Concerten, concerten, and more concerten!

Our first visit to the Concertgebouw! 

Daytime photo of the Royal Concertgebouw. About 10
minutes from our house by bike.

Peeking inside to get a photo of the stunning hall before the show.

Enjoying our complimentary pre concert
drinks in the upstairs lounge overlooking
the Concertegebouw Cafe. 

The band warming up for war horses by: Britten, Haydn,
 and Debussy.  Incredible - they absolutely blew us away!

Music Together Now!

After a morning rehearsal in Den Haag for Noah's upcoming performance, we spent the day exploring the city and checking out "Music Together Now," a gargantuan multi-stage contemporary music extravaganza. 

In front of Parliament...soaking in the sunshine!

Dinner in the Hague's impressive china town before the concert.
One English menu, please. 

The first event: a staging of John Luther Adams' "Inksuit"
played by a battery of 100+ local amateur percussionists. 

One of many main events: the Royal Conservatory Orchestra
performing Luciano Berio's monumental "Sinfonia." We
were so impressed by the performance!

On to the next stop: the Dutch National Ballet Company
performing Philip Glass. 

The party scene between stages at the performing arts center.
(Not pictured: Baroque improvisers, Jazz big band, 100 person
chorus in the lobby, etc.) 

Noah's concert

A few weeks ago Noah took part in a concert at the Nutshuis, a former bank turned multi-use art space in central Den Haag, featuring works by composition students from the Royal Conservatory. He had a hard time finding a violist for his quartet but then remembered that he already knew one...

Interior during the dress rehearsal. The concert was structured
like a museum tour -- the audience was led to different
parts of the building for each piece. 

The performance was a huge success! Here's a video: although the visibility leaves something to be desired, the audio came out great.  

Conservatorium van Amsterdam Orchestra performance with Tan Dun at the Muziekgebouw!

This week the Muziekgebouw was taken over by the
Amsterdam Cello Biennale -- a festival devoted to
cello performances, masterclasses, and an international competition. 

Linnea got to lead the viola section of her conservatory
orchestra in Tan Dun's mixed media cello concerto, "The
 Map" for the Biennale opening weekend. 

View from the nosebleed seats...although it doesn't look
like it here, the concert was completely sold out! 

Tan  Dun and soloist Annsi Karttunen following the
triumphant performance. I spy Linnea in red...

Because no post would be complete...

...without drinking photos.

Earlier this month we toasted the end of the work week during happy hour at the
 Brouwerij''Tij.  Breweries and windmills...these are a few of our favorite things...

Sampler!

We weren't the only ones with tasty beer in mind
on a rainy Friday.

Until next time!

Sam, Celina, and Mia visit Amsterdam!

We had a great time with SCM in A'dam...we miss you guys so much already!!!

Day 1: Exploring the city

Mia and Celina checking out some children's
books at a neighborhood shop near their hotel
in the Jordaan.

Paddle boating 

While Celina and Mia rested in the afternoon, Noah, Sam,
and Linnea rented a "canal bike" and forged the waters of
the central canal ring. 

The hard working captain and first mate of our intrepid vessel.
Who's who? Ask them... 

Serious turn ahead on the starboard side...

The view from the bow.

Linnea working really hard in the back of the paddle boat.

One of the gorgeous narrow canals we happened upon.

Some other great views from the water...

  

Dinner at our apartment

Our first dinner party! The menu: carrot ginger soup, potates-au-gratin, pan-seared t-bones, and fresh garden salad with microgreens (from the newly discovered organic "bio" market around the corner). It was a huge (and delicious) success!

Dessert featured some very tasty bonbons
from our neighborhood chocolatier (and, of course,
 almond cookies).

Mia had mixed success fitting into the sweet clogs we
gave her...

Day 2: Albert Cyup Street Market

  

Mia's first taste of stroep waffles.

Trying on new gloves from the market (Noah
picked some up too...)

Picnic in the Sapharti Park near the market --
so many pigeons and ducks to chase! 

Day 3: Hortus Botanicus

Sam had some work to do during the day, so we took Celina and Mia on an adventure to the botanical gardens followed by dinner at our favorite "Chin. rest" in Amsterdam (That's what they call Chinese restaurants here--seriously.)

On our way to the tram.

The butterfly greenhouse.

Checking out the caterpillars.

Gifting rocks to Unc Noah.

Noah in the three climate green house.

So warm and beautiful in the greenhouse
....we'll definitely be back in mid February! 

Anxiously awaiting dinner at New King after a full afternoon
at the botanical gardens.

YUM!

Recapping our activities over a drink
after Sam finished his day at the conference.

Day 4: Biking in the Vondelpark

To complete a quintessential Dutch experience, Sam and Celina rented bikes and we all went on a ride to (and through) the Vondelpark!

Sam's ludicrously long bicycle with the basket for Mia.

We found a great little playground in the park.
 With swings like these, it was no surprise that
the playground was the place to be. 

We hit some light rain on the way home
 but there was a silver lining...

Mia became an expert at leading us back to
their room through the labyrinth of
hallways at the Hotel Pulitzer! 

Bye! We'll miss you! See you soon!