If you read my other post, you know I am a Game of Thrones fan, so I had to get a ticket for the live concert experience. Ramin Djawadi is the composer of the show’s musical score, as well as other television shows, like Westworld. He is on tour performing music from the show with an orchestra. When I arrived, they had some of the costumes from the show on display. I was excited to see Daenerys’ blue dress, which I debated wearing for Halloween.
I particularly enjoyed the singer who did the vocals for the “Rains of Castamere,” and the head violinist…they both gave me chills when they performed! I loved how exotic instruments were incorporated to create distinctive sounds. Clips from the show were shown to highlight the different characters theme songs, and epic scenes like the “Battle of Bastards.” The stage moved, and thankfully, different musicians were rotated since my seats made it hard to see the other side. I still enjoyed the concert. The music was beautiful, along with the set…if you are a fan of the show, and enjoy the music, it is the perfect event for you to go see.
One thing I enjoy all year, is finding a new wine bar. I was invited to Vera, since a friend of mine went to high school with the owner. Vera is a Spanish wine bar that also specializes in sherry. I had the tempranillo, while another friend enjoyed sampling a few sherries. It is also the perfect place for sharing small plates with your friends. The food was delicious; we had a cheese plate, grilled octopus, chorizo, mushrooms, and the potatoes. We also shared the chocolate mousse, which was amazing! The exposed brick wall and the low lighting make for a cozy, intimate atmosphere. Wine, good food, and conversation are all reasons to get out of the house.
If you like 80s music, as I do, you’ll love a night out at Innjoy. You can relive all the great music of your childhood, or maybe you were lucky enough to have a great older sister like me who introduced you to New Wave (so for the record, my sister is one of the fortunate ones). I was invited to a birthday party on a cold night that would have kept most inside, but not me. I stopped by at the Argentinian restaurant Folklore, for a glass of malbec then headed across the street to dance. Billy Idol, Depeche Mode, and Cyndi Lauper are some of the artists they played when I went. I danced the night away with a fun group of ladies…we lost it when “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” came on… The DJ does love the ladies, and will play what you request if you ask nicely.
If you enjoy burlesque, or are curious, Untitled Supper Club has a show every Thursday night. Untitled also has a great lounge/bar area, and a speakeasy vibe since it is in a basement. It has a hidden away vibe. There are different rooms and areas you can sit in. Tamara de Lempicka’s art deco paintings are part of the décor…she is one of my favorite artists, so it was great to her work spotlighted. Look her up if you like art deco, …and artists with colorful lives..
I also enjoy the wine selection there as well (it’s common theme). The bar area is beautiful…love all the bottles… In the lounge they also show old movies, which I also enjoy since I am an old soul, and why it is my favorite part of Untitled…the comfy couches help too. The Hustler was playing when I was there. The burlesque show is in another room and is pretty risqué…I was glad to see a male dancer that rocked a pair of heels, along with the pole. I enjoyed the woman who performed with hula hoops…I was never good at it. Another dancer made interesting use of whip cream; I’ll let you utilize your imagination for that visual. After the show, it turns into a dance party. The performers do get into it by wearing great costumes.
For my last recommendation, I propose going out and volunteering. There are so many great organizations and places to take some initiative. Just pick a cause, and see what you can do to support it. I was inspired to do something since there is so much negativity and complaining on social media. One of my friends and I made a resolution to regularly volunteer this year. I enjoy packing food for Feed My Starving Children since they show you right after the session what your work has accomplished…and you are helping feed children around the world. They present you with how many boxes of food were packed, and how many children that will feed for a year. The organization believes that we must first help people with the basics: food and nutrition, before they can rebuild their lives. Lastly, volunteering helps put our own lives in perspective on basic things that we take for granted, and gets us off the couch.
The winter season does not mean having to stay in – there are plenty of things to do to feed your thirst for culture and great causes! And spring is almost here so there are more fun events coming up! Thank you for reading, an let me know if you have any suggestions and feedback. Let me know what you do to beat the winter blues.