Well, here are a ton of pictures from Paris.
Videos:
We had a great time, and we'll add a narrative account here in a little bit, but for now, just the pictures:
Wednesday, 13 August 2008
Wednesday, 6 August 2008
Festival Cavalcade
It's hard to explain how crazy it is here at Festival time. There are approximately a gazillion street performers and theater troupes passing out flyers in costume. Sunday was the day they all parade down the main drag here; we watched for about 30 minutes before seeing a show that afternoon. Here's some highlights:
David Bann: Vegetarian Deliciousness & a Birthday Surprise
We are penny-pinchers. Even though the scholarship that got us here was quite generous, the combined pressure of the weak dollar (2:1 against the pound) and the high prices of Edinburgh festival season mean we have been trying to save money when possible. Sometimes it doesn't work out so well-- as was evidenced by the free comedy show that I reviewed in my last post. Sometimes it does work out well. We've been happy making sandwiches to bring into the National Library everyday, and the eating the vacuum-packed Indian meals we brought with us and the Gladcorn and powerbars that my dad so kindly sent us-- and have been saving a lot of money in the process.
However, long before we traveled to Edinburgh, Damien and I had our eye on a vegetarian restaurant called David Bann. Partially motivated by our awe-inspiring culinary experience at Prinz Myshkin last summer in Munich, we decided that we would go to David Bann in Edinburgh in hope of another fantastic vegetarian meal (even though both German & Scottish cuisine is typically meat-heavy).
We went to David Bann last Saturday. The meal began with marinated black and green olives-- the biggest olives we had ever seen-- with homemade bread and herb olive oil. For our main entrees, I had "risotto with artichoke heart, pea and mint. Carnaroli rice cooked to order in our own broth with shallots, white wine, broad beans and parmesan, topped with thyme marinated artichoke heart filled with pea and mint" as it is described on the menu, and it was absolutely scrumptious. Damien asked the server what she recommended and she told us that her favorite-- and k.d. lang's apparently-- was tart of mushroom, spinach and Criffell cheese: wild and cultivated mushrooms cooked with wine, garlic and tarragon blended with fresh spinach and Criffel, a semi soft cheese from Dumfries, baked on homemade puff pastry. Served with baby potatoes, carrots and onion gravy. It did not disappoint.
Last month, DP told me he had a surprise for the other part of my birthday present (the first part being American Idol for the Wii) but that I wouldn't get it until August. Each week he has allowed me to ask a few questions about the surprise, but I honestly didn't get anywhere close to guessing what it was. Over a dessert of fresh strawberry pannacotta with chocolate whisky liqueur, the secret was revealed-- we are going to travel to Paris for the weekend! I have always wanted to go and am very, very excited.
Sunday, 3 August 2008
Fringe Festival Review #1
As you may know, we are in Edinburgh during "festival season"-- a time in which the population of the city more than doubles and there are simultaneous theater, comedy, music, book, and film festivals going on. This means that the streets are crowded with performers and visitors from all over the world, hoping to make it to a good show.
Damien and I tried to take in some festival shows this weekend, making good use of the preview week's 2-for-1 deals and student discounts on tickets. Here is a quick run-down of what we saw:
1) Copenhagen (Poinmandres Productions)
We were excited to see this well-reviewed play about the German scientist Werner Heisenberg's mysterious visit to Copenhagen to see Niels Bohr in 1941. The script was amazing, and the play was well-acted but the dialogue was slightly rough around the edges, with some line flubs here and there. The actors were all younger than their characters were meant to be, and they carried out their respective roles admirably. Overall, a nice way to kick off our festival viewing experience.
2) Anonymous Comedy Show
This comedian was so bad that I am not going to put his name down to save him the shame of coming across this post when he googles himself. We had been warned that because there are so many acts going on simultaneously during the festival, there are some really good ones and some really bad ones, but nothing could have prepared us for the sheer awkwardness of this standup routine. The poor guy was obviously very nervous from the moment he got on stage, and couldn't master a segway to save his life. He also kept trying to sip beer but missing his mouth because of his nervousness. It didn't help that the theme of the show was about hopelessness, which meant that he told us a bunch of stories about his sad life (but nothing resembling humor). He also wanted to interact with the crowd but was completely thrown off whenever an audience member said something. Example: he asked us what we do for a living, and when I told him we were students, he had no material. He kept repeating "well, this isn't going very well, is it?".As public speaking instructors, our hearts went out to the poor fellow, but it was rooo-ugh. Luckily for him, the audience didn't heckle, but they did look at the ground for most of the act. There were a few jokes that got laughs, like: "Paul McCartney says he's against music piracy, but then he goes and marries someone with a peg leg." Also had some material that was downright sexist and homophobic. Painfully awkward.
3) Just Out of Reach (Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble)
We actually didn't realize that this theater group was from Pittsburgh when we booked the tickets, but it ended up being a great choice. Did any of you Pittsburghers see the world premiere of this play at the City Theater on the Southside in July? If not, it is a must-see. The story of the play is: "Narcissus, Tantalus, and Sisyphus angered the gods. As punishment, they were sent to the underworld and bound to endless torments-- each devised to fit the particular crime. After a long internment, they are visited by the gods who have come with an offer: continue their eternal struggles, or choose to end then by committing suicide. The offer is refused and bewildered, the gods question them, suspecting that the long tortures may have driven them insane. What is revealed is both shocking and beautiful."-- And the play was shocking and beautiful. They managed to combine music, dance, and drama all in one. The play was also surprisingly funny, a highlight being when Sisyphus appears on the jeopardy-style game show "Melodius Diagnosius." The crowd loved it. Overall, the PNME did Pittsburgh very proud.
Damien and I tried to take in some festival shows this weekend, making good use of the preview week's 2-for-1 deals and student discounts on tickets. Here is a quick run-down of what we saw:
1) Copenhagen (Poinmandres Productions)
We were excited to see this well-reviewed play about the German scientist Werner Heisenberg's mysterious visit to Copenhagen to see Niels Bohr in 1941. The script was amazing, and the play was well-acted but the dialogue was slightly rough around the edges, with some line flubs here and there. The actors were all younger than their characters were meant to be, and they carried out their respective roles admirably. Overall, a nice way to kick off our festival viewing experience.
2) Anonymous Comedy Show
This comedian was so bad that I am not going to put his name down to save him the shame of coming across this post when he googles himself. We had been warned that because there are so many acts going on simultaneously during the festival, there are some really good ones and some really bad ones, but nothing could have prepared us for the sheer awkwardness of this standup routine. The poor guy was obviously very nervous from the moment he got on stage, and couldn't master a segway to save his life. He also kept trying to sip beer but missing his mouth because of his nervousness. It didn't help that the theme of the show was about hopelessness, which meant that he told us a bunch of stories about his sad life (but nothing resembling humor). He also wanted to interact with the crowd but was completely thrown off whenever an audience member said something. Example: he asked us what we do for a living, and when I told him we were students, he had no material. He kept repeating "well, this isn't going very well, is it?".As public speaking instructors, our hearts went out to the poor fellow, but it was rooo-ugh. Luckily for him, the audience didn't heckle, but they did look at the ground for most of the act. There were a few jokes that got laughs, like: "Paul McCartney says he's against music piracy, but then he goes and marries someone with a peg leg." Also had some material that was downright sexist and homophobic. Painfully awkward.
3) Just Out of Reach (Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble)
We actually didn't realize that this theater group was from Pittsburgh when we booked the tickets, but it ended up being a great choice. Did any of you Pittsburghers see the world premiere of this play at the City Theater on the Southside in July? If not, it is a must-see. The story of the play is: "Narcissus, Tantalus, and Sisyphus angered the gods. As punishment, they were sent to the underworld and bound to endless torments-- each devised to fit the particular crime. After a long internment, they are visited by the gods who have come with an offer: continue their eternal struggles, or choose to end then by committing suicide. The offer is refused and bewildered, the gods question them, suspecting that the long tortures may have driven them insane. What is revealed is both shocking and beautiful."-- And the play was shocking and beautiful. They managed to combine music, dance, and drama all in one. The play was also surprisingly funny, a highlight being when Sisyphus appears on the jeopardy-style game show "Melodius Diagnosius." The crowd loved it. Overall, the PNME did Pittsburgh very proud.
Friday, 1 August 2008
Pub Review: The Malt Shovel
Hot: backpacker chic, cheap drinks and eats, nice location at the bottom of a hill, spacious interior, beers I've never heard of and thus must try, good nameNot: 'free wifi' not free
Pub Review: The World's End
Sorry the blogging has been light lately. Even the picture of the day feature has turned into the picture of the week. But, you know, that's how it goes sometimes.
New feature today: the pub review.
First up: The World's End.
Near the Scottish Parliament on the Royal Mile, the World's End is a classy little joint with a nice selection of cask conditioned ales. Why's it called the World's End?
So I guess there was a gate at the wall, and if you didn't close the gate on the way out of town, you had to pay a fine:
Hot: Very atmospheric, stone walls, have to access the basement through a trapdoor behind the bar, tasty cask conditioned ales that are 'cellar cool,' lots of portrai
Not: Actually, this pub might be perfect. What a great way to start off a new feature on the blog.
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