Sedona Az – Thanksgiving Trip 11/2017
FUN HOME
FUN HOME – Victory Gardens Theater – 2433 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614 – (773) 871-3000 – victorygardens.org – (winner of 5 Tony Awards including “Best Musical”) that follows graphic novelist Alison Bechdel as she unravels the mysteries of her childhood, from her coming out to her moving journey of acceptance.
Q-tips say: GREAT! SEE IT! A wonderful musical unravels the many mysteries of Alison’s childhood through a series of memories and conversations – from her coming out to her moving journey to acceptance. Mrs. Q says: An extremely talented group of actors. Different actors portray Alison – small, meduim and adult Alison. The orchestra is above the stage not below. Ninety minutes long without an intermission. We did enjoy it.
OUR TOWN – Redtwist Theater – Edgewater, Chicago
OUR TOWN – Redtwist theater – a very small theater, seats approx. 30. Our small town must deal with social issues, such as addiction, choices in life and a lot of why’s and who’s. In this production, Fleming has opted to cast females in what would be classic male roles and vice-versa. Besides the gender-bending casting, there are also many racially mixed roles. As long as you know up-front that there are differences, the beauty of the play is not affected by this nuance.
The story is told by a Narrator who is called The Stage Manager . From time to time, he becomes other characters that inhabit the Town of Grovers Corners. Each of the main families is introduced to us and in this tiny little “black box” theater, the actors are in our reach for all three acts. Oh, yes, they are presenting the show in three segments dealing with a sort of “birth”, “marriage” and “death”- there are two intermissions of 10 minutes each and a total running time of 2 hours 20 minutes.
The story is about youth, finding love and also deals with death. Fleming has also opted to not use period costuming in order to allow the story to be of greater importance than “stuff”.
Q-tips say: Went with friends and we all enjoyed it. They make the audience feel that you are part of their little town. During two intermissions, they offer tea to the audience and after the wedding, they offer wedding cake.
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry – 2017
ASTROPHYSICS for People in a HURRY – Neil De Grasse Tyson
Mrs. Q says: The title says it all. Liked it. It took me a week after I got it to begin reading it. You can read a chapter while on the bus, etc. A down to earth informative book that guides you through questions about our universe with humor & humility. Covers cosmic issues from the Big Bang to black holes , from quarks to quantum mechanics and search for planets to search for life in the universe. Got to go and finish the book, this is one that I cannot renew because there are others waiting to read it.
HAMILTON – 7/2020 & 9/2017
HAMILTON – Hamilton: An American Musical is a sung- and rapped-through musical about the life of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton.
7/2020 review: on TV – streaming – Mrs. Q says: Saw it again. The other half wanted to see it again—-so. The best thing about this time: IT WAS FREE and you can be in your favorite chair/enjoying your favorite libation. Mrs. Q still thinks it is over-rated but this time not overpriced. Also, during the live performance at the theater, the orchestra, at times, was too loud and made it more difficult to understand the performers. The at-home movie, without the live orchestra, made for a better experience regarding understanding some of the words.
2017 review: Q-tips say: Way OVERPRICED (Don’t care if you got discounted tickets, it is still overpriced) & OVER-RATED.
Mrs. Q says: See it if you must. If you like rap and hip-hop, this is the musical play for you. The “man bun” contingent in the audience must of thought is was great with all the “Yahoo’s and yelling after each segment” even when someone just steps on stage before he said or did anything. It is very loud, and many times you cannot understand what they are saying(singing, rapping, screaming, etc.) However, Mrs. Q DID like what they did with the stage and stage lighting. The best part of the evening is going to “Shaw’s Crab house” for dinner.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, the playwright and lyricist, is laughing all the way to the bank with wheelbarrows of money. If there is Part II of another play like this, count me out! Spamilton??? No, Thank you.
DEADLY CHOICES – Paul A Offit., MD 9/2017
DEADLY CHOICES – by Dr. Paul A. Offit
How the ANTI Vaccine movement threatens us all.
Mrs. Q says: a book about the ANTI vaccine movement but so much more. The book delves into the PRO and CONS of vaccines thru our history. How it began till present. You will learn about how they test and how the news media had a say and how they swayed the population. YES, I enjoyed it.
The REAL truth about AGING 9/2017
The REAL truth about AGING – by Drs. Neil Shulman, Michael A. Siverman, Adam G. Golden
Mrs. Q says: NO, the Drs. won’t tell you will NOT die. As we all know, we will.
It seems there were no senior health resources that the Drs. felt comfortable recommending to patients and families to prepare them for what was often a new and strange environment-the uncharted territory of aging. this is a survival guide for seniors and caregivers.”
This book draws on their extensive geriatric experience as well as on an analysis of the current medical literature. Issues are not sugarcoated and believe that if people are faced with making life-and death decisions, they should know the straight facts.
What your Dr. WON’T tell you about getting older 9/2017
What your Dr. WON’T tell you about getting older – by Mark Lachs, M.D.
Yes, many of you have facelifts, face peels, botox, you name it – but your insides are still aging. This book turns the lights on, illuminating potential pitfalls and showing a way around them.
This book is a survival guide, gathering all the information you need to have but that too often doctors just don’t give you. Writing with great experience and good humor, renowned geriatrician Mark Lachs explains how to choose your doctors, stay out of the emergency room, plan financially for retirement, outfit your house to stay safe, and, most important, how to have as many healthy years as possible.
Peggy’s Retirement & BD celebration at Gino’s
Peggy’s Retirement & BD celebration at Gino’s North. Summer 2017
Peggy arriving in style!
The “QUEEN” is here. Happy BD and Happy Retirement.
Chicago History Museum 8/2017
Chicago History Museum – 1601 N Clark St, Chicago, IL., (312) 642-4600 – chicagohistory.org
Q-tips say: Been there before, a while ago, and nothing really changed much.They have such featured highlights: Star challenge, the Great Chicago Adventure, Secret Lives of Objects, Spies, Traitors & Saboteurs, & a Fashion Exhibit, and a Vivian Maier’s Chicago photo exhibit. They do have a very small exhibit, hands on, for younger children but this Museum is not really all that good for younger children, even tho they have a transportation section, “Crossroads of America” exhibit. Grammar school and older perhaps. They have a restaurant, museum store, and offer audio tours. Last time we just happen upon it when passing by and it was a “Free Day.” This time, not a free day, and had to pay.
Mrs. Q says: If you have never been, so and see it. But try for Thurs., I believe that is the “free day.”