Lanford Wilson's BURN THIS is a good script where what the heart wants the heart needs to get despite odds and likelihood. I saw a wonderful production of this work at Signature Theatre in 2002 with Edward Norton and Catherine Keener. It is not a good sign when that production is a more compelling memory … Continue reading Review – Burn This
The Brant Foundation Basquiat Exhibit
The Brant Foundation Art Study Center at 421 East 6th StreetNew York, NY The Brant Foundation is doing the art world a great favor. They acquired the building pictured at right and launched an inaugural exhibit of the works of Jean-Michel Basquiat. For Free. Incredible. The building was constructed as a Con Edison Substation in … Continue reading The Brant Foundation Basquiat Exhibit
National Glazed Spiral Ham Day
Mmmmm, I do like me some pork. If you've seen previous meat recipes on this blog you know I lean toward the piggie (Franken-Ribs, Homemade Breakfast Sausage and more...) So I perked up when I saw today's National Day. I was intrigued. My preference is Country Ham - not brined or water injected - but … Continue reading National Glazed Spiral Ham Day
Review – Classic Albums Live: The Beatles; Abbey Road
Interesting Concept. This group has been around for sixteen years and I have never heard of them. Their idea is to create live concerts with note by note, cut by cut. This is not a tribute band where performers play the parts in audio and appearances. It is not an interpretation of an artist's work … Continue reading Review – Classic Albums Live: The Beatles; Abbey Road
National Submarine Day
Oh boy, oh boy. When you are hungry at lunch there is noting better than a delicious submarine sandwich. Just the right crunch to the bread, quality cold cuts, tangy cheese, a bit of oil and vinegar for flavor and then bring on the lettuce and tomato and I am set for - what? Wait. … Continue reading National Submarine Day
Review – Broadway by the Year; The Broadway Musicals of 1943 & 1951
Scott Siegel runs an excellent series of a musical cabaret program of Broadway hits from selected years at The Town Hall. Arguably 1943 and 1951 are slim pickings beside Oklahoma! but there are favorites from many sources. The performers were uniformly skilled but the stand outs were William Michals, Robert Cuccioli, and Oakley Boycott. The … Continue reading Review – Broadway by the Year; The Broadway Musicals of 1943 & 1951
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
National Banjo Day!
Today is National Banjo Day. Generally people either love or hate banjo music, I happen to fall in the former camp. My college roommate played the banjo exceptionally well and thrilled to memories of meeting and strumming with his hero Roy Clark. There are other celebrity banjo players like Bela Fleck and Steve Martin. What … Continue reading National Banjo Day!
Review – King Lear
Seeing a great work of art elevates the soul. William Shakespeare's KING LEAR is a very familiar and one my favorite's of the Bard's script. I was fortunate to see the great Christopher Plummer take up the mantle a couple of decades ago in what was a more traditional but powerful production. Controversial director Sam … Continue reading Review – King Lear
National Jeep 4×4 Day
Many of the National Days I feature here are set because of seasonal or traditional time frames (imagine strawberry shortcake day in summer and eggnog day near Christmas). Others are set because of arbitrary number and word play (remember pi day on 3.14 and Star Wars on May the Fourth be with you). Today is … Continue reading National Jeep 4×4 Day
National Chocolate Mousse Day – again!
Today is National Chocolate Mousse Day and as I prepared my blog post I had a strange sense of déjà vu. Sure enough I looked back and saw that last year I did a post with a recipe from a cooking school I attended. It is a classic approach and lots of hard work and … Continue reading National Chocolate Mousse Day – again!
Review – [title of show] 10 year anniversary concert
Last month I attended an Actor's Fund 10 year anniversary concert of [title of show]. Though I did not see the original run a decade ago I was aware of the premise. Essentially a writer and composer team up to enter a show in the first New York Musical Festival. The problem is they don't … Continue reading Review – [title of show] 10 year anniversary concert
National Sourdough Bread Day
Today is National Sourdough Bread Day and I have a sourdough starter I have kept active for over a dozen years. Before available commercial yeast, most breads were made with a starter or "sponge." These can be long term or just for one loaf. When you put a slurry of flour and water out it … Continue reading National Sourdough Bread Day
Broadway Preview April 2019 – Part 2
As promised I am here to preview Broadway opening nights in April as they vie to be eligible for this year's Tony Awards. If you are in or can travel to New York a good time is April as at least some of these shows will close after nominations are made. Yesterday I listed five … Continue reading Broadway Preview April 2019 – Part 2
Broadway Preview April 2019 – Part 1
April 25 is an important date on Broadway this year. It is the last possible opening day to be included in the 2019 Tony Awards. Thus many shows crowd into next month to be eligible. There will be 10 opening nights and I will give you a quick rundown in two parts. If you are … Continue reading Broadway Preview April 2019 – Part 1
#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
Today is Opening Day of the Reds World Series 2019 Season. Really. I Mean It!
Today at 4:10 PM the first pitch is scheduled for for the Cincinnati Reds. Only one major league team still holds an opening day parade - The Cincinnati Reds. This is the 150th year anniversary of the first professional baseball team - The Cincinnati Reds. This is the last season that the best announcer in … Continue reading Today is Opening Day of the Reds World Series 2019 Season. Really. I Mean It!
World Theatre Day
Today is World Theatre Day and you should do all you can to see a live theatrical performance. I see about one theatrical performance per week and living in New York City, often at steep discounts, sometimes free. I highly recommend spending a communal experience with a group of strangers in the dark watching talented … Continue reading World Theatre Day
Review – Sign in the Six O’Clock Sky – A Fable With Songs
Theater For The New City is a home for experimental and ambitious theater. It is fitting that Arnold Schulman's "Sign in the Six O'Clock Sky; A Fable With Songs" is currently playing there. The new play is aspirational, captivating but ultimately flawed. It is as if the author stood before a restaurant chef's cooktop with … Continue reading Review – Sign in the Six O’Clock Sky – A Fable With Songs
The 2019 Baseball Season gets underway this week – Celebrate at Edwards in NYC
Finally, the 2019 Cincinnati Reds season begins this week. This is our year. The acquisition of Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp and others; First year for coach David Bell; a new aggressive attitude all point to a positive outcome. But tonight I will clinch the deal to bring us luck for the season. I'll be stopping … Continue reading The 2019 Baseball Season gets underway this week – Celebrate at Edwards in NYC
International Goof-Off Day
Wait a minute, wait just a dad-gum minute. It turns off that National Goof-Off Day was first celebrated in 1976 and I'm just now hearing about it. Apparently at some point it went International and no one told me? All these years I've been working on March 22 while the rest of the world goofed-off? … Continue reading International Goof-Off Day
Happy National French Bread Day – and watch me make some!
Today is National French Bread Day and I am salivating. Nothing better than a crusty baguette and a bit of camembert. A bunch of grapes and some fresh walnuts. I'll be right back, amuse yourselves. Maybe you can bake your own, try the link below. Fresh sourdough baguettes are delicious. https://wordpress.com/block-editor/post/walterthinnes.blog/3354 As always you can … Continue reading Happy National French Bread Day – and watch me make some!
Happy First Day of Spring!
Happy First Day of Spring! I hereby decree there will be no more snow, ice and freezing temperatures until next winter. Done with that. Bring on the flowers and birds and butterflies and hay fever and pollen and sneezing. Sweet Sour Neon Gummy Worms with a Sugar Coating And to celebrate I will follow the … Continue reading Happy First Day of Spring!
Review – Éléphant
I recently had the great pleasure of seeing a reading of a play by Eva MeiLing Pollitt - Éléphant. Because it was a developmental and promotional reading I won't go into any depth but have several observations. The play is set in 1890's France in and around a bordello. It artfully blends French and English … Continue reading Review – Éléphant
Review – If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must Be a Muhfucka
Sorry if the the above title offends you. I considered using asterisks (as a current NYC play "HateF**k" does) but knew I would be using a Playwrights Horizon program cover and it would show up unedited. A scattering of play titles have included the "F" word recently and I don't mean "Fork." Like the late … Continue reading Review – If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must Be a Muhfucka
