one for the road

This had me, literally, rolling in the aisles...

it's today!

Our final ABBA Tuesday is upon us. I know you are all SO SAD. What better song than "Thank you for the Music"? The concert is tonight and I.Can't.Wait. See y'all on the dance floor. I am wearing my ABBA-riffic and totally psychedelic H&M dress, just for YOU, Arrival from Sweden.

leaving las vegas

Sunday - my last full day in the Vegas. Quick(ish) breakfast in the hotel restaurant (a rather soggy strawberry waffle - I keep expecting one to rival the Nice Matin waffle, but so far, none have come close) and then off to the Orleans shuttle that would bring me in air conditioned comfort to the Strip - free! Since I had taken the shuttle before, that made me something of an expert, and everyone who walked up asked me questions (namely "Is this where the shuttle stops?" No, I'm just standing under this green canopy for fun. "Where does it let you off?" Bill's Gamblin' Hall and Saloon, for those of you keeping score at home.). I'd set off in the hopes of finding the "World's Largest Gift Shop" because I had heard the call of tacky souvenirs. At some point the previous night or earlier that morning, I'd consulted my little guidebook and compared the address of the gift shop with the addresses of the big hotels at that end of the Strip, and for some reason, I had imagined it to be closer than it really was. I walked from Bill's (which is next to the Flamingo) all the way down to the Encore when I saw a street sign - I was at 3100 LV Blvd and the shop was all the way out at 2600. My feet were killing me already, and I decided eventually that no tacky souvenirs could possibly be worth such a trek. So I turned around, promptly found another gift shop simply teeming with tack, and so I was happy. I suppose I will have to wait until next time to find the big shop.

Well, it was a beautiful day so I wandered with no particular destination in mind. I stopped at the Fashion Show Mall to get out of the heat for a while and grab some water (and a pair of more comfy shoes!) but then I was back out in the sunshine. I walked past TI (I missed the Sirens of TI pirate show, another dream deferred until my next trip to Vegas) and back to the Mirage. I had so loved watching the lions and tigers I decided to give Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden another visit. It was just wonderful. Past the glorious Mirage pool, the wildlife area included a dolphin pool and habitats for two white lions, a herd of alpaca, white and gold tigers, and a 7 month old leopard cub. On Friday when I had gone there, most of the animals had been asleep. I have way too many pictures of slumbering big cats - eventually, the trainers woke up the tigers and so I got to see them close up.

This time, it was sleepy time again for the big cats, but happily, Java, the little leopard cub was awake and playing.

I spent a bunch of time there, and then a bunch more time inside the Mirage at the Love gift shop, where I could not help but obtain some Beatles themed parphenalia. From there was a rather accidental lunch at the Venetian. I had wandered into the shopping area there, and found a cute little "sidewalk" cafe. I went to what I thought was the entrance and ended up in a different (more expensive) restaurant. By the time I realized my mistake, I was too embarassed to tell the waiter I'd been a moron, so I stayed and had a plate of pasta, when I'd really been looking for something much lighter and less tomato-y. After that, I took another stroll back to Bill's to be collected back to the Orleans. I had packing to do, and a Diva to see, after all...

Monday morning - up at the crack of 6:00 for a shuttle pick up of 7:15 for a 10:00 flight. I always get edgy about traveling - I worry about getting up on time, I tend to think it will take me longer to pack than it actually does, I worry about missing the shuttle etc etc. This time I had nothing to fear - although the shuttle showed up at 7:00 rather than 7:15 (so good thing I was sitting outside waiting for it - I am early for everything, so I was prepared) and it took about 2 minutes to get to the airport. No joke. Even after checking my bag and passing through the sluggish security line, I was in the terminal by 7:30. Of course, being Vegas, there was a bank of slot machines in the terminal, in case waiting passengers felt like trying their luck one last time (I did not).

oh, patti...

You all know what happened last Sunday, and yes I will talk about that, but nobody's really talking about the show, so I'm going to tell you about that. First - a bit of background. At the start of June, I learned that I had 12 PTO days to take before the end of the month (which is the end of our fiscal year). We aren't allowed to carry any over with us this year, which meant that I had to use those puppies or lose them. I knew I wanted to take a trip, since I hadn't been out of town since December, and I was itching to travel. Where to? I considered a few options - back to New York for cupcakes and Broadway? London (expired passport foiled overseas plans)? but what I really wanted to do was see the divine Ms. Patti LuPone in her newest one woman show. At first, I didn't want to brave Vegas on my own but in the end I decided to hell with it. I'd had my heart set on seeing Patti and as an added bonus, I'd get to explore a new city.

So that's how I ended up in Vegas last Saturday, sitting in the Orleans Showroom WAY too early, waiting for the show to start. Did I mention I am early to everything? I have this pathological fear of missing curtain and so I am always in place for these events ridiculously early. Once, I was with my friends on our way to something, and we were running late and I almost had a stroke in the car. Seriously. Being late makes me nervous. So I'm in the Showroom more than half an hour early with nothing to do. I couldn't even kill time by reading the program because there wasn't one. Oh brother. I checked my phone about a million times to make sure it was off - I was in the front row and so every caution was necessary. I wouldn't even have brought it, but I was using it as a timepiece. Anyway. I was there, I was ready to go and after what seemed like an eternity, the show started! Ms. Patti sailed out, a vision in black, and started to sing "The Gypsy in my Soul" complete with soaring, belted notes. Good lord, but she can sing her face off. She welcomed us happily to the Orleans Showroom or, as she called it "One step closer to the strip!" And I totally started imagining her image on the side of one of the major hotels, a la Donny and Marie on the side of the Flamingo ("Dammit, I'm a little bit country too, bitches!)

Can't you just see it? Maybe the eyes from the City Center Gypsy logo? Right on the side of the hotel? Brilliant, I think. AND I think that she should hold out for her own gift shop, like Bette and Cher have over at Caesar's. All kinds of Patti trinkets. And programs for early birds like me who get to the show too early.

The show was actually a blend of some of her previously recorded material - a lot from "The Lady with the Torch" which I adore, including "Do it Again" "I Wanna Be Around" (otherwise known as the Sicilian national anthem. Ha) "Frankie and Johnny" "C'est Magnifique" "Make it another old fashioned" (or whatever the real name of that song is) and "So in Love." She also sang "I never do anything twice" "I regret everything" and "Hello, Young Lovers" from her Matters of the Heart days, and even some stuff from PLP Live "The Supermarket in Old Peking" "Calling you/Get Here" (I nearly fell off my chair, I love those two so much), "Looking for Love on Broadway" into "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" "I get a kick out of you" "As long as he needs me" "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" and "Everything's Coming Up Roses." She sang her West Side Story duet with herself, "My Way" and "The Way You Look Tonight" (I seriously wonder what she does with those cameras afterwards??) and she closed with some disco. She is fabulous and I love watching her on stage. I left the showroom happy.

Sunday - I learned my lesson! After dinner I went up to my room and didn't allow myself to leave until the time was appropriate. I did not want to be down there again, sitting around staring into space before the show started. And yes, I went to both shows. What if it was different from night to night? How could I be expected to choose? I don't have that kind of decision making power, so I didn't bother to choose. I just went to both. My seat was better on Sunday, second row and a little more center of the house. The show rolled along, the same as the night before. Same Patti, same gorgeous voice. I had been worried that the audience would be full of people just there to see a show, not really knowing who she is, but they were really responsive and wonderful (with one notable exception, as you will see). Very unlike the audience at the show in Naperville that I saw last. I was basically in heaven. Honestly, I could listen to her sing forever.

She sang "Looking for Love on Broadway" and the distinctive opening strains of "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" began. She struck the famous pose, the crowd went wild, etc. She started to sing... and then stopped the show. She had spotted someone (not near me, fortunately) texting (maybe?) went over to the edge of the stage and let them have it. The rest of the crowd was supportive of her action, with a few people giving her a standing ovation. She went back to the piano, the mood clearly ruined and wondered where they should resume the show. "How about... from the beginning of the show?" she joked and the pianist obligingly started playing the opening strains of "The Gypsy in my Soul." She laughed, resumed her place at the mic, striking the Evita pose again. The show went on and although I noticed her looking in that direction several times, there was no further activity from the errant texter. I spotted an usher over in that direction, and I had heard that two people left the show, but I am not sure what happened there.

So, look, there's been a lot of conversation about this, about Patti stopping the show. All I can say is good for you, Patti, and thank you. I've been in audiences with horrible behavior (seriously - the last time I was at Lyric, a couple in front of us were making out during the opera. A few rows ahead of us, some guy was stretched out, arms folded on top of his head like he was at Wrigley. The people at Lyric behave appallingly, which is why I am not subscribing this year. So please stop calling me! And there was that one incident when I was at Sunday in the Park with George when some idiot's phone went off during the few lines of the show "White - a blank screen or canvas. His favorite. So many RIIIIIIING possibilities" which totally ruined the moment for me and also kind of ruined the feeling of the show for me as well.) and I am GLAD that finally someone is taking a stand and making it known that it won't be tolerated. I am only sorry that that someone is a performer on the stage. She should not have to worry about taking it upon herself to police audience activity because we should all know better. I only hope that this kind of behavior doesn't spoil the experience for her up there. Although it enlivened the show a bit, it did not spoil the experience for me. The rest of the crowd was extremely supportive after that point and very well behaved which proves that Patti was doing what she does best - she goes out there and forges a real bond with the audience. You can't experience that if you're not sitting there, in the moment.

It was over all too soon. Although I waited around with some other fans afterwards, Ms. Patti proved elusive (which is really too bad, because I'd hunted down a cute Orleans postcard that I was going to ask her to sign in lieu of a program.) So I went back upstairs to my room to pack and do some other last minute things.

The next time I see her will be at Ravinia in August. If you're going, please don't use your phone or your camera or prepare to face The Wrath.

what happened in vegas part 2

Day 2 Saturday Got bling?
I woke up at the crack of 6:00 (still on Chicago time, I thought it was 8:00 am!) and naturally, went back to sleep for a while. Breakfast down at the hotel's restaurant where I ate my food on top of a Patti placemat (there she is, right next to Wingiebert Slapdeback. Zenglebert Bembledack. Jerry Dorsey. Slapbumwalla. Oh, but he's dead now.) Both of her shows took place at the Orleans and so her benignly smiling visage was everywhere.

I had big plans, my friends, to journey to... the Liberace Museum. I didn't know a lot about him except for his fondness for rhinestones, but it seemed so quintessentially Vegas that I just had to go. The little museum did not disappoint. I took the guided tour (after some urging from a friendly dosent in the gift shop) and it was excellent. The museum was spread out through two buildings - one containing some of his cars and his pianos, and the other containing many of his costumes, the World's Largest Rhinestone, and some of his jewelry. I was dazzled. My favorites were his legendary rhinestone piano and his famous red white and blue hot pants outfit (with matching boots!)

Now really, does it get any more Vegas than that?

From there, it was back to the Strip. I made for the Bellagio to see the fountains, and the art gallery, and how the Other Half Lives, really. It was stunning - the gorgeous Chihuly glass ceiling in the lobby, the colorful flowers in the conservatory, the gelato bar, the fountains. It seems funny, to gush over fountains, but it was really a spectacular sight. I caught the "water ballet" twice - once standing at the Bellagio, and then again, later in the afternoon, I was across at Paris, and heard Andrea Bocelli wailing away as the fountains exploded heavenward. Stunning.

Then I just walked. I went all the way down to New York New York and had lunch in a Broadway themed burger place where our favorite Diva was well represented.

I crossed the Strip (after getting lost in NY's casino) and happily poked around wherever the mood struck. Since it was so hot, I started popping into shops and places just to get out of the heat, step into a mister, or buy some water.

I ran out of steam once I hit Paris, which is too bad, since I've never been to France, and this was sort of like being there but without the French people (bonus!) I stopped in to use the restroom and brush up on my French phrases (particularly useful - "That dress is hot. It would look even hotter on my floor.")

Late in the afternoon, I started getting tired and headed back to where the Orleans shuttle would collect me. Had some ice cream to revive (the joys of staying in a hotel with a food court! Classy!) and started getting ready for the first of The Diva's two shows...

what happened in vegas...

I survived my first trip to the Vegas! I didn't go broke! I didn't pass out from the heat and I didn't get sunburned! You all know I went to see the Diva (note the capital D there) - don't worry, she's getting her own post. There will be details.

But the rest of the trip was pretty much awesome and here's the way it went down.

Day 1 - Friday
I was terrified that the blazing thunderstorms would keep my flight on the ground. Happily though, we took off on time (!) thus restoring my faith in United Airlines (somewhat) and I was on the ground in Las Vegas at 10:00 am. My jaw hit the ground as soon as I stepped off the plane. Looking out the window, I could see mountains! And a pyramid! I felt very "toto we're not in kansas anymore." The airport itself was gawk-worthy - ginormous posters advertising shows, shows, shows, and the ubiquitous slot machines that seemed to be everywhere. I stayed at the Orleans and upon arrival, promptly got lost in the casino. Could they make it any harder to find hotel check-in? Yes, I realize they do this on purpose, so you are lured into the games in a vague "Room? What room? I can sleep when I'm dead" kind of way but all I wanted to do was get up to my room, dump my stuff and hit the Strip.

And hit the Strip I did! My jaw hit the ground again when I got there - massive hotels, palm trees, margarita stands... I started off at Caesar's Palace, went to Madame Toussaud's (lookie! I met the President!) and got a gondola ride at the Venetian, and saw Sigfried and Roy's gorgeous lions and tigers, hit the buffet and saw my first Cirque du Soleil show, Love, at the Mirage.

I loved Love by the way. I was not sure what to expect from Cirque, and I chose this show over the others playing in Vegas because of the music. It was a great show. There was a bit of a technical glitch at the beginning that stopped the show for maybe 10 minutes, but after that it was smooth sailing. It was wonderful fun, combining dance, daredevil acrobatics and aerial stunts with the familiar and beloved music of the Beatles.

vegas, here i come!

Does it really surprise you that I'm going to Vegas essentially to see Ms. Patti? Because if it does, you really don't know me all that well. She's like the house, she always wins... Found this article online this morning, courtesy of the Las Vegas Sun. Needless to say, I will not be bringing my cell phone to the concerts (yes, both of them. Shut up.)Patti's actually my ringtone, though, "Downtown" from Les Mouches - I'd be curious to see her reaction to her show being interrupted by her own voice. I'm not going to try it, mind you, but still, it would be interesting.

...all the things i could do...

You keep hoping I will forget about ABBA tuesdays, don't you? This one is in honor of my upcoming trip to Vegas...

is vegging out too passe?

Dear People Style Watch:
You know that I love you - I eagerly await your monthly appearance on the newsstand, and I page happily through your issues, drinking in every word. How else would I know to wear cute flat sandals and flowy tops in the summer?? Or how much Nicole Richie loves her vintage clutch or Gabrielle Union her glam LV bag? I have to say, in this recent issue there is much to love - and being me, I have already purchased two items that I saw in the issue. I am a marketing person's dream come true, yes?

But there is one teeny tiny thing that I think you might have, oh, I don't know - made up. Your What's In What's Out section, while useful, seems maybe a little ridiculous this time. For instance, the first "IN" is something called "cupcaking" defined in the magazine as such (if you think I am making this junk up, I'm not - page 98)

Cupcaking: "It's a new expression. Cupcakes are hot in general, and this trend is about getting back to basics and being joyful, enjoying the simpler things in life. You can stay home and cupcake with your boyfriend or hang out cupcaking with your friends."

Really, Style Watch, really? A new expression? Does anyone actually say that? I will tell you now that the only reason I would ever say I was "cupcaking" was if I was eating (or making) cupcakes and that is questionable, at best. What do they actually have to do with "getting back to basics and being joyful"? Particularly since the new hot cupcake trend involves plunking down like 5 bucks for a cupcake? Simpler things in life? I think not. Your telling me that this is a new expression does not make it so. Catchphrases come about more organically than that, I think, and this one is pretty dumb, so my prediction is that it won't catch on.

The other crap in the What's In What's Out is pretty stupid also, so I suggest that you dump the page all together.

Many thanks!

PS If you really want to do some "cupcaking" - come on over next week! I have vacation and I'm going to be baking!

Playbill News: Little Night Music Revival to Play a Jujamcyn Theatre

Playbill News: Little Night Music Revival to Play a Jujamcyn Theatre

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Another reason to start planning a trip to NYC... so I can start using "Jujamcyn" in sentences...

hmmm.

today's yahoo horoscope:

Speak out! By being direct, you'll get the time you need and the answers you want.
Your cultural side is active today, and you're more in tune with art and music than usual. It's a good time to look for hidden meanings in your favorite works and to seek out new creators to admire.

Maybe if I play my Gypsy recording backwards, Patti will tell me the secret of the universe?

bono + edge + julie taymor = broadway magic?

According to U2.com who are so beside themselves excited that they emailed me this info twice, Bono and the Edge have teamed with Julie Taymor for the Broadway production of 'SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark.'The new production, staged by award-winning director Julie Taymor (The Lion King, Across the Universe), begins at Broadway's Hilton Theatre on January 16, 2010.

Drawing on over 40 years of comics, co-book writers Taymor and Glen Berger spin a spectacular new take on the mythic adventure that's familiar and fresh yet filled with unexpected twists and turns. Highlighted by visual effects, flying, stunts and breathtaking designs from an international team of artists from Broadway, Cirque du Soleil, the Beijing Olympics and the Spider-Man films. It also marks the Broadway debut of Bono and The Edge who have composed the music and written the lyrics for 'SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark'.

Okay now - Seriously? A Spider-Man musical?? I am intrigued and also a little bit afraid. I have to get myself to NYC (hopefully sooner than January) and I am not sure this will make the top of my must see list. But hey, maybe Bono & The Edge will get invited to next year's Tony's which would be kind of fun. I think every event needs a little excitement in the form of hip Irish rockers. I was also emailed some ticket pre-sale information (so clearly they think this thing will catch on - if it is anything like the Lion King, maybe it will) and if you are nice to me I will tell you how to get tickets this much. Thrilling, yes?

aww... meet pipo!

Rare White Tiger Cub @ Yahoo! Video

mixing it up on abba tuesday...

...Kylie Minogue singing "Dancing Queen" from the Sydney Olympics...

tony's last night!

So I watched the show last night in my pjs in the kitchen. I'd been looking forward to it - and I nearly had a stroke when my family mentioned possible dinner plans with family friends that night. Uh hello, people? It's time for the Tony's! I really need to find some theater people in this town!

Anyway - the show was - shall I be polite?? Interesting. Lots of technical problems that you think they would have worked out by now. Some unfortunate camera angles - like during the memorial piece and a bunch of sound issues too. Get it together here already!

So yeah - stuff I liked:
1. NPH! I loved the sushi joke... Jeremy Piven probably didn't...
2. The Billys - aw, so cute.
3. Constantine Maroulis - surprisingly. But Rock of Ages looks like so much fun. Ah, the 80s.
4. Crazy hippies from Hair - I was wondering if this show tours, if it will come to Chicago. We have some sort of ridiculous Puritanical law around here about stage nudity and stage smoking, etc.
5. Angela Lansbury - what a classy lady
6. Alice Ripley's voice (and her gorgeous blue dress. And by the way, is David Hyde Pierce the official "Best Actress in a Musical" designated award giver? Didn't he present that category last year, too?)
7. Billy Elliot wins best musical! YAY! It's the only one I saw, so I am a little biased...
8. Liza. So crazy. But I love her, begging the question - Why do I have a thing for slightly crazy people (Italian-American divas, in particular?? Is it because I am a paesana myself?)??
9. Geoffrey Rush!
10. the 11th hour closing number - did he make that song up, or what? How did they know the winners??? Mystery!

Stuff I didn't like:
1. Extremely crappy In Memoriam piece, apparently directed by someone who was asleep and shot by someone who was drunk. The angles would wander off away from the screen so you either couldn't see the picture or read the name and sometimes both. Yeah. Way to honor those people.
2. Extremely random best play excerpts which were - well, extremely random and brief. I had to bust out my trusty Time Out New York stash to figure out what some of the plays were about
3. Also sort of random musical numbers that didn't do a lot for the show represented. The West Side Story one? Kind of sucked. And the Billy Elliot one - arrrgh. Show "Electricity" or even "Solidarity Forever" - that was the only show I saw and I bawled my face off when I saw it, but based on that excerpt, yowch.
4. The touring show interludes. I mean, I get it. The show is targeted towards mainstream America who wouldn't know "Next to Normal" from a hole in the ground. They do know "Mamma Mia" though and "Jersey Boys." So instead of giving the award recipients some extra time to talk, let's have a Jersey Boys medley! Oh yes, that will do great things for the ratings, except for people like ME in the audience who wants Jersey Boys to die a slow painful death. And the Legally Blonde bit sucked a little too.
5. Is anyone else trembling in fear at the thought of John Stamos in Bye Bye Birdie? I remember in grade school we did our little musical thing "Dream a Little Musical Dream" and I wore a poodle skirt and was in the Bye Bye Birdie numbers...

Playbill News: Ravinia Festival Will Salute Sondheim in 2010

Playbill News: Ravinia Festival Will Salute Sondheim in 2010

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Vague, yet kind of exciting!

It's time to party in the park: Ravinia's back! :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Weekend

It's time to party in the park: Ravinia's back! :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Weekend

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I recently had a conversation with someone who told me he "picnics free" at Millennium Park and that in his view, Ravinia isn't even in Chicago's top 10 of good stuff. I love him mucho, but I have to disagree - I love Ravinia - to me, it IS summer. I've had lots of happy memories there. I've met some great friends there, and once I got hit on by a 12 year old - and honestly? Where else can you see the CSO, Carrie Underwood, the music of ABBA, and Divas from the operatic and broadway stage, all within days of each other? Nowhere, that's where. So welcome back, Ravinia. I'll see you at the end of the month.

'splain, please!

This has been bugging me since yesterday - I had a Stouffer's mac and cheese for lunch yesterday. To pass time waiting for it to cook, I was reading the box, you know, like you do. Microwave cooking takes 6 minutes but I was interested to note that you can, if you so choose, pop the thing into the oven and let it cook for 50 minutes. I swear that's what it said. So here's my question. Why on earth would you not just break out the velveeta shells and make those instead - that takes maybe 10 minutes. Seriously, I will come over and cook you a plate of mac and cheese in under 50 minutes. In most places I think you could have a whole sit down meal in 50 minutes. Doesn't that sort of miss the point of convenient microwave cooking?

Yesterday was just a wealth of new food experiences - I stopped in at Starbucks before my physical therapy appointment (don't ask). I was early. Like ridiculously early. I'm always early, to everything, all the time. I was born several weeks early, which I think explains a lot. Anyway, I didn't want any coffee (fool!) but opted instead for a bottle of Naked brand juice called "Peach Mangosteen Bliss" and I thought they were just being cute, but it turns out there actually is a fruit called a "mangosteen" (don't believe me? go here to read about it.) - I had never heard of this fruit before, but it sure does make some tasty juice.

One more thing - does anyone else find it puzzling/annoying/vexing/whatever that former IL first lady Patti Blago is on "I'm a Celebrity - Get Me Out of Here!" because a. she's not a celebrity and b. oh, wait, that's pretty much it. She's not a celebrity. She's eating bugs on tv for money (that's 'classy' with a capital k, baby) and telling members of the nation who watch this crap (and no I am not one of them, thank you!) that G-Rod was falsely accused. Here's an idea - why don't you both move to another state and GET A JOB, dears! I would be hiding in my house with the shades drawn if I were either of them. Oh and I read this morning that the children's cancer charity that she offered to give the show money to turned her down.

My goodness, where did that all come from? Sorry for the babbling, I didn't sleep so well last night. When I did sleep, I had a really bizarre dream about a series of earthquakes here in IL. We were watching the progress of one (!) on tv and were like, oh, it's going to miss us. But then there was an aftershock or something, and it brought the tree in our front yard crashing to the ground. Scary bananas. I woke up with my heart pounding, but figured, hey, at least my teeth weren't falling out, so... progress?

Keep on Rockin', Baby...

Welcome to ABBA Tuesdays - Let the countdown begin to the Music of ABBA concert at Ravinia on June 30! Every Tuesday until then, I will be finding some little videos so you can start your day with some 70s (you're welcome!) Today's selection - on & on & on...