TURANDOT!

I don't think there is any other experience that even approaches what it's like to spend an evening at the Metropolitan Opera. Name another place on this planet where for TWENTY-TWO FIFTY (I had to spell it out because it's so gosh-darn unbelievable!) you can go see live singers hit rafter-shaking high C's, listen to a full orchestra play Puccini for three hours and witness one mind-blowing set and eye-poppin' costume after another?!?!?! Even walking up those lavish, ruby-carpeted staircases, taking your seat and gazing in wonder as the Swarovski crystal chandeliers get sucked up into the ceiling before the curtain parts is worth TWENTY-TWO FIFTY! Have a glass of champers at intermission and feel like million bucks - wowzers.

Two words: Nessun. Dorma.

A moment of silence (or not-so silence) for the world greatest tenor performing one of the world's greatest arias (and, no, he wasn't there on Wednesday night) - enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOfC9LfR3PI&feature=related

Thanks to my companion for making the evening truly memorable - in a totally platonic kinda way :)