PebbleCreek Cinema Society members at The New York Botanical Garden (left to right): Beth Friedenberg, Andy Friedenberg, Nancy Wilson Smith, Rosemary Holmes, Susan Knox Wilson, Carolyn Curley, Patricia Rice and Donna Frole; Not pictured: Anna Thomas
Susan Knox Wilson
Seven members of the PebbleCreek Cinema Society joined Cinema Society founder and director, Andy Friedenberg and his wife, Beth, for a whirlwind seven-day tour of New York City in late April, along with members from other chapters in San Diego, Scottsdale and Surprise.
New York is known as the city that never sleeps and we didn’t either! With New York’s profusion of arts and entertainment, splendid cuisine, world-class shopping and sightseeing musts, we were on the go from early morning to well past our usual bedtimes.
Staying at the delightful Westin Hotel in Times Square, we were right in the heart of the theater district and within walking distance to all the theaters and many terrific restaurants. Our adventure included walking tours of the city’s storied ethnic neighborhoods; the stirring National September 11 Memorial and Museum; breathtaking views from One World Observatory; a visit to see the stunning medieval art and architecture collection at The Cloisters; a trip to New York’s lovely Botanical Garden; lunch at a classic Italian restaurant in Little Italy and a ferry boat ride to Ellis Island for a tour of the Immigration Museum. We took in two films at the world-famous Tribeca Film Festival: Halston (the man, the brand, and the legendary downfall of iconic designer Halston); and Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice.
Most of all, we enjoyed great theatre: four sensational Broadway shows including the 2019 Broadway revival of Kiss Me Kate, starring Tony-winner Kelli O’hara and Nashville’s Tony Award nominee, Will Chase; two of the hottest shows on Broadway: To Kill A Mockingbird starring Jeff Daniels in the Broadway stage adaptation of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning classic (nine 2019 Tony Award nominations); and the new musical adaptation of Tootsie (eleven 2019 Tony Award nominations); and the brand new hit musical comedy The Prom which earned seven 2019 Tony Award nominations.
A special treat was an evening at the Iguana Night Club for a delicious dinner and entertainment by Grammy-winner, Vince Giordano and his big band, The Nighthawks. An exceptional musical documentary about the bandleader, Vince Giordano – There’s a Future in the Past, aired at the PebbleCreek Cinema Society in 2017 and included a visit from the gifted musician (he plays several instruments, including tuba, string bass and bass saxophone and sings in a voice that evokes a less rambunctious Fats Waller). Vince fondly recalled his visit to PebbleCreek and delighted us with a shout out from the bandstand making the evening truly memorable.