Category: Adventures

How to Appreciate a Jukebox Musical: A Review of & Juliet

Post author By Robert Schlaff
Post date November 10, 2024

Today we went to see & Juliet. I didn’t know much about it beforehand, only that it was supposed to be good for familes, so it seemed like a good choice for an outing with the kids. A couple of days ago, though, I found out it was a jukebox musical—a genre that pulls its soundtrack from popular songs rather than creating original compositions for the show. Think Mamma Mia! or Moulin Rouge, stories told through songs you likely already know. When I realized this, I knew I’d need to adjust my expectations.

Adventures

Mets Game 5: You Just Gotta Believe

Post author By Robert Schlaff
Post date October 20, 2024

You Just Gotta Believe

That’s the line that’s burned into every Mets fan’s heart. Being a Mets fan means living with disappointment, yet we keep coming back, asking for more. But sometimes, things break our way, making the victory that much sweeter.

Friday night we went to Game 5 of the playoffs. It was different from any other baseball game I’d ever attended. Usually, I tried a baseball game like casual picnic, where what I eat is almost as important as the score at the end.

But not this game. Friday’s game was intense. As we got off the subway, the crowd roared “Let’s Go Mets!” on the way to the stadium. Everyone was decked out in their finest Mets gear. We looked like we were attending a Mets-themed wedding. We were immersed in a world of superfans.

Adventures

Watching a Baseball Game on TV with 10,002 Friends

Post author By Robert Schlaff
Post date October 5, 2024

Watching the Game with the 2 Friends I Came With

Watching the Game at a Watch Party in an Empty Citi Field

I just went to the first Mets game in their playoff series against the Phillies. The game was in Philly, but I stayed local and joined thousands of fans at the Citi Field watch party. Even though we were just watching a broadcast on the Jumbotron, the energy was unreal. You’d think you’d need to be at the actual game to feel that intensity, but trust me, that’s not the case. The cheers, the chants, the boos—they all created this shared moment that made it feel like we were actually part of the action. It was one of those experiences where you realize the power of the crowd, not just as spectators, but as an integral part of the game.

Adventures Life Lessons

How a Conversation is Like a Rainbow

Post author By Robert Schlaff
Post date September 17, 2024

I used to think that conversations were about what two people say to each other. Recently I’ve come to think of them as an improv game where each person adds something unique to the mix. One person might introduce a surprising idea, while another runs with it in an unexpected direction. After it’s over, we can try to untangle where an idea came from but often we can’t do it because the conversation has taken on a life of its own. It grows, shifts, and moves in ways that even the participants might not anticipate. It’s like a river that follows its own course taking everyone along with it.

Adventures ChatGPT

ChatGPT as a Museum Tour Guide

Post author By Robert Schlaff
Post date September 14, 2024

I’ve become spoiled. I love being able to look at the art and have somebody explain to me what’s going on. This started in college when I went to a Picasso exhibit with my grandfather. Picasso is quite difficult to understand without the background. I just saw a lot of random shapes. However, when I learned what Picasso was trying to do, combine the best shapes of each object and combine them onto a single canvas, the art made a whole lot more sense.

Adventures Judaism

The Warner Brothers, Judaism, and the Birth of Hollywood

Post author By Robert Schlaff
Post date September 1, 2024

I never thought of Warner Bros as a Jewish studio, but then I learned the brothers’ names—Harry (Hirsz), Albert (Aaron), Sam (Szmul), and Jack (Itzhak). These four Jewish brothers, who immigrated from Poland in the late 1880s, were a case study of Jewish success early in the movie business.

Adventures Life Lessons

How I Learned to Appreciate the Sunrise

Post author By Robert Schlaff
Post date August 28, 2024

As I was sitting on the Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas, one of the world’s most luxurious cruise ships, I found myself immersed in the stillness of the morning. I like to meditate in the morning and wait for the world to wake up. The peacefulness of that time is transcendental, and it’s during these moments that I’ve come to appreciate the sunrise.

Adventures

My Night in (Netflix’s) Paris

Post author By Robert Schlaff
Post date July 11, 2024

Visiting a great old movie house is a magical thing. You get to truly experience the grandeur of older times. There are not many of these theaters left, but I got to visit one of them today. I saw Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F at the Netflix owned Paris Theater in New York. The charm of the Paris Theater lies in its vintage ambiance, from the classic marquee to the ornate interior design, offering a nostalgic journey that you simply can’t replicate at home.

Adventures Books / Audiobooks

How John Harrison Stole the Longitude Prize

Post author By Robert Schlaff
Post date June 19, 2024

On my trip to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, I learned about how important time was for navigation. In the 1700s, sailors had no reliable way to determine their exact position at sea, which often led to ships being lost and many lives being endangered. The primary challenge was determining longitude, as latitude could be measured with relative ease using the stars.

Adventures

Thank You for a Most Excellent 25th Reunion

Post author By Robert Schlaff
Post date June 1, 2024

This is my Thank You note to all of my classmates who made my 25th reunion so special.

Thank you for coming together to create such a wonderful event.I can’t get over the incredible feeling of connecting with old friends, building new connections, and feeling this pervasive sense of love and support. It was like stepping into a time machine, with memories of late-night conversations and impromptu adventures rushing back. It was more than a nostalgic trip down memory lane; it was a celebration of community, lasting friendships, and new connections. Each conversation, hug, and shared laugh reinforced a deep sense of belonging.