Summer in the City

The idea of a StayCation has never really grabbed me. I feel like I have lived here for so many years, that when I need to escape - I need to really getaway. Sitting in a hotel looking at a familiar skyline does not grant me that. I would rather take short day trips out of town to both new and old destinations for a quick cleanse.

But this idea of a diversion in a city that I know so well has been tempting me now for two years. I first became of aware of Preserve Minneapolis two years ago in the early days of the pandemic. I believe they are a summer/ seasonal offering only. But their idea is to experience small walking tours that are not big & showy, but seeking out the smaller, intimate stories we likely walk past many times. They are just a short $14 fee and booked online. Not for the tourist coming in to town (or possibly?), but more-so for the residents with a sense of curiosity. Or maybe the true History buffs.

Looking at the current page, there seem to be 2-3 tours a week. Yes there are the typical Minnehaha Falls or Nicollet Mall walks. But even the familiar are looked at with a twist. Lakewood Cemetery is a beautiful retreat just blocks away from me. But how about a tour through the grounds "creating a landscape of memory?" Sounds introspective and inviting to me. The small houses of Milwaukee Ave are familiar to me, but why have a I never heard of a beautiful short boulevard blocks away called Red Cedar Lane? How about a shout out to the North Side and forgotten Synagogues? I'm not aware of the writings of Maud Hart's children's books, but I am guessing the Lowry Hill tour puts a very different slant on those giant homes in the roaring 1920's. I'd be interested in the less-grand but ornate homes just blocks away walking through the Middle Wedge - I had no idea it was a classified destination in itself. So many options! I am putting the site on my to-do list so that I can take in at least 2 before the end of the season. Check them out. Or hit me up and we can venture out together.

 Preserve Minneapolis

 

 

All Aboard for Summer Travel

This link is a few years old now. A great glimpse into the early days of the pandemic. When we were all restless and needed a change of view. We were firing up our laptops to experience any change of scenery, virtually. These are all real-time travel clips filmed in Hi Def from the perspective in the driver's seat up front!

It grabbed my attention for posting now after our recent trip to Boston. We took a vintage trolley car train to the suburban area of Mattapan outside of Boston. For those who prefer to take things a bit slower and travel by rail. 

 

I grew up by train tracks in Erie during some of the hey-days of Amtrak travel. I do love it on those rare occasions where I have the luxury of time to travel there by train. It seems so much more comfortable to recline in big seats, stroll to the domed viewing car or even eat in the dining car. I also love timing the trains for the short lay over in Chicago - where I can check my bags in a locker and step out into the city for a detour of an hour or two, before hopping back on for leg 2 of the journey.

But the real draw on any train trip is the open vistas seen through big glass windows. Even on local trips in Stillwater along the St Croix or the shores of Superior in Duluth. They are fantastic moments to just breathe and take it all in.

This list from Travel+Leisure takes in 13 Train Trips across the globe from the drivers' seat perspective. A few are short edited clips from 12-15 minutes. But many of them are the entire 2-3 hour journeys of the trip. On a small screen I got a bit of the nausea that I sometimes get at an Omni Theater experience. It is like you are moving but your body is not reacting to the shifts of direction.

They might be interesting background noise by streaming on your television while working a jigsaw puzzle or something small project. Here are the destinations.

1) Norway - the Flam Railway

2) Japan - Hiroshima to Fuchu

3) Switzerland - St Moritz to Tirano, Italy

4) Colorado - Pikes Peak Cog Railway

5) Montenegro - Belgrade Railway - tunnels & bridges

6) North Wales Coast

7) Norway - Nordland Line - fjords

8) Peru - Central Andino Line - in 4 long parts

9) New York City - #7 Express Subway

10) Balkans - Bosnia & Croatia

11) England - Southwestern Railway

12) Colorado - Durango & Silverton - mountain towns

13) Switzerland - Wengernalp Railway

Travel+Leisure - 13 Fabulous Virtual Train Trips

How Much is that Doggie...

We were just discussing on the Help Line at work - the outbreak of stolen dogs in stolen cars around the Twin Cities. Is this a local trend here in MN? It seems our crime comes in bizarre waves. 

• A year ago it was drag racing and reckless driving in the city streets. Sort of reverting back to the road rumbles in Grease! 
• Then last spring there was a rise in car jackings. We had a neighbor two doors down that was kicked while entering her vehicle. It was found to be mostly delinquent school kids working the alleys in packs via South Minneapolis. 
• Over the last month - it has been stealing vehicles with either children or pets in them!

Yesterday it was a pet Monkey from a Target parking lot. In the last month there have been a handful that stole the car, did not realize the pet was in the back seat (??!!), then dropped the dog off on the steps of the Humane Society as a Stray. One case was stupid enough drop them off in the stolen vehicle; which was then reported to the police for arrest.

In most cases, they were unlocked cars. It boggles my mind that anyone in the metro would leave a car unlocked. Let alone, with a living creature inside. And worse yet, the ones that leave the keys in the ignition thinking "it will only be for a sec..."

Most places in Uptown are pet friendly enough that you can take you dog directly inside. Target, bookstores, any coffee shop patio, micro breweries and even a handful of restaurants. So why even consider leaving them in the back seat of the car?

For a cheery outlook, here are a handful of collected snapshots of cute puppies in shopping carts. No Dog Left Behind. * these images are not my own

 

Ikea - your perfect problem solver

Our interminable bathroom project has/ had literally been going on as long as the COVID epidemic. What began as a slow trickle in a bath tub drain, then became a major leak in the downstairs wall and ceiling - ultimately emerged as our new & improved $18,000 bathroom. Thank God for Home Equity loans!

We are very pleased with the results. Our lovely blue star tiles in the warm, pulsing shower. Our fantastic high pedestal sink that no longer requires crouching over. A real ceiling light fixture instead of a light bulb with a globe and pull chain. But one of the many wonders are the great IKEA stackable cabinets that make great use of a very tiny space. We were able to custom order 3 shelf cabinets of a short 12" width to make good use of a crawl space. We made one a pull out for all our regular toiletries. Two with shelves for everything from medications to plungers to towels. Our contractor put them in with a matching face panel so they appear to be built in cabinets. Perfect.

Of course, we were not the only ones during a pandemic to be making home improvements. We were caught in the endless cycle of surplus back orders. We tried to secure a holding place via on-line orders, but the details would erase after a period of time. And there was no guarantee they would ever come in directly to the stores. After some 5 months we finally hit the Jackpot and were able to place a home delivery for a $50 fee, but could actually get them into our hands. Voila!

It seems the IKEA craze of home design miracles is a somewhat recent trend. But I found some catalogue images that show what their contemporary styles in furniture look like going back to their roots in 1951. Did you know that IKEA stands for founder Ingvar Kamprad from Elmtaryd in the village of Agunnaryd? I-K-E-A! He started out a young entrepreneur at age 5 peddling matches, seeds, Christmas cards and pens from his bike. He moved on to furniture in 1948. From the beginning, it was all about value and in a short span of 2 years, other major Swedish furniture companies were boycotting him at trade shows because his products were already making such an impact. At that point Ingvar set his sights bigger and expanded to outsource his products to other countries. Back in the 50s, shipping was an obstacle even then, so his major concept to the industry was the idea of flat-stack and self assembly. Even back in 1953, his showrooms began. Not originally as a walk through exhibit, but a chance for him to meet his customers and personally ask them what they were searching for so he could find new practical solutions for them.

In 1960, he brought the 1st restaurant into the store complete with a microwave for fast food service to masses. A major Norway store opened in 1963. A huge shift in its evolution was caused by a fire at the flagship store in Stockholm in 1970. Much merchandise was lost so a self service counter was made to accommodate as many customers as possible. That was the lighting bolt moment that brought about his new concept for customers of in-store pick up. At this point, the industry exploded into Europe and Japan. And in 1995 he cornered a new concept he labeled Democratic Design which includes everything from sustainable forests to energy saving LED products.

I am so thankful to have a major store here at the Mall of America where shopping is an experience each time we go. From the Swedish meatballs and lingonberry jam to the wall art and kitchen gadgets. I am not always into the stark minimalist look of much of the furniture. But they rack up major points for practicality and color which I love. Some people get irritated with the self assembly. But I look at it as a great jigsaw puzzle that does come with instructions. It takes only patience. And I am loving my new bathroom including the fabulous IKEA cabinets that were worth the wait.

 

Theater - the Theory of Relativity

Usually my blog posts are an art feature or a bit of nature wisdom. This one is a bit slanted - a point of view. That is one of the true virtues that social media was created for. A forum to vent or share something personal with a like audience. Maybe even to open a discussion for/ against.

The Relativity of Theater and Performance Art - is a huge umbrella right now. I guess what I would say is spurring me are the current rally cries against The Music Man on Broadway of all things. Tickets are too expensive with it's massive budget. Reworking the keys of the original score to adapt to Sutton Foster who is giving the role a different take. The whole purpose of reviving the chestnut in an age of inclusive casting. The megawatt star power of Hugh Jackman and if he is indeed the right fit for the iconic Harold Hill..... All of these are great water cooler conversations to be had amongst your circles of friends. But who has died and made the general public and critics the gatekeeper of all things modern theater? Some points (of many that could be attached)....

There is a huge Battle Cry currently for identity or inclusive casting. Everyone wants and should deserve a seat at the table. I believe there is certainly an awareness and steps have been made at large. And yet we are upset about Sarah Jane Paulson donning a fat suit for a Ryan Murphy television series. Up in arms that Benedict Cumberbund is a straight male in a gay role of an Oscar contending film. Actors leaving Jagged Little Pill because a line or two was changed that alluded to a binary element of the plot. The accusations are endless. But I think that my stance is that unless it is your piece of theater or work of art, you do not get final casting choices on the work just because it does not suit your quotient of inclusivity. Was the talent strong enough to carry the role? Did Lin Manuel really need a color chart for skin tone and genealogy tracing when casting In the Heights with true Latino actors?

Secondly, and I have always hated this element from a critics aspect. Is it their job to judge the show they have seen? Or is it equally important to judge the work of art for its relativity and sensitivity to history? Currently there is a lot of negative press about Encores! in NY which revived The Tap Dance Kid which was a modest hit musical from 1983. Three major qualms were that the revival deemed that the chubby girl in the family now be played by a thinner black child so as to not place a stigma on the role. Also changing the period of the piece from the 80's where it was written to the late 1950's where moral codes made the black characters more palpable. And lastly, the relativity of black dancers and tap dancing as a stereotype that persists. All are major points to be considered. But my question is "Is it the job of every theater and director to walk on egg shells and be sensitive to elements that were not offensive then but may be now?" And also, "Is it the critics' job to demerit them for what they do or don't in that regard?" Does every show need a reboot? And then when we do, do the Purists need to get up in arms when it doesn't compare to the original? I know the recent revival and tour of Oklahoma! had people leaving in droves because all of a sudden the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic was making a statement on misogyny among many other things. Not to mention it somewhat butchered the score. How many classic Cole Porter & Rodgers & Hart scores would carry that same criticism. The old conundrum of the Native Americans in Annie Get Your Gun? Why does a show like Chicago get a pass on interpretation when it deals with adultery, sex crime...? It has certainly had its share of no-talent headlining the marquee over these 25 years and no one boycotted. Again, I am not choosing sides, just merely asking the question. What gets a green light and what gets a pass? I was just listening to Sammy Davis , Jr in Golden Boy from 1963 and it was not met with acclaim at the time because of its racial overtones. Bring it back now and see if it does... You always have the right to walk out of said show, or not buy your ticket in the first place. But that should not give you the option to close the show down.

Lastly, every live theater right now seems to be wanting to put out an imprint that says "I am important and I am relevant!" That is indeed so important. But not every show in every space can make the same statement about equity casting, historical relevance and political polarity. In Minnesota we are fortunate to have several theaters that have been doing that for decades. But now EVERY show seems to need to make that statement. Penumbra, the Jungle and others can continue to make those bold waves for us. But crucifying Chanhassen for choosing to present The Music Man or Cinderella because they do not make the same statement as Ma Rainey is insane. If adoring crowds are wanting to see The Music Man in NY, then the crowds should be able to do so here in Minnesota as well without shame. There should be no shame in loving the musicals Cats or Mean Girls. Sometimes it is enough to just enjoy an evening of entertainment that is classic music we are fond of. I don't think every theater needs to change its mission statement to take them in a new direction. Maybe examine some of your casting and work ethics, but do not change who you are. After the current plague that theater and film have suffered, applaud them for the valor they have shown.

Cancel Culture is in full rage. As a singer there are apparently certain pieces of music that I should not be able to attempt unless I stay in my own lane. As if there is a creative police that decides at large what is appropriate and what is not. In this day and age we should celebrate any artist that is able to still put their creative soul out there. We deal with cancel culture in our Olympic Sports, our local elections, our merchants that we support. Let's allow our art to be something that is celebrated and not crucified. Again, these are my opinions that I am making about what I choose to support. It is not a judgement against other creators out there and what they are bringing forward. You always have the choice to buy a ticket or donate to a fund raiser. Just like buying from MyPillow or Chick-fil-A. If you don't like it, walk away, but it is not your right to put a Closed Sign on the door.

Here is the article in the New York Times that really kicked my butt and inspired a response out in the the virtual world.

Woke Musicals; New York Times

From the Mouth of Demons

Hopefully, this will be one of my last cold weather posts of the season. The last two weeks have been literal bitter disappointments with frigid temps day after day. There were a few teases above 20°, but both were short-lived. So what we get are these instances where things melt up a bit, only to freeze mere hours later. They make the sidewalks treacherous. But they also wreak havoc on our roofs and gutters.

I was driving down Park Avenue this last weekend and noticed the grand Swedish Institute. It is one of our few remaining grand castles. Summit Ave and Lowry Hill also have huge estates, but most are truly American. The Institute harkens back to the grandeur of European architecture. One of the many amazing features are the Gargoyles that adorn the exterior of the gutters on the corners. They are intricate monsters & creatures that have these horrific mouths where the water shoots out. I have only seen them in full rain once where the current of the water came lashing out! Here in the winter, they are sometimes frozen on these late days where the snow on the roof melts during the afternoon and then slowly sets by the dusk.

This collection is from a Facebook Feed article. No photographers are credited. But each one captures some of that Nordic winter spirit that I am trying to get at. Hopefully they will be flooded with rainfall in the next 2 months.

Bad Boy on a Pipe Organ

Cameron Carpenter has been on my radar for over a year now. And I was just surprised to see him noted on my local concert calendar. So I may have to make a winter date to see him on Feb 22nd over at Norththrop.

I am guessing most of you don't have much knowledge of him either. But simply put, imagine the quirky cousin of Adam Lambert and Elton John playing classical music on a pipe organ in a large auditorium! With his glitter boots, spiked leather jackets and hair gel with tints - he cuts an image that makes him the Mozart of our time. But don't let that glitter sway you. This man is no bad Liberace wanna-be. He has incredible skills that tame the keys under his massive physical stroking. And this is just his playing and not even accounting for his arranging.

He is very loyal to his classical roots. He can exude an entire orchestra with the "hits" of Bach and Rachmaninoff. From there he can detour into the fringes of Piazzolla or Bernstein. Then again, it is not uncommon to find strange sidetracks into everything from Willy Wonka to Patsy Cline to Leonard Cohen.

 

His technical prowess certainly comes from the dexterity of his fingers on the keys. Meanwhile his feet are nearly dancing on the floorboard. But his true genius comes from the term of #registration, which on an organ is the setting of the myriad of stops that control the tonality of sounds coming from the pipes. He notes that this is the origin of the term "pulling out all the stops" as he flies from one instrumentation to another within the same phrase. 

Here is his take on the Overture from Candide: