1970’s “Lisztomania”
This website has this to say about this: “Outrageously hedonistic ‘rockopera’ LISZTOMANIA casts contemporary rock god Roger Daltrey as the world’s first music superstar, Franz Liszt. Loosely based on the life of the composer, the film takes a fantastical voyage through rock’n'roll excess and adventure, peppered with cameos from such pop icons as Ringo Starr (as the Pope) and Rick Wakeman (as Thor). The dynamic pairing of THE WHO frontman and visionary filmmaker Ken Russell reunited again after the triumphant TOMMY (made the same year) for another equally flamboyant and extraordinary assault on the senses. Sex, groupies, Nazis, Vikings, Robots and classical music; LISZTOMANIA has it all and more!”
Where do I get a copy? Ha.
Playground love
What a weekend. Just like I knew it would be. I went up to Hunter’s parents in Fredericksburg Wednesday night and early the next morning they drove Hunter and I up to DC to catch the Bolt Bus. It was very nice of them to do that for us and I highly recommend the Bolt Bus to anyone. It was clean and roomy and our bus driver was hilarious!
We got into NYC around 1pm and went to the open call at American Apparel for Hunter to try and get a job. I don’t think the open call was exactly what she was expecting but at least she was able to get her resume in the company. After that we went and met up with Daniel and he let us go ahead and take his keys to get into his apartment so we could chill for a bit before going out. We ended up going to the Bushwick County Club for awhile, did a photobooth picture and then headed into the city.
The night was a little crazy, we ended up with margaritas to go from some place in Brooklyn and put them in the freezer for the next day.
We all slept in the next morning, before we went out we drank our margaritas after some serious adjusting to the flavor, a little tea a little lemonade good to go! Did a little thrifting where Hunter and I both ended up with awesome boots. The boots I bought need to have the heel replaced but other than that in awesome condition!
Our plan was to head to the High Line Park after that we never made it because we had to head to the Phoenix show uptown in Central Park! We got to the show right around 6pm and when the doors opened we were able to snag a spot really close to the stage. We each bought one $6 beverage and chilled out of ran hour before the show. The two girls in front of us were the shortest girls I’ve seen in awhile, Hunter and I both agreed that we did good and not to let them get away from in front of us. Passion Pit came on at 7pm and man are those dudes adorable. You could tell that they were really excited about this show and how big it was for a fairly new band. They played the songs that I half knew and pretty much just got the crowd excited.
When Phoenix came on everyone was so excited, I kept wondering if it was going to be the same setlist from the June shows. They started with “Lisztomania,” same as the previous shows so I wasn’t sure. It didn’t end up being the same because not only did they play “Fences” they also played a “Playground Love” cover of Air during the encore. I was jumping up and down super excited about it and I think I got some looks from people around me but who cars. It was perfect. Thomas Mars was also wearing a different colored collared shirt! At all three shows in June he was wearing the same light blue colored shirt, this one was dark blue. 
The last song of the encore was “1901″ and boy did we plant ourselves in our spot perfectly because Thomas Mars came out into the crowd like he did during the previous shows. I didn’t think it would happen at this show because there was a barrier between the crowd and the stage but he hopped right over it and came right into the area we were. DEF got to sing a bit of “1901″ while grabbing at his arm as he made his way further behind us. He got up on someone’s shoulders (a security guard?) and during that time there was a red cord up against me, I thought it was someone’s bag or something until I realized it was the MICROPHONE CORD! After the whole singing in the crowd thing didn’t really work out he was making his way back towards the stage. Hunter managed to snap an amazing photo of him almost caught up in the cord and I loved how excited she was at that moment as I was.
The show was awesome and it was so much fun to see them in the city like that. I’ve never loved a band as much as I love them and I honestly hope to see them again in the future. Although for now it’s probably enough.
After the show we made our way back to Daniel’s apartment where we finally ended up going to get pizza in Brooklyn, a gay bar in the East Village where my friend Kathryn was and finally the Beauty Bar on 14th Street. We had to catch the bus early the next morning and definitely did some sleeping on it.
Pretty much as soon as I made it back to Richmond I headed out to Travis and Carley’s wedding in the West End. Even though it ended up being a rainy night (that’s good luck right?) it was a very heartfelt ceremony and everything looked great. Carley’s dress and hairpiece was perfectly her as was just about every other aspect of the wedding.
via Dash
I wish all the luck to Travis and Carley in the future they seem so happy together and man do I hope to find something like that.
On Sunday Brittany, Hunter, Kelsey and I traveled down 64 East to spend an afternoon in Colonial Williamsburg. An afternoon of colonial gentlemen, colonial hats, Ye Olde Cheese Shoppes, heckling William and Mary boys, and $2 dollar wheat beers is always a great way to end an awesome weekend.
Already
The fall has already kicked off to an unbelievable start. This past Friday we all gathered on the rooftop of 319 to watch “Wet Hot American Summer” projected onto the graffiti covered brick wall. Apparently this is something the 319 boys have been wanting to do for awhile and I’m so glad it finally happened. It was Phil’s actual birthday as well, so pretty good birthday night I would guess.
Saturday night was Phil’s big birthday dance party at Cous Cous. I brought the camera out and managed to get lots of great photos of everyone dancing their hearts out. I know Phil had a great time, when all of your friends show up to something like that it’s a great feeling for sure. The last late night pool party of 2009 at #parkberry happened after the Cous Cous madness and while it was a good time I’m glad that thing is closing for awhile. Plus I can’t believe people actually got in the pool, it was cold!
On Sunday evening I met up with Jon and his fiance Amanda to take some engagement photos for them. I was thinking the sun set a little later than it did but we still managed to get some cute photos. It was nice to hang out with Amanda and get to know her a little bit better and they seem very happy together.
This weekend has lots going on as well, off to NYC with Hunter on Thursday, Phoenix (yes for the 4th time this year) on Friday night in Central Park and Carley’s wedding on Saturday! It never slows down!
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Summer recap 2009
I know most people wait until the end of the year to do their “end of year recap blog post,” but since this summer has been so insane/ridiculous/crazy/epic I just felt like I needed to recap on things that happened.
I think it all really got going when it was completely confirmed that Liz and I would be moving into #parkberry. I think we kinda knew it would “go offff” at that point.
The beginning of June meant I only had one month left in that horrible basement apartment situation I was in and it couldn’t come fast enough. Although I basically was living by myself at that point, the reasons I’m pretty sure I’ll never know. One night Hunter, Liz and Kelsey had a little photoshoot at my house. One of my favorite images I’ve taken this summer we did that night.
I also made my homemade ringflash, which I’m still proud of. Not gonna lie.
Like a ridiculous stalker I also got to see Phoenix three times in one very awesome weekend. This was also the weekend that I figured out how to start tweeting from my phone. Twitter has been something that all of us have gotten into this summer, and in some ways shaped some of the things that have happened.
July finally arrived, and I was finally out from underground. My biggest suggestion to anyone looking at living in a basement apartment, DO NOT DO IT. Since July 4th was a Saturday this year, and we have a pool in the backyard we decided to throw our first shindig. It was a crazy night and I’m pretty sure lots of new friends were made.
On July 7th, 2009 (7-8-09!) we all welcomed Ruby Kristine into the world. It was so exciting to see my first close friend become a mother. Mary, Ruby and her husband Joe are moving to Georgia in November, so they will be very missed, but an easy weekend trip away!
The very next evening was the shot heard round the world, or at least Richmond. Liz and our friend Phil were walking home from Sticky Rice when a mugger approached them and ended up shooting Liz in the leg. I wish I would describe how insane and quickly those first few minutes went by when I found out. I was at Sticky Rice hosting Blingo and I got a text (he knew I wouldn’t be able to hear my phone) from Phil saying he was on his way to the hospital. I’m still very thankful Phil decided to come back and get me, and then let me drive him.
Just as much as I know Liz appreciates it, I also appreciate all of our friends and family who called/came/texted/everything. And the thankfulness I feel that Liz ended up being completely okay is something I don’t know how to express. I think the events of that night definitely show you that there is something looking out for all of us.
The rest of the month of July saw a couple weekend beach trips, many late night pool parties and some Wednesday night $5 bowling (Thanks Kulture!)
The beginning of August brought some of the hardest news for all of us. My friend Colin (known him since 2003/2004 dorm days!) was diagnosed with a stage four malignant brain tumor. Needless to say all of this information was shocking and hit everyone hard. How could something like this happen to our friend Colin? A 24 year old guy who likes to play video games and hang out with his girlfriend? Since all of this he’s started treatment and his brother Eric has moved to Richmond to help out with everything, they’ve set up a blog at www.terminatethetumor.com for everyone to follow with video updates and such. Since the initial news Colin seems to have taken a very strong approach to all of this and hasn’t let his spirits get completely squashed. I’m so proud of him and Christine and will continue to pray for them. And play Catch Phrase.
The day after all of this was Brittany and Craig’s birthday party at Hadad’s Lake. It was a fun day and I think it was good for everyone to go on with the normal things we would do. The month of August seemed like it went by really fast.
I went and visited my grandparents in Memphis for a week. It was really nice to go and spend time with them. I came back with a big box of old slides, and old (new to me) camera, and very happy that I got to spend time with my family that week. Brittany and I are talking about a road trip to Memphis in April during her spring break. Tennessee!
Best Friends Day was quite the day. I have so say I’m kinda proud of us for all the preparations we made this year. Raechel’s family came and really hooked it up for all of us. Margaritas at Best Friends Day who knew? I think all of us were a little scared about the weather situation that day, and it did absolutely rain like crazy on us, but in some ways it made it so much better. As much fun as this year was I kind of have to agree with everyone about how it’s becoming something less for Richmonders and more for all the out of town people. I will continue to go though as long as my friends are going and we get a pavillion/pagoda/tent/gazebo like we did this year!
The very next day after BFD, we hit the road. Liz, Christine, Brittany and I all jumped into the Ellie and headed for Philadelphia. Being in a car with those 3 girls was a little out of control and I can’t tell you how many “isms” have come from those 3 days. After a day in Philadelphia we headed up to New York. As much fun as we all had I think we all agree to not go out of town like that directly after an event like Best Friends Day.
I’d have to say the real closer to this summer was Diana’s birthday party at her family’s bay house in Deltaville, VA. A bunch of us headed out there to hang out and relax. It was a beautiful old house and sleeping on a porch was pretty funny. We did some long exposure pictures and some people jumped off the dock in the middle of the night into the dark abyss and just had an all around good time with friends.
Ok the rest of 2009, let’s see what you have to offer.
