Ester Rada at the Revival, Toronto

This is the talented and beautiful Ethiopian-Israeli singer Ester Rada. She performed to a full-house at the Revival in Toronto as part of the Small World Music Festival in September. 

These are some of her men; the band is an ensemble of great musicians. They played a lot of funky, jazzy grooves influenced by Ethiopian music. 

They played an upbeat-er version of the upbeat "Nanu ney", a very popular Ethiopian song by Muluken Melesse, to which I grew up listening. The cherry on top! 

Rain, Rain Please Go Away!, Brooklyn

I took this photo in Brooklyn, this last Saturday. The weather had been awful for a few days by then. That particular day was the worst for me. I wanted to walk around in Park Slope, one of my favorite neighborhoods in Brooklyn, and visit the Forte Green Flea Market. With all the rain and wind, the Market was cancelled - what a disappointment! So I absolutely can relate with the cute sentiment on the signboard. 

Rain, rain go away! I want to enjoy my urban stroll!

I still went ahead with my stroll ... courtesy of my full-length raincoat and my low-maintenance hair that doesn't mind rain.