Obama Style

President Obama and Michelle Obama have made a most unprecedented decorating decision to date. They've decided to pay for the decorating of the White House private residence and the Oval Office themselves! They'll forego the $100,000 budget of public funds set aside to redecorate their quarters. Nor are they accepting gifts for the project either.
When Mr. Obama promised change...he really meant it. At a time when everyday Americans are loosing jobs and homes at an accelerated rate they're sending a much appreciated message.
I just hope those who have responsibility for corporate treasuries, pension funds, and boards of directors get it... It's a new day. Greed and self indulgence are out. Integrity and prudence are in. The pendulum had swung too far and now it's correcting itself. I've always believed good leadership leads by example, it seeks to elevate... and in our new first family the example on how leadership should respond toward the public trust is more than a breath of fresh air... in spite of the economy and the slow down in my decorating business... I'm breathing a little better.

Lend me a tenor

There was a great story this week in the Vancouver Sun about hapless singers from a Canadian choir standing out on a freezing bridge in their tuxes, trying to recruit more tenors. Funny, yes, but sadly timeless. Why exactly is it that choral and theater groups have such trouble finding male singers?

Every time I've written about a local choral group, I've asked if auditions are planned. The answer is always the same: "Well, we could use some more men. Especially tenors." It's true in the theater, too. It's enough to make a woman weep. How many times have I battled my way through auditions and call-backs, competing with a slew of other women who look like me and sing like me, and then after the cast list is up the director is still looking for men? How many guys do you know who get to stroll into call-backs on a regular basis without having to audition?

With reality shows still thriving, you'd think that more men would be encouraged to take the stage. After all, if a rock star can be lifted up out of a crowd, doesn't that mean anyone can sing? I wonder what the comparative numbers are of male and female contestants.

What is it about our society that makes people so shy about singing in front of others? It should be as natural as talking. Besides being a welcome creative and emotional outlet, singing is an excellent way to practice the rhythms of a foreign language, or pass on a forgotten piece of culture, such as a folk song from another century. And yet it can feel like crying in public, even when you're trained.

Male tenors, of course, face the added baggage of -- as the Sun article states -- sounding different from the gruff, "manly" sounds they are taught to think of as cool. Not everyone can star in "Jersey Boys."

What are other ways that choruses, theater groups and other organizations can attract male singers? Do you need to start with boys when they're young, doing performances and other educational programs at schools to show them the joy of bursting into song? Do you appeal to men by pointing out how many girls they can meet? Do you point out that Hugh Jackman is a heck of a singer? Even I want to be like him.

Photo by Ward Perrin of the Vancouver Sun, from the Sun's website.

Golden

Maya from"Girlfriends", on the CW network was one of my favorite characters on the show. Now actress Golden Brooks who played the hip and sassy Maya has listed her Hollywood Hills home for $1.8M with Keller-Williams Realty. The 4 bedroom, 31/2 bath 3,500 square foot contemporary offers great views and an updated Hollywood sophistication. There is a spa in the master bedroom suite and a chef's kitchen.
I'm glad she listed with Keller-Williams Realty .... I just became an agent with them in their Kingstowne, VA office while still keeping my responsibilities with Red River Interiors....I always have something going on...love it that way.

(click images to enlarge)

The three level entry adds a Wow factor

Absolutely love her fashion forward style and monochromatic color scheme.

images: La Times

'Drood' is good

Every theater person has a favorite show that never gets done, that one you jump at the chance to see. Which is why my actor sig oth plans to be at Gunn High School this weekend (while I'm on stage in the hills). Gunn is doing a musical I'll be sad to miss, the terrific "Mystery of Edwin Drood."

Based on an unfinished novel by Charles Dickens, "Drood" is about choirmaster John swooning over his music student, Rosa Bud, while Miss Bud moons over John's nephew, Edwin Drood. When Drood disappears, who is the murderer?

"The audience members choose who the killer is, which can get interesting at intermission when the characters are all trying to get your vote," says Sig Oth.

It'd be nice if you could choose the endings of other shows, especially ones you hate. I vote to have Eliza Doolittle fall down a mine shaft.

It doesn't know it

On mornings when I want to write a blog posting, but nothing comes, I can take comfort that at least I'm not an early computer programmed to randomly generate love poetry. Is this the modern equivalent of monkeys at a typewriter? Hilarious.

By the way, what's with the duck? Must be a British thing.

View Over the Potomac

I love city life and I especially enjoy the high rise views from northern Virginia over the Key Bridge into DC. This apartment exemplifies city life. The grid pattern windows hint of an industrial feel and the furniture is absolutely contemporary... fresh. I could live here easily.

A trio of weekend options

Nothing to do this weekend? Tsk. There's plenty happening on the Midpeninsula -- here are three events that particularly caught my eye:

Foto Nova 19, reception at 7 p.m. Friday, 3/6, at Modernbook Gallery

Like its predecessors, this fifth annual exhibit is likely to be a good place to get acquainted with promising, up-and-coming photographers. Some of the 19 photogs are local, including Palo Alto psychologist/software manager Steve Goldband. I like his pleasantly seedy peek at the past at Palo Alto's old Easterday Furniture sign, which was revealed last year when the Walgreens building got torn down.

"Schick Machine," 8 p.m. Saturday, 3/7, at Dinkelspiel Auditorium One man and lots of sounds: Percussionist Steven Schick premieres a new "musical theater work" by composer Paul Dresher. Unusual instruments and mechanical sound sculptures tell a story about an obsessive percussionist who is getting evicted from his warehouse loft. He has to choose only a few pieces and sounds to bring with him. Check out this great Lively Arts video here.

Cello Joe & the Midnight Ramblers, 8 p.m. Saturday, 3/7, at Red Rock Coffee
Joe sings and beat-boxes while playing the cello, which is what comes from mixing a classical background with hip-hop. Excellent. Also, the best stage name since Sousaphone Sam (who I just made up). We hope to do a story on him in the Weekly soon. Video upon video here.