We hope you’ll joins us to celebrate Liz’s 30th Birthday for a Casino Night theme party at the Waucoma Yacht Club. Feel free to dress like James Bond or in your favorite cocktail dress. There will be professional craps and blackjack dealers, a Texas Hold’em table and Roulette wheel. Everyone will receive $1,000 in play money at the door redeemable for prizes at the end of the night. There will also be a DJ for everyone’s dancing entertainment and an open bar. Gifts and presents are discouraged (although Liz always welcomes a good bottle of Champagne…!)…Looking forward to your presence Saturday evening at the Waucoma for Liz’s 30th. We’ve been receiving calls about what to wear and cocktail dresses and tuxedos are encouraged if you’d like to dress up. Otherwise make yourself comfortable but be aware their may be a few James Bonds in attendance (bonus play money if you’d like to dress up as one of the Bad guys or a “Bond Girl”.

How cool does that sound?  I’d like to start off by saying that Kathleen would not allow me to purchase a tux for the event.  She droned on and on about how I wasn’t even wearing one to our wedding and how it would be weird if I bought one for the party.  Hmmm, I guess she had a point, and after some pathetic pouting I conceded by throwing on my trusty pinstripe suit and was ready to roll.  Kathleen got herself nice and dolled up as well! continue reading »

I caught David Mamet’s RACE recently as I was instantly drawn to seeing James Spader’s name as a cast member.  I loved him on Boston Legal, so after a little research, I learned that he basically takes a darker version of Allan Shore (Boston Legal) character to this rather controversial theatrical drama.  That was all the insight I needed!  So I recruited a friend and hit the show. 

James Spader was exactly as I expected…Incredible and so natural on stage.  I had low expectations for David Alan Grier, but he too was very impressive — this really surprised me to be honest.  I thought Kerry Washington was OK and didn’t really care much for Richard Thomas.  With all that said, the play was wonderful and totally worth the price of admission. 

RACE in itself can at times be a tricky subject to discuss openly.  Stating that this piece confronts the gray areas of racism would be an absolute understatement.  Rest assured, it does not tip-toe around any racial sensitivities.  So be prepared to be taken out of your safe zone.  In fact, more then once I found myself thinking:  ”That is so messed up he said that…I can’t believe it made me chuckle”.  Granted, the humor was by design, but the underlying  message is such a powerful one that it stuck with me for days afterwards.  Go watch it!  You’ll see what I mean.   

I dug up a the following review for the show, which I thought was pretty fitting: continue reading »

I caught a play called “A Behanding in Spokane” last night and it was incredible.  It was as though the twisted play was made to match Christopher Walken’s equally creepy persona.  This dark comedy was easily the most entertaining theater going experience I’ve ever had.   

I stumbled upon a great review by Sarah Crompton on http://www.telegraph.co.uk.  I think it captures the essence of the play.  Could not have written it better myself, so I figured I’d quote her directly: continue reading »