Our visit started and ended at Paro, home of the international airport and important cultural and religious sites. Most travelers climb to Taktsang Monastery, perched precariously on a cliff about 2,500 feet above the valley floor, which lies at about 8,000 feet. At the start of the trail, vendors sold bamboo sticks, a real aid for the relentless switchbacks. It was a cool March day, ideal for walking. I found an easy rhythm along the wooded path, occasionally getting glimpses of the white tiny structures above. Prayer flags brightened the way, and hikers paused at “Guru Rinpoche’s footprints,” huge, vaguely sole-shaped indentations in boulders. Our group divided into three sets of walkers. I was in the last, and got to the teahouse lookout, about two-thirds of the way, where I sat under flaming rhododendrons drinking the delicious golden tea of Bhutan. I probably could have moved on farther, but our trip leader, an Englishman living in Paris, shared his Buddhist wisdom: “Enough is enough.”.
The result was the collective’s strikingly powerful self-titled release, which came out in 1997 and introduced many listeners around the world to the pleasures of bolero, danzon and other popular musical styles in Cuba, Two years later, the Wim Wenders-directed documentary of the recording process — also dubbed “Buena Vista Social Club” — was released and went on to score an Oscar nomination for best documentary film, I truly loved seeing a number of the Buena Vista Social Club members perform over the years — especially vocalists kundan golden handmade embroidered leather ballet flats -- kundan juttis /mojari Ibrahim Ferrer and Omara Portuondo, both of whom left me simply awestruck..
Small opera companies made their marks — Alameda’s Island City Opera staged an aptly hilarious “Don Pasquale.” Regional orchestras — Symphony Silicon Valley, and the Oakland, Berkeley,and California symphony orchestras — offered winning programs, and Bay Area chamber groups — the St. Lawrence Quartet, Left Coast Chamber Ensemble and Gold Coast Chamber Players among them — explored intriguing repertoire. There were great collaborations, too — in March, the New Century Chamber Orchestra teamed up with Chanticleer in a program of French and American works; Symphony Silicon Valley brought the Moscow Ballet to town for this month’s “Nutcracker.” There were many more, but here are five events that lingered in the memory long after the curtain went down.
Free snacks, cookies, coffee and refreshments will be served, A donation of $10 ($5 for students) is requested for entry, “Orchestra of Time”will be on display through Aug, 1, The exhibit features pieces by Bay Area artists Erik Bender, Jeslyn Cantrell, Tim Hancock, James Jarett and Deni Kending, Paintings, sculpture, wood block prints and a mural will be on display, Gallery hours kundan golden handmade embroidered leather ballet flats -- kundan juttis /mojari are 11 a.m, to 6 p.m, Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday; 11 a.m, to 8 p.m, Friday; and 11 a.m, to 4 p.m, Sunday, The gallery is located at 50 Lafayette Circle in Lafayette..
Deadline for artist entires is 11:59 a.m. Sept. 1, and artists will be notified Sept. 15. For more information, contact Walnut Creek Downtown at 925-933-6778 or visit www.walnutcreekdowntown.com. Lafayette gallery seeks two member artists. The Lafayette Art Gallery has openings for two new member artists. All members of the co-op gallery are juried in, and share staffing and expenses. For more information or to apply, stop by the gallery at 3420 Mt. Diablo Blvd., call 925-284-2788, or go to the website at www.Lafayetteartgallery.com.
