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5 Plays Not to Miss This Year (or early next year)

As the winter theater season comes to a close, there are some shows you should try to see before it’s too late.

On Your Feet! – this joyful Latin musicfest about the life of Gloria Estefan will have you literally “on your feet” as you join in a “Conga” line that meanders down the aisles. Do try to score an orchestra seat so you’ll be part of this active party which chronicles the rise of Gloria from a singer in a local band to the Miami Sound Machine superstar made possible by her meeting with Emilio Estefan. You already know the story about her tragic accident, so there’s no spoiler alert here, but you’ll appreciate her music more when you understand her relationship with her parents and the trials in getting a Cuban/Latin band to be accepted by mainstream radio stations. When you watch Ana Villafañe sing “1-2-3” and “Rhythm is Gonna Get You,” you’ll swear you’re seeing Gloria herself. Fun for all ages.  Marquis Theatre, West 46th Street. www.onyourfeetmusical.com.

On Your Feet

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder – murder, deceit, greed and romance are all mixed up in this tuneful story about Monty Navarro’s rise to head of the aristocratic D’Ysquith family. It’s a shame that this musical closes on January 3.  Don’t wait. Walter Kerr Theatre, 219 West 48th Street. www.agentlemansguidebroadway.com. Closes January 17.

Hand to God – an evil hand puppet named Tyrone that controls his master, Jason, bridges the gap between sanctity and irreverence. Steven Boyer’s performance as both puppet master and demonic puppet in this dark comedy is one-of-a-kind.  A nice complement to Avenue Q. Not for children. Booth Theatre, 222 West 45th Street. www.handtogodbroadway.com. Closes January 3.

Hand 2 god

Sylvia – you’ll be laughing hysterically when you see Annaleigh Ashford’s performance as Sylvia, the stray that Matthew Broderick picks up in Central Park. If you own a dog, you’ll immediately recognize the doggie behaviors and you’ll understand the husband’s obsession with his new friend. Because of strong language, this one isn’t recommended for children either. Cort Theatre, 138 West 48th Street. www.sylviabroadway.com. Closes January 3.

Sylvia

Dames at Sea – a classic in the Busby Berkely-42nd Street genre, this four-person revival will entertain anyone who loves a touch of glamour and a good old-fashioned musical. It’s the classic Broadway struggle-success story with fabulous tap dancing. Great for all ages. Helen Hayes Theatre, 240 West 47th Street, www.damesatseabroadway.com. Closes January 3.

Posted by Meryl Pearlstein
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Star Wars Scavenger Hunts at the American Museum of Natural History this December

An indoor scavenger hunt is a great idea when it’s cold outside. And I’m not talking about scavenging for Christmas presents or doing other shopping. Timed with the upcoming release of Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, there’s a new scavenger hunt that will test your knowledge of Star Wars past.  Brought to you by Watson Adventures, The Museum Strikes Back Scavenger Hunt will take place on December 5 and 12 for adults, with a family version on December 30 at the American Museum of Natural History. The way it works is that you’ll be asked questions that test your knowledge of the movies and you’ll have to relate the information to items that you’ll find in the museum. The clues that you decipher will lead you to objects on display where you’ll have to answer a question about the object. And so it continues.  Without giving away too much, you’ll be wandering around the beasts in the Hall of Mammals, searching among bugs in the Hall of Biodiversity, visiting ferocious humans in the halls of African and Asian Peoples, and more. There’s pretty much something to find in every hall in the museum. Happy holidays and happy hunting!

http://www.watsonadventures.com/public/event/museum-strikes-back-hunt-ny/.  You can buy tickets online or call 877-9-GO-HUNT, extension 22.

Posted by Meryl Pearlstein
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Get Some Satisfaction This Holiday Season at the Rolling Stones Tour Plane Experience at JFK’s Terminal 4

From now through December 30, you can actually get what you need, and a little satisfaction, too, if your travels take you through John F Kennedy International airport.  Make a point of stopping in the retail area of Concourse A at Terminal 4 to visit the pop-up Jose Cuervo Rolling Stones exhibit.  Air Hollywood, a firm from California noted for creating airplane replicas and sets for the film industry (think, Kristen Wiig on that wonderful airplane scene to Las Vegas in Bridesmaids or the planes used in Wolf of Wall Street and Money Ball) has created a replica of the tour plane used by the Stones on their 1972 “party plane” North American Tour, set in an area covering 1500 square feet at the airport. At that time, it was Mick Jagger who reportedly asked for a tequila shot but was served a tequila sunrise instead. Mick was enamored of the orange juice, grenadine and Jose Cuervo creation and it became the drink of the tour, later dubbed the Tequila Sunrise Tour. And thus the drink’s fame began.

At this replica plane, you can try a sample of Jose Cuervo Especial between 2:30pm and 8pm, and sit around a bar that looks remarkably like the one on the Stones’ plane. There are also exhibits, Guitar Hero, and the leather seats that the Stones and their music crew sat in on their memorable 1972 tour. The seats also have the immediately recognizable lips logo. You can tune out the noise of the airport, as well, as Stones songs are playing non-stop. You might actually be happy that you have a layover.  #CuervoSunriseTour

Posted by Meryl Pearlstein
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Celebrate the Beginning of the Holiday Season in Park Slope on November 28

Park Slope 5th Avenue’s family-friendly, homegrown holiday festival, High 5 for the Holidays, is back this year to celebrate the season and kick off the “Shop Local” movement from American Express. Selected by American Express as one of the most representative districts for Small Business Saturday, Park Slope 5th Avenue is a great mix of 500+ independent shops, bars and restaurants.

5thAve Tree Lightin in Park Slope, Brooklyn

Saturday, November 28 is not just about commercialism and Christmas creep. You can shop all day, but there’s more. The tree lighting ceremony happens at 6:30pm until 9pm at the corner of 5th Avenue and 4th Street in Park Slope, with lights, Santa Claus, free hot chocolate and treats from Du Jour Bakery, The Chocolate Room and Le Pain Quotidien.

You’ll get a chance to meet or at least wave at Santa Claus as he zips along in a sports car, doling out candy canes to onlookers.

Music will be provided by Rolie Polie Guacamolie featuring Amelia Robinson of Mils Trills, 15-year-old pop opera sensation Sarah Stevens, plus carolers from Opera on Top.

Beyond music, there’s arts and crafts for the family, too. Check out the puppets from Puppetry Arts and Prospect Park YMCA.

Theater lovers will have a chance to win Broadway tickets as well as High 5 for the Holidays shopping bags.

The festival happens all day – more information at http://parkslopefifthavenuebid.com/high5 or at the shops, restaurants and bars along the 30-block stretch of 5th Avenue from Dean Street to 18th Street in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Posted by Meryl Pearlstein
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Restaurants for Thanksgiving Dinner in Manhattan

Have you procrastinated about Thanksgiving dinner?  If you’d prefer a “Friendsgiving” or just another way to avoid the family stress that usually surrounds this November family get-together, there are many ways to re-locate your dinner to a more neutral and possibly more delightful location.

Here are some of my favorite restaurants in New York City that are offering fantastic turkey dinners:

The Dutch

Andrew Carmellini’s popular SoHo restaurant is offering a prix fixe dinner for $95 per person ($50 for kids 12 and under).  Served family-style, the main course selection includes a typical spread of Thanksgiving treats. Roasted turkey with chestnuts and oyster mushrooms; mashed potatoes and gravy; Brussels sprouts with bacon, horseradish, and pickled mustard seeds; spoon-bread stuffing with andouille sausage and green peppers; spaghetti squash; and cranberry-orange sauce will make sure you don’t miss mom’s cooking. A choice of appetizers ranges from oysters to salads, steak tartare, soup, and pasta.  Nostalgic about keeping tradition?  Have the apple pie or pecan pie for dessert.  Or venture into more exotic turf with a pumpkin donut or devil’s food cake. Tax and gratuity, not included. 212-677-6200, 131 Sullivan Street, Manhattan. www.thedutchnyc.com .

Rotisserie Georgette

While you may be tired of turkey, this is the place to have it as Georgette Farkas’s rotisserie preparations are the standouts.  It’s also truffle season, so many of the dishes have optional truffle supplements. The three-course menu is prix fixe at $84 per person (kids are $40 per person) and includes a choice of chestnut soup, pate, or two salads to start; your entrée (roasted turkey with all the fixins, chicken for two with black truffle stuffing and black truffle pureed potatoes for a $45 per person supplement, prime rib, branzino, or farro for the vegetarians).  Desserts are variations on the traditional like a pumpkin mousseline torte with gingersnap crust, or a non-traditional chocolate pot de crème.  Sides like sweet potatoes with spiced marshmallow crumb crust, or turkey sausage with black truffle stuffing are extra as are tax and gratuity. 212-390-8060, 14 East 60th Street, Manhattan. www.rotisserieg.com

The Polo Bar

Thanksgiving might be the time to score a reservation at this not-quite-a-club, impossible-to-get-into restaurant.  The hotspot from Ralph Lauren is strong on Lauren’s holiday favorites including butternut squash soup, roasted turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing with pork sauce.  Drinks are included, from a Champagne toast to cider, with nuts and olives on the side. Dress your equestrian best and enjoy the setting.  It’s yours on Thanksgiving for $150 per person, tax and gratuity extra. 212-207-8562, 1 East 55th Street, Manhattan. www.polobarralphlauren.com.

Kefi

How about a Greek Thanksgiving?  Two prix fixe offerings from $35 to $95 include appetizer, entrée and dessert.  To maintain the Thanksgiving spirit, Michael Psilakis starts you with something turkey, here a turkey abgolemono soup that’s a riff on Greek egg lemon soup. Follow that with roasted turkey, done pretty traditionally with mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables and gravy, and finished with a choice of two traditional Greek desserts, walnut cake with walnut ice cream, or yogurt with nuts and fruit.  212-873-0200, 505 Columbus Ave, Manhattan. Taxes, gratuity extra. www.kefirestaurant.com

Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria

If an Italian celebration is more to your liking, Il Buco’s sibling restaurant offers a cozy setting for Thanksgiving dinner. Sit at one of the rustic communal tables and enjoy a multi-course dinner for $85 per person.  A selection of salumi or cheeses is served family-style to start.  Also served family-style are the sides — sweet potatoes , kale and quinoa, and buckwheat stuffing with figs and sage — and desserts, chocolate tarte, roasted pears with rosemary caramel, and persimmon soufflé cake. You pick your own starter – black bass crudo, vegetable soup, or chestnut angolotti – and your own main, baccala in a spicy tomato ragout with clams, rotisserie-roasted heritage pork, or Hudson Valley turkey with caramelized endive and apple. Tax and gratuity are additional. 212-837-2622, 53 Great Jones Street, Manhattan, www.ibucovineria.com.

Posted by Meryl Pearlstein
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Want to See the World’s Largest Gingerbread Village? It Opens November 13 in Queens

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, although it feels like the Fourth of July. Did we skip Thanksgiving? It’s so confusing, but at least we have the time to start our holiday shopping (Christmas, Black Friday) without wearing a winter coat or heavy boots.  And you can also get your holiday inspiration going by visiting the New York Hall of Science starting November 13 to see what might just be the world’s largest gingerbread village. Again.

Jon Lovitch, master chef and creator of GingerBread Lane, has achieved the Guinness World Record for the past two years for building the largest continuous gingerbread village in the world. While others have contended that theirs might be larger, GingerBread Lane has been the winner hands down, meeting all criteria: only edible ingredients, handmade craft, and contiguous structures.

Last year’s village was laid out in a circle, allowing a complete circumlocution around the village. This year’s version promises to be even more creative, covering 500  square with more than 1050 houses, a double-decker carousel (like the historic one on the Coney Island boardwalk), and the S.C. Kringle & Co. Department Store reminiscent of New York City’s own long-departed Gimbels of the 1900s.  Also new will be a candy factory you can see inside of as you climb the stairs to view the exhibit.

The exhibit runs from November 13-January 10, 2016.  On the last day at 1pm, all gingerbread houses are given away free.  The line starts early, sort of like getting into a Rolling Stones concert.  Kids unable to visit due to illness or other personal situations can contact info@gingerbread-lane.org to have a house shipped to them. www.gingerbread-lane.org.

New York Hall of Science, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, 47-01 111th Street, Queens; www.nysci.org.

Posted by Meryl Pearlstein
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