Bright Star

Upon its initial release to Broadway, I wasn't interested.  It wasn't one of the many that caught my eye.  And then, the Tony's happened.  The Bright Star performance was fantastic.  I really wanted to hear the story she had to tell. Unfortunately, there isn't much time left for anyone else to hear this heartbreaking yet redemptive story.  It leaves Broadway this weekend.  I hope it travels to some other parts of the country though.  The bluegrass style music would fare much better around the part of the world that I call home.

The lead, Carmen Cusack, has an absolutely stunning voice.  I loved listening to her on stage.  The humor throughout and whimsical nature of certain scenes made the overall production feel less sorrowful which I appreciated since we'd seen such dark plays recently.  It was a perfect mix of both serious subject matter and lighthearted song and dance numbers.  The music was my favorite part.  It even helped me overlook a bit of a broad jump in the story line toward the end.  I'm sad that more people weren't interested in keeping it alive for a bit of a longer run.  Definitely an interesting story to tell... 

Do you enjoy the bluegrass style of music with banjos, cellos, and violins?  

Andrea :)

My Tony Award Predictions

As far as award shows go, the Tonys win hands down!  Chris and I have really enjoyed the show the past few years so when the opportunity arose to host a night of Broadway celebration with our new Bible Study Small Group we jumped at it.  It is sure to be lots of fun because each of them is closely tied to the world of theater and auditions. We are super excited to watch it all unfold tonight!  As promised, I have listed out my predictions for you!  Starting with the categories involving plays...

Best Play - The Humans

Best Revival of a Play - Blackbird

 

Best Leading Actor in a Play - Frank Langella for The Father

Best Leading Actress in a Play -
Jessica Lange for Long Day's Journey Into Night

Best Featured Actor in a Play -
Michael Shannon for Long Day's Journey Into Night

Best Featured Actress in a Play - Jayne Houdyshell for The Humans

Best Scenic Design of a Play - David Zinn for The Humans

Best Costume Design of a Play - Clint Ramos for Eclipsed

Best Lighting for a Play - Justin Townsend for The Humans

Best Director of a Play - Joe Mantello for The Humans

As you heard last week, we've seen The Father, Blackbird, and The Humans recently.  We also saw A View from the Bridge and Misery earlier this year.  Long Day's Journey Into Night is on the top of our must see list, but that beast is four hours long so we have to wait for an open weekend and we haven't had many of those lately.  After attending the Drama Desk Awards, we also decided to add Eclipsed to our list of plays to see.  We've waffled on seeing The Crucible (and heard it was just ok) so we may or may not see it, but it's not super likely to find its way into the rotation soon. Now for the categories involving musicals...

Best Musical - Hamilton

Best Revival of a Musical - The Color Purple

Best Book of a Musical - Lin-Manuel Miranda for Hamilton

Best Original Score - Lin-Manuel Miranda for Hamilton

Best Leading Actor in a Musical - Leslie Odom, Jr. for Hamilton

Best Leading Actress in a Musical -  Cynthia Erivo for The Color Purple

Best Featured Actor in a Musical - Daveed Diggs for Hamilton

Best Featured Actress in a Musical - Renee Elise Goldsberry for Hamilton

Best Scenic Design of a Musical - David Korins for Hamilton

Best Costume Design of a Musical - Ann Roth for Shuffle Along

Best Lighting for a Musical - Justin Townsend for American Psycho

Best Director of a Musical - Thomas Kail for Hamilton

Best Choreography - Andy Blankenbuehler for Hamilton

Best Orchestrations - Alex Lacamoire for Hamilton

We were so fortunate to have seen Hamilton to kick off our year - what a truly fantastic production in every possible way!!  I also managed to see The Color Purple with some friends around Christmastime.  I have a long list of want to see shows including Bright Star, She Loves Me, Fiddler on the Roof, Shuffle Along, and Waitress.  Hopefully, I'll find a way to knock out at least a few of those before the end of summer!

Do you watch the Tony Awards?

Andrea :)

You Know It's Tony Season When...

You know it must be Tony season when you attend two multi-category nominated plays in the same week!  Needless to say, I'm beyond excited for the much anticipated Tony award show this weekend!  I must confess that I am MOST excited to see what song the Hamilton cast performs though.  I have been absolutely obsessed with all things Hamilton since Chris and I saw the show back in early January.  It deserves EVERY single award it wins - BEYOND fabulous!!  I'll post more about my predictions on Sunday, but today I want to share a bit about the plays we've seen recently today!

The first play we saw isn't nominated for any awards, but it caught our attention because it was titled Kentucky. The story finds one sister having escaped country life and her abusive father by making a new life for herself in New York.  When she hears that her sister is planning to get married back home, she attempts to swoop in and save the day by trying to convince her it is a huge mistake.  While the story was predictable, we enjoyed the usual aspects (a cat played by a human) and the familiarity of Kentucky living (lots of Big Blue Nation shout-outs).  The play didn't necessarily reflect the Kentucky I know and love, but I'm glad we took a chance on it.  Definitely gave us some solid laughs if nothing else!

Next, we went to see The Father starring Frank Langella - nominated for both Best Play and Best Actor.  The play follows the steady decline of Langella's character as his mind is slowly stolen by dementia.  We knew we were in for a dramatic 90 minutes, but there seemed to be a number of production flaws that left us scratching our head a bit at the end.  Don't get me wrong, Langella was fantastic!  The story was just a bit difficult to follow at points.  You weren't easily able to determine when a flashback was occurring and when the scene was set in the present time.  Definitely disappointed that aspect wasn't made more clear for the audience.

We continued with the tough and heavy topics when we saw Blackbird a week later.  Una (Michelle Williams) and Ray (Jeff Daniels) have a very convoluted past with one another.  And by convoluted I mean that 15 years prior to the scene viewers watch unfold, 40-something-year-old Ray had "consensual" sexual relations with 11-year-old Una.  A confrontation of sorts takes place in a messy office conference room...and in the end you are left with more questions than you started with regarding their situation.  It is wonderfully performed even though the topic is difficult to stomach at more than one point in the production.  Nominations include Best Play, Best Actor, and Best Actress - all quite worthy nods.  And two very friendly folks at the stage door!

Saving the best for last, we saw The Humans last week.  What a truly wonderful picture of the all-encompassing love present within a family!  This play is simply lovely.  It has you laughing one moment and on the verge of tears the next.  The story is simple - it's Thanksgiving and the family has all gathered to spend the day together.  I found myself resonating so closely with many of the ways the family showed love through teasing and comedy.  It was just a really fun play with a bit of a serious overtone to keep it balanced.  And it happens to be nominated for 6 Tony Awards including Best Play.  I would recommend that anyone go see it!

Which play sounds the most interesting to you?  

Don't forget to check back on Sunday for my full Tony predictions!

Andrea :)

Friday Favorites

It's Friday!!! YAY!!!  I am always ready for the weekend.  Who doesn't love more time for all their favorites, right?  Today, I wanted to take a few minutes to share with you some of my favorite things.

-ONE-

We stumbled upon W. Kamau Bell's United Shades of America a couple weeks ago...and have been really intrigued by this series.  Kamau is a black comedian that has volunteered to put himself in some uncomfortable situations to bring insight into a wide range of cultural and political issues.  So far, we've seen him interact with the KKK, spend some time with prisoners and the police, and expand our understanding of the immigrant population.  You can find episodes on CNN.  It is some of the most interesting TV we've watched in some time.

-TWO-

I'm back on the scrapbook train!  I took a big break from Michael's after our wedding, but I was in there recently and the scrapbook bug has bitten me again.  I have A LOT of catching up to do so this is great news!  Looking forward to gearing up those creative juices again...
 

-THREE-

Chris and I are planning to run the NYRR Queens 10k next month so we have been getting in a few training runs.  I had a great time being a race supporter for Chris a few weeks ago.  He ran a 4-miler in Central Park.  I was able to catch him near the beginning on that rainy morning.  And, of course, I was there just before the finish cheering him on to completion!  He did an awesome job.  I am so proud of him!

-FOUR-

I recently reacquainted myself with the vast land of podcasts.  Maybe it has something to do with getting back to running.  Maybe.  Anyway, I just finished Serial - Season Two.  Definitely recommend it for a closer look at the mess we call our military.  I found many parts of it to be completely fascinating.  Journalist Sarah Koenig and her team takes a deep dive into the case of American soldier Bowe Bergdahl who willingly left his post in Afghanistan during the summer of 2009 and was subsequently captured and held in captivity by the Taliban for nearly five years. Certainly worth a listen!
 

-FIVE-

Theater - my true NYC love!  The Tony nominations were released a couple weeks ago so we have been planning and plotting when to see which shows.  Fortunately, we snagged tickets to Hamilton and checked it off our list in early January.  I'm fully expecting a sweep there...and rightfully so!  We have several plays on our to-see list though - The Father, Blackbird, and The Humans.  Definitely excited to see as many as we can before Tony night!!!

What are you loving these days?

Andrea :)

Fully Committed

As huge Modern Family fans, we knew we couldn't miss Jesse Tyler Ferguson's new limited run one-man show on Broadway!  He plays a multitude of characters throughout the show - something like 40 different people!  His main character, Sam, spends his days taking reservations at one of New York's most exclusive restaurants. Sam's a struggling actor and has a bit of a family dilemma as well.  Clearly, Sam is juggling a lot!

We really enjoyed the show!  It was amazing to watch Jesse Tyler Ferguson keep all the characters straight.  Honestly, I can't even imagine how he kept it all together on stage for an hour and a half!  Super talented!  Not to mention the array of accents and voice tones he had to use throughout the performance.  Jesse Tyler Ferguson was simply fantastic!!

After the show, I convinced Chris to wait around with me to meet the star at the stage door!  Jesse Tyler Ferguson was incredibly kind and humble as various people offered their feedback on the show and asked for photos and autographs.  Definitely happy to have stuck around for the opportunity to engage with him.  

Andrea :)

For the Outsider in All of Us...

Have you ever felt alone?  Or like you didn't really matter to anyone?  Maybe you just wish your circumstances were different.  Or people took the time to get to know the real you.  Perhaps you've always played it safe, followed the rules.  Life is passing you by while you watch from the sidelines.

Evan Hansen knows how you feel.  He's in the same boat.  And it's miserable.
 

The latest Second Stage Theater production - Dear Evan Hansen - is a musical drama with a touch of humor throughout.  It is creative and modern.  A take on life as an outsider that so badly wants to be normal.  He makes some questionable choices that ultimately get him noticed, but given the situation, it's hard to say he did the wrong thing...at least at first.  The show provides a unique look at the fragility of mankind.  The part we all play in making a difference...or not.  A deep and thoughtful adventure well worth the ride.

We were so happy to be able to enjoy the performance alongside Mia and her hubby on their recent visit to NYC.  A fun night out on the town for sure!

Andrea :)

Wayne Brady and His Boots...

I've been intrigued by Kinky Boots for a couple of years, but hadn't ever managed to pull the trigger on purchasing tickets.  There was always something else to be seen.  And then Wayne Brady took on the role of fabulous drag queen Lola.  We were sold.

The show was super fun!  We thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish.  The story follows a young British fellow, Charlie, as he unexpectedly inherits his father's shoe factory.  Unbeknownst to Charlie, the factory isn't making any money.  Enter Lola - a remarkably funny and touching character.  Lola inspires Charlie to begin production on ladies' shoes for men.  The two become fast friends...and then the pressure and demands of running a business begin to take a toll.
 

I was incredibly impressed with the choreography and overall design (set and clothing/shoes).  Certainly worth seeing if you want a sure hit with everyone!  The music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper are upbeat and catchy, too.  We had lots of laughs watching Wayne Brady in his fantastic boots!  Check out this show if you want an exciting comedy with incredibly touching moments scattered throughout.  And if you can't make it to Broadway, I've heard the movie is pretty wonderful as well!

Andrea :)

Fighting for Peace

In 1910, Jack Johnson - World Heavyweight Champion - faced yet another "Great White Hope" in the Fight of the Century.  He won.  Race riots ensued in cities all across America on the annual celebration of our nation's birth.  By winning, Johnson - a phenomenal black boxer - had just humiliated whites in America.  And that was unacceptable.

The Royale (currently showing at Lincoln Center Theater) depicts the inner struggle of Johnson as he exerts his dominance inside the ring while all outside it are deep in the midst of Jim Crow.  And the struggle is real.  Lives are affected.  Family issues arise.  A man is troubled, yet capable.  His skin color is the crux of it all.

The Royale is a fantastic portrayal of the issues that somehow still manage to be present in our daily lives over 100 years later.  The unique and creative manner of presentation makes the performance all the more appealing.  I highly recommend checking it out.  And afterward, really thinking about what it means.  It is a travesty that our country still finds a way to continue fighting with one another over skin color when what we really need is peace for one and all.

Andrea :)

Not-So-Smart People

When Second Stage Theater announced the cast of its latest production, Smart People, I was floored.  Four people...and I knew them all.  If by knew them all, I meant I had watched them in various TV shows over the years.  Needless to say, I was super excited to see the show.

We've attended shows at Second Stage for quite some time.  We even became season ticket holders this year.  We had yet to be disappointed by a production there.  And the premise of Smart People - on the eve of Obama's 2008 Presidential Election, four highly intelligent Cambridge residents broach the treacherous topic of race - seemed intriguing and certainly relevant, but we just didn't love it.

Despite the absolutely phenomenal acting from Brian (Joshua Jackson), Ginny (Anne Son), Jackson (Mahershala Ali), and Valerie (Tessa Thompson), the story line felt needlessly convoluted at times.  Brian, a progressive neuroscientist professor studying the brain's response to race and its implications, falls for Ginny, a psychiatrist studying low-income Asian-American women's reaction to stress.  Ginny interfaces with Doctor Jackson when she proposes her services at his newly establish clinic for low-income patients.  Jackson has a chance encounter with Valerie, a struggling actress, when he begins stitching up the deep gash an out of place prop made on her forehead.  Valerie later signs up as a research assistant for Brian.  And ultimately, the entire crew unknowingly gathers for a dinner party that goes awry once the issues of race are once again brought into the mix.

While there were some interesting thoughts brought to light, it could have been presented in a more appealing way.  It is a play that I would recommend based on the content rather than the production.  Honestly, the cast carried the true weight of the show.  Unfortunately, it is no longer showing at Second Stage, but it's possible it could pop up again down the line.

Andrea :)

Hamilton: A Man of Many Shots!

"I'm just like my county -

I'm young, scrappy, and hungry...

And I am not throwing away my shot!"

Hamilton is easily the must-see musical of the season.  Truly phenomenal, clever, and catchy!  Unlike anything I've ever seen on stage...and absolutely wonderful.  But let me rewind for a moment.

Christopher mentioned Hamilton to me for the first time in the summer.  He'd heard about it on twitter.  It was set to be the next BIG thing.  Didn't take much to convince me to get on board.  We bought tickets for an early January show back in August.  We didn't think about it too much until the rumblings began later in the fall.  Hamilton became overwhelmingly popular.  It even broke the internet when it tried to instate an online lottery for tickets after those waiting at the theater were causing dangerous traffic issues.  It was officially the BIG thing.  And we began counting down the days until we'd take part in the magic.

Over dinner before the show, Chris discovered we could sell our back row of the balcony tickets for a few hundred dollars.  Tempting, but not as tempting as seeing writer and lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda star as Hamilton.  On the way to the theater, fate was sealed as I bent down to scoop up a folded $10 bill on the busy midtown sidewalk.  It was our night for Hamilton! 
 

The show chronicles Hamilton's life - particularly his rise to political power during the tumultuous beginnings of our great country. Catchy upbeat hip-hop songs and rap battles are prominent throughout.  It took unbelievable talent to create these unique and exciting songs.  I spent the entire show in absolute awe.  Such a fun night!  We immediately purchased the soundtrack...and have basically kept it on repeat ever since.  Total addicts!  My top five favorites are "My Shot", "Non-Stop", "The Room Where It Happens", "Your Obedient Servant", and everything featuring King George (laugh out loud funny!).  Chris loved the Cabinet Battles, "The Ten Duel Commandments", "The Schuyler Sisters", and "Washington on Your Side."  There aren't any bad songs though.  I've heard them all multiple times...every single one still has me listening!
 

There is nothing on Broadway right now that can complete with this show.  If you can manage to find tickets, buy them!  And then start an official countdown to the best day of your year!  Seriously, you MUST find a way to see this one on stage.  I'm glad we got our shot!!

Andrea :)

Three Servings of Misery

Back in October, I read Misery by Stephen King for one of my book clubs.  I wrote a review here, but overall it was a horrifying story.  Completely and utterly horrifying.  So, I did what any logical person would do. I signed up for two more servings!

That's right, I went to see the Broadway performance featuring Laurie Metcalf and Bruce Willis with my lovely husband who gifted me tickets at Christmas.  And then we followed it up with a re-watch of the movie starring Kathy Bates a couple weeks later.  Turns out the play followed exactly the same script as the movie.

Like pretty much every other scenario in the history of ever, the book was best. Easily. The book spends so much time inside the mind of tortured writer Paul Sheldon and there really isn't a great way to capture that on stage or screen.  The wackiness and evil of Annie Wilkes is thoroughly shown in all three formats - there is no escaping (literally!) her insanity!

Needless to say, Laurie Metcalf as Annie completely stole the show.  She was great.  Bruce Willis was pretty disappointing.  I had read previous to seeing the performance that he required an earpiece and/or off-stage teleprompters to help him with his lines.  Honestly, one of the main reasons I wanted to see it was to determine if it was noticeable.  It wasn't, but he didn't really have many lines at all so I spent most of the time wondering what in the world he couldn't remember!  Thankfully, Laurie Metcalf was there to swoop in and save the day!

The show wasn't our favorite, but we watched from across the street as the two stars departed the theater.  Laurie Metcalf signed a few autographs and then charged over toward our side of the street only to hail her own cab and head home.  We were in awe - what a bad mamma jamma!! True to form, Bruce Willis wasn't nearly as impressive in his exit.

Andrea :)

A View from the Stage

Since moving to NYC, I have seen numerous Broadway shows.  I've enjoyed almost all of them.  I venture to say, the theater is my favorite aspect of living here.  Honestly, I can't think of any event I enjoy more in this city that never sleeps.  So imagine my excitement when I realized we purchased tickets to be seated on the stage during a performance!!

We received multiple reminders prior to the performance of Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge that late arrivals would not be seated.  We didn't take any chances arriving before they even opened the theater doors for the evening.  Another stern warning came from the usher as we took our seats, "If you leave your seat for any reason during the performance, you will NOT be permitted to return!"

It was the real deal.  We were on the stage.  Practically in the show!  We were on the first row toward the back of the set on stage right.  It was SUPER neat!!  And I highly recommend it for the experience alone!  The show was so-so and quite predictable, but the acting (particularly from the male lead) was phenomenal.  Definitely an experience to remember!!

Andrea :)

The Color Purple

Wow!  What an incredible display of talent - absolutely stunning voices! Cynthia Erivo as Celie was breathtaking!  An amazing voice that easily overshadows all others - and that's saying something when Jennifer Hudson is making her broadway debut as Shug Avery!  And Danielle Brooks is putting on a show of her own as Sofia.

An uplifting story about the power of love, faith, and confidence for women finding themselves in even the most trying of circumstances. The story isn't a new one if you've read the book or seen the movie starring Oprah, but I would certainly recommend checking it out if you are in the New York area. A truly wonderful revival of this great story with a soundtrack for the ages!

Have you ever read The Color Purple or seen the movie?

Andrea :)

Invisible Thread

Invisible Thread is one of the most exciting and inspiring shows that I have seen.  Ever.  It tells Griffin's story...a true story...and it is phenomenal.  The music is poignant and beautiful.  A cast full of stunning talent...and incredible emotion!

Griffin Matthews, a gay Christian in an interracial relationship with Matt Gould, attempts to find purpose in his life by volunteering as an aid worker in Uganda, Africa.  Of course, he finds SO much more than his purpose.  In the meantime, his relationship is strained and his resources drained.  Eventually, Griffin returns to New York, but his heart is still in Africa.  The story is heart-wrenching, but told with sprinkles of humor.  And the soundtrack is unbelievable!  If there was a way to purchase it, I would have done so yesterday...SO fabulous!!

Unfortunately, the show isn't on for much longer so if you are in NYC...immediately click HERE and buy your ticket!  If you aren't able to see the show, I'd still invite you to learn more about Griffin's story by checking out his Uganda Project website here.  And, if you want to hear a couple of my favorite songs from the show - click here and here - you won't regret it!!

Andrea :)

Pippen...on tour now!

High-flying acrobatics, unbelievable balancing feats, catchy song and dance routines, and even some fire consumes the stage at a magical performance of Pippen!  And Michelle and I were in the front row of the theater to witness it all!

A little over a year ago, to kick off my bachelorette weekend, Michelle arrived in NYC a little early and we went to see Pippen!  It has now begun a tour across the US so it may be showing near you if you have any interest in a spectacular show!  I wasn't 100% on board with the overall message of the show, but it was one of the most entertaining I've seen.  I loved that the audience felt a part of the show, too.  There were several times we participated and characters spoke directly to the audience at various moments.

My favorite character was Bethe, Pippen's exiled grandmother.  Older people have wisdom and insight on life that allows them to tell it like it is...almost always.  The best song of the show was Bethe's No Time At All.  Here the chorus:

Oh, it's time to start livin'

Time to take a little from this world we're given

Time to take time, 'cause spring will turn to fall

In just no time at all...

Check out the tour list if you want to spend a couple hours being well entertained!  The talent and athletic feats that occurred throughout Pippen were nothing short of amazing!

Andrea :)

Whorl Inside A Loop

In recent years, there has been a tremendous amount of attention given to the world of prison.  Orange is the New Black was a huge Netflix hit.  I haven't tuned in yet because I was waiting to read the book, but I've almost finished it now so I'll be sure to see what all the fuss is about soon.  There are also books that chronicle prison reform and its effectiveness.  Chris and I even toured infamous Alcatraz on our recent trip to California.  People seem to have a distinct interest in prison for some reason.

Whorl Inside A Loop is by far the most powerful experience I've had viewing or reading anything associated with the prison system.  The play shares the stories of six inmates on murder row at a maximum security prison.  They enroll in a theater course offered by a well-regarded actress serving a volunteer sentence of her own.  The inmates share intimate details of their former lives when tasked with presenting personal narratives to the small group.  The stories are heart-wrenching, funny, and real.  It was a moving hour and a half without a doubt.

In addition to pouring their heart and soul into their inmate character, the six actors on-stage also played a number of other roles - constantly shifting scenes, ages, genders, and race.  We witnessed some phenomenal acting for sure!!  And loved every single moment of it.  The story alone is phenomenal, but the acting notched this show over the top! 

Andrea :)

Amazing Grace!

Amazing Grace!  How sweet the sound

that saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found;

Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

And grace my fears relieved;

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed.

Have you ever wondered where our old church hymns originated?  How they came to be written?  What life circumstances provoked such powerful lyrics?

The story of John Newton, a British bad boy destined to take over his family slave business before one final disobedient act pushes his father to give the ultimate punishment, answers all those questions and more.  He wrote Amazing Grace after his life made a 360 degree turn for the better and his eyes were truly opened to the heinous ways of slavery and slave trade.

The broadway production was, for lack of a better word, amazing!  All of the actors sang with incredible voices.  The set and costumes were elaborate and true to the time period of the 1700's.  The only thing that would have made it feel more real is if all the actors spoke with British accents.   Overall, it was both educational and enjoyable!  I hope lots of people go check out the intriguing man behind the powerful song. 

Andrea :)

The Lion King

 

When it comes to broadway shows, The Lion King is the ultimate experience.  I saw the show about a year after moving to New York City way back in 2008.  My parents have been to the city nearly every year to visit for a few days and somehow they had never been to see this quintessential show.
 

This year, I surprised them with tickets for their respective birthdays.  Since Mom's is in April, I sent them crafted tickets in her birthday card.  They were SO excited and we settled on a date in early September (Dad's birthday month) for the show.

I bought us tickets about five rows from the stage in the orchestra.  AMAZING!!  The other time I had watched it with a friend in the balcony so this was really a treat for me as well!  We loved the show, especially the opening scene where the animals all gather on stage by walking up the aisles.  Fascinating to see everything up close!

The way the animals are created using a collection of humans for larger ones like the elephants and graceful ballet artists for others is phenomenal.  The score and voices are excellent as well.  And, honestly, the bits of humor in the story line can't be beat.  The Lion King is such a fun and lovely show.  It is the absolute best (in terms of production) that I have ever seen.

It was an honor to be able to treat my parents to this fabulous show!  They are always there for me...and have allowed me to experience SO much over the years.  I was happy to be able to celebrate our birthdays in this unique way.  And, of course, it wouldn't be a true birthday celebration without (cheese)cake at Junior's afterward!

Andrea :)