Hartford — Page 21

We’re Hanging in There

October 22, 2014 at 9:00 am by Claudia

After talking to Darko last night and getting the okay to leave early, I came home to a Scout who was frisky, hyper, and full of energy.

She did her pounce. She ran a little bit in the park. She ran down the hall in the apartment building.

She was completely different than earlier in the day. So I called Don and updated him and explained what he already knew about me – that I didn’t feel comfortable leaving this early if I didn’t have to. It just doesn’t sit right with my work ethic. The show is in great shape and I could leave with no problems, but if I can see one more preview, I’d feel better about the whole thing. And if I could make it to Opening Night, I’d feel even better. We’ll see. I’ll just take it day by day. I sent an email to Darko updating him on the whole thing.

I’m not quite ready for our adventure to end. At least not so abruptly.

So, for today, I’m sticking around. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.

I think Don is right: This is going to be the new normal. Scout will have good days and bad days – even good hours and bad hours. Our job is to be there for her through thick and thin. And we will.

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Hamlet is everything it should be; powerful, gut-wrenching, heartbreaking, funny. The acting company is superb. The production is gorgeous. I’ve worked on a lot of Darko’s productions. They are all striking and beautifully designed. But this one, this one is my favorite. Darko designed the sets. Fabio Toblini designed the costumes. Lighting and sound designed by Matthew Richards and Jane Shaw, respectively. I’ve worked with all of them before and I marvel at their talent.

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Photo by T. Charles Erickson for Hartford Stage

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Photo by T. Charles Erickson for Hartford Stage

A cast of amazingly skilled actors, a gorgeous design, and the words of William Shakespeare – nothing better. Truthfully, this cast made my work easy. I’m very lucky to be associated with this theater, and with this production. It’s been a very satisfying experience.

If you can get here to Hartford to see it…do. It’s an amazing production you won’t soon forget.

So Miss Scout and I are hanging in there for at least one more day here in Hartford. At the very least, I have about 50 more pages I have to finish in Somewhere Safe With Somebody Good so I can return it to the library before I leave.

Happy Wednesday.

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On the Road: Cupcakes on Wheels

October 16, 2014 at 9:17 am by Claudia

Last week, as I was sitting at rehearsal doing my thing, I noticed a clear plastic container next to the stage manager’s desk. It held a cupcake. The stage manager on this show is a friend of mine, so when it was time for a break, I trotted right on over there and asked her where she got it.

“The Cupcake Truck” was her matter-of-fact response.

“The what??” was mine.

Both the sound designer (who was sitting right there) and I were more excited about this piece of news than anything we could think of at the moment.

Later, I walked with Darko over to the theater to see the set and we passed the truck, but it wasn’t a good time for me to ask Darko if I could stop and buy a cupcake, since we were on a tight schedule. I’m pretty sure I would have received an eye roll in response.

Fast forward to a couple of days ago, when I went back to the same corner to buy a cupcake.

No truck.

Now I was confused. So I made a mental note to google Cupcake Truck Hartford when I got home. Sure enough, there it was. The truck, actually called The Cupcake Brake, travels to different sites in the Hartford area. The web site lists where the truck will be on any given day.

Yesterday, it was in State House Square, a few blocks away from my apartment. Bingo!

Cupcaketruck

Hello, yellow cupcake truck!

The menu varies from day to day and the truck remains at the venue from 12 – 3 or until the cupcakes run out.

Isn’t this the best idea? (And, yes, in case you’re wondering, I’ve been bad about sugar lately. I’ll do better when I get back home. Comfort food, my friends, comfort food.)

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Oh. my. goodness. It is indeed a ‘Sweet Ride.’

Here’s the menu for yesterday:

I didn’t notice the Cake Pops. Next time.

I bought two: the Charter Oak Chocolate and the New England Autumn (which is a pumpkin spice). You can pick what kind of frosting you want, as well as the filling. I went with vanilla icing on the New England Autumn and no filling. The Charter Oak Chocolate? Chocolate icing and the ganache filling.

Cupcaketruck - cupcakes

Oh my.

I devoured the New England Autumn right before I had to go to the Final Tech/Dress run-through yesterday evening. I figured it might give me a boost since I was tired – and it did. Yummy, yummy, yummy.

The other cupcake is still waiting in the refrigerator. (I like my cupcakes refrigerated to keep the frosting nice and firm.) It’s a rainy, yucky day out there today so I can definitely see myself dining on a cupcake in the late afternoon. You know, to comfort myself amidst all this dampness.

Every town should have a cupcake truck, don’t you think? Actually, when I googled it, I saw cupcake trucks in other towns, as well.

My town might be a bit too little to support a cupcake truck.

Ah well.

Happy Thursday.

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The Park

October 15, 2014 at 9:02 am by Claudia

Much of my off-time here in Hartford is spent reading or blogging or, most importantly, going to the park with Scout. The ‘park’ is Bushnell Park and it’s lovely. It has a carousel, walking paths, and a lovely pond. It has lots of green space and an outdoor stage. It has a gorgeous arch. And on top of the hill overlooking the park is the beautiful State Capitol building. I took some shots with my iPhone on Monday. I was on my way back from the library. It was an overcast day, which makes for some moody pictures.

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This section of grass is one of the places that Scout runs and romps every evening. Well, almost every evening. She was very sore last night and her body was protesting all that exercise, so I curtailed her nighttime activities. She needs to rest a wee bit. I have to be at the theater at night starting tonight, so we’ll see if we can find some romping time on the weekend – after my girl has rested. She’s overdone it, just like when her mama mows too much lawn in one day. Oh, those Hill-Sparks girls!

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More of her running turf. She runs one way, then turns and runs in another direction, then she runs in a circle. Do you see that light? There are lights along the walkways that cast a lovely glow at night and, somehow, the combination of those lights and the night and a park relatively free of people inspires her loping, running, joyful abandon.

That’s the pond to the right.

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There are usually ducks here, but I haven’t seen them this year. I have seen goldfish and either koi or carp (are they the same thing?) And, on two occasions, I’ve seen a Great Blue Heron standing in the shallow part of the pond watching and waiting to pounce on a fish. The first time I saw him, he ate one. I’ve tried to get a picture of him, but I’ve always had my iPhone with me and the images are too blurry. Amazing to see a Heron in a city park!

The portion of tech rehearsals where I am superfluous is just about over. I’ll watch some of this afternoon’s rehearsal and tonight we’ll have a run-through with the first preview scheduled for tomorrow night. I’ve been peeking in and it’s simply gorgeous with sumptuous Elizabethan costumes designed by my friend Fabio Toblini and a set designed by the director, my friend Darko Tresnjak. Such incredible talent!

I have a new post up on Just Let Me Finish This Page today. It’s all about one of my favorite places, The Hartford Public Library.

And if you’re participating in the Christmas Critter Felt Along, scroll down one post for two more patterns.

Happy Wednesday.

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We’re Hanging in There

On the Road: Cupcakes on Wheels

The Park

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Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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