But what do you do if you want to combine a love of theater with a really, really special vacation?  Broadway Across America has a very special package for very special theater fans.

Hugh Jackman will appear on Broadway in A Steady Rain

How about a Columbus Day Broadway weekend, taking in the limited engagement, A Steady Rain and the revival of Bye Bye Birdie?

A Steady Rain is about two Chicago cops whose lifelong friendship is put to the test when they become involved in a domestic dispute in a poor neighborhood in town.  It’s very limited 12 week run at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre.  It stars Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig, two of the hottest hunks around these days.

The revival of Bye Bye Birdie marks its first return to Broadway in almost 50 years, with an engagement at the Henry Miller Theatre Set in 1960, teen idol Conrad Birdie has been drafted by the Army.  His manager cooks up a plan to send him off with a new song and one last kiss from a fan, all played out on the Ed Sullivan Show.  The revival stars John Stamos and Gina Gershon.

Daniel Craig will appear on Broadway in A Steady Rain

The Columbus Day Broadway Package includes:

• Roundtrip coach airfare to New York city from most major cities within the continental US
• Roundtrip airport to hotel transfers via private car service
• 3 nights hotel accommodations at the Hilton Times Square Hotel (or comparable), including tax (based on double occupancy)
• Invitation to an elegant welcome reception, including food and cocktails, on Friday, October 9th
• Orchestra/front mezzanine seats to Bye Bye Birdie on Friday, October 9th
• Invitation to a group lunch at Sardi’s, including food and beverages.  Take a look at the famous caricatures on the wall of Broadway stars and see how many you, as can recognize.  The lunch with feature a questions and answer session with Broadway performers who will share stories and be available for autographs and photos.
• Orchestra seats for A Steady Rain on Saturday, October 10th.
• Orchestra/front mezzanine seats for a third show, this one of your choice, on Sunday, October 11th.  Specific show will depend on availability, but should include a choice of Billy Elliott, Mary Poppins, Next to Normal, In the Heights, Chicago, Mamma Mia, The 39 Steps, and Rock of Ages.
• Exclusive behind-the-scenes theater tour, or a walking tour, given by a seasoned NYC Guide.
• On site management to address any concerns or needs.
• Compressive guest itineraries sent via overnight delivery

October is a great time to be in New York City.  You can spend your day shopping, enjoying the fall foliage in Central Park, or visiting one of the city’s many attractions.  Come evening, you get your theater fix.

This special package offers once in a lifetime theater opportunities, and at $2,149/person doesn’t come cheap.  But if you have a special person in your life who is a big theater buff, this getaway weekend is well worth the price.

Call (877) 284–4222 for further information and to reserve your spot.

Photo credits: Bauer Griffin

Post from: Blisstree

Spend Columbus Day Enjoying Broadway

Courtship has been practiced in different countries, in various ways, for hundreds of years now. And one of the most romantic acts in my book is the old fashioned love letter on parchment.

People nowadays rely on getting hook ups in bars, clubs or wherever. The whole concept of “pursuit” has slowly becoming extinct. They call it “the chase” now and the goal isn’t really a commitment or a serious relationship but, er, something else. Faint are the traditions or practices, which usually accompanies courtship and that includes, writing love letters on parchment back and forth.

I loved the feeling when I first received a love letter back in highschool. What made it extra special was the fact that the sender was a guy I was crushing on at that time. It was sent under an unusual circumstance, which I really don’t want to get into but to cut it short, it didn’t end good. Ah, well — kids. LOL.

What really brought this on, though, is the memory of the last time I got a letter from a guy [I'm not entirely certain if it really was a love letter].

Holding the paper and seeing the inked hand-writing, caused a lump in my throat. Yea. It has to do something about feelings and stuff. Heh. But I had to approach it with a lighthearted demeanor simply because, like how it is traditionally, women aren’t suppose to make their affections known until the man has proven himself. Call me old fashion. Teehee.

Bottomline, though technology presents a lot of avenues for communication, like mobile calls or sms messaging or instant messaging, nothing beats love letters on parchment. It’s a lot more personal. You can be sure that the guy put in a considerable effort in producing such a letter — picture the scene in the movie, Kate & Leopold, wherein Hugh Jackman’s character wrote a letter of apology to Meg Ryan’s character. He used a quill! Wasn’t it romantic?

I’m simply refusing to accept that we’ve reached the end of the age for love letters. The idea makes me sad.

Your turn. How do you feel about sending and receiving love letters? Or do you just prefer hitting the send/receive button of your Outlook? Or perhaps you prefer brevity or mobility — and are more inclined towards instant or SMS messaging, respectively?

Post from: Blisstree

Where have all the love letters gone?