ByGD
A sudden rush of deadlines and a visit from out-of-state family meant that I didn’t get to prepare as thoroughly for Director’s Choice this year as I normally do. Fortunately, since my family were all visiting, I got to attend with a friend who is herself a dancer. She was happy to attend the pre-lecture and the Q&A afterwards. Plus, I was able to hear some of her insights, which are so much more informed than mine.
ByGD
China is hardly a hotbed of craft brewing. Tsingtao is possibly its only famous brand. Named for Qingdao, the German-influenced city where it is brewed (the difference in spelling is a result of changing pinyin systems in the 20th century) Tsingtao is a nice pilsner of the type favored in Asian countries.
When you visit the city of Qingdao and order a beer, it’s a given that you will be given a Tsingtao. The question they ask you is “Do you want the local one or the kind we export?”
“What’s the difference?”
“The local one is 5 yuan extra.”
“I’ll take the local.”
Maybe it’s just my imagination, but I think the home-style brew tasted a little fresher.
ByGD
In my backpacking days, itinerary planning meant buying plane tickets, booking a bed for the first night, and purchasing the relevant rail pass. When I became responsible for planning family vacations, the burden of ensuring a good time was had by all (and therefore a love of travel instilled in the next generation) sent me the other way. I didn’t just reserve lodging and transportation for the entire trip, I agonized over room and seat selections. Now I’m headed to Norway with a child who is old enough to have opinions on where we go. What’s the itinerary look like for that?
ByGD
This is turning into my winter of opera. First I was surprised to find The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs is not only a good opera, but also an enjoyable one and ended up buying tickets to see it again. Then I discovered the same thing about Seattle Opera’s youth performance Ulysses.
ByGD
This week I almost managed a theme for the music I liked. If you think about it broadly, Sinmara, Blue Hummingbird on the Left, Kraftgalli, Integral Rigor, and Kel Assouf are all celebrating indigeneity and folk traditions with their music.