Starving for culture

[CDNSushi]

Q - What's the difference between <your hometown> and a container of yogurt?

A - The yogurt's got culture.

Badum pum!

But no, seriously, folks. Do you ever feel like you get culturally deprived sometimes? The past while I've been starving for something to enrich my mind... A concert, an opera, a theatre play, a ballet, ANYTHING!

Well, I finally managed to do something about it. For my birthday coming up, we're going to go to a jazz concert featuring one of Japan's top sax players. Then, today I bought my wife's Christmas present: tickets to the ballet at the New National Theatre in Tokyo.

There IS culture to be found here, but honestly -- 2 hours out of Tokyo is still a bit too far to do anything on a regular or semi-regular basis. Sometimes I wish I could just move to NYC or a large city in Europe... <sigh>

So... What (if anything) do YOU like to do?

[The Guy in the Kilt at UC]

Tonight I plan to attend a Christmas concert at our local Music Hall.

[Sir William]

I'm firmly in the camp of folk/Highland/historical events.

In my university days I lived in Austria and went to the opera and classical musical concerts because they cost less than seeing a movie. But I haven't been to the opera since and only occasionally attend a concert. I attend theater a bit more often - usually when I'm visiting London. I've never much cared for dance.

[David Thornton]

You don't have to go somewhere to get culture or to enrich your mind, try a book. The going somewhere with a crowd is just a social aspect, having others to share in the experience, but it isn't necessary. If that's your thing, fine. It just isn't necessary. I know people who moved from Lexington to Louisville because we have no culture, figure that out. More people doesn't always equal better.

That said, my wife enjoys ballet, so we go to performances when they come to town. Sometimes we travel, but it is usually to see friends that live in another city.

David

[Rex_Tremende]

I couldn't pick just one. There is so much to do here in Cincinnati, there is no chance of starving.

Regards,
Rex.

[Cage]

The wife and I enjoy going to concerts. We use to like the big concerts with thousands in attendance. Now we prefer to attend smaller and/or the pub style atmosphere performances.
I enjoy the folk/highland/historical events.
The kids and I enjoy going to sporting events.

[BEEDEE]

Live concerts and theater run a close second for me.

Brian

[sydnie7]

Bob and I enjoy a great, small venue concert series now called AMSDconcerts.com/ -- formerly Acoustic Music San Diego. We manage to attend once a month or so, depending on who is appearing.

When I lived in Los Angeles, it was McCabe's or the Coffee Gallery for much the same line-up -- live, small-venue, "thinking person's" music.

I used to get out to local theater in LA, but haven't found the same type of venues with free/discounted tickets here. Haven't taken the time to look, I should say, suspect they exist.

We've only been going to the Games for a few years but I voted for that as well. Not sure it qualifies as culture but it's a fun weekend!

[funlvnman]

My in-laws used to host parties and hire a chamber orchestra to play during the party. Some friends of ours would use the local high school flute choir to perform at their parties. Perhaps something along these lines is possible.

[Detroitpete]

I live in a GREAT place for cultural diversions, but I don't see my first choice on the list above. I'm a museum freak. Any museum with any collection. I'm particularly drawn to small odd/esoteric collections as well as historical museums of any sort. I love The DIA, Art Institute of Chicago and MOMA too.

My second choice is typically theatre and I'm a fan of local/regional theatre...but then there's the Opera, ballet and musicals...

Ok--so I'm not yer typical Highland Athlete ;)
Actually I've found that the majority of my friends who are fellow athletes have a very diverse and interesting collection of cultural 'hobbies'.