Pickleball at Fenway for the Pickle4 Ballpark Series

The pickleball craze has officially entered MLB Ballparks with the first of the Pickle4 Ballpark Series events happening this weekend at historic Fenway Park. I had the chance to attend this event, talk with some athletes and watch professional pickleball in Boston.

I arrived in the morning and enjoyed watching some of the amateur competitions throughout the day. There were some exhibitor booths so I had the chance to learn about FlexCar, a local Boston company that is like Netflix for cars, Designer Wellness, a protein company from CA that has a new squeezable smoothie in a pouch packed with protein and and no artificial sweeteners, SportCourt, so you can build a pickleball court in your backyard and Franklin Sports, one of my favorite local companies for years that has been making batting gloves and other family friendly sporting goods, now has a pickleball line and I love using their items!

One of my favorite things to do is to walk around Fenway when there aren't baseball games happening - it's the same Fenway but a totally different experience that I have been lucky to enjoy. 

I have just started on my pickleball journey having played two pickup games in town and really enjoyed it but also have learned that I have a long way to go before I can consider myself good at the game.

I spent some time watching Seth and Amy, a couple from New Hampshire, play in the Bronze competition in the 30-39 age bracket. I enjoyed watching them play and the communication between them. I had the opportunity to talk with them after their match and learn about their pickleball journey and I also learned that the wife was playing as she was well into her third trimester. Way to go, Seth and Amy, not only making history by playing pickleball at Fenway but also being pregnant while playing pickleball at Fenway! So fun and best of luck to you both!

There is a kids clinic happening tomorrow morning that I'll be taking the little guy to and you can still reserve tickets to attend. I hear it will be run by some of the professional athletes. I'll be honest - I wish I could attend it and learn from them as well!

Pickleball is here until Sunday and you can get spectator tickets for only $10. You also get the chance to enjoy Fenway Concessions from Aramark as well while you're here!

NOTE: I was provided with a press pass to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own!

Looking for something fun to do on Saturday? Bluey's Big Play is coming to the Wang Theatre in Boston

Photo courtesy of Bluey's Big Play ©blueylive.com

It’s time to see the much-loved Heeler family from the popular show Bluey in their very first live show in Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show which will have five performances at the Wang Theatre April 7-8.

Fans of all ages will get to see Bluey, Bingo, Bandit, and Chilli as they’ve never seen them before, as the Heelers embark on their very first live theater show in the U.S. featuring puppetry, live actors, and iconic sets. Based on an original new story written by Bluey creator Joe Brumm, Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show also contains new music by Bluey composer, Joff Bush. 

The show has family-friendly showtimes on Friday, April 7th (Good Friday so most schools are closed) at 11:00 am & 4:00 pm and Saturday, April 8th at 11:00 am, 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm.

Tickets are available at the Boch Center Box Office, online at www.bochcenter.org or by phone at 866-348-9738. Prices are subject to change. Additional fees and special offers may apply.

For more information on the show, check out www.blueylive.com

NOTE: We received this press release in advance of the Bluey's Big Play show and were provided with a 4-pack of tickets in exchange for this promotion as well as to provide a recap after the show. No other compensation was provided and we will let you know what we think after the show on Saturday!

Disney Animation Immersive Experience in Boston was so innovative and fun!

This past weekend we had the opportunity to see the Disney Animation Immersive Experience by Lighthouse Immersive being held at The Saunders Castle at Park Plaza in Boston.

They recommend that you arrive at least 20 minutes prior to your ticketed show time so that you can get checked in and have an opportunity to view some of the artwork while you wait in line. You can also learn how to draw popular Disney characters while you wait!

We happened to arrive late, so they still checked us in and brought us right into the show! We were amazed at how large the space was and how many people were inside enjoying the show. We went in the room and were fully immersed in a Disney animation complete with music and animation from your favorite movies that surround you! 

The coolest parts were when they had bubbles appear and smoke machines and even smoke-filled bubbles that would produce rings of smoke when popped. The kids, young and old, enjoyed running around trying to pop bubbles during various performances.

There are various ticket types and the one we had called Premium Plus allowed us to rent a cushion and a light-up wristband that was synchronized to the show and would light up at various times. After the show was over, we returned the cushion and wristband and received a souvenir print to take home.

One of the most fun parts of the exhibit was the motion-sensitive animations on the floor of the room - when you walked around the stars that were projected would move away from your walking path based on where you were in the space - such a fun use of technology!

The show runs through the end of May and we are fortunate to be able to give away a four-pack of tickets to one lucky reader who enters through the rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

NOTE: We were provided with tickets for this Disney immersive experience as well as a set of tickets to giveaway to one lucky reader. All opinions are our own and no other compensation was provided.

Jurassic World Live Tour: Dinosaurs brought to life!

If you're a fan of the Jurassic Park franchise, you'll want to see the Jurassic World Live Tour in Boston, March 31-April 9 or Worcester, April 14-16! This exciting show, takes you on a journey to the island of Isla Nublar, where you get to experience the thrill of encountering realistic, life-sized dinosaurs in a live setting.

Be sure to arrive an hour before the showtime so you can get up close and personal with a chance to take photos with the dinosaurs and vehicles and even meet Baby Bumpy!

This collaboration between Feld Entertainment and Universal Brand Development, brought this story to life! One of the most impressive aspects of the show is how they have incorporated state-of-the-art animatronics and puppetry to bring the dinosaurs to life. The dinosaurs are so realistic you almost forget they aren't actually alive. The show also features a talented cast of actors and stunt performers who bring the characters to life and keep the audience engaged. 

The kids enjoyed the show, but there were some times where it was either a little too loud or scary for our younger one with all of the special effects, so while it appeals to all ages, we felt the ideal range for this show would be 8-12 year olds. 

The show provides an unforgettable experience that combines thrilling action, impressive visuals, and educational content. So, if you're looking for an exciting and educational outing for the whole family, be sure to catch the Jurassic World Live Tour in Boston, March 31-April 9 or Worcester, April 14-16!

We are fortunate to give away a four-pack of tickets to the opening night in Boston to one of our followers - hurry as this flash giveaway will be ending in 48 hours!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

NOTE: We were provided with tickets to the show in order to facilitate this review and a 4-pack of tickets to give away. No other compensation was provided and all opinions are our own.

Don't miss the Art of the Brick LEGO exhibit in Boston! Now until the end of April 2023

Nathan Sawaya is a renowned artist who has taken the world by storm with his captivating creations made entirely out of LEGO bricks. His exhibit, "The Art of the Brick," has been in Boston since November and delighting audiences.

"The Art of the Brick" features many sculptures throughout three floors, ranging from small and intricate to large and awe-inspiring. Each sculpture has been made using thousands of LEGO bricks, and we were tried guessing how many bricks were in each sculpture. We were surprised when we looked at the total number of bricks it took to build each one!

You are encouraged to take photos, being careful not to touch the structures on the first and second floor. Once you get to the third floor, you can build their own creations using LEGO bricks provided at the exhibit and even take a picture sitting in a life-size LEGO chair. This interactive aspect of the exhibit adds an element of fun and creativity that is rare in traditional art exhibits.

"The Art of the Brick" is a must-see exhibit for anyone interested in art, design, or LEGO bricks. It is a testament to the power of creativity and imagination, and it showcases the incredible potential of a toy that has captured the hearts and minds of generations. 

We are pleased to offer a giveaway for a 4-pack of tickets to this show. Please enter below using the rafflecopter widget:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

NOTE: We were provided with complimentary passes to the exhibit to facilitate this review as well as passes to giveaway to a lucky reader. All opinions are our own and no other compensation was provided.

Fun Globetrotters Basketball and Disney on Ice performances and another Disney on Ice giveaway!

During the winter break, we checked out the Globetrotters at the TD Garden and Disney on Ice at Boston University's Agganis Arena. The shows were fantastic and the kids had a great time.

The Globetrotters show was exciting and hilarious as usual with the Globies putting on their usual performance of fun times combined with some great basketball. As could be predicted, the Washington Generals tried to keep up with the Trotters in scoring but couldn't catch their lead.

The Trotters had some fun moments like their Lion King reenactment where they pick a young kid from the audience and raise them up - it was hilarious! They also had some acrobatic moves flipping up on top of the hoop to block a shot. We thoroughly enjoyed staying for their fifth quarter, the autograph session where fans young and old could go down courtside to meet the players and take photos with them and get their autographs. Certainly some fun memories made, for sure!

Agganis Arena was a great location to see Disney on Ice: Find your Hero! We arrived a little before the show and were able to find street parking just off Commonwealth Avenue. We went into the venue and the kids enjoyed the show. We enjoyed performances from Moana, Tangled, the Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and others!

We are excited to offer a family four-pack of tickets to the next Disney On Ice performance at the TD Garden, Frozen and Encanto, February 22 at 7pm. You can enter to win here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We have some photos from the Globetrotters and Disney on Ice performances here:

NOTE: We were provided with tickets to Disney on Ice and the Globetrotters in order to facilitate this review as well as the tickets for the giveaway. No other compensation was provided and all opinions are our own.

Cirque du Soleil presents 'Twas the Night Before.... at the Wang Theatre in Boston

This weekend, we had the opportunity to see Cirque du Soleil presents 'Twas the Night Before.... at the Wang Theatre in Boston and the show was absolutely amazing.

It is an exhilarating spin on the beloved Christmas classic with the acrobatic and theatric storytelling that is a signature Cirque du Soleil performance. 

We kept gasping and cheering for the artists as they performed many difficult moves and dances to a very upbeat musical soundtrack. There were aerialists, gymnasts and even roller skaters - we kept being in awe of one performance after the next.

We couldn't believe how one of the aerial performers did all of her acts while being hooked up to the rope by her hair (and can't imagine how much that must have hurt)!

My daughter loved the performers in the acrobating table and hoop diving. I enjoyed the aerial acrobatics at the beginning as well as the artists performing with diablos and involving two audience members as well.

The show is in Boston through December 11 and tickets are still available.

Although photos were not permitted during the show, we did receive some press photos that we are able to share below:

Photo credit Kyle Flubacker, MSG Entertainment

Photo credit Kyle Flubacker, MSG Entertainment

Photo credit Kyle Flubacker, MSG Entertainment

Photo credit Kyle Flubacker, MSG Entertainment

NOTE: We were provided with complimentary admission to the show in order to facilitate this review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are our own.

Crystal by Cirque du Soleil on ice came to Boston and it was outstanding!

Crystal by Cirque du Soleil on ice came to Boston and it was outstanding! We were offered tickets to see the show at Agganis Arena in Boston and the show totally blew us away. We arrived a bit close to show-time and when we picked up our tickets we didn't recognize the section later to find out they were right on the floor. We have never had seats this close and they were unreal.

The show started on ice and it is the first time that Cirque du Soleil performed a show on ice and we were amazed at the acrobatics and artistry performed on ice! We happened to somehow land in seats that the artists interacted with a few of us throughout the show and totally caught me off guard when one of the artists passed a glowing orb to me and I caught it. This has *never* happened with the seats that I got but this was a performance we will remember for sure!

The story was wonderfully told through quite a few series of ice skating, gymnastics and aerobatics. 

Cirque du Soleil is bringing their show to the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island from July 7-10 for five performances. You can get discounted tickets starting at $39 each thanks to Cirque Week which ends on Sunday, June 26 by clicking on the link here.

NOTE: We were provided with tickets to the show in Boston in order to facilitate this review. No other compensation was provided and all opinions, as always, are our own.