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More at the Art Institute, Family & Margaritaville

November 20, 2017 at 8:00 am by Claudia

The other day, I stopped by the Art Institute to see the Paperweights and The Thorne Rooms. I used to collect glass paperweights many moons ago and this collection is stunning. Simply stunning.

Always a collector: I started contemplating the potential expansion of my collection.

I’m going to share some of the Thorne Rooms with you. The level of detail is astounding. Everything is made by hand.

Each room not only has the main room box, but there are always scenes outside windows and through doorways. Extraordinary.

Love this Art Deco room.

See what I mean about rooms through doorways?

I could go on and on. If you’ve never seen them and you find yourself in Chicago, please do yourself a favor and visit the Art Institute.

I also made a quick trip to see this, one of my favorite paintings.

Nighthawks  by Edward Hopper. I don’t know of another painting that is, to me, so evocative, so mesmerizing.

Frustrated by the lack of WiFi, I wrote to one of the managers and he said I could use the communal WiFi in the ‘lounge’ upstairs.

Lucky me, because I can write this post and schedule it for Monday, and I got to see this view from the 28th floor:

Not too shabby.

Don and the cast of Escape to Margaritaville performed yesterday in the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival parade. What actually happened was that they waited for a bus to pick them up between shows and the bus was late because there were traffic jams everywhere. When they finally got on the bus, they went to the site, accompanied by a police escort. They rehearsed for about five minutes instead of the fifteen that had been planned and then they pre-taped their segment just in the nick of time. It was cold out there!

Next Monday, they record the cast album! That, my friends, is very, very exciting.

And my niece, Elizabeth and her husband Steve, along with two of their three children, (the eldest is away at school; my old stomping grounds, Boston University) went to see the show yesterday and they had the best time! I was so touched that they came. I ran over there at the end of the show and took them backstage so they could see Don before he was whisked away on that bus.

My cousin and her husband are coming all the way from Michigan to see the show on the 29th!

Yay for the Hill family! I love them all so much.

I’m going to grab this chance to respond to your comments and schedule Tuesday’s post – just in case this problem continues.

Funny, how dependent I’ve become on a WiFi signal!

Happy Monday.

 

 

 

Filed Under: blogging, chicago, Escape to Margaritaville, life, miniatures 20 Comments

Again With the WiFi problems

November 19, 2017 at 10:49 am by Claudia

Once again, and constantly, WiFi problems here. It’s completely maddening. I reboot the Direct TV (which I now hate) over and over again, but the signal isn’t strong enough to do anything but maybe sign onto the blog. No uploading of photos. We’ve complained about it and they are going to get someone in to look at it, but in the meantime, I’m stuck. Just giving you a heads up.

Thanks for your patience. I’m not feeling very patient at the moment.

Claudia

Filed Under: life 14 Comments

Opening, Magnolia Bakery and Walking by the River

November 17, 2017 at 8:00 am by Claudia

Opening night was spectacular – such an incredible audience! It really is a “Feel Good” musical. And we all need something like that right about now. Lots of press everywhere and Jimmy was in attendance and came out for the curtain call, leading the audience in “I Will Play for Gumbo” and “Margaritaville.” There was a party afterwards and we didn’t get home until 1 in the morning. Needless to say, I was too hyped to fall asleep in a timely manner, so I’m suffering today.

Good news: no more rehearsals and/or notes until they start up again in NYC in January, so I can finally do some exploring and adventuring with my husband. When we were in New Orleans, he was rehearsing every day. So, this opportunity for time together is welcome.

My walk to the theater. Isn’t it lovely?

Tourists standing on the top of a tour boat in the rain. Bless their fortitude.

Imagine my delight when I walked around a corner near the theater and found this!

Of course, I bought two cupcakes – one for me and one for Don.

Tile floors near the counter. I love this retro style.

Don’t you love this fan? I’ve never see anything like it.

I had WiFi problems yesterday which have – hopefully – been ironed out. I’m writing this on Thursday but it will be posted on Friday. Thanks so much for your patience.

Happy Friday.

Filed Under: chicago, Escape to Margaritaville, life 20 Comments

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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