Thriving Thursday – Radio City Music Hall

Located in Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, nicknamed the ‘Showplace of the Nation’, is one of the hottest entertainment venues in New York City. It was for a time the leading tourist destination in the city, and its history has played host to some of the most prestigious artists and events in the country. In 1978 it was declared a city landmark, guaranteeing its spot in the future while solidifying its position in the past.

A Noteworthy Past

When it originally opened as the International Music Hall back in 1932, it was meant to be a return to high-class entertainment. Unfortunately, the new format was not a success, and in 1933 the Music Hall converted to feature film, starting with “The Bitter Tea of General Yen” and becoming the premiere showcase for films from the TKO-Radio Studio for years. The films were accompanied by a stage spectacle, and continued that way until 1979. As the film popularity waned, the Music Hall began to lose some of its appeal. A large part of this was the fact that only G rated movies were shown, which did not allow for a large enough audience. In 1979, the Music Hall almost met a tragic end, when plans were made to convert the theater into office space.

Incredible Support

Despite the waning popularity in 1979, no one wanted Radio City Music Hall to close. There were very few who thought it would be better closed, and they had started plans to convert the Music Hall into office space. However, there was an outburst at this plan. Many people found that they cared only about the history of the Music Hall, and about keeping that history alive. Eventually a combination of preservation and commercial interests ended with the Music Hall being preserved, renovated, and reopened to the public in 1980.

Since the theater was reopened, over 30 years ago, the Music Hall has presented most of the leading pop and rock performers. Not only has it been home to many concerts and music performances, it has also played host to multiple televised events. While the Tony Awards is the only major televised awards ceremony that will be held at Radio City in 2013, in the past it has been the venue for the Grammy Awards, the Daytime Emmy Awards, and many other prestigious events.

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is a stage musical held annually at Radio City Music Hall. Produced by MSG Entertainment, it has been a Christmas tradition since 1933. Each year it is an important part of the New York holiday, features the Rockettes, and appearances of Santa Claus.

As a city landmark, the Radio City Music Hall offers a beauty and a connection to history. As a theater, the Radio City Music Hall offers an experience unlike any other, one that has evolved with the times and encompassed every generation of entertainment. It is well loved and it isn’t difficult to see why. The Radio City Music Hall is a venue like no other, with a proud history and an even brighter future.

Thriving Thursday – Beacon Theather

Finding a way to spend your time isn’t a difficult task when you live in or around New York City. There are dozens of historic buildings, hundreds of restaurant, and countless other sources of entertainment. However, some of those places stand out from the rest. Some of the buildings have so much history that you can’t avoid them, and why would you want to? One such building is the Beacon Theatre. Located on Broadway in upper Manhattan, the theater is one of New York’s leading live music and entertainment venues, and is one of many controlled by MSG (Madison Square Garden Inc.). This historic theatre’s superior acoustics make it the ideal venue to enjoy a night of music.

 A Glittering History

The Beacon Theatre was originally planned as part of a chain of deluxe New York City movie theaters, ideal for silent movies. That wasn’t ever to come to pass, though. When the man behind the theater lost his fortune, the money behind the theater collapsed as well. With no funds to move it forward, it was abandoned. The nearly completed theater remained vacant and collecting dust until Warner Theatres obtained it. They cleaned up the dust and finished the theater, allowing the theater to finally open on December 24, 1929. The ‘Warner Beacon’ continued as a first-run movie theater into the early 1970s, until it was purchased by Steven Singer in 1974. Singer bought the theater to present live pop concerts and that was the beginning of a rich history in music and in 1982 the theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

A Faithful Run

Mentioning the Beacon Theatre requires a mention of the Allman Brothers Band. Starting in 1989, the band began a successful run of performances that lasted twenty consecutive years. Eventually, the band celebrated its 40th anniversary in the theater, inviting guests from many different genres to perform with them at the theater. This 2009 concert event lasted three weeks, and included famous names from an impressive array of music genres.

Continued Success

The Beacon Theatre isn’t just about its history. It has made its history, not the other way around. If had been a subpar theater, it wouldn’t have found the success that it did. But this building is just as important as those who have performed within it. It has provided a home away from home for many different artists over the year, and provides an experience to remember for those in the audience. The shows continue today because the theater is a beautiful and comfortable venue. It provides an atmosphere that creates a show that shouldn’t be missed.

The Beacon Theatre is a destination. It is a place to go and enjoy an evening of high class and entertainment. Built in a different era, for a different time, it has adapted perfectly to the present. The theater offers an experience that combines the comfort of the past with the entertainment of today. Together, those two elements make it a must-see in New York.

Thriving Thursday – Happy Halloween

Finding a way to spend your time isn’t a difficult task when you live in or around New York City. There are dozens of historic buildings, hundreds of restaurant, and countless other sources of entertainment. However, some of those places stand out from the rest. Some of the buildings have so much history that you can’t avoid them, and why would you want to? One such building is the Beacon Theatre. Located on Broadway in upper Manhattan, the theater is one of New York’s leading live music and entertainment venues, and is one of many controlled by MSG (Madison Square Garden Inc.). This historic theatre’s superior acoustics make it the ideal venue to enjoy a night of music.

 A Glittering History

The Beacon Theatre was originally planned as part of a chain of deluxe New York City movie theaters, ideal for silent movies. That wasn’t ever to come to pass, though. When the man behind the theater lost his fortune, the money behind the theater collapsed as well. With no funds to move it forward, it was abandoned. The nearly completed theater remained vacant and collecting dust until Warner Theatres obtained it. They cleaned up the dust and finished the theater, allowing the theater to finally open on December 24, 1929. The ‘Warner Beacon’ continued as a first-run movie theater into the early 1970s, until it was purchased by Steven Singer in 1974. Singer bought the theater to present live pop concerts and that was the beginning of a rich history in music and in 1982 the theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

A Faithful Run

Mentioning the Beacon Theatre requires a mention of the Allman Brothers Band. Starting in 1989, the band began a successful run of performances that lasted twenty consecutive years. Eventually, the band celebrated its 40th anniversary in the theater, inviting guests from many different genres to perform with them at the theater. This 2009 concert event lasted three weeks, and included famous names from an impressive array of music genres.

Continued Success

The Beacon Theatre isn’t just about its history. It has made its history, not the other way around. If had been a subpar theater, it wouldn’t have found the success that it did. But this building is just as important as those who have performed within it. It has provided a home away from home for many different artists over the year, and provides an experience to remember for those in the audience. The shows continue today because the theater is a beautiful and comfortable venue. It provides an atmosphere that creates a show that shouldn’t be missed.

The Beacon Theatre is a destination. It is a place to go and enjoy an evening of high class and entertainment. Built in a different era, for a different time, it has adapted perfectly to the present. The theater offers an experience that combines the comfort of the past with the entertainment of today. Together, those two elements make it a must-see in New York.

Thriving Thursday – The Local Haunts

This close to Halloween, everyone starts thinking about ghost stories, and the things that only come out at night, and perhaps only come out once a year. There are many buildings in New York and the surrounding areas that claim to be haunted, but are they really? Sometimes stories are just good for business, but whether they are truly haunted or not, these buildings are old, and have a long history. New York City itself is close to 400 years old, giving it plenty of time to gather a haunted building or two, or perhaps even more. No matter what list you find, or who you talk to, some of these buildings will always appear, rumors of their hauntings said to be far more than mere rumors.

The House of Death

With its ghastly nickname, it’s no wonder that this house appears on almost every list of the most haunted buildings in New York. Constructed in 1974 in Greenwich Village, this house is rumored to be inhabited by no less than 22 different spirits, including the spirit of Mark Twain, who once resided on the premises. Several deaths have occurred in the brownstone over the years, and there are many sources that claim it is the most haunted place in Manhattan. There are an endless amount of reports claiming that spirits have been seen walking the halls.

Morris-Jumel Mansion

This house has many ties to history, dating back even to the Revolutionary War. However, that isn’t what makes this house noteworthy and famous. Said to be Manhattan’s oldest home, there are claims of five separate spirits haunting these rooms, though the most famous by far is that of the old woman Eliza Jumel. She died alone while suffering from dementia, and many have claimed to see her spirit rambling and ranting while she walks through the rooms, frightening children as she goes. She is said to be disoriented and delusional when she appears, though when schoolchildren tour the home she has no difficulty in ordering them to be silent.

Kreischer Family Mansion

With its horror film looks and ominous history, it’s easy to see why this mansion lands on the lists of haunted New York buildings. Originally there were two mansions, identical, sitting side by side in Staten Island. However, its twin burned down, taking the Kreischer son and his wife with it. After its twin burned, that left only the single mansion, alone and creating the perfect atmosphere for stories of hauntings. It’s said that there are unexplained noises that come from the building, noises that have been attributed to the ghosts that are said to walk the grounds.

So, are these buildings really haunted, or have their sordid histories simply created fantasies that, much like the ghosts they speak of, refuse to die? It’s hard to know for sure which stories are real and which are fabricated when it comes to hearing ghost stories, but that doesn’t make the stories any less enjoyable. So, why don’t you travel to the more famous haunts, and see if you can’t scare up your own ghost stories?

Thriving Thursdays: Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre

The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, or UCB, is a comedy theatre dedicated to fostering both an appreciation and an education of the arts through affordable and high quality comedic performances and classes. It is a fun destination and is open seven nights a week, at a very reasonable price. It provides an enjoyable experience and a comfortable theatre to enjoy the evening.

Those Before

The UCB comes with an esteemed list of alumni, including several performers and writers for many of the largest known comedy television shows of the day. Performers and writers from the UCB have gone on to work on Saturday Night Live, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, 30 Rock, The Office, and many other movies, TV shows, and other forms of media. Performers who have moved on to larger success haven’t completely moved on, though. There are many who still lend their talents to the theater and training center, spending time there both to perform, and to help others learn.

Amazing Talent

Tickets to UCB Theatre are $8 a person, but the theatre offers an amazing level of talent for the money. Many high level comedians have started, or performed at the UCB, and many of them continue to perform even though they are such high profile comedians now. The theatres are appropriate for all ages, and have at one point or another offered performances by Robin Williams, Mike Myers, Will Ferrell, Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, Conan O’Brian, and many others. Those individuals come back to perform often, supporting the arts and the theatre itself.

Learning from the Greats

The students of UCB Theatre are taught by many actors and writers, and are offered the help of excellent teachers. Taught sketch and improvisation comedy the students learn necessary skills and the theatre works on behalf of its students, giving them every opportunity to create their own voices, relationships, and careers.

Found at 307 W 26th St. the theatre offers quite a bit of talent and a very enjoyable evening for anyone looking for a night of laughter. It also offers a great place to learn comedy for those who are seeking a career in the industry.

Thriving Thursdays: The Belasco Theater

If you are looking for a little more show in your theater experience, visiting the Belasco Theater may be just the right choice. The Belasco Theater is an excellent establishment that has been in business for over a hundred years. It is also said to be haunted, making it an especially excellent stop for October, with all the mystery of the month layering the air with ambience and atmosphere.

History of the Theater

Originally named the Stuyvesant when it opened in 1907, the Belasco is known as one of the ten most haunted theatres in the world. The original owner, David Belasco, was known for being one of the most colorful 20th century Broadway producers, and was said to be a lady’s man and was also known for, oddly, dressing in a monk’s robes. Over the years the Belasco has been home to some unsettling sightings. Belasco’s robe-clad figure has been reported to be seen in both his old apartment (now the office space) and the theater’s balcony. Some women have also reported feeling a mysterious pinch, which is, of course attributed to the colorful producer.

Productions over the Years

From the theater’s inaugural production of A Grand Army Man in 1907, with a cast that included Antoinette Perry, the theater set a high bar for productions and for theater in general. Over the next two decades, David Belasco produced and directed nearly 50 shows, some of which he also wrote. Now the shows are just as high quality, and they offer the promise of an enjoyable night, with perhaps a bit of a scare as well.

The Belasco Theater offers an excellent chance for a fun night at the theater, and the possibility of the little extra fun of a ghost sighting. In October both Twelfth Night and Richard III will be running, and both promise to be excellent shows and an excellent opportunity to enjoy the theater. And since it’s the Belasco, there may be a little more as well. So, do you believe in ghosts?

Theater Location

111 West 44th Street
Between 6th and 7th Avenue
New York, NY 10036

Introduction to “Thriving Thursdays

In a city of thousands it is sometimes difficult to stand out. That goes for buildings as well. It can be difficult to find the best places to go, and the best destinations for a night of fun. Thriving Thursdays will provide information about the best destinations in the area, finding those places and putting the information all in one place.

City ‘Hotspots’

What’s popular changing from week to week, and from day to day. The ‘hotspot’ is never the same from one weekend to the next. Keeping up with the ‘place to be’ isn’t always easy. Well, now it is. Each week will feature a new, popular destination. The perfect place to spend a night on the town, enjoying the finer points of life. Knowing where to go to spend the perfect evening is easy, they’re all in one place.

Hidden Theaters

Living in New York, or even on the other side of the world, everyone has heard of Broadway. It’s not hard to know that there are always great plays to be seen, and amazing actors performing them. However, there are a lot of other theaters in the area as well. Hidden treasures that are less known, but no less worthy of visiting. Features about hidden theaters offer the opportunity to find a new place to visit, and maybe even find that perfect, cozy theater to go back to again and again.

Getting There in Style

Finding the perfect place to spend a night doesn’t help anything if there’s no way to get there. Arriving at a theater, or a club, in a Royal Luxury Limo gives the opportunity for that perfect entrance. Whether a fun night on the town visiting the hottest clubs, having a date night meal at the best restaurants, or settling in to a theater for a night of entertainment, a limo is the perfect way to travel, eliminating the need to a designated driver, adding a touch of class, and making the night truly special.

Planning the weekend is a whole lot easier with a weekly update on the best destinations. Thriving Thursdays provide information about all the best destinations, and all the best places to be. And since it appears on a Thursday, it’s just in time to plan the weekend and know exactly how to spend that perfect Friday night.