Around Town #2

Delightful describes three recent happenings around "Memphis Town."

Three "events" made me smile. Smiles made even bigger because events were attended with dear friends!!

• Chaperoning HHS English students at Opera Memphis production of Hansel and Gretel was a treat. The inventive set was an example of less is more and the hand-drawn screens, which enabled shadow play, were mesmerizing. Plus, a friend's daughter was one of the gingerbread men. Ned Canty continues his mission to bring opera to the people---from the pop-up opera introductions in the routines of our lives from farmer's mkt., Botanic Garden and Shelby Farms playground to the upcoming Midtown Opera Festival in April. Kudos to Canty who has elevated opera acceptance throughout our town.
• 
• Paddington, the movie, showing at several Malco theaters will make you smile, whether your are 9 or 90. So rare to find such a family type movie these days. It's worth adopting a child for a day if you need a reason to go see it. As for me, I was the youngest in our group---at an age some folks consider elderly, and I smiled---a lot!
  
• TV Dinners, a lunchtime option at River Oaks. Chef José Gutierrez takes all food to the next level of delicious. Every morsel delightful. José's TV Dinner concept provides 4 small portions. Think...."Four-Course Prix-Fixe"......including salad, entree, veggie and dessert. Definitely more sophisticated than the Swanson dinners of the 50s. The warm dark chocolate cake is a favorite dessert.....
  
  but the creme brulee made me smile!

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: MAGIC OF MEMPHIS

Memphis Botanic Gardens Farmer's Mkt on Wed 2-6 pm

9/23/12 This week, with my eyes intentionally open to find the positive aspects of Memphis, I saw lots of good stuff---in just 3 days. Is it all merely one’s viewpoint?

Certainly negative words tend to run across our newspaper and top the “breaking news” intro on TV----But God…..reminded me that…..

With the blessing of decent people a city is raised up, but by the words of wicked people, it is torn down. (Proverbs:11:11)

So………….here's what I saw in places and people of Memphis in those 3 days.

Pop-up opera all over town for 30 days---Go Opera Memphis!

Art Classes for kids at the Dixon Gallery

Give 365 described in CA as philanthropy for young donors but they welcomed this Medicare gal as well----so many (11) worthy finalists for the "Eye on the Prize" grant money---

Catching up with Pi Phi Chum, Mimi, at GIVE365 meeting

A GREAT place to visit in the fall or spring....or anytime----a real Memphis treasure

View from Visible Music College toward Redbird's Stadium

Ekundayo Bandele, founder of Hattieloo presents his grant request for a technical theatre internship program at Give365. I LOVE Hattieloo---as all who know me can attest! Click to see renderings of new Overton Square proposed theatre district.

After school creative writing program at the Hooks library vying for one of the grants.

Wish I had a picture of the adorable Brady family who travel from Illinois to Memphis for St. Jude. They LOVE St. Jude and all of Memphis should as well!

Shakespeare as hubby likes it----FUNNY! Performance is such fun that we both recommend it for everyone!! TN Shakespeare Company----what an asset right here in our community!

Walkabout Wednesday: a reprise

30 Days of Pop-Up Opera (Photo by April, age 8)

9/19/12 Walkabout Wednesday took on a new twist this afternoon as my walking buddy, Ellen, has “turned” to swimming for exercise because of a foot malady. I miss our times together. I miss the different places we walk. I just miss her.

But.....today I had the granddaughter of friend Claudia accompany me and we “walked” through the Farmer’s Market at the Botanic Gardens.  What a surprise we found there. The Opera Memphis folks were performing. Good music with great food. How serendipitous was that!

My young friend asked the OM director, “What are they singing?” When I asked her what he said, she replied, A word that tickles my tongue---“La Boheme.” 

I explained to her that this music was opera---and that they had been taking opera “to the people”----just popping up in different places like festivals, universities, parks, libraries and even the Greenline. I was thrilled that we had happened on one of their outside "free" productions!

When I asked her how she liked the music, I loved her response. “It crackles me up, and makes me shiver.”

Well done, Opera Memphis. That sounds like a rave review to me.

Since the group will be performing at Shelby Farms on October 6 (at the playground) I suggested a "walkabout reprise." Hearing the word playground, she was all for it.