Of this and.... you...

Although I won’t harp on this, I did attend the season’s first Brian Ganz piano talk down at SMCM yesterday. For anybody (even mildly) interested in classical music, these are a great opportunity to not only hear, but learn about the music. Brian not only performs them, but tells you things to listen for, some of the history associated with the music, and general background. Yesterday he played selections by Beethoven and Chopin. He started out explaining that the Beethoven pieces were written near the end of his career, while Chopin’s was written very early. He also said that Beethoven’s Sonata in E, Op. 109 was (to him) one of the ”most glorious” pieces of music he knew. He went through each movement, explaining stuff that I barely understood, terms like counterpoint, how the melody went from the left to the right hand, etc.. The last movement (Andante Molto Cantabile ed Expressivo) was about conflict and resolution, and how one of his first instructors likened part of the piece to dandelion seeds floating lightly to earth and we should listen for that.

I listened and listened, trying to hear what he talked about, and as usual, I had no clue. I was still waiting for it when the piece ended. I need a big neon sign over the piano to light up with “Dandelions NOW” when the music reaches that point.

But what I did get was a wonderful experience listening to the Sonata, it is indeed worth hearing. By comparison, the Chopin selections were pleasant, but for want of a better term, simple. Brian explained that the first one, (Polonaise in G minor) was written when Chopin was 7 (!!) years old. He then sat down to play it, and before he started, he looked at the audience and said somewhat quizzically, “Seven years old!!”.

Well, I did harp a bit more than I had hoped, but you should go, I guarantee you’ll enjoy yourself. Pretty much sticks to one hour, no charge. Next one is Thursday, September 30th, noon in St. Mary’s hall. Since we’ll be in Ireland at that time, I’ll have to miss it, but you don’t. Oh, did I mention there was no sheet music at all…

Reader Feedback Department

One of the things I enjoy is when people e-mail me about experiences they’ve had in food. Recently, I’ve had reports that Tony’s in St. Louis is still tops (although the servers now are dressed in “blue jeans and pastel t-shirts” which I don’t understand); and somebody who went to the new Red Robin says you have to be a snake to eat their burgers, so you can unhinge your jaw to get around them.

I also had a couple of reports of folks who ate at that Fiesta Café in Mechanicsville. Neither said the food was “the best Mexican in the DC area”, using terms like “bland” and “just okay, a place to eat”. The trouble with those “reader’s poll” things is that they can be influenced by a dedicated campaign of friends and relatives. Maybe that’s the case here.

A few people are awaiting the chance to have breakfast at a Cracker Barrel, with the comment that “you can’t get a good breakfast around here”. They go on to say Linda’s is slow, IHOP is average, Bob Evans is well, Bob Evans. They may have a point. At least with a CB, they can have breakfast three times a day. And, you get to visit the gift shop! I also might remind them that cooking at home is an option. I have had some good breakfasts at the Frying Pan over the river.

And lastly, somebody forwarded a clip from a Wine Spectator article about how “Olive Garden sells more wine than any other restaurant chain in America - more than a half a million cases a year. And the chain's management, Darden restaurant group, sees educating average diners about wine as part of its core strategy. “. That was kind of surprising, but I don’t know what chain would compete with them. Come to think of it, I do remember that the server usually approaches the table, bottle in hand, ready to pour before you can stop them. Not having been to our local edition, I don’t know if they do that here. As far as educating “average diners about wine” seems to be a stretch. A peek at the wine list reveals ordinary selections or maybe “average selections”. Most all are available by the glass ($7 – 9) and bottle (~$25) although there is a Villa Antinori “Super Tuscan” and an Amarone ($100/btl). Next time you’re there ask the staff about those and see what you learn. Be an interesting test.

Keep ‘em coming people!!

Enough for your Wednesday. The feeder is attending a “Social Media Workshop” today. But don’t look for facebook/twitter/linked-in icons in the bottomfeeder real soon..

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