Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

October 22, 2023October 22, 2023 ~ Spence's Girl ~ Leave a comment

Having been a lifelong resident of Michigan, I’ve traveled all over the state but had never visited this amazing park until recently. With 158 acres of indoor and outdoor gardens featuring over 200 sculptures, we walked for hours enjoying the fall colors, capturing photos of the beauty along the way.

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park opened in April 1995 after 13 years of planning and fundraising by the West Michigan Horticultural Society. In 1990, Fred & Lena Meijer were asked by Betsy Borre for their support, and they embraced the concept of a major cultural attraction centering around horticulture & sculpture. The original vision has turned into a top cultural destination in the Midwest, known internationally for the quality of the art and gardens. Excerpt from Meijer gardens.org

KA, a Cirque du Soleil Show

August 7, 2023August 7, 2023 ~ Spence's Girl ~ Leave a comment

Last month on the last night of my trip out west, I got to see KA at the MGM Grand Las Vegas. A perfect ending to a trip packed with so many fun activities, this was spectacular.

Kà is a show by Cirque du Soleil at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kà describes the story as “the coming of age of a young man and a young woman through their encounters with love, conflict and the duality of Kà, the fire that can unite or separate, destroy or illuminate.” Wikipedia

Photos or video of the performance are forbidden and fine by me as I wanted to experience it fully, not through the lense of my iPhone. The photos shown here were taken pre or post-show.

Michael Carbonaro at the Penn & Teller Theatre in Las Vegas

July 27, 2023July 27, 2023 ~ Spence's Girl ~ 1 Comment

On the first night of my recent trip to Las Vegas, my sister and I saw Michael Carbonaro’s show. I knew a bit about him as I’d seen a few episodes of his TV show, The Carbonaro Effect. I’d never seen him in person and was in for a treat.

I couldn’t have imagined what I was about to see…

Michael is both magician and comedian and is so engaging from the moment he appears until the end of the show. We were a few rows back, right in the center – perfect seats. His illusions are lightning fast and it’s such a clever and well-crafted performance. There were more than a few collective gasps from the audience as he performed. He is funny, charming and sincerely loves what he does – and his show is family friendly – not true of all Vegas entertainment.

I’m now a Michael Carbonaro fan and have found seasons 2-5 of the Carbonaro Effect on MAX streaming. It’s totally unique – think magic, illusions plus a hidden camera with unsuspecting “participants.”. Each episode features several unique scenarios and has me laughing out loud while thinking “how did he do that?” I’m hooked!

LOVE, a Cirque show

July 20, 2023August 7, 2023 ~ Spence's Girl ~ Leave a comment

While in Vegas I saw LOVE and it didn’t disappoint. Several years ago we went to a “Behind the Scenes” event at this theater giving us insight to the complexity of the production and how the show was written with input from Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. Until this trip I hadn’t seen the show.

This time I got to see LOVE and it was a rollicking ride from the first bars of “Get Back” and the non-stop theatrical experience of this Cirque du Soleil show. It is a theater in-the-round and we were in the first row. I must give credit to my sister who shared her photos as most shown here were taken by her.

Imaginarium in Las Vegas

July 18, 2023July 18, 2023 ~ Spence's Girl ~ Leave a comment

Imaginarium in Las Vegas is a massive outdoor light show and was so much fun to explore. After sorting many photos, I’m sharing my favorites.

Smoky Mountain School of Cooking Appalachian Store & Cafe – a new experience

June 17, 2023June 21, 2023 ~ Spence's Girl ~ 2 Comments

Always looking for new experiences, I came upon this cooking class and signed up for it during my recent trip to Tennessee.

With an ever-changing menu, I attended the class with one other couple and learned to make Bananas Foster French Toast, homemade pork sausage patties and an omelette with ingredients of our choosing. We each got a chef’s apron to take with us.

Stephanie Foley, the owner and instructor was delightful and the class was interactive and fun with the added enjoyment of consuming the delicious food we prepared. I’m now planning to sign up for a class whenever I’m visiting the Wears Valley area.

Lost Spirits Distillery -Las Vegas

January 26, 2023January 26, 2023 ~ Spence's Girl ~ 4 Comments

My sister, brother-in-law and I experienced a most unusual and memorable evening at Lost Spirits Distillery.

Lost Spirits is a world class show, set in an immersive theatre, surrounding a working rum distiller, tickets include 4 rum tastings. The atmosphere is wildly creative and charged with a sense of fun and unexpected moments as you enjoy the talented performers and fellow guests.

As you walk through a maze of softly lit hallways to intimate spaces with small stages you’re treated to acts including burlesque, tango, vocalists, acrobats and aerialists mere feet away from where you’re standing. I’ve included videos at the end of this post which capture a few incredible performances.

Immersive Van Gogh Las Vegas Exhibit

January 24, 2023 ~ Spence's Girl ~ Leave a comment

Experience Awe-Inspiring Exhibit Of Vincent Van Gogh’s Art Projected Over 500,000 Cubic ft. From Creators Of Immersive Blockbuster Show

Last week my sister and I visited the incredible immersive experience featuring the artwork of Vincent Van Gogh. It’s hard to describe the feeling of being inside the art as it changes moment by moment. I’ve tried to capture the experience and encourage anyone to see it in person.

Even the gallery gift shop was fabulous!

Awakening at the Wynn

January 22, 2023 ~ Spence's Girl ~ 2 Comments

While in Vegas I went to “Awakening”, the newest show at the Wynn.

From the Wynn Las Vegas website: Awakening, the new show at Wynn Las Vegas, invites the audience to join the quest of our beautiful heroine and her two fellow travelers as they seek to restore beauty and love to the world. Travel with them and experience worlds never before seen on their journey in a 360-degree theater custom designed for Awakening. Infused with modern day myth and magic, Awakening comes to life through a combination of dramatic choreography, technology, fantastic creatures, and a custom sound system designed to showcase its breathtaking original musical score.

Conceived and created by a world-renowned team of talent behind some of the most iconic moments in entertainment, Awakening features the voice of Anthony Hopkins.

The Edward Twins, pure entertainment

January 21, 2023January 21, 2023 ~ Spence's Girl ~ 2 Comments

On my recent visit to Las Vegas I saw a show which was truly one of the most unexpectedly fun evenings imaginable.

The Edward Twins are celebrity impersonator brothers, one performing all males, the other all female celebrities. They aren’t lip-syncing – they’re singing and doing so with talent, conviction and incredible vocal range. More than that, they’ve studied the celebrities they portray with incredible commitment. Beyond transformation with costumes, wigs and makeup, they embody voice, dance, movement and nuance recognizable to each performer. I felt like I’d been to a concert featuring Celine Dion, Cher, Billy Joel, Barbra Streisand and Andrea Bocelli to name a few.

They impersonate over 100 celebrities and change up each show to keep it fresh for those lucky enough to see them more than once.

The photos I’m adding to this post were taken by my sister as I was too enthralled with the show to take any myself.