La Vie "Boheme"

I'm currently losing my mind packing (or doing everything possible to avoid it because packing sucks), winding things down at work (or leaving at 2:30 every day because #quitter), and saying as many goodbyes as possible (or drinking as many drinks as possible because that's what we do). Today's post, therefore, is just a quick dump of pretty photos from a few weeks ago, when Michael and I met up with Antinea and Michael ('other Michael') for our last opera of the season, "La Boheme!" 

We dined at Moscow on the Hill beforehand - my first caviar experience - and were treated to champagne with the other donors/patrons in the gallery at second intermission. All in all, an incredibly delightful evening with people I'm going to miss so much! 

I will forever envy Antinea her incredible height and stunning Badgley Mischka shoes (my 4-inch heels still barely get me to clear the shoulder, BOO). 

What is it about men in tuxes? I wish people dressed up more. 

Breaking up the "photos by the Grand Staircase" binge with a snippet of the loveliest aria, "Che gelida manina" as sung by Scott Quinn as Rodolfo. While I think "Boheme" has some of Puccini's most stunning music, the plot (rather, lack thereof) left me cold...starving artists have tuberculosis and feelings! Oh my! That said, the performance by the Minnesota Opera's cast was absolutely beautiful...sassy Musetta, romantic Rodolfo and tragic Mimi were all sung to perfection.

Also perfection: Antinea's vintage dress, a 1950s find. 

The lighting in the Ordway is so tough - what a nightmare. Loving the Ralph Lauren gown I purchased day-of once we decided to go black-tie as well...there's something sort of decadent and adult about owning gowns that aren't from prom, ha!

BOO BLURRY. All in all, the loveliest night with the loveliest people. Made even better by a nightcap at Spoon and Stable with Michael and the one and only Matt Callanan, who outdid himself afterward by inviting us to his place for a raucous game of Cards Against Humanity, vodka-Diet Mountain Dew in a champagne flute with a Sour Patch Kid garnish, and his fantastic French whiskey. The after-after party with Michael on my roof with a double-pepperoni pizza just cemented a superlative goodbye to our opera nights! 

Now to find myself a crew even half this tall and attractive for the San Francisco Opera...

friday morning brain dump

Guys. I'm slowly losing it. Things are 100% crazy right now - winding up my job, preparing for a cross-country move, selling half my life on Craigslist, trying to see as many friends as possible before heading west. It feels like almost every morning I wake up and my first thought is "OMGWTFAMIDOINGAHHHHHH" before my feet hit the ground and I don't stop to think for the rest of the day. 

Bright spots in the craziness: 

-- My parents are in Ireland and sending back absurdly picturesque photos of the castles in which they're staying and the sheep with whom they are frolicking and the scenery in which they are doing said frolicking. It's making me crave a Euro trip in the worst way. 

-- There's so much hilarity latent in trying to sell things on the Internet. I stumbled into a barter-type situation in trying to sell an old iPod, and was so tempted to ask him if he wanted to discuss how many camels he'd trade for my virginity. HA. 

-- In a totally serendipitous happening, I ran into a friend, Tien, at trivia last Monday right after I shared news of my move. She was one of the first people to reach out and wish me well, and seeing her was totally happenstance, as it had been MONTHS. We ended up chatting for a while at trivia, and then drank champagne on my roof on Tuesday night catching up on life.

It was the most inspirational conversation I've had in a long time - she, like me, is making some pretty radical changes in life, and hearing her excitement for and drive to make those changes galvanized me to continue striving to be and do better. We talked a lot about the impetus behind change, and ended up talking for quite awhile about Oprah...because, duh, Oprah is the original powerbitch. Not gonna lie, I stole some of Tien's mojo and started reading Oprah too...and found this list of Oprah quotes on success to be particularly inspiring going through the week. 

--These Hermione-centric Harry Potter titles made me laugh my ass off, right in the middle of the workday. I'm a particular fan of "Hermione Is More Competent Than Everyone Else While She Is In A Coma." Life goals, right there. Hermione and Oprah can be in my Powerbitch Club any day. 

--You know you've arrived when the Minnesota Opera puts you and your date in their digital invitation to the 55th anniversary Kickoff Gala. Which, naturally, I can't attend because, you know, I'm leaving. Here's hoping I can leave a similar mark on the San Francisco Opera...HA. 

--I haven't touched a book for like two weeks, THANKS moving. That said, my "books to read" list is growing at an alarming pace thanks to the Reese Witherspoon Book Club account on Instagram. Turns out that in addition to being a new power producer in Hollywood, she's also an avid reader who gets books turned into movies on the regular. Can't wait to pick up a few of her latest recommendations! 

--Laura and I are already planning wine country trips for our new West Coast life, and that will have to include our furry roommate Fi. I've bookmarked these lists of dog friendly wineries in Napa and Sonoma, and can't wait to get drinking. Of course. 

--Laura also posted this amazing data mapping of "Hamilton" lyrics on my Facebook forever ago, and I'm not going to lie, I spent like an hour playing with it over lunch on Monday or Tuesday. It's delightful in every way for an analytics nerd like me. 

the Twin Cities Arts Roundup - Winter 2017

Wow, I completely skipped a winter arts roundup, and it’s probably about time I hop back on that bandwagon…this has been a crazy winter and spring of hitting up my favorite places and trying out a few new ones for the best of the Twin Cities arts scene!

Guthrie Theater

- My little Open Call crew saw “The Lion In Winter” in early December – a witty and sarcastic Goldman play famously turned into a 1968 film starring Peter O’Toole and Katharine Hepburn. Covering the end of the reign of Henry II, it centers around his desire to pass his kingdom down intact to one of his three sons, and his estranged wife Eleanor of Aquitaine’s machinations to ensure her favorite wins the day. We loved it...I particularly enjoyed Laila Robbins as Eleanor.

- We were supposed to see “King Lear” in mid-February, but due to our group’s crazy schedules we ended up pushing to March 7. I studied Lear in college and have always had a soft spot for this, arguably the darkest of Shakespeare’s tragedies. Our crew was not impressed in general, not being as Shakespeare-obsessed as I am, but I loved it and thought the production was incredible…especially Stephen Yoakam as Lear (I wish I would have seen it again just to see the double-cast Nathaniel Fuller!).

- A scant three days later we were back at the Guthrie for “The Royal Family,” a Kaufman and Ferber play loosely based on the Barrymore acting dynasty. Several of us brought new friends with us for the evening, so our usual group of five swelled to eight or nine! I found “The Royal Family” to be such a fun, refreshing romp after the darkness of “Lear,” and my group really enjoyed it as well.

Minnesota Orchestra

- My family has an annual tradition of seeing a show the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and this year it was “Ratatouille in Concert!” I had never seen this particular Disney-Pixar show, and really enjoyed it…enhanced, of course, with the divine Sarah Hicks conducting and with the Orchestra’s usual flair.

- We also saw “Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone” in concert at the Convention Center! This is apparently going to be an eight-year undertaking for orchestras across the country – a new film will be made available in the accompaniment-ready format each year. I had SUCH an amazing time…I think “Harry Potter” has one of the best scores in modern cinema for sheer catchiness and I have zero shame in admitting that.

- Michael and I spent New Year’s Eve (at least the first part!) at Orchestra Hall for their annual gala. While I loved the discovery of Puts’s “Millennium Canons” and really enjoyed Rachmaninoff’s Symphony no.2, I could have done without Dawn Upshaw’s Great American Songbook. Oops.

- Jodester and I immediately purchased tickets to the vaunted Sir Neville Marriner performance last summer, and I was dismayed by his passing last fall at the age of 93. The Orchestra turned his planned appearance into a beautiful and touching tribute concert, highlighting his experience with the MN Orchestra musicians and performing a few of his favorite pieces. A fitting tribute to a giant of the classical music world!

- Hal and I took up Open Call on a free-tickets offer to Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony in February, and I had the worst seats I’ve ever had at Orchestra Hall…eep! That said, Hugh Wolff conducting the symphony with no break and no SCORE blew my mind – such a great roommate date.

- Jodes and I found ourselves at Orchestra Hall last weekend for an Elgar and Schubert program conducted by Osmo Vanska, who is one of my all-time favorite people in the state of Minnesota. The program was unbelievable – the Elgar utterly blew me away – and watching how athletically he conducted it made me inordinately happy.

Minnesota Opera

- Michael and I saw “Diana’s Garden,” a delightful Mozart-era work that’s been essentially unperformed for years, in January. Focused on Greek mythology and featuring the most charming costuming and an absolutely sick soprano aria in the first act, it was the perfect light, fun thing to get through a dreary sub-zero Minnesota winter.

- In March, the Minnesota Opera world-premiered a new work, “Dinner at Eight,” based on another Kaufman and Ferber gem. I saw it with my new friend and fellow Notre Dame grad Nicholas, who is a talented collaborative pianist and opera lover. We both really enjoyed it – though it wasn’t my favorite work I’ve seen at the Opera, there was some truly beautiful and interesting music in there, and the juxtaposition of humor and poignancy was very well done.

- Last Saturday, Michael and I headed to the Metropolitan Ballroom for Cabaret 2017, an event put on by the members of the Opera’s Resident Artist Program annually. The 40s-themed evening featured a variety show-style revue featuring the dozen young artists, and we had a ball watching the performance and then dancing (and drinking!) our faces off afterward with the cast!

Others

- Kels and I saw “The Bodyguard,” the Whitney Houston musical based on the movie of the same name, in January – while it won’t win any awards for plot, the music was KILLER. My particular favorite: joining the whole audience in rocking out to “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” at the end of the curtain call, of course!

- Hannah and I scored amazing tickets to The Lumineers at the Target Center thanks to my amazing sister Em. I’ve loved the Lumineers as long as they’ve been played on the radio, and their live show was right up there with everything I’ve seen and loved of them so far. I especially enjoyed the fact that they opened with “Submarines” straight off taking the stage to Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain.” Win.

- Dick, Jodes and I took in Theater Latte Da’s “Peter and the Starcatcher” in mid-February, mostly because Tyler Michaels was playing Peter/Boy and I will see anything and everything that he appears in. I really liked it, but I think other things Latte Da has done have been better – notably “Sweeney Todd” and “C.”

WHEE what a marathon it’s been lately! No signs of slowing down either – I’ve still got a half-dozen events in the next month to look forward to. Can’t wait for more amazing performances in the near future!

Paris in St. Paul!

Last Saturday, Hannah and I got all dolled up and headed off to Paris...in St. Paul! 

I was invited as an honoree representative of my company to attend the annual Ordway Gala, and this year's theme was Springtime In Paris. As springtime in Paris is actually one of my favorite things ever, I was ALL about it. 

We met up at my place, popped a bottle of bubbles, and got ready together...

OMG YOU GUYS I WORE A COLOR! Details to follow...

After enjoying our Prosecco and dressing to the nines, we headed off to the Honorees' Reception, held in the gorgeous US Bank Rehearsal Hall. We were treated to an open bar, a giant spread of amazing French appetizers, and a virtuosic performance of Eugène Ysaÿe's Sonata #2, "Obsession," by the St Paul Chamber Orchestra's Francisco Fullana. I, being me, immediately fell deeply in love with him and turned beet-red and giggled every time he came near for the rest of the program. Oops :)

Of course, I had the prettiest date ever!! In keeping with our love of spontaneity and adventures, Hannah was totally willing to rent a gown and come hang with me for the evening...what a gem of a BFW!

After our VIP program ended, we headed out to the second-story Atrium to enjoy live French music and more champagne, and to browse the silent auction items! I couldn't get over the transformation of the space from our usual evenings at the opera. So charming and so quintessentially "springtime in Paris!"

Before we go too far, a quick note on that gown...

It's Badgley Mischka, and I rented it from my go-to obsession, Rent The Runway, after being...let's say "politely advised" to not wear "another black gown to this one," HA! The deep cobalt blue was WAY out of my comfort zone initially, but it paired perfectly with current-season J.Crew earrings, an old J.Crew necklace repurposed as a bracelet, and of course, the Ordway's carpet...every girl's best fashion accessory, naturally! (Please ignore my turquoise rubber bracelet...that was for the VIP bar selection, of course!)

The gown was an absolute dream to wear...I actually tried it on the Thursday before the event and didn't take it off for several hours, oops! Fortunately for me, it comes in a plethora of other colors on RTR's site, so I have a feeling it's about to be a go-to for black-tie events. 

Champagne and chardonnay in hand, we explored the event...from the adorable hand-drawn "cityscapes" featuring the names of sponsors...

...to the INSANE Wall of Wine raffle! $25 got a participant a raffle entry to win the entire rack of wine. Hannah and I were hopeful, but unfortunately didn't come out on top. Next year!

We rested our feet...

...took plenty of selfies... (With my other crush of the evening, the super-hot haberdashery model behind me who complimented me on my blue dress, naturally)...

...and ran into friends!! I was tickled to see Mike's mom, Martha, there representing the Minnesota History Theatre. 

One of the centerpieces of the evening was the three-story tall Eiffel Tower watercolor, which also prominently featured on the tickets, programs and advertising for the evening. We couldn't resist an official photo!

But we quickly figured out that the best viewing spot for our very own Tour Eiffel was halfway up the Grand Staircase (yes, it's actually called that, ha). 

The official program for the evening moved us into the Ordway's gorgeous new Concert Hall, an acoustically-perfect space that's home to the Schubert Club and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. As my company was the premier sponsor of the night, we got top billing:

After a few speeches, we were treated to performances by the Ordway, Schubert Club, and Minnesota Opera. The Ordway did Gershwin (love), the Schubert Club brought in one of their scholarship recipients who played Erik Satie's "Gymnopedie no1" and a Ravel sonatina, and the Opera rolled out the red carpet and imported Parisian mezzo-soprane Marie Lenormand to perform my all-time favorite, "La Vie En Rose," along with cabaret classic "Je Cherche un Millionaire." TOO FUN. The fund-a-need portion of the night, including live auction, was wildly successful as well. 

After the program wrapped up, we grabbed one more glass of champagne, along with the entire dessert buffet...

Then we tried to get a "nice photo" by the chandeliers and Eiffel Tower. Turns out coworker AJ's idea of "nice photo" differs drastically from Hannah's/mine...candids below for your enjoyment! 

We have a winner! Followed by a photobomb c/o AJ's sister, Kathryn...HA.

So we took a girl pic...

...and a coworker pic...

...followed by the sweetest, most awkward, most incredibly homogeneous dance party in the history of wealthy donors' events ever. Hannah's Snapchat, below, really says it all...the woman in the photo is, I'm pretty sure, an Ordway. As in, the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. 

We hopped in Snap Yourself!'s photo booth for a few hilarious moments, involving a lot of confusion around the clicker and wrestling with a beret that didn't want to stay on my updo...

And before I knew it, it was time to head home, take off painful heels, and flop straight into bed (yes, in my gown, oops) to relive a night in Paris without ever having to leave my backyard. 

The loveliest evening with the most wonderful people! If every night could involve champagne and ball gowns, I'd be a happy camper. Alors, I guess I have to cherche un millionaire of my own... ;) 

A playlist to unlock your inner badass.

I've been needing little boosts here and there lately, and this playlist is perfectly designed for it. Looping it here and there and everywhere - en route to barre, in the shower, before meetings and speaking engagements - and it's exactly the right amount of extra oomph to put me in the mood to rock whatever's coming up. Favorite lyrics and snippets below: 

Lizzo, “Good as Hell” - "Boss up and change your life, You can have it all, no sacrifice"

Katy Perry, “Firework” - "You're original, cannot be replaced"

Yuna, “Rescue” - "Yeah, she's got a light in her face, She don't need no rescue and she's okay"

Daya, “Sit Still Look Pretty” - "Oh, I don't know what you've been told, But this gal right here's gonna rule the world"

Sara Bareilles, “Brave” - "Let your words be anything but empty"

Beyonce, “Schoolin’ Life” - "Stop living in regret, baby, it's not over yet"

NONONO, “Pumpin Blood” - "You're a catalyst to your own happiness, you know"

Robyn, “Dancing On My Own” - "I keep dancin' on my own," duh.

Jimmy Eat World, “The Middle” - "Little girl in the middle of your life, everything, everything's gonna be just fine" (also see here)

The New Radicals, “You Get What You Give” - "You get what you give," also duh. Also see here. 

Sia, “Elastic Heart” - "But you won't see me fall apart, 'Cause I've got an elastic heart"

Florence + The Machine, “Shake It Out” - "And it's time to dance with the devil on your back"

La Roux, “Bulletproof” - "Tick, tick, tick, tick on the watch, And life's too short for me to stop"

Lizzo and Caroline Smith, “Let’em Say” - "But if you’re giving in then don’t you change, Cause living well's the best revenge"

Idina Menzel, “Let it Go” - DUH.

Elle King, “America’s Sweetheart” - "You tryna change me, you can go to hell, Cause I don't wanna be nobody else"

Adele, “Send My Love (To Your New Lover” - "Baby, I'm still rising"

Paramore, “Ain’t It Fun” - "So what are you gonna do, When the world don't orbit around you"