![\"The](\"http:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/IMG_2978.jpg\")
<\/a>The little Christmas “village” on the way in. Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the one of the entrance to the Alice In Winterland maze, at the top of this page.<\/p><\/div>\n
This year, I was planning on re-instituting that tradition, after several years off, (our last one was at my Brooklyn abode, in 2012,) but then I got invited to something that sounded like even more more fun than that\u2014the media preview of Chill at the Queen Mary–so I just could not turn that down.\u00a0 And it was the perfect choice, for that night and<\/em> any other one this holiday season! After that one<\/em> visit, I already want to go again!<\/p>\n The organizers made the place look positively dazzling!\u00a0 The visuals are stunning, and the activities very enjoyable.\u00a0 The theme of this year\u2019s entertainment is Alice In Winterland<\/em>, and they did it up right. So, here are the deets on what my friend, Roz, and I experienced on the opening night of Chill.<\/p>\n The hand-decorated stockings. Roz’s is on the left, Karen’s on the right. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n As we entered the premises, our eyes were greeted by a beautiful little Christmas village.\u00a0 I thought that<\/em> was charming, but it just kept getting better.\u00a0 And better!\u00a0 Our first stop was at a little cabin where we made our own holiday stockings.\u00a0 Not knit<\/em> them, of course, but decorate<\/em> them.\u00a0 There were so many adorable, colorful, and merry decorations that it was easy to get creative.\u00a0 We had a blast doing that activity.\u00a0 I could have done just that<\/em> for the next two hours, and called my night a success. (Mine is already up in my house!)<\/p>\n Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Then we moved over to the private March Hare Hideaways, which are cozy cabanas that surround the ice skating rink.\u00a0 They\u2019re so comfortable, and feature fake fireplaces, and plush pillows on the couches.\u00a0 Some of you may know how ice skating-obsessed I am. (As a spectator<\/em>, definitely not a participant.)\u00a0 So, it was very enjoyable to sit there and watch everybody else go for a spin (and a fall!,) on the ice. And we got to nibble on some uber-sugary snacks while we did. They actually gave me almost enough oomph to get out on the ice myself! Thankfully, for everyone concerned, I was one bite of cotton candy short. Whew\u2014that was a close one!<\/p>\n A “Mad Hatter Hideaway” cabana. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n [Note: The cabanas are available for rental for different periods of the day or night. If you do that, with a party of six or more, I suggest you throw your own Mad Hatter\u2019s Tea Party in there, which you must order ahead<\/em> of your visit. Not only is any<\/em> tea party wonderful, but this one is actually the most reasonably-priced food item to eat in all of Chill! Afternoon tea (which is what the repast is properly called\u2014not \u201chigh tea,\u201d) is usually exorbitant, but here it\u2019s unbelievably affordable. So, I suggest you not miss it. \u00a0I just wish that Roz and I had known it before, because my mouth was watering for it; but, sadly, it’s not available for\u00a0order on the spot.]<\/p>\n The hookah-smoking caterpillar. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n When we were finally able to tear ourselves away from that area, (after a brief stop at the Down The Rabbit Watering Hole—which looked like the lobby of a ski lodge—for some hot chocolate, served by amiable bartender Lance,) we finally got to the main event\u2014Alice in Winterland!\u00a0 OMG!\u00a0 It\u2019s absolutely gorgeous!\u00a0 What it is is a lovely<\/em> version of\u00a0a maze, not like the creepy (to me) Halloween ones that scare the bejesus out of you.\u00a0 It\u2019s 14,000 square feet of pure vibrant gorgeousness!!!<\/p>\n Karen and Roz sitting in Alice’s tea area. Notice Karen trying to take a bite out of the donut pillow!<\/p><\/div>\n More than almost anything in life, I love colors and lights, so this was the place for me. I would literally love to live in there! The giant all-lit-up displays, which feature every interesting portion of the classic children\u2019s book, Alice in Wonderland, are downright stunning! The Chill designers did not miss a trick! There is an innovative aspect of this main attraction, which is accessed by the big green Mad Hatter hats that are available at the beginning of the adventure. (I\u2019m assuming that you have to buy them, as you do everything<\/em> at big amusements such as this one.) You stand on different marked spots along the way, tip your hat, and then you see or hear something special, which is not visible or audible to guests without<\/em> the head gear. (And then you have the main part of next year\u2019s Halloween costume!)<\/p>\n Another part of the incredible maze! Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n At the end of the maze is a life-sized chess board, right in front of the grown-ups-only Magic Mushroom Martini Bar. Clever way to keep the kinder occupied while the parents head inside for a quick drink!<\/p>\n We exited that area just in time to see the giant Christmas tree being lit by Santa and company. There was even \u201csnow\u201d for the occasion!<\/p>\n When we were done with all that, we stopped by the North Pole Point Stage, which is near the entrance\/exit, (and is one of the free<\/em> attractions at Chill,) to watch two dance acts. (And to finally sit a spell!) We saw the Diamond\u2019s Jewels, which is a Rockettes-esque precision sextet, and then the Un-Birthday Boyz hip-hop crew, (which Mr. X could have been in!) They were both really good, and entertaining. I loved the girls\u2019 silver outfits!!! They\u2019re better than many of the costumes on Dancing With The Stars<\/em>!<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>