"Belief + Doubt = Sanity", DC

At the Hirshhorn National Museum of Modern Art and that small figure at the far right is me. 

Nature's Art at the Brick Works, Toronto

I visited the Brick Works last spring for the first time. It is one of those moments that make you wonder, "Why have I not thought of coming here before?" It is an oasis in the middle of the city. Glad I saw it right before my move from my beloved Toronto. 

Beauty in Asymmetry, Singita Sabi Sand

What caught my attention about this setting was the beauty of the asymmetry created by the position of the vase contrasted with the exaggerated sense of 'horizontality' of the table top. At the background, there are two horizontal lines - the wooden column of the gazebo and the tree to the left. The proximity of the vase to the wooden column creates another layer of asymmetry in reference to these vertical lines.

There is something to be said about the vase on its own too. The minimalism of the design and its earthy color is most suitable to the whole setting  - sun, earth, wood, greenery, and distant sky - and its attractive qualities.

Most importantly, I was there to see it all with my own eyes. Every time I see the picture, I am pleasantly surprised how the memory of that afternoon I took the picture feels fresh. It was a warm, serene, afternoon under a bright sunshine.

Chekhov at the Tarragon

My country of origin, Ethiopia, was once part of the communist bloc and the USSR was a natural ally. In fact, there was and still is a Russian Center for Science and Culture in Addis Ababa, near Arada, the oldest center of the city. When I was in my late teens, my friend who was a major in literature at Addis Ababa University, introduced me to the center and its library, full of Russian literature. I immediately became a member and borrowed books, back to back. The first summer, all I did was read these books -- the entire season. Fyodor Dostoevsky, Leo Tolstoy, Ivan Turgenev, Anton Chekhov, Nikolai Gogol and a few others whose names I have forgotten since. The theme in most seemed to be misery and suffering. That, I truly disliked and was affected by but I kept reading, I don't know why!

Dostoevsky was a favorite; either my friend shared with me his literary grandeur or I naturally gravitated towards him, I don't recall. I read The Gambler, Crime and Punishment, Notes from Underground and I believe The Insulted and Humiliated as well. My memory is fuzzy on the last one, though. I deliberately did not want to read The Brothers Karamazov. I knew what the book was about. I was dealing with my own uncertainty about God and I made a decision not to exacerbate the guilt I was experiencing by getting ideas from it!  At the time, I also thought I wanted to write about my own experience, thoughts, and uncertainty and I didn't want it to be influenced by the book in any way. I still have not read it. The Idiot was his other book that I picked up at that time. I loved it ... the thing is I have not still finished reading it. It is an inexplicably mystery to me. Twice, I restarted it with the intent of finishing it. For some reason, I stopped somewhere half-way. I still don't know how the story ends. I also have the movie adaptation, which I still have not watched. The few times I tried, there were technology glitches. A Russian friend of mine told me the Toronto Public Library has the DVD and I kept postponing borrowing it!

The stage setting for "I take your hand in mine..." at the Tarragon Theatre

I read Anton Chekhov's compilation of short stories as well. If memory serves me correctly, I think his writing was lighter in tone than the other writers. Out of his many short stories, one stood out for me; the story whose titled I forgot but was about a civil servant who unknowingly sneezes on a superior. In any case, one morning in March, I tuned in to listen to The Sunday Edition on CBC Radio One and to my delight, the episode was about the writings of Anton Chekhov! It was an hour-long discussion with Chekhov experts. One of them was the director of a play about Chekhov entitled "I take your hand in mine...", which was playing at the Tarragon Theater in the Annex. I was not going to miss it.

On the Easter weekend, I invited my friend to go together and see the play at the Tarragon - we did and we even stayed for the Q & A. We told the director that we enjoyed the played. Credit should be given when it is due. I took the opportunity to ask him for the tile of the short story about the civil servant. It was: Death of a Civil Servant.

The Tarragon Theater, Toronto

On St. Patrick's Day

This is an Irish pub in Adams Morgan, DC. I took the photo in May 2015. As I was going through my files today, I saw this. It is only fitting.... Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

Balloons, Toronto

The Yogini's Den, Toronto

The Architect's Books, Brooklyn

Blue Note, New York

This is the amazing Rebirth Brass Band playing at the Blue Note in New York City, in the fall. I love jazz music and the spaces in which it is played.   

Glass Gallery and Studio, Kingston

Kingston Gallery and Studio is one of the cool places to check out in Kingston. I was only in the city for the day. Glad I made time to drop by. 

David Bowie at the AGO

I am saddened by the death of David Bowie. I was a fan and will always be. Two of my favorite songs, which I had been listening to a lot, coincidentally, before his death were "Tonight", a duet with Tina Turner, and "Under pressure" with Queen. 

On November 27, 2013 I saw an amazing exhibit at the AGO entitled "David Bowie Is". It ran throughout the fall and ended two days after I saw it. (I remember the day clearly because the next day, I fell of my bike and dislocated my shoulder. Read herefor who is to blame for that.) 

What I appreciated about him was not only his music but his personality. I love his being "out there". I believe it was who he was and that was why he pulled it off so well. When personalities are made-up, they don't make a lasting impression as his did. 

One of the so many items in the David Bowie Is exhibit was a sample of his wardrobe. Absolutely classy! 

I bought two postcards at the AGO when I visited the exhibit. I framed and hang one on my wall, along with my favorite jazz musicians. 

So glad I made the time to see the exhibit. 

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. 

A Petite Jazz Singer in Industrial Architecture, Toronto

This is the wonderful Dian Panton at the Long & McQuaid, Jazz FM 91.1. It was the station's Sept. 17, 2015 LTA (live- to-air). She sang some tunes from her new album, "I believe in Little Things". She was accompanied by Don Thompson on bass and Reg Schwager on guita; both very fine musicians.  

I took the picture from the mezzanine. I liked the contrast between the petite singer wearing a fancy dress and the industrial style of the architecture of the hall. Here is an article where I featured the architecture of the radio station.      

In Bird They Trust, Harlem

Streetbird Rotisserie, owned by the Ethiopian-born, celebrity chef, Marcus Samuelsson, is a hot spot in the gentrifying part of Harlem.  

Space and Productivity

I am a strong believer that the quality of your work space has a significant impact on your productivity. You need to create that corner, that spot in your house or office that gets you in the right mind set for high performance. Lighting, view, paint/color, your own sense of Feng Shui, and furniture have to be considered well to bring that effect. 

I saw this office/study furniture store in Little Italy, Manhattan. It looked cute from the outside and that was what drew my attention. I went in and explored the pieces of furniture they had; I liked the simplicity of the design and the lightness of the materials. As the name of the store says, they are Goods for the Study; but they are good for study as well. They would make a minimalist, bright, and comfy space. 

A Dancer on the A-train, Manhattan

A Clock and Birch Tree, Toronto

Two Stylish Men and a Vintage Store, Harlem

I was exploring Harlem on foot when I ran into these stylish men. I asked if I could take a picture; I told them it was for my blog. Even though I am mostly interested in taking pictures of buildings and other built structures, they caught my eyes. I found out they were brothers. Both equally stylish; one with a flamboyant sense of fashion and the other with an understated one.    

The one with a funky, pink hat invited me up to his clothing store on the second floor of the building, in front of which I met them. It was a delight to chat with him; his personality matches the flamboyance of his style. It was also fun to browse his store. He has great vintage and new items. In fact, one of my greatest fashion finds happened in it.   

Band on Wheels, Montreal

This is the West Trainz at the Montreal Jazz Festival, 2015. Fun.