Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival

Thank you to the HV Shakespeare Festival for hosting NY Foodie Family. As always, all opinions are our own.

Poet and playwright William Shakespeare left a legacy of works that continue to resonate across time. High school students continue to read his plays and so many movies have been based on his writing. Since 1987, the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival has been wowing audiences with their productions. They have performed noteworthy classics like Macbeth and Romeo & Juliet to Othello and A Midsummer Night’s Dream and everything in between.

This summer the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival has three major productions: Henry V, Love’s Labor’s Lost and Penelope. Henry V and Love’s Labor’s Lost are being performed now through September. Performances of Penelope will run September 3 through 17.

For years, the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival performed at Boscobel House and Gardens. However, the company was gifted land of 98-acres by philanthropist Chris Davis, and now has a permanent home in Garrison. Since 2022 they have been performing on these grounds. Plans are currently in the works for the building of a permanent open-air theatre, with a projected completion date of summer 2025.

I recently attended my first Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival performance to see Henry V. Not being familiar with this Shakespeare work, I was grateful that the company has a short preamble video on their site to familiarize the audience with the story. I have to admit that I also read through some online summaries to help give me more background.

The July 19th performance was one of the special Family Night events. I was happy to see children of all ages in attendance. While they may not fully understand the storyline, I think that the play is entertaining enough to keep their attention. Full disclosure, my husband and I may have gotten a little lost with the storyline too!

While I am a Broadway musical fan, I have not seen many plays. In my humble opinion, the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival actors create a Broadway-caliber performance. There are 18 actors in Henry V that each play multiple roles throughout the performance. It was amazing to realize that these same performers are also performing Love’s Labor’s Lost during the same week as Henry V. I am not sure how the actors remembered all of the lines from this one play, let alone two different concurrent plays! There were no line flubs or pauses. It was a flawless performance! 

I really enjoyed the modern interpretation the director took in adapting Henry V. The costumes, props and scenes made the play feel more present day, but the language still kept the Shakespearean form.

The open air theatre seats 479 – 533 guests, depending on the production. However, the theater in the round seating arrangement of Henry V gives it a more intimate feel. The performers interact with the audience throughout the play. Whether they sit/stand in the audience, give a handshake or even have a prop pickup or pass-off, there are many moments when you feel like you are part of the performance.

Before the performance, I highly recommend enjoying dinner on the property. There are plenty of groomed picnic areas with beautiful, scenic views. Bring a blanket or chairs and dine al fresco before the show. The parking lot is a short walk from the picnic areas and theatre. If you don’t want to make the trek back to your car, there is a storage area to keep your chairs and coolers during the performance.

If you are unable to or don’t want to pack your own picnic dinner, you can preorder a picnic meal from the onsite restaurant, Valley Restaurant. Preordered picnic dinners can be picked up at the concession tent and enjoyed on the grounds. Salads, grain bowls, sandwiches and even entrees are available.

We had the pleasure of dining at Valley Restaurant prior to the show. This onsite restaurant sits adjacent to the theatre. They have a $55 3-course prix-fixe menu. The first course is a vegetarian antipasto platter consisting of a variety of vegetables and dips and focaccia to dip them in.

For entrees my husband and I shared the black sea bass and the grilled eggplant. Dessert options are strawberry shortcake and the Jane’s ice cream flavor of the day. On our visit the flavors of the day were Coconut Almond Joy ice cream or raspberry sorbet.

Everything was fresh and delicious! Our server Maggie was very friendly and attentive. Visitors are welcome to dine at the restaurant any time it is open. However, your server will ask if you are attending the performance and will keep the meal progressing so you finish in time for the show. Maggie even offered us our coffee in to-go cups to drink at the show, since we were running short on time.

There is an outdoor concession stand that sells grab & go salads, sandwiches and more. They also serve beverages and have snacks like popcorn and ice cream that can be brought into the tent and enjoyed during the show.

I look forward to returning to the HV Shakespeare Festival later this summer. I already purchased my tickets for Love’s Labor’s Lost and am looking forward to the musical adaptation of the comedy.

I highly recommend seeing a performance at the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival for an entertaining night out!

The Details:

HV Shakespeare Festival
2015 Route 9
Garrison, NY 10524
website

Dates:
Henry V
Select Dates now through -August 21

Love’s Labor Lost 
Select dates now through-August 27

Penelope
Preview September 2, September 3-17

Parking:
Free onsite parking. There are a limited number of handicap parking spots near the Valley Restaurant. 

The parking lot is a short walk from the theatre but they have a golf cart that will transport guests down to the theatre. 

Tickets:
Prices vary by date and seat location. $10-$100/ticket. Senior and children pricing available for most seats.

Tips:
*Each night there is a short 6 PM tour of the grounds with details of the upcoming construction of the new, permanent theatre.

*The Theatre is open so it can get buggy. They have a table with bug spray available that guests can apply.

*Similarly, since it’s an outdoor performance you may want to bring a jacket for later in the evening when it tends to cool down.

*The grounds open at 4:30 PM for picnicking 

*If you plan on dining at The Valley before the show, reservations between 6 PM and 6:15 PM or earlier are recommended.  

*The tent opens at 7 PM for the 7:30 PM show. 

*Henry V runs approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes, including a 10 minute intermission.

*Love’s Labor Lost runs approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes, including a 10 minute intermission.

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The Westchester Theatre Presents: Menopause The Musical

NY Foodie Family was provided media tickets to Menopause the Musical. All opinions are our own.

Women are all familiar with “The Change.” If we haven’t experienced menopause yet, we know it’s arriving eventually: the hot flashes, the mood swings, and the memory loss.  Menopause the Musical is here to give everyone a laugh (women and men alike) as we commiserate together over this inevitable biological experience. 

Menopause the Musical was written by Jeanie Linders and debuted in 2001 in Orlando, Florida. Since then, it became an off-Broadway show that ran for four years in Manhattan. Then the show became a Las Vegas production that has been performed at Harrah’s continuously since 2006 and also began traveling as a national touring production. From June 15 through June 25, guests can see Menopause the Musical presented by The Westchester Theatre performed at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center

The show opens with four women shopping at a Bloomingdale’s lingerie sale. The women are unnamed but are cast as Professional Woman, Soap Star, Earth Mother and Iowa Housewife. They start as strangers, fighting over a black bra, but bond through their menopausal symptoms and end as friends. 

This production stars Adrianne Hick (Soap Star), Terry Palasz (Iowa Housewife), Amy Jo Phillips (Earth Mother) and a rotating cast performing Professional Woman: Enga Davis, Tauren Hagans and Joy Lynn Jacobs. It is a musical parody featuring over 25 songs from artists including Cher, The Beach Boys, Aretha Franklin and The Bee Gees, whose lyrics have been altered to fit the theme of the musical. You’ll hear the women belt out songs like “Staying Awake/Night Sweatin'”, “Puff, My God, I’m Draggin'” and “My Husband Sleeps Tonight”.

The entire musical takes place in Bloomingdale’s over the course of a day. There is only one set piece for the duration of the show but an array of props and elevator announcements indicate different floors of Bloomingdale’s. The show runs continuously for 90 minutes with no intermission.

Although the target audience is women going through or who have experienced “The Change”, this show is not exclusively for this demographic! I saw the show with a girlfriend, both of us having many years before we experience menopause, and there were several men in the audience as well. A good time was had by all.

Menopause the Musical is a fun production that has the audience laughing out loud throughout the show. There is one more week left to see this musical at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center before it moves on to Milwaukee! 

Cirque du Soleil Presents: Crystal

Photo c/o Cirque du Soleil

NY Foodie Family was provided with media tickets to Cirque du Soleil Crystal. All opinions are our own.

Performers speed by on ice skates doing jumps and flips. Others twist in the air, tethered to the sky. This is just a hint of the sights you will see at Cirque du Soleil’s currently-touring show: Crystal.

Cirque du Soleil has been wowing audiences with their circus art performances since the company’s debut in 1984. The group started with just 20 performers and has grown to over 1,400 artists.  Cirque du Soleil’s O at the Bellagio in Las Vegas is an aquatic masterpiece. Love is a musical love note to The Beatles. Volta is based on extreme sports. Crystal is the company’s first show that brings the circus arts to the ice. 

Photo c/o Cirque du Soleil

This show tells the story of Crystal, a misunderstood artist. When she falls through a frozen pond she is transported into another world. Her reflection helps guide her on a path of self discovery. According to a press release, “The show Crystal is about looking at things from fresh angles, peeking through the veneer of everyday life, reframing one’s daily reality to see what one might have missed. Sometimes the only way to appreciate things is to look at them sideways. Discovering one’s individuality and uniqueness requires venturing out on thin ice.”

Guests will see artists juggling, swinging on pendular poles and tap dancing on the ice. More traditional activities like ice hockey and ice dancing will also be performed but with the signature jaw-dropping moves of Cirque du Soleil.

Photo c/o Cirque du Soleil

 The performance is set to an eclectic mix of music that includes covers of pop hits including U2’s “Beautiful Day,” Beyonce’s “Halo” and Sia’s “Chandelier” as well as orchestral sounds and even klezmer-style chamber music. Throughout the show, musicians play instruments including the violin, saxophone and accordion. Colorful projections on the stage and ice help immerse you in the story.

Crystal, the company’s 42nd production has been touring arenas since December 2017. The show debuted last night at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.  There are four additional performances through June 19th. The show will then move on to Philadelphia (PA), Ontario, Providence (RI), Cleveland (OH),  Elmont (NY), Bridgeport (CT) and Albany (NY) before continuing to Europe in September.

Ever since seeing my first Cirque du Soleil show more than 20 years ago, I’ve been a fan. The acrobatic feats of the performers have me in awe and every performance I’ve seen has been an entertaining and mesmerizing experience. Similarly, Crystal did not disappoint. From the opening narration to the closing bows, it was a phenomenal ice show. The performers had the audience laughing, clapping, oohing and ahhing.

This show is family-friendly and appropriate for guests of all ages. While younger children may not understand the storyline, they will still be awed by the acrobatic feats. Seeing Crystal is a perfect way to cool off on a hot summer day.

The Details:
Cirque du Soleil’s Crystal
Prudential Center
25 Lafayette Street
Newark, NJ 07102
website

*The show is two and a half hours, which includes a 20 minute intermission.
*Parking in the lots in and around the Prudential Center cost $30
*If you are picking up tickets at will-call, the box office is at Emerson street. 
*Purses and backpacks are not allowed in the Prudential Center. Bring a small clutch (4” x 7”).
*I highly recommend eating before the show. There are limited food options and they are pricey. Expect to pay $5.29 for a bottle of water and $16.49 for a burger and fries.
*Tickets start at $39 each during Cirque Week. There is also a special family offer. You can buy tickets here.

A Night at the Drive-In {Overlook Drive-In, Poughkeepsie}

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This Wednesday, July 15th, you can enjoy the second of five weeks of “A Night at the Drive-In.” This FREE summer movie series is hosted by Michael B. Jordan, most recently of Creed and Black Panther fame, and Amazon Studios. Hudson Valley locals can enjoy viewing these movies at the Overlook Drive-In in Poughkeepsie. Every other Wednesday there is a double-feature screening of movies that celebrate, “diverse voices in cinemas.”

Tickets are free but must be reserved and printed here in advance and shown at the gate. Although the movie screening doesn’t begin until 8:50 PM, you can arrive earlier to stake out a good parking spot. Gates open at 7 PM. You can either pack some dinner and snacks or purchase them at the snack bar. Burgers, hot dogs, pizza, chicken tenders, nachos, fries, pretzels, ice cream and more are available.

This is a fun summer evening out where social distancing can be practiced. Movie ratings vary and parental discretion is advised.

Remaining Movie Schedule:

Although the series started July 1st, here is the schedule for the rest of the summer:

July 15th: “Movies to Make You Proud”
Black Panther (PG-13)
Creed (PG-13)

July 29th: “Movies that Inspire Your Inner Child”
Spiderman Into the Spiderverse (PG)
Hook (PG)

August 12th: “Movies to Make You Open Your Eyes”
Do The Right Thing (R)
Get Out (R)

August 26th: “Movies to Make You Laugh”
Coming to America (R)
Girls Trip (R)

The Details:
Overlook Drive In
126 Degarmo Road
Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
(845) 452-3445

Cost: Free

Time: First showing screens at approximately 8:50 PM

*Please note that the Overlook Drive-In policy requires all visitors to wear a face mask for entry.

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Read Before You Watch {TV Series Edition}

With a long, hot summer approaching, some of us may need some new book and television recommendations. It’s surprising how many television shows are based on books. I’m always a fan of reading the book first and then comparing how different the show or movie is. Many of these television shows have been streaming for awhile now, so you have probably watched some of them. But have you read the book(s) that they are based on? In this first edition of Read Before You Watch, catch up on your summer reading and watching with these books and the television shows that they inspired. While this list isn’t comprehensive, it’s a good start!

Newer Shows:

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Read: The Black Echo (Book #1 in the Harry Bosch series) by Michael Connelly. There are 22 books in the series.
Watch: Bosch on Prime Video if you like police drama and suspense. Season 6 began streaming in April 2020.

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Read: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
Watch: on Hulu if you like family drama. This show started streaming in March of 2020.

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Read: Stealing Home (Book #1 in The Sweet Magnolias series) by Sherryl Woods. There are 11 books in the series.
Watch: On Netflix if you like southern small town drama, friendship and romance. The show began streaming in mid-May.

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Read: Normal People by Sally Rooney
Watch: Normal People on Hulu if you like Irish coming of age dramas. The show began streaming at the end of April.

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Read: Unorthodox by Deborah Feldman
Watch: on Netflix if you want to learn more about Hasidic Judaism and one woman’s journey escaping her religious roots. The show began streaming in March 2020.

Older Shows:

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Read: 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Watch: on Netflix if you like teen drama that deals with heavy topics like suicide and rape

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Read: Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
Watch: on Netflix if you like action, science fiction and mystery

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Read: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
Watch: on HBO if you like family/friendship drama

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Read: Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay (8 books in the series)
Watch: Dexter, originally aired on Showtime. You can now watch it on Netflix if you like crime, psychological

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Read: The Feed by Nick Clark Windo
Watch: on Amazon Video if you like futuristic, dystopian, psychological thrillers

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Read: A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (7 books in the series)
Watch: on HBO if you like fantasy, action-packed, drama

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Read: Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar (13 books in the series)
Watch: on Netflix if you like YA drama involving wealthy teens

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Read: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Watch: on Hulu if you like dystopian fiction

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Read: House of Cards by Michael Dobbs (3 books in the series)
Watch: on Netflix if you like political dramas/thrillers

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Read: Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman
Watch: on Netflix if you are interested in seeing a woman’s prison comedy/drama, based on a true story

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Read: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (9 books in the series)
Watch: on Starz if you like historical fiction, romance, time travel and fantasy

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Read: Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard (There are 16 books in the series)
Watch: on Netflix if you like YA teen drama and mystery

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Read: The Stranger by Harlan Coben
Watch: on Netflix if you like mystery/thrillers

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Read: The Awakening by L.J. Smith (There are 7 books in the series)
Watch: on Netflix if you like YA supernatural drama, fantasy

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Read: Westworld by Michael Crichton
Watch: on HBO if you like action-packed, dystopian science-fiction thrillers

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Read: You by Caroline Kepnes
Watch: on Netflix if you like psychological suspense thrillers featuring a stalker

Five Guys Named Moe {Westchester Broadway Theatre}

We were invited to press night for Five Guys Named Moe. Thank you to the Westchester Broadway Theatre for hosting NY Foodie Family. As always, all opinions are our own.

Westchester Broadway Theatre’s newest production, Five Guys Named Moe, debuted January 30th and it’s a must-see show!

Photo Credit: John Vecchiolla, courtesy of Westchester Broadway Theatre

Five Guys Named Moe is set in an unnamed city and unspecified year. It tells the story of No Max, recently single and drowning his sorrows with alcohol. It’s almost 5 in the morning when he’s taken by surprise as five guys, all named Moe, emerge from his radio. Big Moe, Little Moe, Eat Moe, No Moe and Four-Eyed Moe give No Max lessons in love via song and dance in hopes of helping win his girl back.

Photo Credit: John Vecchiolla, courtesy of Westchester Broadway Theatre

This musical pays tribute to American musician, songwriter and bandleader Louis Jordan, featuring over 20 songs, many of which are written by him. It originally debuted at London’s West End Lyric Theatre in December 1990 and made its way to Broadway in 1992. Local residents can now enjoy this lively production at the Westchester Broadway Theatre through March 1st.

Photo Credit: John Vecchiolla, courtesy of Westchester Broadway Theatre

Dana and I knew nothing about Five Guys Named Moe prior to seeing the show. We were both pleasantly surprised at what a fun production it is. The small cast did such a great job of highlighting the unique personality of each Moe. There was lots of dancing and even some audience participation, including a sing-along. Yes, even we stood right up and joined in!

I recommend Five Guys Named Moe to families with tweens and older. Although the songs are catchy, I don’t think the subject of the show will interest younger kids.

This was our first WBT production where a six-person band played on stage. There were even a few excellent instrumental solos. The music and songs are lively and will have you clapping your hands and tapping your feet along to the beat.

Since the Westchester Broadway Theatre is a dinner theatre, we can’t write about it without mentioning the food. I’ve written in previous reviews that the food here is okay. They are cooking for the masses and I feel the meal is a bonus for the quality of the production you get to see.

This was our first time visiting the WBT since becoming vegan. We weren’t sure if they could accommodate us, since we looked online beforehand and only saw a vegetarian option on the menu. Since we aren’t strict vegans, we were okay with eating the Eggplant Parmesan. However, when we asked if they had a vegan option, our waitress mentioned that they usually have a veggie burger.

I opted for the Eggplant Parm and Dana ordered the veggie burger. When our entrees arrived, he got a GIANT plate of veggies and a baked potato, but no sign of the burger.

We asked our waitress if they had run out of veggie burgers. She was very apologetic for the confusion and brought out TWO veggie burgers. While these are not much to look at, they were larger than expected and actually very moist and tasty! They were a southwest chipotle type burger with a hint of spice. It is probably one of the best things we’ve eaten there. We didn’t call ahead to alert them to our dietary needs, but our server did recommend doing so in the future and to let them know that we’d like to make sure the veggie burger is in stock!

Every production at the WBT has a signature cocktail. “All That Jazz” is the signature drink for Five Guys Named Moe. Dana enjoyed this drink of citrus vodka, grenadine and orange juice. It costs $12 and comes in a souvenir glass that can be taken home.

Five Guys Named Moe is playing for a limited time at the Westchester Broadway Theatre! Be sure to get your tickets before it leaves!

The Details:
Five Guys Named Moe
Westchester Broadway Theatre
1 Broadway Plaza
Elmsford, NY 10523
(914) 592-2222

Tickets: (price includes dinner and the show) $61-$91 plus tax, beverages and gratuities, discounts available for children, students and senior citizens at select performances

Performances: January 30 – March 1, 2020

Show Times:
(The show runs approximately 2 1/2 hours, with a 30-minute intermission between acts)
Wednesday, Thursday and some Friday Matinees: 11:30 AM lunch, 1 PM show
Thursday, Friday and Saturday Evenings: 6:30 PM dinner, 8 PM show
Sunday Matinee: 12 PM lunch, 1:30 PM show
Sunday Evening: 5:30 PM dinner, 7 PM show

Tips:
* If you want to take home the souvenir glass, either be sure to hold on to it, or ask the staff for a clean glass to take home.

*They usually have a vegan meal option available. I recommended that you call ahead to make your dietary preference known so you can be sure they can accommodate you on your visit.

*Photos are not allowed during the show

*Check out the website for special offers

*There is a convenience fee for purchasing tickets online. There is no fee for purchasing tickets in-person or via phone.

*Up to 4 tickets can be purchased online.

* AAA members, AARP members, and military discounts are only given for phone or in-person ticket purchases.|

*All seat locations are the same price. The earlier you order, the better the seats.


An American in Paris now at the Westchester Broadway Theatre

The Westchester Broadway Theatre’s newest production, An American in Paris is playing through November 24. The original production had its Broadway debut in April 2015, winning four Tony awards. Although the show ended in October 2016, audiences can now see it performed locally at the Westchester Broadway Theatre.

Photo by John Vecchiolla, courtesy of WBT

I must admit, prior to seeing An American in Paris, I didn’t really know much about it. The only song that was familiar to me was “I’ve Got Rhythm.” This musical is based on the 1951 film starring Gene Kelly, which ultimately was inspired by George Gershwin’s 1928 composition of the same name.

Photo by John Vecchiolla, courtesy of WBT

In a nutshell, An American in Paris tells the story of Jerry Mulligan, a young WWII veteran who decides to stay in Paris after its liberation, to pursue his passion for painting. He befriends Henri Baurel and Adam Hochberg and they unite like the Three Musketeers. It is in this city that he also meets a ballerina, Lise, and falls in love. But, unfortunately, he’s not her only suitor.

Photo by John Vecchiolla, courtesy of WBT

I was surprised at how much dancing (ballet, tap and jazz!) was in the show. The cast was super talented; having to act, sing and dance! And I lost count at the number of costume changes they did! Deanna Doyle, who plays Lise, had the role perfected, as she played Lise on the National Tour. Although Brandon Haagenson has plenty of other performances under his belt, he makes his Westchester Broadway Theatre debut with his role as Jerry.

Photo by John Vecchiolla, courtesy of WBT

My husband and I really enjoyed seeing An American in Paris at the Westchester Broadway Theatre. For this show, we were seated at table 281, the second to last row in the center of the theater. However, every seat in the house has a great view of the stage.

The cost of drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, are not included in your ticket price. Since the show is set in France, my husband started dinner with a “French 75” martini.

But of course, WBT is a dinner theatre. Guests enjoy a full dinner prior to the show. Dinner begins with a garden salad. For an additional cost, other appetizers are available and include shrimp cocktail, French onion soup, smoked salmon and semolina dusted calamari.

Dinner options for this show include Eggplant Parmigiana, Fillet of Sole “Meuniere” (classic French preparation, where fish is dusted in flour before sauteing), Roast Loin of Pork, Sauteed Breast of Chicken with a Marsala sauce and Roast Prime Rib of Beef. I opted for the Eggplant Parm this time and enjoyed it. But I would have liked a little more pasta on the side.

My husband enjoyed the Prime Rib again. He ordered it medium rare and it came out cooked a perfect medium. If you’re not sure what to order, the Prime Rib is always a good bet.

Dessert is always the classic peach melba, but other desserts (Lemon Tart with raspberry sauce, Cheesecake with raspberry sauce, Chocolate lava cake and Chocolate fudge sundae) are available at an additional cost and served later during the intermission.

Although An American in Paris is a family-friendly show, my husband and I enjoyed a fun date night out. While we enjoyed the performance, we’re not so sure our 11 and 13 year-old would have felt the same way.

(We were hosted by the Westchester Broadway Theatre. However, as always, all opinions are our own.)

The Details:
An American In Paris
Westchester Broadway Theatre
1 Broadway Plaza
Elmsford, NY 10523
(914) 592-2222

Tickets: (price includes dinner and the show) $61-$91 plus tax, beverages and gratuities, discounts available for children, students and senior citizens at select performances

Performances: October 3 – November 24, 2019

Show Times:
(The show runs approximately 2 1/2 hours, with a 30-minute intermission between acts)
Wednesday, Thursday and some Friday Matinees: 11:30 AM lunch, 1 PM show
Thursday, Friday and Saturday Evenings: 6:30 PM dinner, 8 PM show
Sunday Matinee: 12 PM lunch, 1:30 PM show
Sunday Evening: 5:30 PM dinner, 7 PM show

Tips:
*Photos are not allowed during the show

*Check out the website for special offers

*An American in Paris is family-friendly show, but after seeing it we do not recommend it for children. The story line, music and dancing will likely not interest most kids.

*There is a convenience fee for purchasing tickets online. There is no fee for purchasing tickets in-person or via phone.

*Up to 4 tickets can be purchased online.

* AAA members, AARP members, and military discounts are only given for phone or in-person ticket purchases.|

*All seat locations are the same price. The earlier you order, the better the seats.

What We Watched {May 2019}

(This post contains affiliate links. Please read our Disclosure Policy for additional information.)

Although my DVR list is extremely long with shows that I need to catch up on, I don’t actually watch very much television. That’s not to say that I wouldn’t love to sit on the couch all weekend and catch up on old shows or binge watch all the ones that I’ve been meaning to watch. There’s just not enough time! The little time that we do have on weekends to watch television is usually spent as a family watching a show or movie together. Here is a quick recap of what we watched this past month:

Family Movies:

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A Dog’s Way Home – This movie is a bit cheesy and predictable. However, it doesn’t matter. I’m a sucker for a cute dog movie. While this one wasn’t my favorite, as usual, it still had me in tears…..and made my daughter want a dog.

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Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald – I will admit that I sat with the family “watching” this one. However, I wasn’t really paying attention to it. I didn’t watch the first one so I didn’t have a clue what was going on. The rest of the family enjoyed this movie though.

Date-Night Movies:

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A Star Is Born – I love the song “Shallow” from this movie, no matter how often it’s played on the radio. I of course had to finally see the movie. And I’m glad that I did, as I enjoyed it.

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The Favourite – I didn’t know much about this movie, except that it had some Golden Globe nominations. I really enjoyed this movie, I think even more so than A Star Is Born. Except, I didn’t like the ending.

A white man at the wheel of an aqua blue car, his elbow resting on the door. An African American sits in the back seat, arms outstretched.

Green Book – I think my husband and I have finally watched almost all of the Oscar Nominated Best Picture movies, minus Vice, which we will hopefully be watching this weekend. I didn’t know much about Green Book prior to sitting down to watch the movie. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this. I can see why it won for Best Picture.

Television Time – Family Time:

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The Amazing Race – We started watching The Amazing Race as a family during season 29, back in 2017. We became such fans of Becca and Floyd that we did a 5 Questions With…..post with them! They are back in season 31’s Reality Show-Down and we are having so much fun watching them.

Television Time – Mom Time:

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Dead to Me – (Netflix) This show debuted on Netflix this month. The twists have me hooked and even though I’ve only watched a couple of episodes, I hope to finish this soon. There are ten episodes altogether and totally worth giving it a try!

Workin’ Moms (Netflix) – This month I finally caught up and watched the last few episodes of Workin’ Moms on Netflix. This is a Canadian show but I love how it captures all the different aspects of new motherhood.

Television Time – Couple Time:

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Game of Thrones Season 2 – I am so late to the Game of Thrones Game. One of my goals for 2019 is to read the first book in the series. I am a little over half-way through and it’s looking good for me to finish it by December. In the meantime, my husband and I have been watching the series. This month we finally finished watching season 2 and have started season 3. Since we are borrowing the DVDs from the library and some weeks only get a chance to watch one or two episodes, it’s taking us a LONG time to get through a season!





Puffs (The off-Broadway Play}

(Thank you to Puffs: The Play for hosting NY Foodie Family. As always, all opinions are our own.)

Photo Credit: Hunter Canning

Harry Potter fans of all ages will enjoy Puffs or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and MagicPuffs tells the story of Wayne, a boy who grows up in New Mexico and discovers that he is a wizard.  When he gets to Hogwarts he is sorted into the Puffs house.  In this play, the Puffs are the “losers” where “Third or Nothing” is their motto.  In 90 minutes the play covers Wayne’s seven years as a Puff.  He forms an unlikely trio with nerdy math whiz, Oliver, and goth girl Megan, whose mother is a prisoner in Azkaban, and refuses to believe that she’s a Puff.  He and his fellow Puffs have to prove that they are not losers in order to help defeat, “he who shall not be named.”

Photo Credit: Hunter Canning

Written by Matt Cox, Puffs debuted off-Broadway in 2016.  It is one of several shows playing in the New Worlds Theatre on West 50th St.  Although there is no intermission, the ninety minutes fly by. Guests will laugh throughout the show, as humor abounds.  While you don’t need to be a Harry Potter fan, it helps to be familiar with books and story line to fully appreciate this play.  I applaud the actors and actresses, many of who take on the roles of multiple characters, during the show. The Saturday afternoon 2 PM show is supposed to be appropriate for kids ages 8+.  There was some jokes and humor that was mildly sexually suggestive, but my 10 year-old son luckily, didn’t seem to pick up on it.

My son and I read all of the Harry Potter books together and watched the movies.  As huge fans, my son and I both enjoyed Puffs a lot, even as a Slytherin and Ravenclaw.  The theatre is small and no seat is a bad seat.  If you like Harry Potter, you will likely enjoy seeing this show from the perspective of the Puffs!

The Details:
Puffs or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic
New Worlds Theatre
West 50th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenue)

Tickets:  Start at $52 and can be purchased online.

Performances:  Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday at 8 PM,  Saturday 2 & 8 PM, Sunday 3 and 7:30 PM

Tips:
*Snacks and drinks are available for purchase before and during the show.

*Cast members use the outside aisles.  Some front row seats enjoy a couple of small interactions.

*The theatre is a very short walking distance to the A,C, E subway.

4 Fitness Podcasts for Motivation {Self-Care Saturday}

4 Fitness podcasts to help motivate and educate you on all things fitness and health.

As many of you know, I love to listen to podcasts.  As I focus on exercise this month, I have been listening to different health and fitness podcasts to help educate and motivate myself.  Here are the top four fitness podcasts that I’ve been listening to.  These are all podcasts that are still producing new weekly episodes.  When I try out podcasts, I often listen to the most recent couple of episodes as well as the first couple.

Ascend Lifestyle Performance Podcast

Ascend Lifestyle Performance Podcast – This podcast is hosted by Tanja Shaw. Formerly known as the Fit and Vibrant You Podcast, it features conversations about, “fitness, nutrition, lifestyle, mindset and inspiration so you can think better, eat better and move better.”  There are currently 98 episodes to listen to with a mix of interviews and just Tanja talking on selected topics.  This podcast has recently only been releasing new episodes on the first of the month.

FIT CHICKS Chat

FIT CHICKS CHAT–  This has become my favorite fitness podcast to listen to.  Laura Jackson and Amanda Quinn host this podcast where they, “talk all things fitness, nutrition and wellness for women to help you live your healthiest and fiercest life inside and out.” Some episodes they do interviews, other times it’s just the two of them talking.  It’s like a conversation with friends and not preachy at all.  They have a website where they feature show notes from their podcasts and include resources and links to things that they talk about during the show.

Fitness, Food, and Freedom

Fitness, Food and Freedom – Jordan Stolz hosts this three times a week podcast that focuses on fitness, food and freedom.  The weekly episodes include Motivation Monday, Workout Wednesday and Foodie Friday.  Each episode is only about 20 minutes. There are 146 past episodes that you can catch up on! Check out the podcast’s website for additional resources.

Get-Fit Guy's Quick and Dirty Tips to Slim Down and Shape Up

Get-Fit Guy’s Quick and Dirty Tips to Slim Down and Shape Up – The Get-Fit Guy’s Quick and Dirty Tips to Slim Down and Shape Up are just like the title states – quick, short episodes (about 20 minutes each).  This is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips franchise.  Brock Armstrong hosts more than 370+ exercise-focused episodes.  Although the podcast sounds scripted (which it is since he also has a written post with the same exact info on his website), he packs a lot of useful info into a short amount of time.  This is not a podcast that I can listen to every week.  Instead, I like to pick and choose topics of interest to me.

What are your favorite fitness podcasts to listen to?