Nicki Green's Firmament at the Contemporary Jewish Museum

 A little bit of bragging is in order. 

My cousin Nicki Green has her first solo exhibition of her work at a major museum.  It opened last week at the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco.  The show is called Firmament, and is on through Feb 2, 2025.

From left: Nicki Green, Drifting Upon Swollen Water (Gavriel), A Slack Unthreading (Raphael), Perforated in the Night (Uriel), Fruitful Vine 2 (Michael), 2024. Courtesy the artist and CULT Aimee Friberg.
 

 She also has another related exhibition Eye of the Fountain at gallery CULT Aimee 

 Friberg that runs through November 16 also in San Francisco

 

 Her work is ceramic based, and celebrates and explores liminality and the interplay between Judaism, trans identity, and transformation.  The press release says it a lot better than I can:

This September, The Contemporary Jewish Museum (The CJM) will present Nicki Green: Firmament, the transdisciplinary artist’s first solo museum exhibition. In this presentation, Green explores identity, transformation, and Jewish tradition through artworks that invoke imagery of fermentation, Jewish ritual, mycelium, and more. Bringing together new and existing works, the exhibition will include large-scale sculptures, fiber works, ritual objects, and drawings. The exhibition will be on view September 5, 2024 through February 2, 2025.

Green’s inspiration for this exhibition comes from the concept of the firmament — a thin dome or expanse referenced in the Book of Genesis that divides the earth from the heavens. This form of separation in the Torah offers Green a reference to imagine an architectural object that functions as a sanctuary for in-between states of being and thinking, and an environment of warmth, welcome, and liberation for trans and nonbinary bodies.

The central sculpture appears as a large tent-like structure situated in the center of the gallery and frames several of the large-scale clay works on view. In addition to the firmament, the structure is inspired by descriptions of the biblical mishkan or tabernacle — a portable sanctuary constructed by the Jewish people to represent God’s earthly domain while in exile. The “skin” of the tent — a sculpture made by Green’s longtime collaborator, artist Ricki Dwyer — is woven to reach up to the heavens, while also anchoring and sheltering the artworks and bodies in the space.  READ THE REST OF THE PRESS RELEASE

A couple of years ago I went to the Lyons Bienniale because she had some work featured in it, I spent a couple of days roaming the Bienniale, hanging out with her and her husband and her friends (including Ricki Dwyer, who collaborated on the main sculpture for this exhibit, and basically enjoying Lyons.  Eye of the Fountain was featured in the Lyons exhibit.









And my family went and visited her in Wisconsin on a very snowy day when she was in residence at the Kohler factory.  

Eye of the Fountain. This appeared at the Lyons Bienniale

Nicki and I when we visited together at the Kohler 

Nicki's a really talented artist who puts a lot of meaning and thought into her work.  I am so proud of her for slugging it out in the competitive art world, doing what she loves, and yes, making it happen. I know how hard it is to stick your guns as an artist.

If you are in the Bay Area, please go check out her exhibits and let me know how you liked them!

For more information about the exhibition, and ticket prices, visit the Contemporary Jewish Museum's website:  https://www.thecjm.org/exhibitions/236. And you can read the text of her exhibition here: https://tinyurl.com/nickigreenfirmamenttext

Information about her exhibit at Cult Aimee Friberg is here:
https://cultexhibitions.com/exhibition/eye-of-the-fountain/

You can also read these reviews of her exhibition here:
 SF Gate article https://tinyurl.com/nickigreensfgat2024

 Kqed review https://tinyurl.com/nickigreenkqed2024
Hey Alma: https://tinyurl.com/nickigreen-heyalma

Hamilton on film and Lin-Manuel's Journey to EGOT

This news came out a few weeks ago, but I haven't gotten a chance to process it. 

A film production of Hamilton is set to be released in October 2021.  The film will feature the actors from the original Broadway cast, including Daveed Diggs Lin-Manuel Miranda, Phillippa Soo, and Leslie Odom, Jr.

Considering that they last performed this together in 2016, I'm surprised it's taken them this long.  It's possible that they didn't want to cannibalize sales of the theatrical touring show.  (Another theory I have is that they wanted to give it a long announce date so that no other movies dare compete with it)

I've seen Hamilton in Chicago 4 times, and would happily shell out again to see it on film.  It is such a phenomenon. (My wife is jealous, because I've seen it one more time than she has.) 

I have seen bootleg videos of this production with these actors, but I never saw it live.  (I've certainly heard it enough times!)  This is a great birthday present for me in two years (and almost certainly a shoo-in to win Lin-Manuel the final O in his journey to EGOT. )







For those of you without an awards-show obsessed wife,  the EGOT is a special imaginary award given to people who get an Emmy, a Grammy, and Oscar, and a Tony.  There’s no actual award, but the winners of all four are small in number. (Wikipedia says that there are 15 current EGOT awardees)

There's a good deal of info in this infographic
 from Cinemablend but it hasn't been updated recently. 
There have been 5 new EGOT winners since!

• Richard Rodgers
• Helen Hayes
• Rita Moreno
• John Gielgud
• Audrey Hepburn
• Marvin Hamlisch
• Jonathan Tunick
• Mel Brooks
• Mike Nichols
• Whoopi Goldberg
• Scott Rudin
• Robert Lopez
• John Legend
• Andrew Lloyd Webber
• Tim Rice
  
  With an asterisk (one or more awards were noncompetitive)
  
• Barbara Streisand
• Liza Minelli

Amazingly, there are nearly 100 other people that are lacking one award to be EGOT owners.

Full info available on Wikipedia's EGOT page.

If Lin-Manuel does win the Oscar, then he will also hold the PEGOT, which includes either a Pulitzer or a Peabody, depending on who you ask.

And Alex Lacamoire, the arranger and musical director of Hamilton will also probably become an EGOT winner, as he is also lacking an Oscar.

YIVO Festival Events All summer long

YIVO is a society dedicated to the preservation of Yiddish language and culture.  It's based in NY, but it's also got a pretty strong base here in Chicago.  As a result, YIVO this summer has been producing all kinds of Yiddish oriented culture events.  I missed the first half of them, but the second half are going on over the next 6 weeks, and they are pretty great.  Lectures about Jewish humor, Jewish music, and literature, as well as klezmer and other kinds of Jewish music performances will happen.  And they are mostly free!  Check out the full scope of what they are doing on their website:

http://www.chicagoyivo.org/

TUESDAY, JULY 24 7:00 pm
Northbrook Public Library 1201 Cedar Ln, Northbrook, IL

Rabbi Barry Schechter, Congregation Kol Emeth, Skokie: “Yiddish and Laughter"

BARRY SCHECHTER, Rabbi of Congregation Kol Emeth in Skokie, is well-known for his Jewish humor presentations. His audiences have included synagogues and Jewish organizations in Chicago, Milwaukee and New York, Catholic groups in Chicago, universities in the U.S. and Britain, and Jewish organizations in Germany and Poland. Free and open to the public.

THURSDAY, JULY 26 2:00 pm
Northtown Library 6435 N. California Ave, Chicago
MUSIC Steve Gibons: “The Vanishing Worlds Project"

 More information to come. Free and open to the public.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 1 2:00 pm
Highland Park Public Library 494 Laurel Ave, Highland Park
LECTURE David Chack: “Jewish Americans and Their Music"

The American songbook is well represented by American Jewish songwriters, but rarely do we talk about the Jewish cultural influences they brought to the songs most Americans sing. From Harold Arlen's "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," to Paul Simon's "Sounds of Silence," to Carole King's "You've Got a Friend" - these great American Jewish music-makers brought their Jewish identities to their art. David Chack, a professor in theatre at The Theatre School at DePaul University will explore these and more historically, contextually and artistically. Free and open to the public.

TUESDAY AUGUST 7 2:00 pm
Wilmette Public Library 1242 Wilmette Ave, Wilmette

 LECTURE Jeffry Mallow: Yosl Rakover Speaks to God: The Strange History of a Holocaust Narrative.

Jeffry V. Mallow is Professor of Physics Emeritus, Loyola University and Honorary Chair, Chicago YIVO Society. Professor Mallow has translated the Rakover book from Yiddish. He will discuss the conflict over the story's origin, its relevance to Christian-Jewish relations, and its possible connection to Holocaust denial. Free and open to the public.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 8 2:00 pm
Congregation Etz Chaim 1710 S. Highland Ave, Lombard, IL

MUSIC Bibi Marcell: “An Afternoon of Yiddish Nostalgia,” vocals with guitar. Gail Mangurten, piano More information to come. Free and open to the public.

TUESDAY AUGUST 14 2:00 pm
Northbrook Public Library 1201 Cedar Ln, Northbrook, IL
MUSIC Lustik Duo: “Klezmer and Yiddish Songs,”

Eleonore Weill, Jake Shulman-Ment International Yiddish music power couple Eleonore Weill and Jake Shulman-Ment share an exceptionally expressive and intimate understanding of klezmer and Yiddish folk song. In this program, they perform songs, dances, and spiritual melodies. Combining music they have played since childhood with material they have collected along their many roads through Europe and North America, as well as original compositions, they explore the boundaries of Yiddish music with creative repertoire, instrumentation, and interpretation. Free and open to the public.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 22 7:00 pm
Morton Grove Public Library 6140 Lincoln Ave. Morton Grove, IL

MUSIC Duo Controverso: Kurt Bjorling, clarinet; Annette Bjorling, klezmer harp More information to come. Free and open to the public.

REVIEW: VideoGame Comes Alive - Just Dance Live comes to Chicago March 15-18

I got an invitation to check out a cool new quasi-theatrical experience last night.  It's Just Dance Live, a two-hour-plus dance party that's half stage show, half audience wish-fulfillment.  It's basically a Family Friendly Dance Rave.  It's playing at the Aon Ballroom in Chicago for the next couple of nights, before going on tour to a few other US cities.

I was going to take my son, but he got a sleepover invitation that he preferred over the show.  He and his friend were going to play video games for most of the night (as far as I know, not Just Dance, but it would be sort of poetic justice if it was.  I'll have to ask!)

DISCLOSURE:  I received complimentary tickets to this show with the hopes that I would write about it.  The free-ness of the tickets does not affect what I write about the show.  I respect my integrity, and so should you.

The show is aimed at the Just Dance crowd, which seems to be (based on my non-scientific estimates of roughly 150-200 people in the audience) a wide swath of the population. There were people there all ages, all shapes, all colors.  The one thing they all seemed to have in common was a love to dance.  I'd say that the average age in the room was 17, partially because a lot of people came with their parents, who sat politely in the corner.  The average age of the dancers was probably 12 or 13, but I saw a few people who might easily have been grandparents also shaking their tailfeathers.

What does the Fox Say?  Or better yet, how does he/she dance?

The whole show starts with the "Just Get Ready For It Experience."  There were face painters, obligatory merch salesmen, selfie opportunities, costumed characters and garishly wigged dancers aplenty, and a live trivia show about the Ubisoft video game hosted by reality tv star Nia Sioux (Dance Moms). She seemed personable enough, and her crowd was filled with people who knew some arcane trivia about Just Dance.

After about an hour of pre-show, the doors opened downstairs, and into the vast Aon Ballroom we went.   Three stages were set up in the audience, (as well as the traditional ballroom stage), fog filled the room, and the party began with a dance warmup.  It was clear that many people had played the game before because they seemed to know all the moves.

The air was full of confetti snow.

From there, the show was pretty fast-paced, as action cut from one stage to another, with very little gaps in between.  In addition to liberal uses of the fog machine, there were plenty of laser lights, video projections, and crazy over the top wigs and costumes.  The video projections were great and very dramatic, sometimes verging on vertigo-inducing.  There were piles and piles of confetti snow, which I tracked back to my house later as it got all over my clothes and hair.

I ended up tracking "snow" home with me.

There was also at least one great effect, in which the scene was transformed from the icy steppes of Siberia (or maybe it was Elsa's Frozen castle?) to more tropical climes, as some cast members pulled a giant blue sheet over the entire audience, tenting us in blue for a moment.  By the time the cloth had passed over the entire audience, a set of costumed fruit was ready to start dancing to Calypso music.  It was a nice transition.

The show was directed by Kim Gavin, who is a well-known theatrical and spectacle director from England (he directed the closing ceremonies of the 2012 Olympics in London) .

I spoke to one of the actors doing the pre-show, who told me the whole show was rehearsed in London before coming over here.    This is the pilot tour, they are performing in four cities, seeing how it goes, and if it is successful, they will probably try to bring it to more cities upcoming.

The sets and effects were designed by a firm named Stufish, which has designed and produced 3 or 4 shows for Cirque du Soleil, as well as a number of rock concerts for huge names (Rolling Stones, Lady Gaga, and others) as well as the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics in 2008.  The design team clearly knew what they were doing, although I wouldn't say there was anything ground shattering about the work. It was competent and professional and engaging. Likewise with the performers. I didn't notice any virtuosic dancers or any standout performers. They were all young and energetic and interchangeable.  They had a juggler who was competent (juggled three balls, walked on a rolling globe) but he was not a top end juggler.  He was merely a juggler.

But to me this makes perfect sense-this fits in perfectly with the aesthetic of Let's Dance.  The fun of dancing trumps the skill, and anyone can have a good time by giving themselves over to the beat.


(ADDED NOTE:  It turns out the juggler was also my friend Joe Dieffenbacher! Joe played the master of ceremonies in the show, as well as the Juggler.  I didn't realize he was touring with these guys, and   I didn't recognize him, and he thought he recognized me in the crowd, but he thought I still lived in NY!  It's a small world!)


I recommend this show for anyone who likes the Just Dance video game, or likes crazy dance parties that don't involve altered states.






Regular ticket prices start at $ 45. A limited number of specially priced family four packs are available for each performance — early birds can receive four tickets for the price of three (a 25% savings)! A limited amount of VIP packages ($95-$99) are also available and include priority entry to the show, exclusive merchandise (Glow Up Glasses, Exclusive Draw String Bag, and VIP Glow Laminate), a JUST DANCE in-game reward and a VIP meet & greet with the cast after the show.

Tickets are available for purchase at JustDanceLive.com and group tickets can be purchased by calling group sales at 1-866-468-3399.

Next tour dates include Houston March 22-25 and Los Angeles March 29-31.

REVIEW: BattleField by Peter Brook at the MCA Chicago

Battlefield is a production of Stunning Beauty and Simplicity.

30 years ago, I saw a 9 hour play at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.  It was Peter Brook's Mahabharata, a play in 3 parts that spanned an entire day, and in the play, spanned centuries and years as it told the Indian epic. It was a seminal moment for me, a young theatre student.

 Director Peter Brook was my hero, I'd read his books, and I saw him put his ideas he'd written in the Empty Space into practice. It was also one of my first forays into New York, my first foray to BAM

a 6 hour movie version of the 9 hour play is 
available via Amazon

It's 30 years later, and Peter Brook is still at it, weaving fantastical theatricality with extreme simplicity and extremely powerful acting.  And I'm still at it, too, being amazed by his work.

I found out yesterday that the new show Battlefield was here in Chicago, and the next day I changed my schedule so that I could see the show.

The new show Battlefield (by the original collaborators of the  9 hour producton- directed by Peter Brook and his collaborator Marie Helene Estienne, and written by Jean-Claude Carriére) is only 70 minutes long, and is a fractal of the epic 9 hour saga.  Despite the fact that it deals primarily with the last portion of the original show, the entire story is also somehow magically encapsulated in this smaller rendition.

In the original 9 hour production there were over 20 actors playing all of the roles, in this new play there are 4 actors and a drummer.  They are all wonderful.

To view photos of the original Mahabharata directed by Peter Brook, visit Wikipedia

The plot:  Battlefield is set after the epic war between the cousins Pandavas and Kauravas.  The Kauravas are 5 brothers, and their brothers, sons of the blind king Dritarashtra.  The Pandavas win, and the blind king Dritarashtra has lost all of his  sons, killed by their cousin and Pandava Yudishtra, who now must become king.  The blind king must accept this bitter defeat and embrace his nephew who has killed his sons.  The nephew feels the victory is hollow, especially after he learns that not only are his cousins dead by his hand, but his half-brother as well.  The play explores the bitterness of defeat and moving on, and the immeasurable costs of victory.

PLEASE NOTE:  THIS SHOW IS NOT FOR KIDS. VERY THEATRICAL DEPICTIONS OF VIOLENCE.

The cast (of four actors and a master drummer) are all phenomenal and play their parts with somberness and artistry.  The play itself, although essentially Indian in story, has deep allusions to the story of Oedipus, and later of Antigone.  Especially Anouilh's Antigone, who must struggle after the war with her deceased brother on the losing side, and not able to receive a proper burial, and Antigone has to risk all to give him the burial he deserves.

As I mention all of the actors are amazing, and their props are simple- a long cloth, a couple of sticks.  Of particular note is the work of drummer Toshi Tsuchitori, who improvises his drumming throughout the performance, and has an ending solo that poignantly winds down the play into a tableau that left the audience breathless.

Also of note, during this story of war and battlegrounds and its aftermath, my watch kept on vibrating.  I looked down mid-show to discover that Donald Trump had dropped 59 missiles on Syria during the play.  This put this story into a contemporary perspective.  Where will the aftermath end?  Whose hundred sons will lay strewn across the battlefield?  And to what end?

I highly recommend seeing this play.  It runs two more nights in Chicago (through April 8) and then has at least two more American cities.  Click the name of the venue to find out more and get tickets.


April 5-8, 2017 Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago

April 13 – 23, 2017: Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis
May 26 – June 21, 2017: American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco

There have been a number of great reviews of the show:

NPR
THE GUARDIAN
SLANT MAGAZINE

And here's a video from Japan (I think) of a promo of the production

Ravinia Schedule for 2017!

Ravinia just released its schedule for 2017, and as always there's a ton of great music to be heard.

In case you were unaware, Ravinia is an outdoor park in the Northern suburbs of Chicago, easily accessible by car or by Metra (there is a Metra station right out front!) During the summer, they present world-class musicians in a pastoral and beautiful setting.  You can bring a picnic, make a day of it, and listen to some amazing music.  They focus on classical, but have a fair amount of classic rock and jazz, and occasionally even some more alternative music (Blondie and Garbage are making appearances this year.)

One of the most amazing things about Ravinia (other than the music of course) is the picnicking! You can see all kinds of elaborate picnic setups.  I'm hoping to go a couple of times this summer just to take photos of some of the best picnic solutions!  Or you can just go look at this Pinterest board.

Click image to see larger, or view the Ravinia calendar on their site.

I've included a screen captured shot of their full schedule to the right.  You can click here to see the schedule in all of its fabulous glory.

Tickets are various prices, and they do have deals for kids, seniors, and those who buy tickets in bulk.

If you are a textual person, you can look below to see their schedule in list format or download  from this link.

Here are some of the highlights, with special attention to stuff that is kid and family friendly.  I'm not even including all of the many CSO concerts, or some of the special events like Aretha Franklin or Joshua Bell.

GREAT KIDS SHOWS
AT RAVINIA 2017

June 3 at 11 am, 2 pm, and 5 pm Catskill Puppet Theatre performs Sister Rain and Brother Sun.

June 17 at 11 am
Ko-Thi Dance Company performs

June 18 at 8 pm
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra performs live accompaniment to the movie La La Land

June 29 at 7 pm Stars of the Peking Acrobats

July 15 at 12 noon Laurie Berkner performs a solo concert.

July 29 at 11 am
The Joyous String Ensemble

August 18-20 at 7 pm
The CSO, the Chicago Children's Choir, the Chicago Chorale, and the Lakeside Singers provide live musical accompaniment to The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.  Each night, one movie plays.

August 29 at 11 am 
Opera For the Young’s The Elixir of Love 

September 16 & 17 
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, a performance by the Performer’s School has 5 performances spread out over the two days.

Click image to see larger, or click here for PDF version

Violence is a Disease.

Game of Thrones has it right:  

"Violence is a Disease. You don't cure it by spreading it to more people."

Of course, that's said on one of the most violent shows on television.  So there's a fair bit of irony in that.

Ian McShane plays a former soldier turned septum who has renounced violence.  He tries to take one of the most feared warriors (Sandor Cleggane, the Hound) into giving up his sword.  Sadly, things happen, and the Hound picks up a new weapon of mass destruction (the axe)

McShane is wonderful in this part, but of course is doomed.  In Game of Thrones, pacifism is not an option.

I'm hoping that in real life as we know it today, we have more of an option.

With the recent murders (cops killing suspects, terrorists killing cops) we are at a very tense point.  We need to ease the pressure down.  Nothing will be solved by amping up the weaponry and the violence.

There is no doubt that #BLACKLIVESMATTER, but violent revolution is not the answer.

Here's a link to the scene from which the quote is taken:
https://youtu.be/Med_pNazwEY?t=7m30s  Watch the whole video if you want to see Ian McShane's rise (and fall) on Game of Thrones.

May the Sith Be With You! - The Evil Star Wars Day

A couple of days ago was May 4, which seems to have universally been picked up by Star Wars aficionados (as well as electronics and comic book stores everywhere, not to mention the President) as Star Wars Day.

Here's a list of all the deals that happened on May 4:  http://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-day-2016-deals

How Star Wars day started is chronicled in a very interesting article on the Verge.

It was originally a fan-based event that people lauded for its cleverness.  Once Disney bought Star Wars, they cemented the day as a commercial holiday and then it has been co-opted and completely embraced by our culture.  What's next?  Red Wedding Day? Vote Off The Island Day?  Celebrity Apprentice Day?  (my deep fear is that will make it into Trump's 100 day plan!)

Image from Starwars.com

"May The Fourth Be With You"

Not sure why devotees of the Dark Side haven't taken May 6 as their alternative holiday.  The pun is about the same.


Force is to fourth as Sith is to sixth.

In case you were wondering (and you somehow haven't absorbed this information) The Sith are the villains in the Star Wars saga.  It wasn't quite spelled out in the first couple of movies, but the Star Wars legend and lore (as well as the very complete website) make it clear.

From: http://www.starwars.com/databank/sith

SITH

An ancient order of Force-wielders devoted to the dark side, the Sith practice hate, deception, and greed. Notable for their red-bladed lightsabers, black dress, and use of their aggressive feelings, the Sith look to amass power at all costs. The evil Darth Sidious, along with his apprentice Darth Vader, achieved the Sith goal of galactic conquest after a millennia of plotting.

Practicing hate, deception, and greed.  Sounds like a corporate American holiday to me!

SchoolHouse Rock Live at the Apollo

It turns out this will be a busy week for us, culture wise.

 I already posted about the show we are going to see on Sunday [The Explorers Club].

Well, it turns out that we got invited on Saturday, February 26 to the Opening Day celebration of Emerald City Theatre's SchoolHouse Rock Live, billed as a "Rock and Roll Rumpus"

The show, which is a distillation of some of the best songs of the Emmy Award winning 1970's television series,  is performing at the Apollo Theatre at 2540 North Lincoln Avenue through June 5.

We're pretty excited about it! We've seen a number of Emerald City shows previously, and they've always been high quality.
SEE POSTS ABOUT PREVIOUS SHOWS


We are big fans of SchoolHouse Rock, and often play the songs around the house.  Some of our favorites are of course Three Is A Magic Number, Conjunction Junction, and I'm Just A Bill. But there are tons of great songs from the series.
SEE THE ALBUM ON AMAZON.

The show will run approximately 50 minutes long. They are billing it as appropriate for ages 3-13, which is a very wide age range.


Tickets are available online via TICKETMASTER.  Tickets range in price from $10-$25.  You can also call the Box Office directly to avoid the online fees  773.935.6100.

 To find out more about the show, visit the Emerald City Website: SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE

The Well-Rounded Bear

Raising a well-rounded bear is a balancing act!


At school he's learning Chinese, digital music, and coding.  After school he's got gymnastics, piano, basketball, and skating starts up in a couple of weeks.  Not sure when, but we'll also get back into swim class, I'm pretty sure, and the bear is talking about his desire to take parkour class.

Despite all of this, it's important to bring the bear to a variety of cultural and social events.

Here's just a few of our extracurricular extravaganzas over the past few weeks.  (and I'm sure we've missed a few too!)

Nerf gun party-- A friend of his had a birthday party at POWkids! where he and his friends got to learn to be Nerf gun warriors.  It wouldn't have been my choice for a party, but the kids (predictably) loved it.  And the place that hosted it, the guys were amazing.  They also do a superhero party and a ninja party that look awesome!  POW KIDS CHICAGO

Movie Night- We went to his school on a Friday night to see the live action movie Cinderella with a couple of his pals.  It's a good live action movie, with well-drawn characters, no caricatures, and it moves along.  And they had dollar popcorn!   At the end I realized why I liked it so much-- it was directed by Kenneth Branagh.  That guy knows how to tell a classical story. BUY IT ON AMAZON.

Midnight Circus - we had a belated birthday party with my pals over at the Midnight Circus.  We brought 40+ people to the show, which featured cupcakes and juice with the cast at intermission.
The show is a family show (the main people in it are a family of 4) along with a bunch of other amazing performers.  I've seen a lot of circus, and just about all of this was amazing.  They have a few more shows coming up this fall in the parks, and they are definitely worth seeing.

Here's a video of one small part of the show, in which 10 year old Max Jenkins does a Rolla Bolla act while his dad Jeff looks on.  I didn't take the video.

A video posted by Midnight Circus (@mncircus) on Sep 5, 2015 at 5:37pm PDT

Find out more about the Midnight Circus 

Northwestern Football.  We took in  a classic battle between Wildcats and the Minnesota Gophers.  Suffice to say the Wildcats won 27-0.  We took the train there, And the bear sat next to the tubas, and loved it!

NU Sports

The Lyric Opera- The day after the football game we went to the Lyric Opera to see the bear's first full length opera in a different language.  It was a good choice- Cinderella.  He already knew the story (although they change the classic story a fair amount for the opera- her name is Angelina!)  The bear enjoyed it, didn't fall asleep, unlike his dad, who took a couple of catnaps during the production.  (But saw the best parts, including the rat costumes, and Dandini, the valet who pretends to be the prince, to great comic effect.)  Overall the show was great, and the perfect opera for a kid like my son to cut his teeth on.  Lyric Opera 

The Edgewater Arts Fest.  We walked around our neighborhood and saw a great variety of artists, a very wacky puppet show put on by Bob Anderson, masks made by Jeff Semmerling, (the bear really wanted the duck mask, but I had to demur) It won't happen again until next year, but in the meantime, put it in on your radar!  Edgewater Arts In Motion.

Follow The Yellow Silk Road This Summer-- For Free!

The Hangzhou Tourism Commission (and a number of corporate sponsors) are planning on sending two lucky families (One American, One Chinese) on a Free Round the World Trip this summer.

The trip will trace the ancient Silk Road starting in Hangzhou and then traveling through China, Greece, Croatia, Venice, Geneva, Paris, Boston, and then New York City. In addition to the two families that are going to go, they'll send a media "Storyteller" to help chronicle the trip via Social Media.

Hangzhou China

If you want to audition for the slots, you need to go to http://globaltour2015.com and fill out the application (including a short video) Families will be voted on via Social Media.  Family Auditions will be accepted May 27-June 11.  (Winner announced June 18)

Here's the press release they sent me.  Good luck!

Hangzhou Tourism Commission Opens Entries for Global Tour 2015

U.S. Families to Audition for Free 30-Day Trip Around the World Starting in Hangzhou, China

New York (May 27, 2015) – The Hangzhou Tourism Commission (HTC) today announces the official launch of a social media campaign called, Global Tour 2015, which will send one U.S. and one Chinese family, along with a media “Storyteller,” on a free 30-day trip around the globe from July 24th through August 22nd.

The campaign was created to promote U.S. travel to a destination emerging on the global stage: Hangzhou, China, known for its beauty, perfect blend of traditional and modern Chinese experiences, and has become China’s top launch pad for tech start-ups, including home of e-commerce giant, Alibaba.

In tandem with China National Tourism Administration’s theme “Beautiful China 2015 – Year of Silk Road Tourism,” HTC’s Global Tour 2015 will support the winners to trace the ancient Silk Road beginning in Hangzhou and traveling through Dunhuang, China; Mykonos, Greece; Santorini, Greece; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Venice, Italy; Geneva, Switzerland; Paris, France; Boston, Massachusetts (Hangzhou’s U.S. “sister city”); and finally ending in New York City.

Before commencing the tour, the winning families and the media Storyteller will spend several days learning the rich culture, history and lifestyle of Hangzhou, which is known as one of the happiest cities in China. The group will then travel west following the Silk Road, spreading the happiness and building lasting international friendships along the way. The Storyteller will accompany the family on the trip to chronicle the adventures via social media.

Families interested in entering for the Global Tour 2015 must visit http://globaltour2015.com and complete a questionnaire and submit a short video audition. Members of the media and social media influencers interested in winning the Storyteller position will need to complete a 200-word written submission, a second writing assignment selecting which of the landmarks on the Global Tour is the happiest, and are encouraged to post on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Family submissions will be put to a public social media vote and then the winners will be selected by a panel of judges.