Mar 31 2025

Coral Gables, Miami


The Plaza Coral Gables
2811 Ponce de Leon, Miami

Coral Gables is a city, part of the Miami metropolitan area of South Florida, 7 miles (11 km) southwest of Downtown Miami. Population 49,248 (2020 census). It has University of Miami (the largest employer).

The Plaza Coral Gables (2811 Ponce de Leon, Coral Gables) is a hub and downtown. The neighborhoods in CG are generally upscale.

 

Coral Fountains (2021) by French artist Jean-Michel Othoniel (1964-)

Mirrored Stainless Steel Beads

“Coral Fountains” links its water element to the sea. As Coral Gables is often presented as the pearl of South Florida, the artist selected his signature element, the bead, to create sculptures that joyfully play in the water pond, as enigmatic and shimmering as lively sea creatures.

Commissioned by Agave Holdings, LLC

Coral Gables Art in Public Places Program

 

Coral Way in Coral Gables (Miami) area, has many mature trees, including banyan and oak, creating a natural canopy over the street.


Mar 20 2025

Stiffelio, 1849


Sarasota opera house

Verdi’s Stiffelio (1849) 👍 straightforward and powerful, and a great production.

This is the fourth and last of the 2025 winter season.

A Protestant minister of the church with an adulterous wife … to forgive as the Bible says or seeks revenge as human

Anger of the husband
Anguish of her father
Ashamed wife

Is it my imagination or the singers are just great, I thought I heard the pains and regrets in their voices …

一新教牧师的媳妇有了外遇. 纠结啊

丈夫的愤怒
父亲的痛苦
妻子的羞愧

圣经教导 – 原谅
人性本能 – 报复

最后 …


Mar 15 2025

Jacqueline du Pré (1945-87)


Jacqueline du Pré (杰奎琳·杜普蕾; 1945-87).

This is one of my faves: Schumann’s cello concerto with du Pré and her husband Barenboim (and piano concerto too).

Du Pré’s life was short due to her illness – MS multiple sclerosis. They’d better times together: they met on the Christmas Eve in 1966. After the Six-Day War (1967, June 5-10), she cancelled all her engagements and went to Jerusalem with him, performing for the Israelis. Then married shortly after in Jerusalem at a Western Wall ceremony, with Zubin Mehta (… I’d to temporarily be renamed Moshe Cohen) as the witness.

Although their union lasted till her death, but they both had affairs: she with her brother-in-law and he with a Russian pianist who born him two sons, in 1983 and 85 in Paris. Both boys were born before du Pre’s death. I saw Michael Barenboim at Carnegie Hall – a journeyman.

这是我特别喜欢的一个CD. 前面那个视频里没有 Daniel Barenboim (丹尼尔·巴伦博伊姆; 1942-). 笑弯腰的是他的媳妇杜娃: 难得一见开怀大笑
他们相遇1966年圣诞夜. 1967 年六日战争爆发前不久, 她取消了所有表演合同, 与巴一起飞往耶路撒冷. 她皈依了犹太教, 并在为以色列军队和民众举办音乐会后, 1967年在西墙结婚.
金童玉女
可惜好景不长. 她1973年10月被诊断患有多发性硬化症 multiple sclerosis MS. 她最后一次在伦敦举办音乐会是在 1973 年 2 月, 与祖宾·梅塔合作. 她的最后一场公开音乐会于 1973 年 2 月在纽约. 与Pinchas Zukerman (平夏斯·祖克曼; 1948-), 伯恩斯坦指挥四场勃拉姆斯双协奏曲. 她只参加了四场音乐会中的三场 (指头失去感觉了), 最后一场, 由 Isaac Stern (艾萨克·斯特恩; 1920-2001)代替她演奏了门德尔松的小提琴协奏曲.
死后她的姐姐Hilary (1942-) 出版了传记 A Genius in the Family (1997) 改编🎬 Hilary and Jackie (1998), 唏嘘 动容
杜和巴都有婚外情 她和姐夫, 他和一俄罗斯犹太钢琴娃 孕二子 都在杜娃死前出世. 我看过他们的小儿子迈克尔的室内🎼 音乐会 – 没有惊艳 – a journeyman.

听一音乐爱好者说 当年他们的婚事在英国是满城风雨, 她可是英帝的女神…
时光荏苒 巴也熬到了爷爷的位置 是一位值得尊敬的音乐家.


有人提起小泽 我觉得不可比 (梅塔) 日本的古典音乐圈比印度大非常多 人才济济 Midori, Mitsuko Uchida, etc.

 


Mar 15 2025

Barenboim, Mehta, Perlman & du Pré


This historical behind the scene video, featuring Jacqueline du Pré, Daniel Barenboim, Itzhak Perlman and Zubin Mehta, having a little fun during a rehearsal.

It was a bygone era’s sumptuous bacchanal. Jacqueline du Pré (杰奎琳·杜普蕾 (1945-87) would die soon, in 1987. The three male musicians all rose to the pinnacle of their respective field: Daniel Barenboim (丹尼尔·巴伦博伊姆; 1942-), Zubin Mehta (祖宾·梅塔; 1936) and Itzhak Perlman (帕尔曼; 1945- ), which we’re going to see tomorrow.

The Chinese version on WeChat is shorter, nipped du Pré and Barenboim from the start, but kept her laughing at the end.

I’ve seen all three musicians multiple times.

Mehta conducted New York Philharmonic Orchestra from 1978 to 1991, after stings at Montreal Symphony Orchestra (1961-67), LA Phil (1962-78), Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (1969 to life), among many other prestigious appointments. New Yorkers are tough crowds but under his baton at NYPhil, he was not only loved but put on numerous unforgettable performances. I was lucky to catch end of his 13 years run.

好巧 我们后天会去帕伯音乐会🎼. 这几天看到不同的朋友转这个掐头剪尾的微信视频 (巴被刷掉了 他大提琴).

昨天聊到一高中完整的歌剧. 多年前我在隔壁一初中学校义工(俺家学校的义工人满为患…). 真正的一条街之别. 这个学校以印度🇮🇳娃居多, 上音乐课时 90% 的孩子们没有音乐基础. 没有贬低之意. 只是感叹老梅的成就来之不易. 想想他执棒纽约时的盛况, 每次去都是满载而归 从来没有失望过
He was so loved.

周末快乐

 

 

 

xxxxx

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Barenboim

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacqueline_du_Pré

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zubin_Mehta

 

这是我特别喜欢的一个CD. 前面那个视频里没有 Daniel Barenboim (丹尼尔·巴伦博伊姆; 1942-). 笑弯腰的是他的媳妇杜娃: 难得一见开怀大笑
他们相遇1966年圣诞夜. 1967 年六日战争爆发前不久, 她取消了所有表演合同, 与巴一起飞往耶路撒冷. 她皈依了犹太教, 并在为以色列军队和民众举办音乐会后, 1967年在西墙结婚.
金童玉女
可惜好景不长. 她1973年10月被诊断患有多发性硬化症 multiple sclerosis MS. 她最后一次在伦敦举办音乐会是在 1973 年 2 月, 与祖宾·梅塔合作. 她的最后一场公开音乐会于 1973 年 2 月在纽约. 与Pinchas Zukerman (平夏斯·祖克曼; 1948-), 伯恩斯坦指挥四场勃拉姆斯双协奏曲. 她只参加了四场音乐会中的三场 (指头失去感觉了), 最后一场, 由 Isaac Stern (艾萨克·斯特恩; 1920-2001)代替她演奏了门德尔松的小提琴协奏曲.
死后她的姐姐Hilary (1942-) 出版了传记 A Genius in the Family (1997) 改编🎬 Hilary and Jackie (1998), 唏嘘 动容
杜和巴都有婚外情 她和姐夫, 他和一俄罗斯犹太钢琴娃 孕二子 都在杜娃死前出世. 我看过他们的小儿子迈克尔的室内🎼 音乐会 – 没有惊艳 – a journeyman.

听一音乐爱好者说 当年他们的婚事在英国是满城风雨, 她可是英帝的女神…
时光荏苒 巴也熬到了爷爷的位置 是一位值得尊敬的音乐家.

有人提起小泽 我觉得不可比 (梅塔) 日本的古典音乐圈比印度大非常多. 人才济济 Midori, Mitsuko Uchida, etc.

 

 

Itzhak Perlman

This 51 seconds long video, titled Perlman, Mehta, Barenboim and du Pré Having Fun During a Rehearsal was posted in 2008, and resurfaced on Chinese Weixin recently, without Barenboim (perhaps due to 30 second restriction?)


Feb 28 2025

Where to retire to?

I saw these two lists on FB, for fun I’m sharing it below. Do you own diligence. I don’t know if Vietnam ($1,000/month) and Thailand ($650/month) differs this much.

15 Most expensive places to retire in 2025 

1. Monaco: $5,500+/mo
2. Bermuda: $5,000+/mo
3. Singapore: $4,800+/mo
4. New York City, USA: $4,500+/mo
5. Cayman Islands: $4,500+/mo
6. San Francisco, USA: $4,300+/mo
7. Switzerland: $4,200+/mo
8. Iceland: $4,100+/mo
9. Denmark: $4,000+/mo
10. Norway: $3,900+/mo
11. Honolulu, USA: $3,800+/mo
12. Australia: $3,800+/mo
13. United Kingdom: $3,700+/mo
14. Ireland: $3,600+/mo
15. Netherlands: $3,500+/mo

… and 12 cheapest countries for retirement in 2025:

  1. Portugal: $2,500/month
  2. Spain: $2,200/month
  3. France: $2,000/mo
  4. Greece: $1,500–$2,000/month
  5. Panama: $2,400/month
  6. Costa Rica: $2,500+/month
  7. Mexico: $1,000/month
  8. Colombia: $1,500/month
  9. Ecuador: $1,500/month
  10. Malaysia: $1,500/month
  11. Vietnam: $1,000/month
  12. Thailand: $650/month

 

 


Feb 27 2025

Mariscos Azteca Mexican


1100 N Tuttle Ave #8,
Sarasota, FL 34237

… more pix on Google Maps, Yelp & TA

Probably will return to Mariscos Azteca Mexican Seafood Restaurant

Hearty home cooked food. Tight door. The confetti (?) from the ceiling make the room looks like a kiddie party.

The west facing front has shades, which makes the small hall dark. But it maybe necessary: we sat at the last table facing the door. Every time the door opens I need to readjust my eyes.

Heavy-duty corn chips are good. Thin stem; steaming hot food. Good service. Large portion. We’ve:

  • Mariscada Azteca
  • Carne a la Mexicans

Both are steaming hot and yummy, and doggie bags.

Teppanyaki (?) makes the room smoky.

I also visited The small Latin Brother’s Market next and purchased their chicken flavor bouillon … why?  Pix here.

Off to The Barber of Seville.


Jan 12 2025

Naples, FL 那不勒斯


Florida

… more pix n videos on Google Maps

Another American city named after a much older city, of another country.

It’s on the west coast of Florida, on the Gulf of Mexico, 125 miles northwest of Miami. Population 19k.

Fifth Avenue South is their main street: filled with restaurants, shops, art galleries, cafes… The western end is on the Gulf of Mexico. Parking is very limited at the beach.

We stopped here for lunch because of Saigon to Paris, and Le Colonial on 5th Avenue S: I love both, especially Le Colonial .

There is an open house on 5th Ave S, one home away from the beach, asking $24m. A young woman who said she’s the greeter, doing the screening. I wondered, at this price range, shouldn’t it be a private sale instead?

In any case, I thought about Great Neck in New York:

  • Naples, 19k pop, 125 miles northwest of Miami.
  • Great Neck, 40k pop, 20 miles east of New York City … but couldn’t afford cafes, art galleries, antique shops and decent restaurants like Le Colonial … what’s wrong?!

 


Jan 11 2025

Gianni’s Restaurant


1116 Ocean Dr.
Miami Beach, FL 33139

… more pix n vid on Google Maps, Yelp & TA

Will return.

This Italian restaurant – Gianni’s At The Former Versace Mansion – in South Beach is most famous for it’s previous owner Gianni Versace (1946-97) who was rundown in 1997 by a serial killer. (M2)

Location: right on the South Beach‘s Ocean Drive.

Decor: beautiful pebbled mosaic tiles and walls

Service: really good

Food: delicious

We’re seated by the pool, which is swimmable for the hotel guests. Throughout our lunch, we’ve to share or witness other diners’ photop. One Chinese woman gets up four times: first was her husband taking photos of her, then her son. For Pete’s sake, how many photos do you need?

The restaurant offers set lunch menu at $38 each with multiple choices. We’ve

  • burrata
  • artichoke salad
  • salmon
  • branzino fillet
  • sherbert
  • fresh fruits

All are good, especially the fish.

Across the street, on the green, is the Photographs of WWII military in Miami Beach exhibition.


Jan 10 2025

Miami Beach botanical garden


2000 Convention Center Dr
Miami Beach, FL 33139

… more pix n videos on Google Maps, Yelp and TA

Neat, small and well maintained, opposite from the Convention Center and a block away from City Hall. No earth shattering flowers and greens but is a good place to stroll. It has bathrooms and recreation rooms for kids.

… then a cigarette smoke brought me back to
earth – a woman smokes openly: not a hint of apology.


Jan 9 2025

South Pointe Park


1 Washington Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33578

… more pix on Google Maps, Yelp, TA

This 17-acre urban park is the southern most tip of the South Beach, on Miami Beach Island. Whenever we visit Miami, we come here.

It reminds me of Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, in which they all face east to Atlantic Ocean, which has the pounding waves. (Miami is in the north and Rio’s in the south of Atlantic Ocean.) But a slight angle to the South, the body of water becomes calmer.

Bikers, walkers, joggers, kids, pets, beach, Smith & Wollensky, meter parking can be tough.

What are they doing?

The water is aqua blue or green: extremely clear and very beautiful.