Escape // Breakout KC

Hi everyone! Happy Wednesday!

I wanted to recap something really fun we did a few weeks ago!

My SIL Kels and her boyfriend Jacob love to do escape rooms. They are recently popping up all over the country, and rapidly gaining popularity here.

The idea is, you enter a locked room with a group of people and you have to use the things in the room as clues in order to escape from it. Rooms typically have themes and/or scenarios attached to them. You have one hour to break out of the room and the establishments typically keep track of the time it takes to break out and the success rate for a given room.

Kels and Jacob have been to escape rooms in Kansas City, Lawrence, and in Pittsburgh, PA. They have actually been to every single room at the place we went to, Breakout KC. The room that we did together was the last one on their list. (no pressure! :P)

We had no idea what to expect, so I will share a little bit about how an escape room works. :)

(this photo was provided by Breakout KC - thank you!)

The room that we visited had a casino theme and a 33% success rate. That's right, only one of three groups escape in 60 minutes.

While I cannot explain WHAT we did in the room, and I certainly could not take photos in the room..... I can give you some unspecific examples on the process and how a clue might work.

You start the room with a video that gives you the scenario or story that exists around your particular space. Sort of like a mystery. You then start roving around the room looking for any sort of clue that might solve your prompt. You might be looking for similar items across the room, words written on objects in the room, etc. As you go, you will end up with sets of numbers or letters that might unlock something in the room, a door, a safe, a window, etc. Anything that might need a combination. As you go, you often don't know which numbers will be the right ones, or what they might unlock. As you move through the room even more details and areas become obvious. You get more and more clues as you go, and eventually you (hopefully) break out of the room.

At Breakout KC you get 3 clues as well. So if you are feeling stumped, maybe trying the numbers or moving objects about but nothing is happening you can ask for a clue. Then someone behind the scenes will give you a clue via the TV screen. That usually helps groups get un-stuck. Kels said that she thinks using the clues at the right time is really important. For example, don't use them too soon, or you'll be out of luck later.

We were in a room with Kels and Jacob, and four other people, none of which had done an escape room before either. We ended up escaping, and making it out in the quickest time for the week! Not too shabby for beginners.

Overall it was really fun, definitely a creative date night or group activity. It wasn't too pricey for a full blown activity either. It was only $28 per person. That's pretty good for a unique hour of entertainment if you ask me! :)

As if this wasn't already fun enough and a great value, Breakout KC has offered a coupon code to my readers!

When you book online, use coupon code: KCCONVENTIONS to get 10% off your total!

This is not a sponsored post, all opinions are my own, but thank you to Breakout KC for providing a coupon code to you guys!

What do you think? Have you ever been to an escape room? Do they have them where you live?

Would you be interested in trying one?

XO,

Alexandra

Snapshots of One Republic & The Script // August 2014

When One Republic's song 'Counting Stars' came out, I was obsessed... I kept thinking, I just want to hear this live. So when we heard that they were coming to KC, we decided to buy tickets and try our hand at another pop concert. And I am surprisingly glad that we did.

The show was at Starlight Theater, a venue that we haven't visited for a normal concert, or at all in quite a while. It is a really nice outdoor venue. There are plenty of seats, the atmosphere is wonderful and it is a beautiful location.

The show was on a weeknight, so we weren't really able to make it to see American Authors.... but we did catch all of The Script's set before One Republic went on.

I don't know a lot of The Script's music, but I do like what I know. I especially love their song 'For the First Time'-- possibly because it was so relate-able during my college time. I just feel like I can really connect to the message of working your hardest through life, even when it seems impossible. And how you need your loved ones most during those times. So, hearing this live was also really cool for me. In general, they put on a really good show, I wish it would have been dark when they went on, but it's summer in Kansas... or Missouri I guess. :) The lead singer kept running through the crowd which was fun, because it was a huge place, and he wasn't just weaving through the front section. At one point he asked for people who had been hurt by an ex to volunteer their phones for the next song. He took a phone from a girl in the front and called her ex and sang 'Nothing' to him through the phone. It was unexpected and a crowd pleaser. I bet that her ex wasn't expecting that! :)

Before The Script left the stage they really praised One Republic, saying they were 'true musicians'. At first I thought, 'ok, that's nice they like the band they are touring with.' 'Everyone, sort of does that...' But once One Republic started performing, I realized that they were beyond sincere about what they had said. These guys really can sing, play and perform. I was honestly amazed by the talent up on that stage!

One Republic went on after it got a bit darker, they started with a screen down in front of the stage, which left the audience with a silhouette effect, with strategic moving light bursts. It was possibly the coolest concert intro I've ever seen.

After that the show continued with many songs I've heard and haven't heard. But the whole time I was amazed at how evident it was that these men had serious vocal and instrumental talent. It wasn't full of autotuning, lip syncing, or low effort performing... this was the real deal. Now I have a handful of new songs to add to my iTunes library as well.

There was one point in the show when they played 'Come Home' and showed images of Kansas City on their screen. It was really emotional (not even being a KC resident), and also just really neat to see the sky line, the plaza fountains and the shuttlecocks up on screen. :)

They also did an incredible mashup of M83's 'Midnight City' with their own 'Good Life'. Which I know does sound like it would work, but it does. 

Aside from the incredibly tall, incredibly high people in front of us's crazy swaying and groping... it was a really great show, and a really great night! I really look forward to listening to more music from both bands, and I think I would even go see them live again! --and that's high praise, especially for an impulse-buy kind of show!

It should also be noted that this is the first time we have seen people we know at a concert or heard they were there and didn't know it ahead of time. Fun. :)

Have you ever seen The Script or One Republic live?

What is your favorite song?

Thanks for Reading,

Alexandra

Impressionist France Exhibit at the Nelson Atkins // Kansas City // January 2014

So I am the master of posting about things a month or two after they've happened. All the same, this was so fun that I felt it was worth sharing.

We went to the Nelson for their impressionist exhibit (you might remember the Frida y Diego exhibit? here.) This time we did not win free tickets, but it was still less that $10 apiece. I had known about it for a long time, but we finally made out on the last day.

It was snowing and I was worried that we wouldn't make it out... but the snow just turned out to be a gorgeous and harmless addition to our drive! Though good we waited a bit to leave... we did see a lot of cars in the ditch / median on the way there. :(

It was pretty great! The gallery was filled with Monet, Cezanne, Manet, Matisse, Pisarro, and all sorts of lovely information on Impressionism.

I personally enjoy impressionism and have felt lucky that the Nelson has such a good collection. We have one of Monet's Water Lilies for crying out loud! (as does St. Louis, that post, here.)

We viewed the exhibit including my favorite Monet piece 'Boulevard des Capucines' a wonderful winter cityscape with some interesting coral-red shapes on one side. Many believe they are balloons, which I think is just really fun, especially for a sort of dreary winter painting.

We also saw so many other fantastic landscapes & cityscapes!

We went from viewing the cities, to the more rural areas, to the mountains, agriculture and forests, finally to the sea.

I was surprised to find that I was most drawn to the seascapes!

Something about the French coast became so appealing. I was in love with nearly every piece!

Before you left the exhibit there was a box where you could write a post card 'from impressionist France' and send it. On the front you draw your image and then write a note, the museum mailed them for you! I was busy trying to figure out who I would send it to since the exhibit was essentially over... while Kyle was writing me a sweet postcard. I may have glanced over... and so I wrote him one too. It was fun to look at them later.

All in all we had another fun day at the museum!

Which Impressionist Piece or Artist's Work would you most like to see in person?

I would have say more Degas!

Other Art Posts Here: Georgia O'Keeffe Museum (Santa Fe, NM), Frida y Diego (The Nelson, KC), Canadian Art in New Brunswick (NB, Canada), Saint Louis Art Museum (Main Level).

Thank you for Reading!

Alexandra

Frida y Diego @ The Nelson & Thoughts on the Importance of Art Education

Growing up I had great art teachers. Even the ones who were strict and kind of mean, they taught me so much. I can remember studying George Seraut, Frida Khalo and Georgia O'Keeffe as just a 7th grader. Then I would gather my materials and create my own imitations of their work. Pointillism was a little over my head at that point, but we all had so much fun using Q-tips to dot our masterpieces. We sketched still lives of cow's skulls and flowers like O'Keeffe and made self portraits after studying Frida's. Looking back only my O'Keeffe style piece gives the vague-ist resemblance of these artists' work.. but wow did we learn! Sadly, this is incredibly water-damaged... but can't you tell it's O'Keeffe inspired?!?! ;)

My world was filled with artistic wonder starting at the age of 12.

Once I got to high school it was even better. We studied German Expressionists and Fauvists, I tried my hand at abstract expressionism and watched a bit of Bob Ross. I joined the art club and between that and advanced courses I managed to take many field trips to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City a mere hour away. We were so lucky, but it never occurred to me at the time.

It never dreamed that some people had experienced boring art classes. or had been given very little cultural context and background to the techniques they were learning. It never occurred to me (until I started traveling) that not everyone has access to a fantastic art museum. Even just within their home state. 

You wouldn't expect a world class art museum to be hidden in the middle of the Midwest, but boy is sure is!

Upon realizing this I have been trying to keep up on what is happening at the Nelson and making periodic trips out with Kyle to explore the museum. Their permanent collection is amazing, it boasts; Monet's Water Lillies, as well as works by Georgia O'Keeffe, Carvaggio, Rodin, Kandinsky, Pissaro, Duchamp, Van gogh, Pollock, Warhol... I could go on and on!

As if this wasn't enough, their rotating exhibits are amazing as well. From June through the middle of August, they had a Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera exhibit. 

I hope you got to see it! It was so amazing!

Seeing their work up close for the first time, was just indescribable. Left: Diego. Right: Frida.

In addition to Frida and Diego's art, there were also other "Masterpieces of Modern Mexico" on display. I was in love with a surprising amount of pieces! My favorite was the one in the middle below, Mujer con rebozo, by David Alfar Siqueiros! So much texture in the brush strokes! Left: nina con naturaleza muerta, by Juan Soriano. Right: I forgot to take a picture to save the info! :( 

There was also a fun gold piece that was gorgeous! I loved this mother-daughter pair!

I also loved this fantastic photograph. It's so beautiful and raw!

So, calling all art lovers: visit Kansas City's Nelson Atkins Museum! It will not disappoint! 

Also: please let me know your favorite art museums!! I'll add them to my travel list! 

To see a review of the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, NM, click here.

All for now,

Alexandra