Sunday, May 31, 2009

More pictures from the Sugar Mill

2009-05-30 Wedding at the Sugar Mill, Clarksburg, CA
While driving down the delta road to Clarksburg, I often noticed the old sugar mill and wondered what was going to happen to this amazing old factory building. Someone turned it into a winery, where I played a wedding on Saturday night. I've often thought that the Delta could turn into a food destination like Napa County, and perhaps this is one of the early signs.

George Bruno at the Elks

I played at the Elks (right around the corner) with George Bruno today. John Doolittle was playing saxophone. And as I always say, "It's not a show unless Doolittle is playing it." He told me a hilarious story about a trial he was on the jury of. The defendant's alibi? That they were fishing all day. I told Doolittle that if I ever need an alibi, it will be that I was fishing with him all day.

Rachel at the wedding


Rachel Songer listening to a song on her iPod before the set.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Sixteen miles to the gallon


Today I took my Prius into the Toyota dealer for its 60k service. They had to keep it overnight so they loaned me this Highlander.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

A racy painting


Paul Basye is holding up a racy manga-inspired image painted by one of his student/clients.
Too sexy for a regular exhibition — for private viewing only.

I parked here today

Award-winning bathroom

This bathroom is in a popular downtown restaurant. When you go to the sink, it looks like there is a mirror behind it. In fact, you are looking through clear glass at the identical sink in the women's rest room. There is even an identical paper towel dispenser behind the sink in the other room. The illusion persists even if you happen to see a person in the other room.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Six-foot dandelions


Next to my customer's house today was a foreclosed house. Someone should come mow the lawn.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Tommy sound


The Key 2 part in Tommy calls for what I assume is a very aggressive Clavinet patch.

Saturday, May 09, 2009

Komen Race for the Cure


Today I walked in the Vox team at the Race for the Cure and made some new friends. I also saw some teams with silly names. 

Nina's landscape


This illustration has something to do with the idea that if you're a great barista, you can make something beautiful out of even Maxwell House beans. Besides that, I put in images which refer to friends and family. To the right is a bust of Jennifer, below that a guitar representing my old friend Michael Evert, and above the sculptor's head is a landscape by Nina Weiss. (Let's see if she picks this up with her Google Alert...)

Thursday, May 07, 2009

Brick at Woodland Opera House

I was tuning at the Woodland Opera House today and on their set they had some really realistic looking brick walls. They made it from 4 by 8 sheets of styrofoam which their technician cut with a soldering iron and then painted with a roller. Even from up close it is very convincing. 

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

DVD commentary song




Joss Whedon's Internet musical Dr. Horrible's Singalong Blog was a brilliant hit. Now, for the DVD commentary, he has written a song that is both a commentary on the musical and the act of commenting itself. This performance is from a live This American Life broadcast. According to Ira Glass, before this performance, Whedon (who fairly recently taught himself piano so he could write musicals) had never performed for more than nine people. 

Sunday, May 03, 2009

Went to Second City


...for the first time in 4 years, and saw Nina Weiss, my old classmate, for the first time in 28 years! She used to look like Maria Schneider; now she looks like the young Carrie Fisher. 

A square grand...


...in one of the miniature Thorne rooms at the Art Institute.

Saturday, May 02, 2009

You're famous!


I was standing near American Gothic and overheard a couple of kids talking to the painting. "Grant Wood, you're famous. The Simpsons talked about you. Family Guy talked about you."

Friday, May 01, 2009

Best event ever!


We had our best Peace Corps event ever at Sierra 2 on Wednesday night. Our Nom (for people nominated to serve overseas) Party is usually a quiet affair, but this time we had fifty people in a tiny room plus a cameraman (from...?) and Anita Creamer writing a piece for the Bee. Above you see me handing a check to a guy from the Friends of Yimbo group.

Spitting fountain, Millenium Park

Spitting fountain, continued