Yep, this makes 200 postings

Today's posting feels like a landmark: Mazel tov to me on my 200th Ad Libs post! Should I buy myself an anniversary present? I always forget. Is it paper this year, or pyrite?

To celebrate, since I am also an actress, all news in this posting will be about the theatah.

• Some interesting video coming out of The Pear Avenue Theatre in Mountain View. Lately, the troupe has been posting promotional videos for its shows that are almost dreamlike in their creative use of atmospheric music. More enigmatic than informative, the videos are nonetheless compelling teases. The Pear's current production is Tony Kushner's "The Illusion."
• File this in the "Yet Another Ridiculously Talented Palo Altan" category. Sarah Cameron Sunde, Paly class of '95, is co-directing a new play in New York City called "The Diary of a Teenage Girl." Written by Marielle Heller, the play is based on a graphic novel by Phoebe Gloeckner. It runs through April 12 in the financial district. Sunde has a lengthy directing resume and has also translated plays by Norwegian writer Jon Fosse. You know, in her spare time.
• It's not Tony time yet, but some current Paly theater folks recently won awards at the California State Thespian Conference, where they competed and took part in workshops. Alex Huerta got the first-place honor for lighting design, while Zachary Freier-Harrison (who was just in Palo Alto Players' "Rabbit Hole") won second place in a 250-student monologue competition. Meanwhile, Huerta and Heather Gaya got picked to serve as stage technicians on the All-State Show.
• Lastly, auditions are coming up for Palo Alto Players' production of "Jewtopia" by Bryan Fogel and Sam Wolfson. According to the list of roles, this is probably one of the only shows around that gives you the chance to play a chick who is "a mix of Paris Hilton and Fran Drescher." Haw haw.
  

Pictured above: From left, Drew Ledbetter and Isaac Benelli in The Pear Avenue Theatre's "The Illusion." Photo by Ray Renati.

Movin' on up (maybe?)

A quick note that, due to some sort of technical reasoning beyond my ken, this blog must move to a new address. So instead of being at blog.paloaltoonline.com/adlibs, as before, it is now at adlibs.paloaltoonline.com.

I have yet to grasp the significance of this change, but I imagine it must be meaningful. Make a note, Diane.

Kitchen Counter Tops

I appreciate natural materials for kitchen counter tops. In a former life I worked in the design center of a national builder and spent countless hours coordinating counter top samples with cabinet woods. One of my favorite granite choices was Black Galaxy. I love the depth of Black Galaxy granite with its cooper flecks sitting atop warm maple cabinets.  It's a  transitional look that works well in a traditional home.  But I always wanted to push fashion forward with other counter top materials.  Materials such as Carrera marble, stainless steel, butcher's  block and soap stone are timeless and create a worn patina when used in contemporary settings.

Design in mind

Is it a statement on homophobia, or on meat-eaters, or on the Slow Food movement? Choose your own interpretation of Stephanie J. Carter's 2009 pseudo-edible sculpture "Coming Out Vegetarian to My Parents." It's fashioned from colored pound cake and a poured hard-candy shell (pictured at right).

Whatever the piece means, I smelled it before I saw it, which is always interesting in an art gallery. The work is currently part of the "Design Unassigned" exhibition on campus.

The thought I had, helped by the sickly-sweet odor and the unappetizing colors, is that whenever you sit down over a family dinner to break something gently to your parents (0r children), it rarely goes the way you want. Emotions run high, your stomach flips, and even the choicest food turns chalky in your mouth.

Or, this could represent a wary parent's idea of what his poor newly vegetarian daughter will be reduced to eating from now on.

Strolling through the exhibits regularly put on by the design students always yields unexpected results. This show, which runs through April 25, also features Danika Patrick's playing cards made from recycled soda cans and auto paint; and Paul Braun's modern, sand-cast aluminum take on the traditional Chinese hot pot.

In a dark corner, John Hollendoner's topographic map of Mount Rainier gleamed in acrylic. A silvery mountain, not something you could climb, perhaps more at home in outer space. It's amazing how kids see the world these days.




Pictured above: John Hollendoner's Mount Rainier sculpture. Behind it is Matt Freshman's 2008 "Acrylic Illuminated Object," which changes color. Photos by Rebecca Wallace.

Sondheim and Ebert

No particular Palo Alto angle today. Just two great arts stories about two of the arts world's greats.

Here is a lovely New York Times write-up about the recent 80th-birthday tribute to Stephen Sondheim at Avery Fisher Hall in NYC. I would have given many, many things to have been there.

If I could have heard only one of the numbers? Ah, I'd pick Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patinkin teaming up once more to sing "Move On" from "Sunday In the Park With George." And I love that La Stritch wore a hat when Patti LuPone sang "The Ladies Who Lunch" to her. ("Does anyone still wear a hat?")

Secondly, a rich Esquire piece about Roger Ebert living with cancer and without the ability to speak. The way Ebert has been freed to express himself on the page -- the words simply flowing -- was deeply moving. Chris Jones' article is as much a portrait of an artist evolving (and of a remarkable marriage) as it is an inspiring piece about survival. The occasional flashes of humor are startling and gutsy, like when a woman at a party writes Ebert a note, and the film critic simply points to his ears as if to say, "They still work, y'know."

Pictured: A New York Times photo of the Sondheim celebration, taken by Sara Krulwich.

Color:Visualize It

Most of us aren't that good at imagining what a room will look and feel like with a color change.  I love color.... As long as I have something to work against like fabrics or textiles I'm pretty good at color selection. It comes with experience... If I do make a mistake a redo is in order...after all it's only paint.   Most examples of what I see when working with clients is too little hue in their color selections.  It's as thought they know they need to get rid of the four white walls but afraid to take the plunge. What ends up happening is their color selections come up looking a bit anemic.  Well fear no more!  I have a tool that can give you a better idea of what your finished result will look like before you make a commitment. Try the Sherwin-Williams Color Visualizer.  All you have to do is upload a photo of the room you want to paint, drop and drag on your paint color. You can change the color as often as you like. I've tested this tool and I think it's a great way to improve your color selections.  Still not sure?... Let's do a site visit.... I'll show you how to successfully take color from room to room and floor to floor.

 Want to cool down the chili pepper red?... Try the Visualizer 

    

You honestly know it's time to get rid of those four white walls... Try the Visualizer!