FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

Revisiting Friends

by John Wroblewski

Mar 21, 2021

Photo courtesy of Amie Szymanski Zander.

The Friends Experience is back! The Friends Experience reopened its flagship location in New York and the pop-up exhibit in Chicago.

© Justin Barbin – Carol Fox and Associates Public Relations

Created by Superfly X, Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Warner Bros. Television Group, the Friends Experience puts attendees into the world of the Friends television show. Centered around six friends living in New York, the show ran for 10 seasons and became one of the most successful and popular sitcoms in television history.

© Justin Barbin – Carol Fox and Associates Public Relations

While the Friends Experience was on a short hiatus to comply with COVID-19 city mandates, the demand for its return stayed strong, with hundreds of requests for pop-ups in other cities. When the announcement of the return was made, Friends fans all over the world rejoiced on social media.

© Justin Barbin – Carol Fox and Associates Public Relations

The Friends Experience features 12 nostalgia-packed rooms recreating sets and scenes from the show. Central Perk, Chandler and Joey’s recliners, the fountain and more are just a few bits of the pop culture fun.

© Justin Barbin – Carol Fox and Associates Public Relations

I talked to Jonathan Mayers, founder and CEO, Superfly X, about The Friends Experience. While New York will remain the flagship, the Chicago pop-up is for a limited time. Other locations are also being planned, but Mayers could not announce those yet.

Mayers discussed the ongoing popularity of the show, 25 years after the series finale. He also revealed his favorite Friends character and talked about a visit with live penguins. Before wrapping up our interview, Mayers gave me a scoop, though. There are plans to present other popular television shows in the same type of format. Again, Mayers could not list specific shows, but my mind started to race with possibilities I would like to see.

© Justin Barbin – Carol Fox and Associates Public Relations

As I was writing this, I saw a social media post from an old friend. Amie Szymanski Zander, executive director of Pulaski Elston Business Association, was having fun at The Friends Experience with her mom, her daughter and her daughter’s friend. Amie told me, “The exhibit was amazing! The Central Perk made completely of Legos is something to see. The pivot couch was probably our favorite.” The three generations enjoying The Friends Experience is the perfect way to summarize this pop culture exhibit.

Photo courtesy of Amie Szymanski Zander.

As a fan of pop culture, The Friends Experience is a unique opportunity to be immersed in the world that Ross, Rachel, Joey, Phoebe, Monica and Chandler brought into our homes every week for 10 years.

— John Wroblewski, online writer

Introducing

FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

Explore Excursions

#globility

Insta Feed
Daily
Jul 26, 2024

Accor Unveils Its First Handwritten Collection Brand in the United States

San Francisco, a city renowned for its commercial hubs and cultural sites, will become the first destination in the United States for one of Accor's newest brands, Handwritten Collection. The city’s Hotel Stratford San Francisco, Handwritten Collection is a European-style boutique property located near Union Square on the famous Powell Street cable car line. The area will now have the Handwritten Collection name behind it. The property becomes Accor's third hotel in San Francisco, joining the Fairmont properties atop Nob Hill and at Ghirardelli Square.

Explore Gyeonggi Province in South Korea

Gyeonggi Province, encircling Seoul, offers seamless travel with access to two major airports and a well-connected transportation system. It boasts top-notch MICE facilities, like KINTEX and Suwon Convention Center, along with a wide array of international-branded and resort-style hotels spread across its 31 cities and counties. Visitors can explore rich historical sites, including UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites like the DMZ and Suwon Hwaseong Fortress.

Bask in Nature’s Tranquility at The Spa at Four Seasons Tamarindo

When the two of us entered The Spa at Four Seasons Tamarindo, past the backlit boutique items and local artisan-painted wood carvings, the place wrapped us in a feeling of tranquility. Its stone walls, earth tones, woven wall hangings and furniture made of natural materials reminded us we are part of nature’s spectrum, the abundant windows showing native plants and trees outside.

Daily
Jul 26, 2024

4 Boutique Hotels with Exclusive Wedding Buyout Offerings

Couples looking for an over-the-top wedding, consider one of these properties around the world, offering total property buyouts to say your “I do’s.”

MORE TO TRAVEL

There’s more to travel than just getting there.

Airlines
Jul 26, 2024

BermudAir Maximizes Choices for Travelers with New Options

BermudAir announced an expanded fare structure, allowing customers to choose from five fare types across economy and business class, up from the previous three options. Travelers can now select fares based on their preferences for lounge access, checked baggage, change fees, refunds and priority boarding.

Daily
Jul 24, 2024

SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites Introduces Custom Wine Itineraries

SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites offers guests personalized journeys to Mendoza’s finest wineries from Susana Balbo’s family. Immerse yourself in bespoke wine itineraries recommended by Balbo, Argentina’s first female winemaker; her son and third-generation winemaker, José Lovaglio Balbo; and her daughter, hotelier and wine tourism marketer, Ana Lovaglio Balbo.

Daejeon Prepares for Its Iconic Zero O’Clock Festival

Daejeon, South Korea, looks forward to August 2024 and the return of its iconic tradition, the Zero O’Clock Festival. This year, the event is held Aug. 9 –17 with a time travel theme featuring past, present and future zones. Find events pertaining to each zone’s characteristics in the area of Jungang-ro Street, from Daejeon Station to the former site of the South Chungcheong Provincial Office. These streets will be free of vehicles, and public transportation is highly recommended.

eFlyer Reviews
Jul 24, 2024

Althoff Grand Hotel Schloss Bensberg Review

After a long drive from our previous destination, it was a relief to see Althoff Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg in our view. When we pulled into the hotel court, I felt like we were pulling up to a royal palace. Considering the hotel was originally built as a castle for Prince Elector Johann Wilhelm II of Duesseldorf and his wife, Maria-Luisa of the Medici family, my thought wasn’t that far off.