I thought last year was the season we would win it all but I was wrong. Turns out this season will be that magic year. I'm sure of it (as any baseball fan will let you know). Pitchers and catchers report in 43 days. Of course, hope springs eternal every year for baseball fans, especially … Continue reading The Cincinnati Reds 2020 campaign
Cincinnati Reds
2019 World Series rooting interest
As we reach the end of the 2019 baseball season I find myself without the Cincinnati Reds or even the New York Yankees with good ex-Reds representatives to root for. While I admire the Houston Astros and all they have accomplished since they transferred to the AL, I'm basically a National League sort of guy. … Continue reading 2019 World Series rooting interest
Final #ATOBTTR Update
Another Cincinnati Reds season has come to a close without a playoff berth. My predictions of glory in the 150th year of the team, in the final career year of great broadcaster Marty Brennaman, were wrong. There is no joy in Mudville. But the team showed unusual resilience and spark with lots of possibilities and … Continue reading Final #ATOBTTR Update
National Soft (Serve) Ice Cream Day
Warning: do not let your children (or grandchildren) see this post. Ice Cream is always a delightful sweet treat during hot summer days. While my favorite will always be the Graeter's brand from Cincinnati, I also enjoy a nice soft-serve cone. The concept was born by a young fellow named Tom Carvel - you may … Continue reading National Soft (Serve) Ice Cream Day
We need more than #SneakOnIn
#ATOBTTR update - As my Cincinnati Reds have flirted with a playoff run in the second half of the season a new hashtag has emerged from a phrase by our superstar first baseman, Joey Votto. His strategy is to "sneak" into the playoffs while other teams are focused on someone else. After getting swept by … Continue reading We need more than #SneakOnIn
National Chili Dog Day
I've said it before and will happily say it again. My favorite Chili Dog is known as a Cheese Coney in Cincinnati Chili Parlors. Bun, stripe of yellow mustard, hot dog, diced onions, Cincinnati Chili*, generous heap of mild cheddar cheese. Deeeeeeelicious treat. You can find one in Edward's restaurant this Monday (Cincinnati brands every … Continue reading National Chili Dog Day
National Hammock Day
It is perfect that National Hammock Day falls in the middle of the dog days of summer. Strung between two shade trees, there is nothing more relaxing than a (yawn) hammock. As you slowly rock back and forth and the sun gently dapples your eyes (yaaaawn) one gets so verrrrry rrrrrestful. Mmmmble. It's just perfect. … Continue reading National Hammock Day
Mid-Season #ATOBTTR Update
Here we are just before the All-Star Game (where we Cincinnati Reds are woefully under-represented) and just past the numerical middle of the season. I've been rooting for my favorite team all year, convinced that a confluence of factors would lead us to a Championship Season. We're still under 500%, bottom of the division and … Continue reading Mid-Season #ATOBTTR Update
FootNotes #4 – Next Steps…or no steps at all for a while!
Good news about my ankle break is that it is coming along nicely with slow progress. The doctors have chosen not to operate for a variety of reasons but assure me that with their care and binding that it will heal just fine. Just as well with me as surgery can always pose other risks. … Continue reading FootNotes #4 – Next Steps…or no steps at all for a while!
Some Broadway Musings
My recent ankle injury will keep me from getting to the theatre for a while but that doesn't stop me from paying attention. This is not encyclopedic but a few comments... The shakeout from the recent Tony awards did not reward "Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus" and "Hillary and Clinton" and quickly closed. Unfortunate, … Continue reading Some Broadway Musings
National Strawberry Parfait Day
If Strawberries aren't the fruit of summer, some marketing firm has sure been working hard to make it so. When I went looking for recipes for todays special day I found lots with ice cream, various crumbled cookies, rich whipped cream, frozen strawberries, even canned strawberry pie filling. Yuck. You can make it much more … Continue reading National Strawberry Parfait Day
Review – Gary: The Sequel to Titus Andronicus
Start with the "source material" - Shakespeare's bloodiest play "Titus Andronicus." This isn't really a sequel. Sure Taylor Mac's script starts by plucking three minor characters from Will's play to follow as they clean up all the corpses (and they are stacked high in Santo Loquasto's set). In theory they are here to clean up … Continue reading Review – Gary: The Sequel to Titus Andronicus
His own private screen at dinner
Quick note. I recently went to a restaurant where I noted there was a perfectly behaved and quiet child at a nearby table. Then I spied why. He had his own private cartoon show screen on a smart phone for his entire dinner. He was enthralled and paid only half attention to his Cheerios. I … Continue reading His own private screen at dinner
Review – Jack of Cups
Unlike the folks doing this work, I am old enough to have seen and worked around Experimental Theatre back in the 1970's and 1980's. Inevitable components included earnest monologues on how we need to come together, interpretive dance, and sounds and music made from unusual items and innovative instruments. Turtleneck shirts were optional but recommended. … Continue reading Review – Jack of Cups
#ATOBTTR Special Edition
You may have noted on my blog this year that after select postings (after each complete series) I've included a segment celebrating the call of announcer Marty Brenneman whenever the Cincinnati Reds win a ballgame - And This One Belongs To The Reds! Hasn't happened nearly enough this season. I provide a pep talk to … Continue reading #ATOBTTR Special Edition
Review – To She Who Waits
The American Renaissance Theater Company is presenting a new play at Theatre 54 at the Shetler Studios. It is the 2018 Jerry Kaufman Award winner "To She Who Waits" by Bob Clyman. The subtitle "God's Plan v. A Mother's Love; Winner Takes All" provides a clue to the plot. The play jumps back and forth … Continue reading Review – To She Who Waits
National Quiche Lorraine Day
Today's National Food Day celebrates a delicious French tradition of an egg custard pie with delightful flavors. This version originated in the rural Lorraine region and traditionally includes bacon and cheese. Why not be creative and make use of items you might very well have in your refrigerator right now? Preheat your oven to 375 … Continue reading National Quiche Lorraine Day
National “I Love Reese’s” Day
Harry Burnett Reese was born in 1879 to a Pennsylvania farming family. He married in 1900 and eventually had sixteen children. He took many jobs to support his family and in 1917 secured a job on the dairy farm of Milton S. Hershey. Yep, that Hershey. He later moved on to work in the chocolate … Continue reading National “I Love Reese’s” Day
National Apple Pie Day
Today is National Apple Pie Day and later today I plan to bake one just to honor this special day. I'll start with a Pillsbury Pie Crust unrolled and pressed into a glass pie baking dish. Before you get all persnickety about pre-made pie crusts, you can check out exactly why I do so with … Continue reading National Apple Pie Day
Review – BLKS
It is very good to hear new voices in the American Theatre and the play BLKS at the new Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space certainly represents new outlooks. This is poet Aziza Barnes' first play script and she doesn't hold back. It is a full bore buoyant bounty of Brooklyn people of color that … Continue reading Review – BLKS
Review – Sincerely, Oscar
Sometimes a theatre production makes an unfortunate decision that mars or hobbles a show. When a series of unfortunate decisions are made in one show you get "Sincerely, Oscar" at the Acorn Theater on Theater Row. It is certainly an earnest effort by Doreen Taylor, a singer with a strong set of pipes, who conceived … Continue reading Review – Sincerely, Oscar
#ATOBTTR comes to New York City
My hometown Cincinnati Reds are in my dearly adopted New York City for a four game series against the Mets. I can't wait and will be watching closely. I will do all I can to help my Reds, including wearing their gear and joining them at CitiField Tuesday night. Of course, all will also be … Continue reading #ATOBTTR comes to New York City
“At the Diner with Dad” to be performed in Hood River, Oregon
My short play "At the Diner with Dad" will be performed at the Adult Center Theater in Hood River, Oregon over the next two weekends. Performances are scheduled for April 26-28 and May 5-8. It will be part of a program of four short play on the theme of "Parents and Their Adult Children." As … Continue reading “At the Diner with Dad” to be performed in Hood River, Oregon
Ahem, about that #ATOBTTR post
So last week I celebrated the Cincinnati Reds Opening Day win saying I would crow with the hashtag ATOBTTR - the signal winning call of vaunted Marty Brenneman "And This One Belongs To The Reds." Problem is that it has not been heard since. Yep, we have lost every game since Opening Day and stand … Continue reading Ahem, about that #ATOBTTR post
#ATOBTTR
Get used to seeing the above in my social media. It is the hashtag of Marty Brenneman's signature sign off after Cincinnati wins a game "And This One Belongs To The Reds." We won't hear it again after this season as Marty is retiring and replacement announcers are careful not to co-opt it while he … Continue reading #ATOBTTR
