Fresno Community Chorus

Fresno Community Chorus presented two concerts over the weekend that were entitled, "The Legacy of Leipzig." It was an honor to be able to sing with this choir because the director, Anna Hamre, let me join halfway through the season.

Can you find me in the big mass of people?

Here's a closeup:

The concert included the following works:

Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten, J.S. Bach

Der Herr segne euch, J.S. Bach

Lobe den Herren, Huge Distler

Machet die Tore Weit, Andreas Hammerschmidt

Richte Mich, Gott, Felix Mendelssohn

Laudate Jehovam, omnes gentes, Georg Telemann

Victimae Paschali laudes, Gregorian Chant

Christ lag in Todesbanden, Johann Walther

Christ lag in Todesbanden, Johann Schein

Christ lag in Todesbanden, J.S. Bach

Der Geist hilft, J.S. Bach

Magnificat in D Major, J.S. Bach

La la la la la!

Yosemite - Mist Trail

Last weekend, Michael and I made the 45 mile drive north to hike the Mist Trail... Yosemite's signature and most popular hike. The Mist Trail has fabulous views scattered all along it, beginning at the bridge overlook, progressing to two unforgettable waterfalls that fall a combined total of more than 900 feet (270 meters), and ending with perhaps the most striking of all: the view of Nevada Falls, Liberty Cap, and the back of Half Dome.

We stopped about a mile into the trail just past the bridge that passes over the Merced River (see above picture) for a picnic lunch... PBJs, fruit, and chips.

The pictures below show Vernal Falls and our very misty and slippery hike up to the top. Michael decided to go shirtless (ooo baby!) since we basically got rained on by the waterfall for a good 20 minutes! It's called Mist Trail for a reason...

What a specatular view from the top of Vernal Falls!

After another quick break, we continued on to climb to the top of Nevada Falls.

After climbing 1.5 miles up steep stairs carved out of the rock (my knees still hate me, btw), we finally made it to the top of Nevada Falls and were rewarded with another awe-inspiring sight. My pictures do not do it justice... Josh, you should have come with us!

 

Forestiere Underground Gardens

The description below comes from the official Forestiere Underground Gardens website... it describes the history much more eloquently than I can!

The Underground Gardens are the life-long devotion and hobby of Baldassare Forestiere (1879-1946), a Sicilian immigrant who came to America in 1901 to escape the iron rule of his wealthy father and pursue his own dreams. The Gardens are a subterranean complex of patios, grottos, and garden courts interconnecting with passageways that encircle the living quarters of the self-taught artist and builder who sought to escape the brutal heat of Fresno summers.

Forestiere patterned his underground world after the ancient catacombs, which he so admired as a boy. Arches and passageways dominate the underground landscape while the stonework provides stability and beauty.  But unlike the dark catacombs that protected the remnants of the lifeless, Forestiere designed well-lit courtyards and grottos to bring forth the radiance and vitality of life.

No plans were put on paper; each room and passageway originated in Forestiere’s mind as he worked.  With the simple  tools of a farmer—a pick, a shovel, and a wheelbarrow—the young immigrant dug, chipped, and carved the unforgiving hardpan land for 40 years (1906-1946) in his spare time.  By the time he was 44 years-old, he had excavated and planted over 10 acres.

But the humble immigrant’s genius did not stop there.  Incredibly, Forestiere planted multiple varieties of fruit-bearing plants at different underground levels.  Oranges, lemons, grapefruits—many on a single tree—as well as more unusual varieties like kumquat, loquat, jujube, strawberry, quince, and dates could be easily plucked from the surface by simply bending down.  Wine and table grapes also grace this sanctuary, and dangle lusciously in great clumps everywhere---truly an oasis in a modern-day desert of pavement.

Springtini

A few weeks ago, some of our friends from Habanos recommended that we attend a festival called Springtini. It took place on Saturday April 18th at the Riverview Shopping Center from 6pm to 10pm. While we did enjoy ourselves, I doubt we'll go again. Tickets were a whopping $25 each and came with 5 drink tickets. A variety of restaurants from around the city were present and were serving their best martini and appetizers.

So, I know what you're thinking... $5 per martini really isn't all that expensive when compared to a typical restaurant style martini price. However, check out the picture below. The size of our martini glasses that we carried around were equivalent to a shot glass.

The festival also included live music and a fashion show. And lots of drunk people. And a Miller Bus, which was our favorite part of the entire evening.



Falltini... we probably wont be attending.



Shinzen Japanese Gardens

Hello again!

Remember the post about a month ago that talked about our failed attempt to get into the Japanese Gardens? Well, we finally succeeded! And what an amazing place we discovered!

The Shinzen Garden is a beautiful and serene 5 acred Friendship Garden located within Woodward Park adjacent to Freeway 41. Back in 1967 when the park was being developed, the idea was proposed to create a Japanese garden complete with stone lanterns and a teahouse to be dedicated to Fresno's Sister City Kochi, Japan, as a symbol of friendship and international brotherhood, and for the promotion of cultural relations between the two cities. It has grown and expanded throughout the years and is now a main tourist attraction in the Central Valley.

I felt slightly discriminated against when Michael and I had to pay $3 each, rather than the $5 family price. If we had some little rugrats running around, it would have been cheaper. I guess being married doesn't make you a family, according to Fresno. Makes no sense to me!



 

After walking around the gardens, we sat on some rocks by the lake and read our books. Quite a relaxing and serene afernoon :)