Upstairs, Downstairs at Caramoor: Holiday Edition 2015

After a morning of Board meetings, and an afternoon at my desk trying to catch-up after being away for two weeks, the main event of the day night was a private dinner hosted by the Chairman of the Board and three trustees and about 40 guests, entertained by three folk musicians, with the dinner in the Music Room. It was the first time in my 20+ years with Caramoor that the Music Room had been cleared of heavy wooden risers and over 150 chairs, and set up to entertain for dinner. It had probably been more than 25 years since the Room had been used this way, so we were all excited to see how it would go as a dinner/concert location - and kick off the holiday season with festive decor. 

The Room is pretty Baroque/Renaissance as it is, so you don't need a lot of fancy decorations. A very tall Christmas tree festooned with paper ornaments decorated by the schoolchildren who visit as part of the arts-in-education programs, drawn in with their impressions of art in the House and Room. Nooks were filled in with collections of winterberry branches, and floral arrangements were scattered around on tables. Flickering LED votives on the table. All equaled simple understated elegance.

Upstairs for the fancy folks

Meanwhile, downstairs in the cold basement/garage,

the worker-bees had a very fancy table for 6.

  We decided to really think about how we could market this as a destination dinner or film shoot location. 

Maybe as a Prohibition-theme party site?

A Campaign Donors' back-to-basics lunch-box "dinner in a box?"

I kept going back to horror film- themed rental.

 Clear out the catering rental boxes and the Pepsi product stash and you have room.

The ambiance is there.

Low ceilings with pipes. Touch at your own risk.

 The freezer for the bodies is already there, as is the death match/prisoner cage.

Humor and many layers of coats kept us warm;

 But really -- this was the best part of the night.

 

It was a very long 13+ hour day, with lots of prep, long in-between times of waiting busy-ness, and then intense hours of being "on," directing people, being welcoming, and trying to keep my feet from slowing dying and trying to stay warm. But laughter - and watching certain colleagues try new things, liking them, and QUICKLY becoming jaded about expensive champagne types was humorous, as I downed my ginger ale.

Cin cin

Salud

~photos by iPhone

Beethoven on Deck

Where are we on transporter technology? Because not only would I live elsewhere (like near a beach/water) and not have to worry about my commute, and be closer to the nieces and nephews, I would be able to attend the activities my extended circle of "honorary" nieces and nephews.

Today in St. Chuck, Kari's Krew is performing Beethoven on the Deck as the Catalpa Trio of chamber musicians.

I am BUMMED I can't be there. Those girlies are so lucky -- for a variety of reasons.

I came to chamber music at the end of my formal training. Things were different when I taking lessons. It was more about solo tracks, and not what is now known formally as "Collaborative Piano" - chamber music, training on how to be a equal chamber music partner, and even training on how to be a 'real' chorus, ballet, or rehearsal pianist for theatricals. I picked up a lot on the "job" at church and high schoo chorus/pitl, but there was a lot I didn't know. I know for a fact that some orchestral directors had negative things to say about my playing when I worked with instrumentalists, but they didn't know that *I* didn't know what to do. I was working with what I knew - and the fact that I was highly uncomfortable? (Well, that's another story.) When I played for vocal auditions at UCONN for some regional competitions or auditions, some of those adjudicators and coaches were kind enough to give me some feedback, in the middle of the singers' auditions. (Sorry!) It wasn't until I got to college when I REALLY got chamber instructions - and I have to thank my fellow TRIO NON SACRA* cohorts, Jane and Kristin, for putting up with me -- and Dr. B, Dr. C, and Dr. LaM.

TRIO NON SACRA 4EVAH!

Thanks to social media, I can get glimpses of what the girlies are up to as part of their youth symphony orchestra and in rehearsal. (Not to mention have actual SM interactions with them and now play I spy with parental units. (BECAUSE I MISS THEM. NOT IN A CREEPER WAY!)

My parents are like a @timbuk2 ad! #swag pic.twitter.com/ePSgWYm9Gl

— Stella (@StellaChilds) July 3, 2015

Representing #EYSO last day of Swedish Days! #stringworks http://t.co/HEk60MGPl4 thanks for hosting The Catalpa Trio. pic.twitter.com/EQZfa889sQ

— Kari Childs (@karimamasaywhat) June 28, 2015

@EYSO Fall Camp volunteers. pic.twitter.com/otseFzGx5P

— Kari Childs (@karimamasaywhat) August 29, 2015

@kristins4kids last week @gpmf so grown up! pic.twitter.com/LzOvo2I55k

— Kari Childs (@karimamasaywhat) July 13, 2015

Thanks to WQXR's swag from Opening Night -- Beethoven's Ode to Joy - I sent along my love and a semi-permanent reminder that I am there in spirit, if not body.

Break a leg, girlies! Have FUN!

Beethoven on the deck with the #catalpatrio pic.twitter.com/WzMF3DIEPI

— Kari Childs (@karimamasaywhat) August 22, 2015

Catalpa Trio play Beethoven on the deck at 3pm #obeythoven pic.twitter.com/vJ91LxNUHH

— noel childs (@noelchilds) August 22, 2015

*Unholy Trio

The Sounds of Awesome!

2 men, their voices, their instruments, their bands, and their fans.

Hershey, PA, Sunday, March 9, 2014

Paul Simon and Sting on tour

And maybe some shrieking, some dancing, and a backstage pass.

Thanks Amelia and Christine and Deb and Carlos and Sting and Mr. Simon.

Via iTouch

Retroblogging: Caramoor Summer Sunday July 2013

Even now - after 6+ years since I "left," I'm still one of Caramoor's biggest fans.

When other "alumni" decide to visit, it's a ye olde fun-time reunion. One summer Sunday, a bunch of us enjoyed a beautiful afternoon in the country and Orchestra of St. Luke's concert. There were also lots of pre-concert hugs, greetings of old friends in concert rows, wanderings of the grounds, and after-concert meals in various places around the property - including the aforementioned salads and desserts.

 

 A little birdie says ... breathe.

Such a great day with friends - who are like family - and who let me be the crazy Auntie.

SUCH a lovely lovely place.

Auntie Nettie's Attic Merchandise 2013 - April

I just have no words anymore about how quickly time passes. I just blink .. and whooosh. Like a speeding tin can ...

April started with me trying to take a sick day - and ending up working half a day from home.

Then I also:
- worked too much, stress ate, didn't get enough sleep;
- attended a vocal recital of my work study student in Alice Tully Hall;
- attended a Juilliard Orchestra concert in Alice Tully Hall that concluded with the sublime Firebird Suite;
- had working lunches with colleagues;
- had meeting with the new VP;
- attended my first wedding at New York Municipal Court for my friend Claire and her new spouse Jenny;

- baked;
- caught up on television;
- ran errands;
- had way too many meetings - seriously, it should be called meetings and not work;
- gave blood at the end of a working day (and about passed out during the middle of it and then again at the top of the stairs at my train station);

  - and had a last minute get away with Christine. 

I did manage to finish one complete afghan and start two other projects.

ANA 2013-13: Light blue Diamond-patterned crib cover

(1 10.5 oz. skein Bernat Baby Sport, Baby Blue, acrylic)
(as of 3/15, no longer available)

Still outstanding? You know it.

 

UFO/Public Enemy Number 1  Multi-colored, multi-fibered bane of my existence, started back in 2010.

 20 13 UFO 1: White Diamond-patterned crib cover, Bernat Baby Sport, acrylic

2013 UFO 2: Red Heart Camouflage color scarf

I need a long couple of weeks, so I CAN FINISH THAT STUPID AFGHAN and reopen the shop. I need to take pictures and write text and get all of these things up on etsy.com, do some marketing, and start moving them on out of the Attic.

In the meantime, if you see anything from past entries that interest you, please let me know and I'll send you dimensions and pricing.