Billy's Been BLOGGIN' Again: August 2006

New York City

Central Park South

Columbus Circle

Lunch at Virgil's

Matinee: A dark comedy by Martin McDonagh
(Last chance to see it ... closing Sunday)

Rockefeller Center: Prometheus

MTV Video Music Awards: Red Carpet Preparations
You saw it here first!

MTV Video Music Awards: Outdoor Stage Preparations

Return of "The Wednesday Feature" Vol. 2, No. 1

I discontinued The Wednesday Feature in the spring and now it triumphantly returns for the opening of the fall theater and entertainment season. Look for it weekly from now until the end of May, 2007. That's 40 weeks and then I'm back to the beach for 12 weeks.

Calendars:

Dirty Linen

The DC Bluegrass Union

Venues:

The Friendly Inn
Roots Cafe
The Cellar Stage
Institute of Musical Traditions
Music Center at Strathmore
Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center
Gordon Center for Performing Arts
Common Ground on the Hill
Madam's Organ Bob Perilla and Big Hillbilly Bluegrass, Every Wednesday
The Birchmere
Tiffany Tavern Bluegrass every Friday and Saturday

Theater:

Center Stage The Three Sisters begins September 15
Vagabond Players Joe Turner's Come and Gone begins September 8
Fells Point Corner Theater The Boys Next Door begins September 8
Everyman Theater Opus begins September 6
Spotlighters MmmBeth and Hamlette begins September 9
Theatre Project Look Up September 2 and 3 only
Performance Workshop Theater

. . . additional Theater listings

Cinema:

The Charles
The Senator and The Rotunda
Openings and Top 10

At University of Maryland, College Park:

Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center Meet the Squonkers September 5, 5:30 pm, FREE
School of Music UM Symphony Orchestra, Shostakovich and Prokofiev September 29
Department of Dance José Limón Company September 14 and 15
Department of Theater The Piano Lesson begins October 12

Highfalutin:

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Baltimore Opera
Lyric Opera House
France-Merrick Performing Arts Center Mamma Mia! through September 10
Baltimore Museum of Art
National Gallery of Art
Library of Congress

Hiking, Not Biking!

I took a little break from biking today.

I decided to try a little hiking instead.

Rocks State Park

End of an Era

I purchased this beautiful 1987 Volvo 240 DL

for $15,000 nearly twenty years ago

on December 16, 1986.

I can remember bringing my youngest son John and my lovely wife Rose home from the hospital in this fantastic car in 1988 when John was born. Last week we took John away to the University of Maryland in the very same car!

Now, for some reason, my wife has come to the conclusion that it is time to retire this remarkable car --- a concept which I had difficulty comprehending. Of course, she knew that I would eventually see things her way.

But not before some pleading and whining . . . ok, ok, it was begging!

I even tried tears, but alas . . . to no avail.

CARMAX is now the proud new owner of my classic automobile.
And I have a check for $150.
1% of the original purchase price.
I guess that means I used 99% of this incredible vehicle.

I hate being wasteful!

Weather Problems

There was a steady rain falling at 7:00 this morning. After breakfast at the hotel, the rain stopped and we got a late start on the bike ride. Several miles into the ride the rain started again. I opted to do the 25-mile course and hope for better weather next year.

The day was not a total loss. We had a fantastic late lunch at the Freight House Restaurant in an old freight warehouse at the train station in Doylestown.

Today's Ride

2 Rides and Change of Plans

I took an evening bike ride with John on Thursday; our last chance to ride together before he departs of University of Maryland. We rode 20 miles on the Northern Central Railroad Trail.

On Friday I went out for a 60-mile ride; my last chance to ride before Sunday's Lake Nockamixon Century.

It was a rude awakening to ride in hilly northern Baltimore County after riding nearly 400 miles in August on Maryland's Eastern Shore --- where there are NO HILLS!

Yes, I gave up after 37 miles. I sure was glad this church had some benches outside. I called for an emergency rescue. John drove up and picked me up.
I'm not sure about that 100-miler on Sunday. The web site says: "Ride 25, 50, 75, or 100 miles on rolling terrain with a few hills." A few hills? I wonder what they mean by a few hills? I think I will change my plans and do the 50-miler this year and save the 100-miler for next year.