And not just because of some big, bloated, overwrought sporting event that sucks up every molecule of media oxygen in the room like some gasping ex-smoker on a machine. There are other things to do this weekend besides the Super Bowl. I plan to go tonight to "Divertimento: An Evening's Concert With the Fresno State Music Faculty" (8 p.m., Fresno State Concert Hall). It's one of our "7 Things to Do" for the week:
You'll have the chance to listen to solo vocal performances as well as solo instrumental performances on flute, bassoon, horn, cello, percussion, tuba, piano and harpsichord. Special bonus: original works by Fresno State composers Benjamin Boone, Kenneth Froelich and Brad Hufft. The concert benefits music scholarships. Tickets are $20, $10 seniors/students.
You also have to hand it to the Fresno Community Concert Band, which every year this weekend tries a clever bit of counterprogramming. Conductor Robert Nielsen writes:
Rather than fight it, we celebrate Super Bowl Sunday by playing our Super Concerts on the Saturday (3 and 7 p.m., Fresno City College Theatre) before the big game! Join us for a concert of super music including "Chorale and Alleluia" by Howard Hanson, "A Little Concert Suite" by Alfred Reed and music representing the two Super Bowl teams!! Our featured soloist, Matthew Horton, will perform "Introduction and Capriccio" by John Barnes Chance and a special Leroy Anderson surprise. Admission is free, but you must have a ticket. Call 440-9429; Murphy Bank (Diane Esparza) 225-0225; or the Fresno City College box office, 442-8221.
On Saturday night: I'm up for the Fresno Grand Opera's Mario Lanza tribute concert, one of the hottest tickets in town. And what non-music event am I thinking of attending on Sunday itself when others are transfixed to the tube? Find out after the jump.
Is that the cutest gosh-darn face you've ever seen, or what? (Photo: Craig Kohlruss/The Bee.) My Beehive colleague Felicia wrote the 7 cover story about the Sun Maid Kennel Club dog show (8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Fresno Fairgrounds). The pug pictured above, by the way, is named John, and is owned by Shelley Buckley of Tollhouse.
Of course, during the second quarter of the Super Bowl itself, I shall be taking a break to participate in that amazing annual rite that only manifests itself to people who are not within 100 feet of a television during the Big Game. The heavens will open, a golden glow will cut through the clouds, and a feeling of serenity and peace will settle upon the select few. Riches will shower from the sky, various pearls of wisdom (and spot-on stock tips) will be trumpeted, brotherhood will reign and -- best of all -- we all will eat as much chocolate as we want without gaining any weight. Those who would rather be watching grown men tackle each other will not be able to experience this sliver of bliss on Earth, but dem's the breaks. More chocolate for us.
Yes, that is one of the cutest doggie-faces I've ever seen! And this weekend don't forget that Rabbit Hole - presented by Artists' Repertory Theatre - is continuing at the Severance Theater on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:00pm.
We're having a Fabulously Fabulous Superbowl party here, and watching "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" instead of the game. Just cause that's what us theater people would rather do. (And of course we'll probably watch the halftime show, and commercials after the movie.) :P
To Jeremy: Now THAT sounds like my kind of Super Bowl Party. (Are you off at college right now? Or was this a Fresno event?)
Donald: Yes I am off at college right now. AMDA LA. Going for my BFA in Musical Theater. And we ended up watching Connie and Carla, AND Priscilla (HOORAY!). We also made some AWESOME snacks. The people who were actually watching the game tried to get us to share our snacks, that's how good they were.. (no, we did not share.) Definitely the best superbowl so far though. We figured after all the respective parties we had to go to it was time for us to have our own kind of Superbowl. Next year boys will be dressed up as cheerleaders, and girls will be dressed up as football players.