It’s been 25 years since the first chandelier crashed from the ceiling of Broadway’s Majestic Theater onto the stage in front of a stunned crowd at the macabre show, The Phantom of the Opera. Back then, the composer Andrew Lloyd Webber’s wife and muse Sarah Brightman played the starring role … Read more
It’s February and love is in the air. We mean that literally. Valentine’s Day is around the corner folks, but we’re not about to tell you how to plan for Cupid’s arrival. Flowers and a mushy card? Don’t think so. We’ve got another kind of Cupid sighting on our radar. … Read more
Northern Finland is one of only a few places to catch the famous Northern Lights, which earns our vote as perhaps the best natural light show on Earth. If you can’t trek above the Arctic Circle to experience this mystical phenomenon, don’t fret. Just park yourself in Helsinki for a … Read more
Whether or not Niagara-on-the-Lake is the prettiest town in North America is up for debate, but if you ask Marian Markarian, trip advisor at Niagara Wine Tours International, you’ll get a resounding “Absolutely.” With its stately homes, pristine lawns and manicured gardens, a Main Street to rival any quaint New … Read more
Multiple, musical modalities were the hallmark of the recent inaugural Catalpa Music Festival. A range of bands performed an array of genres and on offer was something for everyone including rock, retro, reggae, R & B–and rain! Fittingly, the 2-day festival played out on Randall’s Island, where multitudes of people … Read more
Finland is often characterized by freezing cold temperatures, snow-covered landscapes and of course, the infamous Northern Nights. Yet, as soon as summer rolls around, the locals take advantage of their scenic surroundings. Whether lazily picnicking with friends, wandering through outdoor public parks or beating the heat with a fresh … Read more
Do you have a friend with a treasure chest tucked under his bed, immaculately lined with comics tucked in protective sleeves? If so, this friend is probably a nerd. He’s probably watched each of the original Star Wars movies annually, or maybe swivels in his office chair pretending he’s on … Read more
The Fringe Pop-Up Club The Olympics is on everybody’s summer itinerary. If you’re heading to London for the mega event and want to escape the throngs, pay close attention. The Fringe is a pop-up members club and entertainment space in London that is providing additional options just for the Olympics. … Read more
Who would’ve thought? Dancing in close embrace, deep slits, and lots of leg aren’t exclusive to the Argentinean tango. In fact, the Finns have not only taken to this dance, but also made it their own. Finnish tango differs from the fiery Latin version. Instead, the music and dance features … Read more
With the majority of Finland’s winter spent in darkness, you might think it would dim the creative spark. Not in Helsinki at least, the newly appointed 2012 World Design Capital. Despite the dearth of light, Helsinki emphasized its bright design future with a New Year’s Eve 3D light show in … Read more
It’s been 35 years since the King of Rock n’ Roll left us but the legacy of Elvis Presley prevails. To commemorate this anniversary year, three new exhibits exploring his career, family, and impact on the world will be opening at Graceland, his iconic estate in Memphis, Tennessee. Since 1982, … Read more
The Music of Something Beginning The Regeneration of Chicago’s Drury Lane Theatre Renaissance. It’s a term one hears a lot lately on the subject of the Drury Lane Theatre, along with Legacy and, perhaps most especially, Family. At a time when theater in general, and regional theater in particular, faces … Read more
Complete creative control. That’s the mouth-watering carrot Chicago’s Drury Lane Theatre is dangling before its directors this season. Each will get to choose not only the show they want to do, but the design team they need to help them realize their vision, the cast they feel can best … Read more
The Lights that Hypnotize Electricity is in the air as I approach the Theater of Living Arts in downtown Philadelphia. TLA as it’s more commonly known to the locals, is right on South Street, a hip strip of artsy boutiques, galleries, restaurants, bars and even a condom palace. A former … Read more
The San Diego Symphony 100 Years and Counting The symphony probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of San Diego. For many visitors, palm trees, beaches and sunsets tend to overshadow theaters, museums and concert halls. I myself had no idea that my city … Read more