A Couple of Anniversaries

Last weekend we went down to Sarasota to celebrate our anniversary.

29 years.

I used Amex points to get a free hotel room at the Hyatt which was recently renovated and really nice. Here's the best part. I chose to try out their self check in system that was available in the lobby, which was very simple, and they were so pleased that I did that they upgraded us to a room with a view, and a balcony. That's the pool from our very nice room.

We had a nice afternoon walking around the town, did some shopping, spent as much as I could at Sarasota News and Books, but I couldn't save it, it's closing August 31st. I also got a fantastic new pan at Sur La Table, nice store and I love my pan which is "green" and non stick without any toxicity, a serious problem with non stick pans, especially for those of us who have birds in the house. Very happy with my purchase which I have been cooking with all week!

After enjoying the pool for a while, which has great strong waterfalls you can float under on your stomach while they give you a nice back massage, and a really good hot tub with a hot waterfall too, we went back into town. Sarasota is looking run down lately, lots of closed stores but still lots of nice art in the streets.

Jesse's friend Jen Berges recommended Mozaic for dinner and it was fantastic. Really nice decor and all, great flights of wine, and we got extra nice treatment when Mark mentioned it was our anniversary, including free fancy dessert.

Then on to the theater where we saw Neil LaBute's Fat Pig. Good play and Banyan Tree did a great job.

The next morning we enjoyed the pool again, then went to brunch on the balcony at Cafe Galante before doing a bit more shopping and then heading home.

The weekend before that was the 40th anniversary of Woodstock. WMNF did a Woodstock recreation at Skippers. It ran about 10 hours but we only went for about three. It was crowded and there were no seats available so we danced the whole time.

Local bands covered each band that played at Woodstock and they were amazingly great. In fact, I think I heard more of the music than I did at the original Woodstock. I actually have very little memory of Woodstock, though I know I was there. I remember walking a long way when the bus got stuck in the ridiculous traffic. And I remember the mud, and being hungry, and someone giving out hardboiled eggs. The music? Not so much. I enjoyed it this time around.

Big Wiggler did a good job as Jefferson Airplane with a great surprise, Marty Balin was actually there, singing lead, channeling Grace Slick!

Sly and the Family Stone as portrayed by Four Star Riot, rocked, above.

And below, Scott Elliott as Joe Cocker was truly amazing.

Avett Brothers

OK, this was last spring at SXSW in Austin, not last night at the Cuban Club in Ybor City, but we loved this song. And even though the album it will be on won't be out for another couple of months, because we all listen to WMNF we all were able to sing along, and the Bros. loved us back.

Carolyn Wonderland

Last night we went to the WMNF Birthday Bash which was really nice, like Tropical Heatwave but less crowded and less frantic. We heard some good music and danced a lot. Carolyn Wonderland was an amazing new find for me. I've heard her on the radio lately but there is nothing like seeing someone like this, who lives every song, live. The woman is a musical genius and if you are as old as me, you will flashback to Janis, in a very good way.

Do you listen?

WMNF is the greatest little community radio station on the planet. No exaggeration. It's what makes it bearable to live in a reactionary little city.

The radio station just completed their summer mini-thon, trying to raise money to make it through the fiscal year. But times are tough and this time raising funds has been a struggle.

If you don't live in the area you can still listen online and you will surely find a show you will like. My favorites, besides the wonderful Morning Show with great music (check out the playlists) every weekday morning from 6-9 am, are -- Talk to the Animals, Art in Your Ear, The 60's Show, Fresh Air, Democracy Now, Alternative Health, Sustainable Living, CounterSpin. They also do great news and local call in shows every weekday. Lots of the shows are available by podcast.

We turned most of our tax incentive check over to WMNF, and in return got a pass that will get both of us into every concert, film, event for a year. And helped this community resource keep going till the next drive. That's right, WMNF is community supported, no government dollars come their way. And they take no corporate sponsorship or anything like that.

It's not too late to contribute if you didn't get around to it during this short fundraising drive.

We had a Heatwave!

Last weekend was Tropical Heatwave, WMNF's annual festival where you can hear dozens of bands and dance a lot.

My absolute favorite this year was Amanda Shaw and the Cute Boys -- here's a tiny taste.

We saw a bunch of other bands -- these guys are The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn and they normally play in the subway. They were fun but played too much of the music my grandmother used to sing for my taste.

And here's Graham Parker. He was great though I'm not a fan of the Cuban Club Cantina as a venue.

When we tired of the crowds we walked down to 7th Avenue in Ybor City and had some crepes for dessert.

A good night in Tampa.

What I did Memorial Day Weekend

Read The New York Times where I keep finding more and more feature articles on Web 2.0. Friday, May 25th, for example, Facebook Goes Off Campus and Sunday, May 27th, The Many Tribes of YouTube.

Went to The Subdudes concert (tickets were a thank you gift from the last WMNF fundraiser) at the State Theater in St. Pete, great band, lousy acoustics. The vintage furniture dealers on Central Avenue stayed open late due to the unusually old age of the crowd at the State Theater and yes, we managed to find some comfy rattan chairs that once lived in the Polynesian resort at Disneyworld while we waited on line; now they live by our pool.

Read Black & White by Dani Shapiro, unique characters and thought provoking story about complex family relationships.

Watched Volver; don't get what all the great reviews were about.

Bought new Jimmy Lafave album, Cimarron Manifesto. There's a wonderful new song, This Land, that brings tears to my eyes every time I listen, and I can't stop listening.

Bought new Lucy Kaplansky album, Over the Hills, typical good Lucy, I like the covers better than the original songs this time around. You can listen to her somewhat lusty cover of the June Carter song Johnny Cash made famous, Ring of Fire.

Bought The Invention of Hugo Cabret because I want to read a graphic novel and this seems like one I might actually be able to make it through; love Brian Selznick's illustrations.

Watched A Good Year, light and enjoyable, nothing special, but Russell Crowe is very good to look at.
Read the new Jonathan Kellerman, Obsession, a good, quick, poolside read.

Finished up the long weekend with a great grilled veggies dinner and one final movie, An Unfinished Life, a good, if predictable, story and Morgan Freeman stands out as always.

Three days off is just so much better than two....

Typical lazy Sunday

This is absolutely my favorite thing about living in Florida. A gorgeous sunny clear day, perfect for eating a relaxing breakfast, reading a couple newspapers by the pool (one takes an hour, the other takes the rest of the day), migrating out to the yard after a while with the magazine section or a book, Mark coming home from the farm with enough food for our dinners this week, the last pickup of the season. Then, we are on our own veggie-wise until late fall.

Just came across an interesting local show, Flashpoint, with Brendan McLaughlin. There was an intelligent interview with people involved with the making of a Norwegian documentary on the trial of Sami al Arian and a thoughtful political commentary. I'm happy to have found this show (and hope I remember it exists by next week), and welcome the unusually progressive attitude for a public figure in Tampa. It's not totally surprising since Brendan McLaughlin sometimes can be heard hosting a music program on WMNF, my other favorite thing about living in Tampa.