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The Saybrook Point Inn & Spa Boasts History, Luxury & More

Although the winter time this year seems more like an Indian Summer with the weather we have been having lately, it is still good for us to get out of New York City and vacation elsewhere to get yourself out of the concrete jungle and somewhere that is much more relaxing regardless of the temperature. Luckily enough, there is a great location right outside New York City that takes roughly 90 minutes to get to via Amtrak and has so many amenities and bonuses to it that you will leave feeling invigorated, satisfied and above all… happy. This is The Saybrook Point Inn & Spa, located in the heart of Old Saybrook, Connecticut.

Fresh Salt Lights Up Saybrook Point Inn & Spa

by Ryan Shea

Over the weekend I got to experience the incredible Saybrook Point Inn & Spa, conveniently located about an hour outside of New York City in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. The luxury inn is so much more than a place to lay your head at night, and has several different amenities, functionalities and things to do all under one roof that it is completely worth the visit (that article will be going up shortly). One of the highlights for me during my stay was their incredible restaurant located inside the main building of Saybrook Point Inn called Fresh Salt, which was recently named “Top 25 Most Gorgeous & Delicious Outdoor Dining Spots in Connecticut” by Connecticut Magazine.

Escape New York City and Head to The Finger Lakes

by Ryan Shea

As awesome as New York City is in the holiday season, there are times where we just want to escape, go on vacation, and enjoy what the rest of the world has to offer us. Did you know though that one of the best places to visit happens to be a quick 45 minute plane ride away? I am of course, talking about The Finger Lakes region in upstate New York, which is the perfect place to take your friends and family to for some wintertime fun. [Read more…] about Escape New York City and Head to The Finger Lakes

Midtown’s Top Hotels Grand Gesture To Our Homeless This Friday

by Ryan Shea

With all the craziness that is going on in the upcoming days, many of us forget how fortunate we are that we get to enjoy days like Thanksgiving in the comfort of our own home while there are several that don’t have that luxury. Fortunately for the homeless people in New York City, there is this amazing initiative that is taking place this coming Friday where they can feel that luxury and be apart of what this year is supposed to be about.

The Waldorf Astoria, New York Lotte Palace and Four Seasons New York (all competing hotels, mind you) are hosting Fare Share Friday, which is taking place at St. Bart’s Cathedral right here in New York City. On deck with Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness, and partnered with Crossroads Community Services, Fare Share Friday is an annual celebration where soup kitchen regulars, volunteers and supporters of Crossroads will share a special dinner prepared by Chef David Garcelon from The Waldorf Astoria New York, Chef Jacques Sorci from Lotte New York Palace and Chef John Johnson from the Four Seasons Hotel New York.

More information from the actual site– The dinner has 2 seatings at 4pm & 7pm, and is brought together by the kindness of volunteers, including the Les Clefs D’Or spoons. All proceeds from the event go to the Crossroads Community soup kitchen, food pantry and women’s shelter and their ongoing mission to erase hunger by uniting the community.

Tickets for the dinner are priced at $100, while those in need are obviously welcomed at no cost. All proceeds benefit the Crossroads Kitchen. The hope for this every year is that it will bring people who purchased tickets and members of the Crossroads community together because “we all have a place at the table”. I personally think it is a wonderful initiative that I hope all of you can support. For more information on Fare Share Friday, click here.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals for Manhattanites

by Ryan Shea

Black Friday and Cyber Monday is shortly approaching! For all of us Manhattanites, we want to get the best deals possible whether it is something for ourselves, friends, family or that special someone in our life. Lucky for all of you, Manhattan Digest has found some really great deals to get you psyched for the two biggest shopping days of the year! Check out the offers below.

HARD ROCK CAFE: NEW YORK

This year, Hard Rock Cafe New York is offering a FREE breakfast entrée from its new breakfast menu beginning on (Black) Friday, November 27th and extending through Sunday, November 29th, for guests who make a $40 retail purchase from the cafe’s Rock Shop.

Looking for the perfect holiday gift? Hard Rock Cafe New York has limited-edition gifts that give back as part of its IMAGINE campaign – the below options would make great stocking stuffers and proceeds support WhyHunger’s fight to end childhood hunger and poverty:

Bracelets – For a $2 donation, guests can choose from an assortment of colored bracelets with 100 percent of funds raised benefiting WhyHunger

T-Shirt – 15 percent of the retail price of the IMAGINE T-shirt, which features the inspiring words “IMAGINE THERE’S NO HUNGER” alongside a peace sign, will benefit WhyHunger

More info here.

AHAVA

As the definitive Dead Sea Minerals beauty expert, AHAVA knows more than anyone else about the science behind the Dead Sea’s power to revitalize and brings this knowledge and innovation to every one of its products.

Black Friday/Cyber Monday – Special offers up to 50% off at ahavaus.com.

Special Promo Code– AHAVA would like to offer up to 25% off purchases made on ahavaus.com with select promo code ManhattanDigest. Valid 11/24-12/18. Offer excludes new products, sets and value sizes.

RETAILMENOT (www.retailmenot.com)

Before even entering the Black Friday door busters or logging in for Cyber Monday, arm yourself with the RetailMeNot app. Recent survey findings from RetailMeNot state almost 65% of consumers find their biggest financial holiday season stress to be the cost of gifts and turn to Black Friday and Cyber Monday for bargains.

RetailMeNot makes make it easy to save money when you are shopping online and in store by sharing hundreds of thousands of digital promotions and coupons from a variety of retailers on their site and app – West Elm, Best Buy, Target, Sephora, Frontier Airlines, Toys ‘R’ Us, Amazon, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s etc. Walk into a mall or shopping center and RetailMeNot will use geofencing to send you notifications with coupons at the stores closest to you.

ALTERNA HAIRCARE

Cyber Week Deal: Friday, 11/27 – Friday, 12/4

Caviar Moisture Trio – Travel-friendly Caviar Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner and Caviar CC Cream, this fan favorite collection is perfect for stocking stuffers or holiday traveling.

Price: $10, Available at Sephora and Sephora.com while supplies last

Repairx Trio – Help repair stressed strands with this trio that includes: Caviar Repairx Shampoo & Conditioner and Caviar CC Cream

Price:$15, Available exclusively at salons

ILUMINAGE

Cyber Monday Deal: Monday, 11/30

The first and only, personalized at-home permanent hair removal device FDA cleared for all skin tones and clinically proven for the widest range of hair colors. iluminage will be running a one day only flash sale—30% off all hair removal products.

ANTHONY

Cyber Week Deal: Wednesday, 11/25 – Monday, 11/30

20% off on most items, exclusive of kits and jumbo-sized products

BEAUTY.COM

Find the perfect gift for every beauty junkie on your list

Cyber Week Deal: Monday, 11/23 – Monday, 11/30

More than 50 gift with purchase options at Beauty.com

Click here for updates on daily gift with purchase options from favorites such as bliss, bareMinerals, Caudalie, Deborah Lippmann, Laura Geller Origins, and Too Faced, amongst others

These amazing deals are only available while supplies last

BLISS

Black Friday Deal: Friday, 11/27 – Monday, 11/30

30% off all products at blissworld.com by using the code: Dazzle30 at checkout

Deluxe gift with purchase – free with any $150 purchase, this is kit includes: micromagic microdermabrasion treatment, triple oxygen ex-‘glow’-sion, fabulips sugar lip scrub and fabulips softening lip balm in a limited edition Kate Spade cosmetic bag (valued at $176)

Holiday beauty gift bag free with any purchase of $75 or more. Use brilliant15 at checkout

Available at Blissworld.com

Spa Only Members

Treat your feet with a pedicure: 30% discount and a FREE full size Foot Patrol product

Personal shopping– Give bliss your shopping list and price points and bliss will have your gifts ready for you when you are finished with your service. Available in all NYC locations

Cyber Monday Deal: Monday, 11/30

Save an additional 50% off 10 of bliss’ best-selling bundles. Customers can use the promo code brilliant15 or DELUXE at checkout to get one of our free gifts

bliss fabulous foaming face wash set of 2; Price: $28 ($48 value)

bliss triple oxygen radiant energizing serum & energizing vitamin c day cream; Price: $99 ($170 value)

bliss lemon + sage body butter set of 2 full retail value; Price: $29 ($58 value)

Available at Blissworld.com

BLUSHINGTON

Blushington Makeup & Beauty Lounge is the premier makeup service destination lounge that started in LA, opened in Texas and has opened its FIRST NYC outpost. Think of it like the DryBar for makeup. Located inside the Underground at Le Parker Meriden, Blushington is the first of its kind and truly the original concept. It transforms the experience from a special occasion luxury to an everyday necessity. There’s a variety of services offered that include (and extent beyond) makeup… full face makeup application, eyelash extensions, faux lash applications, brow maintenance, tinting and extensions, touch-ups and more.

Black Friday Deal: Friday, 11/27- Monday, 11/30

20% off ALL products + services for Friday only. *Not applicable to gift cards or memberships; Valid in-store only

CAUDALIE

Black Friday Deal: Friday, 11/27

Don’t miss amazing savings this Black Friday! Spend $100 at Boutique locations and receive two travel items of your choice plus a Caudalie Makeup Pouch

Value: $25 – $47

Cyber Monday Deal: Monday, 11/30

Tier 1 – Spend $25 to receive Caudalie Winter Duo (Lip Conditioner, Hand and Nail Cream 30ml); Price:$12

Tier 2 – Spend $75 to receive Caudalie Winter Duo + Beauty Elixir 30ml and City Girl Tote; Price: $50

Tier 3 – Spend $150 to receive Caudalie Winter Duo + Beauty Elixir 30ml + Moisturizing Mask 25ml, Foaming Cleanser 50ml and Weekend Bag; Price: $93

ERNO LASZLO

Combat dry skin and any other skin concerns this winter with multiple deals and savings from ErnoLaszlo.com to keep you fully loaded with all your skincare essentials.

Cyber Week Deal: 11/23 – 11/30

Spend $225 and receive: 3-piece Firmarine gift including: Firmarine Moisturizer SPF 30 (15ml), Firmarine Night Cream (15ml), Firmarine Serum (5ml)

Spend $350 and receive: 3-piece Transphuse Gift: Transphuse Day Serum (5ml), Transphuse Night Serum (15ml), Transphuse Line Refining Cream (2ml) + the $225 Firmarine Gift

Spend $450 and receive: 3-piece Repair Gift: Timeless Skin Serum (15ml), Phormula 3-9 Repair Balm (30ml), Phormula 3-9 Eye Repair (1ml) + the $350 Transphuse gift + the $225 Firmarine gift

JUNE JACOBS

Cyber Week Deal: 11/23 – 11/30

Make sure to stock up on all the June Jacobs favorites (and include gifts for any skincare junkie on the list) with promotions on JuneJacobs.com that last throughout all of Cyber Week. Starting Monday, November 23^rd until midnight on November 30^th, receive 24% off on all orders. Free shipping and a free full size Neroli Mist will be included in any order of $50 or more, while supplies last.

Available on JuneJacobs.com

KENNETH COLE BLACK

Black Friday Deal: Friday, 11/27 – Saturday, 11/28

Celebrate the 20^th Anniversary of the Kenneth Cole brand, Black is a sexy and sophisticated masculine fragrance that reflects the elegance and style of the city. There is an opulence that only Black conveys – it evokes an undeniable presence that’s as masculine, modern and timeless and the color itself. With its invigorating blend of mint and mandarin combined with masculine notes of incense, exotic woods and black suede, this fragrance is a modern combination that’s both fresh and sensuous at once. Kit includes: 3.4 oz EDT, 3.4 oz After Shave Balm and 2.6 oz Deodorant.

Price: $40 ($110 value); Available at Macy’s

KÉRASTASE PARIS

Black Friday & Cyber Monday: Thursday, 11/26 – Wednesday, 12/2

Enjoy savings on luxurious haircare products and deluxe gifts from Kérastase!

10% off all online orders

Free deluxe sample of Chronologiste Parfum Oil

Free shipping on orders $75

Visit Kerastase-USA.com/SpecialOff-Show for details

LAURA GELLER

Stock up on Laura Geller favorites for every beauty junkie on your list with a variety of deals, multiple gift-with-purchase options, and free standard shipping on all orders over $50 throughout Cyber Week on LauraGeller.com.

Black Friday Preview: Monday, 11/23 – Thursday, 11/26

25% off all orders with code: PREVIEW25

30% off orders over $100 with code: PREVIEW30

Laura Geller Fabulous Favorites 3 Piece Gift With Purchase ($34 Value) on orders of $50 or more. GWP features a travel size Baked Bronze-n-Brighten in Medium, Mini Color Drenched Lip Gloss in French Press Rose and the Spackle® Under Make-Up Primer in Original

Black Friday Deal: Friday, 11/27 – Sunday, 11/29

25% off all orders with code: FRIDAY25

30% off orders over $100 with code: FRIDAY30

Laura Geller Black Friday 3 piece Gift with Purchase ($30 Value) on orders $50 or more. GWP features a Mini Fortifying Lashes Eyelash Primer, Mini Color Drenched Lip Gloss in Café Au Lait and Mini Spackle® Original Under Make-Up Primer (0.50 oz.)

Cyber Monday Deal: Monday, 11/30 (offers below can be combined for one day only)

50-75% off select products

45% off orders $135 or more with code: CYBER45

Free Large Foundation Brush and Deluxe Spackle® Supercharged Sample (1 oz.) with orders of $50 or more

PETER THOMAS ROTH

Black Friday Deal: Friday, 11/27

Buy a Peter Thomas Roth Mega Rich Body Cream and get a free CC Eye Correcting Concealer; Price: $18.00 ($42 value)

Cyber Monday Deal: Monday, 11/30

Buy a Peter Thomas Roth Ultra-Lite Anti-Aging Cellular Repair and get one for free; Price: $52.00 ($104 value)

RALPH LAUREN FRAGRANCES

Cyber Monday Deal: Monday, 11/30

Throw in an extra gift for any man on your list this holiday season. On Cyber Monday only, customers will receive three travel-size bottles (7ml) of Polo Red, Polo Black, and Polo Blue with any Ralph Lauren Fragrance purchase of 3.4oz or larger.

Available exclusively at Macys.com

SKIN LAUNDRY

Skin Laundry is a simple, smart and safe laser skin treatment solution designed to make maintaining healthy skin both accessible and convenient. The signature 10-minute medical-grade treatment uses modern technology and advanced non-invasive lasers and light therapy to vaporize the dirt, debris, pollutants and toxins in the skin and deep within pores for brighter, cleaner and clearer skin. Regular treatments will visibly improve skin’s smoothness, evenness, tone, texture, radiance and clarity, while diminishing the appearance of acne, pores, hyperpigmentation, reducing the look of lines, wrinkles and restoring firmer, tighter skin.

Black Friday Deal: Friday, 11/27

Skin Laundry is offering an exclusive week-long in-store promotion from Saturday, November 21^st through Sunday, November 29^that each of their locations in Los Angeles, Scottsdale and New York City. Free Starter Kit includes full size products: Gentle Foaming Wash, Clarifying Toner, Advanced Protection Daily Moisturizer SPF 35 and Restoring Night Serum ($110 value) when you join the Laundry Club and sign up for the 4 treatments per month membership.

Cyber Monday Deal: From Thursday, 11/26 – Monday, 11/30

Save an additional 25% online on all products in their extensive collection

STRIVECTIN

Stock up on all your skincare essentials with 20% off site-wide and with any purchase at StriVectin.com from November 21^st until December 1^st.

Black Friday Deal: Thursday, 11/27 – Saturday, 11/29

Receive a Holiday Travel Treats ($45 value) set with any $75 purchase. The kit includes three deluxe samples of the SD Advanced™ Intensive Concentrate for Wrinkles & Stretch Marks, Advanced Retinol Intensive Night Moisturizer, Instant Retexturizing Scrub

Cyber Monday Deal: Monday, 11/30 – Tuesday, 12/1

Receive a 24/7 Skin Facial Fix Trio ($35 value) set with any $75 purchase. The set includes: three deluxe samples of SD Advanced™ Intensive Concentrate for Wrinkles & Stretch Marks, Advanced Retinol Intensive Night Moisturizer, StriVectinLABS 5-Minute Weekly Glycolic Peel Duo Packette

Available at StriVectin.com

URBAN DECAY

Black Friday Deal: Thursday, 11/27 – Friday, 11/28

Crush Your Gift List with 20% off site wide on UrbanDecay.com. Score cult favorites for the holiday season including the latest addition to the NAKED palette franchise, NAKED Smoky, plus limited-edition must-haves, like Vice 4, that will fulfill the color craving for the makeup junkies on your list.

Cyber Monday Deal: Monday, 11/30

Bust out the laptop charger and cozy up to your wireless router – Urban Decay has got a killer Cyber Monday deal and you’re not going to want to miss out…the Naked Vault Volume II is coming back. Sold out in just mere HOURS when it first launched earlier this month, this blockbuster set includes EVERY SINGLE PALETTE in the NAKED franchise: NAKED, NAKED 2, NAKED3, NAKED Smoky, NAKED Basics and NAKED2 Basics.

Price: $165, Available at UrbanDecay.com

Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals At The Library Hotel Collection

by Ryan Shea

Two of the biggest holidays are right around the corner! No, I am not talking about Thanksgiving and Christmas… I am talking about Black Friday and Cyber Monday! My favorite hotels in the city… The Library Hotel Collection, are each offering some fabulous discounts for their customers as we head into the busy holiday season. All of these hotels offer something unique, special and amazing and I would recommend staying at any of them! These deals start at midnight on Black Friday. More details for each are below, with links to book. Happy Travels everyone, and a safe shopping holiday for all!

Hotel Giraffe

Book your 2016 NYC getaway now and save 25% off their Best Flexible Rate at Hotel Giraffe! Enjoy their lowest rate available and lots of wonderful free amenities with no deposits and no blackout dates! Cancellation policy: 30 days notice required to avoid any charges. To access the special offer, please click “book here” or use Promotional Code: CYBER. Book here!

Hotel Elysee

Plan your 2016 NYC getaway now to take advantage of their biggest sale ever! Save 25% off of their Best Flexible Rates on any room or suite, and enjoy lots of wonderful free amenities plus a bottle of wine on arrival. Conditions: No deposits required and no blackout dates apply. Cancellation policy: 21 days notice required to avoid any charges. To access the special offer, please click “book here” or use Promotional Code: CYBER. Book here!

Casablanca Hotel

Book your 2016 NYC getaway now for the best deal they have ever offered! Save 25% off our Best Flexible rate and enjoy lots of wonderful free amenities at one of TripAdvisor’s top NYC hotels. Conditions and Cancellation: No deposit is required until 30 days prior to arrival. To avoid being charged, please advise the hotel of your change of plans prior to that date. Blackout dates are: December 1–17 and 27-31, 2016. To access the special offer, please click “book here” or use Promotional Code: CYBER. Book here!

Library Hotel

Book your 2016 NYC getaway now and save 22% off their Best Flexible Rate at the award winning Library Hotel! Enjoy their lowest rate available and lots of wonderful free amenities plus a Library Hotel signature tote bag with no deposits and no blackout dates! Conditions: The promotion will not apply to the Love Room and Mythology Room. A minimum stay may be required. The Library Hotel signature tote bag will be limited to one (1) reservation only; one (1) tote per room. Cancellation policy: 21 days notice required to avoid any charges. To access the special offer, please click “book now” or use Promotional Code: CYBER. Book here!

Head to Connecticut & Stay At The Saybrook Point Inn & Spa

by Ryan Shea

Well Manhattanites, the 2015 holiday season is officially underway! Now that we are in the midst of gift giving, eating a ton of calories that we will regret the next day, and of course seeing all of our friends and family, most of us also are thinking about what our next travel destination will be like to get away from the craziness that will ensue, even if its just for a couple of days. Luckily, you don’t have to go too far to experience relaxation, fun, and decadence all under one location for a great and affordable price! This location is the Saybrook Point Inn and Spa, only an hour away from NYC in Old Saybrook, CT.

Known for its charming New England character and feel, Saybrook Point is the perfect getaway for celebrating Autumn’s vibrant colors and refreshing season delights. Nestled between Long Island Sound and the Connecticut River, the Saybrook Point Inn & Spa gives guests the opportunity to experience breathtaking views and elegant dining surrounded by the finest accommodations and luxurious amenities. During theseason, this award-winning resort offers a unique array of packages for guests to enjoy the perks of being on vacation without ever having to leave the joys and comforts of this well-appointed property on the shores of southern Connecticut.

What are some of the amenities that Saybrook Point Inn offers? For one, the rooms alone are to die for. Whether you are looking for great views of the Long Island Sound, a warm fireplace to sit around with your friends, full spray body showers and daily breakfasts at their on location restaurant called Fresh Salt, there is so much to look forward to that its hard to choose just one! Saybrook Point Inn & Spa also offers their guests access to their health club, as well as their spa called Sanno which provides a diverse collection of services from facials, body wraps and more. There is also Fresh Salt, discussed earlier, which was named by Connecticut Magazine as one of the Top 25 Most Gorgeous & Delicious Outdoor Dining Spots in Connecticut. They also have incredible accommodations for meetings, events and weddings should you want to upgrade yourself for each and have a splendid time in doing so.

On top of all of this, Saybrook Point Inn & Spa offers some really amazing package deals worth looking into. Now until November 14th, The Saybrook Point Inn & Spa is commemorating Veterans Day 2015 by offering a special room rate of $119 at the main Inn for those who have served and those who are currently serving in the United States Armed Services. Looking for a little romance? They have you covered. Available Sunday to Friday, Romance On The Point includes a bottle of wine upon arrival, $50 per person towards dinner at Fresh Salt, $125 SANNO Spa credit per person, and $20 per person toward breakfast in the morning. They also have packages geared towards Sanno and their B&B which is definitely worth looking into.

I completely recommend anyone taking a quick trip on the Amtrak to Old Saybrook and spending a night or two (or three) at Saybrook Point Inn. With the amazing amenities, location, and so much more, it is worth the trip and you will leave feeling refreshed, renewed and satisfied. For more information on Saybrook Point Inn, check out their official site. Happy travels everyone!

Exciting Announcements from The Hotel Elysee!

by Ryan Shea

The Hotel Elysee is a huge favorite of ours here at Manhattan Digest, to the point where we actually featured them as one of the top hotels in Manhattan only a little time ago! With so many different amenities that they provide such as spacious rooms, delicious continental breakfast and their wine & cheese reception happening daily, there is so much to love about Hotel Elysee I can totally see why TripAdvisor has them listed as the best of the best in the greatest city in the world. Well with the busy holiday season coming up, Hotel Elysee wants you to feel even more welcomed than you already would be with some amazing package deals that would make your stay in New York City even better!

If you book and prepay your reservation for the months of November 2015 and January & February 2016 for only 2 nights or more and receive 2 complimentary VIP tickets to MoMA, just around the corner from the Hotel Elysée! MoMa is world renowned and is a place that we have featured on Manhattan Digest before. It is a place that I recommend anyone stopping during their visit to NYC and all you have to do is book two fabulous nights at Hotel Elysee in order to get their VIP treatment! How amazing is that?

Manhattan Digest, Ryan Shea, Hotel Elysee — Credit to: Hotel Elysee

Rates based on availability. Two night minimum stay required. Booking must be prepaid and is non-cancellable. Only available during the months of November 2015 and January & February 2016. Offer only available for a limited time. Other restrictions may apply. See above for a beautiful photo of the Hotel Elysee staff at MoMa’s Warhol exhibit.

For more information on booking and anything else related to Hotel Elysee, check out their official site.

Fly Big, Fly Short: Save on Holidays, Save Anytime

by Ryan Shea

By Rick Seaney – CEO of FareCompare.com

The holiday season in the Big Apple is a bustling time, but what if you’re looking to get away this year? This handy little trick will help anyone who can exercise a little (or a lot) of flexibility, especially when choosing destinations. It could save a bundle during the holidays and it’s very simple. Keep reading, after the podcast.

LISTEN: Rick Seaney’s podcast has more.

Fly Big, Fly Short for Savings

What this means:

Fly big: Fly between two large airports, preferably hubs. This includes both departure and destination airports.

Fly short: Limit flight times to roughly 90 minutes or less.

Such routes typically have lots of airline competition, which keeps prices low, but it also protects the routes from the crazy holiday price hikes that are all-too-common at peak travel periods.

Here are some examples of fly-big-fly-short routes; see the non-peak pricing vs. holiday fares:

NYC – Washington DC*

Flights in October: $267 average
Flights week of Christmas: $203

NYC – Boston*

Flights in October: $281 average
Flights week of Thanksgiving: $155

Dallas – Houston*

Flights in October: $371 average
Flights week of Christmas: $183

Los Angeles – San Francisco*

Flights in October: $325 average
Flights at Thanksgiving: $229

*Round trips. Non-stop. All prices were found the first week of October and may have changed.

What You Can Do

Are you leaving New York to head to a small town or location with limited airport options? If your destination airport is small but there’s a hub within a couple hours drive, compare prices to both; the longer drive may be worth it. If you’re traveling as a group, there is a lot of savings. And since you probably don’t drive much or at all living in New York, here’s your chance!

Tip: See if you can influence holiday venues. If the family can’t decide whether to celebrate Turkey Day in Hartford or Boston, compare prices to both cities – but Boston will likely be a better deal for most.

Whether flying big or small, long or short, always compare airfares. No single airline always has the best deal but you won’t know which does if you don’t compare.

Theater Reviews: RED VELVET & MOTHER OF THE MAID

by Ryan Leeds

I don’t know your life. I’m not pretending to be omniscient nor do I mean to minimize your issues, but I can hedge a pretty safe bet that your personal problems will dwarf in the shadows of Ira Aldridge and Isabelle Arc. These historical figures are the subjects of two productions, Red Velvet and Mother of the Maid, currently running at Shakespeare and Company in Massachusetts’ culture rich Berkshires.

John Douglas Thompson in RED VELVET. Photo by Enrico Spada.

Lolita Chakrabarti’s Red Velvet tells the story of Aldridge (John Douglas Thompson), a well-known 19th century actor who made his mark playing classical roles throughout Europe. When esteemed actor Edmund Keane falls ill at London’s Covent garden while playing Othello, Aldridge is summoned as a replacement. Pierre Laporte (Joe Tapper), the company manager is quick to suggest Aldridge. What he fails to tell the acting troupe is that Aldridge is African-American. Laporte, an upbeat optimist, thinks nothing of it. However, Keane’s cast is unjustifiably unsettled by the new actor. Facing even further opposition, Aldridge must endure theater critics who judge him based more on his physical appearance than the quality of his work. In spite of audience approval, the theater board is tasked with a challenging decision to keep or remove their new replacement. Aldridge is also suspected of dalliances with his co-star, Ellen Tree (Kelley Curran), further adding to his challenges.

Joe Tapper and John Douglas Thompson in RED VELVET.Photo by Enrico Spada.

Told with the theatrical device of a flashback, Chakrabarti’s script maintains a vitality throughout. It would be easy to single out Thompson for his gripping portrayal, as this Obie award winner leaves an indelible stamp on every role he assumes. Red Velvet is no exception. Yet his fellow actors enhance this play to new heights that strike the perfect balance between intellect and emotion. Director Daniela Varon and her team deserve a standing ovation for mounting this important work that will hopefully transfer to the New York stage. At one point, Ira describes the potency of drama, “That’s the beauty of theatre…it’s about getting under your skin.” Based on that criteria, Red Velvet triumphs.

On the opposite side of the Shakespeare and company campus, a mother is wringing her hands and scrutinizing over her faith in Jane Anderson’s Mother of the Maid. Isabelle Arc (Tina Packer) is a steadfast woman of faith who finds herself in complete dilemma over her French peasant daughter Joan’s (Anne Troup) decision to fight against England in the hundred years’ war. Joan finds the inspiration after continuous conversations and visions from Saint Catherine (Bridget Saracino). Neither Isabelle nor her already cantankerous husband, Jacques (Nigel Gore) approve proclaiming, “You’re a stubborn, reckless girl and you have no idea what you are doing.”

Anne Troup and Tina Packer in MOTHER OF THE MAID. Photo by Enrico Spada.

Joan of Arc’s 15^th century story has been told countless times in various media outlets and the tragic ending of Joan’s life is not a spoiler alert, but Anderson’s contemporary approach to the material is edgy, innovative, and thoroughly affecting. Anderson, an Emmy award-winning writer, has so deeply cut to the core of parenthood that even those without children will be left in a state of moving reflection. A particularly profound moment comes when Isabelle explains the role of motherhood to the Lady of King Charles’ court (Elizabeth Aspenlieder) : “You don’t know her. You never cleaned her nose or wiped her bum or picked the knots out of her hair,” she begins, and ends with a declaration: “You never knew her restlessness and you don’t know her fear. My child is so afraid.” Enter Kleenex.

Like Red Velvet, the company is blessed to have a “rockstar” leading actor, this time with Shakespeare & Company’s founder Tina Packer in the role of Isabel, but she is not tasked with the burden of carrying the play. Often with well-known stories from history, interpretations can become too mawkish and hokey. With Anderson’s script and Matthew Penn’s compassionate guidance, the whole ensemble unites with sympathetic and deeply felt story that will shine new light into the soul.

In addition to the two works reviewed, many other events have shaped the season at Shakespeare and Company. Within the last few weeks, they closed a marvelous compilation of Shakespeare’s works called Shakespeare and the Language that Shaped a World which ran in their charming outdoor theater. Another outdoor production, Hamlet, was staged in the on the bucolic grounds of the nearby Edith Wharton home. A truncated version of The Comedy of Errors was met with much critical acclaim before ending its run on August 23^rd.

Those in the mood for a cerebral comedy still have time to catch Yasmina Reza’s two hander, The Unexpected Guest, along with Red Velvet and Mother of the Maid.

For tickets and information to Shakespeare and Company, visit their website http://www.shakespeare.org/Better yet, get out of New York for a spell and discover this gem (and the beautiful Berkshires) for yourself.

TRAVEL

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