Happy Valentine's Day! It's a day of love...or depression, depending on whether you're single and happy about it or not. Regardless, we all hope that you have a wonderful day. (And if you don't, just remember that tomorrow there will be tons of half-price chocolate available.)
In other news, we would like to announce the winner of our celebrity baby name contest. Thanks to everyone who entered over the weekend! We have come to a unanimous decision on the winner...congratulations to Emily! Her winning entry is below:
Zuma Nesta Rock (Gwen Stefani & Gavin Rossdale) + Piper Maru (Gillian Anderson) + Seven Sirius (Erykah Badu & Andre 3000) = Rock, Piper, Sirius
Emily has won a $50 TicketNetwork gift card, along with a cool swag bag! Congrats to Emily, and to everyone else, stay tuned for more blog contests in the future! #bringbackthepack
Oh Punxsutawney Phil, why would you do this to me?
For those who have not found out yet, P. Philly (my new nickname for him) saw his shadow today, which apparently means that we will now have to suffer through a long winter. I don't know about you, but I do not want six more weeks of winter. No more snow, no more cold weather, no more short days and no more slipping on ice. Come on, Punxy Brewster (another new nickname, I'm still working out the kinks), you know that you want the warmer weather too!
According to the always reliable Wikipedia, Funky Punxy (ok, i'll stop now) is correct with his prediction only 39% of the time. So we have that going for us.
Below is a classic scene from the movie "Groundhog Day" starring the always-funny Bill Murray, a movie that everyone should check out if they have a chance. (Disclaimer: I do not condone the eating of groundhogs; it gives can give you paranoia to the point that you are afraid of your own shadow.)
New York City is a great place to visit and have fun. This is even truer during the holidays as the city hosts a great number of activities that are perfect for the family. You might not want to visit the top of the Empire State Building (unless you want to freeze), but there is plenty else to do. Here are five options:
Central Park
Central Park in the winter. Credit: Siobhan Thompson/Shutterstock
Central Park is a great place to visit at any time of the year, but if you can get there after a fresh snowfall, it looks like a postcard, as you can see above.
The park is 2.5 miles long and contains 21 playgrounds, so your kids will have no reason to complain of boredom. There are also plenty of winter-themed activities within it such as ice skating at Wollman Rink near the Central Park Zoo and, of course, visiting animals that love cold weather at the zoo itself.
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The holiday season is quickly approaching and soon a lot of people will be looking to get into the spirit by visiting spectacular displays of lights and decorations like those in New York's Rockefeller Center, watching classic Christmas movies, and planning all kinds of other activities with a holiday theme.
Why not add a theater show or concert to your list? There are plenty of great productions coming up, so if you're looking to get out of the house (or the cold), you have plenty of options. Here are ten of the best: five concerts and five theater shows.
Concerts
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Christmas songs played in a rock opera style with a laser light show. Can you really ask for more? I don't think you can. TSO has become an annual holiday tradition like no other. It's well worth it to see them, and there are two tours running simultaneously, so there's plenty of opportunity to do so. TSO runs until December 30.
Mannheim Steamroller
Originally known for their new age-inspired instrumentals, Mannheim Steamroller is now better known for their Christmas music. So if you're looking for Christmas classics with a new age twist, Mannheim is your band! Like TSO, Mannheim is running two tours at the same time and also plays until December 30.
Boston Pops
Made up of members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops play a series of Holiday Pops shows every year. This year the Holiday Pops shows run from December 7 – 11. There are also pops orchestras with holiday shows in many other cities, so if you're not from or traveling to Boston, be sure to find one near you.
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The Fourth of July celebrates one of the most important moments in United States history: the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. In the 235 years since that day, July 4th has come to mark a lot more than that. For some, the holiday just means another day off from work, while others love the picnics and fireworks.
There are a lot of fun things about the 4th of July holiday, so here are just few of the best.
Over-the-Top Fireworks Displays
Who doesn't love a good fireworks show (other than my dog, who will find the nearest bed to hide under)? Fireworks have a little bit of something for everyone. If you like beautiful colors that light up sky or if you just like things that go boom, you like fireworks.
Even those who don't enjoy fireworks would admit that they are synonymous with the July 4th holiday. So just put your ear-plugs in and enjoy the show!
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