Author Archives: Chuck Gregory

New Fall Color Drop – Full Focus Planners

Introducing Blush and Latte, the latest hues in the Full Focus Planner lineup.
Get 10%off with code FALLCOLORS

Built from the latest science in productivity and goal-setting, The Full Focus Planner helps you prioritize and achieve your goals. With a simple three-step system, you can connect your big annual goals to your daily action so you’re always making progress. Over 100,000 successful customers agree: The Full Focus Planner ends daily overwhelm and multiplies success.

For more information click here

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Maya’s Hope Lotus Ball, 12th Annual Gala

Wednesday, November 15 from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM
The Players, 16 Gramercy Park South, NYC

The event will be from 7 to 11:00 PM (ET) at The Players in Gramercy. Chris Lash, who made his Maya’s Hope debut as “Piano Man” extraordinaire last year, will be returning along with additional entertainers.

I am also very proud to announce that Jason Birchard, 3rd generation owner of Veselka (a Ukrainian restaurant in the East Village), will be this year’s recipient of the Michael T. Meltzer Humanitarian Award. I am grateful to Jason and Veselka for everything they have done (and continue to do) for Maya’s Hope and the community and am delighted that he will be receiving this honor.

Tickets are $300 and can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mayas-hope-lotus-ball-12th-annual-gala-tickets-667269209167

For more information click here

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Sleep Out: Florida – Covenant House

Thursday, November 16 to Friday, November 17

One Purpose, One Night

By giving up your bed for one night, you can ensure that youth facing homelessness will sleep safely at Covenant House Florida.

Covenant House Florida welcomes every young person with love and respect. In addition to safe shelter, youth can access nourishing food, clean clothing, and essential services like job training, education, healthcare, mental health counseling, and legal aid — all the tools they need to build futures free from homelessness — at no cost to them. Sleep Out raises the funds that make this possible.

WE SLEEP OUT TO #ENDYOUTHHOMELESSNESS

Sleep Out is more than just a night without a bed. At Sleep Out, Covenant House residents share about their journeys through homelessness, experts empower us to meaningfully advocate for an end to youth homelessness, and Sleepers connect with each other in meaningful ways.

Sleep Out offers a unique way to take action during Youth Homelessness Awareness Month, helping turn the world’s attention to this critical issue and amplifying Covenant House’s boldest mission: to end youth homelessness.

Here’s an inspiring testimonial:
Ruthie Fierberg, 6-time Sleeper

“We sleep outside in sleeping bags, guarded by security, in a clean, rat-free parking lot…None of this is akin to the foodless, bathroom-less, blanket-less, dirty, unsafe, lonely reality of living on the street—even for a single night. Instead, we took stock of our privilege. We began to feel grateful for base needs and tiny conveniences…True, Sleep Out isn’t a first-hand experience. It’s a symbol and a tool.

Sleep Out forced me and those in my social media network to confront facts about youth homelessness in America because of my fundraising goal: 1,554 Facebook friends, 1,200 Twitter and Instagram followers, and over 75 email recipients became aware of the youth homeless crisis and the work of Covenant House because I joined a Sleep Out… That’s what Sleep Out is. It’s a moment of action, a symbol, a gesture, a cry, that will incite more action. In a world where we often feel helpless to do good, this is something tangible to move the needle a fraction of an inch.”

For more information click here

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American Military Vets Traveled to D-Day Beaches for Moving Commemoration

24 military vets and their travel companions traveled to Normandy with Road Scholar on our first-ever program exclusively for vets and companions

One of our participants on the program (Nancy, a female vet who traveled with her husband, also a vet) told me, “this added to what I learned five years ago on the Normandy to Paris trip by Road Scholar. Sharing this with veterans provided a stronger bonding experience. It was great to hear about the experiences of the other veterans.”

We also have a participant who said “Honoring [my] uncle Jim and seeing the exact spot he landed in Normandy will forever be a lifetime highlight.” Another said “Thank you for honoring our Parents’ generation when we laid our flowers at Omaha Cemetery. Our National Anthem there and Taps will be forever etched on my heart.” Suffice to say, this was a very moving experience for all involved.

Libby Chandler, the Group Leader who led the group all week, said, “I’ve led this program countless times, but this is the first time we’ve had a special date just for veterans. It took this already very moving program to the next level. I could feel the camaraderie among the vets grow even more quickly and more deeply, and the events in which we honored fallen soldiers and other WWII vets held a heavier weight. There was a sense that these people understood at a deeper level the sacrifices and experiences of the historical heroes and events we were commemorating. It was an unforgettable experience for them, but for me as well. A great honor.”

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The Best of Northern France: Paris and Normandy – Road Scholar

Alongside scholars and local experts, find out how the history, architecture, cafés and cuisine makes these two regions both so unique and both so distinctly French.

For more information click here

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Party Pics – Tosca at Opera Orlando

If you have never been to an opera, this one should be on your bucket list. The city of Orlando is truly blessed to have world-class opera right here at the Dr. Phillips Center at Steinmetz Hall.

Tosca was inspired by Giacomo Puccini when he saw the play, La Tosca in Rome by French playwright Victorien Sardou, in 1899. Obtaining the rights, he spent four years translating the work into Italian.

From entering Steinmetz Hall, a grand architectural marvel, you leave behind the turmoil of the world today and escape into the turmoil of Rome in 1800 during Napoleon’s threat of invading Italy. Josh Shaw (Stage Director) staged the performers perfectly with a well-balanced beautifully artistic set by Grant Preisser (Scenic Designer). Preisser framed the stage with large paintings that he selected by Anne-Louis Girodet, a famous French painter during the Napoleonic era.

This opera has one of the most romantic scores and the conductor, Eiki Isomura led the orchestra from power to the sublime.

We meet Floria Tosca, a diva who transforms from bitch, loyal bitch, heroine and ends with martyrdom. The amazing soprano, Eleni Calenos plays her perfectly with all the nuances and thoughtful acting transitions. Ms. Calenos sang the premiere aria, “Vissi d’arte” with so much emotion the audience was elated. Her acting was excellent and proved she could not only sing Tosca she became Tosca.

Nathan Granner (Tenor) was charming in his role as Cavaradossi, Tosca’s love interest and the town painter and revolutionary. His portrait of another beautiful woman is the cause of Tosca’s jealousy and suspicion in Act I. Granner hit with power and passion “E lucevan le stelle.”
While these two star-eyed lovers are bantering, Baron Scarpia, played by Daniel Scofield (Baritone) has other sordid and dark ideas to thwart their love. Wanting Tosca for himself, he has Cavaradossi arrested and plans his execution, pinning Tosca to decide if her love lives or dies. Scofield is excellent in this role as the villain with convincing wickedness.

The Opera Orlando Youth Company was an absolute delight. The children’s voices were heavenly.
In the words of stage director Josh Shaw, “I encourage you to get lost in this heart-wrenching story for the next two hours.”

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Florida vs #1 Georgia – A Statement Opportunity

Saturday, October 28
EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL

When the Gators (5-2, 3-1) face the Bulldogs (7-0, 4-0) in their annual Southeastern Conference clash at EverBank Stadium this afternoon, Florida has an opportunity to rock the foundations of both programs if it can upset the No. 1-ranked Bulldogs and snap their 24-game winning streak.

Modern-day coaches Billy Napier of Florida and Kirby Smart of Georgia have two of the most high-pressure jobs in college football, and they meet on Saturday for the second time in one of the sport’s most intense rivalries. Smart is 5-2 against Florida since taking over in Athens in 2016, including back-to-back wins in which Georgia outscored Florida 76-27. The fact Florida could move into first place in the SEC East with a victory indicates the Gators are trending in the right direction in Napier’s second season.

For more information click here

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Tosca – Opera Orlando

Friday | October 27 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday | October 29 at 2 p.m.

At STEINMETZ HALL, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
445 S Magnolia Avenue | Orlando, FL 32801

music by Giacomo Puccini
libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa

Sung in Italian with English supertitles.
Estimated run time of two hours and twenty minutes including one intermission.

This production is graciously underwritten by Audrey & John Ruggieri.

TICKETS: start at $29

For more information click here

Opera Orlando presents Puccini’s tragically grand Tosca to kick off its 2023-24 All for Art MainStage series. As war and rebellion ravage the city of Rome, the celebrated and passionate opera diva Floria Tosca finds herself caught in a web of religious and political intrigue, betrayal, and jealousy as she tries to save her lover the painter and firebrand Mario Cavadorossi, while being coveted by the villainous and corrupt Baron Scarpia, who holds all the power. It is an utterly untenable situation that proves dire for all involved, but Tosca isn’t one to back down from a fight.

This taut melodrama unfolds on stage at Steinmetz Hall in a brand new and sumptuous production led by stage director Josh Shaw, making his return to Opera Orlando, and conductor Eiki Isomura who is making his Company debut, with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra in the pit. They are joined by an international cast that includes Greek-soprano Eleni Calenos as the luminous and fiery Tosca with acclaimed tenor Nathan Granner as the fearless and dashing Cavaradossi. They are both making their Company debuts, while baritone Daniel Scofield, last seen as Sheriff Jack Rance in Opera Orlando’s site-specific production of The Girl of the Golden West, returns to Orlando as the treacherous and forceful Scarpia.

The cast also includes 2023-24 studio artists, members of the Opera Orlando chorus, and the Opera Orlando Youth Company. Tosca will be sung in Italian with English supertitles and have a run time of approximately two hours and twenty minutes with one intermission.

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