Go Get Your Scare on! Six Flags Great Adventure for Fright Fest

 

Biggest, Scariest Fright Fest in History Unearthed

at Six Flags Great Adventure

Disclosure: We were provided complimentary media passes to attend in order to facilitate this review. Opinions expressed are 100% my own and no other compensation was received.

Having grown up in a household that lived for watching scary horror movies all year long until the wee hours of the morning and because of my love/hate relationship with thrill rides 
( I get teary-eyed and anxious waiting on line to get on, only to end up cracking up laughing and screaming in enjoyment at every dip and turn) heading to Six Flags Great Adventure has always been on my list of must do's this time of year. After a busy month of coordinating events, I can't even tell you how much fun I had after an impromptu late night visit, sans the kids with my hubby and long time friend Sergio.

If you haven't been there yet, this is the last weekend {ends Nov 1st, 2015} of the year to enjoy Fright Fest, but in general it's definitely a spook filled experience worth visiting a few times. Six Flags Great Adventure promised its biggest, scariest Fright Fest® in history this fall with 22 Halloween-themed attractions including three new haunts and four new shows!The seven-week festival that features family-friendly Thrills by Dayand a zombie-filled Fright by Night began Sept. 19 and includes admission to some of the world’s best and most terrifying thrill rides.

I'm far from being somebody that scares easily, but I won't even pretend I wasn't a bit creeped out. We strictly went for the haunted houses experience and went from one themed scary adventure to the next all while walking through the park and being surprised by the shrills and screams from chainsaws and zombies. And of course the occasional selfie with the walking dead! A few standouts for us were the Big Top 3D Maze which was just visually amazing to look at and Total Darkness had us pretty freaked out as we tried to navigate our way through the maze guiding 5 other people that were holding on to a rope with a wonky flashlight that...... well I won't ruin it for you. 

“Fright Fest has become the most popular time of the year at Great Adventure, and this year’s event is our largest and scariest yet,” said Park President John Fitzgerald. “Fall is also the perfect time to enjoy our award-winning thrill rides like El Toro, Kingda Ka, Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom and the new El Diablo in the crisp night air.”

By day, families can enjoy the new Spooky, Kooky Magic Show featuring the zany Doc Swan, and Just My Rottin’ Luck, a new comedic juggling and magic show. Back by popular demand, children under 12 can gather sweet treats in the Trick-or-Treat Trail and join in the fun at the Spooktacular Street Party. Families can also experience the park’s famous line-up of thrills for all ages, including the Safari Off Road Adventure, SkyScreamer, Skull Mountain and more.

At 6pm, the festival transitions to Fright by Night as 200 zombies are released into the midways during The Awakening. An array of crazy clowns, mutants and angry flesh eaters mingle among mortals throughout five themed areas known as “scare zones,” three haunted houses and four outdoor terror trails. New this season:

Big Top Terror 3-D – This new, indoor haunted maze transports guests to a forgotten carnival trapped in the netherworld, where freaks and inbred horrors need fresh, new souls to escape. This 3-D, in-your-face adventure blurs the line between reality and imagination. 

Demon District – Ugly, twisted villains have seized control in this new scare zone. Guests must make their way through a blanket of fog, laser lights and demons running amok.

 Blood Shed – This new terror trail features half-human, half-pig mutants in a backwoods adventure through a gory slaughter farm.

Nighttime shows, known as “monstertainment,” provide thrills, laugher, shock and awe. The iconic Dead Man’s Party, The Awakening and Circus of Thrills return by popular demand. New this season:

Hypnosteria – Comic hypnotist Denny More takes guests on a journey of the mind into the realm of ridiculous with side-splitting laughter and hilarious antics.  

Doc Swan’s Sideshow of Oddities – Magician, illusionist and freak show master Doc Swan thrills and awes audiences with amazing feats of skill and superhuman strength.

Bad Bob the Bone Butcher – Guest can journey to the Wild West where a bumbling sheriff and his deputy try to defeat the evil Bad Bob.

All scare zones and monstertainment are included with park admission. Terror trails and haunted houses require an additional fee. Fright by Night is not recommended for children under 12 and those who scare easily. For more details head here, if you dare!

The GapKids + Peanuts Collection is Full of Must Haves for Lil' Monsters #GapKidsxPeanuts

From Snoopy + Woodstock dancing atop the roof of the doghouse and partaking in silly antics to Lucy dishing out psychiatric advice for 5 cents and crushing on the piano playing Schroeder and Good Ole' Charlie Brown who's an ordinary yet lovable kid who never gives up, who doesn't love the Peanuts Gang? Having grown up watching them my hubby and I can't wait for the Peanuts Movie to hit the big screen and whenever I see anything featuring them I Instantly smile and point it out to our 10 and 4 year old boys, who are all too familiar with Charlie Brown and Snoopy.

Last week, I found myself stopping in my tracks passing by the Gap Kids on Lexington here in NYC as I caught a glimpse of the new windows display promoting the GapKids + Peanuts collection. It's so freaking adorable I had to to take a pic, so I remembered to stop in when I wasn't rushing off to work. The new collection launched in celebration of the 50th anniversary of a Charlie Brown Christmas and just in time for the holidays and it's FREAKIN' ADORABLE. So adorable I had to pop back in to the 71st and Continental location to have my mini fashion loving monster Tristan model some looks. He had so much fun getting silly and posing. The Ace bomber was his fave!

Here's a few other must haves you have to check out on the site or in store for the teeniest littles to your toddlers and tweens.

What's even better is you can catch them at 40% off now! Which GapKids + Peanuts pieces are you loving?

The Big Apple Circus is Back in Town! Enter to Win a Family 4 Pack To See R. L. Stine on Halloween

Disclosure: We were given media passes to attend and to facilitate this review along with 4 tickets to giveaway. All opinions expressed are 100% our own and no other compensation was received.

Get excited the Big Apple Circus is Back in Town! Our family loves going to the circus for all it's exciting high flying fun and silly antics from entertaining clowns and couldn't wait to check out the latest show, The Grand Tour from the Big Apple Circus which was kicking off under the tents at Lincoln Center. It was a great way to spend the weekend celebrating Tristan's upcoming 5th birthday because he's a big fan of the circus, he loves the stunts and the music and visits to the circus were family traditions for my hubby and I as kids.

The GrandTour (runs from October 21st - January 10th) transports audiences to the Roaring 1920s, the advent of the modern travel era, when the most adventuresome began to tour the world in ships, planes, trains, and automobiles. With every seat less than 50 feet from the stage, audiences will be awed by the world-class entertainers as they perform breathtaking acts from the four corners of the globe. Clowns, jugglers, acrobats, and aerialists from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North and South America appear with ponies, puppies and more; the troupe sets off on its own whirlwind adventure, accompanied by the live, seven-piece Big Apple Circus Band at each of more than 100 performances.

Kids of all ages will be completely mesmerized by the engaging show, the music from the orchestra was perfectly composed and the musical chairs segment had us all cracking up! I thought it was too hard to pick just one act that was good as we enjoyed the entire show but I caught a few pics of the ones the boys and their lil' blogger buddy Gabby {her mommy Shirley blogs at Newmommybliss.com} really got excited about.

This month Big Apple Circus welcomes Halloween Guest Ringmaster, R.L. Stine (author of the best-selling children's series Goosebumps) to a special Halloween performance on October 31, 2015 at 4:30pm. At this special performance, children who arrive in costume will receive a free cotton candy or popcorn voucher.  The show will be followed by a costume contest and parade; the winner will receive a special prize. Goosebumps is another family favorite, I remember begging my parents often to get me the latest story from Barnes and Nobles. To celebrate our love for the circus and Goosebumps, thanks to Big Apple Circus we're offering one lucky family 4 tickets to the Halloween show on October 31st, 2015 at 4:30pm at Lincoln center.

How to Enter:

For a chance to win entrants must be 18+ years of age and able to attend the show on the above specified date and time. Entry is simple, just two steps: 
1. Answer the trivia question below in the comments with your email address. 
2. Subscribe to Dellah's Jubilation (top right of page) for updates on family fun here in NYC, the latest Must haves and Trends for Lil' Monsters {kids} and more! 

A winner will be randomly selected on October 26th at 8:00pm EST. time.

And just in case you aren't a winner use promo code BIGAPPLE to save 20% off tickets (that’s not just off one ticket, but the whole purchase).* (*Limited availability. Offer good on select seats and shows. Other conditions apply. Children under 3 are free when on the lap of a paid adult, one child per lap.)

• Name one of the four modes of transportation featured in  Big Apple Circus’s new show, THE GRAND TOUR

• Ship
• Airplane
• Automobile
• Train

Good Luck Guys and Enjoy the Show! 
* Update Giveaway CLOSED - the Winner is Khalli Abbington, Congrats!

Movie Review :Dreamworks Bridge of Spies Screening with Tom Hanks & Steven Spielberg

Earlier this month I eagerly accepted the opportunity to attend the screening of Dreamwork's Bridge of Spies with a Q&A to follow with film legends, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. From the onset, one feels something unique in the opening credits of Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks' most recent team up, the Cold War centered, Bridge of Spies. Noticeably missing any music in the opening scene, Spielberg himself describes that he was "enamored with the symphony of New York" so he used it as the score for the opening scene. Diving the audience immediately into the intricate yet out in the open world of international espionage, Bridge of Spies gives us a rare glimpse into the paranoid state of our country when the threat of a thermonuclear attack was not just possible, but tangible. 

As with past movies between the two Hollywood icons, the historical backdrop for the movie is precise in detail and significant in content. Focusing on James B. Donovan, a man quietly etched into international history, Bridge of Spies takes a regular, everyday insurance attorney and places him smack in the middle of an escalating international conflict. Considering the Cold War thankfully never ignited, one could easily assume that a movie based on a small moment in the nearly fifty year conflict could easily become boring. However, despite the very limited action, one of the standout parts of the film, the dialogue, shines. 

Having Tom Hanks' deliver a great performance is almost a given. However Bridge of Spies is highlighted not just by Hanks' but by the masterful interaction between his portrayal of Donovan and the alleged Russian spy Rudolf Abel, played by Mark Rylance. Well timed wit causes the audience to laugh in the midst of pretty heavy political themes. Despite facing public contempt for defending Abel, Donovan and the foreign spy grow a genuine friendship founded on morality and a strong code of ethics. It is the brilliant moments where they are sharing a scene that displays the delicate matters of perspective that defined the Cold War. Making these scenes far and few in the movie forces the audience to look forward to their dynamic and value it even more. That friendship then leads to the climax of the movie where Donovan, acting as an unofficial government agent leads the negotiations to trade the alleged Russian spy in American custody with a guilty American one caught during a failed secret reconnaissance mission over Russian airspace.  

The thin line between being an alleged spy and a good soldier and the morality behind the accused and the man tasked to defend his life is the reigning theme in the already buzzing Oscar contender.

The movie Bridge of Spies is currently in theaters nationwide and you can follow along for updates on Facebook &Twitter.

                                                           Contributor

SG has a daughter and works daily to cohesively co-parent with her mother here in NYC. He is a CUNY graduate with a bachelor's in Public Administration and a minor in English. He works at a NY accounting firm during the day but his passion lies in the arts. 

Must Haves for Lil' Monsters: Play All Day Elmo

Disclosure: We were invited as media to attend and received a gift bag. Opinions expressed are 100% my own and no other compensation was received. Valerie Pierre of Mommyrandr.com {Contributing writer} and Shaniqua Garvin of Brownmediamama.com {photo credit}.

Who doesn't remember the Tickle Me Elmo craze that had holiday shoppers on line for hours in the cold once Black Friday approached because it was the must have item for lil' monsters everywhere? So it's no surprise that as the holiday's approach there's new fun to be had with Elmo and all of his furry friends on Sesame Street and in our homes.

This month Hasbro hosted a Playskool Sesame Street event to unveil the new Play All Day Elmo. Taking place in the lower level of the Crosby hotel, we entered a vibrant space that was transformed into an amazing Sesame Street play room filled with all the latest toys for little fingers and curious minds to explore. Guest were treated to photo-op’s with their favorite characters, and because a play date isn't complete without snacks they provided delicious sandwiches, with display's of fresh fruit and french toast.

Then it was time to do what we were all there to do - PLAY! 2015 is a great year for Sesame Street, as their collection of adorable plush pals, bath toys and more will bring smiles to fans of all ages. 

We started with the Elmo On The Go Letters. This toy consists of an easy to open Elmo red briefcase with the letters of the alphabet lined up inside. The pieces snap into place so there isn’t a mess at the end of the night, and the small holder at the bottom is where children can place the letters to spell simple words. - On sale on Amazon for $14.99.

Then it was time to play with the toy of honor - Play All Day Elmo With more than 150+ responses and eight games and activities that will keep your little one in stitches. Play All Day Elmo can easily be considered on the most interactive Elmo toy on the market to date! You can't help but laugh while playing silly games like Freeze Dance and Red Light, Green Light.

Then if that wasn’t enough we were all led into a private theater to watch the brand new Sesame Street Play All Day with Elmo DVD.This interactive film is 2 hours of fun and learning Sesame Street style. They teach children listening skills, self-control and physical movement, disguised as fun pretend games.

As the afternoon began to wind down all guests were given gift bags filled with goodies that included our own Play All Day Elmo toy, DVD and books. This was such a fun event and we thank Playskool and Hasbro for inviting us to share in the excitement that is Elmo.

Halloween is On the Way! Treat your Kids Teeth to Hello Toothpaste & DenTek Fun Flossers #Scoutbox

 

Disclosure: As a product scout for Savvy Sassy Moms I am occasionally sent products to review. Opinions expressed are 100% my own and no other compensation was received.

With Halloween right around the corner, my boys and I'm sure lil' monsters everywhere can't help but get excited for trick or treating door to door and scoring buckets full of yummy treats. My youngest Tristan who's 5th birthday is three days before Halloween most definitely has a major sweet tooth and unfortunately two cavities as a result of it. He can't resist wanting sugary candy and pastries once it's caught his eye. In the past he had been the child begging at checkout for the bag of skittles or M&M's (and I'd cave in) or caught climbing up on a stool to reach for the candy jar (and I'd cave in). Now we've eliminated all candy in the house except for occasional fruit snacks and he understands it's because he has to let us help him take better care of his smile!

Pediatric tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood illness. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 67 percent of children experience tooth decay by age 19. This trend begins early in life – 23 percent of 2- to 5-year-olds already have cavities.

On a recent visit with our dentist we discussed our healthy oral hygiene habits we try to implement at home to prevent any more cavities from developing and have tried to make the process way more fun for the boys. We recently tried out the new delicious flavored Hello Toothpastes that came in our scoutbox and fruity flavored Dentek Flossers which we picked up at Target and both are a big hit in our house.

DenTek Flossers come in a wild fruit flavor that my monsters thought tasted really really good! So good, that all they wanted to do was suck the juicy flavor right out of them {which I'm sure is probably not recommended}. With a smaller head and easy to grip handle these colorful flossers are a really fun way for kids to develop good oral care habits early on.

Goodbye boring mint flavored toothpaste and hello awesome kid-friendly flavors that are sure to make brushing teeth way more tasty. Hello fluoride toothpastes not only help prevent cavities and polishes teeth, but they come in 3 flavors - Bubble gum, Blue raspberry and Green apple & taste great too! Trust me, you won't need to convince your kids to keep brushing, you'll more likely have to tell them to save some for later.

How are your kids doing with flossing and brushing their teeth? Which flavor Hello toothpaste do you think they'd love best?