A Night with Glen Hansard Only Happens Once.

Flash back to my junior year of college.  A small theater at my undergrad advertised that they were showing an independent film, a modern day musical called Once.  As a lover of all things musical, I decided to attend with some friends.  This moment opened my world to the musical talents of Glen Hansard.  Although Glen has had long standing career, this movie brought Glen into the lives of many who may have not had the pleasure of hearing his tunes.  I became and instant fan, and have been listening to his music ever since.  Side Note: As a bonus, Glen also happens to be an Irishman, and well, I just have a soft spot for that country.

So, when I heard that Glen's North American tour was bringing him to Milwaukee, I had to attend.  And I'm so very glad that I did.  Opening the show was this amazing duo called The Lost Brothers - talented musicians from Northern Ireland who's harmonies are incredibly smooth.  They set the tone for the night, the audience enthralled with every song.  I highly encourage you to consider taking a listen to their music, I have a feeling they could be the next big thing.  I ensured that I would take advantage of this thought, and met them post set and got an autograph in addition to buying a few of their albums.

Then, came the performance we were all waiting for: Glen Hansard.  If you haven't experienced Glen's music - he has this energy that's captivating.  You can just tell he loves what he does and he's good at doing it. And when he belts, you can't help but get a shiver down your spine as the music moves within you. He gave one hell of a show - playing for about 2 1/2 hours.  He covered music from his newest album to a few from the movie, Once.  There were a few covers in the mix, including some Van Morrison and a great Bob Dylan cover featuring The Lost Brothers.  The night was nothing short of amazing.  He even played unplugged, just him and his guitar.  No mic or amp.  Just Glen.  It was magical.

So as I awoke this morning I had a thought... a piece of Ireland came last night to Milwaukee and I want it back.  Absolutely brilliant. 

Give Me Some Real News.

I had a moment today where I had to ask myself... "Why is the news covering the fact that Snooki had her baby?"  I mean, seriously.  Is this really what the American majority really cares most about?  They'd like to make me think this to be true.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not an always listening to NPR and reading BBC World News type gal - I do on occasion enjoy some celeb gossip here and there (probably because our society is so curious to find out more about the lives of these people and often include it in our news sources).  But, I'm curious as to why I would be interested in learning more about Snooki's birth experience.  Maybe I'm slightly annoyed with the fact that she makes way more money than I do by making a fool of herself on national television.  And then I wonder why people are so interested in this type of television - I guess people feel like they want to escape their own reality to see what crazy thing she's up to next...

I just feel like news stories such as the one above, tend to overshadow real news events that deserve the attention.  So, here's my plea to American news sources to include some more news with substance.  If I want to know more about the Jersey Shore, I'll watch MTV.  

I Want to Be English.

As the flames were extinguished to officially end the 2012 Olympic games, I couldn't help but think I want to at least for one day be English.  And this is why:

• The Music. The Beatles, David Bowie, and Queen have all been products of a good English upbringing.  I mean, this in my opinion, includes some of the greatest rock music of all time.  Can you really argue that Freddie Mercury has one of the great singing voices of all time?  I rest my case.
• Harry Potter.  JK Rowling created one of the greatest children's stories ever and really got me into reading as a kid.  So, thanks JK.
• The Royal Family.  I'd like to think I was ahead of the game thinking Price Harry was a looker.  Fun Fact: I had a picture of him hanging in my locker in the 8th grade.  Overall, I just love the royals in general - I mean, the national anthem is dedicated to the Queen.  She even was a good sport for the opening ceremonies and agreed to do a segment with James Bond. And I just happen to think her grandson is extremely attractive.
• English Comedies.  Right?  Such funny flicks.  And my personal favorite, Love Actually (maybe not a comedy in total, but some very comedic parts throughout) states it well..."We [England] may be small, but we're mighty.  Home to Harry Potter, The Beatles, David Beckham's right foot.  David Beckham's left foot come of that."  
• Shakespeare. Some of the greatest phrases of all time come from his work.  We may say, "love is blind" but its really all thanks to Two Men of Verona.  Thanks, Bill.
• Jane Austen.  She made all women want to find a Mr. Darcy.  I both love her and hate her for that.

So, as you can see, this is only a starting point as to why I would love to be English and I appreciate that the London 2012 games strengthened this desire by doing such a phenomenal job opening the doors of their city and countryside to the world.  And as the English proverb says that "all good things must come to an end", I want to send out my personal thanks to London for hosting such a wonderful Olympics.  Bravo.

London 2012.

If you haven't already united with the world in cheering on its best athletes, I ask that you join. The Olympics kicked off officially this past Friday with the beloved tradition of the opening ceremonies.  London did good - honoring British history that included special cameos by James Bond, Her Majesty the Queen, JK Rowling, Becks, Mr. Bean, and Sir Paul McCartney.  What a spectacular event it was - topped off by the torch lighting ceremony where metal leaves brought by each represented country created the Olympic cauldron.  One word can only describe this tradition - epic.


As we entered the first week of the games, I was able to witness some outstanding moments - a man from Kazakhstan winning the gold in his last professional race as a cyclist, Missy Franklin proudly crying as the US national anthem played during her medal ceremony, and the bittersweet moments with the women's gymnastics qualifying round.  I was speaking with some colleagues about this earlier today - that as we celebrate the best athletes, we do so from sitting in the comfort of our home.  That's right, sitting.  I know I'm guilty of spending hours sitting on my couch enjoying the games.  How ironic, eh?  We celebrate athleticism by being in a state of laziness.


So, if these Olympic games have inspired you in any way shape or form, challenge yourself to increase your personal fitness.  It doesn't have to be something grandiose, it can be as simple as going for a walk.  Not someone who typically works out?  Download a couch to 5k plan to get yourself in a race!  Played a sport back in the day?  Join a rec league and get back out there!  It's time we make a commitment to fitness like the athletes representing us at the games.  I think it's the very least we can do as supporters.

If Bella Chose Jacob.

A Note to the Reader:  Do not take anything in this post seriously.  Seriously.

Now, that I've cleared that up... I thought Kristen Stewart's moment of indiscretion deserved some attention.  Not really - as this is flooding entertainment magazines and television screens, I can't help but think about maybe some other things happening in the world... you know, the Olympics kick off officially tomorrow with opening ceremonies, and the terrible shooting that occurred last week for the Dark Knight Rises have now been forgotten, thanks to KStew.  If you really have no idea what I'm talking about with the craze of this news, take a look at this YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKKF3Ho1ZlY I'm seriously baffled on how people can just cry over celebrities (we don't know them personally and yet people think they know what's really going on), but I think that's a whole other post in its entirety...

For those of you who have read the Twilight series, you are aware that in the end, Bella chooses Edward.  (If I just spoiled it for you, do not be mad at me - these books have been out for years and you could rent any of the movies to find this out.)  In real life, Kristen Stewart chose her co-star Robert Pattinson to be her man.  What if Bella chose Jacob instead of Edward?  Would we be in this hott mess in real life?  The answer would still probably be yes... but you can't help but think if Bella chose Jacob what her life would be like.  And so, here's a glimpse into her human life with Jacob Black:

• Bella would never need a blanket - thank goodness Jacob's natural body temp is over 100 degrees so she could just always cozy up to him to feel warm.
• Bella would age - I know, getting older is a terrible thing.  But so is remaining 19.  Forever.
• Jacob would never imprint - leaving Bella to being his #1 gal.
• Bella would've never gotten into that mess with the Vulturi in the first place.
• Jacob and Bella could live in peaceful harmony on the res with all of the other members of the wolf-pack.
• The Cullen's would have just left Forks early on and found some other town where they could be the weirdly beautiful family of adoptive siblings that date one another... except for Edward.

The list really could go on and on... So, I have to admit that I too was totally a team Edward, but maybe I should have been rooting for Jacob all the way.  You live and you learn.

Happy Anniversary, Milwaukee!

This past week in Milwaukee has been nothing short of amazing.  I promise to go into intense detail (not really) on why my week has been what I consider to be the best week (thus far) of my summer.  As I was reflecting yesterday with a friend on this week, I was also reminded that it was exactly 1 year ago this weekend that I settled into my new home of Milwaukee, WI.  Like any move, I thought I was ready for the transition, but ultimately was a bit scared for what was to come.  I was being uprooted from my home of two years to unfamiliar territory.  Don't get me wrong, I like Milwaukee, but like any transition I've had to get adjusted to the rhythm of a new city, making new friends, and feeling apart of the greater community.  So, what I've come to realize is that I think it truly takes a full year to feel acclimated to a place.  Now that I have been living in Milwaukee for a year, I have a better understanding of the little nuances of the city - I also have a greater understanding for cheese curds, the Brewers, and Spotted Cow.  But, that's an entirely different blog post.
So, here are the reasons I considered this week to be among the best I've had in Milwaukee, and am anticipating more to come - I mean, it is just the very beginning of July.


1 Chill on the Hill.  This event was actually named the best summer music event in 2011.  The concept is simple: bring food, drink, blanket, friends, and come sit on a hill and listen to a local artist perform.  Yes, the concept may be simple, but the event itself is magical.  This past week's chill was epic due to the amazing group of friends that I met at the event.  


2. Big Bang Fireworks. After playing some beach volleyball on Wednesday night, I stuck around with a friend to watch the Big Bang Fireworks - basically the kickoff to the Summer Fest celebration. I mean who doesn't like fireworks on on Wednesday night?  


3. Jazz in the Park. A Milwaukee summertime staple that takes place in Cathedral Square.  You could say it's a more main stream version of my beloved Chill on the Hill in a much smaller green space.  This week featured some Latin inspired music - and we danced our booties off.


4. Shakespeare in the Park. Although the production itself was not the best I've seen - I just love the idea of a group of young people bringing a classic to life in an outdoor space.  The show was Two Gentlemen of Verona, where I feel as though the Bro code was invented out of this play.


5. PBR Street Festival.  Yes folks, PBR started in Milwaukee and sponsors small street festivals including Burnharts Street Party.  This festival hosted a great brass band, local artists selling their merchandise, and of course plenty of opportunities to shake my tail feather.


6. The Roots. Summerfest is well underway in Milwaukee and I took my first of I hope a few trips to the festival last night to see the amazingly talented band, The Roots.  I had seen them once when I went to a taping of Jimmy Fallon, but a live concert experience is out of this world.  Somehow, my friend and I were able to get great seats and just enjoy the show.  An overall great end to a Saturday night.


I guess what I've come to realize that not only am I celebrating my anniversary with Milwaukee, but also I've finished my first year as a full time professional, my first year as an official grown up.   This past year has marked some interesting moments, but overall this it has been one of fulfillment and I'm looking forward to my next year in this city.

TheSixtyOne

I think one thing that connects us all together is music.  Let me explain - think of when you're in the shower, or taking a drive, or at a social gathering with friends.  I can bet there's got to be at least music going on in the background, right?  Or think of pertinent moments of your life... you hear a song and it makes you think of ______ moment.  Let me explain further - my father's mother has had Alzheimer's for years and although she has had few moments in recent years where she truly knows our family, I can tell you one thing... music is still alive and well within.  One Christmas, we had carols playing in the background, and although she didn't really know why we were there with her, she could sing along.  My point being that music is a truly unifying thing.  And what's so fascinating is how truly unifying it is across cultures.  One summer, I was on holiday in Rome and enjoying a pleasant evening with my sister on the Spanish Steps.  A group of younger Italians were sitting only a few steps below us and began to sing the Oasis classic, Wonderwall.  Every time I hear that song, I am immediately transported back to that spot, a perfect early summer evening.  


As we embark on the summer season, we get closer and closer to opportunities to enjoy music in unconventional venues.  Here in Milwaukee, we have my favorite music night on Tuesday's called Chill on the Hill.  It takes place in a local park a top a hill featuring a local artist.  It's the best.  Milwaukee is also known for SummerFest and in August our nearby neighbor of Chicago will host the infamous Lollapalooza.  Basically, I can't wait to get a taste of some new music during these upcoming months.


And speaking of new music, I needed to share something that I don't think I've shared before.  Like I've stated earlier, I love music.  There are a few people in my life I would consider to be my music gurus... people who over the years have introduced me to the sounds of Ben Folds, Beirut, Blind Pilot, City and Colour, Bon Iver and many more... One of these gurus pointed me in the proper direction of a website called thesixtyone.com thesixtyone's concept is easy - let's play a bunch of independent music for free - people can join the site and vote on songs to keep them on the site, they can also have the opportunity to create their own playlist, and heck - if they really like the songs, we'll let you download them for a low price. A few year's back, I was introduced to a band called Beautiful Small Machines through the site.  Their song Robots in Love is one of my favorites.  Seriously, listen to it - I think you'll like it too.  Tonight, when I got home, I naturally put on some music and instantly, that song played.  So, naturally, I had to share.  Because what is music worth if it is not shared and enjoyed by others.  Just like books, or banana splits.