A Night At The Oscars with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra - Pop Series

A NIGHT AT THE OSCARS

The Travelling Toe and a Dear Friend attended the Sunday matinee performance of "A Night at the Oscars" presented by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.  Guest conductor and host of the program was Damon Gupton.

                                                                     Damon Gupton

The program consisted of many wonderful movie themes including the Colonel Bogey March from Bridge on the River Kiwi.  Mr. Gupton had audience members whistle along in the appropriate places.  There was some good whistling going by the audience members during that song.  Two songs by Henry Mancini were played, Moon River from Breakfast at Tiffany's and then The Pink Panther from well of course, The Pink Panther.  I just knew the Pink Panther would sneak out on stage,  but alas he did not make an entrance. 

HENRY MANCINI AND FRIEND

The first half of the program ended with songs from Westerns - how appropriate for the Fort Worth audience as the annual Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo is in town.  Of course the theme from The Magnificent Seven was part of the song group.

After intermission one of John Williams most impressive movie compositions was played, The Imperial March from Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.  You could just see Darth Vadar striding down the space ship with  that long black robe flowing behind him! One incredible piece featured the oboe player in Gabriel's Oboe from The Mission.  It was hauntingly beautiful.  The program closed with another amazing composition from John Williams, Adventures on Earth from E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.

JOHN WILLIAMS AND FRIEND?

Mr. Gupton was a marvelous host sharing tidbits about the inside story of the movie, the actors, directors and other fun facts.  During the show he did mention that he was a Dallas Cowboys fan.  As the audience was giving the program a very deserving standing "O", Mr. Gupton reappeared on stage wearing a Dallas Cowboy's jersey and the audience members became even more appreciative.  For an encore they once again went to John Williams for The Stars Theme.

Here is hoping Mr. Gupton will return for another program.  He was funny, charming and enjoyable to watch conducting the orchestra.

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Musicians

Bass Hall

Gustave Caillebotte: The Painter's Eye at the Kimbell Museum

KIMBELL ART MUSEUM
Kimbell Art Museum

The Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth is hosting an impressive exhibit of a lesser known impressionist, Gustave Caillebotte.  But once you see his paintings you will be mesmerized. There are around 50 of his paintings in this exhibit.


Gustave was born in a wealthy family who were in the textile industry.  He became interested in painting and around 1876 at the age of 27, joined in with the impressionist movement. Because of this wealth he did not have to sell his pictures. Additionally, being friends with the likes of Monet, Degas, Renoir, Pissaro and others, he was able to purchase their paintings for his own collection and enjoyment.  He died at the age of only 45 due pulmonary congestion. Only a few of his paintings are in museums.  His heirs own most of his works, in private collections.

Gustave Caillebotte

This exhibit showcases one of his most famous paintings, Paris Street, Rainy Day. It is a very large canvas and so captivating.  He draws you into the scene and makes you  wonder what the couple are looking at off to the side.

 Another interesting painting is The Floor Scrappers.

The vistas in his street scenes are amazing.  He draws your eye not only to the main object in the foreground of the painting but then makes your eye travel all  the way to end of the horizon. An example is this painting titled, Rue Halevy,Seen From A Balcony

The exhibit runs till February 14, 2016.  If you have not seen it yet, do go.  You will not be disappointed.  


SIDE NOTE: As you enter the lobby of the museum, to your right is a large copy of Paris Street,Rainy Day.  Next to the painting is a hat tree with chapeaus and an umbrella.  Put on your hat and pose with the couple, have your friend take your picture and then you will have your own masterpiece to cherish.  Just a fun thing to do.

A visit to The Magnolia Market

Between bouts of the plague in November and consumption in December, The Travelling Toe was transported by friends down to Waco to take a gander at the new Magnolia Market store set-up by Chip and Joanna Gaines.  Surely you have seen their show on HGTV - Fixer Upper.  If not, do so and you will enjoy the banter between the husband and wife team as well as the their end product.  Chip does the demolition and construction while Joanne has the vision and the decorating skills to bring it all together.  

HGTV Fixer Upper

Magnolia Market


The Travelling Toe took the following photos and that is way they are a little bleary, not quite centered, and often times a little shaky.  But you will still get a general overview of the store and surrounding property.

Outside the store and the silos

Candid shots of the inside of the store

Check-out Desk

these medal signs are made by a Waco
artisan - Jimmy Don

holiday tablescape

Candid pictures of the garden areas outside the store

various food trucks

If you live in the Fort Worth - Dallas Metroplex area, then it will not take you long to journey down to Waco.  And seeing this store and property was worth the trip.  Plus the downtown Waco area is undergoing a  reminiscence and there are lots of cute shops to visit and yummy places to eat.

Get out and go have some fun!

Westmont Garden Club December Meeting

The Westmont Garden Club had its annual Christmas party on Saturday, December 14, 2015. The party was held at the H3 Ranch Restaurant in the Historic Stockyards, located in the North Side area of Fort Worth.  The restaurant is part of the famous Stockyards Hotel and retains its Wild West feel.

The program leader decorated the table with tea lights in small glasses from the "Magnolia Market" in Waco.  Each member and guest took one of the tea lights home with them at the end of the meeting as a part of the annual celebration.  Members and guests enjoyed a lovely meal ordering different entries from the menu.

As this was a social occasion, no business was conducted,   A beautiful white poinsettia was the door prize for one lucky member.

Following the meeting, several members strolled down Main Street to take in the holiday atmosphere.  There were longhorn cattle, horses, cowboys and American Indians roaming the streets.

After all Fort Worth is Where The West Begins.


Fort Worth Stockyards

H3 Ranch Restaurant 

Stockyard Hotel

Magnolia Market

FORT WORTH STOCKYARDS
MAIN STREET

American Indian

Live Stock Exchange Building

North Side Coliseum

North Side
Street Scene

Christmas Tree
Stockyards

"Motown: The Musical" at Bass Hall

MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL

Recently, the touring company of "Motown: The Musical"  had a stop at Bass Hall.  The Travelling Toe and a Dear Friend attended the Sunday afternoon matinee performance.

The musical is based on the life of Berry Gordy, his founding of Motown records and the talented artists he discovered along the way - and their feuds with him and each other as well. 

The musical premiered on Broadway in April 2013.  It went on to receive 4 Tony Award nominations.  

It tells the story of how in 1957 Gordy formed his record label called Motown since they were in Motor City - Detroit.  Barry began his career by writing a song for Jackie Wilson and that started his climb to success.

Some of the "acts"featured  in the show were:

The Temptations
Four Tops
Smokey Robinson
Diana Ross and The Supremes
Marvin Gaye
The Commodores
The Vandellas
The Marvelettes
Gladys Knight and The Pips
Stevie Wonder
The Jackson Five


SIDE NOTE: The young actor who played Michael Jackson, Nathaniel Cullors, was amazing...he had Michael's  dance moves down pat!

"The Jackson Five"

All of the actors were accomplished signers and dancers.  Each one "covering" a noted performer sounded and acted just like them.  The whole cast was excellent.  In total, about 60 songs were song though out the story.  Here are just a few that were performed:

Ain't Too Proud to Beg
Dancing in the Street
Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch
I Hear a Symphony
Love is Here and Now You're Gone
My Mama Done Told Me
Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours
Where Did Our Love Go

The Travelling Toe must admit it was hard to say seated and not be up dancing and singing in the aisle to this music. 

If this musical comes your way do go see it.  You will not be disappointed.

BASS HALL

Bass Hall

"Dirty Grandpa" (movie review)

DIRTY GRANDPA
movie poster

The Friday Movie Mavens and The Travelling Toe, braved the chilly morning and journeyed out to the local multiplex to see the new release "Dirty Grandpa".  The movie stars Robert de Niro and Zac Efron.  

Zac plays Jason Kelly who is one week away from getting married to Meredith Goldstein.  She happens to be the daughter of his boss.  Also, she is ultra controlling and Jason just goes along with her decisions about their wedding plans.  

After Jason's grandmother dies, he is talked into driving his grandfather Dick Kelly (Robert De Niro) down to Boca Raton.  But Grandpa has other ideas.  They end up in Dayton during spring break.  Jason runs into an old girlfriend and the 2 guys are invited to a party.  Jason does not want to go but Dick sure does as he think he can get "lucky" at the party. And it goes down hill from there.  One can see right through the plot line just like cellophane.   

Well Dear Readers, The Travelling Toe must leave the overview there as after about 50 minutes of this movie, we chose to leave and do something better with our lives.

Perhaps De Niro received a bonus for each F-word that he used along with several others not to be repeated in this blog.  If so, he should be a millionaire by now just for this movie.

The Travelling Toe declines to give this movie a rating since we did not stay for the entire production.  It is rated "R" due to graphic language and nudity, drug abuse and crude sexual content through the movie.

So go see it if you think you can handle all that gross and stupid  behavior...we opted out.

CAST:

Robert De Niro
Dick Kelly
Grandpa

Zac Efron
Jason Kelly

To protect their identities, the remaining cast will not be identified.




Disclaimer:  The Travelling Toe is not a professional critic and any opinions expressed are for entertainment purposes only.  

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (movie critique)

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS

Dear Readers, have you seen the "new" Star Wars movie?  If not, you might the only ones left on planet Earth who haven't seen it yet.  

The Travelling Toe must disclose that she saw the original three Star War movies many moons ago.  But not the three recent prequels - or whatever they were called.  Any who, this current movie is set about 30 years after the destruction of the Death Star.  Out of the ruble of the Galactic Empire comes the new First Order (boo-hiss).  They are out to eliminate the Republic, who are the Rebels.  

Just a very brief overview of the movie will be provided just in case someone out there has not see it yet.  No spoiler alerts will be included.

The focus of this new movie is on a young female scavenger, Rey.  She makes her living on a desert planet Jakku by selling scavenged parts for food and shelter. Rey finds a droid BB-8 and keeps it not knowing it contains a hidden map to locate Luke Skywalker.  Along the way Rey teams up with a former Storm Trooper, Finn.  They make a formidable team.  When the First Order attacks Jakku, Finn and Rey take on the lam and discover a rundown space ship. They   steal it and escape Jakku.  Well, come to find out the air ship is none other than the Millennium Falcon.  When they are captured by a larger ship, there are two of our heroes from previous movies - Han Solo and Chewbacca.  In order to evade the meanies who are chasing them the group escapes to the rebels hideout.  Along the way, Han tells Rey that the last Jedi, Luke Skywalker, has disappeared because he had tried to train new Jedi knights but one trainee in the group turned to the dark side.  Upon arriving at the rebels outpost, they find that General Leia, is now in charge of the Rebel Alliance.  

The First Order has a new super weapon, Starkiller Base that is more powerful than the Death Star.  It can destroy star systems.  They fire it up to destroy the Republic outpost and its X-wing fighter planes  We do learn that the trainee who turned to the dark side, Ren, is after Han.  But why?  Ren dresses like Darth Vader.  But Rey has found a lightsaber and she uses the force to fight to the death with Ren.  But as they are fighting, the ground begins to separate and leaves them on each side of the chasm and the final fight scene can not be played out.  They each make their escape from the planet.  Meanwhile the Rebels have taken out the Starkiller Base......yahoo! 

How does it end?  Well, Dear Readers you will just have to go see it yourself to find out. However, a sequel is on the horizon.

The Travelling Toe gives this movie 1 big toe up and 1 middle toe up with a lightsaber pedicure.

CAST:

Daisy Ridley
Rey

John Boyega
Finn

Harrison Ford
Han Solo

Carrie Fisher
General Leia

Adam Driver
Ren

Peter Mayhew
Chewbacca

Mark Hamill
Luke Skywalker

JJ Abrams
director

Disclaimer:  The Travelling Toe is not a professional critic and any opinions expressed are for entertainment purposes only.