City Walk

                Today's final walk before summer couldn't have had
                              more beautiful weather.

A Movie and a Play

We attended a pre-screening of the Disney movie, Million Dollar Arm Thursday night. It's about a sports agent staging an unconventional recruitment strategy to get talented Indian cricket players to play Major League Baseball. It is a highly rated and entertaining feel-good movie. I wouldn't call it a must-see, but at least, it has acceptable language and no shootings, explosions, or car crashes.
Wednesday, at Palm Beach Dramaworks, we worked the pre opening production of Tryst by Karoline Leach. It is a very engaging "romantic psychological thriller." The cast consists of only one woman and one man. The actors are excellent, as we have come to expect, but the acoustics seem to be a problem. Even though we we were seated in row A, Jane and I both missed a great deal of the dialog.
Friday morning we went to the grand opening of Trader Joe's -- What a crowd!

Tonight we celebrated Pat Barnes' and Serena Rinker's birthdays with a supper and then Denise LaCroix and Pat Ruggieri came over for games.

Kravis Volunteer Salute

Last night, I attended the annual Kravis Volunteer Salute when Jane was away visiting her daughter, Kelly, in California. Here I am with Denise LaCroix and Serena Rinker.

"Christ Is Risen."

Happy Easter! The stone is rolled away. Everyone's in church, Easter anthem, thrilling special music, arrays of lilies, new duds, colored eggs, chocolate bunnies, ham -- all fond but fading memories for this heathen. After biting the ears off the chocolate bunny, what's left? Eating all the rest -- and remorse.
Only four of us showed up on this beautiful morning for the monthly City Walk.

Fear Of My Autumn Years

There's been a major shift in my feelings. For most of my life I've felt hopeful about the future, but lately, I've been feeling depressed. I thought it might be related to my recent stubbornly lingering cold. But now, with my physical health restored, I've been dwelling more on my thoughts of a grim future. I'm sensing diminishing cognitive abilities as well as a decline of vigor. When I look at old family photos, I feel sad because, with the recent passing of my sister, my family is all gone and I have no one to share or ask about those old memories. I have no friends with which to share my feelings because I've failed to cultivate close friendships. I think about my near future when I'll be unable to drive or manage my affairs or have anyone with whom to share my interests. I'm beginning to understand that ultimately all that exists is only temporary so nothing really matters.

Happy Birthday, Jane

Last night’s performance of Evita at the Kravis, I thought, was excellent. I recommend it. I took Jane to the airport this morning at 5:15 so it was a pretty short night. She’ll be in California visiting her daughter until April 22. Jane’s birthday is April 10 and her daughter’s is April 20.

More Movie Comments

Wednesday, we finally got around to hosting our sickness-delayed Saint Patrick's Day dinner. We enjoyed our guests, the Fishers and the Dowdys. Yesterday at The Society of the Four Arts, we viewed The Way, a movie with unrealized potential about walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Both Jane and I had hoped for more. I found it contrived and without sympathetic characters  or a compelling story. Tuesday afternoon at The Kravis we attended the Ella Fitzgerald Tribute with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra featuring vocalist Delores King Williams. It was very well done but not thrilling for me. Later that evening we viewed the film, The Grand Budapest Hotel. It was well reviewed and I liked it. It’s a campy farce I would recommend but don’t worry if you miss it.

Both Jane and I have been sick with bad colds lasting multiple weeks with persistent miserable coughs. We haven't felt like doing anything. In spite of that, we dragged ourselves out of bed to see a few things. Jane had to miss the terrific Gershwin music concert at Kravis called Here To Stay. We got to enjoy Neil Berg's 104 Years of Broadway and Pink Martini -- both terrific. This week Palm Beach Dramaworks' production of Dividing The Estate opened and we highly recommend that. Tonight Pat Barnes hosted Dining Out at Nana's Diner.

Captain Phillips

This week, Jane and I finally got around to viewing Captain Phillips. They showed it at the fitness center where we've recently begun exercising.  The story is based on true events and even though we knew the outcome, we found it to be a very engaging thriller.  In that sense, I compare it to Argo, another real-life-event movie which had similar tension. Tom Hanks' performance was excellent. I highly recommend this film.

From Disappointment to Ecstasy

I was disappointed with singer, Roslyn Kind’s performance Monday at the Kravis. She would have been better suited to a more intimate venue. Her vocal style was that of her big sister, Barbra Streisand, and not one I enjoy for more than a few minutes.  I felt sorry for her seeming discomfort and was eager for the ordeal to end. In contrast was our delight the next evening with the wonderful program and thrilling performance of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra with Leonard Slatkin, conductor and Olga Kern, piano. The audience reception was about as good as it gets. Then last night we were very lucky to hear Audra McDonald’s concert. It was a make-up for a month earlier when she canceled because of illness. We loved it and so, it seemed, did everyone. 

          We enjoyed Alan Collins' hike this morning in
                Winding Waters Natural Area.

           This afternoon we dined out at Rosalita's

    On this beautiful Sunday morning we had thirteen
    on today's City Walk.

Movie and More

Yesterday, we enjoyed War Horse at the Kravis. I was most impressed with the staging and recommend it. We've had so much going on lately with the Palm Beach Pop's Tribute to Bob Lappin, Everglades Day, Mandy Patinkin, Fine Art Fair, Christopher O'Riley, and I'm working on our income tax every spare moment. I can hardly wait for things to slow down.
I loved August: Osage County. It's a wonderfully crafted movie -- compelling, engaging, with terrific acting. This is a prize winner. I highly recommend this movie to everyone with the caution that the language will be offensive to some.

Pete Seeger

One of my heroes passed away this week.  We watched this PBS program, American Masters and highly recommend it.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/pete-seeger/full-film-pete-seeger-the-power-of-song/2864/

Past Week's Activities

Today Jane and I viewed the excellent film, Nebraska. It is slow paced, in black & white, poignant, sad, and witty. It isn't for everyone but for me, it is among my favorites.
Thursday at a county library we attended a performance by William and Sue Wills in their series, Presidents and Their First Ladies, Dramatically Speaking portraying Woodrow, Ellen, and Edith Wilson. They are always so good, we highly recommend it.
Saturday we volunteered at Lake Worth Playhouse for their production of Ain't Misbehavin' running through Feb. 2. I recommend it.
Sunday we went to Art Palm Beach at the convention center. I recommend it.
Monday at the Mandel Library, Frank Cerabino comments on current news. We always enjoy that.
Tuesday evening, as always, we volunteered at the Kravis for Haifa Symphony Orchestra of Israel.
Wednesday, we volunteered at the Brown Theater for Palm Beach DramaWorks' production of Old Times by Harold Pinter running through March 2nd. Jane and I both enjoyed it a lot.

Busy Week

Pictured below are "Dining Out" on Saturday and on Sunday -- City Walk with eleven of us braving the coldest morning of the winter. Last week was plenty busy starting with Monday when at Kravis we attended the "Adults at Leisure" series with a delightful program called In the Mood -- a band with singers and dancers. Then, that evening at The Colony was a memorial for photographer, Mort Kay, where we could hobnob with the swells of Palm Beach society. Tuesday we had Martha Graham Dance Company at Kravis. Wednesday began a three night hosting of an Evergreener. Friday the South Florida Fair opened. We seldom miss a fair opening.

Evelyn Louane Grovenstein - 1926 - 2014

My sister, Louane, died today in Billings, Montana. Eleven years my senior, Louane was like a mother to me. She was the closest among my other siblings. She was generous and kind to me, and never scolded or criticized me. She was always a hard worker and a fixer of problems. Louane exemplified neighborliness and friendliness. I could never wish for a better sister. She will be long remembered and greatly missed.

 

Hear Ye, Hear Ye

Yesterday at The Society of the Four Arts we viewed the movie, Leonie, about the life and relationships of the early 20th American educator, editor, and journalist Leonie Gilmour, the mother of the acclaimed artist and architect Isamu Noguchi. It has beautiful cinematography, sets, costumes, wonderful actors and a strong script. It was slow and and a bit hard to follow. I recommend it to those who appreciate the artist's works but not to everyone.
Martin Scorsese's new film, The Wolf of Wall Street is based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stockbroker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government. I found it utterly disgusting, repulsive pornography. I don't recommend it for anyone. It may receive some positive reviews but don't be suckered in. I wouldn't even want to know anyone who could enjoy this film.* Read these reviews.
 Last Tuesday we ushered at The Kravis for the new theatrical adaptation of the opera, Porgy and Bess. I enjoyed it and recommend it. The singers were excellent. I didn't remember the story but the Gershwin's music must be known and fondly remembered by most of us.
* A week later after hearing discussion, I take back this declaration but the caution for others still stands.