It's 6:32 pm New Year's Eve and I'm about to get ready for the two parties I will be attending tonight, but I've been thinking about this past year which was a very difficult one for me on a personal level but also a very rewarding one. This year I "met" some friends that I will cherish forever including James and Madame Aries, Chris Reardon from United Kingdom Talk, A Non E Moose, Joe Morris from American Talk USA and the listeners of all three shows. By happenstance I found United King Talk and became addicted to the Master of Merriment, the very befitting name someone dubbed Chris Reardon. I dubbed him "The Connector" because it is he who connected me to James and Madame Aries and all of you. Thank you for indulging this Long Island housewife with a modicum of knowledge about musical theatre and musicals. I hope this gig goes on for a long, long time. I look forward to the coming year sharing whatever I can find out, giving you my opinion on shows that I see and my weekly or whatever chat with James and Madame Aries. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
One more thing, I look forward in the new year to James' eyeglass appeal with video pleas from Nicki French, Rowetta, Dolly Parton, Stockard Channing and Babs.
Joy in the new year to all.
Love,
Suko
p.s. Have a listen to me and my family with Chris Reardon on his Christmas special part 1, Christmas day, www.unitedkingdomtalk.co.uk
Monday, 31 December 2007
Saturday, 29 December 2007
Old Year For New
Well 'tis almost the end of another year!!!!!!
As I Get older I am always amazed how quickly 365 days can go by.
This year thanks to James, Suko and the fabulous Nicki French not only has this year fled by at an alarming rate but also at an extremely enjoyable one too.
Interviewing some of the UK's top musical stars and more than a handful of up and coming ones has meant I have made new friends as well as reuniting me with one or two old ones.
2008 looks set to be as busy theatre wise as 2007, so with any luck my circle of friends will grow even wider, I do also count as part of that circle all of you who listen to James and myself week after week. Going into the studio on a Sunday afternoon is such a joy knowing we are all going to be sharing music and gossip about one of our fave subjects. Musical theatre! and ballet,and opera,and musical review. Keep listening dear friends and don't Forget in 2008 I will be starting a new feature "STAR" The First Of Which is almost completed. No not saying who till the new year but lets say She's come a long way from singing "God save the King" on the Royal Variety age 11 years. Mail me the name if you know it at matinee@tameside.co.uk when I announce it will also read out your name. Till 2008 hears to you all have a safe and successful year.
As I Get older I am always amazed how quickly 365 days can go by.
This year thanks to James, Suko and the fabulous Nicki French not only has this year fled by at an alarming rate but also at an extremely enjoyable one too.
Interviewing some of the UK's top musical stars and more than a handful of up and coming ones has meant I have made new friends as well as reuniting me with one or two old ones.
2008 looks set to be as busy theatre wise as 2007, so with any luck my circle of friends will grow even wider, I do also count as part of that circle all of you who listen to James and myself week after week. Going into the studio on a Sunday afternoon is such a joy knowing we are all going to be sharing music and gossip about one of our fave subjects. Musical theatre! and ballet,and opera,and musical review. Keep listening dear friends and don't Forget in 2008 I will be starting a new feature "STAR" The First Of Which is almost completed. No not saying who till the new year but lets say She's come a long way from singing "God save the King" on the Royal Variety age 11 years. Mail me the name if you know it at matinee@tameside.co.uk when I announce it will also read out your name. Till 2008 hears to you all have a safe and successful year.
Friday, 28 December 2007
The Story Behind West Side Story
Happy new year my friends. Hope your Christmas was wondrous. Two shows ago Madame Aries asked me if I had heard anything about a revival of West Side Story possibly coming to Broadway. I mentioned that I had but didn't know too many details. She said that third season "The X Factor" winner, Leona Lewis, had been approached by David Winters* to play the part of Maria. This prompted me to do some research and I found out some very interesting facts about the history of the show. First of all, yes, there is a revival in the works. 90 year old Arthur Laurents who wrote the book of West Side Story will purportedly be directing a revival. He said the 1970 revival was too white-bread and that he has come up with a way of doing it that will make it contemporary without changing a word or a note. Laurent, for your information, also wrote the "book" or libretto (the text of a dramatic musical work) for Gypsy** and Do I Hear A Waltz, among others, and won the Tony Award in 1983 for Best Direction of a Musical for La Cage aux Folles.
* David Winters, a Brit by the way, played Baby John in the original Broadway and A-Rab in the movie of West Side Story.
**A revival of Gypsy will open in March 2008 starring Broadway legend Patti Lupone as Mama Rose.
Besides the book being written by Arthur Laurents, listen to this list of greats who were connected with the original show. The score was composed by Leonard Bernstein who wrote the music with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim in his debut. Does it get any better than that? Well, listen to this. It was conceived, directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins with the original cast including Larry Kert as Tony, Carol Lawrence as Maria and the one and only Chita Rivera as Anita. And it was produced by Harold Prince. With all this genius behind it, it couldn't miss, right? Well it debuted on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre in September 1957 and only played 732 performances before closing June 27, 1959. It had been nominated for Best Musical in 1957 but lost to Music Man. Jerome Robbins did, however, win the Tony for Best Director of a Musical. It was the 1961 blockbuster movie that put it on the map winning 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture. The classic Bernstein-Sondheim score boasts such tunes as "Tonight", "America", "Maria", "I Feel Pretty" and "Somewhere".
West Side Story premiered in Europe in 1958 at the Manchester Opera House, later that year transferring to Her Majesty's Theatre in London's West End. It was more successful in the West End than Broadway, running from December 1958 until 1961 with a total of 1,039 performances. Jerome Robbins directed and choreographed it with co-Choreographer, Peter Gennaro. The cast included Chita Rivera as Anita and George Chakiris as Riff who later won an Academy Award playing Bernardo in the film.
There is currently a tour of West Side Story making it's way through Europe which is slated to play at Sadlers Wells for six weeks in the summer before touring the rest of the United Kingdom after which it will return to Sadlers Wells for another 8 week run. And I'm happy to tell you that Manchester is confirmed for the winter of 2008.
* David Winters, a Brit by the way, played Baby John in the original Broadway and A-Rab in the movie of West Side Story.
**A revival of Gypsy will open in March 2008 starring Broadway legend Patti Lupone as Mama Rose.
Besides the book being written by Arthur Laurents, listen to this list of greats who were connected with the original show. The score was composed by Leonard Bernstein who wrote the music with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim in his debut. Does it get any better than that? Well, listen to this. It was conceived, directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins with the original cast including Larry Kert as Tony, Carol Lawrence as Maria and the one and only Chita Rivera as Anita. And it was produced by Harold Prince. With all this genius behind it, it couldn't miss, right? Well it debuted on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre in September 1957 and only played 732 performances before closing June 27, 1959. It had been nominated for Best Musical in 1957 but lost to Music Man. Jerome Robbins did, however, win the Tony for Best Director of a Musical. It was the 1961 blockbuster movie that put it on the map winning 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture. The classic Bernstein-Sondheim score boasts such tunes as "Tonight", "America", "Maria", "I Feel Pretty" and "Somewhere".
West Side Story premiered in Europe in 1958 at the Manchester Opera House, later that year transferring to Her Majesty's Theatre in London's West End. It was more successful in the West End than Broadway, running from December 1958 until 1961 with a total of 1,039 performances. Jerome Robbins directed and choreographed it with co-Choreographer, Peter Gennaro. The cast included Chita Rivera as Anita and George Chakiris as Riff who later won an Academy Award playing Bernardo in the film.
There is currently a tour of West Side Story making it's way through Europe which is slated to play at Sadlers Wells for six weeks in the summer before touring the rest of the United Kingdom after which it will return to Sadlers Wells for another 8 week run. And I'm happy to tell you that Manchester is confirmed for the winter of 2008.
Monday, 17 December 2007
Christmas Wishes and Some Random Thoughts From Suko, If Anyone Cares
Thought this very busy week before Christmas that I would just blog about nothing in particular. I was going to talk about my favorite Christmas movies but when I was picking my daughter up from school I saw a sign on a bus advertising "Finding Nemo on Ice". Disney just can't get their fingers out of the pie. Anything for a buck. How many axels, and camels and schmamels can one endure? Okay, I was suckered into "High School Musical on Ice" and really enjoyed it but it had all that familiar music, albeit bubblegum, that is very catchy and high-spirited. We've seen "Disney Princesses on Ice", "The Jungle Book, Lion King and Tarzan on Ice" show and I remember one with Mickey and Minnie at camp, and some others that are not so memorable. Thankfully, my very mature 12 year old has outgrown them. We are looking forward to seeing some Broadway shows that I will report on on The Matinee. Two of them will be surprises for me, but I know that we will be going to see "A Year with Frog and Toad" again which I really, really loved. It is not, as James has mentioned, for kids only. It is so cleverly staged with minimal costumes and scenery which handily suggest the animals and their habitats. The music is lyrical, the lyrics witty. Jade and I liked it enough to want to see it again and this time we're bringing Daddy because we know he'll love it.
I've seen a lot of Broadway and off-Broadway musicals, A Chorus Line, Grease, Les Miz, Phantom, Lion King, Mama Mia, Fosse, Victor Victoria, Gypsy, Annie, Chicago, Beauty and the Beast, Pippin, Miss Saigon, Riverdance, Sweeney Todd, Cats, 42nd Street, Pirates of Penzance, The Producers, Evita, La Cage Aux Folle, Bombay Dreams, Forbidden Broadway, Godspell, The Fantasticks, Sweet Charity, Oklahoma, Hello Dolly, The Wiz, Company, Mame, Starlight Express, On the Twentieth Century, The Boy From Oz and more. But my favorite, favorite show was Bob Fosse's Dancin' and I'm happy to say it is being revived and projected to open in the spring of 2009. It's a long way off but I look forward to sharing it with my daughter who has great potential as a dancer. I, too, was a dancer and I loved this show. I must have seen it 10 times. I remember everytime a friend came from out of town I would get tickets for it because I wanted to share it with everyone. Bob Fosse was a genius, my very favorite choreographer (also did Sweet Charity, Pippin, Chicago, Damn Yankees and The Pajama Game, to name a few). My brother produced a tribute to him with Fosse's former wife, Gwen Verdon, now deceased. It was one of the most memorable nights of my life. I will write about it in a future blog. Ann Reinking, his protege and girlfriend, was in the original production and will be the artistic consultant of the revival. I met her at the tribute and she was so friendly and down to earth. More about the tribute another time.
So what are my favorite Christmas movies. The best are "Miracle on 34th Street", "White Christmas", "Holiday Inn", "A Christmas Story" and "Polar Express" (I saw it in 3D Imax, amazing). Some fun ones are "Elf", "Scrooged" and "Christmas with the Kranks" (there's a sidesplitting scene involving botox and believe it or not, this movie is a hilarious adaptation of the book "Skipping Christmas" by John Grisham, the novelist best known for his legal dramas such as "The Firm" and "The Pelican Briefs"). One day this week, drop the shopping, the baking, the wrapping, the decorating, and writing cards, and get yourself a couple of hot toddies or some rum-laced eggnog and relax with one or four of the above. Any one of them will put you in the holiday spirit of which I am not yet in. So do as I say, not as I do because I haven't afforded myself the time to watch any of them yet but I have tivoed "Miracle on 34th Street" and have "Polar Express" and "Christmas with the Kranks" on DVD. Maybe tonight, no, tomorrow night, no. Oh well, I'll fit one in somehow. Now where did I put the rum and the remote?
I wish James and Madame Aries, Bengarrion, Ocean, the Tameside management and staff and all the listeners and readers of The Matinee's blog a very happy and healthy Christmas and New Year.
Love, Suko
I've seen a lot of Broadway and off-Broadway musicals, A Chorus Line, Grease, Les Miz, Phantom, Lion King, Mama Mia, Fosse, Victor Victoria, Gypsy, Annie, Chicago, Beauty and the Beast, Pippin, Miss Saigon, Riverdance, Sweeney Todd, Cats, 42nd Street, Pirates of Penzance, The Producers, Evita, La Cage Aux Folle, Bombay Dreams, Forbidden Broadway, Godspell, The Fantasticks, Sweet Charity, Oklahoma, Hello Dolly, The Wiz, Company, Mame, Starlight Express, On the Twentieth Century, The Boy From Oz and more. But my favorite, favorite show was Bob Fosse's Dancin' and I'm happy to say it is being revived and projected to open in the spring of 2009. It's a long way off but I look forward to sharing it with my daughter who has great potential as a dancer. I, too, was a dancer and I loved this show. I must have seen it 10 times. I remember everytime a friend came from out of town I would get tickets for it because I wanted to share it with everyone. Bob Fosse was a genius, my very favorite choreographer (also did Sweet Charity, Pippin, Chicago, Damn Yankees and The Pajama Game, to name a few). My brother produced a tribute to him with Fosse's former wife, Gwen Verdon, now deceased. It was one of the most memorable nights of my life. I will write about it in a future blog. Ann Reinking, his protege and girlfriend, was in the original production and will be the artistic consultant of the revival. I met her at the tribute and she was so friendly and down to earth. More about the tribute another time.
So what are my favorite Christmas movies. The best are "Miracle on 34th Street", "White Christmas", "Holiday Inn", "A Christmas Story" and "Polar Express" (I saw it in 3D Imax, amazing). Some fun ones are "Elf", "Scrooged" and "Christmas with the Kranks" (there's a sidesplitting scene involving botox and believe it or not, this movie is a hilarious adaptation of the book "Skipping Christmas" by John Grisham, the novelist best known for his legal dramas such as "The Firm" and "The Pelican Briefs"). One day this week, drop the shopping, the baking, the wrapping, the decorating, and writing cards, and get yourself a couple of hot toddies or some rum-laced eggnog and relax with one or four of the above. Any one of them will put you in the holiday spirit of which I am not yet in. So do as I say, not as I do because I haven't afforded myself the time to watch any of them yet but I have tivoed "Miracle on 34th Street" and have "Polar Express" and "Christmas with the Kranks" on DVD. Maybe tonight, no, tomorrow night, no. Oh well, I'll fit one in somehow. Now where did I put the rum and the remote?
I wish James and Madame Aries, Bengarrion, Ocean, the Tameside management and staff and all the listeners and readers of The Matinee's blog a very happy and healthy Christmas and New Year.
Love, Suko
Wednesday, 12 December 2007
Bah Humbug Scrooge comes to Manchester
Yes Shane Ritchie is back in Manchester with Scrooge the Musical
A rather lavish press night ensured that all guests were filled with an air of excitement even before the show started, and what a show followed. The score itself is fab but a show like this also has the pontential of being very drab. A fact that the producers and cast avoided excellently. What is infact a very dark story was told in such a way that even the most stubborn theatre goer would have found something to enjoy. Shane was superb in the role (even if some people didn't recognise him with all the makeup. One woman behind me commented "so which one is Shane". The set was very well done, with all sorts of clever ways of turning in to each scene without long periods of dark whilst the scenery changes (something I hate with a passion)
The magic effects were great if not a tad scary. For Magical people out there, A Dekolta Chair in reverse for one, A very effective mirror penetration and some effects that really fall in the catagory of staging but with the same effect. As someone who loves both magic and theatre I was actually quite suprised to be trying to work out how some were done.
All in all one of the best christmas productions I have seen in a long time.
Shane very kindly also appealed for Madame Aries new teeth when we spoke to him for the show. Check below for the video of the appeal.
Tuesday, 11 December 2007
Catch A Glimpse of Suko's Daughter and the World Renown Elite Dancentre's Jazz Petites
I mentioned on Sunday's show about my daughter, Jade, and her dance competition team performing for the troops as part of The Trees for Troops extravaganza which has become an annual program. Our friend Gigi's family owns a local nursery in Oceanside, New York called Dee's who for the past four years has been shipping 1,000 Christmas trees to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan in partnership with DHL which ships the trees at no charge. The program included Miss Colleen's Elite Dancentre's Jazz Petite Competition Team, including Jade doing a solo at the beginning to "All I Want For Christmas" choreographed by Miss Colleen. The girls also did a spirited number choreographed by Miss Lauren to "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy". The show included four USO singers and several local school children reading letters they had written to the troops. They performed at Dee's and then accompanied the trees and care packages to the DHL hangar at Kennedy Airport with police escort where they performed again. Thanks to Dee's and DHL who treated us to both breakfast and lunch.
The above was covered by several local news stations including Fox 5 News. Here is the link to a clip:http://www.myfoxny.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=8BAB88EF78F1040D2137F3BB19E3D560?contentId=5108273&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1. (Jade is the only one in a black jacket.)
The above was covered by several local news stations including Fox 5 News. Here is the link to a clip:http://www.myfoxny.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=8BAB88EF78F1040D2137F3BB19E3D560?contentId=5108273&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1. (Jade is the only one in a black jacket.)
Monday, 10 December 2007
American Idol - A Ticket to Broadway?
Say what you will about reality tv but American Idol has contributed several fine performers to Broadway not to mention the amazing Academy Award winning performance by Jennifer Hudson in the movie Dreamgirls. The latest Idol alumnus to join the ranks is Clay Aiken who is taking over the role of the timid Sir Robin in Spamalot. Clay will make his Broadway debut on January 18th playing the role which has been played by David Hyde Pierce since the musical opened on Broadway in March of 2005. Also currently on Broadway is the fabulous Fantasia Barrino starring as Celie (played by Whoopi Goldberg in the movie) in The Color Purple. The news of Fantasia being cast in The Color Purple was met with trepidation but she proved herself to be more than worthy of the role. She received rave reviews from many of Broadway's most respected critics including Charles Isherwood from the New York Times who said she was "pretty terrific". "So terrific that this earnest but mechanical musical is more effective and affecting than it was when it yawned open a year and a half ago at the Broadway Theater." Other Idol veterans who have appeared on Broadway are Tamyra Gray in Rent and Bombay Dreams (a show which I adored; I thought she did a great job), Constantine Maroulis in The Wedding Singer (which, incidentally, is coming to Manchester's Palace Theatre from February 18 to March 1, 2008), Diana DeGarmo in Hairspray, and Frenchie Davis also in Rent.
So, you see, the American Idol alumni have made a generous contribution to the Great White Way. They've already garnered fans from the television show and made "names" for themselves which does sell tickets (in a way a sad commentary to the many gypsies who have pounded the pavement the hard way.) Maybe Clay Aiken (I must say I love 'im) will find his "holy grail" on Broadway. If he can pull off the show stopper at the top of the second act "You Won't Succeed on Broadway" (...You may fill your plays with gays/Have Nigerian girls in stays/You may even have some shiksas (non-Jewish girls) making stews/You haven't got a clue/If you don't have a Jew...) he's got it made. May his quest be a success.
So, you see, the American Idol alumni have made a generous contribution to the Great White Way. They've already garnered fans from the television show and made "names" for themselves which does sell tickets (in a way a sad commentary to the many gypsies who have pounded the pavement the hard way.) Maybe Clay Aiken (I must say I love 'im) will find his "holy grail" on Broadway. If he can pull off the show stopper at the top of the second act "You Won't Succeed on Broadway" (...You may fill your plays with gays/Have Nigerian girls in stays/You may even have some shiksas (non-Jewish girls) making stews/You haven't got a clue/If you don't have a Jew...) he's got it made. May his quest be a success.
Monday, 3 December 2007
New York, New York and It's Wondrous Christmas Trees and Windows
Now that the strike has ended I invite you all to visit New York where your dollar goes far. There are so many great ticket deals and restaurant discounts in place to help put New York City back in everyone's graces. Here are some special offers for the holiday season: Hairspray $65 weekdays, $70 weekends through January 31, 2008; Rent $40 rear mezzanine, $55 front mezzanine, $65 orchestra through December 23, 2007; Spamalot Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday at 8pm, Sunday at 2pm & 7pm $60 mezzanine, $75 orchestra through January 17, 2008 excluding performances from 12/26 through 12/31; Xanadu $59 all performances through 12/23; Curtains $59.50 front mezzanine, $78.50 orchestra. Offer valid Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Sunday matinees through 12/16 and all performances 12/18-12/23; The Drowsy Chaperone $52.25 mid-mezzanine, $76.25 orchestra and front mezzanine, Tuesday, Thursday through Saturday at 8, Wednesday at 2 and Sunday at 3 and 7. Also available are bargains for Tom Stoppard's Rock 'n Roll and The Seafarer.
While in New York be sure to visit the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree on 5th Avenue and 49th Street on display until January 6, 2008. This year the tree is an 84 feet tall, Norwegian spruce planted in 1947 in Connecticut. Chris Reardon and all eco-conscious folks will be happy to know that the Christmas landmark has gone green for the first time. It was lit with a new set of energy efficient LED lights fully powered by solar panels. You can also watch the ice skaters below or go for a skate yourself.
There are other trees of interest around the city including the Origami Christmas Tree at the American Museum of Natural History, a wonderful place to spend the day. This year the theme of the tree is Fantastic Creatures, mythical and real, from dragons and mermaids to narwhals and peacocks. They also have two 19 foot Holiday Barosaurs lit up for the holiday season. The Chorus Tree at South Street Seaport is a tree made up of carolers performing Fridays at 6 & 7 pm, Saturdays and Sundays at 3 & 4 through Christmas. There's great shopping and restaurants down there as well. The Peace Tree in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine at 110th St. and Amsterdam Ave. is decorated with 1,000 paper cranes and other peace symbols. Children can participate in a workshop to learn how to make the cranes and there is also a walking tour of the Cathedral that highlights the pre-Christian origins of Christmas. And don't miss a day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and it's breathtaking 20 foot blue spruce featuring 18th century Neapolitan angels and cherubs planking a Neopolitan Baroque creche. The museum is located at 1000 5th Avenue and 82nd Street.
And not to be missed is Holiday Window Gazing at some of midtown New York's biggest department stores. Macy's Herald Square's theme, West 34th and Broadway, is Santa's Great Adventure that takes him into space. This year window gazers can see their own images captured and beamed to Santa's naughty and nice television monitors. There are regular updates on the percentages of naughty versus nice. In addition, one window is actually a two-in-one that flips upside down to represent the northern and southern hemispheres as Santa barrels through the night bearing gifts. Lord & Taylor’s theme, 5th Ave. and East 38th St., this year is the five senses of Christmas portrayed through a series of miniature holiday scenes with a largely European flavor. Taste is portrayed as a Christmas dinner in an upper class New York city home. Feel is a wintry Copenhagen scene where a child prepares to throw a snowball and others are building a snowman. Smell is captured by the fragrant pastries and breads of a Paris bakery making holiday treats. Sight is Santa Claus arriving in Venice’s exquisite facades. Sound portrays a group of musicians playing in a Vienna mansion. A final window shows children from all over the world, dressed in their native costumes, celebrating the holiday. This year Saks Fifth Avenue windows, 5th Ave. & East 49th St., are scenes full of quirky, spinning snowmen who are off on an adventure to discover their own identities. The Saks windows are a constant swirl of whirling, twirling, spinning and swooping with spunky snowmen characters. One snow-woman even gives off the aura of a shimmying Carmen Miranda. Bloomingdale’s windows, 3rd Ave. & East 59th St., are the creations of children's imagination. In collaboration with the Children’s Museum of Manhattan and the Children’s Museum of the Arts this summer, Bloomingdale’s invited children to create collages, paintings and sculptures which were then converted into life-size scenes. The plots may not make so much sense, but the visual impact of the scenes are intense, featuring characters like an alien queen with five eyes and two mouths, a robot with a candy heart and a glowing purple snowflake with oracle-like qualities.
These are requisite traditional activities my family enjoys during this holiday time. Hopefully, these will leave my daughter with fond memories of her childhood Christmases. I can guarantee you will love doing any and/or all of them. The nice thing is that most of the tree viewing and window gazing is free. And remember that the pound is worth 2 to 1, in your favor. You lucky son of a Brits.
While in New York be sure to visit the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree on 5th Avenue and 49th Street on display until January 6, 2008. This year the tree is an 84 feet tall, Norwegian spruce planted in 1947 in Connecticut. Chris Reardon and all eco-conscious folks will be happy to know that the Christmas landmark has gone green for the first time. It was lit with a new set of energy efficient LED lights fully powered by solar panels. You can also watch the ice skaters below or go for a skate yourself.
There are other trees of interest around the city including the Origami Christmas Tree at the American Museum of Natural History, a wonderful place to spend the day. This year the theme of the tree is Fantastic Creatures, mythical and real, from dragons and mermaids to narwhals and peacocks. They also have two 19 foot Holiday Barosaurs lit up for the holiday season. The Chorus Tree at South Street Seaport is a tree made up of carolers performing Fridays at 6 & 7 pm, Saturdays and Sundays at 3 & 4 through Christmas. There's great shopping and restaurants down there as well. The Peace Tree in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine at 110th St. and Amsterdam Ave. is decorated with 1,000 paper cranes and other peace symbols. Children can participate in a workshop to learn how to make the cranes and there is also a walking tour of the Cathedral that highlights the pre-Christian origins of Christmas. And don't miss a day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and it's breathtaking 20 foot blue spruce featuring 18th century Neapolitan angels and cherubs planking a Neopolitan Baroque creche. The museum is located at 1000 5th Avenue and 82nd Street.
And not to be missed is Holiday Window Gazing at some of midtown New York's biggest department stores. Macy's Herald Square's theme, West 34th and Broadway, is Santa's Great Adventure that takes him into space. This year window gazers can see their own images captured and beamed to Santa's naughty and nice television monitors. There are regular updates on the percentages of naughty versus nice. In addition, one window is actually a two-in-one that flips upside down to represent the northern and southern hemispheres as Santa barrels through the night bearing gifts. Lord & Taylor’s theme, 5th Ave. and East 38th St., this year is the five senses of Christmas portrayed through a series of miniature holiday scenes with a largely European flavor. Taste is portrayed as a Christmas dinner in an upper class New York city home. Feel is a wintry Copenhagen scene where a child prepares to throw a snowball and others are building a snowman. Smell is captured by the fragrant pastries and breads of a Paris bakery making holiday treats. Sight is Santa Claus arriving in Venice’s exquisite facades. Sound portrays a group of musicians playing in a Vienna mansion. A final window shows children from all over the world, dressed in their native costumes, celebrating the holiday. This year Saks Fifth Avenue windows, 5th Ave. & East 49th St., are scenes full of quirky, spinning snowmen who are off on an adventure to discover their own identities. The Saks windows are a constant swirl of whirling, twirling, spinning and swooping with spunky snowmen characters. One snow-woman even gives off the aura of a shimmying Carmen Miranda. Bloomingdale’s windows, 3rd Ave. & East 59th St., are the creations of children's imagination. In collaboration with the Children’s Museum of Manhattan and the Children’s Museum of the Arts this summer, Bloomingdale’s invited children to create collages, paintings and sculptures which were then converted into life-size scenes. The plots may not make so much sense, but the visual impact of the scenes are intense, featuring characters like an alien queen with five eyes and two mouths, a robot with a candy heart and a glowing purple snowflake with oracle-like qualities.
These are requisite traditional activities my family enjoys during this holiday time. Hopefully, these will leave my daughter with fond memories of her childhood Christmases. I can guarantee you will love doing any and/or all of them. The nice thing is that most of the tree viewing and window gazing is free. And remember that the pound is worth 2 to 1, in your favor. You lucky son of a Brits.
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