Posts

Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys

Image
On Sunday, Beatrix will walk out of the arena at Circus Juventas for the last time, and that thought has me up early this morning. It's not like I did not know it before, but it's hitting especially hard. I started working with Circus Juventas in 2005, before Patrick and I were even married, before Beatrix was even a concept. I was brought in on a special project to reconcile a backlog of credit cards, quickly solved some other issues (including getting a retroactive sales tax refund of several thousand dollars), was brought in regularly, went on staff, increased my hours, and stayed for 17 years as staff until 2022. Beatrix first came in to work with me at less than a week old. She attended her first spring show just ten weeks after she was born — she loved the lights. She started the preschool program (the called "toddlers," that was one of the changes I made) when she was two, and has not looked back since. Patrick started rigging when she was still in Side by Side...
Post a Comment
Read more

Milly's

Image
Tonight, we were headed over to a dinner party at our friends' place after hanging at a circus pool party. But they had to reschedule at the last minute, so we pulled a place off our "to check out" list and headed to Milly's Wine Bar . It could not have been better! We both got the tastings where you get two half-glasses of wine and need to tell which was which. I got the "Dirty Dancing" (likely inspired by all the watermelon kids brought to the pool party), and guessed correctly which was French and which was Italian. Patrick had two rosés that went head to head — a Tavel, and one from, of all places — Barret Minnesota, which held up very well. He guessed correctly too. The bill even came in a cute book where you could write a note. I'm totally smitten with the place and will meet you there anytime!
Post a Comment
Read more

Living a Lifetime (cr. Patrick Rhone)

Image
I seem to find myself with something in my eye a lot lately. But then, so does Patrick. https://www.patrickrhone.net/living-a-lifetime/
Post a Comment
Read more

Two Things You Must See!

Image
This afternoon we all went to see the Hadestown pro-shot.  Those of you who know me well know that it might be my absolute favorite musical. I was an original stan for the concept album back in the early 2000s. In 2019, based on listing to the concept album one night, we decided to got to New York for spring break so we could see the show as it opened on Broadway; seeing Eva Noblezada, Reeves Carney, Amber Gray, Patrick Page, and Andre de Shields in that show was absolutely transcendent, and Beatrix still has her carnations from stage door.  Last year, Saint Paul Academy did it as the spring musical and so we clearly saw it several times. I was unsure how I felt about seeing the pro-shot, but I am really glad we did. It does not stand in for seeing it live, but it enhances the experience. I'll confess I was in tears. It was originally supposed to run through July 29, but I think it's been extended a little. See it if you can! --- It was a weekend of circus, with Circus Juvent...
Post a Comment
Read more

You've Gotta Have Art!

Image
After a day filled with a lot of spreadsheets, I was happy to get some art in this afternoon! Tonight was a celebration of the nest steps for Springboard for the Arts , and the exciting new future coming up for them. Their amazing director, Laura Zabel, is headed off to be the Founding Director of the   Creative Change Coalition , taking with her Jun-Li Wang and Sara Sawicki. I'm honestly not the hugest fan of change right now, as we prepare to be empty-nesters, but this is the kind of exciting change I can totally support.  Plus it was great to see and talk to some of the amazing arts leaders in the Twin Cities. We are so very fortunate to hav the kind of passionate arts community we have. On the way there, I stopped at an Arts and Crafts swap hosted by the City of Saint Paul. Public Works has had several of these lately, such as a clothing exchange and a tool/yard implement exchange, and I think they are great. Just the kind of out of the box thinking I love. I picked up a f...
Post a Comment
Read more

Swamped

Image
I am pretty sure that this might be the moment that broke us as a state, after being so strong for so much. And knowing that, of course, people matter so much more than things — but that values might ,after more than people. Last week, my BFF's friend daughter K, who was a counselor at Widji, posted photos of the fires they evacuated from. More compellingly, though, she posted one called "And down they go!" showing how the wooden canoes (woodies) were deliberately swamped in order to save them as camp was evacuated, in order to save them. I don't have K's photo anymore, but here's the one by Anthony Souffle of the Star Tribune, and here's the article : This all hit me like a ton of rocks. Every Widji camper knows that that is theoretically what you do if the woodies are threatened, but I've never actually seen it have to be implemented before (the article says it's the first time they have done it).  I've gone on trail with Widji canoe #1 befor...
Post a Comment
Read more

Cows, Colleges, and Contentment

Image
Yesterday, we headed down to Northfield for a mini day-trip. I have to admit that, though I think that Sarah Lawrence is the perfect place for Beatrix, it would be really nice to have her down in Northfield! We did a little shopping (we loved The Boho Peacock !): Met a friend for dinner and drinks at Loon Liquors (we had not been since they relocated). Went to my cousin's son Edward's final concert for Lutheran Summer Music (the concert was INCREDIBLE). It was a really nice day, at a time when the days seem to slip by too fast.
Post a Comment
Read more