Saturday, April 19, 2008
Tahoe - Still Snow
Bryn Terfel in Berkeley
A terrific glowing review from the San Francisco Chronicle "Terfel's artistic gifts, of course, have never been in doubt. His huge dynamic palette, from a thundering, superbly modulated fortissimo to the barest filament of sound; the dark, burnished beauty of his vocal tone; his fluent phrasing and extraordinarily clear diction; and his mastery of a wide range of vocal styles - all these and more conspire to make his every vocal performance a memorable treasure."
His Faenol Festival in Wales each August is a huge hit. What started as a night of opera under the stars is now a 4-day festival with a night of opera, pop, jazz, and Welsh music. One day (the Celtic gods willing), I'll make a sojourn there for the whole festival!
Sunday, April 13, 2008
"The Fall"
Santa Barbara
I took these 2 snaps with my phone from my rental car [yes, I was driving]. Not the best quality, but this commute sure beats the hell out of my normal one.
I had some terrific fish tacos at a chain called Wahoo's. I'd never eaten at one, but it reminded me of Rubio's. But I think Wahoo's was better as they had a different take on certain items. Since I usually judge a place on their beans and rice I was pleased to have something called ahi rice [tasty] and their spicy Cajun white beans [surprising heat! ]. The place isn't exactly a destination, but a delicious meal on the cheap? Right friggin' on!
Next door to Wahoo's is an Irish pub called The James Joyce. I went inside and it was quite authentic. I stayed a bit for some music as the band was pretty good. Since it was a work night, I didn't partake in the fine Guinness being poured, but rest assured, if I'm back in the area, I'll be in this place for more than a few jars!