I just finished it! In my opinion, the first and last 100 pages move well…but the middle was not, in my opinion, a quick read. No. Not at all. Glad I did it though. Previously, I stumbled upon the book In the Heart of the Sea which is the non-fiction narrative of the Whaleship Essex. The Essex tragedy, I learned, was Melville’s inspiration for Moby Dick. Since In the Heart of the Sea got me very interested in whaling (just reading about it, not actually hunting whales…I’d never do that), I knew it was time for me to tackle this great American novel. Challenging, yes…but in the end, I did enjoy my sojourn into the watery part of the world.
Ozark
Just finished season 2. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Very dark, tense, gritty. Would totally work for me if that’s the end of the series. Will welcome it back if there’s a season 3. I continue to be blown away by original Netflix programming. The writing, the directing, the cinematography, the casting, the acting. Makes it easy for me to be cable-free. Network TV is now pretty much exclusively for NFL and the occasional national sports broadcast.
The Big Fish Supper Club
I’ve been wanting to check this place out for years. Dreams really do come true. On a family trip to Bemidji, MN we took the detour to Bena, MN on the shores of Lake Winnibigoshish to not only pay homage to, but also dine at this fine institution. It did not disappoint. The Big Fish is one of the all-time great roadside attractions and as a Supper Club, the food and atmosphere was excellent. Great service, very friendly. I had the Surf and Turf. 4 stars.
Werner Herzog Masterclass
I’ve enjoyed taking a number of the Masterclass classes at masterclass.com, but my favorite is Werner Herzog Teaches Filmmaking. I was only peripherally aware of him going into the class. Not only did I learn that he is an extremely prolific filmmaker, but I found his philosophies and approach extremely refreshing and something I could really identify with. I can’t say I’ll take all his teachings to heart (like never using storyboards or shot lists—he claims they are “for the weak”), but the man knows how to commit to a vision and he doesn’t over complicate things with his approach: works with minimal crews, no mobile phones allowed on set, always gets the first shot of the day by 9AM, doesn’t shoot unnecessary coverage, etc. In a profession where you’re always up against the clock and can face expected and unexpected challenges from any direction, he’s a true inspiration of how to get stuff done…like portaging a giant steamship over a mountain in a remote South American jungle…for real…who needs special effects?:
Ringo!
Ringo Starr in concert at The Ordway! My policy is that if a member of the Beatles is going to be in concert in MSP, I will be there. Getting to sing along with Ringo to Yellow Submarine and With a Little Help From My Friends—how could you pass that up? He is The Greatest.
