life lately: the friends experience and marie osmond concert

It used to be a common occurrence. Leaving the house and heading to head to a ticketed activity, that is. Concerts, performances, special events...I loved them all. Unfortunately, those events have become a lot less common over the years. This is in part due to the rising costs (it is unbelievable how much a concert ticket is now) and in part due to the pandemic. That being said, the month of December has seen me head to not one but two special events. Talk about unusual! 

The Friends Experience 

It all started early in the morning. My two friends and I drove down to the Yorkdale Shopping Center to be some of the first entrants for the day at The Friends Experience. Though we had booked normal tickets, my friend was able to upgrade, which meant no one else was around us and there was a guide to take our photos. Since I am still hesitant to be around other human beings, this was extra amazing. We were able to spend time in replica sets, look at props, some costumes, scripts, and other displays. It was so much fun. We took lots of silly photos, played a game of trivia, and even bought replica Hugsy the Penguins. 

Though there were many highlights...it was especially fun to sit in the Central Perk set. We even stepped behind the counter. This really was a Friends fantasy come to life. After our time at The Friends Experience (which took about an hour and a half) we went back to my friends house to watch lots of Friends episodes and just enjoy hanging out in person. The latter is not something that I have done a lot of since the pandemic, but I am trying to be more open to the idea. Baby steps! 

Marie Osmond: A Symphonic Christmas

The last concert I attended was in February 2020. Just one month later, everything in the world changed. At the time, I had no idea that it would be almost three years before I would attend another live show. It is incredible how much has changed between then and now. On the plus side...I was finally able to attend a concert in person. The performer? Marie Osmond. I am a huge fan of Donny Osmond and Marie Osmond. I've had the pleasure of seeing them in concert several times over the years (twice in Las Vegas and four times in the Toronto area). I've seen Donny Osmond solo twice. I met Donny and Marie in Las Vegas and won a backstage meet and greet with Donny in Niagara Falls. It's pretty incredible to have so many wonderful experiences under my belt. This time? It was finally time to see a solo Marie Osmond concert. Talk about a thrill. 

So, how was the concert? In a word: phenomenal. Marie has the most beautiful voice. I love that she can sing every genre. I'm talking pop songs, country songs, show tunes, opera songs, and everything in between. This was a Christmas concert so there was a little bit of everything thrown in there. This included some classic holiday songs (and lots of sparkly outfits), the iconic Marie song, Paper Roses, and some opera songs. The latter was the highlight for me. Though I would not call myself a fan of opera...every single time Marie sings opera, I get goosebumps. Her voice is remarkable and I am in awe of her talent. Marie also showcased her nephew, David Osmond. He sang a few songs on his own and a few with Marie as well. I'd never heard David before, but wow, did he have an amazing voice. He also shared his amazing story about living with MS. All in all, it was a powerful night full of laughter, tears, and incredible music. What a way to enjoy the holiday season.

There is always so much going on in December. From holiday traditions to special ticketed events...it is certainly a month to remember. I am so grateful for the wonderful experiences that have started the month off right. 

Have you attended any concerts or events lately? Share your own experiences in the comment section below!