Chicago Musings, Mexican Food, and Danny Rules

[thehefner]

I'm a bit overdue to give a couple of lingering thoughts from Chicago. First of which is, HOLY CRAP, people, does anybody know where I can get authentic Mexican food in the DC/Montgomery County area? Because I got my first taste in Chicago, and now while I make the exception for burritos at CalTort, flour tortillas are DEAD to me now.

I've heard tell the closest real Mexican food is in Riverdale. MD has a Riverdale? Who knew! I'd better keep an eye out for kids in paper crowns and jocks named "Moose."

*

Speaking of Chicago, I accidentally snuck into the Field Museum (I walked in, didn't see a ticket taker, and just kept walking until I was in!). I was honestly only going to see the real lions that inspired THE GHOST AND THE DARKNESS and... well, I haven't been in a Natural History museum in many years, and maybe it's because I just recently went to the Zoo... but seeing all those stuffed animals, propped up and posed, it was like walking through a graveyard. No, it was worse. These animal remnants were stuffed and made into disgusting mockeries of themselves. I was just depressed as hell.

Add to that the actual Ghost and Darkness lions themselves were much smaller than they were in real life, because the dude who killed them (Val Kilmer in the movie) had been using the skins as rugs for years before he donated them to the museum. The whole thing was heartbreaking. Thank god I didn't actually pay 20 bucks for it. Next time, I'm going to the Aquarium.

*

However, I'll tell you what was worth the price of admission-- the Art Institute of Chicago. If only due to the part where I was wandering around, looking for a statue for my Realism class homework assignment, and I caught something out of the corner of my eye. I turned into this one room and there, right before me, was George Seurat's "A Sunday on the Island of La Grande Jatte."

I just... wasn't expecting it. At all. I had no idea it would be there. It's more than just an amazing work of art, it's also so emotionally tied to me because of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, a film which has become one of my most treasured DVDs, and there it was. There it is. Right in front of me, existing in real life before my eyes. I just sat before it, mouth open, unable to look at it without my eyes flooding with tears. I have never, ever had an experience like that with a work of art before.

*

Big thanks to spacechild for hooking us up with CABARET tickets. Am I allowed to analyze (that is to say for much of it, shred) the production here, or shall I do so when next we hang out over beer and dead things on buns?

Comments

[holli.livejournal.com]

Riverdale does exist! It is in fact the next town over from Hyattsville, and I drive through it multiple times a day. No goofy red-headed kids being fought over by improbably hot blonde and brunette girls have been spotted as yet, though.

[thirdbase.livejournal.com]

Ah - Georges - it is in Chicago, isn't it? I've loved that one for many many years - stumbled on it in jr high while doing an art or literature project - don't remember which.
Will have to remind myself it's there if/when I make it there. To see it real size would be awesome...

[little-dinosaur.livejournal.com]

Art is nice like that. Especially when it sneaks up on you cold and isn't getting justified to death by a professor.
So are aquariums. I wish we had one around here.

[sabine42.livejournal.com]

I turned into this one room and there, right before me, was George Seurat's "A Sunday on the Island of La Grande Jatte."

The main reason I have been longing to go to Chicago for years. That's been one of my favorite paintings for as long as I can remember, and a leading contributor to me loving "Sunday in the Park with George" as much as I do. Someday I hope to see that painting :)

[disc-sophist.livejournal.com]

I was just about to reply that if I ever go to Chicago, it will be the first thing I see, if not the reason for the trip. The three of us should get together and watch the movie version sometime, since people who like it seem to be in short supply.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

By "three", who else do you mean?

I am definitely planning on showing it to Bloo sometime, but I'm so very afraid she won't get into it. It's not exactly for all tastes, I fear.

[disc-sophist.livejournal.com]

sabine42. I replied to her comment so both y'all would get it.

I'm still not sure why, but people who really like it are few & far between. Eh.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Nya-haaa, that's what I get for reading the "recent comments" page.

Well, I hope my girl will also be among them. It gets closer to my heart each time I watch it, it seems.

But aye, we should do that. And have punch and pie.

[fiveseconddelay.livejournal.com]

So as not to ruin anyone's future visits to Chicago, Heffy didn't mention his disillusionment resulting in him running around the museum shouting "Sunday Grande is PURPLE!"

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

True, but that only only before I looked more closely at the painting. "Ohhhhhh. False alarm!"

[spacechild.livejournal.com]

feel free to tear into it on lj. we can still discuss it later over alcohol and flesh.

i hope there were SOME things you enjoyed about it.

half naked women?

half naked men?

Brad Oscar?

the Money number?

Holly's money number costumes?

the view?

but yeah, feel free to also shred what you didnt like. it was no perfect production, we know. as has been said.. no one who enjoys sausages or musicals should ever see how they are made.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Holly's costumes were absolutely awesome. Mom and I both thought so, and you can tell Holly that, please do. The money number scared me at first, because I thought they were going to do the ORIGINAL money song, not the second, better one... but thankfully it segued into the second one, and that was great.

I enjoyed it on the level that I just love the songs so very, very much. And the train was a very cool touch. This production was so different that I can't say I hated it. There was just so much to analyze and compare.

That said, for one thing, the acting blew. Like, I mean everyone (not counting Brad, who just sung). Cliff was exceedingly tepid; I've rarely seen an actor just be so damn bland and boring on stage. Sally... well, I know I won't offend you if I say she blew too. Sally's a flawed character, a deeply bloody flawed character, yet she's still supposed to be magnetic and charismatic. She's a Tammy character. Yet this actress was shrill, brittle, and thoroughly unlikable throughout the show. The Nazi went from being kind of a decent guy (albeit a badly acted-one) to a grand scheming over-the-top villain in two scenes.

As for Brad... we liked him a lot, of course, but Mom and I came to the same conclusion. It honestly felt like he was being held back. Like Molly was holding him back. It was the same thing in Damn Yankees. We've seen this guy totally fucking bring down the house before, we KNOW what he's capable of. Yet in both these shows with Molly, he feels restrained, almost neutered in a way. God, to think what Brad could have done in Cabaret if he'd been allowed to cut loose, it just makes me shiver at the missed opportunity. So either he was held back or he wasn't pushed hard enough, because dear god, he could have done so much more with it.

So it was a fascinating production to see, just because there aren't too many modern shows that, like the classics, are drastically reinterpreted production to production. And yes, the view was fucking awesome, thank you.

[spacechild.livejournal.com]

yeah, her costumes were excellent, and i dont just say that because they were hers.

the train was a trip, people really liked that.

Cliff was played by a guy who is a bit of an ass. i mean his name is Glenn 7 something. i mean, he goes with the middle name 7? wtf? (he also has made innapropriate comments to Holly, and the dude is married with kids, for pete's sake)

as for the Nazi, that was Fred schiffman. we actually thought he was terrific. his accent was great, but he was called on to tone it down because no one else could do a good accent. that may have hindered him in the role. still, i thought he was great.

i could see what you mean with Brad, he was great, but cvould have been better. maybe it was a matter of him being allowed to do it his way, i dont know.

at the very least i hope it was entertaining. and i do hand-pick seats for you, so at least you had a good view of half-naked people.

give my regards to your mom. and if there is anything else this season you might like to see, you can both check our website and let me know.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Hey, I say again, it was such a different production that we were interested throughout and definitely are glad we went.

Will do and thankee!

[spacechild.livejournal.com]

i'm glad to hook you guys up, so its all good.