Monday, June 30, 2008
Last Call at Pleasure Island
If you are a fan of the Pleasure Island night spots in Downtown Disney, better hurry on down for a last look. In a move that surprised many, Disney announced that it will close Pleasure Island as of September 27 in favor of "more of a family-oriented something."
This is good news for Universal's CityWalk.
This is good news for Universal's CityWalk.
Labels: CityWalk, pleasure island, universal orlando, walt disney world
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Scott Joseph Throws Monkey Wrench at NASCAR Sports Grille
Wow! Sentinel restaurant critic Scott Joseph was at his bitchy best as he did his worst on the recently reopened and renamed NASCAR Sports Grille at CityWalk.
Ouch!
I must say I'm a bit puzzled. I know the food is nothing to write home about (although Joseph and I agree that the onion rings are tasty), but the service I received on all my visits was never anything less than cheerful.
Off night?
The pit crew pulled pork and the Talledaga cheesy burger were neither good nor bad, they just were. My chicken and rib combo, however, had rubbery fowl and hard and chewy ribs. One of my companions had the strip steak, which was thin, overcooked and dry.
All of this was served by glum strangers who would appear at the table to ask, with perhaps a touch of surprise in their voices, if we had ordered the food they were carrying. Why are all these people so unhappy? Do the managers beat them?
Ouch!
I must say I'm a bit puzzled. I know the food is nothing to write home about (although Joseph and I agree that the onion rings are tasty), but the service I received on all my visits was never anything less than cheerful.
Off night?
Labels: CityWalk, nascar sports grille, universal orlando
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Review of Blue Man Group in Orlando at CityWalk
'Bout time I got around to reviewing the recently opened Blue Man Group show at Universal Orlando's CityWalk. So here goes:
Blue Man Group
What: Avant garde theater performance
Where: Across the waterway next to Hard Rock Cafe
Tickets: Adults $59 to $69; children 9 and under $49 to $59; annual passholders get a 10% discount
Hours: Varies widely. Generally there are two shows daily, but fewer shows during slower periods. Call.
Web: www.blueman.com or www.universalorlando.com
Back in the eighties, three “performance artists” created Blue Man Group in New York’s seedy East Village. They were weird, hip, edgy, incomprehensible. They were the most avant of the avant garde. Today they are family entertainment. Such is cultural progress.
Now an international phenomenon, the Orlando edition of the troupe holds forth in an industrial looking thousand-seat theater at the end of a long, winding pathway next to the Hard Rock Cafe.
And just what awaits at the end of that path? Well, perhaps the greatest compliment that can be paid Blue Man Group is that it is pretty much indescribable. Three very bald, very blue, very silent guys in black pajamas (could they be space aliens?) appear on a stage that seems to be part of a strange factory and do a series of odd things, some of which take real skill, some of which are very funny, and some of which are just plain wacky. They are at once consummate masters of ceremony and befuddled innocents who seem constantly surprised by the presence of the audience.
Some of the best segments involve the trio’s considerable skill as percussionists (a four-man, day-glo combo assists from overhead). And who could have guessed how much entertainment value there was in pouring colored liquids on drum heads? There’s plenty of audience interaction and the show wraps up with a chaotic finale that involves everyone and sends the crowd out in a festive mood.
So what’s it all about? Some see a critique of modern society, others detect commentary on modern art. My advice is to check your brain at the door and let the fun of the evening take over. I found the more I tried to analyze, the less I enjoyed the experience. They do not recommend the show for children under three; personally, I’d stretch that to five or six.
There is a tendency to compare this show to La Nouba, the Cirque du Soleil show over at Downtown Disney. I think this is unfair. La Nouba is a multi-million-dollar extravaganza with a large cast. Blue Man is, essentially, a three-man show that has grown over the years but that still sticks close to its Off Broadway origins. It’s really an apples and oranges comparison.
Tip: The show lasts one hour and forty-five minutes, there is no intermission, and beer vendors work the crowd beforehand. You have been warned!
The best seats in the house. All things being equal, the closer and more centrally located your seat, the better. The first four rows are designated as the “poncho zone” and those seated there are issued cheap plastic cover ups, just in case. But it’s a far cry from a “splash zone” at SeaWorld and more marketing than anything else. Besides, I find the ponchos uncomfortable. Sitting a few rows farther back won’t decrease your enjoyment a bit. Zone 1, center is just about ideal. The “cheap seats” (Zones 3 and 4) are on a steeper incline and offer good sight lines of the whole stage.
Tickets can be ordered over the phone by calling (888) 340-5476 or (407) 224-3200 from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily; you can also order online at the two web sites above (follow the prompts). There is a box office at the theater as well. You may also see offers combining a Blue Man ticket with theme park admission and a CityWalk Party Pass.
The show schedule is somewhat erratic. Typically there are two shows a day at 5:00 and 8:00 p.m. or 6:00 and 9:00. But some days there is just one show and some days there are none. Call or check the web sites for show times during your visit.
Blue Man Group
What: Avant garde theater performance
Where: Across the waterway next to Hard Rock Cafe
Tickets: Adults $59 to $69; children 9 and under $49 to $59; annual passholders get a 10% discount
Hours: Varies widely. Generally there are two shows daily, but fewer shows during slower periods. Call.
Web: www.blueman.com or www.universalorlando.com
Back in the eighties, three “performance artists” created Blue Man Group in New York’s seedy East Village. They were weird, hip, edgy, incomprehensible. They were the most avant of the avant garde. Today they are family entertainment. Such is cultural progress.
Now an international phenomenon, the Orlando edition of the troupe holds forth in an industrial looking thousand-seat theater at the end of a long, winding pathway next to the Hard Rock Cafe.
And just what awaits at the end of that path? Well, perhaps the greatest compliment that can be paid Blue Man Group is that it is pretty much indescribable. Three very bald, very blue, very silent guys in black pajamas (could they be space aliens?) appear on a stage that seems to be part of a strange factory and do a series of odd things, some of which take real skill, some of which are very funny, and some of which are just plain wacky. They are at once consummate masters of ceremony and befuddled innocents who seem constantly surprised by the presence of the audience.
Some of the best segments involve the trio’s considerable skill as percussionists (a four-man, day-glo combo assists from overhead). And who could have guessed how much entertainment value there was in pouring colored liquids on drum heads? There’s plenty of audience interaction and the show wraps up with a chaotic finale that involves everyone and sends the crowd out in a festive mood.
So what’s it all about? Some see a critique of modern society, others detect commentary on modern art. My advice is to check your brain at the door and let the fun of the evening take over. I found the more I tried to analyze, the less I enjoyed the experience. They do not recommend the show for children under three; personally, I’d stretch that to five or six.
There is a tendency to compare this show to La Nouba, the Cirque du Soleil show over at Downtown Disney. I think this is unfair. La Nouba is a multi-million-dollar extravaganza with a large cast. Blue Man is, essentially, a three-man show that has grown over the years but that still sticks close to its Off Broadway origins. It’s really an apples and oranges comparison.
Tip: The show lasts one hour and forty-five minutes, there is no intermission, and beer vendors work the crowd beforehand. You have been warned!
The best seats in the house. All things being equal, the closer and more centrally located your seat, the better. The first four rows are designated as the “poncho zone” and those seated there are issued cheap plastic cover ups, just in case. But it’s a far cry from a “splash zone” at SeaWorld and more marketing than anything else. Besides, I find the ponchos uncomfortable. Sitting a few rows farther back won’t decrease your enjoyment a bit. Zone 1, center is just about ideal. The “cheap seats” (Zones 3 and 4) are on a steeper incline and offer good sight lines of the whole stage.
Tickets can be ordered over the phone by calling (888) 340-5476 or (407) 224-3200 from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily; you can also order online at the two web sites above (follow the prompts). There is a box office at the theater as well. You may also see offers combining a Blue Man ticket with theme park admission and a CityWalk Party Pass.
The show schedule is somewhat erratic. Typically there are two shows a day at 5:00 and 8:00 p.m. or 6:00 and 9:00. But some days there is just one show and some days there are none. Call or check the web sites for show times during your visit.
Labels: Blue Man Group, CityWalk, orlando attractions, reviews, universal orlando
