So, this is the final week of American Dance Festival performances for 2012. The end of summer is officially in sight. Now if the heat and daily severe thunderstorms would just move on...
This week it was Mark Morris Dance Group. This has been one of my favorite choreographers for a long time. He is so musical and the dances frequently just seem so perfect with the music. That's the other thing! Live music. It makes such a difference and this was the only performance this summer with live music. So, I guess I was just too psyched for it and left a little disappointed. They were very good, but I just wasn't as impressed with the choreography this time out. A couple of the pieces seemed overly long to me. I suspect it was just me. I had a bad vertigo day and had taken extra meclizine and I think I was just not up for it and tired. There was a massive storm while we were inside the DPAC. It was still raining when we left the theater and it had really cooled off. We got soaked between the theater and the car and when we got home we got soaked again getting from the car to the house.
We had dinner at Mt. Fuji. It was good. We shared fried Japanese dumplings up front then Clay had Orange Chicken with broccoli which he did not like. I had Mongolian Beef, which we both liked. Clay had a Kirin beer and I had a glass of Vinho Verde. We skipped dessert to go to Amelia's for gelato. We were stunned when we walked in to see their empty display case with a handwritten sign saying their machine was broken and they had no gelato. Fortunately, the girl working there told us we could go down to Piazza Italia and get some. We did. I got white chocolate and zabaglione. Clay got tartuffo (chocolate and hazelnut) and peanut butter. They were very tiny $8 each bowls! Since we had the $8 each gelato for dessert here during ADF earlier, we thought we were prepared, but dessert-size and walk-up dessert only are evidently two very different things. Clay still hasn't gotten over that. I took an extra meclizine in DPAC and Clay offered to go buy me a bottle of water. I refused and said I would go to the water fountain and drink free water. He said what was I worried about that we just ate $16 worth of gelato! I pointed out that the last time I checked gelato did not come out of a pipe in the wall for no extra money. Yeah, he hasn't gotten over it. I thought the servings were too small, but otherwise I was happy with my gelato experience.
Until next year on ADF, then!
Little Bob hits the road
Little Bob hits the road
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Sunday, July 22, 2012
ADF Week 6
This week it was Paul Taylor Dance Company. Paul Taylor is probably the oldest living Modern Dance choreographer as well as one of the best and most accessible. Everyone loves Taylor, like everyone loves Pilobolus but for different reasons. And that is why both are ADF staples! No disappointment, They were perfection with a long evening of 4 works. One was a 2012 creation, the others were much older. I had seen all 3 previously. Aureole 1962, we have both seen probably 10 - 12 times. Never gets old! Big Bertha 1970, I had seen in the 70's! It is a disturbing violent set piece, a bit dark-humorous. Disturbing content, but well done never the less. Gossamer Gallants 2012, about firefly sexual attraction, was brilliant and funny. Piazzolla Caldera 1997, about tango was another we had seen before and still loved this time. There were 2 intermissions and one pause so it was almost 11pm before we got out.
It was finally normal July weather this week. It was 92 degrees F when we went in, but there were dark clouds all around and no sun shining. After we got inside DPAC, it evidently started storming. It had moved east by the time we got out. It was 82 when we left and about halfway home we hit the storm and it lasted all the way home. It was 72 at the house we when arrived! It is too bad the rest of the country needs rain so badly and we have been inundated this summer.
We had dinner at Vin Rouge. It was delicious. I had Croque Madame which came with a decadent pile of frites. Clay had the hangar steak with bleu cheese butter and frites. We were both stuffed and left without dessert. Then we drove to Mad Hatter and I had a slice of black & white cake and Clay got 2 Chocolate Whoppers. He ate one and half my cake and took the other cookie home in a sack.
It was finally normal July weather this week. It was 92 degrees F when we went in, but there were dark clouds all around and no sun shining. After we got inside DPAC, it evidently started storming. It had moved east by the time we got out. It was 82 when we left and about halfway home we hit the storm and it lasted all the way home. It was 72 at the house we when arrived! It is too bad the rest of the country needs rain so badly and we have been inundated this summer.
We had dinner at Vin Rouge. It was delicious. I had Croque Madame which came with a decadent pile of frites. Clay had the hangar steak with bleu cheese butter and frites. We were both stuffed and left without dessert. Then we drove to Mad Hatter and I had a slice of black & white cake and Clay got 2 Chocolate Whoppers. He ate one and half my cake and took the other cookie home in a sack.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
ADF Week 5
We're home early this evening. And it was only 82 degrees F at 9:30pm! However, as I sit upstairs at my computer in the study it is hotter than a fart up here! It is only 82 outdoors but it is 87 up here! The brand new AC stopped working on Thursday. I had a service guy out by that evening and he said he couldn't find anything wrong. I was like, you mean you can't find anything else wrong. He looked confused and I said because it isn't cooling, so that is wrong. He agreed and said all his tests showed it was working now, implying he had actually done somthing to make it work. He said we need Steve and Steve only works M-F 7-5. So, when it got hot up here again by Friday afternoon, I didn't even bother calling. But, wait til Monday morning! Anyway, that little rant over...
This week was Jerusalem-based Vertigo Dance Company. We had never seen them before. They were very good, and even though it was just one 50-some minute piece titled Mana, I left exhausted. I was very impressed. We had dinner somewhere new. L'Uva Enoteca near the DPAC. Clay ordered the black olive tapenade crostini to start, I could have done without it and they brought out very good bread with pesto olive oil dip anyway. Clay ordered the rigatoni special and I had the small buccatini with chicken in pesto. Everything was very salty, but I enjoyed mine and the small was the right size. Clay had a Peroni beer and I ordered a glass of Orvieto wine and it tasted bad (to Clay too) so I had to refuse it. The waiter was more appalled than I was and offered a glass of Pinot Grigio instead at no charge so I took it and it was fine, I drank it. Clay finished with pistachio gelato and I had chocolate budino, which was pudding. Yum. It was good food and reasonably priced and conveniently located. But, the coolest thing was as we had some time to kill, we checked out the Underground there at the American Tobacco complex. There was an Arcade down there. It had one pinball machine and a bunch of video game machines! And they were free! We played pinball for about an hour! I played Pac Man for a few games. Those video games always make me so edgy, I much prefer the action of pinball. Clay was the high scorer! So, all in all a good trip.
This week was Jerusalem-based Vertigo Dance Company. We had never seen them before. They were very good, and even though it was just one 50-some minute piece titled Mana, I left exhausted. I was very impressed. We had dinner somewhere new. L'Uva Enoteca near the DPAC. Clay ordered the black olive tapenade crostini to start, I could have done without it and they brought out very good bread with pesto olive oil dip anyway. Clay ordered the rigatoni special and I had the small buccatini with chicken in pesto. Everything was very salty, but I enjoyed mine and the small was the right size. Clay had a Peroni beer and I ordered a glass of Orvieto wine and it tasted bad (to Clay too) so I had to refuse it. The waiter was more appalled than I was and offered a glass of Pinot Grigio instead at no charge so I took it and it was fine, I drank it. Clay finished with pistachio gelato and I had chocolate budino, which was pudding. Yum. It was good food and reasonably priced and conveniently located. But, the coolest thing was as we had some time to kill, we checked out the Underground there at the American Tobacco complex. There was an Arcade down there. It had one pinball machine and a bunch of video game machines! And they were free! We played pinball for about an hour! I played Pac Man for a few games. Those video games always make me so edgy, I much prefer the action of pinball. Clay was the high scorer! So, all in all a good trip.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
ADF Week 4
This week was everyone's favorite dance company, Pilobolus. They were great, amazing, incredible, all the usual words that cannot suffice. While neither of us really appreciate the change in their choreographic focus over the years, we do still appreciate their art. We liked the short pieces and one intermission. We very much enjoyed it. Only 3 weeks left, but we love 2 of those companies and only 1 is new to us. So, we still have almost a month to look forward to.
It was very hot, but at last a night with no severe and flash flooding thunderstorms. It was 106 degrees F when we went in and 97 when we came out and when we got home after 10:30pm it was still 90. It has been a crazy hot summer here with lots of lightening-started fires which is really scary, but I guess the good news is the drought was broken.
We ate at Piazza Italia. It is in Brightleaf Square. We used to love going there to browse the boutiques and eat. Lately, there has not been much to tempt us. In the heat, we didn't enjoy strolling much either! There aren't many shops left and only one was open. We did stroll through Morgan Imports across the street though and we purchased a couple of kitchen gadgets. Anyway, we liked the meal and there were a lot of gelatos to choose from between the food places that are now left in Brightleaf. They make good gelato at Roma prices! It really hit the spot though. For dinner, I had gnocchi pomodoro and Clay had lasagna. My gnocchi was melt in your mouth! Clay liked his lasagna. We shared an order of fried ravioli as an appetizer. Clay had chocolate and peanut butter gelatos. I had green apple and cinnamon. Chocolate was our favorite and cinnamon our least favorite. We would probably go back. We think Piazza Italia is new. We don't remember seeing it last year. And they validate parking and give a 20% discount if you show them your tickets for that evening's performance. So, a deal too!
It was very hot, but at last a night with no severe and flash flooding thunderstorms. It was 106 degrees F when we went in and 97 when we came out and when we got home after 10:30pm it was still 90. It has been a crazy hot summer here with lots of lightening-started fires which is really scary, but I guess the good news is the drought was broken.
We ate at Piazza Italia. It is in Brightleaf Square. We used to love going there to browse the boutiques and eat. Lately, there has not been much to tempt us. In the heat, we didn't enjoy strolling much either! There aren't many shops left and only one was open. We did stroll through Morgan Imports across the street though and we purchased a couple of kitchen gadgets. Anyway, we liked the meal and there were a lot of gelatos to choose from between the food places that are now left in Brightleaf. They make good gelato at Roma prices! It really hit the spot though. For dinner, I had gnocchi pomodoro and Clay had lasagna. My gnocchi was melt in your mouth! Clay liked his lasagna. We shared an order of fried ravioli as an appetizer. Clay had chocolate and peanut butter gelatos. I had green apple and cinnamon. Chocolate was our favorite and cinnamon our least favorite. We would probably go back. We think Piazza Italia is new. We don't remember seeing it last year. And they validate parking and give a 20% discount if you show them your tickets for that evening's performance. So, a deal too!
Sunday, July 1, 2012
ADF Week 3
We had dinner with Warner & Vivian again. This time we went to Metro 8, an Argentinian-style steakhouse. I think it would be more accurate to say though that the chefs are Argentines and so is their cooking style. We ate there 2 years ago after our first trip to Argentina and we enjoyed it. W&V had not been before but it was one of V's suggestions this week so we were happy to return. I ordered the only dessert, the dulce de leche crepes and had to share. It may have been everyone's favorite dish. Though Clay's empanadas and Warner's steak were well loved too.
It finally occurs to me that Blogger's spell check is broken and I realize now it wasn't working last week either. I hope these posts are going to embarrass me!
Last night we saw Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Clay claims he has seen the company before. I don't remember it, though I was familiar with the name from 1979-1980 or so when they were a tap/jazz company. Now, I would say they are primarily ballet dancers. The first 2 pieces of the evening had strong ballet influences. The second piece was a little more Broadway style. The 3rd pieces was firmly and extraordinarily Modern dance. The company was a joy to watch. They were strong and energetic and skilled. The vocabulary was strongly rooted in ballet with strong feet and fully extended limbs. It was a long night, but we really enjoyed it. They mostly danced in socks! I find myself amazed by this ongoing trend. The first time I remember seeing a modern company dance in socks was Shen Wei. Now that wasn't too surprising since their thing is painting the floor with their feet. You need socks to hold the paint. OK, I get that. But, we have been seeing more and more modern companies dancing in socks. This was not around in my time, you either wore specific shoes to the dancing, or you had bare feet. Now, you are just as likely to see socks. I mean are these special dance socks? Do they sell them with leotards and dance shoes? I don't know.
The really bad news of the evening was that we were surrounded by what smelled like a natural disaster like an earthquake or tornado in a department store's perfume area. It gave us both headaches. What is wrong with grown women? They must have an impaired sense of smell... and no wonder!
The night started with a 20- minute or so long Scripps Award presentation to choreographer William Forsythe. That was new. We've been coming for more than 20 years without ever opting to attend this presentation. I guess maybe when they got rid of the Thursday night performance that we inherited this. It made the night even longer since the performance got pushed back from an 8pm start. It was a touching presentation and we appreciated it, but it was not something we would have knowingly agreed to pay to sit through and we didn't. In years past, you could request tickets to this awards ceremony as a season subscriber, and we have always opted out. I guess we'll find out next year if this new format is here to stay. Obviously, it guarantees a large turnout that would otherwise not show up for an award presentation as well as saves the money from another night's facility fees. We'll see.
Can I just say, it is HOT here! I know, it's summer it should be hot. But this is crazy hot! It was 107 degrees F when we went into the DPAC and when we got back to the car at about 20 of 11pm, it was still 98 degrees F. Our new HVAC system is facing a serious and almost nonstop test! So far, so good!
It finally occurs to me that Blogger's spell check is broken and I realize now it wasn't working last week either. I hope these posts are going to embarrass me!
Last night we saw Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Clay claims he has seen the company before. I don't remember it, though I was familiar with the name from 1979-1980 or so when they were a tap/jazz company. Now, I would say they are primarily ballet dancers. The first 2 pieces of the evening had strong ballet influences. The second piece was a little more Broadway style. The 3rd pieces was firmly and extraordinarily Modern dance. The company was a joy to watch. They were strong and energetic and skilled. The vocabulary was strongly rooted in ballet with strong feet and fully extended limbs. It was a long night, but we really enjoyed it. They mostly danced in socks! I find myself amazed by this ongoing trend. The first time I remember seeing a modern company dance in socks was Shen Wei. Now that wasn't too surprising since their thing is painting the floor with their feet. You need socks to hold the paint. OK, I get that. But, we have been seeing more and more modern companies dancing in socks. This was not around in my time, you either wore specific shoes to the dancing, or you had bare feet. Now, you are just as likely to see socks. I mean are these special dance socks? Do they sell them with leotards and dance shoes? I don't know.
The really bad news of the evening was that we were surrounded by what smelled like a natural disaster like an earthquake or tornado in a department store's perfume area. It gave us both headaches. What is wrong with grown women? They must have an impaired sense of smell... and no wonder!
The night started with a 20- minute or so long Scripps Award presentation to choreographer William Forsythe. That was new. We've been coming for more than 20 years without ever opting to attend this presentation. I guess maybe when they got rid of the Thursday night performance that we inherited this. It made the night even longer since the performance got pushed back from an 8pm start. It was a touching presentation and we appreciated it, but it was not something we would have knowingly agreed to pay to sit through and we didn't. In years past, you could request tickets to this awards ceremony as a season subscriber, and we have always opted out. I guess we'll find out next year if this new format is here to stay. Obviously, it guarantees a large turnout that would otherwise not show up for an award presentation as well as saves the money from another night's facility fees. We'll see.
Can I just say, it is HOT here! I know, it's summer it should be hot. But this is crazy hot! It was 107 degrees F when we went into the DPAC and when we got back to the car at about 20 of 11pm, it was still 98 degrees F. Our new HVAC system is facing a serious and almost nonstop test! So far, so good!
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