Jukebox musicals can take many forms. Maybe you just play through the catalogue with no commentary (like Smokey Joe's Cafe currently revived at Stage 42 - highly recommended). Or marry it to a plot crafted to explain the sequence of songs (like Mamma Mia!, something I still unbelievably have not seen). Maybe you put it … Continue reading Review – Head Over Heels
Month: July 2018
National Cheesecake Day
Today is National Cheesecake Day and lips are being licked all around the nation. While standardly based on cream cheese and graham cracker crust, any number of variations have been invented. Pamela has changed her loyalty from Juniors to Gallaghers here in New York City (as you saw in yesterday's NYC Restaurant Week Review, I … Continue reading National Cheesecake Day
NYC Restaurant Week Review – Gallaghers Steakhouse
NYC Restaurant Week is not just for dinner - you can choose a fancy lunch as well. Indeed, on of my favorite restaurants in New York - Gallaghers offers only a lunch option, they are packed every night without the special offers. You can get a terrific lunch for $26 or add $3 for dessert. … Continue reading NYC Restaurant Week Review – Gallaghers Steakhouse
NYC Restaurant Week Review – Leopard at des Artistes
As you may know NYC Restaurant Week is underway. You may not know that the "Week" is 26 days long. You can still enjoy. Most restaurants in the program offering one menu for the entire program and throw the really good stuff into a a category that requires additional cost to the $26 lunch and … Continue reading NYC Restaurant Week Review – Leopard at des Artistes
Korean War Armistice Remembrance
Sixty five years ago this morning at 10 AM the Korean War Armistice went into effect. Technically we are still at war with North Korea and I am certain much will be made of that anniversary attendant with the recent theatrics surrounding the conflict. Maybe something will actually be accomplished. It is called America's Forgotten … Continue reading Korean War Armistice Remembrance
National Chili Dog Day – or as I know it – Pass Me Another Cheese Coney
Today is National Chili Dog Day, or if you are from Cincinnati - National Cheese Coney Day. Take a humble hot dog on a bun, add mustard, Cincinnati Chili, onions (optional) and mound it high with finely shredded mild cheddar cheese. Recently at the One Mile House Bar on Delancey Street here in New York … Continue reading National Chili Dog Day – or as I know it – Pass Me Another Cheese Coney
Review – Paradise Blue
Been busy, sorry to review this show after it has closed. Dominique Morisseau has written a play with a fascinating premise, strong period detail and dialogue, but left me still wanting further development of the script. The two primary characters, J. Alphonse Nicholson as Blue and Simone Missick as Silver are rich and interesting to … Continue reading Review – Paradise Blue
Restaurant Week Opens in New York
Twice a year this city puts on a special deal called Restaurant Week. It started yesterday and runs through August 17. Throughout the city 380 gourmet restaurants offer a $26 two course meal for lunch or a three course dinner for $42. It is a limited menu, usually with three options for each course, of … Continue reading Restaurant Week Opens in New York
Fort Tryon Park Heather Garden Stroll
Happy Monday. Stressful week ahead? Summer heat and storms got you worried? Below is your chill-ax tool. A peaceful stroll through the Heather Garden in full mid-summer bloom at Fort Tryon Park, right next to my home. Feel free to use it whenever anxiety strikes and then come visit it yourself. Take the A Train … Continue reading Fort Tryon Park Heather Garden Stroll
Ryding through the West Rock Tunnel on Route 15 in Connecticut
Happy Friday. Quick lead into your weekend. Recent Ryde on my Spyder through the West Rock Tunnel on Route 15 in Connecticut. We don't get many tunnels in the east, this is easy to find near Yale and fun to ride. Takes about 30 seconds to ride through. Enjoy and have a great weekend. Go … Continue reading Ryding through the West Rock Tunnel on Route 15 in Connecticut
Review – Slumming It at Dixon Place
Lately I've seen a number of one night only events that I am unable to review in time for you to decide to see or avoid. I'll be trying to catch up a few of those in the coming weeks, for your reference. Jack Shamblin has conceived, written, starred in and performs in Slumming It … Continue reading Review – Slumming It at Dixon Place
National Caviar Day
Today is National Caviar Day - a very tasty and very expensive national day. You can find many kinds and cheaper versions of fish roe all over the place. But I am here to assure you that real stuff, the real expensive stuff is much better. Years ago I was given a gift certificate to … Continue reading National Caviar Day
Review – Louis Prima Jr. and the Witnesses
We've seen Louis Prima Jr. and the Witnesses live several times and he never fails to deliver a high energy show loaded with infectious hits from both his father's era and the rock and roll landscape he grew up in. We recently caught his show at the Cutting Room in New York City where he … Continue reading Review – Louis Prima Jr. and the Witnesses
Review – Smokey Joe’s Cafe
A bit more than 20 years ago I saw the Broadway tour of Smokey Joe's Cafe and fell in love with it instantly. The incredible song catalogue of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller makes it one of the few jukebox musicals I admire. They don't try to twist themselves in knots with a framework and … Continue reading Review – Smokey Joe’s Cafe
One Last Long Reach Long Riders Video
OK, one more Long Reach Long Riders video as we swoop out of the lovely town of Shelburne, MA and ride through some quiet countryside. Hope you enjoy it as it will have to last you until next year when we will have new adventures in Colorado! You can learn more and donate to good … Continue reading One Last Long Reach Long Riders Video
National Pecan Day
Today is the national day for one of our most versatile nuts - the pecan. I love them in pies, in waffles, frosted with coatings both savory and sweet. Soft, with a laid back tang I will take them in any form I can find them. The only controversy is how these tasty treats are … Continue reading National Pecan Day
The return of sunset Manhattanhenge
About 4.6 billion years ago (give or take) our sun was formed as the center of our solar system. Shortly after (about 4.5 billion years ago) the earth was formed. Earth's axis of rotation tilts in respect to its orbital plane. While it defines the seasons change for the Northern and Southern hemispheres no one … Continue reading The return of sunset Manhattanhenge
Review – Girls & Boys
Carey Mulligan is featured in an engrossing one woman play written by Dennis Kelly at the Minetta Lane Theatre. Ms.Mulligan does an incredible job with a very difficult subject. I don't wish to spoil it but the script takes a very dark and difficult turn two thirds of the way through. It will be difficult … Continue reading Review – Girls & Boys
National Sugar Cookie Day
Today is National Sugar Cookie Day. Many people long for chocolate chip or complicated crazy complicated cookies. I long for simple perfection like a Snickerdoodle or delicious Sugar Cookie. It should be pillowy on the inside, slightly crunchy on the outside and redolent of butter and plain sugar. If perfectly balanced it is delightful. Too … Continue reading National Sugar Cookie Day
Little Red Lighthouse Tours tomorrow!
Special Surprise: On Sunday, July 8 between 1 PM and 4 PM you can take tours of the inside of the Little Red Lighthouse under the George Washington Bridge. You can often visit the outside but seldom see the inside so do not miss this opportunity. Take the A Train to 181st Street. Take the … Continue reading Little Red Lighthouse Tours tomorrow!
National Fried Chicken Day
I do like fried chicken. If you travel to New York you should try DIRTY BIRD on 14th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. They have some of the best chicken in these parts. But now I have finally made some at home to rival it. I have never made fried chicken that was perfect … Continue reading National Fried Chicken Day
Sourdough Baguettes
Recently tried the King Arthur Flour recipe for Sourdough Baguettes. You can find a video of the process below and the original recipe here: https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/sourdough-baguettes-recipe I used the half measure to make three French style baguettes. In a large bowl combine 1 cup sourdough starter, just shy 3/4 cup lukewarm water and 1 1/2 cups … Continue reading Sourdough Baguettes
Independence Day
For a very long time the colonies were content to work as subjects of the King. When he tried to extract money to pay for the cost of defending them from the French and various native groups a growing number of colonists fought back to either have full representation in their governing bodies or, failing … Continue reading Independence Day
My First Ryde with the Long Reach Long Riders
I had a great time with the Long Reach Long Riders this weekend. While I was only on a day and a half of their seven day ride they greeted me warmly and let me slip into their formation. We hit some great roads through forests, farmland and villages around New England. I hope to … Continue reading My First Ryde with the Long Reach Long Riders
SodaStream
I have always enjoyed sparkling water, not so much colas and sodas, but yes on just plain bubbly water. It was always a pain to keep myself supplied, lugging heavy cases of mineral water or just plain seltzer up to the apartment. Often I would make shopping trips to exotic New Jersey, if I bought … Continue reading SodaStream
Walter Thinnes 
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