Given that the most famous elephant in popular culture is named Dumbo, it’s only fair for one of the year’s most magical pachyderm-related events to take place across the eponymous Brooklyn neighborhood.

On May 31 at both 5pm and 7pm, the annual Dumbo Drop, when thousands of tiny toy elephants quite literally parachute down from the sky onto Washington Street, is set to delight all attendees.

Super entertaining and visually striking, the event also benefits a good cause: ticket sales support Dumbo’s Title 1 public schools—PS307 Elementary School and the Dock Street Middle School.

Folks can snag the $15-$25 passes to each drop right here (remember that anyone who is two years old and up needs a ticket to see the flying elephants).

Each ticket guarantees you a spot on the block of Washington Street between Front and Water Streets, where the event takes place, plus a souvenir elephant to take home and an automatic entry into that drop’s prize drawing. Speaking of prizes, they include: a two-night stay at 1Hotel Brooklyn Bridge with dinner at the Osprey, a $500 area shopping spree, tabs at Joe Coffee and Gair, and much more. 

If you don’t mind skipping the main event but still want to somehow participate in the festivities, just show up by the Dumbo Archway between 3:30pm and 6:30pm for a fun block party where a ton of free activities for kids will take place next to a beer garden run by the Brooklyn Flea and, of course, a delicious-looking restaurant row.

It’s sure to be a wonderful, fun day—despite (or because of?) the falling elephants.

* This article was originally published here

All aboard!

Brilliant Lady, the fourth and final ship in Virgin Voyages‘ current fleet, will officially set sail from NYC in September of 2025, embarking on a cross-country sea trip that will stop in Boston, Charleston, Eastport, Bermuda and Quebec City, among other destinations. 

In addition to the exciting travel plans, passengers will get to revel in the cruise line’s signature luxury: think red balcony hammocks, high-end wellness spaces overlooking the ocean and over twenty award-winning eateries that cover all sorts of cuisines, from Mexican to Italian, Korean and more.

“Virgin fans have been asking for years if we’d consider sailing from places like New York, Los Angeles or Alaska, so it’s wonderful to give our Sailors and First Mates what they wanted: fresh itineraries spanning North America from 5-14 nights in length with new experiences that they will remember forever,” said Nirmal Saverimuttu, CEO at Virgin Voyages, in an official statement. “As the fourth and final ship in our fleet for now, Brilliant Lady will not disappoint.”

Just like the other ships that are part of the fleet, Brilliant Lady will feature the image of a mermaid on its facade, this one an entirely novel design by Toronto-based illustrator Janice Sung that was inspired by, according to an official press release, “historic Renaissance paintings as well as traditional Japanese and Chinese art, fashion and beauty.”

In addition to the inaugural trip kicking off in New York, the ship will embark on a wide range of other voyages, as the above-mentioned statement makes clear. These include a 7-12 night route from Miami, a longer one across the Panama Canal Crossing, another option from Los Angeles, plus Seattle, Alaska and more. 

We’re always itching for a long vacation but, suddenly, the ocean is calling out our name.

* This article was originally published here