How are you not here already?? I bet I know---you're not a "classical music fan", right?? Too stuffy, too boring, intimidating---choose your weapon. But Chatter is built to win this battle, and to win you over in the process. Their Sunday morning sessions, just 90 minutes long (including intermission), are enough to pack a punch and hold your attention. James Shields and friends make these performances fun, accessible, and sometimes even funny. Yes, the age of the average attendee may skew slightly toward the AARP crowd, but plenty of younger folk have discovered this delightful not-a-secret, housed in the quirky Las Puertas space (fans of architectural elements, looking at you here) and offering complimentary coffee and snacks to accompany the concert. With a mix of classical and contemporary instrumental music, and a healthy serving of spoken word, it's a hefty dose of culture and a terrific brunch pretext. Tickets are affordable, and the city sponsors a few pay-what-you-wish events throughout the year. Seating is a touch on the crowded side; I feel like they could've done a better job with this setup when Chatter migrated to this space. It's certainly intimate, which is ultimately a bonus; you can see the beads of sweat on a performer's nose from most seats in the house. Many performances sell out, and I suspect much of that is to repeat patrons; a little advert wouldn't hurt, and could diversify the crowd a bit more. This Burque gem is definitely worth a try at least once, so set aside some of those preconceived notions of the how/what/why of classical music experiences and give Chatter a shot. Win,lose or draw, at least you can say you were there. read more