this 'n that...

A few things that caught my eye this morning, while I scanned the headlines and sipped hot tea...

First of all this story about a POTO sequel is so incredibly bizarre, it doesn't even merit thinking about. Do we really really need another chapter in the Phantom saga? Especially one that happens at Coney Island (is there some sort of time travel involved?) with some kind of robo-Christine? Does this not sound like the Worst. Idea. Ever?? All that said though, let me just tell ya, if Gerry Butler is cast as the Phantom, I will be there with bells on. I'm not proud of this fact, at all, but it's true. I'd go and see him do anything. Even 300. He can't sing, really, though, but who the hell cares?
(A word to the wise - Run away, Hugh Jackman! Run away now, while you still can...)

Also, unrelated but nevertheless interesting - Something called the Lake Superior State University has published their (apparently) annual list of words/phrases that should be banned due to overuse. Go check it out here. I too, totally hate the constant use of "going green." Going green, seeing green, it ain't easy being green, but it's no use yakking on about it if we don't actually DO anything about it. A little less conversation with idiotic catchphrases and a lot more action is needed. And how icky is the word "staycation"? I can't think of any I'd ad to the list just yet, but I will probably think of a couple...

dance one year in, kiss one goodbye...

Haven't had a Patti video in some time... Happy New Year, everyone!

dublin carol...

Last night, Heidi and I trekked out to Steppenwolf to see William Petersen (of CSI fame) put on an Irish accent in Dublin Carol. We were in the very last row of the "Upstairs" theater, but it was smaller than the downstairs theater, so the last row is not as bad as it sounds. Only tickets I could get, too.

The show was, well, yeah. Short, 80 minutes, no intermission. Cast was small - Petersen's character John (I think - I didn't get a playbill until we left so I didn't read it till later), an almost recovering alcoholic estranged from his family and now working at a funeral home, Mark, the 20 year old nephew of Noel, the owner of the funeral home (in the hospital, so much discussed but never seen), and Mary, John's daughter, who came to visit to tell him that Helen, her mother, his wife, was dying in the hospital. The play basically told his story -- drank to escape from himself, ruined his life, his children's lives, his wife's life, had an affair, hit rock bottom, was rescued by Noel, in an act of kindness. He was offered the job in the funeral home and a second chance at life. It was a show about making connections with people - John with Noel, and then with Mark, and then with his daughter. There was never any big huge revelation, it was a quiet, introspective drama, with quite a few laughs. It ended rather abruptly and left me with a kind of "oh" feeling. I wanted to know what happened next, and it offered more questions than answers, a hopeful and optimistic but ratehr vague ending to the story.

One of my favorite lines was about an advent calendar - John thought that perhaps they should make a year 'round one, you open the little window and you get words of wisdom, advice, some jokes, maybe... as in "November - you're being a spazz, cop onto yourself" which let's face it, could be words of advice for me, personally every day of the year...

...that's what it's all about

Last night, in the strangely unseasonal weather (very warm! much rain!), we braved it over to the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts (and we didn't even need an ark!) to see Mandy Patinkin's show, Dress Casual. I can't say I was the youngest person in the audience, because I saw two little girls there with their families. I can probably safely say that both mom and I were the only shiksas present though. We had happily unobstructed seats in the balcony (I live in constant fear every time I go to the North Shore Center, even though the Northlight thing happened in a totally separate theater. Same building) and we were sitting right in front of a Patinkin relative (I thought it was a little weird that the poor old girl had to sit all the way the hell up in the balcony, but whatev.)

The show was lots of fun - Mandy greeted the Skokie crowd warmly, reminisced about his childhood on the south side of Chicago, attending some Jewish Community Center type dances in his youth, some favorite makeout spots... He had a few major technical glitches with a new microphone type thing he said he was trying out - a contraption that fit over his ears and were like eyeglasses in the back of his head - at one point he ripped the thing off and just held the mic part, causing him to quip, midsong "I had an easier time with prostate cancer!"

But he managed to sort it out and sang to us, wonderful songs from Sondheim ("Children and Art" "Sunday" "end in the Clowns," I know there were others but now I am blanking)..., Rodgers & Hammerstein, some American Songbook classics, some what I assume was Yiddish. He made us all stand up and do the hokey pokey whilst he sang along (in Yiddish!) which was actually very much fun. He talked about politics, sex, and religion, adding that the world is awfully screwed up because of these three things but, "Now we have Obama, and it's gonna be okay." He's a performer, a big ham, and the voice was strong and solid and unique as ever.

At the end of the show, he said he'd sing "one more" and the crowd started tossing out requests. "Fuck it," he announced to his long time accompanist, "It's been microphone hell night, let's give them what they want!" and he launched into a pretty long encore set that included "Oh What a Circus" from Evita (a request... I think... that prompted him to comment "That gentleman shouted out something about that show... about that bitch from Argentina..."), "Bring Him Home" from Les Miz, and oh, a few others. It was a lovely fun evening, and I am glad I decided last Monday to buy these tickets!! After the show, we sloshed home again, only to find that our basement had flooded. But that's another story...

busy per the bee...

This is a crazy fun weekend coming up! If you don't hear from me, I'll be flung in an exhausted heap somewhere... here's what's cooking...

Nutcracker tonight...*
Nutcracker matinee tomorrow...**
Mandy Patinkin (AKA "The Patink") tomorrow night at Center East
William Petersen in Dublin Carol at Steppenwolf on Sunday...

WHEW!

* No, I am not obsessed with Nutcracker, I'm WORKING, see?
** IS this the year the Mouse King wins?? Come and see for yourselves!

a christmas meme

Joy to the world, my darlings, I hope you all got what you wanted for Christmas...

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper all the way. So much more fun & satisfying to rip open a package on Christmas morning.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Real tree, I've had one every year that I can remember, although family lore says that way back before I was born, we had an artificial tree, but the cat knocked it over, so it's been a real one since then...

3. When do you put up the tree? around 12/15, my mom's birthday

4. When do you take the tree down? January 6, the Epiphany

5. Do you like eggnog? No!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I don't remember a specific gift. Although last year rocked because my parents gave me a new bag for work and a pair of sneakers to do my commuter walk in... best presents ever!!

7. Hardest person to buy for? My dad.

8. Easiest person to buy for? My mom.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes - several actually.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. Another question I guess would be store bought or handmade, and this year it was store bought... they were cool though, so I guess it's all right.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? A brooch in the shape of an elephant from a neighbor of my grandmother's. Sweet of her to get me a gift but what 10 year old wants an elephant brooch?

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Charlie Brown's Christmas

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Whenever the mood strikes.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not that I can recall.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? cookies!

16. Lights on the tree? Is this a yes or no question? Do people not put lights on their trees? Yes, we have lights on our tree. They are colored lights, not white ones.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Happy Xmas (War is Over) ONLY by John & Yoko, Merry Christmas from the Family (Dixie Chicks), Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (ONLY Brenda Lee), the Bells of St. Paul (Linda Eder), Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - U2... I will probably think of a zillion others...

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I've been at home for Christmas every year (not only in my dreams...)

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Dasher & Dancer & Prancer & Vixen &Comet & Cupid & Donner & Blitzen & Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? An angel

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning - Santa does not come on Christmas Eve!

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The crowds, the weather, the playing of christmas music from halloween...

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? We have lots of cat ornaments, angels, ones that I made when I was a kid, antiques from my grandmother...

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? I don't really have a favorite for dinner. We change it around each year.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? World peace and maybe another new bag for work

'twas the night before christmas...

And all through the Tower, all the workers were stirring, thank god we've got power!
Ha. So yes, I am at work today. Merry Christmas, Sugar Plums!

elton john made me cry (or is that the pain in my feet?)

I know I've been MIA lately, but I've been lost in the Land of Snow - both physically (this is a Chicago winter like we have not seen in some time. Why? Why? And again Why?) as well as metaphorically, with the opening of our beautiful Nutcracker on Thursday.

Anyway, I'm not done reliving last weekend yet - what a difference a week makes, huh? At this time last week, I was standing outside the St. James Theater (yes, again. Shut up.) waiting to see Gypsy (#12). This week, I am hiding out inside my house and wearing a million layers. Anyway, last Saturday was a double feature - Billy Elliot matinee and Road Show in the evening. I started my day with another fortifying waffle from Nice Matin and then needed to make an emergency trek to the Skechers store on 42nd Street because the new boots I'd just bought on my birthday? Were not made for walking and my feet were KILLING me. The things are little black ankle boots with no heel - I thought they'd be perfect, but alas, no. KILLING me. So it was off to skechers to buy some cute shoes, flat, but with an athletic sole, so I could walk and be comfy and still match all my outfits. So much better! It was like walking on pillows (but I tell you, it's about a week later, and my feet STILL kind of hurt. Stupid black boots of death.)

I got to the BE theater really early, so I wandered around a little, saw John Lithgow walking along on his way to the All My Sons matinee, did a little browsing in the Broadway book shop, and through Shubert Alley, caught a little of a protest outside a Scientology Center, then ended up back at the theater STILL really early. I ended up just hanging out until doors opened. The BE theater is the same one I saw August: Osage County in before its move to the Music Box, and I had almost exactly the same crappy seat. I was a few rows from the back of the house (enigmatically called "Rear Mezz" by telecharge. Rear Mezz to me means in the back of the mezzanine, not 2 rows from the back of the house! But maybe that's just me?) I was also smack in the middle of the row, which made any intermission escape pretty much impossible. Arrgh.

But anyway - the show was WONDERFUL! The Billy I saw was Kyril Kulish - he was an ok singer, but oh, could that boy dance! I'd seen the movie when it came out and loved it, and I loved the show, too. It made me cry - a lot. I was up there laughing and cheering and applauding and bawling my eyes out. Everyone kind of goes in thinking it's a show about a little boy wanting to do ballet, but it's definitely got an edge to it, with the miners' strike always in the background. There's a really powerful sequence "Solidarity" with the little girls in their tutus dancing among the striking miners and the police. And I also loved the opening to Act 2 with "Merry Christmas, Maggie Thatcher" Billy's dad singing "He Could Go and He Could Shine" and Billy's song "Electricity." Very powerful stuff, but a lot of fun, too. Well played, Sir Elton! Well played!

After that, it was out for a quick dinner and two trains to the Public Theater for Road Show. I got a little bit lost, since I'd very helpfully written down the wrong address for the theater. Finally, I saw a sign that said "Public" and I kind of followed that. Voila. Yeah, I totally meant to do that!!! I was in the front row for Road Show, and can I tell you that I don't remember doing that on purpose? I remember buying my tickets for Gypsy as close as possible, and even remembered the whole Rear Mezz nonsense when I was ordering my ticket for BE, but I don't remember buying the Road Show ticket and selecting the front row. Weird. I wasn't sure what to expect from Road Show. I know it started its life as "Bounce" and was in Chicago at the Goodman. It got some rewrites, I think, and re-emerged as "Wise Guys" more re-writes and now exists in its current 1 hour 40 minute no intermission incarnation. So yeah, not sure what to expect, but as someone sitting behind me pointed out, "Even second rate Sondheim is still Sondheim..." and therefore, better than pretty much anything else running. Aside from that, I really wanted to see Michael Cerveris (with hair!) and Alex Gemignani on stage together again.

So it was, yeah. I enjoyed it. There was no uncontrollable sobbing, or anything, but it was enjoyable. I laughed. I got covered in the fake money that both brothers and several other of the show's characters were flinging around the stage. The music was filled with the slight echoes of earlier works, but there were some really beautiful songs in there, a few that I wish I could hear again. The final line of the show maybe says it all - it is something to the effect of "sooner or later we're bound to get it right!"

On my way back to the UWS, I stopped by a local Crumbs and procured a bedtime snack. It was much easier getting back than it had been getting down there... but now I know how to get to the Public!

hijinks on the high seas

Ugh, I hate snow. I very very much hate snow. But as you might have noticed, I'm sitting here typing this, and so obviously made it home unscathed. Praise the lord.

But back to my lovely long weekend, so much more pleasant to think about than crappy cold Chicago weather. Friday's agenda was this:

-Waffles at Nice Matin
-Pick up Gypsy/Billy Elliott tickets
-Walk down 42nd St. in search of the aircraft carrier Intrepid
-General chilling in the Village
-Lunch
-General chilling elsewhere about town
-Nap
-Dinner
-Gypsy (ROW A!!!)

I had my beloved Nice Matin waffle. I am always worried that I have made them out to be so wonderful in my head, but will be a disappointment when I actually go and eat them. Let me tell you, they are wonderful. Sweet, crispy and delicious. Mmmmm. Amusingly, while I was sitting there with my waffle, recording the previous day's events in my little journal, I was earwigging on the table next to me. A recently laid off woman was talking about job options with a friend of hers. Apparently looking for a position in communications, she said she'd had an interview where the person she met with had to remind her to include her contact information on her resume. She was whinging on about how she hadn't had to prepare a resume in ages, etc. but I mean come on, Ms. COMMUNICATIONS professional! How are you going to get hired if you don't at least list a phone number?? So, yeah, good luck with that one. Don't call us, we'll call you. Well, if we even had your phone number... Ha.

Anyway, went to then pick up several evenings' worth of tickets and then trekked down to pier 86 to the aircraft carrier Intrepid (history geek, much?) She was built in 1943 during WWII, and sustained a number of kamikaze hits. She also saw action in Vietnam and was a launch or landing pad or something for the space program. Famous Intrepid crew include George HW Bush, Paul Newman, and John McCain. I love this sort of thing and it was great fun. I got there early, so was in and out before the crowds (and their children) showed up. I climbed the little staircases to see inside the Ready Room, the Code Room, the Anchor Chain Room, the mess hall and the sailors' quarters, the forecastle, the captain's bridge, all that good stuff. THEN, the most fun part was going out on top of the Flight Deck and seeing all the planes. It was windy as all heck, but at least it wasn't raining and freezing cold. I took pictures - I will post some up here later. It was cool as hell though, and I had a really great time. I was feeling all Ziva David on NCIS, doing a ship investigation - although I bet Ziva wouldn't go falling on her ass like I did in the middle of one of the hallways. I'm surprised that I didn't fall off one of those little stairways, they are tiny and steep. I can't imagine the sailors having to do that all the time and do it quickly. So yeah. COOL is all I have to say about Intrepid. I get all weepy watching the WWII videos and seeing the vets - my family has a long association with the Navy and I think this is where I get it from. That and the history major thing. So yes, fun AND educational.

What else? Oh, I wandered around town for a while, like "Oh, let's go HERE" and then hopping off the subway, going "Huh" and then getting back on the subway. I was using some pages from TONY and looking for cool fun areas where I could browse or shop or explore. Trouble is, it will give you subway directions as in which train to take but not so much what to do once you get off. And by this time I was getting hungry and thinking "Cheeseburger" and I had one of those things where there were restaurants everywhere but not one of them that looked appealing to me. So back on the danged subway to Burger Heaven at 5th and 49th. And oh, was I ever in Burger Heaven. So nice...

Gypsy (#11) up next, but it needs a post all its own...

one more, in the name of love...

CAR UPDATE: Methinks I will need a new bumper... Joy, unbounded. I will keep y'all posted.
(Funnily, now I've got Mazeppa "Revolution in Dance" in my head with her line "Maybe there's something wrong with your bumpah")

But back to happier days... last Thursday. I'll spare you all the travel details. Original 8:00 AM flight got canceled - LaGuardia + rain = disaster. But American Airlines seemlessly seated me on the 9:00 flight which left without incident. I landed, arrived at the hotel and had lunch. Imagine, if you will, a weary and hungry traveler, just off her flight. It is raining and she just wants some hot soup and a sandwich. Or better, a sandwich and a cup of tea as she's not had any caffeine yet today. Off she wanders down Amsterdam, looking for a cozy diner to park in. Wanders. And wanders. Her jeans are getting wet. She passes many places that are either too expensive or too fried (her stomach just cannot handle something called "The Chirping Chicken") or too bizarre (sushi, and what appeared to be a Japanese Italian restaurant. Quoi??) when all she wants is a damn bowl of soup, people! Suddenly, a light shines out in the darkness. It is a divine establishment known as "Crumbs" they sell not soup, but perhaps the next best thing - CUPCAKES. Ah, she's gotta come back here. But wait! She's getting wetter and wetter and thinks that's it, goddamn it, it's my VACATION. If I want a cupcake for my lunch, I'm gonna have one!!! So the weary traveler rested her wet self and had a not so nourishing but nonetheless delicious lunch of a massive red velvet cupcake and a steaming cup of earl grey tea. After that, our heroine goes back to the hotel and commences to... take a nap.

Yeah, I know. Livin' it up in Manhattan! I am very very exciting!!! But I needed my strength for the opera. LONG shower and sinus steam, then off to dinner (spinach ravioli at La Grolla, also on Amsterdam, yum!) and The Met.

I arrived really really really early, and it was pouring down bucketfuls of rain. I wandered some more around the Renee Shop, oh, wait, I mean the Met Shop - which had a gigantic shrine erected to the Diva, complete with her (gorgeous!) opening night gowns, her cds, her (gorgeous!) face plastered on season posters, the season book, and kniccknacks like mint boxes and something else... but I don't remember. Also bottles of her perfume La Voce. I was afraid I'd drop the bottle, so I didn't venture near it. The new shop is nice, but not as cluttered with stuff as the old one was, so it didn't take too long for me to browse around in there. So I hung around for, oh, I think it was close to an hour, looking at the neat looking Dr. Atomic sculpture (I WISH I had made it to the Met to see Dr. A again!! It was UNBELIEVEABLE! And this from someone who seriously dislikes modern opera. It rocked. If I had not been otherwise engaged at a work function, I would have gone to see it in HD.)Anyway, the Met is pretty spectacular, all shiny chandeliers and red velvet walls... My seat was not great - orchestra, left side all the way in the back, a few rows before the Standing Room area.

Thais is actually one of the only operas I have seen multiple times. I saw it three times when Renee and Thomas Hampson performed it in Chicago in 2003 (and one of those was the infamous dress rehearsal that I got to attend because I also purchased a ticket to a planned giving lecture. Now they seem to think I've got money and send me stuff all the time. HAHAHA! Yeah, right.) Thais has some incredibly gorgeous music, including the moving "Meditation" which I think is one of my favorite classical pieces of all time. The plot is... odd. Fun loving actress courtesan Thais is living it up in Alexandria, when this monk sees her in a dream and decides he needs to - what else - save her soul. The chief monk tells him to keep his nose out of it, but does he listen?? No. So off he goes to the ugly set of Alexandria to find Thais. She laughs in his face, but later, when she's alone (in her weird bedroom set that features many additional chairs all facing the bed - WTF? Guest chairs? Is she expecting an audience??) she ponders his words. She worries that when she's old and ugly, nobody will love her and CERTAINLY Christian LaCroix won't be designing her glam designer wardrobe any more. The monk appears and convinces her, in the span of maybe 20 minutes? That she should follow him. He sells it well - eternal life! Happiness! A convent! Wheee! Sign me up! And then - after a little "Meditation" she decides to go with it. Great, he tells her. Burn all your stuff and then we'll take a little walk through the desert. Awesome, she says, I'll be right with you, padre. So he brings her to the convent. His "teachings" she tells him, have shown her the way, and she has traded all of her great clothes for sackcloth (which looks pretty glam, too!). He goes home, tormented because - wait for it - he has really loved her all along. He realizes he'll never see her again, then gets another dream that she's dying. But no! He heads back across the desert to find her - 3 months later - a saint and waiting to be welcomed into heaven. Then she dies.

So yeah, totally believeable. Great music though. Thomas Hampson is simply incredible. At one point, the man is singing off stage and yet he was as clear as though he was still standing front and center. I don't think he was mic'd either. And Renee? Well, she was just sublime. What a perfect role for her, it fit her like a glove, perfect for her voice, a joy from beginning to end. The production was imported from Lyric, so it was like being home except you know, 100 times cooler. It was, in fact - Metacular. Hahahaha.

More to come...

bitch stole my taxi! and more (upper) west side stories

I'm back from NYC! And you know what?? I shoulda STAYED THERE! Not only is it zero degrees here, icy and freaking SNOWING, I got into a fender bender this morning. Everything is okay. The only fenders that got bent, unfortunately, were mine. It is all kind of a blur - I was backing into a parking spot to prepare myself for a cleaner exit later tonight, I am not used to doing it, I was anxious about doing it, suddenly there was another car there, and I am not sure he knew I was going in reverse, and he kept coming forward, I kept going backwards, and CRUNCH. His car? Not damaged. My car. Damaged. Arrrrghhhh. I love my car and am upset that I'm a total moron because - here's the best part - if I'd pulled into the spot, I would have been FINE. Well, I guess it is true. Life's a bitch and then you die.

But you want to know about my trip, right?? And how it was in the 60s yesterday when I left??
More later...

TOMORROW NIGHT....

Barring all snow-related flight delays, I will be in New York City tomorrow, and seeing the Divine Ms. Renee Fleming in Thais... Oh, I am so very excited. I saw Renee sing this role in Chicago back in 2003, and it is gorgeous. Speaking of gorgeous, check out the Thais photo from the Met.

Wow & wow & wow. So glamorous. They are, it must be said, doing an outstanding job with... pretty much everything. The promotional photos (which started - last year?)are AMAZING, the HD broadcasts, I even got an email reminder for the performance tomorrow night (as if I could forget!). Bravo, Peter Gelb. Bravo.

start spreading the news...

Well, Thursday is when I leave for my next trip to NYC, my big 30th birthday gift to myself. I really really really (really!) need this vacation, as guilty as I may feel about spending this money when the economy is in the crapper and our governor is in prison, I think it will really be good for me to take some time for myself, see some friends and do what makes me happy. So I might have to live like Thais when she finds god for pretty much all of January, but this weekend, it's all about the relaxing. Because you're only 30 and young and irresponsible once, right?

Wow, Illinois, words fail me.

Blago is in big trouble. Reportedly the scope of the corruption is "staggering." Awesome. I am so proud to be from Illinois today.

Sidebar- the other big Yahoo headline story also comes from Illinois - Oprah is apparently embarrassed about her weight gain. And this is news because why? Am I the only person in this state that does not care AT ALL about what Oprah thinks, says, reads, wears, weighs?

Camelot at Ravinia!

This is in today's Sun Times:

Broadway veteran George Hearn, Grammy winner Sylvia McNair and baritone Rod Gilfry -- acclaimed for their 2007 performances in the Ravinia Festival's staged concert version of "The Most Happy Fella" -- will reunite with director Marc Robin June 5 for a single staged concert presentation of "Camelot," the Lerner and Loewe classic. Hearn will play King Arthur, with McNair as his Queen Guenevere and Gilfry as Sir Lancelot. Erich Kunzel will conduct the Ravinia Festival Orchestra.

The complete Ravinia season will be announced March 13, with tickets for all performances on sale April 16.

shopping on black friday

On Black Friday, I ventured out and commenced to Commit Commerce, in order to do my part for the economy (Dear Chairman of the Fed: YOU'RE WELCOME!) among the things I bought... Oh, yeah, right. Like I'm going to broadcast that to the internets? No. I will say that I bought holiday cards - I'm not making any this year. It's just as costly as buying a box of cards and when I make cards that I like, I am less inclined to actually send them to people because I just like them too much to give away - it's like "Here you go, Merry Christmas, now gimme that card back!" Since I don't usually have a single card design in mind when I make them, they're all unique and that can be time consuming. So, yeah. I bought cards.

We also spent a whole lot of time in Champps (the extra "p" is for...) where the five thousand tvs broadcasting every variety of sporting event competed for attention with the piped in Christmas music. Arrrrghhhh. It's officially the season now and everything, I know. But it is still really really too early to subject shoppers to the latest chart teenybopper chart toppers warbling christmas songs. Do we really need another version of "Sleigh Ride"? Or "I saw mommy kissing santa claus"? Or "A Very Special Christmas" (That one makes my ears bleed, I hate it so much) or, as I heard in Old Navy "Happy Christmas (War is Over)" - lots of people can remake lots of songs, but I think this one should remain off limits. Forever and ever. Whoever you are, you ain't John Lennon, so kindly shut the hell up so I can try on this performance fleece.

I've also done a lot of shopping online, which is probably the best answer to the holiday shopping question. You can shop any day at any hour, you don't have to battle for parking, face long lines and rude people, you can sit in your pjs or whatever, and you don't have to listen to Jessica Simpson singing "Rockin' around the Christmas Tree" (unless you really want to).

deck the halls...

Found this little ornament over at Cafe Press- the perfect addition to any tree, and I think the best gift any of us could have asked for this Christmas.

giving thanks

And so it's turkey day! We're having dinner here at the homestead today, and I HELPED. It's a good time for reflection, isn't it? And so, here goes, a few things that I am thankful for, on this day, the 3rd day of my 30th year: I am thankful for my family. For my mom who listens to me babble endlessly about this ailment or that ailment, and she never ever yells at me or tells me to shut up because I'm being totally ridiculous (well almost never). She shops with me, knits with me, goes to the opera with me, cooks with me, and is a great friend. For my dad, who taught me about football, the value of a good work ethic and probably my sense of humor and certainly my sense of drama. For both my parents who encourage me always to do what makes me happy. For my dear little Start & Finish who bring furry feline joy into my life every day. For my friends who I love like family, who make me laugh, who taught me how to dance dance and rock out in rock band and who are always share their old lady problems with me with the utmost of candor (usually, for some reason, in a booth at Baker's Square). "You don't even care that I'm so weird - that's AMAZING!"

I'm thankful for my job, even though it has, quite literally, given me an ulcer. I had promised myself that by the time I was 30, I would be in a job in the performing arts world and now look! It's been a year and a few months, and I'm in that very job I dreamed about having. It involves more than I ever could have expected, and it's certainly a learning experience, every single day, but I am thankful that I am a small part of this completely amazing company.

I am thankful that aside from a few issues, I am mostly healthy. I am thankful for my home and my car and the new boots I boought from Skechers the other day. I am thankful that Barack Obama won the election, and I am also thankful that Hugh Jackman won the title of "People's Sexiest Man Alive." I am thankful for good food, good friends and good music, Starbucks holiday coffee, and that I have an Old Navy, a Sarah's Pastries, an Argo Tea AND an H&M within walking distance of my office. I am thankful for artists making their art on stage - we need you now, more than ever, in hard times, to uplift us and take us away somewhere else for a while. What else?? I am thankful to Al Gore for inventing the internet (ha!) so that I can jump online on a whim and go to WebMD to see what else I may be coming down with, or to chat with my friends at TBV (9 years! Can you believe it?) I'm thankful for Patti LuPone's Les Mouches album, the song "Super Trouper" and my new K-Cup coffee machine. I am thankful that I've gotten a lot of my holiday shopping done already and won't have to go out much tomorrow (but I will anyway, because I love to shop). I'm thankful that it's not snowing and that I'm going on vacation soon...

Happy thanksgiving, everyone!

oh mickey, you're so fine...

(Last Friday)
My phone: Ring, ring! Why doncha give me a call??
Me: Hello?
Jimberly*: What are you doing tonight?
Me: Nothing.
Jimberly: Wanna go to the Niles North Variety show and watch our friend* in the faculty do a dance?
Me: But of course!!

*Name changed/withheld to protect the innocent

So off we went to Niles North, land of the free, home of the Vikings, to see the variety show. I don't remember having a variety show when we were in high school, but apparently we did. Maybe they called them "talent" shows back then?? We didn't even bring a camera, but some crazy cat in the audience DID and put this on Youtube. It kind of rocks.

if you don't vote, you can't complain, but still...

I wanted Lance & Lacey to win Dancing with the Stars last night!!!!! Boo. The finals aired on my birthday, and I was out with my friends eating awesome mashed potatoes at Johnny's. So I didn't even watch, let alone vote. I guess I can't complain, but I'm going to anyway - they weren't even top 2! And I loved Warren Sapp, loved him to death, but top 2? I think not. Whine, whine, whine... Anyway, keep on dancing with your bad self, Lance Bass. You rock. AND you should have won. So there. See ya on tour, baby*







(*Yes, I'm kidding)

moi? hard to shop for?

Dear Santa,
Only 30 more shopping days until Christmas! I have apparently gotten the reputation of being hard to shop for, and I wanted to be sure that you had plenty of ideas so I don't wake up Christmas morning with an empty stocking! So, here goes:

1. I commute, Santa baby, and it kinda sucks. Not as much as circling the globe in one night on a sleigh pulled by reindeers, but nearly almost as much. So, anything that can make my commute faster, easier, and more entertaining would be a good thing. Books, puzzles, magazines, a rocking playlist, stuff like that. Commute gear is also possible - last year I asked my family for a good pair of walking shoes for my hike from CUS to the office, and a work bag. The same things can apply this year - a good pair of sneakers to walk in (I'm an 8 as much as I sometimes pretend to be a 7.5, it's not good) and a tote that I can put all my crap in would be awesome. I also like knee socks - keep the legs warm in cold weather!

2. I have a lot of stress. Things that can help me de-stress are always welcomed. I'm kind of sensitive to scents, so be careful there. But I am not opposed to gift cards - like to go and see movies with my friends, or to my favorite stores, since I really really like to shop. I like to journal, and love those pretty books sold for these purposes. I like to knit (still no purling) and so needles or yarn or books that would teach a lefty to purl would be nice.

3. I am really, really, almost tragically, easily amused. I bought a pack of pens from Staples awhile ago (multi-colored uni-ball siglos) that promise me that their special ink helps prevent check fraud! God, how I love these pens. And stickers, and all kinds of stuff like that. Little stuff. Stupid stuff. I get almost unnaturally excited by these things.

4. I like to read - almost anything. I am trying to figure out how to learn to use the PhotoShop I just installed on my MacBook, and would love like an Idiot's Guide to PhotoShop or something like that.

5. I am strangely trapped in the 70s. Did the disco dancing give it away? Think Abba. Think DVDs. I would be Abba-solutely over the moon (hahahaha)

6. Accessories! I love shiny things, and I love bright, bold colors

7. My office is cold: I love wearing scarves and sweaters, and drinking hot beverages from my favorite Loop coffee purveyors - Argo Tea and Starbucks.

8. I have a thing for jackets and coats - not just outerwear.

9. I like to be cozy - and one can never have too many pairs of comfy pajamas.

10. One word: Fossil - Bags. Watches. Wallets. LOVE THEM.

11. Here's another word: Hunks! If it's possible, could you wrap up Mr. Butler and leave him under my tree on Christmas morning? That would be mucho appreciated. I will leave you some extra goodies in the living room - I heard once that you prefer jerky and beer over milk and cookies, and you know, whatever floats your boat, baby.
If you're really at a loss, check my amazon wishlist - it's under my yahoo email address, don't look at the AOL one, it's ancient.

Love to you & the wife,
Kristen

the world makes sense again!

UPDATE: So I just got a great email from Northlight, and all is forgiven. See what a little goodwill and decent customer service does for you??

Welcome to 30...

Age is just a number, right? I mean, RIGHT??? So, anyway, in the spirit of being young at heart, everybody turn this on, turn it up, and have a disco dancing extravaganza in my honor (yes, even if you are at work. Makes it more fun that way, yes?)

a (diasppointing) afternoon with the Edies

So, Grey Gardens. Gosh, how long have I had these tickets? How long have I been looking forward to seeing this show? What a perfect way to celebrate my 30th birthday, I thought, seeing something I really love... And the show, it must be said, was wonderful.

What I could see of it.

I had bought my tickets, and was delighted to see that I got close seats (wheeee! 2nd row! Happy birthday to me!). What they failed to mention to me, when I purchased those tickets, was that I wouldn't be able to see a damn thing during the second act, because the !@#&*$^ piano was obstructing my view any time the 2 Edies were inside the house. WHich is, like you know, pretty much the entire second act. If I leaned over to my extreme right, I could see Little Edie. But big Edie? When she came out to take her bow, I was like, who are you? Oh, right. Well, bravo, but I couldn't see you, ever. The only time I could see anything was when they were off the rotating house set, and then they never faced me anyway. The first act was okay, we saw a lot of backs, but it was fine. We attempted to try and switch seats, but the place was packed, no additional seats to be had. And the front of house manager, it has to be said, wasn't much help.

Here's the thing: I paid full price for those tickets and it never said, anywhere, I that these were obstructed view seats. Because if it had, I would not have bought them. You all know me and my ticket buying tendencies. I do not pay full price for crappy seats. So boo, Northlight, see if I ever darken your doors again. I just sent an email to the director of marketing over at northlight, inviting him to sit in those seats during the second act and see just how much of it he would be able to see. And, in case you're thinking this was just me, the people in front of me had the exact same problem, and had no prior knowledge of the obstructed view. I just went and checked on tickets.com and nada. It says nowhere that there is even a possibility of not being able to see the entire !@&^$ second act (Jerry loves my corn!! Arrgh!) from that seat for which I paid full price.

But hmm, let's get on with the show. I liked the performances. Who needs to see, right? The cast did a great job with the material, which I still think is a little uneven. Hollis Resnik was a great Big and then Little Edie, even if her accent veered from East Hampton to British sometimes. She did her songs well - "Will You" "Around the World" and "Another Winter in a Summer Town" being my favorites.

I was, as usual, the youngest person in the audience (which is saying something, seeing as I am nearly on the eve of leaving my 20s) but they seemed pretty with it. Heck, they probably all read about the Edies in the newspaper, voted for Nixon, etc etc.

The verdict?? Go and see it. I'm disappointed with my experience, but I won't say a bad word about Grey Gardens because it is certainly not the show's fault that I had crappy seats. I love the show, it's a great, tragic and funny story, it's well done, the music is gorgeous. Northlight and BJ Jones do a great job with the show and it deserves to have wide viewership outside of NYC. But a word to the wise? Call ahead when you book your tickets. I would suggest seats in the center section and back a bit, because there are a few scenes in the attic that really suck if you're in the second row all the way on the danged side.

da-da-da-da-DUM

Grey Gardens at the Northlight Theatre tomorrow afternoon! I've seen a few things there before, Master Class (with the wonderfully Callas-like Carmen Roman) and Pride & Prejudice a few years ago (when a former teacher of mine played Mr. Darcy). I'm looking forward to this one - I saw it on Broadway with Christine Ebersole and Mary Louise Wilson and I am interested to see what Northlight will do with it.

Also got tickets to see William Petersen in Dublin Carol over at Steppenwolf. I have no idea what to expect from this one, but it will be fun anyway. Here's a warning though, a lot of the December shows are already sold out, so if you have any interest at all in seeing it, buy now.

ANTMcKey!

McKey won ANTM last night! Wooo! Shout out to the chick from Lake Forest (I take back everything I've ever said about you, Lake Forest). McKey is the 2nd top model to come from the Chicago area. Who knew we were all so pretty out here? Must be something in the water or maybe it's that bracing winter air that makes us all such hearty souls...

Now, all I need to be happy is if Lance & Lacey win Dancing with the Stars on Tuesday...

a month till vacation...

Since it is officially Welcome to 30 in about 11 days (AARRRGGHHHH), I have decided to give myself a long weekend in NYC to celebrate. I. CAN'T. WAIT. To say I need a vacation is a ginormous understatement. So let's say it again: I.CAN'T. WAIT.

I have packed my weekend with shows, shows, shows - my two favorite Divas, a little Sondheim, and of course, some dancing, brought to me by one Reg Dwight... I heart ya, Elton.

TOC interview with Amy Morton

This week's issue of Time Out Chicago features an interview with Amy Morton, back in Chicago to direct William Petersen in Dublin Carol at Steppenwolf. Below is a comment from Amy about L.A. & winter... spoken like someone who has experienced many winters in the Windy City... I agree with her, actually. I too need all the shit that comes with winter, the grey,cloudy, snot freezing cold days, the snow, the shoveling and scraping, the white knuckle driving, all of the layers of clothing, heavy sweaters, parkas, boots, hats, gloves and scarves (and being me, losing hats, gloves and scarves) all of that stuff. Because otherwise, how can you really appreciate the warmth and renewal of spring and summer?
(Read the whole thing here)

TOC: You’ve done L.A. a couple of times. You’ve also said, “Hollywood holds nothing but terror for me.” Why is that?
Amy Morton: "...I also don’t get it. The sunshine every day? I’d wake up and say, “Another sunny day. Jesus, I can’t stand it.” Because you felt guilty staying inside all day. I need winter. I need all the shit that comes with winter."

"America, we have come so far..."

Last night, from the comfort of my own kitchen, I watched history being made. And yes, I colored in a map with red and blue crayons, each time a new state came in (I know! Such a geek! And I had glitter crayons, too, so that there was the subtlest hint of bling on my lovely map.) I can't describe how happy I am feeling, and how hopeful. We've finally gotten it right, America, without any chads, hanging or otherwise. I know he is one man, and we are putting a lot of hopes and dreams on his shoulders, but I feel optimistic that he can help us make things right again.

There is a lot of work to be done, and tough times to come, but for now, let's just enjoy the happy...

many happy returns?

Our little friend Rod makes a good point. Go out and vote! Yes, he is a Republican, but my vote canceled him out.

Woke up at the crack of 5:30 so I could get to the polls by 6:00. Yes, there was a line. This is a good thing - in elections past, it's been us and the election judges, and the tumbleweeds. Being Morton Grove, the election judges are mostly elderly, and so the slow pace is sort of perfect for them. Give them a crowd though and, well, they get a little confused. Our line was not moving at all, because there was much confusion.

I was the lucky number 13th voter in our precinct AND I got a sticker.

VOTE, please. If you don't vote now, you can't complain later. Well, you can, of course, but I won't listen to you.

as we hold our collective breath...

Plans are underway for the City of Chicago's election night rally for Barack Obama - I heard from a colleague that they have removed mailboxes and trash cans from the city streets. In case people want to blow them up. This is serious shit here, people.

Personally, I am getting the hell out of dodge as soon as I am done with work tomorrow - yes, it is exciting and historic, but either way it goes, there is way too much potential for mayhem, riots, etc. I'd really rather not be around for that, thanks very much. I will be watching the returns from the safety of my suburban home (or Heidi's suburban home actually) with my dry erase board (an homage to Tim Russert, naturally), my blank US maps and red and blue crayons.

seven doors

Last night, went to Prop Thtr to see the closing night performance of Seven Doors, translated from Botho Strauss's German text. It was a series of sketches, as the program called it "SNL meets Samuel Beckett." We were in the front row and got a great view of the action.

Time Out Chicago describes it like this:
"Before Timothy Spencer’s handsome, multiple-doors, Japanese-screen-style backdrop, the actors file on and off to a squeaky-jazz-meets-Berlin-techno soundtrack, shuffling moddish chairs and door frames between scenes. The vignettes themselves drop logical-extension conundrums into standard dialogue of everyday frustration: A disgruntled tenant complains to his faceless corporate landlord that another building is squatting inside his; a bodyguard-for-hire considers a society entirely structured by bodyguardism; a Cubs-like public failure is given the full Hollywood treatment. Strauss’s wry, thin-air trains of thought arise organically from each situation, bending back to Earth when just about to disintegrate."

Um, yeah. I liked it, was amused by it but felt often that it was too smart for me - like there was a deeper meaning to the words that I should be getting but wasn't. I think maybe another viewing would have been helpful, there was a lot going on in each sketch that focusing on it all would have been impossible. The language was a little bit odd as well, kind of obviously translated, the sentences were all declaimed, Shakespeare style and included clunky phrases like "the building in which I live" - it reminded me of reading philosophy and I guess it was a kind of philosophy, about the connection of people with other people.

remembrances...

Chicago lost two cultural icons this week - Gerald Arpino and the great Studs Turkel. I have fond memories of close encounters with both of these men:

Studs Terkel
It was several years ago, and I was volunteering for Lyric Opera's annual Operathon fundraiser. I think this was the first year I volunteered for it, and I was placed on the 4th floor, with the assignment of bringing guests to the radio room for their segments. Sounds exciting, doesn't it? It really wasn't. We only got a handful of guests and the rest of the time was spent staring into space. I'd had no idea what to expect, so I hadn't brought anything interesting along in my bag - no book, magazine, something to doodle on, nothing. Who would have thought I would have needed something to do? Anyway, I was sitting there, waiting for something to happen, with another volunteer who had brought a book along with her (she was considerably older than me, and not inclined to start talking to some kid, I guess) when the door opened and Mr. Studs Terkel was escorted out. He was, I believe, walking out with Ed Pashke (who had designed the poster for Sweeney Todd that year - which tells you how long ago this was! I think about 5 years ago?) Studs stopped, spotted my name badge and chatted with me about my appropriately operatic last name. He was completely charming, and it was the highlight of my afternoon.

Gerald Arpino
When I met "Mr. A" (always Mr. A for me, I could never call him "Gerry." Kind of like when I was student teaching with a teacher I'd had in eighth grade. I always called him "Mr. Daiberl" never ever "Richard" or "Dick." I just couldn't do it. Out of respect, I guess. Or perhaps a sort of reverential awe?) he was already well past his prime years of choreographing. Still in the studio and around the office though, he was a familiar figure with that dark hair, perfect dancer's posture and big coat. He had no clue who I was, of course, as he was starting to become forgetful. It was just accepted that I too was part of his company (administratively speaking) , and if I should bring him in his cup of coffee or did something to help, I was given a big smile and a fond, "Thanks, baby."

The last few times I saw him were in September. The first was at the company's free performance at Pritzker Pavilion honoring the victims of 9/11. I sat behind him, watching him as he watched his company perform two of his great works, Kettentanz and Round of Angels. Someone in the seat in front of him turned around and said "Thank you for giving these to us."

It was strange during the fall program, not to see him in his usual spot in his box, or hearing his familiar voice calling "Bravo!" to the dancers. He said once that the company had been watched over by angels - those in heaven who'd given them their start, and those on earth who helped the company through the most difficult of times. Now, he too, is one of those angels, watching over the company.

The Loss of a Legend

Gerald Arpino

(1923-2008)

Co-Founder, The Joffrey Ballet

"This company was founded on invention, creativity, stimulus and vision.

I want to make history, not just repeat it."

manon at lyric

This is going to sound strange, for all the repeat-offending ticket buying I do for certain shows, but I don't really like to see operas multiple times. The exception to that rule is La Traviata (which I have seen twice at Lyric without Renee, three times at Lyric WITH Renee, once in Houston, once in New York, and once in Rome) and Thais, three times at Lyric with Renee, and soon to be at the Met once with Renee. Unless it is fabulous or features a singer that I am crazy about, once is usually enough for me. Although I would totally have seen Dr. Atomic again, had the chance presented itself, because I was fascinated by it... But very rarely does something operatic connect that deeply with me that I have to go see it a million times.

Anyway. I had seen Manon some years ago in New York, with Renee, and I saw Puccini's vastly inferior Manon Lescaut which, frankly really sucked. It wasn't so much the production or the singers (I am trying very hard to like Karita Matilla, but she did not do it for me in this role) but parts of the actual plot. Very similar to Massenet's Manon, but in ML, Manon gets deported at the end (long story as to why)and she and Des Grieux end up in Louisiana. Not so unusual, since it was French territory at the time, okay, whatever. But then she and Des Grieux are wandering around in the deserts of New Orleans(?) where there are no signs of life and one or maybe both of them dies. Huh? New Orleans is a port, yes? So if you are deported and you get off the boat wouldn't there be like a settlement there? In the port? Why all this wandering around? And how the hell did they find a desert under sea level? I know opera plots leave a lot to be desired in the reality department, but this just really really bothered me. Because they go out of their way to identify Louisiana as the god forsaken desolate place, and there is not any desert there. Swamps, maybe. Manon Lescaut was just not a great opera for me, perhaps in part because of my seat location and the annoying people surrounding me.

The Massenet one is far better, and Lyric's current production features the French soprano Natalie Dessay was in the title role. I had seen her a few seasons back in Lucia (gorgeous, chill inducing)and back in the day in Alcina and she is wonderful. An actress as much as a singer. She's done Manon so many times, it seems second nature to her. But not like she's phoning it in, or like it's easy, just like the character is part of her. Very fun to watch.

At the start of the opera last night, Bill Mason himself appeared in front of the curtain. Uh oh. Usually they send out somebody else to deliver the bad news. Bill assured us all that Natalie was fine, but that her Des Grieux, Jonas Kaufman, was very badly ill and not able to sing. I was very disappointed because Mr. Kaufman is an opera hunk and a half. However, the young American tenor they put on in his place was great though. He more than held his own opposite Natalie.

I don't remember a lot about Manon (aside from the plot) from the first time I saw it. Usually I remember every little detail, but all I remember is being happy to watch Renee, how great she was, her massive dress in Act 4, etc. There was a lot of weirdness in the Lyric production at the beginning that I don't remember at all, I will have to watch the dvd to see, but I think the stage nonsense in the production was dreamed up by the director. Why, I have no idea. It was distracting and confusing.

Massenet does not have the lovers actually deported, poor Manon dies while still on French soil, so there's none of that crap about the wilds of New Orleans which makes me much happier.

Go watch Lyric's video of the performance here

because every friday needs some disco...

Welcome to my new cell phone ring, ring...

time to dance

This one is appropriate since it is the final weekend of the Fall Program which is unbelievably good, and I am not just saying that. And yes, since you ask, tickets ARE still available (I know, I don't believe it either!)

The piece in the video was performed in the spring of 2007, the first show I saw, and it is one of my favorites. You won't see it in this program, but there are three other gorgeous pieces. I'll be there tonight and tomorrow, so come and say hi!

do you remember?

Back in school? When you had a substitute teacher and your real teacher didn't want them to screw anything up so they didn't leave any lesson plans, but gave them a video to plop in the machine instead? This happened a lot in my Spanish classes, and consequently, I've seen almost every classic Disney film in espanol. And Mrs. Doubtfire, in French.

Yeah, so this is a little bit like that, except with feathers. Enjoy.

no republicans were harmed in the writing of this post...

All of our neighbors are sporting attractive McCain/Palin signs in their front lawns, the most recent addition was by our neighbor across the street, on Saturday or Sunday. Last night, my mom noted that the neigbor had "taken down" his sign. Innocently, I replied "Did he 'take it down' or is it, in fact 'in my trunk'?"

Tee hee hee.

Oh all right FINE. I did not take his sign (officer)*. There is nothing in my trunk except, uh, a shovel... and a really large, kind of broken umbrella...


* Really. I didn't. But I still think "McCain Sign Tipping" would be an excellent way to spend Halloween in Morton Grove.

TAG!

Oh, how I love these things... Thanks, Bob...

Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog. Bob was my tagger.

Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog - some random, some weird.

Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blog.

Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

If you don’t have 7 blog friends, or if someone else already took dibs, then tag some unsuspecting strangers.

7 facts about myself, huh? Let's see:

1. When I was in grade school, everyone was made to play an instrument in the band or orchestra. I really really wanted to play the flute or clarinet, but on the day where you could go and try the instruments, I was not able to produce any sound from either one of them (on my first try, having never picked either one up before. Imagine that!) so they made me play the violin. Fits right? Dorky girl + glasses + braces = violin. Sweet. I played it for a few years but quit before high school. I was in choir instead and was much happier there.

2. My first car was a 1980 El Camino. An elder statesman - I named him "Winston". Once, when I was driving it in the city, someone rolled down their window and tried to buy it from me while I was in it.

3. I 'discovered' opera when I was in college, after watching a really bad tv movie about Aristotle Onassis called "Onassis: The Richest Man in the World" with Jane Seymour playing Maria Callas. Jane as Maria didn't sing at all, but the "character" of Maria totally captured my imagination and I was fascinated. She was a diva's diva and no mistake. I found out all I could about her, got recordings, read books, etc. Listening to her made me interested in seeing live performances, and so I started going to Lyric. At one of those performances (back in the days when Lyric could still afford her!)introduced me to a soprano named Renee Fleming. Following Renee to Houston, Ann Arbor, Milwaukee and New York City has led me to an awesome group of friends who have, in turn, introduced me to other things.

4. I am a raging hypochondriac. If I get a hangnail I am firing up WebMD to tell me what it might be.

5. I am afraid of elevators. I am not exactly sure why. I don't mind other enclosed spaces, so it's not that. Let me tell you, this phobia made it really hard when I lived on the eighteenth floor of Mertz dorm at Loyola, when I had classes on the fourteenth floor, and of course, when I worked on 13. I've never been stuck in an elevator, but it's a huge fear.

6. I think that pretty much everything is better if you add a little cheese.

7. Triskaidekaphobia is one of my favorite words. It means fear of the number 13 and while I don't have it, I do enjoy saying it.

Who can I tag? I think...
Emily
Simone
I wish I could do this via facebook, since I would tag Kimmy and Beth...
And, uh... anyone who wants to!

pearl fishers @ lyric opera

Last night, my personal Lyric season kicked off with Bizet's rarely performed Pearl Fishers, starring Nicole Cabell, Nathan Gunn and Eric Cutler. We were in NEW subscription seats, having moved from the upper balcony to the back of the first balcony. Way hey hey, movin' on up... Our neighbors were much better behaved, thankfully and we are conveniently located close to an aisle at the back of the balcony, making intermission escapes and after show dashes to the parking lot much more speedy.

So, anyway, Pearl Fishers... very very beautiful music, and well, plenty of opera hunks running around half clothed. Nathan Gunn cut a powerful figure as Zurga who conveniently was crowned king at the opening of the opera. It was very relaxed though, he was all, "We have to choose a leader" and everyone else was like "How about... you?" If only things could really be decided so easily. Anyway, then his friend the tenor shows up and they kind of relive old times through the one famous duet from this opera, and they vow to never let chicks get in the way of their BFF-hood. Bros before hos, yo. And then... you'll never guess what happens... a girl gets between them! The high priestess who is supposed to pray to keep everyone safe while they're diving for pearls has a thing for Nadir (the BFF) and they become secret lovahs for about half of a scene. Then the high priest catches them and sentences them to death. Quel dommage and sacre bleu. Their fate is in the hands of Zurga who's jealous of the secret relationship (he seems more upset over the loss of Nadir than the loss of the girl, whom he also secretly loved, but whatever). She comes to plead for Nadir's life, but it backfires and it just makes Big Z more angry.

In the end though, he goes and sets fire to the pearl fisher's camp and creates a ruse for the lovahs to escape - there's a bit of a plot twist where he discovers that Leila (the priestess) once saved his life so he pays her back by saving hers. Big Z is in trouble for sure, and the head priest shows up at the very end with a scythe... blackout and curtain falls.

So yeah. It got good at the end, but was a little slow going the rest of the time. The music, as I said, was gorgeous, and all three lead singers were wonderful. At the beginning, they announced that Nicole had a cold but would sing for us anyway (yay!) She sounded wonderful.

In two weeks... Natalie Dessay in Manon...

welcome to the MG...

I got inspired by RivB's (he's linked on my home page, I can't get the !@&#&$^ link thing to work again) list of 100 things to do in his hometown of Alpena, MI. Gosh, I said to myself, that is about 99 more fun things than one can get up to in good ol' Morton Grove. But then I got to wondering and started composing my own list. There's 100 things on it. Barely.

So, without further adieu, this is how we roll in the MG...
1. Go and get some soup at 7 Brothers (NOW! Before they close!). Call Heidi to find out what night they have their chicken rossamarina.
2. Take a new CRV for a test drive at Castle Honda.
3. Go and work out at "Club Fitness" at the Park District with the $7 resident day pass
4. Marvel that you are the youngest person at "Club Fitness."
5. Grab some Starbucks after your workout.
6. Get some cheap stuff at the Dollar Store
7. Head to Dominick's. Say hi to Luann
8. Read to Lucy (a guide dog) at the Morton Grove Public Library
9. Go to the Village Hall and take advantage of the Mayor's open door policy (because really? It's Morton Grove. What else does he have to do?)
10. Have a wet 'n wild trip down Harrer Pool's water slide.
11. Get some deals at Old Navy.
12. You look like you need a uniform. Or some scrubs, maybe? Go to the uniform store and go nuts.
13. Drag race down Dempster Street.
14. Sale at Shoe Carnival!!
15. Go to Kappy's for a snack. Feel sad that this will be your place to go when 7 Brothers closes.
16. Resolve to find another good family restaurant.
17. Tap your inner ballroom dancer and get lessons at Arthur Murray.
18. Stressed? How 'bout a Heavenly Massage?
19. Drive thru Burger King for a snickers sunday pie and a frozen coke.
20. Learn the history of Morton Grove (??) at the history museum. That should take 15 minutes.
21. Go to the Boy Scout pancake breakfast at the VFW hall.
22. Is it July? Get leered at by creepy carnies at the annual Krazy Daze Carnival.
23. Go to the bad side of town and take a dip at Oriole pool.
24. Run the mile around Harrer park with the Park View kids.
25. Go to the playground at Park View and recall that when you were a kid, there was no playground, just four or five metal climbing frames - on cement.
26. Enjoy the foliage in the forest preserve.
27. Go on a pony ride.
28. Avon calling... take a factory tour.
29. Get a bucket of chicken at popeye's.
30. Wonder how you will ever get to 100 at this rate.
31. Grab some live bait at the Ed Shirley fishing store (it is called something different now, I think, but have no idea what. This is how much I use my live bait.)
32. Hang around at Pequod's Pizza.
33. Wash down totally gross pizza with some beer from Bringer Inn.
34. Take a bike ride
35. If you are Jane's co-worker, you will take your bike ride after 33 but this is not adviseable.
36. Road trip! Off to Skokie for some shopping at Old Orchard.
37. Take a scrapbooking class at Michael's.
38. Also buy some yarn.
39. Throw a party and get all your supplies at the Card & Party store.
40. Listen to some soothing buzuki music and get cheap fruit at Produce World.
41. Don't forget the bowling!
42. Throw eggs at McCain Palin signs.
43. Go sledding down the hills by the expressway.
44. Back to Skokie. Watch your high school football team lose 200 - 7.
45. Spike your alumni tent cocoa.
46. Ummm.... Look through the Morton Grove Champion police blotter to see how many of your former classmates ended up in there.
47. Go back to Old Navy - it's performance fleece season!
48. Go to Zin-Mi Japanese steakhouse. Don't annoy the man with the knives.
49. Say hi to Robin in the Morton Grove Jewelers.
50. Get some snacks at Walgreens (there are several to choose from).
51. Collect golf balls and try to sell them back to the crazy golfers at chick evans.
52. Try not to hit a deer on Austin St.
53. Pick up a costume for your party at Magical Mystery Tour.
54. Annoy your allergies by poking through the dusty treasures at Magazine Memories. Don't linger too long though, or you will turn out like their slightly oddball proprietor.
55. Get better pizza at Giordano's.
56. Hair a mess? Say hi to Cathy at Faust of Italy for awesome cut and color.
57. Run around in Sports Authority and pretend to be athletic.
58. It is sad how much I have to think about this.
59. Nosh on some baked goods at Meier's Bakery
60. Find The Lord (or Allah, even. The MG has its own mosque!)
61. Go back to Park View and see how many of your teachers are still there.
62. Feel really really old.
63. Get some more coffee, at DD this time. Also get some ice cream and a sandwich, just because you can, baby. Just because you can.
64. Trade up on your fitness membership and go to Bally's instead.
65. Say f*ck this workout crap and get a Blizzard and some regional favorites at Dairy Queen instead.
66. Drink some bubble tea from Chill at the gazebo in Harrer Park.
67. Trawl the garage sales.
68. Rent the Mansfield Park field house for your rockin' party.
69. Back to Dominick's. Get a six pack.
70. Drink it.
71. Nope, still in Morton Grove.
72. Cheer on Kim's softball team
73. Got the need for speed? Go really fast down Central. Wave to my house as you fly by.
74. Go to 7/11 and hang around for a while. Buy a slurpee and a lottery ticket.
75. Hungover from Bringer Inn? Order Chinese from the Palace.
76. Switch banks from MB Financial to B of A. Just for the hell of it.
77. Go to the 4th of July parade. Jeer at local Republicans and heckle the wandering candidates. Or just get a boatload of candy.
78. Hang around on "the bridge" by the river. Maybe even club some rats, or something.
79. Cheer on da Bears/Bulls/Sox/Cubbies at Rivals
80. Rent a backhoe at Ace Rental and go around backhoing (tee hee).
81. Rent a U-Haul and... I don't know, drive around.
82. Help disabled children by volunteering at Molloy school.
83. Ole, everybody! Get some chimichangas (with a side of murderous intrique) at El Sol restaurant.
84. Get a room at the Best Western and go crazy with the continental breakfast.
85. Need the latest installment of the Buffy comic? Hit the comic store.
86. Visit the pot-bellied pig at the Morton Grove Animal hospital.
87. Go to Aldi's and pay 25 stupid cents for a shopping cart. Leave it at the farthest point in the parking lot for sweet revenge.
88. While you're on that side of town, take a side trip to Niles. Go to Fluky's, catch a movie at Golf Mill's new theaters, and find the latest Go Designer at Target.
89. Wait, there's a Walmart in Niles, too. That could be fun times.
90. Still in Niles, use your new scrapbooking supplies and go to scrap mania at Archivers. Make a huge mess, but only if your friends aren't working.
91. Relive the good old days at the Harms Road block party.
92. Be dazzled by the pyrotechnics display at the 4th of July fireworks. One. at. a. time.
93. Use your CVS card and get 4 miles of coupons. Sweet!
94. Go to the other dunkin' donuts (the one that used to be Mister Donut) for some coffee and munchkins.
95. Get all excited about mini-golf only to realize that Par King is closed. Damn. Back to Skokie.
96. Check out the sweet deals at K&G
97. Underage? No worries. The guy at the convenience store on Waukegan and Beckwith doesn't card.
98. Drive around town and look at the holiday lawn decorations.
99. If you are still in the mood for a drive, take in the scenic sights and sounds of the expressway on Frontage Rd.
100. Hang out at the Morton Grove train station. Hop a train somewhere else.

Whew!

friday night in lincoln square

So, last night, Heidi and Jane and myself headed to Lincoln Square for dinner and an evening of Witty Women Writers at the Book Cellar. I jumped on the brown line after work (didn't get lost! woohoo!) and arrived at the book store way before the girls did. Left to my own devices while they battled traffic, I did what I usually do - I went shopping (US economy? You're welcome.). Yeah, anyway, we decided dinner was our top priority & went first to the Chicago Brauhaus. As we were munching our gigundous Bavarian pretzel, it came to our attention that we were sharing our corner of the restaurant with a Chicago White Sox player (sadly, none of us knew which one). He seemed nice enough, he blabbed on a cell phone in Spanish a lot, ate a gigantic pile of meat (and still needed to take some of it home), bopped appreciatively to the German oomm-pah band and posed for a picture with some of the restaurant staff. The staff (maybe the owner?) gave him a hat and t-shirt from the Brauhaus, a few free drinks, etc.

After dinner, we went back to the Book Cellar, hoping to hear one of our fave local Witty Woman Writers, Jen Lancaster. Let me just say, they are not joking around when they call it a "cellar" it is a very small space, and we squeezed ourselves into the vestibule which was a. not very comfortable and b. not conducive to hearing anything the speaker was saying. So we went across the street for dessert instead. Sorry Jen. But the cute bakery across the way? Had cupcakes. And interesting furniture arrangements in the ladies room. They also had strudel and actual phlaumkuchen. And you know us, we can never resist the call of the confectionary.

We'd hoped to venture back towards the end of the reading & maybe meet Jen & tell her how much we love her books & maybe talk about Twilight etc etc. But it was not to be. We went back to the cute shop I started the evening in and after that, we headed back to the MG stuffed full of schnitzel and cake.

Today: Deanna Dunagan chats with Hedy!

Sun Times sez:

Can't get enough of the arts? Visit suntimes.com at 12:30 p.m. Thursdays to chat live with Sun-Times theater critic Hedy Weiss. Hedy will answer your questions about anything you ever wanted to know relating to the Chicago theater scene and about upcoming shows in the area.

Joining Hedy in today's chat is Tony-winning actress Deanna Dunagan, discussing her role in the hit play "August: Osage County" — and how she thinks the play will translate in its upcoming London production.

speaking of life lessons...

In these troubling times, I have to tell myself to take it day by day. And also, I have decided that when faced with serious issues, I will just think to myself "What would a maverick do?" and then I will do that.

(Hee hee, thanks, SNL!)

just when i thought i was out... they pull me back in!

Oh, Starbucks, you cunning little vixens. Just when I had sort of left you for Argo Tea, you give me your new Signature Hazelnut hot chocolate. I swear, it is like drinking nutella it is so decadently delicious (and not as sticky).

And, of course, there is a life lesson with every cup:

"The world bursts at the seams with people ready to tell you you're not good enough. On occasion, some may be correct. But do not do their work for them. Seek any job; ask anyone out; pursue any goal. Don't take it personally when they say "no" - they may not be smart enough to say "yes." -- Keith Olbermann

See? A lovely way to start the morning.

north side heartbreak...

So the Cubbies are out of the playoffs... already. I guess we are used to it, huh? Maybe next year? Uh huh, whatever.

Anyway, Ozzie, we're looking at you & the Sox now. The city is counting on you, this afternoon, so don't screw it up. No pressure though, hahahaha.

In other news, I spent yesterday (and part of today, as it happens) doing my part to Support the Economy... so, yeah, I went shopping. I got some lovely lovely pants (40% off each pair, yo) and a new pair of boots. Also, in the continued interest of not getting an ulcer, I invested in Photoshop Elements so I can amuse myself on my Mac. Tee hee. I see many happy hours ahead of me... if I can only figure out how to use it.

Just so you don't think I spend all my time lying around and then going shopping, I also baked some muffins... mmmmm, muffins...

Why is the weekend always so short?

N-H-S! Go West! *

Happy 50th Birthday Niles West!

Peggy (name changed to protect the innocent - she is a teacher in the district now and we don't want her young 'uns knowing what she may or may not get up to in her spare time...) and I went to the homecoming game last night. This being Skokie and not Texas, and not an episode of Friday Night Lights (even though it was, in fact, Friday) it was a good crowd but not overwhelming. It was cold and the team, to be honest, was getting trounced. We had dinner first and arrived in the middle of the second quarter. We left at the top of the 4th quarter as the Wolves were losing 57 to 7 (I wish I was exaggerating that score, but that is what it really was). It was only the second game I've attended and I like football. Still, it was kind of fun. We hung around, said hi to people we knew, and stopped in the Alumni Tent (after the first time, it kind of loses its thrill).

We did the usual reminiscing, and complaining about the name change in 2001 from Indians to Wolves. As class of '97, we graduated as Indians. There was a whole tizz and to do about the name and the mascot (even though we did not have any kind of Chief Illiniwek or anything like that. We had a goofily made up guy called "Big Red") and I remember there was a vote on what the new name should be. Wolves won, although I prefered the Fireants or, the one I made up, the Oakton Raiders.

Yeah. Now we're old. Oy.

* Words from an actual cheer I heard my freshman year. No joke. I am not sure how the letters "N-H-S" connect at all, maybe "Niles High School"? What about the "West" part? But I was also told by a cheerleader classmate that they were not allowed to say "Indians" during cheers, not because they wanted to be PC but because they were kind of incoherent with the shouting and it sounded like they were saying "Idiots." These are also the people who think "R-O-W-D-I-E" is the way to spell "Rowdy" and so I rest my case.

i think i've got the cure...

to the "economy sucks-my job is giving me an ulcer-we have idiots running the government-and i might have to move to canada if john mccain becomes president" blues.

of course, i am talking about a little suuu-pah-pah troou-pah-pah to brighten this gloomy friday morning... woo!

here i go again...

Saw Mamma Mia! today at the Cave, whoops I mean the Auditorium Theatre. And I luuurrved it very much. By the end of the show, the audience was on its feet singing along to "Mamma Mia!" "Dancing Queen" and "Waterloo." It was everything the movie singalong should have been but wasn't. Somewhere I think Benny & Bjorn are smiling. Or laughing all the way to the biggest bank in Stockholm. Maybe both.

So. Much. Fun.

It's Friday!

We all know what that means... another Patti YouTube. This one is a blast from the past, Evita style.

Time Out New York: The Saga Continues

Remember a while ago I posted wondering about the mysterious issues of Time Out New York that kept arriving on my doorstep? Well, they stopped coming for a while, so I figured... well, I don't know what I figured, but basically they stopped coming so I stopped worrying about it. Then they started up again, this time with an explanation - I joined hiptix so I could get a discount to Sunday in the Park with George at Roundabout and they decided to give all their participants a free 2 year subscription. Which is awesome, yes? Most definitely yes.

So, mystery solved. Kind of. But here's the thing - they come sort of sporadically (I blame the mailman)and I am worried that this week, when I really really want it to turn up, I won't get it... In the meantime, I have been stalking Borders across the street.

It appears that TONY has a karmic vendetta with me, but we always hurt the ones we love...

Dear 2016 Olympic Committee,

It's been awhile since we've talked. I hope you've been busy on the opening ceremonies ideas, you know everyone I have talked to really likes my dancing cow lighting the torch idea - I will give it to you cheap.

I was reading in the Sun Times that there is a little hiccup in the Olympic Village site planning arena. May I be so bold as to offer a suggestion? I think to really show the warmth and hospitality of the city, we should put the athletes with host families. Sort of like that Seinfeld episode where the runner stays with Elaine, except we'd all get better alarm clocks. I will personally offer my own space to the Australian men's swimming team. It's a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it, for the glory of da city of Chicago and all that.

A Smile for Monday Monday Morning...

Brought to you by Flight of the Conchords...

when did THAT happen?

I appear to have gotten myself a life... my weekends are starting to fill up with lots of fun, non-ulcer-inducing relaxing type activities. This weekend, of course, there was San Francisco Ballet, but lookie, lookie! I've got more stuff planned too!
I know it would probably be smarter, in these times of economic uncertainty, to stash my cash in the mattress rather than buying copious amounts of theater tickets. But then I say, f**k it! Might as well dance as the ship's going down, eh??

Coming up:

9/28 Mamma Mia! Live and in person at the Auditorium Theater. I love the ABBAs... and I've not seen the stage version before...

10/13 Pearl Fishers at Lyric Opera. Two words, people: Nathan Gunn. 'Nuff said.

10/15 Joffrey's fall program which will be very very very very exciting and fun

10/27 Manon at Lyric. Ooo-la-la, Natalie Dessay!

11/10 Lulu at Lyric. I don't know anything about it, but it looks sexy.

11/22 Grey Gardens at Northlight Theater in Skokie. This will be my third visit with the Edies who clearly know which side my corn is buttered on...

On the wish list for sometime in October:
Amadeus at Chicago Shakes
Turn of the Century at Goodman (can you believe I work like a block and a half from this place and have never been there??) These two will happen, I just need to get my act together vis-a-vis obtaining the tickets! And I am in the planning stages of a 30th birthday blowout bash extravaganza that involves a visit to NYC and as many divas as I can pack into a long weekend. The hotel is booked and ticket for Thais has been secured.

sfb (those cats can dance!)

Back from the Harris Theater. Whoever told me the place was like a bunker was not wrong. They were right. You enter the lobby via the parking garage - I thought I was still in the garage and it took me a few minutes to realize I'd actually entered the lobby space. I was there really early, and jotted the following notes:

"lobby space is deeply ugly and uninspiring. Like an airport terminal with garish neon lights, metal benches and stark white block lettering on the walls directing you towards the restrooms, elevators, etc."

And apparently they've redone the lobby and this is still what they ended up with. Aarrgh. Some of the walls by the bathroom had some kind of padded fabric wall hangings, giving the place more of an institutional insane asylum sort of feel that is totally the vibe you want to give off in a hall that celebrates music and dance.

And when you walk into the house, you walk down to get to the seating, so the entire theater is basically underground. Once I got over the weirdness, though, the inside of the house is really nice, and I had a really nice seat. The sightlines where I was sitting were great for dance, so I was pleased. I had a very nice friendly chatty neighbor. He had seen program A and the gala performance and so I chatted with him a little bit about the ballet. It's nice to be able to interact with your neighbors and all, especially when they are enthusiastic about the art form, but can someone PLEASE tell me why the young, hot, available ones never plop next to me and start yakking? Just once?

Anyway. I'd been expecting great things and SFB did not disappoint. I'd chosen program B to attend over program A because of the first piece, On a Theme of Paganini. Choreographed by renowned SFB Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson, it was set to the music of Rachmaninov. The well-known bit of it, variation 18 is one of my favorite pieces of music and the beautiful pas de deux made me cry. Bravo. I rushed out at intermission no. 1 to get some nourishment (cookie) and some SFB logo apparel (SHH! Don't tell my boss!)

The second piece, Joyride was choreographed by Mark Morris and performed to music by John Adams. The company wore skin tight metallic lame costumes with blinking number screens on their fronts. It was kind of futuristic, I sort of thought Dr. Atomic (the opera by Adams that I saw at Lyric last season) with dancing - sort of modern dance elements with pointe work thrown in. I know some people around me didn't care for it, but I liked it a lot.

Another intermission - dash to the restroom this time. I will say this for you, Harris Theater - your lobby is horrifically ugly, but you done good on the ladies room situation. The facilities were large, clean and plentiful, and when you have 15 or 20 minutes to work with, that is really all that can be asked.

Third and final piece - Fusion by Yuri Possokhov, SFB's choreographer in residence. Fusion was inspired, according to the program, by a performance of the Whirling Dervishes, whose spinning dances are a form of devotion. A quote in that program deeply touched the choreographer - "Any thoughts can be expressed by dance."
Fusion pairs "spirituality with contemporary jazz movement."

I don't know enough about ballet yet to watch with a critical eye. To me, it's basically a hit if nobody falls down. Okay, so that's kind of an exageration, but I can't tell you much about technique or what the steps are called or anything like that. I watch it and just marvel at how these dancers are able to do what they're doing. It is truly beautiful. SFB is one of the best ballet companies in the country, if not THE best company, and from what I saw today, they are deserving of that accolade.

And, as you may have noticed, I found my way back to the car and made it home in about half an hour. Woo!

Something to look forward to...

Hey! It's late September in Chicago (the Stressed-Out Capital of the World, according to Forbes, anyway) does anyone really blame me for looking ahead to the summer and next season at Ravinia? It will not be hard to figure out where I will be in July & August what with the return of Ms. Patti to our Pavilion space, the delicious Mr. Dmitri in Rigoletto, and the "barn burning" Brahams extravaganza.

And... we're back!

Anyway, let's just talk a moment about House, shall we? I don't watch a lot of tv any more, but I usually sit still for Hugh Laurie. I've loved him for a very long time, in films like Peter's Friends, Sense & Sensibility, on tv in Jeeves & Wooster, A Little Fry & Laurie... So I would personally like to thank whoever it was at Fox who psychically read my thoughts and one day at a meeting declared, "I've got it! Let's give Hugh Laurie his own show!" Not only did they give the man his own show, but they built a complex, fully drawn character juicy enough for this talented actor to play. House is a cantankerous, crotchetty diagnostic genius, he's miserable, nasty and obnoxious. But through all that, he's also somehow likeable. Unlike the rather disastrous Private Practice, House blends good storytelling involving all its characters and intriguing medical mysteries.

there is a cup of sauerkraut in our fridge...

I arrived at the office this morning and put my lunch in our fridge, only to detect a funky odor. We've only been here since July, and we've so far been very polite in the use of our new fridge. Upon closer inspection, I found the source: a styrofoam cup of sauerkraut covered with plastic wrap. Why? Why would you bring sauerkraut to work? And then stick it, uneaten, in the fridge? Plastic wrap? Is not going to keep the stench under wraps, folks.

Is this a sign of what the rest of my day is going to be like?