CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
It sucks when a show has to be downgraded slightly because of its venue. The Bank Atlantic Center is just too big for you to get the full Cirque experience, unless you have floor or lower level seats. Once you've seen a show in an intimate tent or venue that was built specifically for the show, you realize that bigger is not better.
That being said, the performance itself is as awe-inspiring as always, although the clowns spend way too much time in the spotlight. Their routines are very slapstick, but then they take that stick and beat the jokes to death with it. The first half of the show starts off a bit slow, as if warming itself up before the intended performance of the second half, but there are plenty of "Holy crap, the human body can do that?!" moments throughout both.
The music is exceptional; it's engaging and really enhances the performance. The black and white singers (actually dual personalities of the same character) performed in perfect harmony.
This show seems to be divided up into bite-sized courses featuring one-person acts (with the exception of the power track and the aerial high bar performers), as opposed to other shows that throw a visual smorgasbord at your face. It’s great for a Cirque virgin, or someone with ADhD, who doesn't want to miss anything.
Some acts to note include the Russian bars and the aerial high bar team, who all appear to defy gravity. The tandem contortionists are impressive and seem to bloom over and over again like an amorphous flower.
The sets, lights and costumes are colorful and creative as usual, especially the feathery, blue nymphs and the old birds. Alegria means "jubilation" in Spanish and you will absolutely experience some of that during the show. It’s family friendly and definitely worth seeing once!
Cirque du Soleil is back in New York with a new show set to amaze audiences in Radio City Music Hall. Zarkana is the story of a magician named Zark played by French-Canadian singer Garou who is on a quest to find his lost love and former co-star Lia, played by Cassiopée, who also takes on the role of many of the villains. The show bills itself as a rock opera of amazing sights and sounds.
The show opens with an amazing juggling act performed by Maria Choodu. She effortlessly juggles while dancing, walking through the stage, and up a staircase, where she then take a dive off of a la Black Swan. From there, the stunts and acts in the show only get more and more death defying and complex. Dividing up the tension are two clowns, one tall and one short. They are there to provide slap stick and physical comedy, which may annoy some adults, but had children in the audience charmed. They are featured throughout the show to allow the next act to set up their props and increasingly win over the crowd. They’re needed! The poor Zark spends most of his time lamenting the loss of Lia as he journeys through different worlds filled with spider-women (no relation to Turn Off the Dark’s Spider-Man) and snakes, and it would be a sadder show without them.
However, the real draw is perhaps what makes the show a more traditional circus. Every circus act, from the hoop twirlers to the acrobats to the high wire walkers and more are a display of extreme talent and awe-inspiring precision. There are about twelve of these acts total, and those who aren’t fans dramatic love stories or slapstick will find the meat of the show here. One of the most amazing displays was the Wheel of Death, a large rotating apparatus with two circular holes on either end where two performers (Ray Navas Velez and Rudy Navas Velez) serve as “pilots”, balancing and spinning the device with their bodies. As the act grows in intensity, they leave their comparably safe hoop and perform on the devices outer rim, jumping rope and running high in the air. They are followed by many brilliant flag twirlers and acrobats that stole the audience’s heart.
Those attending will want to make sure they head back from intermission on time. At the second act’s opening, artist Erika Chen creates brilliant paintings with sand on a light box which is projected onto a large screen. The paintings form within moments and from seemingly simple shapes and hand movements, almost like a magic trick all on its own. The show is safe for all audiences and although the storyline is a little hokey, it serves its purpose well enough and is easily forgiven once the viewers’ eyes are drawn to the stunning staging which switches up at just about every act and the performances therein.
Viva Elvis : The Album is one those funny concept that should have been released just before Christmas. We have here a typical record company way of trying to make new with old because new things bring less money than what is old and cool so let's bring the old cool and try to make it something new : still following me ?
This is a typical method that is artistically very risquy, but financially safe. We had the Elvis Persley show by Cirque du Soleil, and now here is the record. They actually kept his voice (thats looks more modern) and added modern instrumentals from every musical genre.
Gloria Estefan has received so many awards during her three decades in the limelight that there is an entire Wikipedia page dedicated just to listing them. And now Vegas has added another honor to the acclaimed performer.
On April 29, The Las Vegas Walk of Stars presented Gloria and her husband Emilio, the former band leader of Miami Sound Machine, with their own star. This is the first time a couple has ever been jointly recognized on the walkway.
MOzen Bistro
3752 S. Las Vegas Blvd (inside Mandarin Oriental)
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Phone: 702-590-8888
I'm frugal--like frighteningly frugal--but if there's one thing I'm willing to splurge on, it's brunch. There's something about an early afternoon meal where the alcohol is downed with abandon that really has a place in my heart.
Now, MOzen Bistro at Mandarin Oriental's new Sunday brunch offering is testing my Jewi sh sensibility and tempting me to spend, spend, spend and eat, eat, eat!
Criss Angel is no stranger to making history. He holds multiple world records including longest time submerged underwater (24 hours) and longest body suspension (5 hours and 42 minutes). He has been named Magician of the Year five times, more than any other magician, and was the first to ever be declared Magician of the Decade by the International Magicians Society.
Now, the illusionist has one-upped himself yet again. Last night, the Mindfreak star was honored with the title of Magician of the Century at the end of his second performance of Believe.
This Friday, April 30 Community stars Joel McHale and Donald Glover are performing at Mandalay Bay. These two hysterical hotties are both on my list of future boyfriends, so I obviously have spent a lot of time thinking about where to best stalk them during there time here in Sin City. I actually met Donald once, too so I already have an ice breaker prepared. He told me I was a "sexy Fievel" for Halloween, words which I cherish and shall be proudly displayed as my tombstone epitaph. I also know Joel is happily married with two kids, but what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas right?
Wanna Be Startin' Something
Cirque du Soleil has already proved they can pay a fabulous acrobatic homage to music's greatest icons (LOVE, Viva Elvis) so it should come as no surprise that the French-Canadian circus troupe has teamed up with the Jackson estate.
Lyceum's Spring Food and Craft Market
When: Saturday, May 1st-Sunday May 2nd, 2010
Time: 11am-7pm
Where: Brooklyn Lyceum
227 4th Avenue
(Btw. Union & Presidents Sts)
Brooklyn, NY 11215
www.bkcraftcentral.com
If you missed the last Greenpoint Food Market, and do not want to wait a whole month until the next one, or you have become a food market junkie, head down to the Lyceum's Spring Food and Craft Market the first weekend in May. Occurring in Park Slope, Brooklyn, this food market, a lot more accessible than the one-train Greenpoint, will not be just food.
Taureau
127 East 7th St.
(between 1st Ave.
& Ave. A)
212-228-2222
http://www.taureaunyc.com/
Riding the heels of Chef Didier Pawlicki's thirteen-year success at La Sirene, comes the highly-anticipated second child - Taureau - the newest date-night nook to
hit the East Village. And get ready, because it's
going to get hot - literally. It's a fondue joint with enough bubbling cheese
and chocolate to send you into a taste frenzy of climactic proportions.
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