When Nia Imani Franklin was crowned Miss America in 2019, we jumped to our feet with excitement and were blown away by her talent, beauty, and elegance. Since then, Nia has continued to perform and advocate for arts in schools and communities. Not only is Nia a classically trained opera singer, but she’s also a composer and we are so excited to see her world-premiere of Polaris at Festival Napa Valley on Saturday, July 16th, 2022!  

Looking for a fun and unique experience to check out this summer?? We’re excited to give you a quick rundown of some of the best summer concerts and festivals that are paired with a special wine experience happening in the Bay Area!

The holidays definitely look and feel different this year but we have done things around the house to try and “normalize” the season as much as possible; setting up our nostalgic holiday decor, making festive treats, face timing our family, and wrapping up presents. Another tradition that we’re excited about is watching the Nutcracker! No, it won’t be live… BUT there is a silver lining. 

The way that we experienced the arts just two months ago has completely changed. We used to only get to see the arts that were located in our neighborhoods or cities because they primarily took place in theaters — but now, that’s a different story. Although Covid-19 has kept us indoors to keep our fellow Arts Addicts safe, it has also advanced and changed the way we experience the arts.

The Phantom of the Opera has been celebrated as one of the best musicals for the last 3 decades and it continues to be one of the longest-running shows on Broadway. One of the reasons that the show has been so successful is because of the amazing cast that has continued to share the timeless love story of the Phantom and Christine Daaé. Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Meghan Picerno, who recently made her Broadway debut as Christine Daaé, to find out more about how she trained for the role and what it’s like playing one of the most iconic Broadway roles in history.

It’s hard to believe that the Phantom of the Opera first opened on Broadway over 30 years ago! It has remained the most famous Broadway show for decades and has been seen by millions from all over the world. But why? To find out, I met up with Meghan Picerno, who recently made her Broadway debut as Christine Daaé.