another favorite pastime: Santa Cruz Derby Girls

I reported on the season opener back in March, but discovered only last week that we have a video of it now. Great! Saturday's bout (5/15), in comparison, was a bit more subdued, for several reasons. First I noticed that the music seemed at a lower volume than usual, which was somewhat strange considering the kind of music you enjoy at the bouts. The only explanation I could think of was that we were having ourselves a family-friendly event since the Derby Groms were scheduled to compete during the half-time break. After the Groms' performance a good part of the audience, proud parents I suppose, promptly disappeared, which made for a (relatively) quiet second half. Birgit and I thought that we could also detect a certain fatigue spreading. It felt like a double header with one team, the Groms, being very cute, but not exactly very exciting, which took some momentum out of the proceedings. Would it be better to schedule separate events for the kids? I, for one, will avoid the bouts from now on that include the Groms. Which is not to say that we didn't have fun. It's always a blast! I'm ready to order my tickets for the next Santa Cruz bout June 26th, if my perpetual nemesis, friggin santacruztickets.com, will let me. I always have problems with this site. (One specialty would be to send me a temporary password, only to lock me out as soon as I use it. Thanks!)

The Jesus Factor

Could it get more Santa Cruz? Guerilla Drive-In presents the local film The Jesus Factor. Written and directed by Cheri Lovedog. Friday May 14th 8pm. Under the Soquel Avenue bridge, behind the Indian Restaurant. Free (Bring warm clothing).

Thema Spargel, genauer grüner Spargel.

Über weissen Spargel in Santa Cruz muss uns jemand anderes informieren. Es gibt ihn schon wenn in Saison, aber entweder bin ich zu doof, oder habe nicht die entsprechenden Kultrequisiten, auf jeden Fall wird der weisse bei mir immer eher nix. Weshalb ich auf grünen umgestiegen bin und sagen muss: Einmal grün, immer grün, da er so viel einfacher zu handhaben ist!
Ich schneide ihn in Stücke und haue ihn in die Pfanne. Wenn ich nicht rechtzeitig wende und er leicht anbrennt schmeckt er sogar noch besser. Praktisch.
Ein Hinweis für Santa Cruzianer: Da wir die Gelegenheit haben frisch vom örtlichen Anbieter zu kaufen sollten wir sie auch ergreifen. Als Lohnsklavin ist mir der mittwöchliche Wochenmarkt versagt, aber ich kaufe zumindest bei Shopper's Corner ein und kann den Laden mit Überzeugung weiterempfehlen. Trader Joe's ist ja nett für andere Geschichten, aber vom Gemüsekauf dort würde ich allgemein abraten. Die langen Wege der teilweise eingeflogenen Waren sind nicht nur politically incorrect, sondern lassen das Gemüse schlichtweg altern bevor es in die Regale kommt. Man tut sich wirklich keinen Gefallen ein paar Cent zu sparen um dann die Geschmacksnerven mit komplett unspannendem Futtergeschmack zu langweilen. TJ Spargel insbesondere hat sich als holzig erwiesen, während die Stengel bei Shopper's bisher jedesmal frisch & saftig waren. Natürlich ist Unikat Shopper's teurer als Kette TJ, aber ich habe gerade festgestellt, dass man die wöchentliche Zeitungsanzeige mit Angeboten auch online anschauen kann, was sich allemal lohnt. Und die Wandmalerei auf der Branciforte Seite ist natürlich klasse! (Foto Coyro/Sentinel)

From The Smoking Gun to Extras via Thin White Duke

Browsing the web on a quiet night at home I let the The Smoking Gun's extensive mug shot collection entertain me for a while. Among a plethora of stars, starlets and superstar athletes, it offers the classic shots that we all know & love, of Sam Shepard, several of Robert Downey Jr. over the years, and Nick Nolte, of course. Interesting are TSG's Favorite Mug Shots, "images of the not-so-famous that chronicle the rich assortment of American misbehavior." Leona Helmsley e.g. is pretty funny. Among all the dazed and disheveled, for once human looking celebrities The Thin White Duke stands out in his magnificent artifice. He did have a chance to tidy up, though, the "Rochester Police Department mug shot was taken three days after Bowie's arrest, when the performer appeared at City Court for arraignment." 1976. Still lovely! This incarnation just never went out of style. Iggy was nabbed the same night, apparently, but we don't have any pictures. And while we're at it, guess who declared: "Bowie said that after Let's Dance, which is his biggest album ever and obviously not his best, he was doing these stadium gigs and looked out at the audience and suddenly realized that he had Phil Collins fans instead of Iggy Pop fans. And that's how I feel about everything I do: I want Iggy Pop fans." Guess! Ricky Gervais. Biggest Bowie fan. "See his pug-nosed face" in one of the top cringe-inducing scenes in comedy history! If you're not familiar with Extras, you might have to watch the whole episode, though, to appreciate it, including the Bowie interview. They've been mates & at it at least since back in The Observer days. And yes, I'm feeling a little sentimental tonight!

Gaetano Donizetti's "Elixir of Love"

UCSC's annual spring opera production will be Gaetano Donizetti's "L'elisir d'amore," directed by Brian Staufenbiel.
UCSC Orchestra conducted by Nicole Paiement.

Set in a World War II military factory, our production of Donizetti’s timeless comic opera tells a love story with wonderful music and a fabulous chorus. The doting Nemorino is madly in love with Adina, the factory owner, who hardly gives him the time of day. Along comes Sergeant Belcore who spurs Adina's interest so much so that she even considers marrying him, further fueling Nemorino's despair and desperation. Who can help poor Nemorino before it is too late? Only the quack Dr. Dulcamara, a charming hustler and con man who peddles bad Bordeaux as a magic "elixir." Dulcamara helps Nemorino get his groove back and find love in the end!

Sung in Italian with supertitles.

June 3-6, 7:30 pm (Thursday-Friday-Saturday), 2:00 pm (Sunday matinee)

Reserved seating: $25 general, $21 seniors, $11 student discount (requires valid ID). Purchase tickets here

Buchempfehlung: Monika Maron

Ich lese gerade das zweite Buch von Monika Maron. Ich kann nicht sagen, dass ich begeistert bin, weil soviel Gefühlsaufwallung mir verkehrt vorkommen würde um ihre klare, nonsense-freie, oft ironische und trocken-humorige Schreibweise anzupreisen. Es gefällt mir nur ungemein wie sie sehr schwierige, potentiell depremierende Themen wie Älterwerden/Sinnverlust im Rückblick auf das vergangene Leben/Ratlosigkeit in Hinsicht auf die Zukunft in leichtem, sogar lustigem Ton aufzeichnet. Es hat sich so ergeben, dass ich das Schicksal der Protagonistin Johanna rückwärts lese: "Ach, Glück" kam zuerst, nun stelle ich fest, dass dieser Stosseufzer Johanna schon in "Endmoränen" entwichen ist, und gerade habe ich beim Googeln dieses Romantitels festgestellt, das ihre Geschichte noch weiter zurückzuverfolgen wäre: "Wer ist diese Frau, wer ist Johanna, die Ich-Erzählerin? Maron-Leser kennen sie bereits aus früheren Romanen als eine trotzige Kämpferin." laut Rezension Sabine Dultz im Münchner Merkur. Aha. Das garantiert mir weiter Maron-Lesestoff. Die Herren und Damen Kritiker scheinen perplex, sie verstehen nicht ganz wieso ihnen Maron gefallen kann, obwohl in den Romanen doch gar nichts passiert! Kann es sein, dass Handlung zweitrangig erscheint, wenn jemand so gut schreiben kann? Mir auf jeden Fall macht das Lesen weiterhin sehr viel Spass.

Empfehlung diese Woche: Tatort "Tango für Borowski"

Ich warte immer noch auf Online-Erstausstrahlung meiner Lieblingstatortkomissare (ist das wirklich ein Wort im Deutschen?) Meine Spitzenreiter sind ganz klar Münster und München. Witzig ist auch Wien. Die schöne Hannoveranerin und die sympathischen Kölner waren schon dran in 2010. Diese Woche, und nur diese Woche in der ARD Mediathek als Video online (20 bis 6 Uhr MEZ) zu sehen, möchte ich das nordisch-kühle Kieler Team wärmstes empfehlen. Es verschlägt Borowski und Frieda Jung in Tango für Borowski nämlich noch einmal ein gaaanz, ganz gutes Stück weiter nach oben auf der Landkarte, nämlich nach Finnland. Das lässt uns in den Genuss eines recht exotischen Tatorts kommen, der mit einer Prise Kaurismäki, und einem Schuss Coen-Brüder gewürzt zu einer schrägen, unterkühlt-humorigen Unterhaltung wird. Interessant auch, wie sehr der europäische Norden an Redneck-infizierte Südstaaten erinnert. Am Schluss vielleicht ein bisschen lang (hatten die Macher da zu viel Spass, und wollten noch nicht zum Ende kommen?), trotzdem enorm sehenswert.

Larry Sultan

My second discovery last week was the work of Larry Sultan, renowned California photographer and professor at the California College of the Arts in SF, who had died at the age of 63 last December. His most influential works appear in two different rooms of THE VIEW FROM HERE at SFMOMA representing two different stages not only in the artist's life, but in the history of art photography as well. They're actually so different that I did not make the connection until I noticed the cross-reference. First on display are black & white examples from Evidence — a 1977 collaboration with Mike Mandel. This series of "found" images selected from industrial and government archives, are detached, bizarre, funny statements on society's strange endeavors, no titles. no captions. On the other end of the spectrum, and placed towards the end of the exhibit, the two brilliant color photos from the very personal Pictures from Home are as stunning as they are moving. The best selection online I found on americansuburbx, but I would recommend tracking down the book. For an article on Larry Sultan visit nytimes.com

Thai Spice

A day in the city last week brought two discoveries. The first was Thai Spice on Polk. Walking down the street we were drawn to the warm colors of the exterior, and a free table in one of the sunny bay windows. When a sign in the door announced that the Chronicle had placed it among the five best Thai places in SF, our growling bellies immediately ordered us to go for it. No regrets! The prices weren't any higher than usual; the place is very cozy, yet more elegant than your average Thai place, and the food was excellent! The dishes were spicy as promised, but the spices did not strongarm the other ingredients, but instead managed to coexist with all other individual flavors. The Basil Leaf entree with prawns was quite possibly the best Thai basil meal I've ever had.

New Choir

I have a cold. Annoying, of course, but at least it gives me a chance to catch up on blog entries, for which I couldn't find the time earlier. Among other events that I did not mention was "Best of the Rest" of the "8 Tens @ 8" at the Actor's Theatre, which I actually liked better than last year's. It was only on schedule for four days, so let me move on to recommend something that you don't have to wait another year to enjoy: The New Choir. I saw them in concert late March at Holy Cross Church. They were absolutely amazing! I was so impressed that I had to buy the latest CD. When I didn't have enough money, the lady selling the CDs was sweet enough to offer that I just take one, and send them a check later. What astounding confidence in my honesty! I was able to borrow from a friend, though. It's not quite the same as the incredibly beautiful live performance, but I still enjoy listening to the recording. The New Choir will be touring Korea in June, but they will give a farewell concert in Palo Alto Sunday May 23, 2010, 7 pm, at All Saints’ Episcopal Church.