As someone who has been known to Photoshop a few images in her day, I have to brush-tool draw your attention to La Cieca's top-notch Aretha Franklin Inauguration Hat/George Man-of work: This is excellent, excellent Photoshopping. … [Read more...]

The (now not so) new Carnegie Hall programs are fantastic. I've been meaning to write this since seeing Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Orpheus there in October, but my scanner has been on the fritz. I was reminded how much I liked said programs, however, on Sunday night at the Kurtag recital (um...go Steelers?) and promptly repaired my scanner for this purpose. Such nice bright colors in the calendar section! Gives the hall the opportunity to highlight specific concerts in an aesthetically pleasing fashion without using wasteful and noisy program … [Read more...]

I was just (remortgaging the house I don't have and) buying flowers online, and this popped up: I'm always "chatting" with Verizon reps, too. Sometimes they suggest I call the 800-number with my question, but often they're quite useful online, and I don't have to listen to hold music. I'd love to see a presenter box office live chat option. "Need help picking the perfect concert? Let one of our experts help you. CHAT NOW." That way, venues could have trained box office representatives who work from home. Call them "experts", too - not … [Read more...]

A journalist friend forwarded me the following press release, and it is funny stuff:Pittsburgh, PA, January 29...The trash-talking has already begun. Pittsburgh Opera and Arizona Opera (with locations in Phoenix and Tucson) have embraced the mortal combat of the Super Bowl with a fervor befitting, well, opera."Everyone knows how passionate Pittsburghers are about the Steelers. It goes without saying that we had to find a way to show our true devotion to our team," said Christopher Hahn, Pittsburgh Opera General Director, who today threw down … [Read more...]