Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino has a vision for growing Cataract City’s tourism, while keeping visitors in town longer.
Creating a $150 million “gateway” park downtown that includes an ice rink, indoor arena and outdoor amphitheater.
This section provides the various author picked stories of NYC from our blog.
Only 7 Weeks Left – See Billy Crystal On Broadway: Mr Saturday Night – Final Performance Sept 4
The Tony-nominated musical comedy, MR. SATURDAY NIGHT, starring Tony and Emmy Award winner Billy Crystal, will play through its announced on-sale date and will end its Broadway run on September 4, 2022.
“Bringing Mr. Saturday Night to the Broadway stage and experiencing the laughter and tears this show generates has truly been one of the high points of my career,” said Billy Crystal.
“It has been a joyous experience
to make my musical comedy debut
at the age of 74,
and I thank everyone involved
my co-writers Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel; director John Rando; our composer and lyricist, Jason Robert Brown and Amanda Green, and our music director David O; my vocal coach David Stroud; our choreographer Ellenore Scott; Scott Pask and our entire design team; our musicians and crew; the best producing partner you could ask for, Jimmy Nederlander; and the fantastic cast, each of whom I have great affection for and who made me so proud to act with every show.
The character Buddy Young Jr. has been part of my life for many decades and I’m honored that I was able to share him with the audiences at the Nederlander Theatre.”
Following the Broadway run of MR. SATURDAY NIGHT, Billy Crystal will begin pre-production on the AppleTV+ series, “Before.” He will star in and executive produce the series with Academy Award-winning writer Eric Roth and Academy Award-winning director Barry Levinson.
MR. SATURDAY NIGHT is the story of Buddy Young Jr., an outrageous and outspoken comedian who found fame, if not fortune, in the early days of television. Now, some 40 years after his TV career flamed out, Buddy seeks one more shot at the spotlight, and while he’s at it, one last shot at fixing the family he fractured along the way.
The musical, which opened on Wednesday April 27th at the Nederlander Theater, will have played 28 previews and 116 performances when it concludes its run.
MR. SATURDAY NIGHT also features Tony Award winner Randy Graff (City of Angels, Les Misérables) as Elaine Young; David Paymer (City Slickers, Quiz Show, State & Main), who is recreating his Oscar-nominated performance as Buddy’s brother Stan Yankleman; Tony Award nominee Shoshana Bean (Wicked, Waitress) as Susan Young; and Chasten Harmon (The Good Fight, Elementary, Broadway’s Hair) as agent Annie Wells.
The Broadway company also includes Jordan Gelber (Sunday in the Park with George), Brian Gonzales (Aladdin), Mylinda Hull (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Sweet Charity), Stephen DeRosa (Gary: A Sequel), Henry Gainza (On Your Feet), Tari Kelly (Groundhog Day) and Tatiana Wechsler (Broadway debut).
In this production, Mr. Crystal returns to the role of Buddy Young Jr. that he portrayed in the original 1992 Columbia Pictures film of the same name, which also marked his directorial debut.
The book for the stage musical is written by Billy Crystal, Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel.
The score for MR. SATURDAY NIGHT features music by three-time Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown (Parade, The Bridges of Madison County) and lyrics by Tony Award nominee Amanda Green (Hands on a Hardbody). Tony Award winner John Rando (Urinetown, On The Town) directs. The production features choreography by Ellenore Scott (Funny Girl).
Based on the Castle Rock Entertainment motion picture, Mr. Saturday Night is written by Billy Crystal, Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel and based on a concept by Billy Crystal. By special arrangement with Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures.
Tickets for all remaining performances are available at Ticketmaster.com.
For more information, please visit MrSaturdayNightOnBroadway.com
Please follow:
@MrSatNightBway on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Oryx Desert salt brings Taste, Health and Social Good to Your Gourmet Experience
In the crowded world of salts and condiments, Oryx Desert Salt is working hard to separate itself from the crowd and more and more people are noticing.
Come have a taste and a closer look….
Oryx Desert Salt has a heightened taste, even when compared to other gourmet options. Subtle, yet bold. It adds a zest to the bite while being gentle on your palate. A finishing salt who’s magic is pulling out an extra bit of dimension from most dishes.
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I tried it on poultry, rib eye and salmon. Bringing out the juice and flavor. Each time the taste was noticeably enhanced.
With its distinctive flavor profile using less salt will achieve that enhanced flavor and Oryx is still going, creating more exclusive flavored salts for exciting new taste experiences
So far I’ve only sampled their white salt, but judging by that experience, I’d LOOOVE to try their variety.
“Salt is the smallest ingredient in any meal yet it has the biggest impact”
SMOKED SALT – cold smoked over French Oak shavings
WINE SALT – soaked in Shiraz red wine and sundried
BRAAI/ BBQ SALT – free from additives, flavourants, preservatives, wheat or gluten fillers.
Oryx Desert Salt has all the essential minerals and trace elements that exist naturally in salt, including magnesium, zinc and potassium.
It’s 100% pure, crystal-white, natural desert salt. Sun-dried, unrefined, no additives, no anti-clumping agents, no preservatives. Dried by the hot African desert sun.
Why is this important? To really understand, let’s put on our science lab coats and get into the specifics.
There are two elements of salt – sodium and chloride – and they each play vital roles to your healthy body.
Okay, science class is over.
But, yeah, that’s how important salt is to us. And how important Oryx Desert Salt recognises their role.
Some of us, honestly, haven’t put that much thought into what kind of salt we’re using. And now we know we should.
The Oryx Desert Salt Story
Back in the Summer of 2020 inspiration struck CEO / Founder Samantha Skyring when she took a 7 day walk through South Africa’s Namib Desert.
During the journey, she had several up-close encounters with Oryx Gazella (large antelopes) and learned the Oryx go a lifetime without drinking water.
How do they survive it?
The salt plays a big part. The animals get the necessary minerals and trace elements vial by licking native salt.
If you look on Oryx Desert Salt’s packaging, you’ll notice the Oryx, with its striking coloring and presence, because became the symbolic icon for Oryx Desert Salt.
Oryx Desert Salt Cares About Our World
Oryx Desert Salt believes in impact sourcing which is choosing to source locally where possible and supporting small, often women-owned businesses.
They also work to build collaborative relationships (from their chefs, cooking schools and beyond) seeing them as valued ambassadors.
Their cotton bags, aprons and shopper bags are manufactured by a women’s home industry community group.
They partner with organizations like the Ukama Foundation, Macassar Pottery, Khomani San and Mier communities who own !Xaus Lodge in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the Kalahari Desert.
Available at Whole Foods throughout the county, on Amazon and on their website here.
Actress Erin Michele Soto Lifts Through Her Trauma to Return to Her Hit TV Series
Audiences know Erin Michele Soto from her work in the miniseries Shirley and Shelly and the TV series Studio City, the smash hit and Emmy – winning drama.
Around the world audiences see stars on red carpets, TV and movie screens; and often never consider the challenges these performers face to live their dreams.
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So many people recognize a star’s good looks, their talent, the laughs and tears from the characters they portray. But the audience doesn’t really get to know the person behind that work. Today Erin is sharing a deeper look into her journey.
Recently we had a chance to sit down with Erin Michele Soto and she revealed the brightest and the darkest moments of her story and the excitement yet to come.
Like so many, Erin moved to Southern California with big Hollywood dreams. But she did not become the struggling cliche. She had the talent and good fortune to quickly find work as an actress and as a dancer.
Erin Michele Soto’s grace on the dance floor quickly brought her attention. She found A-list work immediately in Modern, Ballet, Jazz dance genres. Stars of the stage, small screen and silver screen all demanded her time, attention and help.
Then as her star was rising, suddenly it all crashed down. Literally. One day in the middle of dancing, Erin fell, hit her eye and the trauma from the fall punctured her brain.
The next moments created a chronic ailment that took Erin over a year for her to recover. The glitz and glamour lifestyle was replaced with being bed-ridden and living a small, dark, lonely life.
Hearing Soto reflect back today, there’s still a pain in her eyes and her voice. But a growing strength and courage in her soul.
Was her journey hard? Yes. Painful? Yes. Encouraging? No.
Ironically, her body really thought she was finished. She rarely left the house. She couldn’t socialize with friends. She forgot how to do the smallest tasks constantly, things like closing her house door; she would routinely black out as she walked through her neighborhood.
The things most people find common, this talented star was suddenly struggling to complete.
“No One Can See My Pain”
Even worse, her mind was playing tricks on her.
This normally proud, healthy, optimistic person was suddenly having thoughts of self-harm. It was a dark time. The good news is, she knew better. Luckily, she never acted on those dark, harmful thoughts.
To meet Erin is to fall in love with her. Her energy, her spirit, her intelligence, her motivation. Luckily, even in her darkest moments after her trauma, Erin’s community rallied to cheer her on and find ways to help her while she struggled to live daily life. She bravely chose to get professional mental help which also supported her and returned her closer to light and happiness.
She learned to over-power her own thoughts and regain positivity. She now meditates daily and credits that mental strength with her return to courage and creativity.
“I used my imagination
to get back into the world”
Just over a year after her life-changing trauma, Erin was itching to get back to performing. The injury focused her true passions in using her voice in acting. Performing, acting, dancing. But she was dealing with a very foreign feeling: insecurity. Could she remember her dialogue? Could her body move as gracefully as it used to? Would she feel as comfortable acting as she did before?
Erin was eager to return and try. She chose a small, local theater in SoCal’s modest San Fernando Valley.
“To her surprise, relief and excitement,
all of her worries went away.”
To her surprise, relief and excitement, all of her worries went away. Her mind and body cooperated and she had a blast performing again in front of huge crowds.
“If something brings you joy,
push through your fears”
Today, Erin is busier than ever. She’s currently working on projects for both stage and screen, taking meetings as an actress for both tv and film.
She credits her friends, family, health professionals and community with helping her overcome her dark moments. Her continued meditation keeps her mind clear and strong.
As a performer, she’s excited to be in front of an audience – whether you’re watching her in-person on stage, on your television or on the big screen.
With confidence, motivation, discipline and support from your community, everyone can rebound from their challenges and return to what they love. Erin Michele Soto is a brilliant and inspiring example of this.
Follow Erin Michele Soto on her social media at:
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialErinMicheleSoto
https://www.instagram.com/erinmichelesoto
https://twitter.com/erinmichelesoto
Warhol-Basquiat Play ‘The Collaboration’ Sets Winter Broadway Opening; with Paul Bettany & Jeremy Pope Starring
The Collaboration, Anthony McCarten’s hit London play about artists Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat, will make its American premiere on Broadway this winter, with Paul Bettany and Jeremy Pope as the two painters.
The Manhattan Theatre Club production will begin previews at MTC’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on Tuesday, November 29, with an opening night set for Tuesday, December 20. Kwame Kwei-Armah directs.
The production will be the second Broadway production of MTC’s 2022-2023 season, following the fall premiere of Martyna Majok’s Cost of Living.
The Collaboration, which made its world premiere in a critically acclaimed production by London’s Young Vic Theatre in January, is set in the summer of 1984, when longtime superstar Warhol and wunderkind Basquiat agreed to work together on what would become one of the most famous exhibitions in the modern art history. As the official synopsis puts it, “But can these two creative giants co-exist, or even thrive?”
Bettany (The Avengers, WandaVision) and Pope (Broadway’s Choir Boy and Ain’t Too Proud) reprise their roles from the London staging.
The announcement was made today by Manhattan Theatre Club, Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) and the Young Vic Theatre, Kwame Kwei-Armah (Artistic Director) and Lucy Davies (Executive Director) by special arrangement with Eleanor Lloyd Productions, Anthology Theatre, Stanley Buchthal, and Denis O’Sullivan
Additional cast members and the creative team for The Collaboration will be announced at a later date. Two additional productions for MTC’s 2022-2023 season, including one at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on Broadway and one at MTC at New York City Center – Stage I, will be announced soon.
‘Almost Famous’ Musical Sets New Broadway Opening Date, Lands Venue
Almost Famous, the stage musical based on Cameron Crowe’s 2000 film, will begin previews at Broadway’s Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on Oct. 3, ahead of a Nov. 3 opening night.
The new dates fall a few weeks after those originally announced last month before Almost Famous had landed the venue: The Jacobs currently houses the musical revival of Company, which recently posted a July 31 closing notice.
The Broadway cast will be headed by Chris Wood, Anika Larsen, Solea Pfeiffer, Drew Gehling, Rob Colletti and Casey Likes.
Directed by Jeremy Herrin, with choreography by Sarah O’Gleby, the musical includes a book and lyrics by Crowe, with original music and lyrics by Tom Kitt.
Set in 1973, Almost Famous follows 15-year-old William Miller (Likes), an aspiring music journalist hired by Rolling Stone magazine to go on the road with an up-and-coming band. The official synopsis: “William is thrust into the rock-and-roll circus, where his love of music, his longing for friendship, and his integrity as a writer collide. Almost Famous is about a young man finding his place in the world and the indelible characters he meets along the way. It’s a celebration of community, family, fandom and the power of music.”
The venue and opening date announcement made by producers Lia Vollack and Michael Cassel.
Niagara Falls mayor, Howard Milstein clash over future park
Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino has a vision for growing Cataract City’s tourism, while keeping visitors in town longer.
Creating a $150 million “gateway” park downtown that includes an ice rink, indoor arena and outdoor amphitheater.
However, the city doesn’t own the 12 acres of land it is eyeing for its proposed Centennial Park.
Howard Milstein’s Niagara Falls owns the lot and isn’t interested in selling it, even though Restaino says it was an NFR executive who first suggested the location a year ago.
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Instead, NFR, which has done little to bring new business or attractions to a prime downtown site that it has controlled for 25 years, has a very different idea. The firm is now is pitching a plan to put a data and technology center on a portion of its property and potentially bring hundreds of jobs to the site.
“We firmly believe that eminent domain proceedings are not needed, and we oppose such actions as highly premature,”
NFR Executive Vice President Roger Trevino
“Eminent domain can take years and cost taxpayers millions. It would be completely unnecessary in the face of the opportunities we have been discussing.”
Century-Old Tunnel at Niagara Falls Opens, Offering Visitors Never-Before-Seen View
In 1905, the first hydroelectric power plant opened on the Canadian site of the Niagara River. Origingally it provided Canadians a way to harness and create electricity, or hydroelectricity. Now, it offers visitors a unique interactive experience.
“It led to the industrialization of South Ontario, western New York.
And today, we have adapted it for use, this industrial heritage site,
so the attraction of the generator hall floor,”
Niagara Parks CEO David Adamas said.
Canada’s Niagara Power Company offers visitors a unique interactive experience where they can learn the history and it provides visitors with never-before-seen views of the Falls.
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NYC’s Times Square is about to undergo a massive update.
“This is a 2,200-foot-long tunnel,
so the guest will take a glass-enclosed elevator down 180-feet,
down to the bottom into the wheel pit and then out the tunnel and into a brand-new viewing platform, which extends 65 feet out into the Niagara River, and they are going to
get spectacular new views of Niagara Falls,”
Niagara Parks Director Kim Viney said.
The Tunnel at the Niagara Parks Power Station officially opened to the public Friday.
July 4th Weekend with The Hamptons in Style
It’s going to be a hot, sweaty July 4th in NYC. Why would you ever choose that when you could be fabulous in The Hamptons.
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On Monday, slip on your chic-est swimsuit and saunter on over to Topping Rose House in Bridgehampton.
Starting and 1PM, chef Jean-Georges will be on the grill, DJ Jason will be on the decks, and the bubbly will be flowing! Each ticket includes five glasses of rosé or champagne, so arrive thirsty.
Not that we need to tell you to hit the Surf Lodge if you’re in Montauk this weekend, but, as a heads up, Cannons, Bob Moses, and Amémé will be taking to the stage for sunset sets Friday through Sunday. You won’t want to miss ’em!
Solé East is host with the most all weekend long, with a fun lineup of events including Montauk Brew Co.’s 10 Year Anniversary Party, daily pool parties, DJ sets, and a boozy brunch and bash to see the Montauk fireworks on Monday.
Parlor Particular in NYC July 27, Aug 32 An Alluring Evening of Variety & Burlesque is an extravaganza combining enticing aerial acrobatics, cabaret, fire-spitting vixens, magicians and more.
Take a trip behind closed doors at Brooklyn’s 74Wythe for a night you’ll never forget.
Tickets
Standing Room mezzanine & main floor
General admission main floor seating
VIP main mezzanine seating for 2
VIP main floor seating for 2, 3 or 4 (seating closest to the stage)
Highlights
An enticing mid-week experience of variety and spectacle like no other
Featuring some of NYC’s most prestigous aerial, burlesque and circus performers!
Set in the beautiful split-level Main Lounge of 74Wythe
Come and sip specialty drinks and cocktails!
To see the menu click here
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General Info
Dates and times: various dates and times available (select when you purchase)
Duration: The event is around 70 minutes. Doors open 30 minutes prior to the start time on your ticket
Location: 74Wythe
Age requirement: 21+ with valid ID
Accessibility: this event takes place in the main lounge downstairs at 74Wythe, and is completely accessible
Description
Slip inside our Parlor Particúlar, Brooklyn’s devious den of variety and spectacle. Spend a sinful evening with New York City’s most bewitching burlesque, alluring aerial, and notorious nightlife performers, who will delight and astound you and your company. Our opulent bar offers a selection of libations and hydrations, which can be ordered by visiting our bar or ordering directly through your server (exclusive of ticket price). We invite you to check your inhibitions at the door, and let us stir your senses and sensibilities in our unique, particular way.
Reviews
“I especially loved the hair-hanging performance, and the hanging pole performance. That was a really well thought out and put together show. Thank you.”
“Great event! Beautiful venue and the host was hilarious. I had a good time and would recommend.”