Jeff's Virtual Beach - My Favorite Things

Some say the world will end in fire;
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To know that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Cirque du Soleil
The first time I saw Cirque du Soleil was in Orlando; the show was La Nouba. It was the best live performance of any kind I have ever seen. It is part circus, Olympic level gymnastics, concert, and theatre, and at that first show, they were flawless. Since then, I have seen the traveling shows Dralion, Allegria, and Quidam, which have all been very good. You would swear the human body is not capable of doing some of the things they do. But La Nouba in Orlando is a permanent show in its own theatre. Because of that, the show is even more spectacular than the traveling shows, as good as they are.

Classic FM
Classic FM is a British classical music radio station, broadcasting over the air, and on the Internet at www.classicfm.com. The playlist is classical music with a sprinkling of film scores and other music by classical artists in an informal, near pop format. Daytime programming tends to be shorter pieces, with an all request lunch show. Evening pieces are occasionally longer, including full length symphonies. I listen frequently. There is a feeling of having a window into another world, hearing the news, sports, weather, traffic, and even the commercials live from London.

Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire
This year's Faire is August 11 through October 28, 2007.
www.parenfaire.com. Good music, good food and drink, and enough events to keep you busy for the entire day. (2005) I have been twice this year, taking the kids and turning them loose on the Faire. The first time was their Scottish Weekend and my first taste of haggis. Not bad, although I wouldn't want too much of it, and thank goodness good beer was close by!

Romano's Macaroni Grill
At this point, Romano's Macaroni Grill is our favorite restaurant. We visit the Wilmington, DE location probably once a month. The atmosphere is right, with Italian music and the kitchen open to the customers. The service has always been good. The bread is good enough to pass on both appetizer and dessert. The house Chianti is (almost too) easy going down, and that combined with the "build it yourself" pasta entree makes for a delicious, easy on the wallet, evening. If only they had not gotten rid of their cannolis!

Fasnacht Day
Forget Mardi Gras! The day before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent is Fasnacht Day...time to eat the doughnuts! Fasnachts are not really doughnuts, but ever since college, where I had a teacher named Mr. Fasnacht who used to bring in doughnuts on this day, it has been a day just to have fun...and a few doughnuts! And if those doughnuts are Krispy Kremes, then truly all is well with the world!

Lore's Chocolates
A less well known Philadelphia treasure that we make a point to visit anytime we can. My wife says they make the best dark chocolate, vanilla center, butter creams. Walking in usually means leaving with those butter creams, truffles, almond butter crunch, and possibly some dark chocolate nonpareils or "precos," broken pretzels mixed with chocolate. Stop in next door at Lore's Espresso for a good mocha, hot chocolate, or steamed cider. http://www.loreschocolates.com

A fall getaway in Rehoboth Beach
What a great weekend to be at the shore! For more, take a peek at the A Rehoboth Beach Fall Weekend page.

Apple Picking at Highland Orchards
We try to do this each year, and it makes for a good family afternoon. We pick enough apples to make a few batches of apple butter (my wife makes the best!) and to have some fresh to eat, and we buy warm apple cider doughnuts, apple cider, caramel apples, a few pumpkins for house decorations, and whatever else strikes our fancy as we stroll through the market. And it's hard to beat eating a fresh picked apple right there in the orchard.

Links

Oman

Alydan
Consulting

France 2005

American Music Abroad 2003

The Pennsylvania Flute Choir

Chester County Concert Band

Barr Art Works

Matt Brown (old time fiddle music)

5-String Productions