Tony Predictions

Here are my predictions for tomorrow night.  I'm sure they'll be all wrong, because my predictions are mostly based on what I want to happen, not exactly what I actually think will happen.  Hey, a girl can hope, right?

Best Musical: If Come From Away doesn't win (afterall they won the Drama Desk), I predict that Dear Evan Hansen runs away with the award.  But I honestly think my Come From Away-ers have a really great chance.

Best Actor in a Musical: As much as I'd like to see Christian Borle win, even he's willing to admit this award belongs to Ben Platt.  There's no way anyone but him wins it.

Best Actress in a Musical: This one has Bette Midler's name all over it.  And honestly, after seeing Hello, Dolly, she totally deserves it.

Best Featured Actor in a Musical: I'm predicting what I want to happen, which is a 2-way tie for Andrew Rannells and Brandon Uranowitz. They were both spectacular and deserve the award so much. But the buzz is on Lucas Steele, and Gavin Creel won the Drama Desk so it's anyone's game.  But my fingers and toes are crossed!

Best Featured Actress in a Musical: I want another 2-way tie on this one - Jenn Colella and Stephanie J. Block. Both are unbelievable in their roles.  They blew the roof off the joint each night.  I watched Stephanie get a standing ovation mid-show, twice for her rendition of "I'm Breaking Down."  I actually thinks she deserves it a bit more than Jenn does, however Jenn won the Drama Desk, so I'm taking that into account.

Best Revival: I fear this is going to Hello, Dolly. But I'm hoping for a last minute reprieve for my well-loved Falsettos.  This is its first revival and the material today means so much more to so many people.  And critics and audiences loved it, so it might have a shot. Again, fingers and toes crossed.

As for plays, the only one I saw was Present Laughter - which was very, very funny! However, I'm not sure it has a chance up against Sweat by Pulitzer winner Lynn Nottage.  

So there we have it, this time tomorrow I'll be at a viewing party in New York cheering on the lovely theatre community and loving every minute of it.  Enjoy Tony day!

It's Christmas Time in the City

My very last trip to NYC of 2016 was fabulous as usual - full of yummy food, millions of people going all sorts of directions, beautiful Christmas decorations, and of course, Broadway.  But more on that tomorrow, as I'm off to sleep to dream of the many trips I already have planned to NYC in 2017 : )

Off on an Adventure

Tomorrow starts the second part of my vacation.  After spending a few days at the beach, I'm headed back to on of my favorite places - New York City.  Only, this time around I get to see it through the eyes of someone who's never been there before.  It's been about 17 years since I had my first New York moment.  And I've loved it ever since, but I'll never get that "first time" again.  This time I hope to be able to share a little of that New York magic and give someone the same experience I had all those years ago.  

Hopefully I'll be back on Wednesday with loads of pictures and even more memories!

Con Girl

Cons are a relatively new thing in the world of geekdom.  I mean, they've always been around, but they've gotten HUGE in the last few years.  Some television shows have their very own cons.  Then, there is the insanity revolving around ComicCon.  Basically, there's all sorts of fun to be had at cons.  It was only a matter of time before the theatre got in on the goods.  

Enter, BroadwayCon of 2016.  I was skeptical about it at first.  I mean, Broadway people are crazy busy - 8 shows a week certainly takes its toll.  And, honestly, would a bunch of theatre people really want to join with other theatre people, dress up like characters from musicals, and geek out over how amazing Broadway is?  In short, the answer was yes.  Based on what I've read and what I stalked on Twitter, it was a resounding success.  So of course, I really needed to see it for myself, which is why I added it to my 29 + 3 year bucket list.  

Luckily, they were smart and released WAY more tickets than last year and I'm pretty quick at the computer.  Woohoo!  Of course I have to wait 9 more months until I get to have all the fun.  Also, seeing as the event was very nearly snowed out this year, I'm fairly worried, that the blizzard of the century will ruin my weekend.  Of course, being snowed in, in a beautiful city on vacation can never be a bad thing...

29 + 4 Things to Try This Year

I'll just say, I sort of suck at doing the things on my list, but I swear I'm going to try this year

• Attend Broadway Con - They really need to stop teasing us and just schedule it already!
• Take another cooking class - I'm thinking omelettes...
• NYC – 12 times in 12 months
• 12 shows in 12 months
• Learn how to use chopstix – this is really ridiculous that I haven’t learned yet
• Attend a balloon festival – Easton in August
• Plan another International Trip – I’ve been thinking about this one for a while, and I’m not entirely sure where I’ll be going, but I do know I want to go somewhere outside the States. 
• Eat at Charleston – one of the best reservations in Baltimore
• Read at least 3 books a month – I should probably add to this, stop buying so many until I’ve read down the stockpile.
• Finally…FINALLY!!!! See Hamilton
• Shakespeare in the Park
• Drive over the Bay Bridge – God I hate that bridge!
• Start writing more – Don’t just blog about things, but keep a journal and write down all the things that pop into my head rather than letting them fly off into the universe.
• Figure out what I want to be when I grow up – you’d think this one would be easy, but it’s so not!
• Volunteer for a charity
• Run (who are we kidding here?) Walk a 5K.
• Continue to learn how to Kayak.  I’m not a huge boat person, but I have to admit I loved doing this last summer.  Such a great workout and such a great way to see the Magothy.
• Try Standup Paddleboarding – I’m not sure this one is going to happen. I’d sort of like it to, but I foresee it ending badly.
• Roadtrip to a city other than Baltimore or NY for an overnight. I’m thinking Boston again – Love me some Boston!
• Continue to watercolor.  I have lots of ideas, but I’ve stalled a bit on actually succeeding in them.  It seems Shrek was a fluke and everything I’ve attempted since, has sort of failed miserably…
• One museum trip in Baltimore, One in DC and one in NYC.  I really should be more cultured…
• Learn all the graphic design Adobe products – via Linda.com and community college classes.  I’m not sure if I want to go into graphics, but I really feel these products will help on the resume. 
• Maryland Ice Cream Trail Trip - who needs wine when there's ice cream?!
• Take every opportunity to explore chances to take photos – sunrises, sunsets, boat trips in Naptown.  Practice, Practice, Practice
• Match.com – I know I say this every year, and I know I flake every year.  But I could really use a Prince Charming.
• See an O’s game, a Caps game and win tickets to a Ravens game (seriously, have you seen Ravens ticket prices!?)
• Move to Canada should Donald Trump win the presidential election…
• Learn to public speak – actually in front of people and not have a panic attack while doing it. 
• Organize all my photos. There are just too many random photos floating around my house.  If there not currently in some sort of album, they will soon be.  And while speaking of albums, finish my Europe album.  It’s looking so cute, it just needs a little more love.
• Preakness - This might have everything to do with wanting to wear a big fancy hat
• Cronut, Rainbow Bagel, Crazy Milkshake, Frozen Smore and Levain Cookie in NYC
• A show at Joe’s Pub, or the Public Theatre
• Smith Island with the added bonus of Smith Island Cake

52 Lists: Week 7

Apparently, when I was deciding what lists to do in February, I was in serious need of a vacation.  Because I chose 2 different travel related lists for this month.  This week's list is my most favorite travel destinations.

I can say without a doubt, my most favorite travel destinations are most definitely cities. Don't get me wrong, I love the beach and quiet little towns have their own charm, but if I'm deciding where to for any extended period of time, it's always going to be a big city.  And most often, it's a big city that has a big food culture.  What can I say?  I love to eat!  The last factor in my most favorite destinations - the second I got to every one of these places, I was ready to move there immediately.  I'd be quite content to live in any of these cities. 

London

New York City

San Francisco

Unfortunately, my San Fran trip was about 4 computers ago so I have no digital photos of this trip - boo!

Boston

Austin

Edinburgh

You Only Live Once

Because my Thursday lunch buddies were teaching today, I somehow managed to book a trip to New York City completely on my own.  Yep, that's the story I'm going with.  

For some reason I decided to check the schedule for 54 Below this morning.  That was a bad idea.  I discovered a fairly amazing concert coming.  A concert that unfortunately only had 1 ticket left.  Honestly?!  How could I have possibly passed that up.  It was almost like it was meant to be.  So I bought it.  Then of course I needed transportation since no sane person wants to drive a car in Manhattan. 

Well, as much as I hate MegaBus, and due to my usual bus service not running on Mondays I was forced to use them.  Of course, when I looked up the dates, there were tickets available for $1 and $5.  My entire round trip to NYC was $9.50.  Holy moly!  But then there was the problem of deciding to go up and come back all on a Monday - that would require leaving NYC around 10:00 pm - or get a hotel.  

Who wants to arrive home after midnight, and then go to work the next day?  Not me of course, so hotel it was.  That was the one part that didn't work as smoothly, but in the end it did.  I found a lovely cheap hotel, but luckily I noticed before I paid that the hotel had shared bathrooms. Heck no!  Luckily, I found a slightly more expensive, nicer hotel in the perfect location with a bathroom all of my own a few minutes later.  Also, I apparently have passed this hotel a million times, and it's around pretty much all I love in the city. Perfect!

So after all of that, I have a lovely overnight trip to Manhattan, completely alone and I've pretty much used my entire monthly allotment in an hour.  But it's ok.  I've decided my new theme for 2016 is You Only Live Once.  : )

Start Spreading the News...

I'm leaving, well, tomorrow for NYC.  I look forward to this trip every year because seriously, what's not to love about Manhattan at Christmas?  I'd prefer that we were going a little closer to Christmas so I could see the tree, but I'll get over it.  After some research, I've found tons of Christmas markets that open, as luck would have it, tomorrow.  So those should do the trick to get me into the spirit of things.  Also on the agenda are some foodie related stores: Kitchen Arts & Letters (All foodie and cookbooks!) and Broadway Panhandler (all kitchen supplies!)

Then, of course, some first class noshing.  Haven't exactly decided where yet, but wherever we land, I'm sure it will be delicious...it always is.  Then, we'll tie up the weekend with some serious Christmas shopping...I hope. I really need to get a move on.

So NYC, here I come!