• Love & The City

I must confess that Valentine's Day is my least favorite holiday. I find that it doesn't bring people together like Thanksgiving and Christmas. It comes across as a tattered holiday and often a filler to produce more money in cards, candies, flowers, etc during the quiet months. However, New York City tends to be a hopeless romantic around this time of year offering sights, events and other happenings worth being a part of. So whether you are a local or a tourists, here are some romatic ideas for you and your special someone:

The 2009 City Bakery Hot Chocolate Festival - Stay warm with the many exotic flavors of Hot Chocolate this bakery has to offer including a Love Potion Flavor. Check out details of this event at www.hot-chocolate-festival.com

Art & Love in Renaissance Italy - What better way to re-discover the essence of love by going back to the time period that enhanced it the most. See art work of venus & cupid and other art works that celebrate love & marriage. Exhibit ends Feb. 16th. www.metmuseum.org

Empire State Building - Every year at the Empire State Building, 14 couples walk down the aisle on Feb 14th. This is an event you have to plan in advance if you are considering marriage. Otherwise, relive the moments of "Sleepless in Seattle" or "An Affair to Remember" by heading up to the Observation Deck and being on top of the world with a loved one. www.esbnyc.com

Valentine's in Times Square - If you looking for love then look no further at the cross roads of times square. From the temporary "Valentine to Times Square" heart sculpture being exhibit from Feb 13th - 22nd at Duffy Square, to a series of Love Banners created by 12 top graphic designers and don't forget the discounted deals on restaurants and hotels or even seeing a Broadway Show in Times Square. Love will be everywhere in this area. For further details on the various events in Times Square visit www.timessquarenyc.org

• The Marvelous Wonderettes

This musical really showcases how marvelous the singers really are and there is no wonder as to how they came up with the title of this musical. The show consisted of four actors and their energy was huge without any special stage effect. I've seen a lot famous Broadway musicals and I have never heard of this show. However, it was fantastic and I am so glad I chose to see The Wonderettes.

The four characters in this show reminded me of the time I have spent with my friends in Korea. The characters love each other but sometimes they are jealous of each other and they sometimes fight. The plot of this story takes place at the Springfield High School prom in 1958 and each of the four girls wanted to be prom queen. They sang classic 50's and 60's hit songs that reflect their hope and love stories. These songs were fantastic. I wasn't born in 50's or 60's but it was really familiar songs to me because my parents loved and listened to it too. I already knew most of the songs. The most interesting part of the show was when I get to pick the queen. Before the show started, a staff worker gave us a small paper that is written the four girl's name so I could really pick who should be the queen of prom. It was fun!

When one of them was singing, she gave me goose bumps. I don't think I can't forget that amazing moment in my life. I don't usually stand up for clapping after show however as soon as the curtain fell, I stood up and gave them clap until I felt pain on my hands. They were that great! I think the marvelous wonderettes is perfect to enjoy with your family and friends. It will remind your parent's young life and maybe even your own in our modern time. I guarantee your mother; grandmother and even your kids are going to love this show.

By Yoomi Lee (Korea)

• Rent

'Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes.' It's the time of convert one year and the lyrics of "Seasons of Love" that the main theme music in musical RENT.

The long-running broadway hit musical RENT is one of the famous musical in the world. It's also famous due to the story being based Puccini's opera La Bohem and how this 19^th century opera changed popular rock musical in broadway .

It tells the story about the youth of New York living of under the shadow of society. The young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York's Lower East Side. So, you can see the traditional social problems, as the drug and AIDS in U.S.A. But all of the story isn't always dark. Because there is love and hope even that can't through the most difficult part of life. 'Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes/ Measure, measure you life in love'. This lyrics is simple, but it has an aftereffect.

Unfortunately, this great musical is going to close. According to website, their last performance is September 7^th. After that, we can't see the RENT on Broadway anymore. But the story of RENT remains fresh in our memory. So if you are still missing this show, make sure you catch it quickly since tickets sell fast and before you know it, September comes and RENT is over.

Written by Sekwan Chung (Korea)

• Disney s The Lion King still roars 10 years later

Disney's Lion King on Broadway is celebrating it's 10^th anniversary. And in the 10 years I have been in and out of NYC, this was the first time I finally went to see the Lion King. The whole production was nothing short of breathtaking. Just the beginning intro, 'The Circle of Life' was so incredible as my jaw dropped in amazement. The costumes are so elaborate and it transforms the actors into the animals that is portrayed in the story – it was beautiful and the set design is so stunning, the audience is really whisked away to the deserts of Africa. From the swaying grass to the other animals and the colors of the costuming really had me studying everyone and wondering how they did it. It is so imaginative and innovative.

As for the story line and music of The Lion King, this has been one of my favorite Disney stories of all time. And the way it was interpreted on stage was by far much more imaginative and mesmerizing. I really felt an impact on some of the scenes, I honestly thought I was going to cry. Besides the introduction being one of those impacting scenes, the death of Mufasa was another one that was very dramatic and also when Simba finds himself through the memory of his father, Mufasa. I can sense the emotions of these actors running deep within these scenes. The acting and singing was truly amazing and the choreography and movements of how to be a lion or a giraffe or gazelle is brilliant. Some of the old songs really brung back memories and some of the new songs I haven't heard before and I fell in love with now. But still my all time favorite song is ‘Hakuna Matata'. The worry free philosophy song still has me humming that tune and saying that phrase since the movie came out. This is a show that is perfect for family entertainment. It gives the kids the music they love to hear and the characters they love to see and perfect for adults to enjoy the same details with a different and deeper meaning. For my friend and I, it was pure joy to be able to watch this amazing production that I hope will last another great 10 years on Broadway.

Here's another thing to not miss. In honor of celebrating The Lion King 10^th year celebration, there is a special exhibit taking place at The Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle. The exhibition will display the evolution of the groundbreaking production of Disney's The Lion King. Behind-the-Scenes photographs, costume sketches and costume displays, puppets and even wax figures will be featured in the exhibit. The exhibition is open to the public from 9am to 9pm daily. This is definitely an exhibit you should see since it's a once in a lifetime exhibit that will occur honoring Disney's The Lion King 10^th anniversary. I personally will be going to this since I am really interested in the costumes. The exhibit will end on April 27^th.