Greek Salads and Heartbreak

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

Fourth blog post in a row after my summer hiatus!  I've been indulging my love for all things theater in Tampa Bay.  I recently saw "Almost An Evening" at Jobsite Theater at the Straz Center in Tampa, Florida.

The show is three mini plays from Ethan Coen, one half of the Coen Brothers better known for their films like "Fargo" and "The Big Lebowski."  One of my sister's classmates appeared in a Coen Brothers movie ("A Serious Man") so basically that makes me 2 degrees removed from being a Hollywood star, right?  OK maybe not.

"Almost An Evening" is playing at Jobsite until October 4, 2015.  While the final of the three mini plays was my favorite, the first one was the most reminiscent of my day to day life.  No spoilers so I won't explain further than that!

I then also went to the preview night of "Intimate Apparel" at American Stage Theater in St. Petersburg, Florida.  I believe the show runs until September 30, 2015 but with American Stage's new website it is difficult to tell.  

The show was very good, but it was also heartbreaking.  I like to think that there is some great reward for being hard-working and virtuous, but sometimes the reward for being a hard worker is just getting more work.  Perhaps building the emotional fortitude to withstand any hardship is the "reward" you receive from standing strong against the storms of fate and bad luck.  But between you and me, I'd like a billion dollar lottery win instead.  

The show put me in a sad mood.  It tugged on all my heartstrings.  I had a late dinner of a gyro Greek salad at Acropolis Greek Taverna on Central Ave.  in St. Pete.  I also had a side of Greek potatoes.  If you are familiar with Tampa Bay Greek salads, you will know that we hide a scoop of potato salad inside our Greek salads.  Some people find this repulsive (My little sister comes to mind!), but I never turn away from extra carbs!  

Anyway, you may question why I would get a side of Greek potatoes when there is already a scoop of potato salad in my Greek salad.  You can question it.  And I might smack you in the head.  So let's see ... are you still questioning?

It's impossible to feel down with a giant gyro Greek salad in front of you.  Trust me.

I also had Tirokafteri (feta cheese dip with olive oil and chopped jalapeños) with pita.  Spicy goodness.  My waiter said that the tirokafteri on a bagel with smoked salmon is heaven.  Unfortunately I forgot to bring bagels and smoked salmon in my cute little copper clutch purse from Top Shop Chicago.

I am also going to see the musical "Once" at the Straz Center.  It didn't make the cut during my last Broadway visit.  Then in October, I will be seeing "Silence the Musical" - a musical parody of Silence of the Lambs at Jobsite Theatre.  Now that "Hannibal" was cancelled on NBC, I have to get my Hannibal Lecter fix elsewhere.  I am very much looking forward to this parody!  

Normally I would spend a autumn trip back to Broadway ... I am dying just a little inside that I won't see Bruce Willis and Laurie Metcalfe in the stage version of Stephen King's "Misery."  However I have other travel adventures vying for my travel budget, so hopefully someone I know will see the show so that I can live vicariously through them!

As always, thank you for reading!

   

All The Way ... To NYC

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers!

My promotion to a new job is in FULL MANIC SWING!  My last job was a global role, but I had a smaller team so even though some of my days started at 5 a.m. or 6 a.m. with conference calls - it was by my own choosing and never more than twice a week.  

Now I log on at 5 a.m. and I already have fifty emails waiting for me.  (Thanks a lot, Asia Pacific team!)  Instead of having a "Farmer Lil' gets a head start on the day.  I am SO productive!" feeling.  I start out feeling cranky and already behind in my work.  I've been working crazy hours and trying to stay positive and focused.

Thank Baby Jesus for VACATIONS.  

I was supposed to have a five day weekend in NYC,  but that was BEFORE the new job.  Instead of three vacation days, I decided to work 1.5 days from the hotel and take only 1.5 days off.  Sadly a "half vacation" day turned out to be 6 hours of work, took the afternoon off and then 4 more hours of work in the evening.  But I made the best of my limited time!

Priceline hooked me up with an awesome hotel that I will write about at another date.  Luckily their WiFi is fast, so I can work super-fast.  I churned through meeting after meeting - no breakfast, no lunch, just crankiness!  But finally, finally, FINALLY ... it was time for me to go.  I had a Broadway Matinee to see!

I have been a Bryan Cranston fan since his days of playing a self-absorbed dentist on "Seinfeld."  When I heard he was playing President Lyndon Baines Johnson, a.k.a. "LBJ" on Broadway in the play "All The Way," I knew I had to go!

Side Note:  One of my friends said "Wait, weren't you just in NYC?  Didn't you just see a bunch of Broadway shows?"  Um, yes.  But that was end of April/early May.  This is June.  See the difference? 

I bought my ticket before "All The Way" won the Tony Award for "Best Play" and Bryan Cranston won "Best Performance By An Actor in A Leading Role in a Play."  But hearing that the show won awards made me even more excited!

In short, the show was beyond excellent.  I see why it won "Best Play" - the dialogue, intensity and pacing was riveting.  I was engrossed in every single second of this show.  I highly recommend it.  

I was anxious to see "Heisenberg" himself, Bryan Cranston, up close and personal.  I was in the third row and when he gave a speech on power, he looked right at me.  But after about two seconds, I completely forgot I was watching Bryan Cranston.  He so completely became LBJ that I forgot about the actor himself, the Seinfeld dentist, the Malcolm in the Middle dad and the Breaking Bad Meth Maker.  I was transported to 1963, amidst Martin Luther King Jr., Hubert Humphrey, J. Edgar Hoover, George Wallace and many others.

Bryan Cranston was nothing less than 1000% stellar as LBJ.  He ping-ponged between the emotions of an American President carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.  If you have the opportunity, you should see the play.  He had tears in his eyes several times during the show.  He would rant, then tell jokes, then cry, then howl.  And the audience was inhaling every moment intensely. 

I must admit I am more well-versed on the Kennedy years vs. LBJ's time in office.  I basically knew that he was the driver for the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, but also has the legacy of the escalation into the actions that would turn into the Viet Nam war.  And of course the ushering in of "The Great Society" programs to push the American people out of poverty.  He made so many changes at a pivotal time.

Spoiler alert for anyone who doesn't know US History - when LBJ was elected, confetti and streamers fell down upon the audience in the theater.  I swear I had a bucket of foil confetti strips all over me.  I grabbed a handful off my chest and shoved them in my purse so I could take the following picture ... This was just a fraction of the confetti that was on me!

Bravo Playbill for honoring LBGTQ Pride with the colors in the Playbill logo

I had no doubts that Bryan Cranston would be wonderful in the show.  What I didn't expect was how good the other actors were.  Brandon J. Dirden played Martin Luther King Jr.  I had never heard of Mr. Dirden before, but it will be a crime if movies/TV and other Broadway shows don't grab him as fast as he can.  He played the role true and whole.  It would have been easy to do a shallow imitation of Martin Luther King Jr., but Mr. Dirden breathed life into the man as a regular human as well as a civil rights leader.

Peter Jay Fernandez was wonderful as Roy Wilkins.  Ron Campbell infused George Wallace with a tenacity and pluck.  I didn't know when I watched him on stage that Mr. Campbell was in my favorite movie musical "Hedwig and the Angry Inch."  Small world!

The role of J. Edgar Hoover is normally played by TV actor Michael McKean.  However in the performance I saw, the understudy Tony Carlin was in the role.  Tony Carlin is no slouch - he's been in various movies and TV shows.  He played Hoover without being campy or overly evil - it was "just enough."  

Actor Eric Lenox Abrams infused every scene with intensity and bottled rage that was endemic of trying to push for Civil Rights against a hostile South and a stubborn Congress.  His voice was booming with the pain of generations.  William Jackson Harper also gave heart as well as anger, lighting up every scene he appeared in. 

I am going to pretend I didn't secretly squeal "OH MY GOD, IT'S THE DAD FROM 90210" when I saw James Eckhouse on stage.  I doubt the 90 year old man in the seersucker suit sitting in front of me was sharing my same recognition moment!

I also didn't know that 84 year old Minnesota native and mesmerizing actor John McMartin was in the show.  Every scene he was in was a treat for the audience.  I was so glad to see him in person. 

Another welcome surprise was seeing Ethan Phillips.  I swear he has not aged in 40 years.  I remember seeing him on reruns of the old show "Benson" and "Star Trek: Voyager."  He played four roles in the play.  Even when he was in a small role, he did it well.

Last but not least, Robert Petkoff as Hubert Humphrey was the heart of the play.  Imploring LBJ for change but having to swallow his pride and his thoughts.  It's a twisted dance trying to get any legislation through, but the Civil Rights Act?  I still don't know how the bill passed when parts of the country were actively lynching and declaring themselves above Federal law. 

The tragedies of the murders of American civil rights' workers, James Earl Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael "Mickey" Schwerner were a heart-breaking backdrop for parts of the play.  They were barely in their 20's and yet so dedicated toward civil rights and education in the South.  I can't imagine risking my life at such a young age for others.  I was still in college, partying, sleeping and oh yeah occasionally studying.  

"All The Way" had me thinking long after the show had ended.  Which I think is a sign of a truly good play.  I can't shake its grasp.  An excellent show.  

You're Welcome!

Happy Monday, LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers!

So last night, Ms. Wisconsin and I ate homemade lasagna and then went on a five mile walk.  I would have preferred to have eaten lasagna and then sat on the couch - HA HA HA!  (Sad, but true!)

I wore my "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" Broadway t-shirt as we walked in the muggy Florida air and I sweat so profusely that I looked like a drowned rat - in a Broadway t-shirt.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch is my favorite movie musical, so when it went on Broadway I had to see it - from the third row! And I loved every minute of it.  I still love John Cameron Mitchell's rendition more, but Neil Patrick Harris was still pretty darn amazing.  In fact, I loved it so much that I have front row tickets later this month.  I have to see it one more time before it leaves Broadway at the end of this summer.

When I arrived home late last night, I saw that "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" won four Tony Awards!!!  I'm pretty sure my sweating up a storm along Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa, Florida in a "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" at the Belasco Theatre T-shirt is why the show won.  I mean, what else could it be?  I am also pretty sure Neil Patrick Harris will be sending me a mini muffin basket as a "thank you."

Neil Patrick Harris via Skype at the Paley Center's How I Met Your Mother
PaleyFest Event - March 2014

I might as well sit on my front steps and wait for those delicious muffins!  Until then I have only two things to say to the cast and crew of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" on Broadway:

1)  See you soon!

2)  You're welcome!

Best Quote EVER!

Happy Thursday, LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers!

It's been a busy week but the weekend is almost here!  I cannot wait!

Last night, "Ms. Morris Day and The Time" and I went to see "Steel Magnolias" at American Stage Theatre.  If you are in or near St. Petersburg, Florida - go see this show.  It is a great production of the classic play/movie.  Since I volunteer at a local Tampa Bay performing arts theater, whenever I go to other theaters in Tampa Bay I am bound to bump into at least a couple people I know.  Last night, there were four people I knew - 2 on stage, 2 in the audience.  Since my "day job" is non-artistic, it's fun to hob knob with the artsy types.

But enough about last night … on with today's post - the majority of which I wrote earlier in the week!

I think of Twitter like a Magic Eight Ball or Fortune Cookie.  I'll log in and check my newsfeed and every now and then words of wisdom will pop up that seem appropriately timed.  (P.S.  This is all part of my master plan to become the next big self-help guru.  I have determined that Oprah and Deepak Chopra are both famous and well-to-do spiritual (or quasi-spiritual) gurus and their names rhyme.  From this I have deduced that the only thing I need to do to gain fame, fortune and become the next great self-help guru is to change my name to Loprah.  Read more about my theory on this in my prior blog post here.)

So consider this a Loprah teaching moment … and send me large amounts of cash … and diamonds … and a couple of Oprah's favorite things ...

On Monday, I saw the following quote on my Twitter feed.  Of course I had pre-written Tuesday and Wednesday's blog posts, so had to wait until today to share the quote with you all …

It is:

"Pray as if it's up to God, work as if it's up to you."

That quote just says it all to me.  I was having dinner with one of my favorite people in the world and we talked about how no one is coming in to rescue you or give you a winning lottery ticket.  Nothing comes on a silver platter.  We are our own knights on horseback.  We both sadly know too many people who are waiting on an external event to create internal change.  Change comes from within.  

So on this busy Thursday, I will be praying as if it's up to God and working hard at my job as if it's up to me!

What I Am Trying To Say … Writing, Music, Murder and Theater in Tampa Bay

Happy Saturday, LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers!

Some may say Twitter.com is a waste of time, but every now and again a quote will turn up in my Twitter Feed (@SouthTampaLily) that just fits the moment.  It's like an electronic fortune cookie, Magic Eight Ball or freakishly accurate horoscope.  

So today the following quote from writer Rebecca Solnit popped up in my Twitter Feed.  (By the way, I was thinking of titling this post "Solnit is IT!")  

The quote was: 'Writing is saying to no one and to everyone the things it is not possible to say to someone.'  

That sentence, to me, is so spot on PERFECT.  Although I am not the meek silent type, so there's not much I have wanted to say to anyone that I have not said.  (It's pretty hard to shut me up!)  Although I do know some people in this world would like me to say more to them.  To those people I would say "be careful what you wish for" - bwahahhaha.

I spent a majority of my free time this week watching the Julie Schenecker murder trial.  Unlike the verdicts in the Casey Anthony and George Zimmerman Floridian trials, I agreed with this verdict.  My former New York-based "Psychology, Psychiatry and Criminal Law" seminar professor was quoted in the local Tampa paper talking about the difficulties in winning a case "not guilty by reason of insanity or mental defect."  I used to see him on talk shows a lot, it was a nice blast from the past to read his quote.  

Hearing the extremely sad details of a mother who shot and killed her sixteen year old daughter and thirteen year old son is not exactly the makings of a happy mood.  So I offset the sadness and horror by seeing three great shows in Tampa Bay.  A much more healthy thing to watch instead of criminal trials, or at least it is for me.     

I started by seeing fabulous local artists Matthew McGee and Scott Daniel in their hysterical "The Scott & Patti Show" where they play a Mother and Son lounge act.  

This particular "Scott & Patti" show was "Mother Lode" - a post-Mother's Day lounge set.  The show was held at freeFall Theatre in St. Petersburg, Florida.  (And no, that's not a typo - their name starts with a lower case f.)  

I had just seen Cabaret at Studio 54 in New York City 2 weeks ago.  Don't tell actress Michelle Williams but Scott Daniel's rendition of "Don't Tell Mama" beats hers any day of the week!  

Matthew McGee as "Mama Patti" sang what is my absolutely favorite song from Cabaret - "Maybe This Time."  This is one of my traditional standards that I sing alone in my car with an umbrella and several pairs of sunglasses as my audience.  The "crowd" just loves it!   

What Michelle Williams did not do in the revival of Cabaret is sing "Maybe This Time" as Liza Minelli, Carol Channing and Cher - as Matthew McGee/Patti did.  Another plus for the Tampa Bay theater scene!

Next on my Tampa Bay theater week was Aaron Sorkin's "A Few Good Men" at Stageworks Theatre in Tampa, Florida.  Now along with "The Shawshank Redemption," "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" and "Pretty Woman," "A Few Good Men" is a movie I have seen over and over and over again - and NEVER do I tire of it.  If it's on cable in the middle of the afternoon, I will stop what I am doing and watch!  It's a mandatory event!  But because I love the movie so much and have never seen the play, I was wondering could the theatre hold up to the movie?

With a cast of eighteen actors, Stageworks' version of "A Few Good Men" delivered!  Dennis Duggan, who won Creative Loafing Tampa's Best Actor Award for his portrayal of Lenny in "Of Mice and Men" at Stageworks made a strong and effective Lt. Col. Nathan Jessep.  It is no wonder this show keeps selling out.  It was really terrific.

Plus points to me for not screaming out "YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!" the 942 times I wanted to during the show.

The show was directed by Stageworks Theatre's artistic director Karla Hartley, who also directed the fantastic "The Wiz" for American Stage Theatre in the park.  (Read my review of "The Wiz" here.)  Two cast members from The Wiz were in the front row at Stageworks.  

Scott Daniel - of the aforementioned "Scott and Patti Show" was also in "The Wiz" and was the Costume Designer for Stageworks' "A Few Good Men."  The Tampa Bay theatre people definitely get around!    

Next, it was back to freeFall Theatre for their all-male version of Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Mikado."  Any show with characters named Yum-Yum and Pish-Tush has my attention.      I love, love, love, LOVE shows at freeFall Theatre.  They are THE BEST.  I cannot wait for their production of "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" in August 2014!

   
Matthew McGee is also in "The Mikado."  He is a great, versatile comedic Tampa Bay actor.  He starred as the outrageous Mother Superior in Stageworks Theatre's version of Charles Busch's "The Divine Sister" which I am ecstatic to report will be coming back to Stageworks in August 2014 with its original cast from when it first played there in February 2014.  I had told many friends they should see it and now they will have another chance.  (Must see, must see, must see show!)  

Frankly, I would go to see Matthew McGee read the phone book.  He is hysterical whether in drag or in a male role.  I have seen him in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Fiddler on the Roof in addition to the shows I have already mentioned.  He will also be starring in "Mame" at freeFall Theatre in Summer 2015. 

(Side Note:  In terms of full disclosure … or partial disclosure … I am the "Twitter Girl" (a.k.a. Social Media Coordinator) for one of the theaters mentioned above.  But my comments about all the shows are 100% my true personal opinion!  They are amazing shows!) 

It has been a great week of theater for me.  I saw four Broadway shows in New York City recently, but I get just as much joy as seeing productions with our local talent.  (OK OK Alan Cumming in "Cabaret," Denzel Washington in "Raisin in the Sun," Neil Patrick Harris in "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" and the entire wonderful cast of Harvey Fierstein's "Casa Valentina" are nothing to sneeze at … those were all mind-blowingly fantastic shows!  But our local theater here is extremely good too-- and a lot cheaper, I must add!)  If you are in or near Tampa Bay, you have to check out some of our wonderful local theatre!  

Happy Saturday!    
  

Ease On Down This Road - The Wiz - American Stage in The Park

Happy Monday, LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers!

I hope everyone had a great weekend!  Mine was terrific.  I volunteered on Friday and Sunday, which made for a somewhat tasky weekend but I made sure my Saturday was jam-packed with FUN, FUN, FUN to compensate.  

My Saturday might as well have been called "All of Lily's Favorite Things and Bagpipes too!"  The weather was gorgeous, top down convertible time and I took full advantage!    

I first started out my fantastic Saturday, by heading over to Seminole Heights. Florida.  I was on a shopping mission!  Cleanse Apothecary Bath and Body Boutique was having a weekend shopping promotion event.  They carry two product lines from my home state of Minnesota, so I get homesick whenever I visit!  The owners are fabulous.  I love supporting small businesses.  I also love that for they were serving a blood orange, Fresca & tequila blend for the special event.  (Fresca + Tequila = Happy Lily.)

From Seminole Heights it was over to Cephas Hot Shop in Ybor City for a tamarind drink and an aloe shake with freshly machete-d coconut water.  Tamarind supposedly helps cleanse your liver, so chasing tequila with tamarind maybe zeroed out the effect?  There were five newbies trying the bitter but gastro-intestinally effective aloe shake.  It's like dinner theater (or perhaps Fear Factor) watching the newbies drink aloe shakes!  (Read more about Cephas - the "Guru of My Colon" here.)

We had lunch at the Acropolis Greek Taverna in Ybor City.  My favorite is the Acropolis Salad - a Greek salad with Gyro Meat slices.  A little known fact, it is a Tampa tradition to hide a scoop of potato salad in Greek salads.  I know this may sound gross to some, but it is highly addictive.  Now when I have a Greek salad anywhere else in the country, I look in vain for some hidden potato salad.  Once in Las Vegas, a Tampa friend ordered a side of potato salad with her Greek salad because she said "Otherwise it's just not the same!"  The paramour had the Pastitso which I consider to be like a Greek lasagna - ground beef, pasta and a béchamel sauce.    

If we had had time, I would have loved to be having Greek food in the Greek sponge docks in Tarpon Springs, Florida.  My favorite restaurant there is Dimitri's On The Water.  However Ybor City is a heck of a lot closer to my house than Tarpon Springs, so when I get a Greek food craving I usually go to the Acropolis.    

We also had drinks at The Independent Bar and Cafe in Seminole Heights.  I love, love, love The Independent.  If you're looking for a laid back place to have a beer, this is it.  I love sitting on their patio.  Often there is live music and always there is a fun crowd.  

Although I was experiencing total Murphy's Law there on Saturday.  If I go to The Independent with female friends, the crowd is always couples or families.  But if I go there with a guy, then the place is crowded with good-looking MEN, MEN, MEN!  Saturday was no exception.  There was a large table of adorable military men who were rather appreciative of my shorts and my 4 inch summer heels.  Once again it's either feast or famine in my world when it comes to single men!

At The Independent, I had my favorite Zombie Killer Cherry Cyser.  Because I think I am secretly illiterate, I always thought this was a cherry cider beer.  Um no - it's an apple-honey wine with cherry juice added.  And the only reason I know that is because I read it on the picture I took.  When the bottle is in front of me, I am too busy drinking it to read the label!  Needless to say it is super yummy no matter what is in it!

It was time to bid Date #1 goodbye and turn to Date #2.  I was off to St. Pete to Sylvia's "Queen of Soul Food" Restaurant.  If you haven't been, you MUST go.  (Read my review of Sylvia's here.)  

My "Date #2" was actually me taking my friend "Ms. Kentucky" out for a belated birthday evening.  We were going to have a picnic dinner while we watched American Stage Theatre's production of the musical "The Wiz" held in the park at Demen's Landing.  This is located next to the water in St. Petersburg and is just an ideal, tranquil spot.  

Last time I saw American Stage Theatre in the Park, there was a family next to us that brought fried chicken and champagne.  I had Picnic Envy!  So this year I knew I was bringing fried chicken.  

Not trying to promote any racial stereotypes here, but knowing Ms. Kentucky had yet to try Sylvia's soul food - I thought a soul food picnic for The Wiz musical was a good theme meal.  Is that racially offensive?  It's hard to know where to draw the line.  

    
We had fried chicken, collard greens, mac & cheese, potato salad, fresh fruit - and for dessert - Sylvia's awesome coconut cake.  About a dozen middle school girls wearing Emerging Youth Leaders t-shirts were sitting next to us with giant bags of M&Ms and Cheetos.  They gave us an appreciative nod at our chicken picnic.  

Now normally sitting next to a dozen rambunctious young girls at "the theater" would be highly annoying - but these girls were so funny and adorable.  They were just loving life, full of smiles and spunk.  They chatted with us and I just wanted to make them all honorary little sisters.

American Stage Theatre's version of The Wiz was awesome. Their annual show in the park is always a big success and so worth attending!  Because I have been volunteering at a local performing arts theater, I have had the pleasure of getting to know the local Tampa acting community.  In "The Wiz," I knew the Director and two of the actors personally.  Plus "The Cowardly Lion" and the piano player have performed a local cabaret act that I have seen several times.  If you are in or near St. Petersburg, Florida, I highly recommend going to see "The Wiz."  It's a great event for singles, couples, families … an all around good night.

St. Petersburg was hopping when we went to see The Wiz.  It was also the Blues Festival, the Rowdies Soccer Game, the Symphony and the Ziggy Marley concert.  Downtown St. Pete was packed with lots of people having a great time!  The Rowdies game had the UK bagpipe band "Red Hot Chili Pipers" playing a post-game concert.  

Because it's an outdoor stadium, we caught a good chunk of the concert for free.  Trust me, you have not lived until you have heard the Red Hot Chili Pipers doing a bag pipe version of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'."  If you have one goal for 2014, this should be it.  

We then hit the local Starbucks as the Stephen "Ziggy" Marley concert was letting out.  I was feeling bland not wearing rasta colors or having dreadlocks!  But the concert goers were mellow and friendly.  

The perfect Saturday ended with a walk along the water.  The weather was perfect - not too hot, not too cold with an almost full moon dancing off the water as we walked along the shoreline.    

I highly recommend all the places I mentioned in this blog post if you are in or visiting the Tampa Bay area.  I hope you had a Perfect Weekend too - and as always, thank you for reading!

Happy Monday - Reasons to be Grateful

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

Happy Monday!  I hope you had a great weekend!  I had a very fun weekend but as usual it seemed to pass in seconds and here I am back at Monday.

There are many reasons I enjoy living in Tampa Bay, but I do miss many of the more "cosmopolitan" aspects of living in a larger city.  When I lived in Los Angeles, I felt like everything was available at my fingertips 24-7.  Of course I also spent a majority of my life stuck in traffic, praying that there wouldn't be a drive by shooting from some road rage crazy neighboring car.  There are pros and cons to everything.

One of my free time passions is seeing great plays and musicals - a reason why so much of my budget gets gobbled up going to New York City 1-4 times a year to see Broadway shows.  But Tampa Bay and its surrounding environs, do have their own quality theater.  

Last week, I had a wonderful sampling of all Florida theater has to offer by seeing four shows-- Lorraine Hansberry's classic "A Raisin in the Sun" at South Tampa's Stageworks Theatre.  Conor McPherson's unnerving "The Birds" at St. Petersburg's American Stage Theatre.  The timeless "Fiddler on the Roof" musical performed with great vigor in a small space at freeFall Theatre in St. Pete.  And the chilling "Dracula - The Journal of Jonathan Harker" one man show at Orlando Shakespeare Theatre.   

All productions were amazing and a good reminder why it is so important to support local theatre.  I am a season ticket holder of American Stage Theatre, Jobsite Theatre and Orlando Shakespeare Theatre.  

All in all, it was a mighty week of theater - time and money well spent.  I do not mind driving from Tampa to Orlando for good theater, however there always seems to be some calamity on the drive back that delays me at least an extra hour.

Many months ago, I had traveled to Orlando to see a concert at the Hard Rock at Universal.  On the drive back, I was stuck in an almost no-movement traffic jam for almost an hour and a half.  

By the time, I creeped by the accident site that was holding up traffic I realized why so many rubber-neckers had done a slow crawl by.  Three lanes of the highway had items covered in white sheets.  I knew that a white sheet meant dead body - but the items under the sheets were too small to be bodies.  

I then felt an icy grasp on my heart as I realized it wasn't dead bodies under the white sheets - but body parts.  Evidently for whatever reason, a man had decided to run across I-4 Westbound and didn't make it.  He was hit by various cars and torn apart.  

All that was left of him was covered with white sheets across various lanes of Interstate.  The implied gore robbed me of any speech.  I just sat slack-jawed staring at it as all traffic as directed to drive on the shoulder.

So last night, I was driving back from Orlando when traffic on I-4 Westbound came to a dead stop.  I was only about 25 minutes from home, but it took 50 minutes to get through the traffic jam before I could proceed with the last 25 minutes of my journey.  I turned on the traffic channel on Sirius Radio and was told I-4 East and West were clear.  As I stared at miles ahead of me of brake lights and then also miles of standstill headlights on 1-4 East, I knew that Sirius was full of it.  There was something big that was holding up traffic in both directions.  And I could only hope there were not white sheets involved.

After fifty long boring minutes of staring at the brake lights of the car in front of me, I started approaching the accident scene.  On I-4 Eastbound, there seemed to be at least six cars being towed away.  On I-4 Westbound, which I was on, there seemed to be at least three cars in need of assistance.  

I wasn't sure how there could be so many accidents in one spot on both sides of the Interstate.  Perhaps the drivers on I-4 Westbound were too busy watching the accidents on I-4 Eastbound?  Who knows?  

As I drew closer, I saw the lanes of the interstate littered with debris.  In the dim light, I tried to ascertain what these items were - broken car parts?  Glass?  There was so much of it ahead, I didn't know how I'd spare my tires from it all.  

Then I made out a whole object.  I looked, squinted my eyes and looked again.  Surely my eyes were deceiving me.  

It couldn't be …

I looked and looked again.

It was a hot dog bun.

I looked further up and realized that the debris was all shredded, mangled parts of … hot dog buns.  

What???

Up ahead I saw an overturned barbecue smoker cart in a ditch.  Evidently one of the vehicles involved in the accident was a food truck and their hot dog buns had gone flying into four lanes of interstate.

Driving through a sea of obliterated hot dog buns was the most surreal experience I have had in quite some time.  It was like being trapped in a snow globe, but instead of white little flakes - it was all hot dog bun remnants. 

I don't know if anyone was seriously injured - and I do feel very sorry for the food truck owner in particular.  But I still could not keep myself from laughing as I slowly drove through all the hot dog buns.  It was a much more humorous experience than when I had previously driven alongside white sheet-covered body parts.  

Perhaps one day I will write a play where the main character moves slowly through an ocean of hot dog buns.  I am fairly certain it will be a masterpiece.  Until then, I will enjoy going to see "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and being pelted with toast.

As I cleared the "highway of hot dog buns," I said a word of gratitude that I had not been part of the accident and I hoped that all involved were safe and uninjured.  

The macabre comedy of the butchered hot dog buns reminded me that sometimes we just need to laugh and be grateful.

I dedicate this post to my friend NL who ran a hot dog cart for a year and luckily never had her cart overturned in an accident.  Always reasons to be grateful - you just need to look for them.    

I hope this Monday finds you with more laughter than tears.  Thanks for reading!  

The Salvador Dali of Desserts - Cena Restaurant Channelside

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

Yesterday, I saw the final performance of Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun" at South Tampa's Stageworks Theatre at Grand Central in the Channelside district.  The play was directed by Ron Bobb-Semple.  I had seen Mr. Bobb-Semple as Hedley in August Wilson's Seven Guitars at American Stage Theatre in St. Petersburg.  I was rendered speechless at his amazing performance, so I knew his version of "A Raisin in the Sun" would be awe-inspiring as well.  (And I was not wrong!) 

Also starring in Stageworks production of "A Raisin in the Sun" (and also American Stage Theatre's Seven Guitar) is the delightful and multi-talented actress Tia Jemison.  Check her out here. 

After the show, my friend and I decided to grab some appetizers at the restaurant Cena, which is located next door to Stageworks Theatre.  But when we saw the table next to us getting the most gorgeous and elaborate looking desserts, we knew we would have to get dessert as well.

Let's start with the appetizers first ...

Mushroom arancini with truffle fonduta - I was really excited to try these because I love arancini - rice balls filled with peas, cheese and other various fillings coated in bread crumbs and fried.  There are three rice balls per order, but I was so greedy I snatched one off the plate before thinking of taking a picture!

The pros: these arancini are a nice size with a tasty crispy coating and a delicious sauce.  The cons: the rice was very hard, I am used to a creamy risotto like consistency.  I also could not really taste the mushroom and while I could see the peas, I couldn't taste them either.  They were a nice treat, but if you pick yourself up a box of Trader Joe's frozen arancini, you'll have just as good of a treat at less than half the price.

Arancini from Cena

Fried eggplant.  I am not a big eggplant fan, but my dining companion selected this item and I am glad she did, because I enjoyed it.  The sauce was very similar to the sauce that accompanied the arancini, so much so that I thought it might be the same.  

The eggplant had a crisp coating and the cheese was particularly flavorful.  However if you paid me a million dollars I couldn't guess that this was eggplant.  It could have been veal, it could have been tofu - all I tasted was fried crispy cheesiness.  Which is not a bad thing, but if you're an eggplant purist you are not going to find intense eggplant flavor here.  I would definitely order the eggplant again.

Fried eggplant from Cena

Prosciutto-wrapped scallops with pasta and mushroom salad.  This appetizer was a special and not on the regular menu.  The pros - the scallops were cooked perfectly.  The prosciutto was crispy with a nice flavor.  The mushrooms in the warm salad accompaniment (chanterelles, I think?) were delicious.  

The cons - the scallops were crazy salty.  I have a feeling they salted the scallops before wrapping them in the prosciutto. I like salt as much as the next person, but these were borderline inedible.  The pasta in the accompanying warm salad was too al dente - very hard.  The garlic and rosemary was overpowering - and this from a person who loves garlic.  

Prosciutto-wrapped scallops

Tiramisu.  My friend ordered the tiramisu and once I saw it, I immediately wanted to distract her and switch plates.  Sadly I put friendship over dessert, this time.

However I will return to Cena just to get this dessert and eat it greedily all by myself.  It really is worth the trip just for this one dessert.

Cena's tiramisu reminded me of Salvador Dali's Geopoliticus Child Watching The Birth of New Man.  From as far as I can tell it is a deconstructed tiramisu - a mascarpone egg stuffed with espresso-soaked lady fingers on a bed of crispy chocolaty cookie crunch.  It is beyond delicious.  If you like tiramisu, you have to try Cena's version.  

The most gorgeous tiramisu

Boccocini Con Crema.  Two caramel crusted cream puffs with mascarpone fluff, strawberries and pistachio cream.  

This dessert was also a feast for the eyes.  Two hard candy coated cream puffs stuffed with chopped strawberries and cream.  Topped with a macaron stuffed a strawberry slice with a chocolate accent.  I love strawberries and cream.  The cream puff filling and the macarons were the best part.  The macarons had both the crunch and chewiness of a perfect macaron.  The caramel crusted cream puff pastry didn't do much for me.  It was a fine dessert, but when you're staring at the gorgeous tiramisu while eating it ... well you feel like you missed out.

Service:  our server seemed new but I don't know if that was truly the case.  The other servers around us seemed to be more at ease in discussing the food and truly upselling it.  Our server read directly off her specials card and didn't seem to know what she was talking about when reading the descriptions of the food.

Overall:  There were some pluses and minuses at Cena, but the true winners were in the dessert department.  The prices were on the higher end side, but is a great place for after-theater drinks and dessert.  I would definitely visit Cena again.

An Evening With Jillian Michaels - A Review of Her Maximize Your Life Tour

Hello LilyOnTheLam.com Readers:

I have been an avid fan of NBC's "The Biggest Loser" for many years.  Or more specifically an avid fan of Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels.  (Read about my running into Bob Harper in NYC here.)  I have read one of Bob's books. two of Jillian's and I have been a listener of Jillian Michaels' podcast since its early days.  So when I heard that Jillian was doing a speaking tour called "Maximize your Life" and one of the tour stops would be Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida; I knew I was in.  

And when I heard there were VIP seats close to the stage that also included a private smaller group Question and Answer session, I said "which kidney do I have to sell to get a VIP ticket?"  

Luckily the price of a VIP ticket was similar to an arena concert show ticket price.  My super human ticket ordering skills got me a ticket in the 2nd row.  Jillian Michaels is even shorter and skinnier than she appears on TV - the camera adding 10 pounds and all - so I wanted to be as close to the stage as possible.  The tour might be called Maximize Your Life, but I wanted to Maximize my Jillian Michaels exposure.

With intermission and the VIP Q&A, the show was approximately three hours long.  Talk about getting your money's worth!  Because I have read Jillian's books and listened to her podcasts, I was familiar with some of the material she was presenting.  But listening to a podcast you don't see her twinkling eyes smiling at you.  Seriously I don't know if Jillian Michaels has some crazy diamond contact lenses or what but her eyes were TWINKLING.  Like a cartoon Santa Claus - it was like "I have the wisdom and you can tell I have it because my eyes are TWINKLING!"  I was mesmerized, to put it mildly.

And of course Jillian was rocking her skinny jeans - those alone are inspiration to get in the gym!

Jillian spoke primarily on three topics - nutrition/diet, exercise and self-worth.  The audience was approximately 85% women with some very endearing, emotionally men too (and of course some husbands who were just along for the evening).  The audience members were all shapes, sizes and ages.  For some I could see the emotional pain on their faces.  Their burdens were much more than the excess weight they carried on their bodies.  Watching Jillian Michaels on television, it is easy to think that just being in her presence will transform your life.  But of course true and lasting transformation comes from within -- we can't ask the external to do what we can't do for ourselves internally.  Change starts from within.  But a good motivational kick in the ass can't hurt, right?

While the nutrition and exercise informational portions of the show were interesting and good for me to hear, it was the self-worth section that made the biggest impact.  I got an A in Psych 101 so I pretty much understand all there is to know about psychology and the inner workings of the human mind (ha ha), but hearing Jillian talk through finding the origin of pain/fear/insecurities and working against repetitive habits that make you your own continued abuser was like a gigantic caffeinated wake-up call.  

This line of thought is nothing new or revolutionary to me but something about both the compassion and urgency in Jillian's voice, facial expressions and gesticulations pried opened my stubborn mind and made me listen.  She emphasized the need to switch the mantra from "Why me?" to "WHY NOT ME?"  It was amazing to watch a packed auditorium hanging on her every word.

One phrase that particularly hit home with me was about dealing with criticism.  Jillian said that sometimes what knocks the ego is good for the soul and helps us build our character.  So while we may not want to hear criticism, we need to set aside our ego and take what we can from the lesson and build on it.  Easier said than done, but ever so necessary.

On a personal note, it was special to see a video of Jillian, her life partner and their two children.  After a three year arduous adoption process to finally adopt their daughter, it was heart-stirring to see the long struggle turn into wonderful reality.  I enjoyed hearing not only Jillian's stories of working with the NBC show "The Biggest Loser" contestants, but her own personal stories.  What I find inspiring about Jillian Michaels is that she is not perfect (although her body is amazing!) - she's had her own struggles, trials and tribulations.  I feel like her stories and messages speak from the heart versus a canned commercial speech.  

The after-show VIP Q&A was even more endearing for me.  Audience members had previously submitted questions and Jillian's Podcast Producer Janice Ungaro came out to co-host the Q&A.  When I was training for my first official half-marathon walk in Washington State, each day was a struggle.  I would prefer to sit on my couch and watch television than do a 13.1 mile walk.  But I forced myself to get out there and I would listen to Jillian and Janice playfully bicker on the podcast and I would just keep walking.  Even when my legs were aching and the Tampa summer rains would catch me five miles from home without an umbrella, I would listen to Jillian and Janice's snarky comments to each other and I would smile ... and just keep walking.  I wish I would have had the opportunity to thank Jillian and Janice for keeping me company each and every time I trained.  (P.S. I have two more half-marathons this year.  Time to start training again!)

Side Note:  Speaking of Producer Janice Ungaro, before tonight Janice was a voice on a podcast - I had no idea what she looked like in person.  For some reason I must have pictured the only radio show producer I know - Robin Quivers of "The Howard Stern Show."  So as I would listen to Janice on the podcast I would picture a sassy, smart, elegant African-American woman.  Well yes that is Robin Quivers ... but Janice is a thin, elegant white woman who makes faces and does wild dances on stage that had the audience rolling.  I have to adjust my mental picture of Janice now for future podcasts!  

I think Jillian Michaels' next tour should be Anthony Bourdain-Eric Ripert style where Jillian and Janice sit on couches with potted plants around them and spend two hours good-naturedly bickering.  I would pay to see that show!

Back to the evening with Jillian:  I mean no disrespect when I say that many of the audience members were clearly broken and searching for help.  I am not disparaging them because attending a motivational speech, like an evening with Jillian Michaels, shows a person's desire to seek help and move forward.  

For me personally, I have a very difficult time asking for help.  My father died when I was very young and my mother worked full-time and went to school at night.  I pretty much raised myself.  My mother tells a story of how when I was six years old I sent the babysitter home and took care of myself.  Um hello?  How f--ked up is THAT?  I learned from an early age that I should only rely on myself, that being dependent upon others would only lead to disappointment.  This is a mindset that I have been trying to correct in myself - because we all need others.  One person cannot do it alone, 100% of the time.  

When I arrived at the auditorium, I had my hands full with my purse, my cell phone, a VIP packet and my ticket.  I was supposed to put on an orange wristband that was in my VIP packet.  I was juggling all this stuff in my hands trying to find the wristband in the packet.  A young woman sitting next to me asked me if I would like her to put the wristband on me.  Normally I would have said "no" - um hello stranger, I don't need your help - I'm fine on my own.  I can do anything I set my mind out to do - I don't need you touching me.  Leave me alone!  But I did need help - my hands were full of stuff and I couldn't figure out where the adhesive strip was on the wristband and basically I was a mess.  I sighed and said "Yes please, I would absolutely appreciate the help."   You can't imagine how difficult it is for me to say that to a stranger or even a friend. 

The young woman quickly found the adhesive backing and wrapped the wristband around my wrist.  She patted it lightly saying "There, not too tight and not too loose."  I smiled.  I needed help.  I accepted help.  And it didn't kill me.  I felt like I had learned a lesson before Jillian even came out on the stage.  

During the Q&A, audience members bravely shared their "dark secrets" and insecurities.  One woman - a breast cancer survivor - talked about how after her mastectomy and hysterectomy she no longer felt like a woman.  Her voice cracked and became quieter and raspier the more she bared her soul.  I wanted to give her a hug.  There were several other breast cancer survivors in the small VIP audience and other women spoke out their support.  You don't need to wait for Jillian Michaels to come to your town to hear words of encouragement and support.  There are support groups all around for various conditions/situations - people who have been in the same boat and can help guide you on your journey.  You only need to ask for help.

Another woman stood up - she had lost 30 pounds but even more inspiring, her daughter - a member of the US military - had lost 126 pounds and had taken leave to fly from California to Clearwater, Florida to see Jillian Michaels.  The audience gave the young woman - in her military dress uniform - a standing ovation both for her weight loss accomplishment as well as her service to our country.  Jillian gave her a hug and whispered words of praise.

The evening with Jillian Michaels was like breathing straight from an oxygen tank.  I felt energized spiritually, emotionally and physically being in her presence and listening to her straight-forward talk.  In some ways it felt like standing at the edge of a high dive - are you ready to take the plunge?  Are you ready to stop living your life emotionally numb and live in the present?  Are you ready to live the best version of your life that you can?

There was a young girl - maybe 8 years old - in the row behind me.  Jillian tailored her language as to not offend, so we heard "S Word" and "F Word" instead of the actual "swear words" during the show.  As I was walking out of the auditorium, the young girl and her mother were walking ahead of me.  The mother was carrying the daughter and the young girl asked what adoption meant - in reference to Jillian Michaels' stories about her adopted three year old daughter.  The mother gave her daughter a squeeze and said "Adoption means you are extra special."  The young girl cocked her head to the side as if contemplating this statement deeply.  Then she nodded her head and smiled.

I feel like Jillian Michaels adopted the entire auditorium during her "Maximize Your Life" show.  We all felt extra special after spending an evening with her.  If you get an opportunity to see Jillian Michaels, I highly recommend it.  

Please leave a comment - I would love to hear from you!

P.S. And don't forget to read about my running into NBC Biggest Loser Trainer Bob Harper in New York City here.  Now I just need to meet Dolvett Quince and my "Biggest Loser" meetings will be complete!

P.P.S. Hey Jillian Michaels fans - please read my blog post about a strong survivor who needs your help - JoinQueena.com.


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