Visting Houston and Experiencing Art Car Culture

When I heard about the Art Car Parade, a quirky annual event in Houston, Texas, I felt like I had to go! I mean if not now, when? I’ve never been to Houston and have always had a bit of a crush on Texas. Plus all forces were pointing to it, when it popped up on a few of the top places to travel in 2023 lists and the New York Times published “36 Hours in Houston.” Yes, timing was bad, since I just got back from my cruise a few day ago, but You Only Live Once! So here I am ready to watch 250 amazingly decorated cars roll, especially after a preview last night!

To see more photos of fabulous art cars and other Houston highlights CLICK HERE

Singing on the High Seas - The Broadway Cruise

 

In my life I seem to propel from one amazing, magical, experience to the next. My recent Broadway Cruise was definitely another highlight. 2000 theater geeks in one place, radiating energy and bursting into song. Even the performers kept commenting on it. It’s that feeling of being with your people. The kind who suddenly want to sing and dance when a moment matches one’s favorite Broadway tune lines.

I raced around, seeing 20 performances and talk backs, over 5 days, hearing great music and learning more about what it takes to create and stage a Broadway show. My admiration for all the talented professionals there grew and grew. I was extra impressed with Alan Cumming, whose individual free spirit really shone through.

Being a theatrical event and all, I planned my wardrobe carefully. I had musical theme dresses and nails, a classic 50s dress for a Grease Sing-A-Long and LOTS of sequins. I added my new favorite accessory, a crinoline and it made every dress that much more fun and festive!!! (It reminded me that we have to push past this casual fashion phase and move back towards dressing up all the time!!)

I am so grateful for Broadway and the showtunes, that have been the soundtrack of my life, since my stepfather came into my life and gave me two musical sound tracks on our second meeting. In the most lovely coincidence, one of them was Anything Goes, which takes place on a cruise ship!

As a New Yorker, I feel extra proud that this type of music is our special thing. Many people on the cruise, who came from all over, visited NYC a few days early or stayed a couple of days extra after to see shows. It all made NYC shine bright, even from the open seas. Plus being able to take the subway to such a substantial vacation was fabulous! Who would have thought that I would take a cruise from the west side terminal! Goes to show you, you just never know!

I feel like I’m still floating and certainly signing.

To see more photos from the trip CLICK HERE

Cruising to Bermuda

 

In what seems like a sidenote, the cruise docked in Bermuda. It was my first time there. To me the most notable thing about Bermuda were the white limestone step-like roofs, that exist to catch water for tanks below. They must have some really tight design codes because everything looks the same, which was beautiful. I was there on Palm Sunday, so EVERYTHING was closed but I took a nice walk through Hamilton, stopped to light a candle at the main church and went to check out the beach. another country off my list.