Spontaneity

[mojosmom]

Yesterday, I wore a hat. A navy blue straw hat. I was going to the Art Institute, and decided to go in lady-like style. Blue dress with white flowers, navy blazer, aforesaid hat and navy cotton gloves. Got three compliments on the hat: one from a lady my age, one from a young woman, and one from a guy all dressed in leather (International Mr. Leather is in town)! The event at the Art Institute was a program on The Way of Tea, presented by Shozo Sato. It began with demonstrations of tea ceremony rituals from three different schools, as well as lecture on the way of tea, and one on tea utensils by an American potter who works in Japan with the Urasenke Foundation. I didn't hang around for the tour of the tea utensil exhibit, as I had already seen it.

Today, I went to see the Chicago Opera Theatre's production of Berlioz' Béatrice and Bénédict. They've updated it to the forties, and instead of Berlioz' French dialogue, they went back to Shakespeare, so it's French singing and English dialogue. The updating is logical and works very well.

The weather today was absolutely gorgeous, warmer than forecast. The opera was at the Harris Theatre of Music and Dance, right by Millennium Park, so as it was still warm and sunny when it got out (it was a matinée performance) I decided to have dinner outside in the Park Café. The wait wasn't bad at all, considering the weather and the crowds, only about fifteen minutes. It was about 6:30 when I finished, and instead of heading home, I decided to check out the Monster Percussion Concert at the Pritzker Pavilion, featuring students and faculty from the Northwestern University School of Music. I just stayed for the first half - it was great fun, though. Lots of little kids running around having an absolute blast! I was just sorry that I hadn't brought my camera, which I would have done had I known about the concert.

Tomorrow, I think I'm going to go to the Garfield Park Conservatory, and take pictures of Niki in the Garden.

Comments

[avanta7.livejournal.com]

I love hats. I bet you looked fabulous.

[b-and-m-81.livejournal.com]

Ooh, the tea sounds fun! I found the lovliest little teapot at some markets in Kyoto a few years ago, and bought some great tea, but unfortunately didn't have time to do a full tea ceremony (or money - expensive!!).

The updating of the opera sounds fantastic. Opera is so much fun to go to - the whole experience as well as the hugely varying operas. I will never quite understand someone who says they don't like opera - they're not all the same! I was meant to go to Madama Butterfly this weekend but the person booking the tickets left it too late and it's sold out :(

[islandmomma.livejournal.com]

Mmm. That outfit sounds really elegant! I don't know if life has simply become more casual everywhere, or if it's because I live where I do, but I miss "dressing up", at least from time to time. It adds to the occasion, doesn't it?

[mojosmom.livejournal.com]

Indeed, it does. I admit to having been a bit shocked on Sunday when I saw a young couple at the opera, wearing very casual clothes and flip-flops! I hope that they were just wandering around the park and decided on the spur of the moment to buy tickets, because the idea that someone would deliberately dress that way to go to the opera is pretty appalling.