Nrthwnd

Opening Day at Playland(PNE) ~ June 03/23 This was over two weeks ago. Unfortunately, the following weekend, it rained and rained AND rained down over the city both days the park was open. And getting wet with a poncho on didn't feel good to me. And this weekend I had planned to return today, but then found out there's a "Special Event" going on, today. Some kind of Multi-Cultural Festival, which included Playland. And I would have had to buy a separate ticket for that. Uh uh. Not doing it. So here's the photos I took of Opening Day. I rode the West Coast (ferris) Wheel for a few "overhead shots", as Coaster was (as usual) down "until further notice". Games didn't open up until an hour after the park opened. And I was only visiting for an hour (or less as it turned out). So the West Coast Wheel is all I rode that first day. Just checking everything out. With everybody surging toward Hellevator (drop tower) and The Beast and Flume at the front, strolling to the back of the park, there was hardly anyone there. And all the ride ops were just there, waiting. Waiting for the crowd to surge towards the back of the park, heh. Enjoy. Clear skies. And I'm almost there. Yup. The new coaster will go in the top right corner of the park, there. Testing, testing. <sighs> And there it sits. Waiting for a part. Noted, thanks. Where The New Coaster will be built. And (hopefully) will be open by next year. The scrambler was moved to the back, beside the new coaster's site, for now. Yes! Open with drink specials mid-afternoons. On the West Coast Wheel. A beautiful, clear day it was. Better look at The Spot where.... etc. etc. Doesn't look busy at all. But the crowds were at The Beast, The Flume, and Hellevator. The Kettle Mine Coaster was running good. Great family/kids' coaster. The Flume. Wheee! Whoah! Well, hi there! A not-so-secret area for special events, group meetups. Open to the public, when the area's not "rented." Lots of nice chairs, there. At the front, outside of the park. Most people I saw in the queues going in, didn't give it a look at all... And then they're all running towards Coaster. Greeted with the sign you saw here, earlier. Then they complain to staff that they wouldn't have come that day, if they'd known "before going in." Since Coaster's still not open yet, I'm sure the sign will still be there on my next visit. And more will miss seeing it, etc. etc. The new info. flyer..... Which includes "The Map of..." ... Along with the lists of what's where, etc? ...and a plug for The Fair, coming up in late August.

I go to a regular sushi place I love, at least 2-3 times a week. And tomorrow is (are you ready?).... International SUSHI Day! So am going there tomorrow for lunch and order their Britannia Sushi Tower, Costs a bit more ($20 Cdn), but worth the price. Yum. https://britanniasushi.ca/

P.S. But beside "all of the above"... The show went pretty good, with a spectacular non-scripted-but-choreographed Opening Number that, like last year's, stopped the show! And all the winners literally having all the time they wanted, in their acceptance speeches (except See Above, etc.), looks like it evened up the timing of the broadcast itself.. and in the end, running overtime Only a few minutes! Usually it runs up to 40 minutes overtime. But that also includes a script, etc. etc. So .... maybe it's time for those producing this show to actually consider "maybe" a 3-1/2 to 4 hour time slot? It's the best shot to improve the outreach time to all who watch the Awards on tv. And Online. And also pack it with Show Commercials! Those are as great (to me), as much as the broadcast is! So, it makes me go Hmmm, about how much of the next year's show they're going to want, actually, "scripted" by WGA writers. Plus, I hope the union finally gets what it deserves. Better pay, etc. Storytelling on (literal/programed) paper, is where it all starts. And ... rather than type it all out, here's the link to the 2022~23 Season TONY Wins. https://www.broadway.com/buzz/203272/kimberly-akimbo-wins-tony-for-best-musical-and-leads-with-5-total-awards/ The Big Winner of this season's TONY Awards. Five in all, including Best Musical.

Am repeating this RANT in here, too. This is a RANT as well as a "SHAME ON CBS" thing. The Theatre Wing's annual TONY Awards took place last Sunday night. On it's regular network, CBS. Has been for years and years. But - the Best DIRECTOR of a MUSICAL, who won for directing the revival of "Parade," took to remembering what it was like to be bullied and being called "the F-word." What he then said, was (more or less) "...and I am a Faggot who's just won a TONY!" But that phrase was censored by CBS. You could see the audience totally erupt at this, and give him a long sustained applause and standing O. He truly owned that awful word, with his speech. IMhO. And he got partially censored for it. Shame, CBS. You blew it.

This is a RANT as well as a "SHAME ON CBS" thing. The Theatre Wing's annual TONY Awards took place last Sunday night. On it's regular network, CBS. Has been for years and years. But - the Best DIRECTOR of a MUSICAL, who won for directing the revival of "Parade," took to remembering what it was like to be bullied and being called "the F-word." What he said was (more or less) "...and I am a Faggot who's just won a TONY!" But that phrase was censored by CBS. You could see the audience totally erupt at this, and give him a long sustained applause. He truly owned that awful word, with his speech. And he got censored for it. Shame, CBS. You blew it.

For those who have forgotten .... The 2023 TONY Awards is this Sunday! On PLUTO TV, with the "Creative Awards," one hour before the main broadcast, on CBS 8 pm EST / 5 pm PST or a 'trimmed' later showing, 8 pm PST. Check your local listings.

^^What I found out was... what you already know. It looks like the wait is for a "certain part" for Coaster. And the approx. wait will last till....July? <sighs> I went to Opening Day there, last Saturday... and am returning this Saturday for more photo taking, etc. Will post after this coming weekend has past.

^ Will do my best to find out. No guarantees, but it's worth a try, asking.

^ They sent out a "Know Before You Go" email yesterday, to those who already had Passes and day tickets, like myself. In all of the info. that they sent, there was this, stuck in the middle of it all: Grrrrr. I totally agree with you, that after all this f-ing time not being open, they could have done all this coaster work during that time. But apparently, they didn't/haven't finished. I've never been able to understand why they don't complete refurbishment during their off-times' season. I am hoping to hit Opening Day tomorrow. And I will ask around about Coaster. Hopefully there's some kind of answer.

^ We're getting our "Broadway Across Canada" subscription shows, now. Aladdin is up next for us, late July. We may get "My Fair Lady" in the 2024-25 Season. I know it won't be the same Broadway cast, but I do love the revival's CD. That said... This was one of those "shot in the dark" kind of musical CD purchases for me. It actually, suddenly appeared in the Musicals Section of Amazon.ca. a couple of days ago. There is nothing to tell about it, except it's a few years old apparently. Started out (like in New York) Off-West End, and just opened recently in the West End. The reviews of this musical are pretty ecstatic. Too ecstatic for me, personally. But I still bought it, nonetheless. Hmmm.... I remember there was to be a UK musical being created, based on the popular "Great British Baking Show," on tv. Could this be the resulting musical? Time will tell when I receive it. But anyone from the London area, or someone who saw it while traveling there, I would really like to know more about this one. Thanks in advance. Eye catching colour and title/logo. "Ba - nan - aaaaaa" EDIT TO ADMIT: I Googled it, and it's actually based on a book and movie about 1943, the war.... and stuff. Here's the actual link to it all: https://www.operationmincemeat.com/ So no singing about baked goods for us, lol. For now ....

Just found a great, night time overhead shot of ShDL, especially showing ZOOTOPIA with the work lights on. Thanks to "You Who Took This Shot" in the lower right hand corner, there.

I'm so glad she was a part of the creation of her Bio-Musical, "Tina". Right up to when the actor portraying her, won The TONY for the part. She was an amazing performer. Got to see her - experience her - on two different tours. With Ike, and then on her own with the (what I call) "What's Love Tour." Awesome performer she was.

Ha! When the train came to another building (after the "boom" one?). I thought it was back at the station.... How wrong was I, lol? Add to that, I wasn't expecting a second go-round with different sound effects (yes?) happening. Great family coaster that everybody can enjoy.

An opening date (of sorts) has been announced for the World of Frozen...

Found a couple of new photos posted, about the Arendelle Slidin' Sleighs Coaster. (Thanks to whoever took these shots) The first photo show AAs (I think?) of Sven and Olaf, and what is probably how you get up the Lift Hill. They help pull you up. Second shot is off the track itself, winding in and out of a very real looking bunch of rock and greenery, heh. This is the (literal) carrot Sven needs to pull us up that hill. Hopefully, Olaf gets his nose back. 'Round and 'round the sleighs go. Everything is looking great, there. I love Disney Imagineers' Landscaping!

Just got an email from Playland, asking me to (finally) register online, for my Season Pass there. Which I dutifully did. So, I get to pick up my photo pass (Yes, they're back to that!) on Opening Day, June 03. I get a one day pass to enter, etc. Kewl! Looking forward to seeing what's new/old/surprising there this season. And eventually, riding Coaster with (ugh) seat belts for First Ride. Who knows? With my physical health at my age ... probably better with the belt, heh. Recent overhead shot of Playland, with the new flat ride in place during last summer's PNE. (middle right of shot) Funny thing is .... it hardly operated, during the entire two weeks of The Fair.

I like this design of a Mad/Wild Mouse spinning coaster. It definitely has a different layout than I've seen in "off the shelf mouse spinners," etc. So that alone, makes it unique to me for CP. I just hope the dispatch times are "mouse size," to make the whole attraction come alive, with those mice chasing that cheese!

And the three musicals which got totally shut out of the TONY Nominations, were: "A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical"; "Bob Fosse's Dancin'"; and "Bad Cinderella" (Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's latest, from London's West End). "Dancin'" has already posted a closing notice. I wonder if and when the other two will follow suit. There are exceptions that hold on and still do good business. "Finding Neverland" was one of those Tony Shut-Outs, that still played for a good year+ (2015-16) before c;losing.

"but unknown enemies ambush them." Great set up, lol.

Soundtrack is .... catchy. All American Rah Rah Rah kind of thing. Wait till non-park site riders find out, it was European built, raised and toured with...... Talkin' About a Revolution! Still, nice to find out it's moving closer to me, lol. It's an awesome coaster.

And here's The Five who got The 2023 TONY Nomination (among other noms) for BEST MUSICAL .... Broadcast of the TONYs is Sunday, June 11th. On CBS. 8pm EST (Live).

Renowned Canadian Singer, Gordon Lightfoot, 84.

And for those like me, who need/WANT to know... The 2023 TONY AWARD Nominations happen tomorrow morning, in New York, 9 am EST. I believe https://www.broadway.com/ is a good site to check out for a broadcast of the noms. Or, head to the Tony Awards site itself for the "you are there" announcements. https://www.tonyawards.com/ Best of Luck (spits on floor three times, then turns three times) to all the nominees. w/o Neil P. Harris on June 11th.

Great tour of the place! With the TPR tours, I got to enjoy the LegoLands in England and Denmark. The miniature cities and iconic 'things' were always amazing to check out. Congrats to your LegoLand on their First Birthday!