Events – Sundown Pointe

I have officially been changed for good after seeing Wicked: For Good! 💚💖 This movie is absolutely amazing—everything and more. Wicked: For Good is the highly anticipated second film in the two-part adaptation of the well known Broadway musical Wicked. It focuses on the consequences of Elphaba and Glinda’s decisions from the first film. It also happens during the events of The Wizard of Oz. It is soaring at the box office, earning $226 million worldwide in its opening weekend, which it officially released Friday November 21. I had no doubt especially with how well Wicked part 1 did last year.

This was my second time seeing the film, and this time I experienced it in 3D with D-Box motion seats, which made the experience even more immersive and impactful! The profound bond between Elphaba and Glinda is simply indescribable, and the powerful message about friendship conveyed during the final song “For Good” was truly beautiful. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s voices blended perfectly, creating a genuinely moving and emotional song. I personally couldn’t have picked better people to play these characters.

A fascinating production note: there was no CGI used to create the Tin Man played by (Ethan Slater) and the Scarecrow played by (Jonathan Bailey). Ethan Slater also played Boq and Jonathan Bailey also played Fiyero. The Tin Man and Scarecrow were all makeup and prosthetics, which is incredible considering these are the very characters who eventually join Dorothy on the Yellow Brick Road. This practical effects choice ties back into the tragic origin of the Tin Man’s fate, which is directly caused by Elphaba’s sister, Nessarose, the Wicked Witch of the East. They also added two fantastic new songs: “No Place Like Home,” sung by Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, and “Girl in the Bubble,” sung by Ariana Grande as Glinda. They both did a beautiful job performing these songs.

The entire cast did a phenomenal job portraying their characters, but especially Jonathan Bailey, Cynthia Erivo, and Ariana Grande. Their performances as Elphaba, Glinda, and Fiyero brought substantial emotional depth to the story.

Cynthia Erivo’s portrayal of Elphaba was phenomenal. She perfectly captured Elphaba’s journey to becoming the Wicked Witch of the West. She excelled during “No Good Deed,” delivering an intense and powerful performance that completely embodied Elphaba’s rage and determination.

Ariana Grande’s portrayal of Glinda was brilliant. She showcased incredible range, balancing the character’s initial charm and comedic timing before truly soaring with Glinda’s evolution, embodying the character’s duality in a remarkable way.

Jonathan Bailey brings a wonderful warmth and charm to Fiyero. He slipped easily into the role and has that remarkable ability to make whoever he is in front of feel seen and safe, which comes across beautifully in his chemistry with both Erivo and Grande.

This film is a love letter to friendship, love, and celebrating our differences. Truly special. I have truly been changed For Good! 💚💖 I highly recommend going to see Wicked: For Good! A huge thank you to director Jon M. Chu for this unforgettable cinematic experience! 🎬✨

Witnessing the Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, has always been a top item on my bucket list. While a typical occurrence for strong sightings might be rare especially in New Hampshire, I’ve been lucky enough to see this incredible display twice in just over a year. This is thanks to us being right in the middle of the sun’s peak 11-year solar cycle. The Aurora Borealis follows a geomagnetic scale, which varies from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme). Both sightings—last year and just the other day—were categorized as a G4 (severe).

My first time seeing them, I was mesmerized. Words can’t capture the feeling in expressing the feeling of seeing all the different colors. In October 2024, the sky was illuminated in shades of pink and purple. Then, just the other day on November 11, 2025, around 8:30 p.m., the colors started as just pink, then 45 minutes later they burst into a vibrant pink and green. This vibrant display of pink and green was perfectly fitting for the new movie Wicked: For Good, which is scheduled for release in theaters next week on November 21, 2025.

Depending on how strong the lights are, you can see them with just your eyes, but most of the time you will need your phone in night mode to capture the lights well. There are apps, websites, and social media groups that will tell you if they are visible in your area. You can also follow the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center for official forecasts.

In order to be able to see them, find the darkest possible sky, typically between the hours of 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.. That said, strong aurora can be visible earlier than that, as I saw them at 7:56 p.m. during my first sighting and at 8:30 p.m. during my most recent one. While it is best to be away from city lights, a strong enough aurora can even be seen with bright streetlights.

The colors you see are all based on the gases present in the air and the altitude of the aurora. For example, green is the most common color from oxygen at lower altitudes, while pinks and purples come from nitrogen. I have attached a link below that describes about all the different colors.

If you haven’t experienced the Northern Lights yet, I hope you get to witness this amazing experience one day. Feel free to share your stories in the comments below!

Here are photos from my experience.

October 2024: