Starmade shadows and ash groves

Don't get me wrong. I love holiday music. I arrive ridiculously early for sing-along Messiahs so I can sit up front. I once sang "O Holy Night" at a vocal recital. In the summer. But after spending hours listing bell-bedecked holiday concerts for this year's roundup story, I was ready for a change.

No art songs, as far as I know, are about tinsel. So the thought of the Fortnightly Music Club's concert on Dec. 12 is rather refreshing. No carols, no dreidels; just a lovely-sounding selection of works by Jean Francaix, Mozart and Schumann -- and then a program of English, German and French art songs performed by baritone Geoffrey Cooper and pianist Melissa Smith.

I've sung one of the songs, Samuel Barber's gorgeous, haunting and challenging "Sure On This Shining Night." (It was a different recital. I swear.) But I had a lot of fun this afternoon getting introduced to some of the others, thanks to the miracle of YouTube. My favorite was Benjamin Britten's arrangement of the Welsh tune "The Ash Grove" -- I heard renditions both sweet and sprightly. Not sure how traditional the Greek-flavored Nana Mouskouri one was, but I would call it particularly earnest-sounding.

The program also contains John Woods Duke's "April Elegy," Hugo Wolf's "Fussreise" and three Gabriel Faure songs. The free concert is at 8 p.m. in the Palo Alto Art Center auditorium, 1313 Newell Road.

Pictured: Samuel Barber in a photo by Carl Van Vechten, taken from Wikipedia.

30% Off Robert Allen Fabrics

We've had a good response to our Robert Allen/Dwell Studio fabrics. We've been inspired to offer 30% off on all  Robert Allen fabrics during the holiday season. Email your fabric and color choices and we will send you a quote.  There is a 4yard minimum. If you have upcoming drapery, upholstery or pillow fabrics to purchase... now is the time.  All orders ship UPS ground. It's that easy, so happy shopping.... and Happy Holidays.... Fay

Vintage Style

This West Palm Beach house was built in 1926 is up for sale. It's exterior says Spanish vintage but it's renovated interior is contemporary.  It's a classic beauty and there's not much for me to add so I'll just let you enjoy. 

images: NY Times

 living room

sunroom

 master suite

 

 master suite

 guest room

Landscaped yard with stone fountain and covered dining room.

Landscaped yard with stone fountain and covered dining room.

Husbands and Wives

When it comes to the bedroom most husbands don't want to feel as though it's been decorated without him in mind. I haven't met the guy who's comfortable in a frilly pink bed covered with  fluffy lace pillows. After all, he sleeps there too.  So, what I do suggest to bring him into the fold is choosing fabrics and colors that he can live with. Why this bedroom works for husband and wife has a lot to do with color and fabric. The blue is a soft ethereal shade that brings softness to the room. The fabric choices  are complimentary. The plaid brings in the masculine side while the brown velvet on the duvet is for her. The pillows are in many shapes and sizes. Accessories round out the room with chunky night stands and feminine lamps. I like pretty in the bedroom but when it's shared by the man of the house it can't be pink.

image: Red River Interiors



Casa Midy Chairs

I love chairs and I especially love these from Casa Midy in Mexico. Check out their web site for more of these hand crafted works of art. If you love them as much as I do... let me know.  I'll ask George to send a quote.  All items are special order so they do take time.



Bits and tidbits

Some notes from the arts editor's desk on this fine Monday:

• This Wednesday, Foothill College hosts a free screening of the film "Food, Inc." at noon. I can't stop giggling at this line in the press release: "Snacks will be provided." Is that wrong?
  
• Someone sent me a copy of the CD "Broadway's Carols for a Cure." I'm devastated that there is no Palo Alto angle for the cast of "Mamma Mia" singing "O Holy Night."
• After writing about the new play "Bashert!" in last week's Weekly, I took my mom to see it this weekend. We were completely charmed. Bravo to the cast and creative team, especially Palo Alto playwright Caryn Huberman Yacowitz.
• I've still got gypsy jazz music dancing in my head after catching The Hot Club of Palo Alto performing in Menlo Park yesterday. Weekly story to come soon.
  
• The chiaroscuro woodcuts currently at the Cantor Arts Center look very cool. Newsprint would not be kind to them. Sometimes I don't like newsprint.
  
• Really, if anyone should sing "Do You Hear What I Hear?", it's the cast of "American Idiot."

Pictured: The movie poster for "Food, Inc."