Things to Do in Jerusalem in the Summer of 2017

There are so many fun things to do in Jerusalem this summer, but unfortunately no one seems to have assembled an easy to understand site of events with correct dates, locations, costs, and so on.

One site, Janglo, has a few good articles about events that are currently happening or about to happen in Jerusalem but is over-run by ads, ads, and more ads. It's frustrating trying to weed through it to find actual useful information.

The Jerusalem Film Festival site has an opening and closing date for the festival, but...there's no other info about this year's festival, which starts less than a month from now. It runs from July 13th until July 23rd this year, and if it's anything like last year's festival, it will be amazing. (The festival last year included a zipline, other interactive activities, and screenings under the stars in  Independence Park; moonlight cinema at the First Station; Old City screenings; and a free virtual reality complex next to the Cinematheque.)

Even the best sites, like FunInJerusalem (a good site for families), GoJerusalem (mostly for adult tourists, with events like the Opera Festival and the Beer Festival), iTravelJerusalem ("the official Jerusalem Travel Site"), and the Jerusalem Municipality's events calendar have only partial lists. You have to get one thing from one site, another thing from another...it's all so confusing and frustrating.

Screengrab of one part of the Jerusalem Municipality website with some of the things residents and visitors can enjoy this month

The good news is that you can't go wrong by simply walking around the city any evening of the week. The bad news is that there are so many things you're likely to miss!

With that in mind, I've decided to start a new blog: Shop With Shevi. A part of this will be me trying to work out what I might want to do on any given day. Another part will be an attempt to share this information to help anyone else who is looking for something to do, somewhere to eat, the best places to shop, and more in Jerusalem.

Top 10 Destinations for a Geek Holiday

Top 10 Destinations for a Geek Holiday

by Shevi Arnold

I’m a geek. An all-round geek. I am geeky about science fiction, fantasy, science, books, comic books, smart video games, comic strips, computers, tech, Dungeons & Dragons, The Princess Bride, The Big Bang Theory, Eureka, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, FireFly, Doctor Who, Grimm, Star Trek, Star Wars, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Monty Python, Jonathan Coulton, the Barenaked Ladies, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Sherlock, pretty much anything you can buy at ThinkGeek, creativity, writing, and my fellow geeks. I wrote Why My Love Life Sucks (The Legend of Gilbert the Fixer, book one) to tell my fellow geeks--and the world--how geeking awesome we geeks are.

Here’s a list of 10 places the geek in me would love to visit or has visited and would love to visit again.

1. San Diego Comic Con

I’ve been to the New York City Comic Con, and it is wonderful. I still dream, though, of going to Comic Con in San Diego, California, which is the biggest and best Comic Con. The stars for any show or movie with a geek following know that this is where you want to “represent.” There’s no better place to promote a movie, like the next Avengers, Iron Man, or Star Trek, or a TV show, like Arrow, The Big Bang Theory, and even Glee. Geeks here get a chance to see movies and TV shows before anyone else, talk with stars and creators, dress up as or take pictures with their favorite heroes, buy comics and a ton of other geek stuff, and so much more. The New York City Comic Con might have a bit of a more literary and comic-book angle, since New York is where you’ll find Marvel and DC Comics, as well as most of the major publishers. I love that aspect of it, but I still want to go to Comic Con in San Diego. FYI, geek goddess Felicia Day from Eureka, The Guild, and more is going to be at the New York City Comic Con in 2013.

2. Orlando, Florida

My family has been to Orlando, Florida, and it was. The. Best. Vacation. Ever! If your geek love includes anything Disney, Pixar, Harry Potter, Universal, Marvel and more, this is where you want to be. The best thing to do in Orlando? EVERYTHING. We stayed at the Nick Hotel, which is a lot of fun with Nickelodeon characters everywhere, and at a Disney resort. Both were great. I guess my favorite thing at any of the parks was Muppet Vision 3D at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, because it shows of Jim Henson’s genius so well, and I have been a fan of his since I was a teenager. But we loved almost everything we did at all the resorts, Disney parks, and Universal. This was before the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and lots of other wonderful additions to the parks, so we really need to go again. 

3. London, England

My husband is from London, and I’ve seen many of the most popular tourist destinations there. My favorite is the London Eye, which was has been featured in many movies and TV shows, including one of my favorites: Doctor Who. The theater geek in me (I have bachelor degrees in English Lit and Theater Studies) also loved taking a Thames river tour and seeing the reconstruction of the Globe Theater. My daughter’s best friend visited London last summer, and her favorite was the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, London, which features sets from the Harry Potter movies. Other geeky things you can do in London include checking out platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross station. taking a walking tour of various places where Doctor Who was filmed (and taking a photo in front of a blue phone box), hopping on a bus or train to Cardiff (a three-hour journey) to check out The Doctor Who Experience, and visiting the Sherlock Holmes Museum, which is (of course) located at 221B Baker Street.  

4. New York City

Click here to check out Sci-Fi Now’s Nerd Guide to New York City

So many great movies, comic books, and fantasy and science fiction novels take place in New York. Wouldn’t you like to visit the locations of your favorite scenes? Take the elevator to the top of the Empire State Building like Percy Jackson. Check out the Statue of Liberty when it’s still standing, unlike in Planet of the Apes. Imagine Spiderman swinging from the skyscrapers, or the Avengers preparing for battle in Times Square. And, yes, if you don’t want to do it on your own, you can even take the Superheroes Tour of New York. Catch a movie at Loews AMC at Lincoln Square, which has one of the world’s best and biggest IMAX theaters in the world. And while there’s no Bucky Bee’s on Broadway (that part of Why My Love Life Sucks is made up), make sure to get some geeking great chocolate from Max Brenner and check out Toys R Us with its animatronic dinosaur, Ferris Wheel, and all sorts of incredible stuff. Gilbert Garfinkle says that New York City is the best place for vampires, because there’s something to do any time of day or night. It’s also amazing for geeks. Best time to visit? Anytime is good, but if you go this year on July 14th, you can participate in Improv Everywhere’s MP3 Experiment, which is always geeky good fun! And if you’re a book geek, you might want to catch Matilda, the Broadway musical based on Roald Dahl’s children’s book about a magical little girl who loves to read. Whatever your geek love is, you’re sure to find something you’ll love in the Big Apple.

5. The E3

The E3 is the Electronic Entertainment Expo, and it’s held annually in Los Angeles, California. What does that mean to geeks? Video games, of course! And you get to find out--and even try out--the latest and future video games and gaming tech. But it’s not just video games. It’s sort of like Comic Con but with a greater focus on video games--and other geeky cool electronics--than comics. Regardless, it still has all the things that make a great Comic Con great. Zac Levi, the star of Chuck, Disney’s Tangled, and more, will be there again with his Nerd Machine, and this year they’re going to be covering the event for Spike TV. If you like the electronics side but aren’t that much of a gamer, don’t worry. There’s also the CES, or Consumer Electronics Show, held every year in Las Vegas. Some of my siblings who work in the computer industry have been there, and I would love to go. I’m sure Gilbert Garfinkle, the hero of Why My Love Life Sucks, would love that too.  

6. Tokyo, Japan

If you’re the kind of geek who loves sushi, manga, anime, or Nintendo or Sony Playstation games, you’ve probably tried to imagine yourself visiting Japan. I know I have, and many of my friends and relatives have gone there. I want to see sushi served on a conveyor belt. I want to buy a copy of the latest Professor Layton video game before it’s translated into English. I want to explore the gadgets in the shops in Tokyo. I want to stare at the cute and cool harajuku girls with their over-the-top sense of style. And I want to take a short bus ride to Mitaka to visit the Ghibli Museum, because I love Hayao Miyazaki’s movies that were produced by Studio Ghibli. Kiki’s Delivery Service is my favorite, but they’re all great. Geeks love Japan.

7. A TED Conference

Technically, you don’t have to go to a TED Conference to enjoy it, but it would be a huge honor for any geek to be invited to speak at one. What’s a TED Conference? It’s a conference for people who have ideas that could make the world a better place (very Gilbert the Fixer, don’t you think?). The TED motto is “ideas worth spreading.” And since they believe in practicing what they preach, every TED talk can be found online and shared. Some are funny. Some are brilliant. Some are creative. Some are inspirational. But all of them will make you see something in a new light. Just go to http://www.ted.com and click on the kind of thing you’d like to see. Then prepare to be amazed.

8. Space Camp

Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama lets anyone at any age can find out what it’s like to be an astronaut. And while I personally wouldn’t like to go (I suffer from car sickness, so I don’t want to even imagine what space sickness might be like), I know Gilbert would love it. They have camps for kids, teens, adults, families, and even corporations interested in building teamwork. So what is it exactly? Here’s a description from their website: “During the five-night program, trainees participate in two 1-hour simulated shuttle missions. Students in mission control will monitor the progress and safety of the mission, those in the shuttle will successfully launch and land the spacecraft, and those in the space station will conduct science experiments while learning basic scientific principles....Trainees will experience walking on the moon in our 1/6th gravity chair to feel what it’s like to work in a frictionless environment and navigate a tumble-spin on the multi-axis trainer, just like the Mercury astronaut training!”

9. Dragon*Con

Dragon*Con Parade photo from WSB-TV of Atlanta, Georgia

Dragon*Con in Atlanta, Georgia is very much like a Comic Con, but with less of a focus on comic books, and with a greater focus (although not exclusive) on fantasy and science-fiction novels, classic sci-fi TV shows, Dungeons & Dragons, and rock music. In a way, you could say it’s more hard-core geek than the Comic Cons. This year Dragon*Con will be held August 30th to Sept. 2nd, 2013 http://www.dragoncon.org/ Here’s a link to the featured appearances, including several famous fantasy and SF writers, Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage from Mythbusters, William Shatner from Star Trek, and James Marsters, who played Spike on Buffy the Vampire Slayer: http://www.dragoncon.org/?q=featured_list

10. Your local public library

A reading room in the New York Public Library (from Wikimedia)

You can go anywhere in a book: Middle Earth, Hogwarts School of Wizardry, Narnia, Oz--it’s all waiting for you, and a good public library can take you there. Most public libraries in the United States offer books, magazines, Internet access, CDs, DVDs, and so much more. And best of all--it’s free! So pick up a book and let it take you wherever you want to go.

Looking for Family Entertainment Deals in New York City? Check out These 11 Websites

New York City is one of the most amazing--and expensive--cities in the world, but deals abound if you know where to look. (Times Square in New York City, photo: Terabass)

A friend of mine from overseas will be coming to the New York City area with her family for summer vacation. We talked about it over Facetime (gotta love how Facetime can connect you with family and friends who are far away), and she told me her family wants to have a genuinely American experience. She mentioned seeing an auto race as an example.

She also said she wanted to see a Broadway show. Then we both said in unison, “But they're so expensive!”

And it’s true, they are.

But there are great deals out there if you know where to look.

For example, one year I bought tickets for the family to see Ovo by Cirque du Soleil, which is a great Cirque show. We sat only four rows from the stage, and the tickets only cost us $40 each.

Today I bought tickets for Rebounderz in Edison, New Jersey. This is an amazing indoor trampoline park that my family loves. Two tickets good for 90 minutes each were just $23. That’s $11.50 per person! Not bad.

I've also bought coupons good for discounted merchandise from some cool stores, discounted movie tickets, tickets to off-Broadway shows, like Stomp, and more.

So I compiled this list of places to look for good entertainment deals in the NYC area for my friend and her family, and I thought I’d share them here with you. 

After all, the only thing better than having a good time is having a good time at a great price. (If you're coming from overseas, be aware that you might need an American credit card to take advantage of many of these deals.)

Here's a short list of websites you should check out if you looking for entertainment deals in the New York City area:

1. Groupon

Groupon works with Expedia to bring you travel deals based on location. I bought those tickets to Rebounderz here, as well as movie tickets. It's best to subscribe a couple of months in advance, because you never know what you’re going to find.

http://www.groupon.com/new-york/getaways

 2. Goldstar 

Goldstar offers an eclectic list of events, some of them FREE, and many of them half or more off. Current examples are the Blue Man Group: Worldwide Theatre Sensation at Astor Place Theatre for $43.00-56.60 instead of $85.00 and Cirque du Soleil’s Totem for $37.00-$78.00 instead of $55.00-115.00. We've bought tickets to off-Broadway shows from Goldstar. You have to join the club to take advantage of offers, but it's free, so why wouldn't you?

http://www.goldstar.com/new-york/events

3. Living Social

Living Social deals are . . . interesting, and even more eclectic than Goldstar's. They're worth checking, though, because you never know what you're going to find: rock-climbing in Brooklyn for the kids or a pirate boat cruise for adults, who knows? It could be fun.

https://livingsocial.com/cities/231-nyc-midtown

4. Amazon Local

Did you know Amazon offers local deals? Well, now you do. There are deals for local services, activities, and products. For example, right now you can save 60% off a New York City ghost tour . . . if you dare. I wonder if my friend’s family would like that?

http://local.amazon.com/nyc-midtown/deals/all

5. School Tix

How does taking in a Broadway or off-Broadway show at a decent price sound?

School Tix has a nice selection of shows at discount prices, and you generally don't have to come with a school-age child to get these deals. Right now, for example, it’s offering Annie for $45.00-$85.00; Chicago for $49.50-$88.00; and Peter and the Starcatcher for $49-$69.

http://www.schooltix.com/

6. Theater Mania

Theater Mania also offers tickets to a nice selection of shows, on and off Broadway, at reduced prices.

http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/discount-tickets/

7. Your Broadway Genius

Your Broadway Genius has discount tickets for Broadway and off-Broadway shows, too. The selection is small, but interesting. And I was surprised to see reduced tickets for The Ride: $50 instead of $69 (not including tips). I've always wanted to take The Ride, which is part bus tour and part musical-variety show. You sit facing the windows, while actors and entertainers perform on the sidewalks of New York City in front of your eyes. Now I’m even more tempted.  

http://www.yourbroadwaygenius.com/locations/new-york-city-discount-broadway-tickets/

8. DealCatcher

No matter what you're looking for, DealCatcher is a great place to check prices first. I usually go there to look for deals on products, but they offer activities too. I’d be particularly tempted by the Improv and comedy club offerings they have going now. (I love, love, love Improv and stand-up comedy.) DealCatcher catches deals from other websites, so if you find something you like, you might want to follow the link to the other site to see what else they have to offer.

http://www.dealcatcher.com/local/new-york

9. SlickDeals

SlickDeals is a lot like DealCatcher, but not all of their deals are the same. They're worth checking out too. And you might want to subscribe to both newsletters so that you can be aware of new deals before they're sold out.

http://slickdeals.net/localdeals/new-york/

10. TravelZoo

And finally, one of my favorite travel deal aggregators, TravelZoo, also offers entertainment deals by area. Of course, their New York City entertainment deals include Broadway, off-Broadway, and so much more, including unusual tours of the city, sport events, and activities on the water. TravelZoo is also a good place to look for travel deals near and not so near New York City.

http://www.travelzoo.com/entertainment/new-york/

Oh, and I should include this one last website just for the locals . . .

11. New York City Patch

I don't know if these exist around the country, but in this area, most communities have a Patch website with local information, such as news updates, classes, events, and much more. Here's a list of family events in the New York City area over the next few days, and most of them are free:

http://newcity.patch.com/events/category/family

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I hope this helps my friend make the most of her family trip, and I hope it helps you too.

This isn't a complete list by any means, so try searching on your own. And let me know what you find. I always love learning about great deals, particularly ones my family can enjoy close to home.

ADD ON: I realized after I wrote this that I completely forgot about AAA. If you have a membership--and you should if only for the roadside assistance should your car break down in the middle of nowhere for whatever reason--you're entitled to some great discounts at theme parks, restaurants, the movies, and lots more. Here's a link that should work if you can enter the site with your membership card: http://midatlantic.aaa.com/Store/Travel/AttractionandMovieTickets For example, Hersheypark tickets, which usually cost $58.80 are just $38.00 when preordered online and shipped to you (at no additional charge).