Winnie the Pooh

Deep in the Hundred Acre Wood, where Christopher Robin plays, you'll find the enchanted neighborhood of Christopher's childhood days...

     

     It's been quite a while since moviegoers took a trip to the Hundred Acre Wood with Pooh Bear and his friends (the last time Pooh was on the silver screen was Pooh's Heffalump Movie back in 2005), but this year's Winnie the Pooh is a welcome return for everyone's favorite "bear of very little brain." Yesterday I got the chance to attend an advance screening of Winnie the Pooh at the AMC Orpheum Theater on 3rd Avenue, and I was thoroughly thrilled with the movie. It powerfully retained all of the charm and simple beauty of previous Winnie the Pooh movies and cartoons (like 1997's direct-to-video Pooh's Grand Adventure, the television series The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and the 2000 theatrical release The Tigger Movie), proving itself as an excellent next chapter, so to speak, in the bookish series. 

     Perhaps the most winning element of the movie is the childlike innocence and naivete of the characters, the heart of any Pooh work. It serves as the basis for many of the gags (I'm glad to say that Winnie the Pooh is both hilarious and enjoyable, both for kids and for the young at heart, but more on that later), as well as being the catalyst for the plot, as the core adventure here is based around Pooh and the gang attempting to save Christopher Robin from the monstrous "Backson," a creature created out of Owl's misreading of the phrase "back soon."

Owl explains (and misinterprets) Christopher Robin's note "Busy. Back Soon" to his friends.

     Of course, that's not the only quest at play for Pooh, who faces a "rather rumbly tummy" throughout the film, and accordingly is forever on the hunt for his beloved honey. This desire becomes part of the reason he joins the search for Eeyore's missing tail (the reward is a pot of honey), as well as a dominating element of his strategy for tracking down the Backson. Pooh's honey hunger also leads to a pretty hilarious and inventive musical number where the world transforms into the gooey treat right before his eyes! 

Winnie the Pooh spies his favorite snack.

     That number, an adorable tune called "Everything is Honey," is a stellar example, too, of the wondrous usage of music in Winnie the Pooh. In addition to several pieces performed by the vocal cast, the soundtrack features several songs by singer and actress Zooey Deschanel (some of which also involve her She & Him bandmate M.Ward). Deschanel's mellifluous voice fits in beautifully with the classic and comforting tone of the 

Pooh series, and hearing her contributions to this movie (particularly as a She & Him fan) was quite a delight! 

     This brings me to my final thoughts on Winnie the Pooh. It's particularly interesting to behold this movie from my particular vantage point (that of a twenty-year old and college sophomore in New York City). There was a great deal of Winnie the Pooh in my childhood, with the aforementioned Pooh's Grand Adventure in 1997 (when I was just six), The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh opening as a ride in Walt Disney World Orlando in 1999, The Tigger Movie in 2000, and many other Pooh-related media all around me, and I loved every second of it. As such, I can't see or think about Pooh Bear without conjuring up memories of my days as a little kid, just as innocent and full of wonder as the adorably naive Pooh himself! Even without this association, though, Pooh and his friends represent something that is largely absent in today's world: wonder. This is something that has become all the more apparent to me while living in Manhattan— a place so full of things to wonder at and people who take those things for granted alike— that there is plenty in this world to smile about, and appreciate, and enjoy, and that it's more than worth it to take part in the wonder of the world around us rather than simply let it pass by. For kids and adults alike, Pooh's wonder and excitement     at all that happens around him is not only breath of fresh air, but a reminder about our own lives. And all that from a willy, nilly, silly, old bear.

Weekly "Where?" #2 (7/8/2011)

As promised, here's the second Weekly "Where?" for the kickoff week of the post series. For this one, though, you only get one clue (despite the image being a bit more difficult) because the location is a little easier. Here's the clue:

I'm particularly thankful for this NYC landmark (particularly around November), because its 34th Street location is a real miracle.

Think you've got it? Click below to find out!

Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Truck Brings Free Ice Cream to the Streets of NYC!

     While on my lunch break yesterday, I was walking through Columbus Circle and happened to spot a huge crowd of people gathered on the corner by the 59th Street Subway Station entrance. Heading over to see what was the matter, I discovered that this group was lined up in front of a Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream truck! After waiting in line and receiving a free scoop or two of ice cream (a delicious Cherry Garcia, though there were also other flavors available),  I checked out the Ben and Jerry's site and found out that the truck will be stopping at various places throughout New York City through the end of July. You can check out Ben and Jerry's on facebook or follow the truck on twitter to find out where it's going to be next!

Harry Potter: The Exhibition at Discovery Times Square

    

     I was recently thinking about how the Harry Potter series relates to my life, and I came to the conclusion that Harry’s adventures, to me, are a tie to a time when magic and wonder were more alive in the world around me. The books and movies alike represent this magic in my life, the childlike bliss that comes out of hopes and dreams and excitement at life. Now, I want to share a way I’ve found to get in touch not only with the wonder of the series (a particularly poignant element with Deathly Hallows, Part Two reaching theaters in just a few days) but also the magic of the world.

     Harry Potter: The Exhibition, a touring museum exhibit chronicling the progression of the Harry Potter series, began its final North American stop at Discovery Times Square (located on 48^th Street) on April 5. I was lucky enough to be able to go and check out the exhibit rather recently, and I was thrilled with what an immersive experience it is! From the moment you enter Harry Potter: The Exhibition, magic is in the air. In a brief antechamber, some of the younger attendees are chosen to put on the Sorting Hat and find out which Hogwarts houses they belong to (an exciting and unparalleled experience for them, I’m sure), and then a quick video presentation linking the seven released movies together serves as an introduction to the main event: a walkthrough presentation of props, set pieces, and costumes actually used throughout the Harry Potter movies.

     Of course, as I mentioned earlier, the exhibit is not merely something to walk by and stare at. (Although even if it were merely that, the expansive nature of items on display would still be enough to give some Potter fans chills!) No, it is an experience, featuring wonderfully well-crafted replicas of the sets used in the films, effects that are nothing short of magical— paintings in the first room actually talk to guests!— and interactive elements that truly immerse you in the world that J.K. Rowling so expertly created. If you’ve ever wanted to pluck a Mandrake like in Chamber of Secrets, take a seat in Hagrid’s oversized chair, or play part of a game of Quidditch in real life, I strongly suggest you head over, because all of these and more are part of how the exhibit makes you feel like you’re not quite a Muggle anymore.

   I was very excited to visit Harry Potter: The Exhibition, and I’m really considering taking another trip over before the summer comes to a close, especially since after September 5, it moves on to locations abroad. I wouldn’t want to miss the opportunity to behold such artifacts from the series as actual costumes worn by various actors in the series, the wands and robes so strongly associated with the wonder of Harry Potter, and even such props as Harry’s glasses and the Marauder’s Map. This is truly an experience that no Potter fan should overlook, and with the fast approach of Deathly Hallows, Part 2 marking the end of the films, it’s a fitting way to cap off the fond memories shared on the silver screen with Harry and his friends. 

The Weekly "Where?" #1 (7/7/2011)

     Take a look at the photo above. Think you recognize it? If you do, then you've got the basic idea of my new Thursday post, The Weekly "Where?" Every week, I'm going to post an image of a fairly famous place in the city, along with some clues in case the image is too hard to figure out on its own. Then, you simply click on "Read more" at the bottom of the post, and voila! you'll find the answer-- it's that easy. I'll typically be posting one a week on Thursdays, but since this is the first week I'll probably pop up a second one later. 

Regardless, here's this image's clues:

1.) Named for a famous Italian, this spot is certainly worth exploring.

2.) It was designed by William P. Eno and completed in 1905.

3.) It has appeared in such films as Ghostbusters, Home Alone 2, Enchanted, Cloverfield, The Devil Wears Prada, and Die Hard With a Vengeance.

Think you've got it? Click on and find out after the jump :)

Rain on Broadway

       A weekend or two back, I was privileged enough to be able to see the current production of Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles on Broadway. The show, a roaring 2-hour tour through the musical career of one of the greatest bands in history, leaves little to be desired; Rain brings audiences to their feet, singing and dancing along to hits like Hey Jude, Twist and Shout, Strawberry Fields Forever, and many other tunes we all know and love so well.

     The show, unlike, for example, Jersey Boys (which features songs from a single group but uses them as a means to unravel the band's story), focuses strongly on the music of the Beatles, emphasizing the power of the song rather than the importance of the story. It does not suffer at all for this; in fact, it excels because of it. When in the audience at Rain, one is transported away from the theatre on 47th Street, and instead feels as though transported through time and space to watch John, Paul, George, and Ringo themselves perform.

The cast of Rain performs in the style of the Beatles'
memorable appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show.

     This is another area in which Rain shatters expectations, for from the opening number (which pays tribute to the Beatles' appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show) to the closing anthem, it's easy to forget that you're watching a band's salute to the Beatles rather than simply watching the Beatles. Never do the talented cast members break the illusion that is the likeness of the inimitable band from Liverpool, and yet at the same time never do they claim to be them, understanding the difference between portraying characters and respecting the memory of a truly groundbreaking group.

    Truly, too, they succeed in not only respecting, but lifting up, the image of the Beatles, letting the group's work shine in a way some of the songs performed never could with the actual band: live. The band didn't go on tour after 1966, and as such, fans never got the opportunity to hear them play any of the songs from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, The White Album, or Abbey Road live.  Thus, Die-hard Beatlemaniacs and those relatively unfamiliar with the group alike will enjoy a unique experience while hearing such songs as "Come Together," "Revolution 9," and "When I'm Sixty-Four" performed right before their eyes.  

     I highly recommend taking a trip to see Rain, whether you are a fan of the Beatles or just music in general. The concert feel of the show was unexpectedly gripping, and cast members Joey Curatolo (Paul), Joe Bithorn (George), Ralph Castelli (Ringo), and Steve Landes (John) are all absolutely fantastic both vocally and instrumentally, as each plays and sings onstage throughout the performance. The show not only excites, but warms the heart as well, reminding all present to enjoy life, and to give peace a chance.

"Rain" plays at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre (pictured above) through September 4th, 2011. 
For more information, visit the show's official site here.

Anything Goes on Broadway

     This past Saturday, I decided to meet up with my girlfriend, Chelsea, in New York and take in a show together. We decided upon Anything Goes, and let me tell you, it was quite the good decision! The show, a revival of a 1934 comedy about the mishaps that take place on an ocean liner on its way from New York to London, is well-deserving of the three Tony awards it received this year (Best Revival of a Musical, Best Actress: Sutton Foster, and Best Choreography: Kathleen Marshall).



Donnell, Foster, and Grey strike up a plan as
Billy Crocker, Reno Sweeney, and Moonface Martin in "Anything Goes"



     Anything Goes is a charming tale of love and misunderstandings that follows Billy Crocker (Colin Donnell) as he sneaks aboard the S.S. American in hope of wooing the woman he loves, heiress Hope Harcourt. Harcourt, however, is engaged to the British Lord Evelyn Oakleigh (hilariously portrayed here by Adam Godley), but that doesn't stop Crocker. He enlists the help of his good friend, nightclub singer Reno Sweeney (Sutton Foster, cast perfectly for the part) and "Public Enemy #13" Moonface Martin (the wonderfully talented Joel Grey), who is also on the ship in secret. Together they try their best to win over the affections of Miss Harcourt, all the while avoiding the authorities who are after the stowaways.



Reno Sweeney and Moonface Martin
declare their "Friendship."


    By far, the greatest assets to this show are Sutton Foster as Reno Sweeney and Joel Grey as Moonface Martin. From the very moment she steps on stage, Foster commands control of the audience, wowing from the first note of "I Get A Kick Out of You" all the way through to the show's final number. Her classic, leading lady poise and beautiful voice lend themselves well to the role of Sweeney, and her stage presence is phenomenal. Here is an actress who grabs hold of the audience and simply does not let go.
     Likewise, Joel Grey is comedic gold in the role of Moonface Martin. He too thrills from start to finish, and is an excellent choice for Martin. There is never a dull moment with Grey onstage, and even the character's softest moment, the mock-inspirational yet nonetheless touching "Be Like the Bluebird," is filled with mirth and childlike glee at Grey's expert hands.
     Naturally thus, when the duo teams up to sing "Friendship" toward the end of Act I, the result is pure theatrical bliss. What starts as an honest pledge of unity quickly devolves into a ridiculous display of hammy one-upmanship that is perfectly in character for Sweeney and Martin, and is deftly handled by Foster and Grey, who never allow the egotistical competition of their characters to get too harsh or spiral away from the lighthearted good time that the song is.

     I had a great time at Anything Goes— both Chelsea and I absolutely adored it!—  and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good, toe-tapping classic Broadway romp. It's especially worth it if you can get your hands on some rush tickets (as I did), because the show is good from any and all seats in the house! With memorable numbers like "I Get a Kick Out of You," "It's De-Lovely," "Friendship," and the title number, Anything Goes is a musical that is not to be missed!

     

"Anything Goes" runs through January 8, 2012 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre (pictured above.)
For more information, visit the Roundabout Theatre Company's Official Site.

Upcoming NY Moments-- Stay Tuned!

I know some of you may have been redirected here from the new facebook page, so I just wanted to give you a quick preview of what's to come. This past weekend was packed with New York Moment opportunities, as it found me on Broadway checking out Anything Goes and Rain, grabbing a burger at Shake Shack on 77th street, and taking a green breather from all the Manhattan rush while exploring Central Park! I'm going to get started on sharing these adventures with you shortly, so check back soon and see what The New York Moment has in store!

What's the New York Moment Anyway?

     Have you ever had that feeling that everything's just right, even if it's only for that instant alone? Or maybe a random interaction-- a quick conversation with somebody that ends up meaning so much more? Perhaps you've found something that makes your world a whole new place, and you just want to burst from excitement. Any of these, or all of them even, are what I'd call a New York Moment; the reason I'm writing this is because I'd like to share mine, the New York Moments I've experienced throughout my life as a boy from New Jersey, a college student in New York City itself, and a traveler of here, there, and everywhere. 

     You see, a New York Moment doesn't have to take place in the city-- it can be anywhere, anytime, anything, so long as it embodies the wonder, magic, and sheer possibility that's in every block of NY, NY. Certainly I've got a lot to share, and I hope you'll come along with me as I tell of the New York Moments I've experienced, and help you get started on creating some of your own!