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Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring A Classic at the MFA

Earlier this week I took advantage of one of my membership privileges at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and checked out the Members Preivew of their new exhibit, “Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring A Classic”. The exhibit features over 200 works mostly from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London,  and has a variety of letters, original drawings, and photographs. This exhibit is UTTERLY charming, and I was glad to have a chance to see this early. I can’t wait to go back and see it again!

There’s a little bit of something for everyone in this show; you can see everything from examples of Pooh in Pop Culture to Ernest Shepard’s original drawing of the Map of the 100 Acre Wood.

There are photographs of the Milne family, including a particularly tender photo of a Christopher Milne with his teddy bear.

One of the most special items in the exhibit, in my opinion, is the recording of A.A. Milne reading an excerpt of Pooh and Piglet go hunting, and nearly catch a Woozle. It dates from 1929, and is the only known recording of Milne reading from his Winnie-the-Pooh books. To listen to the recording, you pick up the “telephone” installed on the wall and can sit in the comfortable window seat directly adjacent to enjoy this delightful piece of the exhibit.

There are areas of whimsy and fun that will appeal to children of all ages as well as the young at heart. Want to ring the bell at Pooh’s house? Go for it.

Pretend to throw Poohsticks at the Poohstick bridge? They’ve got you covered.

There’s a table for drawing, as well as comfy rugs and spots for reading, and my favorite, Christopher Robin’s stairs where he sits, “Halfway Down”.

There are Instagram-worthy photo-ops galore so don’t be afraid to live a little and let your inner child come out and play. (There’s even a small slide if you feel like you need some extra movement!)

I have to say this exhibit is full of heartwarming moments that make you harken back to childhood memories of frolic and play. Shepard’s images are so classic, so iconic…don’t be surprised to find yourself time and again standing in front of a drawing and saying “awwww…” It’s delightfully sweet!

Give yourself plenty of time to meander your way through this exhibit. I spent just about 90 minutes there and could have easily stayed longer. Because of the tickets’ timed entry (more on that below!) the crowds in the exhibit are kept to a minimum. There’s room to explore, to drink in and enjoy all the Winnie-the-Pooh magic.

Have I inspired you to visit? The MOST IMPORTANT THING to keep in mind when planning your visit is that entry to the exhibit is TIMED, and tickets are REQUIRED for entry. All the information you need on tickets can be found here: https://www.mfa.org/tickets/winnie-the-pooh/ticket-information

The MFA highly recommends purchasing your tickets in advance. (Are you a member? Members see the exhibit for free, but still need to reserve tickets.) When you purchase your ticket, it covers your admission to the Museum for the day as well as the ticket for your specific time window to see the Pooh exhibit.

Other things to note:

– Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult at all times while visiting the Museum.

– Strollers are permitted at the MFA,but due to the limited space and interactive nature of the exhibition, strollers will not be permitted in “Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic.”

– Photography is welcome and encouraged, but no flash photography is allowed.

This is a really fantastic exhibit, and one that’s worth taking the time to plan and purchase your tickets in advance. The MFA Signature Gift Shop, which is located across from the ticketing desks at the Huntington Avenue entrance, has the main collection of memorabilia and Pooh related gifts. If you’re looking for the Catalog from the show, you’ll have to head to the Signature Gift Shop. (It’s $39.95, members price is $35.95!)

And for my environmentally minded friends, the large blue balloons in the hallway outside of the Torf Gallery where the exhibit lives are made of fiberglas, and are not floating helium balloons. They are an art installation that hangs from the ceiling.

Looking for more info on Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic? Visit the exhibit’s page: https://www.mfa.org/exhibitions/winnie-the-pooh

If you aren’t a member, now may be a great time to consider membership at the MFA. In addition to seeing special exhibits like this one for free, members get discounts on parking, dining, and the gift shop. It’s easy to become a member! https://www.mfa.org/membership I love being a MFA member especially when it comes to seeing exhibits during the Member Preview week!

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#myreadsmonday Alternate Side by Anna Quindlen

I’ve been a fan of Anna Quindlen’s for many years now, going back to a spate in the early 2000s when I read several of her earlier novels nearly back to back. One True Thing made me a weepy mess, and I still remember reading Blessings like it was yesterday. I was excited when I heard about her new book; some of you may remember I’m easily ensnared by any novel that takes place in New York City.

I spent some time considering the book’s title as I was reading; Alternate Side. Opens book: “So it’s to do with parking, I get it!” Well…maybe, maybe not. Reads beginning part: “It’s to do with the haves and the have nots, I get it!” Maybe, maybe not. Gets to controversial moment: “It’s to do with their being two sides to every story!” Maybe, maybe not.” Sees character growth: It’s about going through a major life event an emerging on the other (alternate) side!” Maybe, maybe not. Actually, I think it’s all of these things. Anna Quindlen gives us an uncompromising portrait of middle-aged married life, a slice of life of a tranquil, moneyed NYC street, and shows us what happens when things gets messy and characters have tough decisions to make. Do you remember that Billy Ocean song, “When the Going Gets Tough”? When the going gets tough / the tough get going / when the going gets rough / the tough get rough. Alternate Side‘s main character Nora Nolan is one tough cookie.

I don’t want to give away what ultimately happens in the book, but Nora is forced to question her life and roles as a professional woman, a wife, and a mother. I almost feel like I would have enjoyed this book even more if my own children were older and I could more closely relate my parenting experiences with Nora’s. That issue aside, I enjoyed watching Nora’s life play out, and the way she deals with the things that come her way. Throughout the complex and sometimes uncomfortable situations that arise, she holds her head high and sticks up for what she believes in.

Lest you think this novel is just about a woman struggling to figure her place in varied aspects of her life, there’s also a tabloid-worthy encounter between one of Nora’s neighbors and the hard working handy-man who manages the behind-the-scenes work for all the houses on her dead end street. It’s a shocking clash, and it’s fascinating to see the way the lines are drawn among the street’s residents. Wealthy vs. working class. Truth vs. lies.

I know there have been some conflicted reviews of this book; I will say that there’s no big plot twist, no roller-coaster, non-stop action happening here. If that’s what you like, you may want to look elsewhere. This book is like a delicious, slow-simmering stew. Things keep getting added, building in the layers of complexity and tension. The plot never boils over; the book just simmers along, and in the end you get something that’s worth of admiration and reflection.

And just for the record, yes, that’s a bag for doggie poo pictured above; but no, I did not acquire a real specimen of poo for the photo. Purple fingerling potatoes (from my #myreadsmonday 2 weeks ago) to the rescue! Why is there a bag of poo in the photo? You’ll just have to read the book to find out!

 

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#myreadsmonday Stay With Me by Ayobami Adebayo

One of the most common phrases I’ve seen used to describe Stay With Me is “stunning debut novel”. I hate to be cliche, but seriously, this is a stunning debut novel! Stay With Me follows the lives of Yejide and Akin, a young Nigerian couple who are suffering from fertility issues.  Four years into their marriage with no children, their lives take a stunning turn. They each separately attempt to address the problems in their marriage, with devastating results. This novel asks how much is too much when it comes to making sacrifices for the sake of family.

Stay With Me is told from the perspective of both Yejide as well as Akin. The story moves back and forth through meaningful junctures in their lives, highlighting the complex, often highly fraught choices they make. Set against the backdrop of Nigerian political unrest, this novel is an incredible look into the lives of two people trying to reconcile their preconceptions of what married life should be with what their marriage actually becomes.

I think part of the draw of this novel is the way it takes your hand as it dives headfirst into Nigerian culture and gives this forthright portrayal of lives that are so different from a typical American existence. Some of the twists and turns this novel takes are gritty, dirty, and unyielding; these character’s choices  are driven as much by cultural norms as by their own moral foundations. They have some very tough choices to make; you may or may not agree with them for a variety of reasons, but you can recognize that their cultural influences weigh heavily in their decision-making processes.

Stay With Me is a vivid, beautifully heartbreaking story that in the end still leaves room for hope. It is raw, real, and challenging. Full of love, tradition, family, hope, deceit, and loss, it will make your heart ache for the circumstances of Yejide and Akin’s lives. How do you define love? How far would go for those that you love? How far is too far? Can you come back from devastation? What might await you on the other side?

I listened to the audiobook version of this novel, rather than reading a print copy; the narrator is ‎ Adjoa Andoh, who also narrated Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as well as The Power by Naomi Alderman. Andoh’s lyrical voice breathes life to Yejide’s story. Listening to the novel made the tragedy of Yejide and Akin’s tale so much more substantial and authentic for me; I didn’t have to imagine their Nigerian accents, Andoh presented them for me. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook version if you can!

 

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The Cat Returns- Part of Fathom Events Studio Ghibli Fest

Studio Ghibli fans take note: here’s another opportunity for you to see classic Miyazaki on the big screen! The Cat Returns will be shown nationally on April 22nd, 23rd, and 25th. Go to the Fathom Events website to check for a location near you.

https://www.fathomevents.com/events/studio-ghibli-fest-2018-the-cat-returns

You’ll have to chose whether to see this movie in a dubbed (English voice-over) version, or subbed (in Japanese with subtitles). Typically when I’ve seen other Studio Ghibli movies in a movie theater I’ve opted for the subbed version because I’ve seen the dubbed version at home. I’m torn on this one though; I really enjoy hearing Cary Elwes voice the character of Baron. Other notable voices you may recognize in the dubbed version include Anne Hathaway, Tim Curry, Peter Boyle, Elliot Gould, and Kristen Bell.

I’m glad these Studio Ghibli movies are being brought back to the big screen by Fathom Events. Other movies included in this year’s Studio Ghibli Fest include Porco Rosso in May, Pom Poko in June, Princess Mononoke in July, Grave of the Fireflies in August, My Neighbor Totoro in September (which is celebrating its 30th anniversary!), Spirited Away in October, and Castle in the Sky in November.

Here’s the original Japanese trailer:

As well as a short video that explains a little more of the plot:

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#myreadsmonday The Gentlemen’s Guide to Vice and Virtue

I remember seeing this YA novel when our library first cataloged it last summer. The cover caught my eye, and I thought, “That book looks interesting!” I kept putting it off; you know how it goes… too many books, too little time. A few months ago, I decided I’d try borrowing it as an audiobook through the Overdrive app, but kept finding it not available. I finally bit the bullet and put it on hold, and was thrilled when it was my turn to listen!

The Gentlemen’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee is an amazingly fun, rollicking, romp of a tale! As the main character Henry “Monty” Montague says near the end, “We’ve had an adventure instead of a tour.” He’s not kidding. This book is like an exciting, crazy cross between a Diana Gabaldon Lord John novel, The Princess Bride, and Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows.

Henry Montague has always been a bit of a wild-child rogue, and he’s hoping the fun will continue on his grand tour of Europe before he’s expected back in England to take over his family’s estate. Monty’s thrilled to be traveling with his best friend and unrequited crush Percy; he less thrilled that his sister Felicity is along for part of the journey before she’s to be dropped off at school. Monty sets the plot in motion by a split second decision during a party at Versailles, and things go off the rails from there. Highwaymen, alchemists, stowaways, pirates, hidden family secrets, sinking islands…and more!

I have to say I’m really glad I chose to listen to the audiobook version of this novel! Narrated by Christian Coulson (who played Tom Riddle in the movie of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets) it was named one of the top ten audiboooks of 2017 by the American Library Association. It was a finalist for the 2017 Audible Best Audiobook of the Year, and was Audiofile Magazine’s Best Audiobook of 2017. Coulson’s dashing British accent portrays perfectly Monty’s somewhat flippant, sometimes haughty, always loveable character. If you can get the audiobook I highly recommend it!

If after you read The Gentlemen’s Guide to Vice and Virtue you find yourself hoping for more, never fear! Mackenzi Lee has written a second novel due out this October all about Felicity Montague! The Ladies’ Guide to Petticoats and Piracy is set to be released on October 2. You can bet I’ll be listening to that one as well! I hope Monty and Percy make an appearance!

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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child- The FRIDAY 40!

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is easily one of THE hottest plays on Broadway right now. Tickets are harder to find than the correct answers to Professor Snape’s potions exams! More seats were recently released for performances in the upcoming six weeks, so on a whim I decided to see what was available. To purchase two tickets for both Parts 1 and 2, I would have needed to cough up a ridiculous $756, before fees. That was the least expensive option I could find! Needless to say I didn’t purchase any tickets yesterday.

I did however, find out about The Friday 40. And this is quite the offer! TODAYTIX holds a ticket lottery every Friday for tickets to the following week’s shows. Here’s how it works, from the TODAYTIX website:

Every Friday, we release 40 tickets for some of the very best seats in the theater at $40 ($20 per Part) for every performance for the following week. Submit your entry from Friday at 12:01AM ET to Friday at 1:00PM ET. Winners will be notified between 1:00PM ET and 5:00PM ET on Friday and will have one hour to claim tickets from the time of notification. Winners pay $40 total per guest ($20 per Part).

Which means if you win, you and a friend get to see both parts for a total of $80! That’s amazing. As I’m writing this on Friday morning, today’s Friday 40 is still open! If you see this before 1:00pm ET today, head to the TODAYTIX website and sign up for the ticket lottery. You’ll know before dinner time today if you’ve won!

Click on the following link for more information and to enter to win!
https://www.todaytix.com/x/nyc/shows/8728-harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child

One important thing to keep in mind about Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is that this play is two separate performances. From the TODAYTIX website: Because of the epic nature of the story, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child unfolds in two Parts. When you purchase tickets to see the show you will receive a pair of tickets per guest, one for each Part. You will either see the Parts on the same day or consecutive evenings. (There is an option to deselect the Thursday/Friday choice in the ticket lottery, which is the only option that could result in consecutive evening tickets.)

Good luck! (Maybe some Felix Felicis is in order?!?) And let me know if you win. I’ll be Slytherin green with envy!

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TedxCambridge at the Boston Opera House- Tickets On Sale!

I think it’s safe to say that most people have heard of TED conferences and TED talks, and have watched at least one (or more!) YouTube videos of a speaker’s presentation. I love the idea behind gathering a wide array of society’s current thinkers and do-ers, and offering them space and time on a stage to present their ideas. Given a time constraint (typically less than 18 minutes), the speakers condense their thoughts into the most relevant, most concise, and often most entertaining form possible.

TEDxCambridge is happening at the Boston Opera House in Boston, MA on Thursday, May 3rd at 7:00pm. Tickets are now on sale through the TEDxCambridge website: http://www.tedxcambridge.com/ (FYI- If you go to the Boston Opera House official website, it looks like you can’t buy tickets yet, but if you click on the “Coming Soon” button it redirects you to the TEDxCambridge website, where tickets are available)

Do you know what TED stands for? It’s Technology, Entertainment, and Design. The first TED conference was held in 1984, and featured up and coming ideas such as the compact disc, the ebook, and 3D graphics from Lucasfilm. The event wasn’t as successful as the organizer’s had hoped, and they didn’t run another TED conference until 1990. This time the idea took off, and became a yearly conference held in Monterrey, California. In 2006, realizing the power and global reach of the internet, the first six TED talks ever were posted online. In three months, they’d reached more than one million views. In 2008, TED reorganized their website to meet the growing demand for access to the videos of TED talks. By 2009, the number of views on TED talks had grown to 100 million.

In case you’re curious, here’s the link to the TED website and the first six TED talks: https://www.ted.com/playlists/168/the_first_6_ted_talks_ever

2009 was the year the organizers launched TEDx , opening up the program to  local, independently organized events. The TEDxCambridge evening is one of these events! Follow this link to the TEDxCambridge website to see information about the speakers for this year’s event: http://www.tedxcambridge.com/speakers/

Speaking at the 2018 TEDxCambridge are: Andrea Lauer, Symbiotic Designer; Andrew McAfee, Digital Economist; Erez Yoeli, Behavioral Scientist; Joel Salinas, Sensory Neurologist; Lisa Feldman Barrett, Cognitive Psychologist; Sebastian Buckup, Global Convener; and Tony Luciani, Documentary Caregiver. In addition to these seven diverse presenters, the TEDxCambridge audience will also be entertained by a performance by the Boston Ballet! All in all it sounds like an incredible evening, and excellent seats are still available!

Here are a few of my favorite TED talks…

 

 

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Better Off Dead at Cinemagic Hooksett

Most people of a certain age will instantly recognize the movie quote, “I want my two dollars!” It brings back recollections of madcap teen comedies filled with the likes of Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, and of course John Cusack. Don’t miss your chance to take a stroll down memory lane this Thursday, April 5 when Cinemagic in Hooksett, NH holds a screening of Better Off Dead!

Don’t remember the iconic quote? Need to refresh your memory? Is it possible you’ve never seen the movie?!? Check out the trailer:

Better Off Dead was released in October of 1985, which means it will be 33 years old this fall. Want to see if the laughs you remember still hold up? Tickets are available online now! The movie starts at 8:00 pm, and tickets are $8.75 each. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to: http://www.cinemagicmovies.com/movie/27708/Better-Off-Dead

Did you know the Cinemagic in Hooksett hosts a Cult Classics movie every month? The lineup for the remainder of 2018 is as follows:
. April 5th – Better Off Dead
. May 3rd – The Last Starfighter
. June 7th – The Burbs
. July 5th – Last Unicorn
. August 2nd – Commando
. August 2nd – Total Recall
. September 6th – Time Bandits
. October 4th – Dead Alive
. November 1st – Ninja Scroll
. December 6th – Excalibur

I have to say I’m excited about the idea of seeing The Last Unicorn on the big screen again! I saw it with Townie #2 a few years ago when Red River Theatres in Concord, NH hosted The Last Unicorn author Peter Beagle for a special screening. It was an honor to meet him!

I also have to say that seeing Excalibur on the big screen would be pretty awesome. What future Cult Classic movies are you excited about seeing?

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#myreadsmonday Mrs. by Caitlin Macy

I went into Mrs. by Caitlin Macy expecting a variation on the theme of a light, wealth-porn, socialite romp. While it’s true most of the main characters in this novel are in the upper stratosphere of the financial classes, this book is anything but a light romp. Mrs. draws you in with the promises of fine wine and private preschools, then takes you on a twisting ride through the complicated and messy lives of these people living in New York City in the Madoff hey-days.

At the heart of the novel are the three women; Gwen, Phillipa, and Minnie. Their lives intersect at the exclusive preschool their children attend, but we see through flashbacks how their lives have touched and overlapped in the past; and as the book progresses you learn their chaotic truths.

I was impressed by the way Caitlin Macy created this unflinching portrayal of lives gone awry. These characters work to uphold their prestigious facades, all while their internal struggles are vivid and painful. You get to see bits and pieces of what makes and breaks each character. Rich socialite married to Wall Street’s new “it” man? Yeah, she’s got a sketchy past. Stay at home mom married to the rising hotshot in the US Attorney’s office? She’s got her own demons. Banking scion in charge of prestigious NYC bank? Maybe he’s not what he really wants to be.

The characters in Mrs. play out a sophisticated choreography of the shifting balances of power, money, family, and love. In the end, they all learn how these elements of their lives will extract a price on their very souls. Some will pay the highest price. Others escape with their lives intact, but surely will never be the same.

 

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Zimmerman House Advance Tickets Now On Sale!

Tucked away in a residential area in the north end of Manchester, NH lies the architectural gem known as the Zimmerman House. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the home was built in 1950 and is the only Wright designed building open to the public in New England. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

Tours of the Zimmerman house are managed by the Currier Museum of Art, and advance ticket sales are now open! Public tours begin on Monday, April 16th.  Tours are offered through the week except on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. All tours begin at the Currier Museum on Ash Street in Manchester, and visitors are transported to the Zimmerman house by van.

Things to keep in mind: Children under 7 are not permitted. Comfortable walking shoes are suggested. There is no bathroom on site at the Zimmerman house, but bathrooms are available at the Currier Museum Art. The tour of the house is approximately 90 minutes. Photography is only allowed of the exterior of the house.

Visit the Currier’s page about the Zimmerman house for more information and to reserve your tickets! http://currier.org/education-programs/zimmerman-house-tours/

On the web page you’ll also find information on Zimmerman House Focus Tours, as well as Twilight Tours. Both of these special tour options are also open for reservations. I know personally I’d love to go on one of the twilight tours, as well as the September 15th Behind the Scenes of the Restoration of the Zimmerman House tour!