We’re trying to keep things light at the 3Ts and keep our spirits lifted. But there is certainly so much sadness and loss all around us. Losing a loved one in this particular time often means you cannot be with them at the end, a funeral may be on hold, and you are grieving in isolation. This week among the many lost, was Valerie Smaldone’s beautiful mom. Read her moving tribute today and leave a comment so she knows we are thinking of her. On the much lighter side, Broadway and NYC performers are treating us to wonderful performances. And we have more cultural virtual events, Happy Hour Art Parties. We also have suggestions on ways to help other New Yorkers.

Helping other New Yorkers

There are so many people suffering right now. The lines at the food pantries are heartbreaking, and many are turned away when they run out of food. The elderly, and women and children are especially vulnerable right now – some are living in shelters; some are victims of domestic violence. Here some organizations you can donate to right now.

• City Meals on Wheels
• Presbyterian Senior Services
• St. Francis Food Pantry and Shelters
• Lenox Hill Neighborhood House Women’s Mental Health Shelter
• St. John’s Bread & Life
• The Bowery Mission
• Mary Brennan Inn Soup Kitchen
• God’s Love We Deliver
• City Harvest
• Food Bank NYC

Randie’s Broadway and Beyond Entertainment Picks

Randie Levine Miller has her picks of upcoming Broadway and NYC entertainment. This weekend you see Phantom of the Opera, a special production in 2011 at Royal Albert Hall (which you watch now) and more virtual events.  

This weekend. Phantom of the Opera

From at the Royal Albert Hall. In 2011, to celebrate the musical’s 25th Anniversary, Cameron Mackintosh produced a unique, spectacular staging of the musical on a scale which had never been seen before. This lavish, fully-staged production set in the sumptuous Victorian splendour of London’s legendary Royal Albert Hall features a cast and orchestra of over 200, plus some very special guest appearances. The full length musical production will be made available free of charge this Friday (April 17) at 11am PT / 2pm ET for a limited 48 hour period exclusively on The Shows Must Go On! 

April 20. The Soap Myth with Ed Asner & Tovah Feldshuh

Temple Emanuel Streicker Center will commemorate Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) with a special panel discussion on the PBS/WNET film of Jeff Cohen’s acclaimed drama The Soap Myth. The staged “concert reading,” starring seven-time Emmy Award and five-time Golden Globe Award winner ED ASNER and four-time Tony Award and two-time Emmy Award nominee TOVAH FELDSHUH, is available now to stream for free via WNET’s ALL ARTS platform. 

April 22 @6PM. Monologues and Broadway

Tulis McCall is hosting her first virtual version with featured guests Robert Creighton (Frozen, Cagney); Sidney Meyer (Don’t Tell Mama); Angelina Fiordelisi (Cherry Lane Theatre) and may more. Watch live.
Watch the broadcast on YouTube or Facebook.

Cocktails & Art at the Frick

Now there’s a fun cocktail event. Every Friday  at 5:00 p.m., join her Frick  for happy hour with a Frick curator (remotely) who offers insights on a work of art with a complementary cocktail. And before each event, you will get a cocktail recipe. Bring your own beverage to this virtual event. We’ve posted one of the events too! Get the details.

Rockefeller Center’s Happy Hour Art Party

Rockefeller Center is hosting a weekly virtual Happy Hour Art Party featuring NYC artists each on its Instagram account. Viewers can join in on the fun by submitting photos of views from their windows to @rockefellercenter via Instagram direct message. Get the details.