A Wicked Birthday

For my birthday, we went on a sweet trip to Salt Lake and had dinner at Benihana's (conveniently right by the theatre...) and then went to Wicked, the musical. Oh, it was so good.

Dinner was like a pre-show show. Its a Japanese steakhouse, and you sit around a huge grill that the chef cooks your food on right in front of you. The chef was doing all kinds of tricks... juggling his spatulas and throwing shrimp tails around. We were sitting with a family with 3 kids under ten, and I think I was more entertained than they were...

Though... as Brent and I learned, the family were definitely regulars to Benihana's (and the guy paid with a $100 bill! whoa. You can see the Dad there in the background of the chef photo). When our chef came to the table, flipping his knives and such, the Dad was like, "Steve! I thought you were off on vacation today!"

Seriously, they like Benihana's and they didn't mess. Ha.

But the food was delicious.

And, Wicked was also fabulous. Good talent, cool scenery, great stuff.

And just take a small look at how dashing Brent looks :)

The Movies

There's a ballet documentary out called First Position. Oh, its good. It follows a few dancers through the Youth American Grand Prix, an American ballet competition. It only came out in a few movie theaters and for only a few days (I just missed it when it came to Salt Lake, gah).

But, I was able to rent it (for a whopping $6.99) on Amazon Prime Instant video, and I seriously was on the edge of my bed! Two of the dancers the movie follows quit regular school and started home school to continue their dancing. Another is from Colombia, and at 17 or 18 is living in Brooklyn away from his family to pursue his career. It is nutty to watch it, dancers are so kooky, and yet fascinating. They obsess and are perfectionists, but they have to be, if they want to be a professional dancer.

Here's the trailer...

DIY

I am so curious to try out these do-it-yourself wall art pieces. They seem easy... though they never are. Ha. But the one above (supposedly anyways :) is framed wallpaper. And instead of a large expensive frame, the person just used trim molding. Simple genius.

And this one... one of those black rubber outside door mats. Its spray painted white, and then sanded for that (ever elusive...) 'rustic' look. 

That stuff looks good. And, yes, I did find these ideas on pinterest

Cabis

I saw this fascinating photo gallery called "Just Here's Fine" (by Victoria Hannan) that documents the life of London taxi drivers. What a rough life.