Culture vulture
Wednesday night, my friends and I went to the Goodman to see a play called "Gas for Less" (yea, really, that's what it's called). It was about an independent gas station on the far north side of Chicago, and it's going under. The play is set on two dates in late 2005, and much of it revolves around the guys watching Bears football games. I'm convinced that the playwright meant much of the football stuff to be relevant, but it sailed right over my head, as I don't have the first clue about football generally or the Bears specifically. We had dinner first at Trattoria Ten, always good. When we were leaving, I noticed that Jim and Kevin were at the bar, so I stopped to chat. They were on their way to Chicago Opera Theatre's Orlando (see below).
Thursday I went to the CSO - Dvorák's Symphony No. 8 in G major, and Ives' A Symphony: New England Holidays, conducted by Michael Tilson-Thomas. I enjoyed it very much. However, I've decided I'm not going to re-subscribe next season, but will get individual tickets instead. Looking at the various series, I realized that there wasn't any one series where I wanted to hear every concert, and that I'd be better off getting single tickets for the things I really want to hear. It's been a bit logistically difficult, too, this year.
Saturday began with a few errands, and then a stop at a local consignment shop that was having a 50% off sale. I love consignment shops! I got a pair of shoes (black high heels), two dresses, two skirts and a belt all for around $30 (the shoes were the single most expensive item). Then I stopped at O'Gara's to pick up a book they were holding for me, The Smithsonian Book of Books.
The weather being absolutely gorgeous (I think summer may actually have arrived!), I spent a good part of the afternoon hanging out on the porch drinking iced tea, reading, and explaining to Lilith that, no, she could not go into the neighbor's apartment.
I had a ticket for Handel's Orlando that evening, at the Harris Theatre, and as the Gospel Fest was happening just behind the Harris at the Pritzker Pavilion, I decided to go down early and catch some music there. I don't usually get to go to Gospel Fest, as it is ordinarily the same weekend as the Printers Row Book Fair and the 57th Street Art Fair. But, for some reason, it's a week earlier this year (Blues Fest will be next weekend, along with the aforesaid book fair and art fair.)
I had figured on just grabbing a hot dog at one of the stands for dinner, but then I saw this sign:
So I headed left and had some short ribs with sauce. The most amazing thing happened! I was wearing a white linen dress and did not get one single, solitary drop of barbecue sauce on it. I think that's a first. I had my camera (I seem to carry it everywhere these days) and took lots of photos, primarily of intricately braided hairstyles.
The opera was excellent (I do love Handel! all those counter-tenors!). They'd moved the scene from the time of the Crusades to WWII, and while I don't think the updating added anything, it didn't detract, either. There was a pre-opera lecture by the conductor, Raymond Leppard, who made some snide remarks about "Eurotrash" productions, but he said he had no problems with this one. He also said that the opera was rather about "Make war, not love", and that it was probably Mr. Bush's favorite. Snickers all round from the audience. I ran into Eric and Ed in the lobby beforehand, and again at intermission, and Eric (who should know) was quite impressed with Tim Mead, who sang the title role.
Mira came over today to pick up the keys. I shall have to get her keys to the basement doors as well, as she has a bike and will need to stash it there. She'll be moving in probably June 22, for about four weeks.
More hanging about reading this afternoon, and then over to the University for Mahler's Resurrection Symphony, with the University Symphony Orchestra, University Chorus and Motet Choir. Back home for a ribeye steak and asparagus, and a tomato, scallion, radicchio and endive salad, with green tea ice cream for dessert.
I do have to go in for jury duty tomorrow, so I'm hunting up a big, thick book to take with me.
Thursday I went to the CSO - Dvorák's Symphony No. 8 in G major, and Ives' A Symphony: New England Holidays, conducted by Michael Tilson-Thomas. I enjoyed it very much. However, I've decided I'm not going to re-subscribe next season, but will get individual tickets instead. Looking at the various series, I realized that there wasn't any one series where I wanted to hear every concert, and that I'd be better off getting single tickets for the things I really want to hear. It's been a bit logistically difficult, too, this year.
Saturday began with a few errands, and then a stop at a local consignment shop that was having a 50% off sale. I love consignment shops! I got a pair of shoes (black high heels), two dresses, two skirts and a belt all for around $30 (the shoes were the single most expensive item). Then I stopped at O'Gara's to pick up a book they were holding for me, The Smithsonian Book of Books.
The weather being absolutely gorgeous (I think summer may actually have arrived!), I spent a good part of the afternoon hanging out on the porch drinking iced tea, reading, and explaining to Lilith that, no, she could not go into the neighbor's apartment.
I had a ticket for Handel's Orlando that evening, at the Harris Theatre, and as the Gospel Fest was happening just behind the Harris at the Pritzker Pavilion, I decided to go down early and catch some music there. I don't usually get to go to Gospel Fest, as it is ordinarily the same weekend as the Printers Row Book Fair and the 57th Street Art Fair. But, for some reason, it's a week earlier this year (Blues Fest will be next weekend, along with the aforesaid book fair and art fair.)
I had figured on just grabbing a hot dog at one of the stands for dinner, but then I saw this sign:
So I headed left and had some short ribs with sauce. The most amazing thing happened! I was wearing a white linen dress and did not get one single, solitary drop of barbecue sauce on it. I think that's a first. I had my camera (I seem to carry it everywhere these days) and took lots of photos, primarily of intricately braided hairstyles.
The opera was excellent (I do love Handel! all those counter-tenors!). They'd moved the scene from the time of the Crusades to WWII, and while I don't think the updating added anything, it didn't detract, either. There was a pre-opera lecture by the conductor, Raymond Leppard, who made some snide remarks about "Eurotrash" productions, but he said he had no problems with this one. He also said that the opera was rather about "Make war, not love", and that it was probably Mr. Bush's favorite. Snickers all round from the audience. I ran into Eric and Ed in the lobby beforehand, and again at intermission, and Eric (who should know) was quite impressed with Tim Mead, who sang the title role.
Mira came over today to pick up the keys. I shall have to get her keys to the basement doors as well, as she has a bike and will need to stash it there. She'll be moving in probably June 22, for about four weeks.
More hanging about reading this afternoon, and then over to the University for Mahler's Resurrection Symphony, with the University Symphony Orchestra, University Chorus and Motet Choir. Back home for a ribeye steak and asparagus, and a tomato, scallion, radicchio and endive salad, with green tea ice cream for dessert.
I do have to go in for jury duty tomorrow, so I'm hunting up a big, thick book to take with me.