Vacation

In Virginia visiting my buddy Matt. It's great to get out of Chicago and away from work. A must needed break. We went for a beautiful and somewhat strenuous hike today in Shenandoah NP, had a great meal after, and are doing a couple shows tonight and tomorrow at Matt's theater. Wonderful to get some sun too after the bleak pseudo spring in Chicago.

James River Hike

Went for a hike along the James River with Matt. Beautiful day and rich greenery.

Graffiti 201

In Richmond for a couple days on vacation visiting my friend Matt. I love this city- great friends, food, and scenery.

"Watching television is like taking black spray paint to your third eye." -Bill Hicks

"I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning." -J. B. Priestley

"Obsessed by a fairy tale, we spend our lives searching for a magic door and a lost kingdom of peace." -Eugene O'Neill

"Disbelief in magic can force a poor soul into believing in government and business." -Tom Robbins

Murals 3

Have been feeling a bit uninspired recently. I've been really busy but feel a bit worn down. Lots going on, not a lot of time to soak things up, just on the go all the time. These are a couple more murals from Nicole and I's Richmond visit back in April.

Big Bad Wolf.

Matt told us the writing on this mural is all stories of people who were helped by strangers.

Pride of Panthers.

"How much art can you take?"

Graffiti 123: Richmond

"Art is parasitic on life, just as criticism is parasitic on art." -Harry S. Truman

"When you see me smash somebody's skull, you enjoy it." -Tyson

"Faith is a knowledge within the heart, beyond the reach of proof." -Khalil Gibran

"I usually start writing a novel that I then abandon. When I say abandon, I don't think any writer ever abandons anything that they regard as even a half-good sentence. So you recycle. I mean, I can hang on to a sentence for several years and then put it into a book that's completely different from the one it started in." -Kate Atkinson

"Fantasy has had some problems with being too repetitive, in my opinion. I try to read what other people are doing - and say, 'How can I add to this rather than just recycle it? How can I stand on Tolkien's shoulders rather than stand tied to his kneecaps?'" -Brandon Sanderson

Murals 2

One of my favorite things about visiting Richmond is seeing all the new murals that pop up. In 2012 there was some city wide mural initiative and because of the success and positive response from it they just kept making them.

Matt took us to an abandoned bus depot which they rehabed and covered with art, turned it into an urban playground. Unfortunately it was closed because the security guard got mugged a couple months ago but we could see pretty well from the fence.

A lot of the images are somewhat challenging or aggressive. It certainly speaks to the open mindedness of the city and its appreciation for art.

Killer panda. Evidently there's a series of them around town but this is the only one we saw.

This is probably my favorite one from this go around. Weird bear worship/sacrifice by skull masked druids.

Robot snakes.

Rain paint.

Sad vampire.

The artist who did this wizard also did the mural in the Coalition Theatre.

This is an old mural from before the cities big push for them. Murals and building art can really bring a city to life. Make it more welcoming and warm. Create another dimension. With all the blank walls in Chicago it is my dream that we will one day wise up and follow suit. Slap some paint on all those gray buildings. Breathe some new life into the windy city.

Crab Cakes And Maymont

Matt took us to brunch at "The Boathouse" a nice restaurant situated right on the river with glass walls. No bad view. Nicole and I both had the crab cake Benedict which was delicious. Whenever I'm visiting Matt I order crab cakes in whatever incarnation. Matt got the biscuits and gravy, he was shorted a biscuit and a ladle full of gravy. Nicole and I walked away very satisfied, Matt did not. 

Matt had a rehearsal to coach so Nicole and I walked around Maymont park. I had been there the first time I visited Matt back in 2009 but didn't remember much.

It's substantially more romantic when you go with your lovely girlfriend as opposed to alone.

The growth and the sun put us both in a fantastic mood. I never thought the winter bothered me much, but just seeing green things and feeling such a jolt of happiness it made me realize how stark the past months have been.

More blossoms.

There's this scene from Last Samurai where Ken Watanabe is contemplating the beauty of all the blossoming trees and searching for the perfect one.

Towards the end when he's dying he says "They're all perfect."

It's wonderful being here with Nicole: her meeting Matt and Katie and her showing me stuff from her time at VCU. It's our first vacation together, our first real challenge, and so far it's been easy and fun and relaxing. We're sharing this experience and that feels very cool. The next leg of the trip were heading to Warrenton where Nicole grew up to stay with her best friend Amanda.

Virginia Vacation

Nicole and I got up in the dark hours of the morning to catch a plane to Richmond for a week long vacation. She slept on the plane. I did not.

Matt picked us up from the airport and after cleaning and coffeeing up we, along with Matt's lovely wife Katie, went on a walk around Belle Isle.

The James River was particularly high from all the melted snow and rain. After such a brutal and bracing Chicago winter Richmond at the beginning of spring was heavenly. A soothing balm.

The first of many pictures of blossoming trees.

Dogwood. An under appreciated plant.

After our walk we all took a much needed and well deserved nap before heading over to the Coalition Theater for some shows.

It's always so wonderful to play with Matt and as an added bonus some of my relatives surprised me with coming to the show. The first set was just Matt and I at 8. I felt a bit off, I was censoring myself and at points arguing with Matt in an effort to drive the comedy, but even so it was fun and we had some fun bits. The second show I joined Matt and Pijor. That show really felt great. We came out of the gates hot and went like a rocket. We were all out of breath at points and satisfyingly sweaty at the end. Come to find out in Virginia they call the state high school sports competition "States". At one point we were doing a football locker room scene and they were chanting "States!" and I was chanting "State!" I just thought there was some rhythmic problem until Katie pointed it out after.

It's wonderful to be out of the city. I haven't been out of Chicago for more the four days in four years. Everything moves a bit slower here. And it's warm.

The Coalition Theater

Tonight the Coalition Theater opened its doors for the first time and it was an incredible evening. Matt and I were in the space all day getting everything ready for visitors. If I didn't know before I realized in this visit that Matt is a perfectionist. Opening a theater is kind of like a wedding, there's so many little details that need attention that you would never have thought off. The audience was packed and full of the RCC's friends and family. I was fortune to play with Middle Management- Matt, Katie, and David's three person show, the founders of the theater. We had a great set and it was such a joy and a privilege to play on that stage during the first show.

Two more RCC teams played after us and all in all it was a great night of improv. There was such a sense of fun in the room and watching the show I felt a part of this wonderful opportunity, this great potential. I can't wait for the theater to be open to the public and for them to start doing weekly shows. There's no telling where they'll go from there.

Matt's wife Katie prepared a wonderful spread for the occasion. I skipped dinner because we were doing last minute preparation so I feasted on cheese, crackers, and fruit. Delicious.

When Matt left Chicago in 2009 we talked a lot about what he would do in Richmond with improv.

Matt: Well, I think, I can do everything there I want to do here but I can do it faster in Richmond. I want to coach, I want to teach, and at some point, the big dream, is to open an improv theater.

After four years he did it and I couldn't be more proud of his accomplishment or more grateful for his friendship.