Live Music

[barfle]

Originally posted by Serenity:
Just stay away from Balboa Park on the way to the zoo. Is this sound advice Sandyeggoans?

As I recall, the zoo is IN Balboa Park, so it would be tough to avoid. And, if you find such things interesting, I would also recommend the Ruben H. Fleet Space Theater in the park.

[piqaboo]

Also the aerospace museum. I like the art and photography museums as well, and every summer I attend a series of plays at the old globe theater which is in the center of the park.
This weekend we're going to an organ concert in Balboa Park, accompanied by the scottish McCaw. If we remember the camera, perhaps we'll post a pic.

There's an archery range which has always intriqued me, and a japanese garden, etc etc etc.
There's a chess club in one corner, and other groups (scottish dancers, basketball players, etc) meet in various buildings thru-out the park.
There's a shuffleboard court, and an ENORMOUS banyan tree.

Its a good park. Its a GREAT zoo, and yes, the zoo parking lot is on the edge of the park, with the zoo being inside the park.


Some snazzy and high-end restaurants & "chic" shopping scattered around the outer edges of the park ("5th & Laurel" comes most immediately to mind).

Ok, MUST WORK.

[Serenity]

Somone once told me that the human wildlife at Balboa Park was more interesting than the animal wildlife in the zoo. I guess they've been "herded away" ( ).

[treebeau]

Originally posted by bignaf:
I'll date a chimpanzee for a free opera ticket. (in fact I'll date a chimp, period. they're cool.)

Yes, but what about Michael Jackson's shaved ape love child? Would you take THAT to the opera?

Regards,
Tim B.

[Ajax]

Sounds nice, although I never did make it to the actual zoo. I was ususally at the beach or in the mountains. I would like to come back and visit, but with her living there that'll never happen.

Nice place to visit though!!!

[piqaboo]

Still plenty of human wildlife in the park, but it doesnt seem dangerous for the most part.

One border of the park is Hillcrest, our local 'gay' neighborhood. Another edge is very close to downtown, and had lots of places for the homeless to sleep. A third side borders the navy hospital etc, so you can see we get interesting mixes wandering about.

No shave ape love-children been spotted there yet, but one can hope....

[Ajax]

But the weather seldom changes out there. Many people like like, but it wasn't for me. "Perfect" weather for 10 out of 12 months began to feel mudane. Even when I lived on Cape Cod(Falmouth) the weather really was never that bad.
I grew up in Kansas, and now live in Minnesota. Midwesterner at heart, and enjoy "bad" weather.

[piqaboo]

Ajax, I spent 3 fascinating days in central Wisconsin one summer:
Day 1 98C and >85% humidity
Day 2 Thundershowers and rain all day. low 60s
Day 3 upper 70s, easy humidity, beautiful skies

Darn good thing there were clothing shops, as I was not prepared for that much variety in such a short time!

[OperaTenor]

I think Balboa park has become one of San Diego's treasures. I think it got to be a little desperate during the early-mid eighties, but these days it is quite the wholesome place to spend the day, and seems relatively safe at night.
The museums and other facilities are priceless. Barfle mentioned Reuben H. Fleet, which is a wonderful science museum, but I also feel the aerospace museum, and the automotive heritage museums are worth the visit. In the aerospace museum they have the only exact copy of the Spirit of St. Louis ever built(for those of you who don't know, the original was built here by Ryan Aeronautical - hence San Diego's airport being called Lindbergh Field), and a couple of years ago they mounted an SR-71 in front of the museum.
The organ pavillion houses one of the largest outdoor organs in the US, and they give free concerts every Sunday afternoon from 2 to 3pm, as well as Summer evening concert series.
Another point of trivia: The park was built for the 1915 World Exposition.

<small>[ 05-14-2004, 12:53 PM: Message edited by: OperaTenor ]</small>

[OperaTenor]

Hey Piq, you made 2nd chair!

[piqaboo]

oooh, sweething, you noticed!

I cant wait to see my next check with the pay raise!

[OperaTenor]

I heard it's a 20% raise....

[piqaboo]

8.3 hours to Traviata!

[Ajax]

And only 21 hours until Rugby!!!
Oh wait, that's a different bulletin board. Sorry

[barfle]

45 munutes until vacation!

[OperaTenor]

Originally posted by barfle:
45 munutes until vacation!

GIve! Where to, and for how long?

[barfle]

Originally posted by OperaTenor:

Originally posted by barfle:
[b] 45 munutes until vacation!

GIve! Where to, and for how long? [/b]

Actually, we have house guests coming for a week, so I'll be playing tour guide, as though I know my way around DC.

[piqaboo]

Organ concert at Balboa Park.
Info to follow as soon as I find that darn program. I thought it was right here!!

Assorted classical and adapted-to-organ popular music.

The Scottish McCaw listened attentatively and kept mostly quiet, due to repeated "shushings" by his man-servant.

The sound is very good, and its interesting to hear it get blown away as the breeze picks up.

Well worth a visit for pipe-organ afficianados.

[1st_oboe]

Live music opportunity:

Treasure Valley Saxophone Choir under the direction of Aaron Rynearson with special guest Meg Graf, Bass sax. Tuesday May 25, CD recording session followed by a public performance during dinner (probably start playing around 5-5:30)at the TVCC cafeteria. If anyone happens to be in the area, it will be well worth your time to stop in and hear the monster sax.

To those list members who I have addresses for: (Selma, Piqatenor, Ethan) I am preparing a package of CD's of performances from this season by the Treasure Valley Symphony, (as promised earlier) Since I have not got them done yet, I will wait untill I have the sax choir CD's done and send those as well. Be expecting them within three weeks. (For real this time)

Anyone else who is interested, drop me an email/PM with your address and I'll be glad to include you in the mailing.

Cheers!
Aaron

<small>[ 05-19-2004, 11:44 AM: Message edited by: 4th_oboe ]</small>

[piqaboo]

The Rancho Bernardo Chorale (RBChorale) gave one of its' two June concerts last night. On Friday, we feature three scholarship contestants vying for 4th, - 6th place. We had two very talented violinists and an oboist. We had a field of 17 candidates, which was narrowed to 6 by a mix of financial need, plans to pursue a musical career, and musical ability as demonstrated to our nominating committee. The candidates then perform at the concert, starting with clean slates. For the first time, the placings were chosen by audience vote (we used to use a panel of 3-5 community judges). The awards were $1000, $1500 and $2500, for 3rd, 2nd, 1st. Essentially we had two contests, one on Friday night (1-3) and another on Sat night (1-3). I have no idea how they decided which three would compete on which night. Saturday night, the harpist took 3rd, the pianist took 2nd and the singer took 1st. I'll list their names later, as we will probably hear of one or two of them again.

CUmulatively, this is the largest award we have given yet (in 30 years, the chorale has awarded well over $100,000 in scholarships, and the amount has greatly increased in recent years as we become able to count on 4 sell-out crowds of 816 per year).

The Chorale performs before and after the contest - that first number after the superb performances of the contestants is nerve-wracking! This June, the theme was Broadway, Past and Present. The director, PAt Bean, is fond of medleys, so we did arrangements from Jerome Kern, Andrew Lloyd Webber, "Oklahoma", "Chicago", and a medley of "Broadway hits". We also did an arrangement of "Bring Him Home" (Les Mis) by the men, and a medley of golddigger songs by the ladies (Hey Big Spender, We're in the Money,and Whatever Lola wants).

Solo performances were given of several numbers from Oklahoma and Phantom of the Opera. In addition, we had a send up of Sonny & Cher (the broadway connection is a bit weak here, but our audience loved them), and the rock song "On Broadway". We ended the concert with a gospel song anchored by "Wayne Jr and the Waynettes", followed by a medley of patriotic songs anchored by one Jim Boydston. Wayne Jr and Jim sing solos while being backed up by ~130 of us who are getting pretty enthusiastic (aka loud) by this time.

There was one AMAZING improvement in the chorale's performance this year. The group has aquired the use of dynamics! We now vary from pianissimo to fortissimo! We used to do everything forte, despite Pat's best efforts.
This remarkable change came about by the most amusing/amazing technique - Pat now holds up 1 finger for pianissimo and 5 for fortissimo. This sinks into our collective brain in the way nothing else has for 30 years!

Its a big glitzy show (lots of sequins - think "Razzle Dazzle" from Chicago), and as usual with the RBC, music is just one of the components.
The dancing was the best choreography ever.

<small>[ 06-21-2004, 03:02 PM: Message edited by: piqaboo ]</small>