“omigod
omigod, you guys
Looks like Elle’s gonna win the prize
If there ever was a perfect couple, this one qualifies
omigod, you guys”

So opens the hit musical “Legally Blonde”. The tickets were my mom’s Mother’s Day present (how sad is it that the first weekend we could get together was in November??) and from the first opening seconds, I was obsessed. The sorority sisters were absolutely hysterical from their “omigods” to their constant snaps (I sat laughing as I thought about the amount of snapping I used to do in my own sorority in college).

Laura Bell Bundy, who plays Elle, was fantastic, although not completely believable as a naive ditz. She seemed almost too strong and confident right from the opening act. Orfeh, who plays Paulette (Elle’s hair stylist/friend), has an amazing, rich, husky voice which you didn’t forget about even as she was singing silly things about a lost Irish love, Enya, and some whales. The fact that she is married in real life to her onstage love, Andy Karl (the UPS man who’s the victim of Paulette’s vicious “bend and snap”), made everyone in the audience say, “Awww.”

The show would have not been complete without the sorority sidekicks: Delta Nu girls who constantly appeared throughout the musical, sometimes in Elle’s imagination, sometimes in real life. In “Positive,” they showed up to let Elle know she was totally better than her ex-boyfriend’s new love – even busting out in the form of a rap.

“Keep it positive
As you slap her to the floor
Keep it positive
As you pull her hair and call her whore”

“Look at her, she’s like a nun
Show him you are way more fun
Bust out the lap dance
and you won
You off the hizzle, gee!”

The only thing about the show that irked me was the miscast of Christian Borle as Elle’s confidant and eventual love, Emmet. In the movie, Luke Wilson managed to be slightlydorky,  but mostly cute and completely likeable. He was a realistic match for Elle. Borle, however, was way too geeky; he was believable as Elle’s friend, but definitely not her love interest. They did not make me say, “Aww.”

Overall, like I said, I was obsessed from the beginning. I made my mom buy me the soundtrack immediately afterwards, and for the rest of the day (ok, week) I walked around singing, “Omigod, omigod you guys.” As soon as the show was over, I wanted to see it again. Major props (and snaps!) for Legally Blonde on Broadway.

I leave you with my – ohmigod! – favorite:

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My love for Phil Collins was beginning to wane as I checked my phone to see it read 8:45 pm. The concert was scheduled for 8 pm and I was getting antsy.

But, all was forgiven 15 minutes later as he ran to the front of the stage and greeted us in his adorable accent. The last time I saw him live, I was 10 years old…but he still has some serious energy and stamina. Throughout the night he mixed it up by running around the stage singing, then tearing it up on his silver drum set. At one point he had a sick 10 minute drum-off with Chester Thompson. Forgive my bad video quality, but this is the beginning of their drum solo; they started off drumming on their chairs! 

They opened with “Turn It On Again,” threw in some “No Son of Mine,” “Tonight Tonight Tonight,” “Follow You Follow Me,” and left us with an encore and personal favorite of “I Can’t Dance.” There were some older songs mixed into the set that I didn’t know, but it hardly mattered because they had me spellbound.

Everything about this concert was amazing: the lights, the graphics on the screen, Phil Collins’ interaction with the crowd. The only thing that would’ve made it better is if we were in Philly. (Give me a break, I’m still a recent transplant. )Everytime Phil yelled something about it being “New Jersey’s show” I got really confused…and then remembered I was in the Meadowlands. (See this post for my real feelings about the area.)

I’d go see this concert again if they were playing tomorrow. I can’t say enough how amazing it was. Who knows the next time Genesis will tour; I feel so lucky to have been able to see one of the greatest bands perform. Now I sit on the edge of my seat, waiting to hear when U2 is touring next!

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I’ve already mention my love for fummer (see a few entries below), but my true love is autumn and everything that comes with it. Mainly football and Sam Adams Octoberfest, but the cool weather, changing leaves, and festive decorations all play a part too.

So, you can understand why I jump at the chance to experience anything that has to do with this season. When a friend mentioned a brewery that he frequents because of their seasonal Pumpkin brew, my eyes lit up. “When are we going??!!” I asked eagerly.

Although Heartland Brewery has five locations in the city, my friend’s favorite is the one in Union Square. So, that’s where I met him to experience my first “Smiling Pumpkin Ale” (obviously their official name for it, not mine). He threw me for a twist though: Instead of ordering a plain old pumpkin ale, he ordered us Jack O’Lanterns: A pumpkin ale with a shot of cider in it.

Since I’m so used to Sam’s Octoberfest in the autumn (which is a slightly heavier, darker beer), I figured pumpkin ale would be along the same lines. Errr I was wrong! It was much sweeter than I thought it would be, although the cider probably added to that. You could taste the spices in it, like cinnamon, but in no way was it overpowering.

According to the website, the beer is made with honey-roasted pumpkins and simmered with ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Yumm…boy did those go down easy. Heartland Brewery offers an amazing assortment of beer – I can’t wait to go back and try Farmer Jon’s Oatmeal Stout(right up my alley, as the website claims it’s a substitute for Guinness).

The details in this place are great – every beer has a comical logo to accompany it, which means your beer will show up with a coordinating glass and coaster:

Make sure you check out their website. The beer listing is phenomenal – they tell you the color, flavor, ingredients, a comparable beer, what meal you should enjoy it with, and more.

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