Much Better Idol Than Stallone

The hot wife, the smoking fiancee in wait and over 70 million albums sold: Lifeas Andrea Bocelli

Most guys of Italian heritage have dreams of emulating celluloid heroes like Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and Sylvester Stallone (OK, maybe not Stallone as much any more now that he has used plastic surgery to give his mug that permanent, puffy, punch-drunk look that six Rocky movies never could).

Not me. When I grow up to be a big strong Italian-American, I want to be Andrea Bocelli.

Have you looked at this guy's life?

Bocelli, who plays his first performance in Houston in nearly a decade Wednesday night at the Toyota Center, has a tenor that was kissed by Jesus, Venus, Vishnu, Snow White, Ella Fitzgerald and anybody else who ever had a beautiful, powerful voice. He is musically fluent in keyboard, brass horns, guitars, percussion, harp and just about any other instrument put in front of him.

He's a good lookin' 52 year-old who is the first guy since mid-1980s Don Johnson in Miami Vice to make wearing a three-day beard growth sexy (this I really appreciate, as my lonely razor and beard-hating girlfriend will attest). He has a hot wife who he is separated from but hasn't divorced and a mid-20ish, smokin' fiancee who's willing to wait until he's ready to file those divorce papers before they get married (praise the Europeans and their fast-and-loose disregard for the sanctity of marriage).

Bocelli has won the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (one of the highest rankings an Italian civilian artist can receive. It rates somewhere between a British knighthood and writing a novel that gets featured in Oprah's Book Club), he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and could make a 60-foot tall gold and silver statue of himself if he melted down all the awards he has received over the years.

All that in addition to selling over 70 million albums around the world, which makes Bocelli the best-selling classical music singer ever.

And have I even mentioned that Bocelli has been blind since he was 12 years-old??? Kind of makes you feel like you squandered that sight-filled life you've been leading, eh?

He comes to Houston to remake holiday songs recorded for his My Christmas album last year that has already sold five million copies internationally.

Bottom line: Bocelli is a big deal. Go see him before he sells another million albums and a supermodel decides she wants to be his second fiancee in waiting.

Andrea Bocelli, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Toyota Center

Tickets: $75-$350

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"Here come the grannies!"

Walk through the Magic Door to experience the world of Bluey in Houston

bluey and bingo's bedroom at camp in houston

Courtesy of CAMP

Houston will soon be the home of a new CAMP store, featuring interactive installations like the house from "Bluey."

Bluey is coming to the Galleria this February “for real life” through an immersive event that invites visitors to enter the world of the famous Australian Heeler family. This one-of-a-kind experience brings the Heeler home and backyard to life with intricate details that will delight fans of all ages.

Tickets are on sale now for Bluey x CAMP, the inaugural interactive experience of the combination toy store, party venue, and immersive theater space. This is The Family Experience Company’s first CAMP location in Houston, with the business securing a 7,500-square-foot permanent retail space in the Galleria.

Through “The Magic Door,” a pivoting wall, visitors step into seasonally rotating interactive spaces beginning with a 5,000-square-foot lifesize replica of Bluey’s house.

Visitors can play games made popular by the show, such as grannies and keepy uppy, and bust a move when “dance mode” is activated. The kitchen’s fridge is covered in drawings by the Heeler puppies, while the living room TV plays Bluey.

Families can explore both a pillow fort and a cardboard castle — two-story structures complete with slides — before venturing into a playroom stocked with toys and costumes from the show. In the backyard, a recreation of the Heeler’s large tree is surrounded by charming gnomes. A photo opportunity with Bluey and Bingo tops off the visit.

Beyond the world of Bluey, CAMP offers even more for visitors in its Canteen space, with a splatter room, The Schmutz Bar (a slime creation station), a party room, and a playable truck. Customers can also shop for toys, clothing, and accessories.

Houston joins a list of CAMP’s locations in Dallas, Atlanta, New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. Installations change seasonally, with other current features including Paw Patrol, The Little Mermaid, and Encanto.

Courtesy of CAMP

Houston will soon be the home of a new CAMP store, featuring interactive installations like the house from "Bluey."

bluey galleria-houston camp bluey x camp