Fall City Bistro!!

My second dinner at the Fall City Bistro was every bit as good as the first. It was crowded on a Thursday night. I hope people keep showing up after the novelty wears off.

Seattle Opera's Turandot

My seats are just off-center from front row, center, at the Seattle Opera and sometimes I air my personal critical comments about performances. A quick look at some of my previoue opera posts might shed some light on this. (Many years ago, for example, I was SO disappointed to see sopranos the size of barges portrayed as fifteen-year-old maidens. It was just too much to accept!) However, I went to Seattle Opera's Turandot last night (Wednesday, 8/8...my birthday) and was astounded!

This was the most wonderful performance I have ever seen at Seattle Opera. 

Palombi was just short of Pavarotti as Calaf. To me, the entire experience rests on one aria...Nessun Dorma. It was spectacular.

Liu (Grazia Doronzio) was...as good as it gets.

Lori Phillips as Turandot was wonderful.

The staging was magnificent.

The dancing was wonderful.

Asher Fisch is a wizard.

Every part played by every other performer was strong!

The chorus and all the extras would have been sufficient with no leading performers. (I just took my hat off to Beth Kirchoff.) Briefly, I was in the Seattle Opera chorus and I have seen the efforts required from her. It was truly...artistic perfection!

Okay...nothing is perfect. I have to dig REALLY deep though. Sometimes it seemed there were just too many people on stage (no big deal, really). Now...something completely stupid...it takes a while to adjust to watching Antonello Polombi singing from the side of his mouth. 

Many years ago (in the eighties, I think), Seattle Opera performed the same opera. This was long before I finally landed my front row seats. At that time, I was anxious to hear the tenor's Nessun Dorma and was completely let down. I could barely hear the guy. It was awful! 

Seattle Opera's Turandot was...was...perfect and I was blessed to have the opportunity to experience it.

Olympics basketball

What in the world ever happened to amateur athletes in the Olympics? It just turns my stomach to hear about the US Olympic basketball team. Either pros should be banned from some Olympic sports or basketball ( and a few others) should be eliminated. It's a freaking joke the way it is now! I don't watch these millionaire thugs play in the US league and I'll surely never watch them play in the Olympics! I will never buy any products they endorse and will never give them a penny of my own (hard-earned) money. I just want them to all...go away!

Fall City Bistro!

Okay...I had dinner at the new "Fall City Bistro". As I recall, the restaurant was "The Other Place", "The Fall City Grill" and "The Fall City Diner".

It was great! Go there! The food was wonderful and presented well. The employees were friendly and polite. The chefs (Sean and Jason) are outgoing, available for conversation and rightfully proud of this new establishment.

...Where was I?...Oh!...Pricing at the Fall City Bistro is reasonable and the menu selection is varied and should satisfy everyone's palate. It's my hope that all the old regulars (like Scotty) will return, along with an entirely new clientele.

For anyone looking for a positive change from the other dining choices in Fall City (or the entire Eastside), the "Fall City Bistro" is the place to settle in and savor from now on.

Added:

...There were a couple of minor glitches: The waitress forgot to bring the additional bread I requested and my friend's ribs came without (ever) the expected "Asian Slaw" which the menu listed. Of course, it's a learning experience for all and it's nice to see there are numerous locals included on the staff. I've enjoyed having Arturo as my waiter for several years and the waitress we had at the "Fall City Bistro" last night was just as pleasant! I think these people (Sean, Jason etc.) know what they're doing. It's REALLY refreshing!

Please note: The three pictures included were taken at our table with a phone-cam. Even though they may look wonderful...the most wondrous part was in the eating!

...Somehow, I'm not able to directly repy to comments...so...Thanks for the comment, Gene. Everyone I've spoken to about the new Fall City Bistro is enthused! We're happy to have them here and maybe all you "city folk" might make the trip all the way out here now that we have a wonderful place to dine. Maybe...float the river or view the falls...then go to see Sean, eh?