Imagine if you could go anywhere, be anyone, travel through time and experience those moments and events that shaped history. Where would you go? What would you do? In 2017 we examined this idea to create what we call “Journeys Through Time!” The year took us on an exploration and celebration of those places, eras and times in history that significantly impacted our world. From the beauty and culture of the Renaissance, the excitement of the Gold Rush, and the opulence of the Gilded Age, each month we presented opportunities for rich themed explorations of the times and events that shaped our world.    

Our “Journeys Through Time!” celebrations include:  

• The Age of Rock 'N' Roll
  
• The Gilded Age
• The Swing Era
• The Ming Dynasty
• The Space Age
• The Romantic Era
• The American Revolution
• Gold Rush
• Renaissance
• Ancient Egypt
• The Roman Empire
• The Future

 

 

In February we will focus on the year we looked back at the historical events that shaped our history. Looking through the lens of each decade we reflected upon the highs and lows that forged the experiences of a generation.

From the resilient spirit that persevered through the Great Depression to the creativity that gave life to the music and movement of the Disco Era, each decade was celebrated and recognized for its significance. 

Our Legacies of a Lifetime celebrations include: 

• The Turn of the Century
• The Great War
• The Roaring 20's
• The Great Depression
• The Homefront
• Fabulous Fifties
• The Rat Pack Days
• The Disco Era
• The Elite Eighties
• The Capping of the Century
• The Making of the Millennium
• A New Beginning

Many of our Brookdale resident’s ancestors came to the United States from other countries. One example of this is between 1892 and 1954, 12 million immigrants came to Ellis Island and gazed upon the Statue of Liberty, reading those now-famous words by Emma Lazarus, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” with a renewed sense of hope.

In March we look back on these celebrations. The countries we celebrate incude: 

• Asia
• Ireland
• Poland
• Mexico
• Caribbean
• Africa
• France
• Italy
• South Pacific
• Germany
• Greece
• England

Our theme for 2016 was celebrating Broadway Hits! Each month featured a selection of historic musical hits that brought unique experiences to celebrate the lights, sounds and excitement of the Broadway stage. Our communities were invited to connect through engaging programs and themed monthly social events that provided an occasion for our residents to showcase their creative passions. We brought the stage, drama, songs, and dances of each musical to our communities as we celebrated Broadway Hits!

In April we will revisit our celebrations of Broadway Hits. The musicals we celebrate include:

• Las Vegas
• The King and I
• Guys and Dolls
• Les Miserables
• The Lion King
• My Fair Lady
• Fiddler on the Roof
• South Pacific
• Oklahoma
• Phantom of the Opera
• Chicago
• Sound of Music

 

 

 

Celebrations has a reputation of taking us across the country, across the world, providing opportunities to reminisce, and make lasting memories that change our lives. What if you had the opportunity to take your dreams and imagination anywhere? What if you could take a journey to a place, a time, or a state of mind where dreams and adventures come to life? Your time has come. Let’s together face your fears and test your limits. Let’s take a leap of faith into the unknown and break new ground. Close your eyes…hold your breath…as we “Dream, Dare, Discover!”

Our Dream, Dare, Discover! celebrations include:

• Discover El Dorado
• Dive for Atlantis
• Quest for Camelot
• Sail the Seven Seas
• Cross the Finish Line
• Lights, Camera, Action
• Experience the Outdoors
• The Thrill of Victory
• Reach for the Stars
• Up Up and Away
• Explore America
• Trek Through The Artic

The times in which we live are defined by music: from Tin Pan Alley to Nashville and the concert halls of Europe. For 2012 we honored the times in which we live with this special tribute to the Music of Our Times! Through the years we’ve experienced everything from Classical to Rock & Roll to Broadway. We spent the year showcasing a different genre of music each month that helped shape American popular culture. We also provided opportunities to learn and reminisce, supported by the six dimension of wellness. Join with us as we revisit the Music of Our Lives. The music we celebrate includes:

• Big Band and Swing
  
• Soul
• Inspirational
• Jazz
• Country
• Broadway
• Rock & Roll
• Blues
• Classical
• Bluegrass
• Opera
• Latin
• Holiday

 

Route 66, also known as the Main Street of America or the Mother Road, was one of the original highways within the U.S. Highway System. The highway, which became one of the most famous roads in the United States, originally ran from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before ending at Santa Monica, California, covering a total of 2,448 miles. Join us as we revisit our celebration of the diverse landscape of America along the route.

This month we celebrate the many stops on Route 66, which include:

• California
• Arizona
• New Mexico
• Texas
• Missouri
• Illinois

“As food is nourishing to the body, so social connections are nourishing to the soul; and so often they go hand in hand. For World Cuisine we celebrated the rich cuisines and social traditions from cultures around the world though engaging gatherings with our residents, families and friends.” This month we revisit these culinary celebrations, which originate from:

• Morocco
• Brazil
• Thailand
• Cuba
• Italy
• France
• Greece
• India
• Germany
• Poland
• America
• Jamaica
• China
• Madagascar
• Netherlands
• Tahiti
• Spain
• Philippines
• Egypt
• Hungary
• England

It is with great pride that Brookdale’s 2010 Celebrations Program paid homage to the “Amazing Places of America.” From the mountains to the seas, we journey to the amazing places that we call “home”! Each monthly destination was food for our souls, as we walked America, appreciating our creative accomplishments, rich history, heritage, and cultural identifiers, which make us Americans. We took time to applaud our local heroes, and the hometown traditions that we treasure. We traveled for the sake of curiosity and learning, but our American grand tour was more than an exploratory vacation. The “Amazing Places of America” include:

• Las Vegas
• New Orleans
• Hollywood
• The Wild West
• The Everglades
• The Carolinas
• Washington D.C.
• The Great Lakes
• The Grand Canyon
• Pacific Coast Highway
• The Rockies
• New York City

In 2007 we celebrated the unique traditions and cultural events around the world. Each historically significant holiday transported our residents to new places where they explored familiar and new traditions. With a variety of intergenerational programs, theme events and purposeful projects we celebrated the extraordinary occasions that bring people together across the globe. This month we revisit these "Celebrations Around the World," which include:

• St. Patrick’s Day Ireland
• Red Hill Festival Eastern Europ
• Cinco De Mayo
• Midsummer Scandinavia
• Independence Day
• Feast of the Gods and Goddesses Egypt
• Durja Puja
• India
• Oktoberfest
• Guy Fawkes Day -England
• Festival of Lights- Around the World 

In 2013 we celebrated the moments and milestones that have shaped our nation. We celebrated the uniqueness of the “American Spirit” that has guided our country to new horizons and new limits. Each month brought the opportunity to celebrate momentous intervals that shaped the fabric of our great nation and each generation.  This month we will revisit the "American Spirit" celebrations, including:

• The American Dream
• Puttin on the Ritz
• The Space Race
• A Nation United
• The Greatest Generation
• The Age of Technology
• Birth of A Nation
• The Great Frontier
• The Industrial Age
• A Generation Rises Up
• Discovering the New World
• The Global Age

During 2011, we traveled outside America to discover the "Amazing Places of the World." We visited both natural wonders and man-made marvels. Our journey took us to six continents. We started at the 5,500-mile Great Wall of China and finished in North America to see the Northern Lights. Along the way, we learned new dances. This month we will return to our journey of "Amazing Places of the World," including: 

• Venice Waterway
• The Great Wall of China
• Rio de Janeiro
• Mt. Everest
• Mayan Ruins
• Great Barrier Reef
• The Fjords
• The Serengeti
• Taj Mahal
• The Pyramids
• The Parthenon
• The Northern Lights