Related: 40x40 List
Date completed: Saturday, June 27, 2015

Having a big list of fun things to do can be handy when making friend dates. When the time rolled around for my friend Amy and I to firm up plans we decided that watching a dance performance at The Cowles Center seemed like a fun way to spend a Saturday night. 

The performance was by Zorongo Flamenco
Part I: Los Caprichos
Part II: Flamenco on Fire

Part I: Los Caprichos
Choreography by Susana di Palma for  was inspired by the etchings of Francisco Goya and the music composed and played by Ben Abrahamson was inspired by Castelnuovov-Tedesco's 24 Caprichos de Goya. 

Part I was not traditional flamenco and had distinct scenes with props and masks. 

Some insight into the evening can be found through the artist's statement:
"...As the 18th century Spanish artistic genius Francisco Goya wrote: 'Fantasy abandoned by reason produces impossible monsters: united with her, she is the mother of the arts and origin of marvels.' That statement and my fascination with Goya's compilation of eight etchings, The Caprichos, actually do produce nightmares for me as I struggle to understand the absurdities of human behavior. Extreme reason and pompous, dogmatic rationalism do not seem to create a better world without including the duendes [a fairy or goblin-like mythological creature] and a touch of madness. The Caprichos are disturbing social critiques of Goya's time, yet they resonate with contemporary behavior (corruption, exploitation, greed, gluttony) and beliefs." 

The masked dancers were owls (we're told they symbolize folly not wisdom in Goya's world), donkeys, old ladies, reaper-like figures, and baby dolls stuffed with feathers. I sensed that it was dark humor though I definitely didn't understand what was going on - especially when a seated reaper-like figure had a basket full of babies (dolls) and took them out one-by-one to pluck feathers from them and at one point smothered one with its foot. The dancing was amazing even if some of the deeper meaning was a bit lost on me.

Part II: Flamenco on Fire
Guest artists:
Guitarist - José Vallé "Chuscales"
Singers: Kina Mendez and José Cortés Fernández
Dancer: Antonio Arrebola

Zorongo Flamenco dancers: Deborah Elias, Andrea Plevan, Laura Horn, Andrea Frenzel, Amanda Dlouhy

Part II was traditional flamenco and it was amazing. The costumes were gorgeous and definitely played a major role in the dance performance as the dancers kicked up the trains of their dresses and used fringed wraps like matadors. I knew very little about flamenco dancing before this performance and it has now inspired me to learn more about this incredible art form. Similar to when I was in Puerto Rico, I wish I could go back to my 15 year-old self and give this as another motivator to become fluent in Spanish. Some audience members seemed to be conversing with the singers through exclamations that seemed random to me but likely made sense if I understood the language. 

Just as I had hoped in creating this list, I attended a performance I may not have otherwise and now I want to go back for more. Cowles is a great performance center and one I want to support so it thrives in our community.

Thankfully photos/video were not allowed during the performance so these poorly lit photos do not capture the vibrant colors of the evening. 

Related: 40x40 List
Date of completed: Sunday, June 21, 2015

To celebrate the summer solstice--the longest day of the year--I wanted to watch both the sunrise and sunset. This to-do item is one in which I had complete lack of control since Mother Nature plays a pretty important role in its success. Thankfully, she came through for me and granted me my wish. 

Originally, I was going to check out different locations for the light show but in the end proximity won out and I hung spent both at Lake Harriet.

I'm going to go out of my way to watch the sunrise and sunset more often. Some people makes  this into a ritual or a celebration which is something I could get into. 

When I asked my local friends where they recommend watching the sunrise and sunset, they had this to say:

Sunrise

• The part at the top of the hill on Summit Avenue across from the University Club (Julia Schrenkler)
• Overlook by the State Capitol (Julia Schrenkler)

Sunset

• Prospect Park (Erin Reichelt)
• Lake Calhoun (Edward Vogel)
• Bridge #9 behind the Education Sciences Building at the University of Minnesota (Amanda Costello)
• East River Road on a bluff you can hike down to and sit in just a couple blocks south or Marshall / Lake (Sara Shaylie)

Both

• Ridgeway Parkway that runs along Hillside Cemetery (Lynn Riskedal)
• Fort Snelling National Cemetery: walk to the hill that over looks the runways and hangers at Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport (Joe Burinda)

Scott had to say goodbye to his beloved 2011 Honda Insight after the main battery died. He donated it to the Courage Center and we have decided to make a go of being a one car family. 

My dad's vision started declining in March and after several eye docs couldn't figure out the cause, he had an MRI which revealed a large pituitary gland tumor (non-secreting). Fortunately these are typically benign and do not cause additional symptoms. We're hopeful that by removing the tumor some of his vision will be restored.