosure: I was not compensated to write this post, nor have I yet to see the show.

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