Van Gogh ALIVE...the Experience

The weather was still pretty perfect on Sunday and I spent the whole day outside.  We even got a last minute call from relatives to come over for a backyard Bar-B-Q since the weather was so nice.

We had plans on going to see Van Gogh ALIVE at the Arizona Science Center on Friday, but they had a fire on Thursday, and closed the exhibit.  We decided to go on Monday instead.  I have been wanting to see this exhibit since it opened  here in February, but decided to wait until all the tourists, snow birds, spring break, and Cactus league vistors left town.  Then I waited a bit longer for all the end of year school field trips to be over.  Glad I did...the exhibit wasn't very crowded, and you could truly enjoy the Van Gogh experience. 

I have already painted one of his famous Sunflower paintings on my own without any tutorial, and now I want to paint so many other of his paintings.  There are just too many to choose from.

After spending about an hour in the Van Gogh exhibit we went to see the IMAX film Coral Reef Adventure. 

Rock Lobster

I had tentative plans for the Memorial Day weekend, well I always have plans for every weekend, but I go with the flow and I'm always willing to change plans spur of the moment.  When the weather is below 90 degrees this late in May who wants to be inside when the weather is so nice outside.  So it was a very last minute decision to go to City North to hear Rock Lobster perform on Saturday night.  I actually pulled out a pair of jeans, long sleeve shirt, and brought along a jean jacket for the extremely cool night.  Didn't think I would see those clothes again until at least October or November.

We also went for a long hike in the morning because the weather was perfect, and then I came home and sat in my backyard and read a book all afternoon.  The weather was just too nice to be inside.

This was the first time we heard a concert at City North, and the first time we heard Rock Lobster perform.  The concert was outside Kona Grill and they had it set-up like a club.  Small round tables in front, and tall tables in the back for standing around.  The whole night had a cluby vibe...people were more dressed up.  There was food for purchase and of course drinks too.  The concert was from 7 - 10, and they had a DJ playing inbetween sets, so people could just keep on dancing.

Rock Lobster plays 80's Retro music.  I was 18 years old in 1980, and my hubby was 21.  We know a lot of the music from the early 80's, but many songs they played from the later 80's we had never heard before.  I asked hubby how come we are so unfamilar with songs from the late 80's.  He didn't even think about it for a second, and said, "We were busy."  lol

Marmalade Skies

We went back to the el Pedregal for their last concert of the season to hear one of our favorite bands, Marmalade Skies play tribute to the Beatles.  They were scheduled to play in March, but got rained out, so rescheduled for today.  We got there really early to get a nice place in the shade.  The place was packed for a 100+ degree day, and the temperatures didn't stop people from getting up and dancing.  In fact, some of the dancers in the audience today were actually upstaging the band with their fun and outrageous antics.  :-) It turned out to be another great people watching day.  I bought myself a Marmalade Skies tank top...I'm now officially a groupie.

The Beatles and their music represented Peace, Love, and Live and Let Live.  So hearing this concert today was a perfect start to later coming home and meditating with people all over the world via the internet to celebrate today's Ring of Fire Solar Eclipse.  I got online from 5:30 to 7:00 to connect with people in a global meditation for Earth and humanity while the solar eclipse was happening here in Arizona.  Eclipses provide powerful life-affirming shifts and huge transformation takes place when our thoughts and intentions are united.  So here's to Peace, Love, and Live and Let Live.

Seven Fingers: PSY...Minding Blowing Circus

On Saturday I went to the aftenoon peformance of Seven Fingers: PSY at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.  Seven Fingers is a circus from Montreal, and PSY is their latest production.  The show is about the human psyche and includes 11 performers who each deal with a different neuroses.  Some suffer from insomnia, addiction, amnesia, paranoia, hypochondria, and work out their issues through Chinese pole, German wheel, aerial rope, teeterboard, and juggling.  The show was amazing, and the performers were multi-talented in all areas...dancing, gymnastics, and even juggling.  I had a fun and adrenaline pumping Saturday afternoon.   This was a GREAT choice for my Artist Date with myself.

Urban Strings @ The Promenade

Spent another wonderful Friday evening at the Scottsdale Promenade listening to Urban Strings.  This was the first time I have seen them in a concert, but have always wanted to, but never got the chance. They played a wide range of music from Led Zeppeland to Adele, and they really rock.  Hubby and I played, Name that Tune.  It takes awhile to figure out the song when no words are sung.  Hubby is much better at this than me, but he got stumped on the more current hipper songs, but could name White Wedding in less than six notes.

Delphine Cortez

Listened once again to jazz singer Delphine Cortez sing on Wednesday.  She has such a smooth calming voice.  You feel so relaxed, like you just had a massage after hearing her sing.  Also enjoyed talking to her after the concert about her days singing in Chicago on Rush Street.  She had some interesting stories to tell.


 

Shining Star @ The Promenade

Another fabulous Friday evening listening to Music on the Promenade with a performance by Shining Star.  I heard them perform before at the el Pedregal in Spring of 2011, and thought they were very good.  But WOW!  They were beyond good Friday night...they were GREAT!  I only wish the conert was longer than two hours...it seemed to end so soon, and I was really wanting more.  Jodi Light the lead female singer can SING!  She sang songs from Adele, Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi and more.  The whole band and all the other singers were sensational too.   The place was packed again, and everyone was on their feet dancing and having a great time.

Scott Hallock

Mayo's Atrium Concert series with Scott Hallock - PERFECT!  I had out-of-town company coming for dinner on Wednesday, but made sure I got to Mayo to hear Scott Hallock perform.  Hearing music live soothes your soul and puts you in a totally relaxed peaceful state.  This was proven on Wednesday when it started raining buckets 30 minutes before my guests were to arrive, and I had to move my dinner party from my patio into my house.  No problem that I had already set the table for eight at my large patio dinner table, and now I am resetting the eight places on my small kitchen table.  I had a Peaceful Easy Feeling...thanks to the great music of Scott Hallock.  My hubby was a bit more frazzled...he didn't go to the concert with me.

Cinco de Mayo Celebration and Salsa Festival

Today I spent a lovely day up again at the el Pedregal listening for the first time to Desert Fiesta and Freddie Duran playing in celebration of Cinco de Mayo.  There also was a salsa challenge going on there too where several restaurants competed for the top prize.  Nice weather, sunny skies, Mexican food, margaritas, salsa and chips, and a great concert...who can ask for anything more.  Oh yah, one more thing...the Mexican Wedding Cookies were to die for.  :-)

I spent last night, the actual Cinco de Mayo at home in the back yard making carne asada with refried beans.  It was the perfect night...drinking margaritas while gawking over the super full moon rising.

(This is not the full moon from May 5, 2012. I was too relaxed drinking margaritas to get up and get my camera to take a few pictures.  But you get the idea.  lol)

Mariachi Pasion

I started celebrating Cinco de Mayo early this week by attending a concert at Mayo Clinic with all female members called MARIACHI PASION.   I heard them last year and they were fabulous, so when I heard they would be playing again the week of Cinco de Mayo I made sure to go hear them once again.  They are extremely talented singers and musicians, and give a great concert.  The only thing missing was a good margarita, and some salsa with chips.  Well it's only the 4th of May, I still have some time to down a few margaritas and fill up on chips and salsa.

AFFINITY @ el Pedregal

Spent another Carefree Sunday at the el Pedregal listening to one of my favorite bands, AFFINITY.  Good choice hubby!  My hubby had nothing to do today since 1) he didn't have a realtor open house he was working, and 2) no sports for him to watch.  His Chicago Blackhawks are out of the playoffs, (thanks to the Phoenix Coyotes), and his Chicago Bulls played on Saturday.  So hubby asked me what my plans were for Sunday.  He knows I go somewhere every Sunday...either to a play, concert or whatever is in town to do or see.  I told him there were actually five things on my list for Sunday, but as of Friday I still was not sure what I was planning on doing on Sunday.  He heard my five choices of things to do and said he would love to go hear AFFINITY at the el Pedgral.  So we went up there and had a nice lunch and heard another amazing performance by AFFINITY.  Hubby and I think this group gets better every time we hear them.

So another enjoyable Carefree Sunday for us to enjoy.   Hubby needed this...he is still upset about his Chicago Blackhawks losing, and about Derrick Rose's season ending injury.  Poor hubby...life is tough when you are a sports junkie.

Music on the Promenade with Khani Cole

Friday evening hubby and I went to the first concert of the season at the Promenade.  We heard Khani Cole sing for the very first time.  She sings around the Valley a lot, but this was the first time we ever heard her in a concert.  The evening was lovely...perfect temperature, and an amazing performance.  The place was packed, and everyone was having a great time.  I look forward to more Friday evenings listening to music at the Promenade.

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying @ Desert Stages Theatre

I went to see the latest production at Desert Stages Theater, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.  This musical opened on Broaday in 1961, and won 7 Tony Awards.  There was a 1995 revival with Mathew Broderick and Megan Mullally.  Then in 2011 a 50th Anniversary Broadway revival starred Daniel Radcliffe and John Larroquette.  Now the Broadway productions stars Nick Jonas and Beau Bridges.  I'm sure all these Broadway productions were wonderful to see, but if you can't make it to New York to see this current Broadway hit, you will be ever so pleased and delighted with Desert Stages production.  This cast was PERFECT!  Very entertaining.

 I write this blog solely for me, and me alone.  Blogging to me is no different than writing in a diary or a journal. But it's easier to add pictures to a blog.  I like being able to go back and reread what I saw or did...honestly because I usually don't remember what I did just last year.  I only wish I had kept a journal or diary my whole life.  I have had a great life with some wonderful experiences, I just don't always remember them.  Case in point:  I told my husband that my weekend adventure was going to see How to Succeed in Business.  I said I can't wait to see this Broadway hit. He replied, "You already saw this musical with Donald O'Connor when we lived in Chicago."  NO WAY!  I saw this musical before.  WOW, and I don't remember ever seeing it.

Well I just had to pull out my big box of all the Stagebills and Playbills I have from everything I have ever seen, and sure enough there it was...a Stagebill from the Dury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace, IL.  We saw this musical in the Fall of 1985 when I was 23 years old and we were married only a few months.  How is it that I completely forget about seeing this musical with Donald O'Connor?  Anyway, this is why I love blogging, so I can go back and read about my life.  I have a good life, I just need to remember it. lol :-)

ASU String Ensemble and Rock Art

I headed over to Mayo Hospital today for a special concert featuring ASU String Ensemble.  People could not just walk by without stopping and listening to them play for awhile.  Their beautiful music filled the atrium with such sweet sounds.

After the concert I headed a little further West on the 101 to the Deer Valley Rock Center, which is a museum, nature preserve and archaeological site with the largest concentration of Native American rock art in the Phoenix Valley. The center showcases more than 1,500 petroglyphs made between 500 and 7,000 years ago by allowing public access to the the Hedgpeth Hills petroglyph site.

The Center is managed by one of the top archaeology programs in the country - the School of Human Evolution and Social Change, an academic unit of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, at Arizona State University.

Thanks ASU...because of you, I had a real Rock and Roll day.

Another great day of music and art...rock art!

Altar Boyz @ Desert Stages Theater

From left to right:

Mark — A sensitive young man who loves Cher
Abraham — The nice Jewish boy who loves hip-hop
Matthew — The super handsome leader of the group
Juan — The ‘Latin lover’ with a passion for beautiful women
Luke — The bad boy of the group

I had a very soul enriching day seeing the marvelous musical performance of the Altar Boyz at Desert Stages Theater.  How is it that these local community theaters can cast the absolutely 'perfect' actors and actresses in roles, but Hollywood always seemed to miscast actors for parts.

These five guys were absolutely PERFECT for each of the roles they played, and exceptionally good too.

Thanks Altar Boyz for saving my soul today.  Alleluia!!!