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Last Wednesday was Ash Wednesday followed by a Mac n’ Cheese dinner with some of my friends from the Young Adults group. During dinner a couple was upstairs in the rectory doing their FOCCUS test and discussion. I wonder if they were actually in different rooms or merely separated by a fake potted plant like we were? I also wonder if their betrothed misread the “are you concerned about your spouse-to-be’s drinking habits” questions and consequently created a rather interesting post-test discussion, like some couples I know? ;)
Went to Geva’s Comedy Improv Troupe’s annual performance of Be My Valentine: A Blood-Soaked Slasher/Romantic Comedy last Friday night (uh, ignore the dates. Old promos: that’s what you get for snooping around on MySpace.) This year’s show was set in a bad kid boot camp in a foggy swamp. As promised, there were lots of humorous, gory and unlikely offings, tons of fake blood squirting everywhere (first 6 rows of the NextStage is the splash zone, FYI), plenty of romance, and oodles of comedy. Grab a beer, sit in the back, yell out a suggestion or two, watch the comedy unfold, and laugh until you snort.
And last weekend on Saturday night after the Ice Wine & Culinary Festival I saw this Out of Pocket Productions show, All This And Moonlight, directed by my good friend Shawnda. First of all, to clarify, The Space Theatre & Gallery at Rochester Greenovation is not located at the sketchy abandoned warehouse off a side street in a dark alley like my GoogleMaps apps said it was (thank God for that), but it IS located in the hidden back room of this huge and amazing thrift store of treasures! Walking in there was everything from mirrors and furniture to an 8 ft. camel. Like I said, awesome. The show was refreshing, had a lot of funny one-liners, was well-directed, well-acted, and was just a lot of fun in general – a neat script. Not to mention, I really love Out of Pocket Production’s mission. According to my program, they “started in 2008 with the goal of producing quality shows in Rochester and giving actors and theatre-goers a way to give back to their community. Our mission is to use theatre to raise awareness and funds for local and national non-profit organizations. Out of Pocket productions produces high quality shows at a minimal cost to maximize funds for non-profit organizations.” For this show Out of Pocket Productions partnered with Foodlink, a food bank that distributes food and plants gardens to promote wholesome and nutritious eating in emergency food networks in a 10 county area of upstate New York. 1/3 of the ticket price went directly to the organization. And they accepted non-perishable food donations at the door. Great show, great cause. Pretty great, right?
And finally, on that Saturday evening after a day of savoring more super sweet ice wine and ice wine inspired cuisines than any person should ever drink in one day, my stomach could take no more syrupy sweetness and demanded something salty and substantial. And who am I to say no my body’s needs? (My arteries are throbbing too, it’s okay. Insanely delicious does come at a price.)
