Pop goes the Orchestra! (Or maybe pops).
Mood:  lyrical
Now Playing: USC Performing Arts Center
Topic: Beaufort Orchestra
The Beaufort Orchestra did it again! In case you haven’t been keeping score, they just keep getting better. Last night’s performance was genuinely delightful. In the period of 15 months that this reporter has witnessed, the orchestra has improved its technical prowess, its tonality and its dynamic range. That means it sounds good, as Sam Goldwyn might say.

How many times have you attended a world premiere? I have managed a grand total of one in over 60 years of trying. Last night proved the clincher as the orchestra under the baton of Fred Devyatkin presented Dick Goodwin’s Sea Island Sketches. This suite in four movements said it all, even though this listener expected the third movement, Island Soirees, to be a bit more mystical. Dick Goodwin is professor emeritus at USC The suite was preceded by his Paraph for Clarinet and Orchestra played by his longtime friend and fellow professor, Doug Graham. Graham’s mastery of his instrument was obvious by the third measure.

The other selection prior to intermission was Copland’s Variations on a Shaker Melody (Simple Gifts) from the suite Appalachian Spring. I had the opportunity to hear Aaron Copland on the occasion of his eightieth birthday concert at the Kennedy Center . He performed as one of the pianists in the four-handed Danzon Cubano which he wrote in 1942, the same year he wrote Rodeo (Ballet), A Lincoln Portrait, Fanfare for the Common Man, and Music for the Movies. Copland provided the link to the second half of the performance. The Danzon, like Heitor Villa-Lobos’ Batuque, reminded of Glenn Gould’s Latin American Symphonette. At this point it truly became a pops concert with selections from the mega-hit Les Miserables and the popular Disney film, Pirates of the Carribean.

Being Julia
Mood:  happy
Topic: Movie choices

Tale of amorous folly and revenge set in the world of the London stage in the late 1930's. Reigning diva Julia Lambert's success and fame grow suddenly wearisome. She falls head over heels for a young American, Tom, and begins a passionate May - December affair. When she realizes that Tom is just a young social climber whose real passion is ambitious young starlet Avice Crichton, Julia begins to plot a delightful revenge.Although Julia is at least as shallow as any actor in history, she does have ability and imagination, which she uses to rewrite her role on the fly, with comic results.

Washington Wonders
Mood:  energetic
Now Playing: Better than ever
Topic: Sports Page
Some guy throws out the first pitch for the Washington Nationals in their first home game. Who was that guy? Anyway he had a big script "W" on his hat, so he must have been a Nats fan. People kept calling him "W", and treating him like the President. Must be President of the Nats fan club. Makes sense.

In a nice touch, the first players to represent Washington in 34 years, trotted out to take their places in the field. There to greet them were the last nine officeholders at their respective positions... who then handed them their gloves. Not a dry eye in the joint. When we last left our team they were laboring away in Montreal as the Expos, and were expected to hold down last place in the National League. Apparently, they didn't get the memo, since they've been playing like Nationals was their last name. On Monday, they went into a night game against the Forida Marlins with a one and a half game lead over the Atlanta Braves in the NL East. Way to go, Nats!

Christo at Dataw?
Mood:  mischievious
Now Playing: Tie a Green and Pink Ribbon 'round the Old Oak Tree.
Topic: Dataw Happenings
If you live long enough, you'll see it all. So members of the Dataw Island Visual Arts Club let it all hang out at Cotton Dike #6 today, with a preview of tonite's grand illumination. Come gambol among the Tiki torches as the VAC unveils, um, make that veils the old live oak tree... no, wait... make that the dead live oak tree at 7:00pm.

For a chance to meet the artists and their various renditions of this event in photos, watercolor, oil, etc., come to the community center between 5:00pm and 7:00pm this evening. Complimentary wine is due to make an appearance.

Whine 411
Mood:  caffeinated
Now Playing: Sideways, at Lady's Island
Topic: Movie choices
This movie begins with the protagonist suffering from the wrath of grapes, and lurches mostly forward for a painful and protracted interlude. Miles Raymond (Paul Giamatti), who spends his days teaching middle school English, (and his nights drinking top quality wine) links up with his buddy Jack (Thomas Haden Church), who plays an actor in real life, to stage a pre-nuptial road trip in California's Santa Ynez Valley. That's wine country, son. Red gold. Sometimes Gold gold. This show is one more reason to feel sorry for Californians. I mean all that good stuff they have and nobody smiles unless they get paid to do so.

An oenophile loves wine... really loves wine. But our boy loves it ju-ust a little too much. Slow-starting and long on the set-up the story finally hits its stride during a well-acted and well-edited restaurant scene, in which oenophile meets oenophess and budding horticulturist Maya (Virginia Madsen). Meanwhile, Jack is sidetracked by Stephanie (Sandra Oh), a motorcyle-riding, helmet-swinging, very modern woman.

Jack turns the week into an extended panty raid, while Miles, the neediest character in western literature, awaits the fate of his great american novel, the two-volume set of which makes War and Peace look like a pamphlet. Miles and Maya are about the only cast members to keep their clothes on for much of the film's duration. If you are keeping score, Jack loses Stephanie, Cammie (Missy Doty), his wallet, his clothes and nearly his nose, but gains his Armenian intended. Miles loses the book contract, his, uh... geez, I guess that was his car... but as the lady or the tiger ending implies, may gain entry to the Mayan form of civilization. After all that: recommended. Guess we can stop moaning about the dearth of thinking movies for another week.

Thinking Outside the Bachs
Mood:  lyrical
Now Playing: Music at Moss Place
Topic: Beaufort Orchestra
The future of the Beaufort Orchestra was on display last night at Moss Place in Old Point and the future is looking (and sounding) good. In a salute to the weather, the string section Handeled the Royal Fireworks Music to the delight of the assembled.

The Marine Corps Brass section of this year's edition of Beaufort Orchestra led things off with a mini concert on the porch of the Edgar Means house now known as Moss Place. They were followed by the violins and cellos of the Beaufort Youth Orchestra. Among the works played by the kids was an original composition of Hugh Waldon, cellist. Hugh's work showed a musical maturity well beyond his 16 years. Hugh has been studying music for exactly one eighth of his life. He is a typanist with the adult orchestra and studies piano as well as cello. The strings played the 2nd movement from his original composition, Op. 8 for String Quartet #1 in C Major. It was dedicated to Maestro Frederick Devyatkin and, as Fred announced, the full piece will be played at a concert next season! Hugh won the statewide composition competition and is moving on to the regionals.

The hors d'oeurvres were outstanding, the wine flowed freely and the attendees were genuinely glad to see each other and the musicians. If you weren't there, not to worry. The Beaufort Youth Orchestra will perform in the Carolina Room of the Dataw Island Clubhouse on April 28th at 7:30pm. Admission to the Youth orchestra Concerts is always free. Call Sandie Rotter, member of the Orchestra Board and coordinator for the Youth Orchestra at 838-5615 for more details.

Boomers Rule in Beaufort
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Latest retirement statistics from Kiplinger
Topic: Beaufort, SC
RETIREMENT 12 Great Places to Retire by Pat Mertz Esswein & Mary Beth Franklin For most of our lives, where we live is firmly tied to where we work. But once there's no job to commute to, we have the liberating -- and exhilarating -- opportunity to pull up stakes. Your options are limited only by your imagination and your financial wherewithal.

Studies by the Del Webb Co., designer of the original Sun City retirement communities, suggest that baby boomers are more likely than their predecessors to move in retirement. Once boomers start to retire, they will do so at a rate of more than 10,000 a day for the better part of two decades, says E. Thomas Wetzel, president of Retirement Living Information Center, a Web site that helps consumers find their ideal retirement spot.

There is no one-size-fits-all plan for this 76-million-strong generation, however. Retirees who relocate generally prefer a safe, uncrowded destination with good medical facilities and a low cost of living. But there is also a nascent trend among retirees to flee the suburbs for downtown to take advantage of all the excitement and conveniences that revitalized cities have to offer.

So if you're thinking about relocating, we've scouted the U.S. for great places to retire. Even if you're years from packing it in, this guided tour of 12 terrific destinations will give you a taste of the wide range of choices for your next phase of life. You'll find some surprises here, including a few places with wintry weather that usually (and unfairly) knocks them off most retirement lists. (Your faithful editor has eliminated 11 duds from the list.)

Beaufort, S.C. About 35 miles north of Hilton Head Island, Beaufort is emerging as a new destination for retirees. Its palm-tree-lined historic downtown, filled with funky restaurants, upscale shops and turn-of-the-century houses, offers the charm of Savannah but on a smaller scale. Overlooking Beaufort Bay, this town is a paradise for boaters, kayakers and fishermen, and its mild climate is ideal for year-round golf. A typical three-bedroom, two-bath house sells for about $200,000. Entertainment is plentiful, and includes performances by the Lowcountry Shakespeare Co. and the Beaufort Orchestra.

Population: 13,000 Income tax: Top rate of 7%; no tax on social security benefits or on the first $3,000 of retirement income for those under age 65, or on the first $10,000 for those over 65. Property tax: $794 per $100,000 of assessed value ($50,000 is exempt for homeowners 65 and older) Sales tax: 5% (prescription drugs are exempt) www.beaufort.com

Hooray for Siberia!
Mood:  special
Topic: Movie choices
Some Dataws are worried that Beaufort may be a sort of cultural Siberia when it comes to movies.

Actually, it's more of a cultural Austria since H'wood is more interested in the type of films popularized by 'Ahnult' Schwarzenegger. They make tons of money, don't require actors and appeal to those who shell out for sex and violence.

If you prefer violins to violence, however, there is one venue that will please: The Beaufort Orchestra holds eight performances a year (soon to be nine). Your feet won't stick to the floor, you won't bump into any Terminator fans and if good writing is your pleasure, just slip across the border to Salzburg and try Johannes Crisostomos Wolfgang Amadeus (Gotlieb) Mozart on for size. (Good 'ol Mo.)

Hasta la Vista, Baby

Baseball in Washington DZ
Mood:  energetic
Now Playing: New York Mets
Topic: Sports Page
The following is just 34 years of pent up frustration. I believe that this missive will easily capture the major league record for most baseball clichés per paragraph:

Somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout. But in Washington, D.C. they are going stone crazy. For the first time in 34 years, they have a good reason... the hometown baseball team is sporting a one-game win streak. While the National Hysteric and erstwhile baseball fan George Will was chuntering on about Public TV, the Nationals were in Florida, takin’ care of business. Oh yes, you see, Jose Guillen and company dispatched the amazin’ Mets, 5-3. You could almost hear Perfessor Stengel say, "can’t nobody here play this game?" (editor's note: when it really counted, the Mets came back on opening day to win 4-3.)

Oh, and you can forget the sobriquet ‘Nationals’, they’re the ‘Nats’. Period. Solved the problem of what to call the old time Senators and the old time Nationals, both of whom devolved Into the Nats. The first team is now trading as the Minnehaha Twins and the second as the Arlington Rangers. By the way, the trademark ‘Senators’ is owned by none other than George W. (Bush not Will). Welcome back, Nats.

Anyone old enough to remember the 1971 Senators is probably old enough to remember the July 23, 1969 All-star game played in D.C. Two Giant Willies (Mays and McCovey) teamed with the Alous and the Roses, et al, to beat the Americans 9-3. Of course, the Mets alone sent three unknown rookies, Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman (unbelievable). Washington got the game because it was the 75th anniversary of baseball (with an asterisk, since baseball probably got official in 1890). The baseball Gods sent a major league rainstorm to clear out the celebrities at the night game scheduled for July 22. The following day the celebs were at the airport, and their tickets were available to mere mortals.

Yours truly was behind third base, as true celebs like Hank Greenburg and Mickey Vernon roamed the aisles. Mayo Smith wasn’t sure whether to place his outfielders in the upper or lower deck to defend against McCovey. It turns out he shoulda tried the parking lot as Willie became the only guy besides Arkie Vaughan to slam two round-trippers in the midsummer classic. If you remember Arkie, you are really up there.

Speaking of up there, hometown hero Frank ‘Hondo’ Howard sent one of his frozen ropes to the deepest part of the upper deck which atoned for a spectacular fielding lapse in the top half of the inning. He was followed by Tiger Bill Freehan who scored two with his own 4-bagger.

Ever notice AL pitchers are the only ones to throw meatballs in the all-star Game? Harmon Killebrew goes 0 for 3? Unfortunately, Washington’s favorite pitcher Darold Knowles, along with Detroit's Denny McLain (Cy Young), and the O's Dave McNally (Cy Old) got touched for 11 hits and 9 runs en route to an embarrassing 7th straight AL loss. American League fans just shrugged knowing full well that the O's would pound the stuffings out of the Mets in the World Series. When that didn't happen, they started to worry.

Oh yeah, while Ernie Banks and Roberto Clemente sat on the bench, some guy named Bench got a homer. Go figure.

Devil in the White City
Mood:  bright
Topic: Book Review
.Devil in the White City by Erik Larson is the non-fictional account of the building of the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Its subplot details the crimes of one of America's earlier serial killers with the unlikely name of Holmes. The novel is peopled with the likes of Frederick Law Olmsted, Little Egypt, George Ferris, Buffalo Bill Cody and a cast of thousands.

The Columbian Exposition (or World's Fair as it came to be known) introduced many new ideas and products to America as it entered the 20th century: urban electrification, Shredded Wheat, the Ferris wheel and others. This novel deals with the efforts of Frank Burnham as the project manager for the fair. Interspersed are chapters concerning Holmes (real name Herman Mudgett) and his plots to isolate and kill men, women and children who wandered into his Midway lair. Recommended. Barnes and Noble has it.