I had a crazy busy weekend, the last weekend of the Chicago Humanities Festival, plus a couple of other events. But so worth it! I figured I'd relax this week, so what happens? Today I get an email from the Harris Theatre, informing me that all, repeat all, tickets to the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra's concert tomorrow night, in honor of the ( Read more... )

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 ( Read more... )

( I really ought to have written about the Festival as it was happening, but, what can I say? I didn't, so this will be pretty long. )

And the rains stayed away! Guess Mother Nature didn't want to mess with a bunch of Katrina survivors. Last night's concert was by the New Orleans Social Club (and friends). These musicians came together on an ad hoc basis shortly after Hurricane Katrina to record the CD, "Sing Me Back Home". Two years later, they are still in demand for ( Read more... )

Much as I like my iMac, with its light weight, and its flat screen that adjusts easily, those advantages turn into a drawback if you have a cat who thinks that the desk space in front of your computer is her natural napping place. "Oh, did I tilt your screen down when I stretched out? Well, whose space is this, anyway? I am the cat ( Read more... )

Leonard Bernstein was a complete and utter genius! My god, talk about your American composers, has there been anyone before or since who could do/has done what he did? I love Copland, Corigliano and a host of others, but just in scope and variety Bernstein has them all beat to hell ( Read more... )

Yesterday, I wore a hat. A navy blue straw hat. I was going to the Art Institute, and decided to go in lady-like style. Blue dress with white flowers, navy blazer, aforesaid hat and navy cotton gloves. Got three compliments on the hat: one from a lady my age, one from a young woman, and one from a guy all dressed in leather (International Mr ( Read more... )

Hmm, where to begin.

Okay, last Wednesday I went to see a play called Oedipus Complex, Frank Galati's take on Sophocles' Oedipus Rex. Basically, it was Sophocles, framed and interrupted by bits involving Sigmund Freud, his Interpretation of Dreams and the development of his theory of the Oedipus complex. Sounds a bit contrived, I know, but, gosh ( Read more... )

Gorgeous weather this weekend! I fiddled around the house in the a.m., inspired to do a bit of cleaning and straightening up. One of the joys of living in a university community (well, this one, anyway) is the Music Department. There are scads of actually rather decent student musical groups, and Saturday night the Motet Choir was doing a ( Read more... )

It's been a rather French weekend, music-wise.

Friday night was the last opera of the Lyric season, Poulenc's Dialogue of the Carmelites. A high note on which to end, both literally and figuratively. This was the very first time Lyric has done Carmelites, and I'm only sorry they waited so long. Very different from most operas - no love interest ( Read more... )