Arts and Entertainment

New Victory Theater Pulls the Curtain Back with New Walking Tour

September 9, 2024

If you’re a mom living in New York City like me, chances are you’ve taken your kids to The New Victory Theater. Over the years, I’ve hopped on the subway and whisked both of my children ages 10 and 14 off to Times Square at the first and only theater entirely dedicated to year-round programming for kids and families. From awe-inspiring circus acts to mind-boggling magic shows, we’ve seen countless performances at the acclaimed theater.

So, when I was offered the opportunity to tag along on a tour of the 100-year-old theater responsible for sparking kids’ imaginations and opening their worlds to the wonder of live theater, I jumped at the chance.

Offered through Broadway Up Close, the 90-minute tour is a theater lover’s dream come true. For the first time, visitors can get a sneak peek at secret spots throughout the theater, as well as listen to a fascinating oral history.

Photo credit: Mark La Rosa

Hosted by Tim Dolan, an actor and owner of Broadway Up Close, the tour take visitors through decades of history on 42nd Street and share interesting anecdotes, architectural oddities, and more for groups interested in learning the thrilling tale of what came before at the New Victory Theater.

“Tour-goers are in for a treat as we explore the nooks and crannies of this historic theater,” says Dolan. “The New Victory Theater perfectly encapsulates the rise and fall – and rise again – of America’s most famous block.”

My two children have attended countless shows at New Victory Theater. It’s been one of the constant creative art forms and outlets in their young lives.

Not only did I get an up-close-and-personal look at the iconic theater, but my kids also came along too. After only visiting the theater when its seats are filled with little people scrambling about, it was cool for them to see the theater completely empty, and the stage stripped.

Both of my kids enjoyed learning fun facts, seeing rare photos, and checking out spots in the theater that they’d never have access to without this tour.

If you appreciate history, theater, and New York City and are looking for a unique way to spend an afternoon or evening, don’t miss this Broadway Up Close tour.

Tickets go on sale September 13 and are available for $56 for adults and $51 for children ages 12 and younger. They can be purchased online through Broadway Up Close. Please note that reservations are required.

Have you ever taken a theater tour? If so, what did you think? If not, would you be interested in taking one?

Category: Arts and Entertainment, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

Things to See in NYC: ‘Aanika’s Elephants’ At New Victory Theater

March 31, 2024

When it comes to imaginative storytelling with powerful messaging, shows at New Victory Theater in New York City always deliver. Their latest production, Aanika’s Elephants is no exception.

Through masterful puppetry and artful set design, the story beautifully captures the bond between an orphan girl named Aanika (Jimmica Collins) and her beloved baby elephant “Little.”

Directed by Pam Arciero and written by Annie Evans, the touching performance centers around the unusual pair’s mutual love as they navigate their new worlds.

Educating audiences on the horrors of poachers, the plight of elephants, and the importance of honoring all living creatures, the production tackles tough issues that little minds can understand and appreciate. The lessons are delicately woven throughout the performance, creating an entertaining experience that is enlightening, not preachy. The show also touches on the power of perseverance, embracing independence and coping with the loss of loved ones.

These are challenges that everyone will face and this heartwarming production thoughtfully brings them to light. It also focuses on how family can be defined.

While the messages are impactful and prominent, make no mistake — the wiry puppets are the stars of the show. They effortlessly come to life with every sudden move and gentle gesture. They possess such a strong and dominant presence, that their puppeteers become virtually invisible.

What’s more, the musical score takes the theatrical journey to the next level. With rhythms that celebrate the sounds of Africa, the story’s authenticity is elevated with every drumbeat.

If you’re looking for a uniquely educational show that kids ages six and up will enjoy, head to the theater by April 7th for an unforgettable performance.

For tickets and more information, click here.

What show are you looking forward to seeing this year?

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Category: Arts and Entertainment | 2 Comments

What to Do in NYC This Weekend: Visit Spike Lee: Creative Sources Exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum

February 10, 2024

It’s not every day that you meet a living legend — but that’s exactly what happened when my son and I visited the Brooklyn Museum to see the Spike Lee: Creative Sources exhibition earlier this week.

Believe it or not, shortly after entering, we spotted Spike Lee. Yes, the man behind the exhibit. What’s more, the prolific director was giving Jeffrey Wright, the Academy Award-nominated actor, a private tour. When I approached the accomplished pair, I was hesitant because I didn’t want to disturb them. However, I also didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to introduce them to my son who is already an aspiring director at the tender age of 10. They graciously obliged and offered to take photos and imparted kind and wise words before returning to their tour.

Spike Lee, my son, and Jeffrey Wright at the Spike Lee: Creative Sources exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum.

After that unforgettable encounter, we continued making our way through the sprawling exhibition. If you’ve ever visited Lee’s 40 Acres and a Mule Filmmakers headquarters in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, you’ll recognize some of the priceless pieces from there, but also so much more.

From movie posters to his coveted Oscars, the exhibition boasts more than 450 works drawn from his personal collection including signed musical instruments from iconic artists, prestigious artwork, pop culture memorabilia, and other cherished items.

The exhibition is separated into several rooms dedicated to different aspects and inspirations behind some of Lee’s award-winning work. For instance, the first part of the exhibit is called, “Black History & Culture.” In this space, historical pieces like Sambo figurines and segregated water fountain signs were on full on display — influences behind his cult classic film, Bamboozled. Other areas housed other treasured pieces from his massive collection like storyboards from Do the Right Thing and letterman jackets from School Daze. Of course, as a major sports fan, there was also a room devoted to his beloved New York Knicks.

Together they weave a vivid tapestry that thread Lee’s experiences and fuels his creativity and unmatched storytelling.

If you haven’t made your way to Brooklyn to check out this incredible exhibition yet, you still have time. The exhibition officially closes tomorrow: Sunday, February 11. So, you’ll have to act fast, but I can guarantee it will be worth it. I just can’t promise that you’ll meet the legendary filmmaker and pop culture icon like we were so lucky to do.

Click here for tickets and more information about the Spike Lee: Creative Sources exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum.

What’s your favorite Spike Lee movie?

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Category: Arts and Entertainment, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Interview: Celebrity Chef Carla Hall Dishes On Quaker Partnership and New Max Series ‘Chasing Flavor’

February 1, 2024

Carla Hall may not have won season five of Bravo’s Top Chef, but she’s been winning ever since. In fact, the effervescent Nashville native’s star has continued to rise. Her culinary talents have taken her to unimaginable heights.

From sought-after caterer and restaurateur to author and network TV personality, Hall has been cooking up a variety of ways to whet the appetites of those who crave her delectable dishes, southern charm and on-screen charisma.

Now, she’s teaming up with Quaker to donate $250,000 to GenYouth, a nationally recognized youth health and wellness nonprofit, to help tackle food insecurity among children. She’s also working with the brand to bring an unparalleled culinary, sports, entertainment and philanthropic experience at Taste of the NFL, presented by Frito-Lay, Quaker, and the PepsiCo Foundation, which takes center stage during Super Bowl LVIII Weekend.

In addition to manifesting a relationship with her dream brand, she’s also gearing up to take audiences on an entertaining and enlightening culinary journey with her new show, Chasing Flavor, which premieres today on Max.

I recently caught up with Carla to learn all about her partnership with Quaker, her favorite game day snack, who she’s rooting for in the Big Game, and more.

Check out our Q&A below:

BGG: Tell me about your partnership with Quaker.

Carla Hall: Well, my Quaker partnership is two-fold. My friends know I was the unofficial Quaker Oats girl. I had Quaker on my vision board to work with them. So, it’s one of the organizations that I wanted to work with. I was already a founding board member since GenYouth’s inception.

So, this campaign came out of that relationship because Quaker was going to give GenYouth $250,000 to further their work for childhood hunger and food insecurity. So, it’s like my worlds came together and it is so authentically me and who I am and the things that I’m already doing. So, I am here to basically use my platform to say the other things that Quaker is doing and that they are passionate about with GenYouth. So, everything’s coming together.

BGG: Tell me about your upcoming participation with the Taste of the NFL.

CH: So, the Taste of the NFL has been going on for about 30 years. They’re working to make it special. They’re bringing in other chefs and local chefs, as well as Andrew Zimmern, Tim Love, Mark Bucher, Lasheeda Perry, and me.

We are the chefs who work with GenYouth in addition to all these other chefs. It is a fun event. It’s like any other food taste event, but with a twist and giving back (proceeds will be donated to GenYouth). I’m excited to see some of the football players. I won’t know their names, but I’ll be standing alongside Eli Manning when I present this big check from Quaker to GenYouth. So, that’ll be fun.

BGG: What dish will you be making at the Taste of the NFL?

CH: I am making a croquette dish made with Doritos, ham and cheese — so that’ll be super fun. Again, I’m just excited to taste and to meet the local chefs. I’m looking forward to tasting the culture of Nevada and how that food is indigenous and what that culture tastes like — especially on the heels of my new show Chasing Flavor. So, I’m excited to see how they’re going to express themselves.

BGG: Speaking of your upcoming show, Chasing Flavor, which premieres February 1 on Max, what was your inspiration behind it?

CH: So, I was talking to someone at a dinner party and told them that when I have car service and the driver is from another country, instead of asking, “how are you?” I ask, “what foods do you miss from home?” And I just watch their faces light up.

The person who was at the dinner party told a friend of his who was the president of a production company. Then, I get a call saying, ‘Hey, I think that’s a show.’ It literally happened like that. It’s about celebrating our differences and honoring all the cultures who had a hand in a dish. And as a Black woman, I know a lot of our contributions have been lost and not told.

BGG: What do you want viewers to take from “Chasing Flavor?”

CH: After watching the show, I want people to want the thing. I want them to want the ice cream, shrimp and grits, al pastor or chicken pot pie. I want them to want that thing because the cinematography is so great. But also, I want them to realize that they can’t separate the culture from the dish. You can’t say, ‘oh, I like Mexican food, but I don’t like Mexicans.’ It all comes together. You have to realize that food comes with culture and people.

BGG: How did you come up with the locations that you wanted to visit?

CH: We started with the dish. We were looking for dishes that had a deep and varied story where we could sort of dig in and get into the juicy story — but we also shot it during the pandemic. So, we were limited in terms of where we went, especially abroad because of quarantine protocols. So, there were a lot of places that we couldn’t go. For instance, when we were talking about barbecue, we wanted to go to Korea, but we couldn’t go.

BGG: What was your favorite place to visit for the show?

CH: My favorite place? It’s hard. It’s between the fried chicken or the hot chicken journey. It started in Nashville, and it took me to Accra, Ghana.

I also love the al pastor journey because I don’t really have a connection to al Pastor and tacos. I grew up in Tennessee! My tacos were hard coming from a box (laughing). And so, understanding that story and talking to people, I saw the effects — like the butterfly effect. It started out a tragedy, but what we wanted to show was that out of this tragedy, something beautiful came out of it.

BGG: Going back to the Big Game, what’s your favorite thing to make for the snack-centric event?

CH: So, I think you must have your dips and everything. Everybody has dips. You have your cold dips, and you have hot dips. And generally, these dips should be from pantry items. I am a big fan of hummus, but it doesn’t have to be chickpeas. I make hummus out of black-eyed peas. You can also make hummus out of black beans. So, you just choose a bean, throw in some roasted garlic, tahini and olive oil, and you have a beautiful dip.

Also, you can do any kind of dip with sour cream and a soup packet and then throw in some vegetables.

BGG: Is there any other dish that you enjoy making for the game?

CH: I would also do some kind of chili. So, the Quaker Playbook, has 32 recipes inspired by the NFL teams. I made the Quaker baked oatmeal and it’s almost like a cupcake, but you can have that as bread. You can also have it at a dessert station. You can add chocolate sauce or fruit sauce.

BGG: I know your home team, the Tennessee Titans, aren’t in the Big Game, but who will you be rooting for next Sunday?

CH: I’m always rooting for the team with the ball (laughing). I’ve watched more football since I’ve been married than I have in my entire life. I love the joy that happens around the game. I love the food that happens. I love the Taste of the NFL. I love all the things that happen around the game. I love it!

What’s your favorite Big Game snack?

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Category: Arts and Entertainment, Featured, Features, Interviews | 4 Comments

Interview: HBO’s ‘Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project’ Filmmakers

January 5, 2024

Nikki Giovanni is arguably one of the greatest poets to ever live. Now, her inspiring life story, prolific poems and literary gifts are being showcased in HBO’s new documentary, “Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project.”

Produced and directed by Michèle Stephenson and Joe Brewster, the critically-acclaimed film takes viewers on an imaginative out-of-this-world journey that transcends space and time to uncover her enduring impact and undeniable influence on American culture.

Peppered with captivating archival footage and creative visual treatments of her work, the 104-minute project is a poignant expression of love and reverence. What’s more, it highlights Giovanni’s dedication to justice, featuring poems from pivotal moments in history including the Civil Rights and Black Lives Matter movements.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with the filmmakers to get their insights on their inspiration behind the movie, what they hope audiences take from the unique film, and more.

Check out our enlightening Q&A:

Brown Girl Gumbo: Tell me how this project came to be. Did the process always include a time travel aspect?

Michèle Stephenson & Joe Brewster: After completing our 13-year-long observational film, “American Promise,” which centered on Black male achievement, we were searching for a new project. Our initial idea was to create a musical genre film, but we encountered difficulties in obtaining the necessary musical licensing commitments from artists. One morning, while listening to an NPR broadcast, we were struck by the musicality of Nikki’s poetry. We contacted her manager and received a response within a week – Nikki was interested in working with us.

BGG: Why was it important to tell Ms. Giovanni’s story in this way?

MS and JB: Initially, we chose not to prioritize continuity editing in our documentary because we wanted to explore our creativity as filmmakers. We believe that centering the film around a linear timeline would limit our possibilities, as our day-to-day lives are not lived in a linear fashion. For instance, when walking to the supermarket to buy soap, one may dream about soap they had in the past or consider how they’ll use soap in the future. Non-linear storytelling is not uncommon and allows us to tell the story with infinitely more creativity.

BGG: Describe “Going to Mars” in a four words.

MS and JB: A Black love song.

BGG: What can viewers expect when they watch this film?

MS and JB: When you watch this documentary film, be prepared to have your perspective challenged and to see the world from a different angle. Nikki Giovanni’s poetry is thought-provoking and urges us to question the status quo. Poetry has the power to make us reevaluate our choices and beliefs, and that’s precisely what Nikki Giovanni’s poetry accomplishes. Additionally, you should anticipate laughing, getting angry, and even shedding tears throughout this 104-minute journey. Maybe they should expect to be unapologetically self-assured.

BGG: Congratulations on winning the Grand Jury Prize for Best U.S. Documentary at Sundance and being on the Oscars shortlist. What is it like to be recognized in this way?

MS and JB: We are proud to receive these honors and many more. We acknowledge the support that we have received from our peers and fans. However, we understand that the honors can be taken from us and that our affirmation must come from within. Unfortunately, internal affirmation doesn’t come with a plaque or trophy. Some of our greatest moments will come when we challenge orthodoxy and risk cancellation. I hope we are ready when the time comes.

BGG: Why is it so important for you to tell the stories of people across the Black diaspora?

MS and JB: White supremacy has been able to thrive through the control and centering of information. White supremacy devalues our history and our sense of self, as well as decreases our hopes and aspirations. Counter-narratives or stories that reflect our achievements are key elements in elevating the hopes and dreams of future generations. This is often difficult because we do not own the media outlets nor the power to authorize the placement of our stories on these media outlets. But remember, it was the poets, the griots, and the preachers who traditionally delivered the messages of hope to our communities.

Watch the trailer below:

“Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project” debuts Monday, January 8 (9:00-10:42 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO and will be available to stream on Max.

What’s the first thing to come to mind when you think of Nikki Giovanni?

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Category: Arts and Entertainment, Interviews | Leave a Comment

Turo Wants New Yorkers to Take a Ride in an Elfmobile This Holiday Season

December 8, 2023

Get ready to sleigh your ride this holiday season.

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the beloved hit movie, Elf, Turo has partnered with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products to bring New Yorkers an unforgettable ride of a lifetime.

Move over Buddy, the popular car sharing marketplace wants to put you in the driver’s seat of one of the five limited-edition Elfmobiles inspired by the film. Want to book one of the festive vehicles? You’ll need to hurry because they’re only available through December 12, 2023. That’s right, these decked out rides won’t be around for long. Who knows? Santa may need them in case his reindeer go on strike.

Me and my son checking out the Elfmobile in Brooklyn.

The eye-catching cars can be booked at a rate of $20 per day (excluding fees and taxes) in Manhattan. Booking a car for a 48-hour trip during this period unlocks an exclusive package, including four gift cards to see “Elf” in theaters, delectable treats representing the four main food groups (candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup), and a stocking filled with goodies. Pretty sweet, right?

My son and I got an up-close-and-personal look at one of the Elfmobiles and we were blown away. It was an SUV wrapped in an enchanting green elf outfit, of course. Just know that if you’re lucky enough to book one of these cool rides, be prepared to get nonstop stares along with tons of oohs and ahhs. The sheer novelty of it is enough to stop traffic, literally.

So, go ahead make Buddy proud and spread holiday cheer in style this merry season.

For more details, visit turo.com/us/en/car-rental/united-states/elf.

What’s your favorite Christmas movie?

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Category: Arts and Entertainment | Leave a Comment

Things to Do: Visit Museum of Illusions

December 7, 2023

Now with winter underway, finding fun indoor activities is a must. Sure, New York City is teeming with holiday attractions and countless sights to see during this time of year. But, if you’re not in the mood for merry festivities or simply want to do something a bit out of the box, head over to the Museum of Illusions NYC.

Located near Union Square, the museum is chock full of mesmerizing surprises. With more than 30 installations to pique your curiosity, visitors are taken on a fascinating journey of awe-inspiring optical illusions. From tricks of light to spiraling shapes that will put you in a playful trance, this museum offers a variety of captivating exhibits. What’s more, the museum also boasts a bevy of wooden puzzles and games that are great for boosting cognitive skills and treating your brain to fun teases.

So, skip the norm and make your way to this museum for an unforgettable, mind-bending experience. The best part? It’s suitable for people of all ages. Bring the whole gang and get ready to see things that will blow your mind.