Ang Lee won an Academy Award last Sunday for directing Life of Pi. If you’re in need of a little inspiration this morning, my Staten Island-dwelling friend Pam passed along this note about Lee’s journey to that award, the gap of six years between the time he graduated from NYU (go, purple violet bobcat torches!) alongside rising star Spike Lee and when he received funding for his first feature. It’s not too cheesy. Just read it.
Tonight, for those looking to hang around Oak Cliff, singer/songwriter Mike Doughty has a show at the Kessler Theater. Do I mention this because I first heard his music on the greatest television show of all time, Veronica Mars? Absolutely. I’ll always love him for soundtracking season two’s most adorable, heart-wrenching moment, and there’s nothing I’d like more than to hear “I Hear the Bells” live. However, objectively speaking, the guy is good. And if case you didn’t know, the food at Ten Bells Tavern is pretty darn good. I’d grab a snack and drinks there before or after.
Other musical fun includes an out-of-ordinary live set at The Dram, a place generally known for DJs rather than drummers. However, my good pal Jonathan Merla, exceptionally talented percussionist that he is, will be there this evening with the Danny Church Band. You might have seen them this past weekend at The Pin Show in West Dallas. They’re also the band behind the Stoneleigh Hotel’s swanky Thursdays at the Penthouse parties. My point is, the Danny Church Band is awesome, and there’s not much they can’t do—funk, soul, jazz, R&B. It’ll be a good night, and you should drop by if you can. Things get started around 9 p.m.
Finally, if you have an extra $120 tucked up for a bright sunny day and good cause, there’s the YWCA’s annnual Sip and Savor fundraiser that Carol mentioned a couple days ago. Your reward is expertly prepared food paired with expertly selected wine from the dynamic duo of chef Sharon Hage and Barbara Werley, master sommelier and wine director for Pappas Bros. Steakhouses. These two did last year’s event, as well. I happen to know there a few seats left, so get to it.
For more to do tonight, including a crazy-sounding five-person production Taming of the Shrew out at Stage West, go here.
