Excellent New York travel tips? Continue the #FreeBritney movement with a night of Britney-themed drag Bingo at The Cauldron every Thursday! The Cauldron’s reigning drag queen, Holly Box-Springs, will host the nights, which will feature Britney’s biggest tunes, themed prizes including #FreeBritney masks, complimentary ‘Toxic’ welcome shots made with Mezcal and Strawberry Liquor (Non-Toxic options available); and specialty dishes including, Oops, I Hummus Again (w/ Classic, Beet or Carrot); I’m Not A Girl, Nachos A Woman (Plantain chips w/ choice of beef or lamb); and I’m a Slave, for Smoked Street Corn (w/ Chilli Butter or Sumac). Ten percent of drink sales will go to the TranslatinX Network. For reservations, call 917-635-1960 or e-mail leah.s@thecauldron.io. Entry is free but guests are strongly encouraged to book due to limited capacity.
If there is one crucial piece in the set of this show, it is the objects that didn’t even exist on the stage which gave the show the most dimension, setting, and emotion. These digital realities were pictured on a giant wraparound screen which posed as the backdrops for all scenes. This rapidly accelerated the set changes such that it seemed like a film in itself. The screen flicked between classrooms in a fraction of a second, and the lighting levels with it, establishing a realistic picture and making the stage so much larger. There was almost no turnaround time between scenes, keeping the audience constantly engulfed in the happenings. Its novelty and spectacle represented a new and improved future for Broadway in which screens can display the way to film-like reality onstage!
I bet your kids will love The Lion King. We’ve seen it all, but watching it on stage is a completely different experience. The characters are as lovable as they are on screen. The show is adored by both kids and parents. Kids love it as much as they love Frozen and the parents feel especially nostalgic, since many of them have grown up watching Simba, Timon, Pumbaa, and Nala. It’s almost certain that The Lion King will return. It is super popular and would quickly cover its losses. I found a great review some time ago, here’s a link to it. Your best bet would certainly be Hamilton. It has the highest probability of returning, since its producers made the most of the pandemic and are supposed to be financially stable enough. The rumored date for its first performance after the pandemic is the 4th of July (how patriotic, haha). Just keep in mind that Hamilton was sold-out like half a year ahead, so tickets might be scarce. Find even more info on TripAdvisor Broadway 2021.
An exciting new attraction in New York City, the High Line is a former rail line that has been transformed into an urban walking trail above the city streets. This unique linear public park has been planted with a variety of plants and trees, many of which are native species. In spring many of these come into bloom. The park is lined with glass railings in most areas, giving it a natural feel, while still offering outstanding views of the city. This oasis on Manhattan’s West Side runs from Gansevoort Street at the south end (just south of West 13th Street) to West 34th Street at the north end, running parallel to 10th Ave most of the way. You can access it at various points along the route, some of which offer stair access only, and others with elevator access. Although the High Line is only about two to three stories above street level, the views of the city’s architecture and the lookouts over the streets offer a whole new perspective. Along the route are art installations, benches, and near the south end is a sitting area with bleacher-style seating and a glass wall looking out onto the city. The trail is heavily used, and on weekends it can be extremely busy, but without the surrounding traffic, it’s still a peaceful retreat.
One of the most overlooked museums in the city sits across the street from the NY Stock Exchange (NYSE). Federal Hall, built in 1700, is where George Washington took his oath of office (you can see the Bible he was sworn in on!), was the first capitol building of the US, and was the site of the US Customs House in the late 1700s. It’s one of my favorite attractions in the area. I especially love the old vaults of Customs House. I highly recommend you visit, plus it’s small and doesn’t take long. Down the street from NYSE and Federal Hall is the Museum of American Finance. Housed in a historic bank building on Wall Street (of course!), it has permanent exhibits on the financial markets, money, banking, entrepreneurship, and Alexander Hamilton (the founder of the US financial system). If you want to understand the workings of what happens on Wall Street, this is a perfect place to start. Read even more details on https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k13476134-New_York_in_Summer_2021_What_should_I_be_aware_of-New_York_City_New_York.html.