Tony Award-nominee John Tartaglia starred in the acclaimed musical Avenue Q, appeared on Broadway in Shrek: the Musical and created and starred in The Playhouse Disney series Johnny and the Sprites.  Now he presents John Tartaglia’s Imaginocean.

A one-of-a-kind, interactive show, John Tartaglia’s Imaginocean is a magical, musical undersea adventure for kids of all ages.  Tank, Bubbles, and Dorsel are three best friends who just happen to be fish, and they’re about to set out on a remarkable journey of discovery.

Jam-packed with original music ranging from swing to R&B to Big Band, John Tartaglia’s Imaginocean is a blast—from the first big splash to the last wave goodbye.

NYMetropolista is giving away two (2) tickets to one lucky winner to this spectacular, fun-filled show! Tickets are valid May 23 to June 30 performances.

To Enter:

1) Leave a comment expressing your interest in the giveaway

2) Tweet about the giveaway and remember to @NYMetropolista

3) Join our FaceBook Fan Page

Winner will be chosen end of day Tuesday, May 4 2010.

For more information visit http://www.imaginoceanthemusical.com

Performances at New World Stages, Stage 5, 340 West 50th St., NYC

A few months back when my wife came to the dinner table excited about the opportunity of a suite for a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden I wasn’t ungrateful, but I was hardly enthused. As a native Chicagoan who’s heart is forever rooted, and maybe even stuck, in the Bulls Dynasty of the nineties I’ve only been excited to watch the Knicks lose. My enthusiasm cooled even more when at the last minute, my teenage son couldn’t attend due to a conflict with his schedule and opted not to invite any of his friends.

Stuck with the unfortunate prospect of my wife’s employee perk going to waste I was charged with the task preventing it.  On the fly, I began inviting friends and friends with family and in no time we had a party.

Being an MSG Suiteholder comes at a premium, but with it comes premium amenities that you’ll never get simply sitting in the stands.  There is a Club entrance, separate and apart from general admission that is staffed by courteous and accommodating concierges willing and able to cater to your needs, such as setting tickets aside for late-comers in your group. Private elevator service whisks you to the suite level high above the nosebleed seats. Amazingly the view of the court is breathtaking and not “way down there.” Our suite featured a wet bar, Wi-Fi, bar seating, a private restroom, and three rows of stadium seating to easily accommodate a crowd of twenty. And if you or your children are afraid of heights (or you’re afraid for your children being that high up), you can relax in knowing that the front edge of your suite features a half wall of glass to prevent the unthinkable. Maybe most important, your suite can come as you like it, stocked with food and beverages of your choosing as per MSG’s suite menu. The wait staff is on duty during the entirety of the event and just as accommodating as the concierges at the entrance. My only advice is to order your food in advance so that it’s there for you at the start of your party. No one likes to be a hungry guest.

After nearly four hours, I was surprised how much I enjoyed myself. The Knicks fans were, of course, disappointed when their team lost, but the kids had a blast doing the wave, screaming with the crowd and playing amongst themselves in a safe and secure space. The experience provided most of the adults an opportunity to catch up on old times or become acquainted for the first. All in all, there was something for everyone. And we weren’t the only ones. Many of our neighboring suites that day were filled with families. It was almost like being at a state park in the summertime but without the grass and lovely aroma of barbecue.

What I learned that day is that a suite at Madison Square Garden is good for more than just closing business deals or entertaining clients. If you’re feeling generous, want to go in with friends or simply have access consider an MSG suite when looking for something to do with friends and family. For sporting events and concerts it can be one of the hottest parties in town — tailor made to your liking.

Madison Square Garden
TheGarden.com
4 Pennsylvania Plaza
New York, New York 10001
212.465.MSG1 (6741)

Photo credit E.Payne

New York offers tons of activities for children from museums to Broadway which are well-known but there are so many undiscovered family-friendly entertainment options. Recently, I discovered New York University’s Big Red Chair Family Series when I was looking for birthday events for my daughter. We ended up attending “Darwin“, a touching story of Darwin the Dinosaur and his encounters with flowers and pre-historic birds, acted out by cartoon-like characters only seen by their outlined lit bodies, all set to a moving and entertaining soundtrack.

While Darwin the Dinosaur, is no longer playing, there are two shows left in the 2009/ 2010 season that should prove entertaining to both children and adults.

Michael Moshen
Mr. Moshen is a juggler but not just any juggler. He combines the magic of light and movement to change your notion of juggling.
April 17 @ 7:00PM
Recommended for all ages

The Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences on Tour presents Nobody’s Perfect
Based on the children’s book by Marlee Matlin and Doug Cooney, whose main character is Megan, a deaf fourth grader. Megan is at odds with a new student Alexis is who not exactly nice to her making, Megan wonder, “Does she not like me because I am deaf?” The girls discover from having to work together on a science project that “Nobody’s Perfect.”
May 8 @ 2:00PM
Recommended for ages 8 and up.

Skirball Center for the Performing Arts
566 LaGuardia Place (at Washington Square South)
212.352.3101
www.skirballcenter.nyedu

Since I moved to New York, I have been dying to get to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. According to some, it has the best Italian food in the area.

Recently, I had the opportunity to eat at one of Arthur Avenue’s landmark restaurants, Mario’s Restaurant. The Migliucci family has been cooking traditional Neopolitan dishes since 1919. The restaurant’s interior is very old school with pictures of Vesuvius and Naples scattered throughout the room with the chandeliers lend an air of old world charm.

Since there were four of us, we ordered a variety of food so we could sample the menu. We started with appetizers which included calamari, antipasti special and stuffed mushrooms followed by penne with broccoli, lasagna and veal marsala for the main courses.

So how was the food? There was just a tad bit of inconsistency across our selections, ranging from very good to fair. The anti pasti and stuffed mushrooms were very good while the
lasagna and veal marsala were fair.

Would I go back again? Yes, because the restaurant has charm, atmosphere and while the food was inconsistent, it’s worth it if you are adventurous and find yourself near Arthur avenue.

If you are planning to go, I would recommend making reservations. We arrived late Sunday afternoon which is prime family hour and had to wait for 30 minutes for a table.

Mario’s Restaurant
2342 Arthur Avenue
Bronx, NY 10458
(718)584-1188
http://www.mariosrestarthurave.com

UPDATE: Grand Opening for this event has been moved to Friday, March 19th.

For the first-time-ever, New Yorkers will have the opportunity to experience some of the country’s greatest young circus artists and hip-hop talent in one spectacular variety show as The Blacktop Circus: Where The Big Top Meets The City Streets hits the stage at the legendary and newly revitalized Paradise Theater in the Bronx on March 12, 2010.

Taking place from March 12th – March 21st, the show will feature an eclectic array of acclaimed young performers, assembled from the blacktop — the asphalt pavements of city streets and playgrounds. The show is the only hip-hop variety show to provide a professional venue featuring these exceptional talents all under one roof.

The performances appeal to people of all ages and demographics, bridging cultural and racial boundaries within the arts. Audiences will recognize many of their favorite acts from appearances on television shows including America’s Got Talent, America’s Best Dance Crew and Showtime at the Apollo as well as familiar live touring shows.

The BlackTop Circus features exciting performances from aerialists, acrobats, dancers, illusionists and athletes bringing their own unique styles and techniques to the stage. Each young performer brings something contemporary, and never-before-seen, to these high-energy, awe-inspiring and gravity defying performances.

With over 26 performers slated to appear, some of them being a:

•    Hip-hop illusionist/Elliot Zimet — renowned for his NY street-smart modern spin on magic, Elliot’s vision of using illusions, birds, dancers, special effects, lighting, and crowd-moving beats has captivated audiences everywhere with his unforgettable presence.

•    New York City’s renowned King Charles Unicycle Troupe — have been dazzling audiences for over 40 years with their high-energy game of basketball on unicycles developed and created right here in the Bronx.

•    The Kenya Safari Acrobats — a fast-paced troupe of eight highly trained athletes take the stage for gravity defying insane antics.

•    Aerialist Extraordinaire/Susan Voyticky – poetry- in-motion describes the elegance and craft of her aerial dance – a visually stunning array of physical strength, style and technique combine in a beautiful display of airs above the ground. Professionally trained in Londonat The Circus Space’s BA Theater. Susan Voyticky began training at an early and is proficient on single hoop and swing trapeze and aerial silks

•    Contortionist/Ricardo Sosa — bending his body parts past human limits, he has the uncanny ability to charm and in an unconventional body ballet, the physical strength, flexibility and grace to amaze.

•    Dance Performer/Kenichi Ebina – his incredible HipHop, Poppin’, Lockin’, Mime, House, Jazz, Contemporary and Ethnic dance styles have made him the only two-time grand champion in Apollo theater history.

NY Metropolista is offering one lucky winner a chance to win a (4) Pack of tickets to the Opening Night, March 12th, of The BlackTop Circus: Where The Big Top Meets The Street playing the landmarked Paradise Theater in NYC.

This family-friendly show, LIVE in the Bronx promises to be a fun event for all!

TO ENTER:

*Tweet about the giveaway and remember to @NYMetropolista

*Leave a comment sharing with us what you look forward to seeing the most!

Winner will be selected on Monday, March 8, 2010 by end of day.

To purchase tickets log onto www.paradisetheaterevents.com or call ticketmaster @ 212-307-7171 or The Paradise Theater box office @ 212-220-1015. Tickets prices from $13.50 for kids, $22 for adults, $20 for mezzanine and $30 for VIP seating.

Photo courtesy of Black Top Circus Facebook Fan Page

As a native New Yorker (Bronx-raised), much of my childhood centered on family picnics in Pelham Bay Park and playing sports as a teenager in Central Park. I loved the time spent outside enjoying the fresh air. In fact, my love of nature inspired me to move to rural Oneonta, NY for college and after having lived there for six years, I became dependent on the fresh air for piece of mind and balance.

When my husband and I moved to Yonkers we did not know much about the area. From my trips to Cross County Mall and Central Avenue, I believed that it was not a place to experience the beauty of the environment. Ultimately, in much the same way that people are shocked to learn that more than one tree grows in Brooklyn, I was amazed to find Tibbetts Brook Park in the middle of Yonkers.

We heard a lot about Tibbetts from our neighbor and babysitter. She often told us that she took our daughter to the playground there and that during the summer her boys enjoyed swimming in the pool. But we weren’t convinced. After all, we had been living in Yonkers for two years and never even saw this so-called Tibbets Park.  But, my husband refused to give up and decided that we would find it no matter how long it took. And find it we did.

Tibbetts Brook Park is hidden off of Midland Avenue, nestled between the Saw Mill River Parkway and The Cross County Parkway.  At 161-acres it provides its visitors with a place to gather for miniature golf, swimming (the pool is currently under-reconstruction), ice skating, geese watching, hiking, tennis, picnicking, and so much more. The park is dog friendly as long as your four-legged companion remains leashed and away from the picnic areas. And to ensure that the park remains dog-waste free, the County provides dog walkers with waste bags to aide in cleaning up after their pets.

The highlight of Tibbetts Brook Park, for my three-year-old daughter is the beautiful playground loaded with slides, swings and other climbing structures. My husband and I spend countless hours watching her from nearby benches as she explores with and chases  after the many children taking advantage of all that Tibbetts has to offer. And when she tires of the playground, we head over to the pond where we observe the numerous species of wildlife that call Tibbetts home. She is also fascinated with the gazebo and waterfall and we try to visit these spots at least twice a week. Because of the amazing scenic views we have recently started walking the paths weekly as a part of our exercise routine. While a park pass is required during the spring and summer seasons, Tibbets is free to explore during the winter months. It is open seven days a week from dawn until dusk.

For my family, Tibbetts offers us a getaway from the insanity of city life. It helps to remind us that while the conveniences of city living are often enticing, getting back to the beauty of nature is never too far away.

Growing up in NYC, a school trip to the Museum of Natural History is a staple in your grammer school days- and you don’t just visit once- the museum is way too big for that. So you visit 2, 3 sometimes 4 times to visit different areas depending on what you are studying at the time.

Today I got to relive those days by visiting the Museum with my family. I expected to see a lot of changes, however to my surprise- it hadn’t changed much at all. The dinosaur bones were still tremendous, the evolution exhibit were still naked apes, and the space hall still held tons of  ‘space rocks’.

The thing that did change? Experiencing it through my 4 year old sons eyes. He didn’t care about the scientific or historical facts. To him this trip was an adventure- an adventure he had seen in the movies- literally.

The movie “Night at the Museum” really set the pace for my son. So instead just walking around looking at items in glass cases and having no idea what they were or what any one was talking about- my 4 year old  walked into the the Dinosaur hall in amazement trying to find the exact Dinosaur that chased the bone in the movie and then ran excitedly to the the Indian exhibits to see the little men who were fighting the cowboys.

His highlight was the Easter Island Head, who in the movie repeatedly said “Dum, Dum… you give me Gum,Gum”.  He looked up and said in wonderment “Gum, Gum”. His face was priceless. He talked about it the whole way home. It is amazing what influence a movie can have, and how beneficial it can for a learning experience like this one.

There are many great shows and exhibits you can see at The Museum of Natural History Year round, but if you have a movie lover like my son, perhaps the most unique and thrilling experience you can attend “A night at the museum“.

The experience gives you the opportunity to explore the museum after dark with a group and flashlights- just like the movie. The experience will give memories for a life time.

The experience cost is $129 and includes the following:

• Evening snack and light breakfast
• Cots for all participants
• Fossil fact finding mission by flashlight
• IMAX film or space show
• Take-home activities
• Live animal special exhibition (seasonal)

Participants need to be between the ages of 7-13 yrs old, so my son has  few more years to go- but I look forward to letting him experience his very own night at the museum when he is able to attend.

Photo credit: Carol Cain

For as long as they have been making movies, New York City has been the place to shoot them. Many of the locations of key scenes in movies filmed on the streets of New York City can be visited today, and here is just a very small listing of several to choose from:

Stand over the famous “Marilyn Monroe subway grate”: In Manhattan on 52nd Street and Lexington Avenue, you will find the subway grate that Marilyn Monroe stood over in that fabulous white halter dress from the movie The Seven Year Itch.

Visit the Ghostbusters Fire Station: Hook and Ladder 8, located at 14 North Moore Street and Varick Street, is where you can visit the Fire Station that housed the ghost-busting team in the now classic 80′s flick.

Fake an orgasm like Meg Ryan did at Katz’s Delicatessen: Okay, so you might not want to actually fake a full-blown orgasm in the middle of the restaurant, but you can at least have fun remembering that hilarious scene from When Harry Met Sally while knoshing on classic NYC deli fare.  205 E. Houston and Ludlow Street.

Have a slice of pizza at Joe’s Pizza from Spiderman 2: Tobey Maguire’s character lost his job as the pizza delivery boy there but the deliciousness (and inexpensiveness) of their pizza slices is enough to forgive them for giving Spiderman the boot.  7 Carmine Street at Bleecker Street.

Mulberry Street Bar: This site has hosted quite a few shoots, and all of them mafia related.  Donnie Brasco, The Godfather III and even The Sopranos all had scenes filmed in this classic Little Italy fixture.  176 1/2 Mulberry Street.

New York Public Library Main Branch: The Main Branch is the “big gun” of NYC film location sites, boasting quite a long list of movies that have filmed either inside or directly in front of its location at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street.  The list of movies that were filmed there includes The Wiz, Ghostbusters, Spiderman, The Day After Tomorrow, Sex and the City, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s among others.

FAO Schwartz Toy Store: Located at Fifth Avenue and 58th Street, this toy store was featured in Home Alone, but is perhaps most well known for the scene in BIG when Tom Hanks and Robert Loggia play “Chopsticks” and “Heart and Soul” on the huge floor piano there.

Lincoln Center, The Metropolitan Opera House: This is where Cher met Nicholas Cage for his dream date at the Met in Moonstruck.  Broadway between 63rd and 64th Streets.

The Empire State Building: Go to the observation deck and relive the moment when Meg Ryan finally meets Tom Hanks in Sleepless In Seattle.  350 Fifth Avenue at 34th Street.

South Street Seaport: This is where Godzilla first steps out of the East River when he goes on his rampage in the 1998 version of Godzilla.  Fulton Street and East River.

Photo by Christian Wagner – Stock Xchng

Cooking dinner is a chore. In my family, my mother’s rule was she would cook a nice home cooked meal every night during the week, except Friday. Friday was pizza night, no matter what.  My mother’s self-instituted day off from cooking may have been out of her own need for rest, but it began my long love with Pizza.

In New York we are fortunate to be surrounded by some really great pizza.  I’ve heard of some out of state pizzeria’s flying in gallons of NYC water in hopes of replicating the delicious taste, but let’s be honest- as hard as they try, its not the same.

Lucky for us- no matter which borough  we are in- we never have to settle.  So, in the honest opinion of a life-time Pizza Friday girl- I have put together a list of some of the best pizza I’ve found in New
York.

Brooklyn

L&B Spumoni Gardens

2725 86th St., Brooklyn, NY 11223

Best known for their Sicilian Pizza, this pizzeria has their signature pie down to a science. Their crust on the thinner side, topped with mozzerella cheese, sauce and a pinch of parmasean cheese- in that order. Per slice price $2 / 24 slice Pie price $36

Bronx

Trattoria Zero Otto Nove

2357 Aurther Ave, Bronx, NY 10458

Personalized pizzas, cooked in a brick oven with a thicker crust and fresh mozzerella, this pizza is nothing short of classic. Priced slightly higher than some, Zero Otto Nove offers a wide variety of specialty pies, including Margahrita, and La Riccardo and makes visiting, well worth it.

Manhattan

Patsys

(various locations)

Originating in Harlem, NY in the 1930′s, Patsy’s Pizzeria has since gone on to open multiple locations in Manhattan. Patsy’s pizza is known for their coal oven pies made with fresh plum tomatoes, soft mozzarella and fresh basil that tops it all.

Staten Island

Deninos Pizzeria

524 Port Richmond Avenue, Staten Island, NY

On Staten Island, Denino’s Pizzeria is legendary. Reasonably priced, and with some great specialty pies, like the MOR (Mozzarella Onions & Ricotta) and their Garbage Pie (sausage, mushrooms, meatballs, onion and pepperoni ) this pizzeria is always busy on  the weekends and parking is limited, so be sure to get a seat early!

Queens

Nick’s Pizza

08-26 Ascan Ave, Forest Hills, NY 11375

If fresh is your thing, this Pizza will not disappoint. Made with the freshest tomato sauce and generously covered in fresh mozzarella, Nick’s pizza is fresh as they come. And though this pizzeria only serves its pizza in pies (no slices offered), trust that there will be none gone to waste.

Just off 5th Ave, a few blocks away from Bryant Park, on 38 West 38th St., you will find an very unassuming entrance to a building, much like any other in NYC. Take the elevator to the 3rd floor however, and you will enter Galli’s Fairy Tale Theater.  A small stage, with a few rows of chairs, it is the place where I witnessed a group of very young children take in the art of theatrical peformance.

The show, The Frog Prince, had one important lesson to teach the little ones about fear: Face it. Breathe it. Do it. And Galli Theater for Personal Growth teaches that lesson to children and adults alikethrough their theater workshops and camps. With classes like “Soul Movement” and “Be The Star that You Are” for kids, the Galli group really encourages self-expression and self-confidence while instilling the craft of acting and performance on stage.  Adults can learn ways to express their creativity, or gain the training they need to teach others the art of theater.

During the performance I attended, children were encouraged to participate and the actors would often interact, even inviting some of the children to walk on stage and dance with them.  Everyone was having a lot of fun, including the parents who took great delight in watching their children become so involved and concerned for the characters of the story.

Prince: Guillermo Hernández De La Fuente, Frog: Inga Jaanimets, Princess: Fatima, King: Steven Weisser

Very casual, and low key, this is a perfect place to bring your child and make him/her feel comfortable about the stage, the experience of theater, and maybe even the art of being in it.

And though The Frog Prince involved an all-adult cast, they also feature all-kids cast, and I have been told these are amazing as well! The next one will be Galli’s Wolf and the 7 Little Goats and will take place from Jan 23 – Feb 7; Sat & Sun at 3pm. Check out their calendar for performances and ticket information.