review Archives - Jersey Kids

March 9, 2025March 10, 2025

Meow Wolf With Kids

Meow Wolf Santa Fe parking lot. Copyright Deborah Abrams Kaplan

My youngest loved Meow Wolf the first time she went and said we had to go when in Santa Fe. I describe Meow Wolf as an escape room meets art installation meets climbing structure. It was heavily funded by George R. R. Martin, of Game of Thrones fame.

One thing that surprised me was just how big it was. You can see the white building in the background, but it goes far back – a former 20,000 SF bowling alley. It seemed endless inside – a good thing, but easy to get lost.

March 8, 2025March 8, 2025

Sunset Boulevard With Kids

I went into Sunset Boulevard cold. My husband saw it in the West End 30 years ago with Patty LuPone. I didn’t know the story, and I only knew a little of the music. While he was eager to tell me about the differences between the shows at intermission (and after), he didn’t need to tell me much. The staging, which I knew ahead of time was different, was totally obvious.

Should you see Sunset Boulevard with kids? I’ll share more at the end.

Read on only if you don’t mind spoilers.

March 8, 2025March 8, 2025

Review: The Civilian Hotel and Bars

It’s time for a staycation! I’ve been to the Civilian Hotel numerous times for drinks in two of its fabulous bars, but we wanted to stay here as well. This stylized Broadway theater district hotel plays on that strength (see bars, later). But you just feel like a hip, trendy person when you go there. When you walk into the hotel, there are 2 desks down the hall – one is for dining/bar reservations (I think) and one is for hotel check-in. It was the smallest reception desk I’ve seen in my life, but it worked perfectly well and you can leave your luggage with them there if you need as well.

Cozy room at the Civilian Hotel. By Deborah Abrams Kaplan

February 14, 2025February 15, 2025

Luna Luna With Kids

Run, don’t walk, to see Luna Luna at the Shed in Hudson Yards. It was truly magical! Here’s the story. In the 1970s, artist and pop singer Andre Heller wanted to create Luna Luna, an amusement park by artists. He finally got funding in 1985.

Keith Haring’s merry go round. Copyright Deborah Abrams Kaplan

September 12, 2024September 12, 2024

Review: Suffs with Kids

A musical about the suffragist movement? (Don’t say suffragette). Sounds about as exciting as a musical about the history of Alexander Hamilton.

We know Hamilton is amazing. But so is Suffs. My husband is a history buff and even he learned new things about this time in history.

Suffs on Broadway. Copyright Deborah Abrams Kaplan

August 31, 2024August 31, 2024

Absecon Lighthouse With Kids

Absecon Lighthouse – copyright Deborah Abrams Kaplan

As New Jersey’s tallest lighthouse, the Absecon Lighthouse is 171 feet tall. It is also the nation’s third tallest. Go to Abesecon Lighthouse with kids!

August 31, 2024August 31, 2024

Review: Lucy the Elephant With Kids

If you’ve been in the Atlantic City area, you probably have heard about or seen Lucy the Elephant. Touted as the top roadside attraction in America, Lucy has been around in various forms since 1881, in Margate – just south of Atlantic City.

Lucy the Elephant in Margate. Copyright Deborah Abrams Kaplan

August 25, 2024August 25, 2024

Mercer Labs With Kids

If you haven’t heard of Mercer Labs, you’re not alone. Formally Mercer Labs Museum of Art and Technology opened in March, a collaboration between Israeli artist Roy Nachum and real estate developer Michael Cayre. The idea is to be a “place where the traditional hierarchies between art, architecture, design, technology and culture are dissolved,” the New York Times quoted from a news release (I couldn’t find the news release).

In the Limitless exhibit in this 36,000 square foot space, you’ll visit 15 rooms with multimedia and sensory experiences, climbing up and down stairs between the floors (of course there’s an elevator if needed). In the initial space, which was one of the least interesting, you’ll put on shoe covers and look at a digital moving object that looks like of like a space rock.

May 6, 2024May 7, 2024

Is Cabaret on Broadway appropriate for kids?

It’s a little intimidating (okay, a lot) to review a classic show that’s been on Broadway before, and was also a classic movie. I’m talking about Cabaret. I can’t really say if I had seen it before, yet I know so much of the music without having bought the album, CD or mp3s.

Is Cabaret on Broadway appropriate for kids? We’ll get to that later on. But let me start by saying I’ve seen a lot of Broadway shows in my life. And I have never received as many emails before the show as I did with Cabaret.

Entering Cabaret on Broadway. Copyright Deborah Abrams Kaplan

April 20, 2024April 20, 2024

Is Water for Elephants appropriate for kids?

I read Water for Elephants many many years back and enjoyed it. I didn’t see the movie. I couldn’t even remember precisely what happened in the book, other than a guy joins the circus and there’s a love triangle. So if you ask me whether it follows the book, I think it did. But that’s only from memory. Is Water for Elephants appropriate for kids? We’ll get into that later.