Fun and Food - 24 & 25 April 2010

Saturday evening we went for a long walk and then headed over to Bertucci's for dinner. They have a wonderful new item on their special menu called Parma pizza: Rosemary ham, roasted zucchini, marinated red onions, plum tomatoes, mozzarella, grated cheese and fresh thyme. Drizzled with balsamic nectar. It's truly divine.

Sunday we went to MAMS to see their 2010 musical presentation of Anything Goes. Kayla Ryder as Reno Sweeney was exceptional  -- what a voice! Luke Shapiro as Billy Crocker and James Buhse as Moonface Martin were also quite good. A special shout out to the Tapping Angels, too. Fine job! The set was amazing, costumes well appointed, and the pit showed some real flare. Nicely done, all.

We had another engagement, so we rushed across town to attend Hot Chili and Cool Music at the First Presbyterian Church, featuring the Rhythm Kings Dixieland Band. Jerry Rife of Rider University has been bringing his band to perform in the church's concert series for twenty years. A wonderful time and great chili and corn bread!

I hope some of you have been keeping up with The Pacific on HBO. Tonight was Episode 7. My father served in the Army Air Corps in Australia during World War II and I had an uncle who fought in New Guinea, so I've watched with particular interest. I hope you get a chance to visit the National WWII Memorial in Washington, DC or the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, VA. The HBO series reminds me that war is hell in every meaning of the word and for every generation it affects. We must honor their service but always remember our troops who remain in harm's way and get them home as soon as possible.