My Fun

A Year in the Life: People and Places from 2006-07

Jonathan Xavier Weinert — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 14:53:51 +0000

Some of my favorite photos from the past year, set to the music of my favorite new song of 2006. Thanks for the memories everyone! If we didn't see eachother in 06, hope our paths cross in 07.

Getting Tubby

Jonathan Xavier Weinert — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 23:45:30 +0000

People ask my a lot what I like to do in Shanghai for fun. Well, I'm totally over going out to the bars, and though I still like dance (see past blog), it's all taken back-burner to my new passion: Chinese Food. Going out to eat in Shanghai is now my new favorite pass-times. Whether it's at one of the hole-in-the-wall diners at my university, downtown under the city lights, or at a friend's house in the countryside (the very best option), eating in China is AWESOME. Here are a few pictures of some nice feasts I've had with friends.

Music

Jonathan Xavier Weinert — Sat, 19 Aug 2006 04:31:11 +0000

Those that know me know that I love music: listening, playing, and singing.

Along the likes of Kid Rock and Eminem, my solo performance career also has its roots in Detroit. It all began with my 9th grade piano recital (1993) at Domincan High School (talk about a rough neighborhood!). A few years later, I stepped things up a few notches and began gigging at the local nursing home in East Detroit. Those old folks were totally hot for Gershwin, so I gave them a little "They can't take that Away from Me", and a little "Our Love is Here to Stay" (needless to say, I barely made it out of that home each Sunday morning with my clothes in one piece, hahah j/k). Once I got to college, I ventured into a few Ann Arbor piano bars to try my luck with that crowd. By then, I had a some Billy Joel, Simon & Garf., and Elton John under my belt. (favorite: "Your Song", "Bridge Over Troubled Waters", and "Always a Woman")

I started learning the guitar when I got to Davis, and played a couple open mic nights at some really classy cafes (wink wink, for any of you who've ever set foot in the Davis' Roma Cafe). My sets (simply titled, "Songs I Love") are listed below (along with a pic from one of these sets). Now you can have a listen to some of these songs (hope I didn't butcher them too bad), live from the "recording studio" in my Shanghai Tongji University dorm room. Click on live links below...

Set 1:
Jack Johnson, Flake
Sweet Caroline, Neil Diamond
Paul Simon, You Can Call me Al

Set 2:
Feeling Good Again, Robert Earl Keen
Such Great Heights, Postal Service (right click on the link and choose "save linked file")
Story of my Life, Social Distortion

In My Life: Beatles As Good as it Gets: The Shins
Don't Dream its Over, Crowded House

On Piano:
My absolute favorite to play is George Gershwin. My ultimate goal (which I probably won't have time for until I'm 60) is to learn Rhapsody in Blue. I mostly play classical (Beethoven, Chopin, Rach.) some showtunes, and popular songs I like.

Dance! (Feb 2005)

Jonathan Xavier Weinert — Sat, 19 Aug 2006 03:24:54 +0000

Who would have thought? In the 7th grade I was the wallflower at the school dances. Now it's all I want to do when I break free of the research. I think the bug hit me somewhere during my freshman year of college busting moves on the ATO "pit" dance floor to "Rappers Delight". Then my senior or college, I took what was to become my favorite course of all my four years at college, "Modern Dance 101" with Eric Blair. That really opened up the world of dance to me.

I spent Fall 03 in Los Angeles, which was my first introduction into totally hot, funky, fresh L.A. hip-hop dance culture. I took dance classes at Millenium Dance, the same studio where they hold auditions for Britney Spears and Janet Jackson videos. I met people from all over the world in these classes (mostly Japanese) who came all the way here just to learn LA style hip-hop. Special thanks to my teachers Dante, Reno, and Wade. They’re incredible. I took one special class (along with about 60 others) with Wade Robson, the 25 yr old prodigy choreographer of N’Sync, Britney, and recent host of the MTV show, The Wade Robson Project, a kind of “American Idol” for dancers.

When I returned to Davis, I took several classes with Hong Kong hip-hop superstar Eman Lam (she was in Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl video). This girl can break it DOWN!

Now, I live in Shanghai and my dancing days are few and far between. I guess my interests have changed as I grow older. Though if the opportunity ever arise, as it seems to ever so often at a chance wedding or other special event, you can guarantee I'll be out sweating it to some dank beats on the ole DF (dancefloor).

My Bikes

Jonathan Xavier Weinert — Sat, 19 Aug 2006 01:50:57 +0000

You may know I've had a secret love of riding bicycles. You may not know that I now own 4 bikes and have names for each: (I hope to have picture of each soon)

Black Beauty: my cruiser, for when I need a phatty slow ride through campus and just want to sight-see (and be seen ;-)). It's my most pimp ride. (That's Payson Thompson, not me in the pic. I'm so jealous)

Shadowfax: For when I need to get there and get there fast. She rides like the wind. "Shadowfax, show us the meaning of haste!"

NightHawk: for when I want the comfort of black beauty, but the speed of Shadowfax, Nighthawk provides the perfect blend. It's an old 60's trek roadbike, single speed. She's heaven on the bumm too (She's got a new seat!) (see picture of my sis Julia locking her up, alongside Strider)

Strider: The most kick-ass of all my rides, strider is a beautiful silver and blue Specialized mountain bike. Whether the terrain is tough and you need to blaze through fields, or whether you just need to hop a couple curbs and pop some wheelies, Strider is the right call. She's my most reliable ride.

(last picture, me riding my bike in China)