My Busy weekend with Meetup in Barcelona

 I have been living in Barcelona for the past three years, and I have used the app Meetup sporadically to widen my network and make new connections.  I used to use it somewhat when I was in the States (during my dad blogger days, the NYC Dad Group was based on Meetup, and so was the Chicago Dads Group) 

 In Barcelona, I have done some language exchange groups, eaten dinner and lunch at various restaurants around the city, gone to a couple of online seminars, and even gone to a couple of concerts with a group of complete strangers.  This weekend happened to be one that had a whole lot of Meetup going on, so I decided it might be fun to record my weekend of Meetup as a blogpost (and give some shoutouts to these Meetups in case you want to join.)

All the Meetups I am mentioning are free to sign up for. You just need to register for a free Meetup account.  And if you do join up, let them know you found them through my blog.  I won’t get any financial benefit, but I would like the owners of the groups to know that I am giving back to the community.

While all of the Meetups  mentioned are free to attend, you are responsible for your own food and drink.  Typically every tab is settled separately.  And while in Spain there is no expectation to tip, an extra euro or two is always looked on kindly by the server.

All of these events are primarily in English, although there are plenty of Spanish speakers in attendance as well..

MEETUP #1:  BARCELONA CHILI LOVER’S CLUB   Friday Night

 I have been attending the Chili Lover’s Club for probably a little over a year.  This is my most frequently attended Meetup.  Every two to three weeks, usually on Friday, a group of approximately 30 people gather in a restaurant to eat spicy food and talk about nothing and everything in particular.  Catalan and Spanish food is not particularly spicy, but fortunately, Barcelona is full of ethnic restaurants and there’s plenty of opportunity to get your picante on.  In the past we have had cuisine from China, the Philippines, Mexico, Pakistan, India, Ethiopia, Japan, and Thailand.

This meetup was at a Vietnamese restaurant called Pho Viet (on IG at @pho_viet_barcelona ). It had the additional advantage of being in my neighborhood, just a couple of blocks walk away.  The food was delicious- I had a mango salad with shrimp and an order of Bo Luc Lac (which is a marinated beef dish) Both dishes were great and suitably spicy.  The organizers also encourage people to bring their own spice condiments just in case things are not hot enough for your taste.  The people are very welcoming, and I have made some pretty good friends/acquaintances over the nearly 20 times I have attended. 

There are a few hundred people in the group, and only 30 spots or less per dinner, so they usually sell out.  If you join the meetup group, they will invite you to the WhatsApp group, which is where most of the action happens.  Once a dinner is announced, you should jump on it.

THE DAY OF DISCUSSING DEEPLY

MEETUP #2:  DEEP TALK COFFEE. Saturday 12 noon.

The second meetup was at the cafe of a bookshop close to the Urquinona train stop.  It was my first time at this particular meetup, although I have been eying it for a month or so.  It happens pretty much every Saturday, barring special private events or weather.  The point of this group is to discuss deep and complex issues with a group of people who might have different views than you. The conversations did not disappoint.  Our conversation was far ranging, reaching from the question of wanting to be a dictator on an island and what that would mean, to how democracy isn’t really working, and wondering whether there will be a Revolution like the French Revolution again, in an age where there is social mobility through wealth and the poor have a small opportunity to become rich.  Along the way (and after the fact) we also discussed if it was possible for a company to do well by doing good, block chain democracy (my weird idea of a disruptive event), what the most important part of a relationship is, and whether or not self Love or self Hate are more efficacious in getting productive results.  All this in less than 2 hours. 

There were probably around 25 people at the event (even though only 15 are allowed to sign up) and we split up into 3 or 4 tables  of people and each conversation was free ranging and went where they went.  At my table of 6 there were people from Lebanon, France, Romania, England, Spain (and later) Lithuania and me (US).  It was great hearing different viewpoints and often the same viewpoint but from a different perspective.  I enjoyed it a lot.  And have total respect for those participants who didn’t speak English as a native language.  I definitely could not have the discussion we had (or follow it) in Spanish.

From there I biked over to Parque Citadella to attend a Book club, also for the first time. The focus of the book club is on Physical and spiritual well being.

MEETUP #3: BARCELONA BOOK CLUB  Saturday 3 pm.

This book club is unlike most other book clubs in that you don’t have to have read a book in advance.  Participants are encouraged to bring a book that they have found useful for their personal development, and after an organized introduction period, people put their books on the table, and the group organizer asks people to give a little book review of the book, and what was important about it to them.  From there there is a group discussion about some of the concepts or ideas presented.  We were able to go over 4 books (and one was the one that I brought)

The books discussed were the following:

(The links to the books are Amazon affiliate links. If you buy them from this link I get a small commission)

El síndrome de la impostora by Elisabeth Cadoche and Anne de Montarlot, a book about why women suffer from Impostor syndrome differently than men.  This book does not seem to be available in English, but there are plenty of other books about Impostor Syndrome in English if you like.

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield, learning to break through your creative resistances to do what you aim to do and move beyond your comfort level.

Seven Steps to Developing Your Intuitive Powers by Betty Bethards, a manual on learning to trust your “gut” (which led to a pretty interesting discussion about your gut biome and whether or not we are being controlled by 2 trillion tiny microorganisms against our will)

The Mastery of Love by Don Miguel Ruiz, a practical guide to positive relationships.

This was a lot of fun, and the people were pretty interesting.  Apparently the meetup has been going on for more than a couple of years, and meets every two weeks (but most of the time it is at noon, which conflicts with the first one. I just happened to luck out that it was at a time where I could go to both (and right near a train station that was easy access to my next event). 

Normally the group meets outdoors in the park, but when it’s cold or rainy they meet indoors.  We met at a hotel coffee shop, and we had a little scare in the middle, where one of the participants realized that. Her backpack was missing.  We had just seen two people standing near her, and realized they had left. One of the guys ran out and caught the people with the backpack, was able to get the backpack back before something had been taken out of it.  The thieves were like “Oh is this yours? We just found it and were wondering whose it was”. A sharp reminder that in Barcelona you need to be very mindful of your possessions.

NON MEETUP EVENT: Circus de Los Horrores

From there I went to a non meetup event El Circus de Los Horrores. 

 It was the very last show at their tent in an outlying neighborhood of Barcelona called La Maccinista.  

I had seen a previous show of theirs in Madrid called Baccanal. This show, called Requiem was pretty great, an adult oriented circus complete with lots of sexual references, devil references, and rock and roll heavy metal vibe..  I will write a separate post about that show (perhaps on my clown link blog, and will link it here if I do so). The interesting thing is that it turns out that this show was THE VERY LAST SHOW.  

I didn’t realize it until the very end, but the owner/major person behind the circus was retiring at the end of the show.  I was very glad that I got to go.  I had known about the show and was putting it off a little, and even thought maybe I should just go the next time they are in town. But it turns out there will be no next time. Nothing is ever guaranteed.

MEETUP #4: BARCELONA WRITE TOGETHER   Sunday 11 am

Artwork by AI of a group of people
Meeting up for coffee in Barcelona.

On Sunday I attended my last meetup of the weekend (unless I have a sudden desire to attend something tonight, but I have no plans to do so at the present time.). This is also set at a coffee shop a 10 minute walk from my apartment, so this is very convenient for me.

Basically people meet at a public cafe at around 11 to write, and at the end of the two hours, there is a little intro time, where you can introduce yourself, and tell people how your writing session went.  I have been going for about a month, and really enjoy the time to work on something on my list.  Even if I don’t have a productive session, it forces me to take time out of my schedule to sit and noodle, and brainstorm, and write it down. And that is good.

Today, I actually wrote this blog post!  Over 1500 words, more or less. I got all of the blogpost done, and before I posted it, I just had to add the photos, and the links. That took me another hour or so (lots of links and photos in this one)

  But overall, I feel pretty productive about that two hours spent.  I have also met some interesting people through this event.

So that was my weekend of Meetup!  I swear that I am not addicted to it (I can quit anytime I wish) but it is a great tool to expand your network, have interesting discussions, and have fun.  I highly recommend trying it out and seeing if it works for you.

Nu, May is Jewish American Heritage Month. Who Knew?

 

I certainly was not aware that May is Jewish American Heritage Month.   I knew that February was Black History month, and that March is Women's History Month, and that Pride Month is in June.  I didn't realize that Jewish American Heritage  was this month.  (By the way, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is also in May.  Which makes sense, because if you count from 2000 years ago, Israel (Judea) is officially Asia. 

May is also Older Americans Month.  This is the time that Israel, Florida, and the Jews all align as one.  Did I mention Chinese food on Christmas Eve?  I was about to.  It is all coming together!

Some of the many prominent Jewish Americans.  I am not prominent enough to be on this list

But despite the obviousness of all these co-occurences, plus the fact that I am a Jewish American, I somehow missed the memo.

JAHM began as an effort by the Jewish Museum of Florida and South Florida Jewish community leaders. Through the bi-partisan efforts of Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) and the late Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, JAHM was established in 2006 by President George W. Bush to honor the contributions and achievements of Jewish Americans and to educate all Americans.

 It’s been continued every year since then by Presidential Proclamation. 

Other notable milestones include the formation of a national advisory committee in 2007 to drive the effort forward; NASA Astronaut Garrett Reisman, a New Jersey native and University of Pennsylvania graduate, carrying the original JAHM proclamation into space in 2010, and President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama hosting the first-ever White House reception in honor of JAHM that same year. 

In 2018, The Weitzman  National Museum of American Jewish History. (Hereafter known as The Weitzman) became the home of JAHM and now leads the nationwide effort. Located in Philadelphia, the Weitzman does a great job of cataloging and promoting American Jewish culture.  Especially in light of the recent rise of anti-semitism in the US, and the unrest that is on college campuses, 

If you are looking for additional Jewish American Heritage Month events around the country, here's a list maintained by The Weitzman. 

https://jewishamericanheritage.org/events/2024-events-in-your-community/


There are many more events happening around the country, and the list above has a pretty comprehensive list of them.  


Last year, an amazing concert by Frank London and the Klezmer Brass All-Stars (in association with Joshua Nelson and the Kosher Gospel Singers) was held to celebrate.  When Klezmer meets Gospel, the results are electric!

Here it is for your listening and viewing entertainment.
(If you can't see the video below, log in here to view it)

Book Preview: Superhero Science by Cris Johnson

Cris Johnson is an accomplished elementary school assembly presenter.  In pre-pandemic times, Cris typically performed approximately 400 curriculum based school assembly programs across the states and in Canada, using a fast-paced combination of magic, music, audience participation, humor and fun to reinforce his messages and present education in an accessible manner.

When Covid-19 hit, Chris got busy, performing virtual shows and extending one of his shows into a book.  He recently sent me the first three chapters of that book SuperHero Science, and it really succeeds in creating a fun and funny intro to science in a way that kids are bound to enjoy.

Cris at work in one of his shows.

The basic premise is that he presents experiments that attempt to replicate, imitate, or simulate super powers.  Along the way he explains the scientific method, explains the idea of experimentation, and lays out each experiment in a casual yet professional manner.  Each experiment is laid out with the materials required (usually stuff that is around the house), the hypothesis (which, he explains, is a fancy word for educated guess) and any dangers or pitfalls that might require adult supervision (most of them do not, although don't check out parents-- you will be entertained and amazed as well!)  

And when he asks you whether or not the President of the United States may or may not have stolen your bike-- well, look out evil-doers!

Some of the experiments include forays into x-ray vision,  telekinesis, shrinking, invulnerability, and a lot more.  He explains it all in a folksy and slightly goofy way, asking people if they were aliens, how they would know if a hot dog wouldn't fly.

Cris is an experienced and entertaining performer, and that experience shows in his book.  The book is funny, relatable, and accessible to everyone.  Adults and kids alike will enjoy this adventure into science, experimentation, and imagination.  

Who knows, maybe you will even get bitten by a radioactive spider!  (My understanding from Cris is that radioactive spiders are not included with the book purchase.)

Superhero Science will be available in September 2020.  To find out more, visit Cris's website: https://elementaryschoolassemblies.com/

Is Tom Brady Loyal?

In the midst of the coronavirus, you may not have noticed that one of the most iconic quarterbacks in the history of football was let go by his team, and immediately scooped up by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  I'm talking about #12, Golden Boy Patriot Tom Brady.

There's lots of moaning in Mudville, and not without cause.

 Brady has been the guy who brought the Patriots to a number of Superbowl championships, has been the backbone of one of the most exciting teams in the NFL, and was really the key behind the Patriots dynasty. 

In two decades with the Patriots, Brady appeared in nine Super Bowls, won the Super Bowl six times, and was the MVP four times.  In 20 years with the Patriots (by the way, that's the longest any quarterback has ever played for any single team) Brady won an all-time record 17 division championships—12 is second place, held by Peyton Manning—and  Brady set a total of 15 Super Bowl records.

 Love him or hate him, you have to respect his game.

A lot of Patriots fans are moaning because Brady is moving to a different team, and accusing Brady of disloyalty or worse, treason.

Why are they so upset with Brady?   

Tom Brady's Book, available on Amazon

The Patriots let him go!

What was he supposed to do, out of loyalty to his team, either quit playing football or commit harakiri by stuffing a deflated football into the part of his body where the sun doesn't shine?

Were the Patriots loyal to him? 

They decided that they would be better off taking his large salary and putting it towards other players, that the utility of Brady as a player was at or nearing its end, and that they would be better served without him.

It's true that Brady seemed off his normal game last year, especially towards the end of the season.  And his last play (an interception) was what led to the loss of the final game.

This is a fact of football.  Players are bought and sold like cattle, and when they are useful they are loved and when they are not they are let go.


Was Brady loyal to himself?

He has the vision of himself as a quarterback who can play for a few more years.  He's got this whole method of training and living (using the exercise science of plyometrics) to keep his muscles supple and an eating regimen that is very strict.  I read through the book, and it's good, but I don't think it's for me.

Whether or not these things are true, Brady believes them, and apparently, so do the Buccaneers.  They are signing him for a 2 year deal worth at least 30 million per season.  It's hard to turn down that kind of money when you still believe you can deliver the goods.


I didn't have this conversation with my kid, but if I did, I'd mention all these things, and ask him what he thought.   Does Tom Brady owe the Patriots anything after 20 years of service?  Do the Patriots owe Brady anything?  And does Brady owe the fans the right to decide if he's a good guy or not?

So what do you think? 

Dave Hollis New Book: Get Out of Your Own Way

The book is released today.
Buy on Amazon.

Dave Hollis, husband of self-help guru Rachel Hollis, has written a new book that is being released today.

I've pre-ordered the book, listened to the first 30 minutes, and actually seen Rachel live when she came to Chicago as part of a business expo.

I listen to their three (!) podcasts on the semi-regular.

START TODAY MORNING SHOW (which is, as the jingle says, "The Morning Show That No One Is Talking About.")

RISE PODCAST(which was Rachel Hollis's original podcast, and focuses on organizing and living your best life.)

RISE TOGETHER (which is a couples podcast, about how to have an exceptional relationship and live your best life)


I'm a big fan of both of the Hollises (Hollux?), but probably I'm in the minority in that I prefer Dave to Rachel.

Right now you are either saying "Who Are These People?"  or are saying, "Really?  But you're not a woman!"

Here's a little about them and what I find inspiring.

THE HOLLIS CO. BACKSTORY

Rachel Hollis was an entrepreneur in LA, who among other things, created high-end events like weddings and bat mitzvahs.    Dave, meanwhile, was working his way up at the Walt Disney Company, playing a number of roles over a 17 year period until he ended up as the President of Worldwide Distribution for their motion picture division.  Over time, Rachel's business started to transform into work as an influencer and as an entrepreneur and as an author and speaker.  She has had a clothesline on QVC, a set of journals and other organizational books, and has written two best-selling self-help books:  Girl Wash Your Face, and Girl, Stop Apologizing.  She has also been in demand as a speaker, and as a motivational coach.  Her business really started taking off about three years ago.

               

Click the photo to see it on Amazon

Click the photo to see it on Amazon.

In 2018, Dave quit his job at Disney, and moved to Austin Texas to become the CEO of The Hollis Company, his wife's company.  In various podcasts, he has talked about this transition, and how people thought he was crazy to give up his cushy job at Disney to go work for his wife.  But he really felt like he wasn't growing at Disney, and he needed a challenge and to make a change.  His wife's business was starting to take off (and in the last year, they went from 4 employees to over 60 employees!)  You can read about his departure from Disney here.

The Hollis Family.  Photo courtesy of USA Today.

They have four kids of various ages, including a 2-year-old named Noah who they adopted from their work as foster parents.  Noah is incredibly cute and is the star of a number of their podcasts or video episodes, including Tea-Time with Noah, a short Youtube video series in which  Dave teaches Noah life lessons starting quite early.




One of the episodes of Tea Time With Noah

 WHY I LIKE DAVE BETTER THAN RACHEL

First, let me say, I like them both.  (Pam, don't send me any emails!)

 Both of them have a very direct style of speaking that appeals to me.  Rachel is a literal phenomenon that has millions of rabid followers.  She is super motivating and has a gift of seeming authentic.  (I think she is often authentic, but even when she's not, she manages to seem authentic.  She often talks about peeing her pants on stage and admits to embarrassing foibles, and those are in her stock and trade.) Over the New Year, she released a set of organizational journals only at Target, and those completely sold out, causing a run on them and speculative sales on eBay.

Buy Get Out Of Your Own Way by Dave Hollis on Amazon

But for whatever reason, Dave appeals to me more than Rachel. Here are my thoughts about why:

• INTRODUCTION. Unlike most people, I listened to Dave Hollis before Rachel and had no idea who she was.  As a result, I think I am more interested in him.
• HUMOR. I like his direct and slightly wry sense of humor.  Rachel can be a little too endearing for me.  Dave manages to be both funny and earnest.
• SKEPTICAL  Dave is a skeptic and was not originally really on board for his wife's journey.  I like how he initially resisted and then embraced his own journey.  He's made a remarkable journey of transformation, including becoming a marathoner, giving up drinking, and in general showing up for his family.
  This is familiar to me, as my wife is on a journey of transformation that I am skeptical of.  I'm hoping that I can follow in his footsteps and make my own similar journey.
• FAMILY.  I love Dave's commitment to his family and the way he parents.  I also admire (and perhaps envy) his seemingly strong relationship and partnership with his wife.  I aspire to have that same kind of commitment/partnership/support in my life.
• INSPIRATIONAL ENTHUSIASM.  Both of the Hollis's have a direct and inspirational fervor about them, but Dave's somehow speaks to me more.
  
  Once again, both Rachel and Dave are inspirational to me, but I resonate more with Dave.

A TRANSCRIPT OF DAVE'S MOTIVATIONAL STYLE

I happen to be listening to an older START TODAY show in the gym yesterday, and Dave said about ten things that resonated with me.  Here he's talking about his book and how he had to make time to write every day.  (This is about minute 22.5)

(I apologize if there are any transcription errors)

Another thing I learned - writing a book requires every single day commitment to finishing the book. Everyday you have to get a word count in.

I was going every day for five hundred to a thousand words every single day. It didn't matter what day it was -every day. Once I started I had to do it and what I want to say here- the life lesson for whatever you're trying to pursue, if you want to do the hardest thing that's going to have maximum Impact—You have to commit to doing it every day. 

The reason why we're so cuckoo about our morning routine and doing our gratitude practice and unintentional goal-setting. We do it everyday.

Everyday.
Every.... Day.
Because priming yourself to have the kind of day that you want to have is the way that you have the kind of day that you want to have and forcing myself into a habit.

It had me writing everyday and had me not questioning if I was going to get back at it tomorrow. 

Even Saturdays and Sundays? Even Saturdays and Sundays.

Even on holidays? Even on holidays.

Even when you're on vacation? Even when you're on vacation.

If you want to have a life that looks a certain way, you need to find a way to engineer that life with the habits and routines that you know will help you get where you want to go.
I have to do it every day.
And the great thing was I walked into it not loving the idea of doing it everyday, but I did it every day. I didn't necessarily feel like I was going to be able to do it every single day, but I did it every single day.

I walked in some days with confidence that I’ve got a great story to tell and I walked in other days not thinking I could actually put the words in the paper and- I did it every single day.

This is highly inspirational to me, this idea of doing something every day no matter what.   And it's something I need to do more in my life.   There were probably three other segments in THIS EPISODE ALONE that I found inspiring.  (He talks about the need for an editor, and the fear that people he sent the finished book to would criticize it, and all of those spoke to me directly)

 Rachel also talks about this stuff as well, but for some reason, I find Dave's fervor more inspiring. (And I think I am in the minority) It could be that I see myself more in him because he and I are guys.  But I think mostly his style just resonates with me more.

Anyway, you slice it, I'm excited that his book has come out, and I plan to read it cover to cover, and soak the inspiration out of it any way I can.

 Dave also offers an online coaching program, which I am NOT going to join.  (See my previous post about spending money on stuff like this.)

Repost: Resources for Grieving Children

One of the books available on the list.

I posted and compiled a  list for grieiving children about a year ago, and with all the recent school shootings, I thought it worthwhile to remind people about it.

https://www.dadapalooza.com/2018/09/resources-for-grieving-students.html

This is a list of books and resources about what to do when your kids experience death or criminality, either within the family or within your community.  There are a lot of resources, and if you find one that is out of date or no longer available, please let me know and I will amend it on the website.

Contact me!




Of course, these are books about how to deal with the aftermath of a terrible situation.

 I wish I had better answers on how to prevent these situations from occurring.

Two thoughts that might help.

1. We clearly need stricter control on access to guns (although the barn door may be swinging wide open already on this issue, it makes sense to close it so that it doesn't keep happening)  The idea of arming teachers (or mall officials, or anybody else) is ludicrous.  What's to stop them from going on a rampage?  Or shooting innocent people by mistake?  And kids without access to guns can't shoot up malls or schools or workplaces or anywhere for that matter.  For that matter, parents with guns  need to have a stronger security method than leaving them under the bed or in an unlocked gun cabinet.  (or a locked gun cabinet with the key in the lock.)

2. Parents need to do a better job of communicating and listening  Lots of young disaffected kids would benefit from better parenting.  Many of them would be more apt to come to their parents with problems, to talk to somebody, if there parents were able to model that behavior.  I'm not indicting or blaming the parents of school or mall shooters, so if you happen to be one, please understand:  THIS IS NOT ABOUT YOU.

I'm saying that people who feel disaffected and alone feel that way because they feel unheard and not listened to, and everybody (yes, even parents such as myself who already spend a lot of time thinking about parenting and writing about it) can do a better job of listening to and understanding their kids.)  For parents who haven't already been consciously listening and communicating with their kids, this could be the start of a better relationship and could literally be saving lives.




If you've got other ideas on what might help, I'd be happy to listen to them.

Please note that I am ruthless about taking down comments  that I don't like or that I think are helpful.  As the blog owner I get to make up those rules, and I reserve the right to take down comments whenever I want.  This is not a free speech issue-- you have the right to start your own danged blog-- but I don't have to host your non-helpful opinions on mine.  I like to think I encourage polite debate.  Anything not in that vain will be excised.

One Book One Chicago

I wrote a guest blog post for  the Chicago Dads Group about the amazing plethora of presentations that the Chicago Public Library Foundation has scheduled this year in support of the book Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.


The project, called One Book, One Chicago, asks an essential question:  What if all of Chicago read the same book at the same time?  They have chosen the book, and the book and its themes are being discussed and thought about by over  84 different presentations between now and April, including book discussions, art making sessions, lectures, walking tours, game nights, and a whole lot more.






To find out more, and to find out about some of the presentations that I think are going to rock, read the article over at the Chicago Dad's Group blog.  (And if you are a dad, and don't know about the group, get with it!  It's a great group of guys who take their occupation of being a parent seriously, and it's part of a national movement of dad's bonding together that I am proud to be a part of.

https://citydadsgroup.com/chicago/2019/01/14/one-book-one-chicago-do-androids-dream-of-electric-sheep/

Review: The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson Musical)

There is a new musical in town, kicking off its North American tour.  It's based on the best-selling book series by author Rick Riordan: Percy Jackson and The Olympians. (which sort of sounds like a rock band, and this is a rock musical) The musical has some very exciting bits, and has some moments that are well done, and is worth seeing (with a couple of caveats)  Read on to find out more.

I had read all five of the books a few years ago, and enjoyed them a lot.  There were two movie adaptations made, but they did not get good reviews, and I never got around to seeing them.  I entered the musical hopeful that they would pay fealty to the great story and character arcs that Riordan had developed. And they did!









Although you don't need to know very much about the story to see the musical, it does help.  The story features a teenager who is not sure what's going on because weird things always happen to him, His dad is MIA, and kind of mysterious, and he suddenly gets thrust into a large situation when he realizes that the Greek gods are real, and that he is the half-son of one of them, and that he's been accused of stealing Zeus's lightning bolt.  He goes to a camp on Long Island Sound, discovers he has powers, and meets other kids in the same situation (half-bloods) ,and he and his friends go on a series of adventures as they drive across the country to find Hades (who naturally lives in Los Angeles), manage to defeat the odds and survive against all kinds of adversity.

Here's a television spot they created for the show.

The Minotaur on stage.  Photo by Jeremy Daniel

The story is followed pretty faithfully in the musical, which was produced in part by TheatreWorks USA, which has a long and storied reputation for adapting kids stories into high quality touring productions.  This one is no different.  The cast of six do pretty amazing work as they tell the story, creating monsters, (A Minotaur, a Furie, and Medusa all feature prominently), and of course the Gods.   The puppetry and stagecraft are very well realized, and the characterizations are right on.  (SLIGHT SPOILER ALERT: I nearly fell out of my seat when Hades appears, the actor doing a pitch-perfect imitation of actor Paul Lynde.  Perfect Voice Casting!)

I really liked the energy of the production-- the actors all do physical characterizations, and except for Percy, play multiple characters.  They all have good voices and use them well.  They are young and energetic, and the pace of the show is brisk.  There is a fair amount of humor in the show, and I think that it tells the story very well.  (My son hadn't read the books, and could tell what was going on all through)

The play ends with the clear possibility of a PART TWO-- just like the book.  I am wondering if they are considering giving the second book the same treatment?

Percy and his friends try to escape the Gods. Photo by Jeremy Daniel

I did mention I had two caveats above:    I wasn't clear exactly why they made this as a musical I think an adventure show with music would have served the story and the production better, with one or two songs perhaps.  The music was all serviceable, but a little pro forma (following the structure  of the musical). I couldn't identify a single song afterward-- they were all songs that moved the plot forward, but not one was a song that felt like an emotional breakthrough that wasn't connected to the plot, and it's hard to imagine any of the songs outside of the musical itself.

Here's a video of one of the songs (and the process of making it), I like it a little better now that I've heard it three times, but during the show I didn't really groove onto it.  Your mileage may definitely vary on this-- maybe it will resonate with you and your kid.

There's lots of exciting fight scenes in the show.   Photo by Jeremy Daniel

The other thing about this show is the quality of the set design/costumes.  While they got the job done, and were in someways inventive, they felt a little low rent.  They seemed out of place in the lush environs of the Oriental Theatre.  I don't think I'd have felt this way if the show had come to a more modern theatre like the Harris Theatre.  But as part of the Broadway series, it was harder to overlook.

Still, the Percy Jackson musical is an exciting and well-told story, mostly inventively staged and with some great comic bits.  Well worth seeing if you are a fan of Percy or a fan of young adult musicals.

Some toilet paper some blue lighting, and some handheld blowers make the stage erupt in an inventive manner.
Photo by Jeremy Daniel

The show plays in Chicago through Sunday, January 13, and then moves on for a full North American tour, with stops in Charlotte, Philadelphia, Worcester, Toronto, New York, Sacramento, Detroit, Cheyenne, Ft. Lauderdale, and tons of other places.  For the full schedule visit http://www.lightningthiefmusical.com/#tickets

In Chicago, individual tickets are currently on sale and range in price from $25-$80 with a select number of premium seats available.  For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Newberry Library 34th Annual Book Fair (and Bughouse Square Debates!)

34th ANNUAL NEWBERRY LIBRARY BOOK FAIR

Shopping for Books at Newberry Library Book Fair

Every year, the Newberry Library, one of the top independent research libraries in the world (and based in Downtown Chicago) offers up one of the largest used book sales in the country.  There are over 135,000 used books, movies, and records in more than 70 categories, many priced less than $3.  And admission is free!

All proceeds directly support the Newberry's mission to build and care for their extraordinary collection of books and share it- free of charge- with thousands of people from diverse backgrounds each year.

The book sale starts today and runs through Sunday.  Thursday and Friday it is on from noon-8pm and on Saturday and Sunday it is open from 10 am- 6pm.

2018 BUGHOUSE SQUARE DEBATES

The Environmental Encroachment Brass Marching Band will play

In addition, on Saturday, the Newberry will host The BugHouse Square Debates from 12 pm-4pm, an open forum for people to speak their views, (sort of like an organized Speaker's Corner in London)

This event, which is held in the park across from the Newberry, features music, performances, and most importantly lively debate.  There will be several organized talks/debates, where people can freely agree or disagree with the scheduled speakers.

Last year's winner of the coveted Dill Pickle Award.

A soapbox speaker

There will also be some open soapboxes, where people can stand and declaim about whatever suits their fancy (and get heckled for it).  The Open Soapbox is hosted by The Society Of Smallness, an art group that believes in the power of small actions.  There will also be a Youth SoapBox that kids can sign up for.

The Soapbox speakers will be judged, and a Dill Pickle will be awarded.

Admission is free and open to the public.

To get all of the information, including schedules, check out the following links:

BugHouse Square Debates.

34th Annual Newberry Book Fair

The Newberry Library is located at 60 West Walton Street.

Bughouse Square is also known as Washington Square Park, and is located at 901 North Clark Street, across Walton from the Newberry.  It's off the Red Line (about a 6 minute walk from Clark and Division)

Sparking Goodness- One Tiny Action at a Time.

There's a book out there that gives some sage advice: "Don't sweat the small stuff." In this post I am not sweating the small stuff-- I'm celebrating it and recognizing its importance.

THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE-MICROSCOPIC ACTIONS MAKE BIG DIFFERENCES

Mr. Alexander making a correction. Photo
courtesy of Wikipedia.

When I was in acting school, we studied the Alexander Technique, which is a method of thinking about the body and choosing to use the body in a very deliberate way. It was developed by an Australian actor who had a vocal illness that no doctor could cure. When prevailing medical wisdom did not help, he locked himself in a room and started studying himself in the mirror, trying to figure out what was causing his vocal infirmity.

Eventually, he realized that he had a habit of making a tiny imperceptible movement just before he spoke, and when he didn't do that - when he CHOSE not to do that movement - he did not have pain. He was amazed that such a tiny movement could have so big an effect.

And so it is in the world - a tiny thing can make a big difference. A small dam can change the course of a river, a well-placed word can be the deciding factor in a business deal, and yes, a butterfly flapping its wings can change the weather pattern.

Which is why I'm pleased to let you know about author T.A. Barron's campaign #SparkGoodness, whose central idea is that small acts of goodness can have an outsized effect.

50 ways you can spark goodness- you can download this list as a pdf.  Image courtesy of T.A. Barron

DISCLOSURE: I am not being directly compensated for this blog post. However, T.A. Barron is my wife's client, and she is working on this campaign, so I think it's the right thing to do to disclose that fact. I am also disclosing that my opinions are my own, and that if this weren't a great thing that I think my readers should know about, I would have not written about it. I take my integrity seriously, and so should you.

#SPARKGOODNESS: SPARKS TURN INTO FLAMES

T.A. Barron.  photo courtesy of T.A.
Barron website.

If you don't know T.A. Barron, you should. He is a highly acclaimed, internationally bestselling author of more than 30 books, including the Merlin Saga, which is currently being developed into a film by Disney. He was awarded the de Grummond Medallion for “lifetime contribution to the field of children’s and young adult literature” and founded the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, a national award for outstanding young people.

Barron's latest project, #SparkGoodness, has as its central idea that a lot of people doing small actions of good that will have an outsize effect on the world at large. To that end, he's offering children and their families ideas of actions to take and a means to catalog their sparks. Not all of these actions will catch fire, but some will, and collectively, these smaller actions will have a big impact. And some of them will have an amazing impact, perhaps even set the world ablaze.


This summer he’s especially encouraging kids to get in on the action, creating sparks of their own and tracking them throughout the summer. It’s a great family activity too! You can download the #SparkGoodness “50 Ways to Create Summer Sparks” list for inspiration, and there’s also a Summer Sparks Tracker for your kids to record their ideas and actions.

You can download this tracker as a pdf.  Image courtesy of T.A. Barron.

Some previous #sparkgoodness entries

(courtesy of the T.A. Barron #SparkGoodness Website.)

Did I mention that there are prizes?  

You will get this downloadable print at home
poster just for entering!
Image from T.A. Barron website

Once you and your kids have created your small sparks, you can enter them to win prizes! Each month until October 2018, Barron will choose one #SparkGoodness winner per month as an example and inspiration. He will also choose four runners-up each month. And just for entering, you will receive an exclusive print at home poster of The Great Tree of Avalon, a key character in Barron’s Merlin Saga series.


In November 2018, all monthly winners and runners-up will be entered into a bigger contest where all fans will have a chance to vote on the 2018 #SparkGoodness winner, plus four runners-up for the year.


To enter, visit the #SparkGoodness website. I can't wait to see what kind of amazing goodness your tiny actions bring!