Whether your celebration is religious or secular, I hope you have a very Merry Christmas Day. The world needs much more Peace and Joy. Do what you can to bring more of it to this earth. Jingle, jingle. As always you can find more at http://www.walterthinnes.com and on Twitter @walterthinnes
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National Egg Nog Day
Not surprisingly National Egg Nog Day falls on Christmas Eve. If you are only leaving milk with cookies for Santa you need to up your game and pour Saint Nick some Egg Nog! And spike it, it's going to be a long night. As always you can find more at http://www.walterthinnes.com and on Twitter @walterthinnes
National Date Nut Bar Day
Today is National Date Nut Bar Day. My grandmother made the perfect Date Nut Bar and now my Aunt Priscilla makes them just as well. I have never made them satisfactorily. But here is my 2019 resolution. I must make them perfectly twice and then I will post the recipe. If I cannot you will … Continue reading National Date Nut Bar Day
Winter Solstice
Today is the Winter Solstice, the middle of winter where the planet begins tipping back toward a six month march to summer. Sure, it is officially the first day of Winter and there will still be cold weather ahead but this will be the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. Days will … Continue reading Winter Solstice
National Re-Gifting Day
As we near Christmas, time to rummage through your closet to find those lovely presents from work exchanges, well meaning nieces and any gift that didn't quite hit the mark. Remove any bothersome tags and make up a good backstory as to why you are giving it to your uncle or postman. Be careful not … Continue reading National Re-Gifting Day
National Hard Candy Day
Today is National Hard Candy Day, I'm sure intentionally timed for the holidays. When I was a boy my parents always filled our stockings with hard candy, nuts in shells and a few tangerines, which were special in the winter those days. We also walked two miles, uphill both ways in the snow every day … Continue reading National Hard Candy Day
Review – How the Westons Won
The great part of living in New York is the plethora of innovative theater that can be found. The bad part is the options can be overwhelming and the runs relatively short. This show closes Sunday, December 23, and is very, very much worth a visit if you can make it. Go to the producer's … Continue reading Review – How the Westons Won
National Maple Syrup Day
Today is National Maple Syrup Day and there is nothing better for flapjacks than real maple syrup. Forget those sugar concoctions and even agave substitutions, nothing tastes like real maple syrup. A few years ago I heard of startling research that shook the maple world. It has always been assumed that tree sap dripped down … Continue reading National Maple Syrup Day
The Bridges of the Merritt Parkway Part 2
This is a continuation of the post started on Monday, check back if you lost your place! Final video today: As always you can find more at http://www.walterthinnes.com and on Twitter @walterthinnes NEXT: TBD
Reviews – DCINY Beethoven Symphony #9
Recently I traveled over to Carnegie Hall to catch the Distinguished Concerts International New York with their orchestra and various chorales performing Beethoven's Choral Fantasy and Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. I love Ode to Joy and thrill to it whenever it is done well and this certainly was. It was one night only so you … Continue reading Reviews – DCINY Beethoven Symphony #9
National Gingerbread House Day
Today is National Gingerbread House Day and fitting for the season. Making a Gingerbread House most often comes from a kit nowadays and is primarily to keep little hands busy and out of trouble. Because the Gingerbread walls are made very dry to make them weight supporting and the icing is often dry and brittle … Continue reading National Gingerbread House Day
Review – Ruben & Clay’s First Annual Christmas Carol Family Fun Pageant Spectacular Reunion Show
Broadway theatre owners have long rented out their venues for short term attractions between major bookings. These can be for special holiday shows (like the Illusionists show I reviewed on November 29). Last year there was an absolutely terrible Broadway show (Home for the Holidays) that featured "YouTube Personalities" and I reviewed on November 22, … Continue reading Review – Ruben & Clay’s First Annual Christmas Carol Family Fun Pageant Spectacular Reunion Show
The Bridges of the Merritt Parkway Part 1
I hope you enjoy this trip down the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut. As Wikipedia notes: The 69 original bridges were designed by George L. Dunkelberger. Each bridge had a unique design that represented various 1930s architectural styles, such as Art Deco, Art Moderne, French Renaissance, Gothic, Neoclassicism, and Rustic. See if you can call out the style from driving under these bridges! … Continue reading The Bridges of the Merritt Parkway Part 1
Review – Celebrity Autobiography on Broadway
Do you like Celebrities? To see them and hear about them? Then hurry to the Marquis Theatre for the next two Monday evenings. The show Celebrity Autobiography on Broadway would work better in a party or a bar. Current celebrities (or who are classified as such) read selections from published celebrity autobiographies. As Rachel Dratch … Continue reading Review – Celebrity Autobiography on Broadway
Review – Curtis Stigers at Birdland
Usually I stick to plays and musicals here in New York. But recently we went to Birdland to see a set by jazz musician Curtis Stigers. Pamela has been his fan for decades and she had the opportunity to not only hear his great talents live but to chat with him and get him to … Continue reading Review – Curtis Stigers at Birdland
Review – Pretty Woman The Musical
Don't hate me. You've likely heard all the buzz about how Pretty Woman The Musical, currently playing at the Nederlander Theatre on Broadway, is terribly out of date and decidedly wrong for the #metoo era. I was never a great fan of the 1990 movie it mimics completely but recognized that many people were thrilled … Continue reading Review – Pretty Woman The Musical
National Cookie Day!
Today is National Cookie Day which is a rather generic focus but that is fine as I generically like cookies! Cookies are superior because you can get a lot of different types and flavors into a serving whereas a slice of pie or cake is a rather singular approach. If I ever (heaven forbid) had … Continue reading National Cookie Day!
Bundle Up! December Sunrise Manhattanhenge Returns!
On Wednesday, December 5, 2018 comes the last Manhattanhenge of this year. Readers of this blog will remember, and you can find them in the history, the explanation of the science of this phenomenon. Briefly, the orientation of our cross streets aligns with the rising or setting sun to be framed in the concrete canyons … Continue reading Bundle Up! December Sunrise Manhattanhenge Returns!
LOTS to talk about – Sinatra at Sotheby’s
In New York this weekend? Sotheby's has scheduled an auction for "Lady Blue Eyes: Property of Barbara and Frank Sinatra" for December 6 at 2 PM. That means that the public can visit an exhibit of the lots to be sold at their headquarters at 1334 York Avenue between today and Wednesday, December 5 at … Continue reading LOTS to talk about – Sinatra at Sotheby’s
Review – The Illusionists: Magic of the Holidays
For the last several years an enterprising multi-magician group "The Illusionists" have parked for a limited holiday season run on Broadway and then gone out to tour America. This year it is especially themed to be a Christmas show though the dressing is rather thin and they call this one"Magic of the Holidays." I've seen … Continue reading Review – The Illusionists: Magic of the Holidays
National French Toast Day
Today is National French Toast Day. I like every carb breakfast option from waffles to pancakes. But French Toast holds a special allure. Based on that basic building block of bread if made correctly it is warm, creamy and satisfying. There are many creative ways to create it but at its heart it is simply … Continue reading National French Toast Day
The loss of Ricky Jay
Magician and actor Ricky Jay passed away this weekend at age 72. He was one of my favorite magician and I will always treasure his performance in one of my favorite movies "House of Games." I had the great luck to see him live onstage at Second Stage Theatre in "On The Stem." It was … Continue reading The loss of Ricky Jay
Tired of Turkey? Come to Cincinnati Night at Edwards NYC for alternative!
Had enough of Thanksgiving leftovers? You are in luck! In New York City you will find Edwards Restaurant serving Cincinnati favorites: Montgomery Inn Ribs, LaRosa's Pizza, Skyline Chili (cheese coneys and 4 ways), and Graeters' Ice Cream! I have focused enough on them on this blog because I often visit. See some of my delicious … Continue reading Tired of Turkey? Come to Cincinnati Night at Edwards NYC for alternative!
National Cashew Day
Today is National Cashew Day and I do love to nosh on these delicious nuts. As I started this post I idly wondered why I have never seen cashews in the shell, as I have seen every other kind of nut. Boy did that send me down a rabbit hole. Cashews are technically a seed … Continue reading National Cashew Day
Happy Thanksgiving Feast
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it is all about food. I hope you have a joyous day whether you are totally consumed by family or having quiet day in front of the stove or even the microwave. Enjoy. As always you can find more at http://www.walterthinnes.com and on Twitter @walterthinnes
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