Sunday in Eugene: many discoveries

Revolved around meeting A.D. at the house for another look.  On the way, Mr. P wanted to check out Wild Rose Mercantile.  Cool space.  And discovered the solar store, the awesome home and garden shop, vintage furniture, and coffee shop in the same complex.  Then to Blanton Ridge.   Hello Hash House Harriers.  To the house, looks good, and checking out the Safeway.

Moonlight (the movie) and Toshi Ramen

Went to see "Moonlight" at Broadway Metro and then the beginning of ramen exploration in Eugene.  Toshi Ramen.  Movie was fantastic, and ramen was fine.  Onward.

I, Malvolio at Chicago Shakes

I, Malvolio at Chicago Shakes.  Ms. S thought this was one of the best interpretation of Malvolio she had seen: actually sympathetic.  But it helped that it was just a vamp of the script, and not Twelfth Night.

New Year's Walk to Lake

King Lear: NTL at Musicbox

A really terrific live broadcast: Sam Mendes directs Simon Russell Beale as King Lear.

Haze and Nudity

All performances should have haze and nudity in my opinion.

Publican Birthday Brunch

Iron Stag at the House

A bit of a mythological mashup but fund to be back to their good vs. evil, comic-booky roots. 

Jitney at Court

As we were traveling to the show, Ms. S said:  "it's so great to know that you are going to be in really good hands with really good actors."  Another winner from the Court, with strong performances across the board and the always amazing A. C. Smith.  The script: well, it's a young man's script, but they managed it.

Magic Flute at Chicago Opera Theatre

OK, check this off the list.  What a strange plot line. But the English translation by Jeremy Sams was really fun (love those rhymed couplets) and the singing, as always, was great. The Queen of the Night was particularly impressive.  But when I got home, Ms. S asked how it was, and I just said: "long."

Voices of Strength: Columbia College Dance

Dance by women from Africa.  We only saw one half of the program.  Mr. P was thumbs up for both parts, but Ms. S drew the line at the garbage bag down the throat in the second performance.

Correspondances: Kettly Noël (Haiti/Mali) and Nelisiwe Xaba (South Africa)
A lively, sophisticated duet that is part theater, part dance and part storytelling.  Noël and Xaba come together for a raucous conversation addressing the intimacy of friendship while exploring themes of race, culture and gender.

Quartiers Libres:  Nadia Beugre (Cote d’Ivoire)
One woman’s persistent pursuit to penetrate forbidden spaces and overcome real and perceived limitations to her freedom of expression.

9/11, 11 anniversary

Let's talk about Bruce and Pete and singing in a crowd.  We need more of it.  I don't have a great voice, I've never been a fan. Is this because of church?  I sucked. But then I watched this documentary on Pete Seeger, and I saw the light. Don't care. Sing out, sing along.  And yes, I'm still on the Springsteen theme, but at Wrigley we all sang together, often, loud, proudly, without shame. "Ohhh, ut, ooh, ooooh.  When I'm out on the street."  It was great. 

Today, back to Pete. Together now.  "We shall live in peace, we shall live in peace, we shall live in peace, someday." Go ahead, sing along.

Bruce at Wrigley

Walk to a Bruce concert?  Sure.  We thought it was going to rain, but it was perfect.

Three and 1/2 hours.  Awesome.  And Twist and Shout to end?

Show began at 8:23 p.m. local time (one hour past New Jersey)

Set list:

1. Prove It All Night (78 Intro)

2. My Love Will Not Let You Down

3. Out in the Street

4. Hungry Heart

5. We Take Care of Our Own

6. Wrecking Ball

7. Death to My Hometown (With Tom Morello) 
8. My City of Ruins (People Get Ready)

9. Spirit In The Night

10. Trapped

11. Jack of All Trades (With Tom Morello)

12. Atlantic City (With Eddie Vedder)

13. Lonesome Day

14. I'm Goin' Down

15. Darlington County

16. Shackled and Drawn

17. Waiting on a Sunny Day

18. None But the Brave (tour premiere)

19. Ghost of Tom Joad (With Tom Morello)

20. Badlands

21. Land of Hope and Dreams

Encores:
22. We Are Alive

23. Thunder Road

24. Born to Run

25. Dancing in the Dark

26. Jungleland

27. Tenth Avenue Freeze-out (with Eddie Vedder and Tom Morello)

28. Twist and Shout (with Eddie Vedder and Tom Morello)

Show over at: 11:50 p.m.

Chicago Triathlon 2012

My first big tri, and I was pretty pleased with my results.  32/70 for my age class, top 17% overall in the swim, north of average in the bike, and not so great in the run, but I'll take it.  Full photo album here.

Three Sisters at Steppenwolf

A very contemporary translations by Tracey Letts, and as always, superb acting.