Chasing the River: Show Review by Debby Gray Bloom

Entering the bustling building on West 36th Street that houses several theater companies was an exciting introduction to the Off Broadway Chain Theatre.

Performed in the intimate theater on the 4th floor, the space was comfortable and inviting. Perfectly suited for this personal story written by Jean Dobie Giebel. “Chasing the River”, directed by Ella Jane New, is a finalist for the ATHE Excellence in Playwriting Award and has been optioned for television.

The play opens with its heroine, Kat, returning to her childhood home filled with difficult memories. Layers are slowly peeled back as the horrors of her childhood are revealed. Though sometimes only hinted at, it becomes clear that she has  endured and survived terror at the hands of her father and oblivious mother.
Flashing back and forth between the past and the present, the story is told with  snippets of information priming the audience to want to learn more. Numerous lighting changes help define the changes in time, as do the actors, as they skillfully portray their characters at different ages.  As a more experienced theater goer, I was able to recognize the lighting cues as an aid to decipher the current action from the memory.  While … Continue reading..

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Ticket Giveaway & Special Offer: EMOJILAND THE MUSICAL

A New York Times Critics’ Pick!

EMOJILAND: THE MUSICAL

Starring a cast of Broadway Favorites including

Lesli Margherita (Matilda), Lucas Steele (The Great Comet), Ann Harada (Cinderella), Josh Lamon (The Prom), George Abud (The Band’s Visit), Felicia Boswell (Motown), Jacob Dickey (Disney’s Aladdin), Max Crumm (Disaster!), Natalie Weiss (YouTube’s Breaking Down the Riffs) & More!

Now thru March 19th Only!

“A Tonic of a Musical! Big-Hearted & Comforting!”

– The New York Times (Critics’ Pick!)

“The Sensation of Entering into the World of a Candy Crush Game!”

– Talkin’ Broadway

Not to be confused with, and very much unlike The Emoji Movie, Emojiland is an electric ensemble piece about a diverse community of archetypes who take one another at face value: a smiling face dealing with depression; a princess who doesn’t want a prince; a skull dying for deletion; a nerd face too smart for his own good; a face with sunglasses who can’t see past his own reflection; and a police officer and construction worker who just want to work together.

When a software update threatens to destroy life as they know it, Emojiland faces the most fundamental questions a society … Continue reading..

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KB Gymnasium Promotes Brain Growth in Kids by Kaili Sanderson

What was the inspiration to launch KB GYMNASIUM?

KB Gymnasium, located in Brooklyn, is the brainchild of three fathers — myself and my partners — looking for innovative and educational activities for our kids. Even though we live in a city with one of the largest number of cultural attractions and activities, we found that there were only so many visits one could take to the same museums before our kids lost interest. We wanted something that was educational, dynamic, and fun. As a former teacher, I believe it is important to seek opportunities for kids that complement the content-based education that is taught in most schools. A program that allows for kids to focus solely on the process rather than the result creates more opportunities to foster the underlying skills that lead to high personal and professional achievement.

What does KB stand for?

KB stands for Kids’ Brain – the focal point of our philosophy and methodology. The development of a child’s brain has a direct impact on behavior, learning, and overall health.

KB describes itself as the first group-based cognitive skills training facility for children ages 5 – 10.  What are cognitive skills, and why is it vital … Continue reading..

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Decoding Boys by Cara Natterson, M.D. (Book Excerpt)

I am a big advocate of teaching kids about brain maturation and myelin. If the knowledge helps us as parents, imagine the difference it makes to a kid who can understand the why of his behavior. If you feel like you cannot teach the topic yourself, just have your teenager read this chapter—kids constantly tell me that understanding the biology is the first step toward better decision-making.

It’s also tremendously empowering for kids (and their parents) to appreciate the impact of pubertal hormones without feeling victimized by them. Hormones circulate throughout the body, and that means they impact the brain. Good to know. Better yet, we should all begin to identify how these chemicals make us feel—in puberty and beyond. That way, we can anticipate and manage those feelings.

Ideally, we will avoid putting our sons’ brains in situations they cannot handle. This is where the word “no” comes in handy. If your son is asking to hang out with a friend who has been getting into trouble lately, or if he’s begging to go to a party where there will be no supervision, or even if he just wants to keep his phone in his room each night and … Continue reading..

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Chekhov | Tolstoy Love  Stories: Show Review by Hannah Singer

I used to love reading the classics, which included classic Russian literature, when I still had time to leisurely read, you know, before motherhood!  So I jumped at the chance to see this show when I was offered tickets.  I thought, what a great opportunity to introduce my tween to the classics. I think of everything as a learning experience for my child. I want her to be well-cultured.

Two short plays are being shown for the first time together. Both stories were adapted by Miles Malleson (1888-1969). Miles was a talent in the British theatre who also adapted many works from all over the world. “The Artist” came from “An Artist’s Story” by Anton Chekhov, translated by Constance Garnett and directed by Jonathan Bank. The first production of “the Artist” was in 1919 with Malleson in the title role. “Michael” came from “What Men Live By” by Leo Tolstoy, translated by L. and A. Maude and directed by Jane Shaw (in her directorial debut).

Tolstoy (1828-1910) and Chekhov (1860-1904) are considered two of the world’s best writers, and they happened to be friends. They both cared about humanity and social issues, but they had vastly different writing styles.

Chekhov … Continue reading..

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Through the Eyes of a Child by Later in Life Mother Liimu McGill

You’ve seen your toddler fall down while playing. What happens next?

Sometimes kids barely notice when they fall. A tumble that might look scary to you doesn’t phase them—they bounce right back up and keep going.

Sometimes they look to you for a reaction. If you stay calm, they realize they’re not hurt, but if you get upset, they cry.

And sometimes, kids cry right away. This especially happens if they’re already tired or cranky. So, you comfort them, check them for injury, and encourage them to play again. They may need some hugs and sympathy, but you know that playing and learning takes some falls.

When our children are young, they look to us for how to react to objects and situations. Psychologists call this social referencing. Dr. Tovah Klein, Director of the Barnard College Center for Toddler Development, puts it this way:

“When a parent gets very upset, or overreacts—often out of a parent’s own fear or anxiety—the child feels that too, and can get more upset. The parent is the one who helps the child regulate their emotions. So if the adult’s reaction is high, the toddler brain registers more anxiety or negative emotion, rather than a … Continue reading..

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Gift Ideas for Husbands When They’re Hard to Please

When it comes to choosing gifts, it seems women do it better than men. However, what happens when the person meant to receive the gift is a little hard to please….namely a husband who is a tad fussy?

At first glance, this gift-buying mission might sound like a challenge.

If you are one of many women throwing up their arms, fret not! Whether you are shopping online or in-person, there are many choices. Whatever the occasion, there are awesome gifts for your hubby you might consider.  Check out the following gift ideas:

1. Pod Coffee Makers
   

If you have a coffee aficionado in the house, you might want to get your husband a more modern coffee maker. There are capsule machines available that can enhance the coffee drinking experience.

There are a couple of advantages that the contemporary coffee pod makers offer  including:

• No need to grind the coffee – No need to buy endless bags of coffee.  Your husband also doesn’t need to wait for the beans to grind and turn into smaller parts before the coffee brewing process starts.

• One pod, one cup – The great thing about pod coffee is that you get the exact serving. When

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The Thunderbird American Indian Dancers’ Concert and Pow-Wow: Review By Hannah Singer

It’s a family tradition for us to go to a Pow-Wow at least to one a year. We hadn’t been in over a year, so I jumped at a chance to see these dancers and musicians. This time instead of a traditional outdoor Pow Wow, we were indoors in the  East Village.

The Theater for  the New City has been around for years and has shown a lot of raw, unfiltered and unique material. Recently we saw the Hungarian Puppet Theatre there (see my review on this site).

We chose to go on the rainiest day at the rainiest time of day. We had umbrellas yet had forgotten our rain boots. My daughter had to spend the whole evening with wet feet. Of course, being a tween she didn’t care as much as I did.

We arrived and suddenly heard the banging of drums. We followed the sounds to a dark theatre highlighted by a circle of native musicians and a beautiful quilt hing at the back of the stage.

The theater’s seats were on steps so everyone has a good seat. There was an option to sit next to the stage as well.

One of the players had a … Continue reading..

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