The Lombardi Spot http://www.lombardispot.com en rob@lombardispot.com Copyright 2018 2018-11-22T16:24:00+00:00 Wynton Marsalis with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra http://www.lombardispot.com/article/wynton_marsalis_with_the_lincoln_center_jazz_orchestra http://www.lombardispot.com/article/wynton_marsalis_with_the_lincoln_center_jazz_orchestra#When:16:24:00Z Brought the family out for a jazz concert. In some ways it seemed like a sophisticated event.

But we brought the level of sophistication down by going to In and Out before we arrived and bringing a couple of goofy kids.  

It was a special treat to see one of the greatest jazz musicians of our time doing something that was totally unique. The merging of an entire jazz orchestra  and contemporary jazz and street dancing styles. 

They didn't want photos during the concert. These are a few snaps during a short farewell jam during the standing ovation. Every song from the concert expressed a different animal, and the dancers imitated the animals during the song. The orchestration was impeccably linked, with tap dance solos weaving together with the rhythm and accents of the band so that the dancers and band performed as one . A masterpiece work of art performance merging dance and jazz. We brought the family and sat in the back stage, but after having seen it, I consider it worth the money to spend the $100 a ticket to sit in the front!

]]> 2018-11-22T16:24:00+00:00 Bowling in Morgan Hill http://www.lombardispot.com/article/bowling_in_morgan_hill http://www.lombardispot.com/article/bowling_in_morgan_hill#When:04:19:00Z A belated post from a bowling alley visit in January 2018

So many bowling alleys are leaving the classic bowling alley decor and moving towards a more entertainment driven, club atmosphere. But Morgan Hill still  has the classic bowling alley look and feel that I've grown up with. 

The kids bowled without the bumpers, which resulted in more discouragement as the ball often found it's way into the gutter. 

But it also meant that those victories where well earned and enjoyed.

Wether she was making points or gutter balls, she did so with some style. 

And mom was there to provide some support.

Matthew had his own unique twist on celebrating success.

Between frames, I would catch him relaxing in style. 

And one of the favorite discoveries was a game room with Galaga.

It's unfortunate we don't go to these places more often. So many options in the Bay Area that years can go by before we revisit a place and then the kids are so much older. 

]]> 2018-09-05T04:19:00+00:00 Dabbing in the 1800’s http://www.lombardispot.com/article/dabbing_in_the_1800s http://www.lombardispot.com/article/dabbing_in_the_1800s#When:02:50:00Z They were dabbing in the 1800's. The Doctor, Harlequin and Colombine, 1750 French Porcelain at The Casanova exhibit at Legion of Honor Museum San Francisco.

]]> 2018-05-25T02:50:00+00:00 Lombardi Bunnies http://www.lombardispot.com/article/lombardi_bunnies http://www.lombardispot.com/article/lombardi_bunnies#When:04:53:00Z We've had these cute bunnies for around a month now. They eat and poop constantly, and you would think that this description would make them a nuisance, but they are so cute to watch that I quickly forget how messy they are. 

This first photo is from the first days with them, they were as tiny as a mouse. The strands of hay seem larger than the bunnies.

We bought them at Easter time, which is a very popular time when people buy bunnies. The cousins had a great time playing with the bunnies in their Easter outfits. 

They are a different experience to hold. They can be soft and quiet creatures.

They can also be very curious, exploring the various nooks and crannies. They love to hide underneath the bookcases or the couches. 

Sometime they seem to be making themselves at home, kicking back like the rest of us. 

Other times we set them out in the backyard and they spend a considerable amount of time eating the grass, running and jumping around.

Each morning we let them out into the dining area. They come running to my feet at the sound of their treat bag, and they love to run around on the hard wood floors. They especially like a mat in front of the back door, where they jump, sprint and twist. 

]]> 2018-05-09T04:53:00+00:00 Sunlit Carpet of Green http://www.lombardispot.com/article/sunlit_carpet_of_green http://www.lombardispot.com/article/sunlit_carpet_of_green#When:00:53:00Z This view is a daily visit for my dog and I. During the summer, the hills are golden brown. During the springtime they display a carpet of green. I'm continually captivated by the various ways morning sun, peaking over the eastern hills, lights up the green hillside.

]]> 2018-03-25T00:53:00+00:00 Waiting for a Burger http://www.lombardispot.com/article/waiting_for_a_burger http://www.lombardispot.com/article/waiting_for_a_burger#When:00:21:00Z Sometimes it's not easy waiting for a burger.

]]> 2018-02-09T00:21:00+00:00 Los Gatos Friends of the Library http://www.lombardispot.com/article/los_gatos_friends_of_the_library http://www.lombardispot.com/article/los_gatos_friends_of_the_library#When:14:50:00Z Normally used books don't have such a wonderful space. The cement grid ceiling, the brick walls, and the many books create an impressive space. 

Matthew and Jenn browsing the books

You'll typically find me with my head tilted sideways trying to read spines on bookshelves. Jenn manages without looking ridiculous.

And Jenn nearly refuses to pose for me, so any portraits I'm going to get will be from everyday moments. 

]]> 2018-02-06T14:50:00+00:00 The Way We Walk http://www.lombardispot.com/article/the_way_we_walk http://www.lombardispot.com/article/the_way_we_walk#When:01:36:00Z You'll see Jenn walking Tessa on leash. But you may have noticed that in many of my photos, Tessa is wandering the scene. We parent our dog differently, but in complimentary ways. Dad's are always more fun.

]]> 2018-02-06T01:36:00+00:00 Sitting with Hacky Sacks http://www.lombardispot.com/article/sitting_with_hacky_sacks http://www.lombardispot.com/article/sitting_with_hacky_sacks#When:16:41:00Z Jenn bought the kids hacky sacks for Christmas. Instead of using their feet, they throw with the hands and tickle each other with silly faces. Once they get tickled, it's hard for them to stop laughing. It doesn't take long for us parents to say, "Okay, that's enough!"

]]> 2018-01-09T16:41:00+00:00 Grilled Cheese for Lunch http://www.lombardispot.com/article/grilled_cheese_for_lunch http://www.lombardispot.com/article/grilled_cheese_for_lunch#When:14:10:00Z Here's a photo of my wife Jenn and daughter Calire this Christmas season on a both leisurely and busy Saturday. Claire is enjoying a grilled cheese, prepared by my my wife Jenn, who is in the background preparing hers. The Christmas tree is framed by the doorway into our living room and you can also see other significant bits of our life: the dogs bowls in the bottom left, the espresso machine which jumpstarts every day with espresso, the outdated and cluttered kitchen, which works just fine, the photo board to the right, which is reguarly updated with prints. 

I've never enjoyed taking photos more than with my latest camera, a Leica M10. Looking through that optical rangefinder is wonderful. It allows me to see real life rather than looking at the electronic version on an iPhone screen or the electric viewfinder of so many of the latest cameras. Framing can sometimes be challenging, as I've always had a zoom lens with a wide angle, but now I look for ways to layer elements, and include portions of objects instead of the entire object. In some ways my photography has taken a step back (such as quickness and nailing focus), but in other ways it's taking a stride forward. And I'm capturing bits of life that normally don't get captured or appreciated. 

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