Saturday, December 13, 2014

our christmas music date night

It's been our tradition every year to have a date night that includes really good Christmas music. This year we had talked about going to the Portland Symphony on December 21st, but when we went to get tickets, the show was sold out. I was a little bummed, but we persevered. I put a post on facebook asking for ideas of where to go and got a few. Several people said we should go to the Singing Christmas Tree, but you know, I have no earthly desire to ever see a singing Christmas tree program again thanks to Tennessee Temple University and Highland Park Baptist Church. Three years of that in a row was enough for me. We had a suggestion to go to a youth theatre musical, but that wasn't getting my goat either. There was a Bluegrass Christmas show that I would've loved to have seen, but it was on a Tuesday night and that totally won't work for Phil's schedule. We thought about having a repeat year, but I like it to be something new and different. Then Phil's aunt posted that they go every year to see a local group called The Trail Band. We checked it out, and got tickets. The next day she called and said they had tickets that they were going to give us, but it was too late.

After a quick stop at Burgerville, we headed to the old Aladdin Theatre in southeast Portland. Didn't see any genies, in case you were wondering.

We got there right after the doors opened, so we just hung out in the balcony and listened to the music that was playing before the show.
And took a date night selfie.
There are 8 musicians in the Trail Band and they all sang at one point or other and they played a ton of different instruments. My favorite was the hammered dulcimer, but they were all really good. They have an eclectic set of music - several Irish pieces, jigs and such, a little bit of New Orleans, Beach Boyish tunes with some Wipe Out thrown in, traditional, Gospel, and original pieces. They had a guest vocalist sing a few songs and another guy came and played the banjo and slide guitar. He was incredible. The whole crowd joined them on Silent Night and that was pretty spectacular too. Then they had a comedian come out. His schtick was that he was playing a kid, dressed up as a shepherd, and he used his toys to tell the story of Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem. It was hysterical. 
On the way home we were talking about whether or not we've gone on a musical date night every year since we've been married or not. Here are the ones I remember. . .

  • the Nutcracker
  • Michael W. Smith
  • Manheim Steamroller
  • Michael Allen Harrison, piano
  • Aaron Meyer, violin
  • Tuba Christmas
  • the Grotto Festival of Lights


I'll have to keep thinking and see if I can come up with any others.

This December date night is one of my favorite traditions. Thanks, Babe, for taking me out last night.


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