OTHER HAPPENINGS IN JANUARY 2007
OTHER HAPPENINGS IN JANUARY 2007
Besides my Palm Springs visit and attending the Palm Springs International Film Festival, other things occurred in the month of January.
When I returned to Oakland, we were starting to have record-breaking cold. Temps in the 20s at night; in the teens further north in Napa and Sacramento areas. Brrrrr!! We are not used to these temps. …..Mary and Denny Miller gave us cell phones for Christmas. Now we have truly entered the 21st Century! They helped us activate the phones and pick out phone number, etc. We shall just use them for emergencies; we have a “pay as you use” plan. ……Dad not liking the Oakridge Care Center; we do not like it easier. Mass chaos all the time and they have moved him three times. To get a light bulb changed or something faxed takes at least four or five days! No one wants to do their job. ….. More sad news to report: George Zahorsky passed away on January 17. He and his wife Alyce ushered at quite a few of the theatres. We got to know each other and George always had a joke and a smile and was pleasant to be around. They were great theatre fans and there was always lively conversation. …… Golden Globe Awards were a bit dull this year, especially with Warren Beatty going on and on in his Lifetime Award Acceptance Speech; Tom Hanks’ introduction was in such bad taste. Let’s grow up fellas. …… ACT’s THE CIRCLE by Somerset Maugham was a delight! Written in 1921, it took on marriage, love and infidelities—nothing much has changed since that time. Veteran actor, Ken Ruta, stole the show. The young leading lady should have voice projection lessons at ACT’s acting school! I was in Row M and had to concentrate on what she was saying carefully! …… Tried the new Chinese restaurant, Tian Sing Chinese Restaurant, near the theatre district; very good dim sum but just slightly overpriced. All very fresh and well done! …… Back to Le Zinc, the French Bistro in our old SF 24th Street neighborhood, with Richard Miller & John Vinton. Sun was warm and we ate on their back patio. I enjoyed the French style mushroom-spinach omlette. …… Dinners with neighbors across the hall, Dennis & Joey, are delicious and fun! ….. Attended the SF Symphony with a program that was a bit dull; Stravinsky’s ballet music from “Orpheus” and the Mozart Mass. SF Chorus still great but the Mass goes on much too long! …… SF Playhouse’ THREE SECONDS IN THE KEY by playwright Deb Margolin was so interesting. It ultimately did not work, but was so fascinating watching it unravel. A single mom is dying of cancer and her son is a big Knicks fan. They both receive inspiration for their tragedy via the basketball players from the team who are on stage and interweave in and out of their lives in a fantasy world! It all goes on too long and is quite repetitive, but I found it great theatre; brilliantly directed! A word about the theatre group: they have built up quite an audience by putting on very good shows under the guidance of Artistic Director, Bill English. Their theatre was in an old department store building; it had to be retrofitted for earthquake updates. They moved to a smaller theatre across the street at the Jean Shelton Acting School. Now that their original theatre is ready to move back into, the landlord raised the rent astronomically and they cannot afford to move back. What a shame they did not get things in writing before they moved out. They are looking for a new home and probably a very rich benefactor who will be dying soon!?! …..Sunday brunch at Ella’s is quite an event: comfort food served in huge portions and quite good. Celebrated Joe Ries’ birthday week there. Had old-fashioned scrambled eggs with all the trimmings and a huge, tasty buttermilk biscuit! Even had a blood-orange mimosa that was fabulous! Merrill got a bit of an upset stomach from too much horseradish in his Bloody Mary! …… KLEA BLACKHURST had a small audience at the San Rafael Jewish Community Center doing “Autumn in New York: Vernon Duke’s Broadway.” She gave it her all, but the show just did not “click.” Her first big show that brought her notoriety, Ethel Merman: All That Traffic Will Allow,” was wonderful. I think the subject matter was her problem: Vernon Duke tried and tried and tried to write a hit Broadway show, but never succeeded! He always had a flop. There is a reason for that: not a very good songwriter, even though he did have a few classic hits: “Autumn in New York” being his best. Let’s hope the next person she chooses to incorporate in her show will be better. She sang George Gershwin’s “Swanee” in the style of Al Jolson at the end of this show since it was the song that inspired Duke in faraway Poland. She did a great job with the Jolson style---maybe this is the one to salute next time! ….. I missed The State of the Union address. Historic in that San Francisco’s own, Nancy Pelosi, is now the Speaker of the House. As GWB noted, it was the first time a President of the US has said “Madam Speaker.” I think he “got it” that history moves on and changes; he does not quite comprehend that fact as far as Iraq is concerned. I heard the speech in a little Mexican café, La Mexicana, on a Spanish Channel; it had immediate translation and was so easy to digest. Did not have to hear GWB’s awful Texas twangggggg! He said the same thing he’s been saying for the last six years and nothing will get done for the poor and the elimination of the middle class is working quite successfully. Less than two years now until he returns to the land of tumbleweed! …… Prison Break has returned to TV after its December Fall Finale—the new trend on TV. Must say this TV Season has been so sparse with shows that I watch; it’s the least TV I have watched in years! ….. Off to the Plush Room to see KRISTOPHER MCDOWELL in “The Anthony Newley Project.” He was in 42nd Street Moon’s production of Anthony Newley’s THE ROAR OF THE GREASPAINT, THE SMELL OF THE CROWD. He played Everyman, the part that Newley originated in the show, and did a fine job with it. Now he has developed this cabaret act along with Sharon McKnight to tell the story of Newley’s life and sing quite a few of his songs. It all coming a long quite nicely; he just needs to get rid of a few amateurish things: clearing his throat constantly and sucking water from a plastic bottle after EVERY song! Annoying! Gives it all he’s got. He owns a nightclub in Merced and I bought a weekend at his inn-nightclub; we are going there in March for an overnight stay to see Wesla and Mike! Met Kristopher before he performed and he was very friendly and told him we’d be seeing him soon at his place! …T his time around the OPEN REHEARSAL OF THE SF SYMPHONY was dull, dull, dull. Modern pieces by Spanish composers ranged from dreadful (modern piece by Gerhard) to syrupy (dances by Falla). The Hayden piece was short and not very stimulating; the Mozart Piano Concerto was played by Radu Lupu who looked ill and did not really have his heart and soul into the piece. ….. It must have been a week for being tired and dull: off to the Plush Room once again to see Wesla Whitfield and Mike Greensill. He was in fine form, but Wesla seemed tired and sang all slow songs. She sang for one hour on the dot—not one minute more! She usually goes 90 minutes. Maybe there are just some nights when performers “aren’t in the mood”?? She’s still one of our favorites, but I like her when she is a bit more “perky”! ….. Had a lunch for Ron Bottini, Chuck Earlenbaugh, & Eric Hubert. A leisurely time and a chance to get caught up with them all. ….. Shotgun Players THE FOREST WAR was performed in the Kabuki style with lovely costumes. The plot was rather predictable however. A drunk in the audience who kept laughing in all the wrong places and in the right places too was extremely disturbing. I do not know if the House Manager asked his group to calm down, since we left at intermission. If he is there again the next time I attend one of their productions, I shall ask that he be removed or else demand my money back. This was a play that was written and directed by Mark Johnson. I was rather impressed with the group and the theatre, which is in an old church. The pews have cushions and are in stadium-style seating. It only accommodates about 100 people so no matter where you sit, you can see very well. Also you can pay from $30 to $15 and pick out your reserved seat one hour before the performance begins. A very innovative idea! Jackson’s new play, AMERICAN SUICIDE, opens in another two weeks; am anxious to read the review on that one! May get to see it. ….. We ventured up to Sonoma to spend an afternoon and then partake of an early dinner with Sandy & Karl Stauffer. Our neighbors, Dennis & Joey also came along. It was a rather foggy day with drizzle every now and then: the perfect day to be inside sitting in front of the fireplace sipping champagne all afternoon!! Then a sumptuous meal was served with a gorgeous table setting of candles in water and real daffodils in small vases placed in front of each person (a hint of Spring in the air?!?). We began with a lovely artichoke with a mayonnaise dip; that was followed by a polenta “pizza” topped with tasty Italian cheese and grapes & raisins; then we had beef stroganoff served over rice with vegetables and delicious breads and wines; dessert was butterscotch mousse topped with fresh berries; coffee and liquors were served and we were all so “content”!!! It was a shame we had to get back home; I wanted to be in front of the fireplace to savor the meal!!
Not much more on the agenda for January. We are going to have our rugs cleaned—it’s been over a year since they were last cleaned. Since we now have light beige rugs all through the apartment, it shows every speck of dirt! What can one do?
Still looking for a new place for Dad, but no luck so far. He may just have to “adjust” to the place he is in after all. Most of the new places we have visited are worse than the place he is in.
Some travel plans are being made but nothing too definite has been decided. Eric Svenson from New York City may come to visit the end of February to get away from the cold that has finally hit the Northeast. He’ll be with us for my Oscar Party!!!
Keep in touch and in good health. Let’s hear what’s been happening with you…….
Gerry
Besides my Palm Springs visit and attending the Palm Springs International Film Festival, other things occurred in the month of January.
When I returned to Oakland, we were starting to have record-breaking cold. Temps in the 20s at night; in the teens further north in Napa and Sacramento areas. Brrrrr!! We are not used to these temps. …..Mary and Denny Miller gave us cell phones for Christmas. Now we have truly entered the 21st Century! They helped us activate the phones and pick out phone number, etc. We shall just use them for emergencies; we have a “pay as you use” plan. ……Dad not liking the Oakridge Care Center; we do not like it easier. Mass chaos all the time and they have moved him three times. To get a light bulb changed or something faxed takes at least four or five days! No one wants to do their job. ….. More sad news to report: George Zahorsky passed away on January 17. He and his wife Alyce ushered at quite a few of the theatres. We got to know each other and George always had a joke and a smile and was pleasant to be around. They were great theatre fans and there was always lively conversation. …… Golden Globe Awards were a bit dull this year, especially with Warren Beatty going on and on in his Lifetime Award Acceptance Speech; Tom Hanks’ introduction was in such bad taste. Let’s grow up fellas. …… ACT’s THE CIRCLE by Somerset Maugham was a delight! Written in 1921, it took on marriage, love and infidelities—nothing much has changed since that time. Veteran actor, Ken Ruta, stole the show. The young leading lady should have voice projection lessons at ACT’s acting school! I was in Row M and had to concentrate on what she was saying carefully! …… Tried the new Chinese restaurant, Tian Sing Chinese Restaurant, near the theatre district; very good dim sum but just slightly overpriced. All very fresh and well done! …… Back to Le Zinc, the French Bistro in our old SF 24th Street neighborhood, with Richard Miller & John Vinton. Sun was warm and we ate on their back patio. I enjoyed the French style mushroom-spinach omlette. …… Dinners with neighbors across the hall, Dennis & Joey, are delicious and fun! ….. Attended the SF Symphony with a program that was a bit dull; Stravinsky’s ballet music from “Orpheus” and the Mozart Mass. SF Chorus still great but the Mass goes on much too long! …… SF Playhouse’ THREE SECONDS IN THE KEY by playwright Deb Margolin was so interesting. It ultimately did not work, but was so fascinating watching it unravel. A single mom is dying of cancer and her son is a big Knicks fan. They both receive inspiration for their tragedy via the basketball players from the team who are on stage and interweave in and out of their lives in a fantasy world! It all goes on too long and is quite repetitive, but I found it great theatre; brilliantly directed! A word about the theatre group: they have built up quite an audience by putting on very good shows under the guidance of Artistic Director, Bill English. Their theatre was in an old department store building; it had to be retrofitted for earthquake updates. They moved to a smaller theatre across the street at the Jean Shelton Acting School. Now that their original theatre is ready to move back into, the landlord raised the rent astronomically and they cannot afford to move back. What a shame they did not get things in writing before they moved out. They are looking for a new home and probably a very rich benefactor who will be dying soon!?! …..Sunday brunch at Ella’s is quite an event: comfort food served in huge portions and quite good. Celebrated Joe Ries’ birthday week there. Had old-fashioned scrambled eggs with all the trimmings and a huge, tasty buttermilk biscuit! Even had a blood-orange mimosa that was fabulous! Merrill got a bit of an upset stomach from too much horseradish in his Bloody Mary! …… KLEA BLACKHURST had a small audience at the San Rafael Jewish Community Center doing “Autumn in New York: Vernon Duke’s Broadway.” She gave it her all, but the show just did not “click.” Her first big show that brought her notoriety, Ethel Merman: All That Traffic Will Allow,” was wonderful. I think the subject matter was her problem: Vernon Duke tried and tried and tried to write a hit Broadway show, but never succeeded! He always had a flop. There is a reason for that: not a very good songwriter, even though he did have a few classic hits: “Autumn in New York” being his best. Let’s hope the next person she chooses to incorporate in her show will be better. She sang George Gershwin’s “Swanee” in the style of Al Jolson at the end of this show since it was the song that inspired Duke in faraway Poland. She did a great job with the Jolson style---maybe this is the one to salute next time! ….. I missed The State of the Union address. Historic in that San Francisco’s own, Nancy Pelosi, is now the Speaker of the House. As GWB noted, it was the first time a President of the US has said “Madam Speaker.” I think he “got it” that history moves on and changes; he does not quite comprehend that fact as far as Iraq is concerned. I heard the speech in a little Mexican café, La Mexicana, on a Spanish Channel; it had immediate translation and was so easy to digest. Did not have to hear GWB’s awful Texas twangggggg! He said the same thing he’s been saying for the last six years and nothing will get done for the poor and the elimination of the middle class is working quite successfully. Less than two years now until he returns to the land of tumbleweed! …… Prison Break has returned to TV after its December Fall Finale—the new trend on TV. Must say this TV Season has been so sparse with shows that I watch; it’s the least TV I have watched in years! ….. Off to the Plush Room to see KRISTOPHER MCDOWELL in “The Anthony Newley Project.” He was in 42nd Street Moon’s production of Anthony Newley’s THE ROAR OF THE GREASPAINT, THE SMELL OF THE CROWD. He played Everyman, the part that Newley originated in the show, and did a fine job with it. Now he has developed this cabaret act along with Sharon McKnight to tell the story of Newley’s life and sing quite a few of his songs. It all coming a long quite nicely; he just needs to get rid of a few amateurish things: clearing his throat constantly and sucking water from a plastic bottle after EVERY song! Annoying! Gives it all he’s got. He owns a nightclub in Merced and I bought a weekend at his inn-nightclub; we are going there in March for an overnight stay to see Wesla and Mike! Met Kristopher before he performed and he was very friendly and told him we’d be seeing him soon at his place! …T his time around the OPEN REHEARSAL OF THE SF SYMPHONY was dull, dull, dull. Modern pieces by Spanish composers ranged from dreadful (modern piece by Gerhard) to syrupy (dances by Falla). The Hayden piece was short and not very stimulating; the Mozart Piano Concerto was played by Radu Lupu who looked ill and did not really have his heart and soul into the piece. ….. It must have been a week for being tired and dull: off to the Plush Room once again to see Wesla Whitfield and Mike Greensill. He was in fine form, but Wesla seemed tired and sang all slow songs. She sang for one hour on the dot—not one minute more! She usually goes 90 minutes. Maybe there are just some nights when performers “aren’t in the mood”?? She’s still one of our favorites, but I like her when she is a bit more “perky”! ….. Had a lunch for Ron Bottini, Chuck Earlenbaugh, & Eric Hubert. A leisurely time and a chance to get caught up with them all. ….. Shotgun Players THE FOREST WAR was performed in the Kabuki style with lovely costumes. The plot was rather predictable however. A drunk in the audience who kept laughing in all the wrong places and in the right places too was extremely disturbing. I do not know if the House Manager asked his group to calm down, since we left at intermission. If he is there again the next time I attend one of their productions, I shall ask that he be removed or else demand my money back. This was a play that was written and directed by Mark Johnson. I was rather impressed with the group and the theatre, which is in an old church. The pews have cushions and are in stadium-style seating. It only accommodates about 100 people so no matter where you sit, you can see very well. Also you can pay from $30 to $15 and pick out your reserved seat one hour before the performance begins. A very innovative idea! Jackson’s new play, AMERICAN SUICIDE, opens in another two weeks; am anxious to read the review on that one! May get to see it. ….. We ventured up to Sonoma to spend an afternoon and then partake of an early dinner with Sandy & Karl Stauffer. Our neighbors, Dennis & Joey also came along. It was a rather foggy day with drizzle every now and then: the perfect day to be inside sitting in front of the fireplace sipping champagne all afternoon!! Then a sumptuous meal was served with a gorgeous table setting of candles in water and real daffodils in small vases placed in front of each person (a hint of Spring in the air?!?). We began with a lovely artichoke with a mayonnaise dip; that was followed by a polenta “pizza” topped with tasty Italian cheese and grapes & raisins; then we had beef stroganoff served over rice with vegetables and delicious breads and wines; dessert was butterscotch mousse topped with fresh berries; coffee and liquors were served and we were all so “content”!!! It was a shame we had to get back home; I wanted to be in front of the fireplace to savor the meal!!
Not much more on the agenda for January. We are going to have our rugs cleaned—it’s been over a year since they were last cleaned. Since we now have light beige rugs all through the apartment, it shows every speck of dirt! What can one do?
Still looking for a new place for Dad, but no luck so far. He may just have to “adjust” to the place he is in after all. Most of the new places we have visited are worse than the place he is in.
Some travel plans are being made but nothing too definite has been decided. Eric Svenson from New York City may come to visit the end of February to get away from the cold that has finally hit the Northeast. He’ll be with us for my Oscar Party!!!
Keep in touch and in good health. Let’s hear what’s been happening with you…….
Gerry
posted by Gennaro (Gerry) DeVito | 5:31 PM
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