Wonderland Ballet

Last night Kim and I attended the U.S. premiere of Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet's production of Wonderland at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Minneapolis. It was a really unique contemporary interpretation of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Here are some of the highlights:

• Alice was brunette - and definitely the lead ballerina
• The use of video technology and projection art - made Alice big and small
• Adventurous costumes - my favorite was four ballerinas dressed as flamingos flitting about in toe shoes
• It was dark - literally and figuratively - I think some children would be a little freaked out
• The queen was a bizarre character - we actually weren't sure if it was played by a man or a woman, but I just looked in the program - it was a woman!
• The tea party! Complete with a long white table and mismatched chairs - the dancers performed on and around the table including smashing dishes!
• As the ballerina that played the queen stated "It's not your grandmother's Alice in Wonderland."

Want a Wonderland phone ringtone? The RWB has one for free on their site: http://www.rwb.org/wonderland/ringtone

Here are some pictures that I found online because it was not the kind of show where one would take pictures but this will give you a flavor for it.

                                   
 
                     

Tea in the Woods

October was Kim's turn to host and she chose an elegant and intimate new place for English high tea - Maudie MacBride's in St. Paul. Set back in the woods, yet not far from busy areas, you wouldn't believe such a peaceful place would be here. The owners have remarkable vision transforming an older home into their dream and they truly have a gift for decorating. While it was too chilly to enjoy tea outside, you could imagine the splendid parties that could be had in warmer weather.

If you look closely you can see some visitors.

Emma and her friend Tess from Colorado

Cottage veranda overlooking the pond.

Maudie's dramatic solarium where we enjoyed an elegant tea overlooking gardens, a pond and waterfall.

Enjoying each other's company.

Tier 1: chicken & egg salad croissants

Tier 2: cucumber, pimento & crab sandwiches

Tier 3: cream & cranberry scones

Tier 1: carrot cake & chocolate cups with orange cream

Tier 2: chocolate éclairs & coconut macaroons

Tier 3: pumpkin muffins with cream cheese frosting

Kimmy enjoying a cup of a very secret tea blend called Maudie's rose Romance.

Em and Tess sharing the Fall desserts.

More tea please Tiff!

A sampling of the desserts with the rose black tea.

Crown & Crumpet

I've been slacking on my blog, I think this fireman distracted me or perhaps it was my aching body that isn't cut out for marathons.

While I was in San Francisco for the Nike Women's Marathon in mid-October, I visited Ghiradelli square.

One of the shops within in the square was the cutest tea shop ever - Crown & Crumpet.

This shop was the perfect example of how a tea shop does not have to be "old lady." It was chic, eccletic and fun - right down to the actual logo. I came home with lots of goodies from this shop including a cute cup and saucer with their logo and a tea canister.