Scenic Runway

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s, The Phantom of the Opera, the longest running Broadway play, is an amazing international theatrical event. It’s filled with memorable lyrics and performances. I’ve always thought it was important to expose my sons to a variety of cultural activities. Initially they were not enthusiastic about attending a performance of a fictional character that haunts a Parisian opera house. But moments into the performance I glanced over to observe their reaction. To my surprise they were mesmerized by what was taking place on stage. They were fascinated by the chandelier which moved forward above the audience along with the phantom lurking in the rafters above. We were fortunate enough to have seats in the Orchestra section, row BB of the Majestic Theatre in New York City. Every element of the Phantom of the Opera was truly magical which clearly explains why it is the longest running play in Broadway history and the world’s most haunting love story!

Clifton Hill is a fun filled street located on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. Within Clifton Hill there is an assortment of shops, restaurants and themed activities. There is also the Niagara Sky Wheel, a huge ferris wheel, which provides amazing views of Niagara Falls. Boston Pizza, Ripley’s Museum, Movieland Wax Museum of the Stars, Fudge Factory and the Great Canadian Midway entertainment complex are also located within Clifton Hill. Sitting in the oversized chair at the Ripley’s Museum was fun. My son thought that Clifton Hill was the best part of visiting Niagara Falls but most of all we all agreed that Clifton Hill is a fun place to visit!

The city of Chicago is located in northeastern Illinois at the southwestern tip of Lake Michigan, is the largest city in Illinois. Chicago is an international city with its numerous tourist attractions such as Museum Campus, Grant Park (location of United States President Obama’s Election Day victory speech), Buckingham Fountain, Navy Pier (where you can purchase delicious Garrett Popcorn), Chicago Theatre, along with the amazing shopping found at the Magnificent Mile , etc. Chicago is also known for its cuisine such as the deep-dish pizza and the Chicago styled hot dog along with many other types of cuisine. Chicago is a world class city with so much to offer and love!

Like many women, I have an obsession with shoes. I don’t claim to have a huge collection, I will only admit to having fewer than one hundred pairs of shoes. The shoes that I have purchased during my travels have special meaning to me. Some of my purchases have been on the high end while others have been moderately priced. What is most important is that the shoe has to be unique in one way or another. I have found amazing pairs of shoes in Paris, Barcelona and Corsica to name a few destinations. But the destination that brings back the fondest memories of a shoe (leather ankle straps) purchase for me is Málaga, Spain. I was extremely impressed with the shopping opportunities in Málaga especially on Calle Larios. Prior to arriving to Málaga, I knew very little of its history other than its location on the Mediterranean Sea. Málaga is filled with rich history and is the birthplace to both Pablo Picasso (painter and sculptor) and Antonio Banderas (actor). Málaga is truly a beautifully cultural city.

Travel brings the opportunity to step out of your comfort zone. Before arriving in Hawaii I imagined myself attending an evening luau enjoying good food, a Blue Hawaii tropical drink, a scenic Pacific Ocean view and being in the company of loved ones. We were able to accomplish all of the things I imagined along with paying respect to the history in Waikiki and throughout Oahu. It was also important to add a little adventure to our Hawaiian journey by doing something we had never done before. While in Hawaii I attempted snorkeling at the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve which is located on the southeast coast of Oahu, an area familiar to United States President Barack Obama who was born in Hawaii. Hanauma Bay is a Nature Preserve, the first Marine Life Conservation District in Hawaii. The anticipation of watching the Halona Blowhole shooting sea water high into the air was exciting. The Halona Blowhole located off of Hanauma Bay, is a rock formation and blowhole of natural occurrence formed from molten lava from volcanic eruptions thousands of years ago.

While I can honestly say that I did not master the art of snorkeling, what I can say is that I had a great time. There were many funny moments during our snorkeling adventure, one of which was my attempt to put on my snorkel fins which kept drifting away in the waters of the bay. Other moments were filled with amazement of underwater discoveries. I was surprise when my husband made the suggestion that we go snorkeling. Keep in mind he has known me for years and knows that I consider shopping a sport. While snorkeling (to the best of my ability), I turned to him and said “I’m glad we did this”. Being open to new adventures enhances the travel experience along with creating fond memories which will last for years to come.

A great way to see the amazing skylines of Chicago is by taking a Chicago River Tour. During a recent visit to Chicago we decided to take a Wendella combined lake and river tour. On an absolutely beautiful October afternoon we sailed the Chicago River with live narration of the history and highlights of Chicago. The atmosphere on the boat was truly relaxing. Passengers had the option of either sitting on the top deck or within the lower level where refreshments could be purchased. The tour included sailing into Lake Michigan passing through the Chicago Lock. Once on Lake Michigan we sailed pass the Navy Pier. Some of the highlights of the tour are the John Hancock Center, Water Tower Place, Buckingham Fountain, Marina City and so much more. The tour was approximately 90 minutes long and very enjoyable.

Shopping on Michigan Avenue (The Magnificent Mile) in Chicago can be described in one word “amazing”! Major designers and shops from around the world are located within this luxurious area of Chicago. I had read articles regarding the Magnificent Mile but nothing could have prepared me for the experience of shopping on Michigan Avenue from Chicago River North to Oak Street.

Luxurious hotels, restaurants and shops such as Cartier, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and The Water Tower Place with all its shops, etc are all located in this area. Tiffany & Co. is also located in this fabulous area. Since my wedding anniversary was quickly approaching I thought it would be a great idea to stop by Tiffany & Co where I purchased a beautiful anniversary gift for myself. You could easily spend all day in this area of town and still not visit all the shops in this amazing area. While strolling down Michigan Avenue on an absolutely beautiful day I felt both a sense of contentment and excitement! I have shopped in many locations around the world and can honestly say that the Magnificent Mile is truly world class shopping at its best!

Last week I attempted to fulfill a long held dream to attend a taping of the Oprah Winfrey Show. For years I have been a fan of Ms. Winfrey and her accomplishments. I remember viewing the premiere of the Oprah Winfrey Show while caring for my infant twin sons. As my sons grew the daily 4:00 p.m. ritual continued.

Year after year I’ve said to my husband that we needed to go to Chicago to see the Oprah Winfrey Show. I attempted unsuccessfully on several occasions to get tickets. I finally decided with or without tickets I would make the journey to Chicago.

As we stepped out of the taxi in front of Harpo Studios, I noticed people walking to form a line inside the building. We decided to get in that line. I certainly would not recommend anyone doing this but I needed to at least make one final attempt to view a taping of the Oprah Winfrey Show. We were asked by the audience representative whether or not we had reservations or stand-by reservations. My response was that we had nothing. I immediately thought he was going to tell us to leave but he was kind and suggested that we move over to the stand-by line.

Within the stand-by line were several KLM flight attendants from Holland. Having overheard our conversation with the audience representative several of the flight attendants began a conversation with us. They indicated that they were on a three day layover in Chicago and had tried for two years to get tickets; they were finally able to get stand-by tickets to a taping. I mentioned that it had been a desire of mine for years to attend a taping of the Oprah Winfrey Show. To my surprise one of the male flight attendants walked over to me and put his arm around my shoulder and said “if he is able to attend today’s taping he would allow me to go in his place”. I was pleasantly shocked! I replied by thanking him but I could not accept his offer. But his generosity was greatly appreciated and will never be forgotten.

There was a delay in determining whether or not there would be available seats for anyone having stand-by reservations. The chances for the KLM flight attendants who had stand-by reservations looked good but our chances of attending the taping was slim to none. The audience representative suggested that we check back in an hour or so once everyone with tickets and stand-by reservations had been seated. This was the perfect opportunity for us to take pictures outside surrounding the studio and to go across the street to the Oprah Store. As we entered the store we were greeted by a gentleman who welcomed us to the store. He noticed that I had my camera in hand and he stated that the only place we were allowed to take pictures in the store was in Oprah’s chair. Of course, I had to have my picture taken in Oprah’s chair.

It was also a necessity for me to purchase items from Oprah’s store. We were fortunate to have the entire store to ourselves to leisurely browse. My purchases included a brown mug with the inscription of “Oprah 25th 1986 to 2011”, black lounge pants, tank top, The Oprah Store Logo PVC Tote and Live Your Own Dreams – Oprah Quote Magnet. The sales staff was extremely helpful. I remember at one point saying to the sales staff that “I was so happy to be here”. After purchasing our selected items there was still a little time left before we could check back with the audience representative. So we decided to walk around the area along with taking a few minutes to have coffee at a local Dunkin Donuts.

Upon arriving back at Harpo Studios I noticed the audience representative who had earlier instructed us to move into the stand-by line. I knocked on the door to get his attention and asked if we had a chance of being seated? He said he would check and walked away. I crossed my fingers in anticipation but shortly afterwards I noticed him walking back and shaking his head. I don’t know if he heard me but as he came closer I said “please don’t shake your head no”. I was obviously disappointed but I thanked him for taking the time to check for us. I can honestly say that the Oprah staff was extremely courteous and never once did they make us feel as if we were bothering them for which I am grateful.

The decision to make the journey to Chicago was truly a dream come true for me. It certainly would have been an extra bonus to actually see a taping of Ms. Winfrey’s show but for me the trip was about closure. It was a journey that I had to make before the end of the Oprah Winfrey Show. Over the years the Oprah Winfrey Show has made me laugh, made me cry, entertained me, informed me but most of all inspired me.