Half Moon Bay

Inna and I decided to explore Half Moon Bay, which we have been neglecting. She has made a lunch reservation for 13:15 at the By The Teashore teahouse (which had recently opened to rave reviews).

We started our drive to Half Moon Bay at 11:15 on a lightly drizzly Sunday morning. Traffic was light, and we parked on Half Moon Bay's Main Street at around 12:15. On the way there, we saw some demonstrations and some unexpected police activity, but nothing to worry about. The weather in Half Moon Bay was much better than in San Jose - it was chilly (55 F) but sunny with a few clouds.

Since we had arrived quite early, we decided to walk to Francis Beach (on the Pacific Ocean). I did not realize that this was a long walk, and it took us about 28 minutes to reach the ocean. On the way there, we saw some beautiful murals and tastefully decorated homes with beautiful gardens.

We really did not have much time to explore the beautiful beach, and we returned to downtown Half Moon Bay for our lunch. After being seated at By The Teashore teahouse indoors (outdoor seating is for walk-ins), we looked at the menu and ordered the following:

• Tea for Two
• Sandwiches: 
• Curry chicken
• Roast Beef & Horseradish
• Egg Salad
• Ham Fig Cheddar Dijon
• Scones (with clotted cream and jam)
• Earl Grey
• Strawberry/White Chocolate
• 2 x Hot Teapots

The sandwhiches were delicious, and I especially liked the Curry Chicken. The scones were good (but not up to the standard found in England). I find that scones are best when they are freshly baked and served out of the oven. We had a wonderful time, enjoying our tea. 

After lunch, we walked on Main Street, stopping at the nearby bookstore, and then returned to our car for a short drive to The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay. 

At first, we had difficulty finding parking, but we waited at the Ritz-Carlton's garage for hikers and managed to snag a spot.

We had planned to walk along the beach, following the long Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail northward (heading toward Redondo Beach and Poplar Beach). The walk was pleasant (though we were frequently overtaken by e-bikes). We saw horses, rabbits, and beautiful wild flowers everywhere. We probably should have also rented bikes, as the trail was perfectly suitable for bikes.

I spotted one beginner surfer on a Wavestorm trying to surf beach breaks, but he was having a difficult time getting through the surf.

After walking for about an hour, we rested and turned around. We never reached Poplar Beach, as it would have taken another hour (round-trip).

When we returned to the Ritz Carlton, we rested by the beach. There were public chairs and restrooms with beautiful views of the coast. I downloaded Mark Twain's first book about travels to the Holy Land - The Innocents Abroad - and started reading it.

Links

• By The Teashore teahouse
• The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay
• Francis Beach
• 
  

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Angelique Kidjo at Bing Concert Hall, Stanford

On the spur of the moment, Inna purchased two tickets to Angélique Kidjo's concert at Stanford's Bing Hall, for Saturday, April 25, at 20:00.

Before the concert, we stopped by for dinner at the newly opened Zaytinya Palo Alto (Mediterranean Restaurant). 

Right before dinner, we learned of a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. It made us a bit anxious at dinner, and we were happy to learn that the shooter was apprehended and the president was safe.

When we arrived, we were assigned to some unfavorable seats and asked to be reseated. After waiting 5 minutes, we were reseated in a booth that was not well cleaned, so I had to manually remove crumbs from the couch (not something I was expecting to do).

We looked at the menu and ordered the following items:

• Drinks: Sparkling water
• Appetizer: Baba Ghannouge
• Salad: Fattoush
• Mezze: Sea Scallops, Shish Taok, Kofte Kebab
• Dessert: Greek Yogurt

The Baba Ghannouge was not bad. The Fattoush salad was small but tasty. The Mezze were tiny, and the sea scallops were smaller than expected. The Shish Taok (chicken) was not bad. The freshly baked pita bread was delicious. We also really liked the Greek Yogurt dessert.

Overall, I would rate Zaytinya above average, though Palo Alto has much better Mediterranean restaurants (like Evvia and Dishdash). I was disappointed with the dirty couch (which I had to manually clean) and the tiny portions of everything. On the positive note, our waitress was excellent.

After reparking near Bing Hall (about 5 minutes away), we waited for Angélique Kidjo's concert to start. In addition to Angelique, there were 4 other band members:

• Bass: David Donatien
• Drums: Stixx Taylor
• Keyboards: Etienne Stadwijk
• Percussion: Magatte Sow

There was no guitar, and I felt that the band was missing something. Inna and I were hoping to hear some recognizable songs, but Angeliue's program did not include many songs that we recognized. We felt a bit disappointed with her choice of songs.

Here is a ChatGPT summary of Angelique Kidjo:

Angélique Kidjo Concert Review (with Setlist & Band Members)

There are performers who entertain, and then there are those who seem to summon something larger than themselves onto the stage. Angélique Kidjo belongs firmly in the latter category. From the moment she appeared—radiant, poised, and already moving to an internal rhythm—the atmosphere shifted from anticipation to celebration.

Kidjo’s voice is a force of nature: elastic, powerful, and deeply expressive. She moves effortlessly between silky, intimate passages and soaring, full-throated declarations, often within the same phrase. What’s striking is not just her technical control, but the emotional immediacy she brings to every note. Even listeners unfamiliar with the languages she sings in can feel the intent behind each lyric.

The setlist drew broadly from her expansive catalog, weaving together Afrobeat, traditional West African sounds, funk, jazz, and Latin influences. Rather than feeling eclectic for its own sake, the mix felt intentional—each song another thread in a tapestry reflecting both her Beninese roots and global collaborations.

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Setlist (Representative Performance)

1. Batonga
2. Agolo
3. Afrika
4. Once in a Lifetime (Talking Heads cover)
5. Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On) (Talking Heads cover)
6. Ominira
7. Djin Djin
8. Eve
9. Afirika
10. We We
11. Adouma
12. Pata Pata (tribute to Miriam Makeba)

Encore:
13. Afirika (Reprise) / Celebration Jam

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The band deserves special mention. Tight, dynamic, and completely in sync with Kidjo’s energy, they elevated every arrangement without ever overshadowing her presence. Rhythms were intricate but never cluttered; grooves locked in with precision and warmth, pulling the audience deeper into the music.

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Band Members (Typical Touring Lineup)

• Bass: David Donatien
• Drums: Stixx Taylor
• Keyboards: Etienne Stadwijk
• Percussion: Magatte Sow

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What truly sets Kidjo apart is her connection with the audience. She doesn’t perform at a crowd—she performs with them. Midway through the show, she stepped off the stage and moved through the audience, singing and dancing among them, dissolving any remaining distance between artist and listener. It felt authentic, not theatrical—an extension of her belief that music is communal.

Her spoken interludes added depth without disrupting momentum. She spoke about unity, resilience, and the cultural power of music with clarity and conviction, grounding the performance in something larger than entertainment—yet never losing the sense of joy that defines her work.

By the time the encore arrived, the room was electric. Kidjo closed with a performance that was exuberant, rhythmically fierce, and emotionally resonant, leaving the audience both energized and grounded.

In an era when many concerts feel overly polished or distant, Angélique Kidjo offers something rare: immediacy, vitality, and genuine human connection. This wasn’t just a concert—it was a shared celebration of rhythm, voice, and spirit.

Angelique Kidjo Concert Review

Highlights

• Angelique showed a lot of energy and enthusiasm

Lowlights

• Not many recognizable songs
• I was hoping to hear Bahia and Iemanja from Black Ivory Soul
• 
  
• All the songs sounded the same

Links

• Bing Concert Hall, Stanford, Palo Alto
• Angelique Kidjo
• Zaytinya Palo Alto (restaurant)

 

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Il Volo World Tour at San Jose Civic Center

I have always enjoyed listening to the 3 Italian Tenors (Il Volo) and was delighted to learn of their concert in San Jose. I purchased tickets for O1/2 seats in section 101 (excellent seating) of the San Jose Civic Center.

In general, the San Jose Civic Center is not the best place for musical concerts, as the acoustics are mediocre and the seats are flat, but it is conveniently located nearby. After a short drive, we found nearby parking for $7, a few blocks away (on Viola Street, near the San Jose Convention Center).

Here are a couple of short video clips from the concert:

Here is a clip of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah:

Overall, I really liked the concert and would happily see Il Volo again.

Here’s a current overview of Il Volo’s World Tour and the songs they usually play — based on recent setlists from their World Tour 2024/25 and confirmed 2026 dates:

🎤 About the Tour

• Il Volo — the Italian operatic pop trio: Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto, Gianluca Ginoble) — is touring globally with their World Tour 2024/25 and continuing into 2026/27, including a 10-city U.S. tour in April–May 2026, hitting cities like Denver, San Jose, Los Angeles, San Diego, Dallas, Detroit, and more. IL VOLO - Official website

• They blend classical opera, Italian standards, pop classics, and cinematic themes for a varied and theatrical concert experience.

• Shows typically run about 1.5–2 hours.

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🎶 Typical Setlist / Songs Played Live

While setlists vary a bit from show to show, there’s a pretty consistent repertoire drawn from recent performances:

Core Songs Frequently Played
These are among the most played in recent concerts: 

• Grande amore – their signature hit that often opens or closes sets. 

• ‘O sole mio – classic Neapolitan favourite. 

• Il mondo – another crowd favourite. 

• Nessun dorma – Puccini’s powerful tenor showcase.

• Torna a Surriento – Italian standard. 

Operatic / Classical / Cinematic Pieces Often Included

• Nelle tue mani (Now We Are Free) — from Gladiator

• Opera — a grand mixed opera piece. 

• E lucevan le stelle / Amor de mi vida — classic opera crossover medley.

• Se (from Cinema Paradiso) — romantic film theme. 

• Ecstasy of Gold — dramatic Morricone theme

Popular Covers from Recent Tours
Il Volo often includes well-known pop and musical theatre songs, such as:

• Who Wants to Live Forever (Queen) 

• Memory and Music of the Night (from Cats & Phantom of the Opera) 

• Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen) 

• My Way (classic pop standard) 

• The Sound of Silence (Simon & Garfunkel) 

• Miserere (Zucchero) 

Other frequent numbers

• Capolavoro — from their own catalog, 

• La donna è mobile — opera aria with a pop twist 

• Funiculì, funiculà — Italian classic 

• Libiamo ne’ lieti calici — Verdi toast aria 

Together, this creates a mix of classical, Italian standards, pop/rock covers, and cinematic themes that showcase both their operatic technique and crossover appeal. Ticketmaster

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🎶 Il Volo – Common Expected Concert Playlist

🎤 Signature Hits & Crowd Favorites
These are staples — played at most concerts:

1. Grande amore (their signature anthem) 

2. ’O sole mio (classic Neapolitan favorite)

3. Il mondo (timeless Italian pop) 

4. Nessun dorma (Puccini opera classic)

5. Torna a Surriento (Italian standard) 

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🎻 Operatic / Cinematic / Dramatic Pieces
Often performed to showcase their vocal range and theatrical style: 
6. Opera (classical crossover medley) 
7. E lucevan le stelle / Amor de mi vida (operatic duet) 
8. Nelle tue mani (Now We Are Free) – from Gladiator 
9. Ecstasy Of Gold (Ennio Morricone theme)
10. Se (from Cinema Paradiso) 

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🎵 Pop & Musical Theatre Covers
Il Volo mixes Italian classics with well-known international songs: 
11. My Way (Paul Anka / classic standard) 
12. Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen cover) 
13. Memory (Cats – Andrew Lloyd Webber) 
14. The Music of the Night (Phantom of the Opera) 
15. Who Wants to Live Forever (Queen cover) 

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🎼 Other Favorites & Classics
These also turn up frequently in setlists:
16. Miserere (Zucchero)
17. La donna è mobile (Verdi aria) 
18. Funiculì, funiculà (Italian classic) 
19. Libiamo ne’ lieti calici (Verdi toast) 
20. Torna a Surriento / Mattinata / Caruso / Other Italian standards (varies by show) 

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🎧 Actual San Jose Playlist

1. Torreador (from the opera Carmen, by George Bizet)
2. O' sole mio
3. Granada
4. La donna è mobile (Verdi)
5. Love me tender (Elvis Presley)
6. Glory, glory, hallelujah
7. Libiamo ne’ lieti calici (Verdi toast)
8. Never walk alone
9. Ecstasy of Gold (Marricone)
10. Cinema Paradiso (Marricone)
11. Music of the Night (from Phantom of the Opera)
12. Don’t cry for me, Argentina 
13. Smile
14. My Way (Frank Sinatra)
15. Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)
16. Funiculì, funiculà
17. Grande Amore
18. Il Mondo (Jimmy Fontana)
19. Nessun dorma (Puccini's Turandot Opera)

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Project Hail Mary

I had really enjoyed reading Andy Weir's bestselling novel Project Hail Mary, and was delighted to learn that a movie was being made (just like The Martian).

Since it had excellent reviews, Inna and I decided to see it at the Cinemark CinéArts Santana Row movie theater. We chose the 15:25 showing and stopped by at the Augustine cafe (for cappuccinos) before the show. The cappuccinos were not bad, and the apple turnover was not half bad.

At around 15:10, we strolled to Cinemark CinéArts Santana Row (it was lightly raining) and purchased our two seats (they were assigned). Unlike other movie theaters, these seats had built-in reclining and heating!

Before the movie started, we spent about 20 minutes watching previews. Thankfully, I could ignore them. The only film that piqued my interest was Young Washington.

Here is a  nice write-up about the movie from ChatGPT:

Few science-fiction films manage to balance large-scale cosmic stakes with genuine emotional warmth, but Project Hail Mary pulls it off brilliantly. Based on Andy Weir’s bestselling novel, the film follows Ryland Grace, a former science teacher who awakens alone aboard a spacecraft with no memory of who he is or why he is there. As his memories slowly return, both Grace and the audience uncover the terrifying truth: Earth’s sun is dying, and he has been sent on a desperate one-man mission to save humanity.

What begins as a tense mystery quickly transforms into one of the most engaging science-fiction adventures in years. Through flashbacks, we learn that Earth has discovered a microorganism called “astrophage” that is feeding on the sun’s energy, threatening a catastrophic global cooling event. Humanity’s only hope lies in the distant Tau Ceti star system, the one place where the phenomenon appears not to be occurring. Grace is launched aboard the ship Hail Mary to investigate.

The film’s greatest surprise—and emotional centerpiece—comes when Grace discovers he is not alone in deep space. He encounters Rocky, an alien engineer from another world whose species is facing the same existential threat. What follows is an unexpectedly heartfelt friendship between a human and an alien as the two scientists overcome language barriers, biological differences, and fear to work together. Their relationship becomes the soul of the movie, turning what could have been a standard survival thriller into something deeply memorable. Critics and audiences alike have highlighted Rocky as one of the film’s standout elements.

Ryan Gosling delivers one of his most likable performances as Grace, capturing both the character’s humor and vulnerability. He makes the scientific exposition feel natural and entertaining, and his chemistry with a CGI/puppeted alien is astonishingly believable. The visual effects are spectacular, especially in the depictions of interstellar travel, alien environments, and Rocky's design.

What elevates Project Hail Mary above typical blockbuster sci-fi is its optimism. At its core, this is not just a movie about saving Earth—it is about cooperation, friendship, sacrifice, and the belief that intelligence and compassion can overcome even impossible odds. The ending delivers an emotional payoff that feels earned rather than manipulative, leaving the audience with both wonder and genuine feeling. Reviewers have widely praised the film’s blend of scientific problem-solving, humor, and emotional depth.

If the movie has one flaw, it’s that its runtime can feel a bit long, and some viewers may find the scientific explanations dense at times. But even those slower moments serve the story’s central theme: that science itself can be thrilling when presented with imagination and heart.

Final Verdict:
Project Hail Mary is one of the best science-fiction films in recent memory—a rare blockbuster that delivers spectacle, intelligence, humor, and emotional resonance in equal measure. Whether you come for the space adventure or stay for the friendship at its center, this is a film well worth the journey.

After the movie, we stopped by for dinner at Meso Restaurant (Inna had made dinner reservations for 18:15). After being seated with a nice view of the courtyard, we looked at the menu and ordered the following items:

• Housemade Mezze Platter (hummus, smoked eggplant, tzatziki, chips)
• Lamb Kebab (3)
• Beef and Lamb Meatballs (5)
• Fattoush Salad
• Pomegranate Glazed Salmon

I liked the Lamb Kebab and Lamb Meatballs. The Fattoush salad was not bad. The Mezze platter was small and unimpressive. The Glazed Salmon was average.  It's not a bad place, but not outstanding either.

Links

• Cinemark CinéArts Santana Row
• Project Hail Mary
• Young Washington
• Augustine Cafe
• Meso Restaurant

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