Chinese Lantern Festival :: Missouri Botanical Garden

We finally had the opportunity to make it to the Lantern Festival and I'm so glad we did. What a magically whimsical way to spend a Friday night with the family. Even with the 100+ degree heat, we definitely felt transported to a faraway land.

Coldplay :: Toronto, Air Canada Centre

Wow.

What a trip.

I couldn't have been more impressed with the city of Toronto. It is very much like taking what's great about NYC and Chicago and rolling them into one fabulously diverse and cultural city. In one day alone, we walked to the lakefront, to the top of the CN tower, to the Royal Ontario Museum then ate and drank like royalty at Rodney's Oyster House before heading back to the entertainment district to get ready to do even more the next day.

Whew.

Other notable things we were lucky enough to see and do? The Picasso exhibit at the AGO, dinner with some local, Toronto friends, the fashion and distillery districts and a Coldplay show (Yes, the photo above is from our seats)! It was an amazing time. I'll likely post more photos soon, there's just too much to share in just one post. Au Revoir for now, Toronto.

(Bon) Voyage Toronto

Only a few days left to prepare for our trip to Toronto. There is still so much to do, including mapping out some sort of itinerary. Seems like you want that done by now, non? Thankfully, the organizer in me comes out when I can get excited about making lists and plans. So far on the Agenda? See Coldplay on Monday night at the Air Canada Centre. Not a bad start, eh?

New Beginnings

From the Basement

For those of you that remember and miss watching music videos, you have to check this "From the Basement" site out (link below). It is even better, kind of like a cross between videos and "Unplugged". It's more intimate, like you're getting the opportunity to sit in on a recording session.

No overproduced videos, agendas to sell music, costumes to sell image. Just the artists...making music...in a room.

Fabulous.

Apparently a small crew has taken on shooting HD video and doing their own sound. "My own personal goal is that in the future some of these performances might be seen as the truest representation of the state of their artists work, captured in a way that lets their talents speak without the interference of presenters, or audiences." -Nigel Godrich

See for yourself here.

Roanoke, Definitely more than a one-star place.

I had the pleasure of spending some time in the Roanoke, VA area this past weekend. I was officially there to help out with their ADDYs but got to see much more.

The largest man made star, as a website I found so eloquently put it, "Was Built in 1949 and is visible from just about every part of the Valley. This splendidly illuminated, 100 foot-tall Star situated on the top of Mill Mountain was named by Indians wandering between the parallel ridges of the Allegheny Mountains (their great valley Shenandoah), 'daughter of the stars.' Roanoke is known as the 'Star City of the South'."

I have to admit, aesthetically it kinda beats our giant Amoco sign in the Lou.

Also, there was a fabulous little open-air market feel to the downtown area that is home to both a new art museum and a train museum (Roanoke is historically also a railroad town).

Then there was the fantastic late night music of Mr. Tony James. Seriously you had to be there to believe it. I've never heard a version of Hotel California quite like this one. Ha.

Most notable, though, is the politeness of everybody you talk to there. Even being from the mid-west, these people can please and thank you like the nobody's business. As one of the people in our crew pointed out, even the revolving door at the Roanoke airport has a polite southern accent.

All in all, a great visit. One giant star maybe, but I'd give it more like four or five.

Happy Friday.

I went to lunch with a few coworkers today. Delicious, delicous, Blues City Deli. I really do love that place. The Redbird Special is PHENOMENAL. If you're in St. Louis, head on down to the Soulard/Benton Park area and check it out. You won't regret it.

Anyway, it came up that we'd missed Jimmy Kuehnle's Inflatable Suit Performance Tour under the Arch.

"What the F?", you say. Yeah, I said the same thing.

So we looked him up and got the scoop. Find that at http://www.jimmykuehnle.com.

I'm pretty sure that's why he calls it an inflatable suit, right? Gets people asking questions.

I have to be honest, I pictured a guy in some sort of puffy leisure suit. Don't know why, that's just what came to mind first.

But so here's the best part...We're walking toward the office on a fairly warm winter Friday with BCD happy bellies when one of us spots Jimmy and his inflatable suit walking down Washington Avenue. That's right, don't see that everyday.

It was actually kinda funny, like our own little Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Don't you just love those little coincidences?