Dinner, Concert, Dessert
Thanks to S., who had tickets which she got from E. but at the last minute could not use, Marisa and I attended a concert at the Schnitz-- The Oregon Pops with a tribute to the Blues. It was a nice entertaining evening.
With the dry warmer weather (sweater only) it was pretty effortless to drive first to dinner at the University Grill (roughly 6353 N. Lombard according to Google) where we spent a total with tip of $36 on the same dinner each: juice, fried tofu, cup of bean soup, garlic bread, lettuce salad, and macaroni and cheese.
Then, drove on to the parking structure across from the Central Library and got a choice spot on the 2nd level right up the ramp from the ticket booth.
We passed the Guild theater on the way. It is closed now and we wonder what will happen to it. It would be nice if it could be used for art films or some sort of performances (or silent movies?).
Then past the Paramount Hotel and the Taste of Asia restaurant, which we have enjoyed in the past. We noticed at the movie theater the only film of interest was the Hunger Games sequel.
The seats we got were pretty nice: at the lower level but with good sight lines to the stage in row FF by the aisle (aisle 2).
The show was interesting. Most of the blues pieces were arranged by the Pops principal conductor, Jeff Tyzich (I may have the name slightly wrong). Dee Daniels was the woman singing. Byron X was the trumpet soloist and also sang. There was also an excellent keyboardist and a not-so-good trombonist. Marisa points out it may just be the microphone, as it picked him up sometimes. However, they could have fixed that during the intermission...and it was still bad in the 2nd half.
They did not have an encore prepared, which gives you some idea of how prepared the entire concert was. While we enjoyed the show overall (I was especially impressed by Dee Daniels' singing and the keyboardist...both of whom I would want to see again...and the trumpeter was excellent and did some funny intros), it was probably the worst concert I have seen at the Schnitz in the past 16 years!
We paid the $5 parking fee and went back up Interstate 5 to go to Shari's (by the race track) for dessert. We both had a slice of chocolate peanut butter pie, which was excellent.
The drive home on North Lombard was green lights all the way with very little competing traffic.
With the dry warmer weather (sweater only) it was pretty effortless to drive first to dinner at the University Grill (roughly 6353 N. Lombard according to Google) where we spent a total with tip of $36 on the same dinner each: juice, fried tofu, cup of bean soup, garlic bread, lettuce salad, and macaroni and cheese.
Then, drove on to the parking structure across from the Central Library and got a choice spot on the 2nd level right up the ramp from the ticket booth.
We passed the Guild theater on the way. It is closed now and we wonder what will happen to it. It would be nice if it could be used for art films or some sort of performances (or silent movies?).
Then past the Paramount Hotel and the Taste of Asia restaurant, which we have enjoyed in the past. We noticed at the movie theater the only film of interest was the Hunger Games sequel.
The seats we got were pretty nice: at the lower level but with good sight lines to the stage in row FF by the aisle (aisle 2).
The show was interesting. Most of the blues pieces were arranged by the Pops principal conductor, Jeff Tyzich (I may have the name slightly wrong). Dee Daniels was the woman singing. Byron X was the trumpet soloist and also sang. There was also an excellent keyboardist and a not-so-good trombonist. Marisa points out it may just be the microphone, as it picked him up sometimes. However, they could have fixed that during the intermission...and it was still bad in the 2nd half.
They did not have an encore prepared, which gives you some idea of how prepared the entire concert was. While we enjoyed the show overall (I was especially impressed by Dee Daniels' singing and the keyboardist...both of whom I would want to see again...and the trumpeter was excellent and did some funny intros), it was probably the worst concert I have seen at the Schnitz in the past 16 years!
We paid the $5 parking fee and went back up Interstate 5 to go to Shari's (by the race track) for dessert. We both had a slice of chocolate peanut butter pie, which was excellent.
The drive home on North Lombard was green lights all the way with very little competing traffic.