2024.1.20. Quixote Nuevo at Seattle Rep

1/20, Saturday, 7:30pm. A new play, Quixote Nuevo, at Seattle Rep.

Aging Cervantes professor Jose Quijano has dimentia. When his family tries to move him to an assisted living facility, Jose embarks on a fantastic trip in the Texas desert to search for his lost love and the sad buried reality.

I like the song and dance, great costumes, good acting and dialogue (especially Pancho). However, I couldn't make out half the words, Spanglish. The theme should be trimmed a bit. A bit messy as is. The bar owner's daughter? The make-believe of dressing up as Dulcinea? The finger in the pickle jar? The devil can also be cut out.

2024.1.17. Amber Liu and Marielle Kraft at Crocodile

1/17, 8pm, Crocodile hosted the first show of K-pop star Amber Liu's 2024 tour No More Sad Songs. I'd never heard of her. My friend DZ + KK would drive here for the concert, so I said I'd join them. The venue is only a couple of blocks from my home, but I'd never been inside.

Bought a ticket from the box office. $2.75 service charge. Online the fee is ~$11. Yak!

They search your bag at the door. I brought a thermo cup, and it was "held" at the door. My ticket says "general seating". It turns out there's no seating. There's a stage, a bar, and then empty space where audience stand. The very few bar stools were long taken by the time I arrived.

Marielle Kraft started soon after 8pm. An indie song writer based in Nashville. She introduced the background of her songs. Every song is like a short story. I like her. She plays guitar, her band has an electric guitar and a drummer.

Then a very long break, long enough to remind me that I'm too old to stand this long. We are, maybe the oldest people here.

Finally, Amber got on stage. She sings and she jumps. She and 2 dancers at front stage, accompanied by an electric guitar, a keyboard, a drummer. They are full of energy. I did enjoyed her performance, except my back.

2024.1.17. Techstar Demo Day

1/17, Wednesday MOPOP. I have a ticket to the presentation at 4pm. However, when I arrived, they said that the theatre was full. I was told that the museum was open. So I went up, but no, only 2 rooms were open. I chatted with the security guy from Gdanisk Poland. He said he's a writer.

The demo and reception starts at 6pm. I returned at 6:30. I attended this portion last year. This year, less options of food, plenty though (port slider, waffle + fried chicken, falafel round, spanakopita, jackfruit cake), no desert. Drink is no longer free.

About 20 teams showcased their products. More Indian founders. Quite a few use AI. Below are a list that I visited (ordered by my visit):

• Inquisio: retrieves construction documents permits
• Easy Platter: hires a chef to cook in your own kitchen
• Trellis Health: health of the family: kids health and their parents
• Canopy: a new social media network
• Visionify: workplace monitor
• Care Copilot: helps to care for your loved ones
• Planette: forecasts enviromental events by using oceanography data
• Chassy: release management from code to hardware

2024.1.13. Wallace Falls

1/13, Saturday. COLD. High in the low 20°Fs. Breezy. Decided to visit frozen waterfalls. My buddy picked Wallace Falls, an excellent choice. I was bundled up in 6 layers: 2 shirts, 1 cashmere sweater, a down vest, a synthetic puffy, plus rain jacket. On top of that: gloves, tuque and scarf.

From the frozen parking lot (restroom open and clean), need to walk over a flat field under powerlines. It was very windy here, cold. Once on the proper trail, we were in the trees, not too cold. Soon, I took off my nano-puff. However, the wind blew the snow down from the tree branches, so from time to time, it looked like it was snowing. Rain jacket was a good idea: shed the snow and block the wind.

The lower falls has a large hut behind the viewing deck. It's short, but more open where the falls plunge into the pond below, now a lovely round shape fringed by frosty ice.

The middle falls is the tallest, with 2 drops. But you are farthest from the water.
The upper falls has 2 drops too. Large icicles on the sides. It's the narrowest, its spray has frozen the plants on the canyon wall into white laces.

All three are utterly beautiful. Quite a lot of people. Half of them had no traction device. We put on spikes right at the parking lot. Only 2 short sections had black ice, but possible to walk around them. Also need to be careful walking in the parking lot.

5.6 mile RT, 1300'. Easy and a short drive. A delightful day.

2024.1.6. Dvořák + Rachmaniov with Seattle Symphony

1/6 Saturday, 8pm.

Antonín Dvořák     - Cello Concerto
   Pablo Ferrández on Cello
Sergey Rachmaninov - Symphony No. 2

guest conductor: Alpesh Chauhan

I like the two new stars. British conductor Chauhan likes to dramatize the sound, emphasizes pause, exagaerated dynamic range. The Spanish celloist Ferrández is expressive, also emphasizes dynamic range. Seems this is the trend. I do like it.

I enjoyed the concert, especially the cello concerto, and the 3rd movement of Rachmaninov's symphony. I also enjoy the pre-concert lecture by William White, Music Director of Harmonia Orchestra & Chorus.

Almost full house. QUite a few coughing guests in the audience.

2024.1.1. Dirty Harry's Balcony

2024/1/1. Partly sunny. Started a New Year with a hike. Dirty Harry's Balcony is one of those easy but rewarding trail close to Seattle. Smooth trail, pretty good view, short drive. Yes, somewhat busy. Parking lot was full.

I was picked up near REI at 10am, and we are done ~1:30pm. Not cold. A bit more wind than yesterday.