Saturday, January 6, 2018

January Preview of Events and Posts

Since this blog is  all about keeping a forward trajectory in midst of change and reaching your personal best, I wanted to preview some of my planned experiences in  the hope  that it will inspire some to join in. As Dale Carnegie once said, "Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy." Let's all get busy!




Travel the Adirondacks-Lake Placid New York-Winter Olympic Adventures

The Adirondack Mountains (Whiteface) and Lake Placid New York home of the 1980 winter Olympics, is a doable drive (8.5 hours) from Pittsburgh. When you get there, you  can experience the mountain beauty and  some of the best alpine skiing in the east (see Day 187). With this New Year east coast arctic blast, I was determined to tackle some new adventures to combat the sunny but negative digit temperature days in Lake Placid by visiting the  Olympic Sports Complex , ice skating on the speed skating track, watching ski jumping, trying cross country skiing and even again whipping down a track on a bobsled (see Day 186).

( Join me in fighting the urge to hibernate in the winter  by exploring Whiteface Mountain and Lake Placid, New York at  http://www.whiteface.com/mountain)
Blog Post to Follow



The Musical Wicked -January 24- February 11, 2018- Benedum Center


Even as an adult I love the mysterious land of Oz in the Wizard of Oz and the musical Wicked tells us more about this world. It’s the story about a woman born with green skin who is misunderstood and labeled because of her appearance. She becomes the Wicked Witch of the West but as a young girl, she had a beautiful popular friend, Glinda, the Good Witch.  It’s a story of friendship and love in a mysterious world.  

(Join me at the Bendedum during this week-long run of this powerful musical with a special autistic friendly performance on Feb 3th.  For tickets go to  www.TrustArts.org.

 IN PERSON $25 LOTTERY: There is also an opportunity to get  a limited amount of tickets for $25 by going to the box office two and one-half hours before each show and by placing your name in-person in  a lottery. Names will then be drawn 30 minutes latter. The tickets are limited to 2 tickets per name and tickets are for cash only. Autistic friendly performance on Feb 3rd is excluded)  

Blog Post here


Grupo Corpo-Brazilian Dance- January 17, 2018- Byham


I love the ballet and   Grupo Corpo  is an internationally acclaimed Brazilian Dance company that mixes ballet with other dance forms like samba, bossa nova, and modern dance. The monochrome dance piece Suite Branca  preformed with in all while dress and with an all white backdrop, looks mysterious and  winter-like  (watch here). I can't wait to see this unique dance company in motion!

(Join me on January 17, 2018 at the Byham  and  experience this melting pot of diverse dance styles with  Grupo Corpo - tickets available at Trustarts.org )

Blog Post here 

Pittsburgh Symphony-2018 Session  Kicks off with The Firebird- January 12 and 14, 2018


Lorna McGhee
The Pittsburgh Symphony 2018 session starts this weekend with Juanjo Mena conducting. I have ventured to the POPS in the past but I am now ready to experience the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in the more "classical sense".  I love the ballet,  The Firebird (I even saw the movie), so I am ready enjoy the flight in Stravinsky's composition for his first ballet in 1910.  There also is a lot more to this program and I am looking forward to my first flute concerto with Principle Flutist Lorna McGhee.

(Join me and kick off the Pittsburgh Symphony season with The Firebird from January 12 and 14, 2018, tickets here)
Blog post here


Frick  Art and History Center -Undressed -until Jan 14, 2018
The Frick Art and History Center always brings interesting art exhibits to this town  and Undressed, about the design of underwear seems too different to miss.  The Frick is the exclusive North American venue for this exhibition organized by London’s Victoria & Albert Museum.  The evolution of underwear deign and what it says about our society is definitely a new art experience.

(Tickets for this show that runs until January 14, 2018 are available here )
Blog post here

Pittsburgh Broadway Series -Love Never Dies- Benedum/ Jan 2 -Jan 7, 2018
The story and music from  The Phantom of the Opera   brought me to tears about 20 years ago.   The new musical, Love Never Dies is  a sequel that show and continues the story of the Paris Opera Phantom who now in  1907 influences the musical performances  of  a Coney Island freak show  in New York City.  He continues to long for his  love and protegee, Christine Daae’, who he lures from Europe to NYC.   I can’t wait to hear Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new musical composition and experience this unique story of love and romance.

(Join me and experience Love Never Dies at the Benedum that runs from January 2, 2018 to Jan 7, 2018. Tickets available at  trustarts.org .)
Blog post  here