A Million Things I Haven’t Done

Hello, all! I’m doing something a little different this week, and instead of doing an analysis of a book or poem, I’m sharing my thoughts on Hamilton, which my husband and I saw in Portland over the weekend. Of course I’ll be discussing my outfit details as well, but I’m also including a restaurant recommendation of where we ate before the show.

First, a little context: I do not consider myself a theatre expert, though I did study quite a bit of Shakespeare and the works of other playwrights during college. I attend, on average, several plays or musicals a year–sometimes local productions, or Broadway musicals that are on tour, or when we travel we get tickets to something specific to that city (such as seeing Shakespeare at the Globe in London).

I went into Hamilton, not as a die-hard fan who knew every lyric, but as someone who’d heard several of its songs over the last few years and saw various TV interviews with Lin-Manuel Miranda (the show’s creator and original Hamilton). At the recommendation of a friend who watched the show a few days before we did, my husband and I brushed up on our 18th century American history, particularly on the real-life figure of Alexander Hamilton.

Honestly though, my husband and I wanted to go into this play with somewhat of a blank slate–it’s been so hyped the last few years that I wanted to watch it with just some basic historical background and no expectations.

First of all, no Hamilton review would be complete without mentioning the sensational music! Seeing Hamilton, Jefferson, and the other characters rap about historical events that I first learned in grade school was exhilarating and informative all at once. The play beautifully juxtaposes modern elements with a story that takes place during the birth of the US, which is why I personally think that people have responded to it so well. It makes history more approachable and relatable. And in telling the story through the life of one man, we also get a glimpse not only at his experiences, but at what it might have been like to live during that revolutionary time–or, to quote the song, what it might have been like to be “in the room where it happens.”

Hamilton’s life is truly an inspirational story–a poor orphan boy born on a small Caribbean island, who rises to become one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He’s a businessman, a lawyer, the first Secretary of the Treasury, George Washington’s right-hand man, founder of The New York Post–the list goes on. But what I personally loved most? I loved how the character of Hamilton is portrayed–he’s a complex, flawed human being who makes his share of mistakes, just like we all do. Yet he has such ambition and seemingly limitless drive that he overcomes so much adversity and achieves great things in his lifetime. The second half of the play I especially enjoyed because it really tugs at the heartstrings and shows the consequences of his choices, while also illustrating the redemptive power of love.

However, it is this particular line that has stuck with me all weekend: “There’s a million things I haven’t done, but just you wait, just you wait.” Alexander Hamilton was a man of vision, but he was also a man of action, who worked and worked and worked until he accomplished his goals. It’s a reminder that dreams and vision aren’t enough on their own–we have to follow it up with time, effort, and hard work.

White Blazer: Philosophy (similar here and here) Lace Top: Paris Sunday (similar here and here) Ponte Pants: Jolt (similar here)  Boots: Blondo  Purse: Saint Laurent (similar here, here, and here)  Necklaces: 6th Borough Boutique  Lip: Urban Decay Revolution High-Color Lipgloss (currently on sale for under $10 on Nordstrom Rack’s website!)

I kept it classic with a black and white outfit, a red lip, and the perfect accessories: a Saint Laurent clutch and my beautiful new necklaces from 6th Borough Boutique. I love a black and white color palette–it’s simple, timeless, and always chic. You’ll recognize this blazer from last week’s post: white blazers are so versatile and I wear this one often during spring and summer. It was a TJ Maxx find so I linked two comparable options above. My black lace top is from Paris Sunday (an Amazon brand). They have a similar version still available on their website, but I also linked an additional black lace top above. My purse is by Saint Laurent and is a beautiful, textured leather. I linked this particular one and similar options from other brands at various price points.

I’m very excited to be collaborating with 6th Borough Boutique, a Manhattan-based company who produces gorgeous eco-friendly jewelry (available online through Shoptiques). Their necklaces layer so beautifully with each other; the combination of these two pieces added that extra something special to my monochromatic black and white outfit. The “M” on the triangle necklace stands for my name “Miranda,” and I love how simple and subtle it is.

Last, but certainly not least, a quick restaurant recommendation! My husband (that’s him above!) and I loooooove Grassa–it’s a casual Italian restaurant in downtown Portland that makes amazing handmade pasta. We went there for a quick bite before Hamilton, and the dish pictured below is their Spaghetti Aglio Olio and Grassa Meatballs (I order my spaghetti without the chili flakes because it’s just a bit too spicy for me, whereas my husband enjoys it as is). That particular area has so many fabulous restaurants (next door is Lardo, across the street is Cheryl’s, down the block is Jake’s Famous Crawfish).

I know this post was a bit longer than normal, but I hope you all enjoyed my reviews and recommendations! If you’re from Portland or have ever visited, I would so enjoy hearing what your favorite restaurants are. Have a wonderful week!