Where Have Peter and Renee Gone?

The Date Night Diaries has been shut down for a while. It's not that we haven't been having date nights, although we've been waylaid by travel, illness and work. Plus, the camera is not always available these days being the most popular camera in the house. In the past months we've seen a few movies and had a few dinners.


In June both of us planned date nights around art fairs in the city. I chose the one in Hyde Park on the UofC campus. I remember the sky threatened rain the whole time, but it didn't come down until we were in a restaurant. Peter had never been to that part of town. We found the art interesting and fun to look at, but there really wasn't anything we had to take home with us.

The following weekend Peter chose the Wells Street art fair. This one felt much more like a street party for the hot and beautiful of Chicago. Very crowded. The art was not at the same level as the other one. We noticed that the photography booths were very similar giving rise to suspicion of inauthenticity. Kind of takes the magic out of an art fair. I mean, you expect everything to be original. But we had a good meal at an Italian restaurant along the street and some much needed conversation.

Last weekend, after 3 weeks of no date night, I took Peter downtown to Navy Pier to see a free spectacle in the night put on by a French performance art company. The group suspended themselves in the air and played bells and drums. it was magical. We also walked from Peter's work building all the way to Navy Pier along the river for the first time and made all sorts of new discoveries. The evening was perfect weather wise, perfect.

So we are kind of caught up. Emma has the camera with her in California for two weeks, but I do have one photo we took after one of the art fairs. When we got home, I had us take this picture trying to get Peter's beloved garden in the background....

So Glad I Can Still Surprise You!

The challenge of being married and in love with a clairvoyant!

Really fun night...there's more below from another blogger that gives even more detail on the concert. Flat out hilarious.

Felt a bit odd being back at Navy Pier, especially without the kids or out-of-town visitors. Good reminder that the views and experience can still be wonderful.

The truth is that it doesn't matter where we do our date nights. Every one of them is a wonderful opportunity to slow down time and reconnect. An oasis at the end of turbulent weeks!

Written by a Wash Post blogger…



D.C. Entertainment Dispatches | About This Blog

U2 3D: Even Better Than the Real Thing

I am a major U2 fan and an unabashed admirer of Bono. But I will try to bring a measure of restraint to my assessment of "U2 3D," which opened yesterday at the Samuel C. Johnson Imax Theater at the Natural History Museum.

"U2 3D" IS THE MOST AWESOME THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE EVER!!

Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a little. But there is no question that it is technically amazing and unlike any concert film you have ever seen. Desson Thomson already filed a review in yesterday's Post, so today I bring you, in no particular order, a rundown of the thoughts I had while viewing "U2 3D."

"These 3D glasses do not look like Bono's Fly specs. This is disappointing. On the plus side, they are less goofy than the lime-green ones I got at 'Chicken Little 3D.'"

"The movie is starting. Holy crap, the opening titles are in super-3D! Is it possible to get poked in the eye by a font? Because I think it just happened."

"This screen is 66-feet-tall. I can still tell that Bono is short."

"Woah!! Bono is, like, in my face. And I don't just mean metaphorically in my face because he's always yapping about social issues. The man appears to be inches from the end of my nose, singing about a place called 'Vertigo.'"

"Okay, this movie is officially 800 times better than 'Chicken Little 3D.'"

"I have decided to refer to the in-my-face Bono as Hologram Bono. I expect that at some point during the movie he will say: 'Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope.'"

"This 3D thing is unbelievable and I am in the mid- to lower- section of the theater. If I were in the front row, I could see through time."

"I can clearly read the pensive expression on Edge's face. Wonder what he's thinking about ... oh, no need to wonder. Thanks to the 3D, I can see through his skull cap and into his brain. Just as I suspected: 'Man, how come Bono never invites me to go to Africa?'"

"That dude four people back from the edge of the stage? I think he has the same cell phone I do."

"The sound quality is excellent. But I wouldn't mind if they cranked it a teeny bit louder. 'Cloverfield' must have permanently damaged my hearing."

"They're doing 'Sunday Bloody Sunday.' And Hologram Bono is not only in my face, he is looking right into my eyes. 'Wipe your tears away.' He is reaching toward my cheek. 'Wipe your tears away,' he sings again. My eyes are notably dry. I feel I have let down Hologram Bono."

"I always wondered what Larry Mullen Jr. keeps next to his drum kit. Now I know: A box of Kleenex and what appears to be a glass of Orangeade."

"Now that I can so clearly see Edge's chord changes, I am going to study what he does so that I can get better at 'Guitar Hero III' ... ah, who am I kidding? I still won't be able to make it through the most basic version of 'Hit Me With Your Best Shot.'"

"Wow, this is an amazing view of Bono singing 'Miss Sarajevo' to the crowd. Does this guy have the best job in the world or what? He comes to work and sings about beauty queens while looking out at a sea of glowing cell phones, all of them twinkling like distant stars. I mean, it may not be as good as being a Going Out Guru. But it's up there."

"It's official: 'Where the Streets Have No Name' is the greatest live song of all time. Okay, 'Born to Run' is a close second. But nothing -- NOTHING -- is better than that slow build in the beginning, then watching the entire crowd bounce in 3D."

"Oh no, I think the movie is almost over. This can't be happening. If I slip Adam Clayton a $20, would they do 'I Will Follow'? How about $50 for 'A Sort of Homecoming'? I really could slip him something. His pocket is RIGHT THERE."

"People in the theater are leaving. Idiots. Even the closing credits are worth watching. Note to self: Come see this movie again. Immediately."

Date Night Diaries Goes 3D

Saturday night in Chicago in the winter. Not always an inviting prospect. But this past Saturday it worked. Peter was sure I knew exactly what we were going to do, but I didn't. So he totally surprised me when he turned off Lake Shore Drive and headed for Navy Pier.

We haven't been to Navy Pier in so long. Our kids are teens and tweens now. It used to be the great playground for them, but now that they are older and busy with school, those spontaneous trips to Navy Pier have ended.

But Saturday night, it was our turn.

Peter took me to Riva, the lovely restaurant at Navy Pier overlooking the lake. We had a good meal, and nice conversation, and our waiter had no sense of humor, always incentive for Peter to change that around. I did notice, though, that the waiter seemed to be enjoying the attention under the attitude.

After dinner, we had tickets to see the IMAX 3D U2 Concert! Very fun! We wore our oversized glasses. The place was packed to the ceiling, A 3D concert is the way to go. You get the experience of being at the concert -- in fact you are right onstage with the band! -- and you get the comfort of a seat. You also get to see Bono's big fat arse! I loved the medium. I would see a 3D concert any time.

So, good stuff. Thanks, Peter. See, you can and often do surprise me!