Summer doings

Despite the unseasonably WET summer Boston has been experiencing, we've managed to catch a few good streaks on a few key dates.

The Berkshires in Western Massachusetts

Two weekends ago we went out to Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra located in the Berkshires. We saw two concerts, the first of which was an evening devoted to the movie music of John Williams (conducted by Williams, himself!) and narrated by Frank Langella. We heard suites from Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, Far and Away, ET... and many of the suites were accompanied by video montages which were projected onto screens as we sat under the stars and enjoyed a picnic dinner. The second concert was lead by the BSO's resident conductor, James Levine (Jimmy Levine!!!) and the program was Mozart's final three symphonies which highlighted the BSO's true strengths. It was a fabulous weekend.

Earlier this week we saw a Red Sox game at the historic Fenway Park. That was such fun. It's such a teeny ballpark! And the Sox fans made the evening - they're a dedicated bunch.

Go Sox!

In other summer doings - we've been getting our ducks in a row for the big changes which could happen at any time now... a new baby followed by a new home and new jobs/roles for all of us!

37.5 weeks along...

A zippy little tune.

Before going any further, turn up your computer speakers and listen to this:
"We Are Bioengineers" (click to open and listen)

We found that ditty last night through a link on the blog Beard Revue. Mike's advisor, George Church, made the "revue" last year.
Beard Revue

Within the review of Dr. Church's facial hair, the writer of the blog cited a podcast created by WNYC Radiolab entitled (So-Called) Life. It's a long - one hour - but very, very interesting and an excellent primer for understanding how the fields of pioneering biological research and engineering are partnering in the relatively new field of Bioengineering.
(So-Called Life)

That crazy little beast: the ribosome.

ALSO! Mike's work is cited in Newsweek (July 13th edition). Search the word ribosome and you'll jump to the portion of the writing that addresses Mike's work within the Church Lab.
Newsweek, July 13th

Fun stuff!

Fireworks over the Charles

Image from: thebostonguide.planeteye.com

Last night we went down to the banks of the Charles River along with a few of our closest friends (like 750,000 of them) to watch the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular.

It was, indeed, spectacular. I don't think I've ever seen fireworks like that before. We were practically sitting beneath them and could feel each boom shake our innards and the ground we were sitting on. It was thrilling!

This is one of Boston's big events. Mike went to watch the show last year with friends while I was singing in Virginia and I'm so glad that I was able to see it this year before we move. The city of Evanston presents a fireworks show over the lake on the 4th, but somehow I don't think it will compare with what Boston can do!