Dear old Burlingame was not so boring this past weekend, especially Friday night on Broadway. I was having cognitive dissonance while having dinner at Il Piccolo and enjoying a really nice jazz trio plus singer. The trumpet player in particular was really fun and played some credible Miles Davis songs. The cognitive dissonance continued as I walked past Behan's and heard a fun duo playing rock standards and it peaked at Broadway Grill where the band-in-the-balcony was fronted by four singers on the main floor. That split presentation was a little odd, but it worked. Maybe there is hope for Boringame after dark, after all. Here is the Il Piccolo trio.
Fall Fest brought four more bands to Howard Ave. over the weekend, and the Vinyl Room continues to host bands on Friday nights.
Anyone notice the irony in the photo? The two people in the audience that are in the photo are busy on their phones... Burlingmae will never draw quality musicians nor consumers as the average Burlingamer doesn't appreciate music at the level it would take to have a small music scene.
Posted by: Linda Petereson | October 29, 2019 at 07:45 AM
It’s post-modern thing- this not listening to music.
We’ve been trained not to listen; constant music in elevators, sports events, hallways, shopping centers, even outside Burlingame restaurants blasted outside to the sidewalk area.
At the symphony or opera, people chat, check their phones, clap at the wrong times, wander around...
Key for me to this revelation is at mass, when our world-class organist is playing a prelude and people chat until.... until the music ends and then they get quiet thinking something important is going to happen! The important just happened; and they missed the chance to be still and center themselves. Our busy, noisy culture has trained them to distrust music as a joy and treat music as so much background noise.
Posted by: Peter Garrison | October 29, 2019 at 08:14 AM
The phone droids are at it again. Geez people get off your phones and enjoy life while you still can!!
Or maybe you can't?
Posted by: Joanne | October 29, 2019 at 04:23 PM
I'm not sure what is going on in town, but I like it. I just saw an ad in the Daily Journal for music tonight at Steelhead Brewing. A great local duo is playing at Il Piccolo as well and the Vinyl Room has been a Friday venue stalwart. Kudos to Steelhead for actually advertising their entertainment--that is the next phase of turning Boringame back into Burlingame!
Posted by: Joe | November 08, 2019 at 07:09 PM
I am really happy for Steel Head.
However, that place gets so loud nobody will ever know there is a Music Event going on.
Posted by: hollyroller@gmail | November 08, 2019 at 09:12 PM
Funny how those idiots in the image can't resist to feed their smartphone endorphins. I am here but really I am not here. Is it just a shadow on the wall?
Posted by: Plato | November 24, 2019 at 09:21 AM
Here's the latest city effort to spruce up B'way and keep the momentum going:
As part of an effort to enhance the vibrancy of the Broadway shopping district, the City of Burlingame recently launched the Broadway Facade Improvement Pilot Program to help business and property owners renovate their storefronts and exterior facades.
Eligible improvements include signs, awnings, exterior painting, and exterior lighting. To be eligible for funding, applicants must receive written consent from the property owner.
There is $50,000 available in the program, with up to $10,000 available for an individual business. Applications will be reviewed at the monthly Economic Development Subcommittee meetings on a first-come, first-served basis.
The pilot program will run through March 15, 2020. If you are interested in learning more about the program, please contact Economic Development Specialist Joseph Sanfilippo at 650-558-7264, or email [email protected].
Posted by: Joe | January 30, 2020 at 01:16 PM
Why are the only two old people staring at their smartphones during the show? Geriatric maybe.
Posted by: Eganam | March 04, 2020 at 04:45 PM
The DJ has a nice write-up about Il Piccolo that includes some hope that music might return:
Prior to the pandemic, the cafe hosted live music during weekend evenings. Polat said he hopes to get back to that as things return to normal, but for now he is struggling to find staff to expand his hours and is still recovering economically from the pandemic.
https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/burlingame-s-il-piccolo-caffe-feels-like-home/article_dcdd0dca-3aea-11ec-a748-d3a441197996.html
Posted by: Joe | November 01, 2021 at 05:42 PM