Ravinia- where’s the CSO
July 23rd, 2008 Send To a Friend
By Alan Carter
Ravinia. That wondrous music park in Highland Park just north of Chicago. It’s very name evokes an almost fairy tail setting. For decades it’s been the summer home of the magnificent Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Where else could you sit under the stars, drink in hand and hear the powerful CSO thunder through Mahler or delicately lace its way through Mozart? At 10 bucks a pop for lawn seating, it’s a true bargain and a perfect way to spend a summer evening. You could even buy a 10 ticket pass, called Classical Grass, and hear them for even less. The park opens several hours before the performance and veteran concert goers know to get there early to stake out a favorite spot, set up table and chairs, and enjoy a great night of food and drink, people watching, and wonderful music.
But now there’s a rift in the park’s universe. Instead of numerous weekends to choose from as in the past, the CSO is on the pavilion schedule for only 2 weekends this year. 2 weekends. A really awful reality show on Fox gets more time than that. The remaining concerts, including such superstar guest artists like Joshua Bell and Sarah Chang have been relegated to weekday performances. This isn’t the same as a concert at Symphony Center. Getting to the park early is major part of the whole experience, and for many an absolute necessity. Unfortunately, most people’s work schedules don’t allow them to arrive when the park opens, usually at 5:00pm on weeknights, especially if they have to drive any distance to get there. They will tell you that classical concerts make up 59% of the season, but how they schedule that 59% is the problem.
The weekend performances have been given over to pop groups, a smattering of jazz, and some Boomer rock bands. Not to sound elitist and snobbish, but a CSO performance is nothing like any of these, and I like many of the other groups featured. Anyone who has heard Renee Fleming or Yo Yo Ma backed up by this mighty band knows what I mean. To restrict the CSO performances to only 2 weekends is an affront to all of us who have loyally and joyously attended the concerts year after year.
I suppose I sound a little self-serving, since we are among those who can’t make the mid-week dates due to work and location, but I’m sure I’m not alone. I’m also aware that this is a pretty small thing to vent about given all else going on in the world.
But vent I will! If you feel the same way about this and want the CSO returned to its rightful, mostly weekend position in the Ravinia schedule, I urge you to contact them at ravinia@ravinia.org and let them know how you feel. Help restore order in the universe.
When he’s not griping, Alan designs and builds custom contemporary furniture at alancarterstudio.com.
Bicycles part 2- an epiphany of sorts
July 21st, 2008 Send To a Friend
By Alan Carter
I’ve been riding my bike for around 7 weeks now, pedaling around 20 to 25 miles a day, weather permitting, except for weekends. I have to stock up on nachos and beer sometime, after all. I’ve gotten pretty comfortable with it and haven’t had any major problems. One minor spill, but that was just to satisfy the guy at the bike store who told me there are 2 kinds of riders- those that have fallen and those that will. I guess now I’m part of that fraternity.
One slight change in my demeanor. When I first started and came up on someone walking along, I would say, very politely, “Excuse me, I’m coming up on your left. if you wouldn’t mind, kindly allow me to pass. Thank you so much.” Now of course, I rule the road. It’s “get outta my way you miserable %*@(*# piece of weasel vomit! This road is mine.” At least that’s what some people must think I said, given the looks I get. Kind of like the bike messengers downtown.
Disclaimer: I’m sure most bike messengers are courteous thoughtful riders who obey all the traffic laws and respect the rights of pedestrians and motorists, but the ones I’ve encountered recently have practically ripped my clothes off in their wake as they roar by, ignoring the lights and everyone on the street.
Actually, most of the encounters I’ve had have been quite friendly; a tip of the helmet from other riders, a nod and a sometimes cautious “Morning” from the walkers. Of course I’m riding out in the ‘burbs where people are a little suspicious of someone not in an SUV, one cell phone glued to their head, texting on another, so they don’t want to take any chances, lest I turn on them.
I’ve been taking a route through a nearby forest preserve (I’ve always thought “forest preserve” sounded like something Ewell Gibbons had on his morning toast) and it’s pretty nice. It’s big enough that a lot of the traffic noise goes away, there are not a lot of other people, and the biggest hazard seems to be the piles of horse poop in the middle of the paths. Which got me to thinking. Why aren’t equestrians required to bring along pooper scoopers for their steeds? Big shovels and trash bags should do it. You could fertilize a whole garden with one of those patties.
I’ve seen a few deer giving me the eye, like “yeah, it’s our ‘hood. You can stay for a little while. Just behave yourself.” Actually, they’re right. They were here first. I’ve had squirrels, chipmunks, and, not surprisingly, an increasingly larger number of rabbits skitter across my path, playing chicken with the big bad bicycle. It’s how they get their kicks, I guess. The Canadian geese, with their superior attitude, still saunter along, daring me to cut them off, knowing what’ll happen to me if I do. (The helmet serves double duty, a feature I was unaware of.)
So I’m riding along last week, enjoying the scenery and solitude when it suddenly hit me. This is my mid-life crisis in full bloom. A bicycle. This is it? A frickin’ bicycle? All along I thought I was buying the thing for fun and as an excuse to get out of the house more, but apparently I was wrong. It had a much deeper psychological meaning. It said, “the mirror is no longer your friend. Young women offer you their seats on the bus. Retrieve your youthful virility.” But a bicycle?
A lot of guys with this affliction (It is a guy thing, I think. Do middle-aged women covet a new Corvette? I don’t know.) would run out and get a Harley or a boat or go climb a mountain somewhere in Switzerland. You know, something big and splashy. Or find a trophy wife. I would never consider that, of course. I’ve been happily married for 40 years and love my wife more and more every day, now and forever. Truly I do.
Anyway, I almost tipped over when this revelation reared its ugly head. 400 bucks for a bike and that’s it? Talk about lowered expectations.
Disclaimer #2: Don’t get me wrong. A lot of people would be thrilled to be able to invest that much in their paunchy sedentary middle-aged lives, and for many more $400.00 would let them buy food and medicine together for a change. But still….
So now I’ve pretty much faced the realization that this is it. The big splurge. Recapture my youth in a less than grand gesture, very tame and understated. No throaty rumblings of chrome and steel, no windblown surf slapping at the hull, no rappelling down the Matterhorn. Just the low steady hum of 2 wheels on a quiet wooded path, my mind freeing itself from the trials of modern life and my body relishing the long absent activity. And as for the trophy wife, well, at the risk of sounding way too syrupy, I married her 40 years ago.
When he’s not being all gooey about his wonderful wife, Alan designs and builds custom contemporary furniture at alancarterstudio.com.
This week’s band: Stellar Road
July 21st, 2008 Send To a Friend
Stellar Road’s already had some great success. They’ve played the big Chicago venues, including the biggest: two years ago they opened for Bon Jovi in Soldier Field. At a recent show in front of Park Grill their fans crowded the fence above and about the restaurant, sang along, and shouted out requests. Fortunately for us this popular acoustic jam band plays frequently. They’ve got several upcoming dates in the Chicagoland area in the next few weeks and will be at Joe’s on Weed on August 15.
Stellar Road - Rain:
This week’s band: The Heaven Seventies
July 14th, 2008 Send To a Friend
The Heaven Seventies are unabashedly mixed and engineered and tweaked. They’re electronic and poppy and top-40. They’re fun. Read the rest of this entry »
The David Leonardis Report #23
July 11th, 2008 Send To a Friend
David’s been gone for awhile, but now he’s back. Warning: he goes on a bit of a political rant. It’s a bit off course from TLT’s normal focus, but it does make you think and it’s entertaining, and that’s David for you! Feel free to comment with your own opinion. - TLC
Hello Everyone,
I have been super busy with business and pleasure lately. They ask, “Is that business or pleasure?” and I respond, “My business is pleasurable.” Read the rest of this entry »
