I’m currently grooving to Apple Music’s New Music Mix, a 25 song-strong playlist that updates each and every Friday with new and recent releases; the algorithm behind it uses one’s listening history to predict potential new likes. In practice, at least for me, it’s hit or miss—but that’s okay. It’s a fun way to spend part of the day.
But something tells me that the “play” and “fun” in the Daily Prompt question doesn’t mean clicking play on a playlist. Nor does driving into Durham to check out a restaurant that Diane, my wife, read about, which we did last night. But the day-long excursion we enjoyed last month, when we took in a matinee performance of the Tony Award-winning musical Hadestown at the Durham Performing Arts Center, probably does count. I am not a theater aficionado, nor well versed on the ancient Greek myth that drives the plot, but found it a fun way to spend an afternoon. (In some respects, and I’m sure the play’s fans will howl when they read this, I saw it as a mashup between the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes “Anne,” in which Buffy finds herself in a hellish dimension, and “Once More With Feeling,” a musical that features a dancing demon.) Making the day even better: Prior to the show, we enjoyed lunch with one set of friends and then, afterwards, had dinner with another set of friends.
We also took in a wonderful concert last month: the Staves, who are a folk-flavored sister act we’ve been fans of for quite some time. I recapped the night here, for those curious, but for those who don’t wish to click through, here’s a clip of them performing one of my favorite songs by them, “Make It Holy.”
The Old Grey Cat 