Excellent Broadway travel tips? The Apollo is celebrating 30 Years of House Party in a virtual evening featuring performances, conversations and highlights from the musical and comedy cult classics House Party (1990) and House Party 2 (1991) on Saturday, February 27 at 7pm. R&B/hip-hop group Full Force, Lisa Lisa, and DJ Wiz will perform and some of the film’s key players including Kid ‘N Play, A.J. Johnson; Darryl “Chill” Mitchell; writer and director Reginald Hudlin; producer Warrington Hudlin, and other special guests will make appearances and have a conversation about the films. This ultimate 90s throwback is a celebration of a pivotal moment in Black cinema and hip-hop history, the Apollo says. Tickets for the event are $15.
When it comes to the favorite musical of teenagers, no one can match “Mean Girls”. The name probably rings a bell, after all, it is the remake of Tina Fey’s famous movie. Just as the movie, the play follows closely the adventures of Cady Heron after she arrives at a suburban high school from the savannahs of Kenya. “Mean Girls” on Broadway is a very popular show not only amongst teenarges but amongst parents, too! The August Wilson Theater is a rather large venue, but it fills its capacity each and every night, so have it in your mind that tickets might be scarce or, if you’re shopping at the last minute – very expensive. This problem has a couple of solutions – looking for more than one ticket provider and doing it at the right time.
I bet your kids will love The Lion King. We’ve seen it all, but watching it on stage is a completely different experience. The characters are as lovable as they are on screen. The show is adored by both kids and parents. Kids love it as much as they love Frozen and the parents feel especially nostalgic, since many of them have grown up watching Simba, Timon, Pumbaa, and Nala. It’s almost certain that The Lion King will return. It is super popular and would quickly cover its losses. I found a great review some time ago, here’s a link to it. Your best bet would certainly be Hamilton. It has the highest probability of returning, since its producers made the most of the pandemic and are supposed to be financially stable enough. The rumored date for its first performance after the pandemic is the 4th of July (how patriotic, haha). Just keep in mind that Hamilton was sold-out like half a year ahead, so tickets might be scarce. Discover a lot more details at Travel to New York 2021.
The Statue of Liberty was France’s gift to America. Built in 1886, it remains a famous world symbol of freedom and one of the greatest American icons. It is one of the world’s largest statues, standing just under 152 feet tall from the base to the torch, and weighing approximately 450,000 pounds. You can see the statue from land, with particularly good views from Battery Park, on the southern tip of Manhattan. However, to truly appreciate the Statue of Liberty, the best thing to do is to take a short boat trip to Liberty Island and see it up close. You can walk around the base, enter the pedestal, or, with advance reservations, go right up to the crown. On a tour to the Statue of Liberty, you have the option to stop at Ellis Island and explore the Immigration Museum. This fantastic museum is located in the historic immigration station complex, where thousands of immigrants were processed before entering the United States. Displays focus on the process, the experiences, and the stories of the people who came through here on their journey to the United States. You can even search the on-site computer database to see a record of immigrants who came through here
The Statue of Liberty has to be on your NYC itinerary! Though the line for the ferry from Battery Park is long, if you get there early, you can avoid most of it. (Come late and you’ll have to wait a few hours.) The Statue of Liberty is spectacular to see up close (she’s as big as you imagine), but the real highlight of this combo is Ellis Island, where you can learn about the immigrant experience and get a sense of the people who helped build NYC (you’ll even find my family’s name inscribed on the wall!). There’s such a great sense of history there that you can’t help but be impressed. Tip: If the line’s too long and you don’t want to wait, take the free Staten Island ferry for photos of the statue and harbor. See even more details on https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k13476134-New_York_in_Summer_2021_What_should_I_be_aware_of-New_York_City_New_York.html.