tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931331045815493182024-03-21T08:13:37.591-07:00nybeat--cultureonashoestringCulture, restaurant/food, music, museum & entertainment information, suggestions & brief "reviews" ... focusing on New York City and the Metro area -- on a shoestring, with "Seniors" in mind.H. J. Scheiber, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366292492767857006noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693133104581549318.post-54311863899923273152015-04-27T12:38:00.000-07:002015-04-28T10:13:58.784-07:00Deli in the New Jersey "burbs" + Churchill (the play), a Ramen resto in mid-town west & Stoner (the novel)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TcCFhISfhPp-k7SlpT2AvasP-8Mb3ggB4Qb6YcJFOiq6toBlp9rmVU5K9WL8uFUhNmPovQ1k_n8QFI-7DzRwva452wRQxLakJ5UfkIo97K0aTUtis2wrtgTcjrE5RoxmHSSIwviUtxk/s1600/Picasso+-+Jacqueline+Seated+withk+Her+Cat+-+1964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TcCFhISfhPp-k7SlpT2AvasP-8Mb3ggB4Qb6YcJFOiq6toBlp9rmVU5K9WL8uFUhNmPovQ1k_n8QFI-7DzRwva452wRQxLakJ5UfkIo97K0aTUtis2wrtgTcjrE5RoxmHSSIwviUtxk/s1600/Picasso+-+Jacqueline+Seated+withk+Her+Cat+-+1964.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Picasso - Jacqueline seated, w/cat, 1964</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I know (and <i>you</i> know!), I've been mighty derelict in my blogging duties and utterly remiss - since this past January, 2015 - in sharing my <i>takes</i> on cultural activities & culinary outings & events. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Despite all the snow we've experienced this winter,</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />essentially occluding my normal peregrinations around & about the Metro area, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">still, there has been much to write about</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> (the two Picasso gallery shows that surfaced in Chelsea, for example) ... But, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">all the while, under a winter funk, I've resisted taking to the keyboard and generating a blog post or two or more.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixX5Pv83uqZLbc4cAEH5vCLYq-DMEE_NO3RZEvJE-3D4KySqMqUvkfbt5dAdLTq9bbfBoFKEsZkxOiV0XewQRKjNuX6jyIIcFclK3jTD0YbEQqlDYBjDdDOkphaJAJCzemE7w4bu-v0c8/s1600/Eppes+Essen+-+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixX5Pv83uqZLbc4cAEH5vCLYq-DMEE_NO3RZEvJE-3D4KySqMqUvkfbt5dAdLTq9bbfBoFKEsZkxOiV0XewQRKjNuX6jyIIcFclK3jTD0YbEQqlDYBjDdDOkphaJAJCzemE7w4bu-v0c8/s1600/Eppes+Essen+-+Logo.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">First up , there's a dining spot I've been meaning to mention for quite a while, out in Livingston, due west a couple of miles on Rt. 10 from West Orange in the New Jersey "burbs": <b><a href="http://www.eppesessen.com/">Eppes Essen</a></b> (@ 105 E. Mount Pleasant Ave., Livingson, NJ; tel. 973/994-1120). </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsgPzp4amZx_Pla9LqZwwJvlx6kDNTrHMPrJ8FOhry_5oDpXzExobFurejt6L9f7TI4GxljLIKCTDGKSz1yUWXf4YDpefJd_uoEgb1mYzLhM7QV3Oa22W5z9vOIBKkRFvIjxRR6OiNso/s1600/Eppes+Essen+-+pastrami+plain+sandwich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsgPzp4amZx_Pla9LqZwwJvlx6kDNTrHMPrJ8FOhry_5oDpXzExobFurejt6L9f7TI4GxljLIKCTDGKSz1yUWXf4YDpefJd_uoEgb1mYzLhM7QV3Oa22W5z9vOIBKkRFvIjxRR6OiNso/s1600/Eppes+Essen+-+pastrami+plain+sandwich.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Pastrami, <i>seulement</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><b>Eppes Essen</b> is an excellent, friendly,
full-fledged </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">kosher-style Jewish
deli with great pastrami sandwiches (@ $15.75) & </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">superb stuffed <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kishka_%28food%29">derma</a></b> ($14.99), a Jewish deli delicacy with an outer casing of cow or sheep intestine & stuffing, traditionally made with lard or chicken fat then, <i><u>a</u></i> <i><u>la</u></i> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; white-space: nowrap;"><b>Eppes Essen</b>, plated along with large perfectly
done </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; white-space: nowrap;">m</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; white-space: nowrap;">ushroom slices & </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; white-space: nowrap;">surrounded by chunks of tender bits of </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; white-space: nowrap;">egg barley, all artfully submerged in a "thick & creamy"</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; white-space: nowrap;">brown gravy.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dm3JXDmqisZX0_-cuIdoHUky6u8uPw2iIgGjVkg8CB9TDyBhCaBiJQEiz7VQkoCnKMHlBndGMOQolAyht-_ieoiAg2VeOUpV5Zxqv24u22N642MMkWvghk9JFfPlH6poh8TKMzfpCgY/s1600/Eppes+Essen+-+derma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dm3JXDmqisZX0_-cuIdoHUky6u8uPw2iIgGjVkg8CB9TDyBhCaBiJQEiz7VQkoCnKMHlBndGMOQolAyht-_ieoiAg2VeOUpV5Zxqv24u22N642MMkWvghk9JFfPlH6poh8TKMzfpCgY/s1600/Eppes+Essen+-+derma.jpg" height="236" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Stuffed derma, w/kasha</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dr. Brown's </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">cream soda ($2.95, the can) is always available, naturally, to quench one's </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">mildly salty-ballasted </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">thirst
owing to the large bowl(s) of cole </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">slaw
and numerous "new" </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">pickles
(gratis) that one eats in </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">anticipation
of the pastrami sandwiches - on perfectly baked "Jewish rye" - which will come with silky & substantial Russian </span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">dressing ... and finally the large <b>potato/mushroom</b> (or <i><b>kasha</b></i>, depending on your taste!) <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knish">knish</a></b> ($5.99) the two of us </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">have also ordered and were, simply, "forced" to take home.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmlkpHl6hL_qXiwagLWXBo4RAHCp-9LTpZ7ReI0qH7aQpMfGPtYJypJzoq5Ut71PoewGVcr7ZkxidVKWNvnItswDli_SDH2DzFZHfO7mYFcb5g8LzM2aQBeGfDpfMGpMhfisZ-00Z2jw/s1600/churchill,+the+play.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmlkpHl6hL_qXiwagLWXBo4RAHCp-9LTpZ7ReI0qH7aQpMfGPtYJypJzoq5Ut71PoewGVcr7ZkxidVKWNvnItswDli_SDH2DzFZHfO7mYFcb5g8LzM2aQBeGfDpfMGpMhfisZ-00Z2jw/s1600/churchill,+the+play.png" height="249" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then, in mid-March, chancing a new burst of snow - and absolutely no relation to pastrami sandwiches, nor even to Dr. Brown - we were able to see a wonderful solo production of a newly created theater piece, entitled <b><i><a href="http://churchilltheplay.com/">Churchill: The Play</a></i></b>, at the <b><a href="http://newworldstages.com/">New World Stages</a></b>, 340 West 50th St. (between 8th & 9th Avenues), a "must-see" (!) one-man piece transported from "a sold-out, critically acclaimed" Chicago run. Adapted and performed by <b><a href="http://www.goodmantheatre.org/artists-archive/creative-partners/actors/ronald-keaton/">Ronald Keaton</a> </b>and based on the life and <i><u>words</u></i> of Winston Churchill, the play proves a triumph, a perfect melding ... of a fine actor; a simple, functional & workmanlike set; and the exquisite <i><u>words</u></i> (many direct & memorable quotations each of us recalls indelibly etched in our psyches) of the heroic and extraordinarily articulate British Prime Minister, before, during & following the war. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFlKK2nvo-XOqJsXY_4X7Wu_6MFshjamZ_aAUxy_5_fdsEFwRQHco4wGygifONcJ7SP7NZUK9xLgatNJCZhAy6kEoFCroOqYxxw6-Dubn3tVLbnbUhEAwK3d9Wh2iEge9dCTIt-FTx74/s1600/RonaldKeatonAsWinstonChurchill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFlKK2nvo-XOqJsXY_4X7Wu_6MFshjamZ_aAUxy_5_fdsEFwRQHco4wGygifONcJ7SP7NZUK9xLgatNJCZhAy6kEoFCroOqYxxw6-Dubn3tVLbnbUhEAwK3d9Wh2iEge9dCTIt-FTx74/s1600/RonaldKeatonAsWinstonChurchill.jpg" height="236" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ronald Keating as Winston Churchill</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One memorable quotation, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">of the dozens uttered and integrated into the show, from, arguably, the most quoted man of the 20th century should suffice to demonstrate (with both irony & arrogance) the depth & keenness of Churchill's wit: "I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter...."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO2vpFXWC3C76MYQjzUH_zrv_Ahe79KzpRjnXEd3-dioWcxe8OF-aGwUH-TzGGTOXI9N1PfDjRk7rjRBbc432_as_o5qoFmZzHYSY1VCEuQOLRsFGKpnVEx1dZpqx9mwOu8ShOqArdOOc/s1600/Churchil+w+cigar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO2vpFXWC3C76MYQjzUH_zrv_Ahe79KzpRjnXEd3-dioWcxe8OF-aGwUH-TzGGTOXI9N1PfDjRk7rjRBbc432_as_o5qoFmZzHYSY1VCEuQOLRsFGKpnVEx1dZpqx9mwOu8ShOqArdOOc/s1600/Churchil+w+cigar.jpg" height="266" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The ostensible (historical) "genesis" for the play - in which Churchill reminisces, presents & conducts (shadow) arguments, explores his thoughts out loud in his "own" voice and at his own pace - is the immediate post-war period when President Harry Truman has invited Churchill to Fulton, Missouri where he will deliver his famous "<b><a href="http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/churchill-delivers-iron-curtain-speech">iron curtain</a></b>" speech ... to America and to the world. It is now March,1946 and Churchill has lost an election, been forced to retire; but, Truman has provided Churchill a public forum - the <i>platform</i> - from which we can all play witness to a riveting production and the indomitable Churchill, again, in his own gem-like words, phrases, historical "parsings," </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">monologues, and, even, <i>re</i>-constructed dialog (from Churchill's point of view, that is).</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYc0SyUT78TaesyGjREArs5jbGhsQJTpRIYWWKfM6w-HJJQlY0dWfro-oiEHgtVqmcfm8AIWX8vR7rukH5-Hb9ugmZVL6Pv0rayiqQoZG6jiQRAz42eKAfJ8xNwU7xu5TPzX8TXPb6no/s1600/New+World+Stages+%231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYc0SyUT78TaesyGjREArs5jbGhsQJTpRIYWWKfM6w-HJJQlY0dWfro-oiEHgtVqmcfm8AIWX8vR7rukH5-Hb9ugmZVL6Pv0rayiqQoZG6jiQRAz42eKAfJ8xNwU7xu5TPzX8TXPb6no/s1600/New+World+Stages+%231.jpg" height="271" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">New World Stages - 50th St. West</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With Ronald Keaton as Churchill, the show is scheduled to run through mid-July. You would do well to purchase tickets and head over to <b>West 50th</b>, between 8th & 9th, to see <b><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/w/winston_churchill.html">Winston Churchill</a></b> come to life via Mr. Keaton in what can only be described as "provocative, heart-warming, hilarious" ... a performance both resonant & masterful, at times somewhat understated & restrained, at times forceful & commanding; yet, a performance that, according to <b>New World Stages</b> publicity, "reveals the man behind the legend." </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7HIfkYHJ0dmU33y_MgUsUKGnfOx63bd-iMBJkwkc24IVCAMTmrn2-CzI8KP8epCWrTl8QzvzsI231ISPZFTaRgRRFo1D3CAjB5FRzXEPEEaxb7mIR42oEVH8jX3pcUXzCHa9sOToQW4/s1600/Churchill+-+V+sign+&+cigar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7HIfkYHJ0dmU33y_MgUsUKGnfOx63bd-iMBJkwkc24IVCAMTmrn2-CzI8KP8epCWrTl8QzvzsI231ISPZFTaRgRRFo1D3CAjB5FRzXEPEEaxb7mIR42oEVH8jX3pcUXzCHa9sOToQW4/s1600/Churchill+-+V+sign+&+cigar.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And yes, indeed the man has been thoroughly revealed by the end of the play - as statesman, writer, wordsmith, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">painter, charismatic leader & wartime strategist, cigar-smoking drinker, raconteur, orator & speech-maker, wit. But the <b><i>words</i></b>, in all, and in all their anecdotal contexts - uttered, memorably, by Mr. Churchill - are what flesh out the man and, coupled with associated political activity, leadership strength & military </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">influence</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, create & sustain an overriding impression of greatness.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkV22udhxnVGyzLCZ61c_HgbYsYDxrc5xYd9x3b40PKzpVW07ooPtIcwIuco83xQnSI5sjKmVQoSDdXes1oa3UOPtToj8tyq2R1YGPK3IQwyEn7xQFa3sXb0AK7KNE41bG4b3gugMFuA8/s1600/lppudo+inside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkV22udhxnVGyzLCZ61c_HgbYsYDxrc5xYd9x3b40PKzpVW07ooPtIcwIuco83xQnSI5sjKmVQoSDdXes1oa3UOPtToj8tyq2R1YGPK3IQwyEn7xQFa3sXb0AK7KNE41bG4b3gugMFuA8/s1600/lppudo+inside.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Ippudo - inside view (partial)</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Should you have developed a serious appetite while sitting through the two acts comprising <b><i>Churchill: The Play</i></b>, let me recommend a walk just around the block to </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.ippudony.com/" style="font-weight: bold;">Ippudo / Japanese Ramen Noodle Brasserie</a> (at 321 West 51st, between 8th & 9th; tel. 212/974-2500) ... specifically for <b>buns</b> and <b>bowls of ramen</b> of all varieties, densities & contents. According to the eastern culinary "philosophers"</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> at <b>Ippudo</b>, ramen is "a cosmos created in a bowl." Or, expanded in scrupulous but simple terms, ramen is:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbLAaljkyd3yP6PCn5mp3zkQG054vwGpy_TNWROtyHwAP2nUIBzcpFSkqyL5U7HtClyi7UBm68lkuFXl__-0ac6D6ne9t6i9swUrXcXSJo6UfIKS_i8XgzCOZeaLRb6JEfKOXIWWxrLA/s1600/ramen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbLAaljkyd3yP6PCn5mp3zkQG054vwGpy_TNWROtyHwAP2nUIBzcpFSkqyL5U7HtClyi7UBm68lkuFXl__-0ac6D6ne9t6i9swUrXcXSJo6UfIKS_i8XgzCOZeaLRb6JEfKOXIWWxrLA/s1600/ramen.jpg" height="275" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Ramen bowl w/pork slices</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 26px;"><b><span style="background-color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The basic broth ... derived from the essence of pork, chicken, beef, or seafood, and seasoned with soy sauce, salt, miso, and other important ingredients. It's totally up to each individual chef to decide which ingredients [to include] and how much [of each] to use. Flour, eggs, kansui (an alkaline water) and other ingredients are used to make noodles. The chefs do not simply mix these ingredients together. Their own particular originality is infused into the thickness, length, form, and texture of noodles. Toppings such as <u>yakibuta</u> (roast pork) and <u>ni-tamago</u> (soy sauce flavored boiled egg) are also selectively used according to the tastes ... [& individual] preference[s] of the chef. <i>Soup, noodles, and topping – the trinity brings forth the cosmos</i>. [italics mine] Ramen is quite a creative dish with infinite potential for expansion and diversity."</span></b></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Pork belly buns</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We four ordered a <b>bowl of</b> <b>ramen</b> each (@ $15./bowl) reflecting </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">varying degrees of "heat," of spice, & inundated with a variety of ingredients (e.g., noodles, pork slices, mushrooms, scallions, a "seasoned" boiled egg); a couple of orders of silky-tender </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">pork belly buns</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> ($9.); a plate of </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Suzuki Hakusai</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">,($16.), a "special" </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">seabass</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">appetizer</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> steamed in nappa cabbage & wrapped in </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">yuba</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> tofu skin, delicately "torched" and served with onions, cilantro & a </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">light wasabi dressing; </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">a</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjajZ3bYIz6dzPXUKd-eM2wJJIy2Q-AqNwwkS5sr52vpESF165chLVPbb9YVhY-W9dmSSSD6zO5Kc7X3Ks-C28byL2hareAv04zJkQ1rwq6Yox0b2NJkHvhhyphenhyphenNAcwcf-dgweQJvc_EdGBM/s1600/Suzuki+Hakusai+-+Seabass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjajZ3bYIz6dzPXUKd-eM2wJJIy2Q-AqNwwkS5sr52vpESF165chLVPbb9YVhY-W9dmSSSD6zO5Kc7X3Ks-C28byL2hareAv04zJkQ1rwq6Yox0b2NJkHvhhyphenhyphenNAcwcf-dgweQJvc_EdGBM/s1600/Suzuki+Hakusai+-+Seabass.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Suzuki Hakusai - Seabass</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">few Japanese <b>draft beers</b> (</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sapporo, Kirin Ichiban, @ </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">$6.) ... and, <i>bingo</i>, we were set for the evening, truly happy campers: stuffed & satisfied! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The establishment is comfortable and very friendly, albeit crowded and relatively noisy with lots of native Japanese partaking in what seems to be all the various accoutrements of home fare, comfort food ... indeed, Japan's "soul food."</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMYhSCyf7Eh4yq5hgihVIHN2J8vXygDYsoIqqvX6T7MGH88clIz-xgqZ7DfIlY9-1bmd1a1jLEhDX_L7Fev3jG4GWIV7pD-l0Rkin2DzOujqtqIy30eLvBgUX54XdyS95dSwHRSSOvHs/s1600/John-Williams-Stoner-thumb-300x487-5994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMYhSCyf7Eh4yq5hgihVIHN2J8vXygDYsoIqqvX6T7MGH88clIz-xgqZ7DfIlY9-1bmd1a1jLEhDX_L7Fev3jG4GWIV7pD-l0Rkin2DzOujqtqIy30eLvBgUX54XdyS95dSwHRSSOvHs/s1600/John-Williams-Stoner-thumb-300x487-5994.jpg" height="320" width="196" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Finally, just a brief <u>tribute</u>, a "catch-up" literary note, really, for <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Edward_Williams">John Williams</a></b> and his 1965 novel, <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stoner-York-Review-Books-Classics/dp/1590171993">Stoner</a></i></b>, which belatedly & unbeknownst</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> to me (and, I'm certain, to many other readers & admirers of the novel) won the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/dec/03/stoner-waterstones-book-of-year-john-williams"><b>2013</b> </a><b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/dec/03/stoner-waterstones-book-of-year-john-williams">Waterstones Book of the Year</a> </b>for fiction. Apparently, the novel is making a name for itself in the <b>UK</b> and <b>France</b> and has had a greater impact on readers in those two countries than even here in the USA where it was brought out in 2003 as a part of the <a href="http://www.nybooks.com/books/imprints/classics/"><b>New York Review of Books "Classics"</b></a> imprint (a reprint) series.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I just today came upon the announcement of the Waterstones selection of <i style="font-weight: bold;">Stoner </i>for Book of the Year, 2013, noted in a online article posted on the <i>mid</i>-April (2013) <b><a href="http://www.finebooksmagazine.com/fine_books_blog/2013/12/almost-forgotten-novel-from-1965-wins-waterstones-book-of-the-year.phtml">finebooksmagazine.com's</a></b> monthly blog. Don't know if I saw this announcement for the prize before or, more likely, this "discovery" was just a fortuitous result of my quirky reading of the content on the current blog post ... involving a click into the "<i><b>You might also like</b></i>" <span style="color: blue;"><u>link</u>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In either case, according to <i><b>FineBooksMagazine.com </b>... </i></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">John Williams</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>"</i>A nearly forgotten literary novel from 1965 has won Waterstones Book of the Year, building upon strong word-of-mouth and high profile blurbs. John Williams's novel <i>Stoner</i>, first published by Viking in 1965, has won the coveted British prize, attracting attention from prominent modern novelists like Colum McCann who said it was 'one of the great forgotten novels of the past century.... The book is so beautifully paced and cadenced that it deserves the status of classic.'" </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLqYIF0vw7-BzoWLVcuvJIQOmXqXGut8rDSLdLNOsedODiDP0oyzH-CNT1JJUbhHCouplPC6yRIn3LQMdebMNElBDe5_THO9Y0YQDQ2LkiVGp1EIZlw8Ro9o0RjJt5HqREM08xQJ5Y03w/s1600/Stoner+Hebrew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLqYIF0vw7-BzoWLVcuvJIQOmXqXGut8rDSLdLNOsedODiDP0oyzH-CNT1JJUbhHCouplPC6yRIn3LQMdebMNElBDe5_THO9Y0YQDQ2LkiVGp1EIZlw8Ro9o0RjJt5HqREM08xQJ5Y03w/s1600/Stoner+Hebrew.jpg" height="320" width="204" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Stoner - in Hebrew</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"The rather bleak novel is about William Stoner, a Midwestern academic in the early 20th century whose career stalls as his marriage falls apart. Stoner begins a brief, but ill-fated affair with a younger scholar, before retreating into himself as his life draws to a close."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A truly wonderful & deeply felt novel that is reaching, now, an ever-widening audience of contemprorary readers, even readers in farflung cultures as those in book-saturated <b>Israel</b>!</span>H. J. Scheiber, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366292492767857006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693133104581549318.post-80781283584057498162015-01-06T13:28:00.001-08:002015-01-06T14:00:21.743-08:00A recent romp in the East Village: "The Invisible Hand"; 212 Hisae's; ChikaLicious<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></i></b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Ayad Akhbar</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Having seen the Broadway production of <b>Ayad Akhbar's</b> Pulitzer prize-winning play, <a href="http://www.disgracedonbroadway.com/?gclid=CMb7nfLX9cICFQQQ7AodExIAbw"><i><b>Disgraced</b></i></a></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">, <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and having enjoyed the play and the performances, we thought we'd venture down to the East Village to the <a href="http://newyorktheatreworkshop.org/"><b>New York Theatre Workshop</b></a> (at 79 East 4th Street) to see his new play, <a href="http://newyorktheatreworkshop.org/the_invisible_hand.asp"><i><b>The Invisible Hand</b></i></a>. (See my previous blog post - 11th December, 2014 - for my extensive discussion/comments about <i><b>Disgraced</b></i>.)</span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKdZly6jeivUTTzGMqLOducVyty5dA_bV9_-TflnAQBw6rOfil8UxU8P7Yv2dbadhHWNIO90c5Y9U_btgf5-ORHoha25a-Is4aw_quXejWnMfer04v-u0Q1GCs1UmB_5JVyr3XqcI7dI/s1600/nytw-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKdZly6jeivUTTzGMqLOducVyty5dA_bV9_-TflnAQBw6rOfil8UxU8P7Yv2dbadhHWNIO90c5Y9U_btgf5-ORHoha25a-Is4aw_quXejWnMfer04v-u0Q1GCs1UmB_5JVyr3XqcI7dI/s1600/nytw-logo.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In brief, <i><b>The Invisible Hand</b></i> (directed by <a href="http://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Ken-Rus-Schmoll/"><b>Ken Rus Schmoll</b></a>) concerns a young corporate (American) investment banker who is held captive by a small (fringe) group of would-be or, at least, (suspected?) self-proclaimed "terrorists" who aim to profit handsomely from their captive through his ultimate exchange for needed funds for the "activities" of their group. However, one of the "terrorist"-captors, one <b>Bashir</b> (<a href="http://www.usmanally.com/"><b>Usman Ally</b></a>), quickly realizes that a considerably greater sum of </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">money (indeed, many millions!) can be gotten via activating & operationalizing the investing knowledge of the banker-captive, </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nick Bright </span></span></b>(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Kirk"><b>Justin Kirk</b></a>). And, thus, it pays (handsomely) for the terrorist-captors to keep Nick alive and relatively well for the ultimate good of their cause, including for financing the activities of their alleged leader, <b>Imam Saleem</b> (<a href="http://www.dariushkashani.com/"><b>Dariush Kashani</b></a>). </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Usman Ally (Bashir)</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are conflicts between and among the (three) Pakistani captors but <b>Bashir</b> seems to dominate and win out in the decision-making process because he is beginning to understand the nature and profits that can be - and will be - accrued by <b>Nick's</b> investment strategies. The dialogue is quick, meaningful, with loaded (!) remarks, and full of continual sparks, revealing the potential & inherent dangers, of course, for the captor ... and his captives. Any more said here about the play, its characters and their relationships, would certainly spoil the drama for a future theater-goer and, I fear, would <i>out</i> too completely its various conflicts - cultural, personal, national-political, religious - and, finally, spoil the play for those intending to see it now ... or, more likely, when/if it, in the footsteps of <i><b>Disgraced</b></i>, moves to Broadway. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81xnczqqJbYRpUGyHxoZbGWWuJ92wLTBTYq7UAXS9s9-ifxKfRN4WM79uh3iyZPOZuwZSHthUrvN06D0BIiH4VurMAApk46J7SOqK6osoPWMEbQkCDfrhOd9Hp1lBf5oX9-S1GE5dXhY/s1600/brieflogo+copy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81xnczqqJbYRpUGyHxoZbGWWuJ92wLTBTYq7UAXS9s9-ifxKfRN4WM79uh3iyZPOZuwZSHthUrvN06D0BIiH4VurMAApk46J7SOqK6osoPWMEbQkCDfrhOd9Hp1lBf5oX9-S1GE5dXhY/s1600/brieflogo+copy.gif" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you want to learn more about the themes surrounding, and within,<i><b>The Invisible Hand</b></i>, simply visit <a href="http://newyorktheatreworkshop.org/the-invisible-hand-info.asp"><i><b>The Brief</b></i></a> - </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://newyorktheatreworkshop.org/the-invisible-hand-info.asp">New York Theatre Workshop's resource</a></b> - "for further exploration of the
themes, history and questions raised by our season's production," and which can be found on the Theatre's web page (at the <span style="color: blue;"><u><b>link</b></u></span>, just above), then clicking directly onto/into <b><i>The Brief </i></b>"clipped"<b> </b>graphic. (The play is scheduled to run through January 4th at <b>New York Theatre Workshop</b>.)</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-8hcspyn1ksOV-x4EQYNF7ix4lGn4VZj-Ghd6GfUF8neR3tBa_PkY-AV-kWxsrCC3T3trP4cLjbcIslqzZGPw26zDntKnP6tZS1UUES5NhI06ppkfXwVUmcejPsShyphenhyphenFCy8NmFxnfWtk/s1600/Hisaes+-+logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-8hcspyn1ksOV-x4EQYNF7ix4lGn4VZj-Ghd6GfUF8neR3tBa_PkY-AV-kWxsrCC3T3trP4cLjbcIslqzZGPw26zDntKnP6tZS1UUES5NhI06ppkfXwVUmcejPsShyphenhyphenFCy8NmFxnfWtk/s1600/Hisaes+-+logo.png" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Following our rather successful theater experience with <i><b>The Invisible Hand</b></i>, we trundled up Second Avenue to East 9th, heading west for <a href="http://www.212hisaes.com/"><b>212 Hisae's</b></a>, an Asian <i>fusion </i>resto billed as an "Asian Pub" with tapas (at 212 East 9th St.; 212/614-3226)! </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8S52Wq18yKquXcRU2eEBl7h6LHenTwKboIukXsV7P7smbGlzp7J6pzeMAoxQi6KZyqB1sWXIhi-HHKx0dE7sllxfmN-JHN8n7kBUnfNGypRFbtH6UlF-ViYV9Rcf-rvvxJCS1T5uhIk/s1600/edamame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8S52Wq18yKquXcRU2eEBl7h6LHenTwKboIukXsV7P7smbGlzp7J6pzeMAoxQi6KZyqB1sWXIhi-HHKx0dE7sllxfmN-JHN8n7kBUnfNGypRFbtH6UlF-ViYV9Rcf-rvvxJCS1T5uhIk/s1600/edamame.jpg" height="132" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Bowl of edamame</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Greeted, according to their tradition, with a couple of glasses of house white wine </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">(in our case, a cool glass each of Chardonnay) </span><u>and</u></span> a bowl of slightly salted, crunchy <b>edamame</b> as we sat down, we immediately felt a part of this friendly, charming, inviting, uniquely solicitous establishment - and kind of guessed we'd be in for a variety of culinary treats. And, indeed, we were!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5ftOhoB0lfsDfZ8yAp-K2Rqy_7fInDX1535w8JKGuy9zSOrRJMhwhjwrM8uw2K0JN6XhUc6CBXIopySZQomuu7ZGVkFDwQBfBa0B1gESGbVyA-YsOuoe3H4KY0qa6OZJkxf4alJMezg/s1600/Hisaes+Crab+Cakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5ftOhoB0lfsDfZ8yAp-K2Rqy_7fInDX1535w8JKGuy9zSOrRJMhwhjwrM8uw2K0JN6XhUc6CBXIopySZQomuu7ZGVkFDwQBfBa0B1gESGbVyA-YsOuoe3H4KY0qa6OZJkxf4alJMezg/s1600/Hisaes+Crab+Cakes.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Hisae lump crab-meat cakes</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We began our meal (a moderately light meal, to begin with, gradually escalating to immoderate[!] proportions) with a few selections from the Asian tapas side of the menu (@ $6 each): the <b>Kabocha dumplings</b> (filled with Japanese pumpkin, grated walnut & tahini) & the <b>ginger shrimp</b> (delicately breaded with ginger & panko, lightly fried, and served with a mild-<i>ish</i> chili sauce). From there, we moved on to the carefully seasoned </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hisae pan fried </span></span>lump crab-meat cakes</b>, accompanied by a side of homemade smooth & "silky" tartar sauce ($15). </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwYUuCd-G2Kmoj93ayF0PQQbuUDRD4UWV4GVNVZqocSroiyijDHtMCUP4pKesANLEqm8AasN6em1ip_Z35Qkyco26r-iW5H7EUdoYS6w4ISMtak6WJtEasGR7lutzHXliiVJ0OWwelC8/s1600/Hisae-Owner-chef.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwYUuCd-G2Kmoj93ayF0PQQbuUDRD4UWV4GVNVZqocSroiyijDHtMCUP4pKesANLEqm8AasN6em1ip_Z35Qkyco26r-iW5H7EUdoYS6w4ISMtak6WJtEasGR7lutzHXliiVJ0OWwelC8/s1600/Hisae-Owner-chef.png" height="200" width="176" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Hisae, herself!</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next we feasted on the fresh catch of the day - a <b>whole </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>white "Mediterranean" fish</b> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>grilled</b></span></span></b></span></span> in garlic, mushrooms, and a light soy sauce mixture; a side of perfectly done <b>Asian green beans</b>; and </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">two separate (halved) portions of </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>house salad</b>, composed of romaine & kale, apple & walnuts & prepared with a lemon vinaigrette (all, together, @ $17). </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68lM5K9zRcANAzdHA7Z-NgvDz3Orc6vCSi5mnZ9tA2p3SwRozsMTR4-HwXEAj_m8RUottY1injJhS0JVSrVWwzZsiXmIFtHTZ4FwOhTuYuTooMcU9XC4E9c1kpIgqPAHbFtsDWCVvsGc/s1600/Mojito.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68lM5K9zRcANAzdHA7Z-NgvDz3Orc6vCSi5mnZ9tA2p3SwRozsMTR4-HwXEAj_m8RUottY1injJhS0JVSrVWwzZsiXmIFtHTZ4FwOhTuYuTooMcU9XC4E9c1kpIgqPAHbFtsDWCVvsGc/s1600/Mojito.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Mojito</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our grilled fish course - and salad & vegetable accompaniments - was, further washed down & cleansed with another glass of Chardonnay (<i>pour moi</i>, @ $4) and an inviting but vigorously penetrating <b>Mojito</b> (<i>pour ma femme</i>; also @ $4). I should point out that <b>Happy Hour</b> pricing at <b>212 Hisae's</b> generously, routinely extends all night long!</span></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddkN5KkMm4-ocAn7d5ppN5pAa4CC63br1AHyESqMCT8YsGx1sO1kwXRpKk-gabNmXsjBu6pyZSj-pqpjj1DlLR8qCcEqikmwn41_W0RMUNqWLPRn8Yf8i1vAG2C8ltfkTicKNav-kwBU/s1600/Hisae+Mchi+Ice+cream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddkN5KkMm4-ocAn7d5ppN5pAa4CC63br1AHyESqMCT8YsGx1sO1kwXRpKk-gabNmXsjBu6pyZSj-pqpjj1DlLR8qCcEqikmwn41_W0RMUNqWLPRn8Yf8i1vAG2C8ltfkTicKNav-kwBU/s1600/Hisae+Mchi+Ice+cream.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mochi ice cream plate</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Finally, dessert was offered to us <i>gratis</i> ... yes, just so that we could sample it: a <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mochi_ice_cream">Mochi ice cream</a> plate</b> (i.e., Japanese</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="st"> steamed & pounded sticky rice, with an ice cream filling)</span> for us to savor & share. So friendly a gesture, emphatically providing a coda to such a <i>fine</i> freshly cooked meal ... <u>AND</u> simply reflective of the owner-chef-hostess, <b>Hisae</b> <i>herself</i>, who, according to the web site, seems to be a "firm believer" in the notion</span> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: Perpetua; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">that "<i>food is thy medicine</i>" ... and, further, avers: "The formula [here] ... is fresh food, prepared to order, priced so that everyone can enjoy it." </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: Perpetua; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And, believe me (or not), the food here is, indeed, attentively
prepared, plated generously ... simply delicious ...and certainly, in all, so exceedingly enjoyable an experience as to warrant a quick return ... perhaps with a couple of additional guests to be "converted" & to introduce to <a href="http://www.212hisaes.com/#foodmenu_section"><b>Hisae</b></a> - both the owner-chef & the resto!</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlm0vkBedBjSpA-bRbTA1YVDYrsZS9yIC4gS9XCSLMTp_E88LdwRGsvJ2W42LbxA9IzFsMXy2G0eq-zBbUUMmwp95Z0AVdpzS6FlubzQN73RocwcUKy4C-xgzAsaIeSLj0Ww1-5y2mz8/s1600/ChikaLicious+-+Vanilla+Bean+Mille+Crepe+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlm0vkBedBjSpA-bRbTA1YVDYrsZS9yIC4gS9XCSLMTp_E88LdwRGsvJ2W42LbxA9IzFsMXy2G0eq-zBbUUMmwp95Z0AVdpzS6FlubzQN73RocwcUKy4C-xgzAsaIeSLj0Ww1-5y2mz8/s1600/ChikaLicious+-+Vanilla+Bean+Mille+Crepe+cake.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Vanilla bean mille crepe slice!</b></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And speaking of dessert, the East Village offers a great deal in this category, including the now routinely packed</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.chikalicious.com/"><b> ChikaLicious</b></a></span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">(at 204 East 10th St.; and, directly opposite, @ 203, a second packed "branch"). They serve all manner of sweet things - pastries, cakes, cake slices, pies, crisps, eclairs, bread pudding, muffins, cookies, ice cream - and coffees/teas (hot & iced), but provide practically no space to actually sit down, eat & enjoy these little delicacies. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The night we showed up there for dessert & coffee proved typically bulging with patrons of every demographic seeking, yep, all manner of sweet things. But, somehow, we were able to score some seats and a tiny table </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">however boxed in we felt & actually were</span></span> - right next to & virtually up against a foursome of young women who indulged in sweet things non-stop. We sampled a few items, including a <b>vanilla bean mille crepe slice</b>, a <b>caramel macaron</b>, a <b>black coffee</b> & a <b>latte</b>, all very tasty, indeed ... and both of those creamy things and hot liquids for a grand total of $15 (<i>sans</i> tax assigned!). </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFftyUAx9Fliu8KBLpNBA-JBy5oZIZRce6ioiud_bJjJUMjcK_0HvLQn2atlEeH2CkSuk5i09V51r-AReuvlBObq8lwlA09UoDNgvCpiZfncprZOcW2DAxN2TINdgbP454FlvyB3EyvY/s1600/ChikaLogo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFftyUAx9Fliu8KBLpNBA-JBy5oZIZRce6ioiud_bJjJUMjcK_0HvLQn2atlEeH2CkSuk5i09V51r-AReuvlBObq8lwlA09UoDNgvCpiZfncprZOcW2DAxN2TINdgbP454FlvyB3EyvY/s1600/ChikaLogo.gif" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">By the way, if you happen to be in the West Village & hankering for dessert - a sweet thing, or two - there is a new <b> ChikaLicious</b> outpost (a <i><b>Dessert Club</b></i>!) located at 27 Bedford @ Downing Street. Hopefully, equipped with a bit more room to sit, stretch out, and relish your ethereal dessert with a hot or iced coffee!</span></span>H. J. Scheiber, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366292492767857006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693133104581549318.post-81934472715501455652014-12-11T13:32:00.001-08:002014-12-14T09:57:37.098-08:00 Another visit to Brooklyn ... an opera, a resto (Taperia); a new film & "Disgraced," a B'way drama<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Just like everyone else in and around metro New York, we've been heading to Brooklyn periodically, of late, for various outings, restaurant visits, and to catch "local" events - both <u>cultural</u> (e.g.,the<b> 9th</b> annual<b> <a href="http://www.brooklynbookfestival.org/">Brooklyn Book Festival</a> </b>held late this past September) & <u>culinary</u> (for exemplary, interesting & reasonable eats). Just a few weeks ago (on Sunday, November 23rd), we returned to Brooklyn (<a href="http://www.stannholytrinity.org/concerts-recitals/"><b>St. Ann's Church</b></a>, 157 Montague St., Brooklyn Heights), once again, <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ru-V_j9TQHv_I1xWZKi8cxF31jvR7fdRnVdojEoHKdCDdenTmrrOpEkTwnLwKuic7rumziZPsxAi1liTA-NHkf5l8RfdXzffhd7WrpWZ2VDOVPVtcq1MldDISwFyQR1ACwPQLOVPr7U/s1600/sicilian_church2-300x186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ru-V_j9TQHv_I1xWZKi8cxF31jvR7fdRnVdojEoHKdCDdenTmrrOpEkTwnLwKuic7rumziZPsxAi1liTA-NHkf5l8RfdXzffhd7WrpWZ2VDOVPVtcq1MldDISwFyQR1ACwPQLOVPr7U/s1600/sicilian_church2-300x186.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Cavalleria Rusticana - Sicilian church</b></span></td></tr>
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for a performance of <a href="http://www.mascagni.org/"><b>Pietro Mascagni's</b></a> one-act opera, the storied, "melodramatic" <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIQ2D6AIys8"><b>Cavalleria Rusticana</b></a>. The Mascagni operatic </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">masterpiece was a joint productio</span></span>n presented by (and with) the <a href="http://www.thesob.org/about/"><b>String Orchestra of Brooklyn</b></a> (<a href="http://www.thesob.org/artistic-director/"><b>Eli Spindel</b></a>, conductor, <b>SOB</b>)<b> </b><i>and</i><b> <a href="https://www.google.com/#q=Grace+Chorale+of+Brooklyn">Grace Chorale of Brooklyn</a> </b>(<a href="http://www.gracechorale.org/artistic-directors"><b>Jason Asbury</b></a>, Choir Music Director). </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvnDW1L4UXpQx6nfnKDeRV7zrx4i-slfZ_jVm8DaWXXEksoE9MfsZQc5JKrnjYt6hRYX9UuxDA2YNqxxeYcOii2vY0DWovvXLnt5KAynGGckgvqxMLYgaWR-CLMqDdRX7PGPb1DeXnxg/s1600/Sarah-Heltzel+-+fence+%231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvnDW1L4UXpQx6nfnKDeRV7zrx4i-slfZ_jVm8DaWXXEksoE9MfsZQc5JKrnjYt6hRYX9UuxDA2YNqxxeYcOii2vY0DWovvXLnt5KAynGGckgvqxMLYgaWR-CLMqDdRX7PGPb1DeXnxg/s1600/Sarah-Heltzel+-+fence+%231.jpg" height="320" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Sarah Heltzel - Mezzo-soprano</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The performance - the music, the choir, the five soloists - proved especially strong, emphatic, unassailable, and
memorable ... kudos to the performers, one and all! Tenor, <a href="http://www.alexrichardsontenor.com/"><b>Alex Richardson</b> </a>(Turiddu), and mezzo-soprano, <a href="http://www.sarahheltzel.com/Sarah_Heltzel,_Mezzo-soprano/Sarah_Heltzel,_Mezzo-soprano.html"><b>Sarah Heltzel</b></a> (Santuzza), were both operatic <i>standouts</i> in their respective roles, and both, indeed, vocally powerful, melodic, and appealing ... continually kindling interest, evoking sincerity, and maintaining the substantial audience's <i>un</i>diverted attention.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDpvf-bHpk7mktKKIZKa-EEurPCcWzrseWbRF-LaIO2AzAEu4yune4wWTz164_licjMkAYsqbmj9bFJ60T-KworGqX-9MLp5LThDdrKE8G5Sz1l2ERo1peHvw-DMNt1gi8ye2jntiOxw/s1600/Taperia_FirstNight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDpvf-bHpk7mktKKIZKa-EEurPCcWzrseWbRF-LaIO2AzAEu4yune4wWTz164_licjMkAYsqbmj9bFJ60T-KworGqX-9MLp5LThDdrKE8G5Sz1l2ERo1peHvw-DMNt1gi8ye2jntiOxw/s1600/Taperia_FirstNight.jpg" height="176" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Evening view from Montague St.</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Following the highly successful, </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">simply staged & </span></span>emotion-laden performance of the iconic Mascagni (<i>verismo</i>) opera - and after hooking up with a friend of ours who is a member of the choir - we meandered just up the street to <a href="http://www.taperiabk.com/"><b>Taperia</b></a> (132 Montague, between Henry St. & Clinton; tel. 718/596-1800) to dine. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSKVTQCIo2EXekmG8sgG9jO7r3rL8VUjxKUw0tvjouMFoT3Eqo4AwvZjMMhCpzK1LnaKzh6H4S7e8HFGYioAm1_tIFPqMjlxqEVQmdvb9dgmcG2IDcNfzAAZ4fsRHmjx2Tgl5bsQCqXM/s1600/Taperia+Internal+-+Heated+Patio++View.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSKVTQCIo2EXekmG8sgG9jO7r3rL8VUjxKUw0tvjouMFoT3Eqo4AwvZjMMhCpzK1LnaKzh6H4S7e8HFGYioAm1_tIFPqMjlxqEVQmdvb9dgmcG2IDcNfzAAZ4fsRHmjx2Tgl5bsQCqXM/s1600/Taperia+Internal+-+Heated+Patio++View.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Taperia - Heated patio (where we dined!)</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We sampled a wide variety of tapas dishes, an excellent bottle of the recommended house white wine (a <b>clos Dalian</b>, white grenache; @ about $30) & dessert! And <b>Taperia</b> turned out to be, well, a relatively undiscovered gem of a dining venue - </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">unknown, surprisingly, to either of our Brooklynite companions. The restaurant, I should note here, is friendly, very attentive to needs of diners, plenty atmospheric, ethnic, quiet ... and our meal added up to near perfection in a series of 7 or 8 small plates (@ $6-10 each). </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">At the top of our list were the <b>Spanish chorizo</b> cubes cut up & blended into a fragrant & appealing <i>stew</i> of garbanzos, onions & tomatoes (so <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYzRAdI0vO0eYkOXLk2ZMcrqoe5b0_IBvA0uJO3Y0sse1_8I_A3OEVEs2KVHc91rCGrEB-g0_EJKmiZP54ST9b0UBXCBaY-f6kpQAmT2Ba2_8Es6H27lYHB5WEvRZhCSQ02kJl3Hc_rI/s1600/salad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYzRAdI0vO0eYkOXLk2ZMcrqoe5b0_IBvA0uJO3Y0sse1_8I_A3OEVEs2KVHc91rCGrEB-g0_EJKmiZP54ST9b0UBXCBaY-f6kpQAmT2Ba2_8Es6H27lYHB5WEvRZhCSQ02kJl3Hc_rI/s1600/salad.jpg" height="149" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Spanish chorizo - in stew</b></span></span></td></tr>
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appealing, in fact, that we decided on a <u><b>second</b></u><b> </b>plate of this very same chorizo stew!); the mixed plate of <b>empanadas</b> stuffed with beef, chicken & spinach, and Manchego cheese; the "traditional" <b>glass of ceviche</b> filled with</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> pieces of scallops, calamari & sea bass immersed in an admixture of lime juice, garlic, red onion, cilantro, jalapenos ... and served with white corn chips; and, finally, the <b>ropa viejo </b>(stewed, shredded beef, with white rice & nicely simmered red beans). </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8BlYwEdaS9oVa0xIxoPKtfzgav0y7651Xm-_kTF-WDaCX3RckvsAi_g-maj9LU_KPPxoGeZnXxD81J_uB6PcSvFkMASD_hbDjs36uU-0XXzgILL0f4E7cY5sni5Dx8QfWuJ9zRI7-EU/s1600/Flan+-+withk+jellied+fruit+whipped+cream++-+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8BlYwEdaS9oVa0xIxoPKtfzgav0y7651Xm-_kTF-WDaCX3RckvsAi_g-maj9LU_KPPxoGeZnXxD81J_uB6PcSvFkMASD_hbDjs36uU-0XXzgILL0f4E7cY5sni5Dx8QfWuJ9zRI7-EU/s1600/Flan+-+withk+jellied+fruit+whipped+cream++-+II.jpg" height="227" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Flan - topped w/jellied fruit & whipped cream</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Two desserts were selected (@ $6-8 each) - a bread pudding concoction and a silky-sweet Spanish flan topped with jellied fruit (apricot?) & whipped cream on the side - and we coupled the dessert plates with robust & intensely black cups of coffee (caffeinated, for one of our party, <i>de</i>-caf for the others). The two shared desserts neatly topped off a memorably filling combination of diverse savory small plates ... all presented with care & pride, in diner-oriented low-key comfort & toward our own great satisfaction & continual surprise! If you're in <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aaa.org%2Fimages%2Fcadman%252520sans%2525205.gif&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aaa.org%2Fnode%2F26&h=400&w=400&tbnid=qazFKv43CsKZcM%3A&zoom=1&docid=xHcSH50feLYywM&ei=X2qHVMaEDpawyASglYGgAQ&tbm=isch&ved=0CCIQMygAMAA&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=1203&page=1&start=0&ndsp=15"><b>Brooklyn Heights</b></a> - anywhere near Montague St. - you just might want to give <b>Taperia</b> a try - for entr</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span data-dobid="hdw">ée</span>-size large plates, for soups, salads, for large orders of ceviche ... and, of course, for <i>tapas</i>!</span></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>NY TIMES - December 5th</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In last weekend's <i><b>New York Times </b></i>/ <b>SportsSunday</b> (December 7th), a bunch of staff writers & editors </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">jointly </span></span>contemplated the world <i>without </i>watching football in an article entitled "<b>Who Needs Football?</b>" (their <u>starting</u> <u>point</u> was here:</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> "... take a break from the ritual masochism ... </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">anything you do will be less boring than watching a couple of lousy
teams play ineptly against a couple of other lousy teams). And then they provided a batch of "</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">suggestions for better ways to spend your Sunday." Their suggestions included such possibilities as "<b>Explore the City</b>" (which we do, by definition, in each <b>nybeat </b>blog post); "<b>Go to the Opera</b>" (done, too, see above); "<b>Eat</b>" (we continually seek out & examine new restos & venues not yet fully known to us) ...</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrEZkbG8tpw_vG_V5OJNc370coiyLufhhlDuXMDxiJSEnONVlArBxRL_eMP9N57UaC3EZDzn2DEYdZnqI1N7nP4ImkcbFF-EIaQgw5e65ZBJ67YsiO6KvGSdYqVV4fIgWQIHqk7mwwHI/s1600/Alan+Turing+-+Cumberbatch+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrEZkbG8tpw_vG_V5OJNc370coiyLufhhlDuXMDxiJSEnONVlArBxRL_eMP9N57UaC3EZDzn2DEYdZnqI1N7nP4ImkcbFF-EIaQgw5e65ZBJ67YsiO6KvGSdYqVV4fIgWQIHqk7mwwHI/s1600/Alan+Turing+-+Cumberbatch+Photo.jpg" height="320" width="209" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Benedict Cumberbatch / Alan Turing</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, what's new here; We've been <i><b><u>not</u></b></i> watching football for the past 35 or 40 years and have allocated our time to much more (in my opinion) interesting, enlightening, useful & enjoyable pursuits while exploring the NY metro area and even, occasionally, a somewhat further & wider "radius" (like that within and surrounding Mont</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="place-title__heading place-title--text js-place-title-nav" data-slug="/canada/montreal">réal</span>, Colorado, Wyoming, the Poconos)! Which, rather indirectly, leads us to two more extremely worthwhile "cultural" experiences that I'd advocate for - and suggest you'd have a look: </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">First, see (!) the new film,</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2084970/"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>The Imitation Game</i></b></span></span></a>, featuring <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1212722/"><b>Benedict Cumberbatch</b></a> in a subtly brilliant performance as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Turing"><b>Alan Turing</b></a>, the British mathematician, logician & computer wizard (father of computing/computer science & artificial intelligence), in his central role as the "morally dubious" cryptographer who<b> </b>solved the "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enigma_machine"><b>Enigma code</b></a>," the German strategic communications code during the 2nd World War, and, which, arguably (we are told) aided the <b>Allies</b> in ending the war some two years earlier than it might have otherwise lasted. </span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnR9BNRGzi_Ed48xb77E0nDpBa2exuCQPiSSb3drjB8EIzDfp1vz870mpptmHdU5McYRiRx0IsBwhPAtSWOxtwMoikg-wZ2r88AREPWnFegto4hVf5RPIO8AI7tzOyCPUpYn4zZyYLZAc/s1600/Turing+-+Book+-+Enigma+Inspired+Film.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnR9BNRGzi_Ed48xb77E0nDpBa2exuCQPiSSb3drjB8EIzDfp1vz870mpptmHdU5McYRiRx0IsBwhPAtSWOxtwMoikg-wZ2r88AREPWnFegto4hVf5RPIO8AI7tzOyCPUpYn4zZyYLZAc/s1600/Turing+-+Book+-+Enigma+Inspired+Film.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">More or less faithful to the book on which it is based - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Alan-Turing-Enigma-Inspired-Imitation/dp/069116472X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1418245874&sr=1-1&keywords=the+enigma+alan+turing"><i><b>Alan Turing</b></i></a></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Alan-Turing-Enigma-Inspired-Imitation/dp/069116472X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1418245874&sr=1-1&keywords=the+enigma+alan+turing"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">: The Enigma</span></b></i></a><span style="font-size: large;">, by Andrew Hodges</span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">- the film (directed by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0878763/"><b>Morten Tyldum</b></a>) focuses centrally on Turing and, specifically, on the intricate narrative details surrounding the sequence of events just prior to the cracking of the "<i>indecipherable</i>" German code. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Carefully constructed (even "sculpted"), the film's components fuse together & unite the three unequal constituent threads of the film - replete with post-war revelatory scenes; flashbacks to Turing as a "difficult" young public school student; and, foremost, presenting the time frame (however condensed & intensified) at <a href="http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/content/about/"><b>Bletchley Park</b></a>, the UK center where the "team-building" & code-breaking efforts take place. That is, all three narrative strands merge - as a cinematic force - to depict the period, the war-time work, post-war difficulties with the "authorities," and Turing's <u>idiosyncratic</u> personality ... his genius, his temperament, his sexuality, his interpersonal skills (or lack thereof), and his analytical methods. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Alan Turing / Bronze bust</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And while the supporting cast provides the necessary harmonious acting ensemble (kudos to <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0461136/"><b>Keira Knightley</b></a>) & theatrical backdrop against which the Turing character acts & <i>re</i>-acts, it is Cumberbatch as Alan Turing whose every movement absorbs & maintains our attention with a performance that is simply sterling - genuine, riveting, masterful, enigmatic (pardon the use of this adjective), and, at once, understated & powerful.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjbtdWwBWaKbc8a0FCCPJHF9qjhbiSLIWwXS3Ml3J_hIlyCx03z8aVfQbQotyIz5bKRpSdXywiQgt0m49zhNDI0YhNfNP6ilmBImJhI22Ns1q6_f-CWx_Xbsllsc9K1w78nXUPVaoQEU/s1600/Ayad+Akhtar+-+Disgraced-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjbtdWwBWaKbc8a0FCCPJHF9qjhbiSLIWwXS3Ml3J_hIlyCx03z8aVfQbQotyIz5bKRpSdXywiQgt0m49zhNDI0YhNfNP6ilmBImJhI22Ns1q6_f-CWx_Xbsllsc9K1w78nXUPVaoQEU/s1600/Ayad+Akhtar+-+Disgraced-2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Ayad Akhtar - Playwright</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The second - and, for the moment, final - cultural <i>experience</i> I'd advocate attending, and suggest you purchase tickets for immediately (!), is the <b>Pulitzer prize-winning</b> drama by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayad_Akhtar"><b>Ayad Akhtar</b></a>, now on Broadway, entitled <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><b><i>Disgraced</i></b></a> (at the <a href="http://www.shubert.nyc/theatres/lyceum"><b>Lyceum Theatre</b></a>; at 149 West 45th St.).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tautly directed by <a href="http://www.kimberlysenior.net/"><b>Kimberly Senior</b></a>, the play, in four scenes (between 2011 & 2012), takes place in a stylish, commodious upper East Side apartment and explores the personhood, the <i>personae </i>- values, conscience, </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">self-worth, </span></span>hopes, desires, motives, </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">depths, solidity</span></span> - of one <b>Amir</b> (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0223561/"><b>Hari Dhillon</b></a>), a thirty-something Pakistani-American lawyer and his relationship(s) to his wife, Emily (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gretchen_Mol"><b>Gretchen Mol</b></a>), a nephew, Abe (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3314825/"><b>Danny Ashok</b></a>), an Afro-American colleague, Jory (<a href="http://www.broadwaybox.com/daily-scoop/five-burning-questions-with-disgraced-star-karen-pittman/"><b>Karen Pittman</b></a>), and her husband, Abe (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1102140/"><b>Josh Radnor</b></a>), an art dealer. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgek6XsVVoMsCdTtTJTHeAYRbTltXzNWJ1YKG3OpSfbw64MJvUfK7OlGCxxyipfiR5AAxnauNdl3TBwiJ4xjxRmpFLLbjvnh_f_Ikl94nhOYhLKbEGY5HtZfhIMkFsg6DWe6Hv2dbif4XI/s1600/Hari+Dhillon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgek6XsVVoMsCdTtTJTHeAYRbTltXzNWJ1YKG3OpSfbw64MJvUfK7OlGCxxyipfiR5AAxnauNdl3TBwiJ4xjxRmpFLLbjvnh_f_Ikl94nhOYhLKbEGY5HtZfhIMkFsg6DWe6Hv2dbif4XI/s1600/Hari+Dhillon.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Hari Dhillon - Amir</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">At the outset of the drama,<b> Amir</b>, though of east Asian ethnicity, is a confident <u>American</u> corporate attorney who soon, he assumes, will become a partner in his law firm ... and who just happens to be of Pakistani origin. But, as things progress, and muddy as they are apt to do, and as he interacts with the other characters - his artist (<i>pro</i>- or <i>faux</i> Islam-oriented) wife; his <i>pro</i>-Pakistani nephew; the Jewish-American art dealer interested in his wife's work (?) and his wife <i>herself</i>; his black-American corporate lawyer colleague (wife of the art dealer) - things, shall we say, become less & less routine and obvious to him, and he stands on less (& less) firm ground. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">At the end of Scene 4, when the play is about to conclude, and things in the apartment are both psychologically and <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZWihyphenhyphenM9cv0LEb9HFoo_5PwdpHNNNGzj5mfAzGRZ_YP9I41Gw8s6Ruo8WeYI8ez8t_jl6Tr2gRGC6j9hpn22SsTQIbSywXn7SeHsio-xCdYsUfiDQEWNqzEwzDZoLLTlE1fel7qyMHLI/s1600/Karen-Pittman-Disgraced-Broadway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZWihyphenhyphenM9cv0LEb9HFoo_5PwdpHNNNGzj5mfAzGRZ_YP9I41Gw8s6Ruo8WeYI8ez8t_jl6Tr2gRGC6j9hpn22SsTQIbSywXn7SeHsio-xCdYsUfiDQEWNqzEwzDZoLLTlE1fel7qyMHLI/s1600/Karen-Pittman-Disgraced-Broadway.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Three photos - from <i>Disgraced</i></b></span></td></tr>
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physically "packed up," we wonder ... and these are the central & perplexing questions about which the play is concerned: Can Amir, will Amir, maintain his sense of American-<i>ness</i>, his American needs & cultural values; can he, or will he, maintain what might only have been his posture, a hopeful pose? Or, might he travel (at least mentally, psychically, even physically) to Pakistan, toward more traditional roots? Or, further, does he (can he), truly fit in <u>and</u> belong anywhere at all?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The play, in short, is about Amir's fall, his dislocation, his disorientation, a crisis in his identity, resulting, ultimately in loss - of a job, a partnership, an American wife, his American friends (the black & Jewish couple), and a way of life as an American, an American professional. You will, indeed, formulate your own serious questions as you view the play and, certainly, afterwards, after you have chewed over & digested</span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">what you have just witnessed.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, once again, as <b><i>The New York Times</i></b> editors formulate the question for us: Who needs football? Come on ... get serious ... <u><i>Really</i></u>!</span></span>H. J. Scheiber, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366292492767857006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693133104581549318.post-72706264418459407212014-11-18T12:56:00.002-08:002014-11-24T11:36:25.244-08:00Late fall in Manhattan: Odds & ends ... art, design AND eats ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-J3qaxZ8_lf5X-jd7mKhf-fhpEBl-meFF6D1zAGJsjss4aLFOLnwuDiiqnWVIUDHt_BvB6TrhUBipSvv-JVUmCWz-Km2ixv7JUvqCqIcJDEY7STzAvKHypMmfvtf21PucuFM9TLn2CTI/s1600/Fountain+Pen+Hospital.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-J3qaxZ8_lf5X-jd7mKhf-fhpEBl-meFF6D1zAGJsjss4aLFOLnwuDiiqnWVIUDHt_BvB6TrhUBipSvv-JVUmCWz-Km2ixv7JUvqCqIcJDEY7STzAvKHypMmfvtf21PucuFM9TLn2CTI/s320/Fountain+Pen+Hospital.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you find yourself wandering around lower Manhattan (on the west side of town, in the Tribeca vicinity) - seeking out the <a href="http://www.fountainpenhospital.com/"><b>Fountain Pen Hospital</b></a></span><span style="font-size: large;"> (@ 10 Warren St.; tel.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> 212/964-0580)</span></span> for a new pen, special refill, or repair; visiting <a href="http://www.mysteriousbookshop.com/"><b>The</b> <b>Mysterious Bookshop</b></a> (58 Warren St.; tel. 212/587-1011) for its wide variety & depth in detective fiction & mystery novels; or attending an event at the <a href="http://tribecapac.org/"><b>Tribeca Performing Arts Center</b></a> (@ 199 Chambers St.; tel. 212/220-1459) - <i><b>and</b></i>, if you grow <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM63tPGFuOlrPlTZu604KlOr5Fz3KALPqLQHoir_spWBabYAvUICbgsmkVyn3uz4b6iaZt-VFta2h4vYoBuFjXWGpnYr_J5i09pWJiMCGSItZuI2QU1AY9g5pYN-vIK5a2Od8LMWhzcw4/s1600/red_on_black_medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM63tPGFuOlrPlTZu604KlOr5Fz3KALPqLQHoir_spWBabYAvUICbgsmkVyn3uz4b6iaZt-VFta2h4vYoBuFjXWGpnYr_J5i09pWJiMCGSItZuI2QU1AY9g5pYN-vIK5a2Od8LMWhzcw4/s200/red_on_black_medium.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Hard boiled & noir</b></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">hungry, you will do no better for <u>creative</u> Chinese eats than visiting the <a href="http://lotusbluebar.com/menus/"><b>Lotus Blue Restaurant and Bar</b></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> (to be found @ 110 Reade Street; tel. 212/267-3777), which o</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">ffers a menu uniquely rich in what they call "<i><b>modern Yunnan cuisine</b></i>."</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And by that phrase they mean a Yunnan cuisine inflected with, and accentuated by, the rich flavors & ingredients of Burma and Thailand mingled with the more traditionally spicy, pungent flavors & piquant delicacies found "tucked away" in Yunnan Province. Or, in <a href="http://lotusbluebar.com/sample-page-2/"><b>their own <i>more</i> <i>elaborate</i> <i>description</i></b></a> ... their Yunnan eclecticism results in a cuisine borrowing "freely" from neighboring areas and using spices such as lemon grass, mint, purple basil and cilantro ... amidst such traditional ingredients as cured beef, ham & mushrooms (e.g., "stir-fried" trumpet & shiitake). </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbDGaIfe1TifCGVYLtiy6j_ra692RP88m4FKwVPcqC8XtWlzQ1AMXic7pvnaLWJk9XDHyDFj6a4vVaKGtOkOCb7A6b_SaEtoComDkKIYZaTao-gSRbPfR5NB4Dm2sRt5cwQfyVEstJpc/s1600/Lotus+Blue+-+Internal+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbDGaIfe1TifCGVYLtiy6j_ra692RP88m4FKwVPcqC8XtWlzQ1AMXic7pvnaLWJk9XDHyDFj6a4vVaKGtOkOCb7A6b_SaEtoComDkKIYZaTao-gSRbPfR5NB4Dm2sRt5cwQfyVEstJpc/s320/Lotus+Blue+-+Internal+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Lotus Blue - Dining room</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Within their extensive menu, you will also find tropical flowers & fruits (like mango), "banana blossom salad, </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">lemongrass herb rub ... used in ... 'grill' sea bass and baby back ribs, and a coconut tapioca
pudding ... topped off with edible flower petals and rose petal syrup." And, while the food offered is "recognizably Chinese," their use of "local ingredients in distinctive combinations ... [results in] full-flavored refreshing dishes that make dining at <b>Lotus Blue</b> a unique [!] experience."</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfSgMM3SP-wM8CNNyijTm0ezrudbl2gqQ2b6AIbKjCTC4eDfhOac74oesQqDKYfHw8xQjNYc1odTAIaGNQkJbfbqHIt0n2L4Mbqq6HmRx0ZKmcq0Bh3lZSrbSwA8XFj6dH3I-ysZ87Xc/s1600/Lotus+Blue+-+Crispy+Scallion+Pancakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfSgMM3SP-wM8CNNyijTm0ezrudbl2gqQ2b6AIbKjCTC4eDfhOac74oesQqDKYfHw8xQjNYc1odTAIaGNQkJbfbqHIt0n2L4Mbqq6HmRx0ZKmcq0Bh3lZSrbSwA8XFj6dH3I-ysZ87Xc/s200/Lotus+Blue+-+Crispy+Scallion+Pancakes.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Crispy scallion pancake</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlrIm5_NClqdUr2DqMHAevhPL9C8pD97tTxPe5YImuA0yTNWGbpVHw9Hf8GPhnTVbwL4cLQNvy8WY9PERW5F7-_fzFHNUqmeBi3aHJOPQH5sbtU77x_TCwdrBY5BAaGIqsKPaS9p1xac/s1600/Lotus+Blue+-+external+%232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlrIm5_NClqdUr2DqMHAevhPL9C8pD97tTxPe5YImuA0yTNWGbpVHw9Hf8GPhnTVbwL4cLQNvy8WY9PERW5F7-_fzFHNUqmeBi3aHJOPQH5sbtU77x_TCwdrBY5BAaGIqsKPaS9p1xac/s200/Lotus+Blue+-+external+%232.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Lotus Blue - external view</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">On the occasion we (recently) visited - my first, my wife's 3rd - we aimed to eat relatively lightly, just an <u>appetizer</u> (a small plate) and two <u>mains</u>, or large plates. Beer prices were reduced (just $5 for each bottle we quaffed of Singha & Sapporo) as we showed up during their <b>happy hour</b> time frame. We began with a <b>crispy scallion pancake</b> (@ $8), accompanied by both aloe honey sauce & lime soy sauce. The pancake proved plenty big enough to share and was perfectly done, golden brown and, indeed, crispy-crunchy in texture.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next came our <u>two</u> large plates ... one (my own), the <b>flank steak trumpet mushroom stir-fry</b> - composed of sliced flank steak and, yep, trumpet mushrooms in a Sichuan<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHt_GuHhMZuXglN_noDLvrfjvxanFiCd-igYp03k5esRMOzn0SmmcsN3NHgJPy6B4G0cXGKoOZv4mdZFcr2vvBdJWSwErwUUSKz4IsGXzdAk0G4jvYEyIdYSYZJ2IXzrv7MAtnJc5BNB4/s1600/Lotus+Blue+-+Dalia+chicken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHt_GuHhMZuXglN_noDLvrfjvxanFiCd-igYp03k5esRMOzn0SmmcsN3NHgJPy6B4G0cXGKoOZv4mdZFcr2vvBdJWSwErwUUSKz4IsGXzdAk0G4jvYEyIdYSYZJ2IXzrv7MAtnJc5BNB4/s320/Lotus+Blue+-+Dalia+chicken.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Dali specialty chicken</b></span></td></tr>
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peppercorn sauce ($20) - was nicely prepared, nicely "peppered," and the beef tender, tasty & succulent, throughout the stir-fry! The second (my wife's plate) - <b>fresh caught clams stir-fried in mushroom sauce </b>($18) - proved to be unique in both content & texture. Consisting of fresh clams in their shells "tossed" with <i>basil</i> mushrooms & garlic sauce, this appealing, somewhat spicy dish "connected" emphatically with both of us (oddly, but especially, with my dining partner, because of her general lack of interest in clams or oysters in their shells). </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We'll certainly return to <b>Lotus Blue</b>, this comfortable gold-mine of a "modern" Yunnan resto, for there are, indeed, considerably more plates - large & small, noodles & soups, rice dishes & sides - yet to identify & sample. I have my eye right now on the <b>Dali specialty chicken</b> (a large plate of crisp-fried chicken with special tea tree mushroom sauce; @ $18) ... <u><b>AND</b></u> the <b>spicy cumin lamb cubes</b> (a stir-fry dish comprising cumin & spice salt marinated lamb; $22).</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONHq6hx0d7odXAKwx5uENAJLiYWj4h-3w_VALWF05NRqZdHAz7scirZ0innC1y374cXs3H8ZArsMYdKWdcw5H9DjSvbuSjy0ctnwXhxG4yB00IggkkHTYq2ZI2c2LxfVMGiAxsYDGvYo/s1600/S++Wildman+-+paperlove+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONHq6hx0d7odXAKwx5uENAJLiYWj4h-3w_VALWF05NRqZdHAz7scirZ0innC1y374cXs3H8ZArsMYdKWdcw5H9DjSvbuSjy0ctnwXhxG4yB00IggkkHTYq2ZI2c2LxfVMGiAxsYDGvYo/s1600/S++Wildman+-+paperlove+II.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We followed dinner with coffee (<b>Pike's</b> roast) at a nearby Starbucks just prior to our trek further downtown to <a href="http://www.mjhnyc.org/findex.html"><b>The Museum of Jewish Heritage</b></a> (</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Edmond J. Safra Plaza / 36 Battery Place; tel. 646/437-4202) for a </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>92nd Street Y @ MJH</b> joint program ... a </span></span>"book release" event: an interesting & poignant conversation between author, <a href="http://www.sarahwildman.com/"><b>Sarah Wildman</b></a>, and June Thomas of <a href="http://www.slate.com/"><b><i>Slate Magazine</i></b></a><i>.</i><b><i> </i></b>Centering on Ms. Wildman's just now published book entitled<span class="style10" style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><span class="style10" style="margin-top: 0px;"><b class="headline"><i><span class="style10" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b class="headline"><i> Paper Love: Searching for the Girl My Grandfather Left Behind </i></b></span></i></b></span></span><span class="sm">(Riverhead Books, 2014), the conversation involved how, exactly, she shaped & developed</span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> the ensuing narrative after her grandfather's death, having discovered a collection of his letters to his <i>
lover</i>, <b>Valy</b>. Apparently, Valy remained in Austria throughout the <b>2nd World War</b> - and during the <b>Nazi occupation</b> - while he was able to escape to the United States ... and survive.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It seems that Ms. Wildman became obsessed with Valy's, and her grandfather's, story and details how she spent years traveling the globe attempting to unravel the complete story & uncover her grandfather's lover's fate. You'll simply have to read the book in order to find out any further solidifying details about the</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> ultimate resolution (?) of her journey - both concrete (real!) and literary.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Earlier this month we scampered uptown & east (once <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1MU8dSswVmyJz0-9YdsDJAM9vmhnmRhbQ_p1uZRHE1eMJNlc_K_T-fFu1Rwphr2zyMUQRPcDAIfprZqrd8heRAtsNI8r1cx3bnSwPjxwlpFvRXI8k6rXXair0h9wq5VVYUH7JqPhi4g/s1600/Jewish+Museum+-+rubinstein_laurencin_portrait_hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1MU8dSswVmyJz0-9YdsDJAM9vmhnmRhbQ_p1uZRHE1eMJNlc_K_T-fFu1Rwphr2zyMUQRPcDAIfprZqrd8heRAtsNI8r1cx3bnSwPjxwlpFvRXI8k6rXXair0h9wq5VVYUH7JqPhi4g/s200/Jewish+Museum+-+rubinstein_laurencin_portrait_hero.jpg" width="146" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Helena Rubinstein</b></span></td></tr>
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again) to visit <a href="http://thejewishmuseum.org/"><b>The Jewish Museum</b></a> (5th Ave. at 92nd St.; tel. 212-423-3200), specifically to see a couple of newly mounted exhibitions: <a href="http://thejewishmuseum.org/exhibitions/helena-rubinstein-beauty-is-power"><b>Helena Rubinstein: Beauty Is Power</b></a> (thru March 22nd)<b> &</b> <a href="http://thejewishmuseum.org/exhibitions/from-the-margins"><b>From the Margins: Lee Krasner and Norman Lewis, 1945-1952</b></a> (thru February 1st). </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">These two "must see" shows, while relatively comprehensive in depth & scope, are concentrated enough to be seen and absorbed in a moderate space of time, in, perhaps (depending on your sense of "completeness"), a single visit, a brief few hours on a weekday afternoon. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpK7D64E8AyQOHAtyP_hB0AyclU4Ncudb79VjOyqRrz7CAb5Zd3FqlbSDUtDlalgWZlyeLFNLCnvuj9dvt6tTVGh_jUW4QCSoCdRkAFumPo-8GDmtdiOS3hfDTfNJ4Cnl8-KEkWXJnN9I/s1600/Jewish+musuem+HelenaRubinstein_Wall+of+Portraits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpK7D64E8AyQOHAtyP_hB0AyclU4Ncudb79VjOyqRrz7CAb5Zd3FqlbSDUtDlalgWZlyeLFNLCnvuj9dvt6tTVGh_jUW4QCSoCdRkAFumPo-8GDmtdiOS3hfDTfNJ4Cnl8-KEkWXJnN9I/s1600/Jewish+musuem+HelenaRubinstein_Wall+of+Portraits.jpg" height="255" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Portraits of Helena Rubinstein</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The <b>Helena Rubinstein</b> show, or so the curatorial / PR information explains, is "the first museum exhibition to focus on the cosmetics entrepreneur" and reflects, of course, much of her <i>self</i> (her personal & professional lives) & her commitment to the worlds of cosmetics (commerce!), "art, fashion, beauty, and design." And, what's more, according to the museum staff, her "innovative business" ventures - and her ideas on style - "usher in a modern notion of beauty, democratized and accessible to all." </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2KpE_UNbuy9xTCDYITWrPaGwWrxWYTt9o_6IsjMAj8bO4aSrriSIuv2hPtO4sQgykZA46NEY3Po3kuOPL64Y4powmllC29k8H5tfoyh3uQobEUCXshbZx3jphwhkhkX5mizyc_svDDc/s1600/rubinstein_picasso_hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2KpE_UNbuy9xTCDYITWrPaGwWrxWYTt9o_6IsjMAj8bO4aSrriSIuv2hPtO4sQgykZA46NEY3Po3kuOPL64Y4powmllC29k8H5tfoyh3uQobEUCXshbZx3jphwhkhkX5mizyc_svDDc/s1600/rubinstein_picasso_hero.jpg" height="320" width="229" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Picasso caricature / sketch</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">On view, one is confronted with a wide variety of works, including: colorfully realistic & naturalistic portraits of "this pioneer in the world of beauty"; a wall full of caricatures of Ms. Rubinstein done (with a sardonic eye & critical strokes of the pen) by her "friend," Pablo Picasso; photos & artifacts from her grandly diverse, exquisitely furnished & richly decorated apartments (in New York, London, Paris); works of art & design (i.e., paintings, jewelry, sculpture, gowns, etc.) that she collected ... by Matisse, Miro, Kahlo, Max Ernst, Warhol & Nadelman; select items from her intriguingly "iconic collection" of African & Oceanic sculpture; works of primitive art; a display of her "miniature period rooms"; and much more in the domain of unique & "fascinating personal belongings."</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHwxKyuNtpVx2sw6Jvipyu2u7KkzZh2WC58mQGhMoa7v8R_ZHsUhIQddQd2dfWy1i6kosy-GZklBW4hZQaWCcrjx_hEyHvx-6pUTVHl4GHIlgpVJoby-G2mNTdbCg6PprpeZA9VKMtUQ/s1600/Jewish+Museum+-+Beauty+is+Power+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHwxKyuNtpVx2sw6Jvipyu2u7KkzZh2WC58mQGhMoa7v8R_ZHsUhIQddQd2dfWy1i6kosy-GZklBW4hZQaWCcrjx_hEyHvx-6pUTVHl4GHIlgpVJoby-G2mNTdbCg6PprpeZA9VKMtUQ/s1600/Jewish+Museum+-+Beauty+is+Power+II.jpg" height="320" width="249" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Helena Rubinstein, 1872–1965 (Catalog)</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">During her long & industrious life, Ms. Rubinstein, states the <i><b>New York Post</b></i> (in museum publicity material), "defied anti-Semitism, stalked Picasso and built a first-class art collection." And with a diligent, emphatic concentration on beauty & commercial ventures - on things fashionable, beautiful & stylized - her life is certainly, ultimately, a statement on the power of beauty, on <i>beauty as power</i> ... or, as <b>The</b> <b>Jewish Museum</b> curators conceived it, "<i><b>Beauty [that] is Power</b></i>." Much to see here, to learn & to reflect upon, indeed!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiReJkasSVBBW48rhBH0A5HWoT9dI00Emue4JIecHX2hE7zjRDDn8MgZVLPsEhYkxTODGEwdRFO78_e2BmoqXVTB3KorY6pJmMAf5_rTbPuKWgwujOpbwLkZyULdTyuRhf9L4cxDYqm-30/s1600/norman_lewis_twilight_sounds+1947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiReJkasSVBBW48rhBH0A5HWoT9dI00Emue4JIecHX2hE7zjRDDn8MgZVLPsEhYkxTODGEwdRFO78_e2BmoqXVTB3KorY6pJmMAf5_rTbPuKWgwujOpbwLkZyULdTyuRhf9L4cxDYqm-30/s1600/norman_lewis_twilight_sounds+1947.jpg" height="277" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Norman Lewis - Twilight Sounds, 1947</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><b>From the Margins</b> provides equally interesting and enticing creative fare. Via selected & representative "paintings by ... [two] artists, this exhibition offers a revealing parallel view of two key <a href="http://www.artcyclopedia.com/history/abstract-expressionism.html"><b>Abstract Expressionists</b></a>." <b>Lee Krasner</b> (a.k.a., the "missus" of <a href="http://www.jackson-pollock.org/"><b>Jackson Pollock</b></a>) and <b>Norman Lewis</b> - a woman and an Afro-American male - "each experimented with approaches that joined abstraction and cultural specificity. Their work similarly [in this exhibit, reciprocally] brims with gesture, image, and incident, yet was <i>overlooked</i> by critics in their time." [my italics]</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCgPcavH2JGX1bTREAXEWQWDYl1I1YahVucnEcZ5PD3Tky_cXocQ0LgpBMPqkfUWg7uOIebsrw49GDuV4sBkgd6pcbx0t6W9mx5jomykwdp694Xw7BtWyQaEGUJ5iABsJQbXoIyijF0Y/s1600/Jewish+Museum+-+From+the+Margins+-+Installation+View.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCgPcavH2JGX1bTREAXEWQWDYl1I1YahVucnEcZ5PD3Tky_cXocQ0LgpBMPqkfUWg7uOIebsrw49GDuV4sBkgd6pcbx0t6W9mx5jomykwdp694Xw7BtWyQaEGUJ5iABsJQbXoIyijF0Y/s1600/Jewish+Museum+-+From+the+Margins+-+Installation+View.jpg" height="199" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>From the Margins - Gallery view</b></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">These two painters tended to express
themselves primarily through <i>abstract</i> images and "used simplified
shapes, exaggerated lines, and powerful color to create imaginative works of
art."</span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #eff0f1; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">The works are alluring, at once muted & quiet, <span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><u>and</u> stunn</span>ing, vivid & colorful; and, as displayed together in three (or so) museum galleries</span><span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">, </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #fce5cd; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">they are striking & memorable ... particularly so in the purposeful exploration of their distinctiveness & similarities.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwT4wsGAA1-s3NHyTTbbcEu83z3ESh3HltjsEnCF7skA1GUl-jBGdF3GTZ85StSikKm5wsylKnfOoFk84eBWX5nW1FYETfAwSQGAFLLYCc7sK0MRRgV39Q0SW4oYkQwPeaAS26RQD2uM/s1600/KRASNER1-master675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwT4wsGAA1-s3NHyTTbbcEu83z3ESh3HltjsEnCF7skA1GUl-jBGdF3GTZ85StSikKm5wsylKnfOoFk84eBWX5nW1FYETfAwSQGAFLLYCc7sK0MRRgV39Q0SW4oYkQwPeaAS26RQD2uM/s1600/KRASNER1-master675.jpg" height="155" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Lee Krasner - Untitled, 1948</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I know my wife & I were both moved by the work of each of these painters ... the design, the, well, <i>architecture</i> of their works - the forms, the shapes, the unique beauty of the bold & muted tones of their colors. Thus, owing to this comprehensive, sensitive, and meticulously arranged show, neither <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Krasner"><b>Lee Krasne</b>r</a> nor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Lewis_%28artist%29"><b>Norman Lewis</b></a> can, in my view, be labeled "forgotten" abstract expressionists any longer!</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHiGrdLn8lfV2cFfV7xSyLcYbZ5boe7ZZW2rYTfrlYIZ1SsCS9qupSQZjqDw5vIF2r_AtgvYY9h3hb2vIqK2yfDtRebsU2Gs49x8jSLikx_zSZLLlSEbPZgy6DItF0Yyu5szztL9O8LkA/s1600/Gina+La+Fornarina+-+Inside+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHiGrdLn8lfV2cFfV7xSyLcYbZ5boe7ZZW2rYTfrlYIZ1SsCS9qupSQZjqDw5vIF2r_AtgvYY9h3hb2vIqK2yfDtRebsU2Gs49x8jSLikx_zSZLLlSEbPZgy6DItF0Yyu5szztL9O8LkA/s1600/Gina+La+Fornarina+-+Inside+view.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Gina La Fornarina - Inside view</b></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Following our rather intense museum visit, we were both in the mood for dining on something <u>new</u>: something both light and, at the same time, something</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> consequentia</span><span style="font-size: large;">l. We chose</span> <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.ginany.com/"><b>Gina La Fornarina</b></a> - one of four informal Italian restos in a Manhattan "chain," serving well-prepared "traditional" Italian food & luscious, exquisitely "constructed" pizza - </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">at the location </span></span>just around the corner from <b>The Jewish Museum</b> (26 East 91st @ Madison Ave.; tel. 212/828-6800).</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhveX3SZhP7e-q-gFgjuSm5_HGJfyPaHV3jnDpVSsCrvtDHtbF0rfI_EYg_2h1NT7iKjeukm3Jahv5izDK5P6rMCqZCvwa_tUt3eFKyJ4ACLuMQlHhorCNu95RGOB4FJYTy1uq3Pkgc97I/s1600/delirium-nocturnum1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhveX3SZhP7e-q-gFgjuSm5_HGJfyPaHV3jnDpVSsCrvtDHtbF0rfI_EYg_2h1NT7iKjeukm3Jahv5izDK5P6rMCqZCvwa_tUt3eFKyJ4ACLuMQlHhorCNu95RGOB4FJYTy1uq3Pkgc97I/s1600/delirium-nocturnum1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Delirium Nocturnum</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We quickly ordered a large "summer special" <b>kale salad</b> (with chopped onions, shaved Parmigiano, lemon & extra virgin olive oil vinaigrette; @ $14.95) to share, <u>and</u> a <b>Pizza Tirolese </b>(blending toppings of cream of mascarpone, prosciutto "speck" & white truffle oil; @ $22., including "extra" mushrooms), <b><u>and</u></b> doused the (just) "fired-up" pizza with two bottles of a special Belgian brew ... <b>Delirium Nocturnum</b> (@ $9./bottle), </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="st">a strong, robust ale brewed by <a href="http://www.delirium.be/"><b>Brouwerij Huyghe</b></a>, a brewery in Melle.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">All of the food we managed to consume here at <b>Gina La Fornarina </b>proved extremely satisfying, melt-in-your-mouth tasty ... especially the silky pizza and its soft, minimally crunchy, somewhat chewy <u>crust</u>!</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><i>And don't forget</i>, there are <u>four</u> <b>Gina La Fornarina</b> locations to dine in - three on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, a fourth at Amsterdam & 73rd, on the West Side: All locations convenient to at least one museum, or gallery, or "arts" & culture venue (e.g., the <a href="http://www.amnh.org/"><b>American Museum of Natural History</b></a>, the <a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/"><b>MET Museum of Art</b></a>, the<b> <a href="http://www.92y.org/">92nd Street Y</a></b>) you might want to visit ...</span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span>H. J. Scheiber, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366292492767857006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693133104581549318.post-10931339648963368072014-10-24T11:09:00.002-07:002014-10-25T17:49:02.251-07:00September/October "doings" beyond NYC: A trip west to Cody, WY + Boulder, CO (& nearby national parks) AND to Montreal, Quebec!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsvs_SNOQQt6NLPr4p9WaZUHPiGEFHhD5e4ta-byTaVuTY_JDhoVRnST88GnqLPvQsx0ju5Z7fWDHoSKEwEg1mftvk3CQZGqdjEGHxseLOCNvkUpevEYNRG3B3hcijiWlenCym-0_erc/s1600/Yellowstone_Trip+Steamy+Creek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsvs_SNOQQt6NLPr4p9WaZUHPiGEFHhD5e4ta-byTaVuTY_JDhoVRnST88GnqLPvQsx0ju5Z7fWDHoSKEwEg1mftvk3CQZGqdjEGHxseLOCNvkUpevEYNRG3B3hcijiWlenCym-0_erc/s1600/Yellowstone_Trip+Steamy+Creek.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Yellowstone "geyser" scene - Photo: R. Gartner </b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">September and October, 2014, proved to be an abnormally busy period of time for this</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> (generally) </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> moderately busy blogger. Thanks to an invitation from our ole friends (and, ultimately, hosts), <b>Haya & Rick Gartner</b>, it was finally time to head out West to visit Colorado <u>and</u> Wyoming and a few of the major national parks & towns located therein - like <b><a href="http://www.nps.gov/grte/index.htm">Grand Teton</a> </b>(entering from the town of Jackson, <b>WY</b>);<b> <a href="http://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm">Yellowstone</a></b> (exiting the park at Cody, <b>WY</b>); and <a href="http://www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm"><b>Rocky Mountain</b></a> (in Colorado) where you will find some terrific spots to visit in the vicinity of the towns of <a href="http://nederlandco.org/"><b>Nederland</b></a> (the <a href="http://www.carouselofhappiness.org/"><b>wooden animal carousel</b></a> of "happiness"!) & <a href="http://www.visitestespark.com/"><b>Estes Park</b>, <b>CO</b></a>, way up in the mountains ... a short drive from <a href="https://bouldercolorado.gov/"><b>Boulder</b></a> and the <a href="http://www.colorado.edu/"><b>University of Colorado</b></a>. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNuYGOhJfz53bo-RE4DHpbyzIrl818FXj-osLkCq0cEgxdbwjTgImE3R-Rf0A1N6lHXCTW9o5P5jiAIZoqHRDYUgT1yw3gMHs9Q0xughiR8XIFhphfolOsqlRqz-oYHu3cAKHI2zV02o/s1600/Grand+Teton+Crop+View.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNuYGOhJfz53bo-RE4DHpbyzIrl818FXj-osLkCq0cEgxdbwjTgImE3R-Rf0A1N6lHXCTW9o5P5jiAIZoqHRDYUgT1yw3gMHs9Q0xughiR8XIFhphfolOsqlRqz-oYHu3cAKHI2zV02o/s1600/Grand+Teton+Crop+View.jpg" height="194" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Grand Teton range - Photo: R. Gartner</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you visit the </span></span>area, be certain to visit <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson,_Wyoming"><b>Jackson</b></a>, the cute little tourist town in Jackson Hole that serves as a gateway to <b>Grand Teton</b> and <b>Yellowstone</b>. You can, depending on the season - weather permitting, of course - drive straight through the ominous, <i>snow</i>-capped Teton range and into & through Yellowstone, seeing the omnipresent natural sites along the main route: both <b>flora</b> & <b>fauna</b> ... and snapping as many photos of the natural beauty of the region as you are able to, from all sorts of vantage points within the two parks.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JNgqqt2K8n5X0v1OWBGYzjSUkjArFvuyy0bBoVIg8gzCZVCJf1Nx7Ph3yNzIbiOyKZIotf-Glzsq-kiCSdoEBLxHxkHtnZKjUCgIKHa9fkV-b0bbxY93U9OC_zR06aRXorYRXjqWTqQ/s1600/Bison+Yellowstone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JNgqqt2K8n5X0v1OWBGYzjSUkjArFvuyy0bBoVIg8gzCZVCJf1Nx7Ph3yNzIbiOyKZIotf-Glzsq-kiCSdoEBLxHxkHtnZKjUCgIKHa9fkV-b0bbxY93U9OC_zR06aRXorYRXjqWTqQ/s1600/Bison+Yellowstone.jpg" height="310" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Yellowstone bison - Photo: R. Gartner</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Throughout your visit, you'll </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">likely encounter herds of elk, bison, deer, the occasional moose or large brown bear, a mountain lion (AKA puma, panther or cougar), a pack of wolves, a porcupine, or a quick & "sly" reddish-brown fox. You'll focus your gaze, too, on hot gases or vapors emanating from numerous volcanic pools, ice-cold lakes, rough & rumbling rock-filled rivers replete with <i>cutthroat</i> trout, high country pine forests, and isolated owls, hawks, and, perhaps, a relatively rare peregrine falcon & other birds of prey</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> ... or, simply, stand still & witness - marvel at - the stark beauty of the various sections of this huge national treasure!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And then, before you know it, you'll be on your way to<b> Cody</b>, <b>WY</b> (the home of the <u><b><a href="http://centerofthewest.org/">Buffalo Bill Center</a></b></u><b> & Museums</b>),<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGP0QU8WF-TqoWFusDdJZrfcx1xjtHKFjXrsXG0HN3-Bi0TLRTPBeYzSkPItDcHOD5DYBXRT4SanykHMFOIgLVv1aL4nL_TBc3oiYGBqMfh-GjuPpToGpjhdkOp_yNCoTzBw9MJqKrhs/s1600/YellowstoneTrip+-+Tepee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGP0QU8WF-TqoWFusDdJZrfcx1xjtHKFjXrsXG0HN3-Bi0TLRTPBeYzSkPItDcHOD5DYBXRT4SanykHMFOIgLVv1aL4nL_TBc3oiYGBqMfh-GjuPpToGpjhdkOp_yNCoTzBw9MJqKrhs/s1600/YellowstoneTrip+-+Tepee.jpg" height="320" width="273" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Outside Buffalo Bill Center - Photo R. Gartner</b></span></td></tr>
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exiting the park while moving through steep, spectacular canyons - still passable by car or SUV or motorcycle in <i>mid</i>-September ... without occlusion, just yet, from the annual, daily (weekly?) snow squalls & </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">impending </span></span>large snow drifts that would close roads such as the short one <i>en route</i> to visiting <a href="http://yellowstone.net/geysers/old-faithful/"><b>Old Faithful</b></a>. You'll also see more than the occasional waterfall and odd colorful (or so you would imagine) bird flying toward you and then arcing away.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">By the way, before you enter the national parks out of <b>Jackson Hole, WY</b>, you'll find a variety of eating places throughout <b><a href="http://townofjackson.com/">Jackson</a> </b>(the town) at every price point - high end, moderate, and low end. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTi4kDWugoEr48_6xf8O-QKJqaG2xZ8bm_83VYOdIz1YvnMV8IQoMPNX4jlxQgmN-sxbgfFLmG0lUpZMhkjH7FFVQrQsfCJnUq7BWxC2_49KmJSS1Y07Wk2vspgK2SARTKEWjwA9JQYM/s1600/Jackson+-+4+of+us.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTi4kDWugoEr48_6xf8O-QKJqaG2xZ8bm_83VYOdIz1YvnMV8IQoMPNX4jlxQgmN-sxbgfFLmG0lUpZMhkjH7FFVQrQsfCJnUq7BWxC2_49KmJSS1Y07Wk2vspgK2SARTKEWjwA9JQYM/s1600/Jackson+-+4+of+us.jpg" height="120" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Across from The Wort Hotel - Dalia, moi, Haya & Rick</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One spot worth a look - with both a moderate menu of steaks & burgers and interesting soups and salads (in the large bar area) and higher end dining as well - is <b><a href="http://www.worthotel.com/">The Wort Hotel</a> </b>("Silver Dollar Bar & Grill"), where we all had top-notch <b>French fries</b>, and <b>elk</b> or <b>buffalo burgers</b>, along with <b>specialty soups </b>or<b> salads</b>, conjoined with a few medium-size steins of cold <b>local draft beer</b> ... or a tall glass of lemonade. Prices were reasonable for the hearty food they offered and, specifically, the burger plates three of the four of us scarfed down. The best - most tender, largest, most "well-accoutered" - proved the <b>buffalo burger plates</b> with salad & fries all cooked to perfection. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Incidentally, "lodge" restaurants, "lodge" dining rooms, grill rooms & cafeterias provide lots of choices to meet the needs of hungry travelers trekking throughout Yellowstone<b>.</b></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHBH3P7xN9IMA6xhqKn8w-OLF5reMhgY0RGirK-UiHFfYSX9BVW5HH1PsUCmsB9xkU_kX-GBRMU1LXNHjNgD0ima-fmQmVTUrECfszmBkNrQEBwoOffDEVSK1MPg-XbjnDzlZ7KFfEHs/s1600/Buffalo+Bill+-+Seated%233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHBH3P7xN9IMA6xhqKn8w-OLF5reMhgY0RGirK-UiHFfYSX9BVW5HH1PsUCmsB9xkU_kX-GBRMU1LXNHjNgD0ima-fmQmVTUrECfszmBkNrQEBwoOffDEVSK1MPg-XbjnDzlZ7KFfEHs/s1600/Buffalo+Bill+-+Seated%233.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>You know who - Mr. "Buffalo" Bill Cody</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And the <b>breakfast </b>(coffee) <b>scene </b>is solid and available at the other end of the park, along the main drag in <b><a href="http://www.cityofcody-wy.gov/">Cody</a> </b>... to fortify (to satisfy) those interested in spending serious (and worthwhile!) time at the <b>Buffalo Bill Center & Museum</b>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">An utterly fantastic trip to Yellowstone, Jackson (Hole), Cody, <a href="http://www.cheyennecity.org/"><b>Cheyenne</b></a>, <a href="http://ci.laramie.wy.us/"><b>Laramie</b></a>, and Boulder (the University of Colorado) & environs ... like <a href="http://www.louisvilleco.gov/"><b>Louisville, CO</b></a>, for an introduction to <a href="http://www.sweetcowicecream.com/"><b>Sweet Cow</b> <b>ice cream</b></a>!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lake Champlain view - from Amtrack, club car</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On the other side of the North American continent, north, & just west of, of mid-town Manhattan - and nearly 2,000 miles (back) from Boulder, CO, stand the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Palisades_%28Hudson_River%29"><b>New Jersey Palisades</b></a>, the <b>Hudson River</b>, the <b>Hudson Valley</b>, the <a href="http://visitadirondacks.com/"><b>Adirondacks</b></a>, <a href="http://www.lakechamplainregion.com/"><b>Lake Champlain</b></a> & New York's "north country" ... <i><b>and</b></i> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/portal/page?_pageid=5977,86481579&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL"><b>Montréal</b>,<b> Quebec</b></a>. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yes, we took to the<i> <b>rails</b> </i>via<i> </i>Amtrak and traveled that perfectly, iconically, scenic route - apparently one of the ten most scenic rail travel has to offer - from Penn Station to the Gare Centrale in </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Montréal </b>where we dined & walked & toured through just about all of Montreal <i>centre</i> - from the <a href="http://www.oldportofmontreal.com/"><b>Old Port</b></a> & the <a href="http://www.vieux.montreal.qc.ca/eng/accueila.htm"><b>Old City</b></a> to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartier_Latin,_Montreal"><b>Quartier </b></a></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartier_Latin,_Montreal"><b>Latin</b></a>;</span></span> <b><a href="http://www.montreal.com/parks/mtroyal.html">Mont Royal</a> </b>(the huge <b>Olmsted</b> park overlooking the entire island city); to the underground "city," <a href="http://www.mcgill.ca/"><b>McGill University</b></a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Denis_Street"><b>St. Denis</b></a> shopping/resto/cafe area, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinatown,_Montreal"><b>Chinatown</b></a> ... all the while benefiting from this year's beautiful, balmy "Indian Summer" <i>mid</i>-October clime. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Qing Hua Dumpling resto - Street view</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And while we'd been to </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Montréal</b> before (twice, <i>pour moi</i>), we discovered much we hadn't seen or done on prior visits, including dining at <a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/67/1439828/restaurant/Downtown/Qing-Hua-Dumpling-Montreal"><b>Qing Hua Dumpling restaurant</b></a></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="street-address"> (1019 Boul. St.-Laurent,
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<span class="locality">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="locality">Montréal,
QC</span>; tel. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">438/288-5366</span></span>)</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> where we (two) consumed a few local beers, a large bowl of <b>hot & sour soup</b> and <u>two</u> orders of "mixed" varieties of fried dumplings (<b>30</b> dumplings in all!), stuffed with such <i>mini</i>-concoctions as beef coriander, pork & onion, pork & mushroom, curry beef, chicken & mushroom, and shrimp with zucchini & mushrooms or zucchini & egg.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUU9OuQlQP8CwCjtyVb7yNpZEjAwv1oQwW2_QPDB8E1cs9DBS6tRzPocSic5UP3lq8WooKfhtYE7VnyKJFqk31F6df4c9HoHGMcEfsrHOBUVpINQBn4xNPbHPhKHMjqf9_jQDRsxTrMw/s1600/Qing+Hua+dumplings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUU9OuQlQP8CwCjtyVb7yNpZEjAwv1oQwW2_QPDB8E1cs9DBS6tRzPocSic5UP3lq8WooKfhtYE7VnyKJFqk31F6df4c9HoHGMcEfsrHOBUVpINQBn4xNPbHPhKHMjqf9_jQDRsxTrMw/s1600/Qing+Hua+dumplings.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Guess what?</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dumplings by the dozens(+) - steamed or fried - are, of course, the specialty of the house and proved to be absolutely <i>enticing</i>: extremely fresh, delicate, and, as we always enjoy them, very lightly pan- (or wok-) fried ... perfectly browned & golden! Qing Hua turned out to be an excellent choice, and so were two others. The first, one of the city's few remaining <u>traditional</u> restaurants Français, <a href="http://chezqueux.com/en/"><b>Chez Queux</b> </a>("au coeur du <i>vieux </i></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Montréal"); and the second, a much more contemporary French-inspired establishment, <b>Restaurant Europea</b>. Lots of showcasing, here; a theatrical event as much as a dining experience - where we explored, in toto, "la finesse de <i>l'Art</i> <i>culinaire</i>!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoG4cCyznBlAV0YILyGEV2jO7U_FnBU5Q7IsFDjs8uPGU5eq2m0uiwIeMn0QNNhWocwiC7ZWdHcbS4cxT-w6VS9w-BtlW0HEjp45QcImphaagpUE8k19ZEiqw9O20oM0eGw_d9ZCh-5Ik/s1600/Place+Jean-Paul-Riopelle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoG4cCyznBlAV0YILyGEV2jO7U_FnBU5Q7IsFDjs8uPGU5eq2m0uiwIeMn0QNNhWocwiC7ZWdHcbS4cxT-w6VS9w-BtlW0HEjp45QcImphaagpUE8k19ZEiqw9O20oM0eGw_d9ZCh-5Ik/s1600/Place+Jean-Paul-Riopelle.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle / </b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Ring of fire</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In continuous operation since 1973, <a href="http://chezqueux.com/en/menu/"><b>Chez Queux</b></a> (housed @ 158 rue saint-Paul est; tel. 541/866-5194) serves the very finest in traditional French fare, offering both <i><b>a la carte</b></i> and </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <b><i>table d'hôte</i> </b>(3-course, <i><b>prix fixe</b></i>; $47. Can.) menus at reasonable price points given the high quality of food preparation and the particularly affable, attentive & professional service. Traditional dishes are carefully created & plated and, overall, memorable. Indeed, there are very few restaurants that we have come across, of late, that include <i><b>ris de veau</b></i> ("sweetbreads") at all, no less being listed on <u>both</u> appetizer (with arugala salad, citrus & truffle oil) and main dish (served with braised morels!) menu sections<b>! </b>(And the wine we selected - a light & fruity <a href="http://www.selectwinesllc.com/20lesjapino.html"><b>French Pinot Noir</b>,<b> Les Jamelles</b>, 2011</a> [$33.] - paired well with all of our mains, including my plate of sweetbreads.)<b> </b></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKL3KVBTs8DsByIhma0TdH8teH8bPszRPmilnkmqd4xtaoc_0caPiMpI4dHaN6Ggk0ej9PnobDPuqfxHb8AWs-fJU9ghlnmj_0Tqutqv4s1m7bV8_slyFnwkRjaXRejG3PGzqDqiO9p2I/s1600/Chez+Queux+-+inside+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKL3KVBTs8DsByIhma0TdH8teH8bPszRPmilnkmqd4xtaoc_0caPiMpI4dHaN6Ggk0ej9PnobDPuqfxHb8AWs-fJU9ghlnmj_0Tqutqv4s1m7bV8_slyFnwkRjaXRejG3PGzqDqiO9p2I/s1600/Chez+Queux+-+inside+view.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Chez Queux</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31pA8PGPbMBZg1cyUIzq4BSnwuPqSj7grbuaoRepWc9RjM15DJ_Yktek18s2s3lEF5kga5OXOixfImyowvSebqauMhw0lrgKvMR0C8YSfm7F1jjNfiHe9Pz2HeqIBb8ACBRQvO8YJQ_4/s1600/hjs+-+montreal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31pA8PGPbMBZg1cyUIzq4BSnwuPqSj7grbuaoRepWc9RjM15DJ_Yktek18s2s3lEF5kga5OXOixfImyowvSebqauMhw0lrgKvMR0C8YSfm7F1jjNfiHe9Pz2HeqIBb8ACBRQvO8YJQ_4/s1600/hjs+-+montreal.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Palais des</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> congrès (et moi)</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But the</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span dir="auto"> <i>pièce de resistance</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b>- and, for me, the most memorable dish offered</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> at <b>Chez Queux</b></span></span> - is the</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> salade César</b> (for two) created and mixed table-side, one<b> </b>portion (as requested) containing chopped anchovies, the other not. The salad proved absolutely scrumptious, abundant, and, well, a bit of perfection itself ... so painstakingly & accommodatingly prepared by our waiter! </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1u3qPt6XPA18rY4ck2_6V0_oxFaJAHIUBwuLCeULMHU4Cnav1dNwGHhbfGCPAV1h-JIH9ewRm0CJ_9QjBP_4h2h5Wib28ZqX8_g3j4M9m9Hf2wU2Zg1waH3SWm-AfgN5eLJ948_SC55Q/s1600/Europea+-+external.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1u3qPt6XPA18rY4ck2_6V0_oxFaJAHIUBwuLCeULMHU4Cnav1dNwGHhbfGCPAV1h-JIH9ewRm0CJ_9QjBP_4h2h5Wib28ZqX8_g3j4M9m9Hf2wU2Zg1waH3SWm-AfgN5eLJ948_SC55Q/s1600/Europea+-+external.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Restaurant Europea</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.europea.ca/"><b>Restaurant Europea</b></a>, on the other hand, is an interesting, whimsical </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">establishment </span></span>where <a href="http://www.relaischateaux.com/en/search-book/hotel-restaurant/europea/chef"><i><b>Grand</b></i> <b>Chef </b></a></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.relaischateaux.com/en/search-book/hotel-restaurant/europea/chef"><b><span class="st">Jérôme</span> Ferrer</b></a> whips up distinctive culinary creations with "finesse" ... serving superior food ... not at all traditional in any strict culinary sense. Located in central ("downtown") </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Montréal </span></span>(@1227 de la Montagne; tel. 514/398-9229), Mr. Ferrer serves great food, brought, at times, rather idiosyncratically "plated" to the table. And he provides various surprises (we four diners recall, for example, the <b><i>chef's </i></b><i>"</i><b><i>book</i></b><i>"</i> of infused, "smoking" salmon!) throughout the dining experience - from initial <b>amuse bouche</b>(s) to the wealth of desserts laid out at the end of the evening <u>adventure</u>. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJVRdlo5DijUZF4qP3Hs92ORRq2vNqcMLPiHd2ZZfvg64PMmVE45S0_PsHCW7EFiuwaLuYJJNyn3TJ2vCb8hrKP_bH0EaBsi0wrZgPMOauS4SaZw93FPpqLVNqnrvYUcDkNtxTtnmhRg/s1600/Europea+-+internal+%232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJVRdlo5DijUZF4qP3Hs92ORRq2vNqcMLPiHd2ZZfvg64PMmVE45S0_PsHCW7EFiuwaLuYJJNyn3TJ2vCb8hrKP_bH0EaBsi0wrZgPMOauS4SaZw93FPpqLVNqnrvYUcDkNtxTtnmhRg/s1600/Europea+-+internal+%232.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> Europea - A portion of the drama</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All this theater-laden culinary art is, however, carefully presented <i>a la table</i> and the creations are generally successful - of show-stopping high quality conceptually and exceedingly tasty, as well. During evening hours, <b>Europea</b> offers <b><i>three</i></b> <a href="http://www.europea.ca/menu-soir"><b>menus</b></a> - <i><b>a la carte</b></i>; <i><b>table</b></i> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i>d'hôte</i></b> (@ $89.50 Can.); and </span></span>a multi-"course" (several item) tasting menu, or <i><b>menu</b></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b> dégustation</b></i></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b> signature</b> </i>(@ $119.50)<i>. </i> </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk17i9QrQzGFrC8mf5ZJ-z6xY4t8DyfhjjLvHEK0kcKBz9dmvJ2bV8lClqLxqIVD_iV2nd1jOtErvKfPUfhCahcEAsUT24H9mwIWeAi8RL_wyJ1FT1ecxdVrXUTtJ0-nSv9YLn9rlMXH4/s1600/Europea+-+Beef+jerky+on+mini-clothesline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk17i9QrQzGFrC8mf5ZJ-z6xY4t8DyfhjjLvHEK0kcKBz9dmvJ2bV8lClqLxqIVD_iV2nd1jOtErvKfPUfhCahcEAsUT24H9mwIWeAi8RL_wyJ1FT1ecxdVrXUTtJ0-nSv9YLn9rlMXH4/s1600/Europea+-+Beef+jerky+on+mini-clothesline.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Beef jerky on mini-clotheslin</b></span></span>e</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Two members of our party of four chose mains from the <i>a la carte </i>listing; two chose the </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b>table</b></i> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i>d'hôte</i></b><i>. </i>Thus, many of the items (e.g., the risotto) could (and would) be shared and all four of us would, of course, receive the numerous ancillary "surprises" <i>pour les bouches</i>!<i><br /></i></span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHJwoT54VraiWIiKVPn_4-Opuoj9Mo5Uaz851D7tM1gi4zFK7oL9wH0c9kgCQoIsLqW4ZKBhvA5xu3KZZKhNVIEU3tQlYzccUL0mmxEeSakrG2I-s0EfgxtczgT1xWVf2Pj3gF8Rc66w/s1600/Europea+-+Sea+Bass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHJwoT54VraiWIiKVPn_4-Opuoj9Mo5Uaz851D7tM1gi4zFK7oL9wH0c9kgCQoIsLqW4ZKBhvA5xu3KZZKhNVIEU3tQlYzccUL0mmxEeSakrG2I-s0EfgxtczgT1xWVf2Pj3gF8Rc66w/s1600/Europea+-+Sea+Bass.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Sea bass filet</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A pricey but excellent & extensive wine list is</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> available<i><b> </b></i>for your pleasure;</span></span> and a knowledgeable & fun sommelier, for your consultation. Once again, we selected a <b>Pinot Noir</b> (Burgundy /</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Les Ursulines, J<b>ean-Claude Boisset</b>, 2012 @ $60.) which was tasted, and <u><i>ratified</i></u>, by the house wine maven on duty that evening! A number of items that we consumed - along with our Pinot Noir - were tasty, refreshing, memorable. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Those "dishes" - large or small - that we felt were, somehow, etched in our memories included the<i><b> </b></i>following:<i><b> </b></i></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>lobster cream cappuccino </b>with truffle purée;</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <b>creamy mascarpone & burrata risotto</b> ... with sautéed mushrooms & asparagus, green pea mousseline & tendrils, and Béarnaise shelled egg &
crumble; a </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>sea bass filet</b> cooked in a hay-lined pot, beetroot spaghetti, sorrel leaves poached in a grapefruit juice & blood-veined sorrel; </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><u>and</u></span></span> the </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>lapin </b>/ </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Stanstead rabbit</b> <b>confit Yazu</b>, </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">cavatellis (small pasta shells) with parmesan cream, and fresh thyme gremolata & lemon peel.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>A bit of dessert </b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Desserts, "sweets" & coffee followed, not too quickly (no rush whatever!), but, when delivered, full of diversity - from a bag of <i>mini</i>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madeleine_%28cake%29"><b>Madeleines</b></a> to a tray of mixed flavored macaroons (see photo) to delicate bowls of berries and perfectly </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">sweetened<i> crème fraîche. </i>Dark</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">, rich coffee proved much needed after this elongated but stunning culinary experience, a veritable performance ... not to be forgotten! <i><b> </b></i></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZoCNC9FFV4yZH0zZblDUQjl9Ub4p1XLCBs0q4RFxqKKWjICmTQAltl26wvaJ5MjTtNsfWPpa8tac42RYgGuFUs2AIwTcOX0pR34dt2oi1qUOpLcnR-5Vx0_QG1uToNLzjlWiu3WwweEg/s1600/Hilton+Garden+Inn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZoCNC9FFV4yZH0zZblDUQjl9Ub4p1XLCBs0q4RFxqKKWjICmTQAltl26wvaJ5MjTtNsfWPpa8tac42RYgGuFUs2AIwTcOX0pR34dt2oi1qUOpLcnR-5Vx0_QG1uToNLzjlWiu3WwweEg/s1600/Hilton+Garden+Inn.jpg" height="178" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Centre-ville, Montréal (Hilton Garden Inn, center)</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While there are many (many!) things for the tourist to partake in on a visit to </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Montréal</b>, this particular visit was scheduled to be a short one (just a few days), so we pretty much decided that our key activities - and the mild & sunny weather solidified this decision for us - would be strolling around town (veritably inhaling the diverse areas of the city) ... and dining! </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4xa9KtPeg4p0UfAzMgWKwYoibRbWoCGb7qd0VlfiIMqTcRaXFOZMT_LpAQnuPE-68VwNbp5RzNNv1xI6HKp8L8QWyx-qIXY_lWd1Atx-6Z7cxELrTTcbWQYbFgDKJX3E-Ed3DDgdlY8/s1600/UQAM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4xa9KtPeg4p0UfAzMgWKwYoibRbWoCGb7qd0VlfiIMqTcRaXFOZMT_LpAQnuPE-68VwNbp5RzNNv1xI6HKp8L8QWyx-qIXY_lWd1Atx-6Z7cxELrTTcbWQYbFgDKJX3E-Ed3DDgdlY8/s1600/UQAM.jpg" height="129" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Centre de design - l’Université du Québec à Montréal</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We certainly did those two things in spades and even got to the </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://galeriesmontreal.ca/centre-de-design-de-luniversite-du-quebec-a-montreal-en/?lang=en">Design Center / Université du Québec à Montréal</a> (UQAM)</b></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b>for a private look at their current exhibition. Indeed, in a short period of time, a couple of night's stay, we managed to do a great deal and see much of the city from our comfortable, exceedingly guest-oriented & hospitable "home base" at the <a href="http://hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/quebec/hilton-garden-inn-montreal-centre-ville-YULCVGI/index.html"><b>Hilton Garden Inn</b>,<b> Centre-Ville</b></a><b> </b>(380 </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sherbrooke, Ouest)<i><b> ... Montreal</b></i>! <i><b> </b></i></span></span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span>H. J. Scheiber, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366292492767857006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693133104581549318.post-7344563394986685252014-09-03T15:02:00.000-07:002014-09-06T10:35:57.771-07:00Lincoln Center out-of-doors; Santa Fe - contemporary Mex / southwest cuisine; "the good & the true" at D*R*2; and 1200 miles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBMYoQiiTSGOWPm0pQ2OgdHyhjyLKW7DWtmJ-vLg1sktkIzFWIhMl3iFxnSgkzNzwVcMWKET9TAvZStZYDV66oN6734LWdun_pYyG0-Mg6gpeThr6bPqXVAL_YhitwRMpm7lq8_MhRRVU/s1600/Lincoln+center+out-of-doors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBMYoQiiTSGOWPm0pQ2OgdHyhjyLKW7DWtmJ-vLg1sktkIzFWIhMl3iFxnSgkzNzwVcMWKET9TAvZStZYDV66oN6734LWdun_pYyG0-Mg6gpeThr6bPqXVAL_YhitwRMpm7lq8_MhRRVU/s1600/Lincoln+center+out-of-doors.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This summer <b>Lincoln Cente</b>r could hardly be contained ... <u><i>indoors</i></u><b>:</b> "Music, dance, and theater spill from our concert halls onto our plazas and into the street to fill the season's days and nights with endless excitement." J</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">ust now winding down after having</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> provided several weeks of "jam-packed," world-class </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">performances</span></span> - "all absolutely <b>FREE</b>!"</span></span> ... </span></span>the summer of 2014 has, indeed, been a bonanza to metro area folks looking for easily <i>accessible</i> top-notch entertainment.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pete & Toshi Seeger</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The only consistent problem, really, seemed to be the never-ending huge crowds, all with the same idea about attending a <a href="http://lcoutofdoors.org/"><b>Lincoln Center Out of Doors</b></a> event in, say, <b>Damrosch Park</b>, and actually locating seats inside the proverbial gates for your event of choice. Seemed to me that as many people "watched" & listened to performances from outside & beyond the rear end of the <b>Band Shell</b> space - feeling lucky (enough) to snag a concrete "seat" under the thin veil of trees at the very base of the park - as were actually seated in somewhat "comfortable" venue chairs within the confines of the fenced in park itself. Somehow an overflow of people (gawkers, fans, aficionados) - too much online publicity, perhaps, this year! - completely inundated (almost daily) that whole area of Lincoln Center (<i>out-of-doors</i>) and the surrounding streets attempting to catch a glimpse of that evening's performers. Sometimes, I guess, even (especially?) "<b>free</b>" simply doesn't "buy" you a ticket to your event of choice!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVjwgksm4lOnEbThLqhoFrc6g6em1fq77rrlC5cK7tYflPwZZiTrqVBKOL-NbK1rpQ4rTmuvDu5oyfPm9jwsfnIDdmaRedEMRoOVIBTLnzs3HJfXz636h3KROg-BtMNjFIlDRG3ooRqE/s1600/Flack1-cr-Brian-T.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVjwgksm4lOnEbThLqhoFrc6g6em1fq77rrlC5cK7tYflPwZZiTrqVBKOL-NbK1rpQ4rTmuvDu5oyfPm9jwsfnIDdmaRedEMRoOVIBTLnzs3HJfXz636h3KROg-BtMNjFIlDRG3ooRqE/s1600/Flack1-cr-Brian-T.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Roberta Flack</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Nevertheless, we did manage to to get close enough - just beyond the Damrosch Park enclosures - to witness a few of the major events, including <b>A Memorial Concert for Pete & Toshi Seege</b>r (July 20th), featuring, among other performers, <b>Judy Collins</b> ... <u>and </u>the pop legend, <a href="http://lcoutofdoors.org/events/1930-flack-crawford"><b>Roberta Flack</b></a> (July 26th). For nearly two hours Ms. Flack accompanied herself on the piano and sang many of her memorable <i>hit</i> songs, most notably, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id_UYLPSn6U"><b>The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face</b></a>" & "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ2t5e7stVM"><b>Killing Me Softly With His Song</b></a>." Now, 70+, Ms. Flack proved particularly energetic, singing with spirit, solidity, grace & integrity, exhibiting a truly audience-centric performance for an <b>SRO</b> crowd of long-time fans & supporters. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQU_oHryVRaHwAur1XhOFtI3idsQyOmhXoNofeX_bWvxldS_7zh1RjMnIjOnIMUb2a2DqB59rp32XRJXPtp5783qZt8d0rftV9uhoHsBVmD3KbZ53NS6_CHCL7hPF5yf29VZrIxNTqK6g/s1600/El-Conde-Pete-Rodriguez-homepage.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQU_oHryVRaHwAur1XhOFtI3idsQyOmhXoNofeX_bWvxldS_7zh1RjMnIjOnIMUb2a2DqB59rp32XRJXPtp5783qZt8d0rftV9uhoHsBVmD3KbZ53NS6_CHCL7hPF5yf29VZrIxNTqK6g/s1600/El-Conde-Pete-Rodriguez-homepage.jpeg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That night, fortunately, the Damrosch Park sound system came alive and carried her voice and her pianistic solo & supporting skills straight through to all of us in attendance, even those (like my wife & <i><b>moi</b></i>) standing at a vantage point beyond the exits, standing, that is, during the entire show while just barely glimpsing the stage where Ms. Flack & her musical team performed so enthusiastically; yet, somehow we were able to encompass it all ... even from that far away, from such a distant position in this huge open-air "house."</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pam Tanowitz Dance - From "eighth blackbird"</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Other major performers & noteworthy acts featured in the <b>Lincoln Center Out of Doors</b> "festival," which, </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm told, also drew <u><b>huge</b></u> (!) crowds, included</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://lcoutofdoors.org/events/emmylou-harris"><b>Emmylou Harris</b></a>, the <a href="http://lcoutofdoors.org/events/1930-paul-taylor-dance-company"><b>Paul Taylor Dance Company</b></a>, <a href="http://lcoutofdoors.org/events/cassandra-wilson"><b>Cassandra Wilson</b></a>, <a href="http://lcoutofdoors.org/events/pam-tanowitz-dance"><b>Pam Tanowitz Dance</b></a>, and a tribute to <a href="http://lcoutofdoors.org/events/1900-tribute-to-pete-el-conde-rodriguez"><b>Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez</b></a> with the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6ankgr-MEc"><b>Cita Rodriguez Orchestra</b></a> and special guest star, the inimitable <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJlUuqFwAOQ"><b>Johnny Pacheco</b></a>!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Santa Fe - Restaurant on West 71st</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Pre</i>- or <i>post</i>- your visit to Lincoln Center this summer (ending much too soon!), or any other time of year, you might want to head to <a href="http://santafe71.com/"><b>Santa Fe</b></a> (at 73 West 71st Street, just off Columbus Ave.; tel. 212/724-0822) for high quality, consistently fine Southwestern & Mexican cuisine, prepared under the guidance & supervision of executive chef, <a href="http://santafe71.com/about-us/"><b>Jose Gonzalez</b></a>, and his <i>multi</i>-talented sous-chef associates, and featuring "the savory depth of truly authentic" <u><i>contemporary</i></u> regional fare. The wide menu has it all, from old standbys & favorites, such as their </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">thick, luscious & feisty guacamole, </span></span>to lots of new items ... for example, fish tacos, salmon burritos, pork carnitas burritos & skirt steak chimichurri (which allured!). </span></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPTCQbTqDwr91L968hGX3B3sIefHqL1kYxZ9qlliRPj9gnt4Sgp69av2Ht25MchGP7A36Vajg6SXfFJIy5PmtlRBrxNVYYbRnVSG4q9eO9spB5avK8PlWBUIFX6kNo-rxqSl2rP4oQqJw/s1600/Santa+fe+-+Inside+view+of+resto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPTCQbTqDwr91L968hGX3B3sIefHqL1kYxZ9qlliRPj9gnt4Sgp69av2Ht25MchGP7A36Vajg6SXfFJIy5PmtlRBrxNVYYbRnVSG4q9eO9spB5avK8PlWBUIFX6kNo-rxqSl2rP4oQqJw/s1600/Santa+fe+-+Inside+view+of+resto.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Santa Fe - Internal view</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Seated in the early evening (at just about happy hour time) in the resto's rather expansive & sleekly designed dining room, it proved a bit difficult to narrow down our dinner selections to a number of items two of us could, well, manage. Nevertheless, after a bit of genuine menu scrutiny, we came up with a few winning items, including<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Pomegranate margarita </b></span></td></tr>
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(additionally) a pomegranate margarita (@ $11), a good-size <b>Pacifico</b> draft beer ($6), and a glass of <b>Malbec</b> "Tierra" sec ($10). And, questions of quenching our dual thirsts aside, we shared a large shrimp roll with a smoky-peppery, mayonnaise-chipotle sauce ... perfect, indeed, for dunking pieces of this tasty delicately prepared appetizer (a daily "special," at $11).</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Shrimp roll appetizer (delectable!)</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next, we indulged in two mains ... <i>pour moi</i>, the <b>grilled double thick cut pork chop</b>, served along with sweet & hot pepper jelly, rice & black beans (@ $24); & <i>pour la Madame, </i><b>the grilled trucha enchipotlada (rainbow trout)</b><i>,</i> nicely, carefully, pan seared & finished off juicily flavorful (<u>not</u> dried out), served with sweet potato hash &<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLXvhSrlTyWaczFXk91jcafqlShUohFo1em3v58HvDber-NRyRnbNLPAoWO1WeHiR_5MwB15M8Yv19GKntIocMe_GOHNASnWe4tyNCqzeqYtLsfF7eQS-G57ihSEVze2AnFloWyZox70/s1600/Santa+fe+-+Grilled+Pork+Rib.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLXvhSrlTyWaczFXk91jcafqlShUohFo1em3v58HvDber-NRyRnbNLPAoWO1WeHiR_5MwB15M8Yv19GKntIocMe_GOHNASnWe4tyNCqzeqYtLsfF7eQS-G57ihSEVze2AnFloWyZox70/s1600/Santa+fe+-+Grilled+Pork+Rib.jpg" height="178" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Grilled pork rib platter</b></span></td></tr>
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fresh herbs, and, finally, topped with their inviting, palette-tingling rather rarified chipotle sauce (@ $18.50). Both mains proved to be exquisitely tasty, full & diverse "model" platters reflecting (as advertised) uniquely inviting, particularly piquant, current southwestern cuisine!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Chef Gonzalez</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Following our mains, we were, as they say, simply <u><b>full-up</b></u>; and so we decided to walk a bit (just a few blocks), down & over to <b>Lincoln Center Plaza</b> ... where we made a bee-line for the <b>gelato cart </b>- <a href="http://www.lartedelgelato.com/en/index.html"><i><b>L'Arte del Gelato</b></i></a> - a veritable oasis in "creams" (<i>fresco ogni giorno</i>!), parked, during summer months (May to August), off the plaza, in the rear of </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Damrosch Park, awaiting patrons to just snag one of their favorite (<u>most</u> creamy) <i><b>gelati</b></i> to lick around, bite into ... & indulge in!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Saul Reichlin / Milos Dobry</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<![endif]--> PS</b> Just two weeks ago, we purchased highly discounted tickets to <i><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">The Good And The True</a></b></i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"> </a>& saw this recently "imported," understated production from the UK (originally produced at the <a href="http://prague-stay.com/lifestyle/review/1290-svandovo-theater/"><b>Svandovo Theatre</b></a>, Prague). Currently running at the <a href="http://www.darylroththeatre.com/"><b>D*R*2 Theatre</b></a> (103 East 15th St.), the show features two deeply riveting and emotionally powerful intertwined monologues - "authentic testimonies" - adapted (in English) by Brian Daniels and directed by <a href="http://sfi.usc.edu/blog/daniel-hrbe"><b>Daniel Hrbek</b></a>, focusing on the lives of the athlete Milos Dobry and the actress Hana Pravda, two well-known Czech personalities & historical figures, both caught up in World War II, the Holocaust .... the death camps. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fortunately, these two strong-willed individuals survived Auschwitz, death marches, satellite camps, near starvation ... and could serve as eye-witnesses to the remarkable events that they experienced first-hand. The two separate but interconnected monologues prove tender, touching, hopeful; they are extremely well spoken, well presented, darkly tender, at times humorous ... performed in a straightforward, low-key mode & minimalist stage setting. </span></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrFI9Rv-BQjCnCdAMKCjBnIujUbC0TAsrKGt2t986G0ZZ_XUdSgzFCoaKdxlc2LMzMqb022Hre2PUl83INgDPEnVHizDH_y9P5F9C6Hcd2j_h79jMb0nJYoDEhoxDBDpID51k993RsXY/s1600/Hana+Maria+Pravda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrFI9Rv-BQjCnCdAMKCjBnIujUbC0TAsrKGt2t986G0ZZ_XUdSgzFCoaKdxlc2LMzMqb022Hre2PUl83INgDPEnVHizDH_y9P5F9C6Hcd2j_h79jMb0nJYoDEhoxDBDpID51k993RsXY/s1600/Hana+Maria+Pravda.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Hana Pravda</b></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<![endif]--><b><span style="color: #c0504d; font-family: "Copperplate Gothic Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Perpetua; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><span style="color: red;">√</span> </span></b>Indeed, it might well be worth your while to see this dramatic event before it closes, shortly, in order to witness these two wonderful actors - <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/04/theater/the-good-and-the-true-recounts-the-holocaust.html?_r=0"><b>Saul Reichlin</b> & <b>Hannah D. Scott</b></a> - and their deeply felt, psychologically realistic, but also profoundly matter-of-fact & understated, portrayals of <a href="http://www.praguepost.cz/archivescontent/26238-milos-dobry-rebuilding-a-religion.html"><b>Milos Dobry</b></a>, the celebrated Czech athlete, and the internationally acclaimed actress, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hana_Maria_Pravda"><b>Hana Maria Pravda</b></a>. (<u><b>Note</b></u>: Ms. Hannah Scott was a late addition to the cast, according to production notes, recruited when a visa difficulty delayed the British actress <b>Isobel Pravda</b> (Hana Pravda's granddaughter) from participating. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0VeYxD3dy89eXjTWegHPsGH0FNHLLtR998tMBFphD3fXueCtA7OSop2jj7GKBylYRBJhcMfI-2dMn2pnOvItXE1UZ0C2LTKdphEzhwxva6zDXQPKqu-NFt0fnN2w8hKOCaHmFfg4drw/s1600/Resto+1200+internal+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0VeYxD3dy89eXjTWegHPsGH0FNHLLtR998tMBFphD3fXueCtA7OSop2jj7GKBylYRBJhcMfI-2dMn2pnOvItXE1UZ0C2LTKdphEzhwxva6zDXQPKqu-NFt0fnN2w8hKOCaHmFfg4drw/s1600/Resto+1200+internal+view.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>1200 Miles - Restaurant & bar</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It might also be worth your while to visit <a href="http://1200milesnyc.com/"><b>1200</b> <b>Miles</b> - <b>Restaurant & Bar</b></a> ... where we - four of us - thoroughly enjoyed a late summer <b>Restaurant-Week-lunch</b> (3 courses @ $25) prior to visiting the DR2 Theatre and attending the drama described above. Situated in a completely remodeled bright & airy space, at 31 West 21st Street (between 5th & 6th Ave.; tel. 212/510-8722),<b>1200 Miles</b> - where you just might want to eat if you're in the mood to experience an "authentic Mediterranean journey in food & drink" - is a large & friendly establishment with more than sufficient room between tables within which to enjoy your meal without extraneous noises occluding your own conversation(s). And the food, itself, top-notch, well-prepared, attentively served! </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxm-Vfi5losCcyaehFt3MKU00dMeXRHhOQRcp4qiqRKcGIqWPU5VdV8oxNNde7MGUnHgTAAopa6eKgNevL5juzFH9ZQbnVkrOsDgo_8xUKks1JmMV3QJWoHb1eXdTG7EO6cHT-kibDFkk/s1600/Resto+1200+miles+-+front+window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxm-Vfi5losCcyaehFt3MKU00dMeXRHhOQRcp4qiqRKcGIqWPU5VdV8oxNNde7MGUnHgTAAopa6eKgNevL5juzFH9ZQbnVkrOsDgo_8xUKks1JmMV3QJWoHb1eXdTG7EO6cHT-kibDFkk/s1600/Resto+1200+miles+-+front+window.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>View of front entrance</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We four began with the <i>de rigueur</i> appetizer (to be followed, of course, by </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span data-dobid="hdw">entrée</span></span></span> & dessert), two of us having ordered the </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">singularly appealing </span></span>"<b>wedge salad</b>," that, as they note on their special menu, contains "little gem" lettuce, peas, carrots, radish, spiced walnuts & Cabrales (a fatty blue cheese from Spain) dressing. The other half of our party of four tried out an equally tasty & appealing <b>burrata</b>, replete with tomatoes, peaches, basil, and a balsamico-based dressing.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRahJPpZZBpeP5NVxZn5kgLzDPy_RbPSJXAYVech5yDpQGjYb6sFvAfqVCokdrNObByFTWpO1SEtj6JD_mbyZr9OA8wJHnvioQ3E_zjHIKjqBw1DcHwPkHl-0aQYvue9UTpxmcXvGQeP4/s1600/resto+1200+-+black+garlic+fettuccini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRahJPpZZBpeP5NVxZn5kgLzDPy_RbPSJXAYVech5yDpQGjYb6sFvAfqVCokdrNObByFTWpO1SEtj6JD_mbyZr9OA8wJHnvioQ3E_zjHIKjqBw1DcHwPkHl-0aQYvue9UTpxmcXvGQeP4/s1600/resto+1200+-+black+garlic+fettuccini.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Black garlic fettuccini</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Entr</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span data-dobid="hdw">ées were attractively plated, interestingly prepared & flavorful (with light but penetrating spicing), as well! Three of us ordered the <b>pan roasted bluefish</b>, which featured a mix of <i>padron </i>peppers, mussels, long island corn & asparagus pesto. My selection, though, was not only unique among the members of our small luncheon party ... but the <b>black garlic fettuccini</b>, in and of itself, was just a solidly unique item, a house specialty prepared with "summer" vegetables, chanterelles, pine nuts & grana Padano (this last, a grainy-textured pale-yellow cheese, with an intensely sweet flavor, from the Valley of Padano, Italy). A simple & attractive dish, on the one hand; but, a gigantic hit on the other! Wow, I can almost still taste the lingering diversity of its essences ...</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkGGjzxX1y4-61X2Y6dKhcGCyuORQUHiHiHhRJhEWRiOHd4qNGomVlK00c8KkfVhhIp4OL2_dx4X1dUMbnNJh2Zd6z2QizQB22sTBh8no1ThQ5AblLJCcAkzTLnikNG7bVEbK2p_HEbA/s1600/resto+1200+dessert2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkGGjzxX1y4-61X2Y6dKhcGCyuORQUHiHiHhRJhEWRiOHd4qNGomVlK00c8KkfVhhIp4OL2_dx4X1dUMbnNJh2Zd6z2QizQB22sTBh8no1ThQ5AblLJCcAkzTLnikNG7bVEbK2p_HEbA/s1600/resto+1200+dessert2.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Chocolate-espresso parfait</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span data-dobid="hdw">Desserts, <i>coffee</i><b>*</b> & espresso were soon ordered and this finale proved outstanding for us all - rich & sweet, again nicely "packaged" and/or plated, indeed luscious - a perfect antidote to the two preceding (mainly) savory courses. We sampled (& shared) our <u>four</u> desserts ... and, simply, indulged: in the <b>chocolate-espresso parfait</b>, with pistachio praline & Chantilly cream; the <b>summer stone fruit zabaglione</b> <i>con</i> biscotti; <u><b>and</b></u> the <b>vanilla bean panna cotta </b>configured with shortbread crumble, vin cotto & berry sorbet. Once again, wow (!) ... three particularly memorable, delectable desserts! </span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPrm0EAEQvU2XuGC9VeIGR6jJZwACHlLm6LYkAMI6KftSqqcIST7fDf1NSWLxUaqMR_ThrKRSxO1O6T3mO0aq5orn3UvEzFhQnk_9K4yoWF5NSESh5Hc8fZkpVyZx_8KE6I1CNwg3Jes/s1600/resto+1200++-+rose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPrm0EAEQvU2XuGC9VeIGR6jJZwACHlLm6LYkAMI6KftSqqcIST7fDf1NSWLxUaqMR_ThrKRSxO1O6T3mO0aq5orn3UvEzFhQnk_9K4yoWF5NSESh5Hc8fZkpVyZx_8KE6I1CNwg3Jes/s1600/resto+1200++-+rose.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-dobid="hdw">Rosé</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> / Sicilia, 2013</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span data-dobid="hdw">(</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span data-dobid="hdw"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span data-dobid="hdw"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>*</b></span></span></span></span></span></span>Note that coffee & tea are <u>not</u> included with the special Restaurant Week lunch menu ... at any participating establishment, as far as I am aware.) </span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrD6UCwFpTK5eFUYwTJKlSeZ38qNhO3CI0usnZyTUESUAbKA0WaIo29RMkswNF8yBg3BO7vp_SWUZ7UnUcP7AAD8dL2Gx2zQpWXBL4BK2ehndfkffOooJQQI5X57rEPuu4TcfcBvkP-B0/s1600/Maximo-Garnacha-Edicion-Limitada-2012.ES-GR-0023-12p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrD6UCwFpTK5eFUYwTJKlSeZ38qNhO3CI0usnZyTUESUAbKA0WaIo29RMkswNF8yBg3BO7vp_SWUZ7UnUcP7AAD8dL2Gx2zQpWXBL4BK2ehndfkffOooJQQI5X57rEPuu4TcfcBvkP-B0/s1600/Maximo-Garnacha-Edicion-Limitada-2012.ES-GR-0023-12p.jpg" height="400" width="118" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Garnacha maximo, 2012</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span data-dobid="hdw">Further, though, I should mention that <b>1200 Miles</b> did offer a small "specially selected" list of wines per glass to accompany each lunch, if desired; that is, a 5-oz glass @ $9.75 ("one selection per lunch" at this <u>special</u> price point), including a wonderfully dry </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span data-dobid="hdw"><b>rosé di regaleali</b>, Sicilia, 2013, an <b>arneis, ceretto</b>, Piedmonte, Italy, 2012, a <b>garnacha, maximo</b>, Spain, 2012, a <b>flor do crasto</b> /<b> quinta do crasto</b>, Duro, Portugal, 2011... among several other possibilities! Naturally, we all unhesitatingly partook ... and we enjoyed the wines, in full! Indeed, this was a luncheon "deal" wholly worth our collective while & a resto worth visiting ... and visiting again.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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H. J. Scheiber, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366292492767857006noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693133104581549318.post-40862870205352643092014-07-30T14:53:00.003-07:002014-12-22T13:37:29.773-08:00Louis Armstrong, Cedar Lake & two "outer borough" restaurant experiences<div style="text-align: left;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Louis Armstrong / "Satchmo"</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>June 29th</b> has come and gone and you very well might have missed</span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">the <a href="http://kupferbergcenter.org/events/louis-armstrong-international-music-festival/#.U9eiA0BnA90"><b>Louis Armstrong International Music Festival</b></a> which was held in the Borough of Queens in </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/fmcp"><b>Flushing Meadows - Corona Park</b></a> right near the <a href="http://www.nycgovparks.org/park-features/virtual-tours/flushing-meadows/unisphere"><b>Unisphere</b></a> and the <a href="http://www.queensmuseum.org/"><b>Queens Museum</b></a> (111 St. & the Van Wyck Expressway). </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkJEOTPYlxdB3KUIOLWtGetT0m5iAiX-1xNTgaCH7JU6ojQ-H263HLMcNgT-Iue-trldtRT9Y0S2BFjR9mWXHkEAnA8CoBTWTtAC9tx37_uzst0DlScrvfVaPuTb0UdxmAJd3rOk9WFw/s1600/Louis+Armstrong-Fest-Promo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkJEOTPYlxdB3KUIOLWtGetT0m5iAiX-1xNTgaCH7JU6ojQ-H263HLMcNgT-Iue-trldtRT9Y0S2BFjR9mWXHkEAnA8CoBTWTtAC9tx37_uzst0DlScrvfVaPuTb0UdxmAJd3rOk9WFw/s1600/Louis+Armstrong-Fest-Promo.png" height="320" width="228" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">While you might have missed this <i>all-day</i> (one day!) music event, offering jazz from all over the world - including the Cuban-American singer, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuJRpS-OUj8"><b>Albita</b></a>, and the trumpeter, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hv7bC21nZs"><b>Jon Faddis</b></a>, and his Quartet - you can still catch a tribute exhibition entitled</span></span><i><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.queensmuseum.org/exhibitions/2014/06/25/in-the-queens-museum-cafe-ambassador-satchmo-at-the-worlds-fair/"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Ambassador Satchmo at the World’s
Fair</b></span></a></span></i><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.queensmuseum.org/exhibitions/2014/06/25/in-the-queens-museum-cafe-ambassador-satchmo-at-the-worlds-fair/">,<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></i></a><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.queensmuseum.org/exhibitions/2014/06/25/in-the-queens-museum-cafe-ambassador-satchmo-at-the-worlds-fair/">an installation in the Museum Café</a> </span></i></b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(June 29th through September 21st) </span></span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">... </span></span></i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">presented by <a href="https://www.louisarmstronghouse.org/"><b>The Louis Armstrong House Museum</b></a> in
partnership with, and mounted at, the Queens Museum. You might not be aware that Louis Armstrong lived in Corona, Queens for nearly half a century and that he was honored at the 1964 World's Fair</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> declaring June 30,
1964 to be “Louis Armstrong Day.” </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrxXEm-fqN40jqmdOgCFqNN_4eocdrsbl2_u326WvUgw8VrpKg_XDz7D56G6497-WQ-oHukXkRjacWoO3FrPT51nUGjthI-btKdOkhs2uaynUolqTkGkvCDqBeYeZb_ZRTtoayAX1-P0/s1600/Louis+Armstrong+House+-+III+w-trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrxXEm-fqN40jqmdOgCFqNN_4eocdrsbl2_u326WvUgw8VrpKg_XDz7D56G6497-WQ-oHukXkRjacWoO3FrPT51nUGjthI-btKdOkhs2uaynUolqTkGkvCDqBeYeZb_ZRTtoayAX1-P0/s1600/Louis+Armstrong+House+-+III+w-trees.jpg" height="196" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>The Louis Armstrong House / Museum</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The <i><b>Museum</b></i> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Café </span></i></b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">installation contains </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">photographs
& memorabilia from <b>The Louis Armstrong House</b> … a small museum dedicated to the work, artistry,
recordings, life & times of Mr. Armstrong and his wife. Most notably the <i>museum caf</i></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">é</span></span></i> show features photographs by <a href="https://www.louisarmstronghouse.org/collections/collections.htm"><b>Jack Bradley</b></a> - Armstrong's good friend & personal photographer - that document Louis Armstrong Day at the world's fair in all its splendor. Fortunately,</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> notes the Queens Museum web site's descriptive material, Bradley was on hand with his camera to capture many of the day’s celebratory events, "including photos of Armstrong’s motorcade, of the
trumpeter on stage wearing a Native American headdress[,] and posing with ... fans backstage." </span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-FZacoQ1PrNpQ74OuogPhubnpZEm7OdaTarhqRZ9Cdt-erBVC5ZloSRb75L7gm4PeKFGFlgtspmN1N58WKYmutcvGIAmaLIYGR4PMkaf_6QFKSAzqbBrKHT5wUu2EJaHGO5EsoB3GsA/s1600/Flusing+Meadows+-+Unisphere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-FZacoQ1PrNpQ74OuogPhubnpZEm7OdaTarhqRZ9Cdt-erBVC5ZloSRb75L7gm4PeKFGFlgtspmN1N58WKYmutcvGIAmaLIYGR4PMkaf_6QFKSAzqbBrKHT5wUu2EJaHGO5EsoB3GsA/s1600/Flusing+Meadows+-+Unisphere.jpg" height="200" width="174" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Unisphere - Flushing Meadows </b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The museum exhibit's PR material further notes that "Bradley’s photos of Armstrong at the <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/new-york-world-fair-1964-gallery-1.1328696"><b>World’s Fair</b></a>
have <u>never</u> previously been exhibited," and that, what's more, "... [t]hanks to Bradley’s photos, we can now
take a peek into what must have been a very memorable day in Queens for one of
the borough’s true kings."</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Custom kitchen - L. Armstrong House </b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Indeed, when you've finished up your short tour of the "Satchmo" installaton at the Queens Museum </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><i>caf</i></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><i>é</i></span>, meander over (not far at all as the proverbial crow flies) to <b><a href="http://louisarmstronghouse.org/">The Louis Armstrong House Museum</a> </b>(located at 34-56 107<sup>th</sup>
Street, Corona, Queens/NY) where you can see (& hear) close up & personal</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> all about Armstrong and his daily & historical life - his trumpets, stereo system, tape recordings, studio, prize possessions, his living quarters, and so forth: a truly grand, small-scale museum dedicated to the life of Mr. Armstrong & his long-time wife, Lucille, while, at the same time, giving their visitors the impression "that Louis & Lucille just stepped out for a minute." </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It should be noted, too, that the museum conducts guided "house" tours of the family living (& working) quarters
and provides new exhibits and hosts all kinds of musical events each season.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuAZ53LyyuHT9mG8KI3IIMOa0HYuqoMQIkGgxBx81R2nWSVmiP4ioKYUwNN5Q_7o2_I8857fXFcB20dLmYUryopTGt5Nd3GK2nbMr0j3g-36a9gOuA67nSRmSTWAFD4cEFKm3MkfD80U/s1600/Louis+Armstrong+House+-+Living+Rm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuAZ53LyyuHT9mG8KI3IIMOa0HYuqoMQIkGgxBx81R2nWSVmiP4ioKYUwNN5Q_7o2_I8857fXFcB20dLmYUryopTGt5Nd3GK2nbMr0j3g-36a9gOuA67nSRmSTWAFD4cEFKm3MkfD80U/s1600/Louis+Armstrong+House+-+Living+Rm.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Living room - L. Armstrong House</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When you've tired of Queens-based museums, guided tours & background "<a href="http://www.redhotjazz.com/hot5.html"><b>hot five</b> & <b>hot seven</b></a>" <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksmGt2U-xTE"><i>trumpet</i>-led music</a></b>, you will, surely, be up for a culinary experience equal to what you've witnessed. And I was introduced to just the restaurant you'd want to patronize for such an occasion: Joe <span style="line-height: 115%;">(Giuseppe)</span> Palma's <a href="http://www.mykitchenforesthills.com/"><b>My Kitchen</b></a> (</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">106-17 Metropolitan Ave., Forest Hills, NY; tel. 718/544-5644). </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUwNEfpDKf3XmDhI_rQFNvQQdi8QqCW3ahZOYDVpTzBVMGxaavyE43-I_Jk-W2Vzu4bVb7bnsA5fv-Drkldnz-8kC92Iuy8l0IuWH0y9L05Tu3uJ0yCdEm45tFd3iUk6wPK4067UUMdk/s1600/My+Kitchen+-+Chef++&+Dhanny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUwNEfpDKf3XmDhI_rQFNvQQdi8QqCW3ahZOYDVpTzBVMGxaavyE43-I_Jk-W2Vzu4bVb7bnsA5fv-Drkldnz-8kC92Iuy8l0IuWH0y9L05Tu3uJ0yCdEm45tFd3iUk6wPK4067UUMdk/s1600/My+Kitchen+-+Chef++&+Dhanny.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>The Palma's - My Kitchen</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">While Joe presides in the kitchen, his wife, <b>Dhanny</b>, functions as manager of the "front" and server in chief! </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsoZ6ih-sJrTTxUJ0JXVNcC1TpfpO5o1wvVm9vYVwRbGveaUS8qPCLSMvbW2HNZ6H7XCF896UGVqKSZJdta960OwiFhNkjavmWh9FZhXvE7c1Es8Bi754pZu0DtRsNy_JiejX6EHoNKw/s1600/My+Kitchen+-+Maryland-style+crab+cakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsoZ6ih-sJrTTxUJ0JXVNcC1TpfpO5o1wvVm9vYVwRbGveaUS8qPCLSMvbW2HNZ6H7XCF896UGVqKSZJdta960OwiFhNkjavmWh9FZhXvE7c1Es8Bi754pZu0DtRsNy_JiejX6EHoNKw/s1600/My+Kitchen+-+Maryland-style+crab+cakes.jpg" height="117" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Maryland-style crab cake(s)</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Kitchen</b> (or, as Dhanny is fond of saying, "<i>our</i> kitchen") offers a small but intriguingly eclectic menu featuring what they bill as "<i>perennial favorites</i>" (like the sublime <b>Maryland-style crab cake(s)</b> with a lime yogurt cream sauce, @ $12; or the </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">perfectly <b>grilled "aged" boneless I6-oz N.Y. strip steak</b>, with a <u>special</u> "<b>MK dry rub</b>," @ $21)</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">and well-planned, attentively prepared "seasonal dishes" (notably an individually "potted" portion of<b> seafood & chorizo paella</b>, @ $18) which vary daily. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihCSf-nLA8NEGjqc9ENdMjrzrez7NMe3WWpyY2pSxVxj3ocmgR0ZorBaqZeP3KFhr0P8bKaiNncJ2jPAi8QRFrNuj72RREAVbCpsSpngTOICNV-AtIGN7Z3QoRz-KEvRNRBJQEbSLFuzQ/s1600/My+Kitchen+-+Seafood+&+Chorizo+paella.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihCSf-nLA8NEGjqc9ENdMjrzrez7NMe3WWpyY2pSxVxj3ocmgR0ZorBaqZeP3KFhr0P8bKaiNncJ2jPAi8QRFrNuj72RREAVbCpsSpngTOICNV-AtIGN7Z3QoRz-KEvRNRBJQEbSLFuzQ/s1600/My+Kitchen+-+Seafood+&+Chorizo+paella.jpeg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Seafood & chorizo paella</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Other outstanding items you might want to try out & savor include the <b>grilled balsamic glazed Portobello mushroom</b> with gorgonzola cheese ($8);</span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b>French fried potatoes</b> topped with truffle oil & parmesan cheese (also $8); and </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>bacalao filled ravioli</b> with a puttanesca sauce (@ $19.95). <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPUfChxEVGPq6EQNBD1gJoOTbJDMooZevbcJMFTa1IOoA48TuI3G8RkbwNQyQBW53x-qxvB1GIZ9oZAE_cIBKmeCIiy3CrtWLi5CX64zFPT54xwUpqED6aP_lIliH_WgRSuxU7fYSKLA/s1600/My+Kitchen+-+Inside+View+-+Nicer+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPUfChxEVGPq6EQNBD1gJoOTbJDMooZevbcJMFTa1IOoA48TuI3G8RkbwNQyQBW53x-qxvB1GIZ9oZAE_cIBKmeCIiy3CrtWLi5CX64zFPT54xwUpqED6aP_lIliH_WgRSuxU7fYSKLA/s1600/My+Kitchen+-+Inside+View+-+Nicer+II.jpg" height="187" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>My Kitchen</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">All <u>appetizers </u>(including salads) & </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><span data-dobid="hdw">entrée</span></u> selections (e.g., the "special" whole <b>Cornish hen</b>) are generously plated and <u>desserts</u> (the <b>bread pudding</b>, served warm with a "scoop" of ice cream!) are all particularly flavorful & expectedly, if not flagrantly, sweet capstones to a more than satisfying dining experience at <b>My Kitchen</b>. When in or near <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_Hills,_Queens"><b>Forest Hills</b></a> (Queens), do visit this friendly, informal, brightly decorated & comfortable resto ... and see if I'm not correct!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNSXXd7F7OsDtXlHZyBNWSoznlm7jyeY1krZpjboo2zfSIhryAyOtewnK6l76XQyFou32cqJFl0DiJxV78krnPdwur4TlHosnBCVuHBBkmT4BlOHm223LueFUim3NL4eyh5CzkxKdpnE/s1600/Cedar+Lake+photo+at+BAM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNSXXd7F7OsDtXlHZyBNWSoznlm7jyeY1krZpjboo2zfSIhryAyOtewnK6l76XQyFou32cqJFl0DiJxV78krnPdwur4TlHosnBCVuHBBkmT4BlOHm223LueFUim3NL4eyh5CzkxKdpnE/s1600/Cedar+Lake+photo+at+BAM.jpg" height="141" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Cedar Lake</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">On another </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">fairly recent </span></span>"outer borough" excursion (via NJ Transit & and a quick subway ride to <b>Atlantic Terminal</b> in downtown Brooklyn), we managed to land tickets to see a <b><a href="http://www.bam.org/dance/2014/cedar-lake-contemporary-ballet-tenth-anniversary-celebration">Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet</a> </b>Thursday evening performance at <a href="https://www.google.com/#q=BAM"><b>BAM</b></a> (you know, the acclaimed <b>Brooklyn Academy of Music</b>), where Cedar Lake would celebrate its 10th year anniversary at the <a href="http://www.bam.org/visit/venues/howard-gilman-opera-house"><b>Howard Gilman Opera House</b></a>.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>From: "Necessity, Again"</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The night we attended, there were three individual dance pieces, the most engaging of which happened to be the last in the evening's sequence: “<a href="http://cedarlakedance.com/archives/video/necessity-again"><b>Necessity, Again</b></a>,” a comic work of balletic "physical theater" created by the well-established Norwegian choreographer, <a href="http://jostromgren.com/pages/eng/29-about"><b>Jo Strømgren</b></a>. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The costumes worn by the dancers in this fairly lengthy piece evoke a 1950s
work place - office and/or manufacturing - of some sort ... displaying up-dos, tea length skirts, and <i>de rigueur</i> skinny ties. In terms of sound & "music," the atmosphere
of the work oscillates between what appear to be archival recordings of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Derrida"><b>Jacques Derrida</b></a> making his way, haltingly - in heavily accented & abstract English speech - through a mesmerizingly dull philosophy lecture <u><b>and</b></u> segments of schmaltzy
songs from the romantic French crooner, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH6wzq2NNcI"><b>Charles Aznavour</b></a>.
<span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0yENIyEZA3gi24QKiB10n1maVusUtKAuJaLwdmG09QpwPkclkvAs4KKTSH-yPht28y8KgE6MfWG_q-4BKaiZeelkpuEYfzGhu2IuonVn87vQl7SEQngldQCL7S330gHyTTAoqAETYdw/s1600/Jacques+Derrida.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0yENIyEZA3gi24QKiB10n1maVusUtKAuJaLwdmG09QpwPkclkvAs4KKTSH-yPht28y8KgE6MfWG_q-4BKaiZeelkpuEYfzGhu2IuonVn87vQl7SEQngldQCL7S330gHyTTAoqAETYdw/s1600/Jacques+Derrida.jpg" height="152" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Jacques Derrida</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUa2_VH3pjeGt4f-6orgwHQCoD4LYM04iLcJc0AyjKYtl0W_KtLfyVEMsyT98_Max5IswFbmQqVsB6xR64nmt-0Z-FP1nrLqG0H7GgiBDHbjUB_1mL90H1QD7gU9Kw0iiCisY0k8tQsE/s1600/Charles+Aznavour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUa2_VH3pjeGt4f-6orgwHQCoD4LYM04iLcJc0AyjKYtl0W_KtLfyVEMsyT98_Max5IswFbmQqVsB6xR64nmt-0Z-FP1nrLqG0H7GgiBDHbjUB_1mL90H1QD7gU9Kw0iiCisY0k8tQsE/s1600/Charles+Aznavour.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;">Charles Aznavour</span></span></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">While Aznavour slings his emotive Gallic melodies with power & bombastic energy, <i>romance & fun</i> tend to dominate the stage activity and the dance evokes a kind of <i>party</i> mode (& mood), perhaps reflecting standard Broadway "high jinks" from, well, a "European perspective." When the recorded
voice of Derrida intrudes, speaking in a monotone English about<i> </i>such concepts as<i> necessity</i> and <i>death</i>, the
dancers fall to the stage floor. The happy, upbeat moments, though, provide the Cedar Lake dancers
with the opportunity to display their charm, wiles, singular skills (both solo & group), and humorous & alluring abilities in action, gesture & movement. The piece, while certainly idiosyncratic in structure, is appealing & entertaining, if a bit on the baffling side in terms of the dramatic/dance movements displayed amidst the juxtaposed voices rendered in the background.</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1cQHfqJQC3fvIC_6eAptE0zceySNW0-OIG8JY_xshtTj37Asr41enkLP8q77PbO8bVu5d_-fipm7EAaFDxA3SeES2b7nkAAWnbKq5O75-I-cWyIxsoZZu9KOwKMWEBzn-re8QAMpmnc/s1600/Cedar+Lake+-+Hofesh+Shechter%E2%80%99s+%E2%80%9CViolet+Kid%E2%80%9D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1cQHfqJQC3fvIC_6eAptE0zceySNW0-OIG8JY_xshtTj37Asr41enkLP8q77PbO8bVu5d_-fipm7EAaFDxA3SeES2b7nkAAWnbKq5O75-I-cWyIxsoZZu9KOwKMWEBzn-re8QAMpmnc/s1600/Cedar+Lake+-+Hofesh+Shechter%E2%80%99s+%E2%80%9CViolet+Kid%E2%80%9D.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Cedar Lake dancers - in H. Shecter's "Violet Kid"</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">After having experienced "<a href="http://vimeo.com/74659395"><b>Necessity, Again</b></a>," it becomes obvious that Mr. <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">Strømgren</span>, who also works as a theater director, brings a certain dramatic
element to the dance pieces he creates & meticulously choreographs, leading one critic to pronounce that “Jo [</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Strømgren</span></span></span>] has
a very dry [sense of] humor that sets a very different tone to everything else." Indeed, in the final analysis, it seems he does ... at least for <a href="http://cedarlakedance.com/about-cedar-lake"><b>Cedar Lake</b></a>! </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VYj-4qakpchLH52Iwfl2dW412eNPCTwYxFwpun63iMJbd5VkJZVGbROBBdf5TV5kcAAGx42Y8M-OlXzxsq3TC61iUQLCCV52nvUXrwLRMuHEQpz8qCPbdJsB_rq-yCwjhpleuGllwuQ/s1600/Olea+-+Inside+View+-+best!.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VYj-4qakpchLH52Iwfl2dW412eNPCTwYxFwpun63iMJbd5VkJZVGbROBBdf5TV5kcAAGx42Y8M-OlXzxsq3TC61iUQLCCV52nvUXrwLRMuHEQpz8qCPbdJsB_rq-yCwjhpleuGllwuQ/s1600/Olea+-+Inside+View+-+best!.jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Olea - view of the "house" </b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.oleabrooklyn.com/"><b>Olea</b></a> (171 Lafayette Ave., Brooklyn, NY; a short & pleasant 5 or 6 blocks from <b>BAM</b>; tel.<b> </b>718/643-7003) proved the restaurant of choice prior to the Cedar Lake dance event we would attend at <b>BAM</b> (described above). </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The establishment bills itself as a <b>Mediterranean Taverna</b> ... and it has that look & feel, possibly of somewhere in southern Italy (Sicilia, perhaps?) or a Greek Isle. And the food that they prepare is, for the most part, light, naturally colorful, seemingly healthy, and, well, of varied Mediterranean provenance. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImHe29jYVxYvCI_RjfMmNpdK7z7sHUB9HeY8rLlcs0pBtQPvxNPVTpDwF5p-0mNudFl6nVitCdbrxZ1WxlkAWDGjAWidaWcMsYv1X5Mojebegd9C18aSXDdVHkGdjLhVyRsV6yDdYJcg/s1600/Olea+-+Outside+on+Lafayette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImHe29jYVxYvCI_RjfMmNpdK7z7sHUB9HeY8rLlcs0pBtQPvxNPVTpDwF5p-0mNudFl6nVitCdbrxZ1WxlkAWDGjAWidaWcMsYv1X5Mojebegd9C18aSXDdVHkGdjLhVyRsV6yDdYJcg/s1600/Olea+-+Outside+on+Lafayette.jpg" height="262" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Olea - External (dusk) view on Lafayette Avenue</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We had learned about <b>Olea</b> from the <b>BAM</b> web site though we were on our way to another eatery (a bit further away); but, as we were strolling by <b>Olea</b>, we noticed their posted rather consequential <a href="http://www.oleabrooklyn.com/dinner/"><b>Happy Hour</b></a> menu (Mon.-Fri., 4-7:00) when drinks (beer & wine, and all!) are, roughly, 1/2 price and food sampling can be accomplished via tapas-size plates at extremely reasonable (reduced!) price points ($3-6). Otherwise, the menu at <b>Olea</b> offers a wide variety of similarly delectable tapas dishes, of course, at <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuoyvOTN1xdIVtXWTlcFM8vVr4ioa4mOPEnRIq0mRE9Q3zbqT2A_G75cw1mwzMm00S4l7wf13661m8pzL3QomS4Lmk_u3e2_ouHHGvQSei3DW44pYW5AFVA2KTSZmR4z32Gy5tHuyUn0I/s1600/Olea+-+Pizza+tapa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuoyvOTN1xdIVtXWTlcFM8vVr4ioa4mOPEnRIq0mRE9Q3zbqT2A_G75cw1mwzMm00S4l7wf13661m8pzL3QomS4Lmk_u3e2_ouHHGvQSei3DW44pYW5AFVA2KTSZmR4z32Gy5tHuyUn0I/s1600/Olea+-+Pizza+tapa.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Spanish"pitza" tapa</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">somewhat higher pricing, larger plates </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">& raw bar selections (for details, just have a look at their unique dinner </span><a href="http://www.oleabrooklyn.com/dinner/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>menu</b></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">!). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">For example, if you dined post-Happy-Hour you might want to try the <b>roasted whole Mediterranean branzino </b>("whole bone in fish"), plated with green vegetables </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">sautéed i</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">n </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="st"><i>pimentón</i></span>-garlic butter (@ $26); or you might select a paella - <b>paella de mariscos</b>, say - with</span></span><i> </i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Spanish "bomba" rice cooked with squid ink & vegetable-saffron stock, shrimp,
calamari, mussels ... all carefully mixed thru with red pepper sofrito, green peas, preserved lemon
aioli & parsley leaves (@ $28).</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkhxrK-LKGzxxVU2sCWgud06isjI7ARloRVwxJMXLrA0qkCSnZPonX-PBl_NiVj4X1pCuVhlnxwBaWcGWpi96-9oBTQHE2zGxvbuXmQTda1NUkblkzLjjNhTXAJC5rcHSBlLhCUmfMEA/s1600/Olea+-+Veal+Meatball+Kefteddes+w-tomatos+sauce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkhxrK-LKGzxxVU2sCWgud06isjI7ARloRVwxJMXLrA0qkCSnZPonX-PBl_NiVj4X1pCuVhlnxwBaWcGWpi96-9oBTQHE2zGxvbuXmQTda1NUkblkzLjjNhTXAJC5rcHSBlLhCUmfMEA/s1600/Olea+-+Veal+Meatball+Kefteddes+w-tomatos+sauce.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Lamb <i>kefteddes, </i>tomato sauce, feta & mint </b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">For our <u><b>Happy-Hour</b></u> <i>pre</i>-theater dinner, though, we settled on <u>five</u> or, more likely, <u><i>six</i></u> (?) tapas plates and a few glasses of a relatively dry </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>rosé </b>& a glass of off-dry <b>Riesling</b>. All six plates were tasty & tangy tapas "exhibits," distinctive, well-executed. A few were simply <u>outstanding</u>. While we initially considered ordering an appealing plate of the <b>lamb <i>kefteddes</i></b><i> </i>(</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Greek meatballs, tomato sauce, spicy whipped feta & mint, @ $5.50; see photo), we opted for the <b>beef meatballs</b>, a bit more complex & intricately prepared, with</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> red wine-pomegranate-rosemary glaze, yogurt & toasted almonds (also $5.50). </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Equally appealing to us and sounding genuinely distinctive was the <b>Spanish</b></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> "pitza</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">,</span></span>"</b> comprising pita with quince paste, Manchego cheese, toasted garlic, crushed red pepper ... a truly memorable combination of artfully complementary tastes & textures (@ $4; see photo, above). Also deserving special mention are two additional outstanding ("tapas") plates that justified our interest and, ultimately, tickled our taste buds: the </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>celery-apple salad</b>, with gorgonzola-blue cheese, sherry vinaigrette, toasted walnuts & coriander seeds ($4.50); <u><b>and</b></u> the singularly satisfying (particularly scrumptious!)</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> mini fried oyster sandwiches </b>(two, with a spicy Brussels sprouts "slaw," at $4.50).</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRO2-UAdPgj2oc7FOqIsBMEe4GV5PpadCkKNZVcBZKJFCnYRndcHzMoSTGYj-Vq3M_VBJ9giPptN3lf-fGvouB0FguditA9B4vZDneTavfBMQYIKSVT-0Z5-uGtxxVNxD6uKXqZOlS-i4/s1600/Olea+-+dessert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRO2-UAdPgj2oc7FOqIsBMEe4GV5PpadCkKNZVcBZKJFCnYRndcHzMoSTGYj-Vq3M_VBJ9giPptN3lf-fGvouB0FguditA9B4vZDneTavfBMQYIKSVT-0Z5-uGtxxVNxD6uKXqZOlS-i4/s1600/Olea+-+dessert.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Warm almond tart</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We concluded our Happy-Hour visit to <b>Olea</b> with the wait-staff recommended </span></span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Warm Almond Tart</span></span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> ($</span><span style="font-size: large;">8), replete</span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> with pomegranate sorbet</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">, whipped cream & toasted almond</span><span style="font-size: large;">s - genuinely luscious, <u><b>and</b></u>, at the same time, guzzled multiple cups of dark (black) coffee necessary to complement & enhance a dessert that was, as they say, to die for!</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Map - Fort Greene, Brooklyn</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fortunately we had ample time to walk off the meal and still arrive at our Cedar Lake curtain with minutes to spare. A 2nd "outer borough" dining success (we're still battin' 1000). We thoroughly enjoyed the place - the affability of the wait staff, the cozy-comfy bustling Mediterranean ambiance ... as well as the food, the wine, our coffee & that fabulous dessert. I'm sure - should you venture to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Greene,_Brooklyn"><b>Fort Greene</b></a> section of Brooklyn, perhaps for a <b>BAM</b> event - you will enjoy <b>Olea</b>, too, <i>sans doute</i>! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or, as one contented <b>Olea</b> eater trumpeted ... </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">just</span><span style="font-size: large;"><i> "Check out ... [this] Fort Greene secret!</i> (Whoops!) </span></span></div>
H. J. Scheiber, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366292492767857006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693133104581549318.post-81499001977099928402014-07-14T13:37:00.002-07:002014-07-15T12:53:56.949-07:00Two Small Museum Exhibits / Two Small Restos - Up & Down Manhattan Island + Some Notes on Stefan Zweig<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwiF2FKEdnmeVnt4bSCTTUX2r6nGauBmP3f3__ntOvOTsQRJD259GoJzhLuKeJzuzJTyLRMg48nYfTHb8KQ5OLigOQqEkD7yFaxD4m-LeIGP51stpZTRpHKmZAx_IvQoeUojPYNK3kBWQ/s1600/Jewish+Museum+-Mel+Bochner+Going-out-of-Business.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwiF2FKEdnmeVnt4bSCTTUX2r6nGauBmP3f3__ntOvOTsQRJD259GoJzhLuKeJzuzJTyLRMg48nYfTHb8KQ5OLigOQqEkD7yFaxD4m-LeIGP51stpZTRpHKmZAx_IvQoeUojPYNK3kBWQ/s1600/Jewish+Museum+-Mel+Bochner+Going-out-of-Business.png" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">M. Bochner - "Going Out of Business"</span></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Two small but highly worthwhile</span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">exhibits </span><span style="font-size: large;">have recently surfaced at opposite ends of Manhattan Island - one, "<b>Mel Bochner: </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Strong Language</b>"</span></span> (through September 21st), featured at <b>The Jewish Museum</b> (5th Ave. @ 92nd St.) and the other, "<b>Exposed</b>," a unique show at The Fashion & Textile History Gallery at the <b>Museum at</b> <b>FIT</b> (7th Ave. @ 27th St.) reflecting a brief history of lingerie (running through November 15th).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Both</u> <u>exhibitions</u> cry out for our attention for very different<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Mel Bochner</b></span></td></tr>
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reasons. One, the former, emphasizes <i><u>language</u></i> and what Mel Bochner (b. 1940; American), in his "painterly" vein, says "has a lot to do with the devolution of language [see, up & to the left his 'Going Out of Business'], its corruption in public and political discourse in ways ... even Orwell could not have imagined." In case you're not familiar with Bochner' work, the museum's curatorial material points out that he was a founding father of the <a href="http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/c/conceptualart.html"><b>Conceptual Art movement</b></a> dating back to the early 1960s. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH08dLUr_xQBUPXrVLVtPPcI0FU-H1cbXP5q1kEZK3s9XqcJd5itui1Ege5F6IiT0ATpbgU2NOXElLli48kgCkivcc6byPTy-aA3UyDI7gtd1b5VcugkrsHAJm3cLvFjwICTxOhf44Rw4/s1600/iMel+Bochner+-+Nothing,+negation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH08dLUr_xQBUPXrVLVtPPcI0FU-H1cbXP5q1kEZK3s9XqcJd5itui1Ege5F6IiT0ATpbgU2NOXElLli48kgCkivcc6byPTy-aA3UyDI7gtd1b5VcugkrsHAJm3cLvFjwICTxOhf44Rw4/s1600/iMel+Bochner+-+Nothing,+negation.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>M. Bochner - <span class="line0"><i>Nothing</i>, 2003</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This new exhibition, however, has gathered a number of his more recent works spotlighting those which focus centrally on the "artist's engagement with the <i>possibilities of language as image, medium, and content</i> ..." including both his early conceptual </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">items right up through "vibrantly colored and
lushly executed recent paintings." [italics mine] Indeed, The Jewish Museum exhibit curators go on to note that Bochner's "use of words as sources for painting" originates in his "interest in philosophy" on one level and humor, wit & popular culture on another. In varying his techniques & the differing media in which he works - using "paint on canvas and velvet, drawing, print making, wall installations" - the painterly items tend to "riff on words and meaning in countless permutations."</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUz9Zz3FvEBqBcuSLkV9OIR2lvte2_6pu4RKUlHAFh4HYDSTknuy1pBpfR-Pi5CE2xgqIvbxlkXhKcJCZQojpvY2KcBk48vYcPtFzR_FSLE4-FvILQH7hLW_-_KqkLRmb6Mv9Mj4CaAw/s1600/Mel+Bochner+-+contempt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUz9Zz3FvEBqBcuSLkV9OIR2lvte2_6pu4RKUlHAFh4HYDSTknuy1pBpfR-Pi5CE2xgqIvbxlkXhKcJCZQojpvY2KcBk48vYcPtFzR_FSLE4-FvILQH7hLW_-_KqkLRmb6Mv9Mj4CaAw/s1600/Mel+Bochner+-+contempt.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>M. Bochner - <i>Contempt</i>, early 2000s</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Indeed, for Mel Bochner, the <i><b>Thesaurus</b></i> (the reference volume) becomes reified & alive as “a warehouse for words,” a basis for ready-made text
for his "billboard-like pictures." Finally, Bochner's work proves alluring, unique & witty as he incorporates "word games, [verbal] incongruities, and
even visual slapstick to draw the viewer into linguistic, phenomenological, and
social puzzles."</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbKCdtWygja6d3S3NISRSL9Hfllwkczr7v0RQ3jB30ljICgr23IhqndVOH3HYd9ULHJKGHMgGU7a2QZZbxt8gtL9uvu9LuUD2DKxrZJ8RP64plnkrROScWXP3eNQ1uIik2sKkmhPPPqs/s1600/Exposed_Lily-of-France_450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbKCdtWygja6d3S3NISRSL9Hfllwkczr7v0RQ3jB30ljICgr23IhqndVOH3HYd9ULHJKGHMgGU7a2QZZbxt8gtL9uvu9LuUD2DKxrZJ8RP64plnkrROScWXP3eNQ1uIik2sKkmhPPPqs/s1600/Exposed_Lily-of-France_450.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Lace corselet, c. 1954</span></span></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"<b>Exposed</b>," the other exhibition, well, focuses on undergarments (but <i>not</i> those<i> always </i>worn <i>underneath</i> a
woman's external dress) and graphically attempts (successfully, I think) to signal - to communicate - that "... lingerie is the final barrier to the fully <i>nude</i> body, and thus inherently erotic ..." strategically alluring, revealing, concealing & highlighting "the wearer's form." [from </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"<i><b>Exposed</b></i>," </span></span></span></span>an <b>MFIT</b> pamphlet, </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">developed by curator Colleen Hill, </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">that </span></span>summarizes the content of the show]</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Q2PgSYn1566-6DwqVpV6xCYG3pJNm2NeIDHkao1LVKpy3ZOIYsGB7CXZWwFzXrH7neJpuKNrxZ-3rZCa7SQcGnDZca3IL0z1e_qTZb2HS8AnfbJRdtbyxto-JV8LOw8JQuYLSh7IDx4/s1600/FIT+Museum+Exposed_Poirette+overwire+bra+&+petticoat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Q2PgSYn1566-6DwqVpV6xCYG3pJNm2NeIDHkao1LVKpy3ZOIYsGB7CXZWwFzXrH7neJpuKNrxZ-3rZCa7SQcGnDZca3IL0z1e_qTZb2HS8AnfbJRdtbyxto-JV8LOw8JQuYLSh7IDx4/s1600/FIT+Museum+Exposed_Poirette+overwire+bra+&+petticoat.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Bra/USA, 1949 & petticoat/France, 1951</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">While both shows directly communicate their content to the viewer, each, perhaps, in its own conspicuous way, they provoke our concentration in very different ways, through the use of very different media contexts: <b>Mel Bochner </b>- in "painted" words - using colorful language (in both meanings of the term <i>colorful</i>) and adding up to an assault on our visual and linguistic senses, in an emphatic & hyperbolic <i>re</i>-imagining of words bombarding us in our daily lives; and the <u>content</u> of "<b>Exposed</b>" gently sweeping us through history and, as we proceed from the 18th century and its "decorative corsets" to contemporary more erotic items, catching our eye through the use of mannequins modeling a wide variety of lingerie & related garments and lingerie-like clothing forms & fashions ... from, say, the modest "camiknickers" of the 1920s, to Dior's "voluminous petticoats" of the 1950s, to "today's overtly erotic styles" from <a href="http://www.agentprovocateur.com/"><b>Agent Provocateur</b></a>.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0e64-j7cbxH6W6isGhiqXvgVcGN67JhrKDeODjUEAVXdKwOI7oKth5boFt2_F2T8MB-nFZQSbL2nQjPdmdgh307mWRzwSne6kgot0l55fV9JSLZJoB-h0wpp4CJ5l7xQ50TzYuMQF94g/s1600/FIT+Museum+Exposed_bustier_USA+1988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0e64-j7cbxH6W6isGhiqXvgVcGN67JhrKDeODjUEAVXdKwOI7oKth5boFt2_F2T8MB-nFZQSbL2nQjPdmdgh307mWRzwSne6kgot0l55fV9JSLZJoB-h0wpp4CJ5l7xQ50TzYuMQF94g/s1600/FIT+Museum+Exposed_bustier_USA+1988.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Bustier, USA,, 1988</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Indeed, as Ms. Hill & the <b>MFIT </b>exhibit reveal, and argue for, "lingerie remains a topic of enduring fascination" to us all, male & female alike!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But words, too, tend to have a large impact on our psyches & fascinate us, male & female alike, as Mel Bochner - and George Orwell - have demonstrated for us in the enormity of power in the repetition of words & phrases. Just think, for example of any number of verbal constructs appropriated by governments, political parties, PR firms & Madison Avenue, the NRA, "big Pharma," lobbyists & K-Street ... and you will immediately have identified a plethora of potentially insidious contexts involving linguistic manipulation or verbal abuse.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Wvr2GRwS2B5kWva4dsJozQLm_PqHGaHQrQTEJzsGVDDA0blnQUbVVo_xbkdcetyxCJOphN0URz9DwUWRNBexs30XMvPexg-Zd51vx7g6JhCf4OBLm_2C4USYXvCJnWJcK1NezVxzKZM/s1600/Bochner_Lobby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Wvr2GRwS2B5kWva4dsJozQLm_PqHGaHQrQTEJzsGVDDA0blnQUbVVo_xbkdcetyxCJOphN0URz9DwUWRNBexs30XMvPexg-Zd51vx7g6JhCf4OBLm_2C4USYXvCJnWJcK1NezVxzKZM/s1600/Bochner_Lobby.jpg" height="233" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>M. Bochner - Blah, blah, blah, blah ...</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And who is to say which is the more fascinating area to dwell upon, and in which ways, and for whom: women's fashion undergarments & the benign (?) world of <b><u>lingerie</u></b> (bustles, bras, bikini briefs, bustiers) or <b><u>words</u></b> and <u><b>phrases</b></u> that taunt, excite, intimidate, persuade, perturb, dishonor, frighten & manipulate? Different strokes, I guess! Or, perhaps, the same kind of person might simply recognize the impact - for good and for ill - of (or in) both of these domains. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>MFA thesis exhibit, 2014</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FOHfV58c3F7g9rvFfTNtSgwTOwYrLgShScrqcKUjSEbpm09bSKPMlddhoDljfQnmNcct42eHlFKT6IsFXZKcxoUAR7URtqzZh014WbC9XBcD-2aTDh13Pp8d0uwbbuITf1DQH1GybIY/s1600/Merz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FOHfV58c3F7g9rvFfTNtSgwTOwYrLgShScrqcKUjSEbpm09bSKPMlddhoDljfQnmNcct42eHlFKT6IsFXZKcxoUAR7URtqzZh014WbC9XBcD-2aTDh13Pp8d0uwbbuITf1DQH1GybIY/s1600/Merz.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>J. Merz, <i>Asch Building on Fire</i>, collage</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">At any rate, you must avail yourself of one, or both, of these singular, memorable & deftly curated exhibitions currently on view in different sections of the Borough of Manhattan through the frenetic Fall museum-going season. And while you are visiting <b>MFIT, </b>consider saving some time to walk through the "<b>Class of 2014</b>" show entitled <a href="http://www.fitnyc.edu/3450.asp"><u><i><b>Chroma</b></i></u></a> in which several MFA students are participating in a "Visual Thesis Exhibition." Two students, for example, whose work enthralled us as we meandered through <b><i>Chroma</i></b> were <b>Jennifer Merz</b> of Allendale, NJ (@ <span style="color: blue;">jennifermerz.com</span>) & <b>Sam Kalda</b> (@ <span style="color: blue;">samkalda.com</span>). Simply have a brief look, following your prolonged, conversation-inducing visit to "<b>Exposed</b>."</span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirm3chg1h4m5DfLTgCUg6RM1bQVIB3jfEJzYE5tA_ga9YXd5U9vO7-NDQoOt5V_2dPJgYpuBEEAuuHuNQ-HNGTP1esssEDVlFwmVZ_SINof4yc0kTMSloJTlmlLzFhlBs5dloqcYC30w0/s1600/Pascalou+-++View+from+the+street+II+-+largervie+w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirm3chg1h4m5DfLTgCUg6RM1bQVIB3jfEJzYE5tA_ga9YXd5U9vO7-NDQoOt5V_2dPJgYpuBEEAuuHuNQ-HNGTP1esssEDVlFwmVZ_SINof4yc0kTMSloJTlmlLzFhlBs5dloqcYC30w0/s1600/Pascalou+-++View+from+the+street+II+-+largervie+w.jpg" height="215" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">After </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">your visits to the two museums and their exhibitions (delineated above), you might also want to stop for lunch or dinner (depending, of course!) on the upper East Side, where you'll find <b><a href="http://www.pascalou.info/">Pascalou</a> </b>(1308 Madison Ave. at 92nd; tel. 212/534-7522) a small but cozy, and friendly, contemporary <i>French</i>-inspired bistro ... just a block, or so, from the entrance to <b>The Jewish Museum</b>. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3LBR8hS4J5p3wfQfV98u4m0C18ne5Fpb6YMUKcgNguHpbFsMo6QRdnPQq5J9v19FT3tGowU7aG6e9Veu6oSDtEpHmC_-C_LlzoHPF1m1pqvuVr_wLqtLzSV5aBENf9KbJdb1vsO6Uog/s1600/Pascalou+-+lamb+bologne+ii.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3LBR8hS4J5p3wfQfV98u4m0C18ne5Fpb6YMUKcgNguHpbFsMo6QRdnPQq5J9v19FT3tGowU7aG6e9Veu6oSDtEpHmC_-C_LlzoHPF1m1pqvuVr_wLqtLzSV5aBENf9KbJdb1vsO6Uog/s1600/Pascalou+-+lamb+bologne+ii.jpg" height="148" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Polenta lamb bolognese</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuxtI9dgryGWDWBMHkMsR9N_Sag5A27PalX0NYVhuXoCuBSpPeZYkuYiA8-i3n6TelIoBjDnn5WPIJE9SGYB1Mtpq_QElrplty1sCgMOmRc9VLe0SZiDyP4DQsy8VQWgsBp3vM1JGwjw/s1600/Pascalou+Prix+fixe++Lunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuxtI9dgryGWDWBMHkMsR9N_Sag5A27PalX0NYVhuXoCuBSpPeZYkuYiA8-i3n6TelIoBjDnn5WPIJE9SGYB1Mtpq_QElrplty1sCgMOmRc9VLe0SZiDyP4DQsy8VQWgsBp3vM1JGwjw/s1600/Pascalou+Prix+fixe++Lunch.jpg" height="400" width="175" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Pascalou </b>has much to offer, including a 3-course lunch <i>prix-fixe</i> menu (@ $18.95; with appetizer, soup or salad; main; & dessert) and a formidable series (for so small a resto) of </span></span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">à</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> la carte</i> menus, as well. Two members of our party of </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">three diners opted for the <i>prix fixe</i>; one (<i>moi</i>) ordered <b>baby Caesar salad</b> and the <b>polenta lamb bolognese </b>(prepared with melted mozzarella in a mildly spicy tomato sauce & chiseled bite-size "cuttings" of grilled lamb); the other diner who decided to order from the <i>prix fixe</i> lunch menu (<i>ma femme</i>) tried the <b>mozzarella, basil & tomato salad</b> & selected, for her main, the <b>grilled salmon</b> (light, moderately rare, juicy & well-prepared, with mixed vegetables & steamed white rice ... and <u><i>without</i></u> the added affectation of any sort of "fancy," cloying sauce). </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSJtsOWF_qSVcG4L8zR_Qeab1NO-YXj_dM1DaoNILzeiSN1oxm6iauU3g6H_cnIOF2Bf28b3ukp6n1jQEvlYsuNrRdxp0lpAt5oF9FlXZcLMpZhTQW0VuygalH746wbxj1-ThG-YXOwI/s1600/Pascalou+-+rose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSJtsOWF_qSVcG4L8zR_Qeab1NO-YXj_dM1DaoNILzeiSN1oxm6iauU3g6H_cnIOF2Bf28b3ukp6n1jQEvlYsuNrRdxp0lpAt5oF9FlXZcLMpZhTQW0VuygalH746wbxj1-ThG-YXOwI/s1600/Pascalou+-+rose.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pascalou - </span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Diamarine </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="st"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>rosé</b></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Both of us received the <i>house</i> <b>chocolate mousse</b> (the daily option) for dessert, along with solid cups of robust, black coffee ($2.75) to seal the proverbial deal. In addition, we had chosen to complement our lunch with a couple of glasses of a "standard"<b> Sauvignon Blanc</b> (@ $9) & a pretty solid <b>Diamarine </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="st"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>rosé</b> (Provence, 2013), which exuded watermelon & strawberry notes, and proved nicely dry with a <i>crisp</i> fini</span></span>sh</span> ($10). </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4u3z_tE090u9KuSyHAvcUGy1wgZ_gWFVJyRiNra2FqN1L5jRpJIEGEnilODf8trf1jvSSOBy1qJaK09jP8_sk-ouC45siyRznwQ5Cv5u0ZMbAyzQerGVLwhdu6wbMQFDZlhITD-0gbuk/s1600/Pascalou+-+gazpacho.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4u3z_tE090u9KuSyHAvcUGy1wgZ_gWFVJyRiNra2FqN1L5jRpJIEGEnilODf8trf1jvSSOBy1qJaK09jP8_sk-ouC45siyRznwQ5Cv5u0ZMbAyzQerGVLwhdu6wbMQFDZlhITD-0gbuk/s1600/Pascalou+-+gazpacho.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading" lang="en">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Gazpacho</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span dir="auto"> à</span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>la Pascalou</b></span></span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our companion, <b>F.L.</b>, ordered a few small plates & a cup of <b>gazpacho</b> from the <i><span style="line-height: 115%;">à la carte</span></i><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></i>lunch menu, most notably the <b>Pissaladierre</b>, a rustic onion tarte with roasted tomatoes, black olives & thyme (@ $14.50) <u>and</u> <b>sauteed fresh foie gras </b>with sweet & sour currants, balsamic onions & orange confit ($15). In all, a lunch, well, fit for a recovery - <i>a renewal</i> - after having perused the highlights of <b>The Jewish Museum</b>, some of its current exhibitions ... and the Museum's two very attractive gift shoppes!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFWjCzQtAZyxl6Y7IkKVgrYaYt0acIMN6Bv7SBBqNoXzfOJhP5UnQ6OEYNqcUVNw-Q9-K6z-mheb_QGO2HryT-qCK46rsHa6tSDBedLToKfllGjcZbchiQR9AFRMIZycR8K4VMDlnPkY/s1600/Prince+St+Cafe+-+inside+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFWjCzQtAZyxl6Y7IkKVgrYaYt0acIMN6Bv7SBBqNoXzfOJhP5UnQ6OEYNqcUVNw-Q9-K6z-mheb_QGO2HryT-qCK46rsHa6tSDBedLToKfllGjcZbchiQR9AFRMIZycR8K4VMDlnPkY/s1600/Prince+St+Cafe+-+inside+view.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Prince St. Cafe - Interior view</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And <i>post</i>-"<b>Exposed</b>" - <i>after</i> your visit to the <b>Museum at FIT</b> (<b>MFIT</b>) - you might want to head for any number of restos in the immediate Chelsea vicinity, or else follow our lead and trek a bit downtown to 26 Prince St. and check out </span></span><a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/prince-st-cafe-and-catering-co-new-york"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span data-dobid="hdw"><b>Prince St. Caf</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span data-dobid="hdw"><b><span class="st">é</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="cross-streets"> (betw. Mott St. & Elizabeth St.
in Nolita;
</span>tel. 212/343-7310) and spend a bit of time sampling the culinary creations of chef-owner <a href="http://www.timeout.com/newyork/restaurants/prince-street-cafe"><b>Kostyantyn Prokoshyn</b></a>, in an area just steps from the increasingly</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> well-known landmark, <a href="http://mcnallyjackson.com/"><b>McNally </b></a></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://mcnallyjackson.com/"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jackson </span></span>Books</b></a> (52 Prince St. betw. Lafayette & Mulberry; tel. 212/</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">274-1160), where you just might have an author-related event to attend ...</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> a panel, say, on the works of <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2012/08/27/120827crat_atlarge_carey"><b>Stefan Zweig</b></a>, new editions of some of his novels & novellas, his celebrated memoir, </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="irc_page_title_wrapper irc_iis"><span class="irc_pt" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-World-Yesterday-Stefan-Zweig/dp/0803226616"><b>The World of Yesterday</b></a> (London: Pushkin Press, 2009; translated by Anthea Bell),</span></span> and the new biographical study of Zweig's later life & work by <a href="http://www.otherpress.com/books/impossible-exile/"><b>George Prochnik</b></a>, titled <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/15/books/review/george-prochniks-impossible-exile-about-stefan-zweig.html?_r=0"><i><b>The Impossible Exile: Stefan Zweig at the End of the World</b></i></a>. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUaCqWlSETfviMdJJlGZD119OFfejMyxgNlhjcBehPGtiDC4FkSSsB0KPgrXGgwQqtS1Zybg2WPpxOP1msakrbI7FiIvI6JpG2oG96Px4J2Mu9oEOJaLZwL1hDj84lKV2FzBwg6TXTX4/s1600/Prochnik+bookII.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUaCqWlSETfviMdJJlGZD119OFfejMyxgNlhjcBehPGtiDC4FkSSsB0KPgrXGgwQqtS1Zybg2WPpxOP1msakrbI7FiIvI6JpG2oG96Px4J2Mu9oEOJaLZwL1hDj84lKV2FzBwg6TXTX4/s1600/Prochnik+bookII.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In fact, my wife & I had actually attended the rich & insightful panel focusing on <b>Zweig</b></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> at McNally Jackson ... the very literary panel to which I refer, above, focusing on: </span></span></span></span>the man & his dissection of the slow but emphatic collapse of what had been the "secure," leisurely, and "civilized" Habsburg Empire & the societal climate that flourished (and Zweig well knew) in the late 19th & early 20th century, before the outbreak of the Second World War; his rather sprawling historico-geographical reach; and the depth & breadth of his influence during the <i>pre</i>-war <i>Europe</i></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> (particularly Austria, Germany & France) <u>cultural</u> and <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26YbfkMsQfIjuf5fIC0oeZ5PlPD0B2coJ5PIBdanoSIGfK7yP8TleWl8Fd_mUM6jENZOwiidztscL00sWrxzvWPJPERWzrTNllIgLKifV7c3eN98785gIhTstDuS1WKHoPZ-hsnw7350/s1600/stefan-zweig-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26YbfkMsQfIjuf5fIC0oeZ5PlPD0B2coJ5PIBdanoSIGfK7yP8TleWl8Fd_mUM6jENZOwiidztscL00sWrxzvWPJPERWzrTNllIgLKifV7c3eN98785gIhTstDuS1WKHoPZ-hsnw7350/s1600/stefan-zweig-2.jpg" height="200" width="152" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Stefan Zweig<i><br /></i></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<u>political</u> context</span></span></span></span> in which he found himself. The event, and the speakers involved, including Mr. Prochnik, tended to <i>re</i>-kindle my continued interest in Zweig's work, his singularly important & informative memoir, his brilliant novellas, and many of his great (grand?) stories!</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Indeed, you might have guessed that I am just now & for a good long while enthralled by Stefan Zweig, his work, his artistic/literary vision, his emotional & intellectual state(s), and, generally, the period in which he came of age ... and, then, of prominence.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbpCtbpB92ZxsIXUtf7_igx4I1JZEJdGzAGeNfr3D1u1-cihomM_5fisHPV7FVoQ7-62LkQ0IEEfR2ts9XzImrkAtJo1FQnWqMyFQYJymTexMLkfJFcWzbEH_M5YEW4ahzHDbQOITsIw/s1600/Zweig+-+Chess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbpCtbpB92ZxsIXUtf7_igx4I1JZEJdGzAGeNfr3D1u1-cihomM_5fisHPV7FVoQ7-62LkQ0IEEfR2ts9XzImrkAtJo1FQnWqMyFQYJymTexMLkfJFcWzbEH_M5YEW4ahzHDbQOITsIw/s1600/Zweig+-+Chess.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Chess Story, </i>or <i>The Royal Game</i></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Doubling back along Prince St. to Kostyantyn Prokoshyn's</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span data-dobid="hdw"><b> <a href="http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/prince-street-cafe-catering/">Caf</a></b></span></span></span><a href="http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/prince-street-cafe-catering/"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span data-dobid="hdw"><b><span class="st">é</span></b></span></span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">, we, once again, indulged in a 3-course <i>prix-fixe</i> dining event. While the wines we drank by the glass were satisfactory (@ $5.00, or so, for each fill), Mr. Prokoshyn's cooking demonstrated his mastery of (and beyond!) traditional French-continental cuisine ... and that fare proved generously plated & truly sumptuous. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlABzhDrglEgBhZn5WOJ1zCL62RC4tPJhfrM7IESJtJisOzGzW8mkglDA5fRxnnPaSFnzkmhmv1hK1HJE3iqhsekdFlX52BsUdTP_IuBKVR7jJbqwSCXDVH3XeAYgdVmBMPNKpowTf1bk/s1600/Prince+St+cafe+-+Sign+++logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlABzhDrglEgBhZn5WOJ1zCL62RC4tPJhfrM7IESJtJisOzGzW8mkglDA5fRxnnPaSFnzkmhmv1hK1HJE3iqhsekdFlX52BsUdTP_IuBKVR7jJbqwSCXDVH3XeAYgdVmBMPNKpowTf1bk/s1600/Prince+St+cafe+-+Sign+++logo.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">For the record, the chef offers a <b>Beef Wellington </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span data-dobid="hdw">entrée </span></i><b></b>on his menu but doesn't seem to have gotten (or so he has indicated) too many diners to order this rich continental beef-enshrouded item ... and most of his diners would be, he adds, hard-pressed to even describe the dish let alone show an interest in ordering it. So, while listed on his menu, should you want to sample this intriguing, traditional </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span data-dobid="hdw">entrée</span></i>, you must simply contact the chef a few days before and reserve the dish for dinner, for two! (And we plan to do just that in the very near future!)</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lBQFSKtluBRFNBAdNpqPScD-NfWdldk0r91NCRPPMNsCHHkIfFZIfP_-yOAZVbUSu4MwAnBxy3VDnfKgM8OkaR06Pcx0RspXggc8ES9ZoC-E1Xvjpx2gFt5bYNpTrztsqOT9Hj5ApNw/s1600/Prince+St+Cafe+-+lamb+shank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lBQFSKtluBRFNBAdNpqPScD-NfWdldk0r91NCRPPMNsCHHkIfFZIfP_-yOAZVbUSu4MwAnBxy3VDnfKgM8OkaR06Pcx0RspXggc8ES9ZoC-E1Xvjpx2gFt5bYNpTrztsqOT9Hj5ApNw/s1600/Prince+St+Cafe+-+lamb+shank.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Lamb shank</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But, on this more immediate occasion, and, really, in order to get a feel for the chef's talents & preparations, we stuck to the somewhat more mundane - but, ultimately, tasty, well-prepared & well-plated - offerings that added up (for us) to the 3-course dinner (@ $22, </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>complete</u></span></span>!) ... & comprising a choice of soup/salad or appetizer, an</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span data-dobid="hdw"> </span><span data-dobid="hdw">entrée</span></span></span> & dessert. We began with an exquisite rendition of <b>butternut squash soup</b> (my wife's choice & a favorite!) ... and yet another, however non-traditional, not very orthodox, thickly creamy version of <b>Caesar salad,</b> <i>pour moi</i>.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqwo6dDeTQbjMzwpr8T0hgYr2J8F46zn4tdnRhe2fVWnlxWe_12EoI6raTCTOU-tQDKq7PoEKyPnYDiUGA1vyVTlXhT7NgR6TQLtqu-YbMW-A-hEsTgre_g6W3QwcZlYR9r7K4SXylF4/s1600/Prince+St+cafe+-+Grilled+Salmon+fillet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqwo6dDeTQbjMzwpr8T0hgYr2J8F46zn4tdnRhe2fVWnlxWe_12EoI6raTCTOU-tQDKq7PoEKyPnYDiUGA1vyVTlXhT7NgR6TQLtqu-YbMW-A-hEsTgre_g6W3QwcZlYR9r7K4SXylF4/s1600/Prince+St+cafe+-+Grilled+Salmon+fillet.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Grilled salmon fillet</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Each of our </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><span data-dobid="hdw">entrée</span></u><i><span data-dobid="hdw"> </span></i><span data-dobid="hdw">selections proved successful, substantial & succulent, as well: my wife opted for the completely moist, </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span data-dobid="hdw"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span data-dobid="hdw">finely grilled</span></span></span> <b>salmon</b> <b>fillet</b> (plated with tender, buttery-garlicky green beans); and I chose the <i>falling-off-the-bone</i> tender <b>lamb shank</b>, offered up in a wine infused, moderately spicy sauce (</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span data-dobid="hdw">along with an assortment of broiled vegetables partially encircling the meat). We concluded this early evening dining adventure with dark, near-ebony cups of coffee accompanying a creamy, chocolate-based <b>bread pudding</b>, on the one hand, and an unusually "fruity" version of </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span data-dobid="hdw"><b><span class="st">crème brûlée</span></b>, on the other (each shared fairly equally despite our somewhat satiated state).</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl30nJC2FGKvc9k-iEGmk17s5JuakHPNnsDBa-XyyKqa3nIIxsiw29sXzKHgaccYWmcaF9PM4Ew3yq2NaZVUXRvYcdE5URRTkpX0qzQeXFa0zq1cjBXE4aAk3mFERDQyjUvF922JfzPYA/s1600/Prince+St+Cafe+-+creme+brule+II+-+bright.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl30nJC2FGKvc9k-iEGmk17s5JuakHPNnsDBa-XyyKqa3nIIxsiw29sXzKHgaccYWmcaF9PM4Ew3yq2NaZVUXRvYcdE5URRTkpX0qzQeXFa0zq1cjBXE4aAk3mFERDQyjUvF922JfzPYA/s1600/Prince+St+Cafe+-+creme+brule+II+-+bright.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span class="st">Crème brûlée</span></b><i><b><span class="st"> </span></b></i></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span data-dobid="hdw">At this point, we remind you and the staff at <b>Prince St. Caf</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span data-dobid="hdw"><b><span class="st">é</span></b> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span data-dobid="hdw">- yep, here & now - that we will certainly return soon; we do, indeed, plan to follow up with the chef on that neglected, quasi-mysterious "would be" menu item, the <i>Beef Wellington</i>! You might want to do the same ...</span></span></span><br />
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H. J. Scheiber, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366292492767857006noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693133104581549318.post-35777857064726175732014-06-26T18:37:00.002-07:002014-06-27T07:07:48.510-07:00Gauguin & Lygia Clark at MoMA; Casellula, a theatre district cheese & wine cafe; AND Left Bank, an impressive "American" resto in the (far) West Village<!--[if !mso]>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Ceramic Idol</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was a Sunday, a few weeks ago - the last day of the
Gauguin exhibition at <a href="http://www.moma.org/"><b>MoMA</b> </a>- and we made it our business to be on hand to witness
and stroll through <b><a href="http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/exhibitions/1418">Gauguin: Metamorphoses</a></b> (March
8<b><span style="font-size: small;"><sup>th</sup></span></b> - June 8<b><span style="font-size: small;"><sup>th</sup></span></b>), a colorful exhibit displaying lots of the
nubile, naked & near-naked Pacific islanders (predominantly, or perhaps exclusively, Tahitian, if memory serves) d</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">epicting heads, busts
& female bodies, incorporating both cunningly enticing </span></span>portraits, audacious island scenes, ceramic sculpture, and subtle, varied, and seemingly rough (indeed "primitive") wood carvings & totems. According to the museum's online curatorial discussion of the work on display, the show "focuses on Paul Gauguin's rare and extraordinary prints and <a href="http://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2014/gauguin/techniques"><b><i>transfer</i> drawings</b></a> [hybrid forms], and their <u>relationship</u> to his better-known paintings and his sculptures in wood and ceramic." [italics mine]</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Tahitian Woman w/Evil Spirit, c. 1900</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At this point, though, I am sorry to say, you are simply a couple of weeks too late to
view this array of interesting, intricate, inspiring samples of Gauguin's art &
vision and the somewhat inscrutable wiles of these Pacific Island women (both youthful and mature). Unfortunately, you will have missed the museum's first & only "exhibition to take an in-depth look at this overall body of work" which was "... created in several discrete bursts of activity from 1889 until his death in 1903." </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Portrait: Gauguin with Idol</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Perhaps there will be another chance - at some other exhibition, in the not-too-distant future - for you to survey at least a circumscribed portion of this particularly interrelated group of Gauguin's "<i>remarkable</i>" products and, too, explore a creative process frequently "involved [with] repeating and recombining key ... [elements] from one image to another, allowing them to evolve and <i>metamorphose</i> over time and across mediums." [italics mine]</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Lygia Clark</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But, if you missed the Gauguin</span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">exhibition, there still remains plenty of time to see the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lygia_Clark"><b>Lygia Clark</b></a> show at <b>MoMA</b>, entitled</span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/exhibitions/1462"><b>The Abandonment of Art, 1948-1988</b></a> (May 10-August 24), taking place in the multi-room Tisch Exhibition Gallery on the 6th floor.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>L. Clark - Bicho Maquina</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Within the extremely broad world that demarcates & solidifies the <i>oeuvre</i> of <a href="http://www.alisonjacquesgallery.com/artists/49-Lygia-Clark/overview/"><b>Lygia Clark</b></a> (1920-1988), there seems to be a great passion for the purity (perhaps sterility) of art while, at the same time, demonstrating an evolving passion for art in its function to <u>educate</u> the public, the interested viewer. This passion surfaces increasingly as one proceeds from one room to the next, from one decade to the next, despite what, to the uninitiated viewer, appears initially to be an art - an aesthetic - that projects the mere mechanistic, the technical, even the architectural ... both harsh & hard-edged. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>L. Clark - After All</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But there is also a <i>softer</i> side to the works of art & installations on display and a political, educational & therapeutic side that became, for Ms. Clark, a fully formed philosophy toward the latter part of her life, in the 1980s. Indeed, "<b>After All</b>" represents this latter, softer side of her <i>oeuvre</i>; it is a three-dimensional installation that must, of course, be seen close up in order to absorb its full effect (and its boundaries) and to enable the viewer to contrast this work with the more mechanical-technical works displayed "earlier" (in time & in sequence) in the exhibit.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Brazilian Constructivis</b></span><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">t</span></b></span></td></tr>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I should also underscore - as do the <b>MoMA</b> curators responsible for the exhibit - that Ms. Clark's influence and "legacy in Brazil" has been "<i>profound</i>" and that this current retrospective event has continued to garner international recognition for her work: "... </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">bringing together all parts of her
radical production, the exhibition seeks to reintroduce her into [the various & interrelated] current
discourses of <i><b>abstraction</b></i>, <i><b>participation</b></i>, and a <i><b>therapeutic</b></i> art practice</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">." In the online discussion of Clark's multi-decade output and in the online publicity for the show, the <b>MoMA</b> curators go on to widen the context for her work: "trained in Rio de Janeiro & Paris" during the late 1940s and <i>mid</i>-1950s she became "a leading <i>abstract </i>artist at the forefront of the <a href="http://arteonline.arq.br/museu/ensaios/ensaiosantigos/neoconcrete.htm"><b>Neo-Concretist movement in Brazil</b></a><b> </b>... fostering the active participation of
spectators through her works." </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Arte Pinterest</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In summary, <b>MoMA</b> curatorial & PR staff note that "during the late 1960s through the 1970s she created
a series of unconventional artworks in parallel to a lengthy [involvement in] psychoanalytic
therapy, leading her to develop a series of therapeutic propositions grounded
in art." They also impress upon the visitor that "Clark has become <i><u>a major reference for contemporary artists dealing
with the limits of conventional forms of art</u></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">." [Italics mine]</span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekluhHF2uJma7dM8ERdr5wePWhJTiRZtzk5ReFj2Fnbl4QtXWU1mZ_2sUeRvwo3cCu7cLXWqS0-u3ZhdUk9MaWTljnxOcjpS_K9xMFLTDFXVwDhfd9dW3SgXl86hgofQSHGYhKOjM-7k/s1600/L+Clark+-+Analise+de+obra+de+Lygia+Clark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekluhHF2uJma7dM8ERdr5wePWhJTiRZtzk5ReFj2Fnbl4QtXWU1mZ_2sUeRvwo3cCu7cLXWqS0-u3ZhdUk9MaWTljnxOcjpS_K9xMFLTDFXVwDhfd9dW3SgXl86hgofQSHGYhKOjM-7k/s1600/L+Clark+-+Analise+de+obra+de+Lygia+Clark.jpg" height="200" width="165" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Analise de obra de L. Clark</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For a comprehensive examination of the interrelationships of Clark's art, her therapeutic ideas, and her efforts in the environment of psychoanalytic therapy, see, for example, the Ohio University Master's thesis - entitled<a href="https://etd.ohiolink.edu/rws_etd/document/get/ohiou1275622355/inline"> <i><b>Restoring Subjectivity and Brazilian Identity: Lygia Clark's Therapeutic Practice</b></i></a><span class="display_only" id="P10_AUTHOR_INFO"><span class="abstract-author"> - completed by <b>Eleanor R. Harper</b></span></span> (2010).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Casellula - Extenal view</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Following our Sunday visit to <b>MoMA, </b>a bit fatigued from viewing the numerous Gaugin works in various mediums <b><u>and</u></b> the intensely wrought, extensive retrospective collection of multi-disciplinary pieces created by Lygia Clark between the 1940s and the late 1980s, we next trundled (quite easily) across town along 53rd & 52nd Streets seeking out the <b><a href="http://www.casellula.com/">Casellula Cheese & Wine<b> <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Café</span></b></a> </b></span></span>(<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">401 West 52nd St., near 9th Ave.; tel 212/247-8137) which we </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">had researched & then sought out to "discover." </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As we entered the</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Café, a bright late afternoon sun was streaming in through the large front<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6Rf-0thyphenhyphenMm3RlT7RoTPNtMNrSVs-LjSx63GksCkBTUM1y2H23iu27GYn6VTVF2sGGQx_7hzynrwZHrQZ2IYKBl57kbocdnirCDLthjHWrgtbjtQfaz0AKy2lfMDynGvCZBdFJjGZNdI/s1600/Casellula+-+Photo+Internal+Chairs+%2526+Light.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6Rf-0thyphenhyphenMm3RlT7RoTPNtMNrSVs-LjSx63GksCkBTUM1y2H23iu27GYn6VTVF2sGGQx_7hzynrwZHrQZ2IYKBl57kbocdnirCDLthjHWrgtbjtQfaz0AKy2lfMDynGvCZBdFJjGZNdI/s1600/Casellula+-+Photo+Internal+Chairs+%2526+Light.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Casellula - </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></b></span><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">the Café</span></b></span></td></tr>
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windows and all, at that moment, seemed right with the world (at least with <i>mid</i>-town Manhattan)! We were shown to a nice table in the center of the room, not far from the bar and the food preparation area and we could see the cheese plates being crafted and the wine (a </span><span style="font-size: large;">rosé) just then being poured, a </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">rosé</span></span> that we were told was delicate & delicious - not too sweet, not too tart, nor too full-bodied, reflecting a lightly tinted pale salmon color. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjboV_v0Mm33asCOmeFJExhn1e5ymTv_XyRnO0WRT8Ii30cyW7zjTtdXwjH_7Uwomxre63N8eXAEL3NL1H3L6zTf_JK4goI9mqbz_mhcVuqwRy1oO5xBB3NcYLMhCgk1T4fwK9HAzXFNtc/s1600/Casellula+-+Chicken+liver+pate+%25231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjboV_v0Mm33asCOmeFJExhn1e5ymTv_XyRnO0WRT8Ii30cyW7zjTtdXwjH_7Uwomxre63N8eXAEL3NL1H3L6zTf_JK4goI9mqbz_mhcVuqwRy1oO5xBB3NcYLMhCgk1T4fwK9HAzXFNtc/s1600/Casellula+-+Chicken+liver+pate+%25231.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Chicken liver pâté</b></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I ordered a glass to complement our first plate: <b>chicken liver p</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>âté</b>, with crunchy baguette slices, rhubarb marmalade & house c</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">rème fraîche (@ $12). The </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">pâté with all the "fixins" proved delectable ... and, if you take a gander at the photo of this "medium-size" plate, you'll readily understand that this item has (had) such great potential and </span></span><br />
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tasted so rich, so soft, so delicate, so creamy!</span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This splendid rendering of traditional </span><span style="font-size: large;">chicken liver </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">pâté was shortly followed by an <b>endive salad</b>, studded with Danish blue cheese & macadamia nuts in a pear vinaigrette ($14).</span></span></span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another glass of the</span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">rosé (<b>On-the-Spot</b>, <b>Pinot Noir</b>; NY / <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQio0TVzQjPRH4234JjVlLFaJ6PpgHug60k0ui5NB4FujE9JoTQ5-9SNJMx5aEsuzC3VoBFaxqJJN-WYn7FixrWbj8D1Fpf4CtZce_8k7SynfFOiSU9WMpvVzc_m1MNgzUq-C0NOhWBCM/s1600/Casellula+-+Rose+%2526+Riesling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQio0TVzQjPRH4234JjVlLFaJ6PpgHug60k0ui5NB4FujE9JoTQ5-9SNJMx5aEsuzC3VoBFaxqJJN-WYn7FixrWbj8D1Fpf4CtZce_8k7SynfFOiSU9WMpvVzc_m1MNgzUq-C0NOhWBCM/s1600/Casellula+-+Rose+%2526+Riesling.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>R</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>osé & Riesling</b></span></td></tr>
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Finger Lakes, 2013; @ $10) was requested, as well as a glass of <b>Riesling</b> (Brooks; OR / Willamette Valley, 2010; @ $12) for my wife. These we knew would pair especially well with the next food items we'd ordered, including: the <b>warm calamari salad</b> (</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">another "medium" size plate) ...</span><span style="font-size: large;"> with Israeli cous cous & hearts of palm in a taragon </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">infused </span></span>vinaigrette combined with sliced navel orange sections & browned croutons ($15). The calamari salad proved yet another sumptuous item that we shared & scarfed down with</span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">vigor & enthusiasm. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixaE0CFYcpPp69VvgsIAbqqyBa7VBYajj8Hu4eOg9xozwx0akTmthU4QXKVZoM0AgqUpNL5BvSVQsnulR8N6Gx8TArbX-pzYXjdC7vUQ5doJ59JCvYTSMxgwnYr1v_WIMTMT0iJA8mq9U/s1600/Casellula+-+Pi%27g+Ass+Sandwich+%232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixaE0CFYcpPp69VvgsIAbqqyBa7VBYajj8Hu4eOg9xozwx0akTmthU4QXKVZoM0AgqUpNL5BvSVQsnulR8N6Gx8TArbX-pzYXjdC7vUQ5doJ59JCvYTSMxgwnYr1v_WIMTMT0iJA8mq9U/s1600/Casellula+-+Pi'g+Ass+Sandwich+%232.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>"Pig's Ass" sandwich</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next, and fully last in the savory "department," </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">came Casellula's signature "<b>Pig's Ass" sandwich</b>, filled with "5-spoke creamery tumbleweed," <b><a href="http://www.undergrounddetroit.com/2011/07/fol-epi-swiss-cheese-from-france/"><i>Fol Epi</i></a></b>, B & B pickles, and chipotle aioli on a pressed/toasted Cuban-style roll ($14). As one Yelp reviewer emphatically pointed out, "where else ... [in the Theatre District] can you get a 'Pig's Ass' sandwich [replete with such] Pig's Ass-y goodness?"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We ended our meal at <b>Casellula</b> with one of their </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">signature "sweets," the <b>bruléed cheesecake</b>, a rendition of traditional </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="st"><i>crème brûlée</i></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">, packed atop with </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Arethusa Dairy farmer’s cheese ($10) & sipped a couple of glasses of <b>Oremus "late harvest" Tokaj</b> (Furmint / Hungary, 2011; @ $13). No coffee served at this otherwise noteworthy <i>mid</i>-town (west) cheese & wine </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">café</span></span>!</span></span>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzRVRWsjwtmsCFeACEzBd8C7R5kkUkPV877QXObVvSB3ZvP4xT_Onexe_Cks7B60L7CVt7TkQYRKqsku8O3QeUcY9WCz-TGVnYX7wZ-ztpM1KpwgfDVD29VrfLFZwt_75xLMgf__2RA8/s1600/Left+Bank+-+External+View.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzRVRWsjwtmsCFeACEzBd8C7R5kkUkPV877QXObVvSB3ZvP4xT_Onexe_Cks7B60L7CVt7TkQYRKqsku8O3QeUcY9WCz-TGVnYX7wZ-ztpM1KpwgfDVD29VrfLFZwt_75xLMgf__2RA8/s1600/Left+Bank+-+External+View.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Left Bank - External view, front</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<![endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: Perpetua; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">√ </span></b></b></b><u><i><b><b>A final note</b></b></i><b><i> - of</i> <i>impor</i>t</b></u>:</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> A</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">fter introducing my <i>ole</i> college</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">roommate, Steve, <u>and</u> his lovely wife, Beryl, to the pleasures of peregrinating along <a href="http://www.thehighline.org/"><b>The HighLine</b></a><b> </b>(from our entry on 10th & 23rd to our exit at 14th), we all dined together in the far West Village at a restaurant we selected ... aiming to please our <i>special</i> out-of-town friends from Chicago: <a href="http://leftbanknewyork.com/"><b>Left Bank</b></a>, @ 117 Perry Street, corner of Greenwich Street (tel. 212/727-1170).</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Left Bank - Inside view</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"At its core," </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Left Bank </b></span></span>purports to be - and, based on our visit, succeeds in being - "an American tavern ... inspired by Greenwich Village itself and influenced by European sensibilities." Exhibiting an "unpretentious style of cooking and service," their food proves singularly inviting, interesting, exceedingly well-prepared ... and influenced by local farmers, by recipes of a former time, and by the "relationships" that accrue with their clientele, or, as they suggest, their "guests." We all made <i><u>a</u> <u>la</u> <u>carte</u> </i>dinner choices, but I want to point out here that <b>Left Bank</b> offers a <b>$20</b> "happy-hour menu" - 1 appetizer & 1 pasta dish - daily from 5 - 7:00, and serves drinks at substantially reduced prices during the <b>Happy Hour</b> time frame (e.g., $4 beers, $5 wines by the glass, and $6 cocktails). </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">While the basic menu is neither terribly broad in scope nor utterly varied & vast in overall numbers of items to explore, there are, indeed, superb possibilities for all guests<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Chicken liver </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">pâté</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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to select from & indulge in!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And what we indulged in</span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">- what we actually sampled - was drawn from most of the categories ("appetizers," "vegetables" & "meat/ poultry/fish") featured on the daily menu.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> In order to quickly "decompress" from our slow 12-block HighLine hike, we began the meal by ordering a couple of "house special" <b>cocktails</b> (@ $6, each) - one with tropical fruit juices & mild spices; the other (also) fruity with a</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> jalapeño infusion at its base, along with a lingering but subtle sweetness: both cocktails proved rich & cold, crisply robust, unique beverages what with shots of tequila blended into the proverbial mix. My wife chose a <b>GL</b> (off-dry) <b>Riesling </b>and we (together) quaffed a follow-up dry white "house" wine (a <i>sauvignon blanc</i>, if I recall, @ $5). </span></span><br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Iron roasted "split" chicken</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thus, we had sufficient alcoholic refreshment to accompany our upcoming appetizers & main plates, beginning with a sumptuous version of <b>chicken liver </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">pâté</span></span></b>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Steve had chosen the delicately prepared, light & juicy <b>mahi mahi</b>, with blood orange </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">& pine nuts meticulously </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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intertwined in a green garlic yogurt</span> </span></span></span>sauce (@ $27); and I, intrigued by the solid, hearty description of the</span><b> <span style="font-size: large;">bavette "bar steak" </span></b><span style="font-size: large;">-<b> </b>featuring duck fat roasted potatoes & green peppercorn jus - quickly decided upon that plate (@ $27). I recall that the bavette "bar steak" and the duck fat roasted potatoes just hit the spot, rather emphatically - in terms of tenderness, portion size, presentation & (somewhat smokey) taste!</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Lobster puffs - Champagne cream sauce</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We finished up the meal with an order of light & creamy <b>profiteroles</b> ($10) and a small slice of (well, somewhat chewy) <b>maple syrup pie</b> (@ $10), and topped off the meal with</span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">two cups of "Americano" coffee ($3 each) <u>and</u> two cups of teas, "veritable verbena" & "Yerba Mate," at $5 each. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Overall, a solid & impressive performance by the chef(s) & servers at <b>Left Bank</b>. We exited the "<i>taverna</i>" both filled & fulfilled and our friends from Chicago were, it seemed, </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_fbDoWDb9rN_RgY56oLv0LcAvXDly-c1KHdZoT4CV1CL7MNhiGDKi84FQxyl1rHd58pLg2xe7gBCjMBcBWK9J03WYsT1kSdXfVDoEqEOI7oPyMmOSVuVqHHRmBnfhkOWBmh7n5rPIcE/s1600/Left+Bank+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_fbDoWDb9rN_RgY56oLv0LcAvXDly-c1KHdZoT4CV1CL7MNhiGDKi84FQxyl1rHd58pLg2xe7gBCjMBcBWK9J03WYsT1kSdXfVDoEqEOI7oPyMmOSVuVqHHRmBnfhkOWBmh7n5rPIcE/s1600/Left+Bank+sign.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">sufficiently impressed with our </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">restaurant </span></span>selection ... most notably with the "farm" fresh, well-prepared, first-rate food; the unique <i>pre</i>-dinner cocktails; the casual, calming & only moderately hectic ambience! Yes, a winning combination, indeed, gently urging a second visit, soon.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span>H. J. Scheiber, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366292492767857006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693133104581549318.post-56060919365918379062014-05-30T18:00:00.000-07:002014-06-01T11:14:37.486-07:00Monkey Business, Malamud at 100 & Good: Two literary events & a quality restaurant experience<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsP4-MXFflIGBFa91OexqqRIq0qisSJP7Wrgu8QduZS1NVfcYSFpiuy9S2OpMH_gsjWcxnKDqVXTV6e3oo0KgQh1oxCvURUADS7apNhzXeKJj5Ixo9suoIrPSZfYHtcQpI8yjq1z9yS9k/s1600/Joyce+Carol+Oates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsP4-MXFflIGBFa91OexqqRIq0qisSJP7Wrgu8QduZS1NVfcYSFpiuy9S2OpMH_gsjWcxnKDqVXTV6e3oo0KgQh1oxCvURUADS7apNhzXeKJj5Ixo9suoIrPSZfYHtcQpI8yjq1z9yS9k/s1600/Joyce+Carol+Oates.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Joyce Carol Oates</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">New York, you all are very well aware, is a town just inundated with writers, publishers, editors, literary festivals, readings, literary discussions & symposia with critics, reviewers & writers ... not to mention the omnipresence of readings by writers, book-oriented events, and interviews with novelists & poets featured at museums, universities, various libraries, bookstores, coffee houses & bars. Most of these "writerly" events are interesting, enlightening & fun ... and many are free!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFahXBEyTxvexGkNM6_38pmCUfE5qWf-NvHfaT5nRm1zRxZofbSniKuY0FINmi5I4V7tZfN6XCyAvSfhViLereOSaHIdRm6scWTgomIngrZ4INAoS2-R-PSA7gwV9wC2752tNX476le_c/s1600/jacobson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFahXBEyTxvexGkNM6_38pmCUfE5qWf-NvHfaT5nRm1zRxZofbSniKuY0FINmi5I4V7tZfN6XCyAvSfhViLereOSaHIdRm6scWTgomIngrZ4INAoS2-R-PSA7gwV9wC2752tNX476le_c/s1600/jacobson.jpg" height="200" width="142" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Howard Jacobson</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I recall two such events, among many others, that, for many reasons, proved memorable: the first, at <b><a href="http://www.jjay.cuny.edu/">John Jay College, CUNY</a> </b>featuring <a href="http://www.mswritersandmusicians.com/writers/richard-ford.html"><b>Richard Ford</b></a> reading from a new novel & interviewing <b><a href="http://www.usfca.edu/jco/">Joyce Carol Oates</a> </b>and Oates, in turn<b>, </b>reading from her latest fiction &<b> </b>interviewing Ford. Along with most of the large audience, I was mesmerized by the depth, richness & honesty of the conversation between<b> </b>these two fiction writers, two literary luminaries ... in all, a special type of literary event with a poignancy that we rarely witness; the second (fairly recent) event involved the British (Jewish) comic novelist, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Jacobson"><b>Howard Jacobson</b></a>, in an interview-discussion with NYPL's <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-holdengraber/"><b>Paul</b> </a></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-holdengraber/"><b>Holdengräber</b></a>, the director of the </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">public program series <a href="http://www.nypl.org/events/live-nypl"><i><b>Live</b></i></a> from the <b>New York Public Library</b>. This discussion was also probing, entertaining & (seemingly) quite revealing on the part (& subject) of Mr. Jacobson, his role in British literature and his idiosyncratic preoccupations, his personal tastes (including his professed skill & interest in <i>ping-pong</i>), and his novelistic inclinations. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTz6T39dlEjQxHE3CoYAVDgYqbIBr9FD84oYlWw_US35mkxbzMkla2Hx5DiTV7GY8jhpZ4AMkvqV1eMJh2JVXsqeBTGrHvOc7GB_PYrqV2h_auN3KdbPe9YG-TTJd-ugN4xVMHTdmoHM/s1600/Paul+Holdengraber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTz6T39dlEjQxHE3CoYAVDgYqbIBr9FD84oYlWw_US35mkxbzMkla2Hx5DiTV7GY8jhpZ4AMkvqV1eMJh2JVXsqeBTGrHvOc7GB_PYrqV2h_auN3KdbPe9YG-TTJd-ugN4xVMHTdmoHM/s1600/Paul+Holdengraber.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Paul</span></span></b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Holdengräber</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While these events go on all year long, virtually non-stop, during every season, my favorite time of the year for these sorts of literary to-do's is Spring. Somehow, a great many seem to be publicized, brought unceasingly to our attention, and, thus, made readily available & accessible to those interested in literature in all its forms & guises. Spring, too, is the season for <a href="https://www.pen.org/"><b>PEN</b> </a><b><a href="https://www.pen.org/">America's</a> </b>conference<b> </b>of International Literature - the <b><a href="http://worldvoices.pen.org/">Festival of World Voices</a> </b>... this year</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> celebrating its 10th anniversary</span></span> (from April 28th thru May 4th). More than 150 writers from some 30 countries gathered in venues all over New York City (most in Manhattan) to read from their utterly diverse bodies of work, speak out for "their art & beliefs," and interact with each other, the press. and with conference attendees.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To give you the feel of the <b>PEN</b> festival I offer a description of one program, a strikingly successful & alluring one, indeed. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE54jYH3ctGd5Qm8mQHa_IsONAawCoY4yxbmyaKz7tN3-UaRc_t-joN5ZdRr47SA-BZznqeIUOphauoYVjQX5Y6_dWTkzZNeAOnYe2TmSNJjAIdm88UZ43jw_zsHzd-584TfPzXHdjNks/s1600/Monkey+Business+-+PEN+Festival+-+%234+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE54jYH3ctGd5Qm8mQHa_IsONAawCoY4yxbmyaKz7tN3-UaRc_t-joN5ZdRr47SA-BZznqeIUOphauoYVjQX5Y6_dWTkzZNeAOnYe2TmSNJjAIdm88UZ43jw_zsHzd-584TfPzXHdjNks/s1600/Monkey+Business+-+PEN+Festival+-+%234+2014.jpg" height="320" width="245" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>New Writing from Japan</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hosted by the <a href="http://asiasociety.org/"><b>Asia Society</b></a> (70th<b> </b>St. & Park Avenue), the program - "<b>Monkey Business</b>, sponsored both by <b>PEN</b> & <a href="http://www.jpf.go.jp/e/"><b>The</b> </a><b><a href="http://www.jpf.go.jp/e/">Japan Foundation</a> </b>- was the brainchild of the editors of the annual journal <i><a href="http://monkeybusinessmag.tumblr.com/"><b>Monkey Business</b></a> </i>which publishes new Japanese writing and sometimes juxtaposes the Japanese writers & texts with their counterparts in the United States and the UK. And that was how the program was structured for this occasion (Saturday, May 3rd) ... where <u>two</u> young Japanese writers were paired with new(-<i>ish</i>), <i>non</i>-mainstream (?) American writers with some common narrative characteristics or stylistic tendencies. Each member of a "duo" of writers (a Japanese paired with an American) read from one of his (this time only <i>male</i>, by accident & not design) characteristic or new work(s) and then questions were posed to the writer by his opposite number. And <i>vice versa</i> ...</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf3LVDR3PaX92xEw75lQC9OPSdgBgIPoaTUiw6BADwHW94MbtQZgWJg3hQ0OC3zu5n6UYgVcTTa8HNodX7BR-TTjOU93wft6WN9jSdsWRQ_f81QS6zeBNci-fKYPl3HWfBsdjVtL7hitk/s1600/Hideo+F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf3LVDR3PaX92xEw75lQC9OPSdgBgIPoaTUiw6BADwHW94MbtQZgWJg3hQ0OC3zu5n6UYgVcTTa8HNodX7BR-TTjOU93wft6WN9jSdsWRQ_f81QS6zeBNci-fKYPl3HWfBsdjVtL7hitk/s1600/Hideo+F.jpg" height="320" width="177" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Writer - Hideo Furukawa</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Following the interactions of the "teams" of Japanese/American writers, the two editors of <i><b>Monkey Business</b></i> (one Japanese; one American) commented on what had transpired and also asked a few probing questions attempting to establish links between the <i>post-modern</i> texts from each culture. A number of questions were also elicited from members of the audience focusing on such variable elements as literary translation, content, reflections of culture(s), narrative voice, form & genre. The program, a bit unusual but ultimately solid in structure, proved absorbing and candid, an interesting "cross-cultural experiment" in literary dialogue. The writers asked valuable & relevant questions of each other marking both differences & similarities in such concerns as style, tone, thematic content, character delineation, length of a work, type of narration. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGxeFCfXn_mTs4hO0j0cY5eq2xTHsNEyBUr5icr27KSgiV7ZRB60-MViglQmACPwpdglgr-OfsR6SR3TvhiMvyeQiV51dIbYS7JQ6sv85npB9MgkPBKtYhnkspt6bkZCkL2PWFekHtURE/s1600/EnJoe-199x300.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGxeFCfXn_mTs4hO0j0cY5eq2xTHsNEyBUr5icr27KSgiV7ZRB60-MViglQmACPwpdglgr-OfsR6SR3TvhiMvyeQiV51dIbYS7JQ6sv85npB9MgkPBKtYhnkspt6bkZCkL2PWFekHtURE/s1600/EnJoe-199x300.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Prize-winning writer - Toh EnJoe</span></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As was advertised in the <b>PEN</b> conference brochure, the multiple conversations between Japanese & American writers & editors resulted in an exceptionally lively, honest, and personally & artistically revealing interaction. In all, the event - moderated by the <i><b>Monkey Business</b></i> co-founders & current editors, <a href="http://www.asymptotejournal.com/article.php?cat=Interview&id=7"><b>Motoyuki Shibata</b></a> & <a href="http://people.laps.yorku.ca/people.nsf/researcherprofile?readform&shortname=tgoossen"><b>Ted Goosen</b></a> - proved to be the "provocative cross-cultural encounter exploring the writer's <i>voice</i> in Japanese and English" that the Asia Society publicity promised it would be. Kudos to the organizers of the event; to the enthusiastic, hardworking & efficient (yes, female!) translator; and, finally, to the writers themselves - including</span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"genre-bending" novelist <a href="http://lairdhunt.net/"><b>Laird Hunt</b></a> (<i>Kind
One</i>, 2012), <a href="http://www.matthew-sharpe.net/"><b>Matthew Sharpe</b></a> (<i>You Were Wrong</i>,
2010), <a href="http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/11844/Akutagawa-Prize"><b>Akutagawa Award</b></a>-winning novelist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toh_EnJoe"><b>Toh EnJoe</b></a>
(<i>Harlequin's Butterfly</i>) & Fukushima-born writer <a href="http://www.booksfromjapan.jp/authors/item/681-hideo-furukawa"><b>Hideo Furukawa</b></a>
(</span></span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Belka, Why Don't You Bark?</span></span></i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">).</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2cEhhGoDTDk4ZQM_42ddfBE0YXmp2sZ_7BZZ18mvVbCS9HmIR8lAlbqoHvjNEiJEEd0H9R9pr1Y4waZtWHauVVfUhEdbnJIUsSOWOEj1gIZXGoaLmwpf9Dyb8JmiEhyBADWJzp4I41Q/s1600/Murakami.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2cEhhGoDTDk4ZQM_42ddfBE0YXmp2sZ_7BZZ18mvVbCS9HmIR8lAlbqoHvjNEiJEEd0H9R9pr1Y4waZtWHauVVfUhEdbnJIUsSOWOEj1gIZXGoaLmwpf9Dyb8JmiEhyBADWJzp4I41Q/s1600/Murakami.jpg" height="200" width="199" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Haruki Murakami</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Note</b></u>: Admission to this event included a complimentary</span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">copy of the latest issue (#4) of <b><i>Monkey Business</i></b>. Earlier issues were on sale (discounted for attendees) in the Asia Society's shop, <a href="http://www.asiastore.org/"><b>AsiaStore</b></a>. One back issue (#1) includes Furukawa's lengthy, complete & comprehensive interview (entitled "<a href="http://www.isugoi.com/monkey-business-new-writing-from-japan-review/"><b>Pursuing</b> '<b>Growth</b></a>'") with the acclaimed fiction writer, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3354.Haruki_Murakami"><b>Haruki Murakami</b></a>! </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYEV7iCIR2pJ6Il9WyjrDY3ySIj3JlJp4lkAkXDZ8INCXG2LWJajmFoPT_IKJor6jDljpcxQImAoZb_OK_mHN8SNmkxJTnUcpkUuwzXRbwbneEq0n3xAGv1NCBQenwkezyLlMC3wCRhyI/s1600/Malamud+bust+shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYEV7iCIR2pJ6Il9WyjrDY3ySIj3JlJp4lkAkXDZ8INCXG2LWJajmFoPT_IKJor6jDljpcxQImAoZb_OK_mHN8SNmkxJTnUcpkUuwzXRbwbneEq0n3xAGv1NCBQenwkezyLlMC3wCRhyI/s1600/Malamud+bust+shot.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Bernard Malamud</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another marvelous, memorable, (even) <i>magical</i> literary event we recently </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(May 1st) </span></span>attended at <a href="http://centerforfiction.org/"><b>The Center for Fiction</b></a> (17 West 47th, just off 5th Ave.) celebrated the life & 100th anniversary of the birth of the inimitable fiction writer, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Malamud"><b>Bernard Malamud</b></a>. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The program - entitled, simply, "<b>A Tribute to Bernard Malamud</b>" - was organized by the young novelist, <a href="http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/interviews/article/61068-lost-in-translation-pw-talks-with-boris-fishman.html"><b>Boris Fishman</b></a>, who assembled a panel of distinguished writers, reviewers, critics, editors & "old friends" to reminisce & reflect on various aspects of Malamud's work and dedication to his craft & his students. Fishman's panel offered up personal anecdotes & commentary on a wide swath of Malamud's output (over 50+ prolific years of writing & teaching) ... focusing on such major works as <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fixer-Novel-Bernard-Malamud/dp/0374529388"><b>The Fixer</b></a></i>, <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Natural"><b>The Natural</b></a></i>, and the story, "<a href="http://us.macmillan.com/rembrandtshat/BernardMalamud">Rembrandt's Hat</a>." </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3lZhxpX91OiTWZnVcIOlU4h8VAzmZ7DJbPU0QV6eEHThoWIAe0iR0LK1FB2ZS9-6EwqDLnChqdvvw2hOliB0_TjzIIJfqWDQ68R_ZCLCoDtcJ5KZTXd2F0hKgWgk_t9SDeyxey703hR0/s1600/The+Natural.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3lZhxpX91OiTWZnVcIOlU4h8VAzmZ7DJbPU0QV6eEHThoWIAe0iR0LK1FB2ZS9-6EwqDLnChqdvvw2hOliB0_TjzIIJfqWDQ68R_ZCLCoDtcJ5KZTXd2F0hKgWgk_t9SDeyxey703hR0/s1600/The+Natural.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In organizing & moderating this Malamud tribute, Fishman, according to Center for Fiction publicity,</span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">decided to </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">repay "a debt to an
author who taught him perhaps more than any other" as he worked on his own debut novel (entitled <a href="http://www.amazon.com/A-Replacement-Life-Novel/dp/0062287877"><i><b>A Replacement Life</b></i></a>, out in June). The diverse group appearing on the panel featured: <a href="http://www.alancheuse.com/"><b>Alan Cheuse</b></a> (writer & NPR books reviewer); <b><a href="http://global.oup.com/academic/product/bernard-malamud-9780199571475;jsessionid=890F302C986CF1E1A122CA1C1A42EC06?cc=us&lang=en&#">Philip Davis</a></b><span style="color: white;"> </span>(Malamud's biographer & editor of the 3-volume <a href="http://www.loa.org/volume.jsp?RequestID=397"><b>Library of America - </b><b>Complete Malamud</b></a>); <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark_Blaise"><b>Clark Blaise</b></a> ("owner of 'Bern's' Smith-Corona electric," author of 25 books, and long-time Malamud friend & confidante); <b><a href="http://www.lieslschillinger.com/about">Liesl Schillinger</a> </b>(New York-based critic & translator, enamored of <i>The Fixer</i> and the "male-female dynamics" found therein); <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C3%A9a_Obreht"><b>Téa Obreht</b></a> (a fiction writer moved, or provoked, by "<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/670623.Rembrandt_s_Hat">Rembrandt's Hat</a>"); <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bharati_Mukherjee"><b>Bharati Mukherjee</b></a> (author of eight novels and numerous essays on immigration & American culture, and Malamud friend, "disciple," devotee); and Malamud's <u>grandson</u>, <b>Paul Malamud</b>, who revealed via anecdote, a variety of thoughts & feelings about his grandfather, the Malamud family, and Malamud's essentially humble origin & equally humble but dignified nature. </span></span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLCMe_bgxaeBawvcQMduMxArXvQJ2ClaTzUFlvCvQT9sXz3_BG79eszH1ZOTJcOKXo7oZTJmuBtODt3NuSk_8WRMqC5yYsd4Qraro1W4C1ARoDFyFj8YbioJhEO-PEOW1XrIYoGiVJnk/s1600/malamud+stories1960s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLCMe_bgxaeBawvcQMduMxArXvQJ2ClaTzUFlvCvQT9sXz3_BG79eszH1ZOTJcOKXo7oZTJmuBtODt3NuSk_8WRMqC5yYsd4Qraro1W4C1ARoDFyFj8YbioJhEO-PEOW1XrIYoGiVJnk/s1600/malamud+stories1960s.jpg" height="320" width="197" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Philip Davis reflected on all aspects of Malamud, the writer, and the individual in the context of the works. Clark Blaise reminisced about speaking with Malamud on their walks in Bennington "which always started with a visit to Robert Frost's grave." But the anecdote related by Alan Cheuse - concerning how Malamud once paid a traffic ticket for Cheuse when he was caught rolling through a stop sign one night on his way to a party at Malamud's home -</span> revealed Malamud's notion of friendship and genuine goodness.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This recent May event, hosted by The Center for Fiction and deftly moderated by Mr. Fishman - celebrating the life & work of an American "master" of the form of fiction - will surely be identified by attendees and etched in their memories as one truly <i>magical</i> evening! Indeed, my wife and I will certainly recall the evening that prompted us to return to Malamud's multifarious <i><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Complete-Stories-Bernard-Malamud/dp/0374525757">Collected Stories</a> </b></i>... stories which reflect</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">, according to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynthia_Ozick"><b>Cynthia Ozick</b></a>, "suffering, loneliness, lust, confinement, defeat ... [which] tremble with subterranean fragility ... in [a] voice ...
unlike any other." (<i>The New York Times</i>)</span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcz4ezvSV3tna92dCDkqBxko4ONV-t0Q01rZ6Y4n3Q7Ne9qYo09Z8YYu9pyablNlxRzA3_ovCtFRw16LNjDlLFxIUUkpuTgmAwPW0e16d-PfSBSWuU3qH4T8sHreYTWlB1KxuPlP_6Uig/s1600/Good+-+outside+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcz4ezvSV3tna92dCDkqBxko4ONV-t0Q01rZ6Y4n3Q7Ne9qYo09Z8YYu9pyablNlxRzA3_ovCtFRw16LNjDlLFxIUUkpuTgmAwPW0e16d-PfSBSWuU3qH4T8sHreYTWlB1KxuPlP_6Uig/s1600/Good+-+outside+view.jpg" height="320" width="249" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
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<![endif]-->Not exactly a footnote</i></u>: After having attended the <i><b>Monkey Business</b></i> program at <b>Asia Society</b> (on Park Ave., the upper East Side), we and two other couples were scheduled to meet for an early dinner at <b><i>good</i> restaurant</b> (89 Greenwich Avenue; situated near Bank St., a short walk down from 8th Avenue; tel. 212/691-8080). <a href="http://www.goodrestaurantnyc.com/"><b>Good</b></a></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">is described as an "<i>eclectic</i> eatery" serving what they identify as "modern American" cuisine. And so we chose to sample their menu, well, as "eclectically" as we were able, given 6 diners ... and why not? We ordered a <a href="http://www.anconaswine.com/sku04718.html"><b>Heidler Gruner Veltliner</b></a>, a<b> </b>medium dry yet fruity white wine (@ $39; & a 2nd bottle a bit later with our mains).</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="st"> Surely the rich soils & steep slopes of Austria's Kampta</span>l region have contributed to what one wine aficionado designated an "interesting, texturally compelling wine." We all thought so, too, hence the purchase of that 2nd bottle!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>good restaurant - interior shot</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><b>Good</b></a> offers a few options for dinner: one can order from the "early supper special," 3-course (appetizer, main, dessert) <i>prix-fixe</i> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">menu </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">@ $25, nightly, </span></span>between 6:00 & 7:00. And four members of our party did just that ... each selecting a different trio of appetizer, main & dessert, with little or no overlap. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Escarole & farro salad w/pecorino & vinaigrette</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The appetizers list, a first course on the "early special" menu, contained enough variety, solidity & depth to satisfy us all - standouts included the</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <b>scallion pancake</b> with herb falafel,</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> cucumber yogurt salad, cilantro & pea</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> shoots; a fine rendition of a </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>chicken liver pancetta crostini</b>, drizzled with capers, parsley & lemon; and, finally,</span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">the <b>escarole & farro salad</b>, replete with</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> smoked almonds, red onion, pecorino</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> & garlic-anchovy vinaigrette. This last appetizer selection being a very fresh and extremely well integrated salad, a very congruent admixture of ingredients, indeed!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Overnight roasted Hampshire pork</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We sampled a variety of mains - the "<i>autumn</i> <i>mushroom</i>" <b>cavatelli</b>, the <b>roasted Bell Evans chicken</b>, the "market fresh" <b>fish tacos</b> & the <b>overnight roasted Hampshire pork</b>. All mains were reported as tasty & flavorful and each of us had overflowing plates with all sorts of supplemental "goodies" (pardon my usage of the word in this context). The market fish tacos, for example, came with</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> red onion cabbage slaw, basil creamed corn (scrumptious, indeed!) </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">with the fish & a lime cilantro sauce packed in <i>good</i>-sized grilled tortillas; the roasted pork</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> was accompanied by small mounds of peach preserves, summer beans & walnut spaetzle in natural <i>jus</i>. Glorious mushroom slices </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">saturated</span></span> the cavatelli and </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">suffused</span></span> the roasted chicken plate, the latter a tried & true item which was further garnished with</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> sugar snap peas</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fregula"><b>fregula</b></a> (a pasta from Sardinia) & currants.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Duck confi</b></span></span>t</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our two companions who chose to opt out of the <i>prix-fixe </i>arrangement, selected the <b>seared garlic calamari </b>(</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">with grilled organic rye, cabbage & parsley) as their shared appetizer, and then each selected a main (but refrained from dessert). One diner from this "hold-out" duo ordered the <b>brook trout</b>, a plate comprising </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">spinach, crisp baby artichokes &</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> preserved Meyer lemon salsa (@ $24); the final member of our six-member dining group sampled the<b> duck confit</b> ($21), which seems to have proven a very ample & pleasant culinary indulgence, what with the tender slices & silky texture of the meat.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Bread pudding w/vanilla ice cream & caramel syrup</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Desserts - the final course on the special <i>prix-fixe</i> diner - were, on the whole, sweet, varied, rich, creamy & abundant: my favorite consisted in</span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">the <b>warm banana chocolate chip</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> bread pudding</b>, with</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> vanilla ice cream & caramel syrup; a strong runner up must have been </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">the Key lime pie panna cotta,</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> pistachio cake, further complemented with lime sorbet & berries. The coffee served - enjoyed by the 1/2 of our party who ordered it - was dark, rich & robust ... a perfect accompaniment for the rich desserts we had chosen for our finale! Of the three remaining diners, one ordered a double (dark!) espresso, another a latte, and the third selected an herbal tea.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The early evening dinner for six at <b>good </b>lasted about 90 minutes (or so) and went as smoothly as could be done with one couple heading for an off-Broadway show (not far way) and another heading down to the <a href="http://www.filmforum.org/"><b>Film Forum</b></a> to see <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/culture/2014/05/ida-a-film-masterpiece.html"><i><b>Ida</b></i></a>, a complex & somewhat emotionally sterile (at best neutral) new Polish film that has received a good amount of attention. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3k2E8nkwftWyd2romGaxe11gifQZekqYw39s-vp_uzG3NAhx4SMY4aNg3VGL6VzF12lADAfdqopL9ko7oMaKIc_zP509lRYvTrswweIXYJaNfWymIb8apoo1cT0x99Mj0-IWDSd01Ic/s1600/Good+restaurant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3k2E8nkwftWyd2romGaxe11gifQZekqYw39s-vp_uzG3NAhx4SMY4aNg3VGL6VzF12lADAfdqopL9ko7oMaKIc_zP509lRYvTrswweIXYJaNfWymIb8apoo1cT0x99Mj0-IWDSd01Ic/s1600/Good+restaurant.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>good restaurant</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A low-key eatery that is vibrant, friendly, pleasant ... <b>good</b> presents a relatively modern, enjoyably "eclectic," creative American cuisine.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In short, <b>good</b></span></span> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">made a <i>great</i> impression on us all! And, consequently, we'll all arrange to dine here, once again, in the not-too-distant future!</span></span>H. J. Scheiber, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366292492767857006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693133104581549318.post-6679775429357663512014-05-02T18:38:00.001-07:002014-05-02T19:26:57.251-07:00Fukurou, "Buyer & Cellar" & a "note" of praise for Mes Reves ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xiGD4zp66fx5GzesfzmePZ7_c8SppEdvzsDF2mPtIugRCo-95UnuHhG2YgyjItML7eTGDSPUyTns0xQsd64Valp3cmCb0SN4Ckwy-V66NdCl7IN9aZ6gWKEfPg8SzoYaTu5D880zH4U/s1600/Barrow+St+-+Buyer+&+Cellar+Playbill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xiGD4zp66fx5GzesfzmePZ7_c8SppEdvzsDF2mPtIugRCo-95UnuHhG2YgyjItML7eTGDSPUyTns0xQsd64Valp3cmCb0SN4Ckwy-V66NdCl7IN9aZ6gWKEfPg8SzoYaTu5D880zH4U/s1600/Barrow+St+-+Buyer+&+Cellar+Playbill.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We were on our way to see the "smash hit"</span></span> <i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Buyer & Cellar </span></span></b></i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(currently running at the <a href="http://www.barrowstreettheatre.com/index.asp"><b>Barrow Street Theatre</b></a> @ Barrow & 7th Ave.) but first stopped for an early dinner at the compact & bustling West Village Japanese eatery, <a href="http://fukurou.soh.bz/"><b>Fukurou</b> </a>(87 MacDougal St.; 212/388-0013). Luckily, we arrived at about 5:00 when things were still relatively calm & nearly empty. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeDtDYbAW8rcBSkA-WVhSOFwK7-uO9EnfbYTbzrh87DloaFHiPnVFSQGuWhAGdZCxcHaFKdU1Wguoo2ToZwXTM9CcO6487B3MaR9dFr0QhMOGr7KHvqwiQJj3c0ee0LWP-ILIZBDJxOJ8/s1600/Fukurou+-+%232+-+Interior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeDtDYbAW8rcBSkA-WVhSOFwK7-uO9EnfbYTbzrh87DloaFHiPnVFSQGuWhAGdZCxcHaFKdU1Wguoo2ToZwXTM9CcO6487B3MaR9dFr0QhMOGr7KHvqwiQJj3c0ee0LWP-ILIZBDJxOJ8/s1600/Fukurou+-+%232+-+Interior.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Fukurou Interior</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pS6lgAdvkDQhtT3skwZQ3GL-tJCCR30cimw5Px5_2LXLcL6vTy7jGDVhvg38JGVbfy4XwhVEzRzFsYV5F-oiXLsvCODVD61uaXAcOHwN6UJHh0MVvQ-W0o_3E-AqD94Iphw93uP0VVE/s1600/Fukurou+-+Owl+%232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pS6lgAdvkDQhtT3skwZQ3GL-tJCCR30cimw5Px5_2LXLcL6vTy7jGDVhvg38JGVbfy4XwhVEzRzFsYV5F-oiXLsvCODVD61uaXAcOHwN6UJHh0MVvQ-W0o_3E-AqD94Iphw93uP0VVE/s1600/Fukurou+-+Owl+%232.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Fukurou = Owl (Hoot! Hoot!)</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Despite the somewhat frenetic atmosphere that increases gradually as the evening progresses, the resto is a comfy, friendly, delightful spot in which to dine on authentically creative Japanese cuisine. Indeed, during the time we spent at <b>Fukurou</b>, I must emphasize that our waiter was a very helpful, eager-to-please "guide" to the wide variety of items on the menu ... and to identifying & navigating the various levels of spices and types of sauces the "open" kitchen prepares. Actually, this <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izakaya"><i>izakaya</i>-style</a></b> ("pub" or "tavern-like") resto is the first outpost of a trendy Japanese chain to open in the USA.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6nBHl3jARAbNPisuCwKt44J6RPZEl5XNrvqaqVgkpLPDn4LYvkLEIRABc9FIWs5HL1iNnL6BMwP0hndt_xrB29oKZBllWc8V8wfQncsFmnwjKXrk2VNmYFRrn-rrYguLwIyrtsOp1nc/s1600/Fukurou+-+Mango+cheesecake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6nBHl3jARAbNPisuCwKt44J6RPZEl5XNrvqaqVgkpLPDn4LYvkLEIRABc9FIWs5HL1iNnL6BMwP0hndt_xrB29oKZBllWc8V8wfQncsFmnwjKXrk2VNmYFRrn-rrYguLwIyrtsOp1nc/s1600/Fukurou+-+Mango+cheesecake.jpg" height="200" width="111" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Mango Cheesecake</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdWNMb_cp4mrOEd_iFRkayuYqRsYZPCfqgTQsojbpMENgAjzwFGqY2PCtWR_Ht4XHTZ8tvcXJItmDfnIY_dtC49HIL_NWwzHTCBZJYUdJk0HAXIcgu0nfxWBHzK-vcKIB7ijNsKRQHz8/s1600/Fukurou+-+black+sesame+ice+cream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdWNMb_cp4mrOEd_iFRkayuYqRsYZPCfqgTQsojbpMENgAjzwFGqY2PCtWR_Ht4XHTZ8tvcXJItmDfnIY_dtC49HIL_NWwzHTCBZJYUdJk0HAXIcgu0nfxWBHzK-vcKIB7ijNsKRQHz8/s1600/Fukurou+-+black+sesame+ice+cream.jpg" height="200" width="111" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Sesame Ice Cream</b></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We were <u>two</u> couples dining on this occasion and so, to get the feel of a semi-exotic <a href="http://fukurou.soh.bz/Menu.pdf">menu</a>, we decided to concentrate on the small, tapas-like plates they specialize in, figuring that about six of these would do for us, accompanied by Asahi drafts (@ $3.49 each), a Luigi Bosca Malbec (for one of our group; @ $4.49), green tea ($1.99), and two of their dessert offerings (one, the <b>black sesame ice cream</b>, at $2.49; another, the wonderfully delicate, lightly sweet <b>mango cheesecake</b>, at $2.55). All of these items - the small plates, as well as the desserts - were <i>shared</i> amidst a few good-sized bowls of white rice.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOTauzahGF_pnOUJDue2aHestfNecXvGDwmB7jfpEIC2ZLqcRvngTp0VHNpQmaY1-ucMeLkMEABoMVSt4ULJEFQXW2IhDeHS28Bh1ZueFcY4PxOaKyX41BZcY6YNbElVSCUsEPFyJT1I/s1600/Fukurou+-+Stewed+pork+belly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOTauzahGF_pnOUJDue2aHestfNecXvGDwmB7jfpEIC2ZLqcRvngTp0VHNpQmaY1-ucMeLkMEABoMVSt4ULJEFQXW2IhDeHS28Bh1ZueFcY4PxOaKyX41BZcY6YNbElVSCUsEPFyJT1I/s1600/Fukurou+-+Stewed+pork+belly.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Stewed Pork Belly</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixx_KcfHzf-3VIRYNYac9uJ5RMhIkT7fyHgnGaP2QCFbwbv9MeJncYy9kCCMTdk3Du_RKRBnTTFrjCfDNK5AUIERzA67ScuZVeZx25ZHaFtEYsGSP5XMMhGiNPbUJazowfwZEbRkGjlqs/s1600/Fukurou+-+zuru-teba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixx_KcfHzf-3VIRYNYac9uJ5RMhIkT7fyHgnGaP2QCFbwbv9MeJncYy9kCCMTdk3Du_RKRBnTTFrjCfDNK5AUIERzA67ScuZVeZx25ZHaFtEYsGSP5XMMhGiNPbUJazowfwZEbRkGjlqs/s1600/Fukurou+-+zuru-teba.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Zuru Teba</b></span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>- w/Bamboo Skewers</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">With the input & guidance of our waiter, we managed to order our six items; and since my wife had studied various posts by previous diners providing suggestions, the "negotiation" proved relatively easy. We began the meal with Fukurou's signature (and popular!) plate</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">, the <b>Zuru Teba</b> ($5.99), </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">mildly but strikingly & appealingly spiced </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">grilled (very tender & meaty) chicken wings which you simply twist and eat with bamboo skewers ... and <u>not</u> with your fingers! Next, we were served another of the resto's popular (also signature!) dishes, the <b>stewed "black" pork belly</b> ($4.99), a very tasty - neither greasy nor fatty - and perfectly prepared rendition of this complex small-plate creation. <b> </b></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqG3aMOVNrmhc4mZMD3cvqUD1RNuzWqUBdvzpTrTnqIu3Eq8apANHET5Md1dkX9nvzCIyiyYHpinXzfimh97-FVlMP3U5b-yE8M6vwauZouwdGj2xBoejIDQ0wT79vHYlhaZtl4trVhQ/s1600/Fukurou+-+Toro+salmon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqG3aMOVNrmhc4mZMD3cvqUD1RNuzWqUBdvzpTrTnqIu3Eq8apANHET5Md1dkX9nvzCIyiyYHpinXzfimh97-FVlMP3U5b-yE8M6vwauZouwdGj2xBoejIDQ0wT79vHYlhaZtl4trVhQ/s1600/Fukurou+-+Toro+salmon.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Seared Toro "Fatty" Salmon</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Toro salmon</b> (seared "fatty" slices of salmon; $4.99) came to the table next (and made a big hit!), along with a nicely done order of <b>dumplings</b> ($3.99), followed directly by grilled <b>beef tenderloin</b> slices in a tangy garlic sauce. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYpKRWm10cZlPECOYNa-yI8epOeJY3jyIFNk74R-gN5cmAm8AxJ5K_1ldtjEumhxmZ8t8isJMripZLmFO7xx2Gxak6Cv0hFQ92-5KrDPHNq4NbdHNluVq4d6cByFkO8IP39zA0FRAJJk/s1600/Fukurou+-omu-yakisoba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYpKRWm10cZlPECOYNa-yI8epOeJY3jyIFNk74R-gN5cmAm8AxJ5K_1ldtjEumhxmZ8t8isJMripZLmFO7xx2Gxak6Cv0hFQ92-5KrDPHNq4NbdHNluVq4d6cByFkO8IP39zA0FRAJJk/s1600/Fukurou+-omu-yakisoba.jpg" height="250" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Omu Yakisoba (noodle base)</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our <b>6th</b> and final tapas-style item - with which we ended the 6-course "small-plate" sequence - was the <b>Omu Yakisoba </b>($5.99), a <u>large</u> bowl of stir-fried noodles filled with chunks of pork and an assortment of vegetables in a light & flavorful brown sauce - all "blanketed" over with a loosely cooked egg(s) appearing </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">much like an omelet </span></span>in overall texture & form.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwjyjYoEVd12NATNrUWjOZdY7ZmRcsJtGXtt7UI1z4bPBna2LhSTGPGE4QCzE7Q10WTf5pOhSJIeN-EAywjbeO94qse7Ki-pwjttufehDl6nK9e2Jt58itYXvLX-0EoMzgtgZ6KBZ1mQ/s1600/05-grilled-beef-outside-skirt-w-garlic-soy-sauce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwjyjYoEVd12NATNrUWjOZdY7ZmRcsJtGXtt7UI1z4bPBna2LhSTGPGE4QCzE7Q10WTf5pOhSJIeN-EAywjbeO94qse7Ki-pwjttufehDl6nK9e2Jt58itYXvLX-0EoMzgtgZ6KBZ1mQ/s1600/05-grilled-beef-outside-skirt-w-garlic-soy-sauce.jpg" height="155" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Grilled Beef Tenderloin Slices</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We enthusiastically concluded our initial dining experience at <b>Fukurou</b> with the <u>two</u> desserts mentioned above: the black sesame ice cream & the mango cheesecake. They were both scarfed down breezily ... and both dessert selections were winners! (Sorry, no coffee at this izakaya-style establishment; and <i>that</i> proved a bit disappointing.) </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVppH0YQAeClNtBHPXvCUvSt0CBxRrolFXD5Jx2ZkcWcpKKtosCM9rSy27ZBb_ym_JS6TQOAmjdrMWN6A7LvGZiMmct7FaSZDxL_oMyONDawzjkyFR1DhNz3S7ywKzVs25doD-YJ-wTNg/s1600/Buyer+&+Cellar.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVppH0YQAeClNtBHPXvCUvSt0CBxRrolFXD5Jx2ZkcWcpKKtosCM9rSy27ZBb_ym_JS6TQOAmjdrMWN6A7LvGZiMmct7FaSZDxL_oMyONDawzjkyFR1DhNz3S7ywKzVs25doD-YJ-wTNg/s1600/Buyer+&+Cellar.gif" height="320" width="246" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So off we went to </span></span><i><a href="http://www.buyerandcellar.com/"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Buyer & Cellar</span></span></b></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">,</span></span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></b></i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">a one-man show ... a mostly light but, at moments, rather dark comedy. The show currently features a very talented and engaging <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Hanke"><b>Christopher Hanke</b></a> in the role of Alex More, a struggling, underemployed LA actor. Alex has taken a job working in Barbra Streisand's <i>cellar</i>, "managing" (pretty much consistently alone) a personal shopping <i>mall</i> that an eccentric Streisand has designed for herself & visits, periodically, to shop, bargain, negotiate items, terms & pricing, and to make occasional human contact - with Alex, her (inner) <i>self</i>, her past. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCp1aU-IJYyOd2KRcVqxtqyXyodVruHto68TjjtvuklISt97JpGiQZWfa6tgtM5tAP5aX6zNt_2SNqc71WhEPPUmJfzbwmwbZyF22KolB3lpim-7UnvhRjDVzb3C6wloHWijbsATFtzI/s1600/Jonathan_Tolins_by_Joey_Stocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCp1aU-IJYyOd2KRcVqxtqyXyodVruHto68TjjtvuklISt97JpGiQZWfa6tgtM5tAP5aX6zNt_2SNqc71WhEPPUmJfzbwmwbZyF22KolB3lpim-7UnvhRjDVzb3C6wloHWijbsATFtzI/s1600/Jonathan_Tolins_by_Joey_Stocks.jpg" height="200" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Jonathan Tolins, Playwright</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The play - all fiction, of course, written by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0866038/bio"><b>Jonathan Tolins</b></a> & directed by<a href="http://www.abouttheartists.com/artists/7812-stephen-brackett"> <b>Stephen Brackett</b></a> - juxtaposes a gay Alex and a straight, but strange & insecure Streisand. Throughout most of the play Alex is alone on (& off) stage offering up a funny - sometimes purely hysterical, sometimes outrageous - but calculated monologue "stew" about his life, his lover, his prospects, his new (basement) job employed by Barbra Streisand. But somehow, while also fun & funny, their subterranean meetings (mildly or purely ritualistic "confrontations" involving Streisand as a "mall" shopper & Alex as salesperson) devolve into murky, shadowy regions where the fun ceases. And that's where the play ends up - the light comedy turning dark, discomfiting, disturbing. You simply must see the play for yourself to witness, to <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJ-bccifXjTZJagql2RO025DMQtMvk-Z2bRr73WxjkkgWY_7FCDl22Qjn8dNPLttbUb_GXuqCfNc-lTwZhIwd-juO0zpFQLWrUWPLWt-4izjjqMtWoQFaNeYI5jXTf5TMEHij5P-dXbk/s1600/Christoper+Hande+as+Alex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJ-bccifXjTZJagql2RO025DMQtMvk-Z2bRr73WxjkkgWY_7FCDl22Qjn8dNPLttbUb_GXuqCfNc-lTwZhIwd-juO0zpFQLWrUWPLWt-4izjjqMtWoQFaNeYI5jXTf5TMEHij5P-dXbk/s1600/Christoper+Hande+as+Alex.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Christopher Hanke - as Alex</b></span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>More</b></span></span></td></tr>
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comprehend, the movement of Alex's <i>narrative</i> (and his theatrical <i>character</i>) from the lively & comical - at once self-mocking, witty & confident - into dark and ambiguous territory. (Should I tell you why Alex ultimately loses his job?)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Christopher Hanke's performance is stellar; the direction is first-rate; the set & staging are minimalist yet still imaginative, even appropriately imagistic; the play, well, interesting, and worthy of our attention, for the manner in which it so cleverly intermingles moments of hilarity, honesty, ambiguity ... and kitsch.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><u><i>Finally</i></u></b>: A special note on <a href="http://www.mesrevesnj.com/home.html"><b>Mes Reves</b></a>, a high quality French (or, French-inspired) bistro in Essex County, NJ (located at 407 Broad St., Bloomfield; 973/429-4888) which we have dined in, at this point, on several pleasant occasions - both by ourselves and with friends. On our most recent visit, celebrating a wedding anniversary, we were musing about just how fortunate we are, indeed, to have such a fine eatery, among many nearby, almost in walking distance from our Glen Ridge home.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitE4XwlR9KuB2HVN7DmbR_Cdn8OZ2WpiLICvDjMEH654kq3XR2j1xo3RS5dDnhBmq-iMFP3zCWB4fQwY4yEkxZNXybfkmb-DFiGF4X8-gnXTB7YZ7Giu3dPi4UfwgBg6CLXkVYp3naFBs/s1600/Mes+Reves+-+best+inside+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitE4XwlR9KuB2HVN7DmbR_Cdn8OZ2WpiLICvDjMEH654kq3XR2j1xo3RS5dDnhBmq-iMFP3zCWB4fQwY4yEkxZNXybfkmb-DFiGF4X8-gnXTB7YZ7Giu3dPi4UfwgBg6CLXkVYp3naFBs/s1600/Mes+Reves+-+best+inside+view.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Mes Reves - Center View</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Mes Reves</b> is a moderately informal, particularly inviting</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">, commodious </span></span>BYO enterprise ... owned & operated by <a href="http://bloomfield.patch.com/groups/business-news/p/trs-bien-broad-street-bistro-mes-reves-worth-the-wait"><b>Quang </b>& <b>Tammie</b> <b>Tran</b></a>. With CIA training,</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Quang Tran is a</span></span> chef who produces top-notch fare reflecting his superb talents, instincts & skills. This is a restaurant that generally doesn't dazzle or "experiment," but, rather, performs consistently, provides sufficiently abundant & carefully prepared food, maintains high standards, and fields a friendly & attentive wait-staff. You owe it to yourself to dine here: for the excellent food, of course; for the friendly, low-key environment; <u>and</u> for the simple, tasteful "modernist" decor.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzn9hJkyb76b8NFN2WUoLDa0XPxjWHD54c2DAPhM-v6lzOZ2V-ahB3HRvPq3tINXzftZhsXataei3b96-tDR_lAm2VpsiCcS5IIgEuZwe8ib3cY5oCHfL3fv9Ih9cqE_TWDn7kOziMNU/s1600/Margalit+cab+sov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzn9hJkyb76b8NFN2WUoLDa0XPxjWHD54c2DAPhM-v6lzOZ2V-ahB3HRvPq3tINXzftZhsXataei3b96-tDR_lAm2VpsiCcS5IIgEuZwe8ib3cY5oCHfL3fv9Ih9cqE_TWDn7kOziMNU/s1600/Margalit+cab+sov.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Margalit - Special Reserve</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhad8BsZ5c97smHV6xRft-bovtkA4T2lLjJ7g6ztqK2Krig66pPTNMQfayRawxG8opA6O0kUCyOHkPSOQJQ4YuyIh9m2WRrvAMwMas_-yGfIQGNBiIJrViE-wC7_TyVLT16UGxMpTNN_Qk/s1600/Mes+Reves+-+Mesclun+Salad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhad8BsZ5c97smHV6xRft-bovtkA4T2lLjJ7g6ztqK2Krig66pPTNMQfayRawxG8opA6O0kUCyOHkPSOQJQ4YuyIh9m2WRrvAMwMas_-yGfIQGNBiIJrViE-wC7_TyVLT16UGxMpTNN_Qk/s1600/Mes+Reves+-+Mesclun+Salad.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Mesclun Salad</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On this special occasion, we brought along two wines to accompany our complete dinner; one for the meat eater, a fine </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.wine-searcher.com/wine-58254-0001-margalit-winery-cabernet-sauvignon-special-reserve-galilee-israel"><b>Margalit Cabernet Sauvignon / Special Reserve</b></a> (Israel, 2007); the other for our <i>pre</i>-meal aperitif and for the fish eater, a</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.wine-searcher.com/wine-143110-0001-washington-hills-paradise-peak-riesling-washington-usa"><b>Paradise Peak Riesling</b></a> (Washington State, 2012). We shared our favorite <i>Mes Reves</i> appetizer, the <b>crispy sweetbreads</b> (@ $14) made with haricots verts, horseradish & shallots in a Bordelaise sauce and (also) ordered a <b>mesclun salad</b> ($10)</span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">featuring cranberries, goat cheese, cherry tomatoes, croutons, walnuts & shallots with a vinaigrette dressing. Their <b>crispy calamari </b>salad (@ $12) is superb, as well.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguC79qKtY_VkxTxcLfhkqp6YevN2LRLKcNMSikZrmv8TeaEndFaoxqIakxOql0RxeLAmOAc2rtMaGBNjzpZPTbTFmv9onSKbT34IpDQvgF915EDaA0spUBgmGN1-ZjjoZm3A_ubN5dZE4/s1600/Mes+Reves+-+steak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguC79qKtY_VkxTxcLfhkqp6YevN2LRLKcNMSikZrmv8TeaEndFaoxqIakxOql0RxeLAmOAc2rtMaGBNjzpZPTbTFmv9onSKbT34IpDQvgF915EDaA0spUBgmGN1-ZjjoZm3A_ubN5dZE4/s1600/Mes+Reves+-+steak.jpg" height="171" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Steak au Poivre</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrYppsFI2RxuThfuAWQIWIbV1-l6e4gwucq4S40-Mqhae9FmnFFwRKCEjU5q3xDBbXNiR2P2vA-fO4zDhzFCRhQs-PJoOEe4vjAbLCPH8IQXyNo4z3gRRuxUjpHYUI5O3rCZkhvxnlNU/s1600/Mes+Reves++-+scallops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrYppsFI2RxuThfuAWQIWIbV1-l6e4gwucq4S40-Mqhae9FmnFFwRKCEjU5q3xDBbXNiR2P2vA-fO4zDhzFCRhQs-PJoOEe4vjAbLCPH8IQXyNo4z3gRRuxUjpHYUI5O3rCZkhvxnlNU/s1600/Mes+Reves++-+scallops.jpg" height="171" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Seared Sea Scallops</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For our mains, I selected the <b>steak au poivre</b> (@ $29), a tender New York strip cut with green peppercorn Bordelaise sauce & truffle fries (perfectly done!) while my wife chose one of the daily specials, t</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">he <b>seared sea scallops</b> ($27), with tomato <i>concasse</i>, shiitake & fried leeks in a saffron cream sauce. But, what's more, if you're still with me, just have a look at the elegant <a href="http://www.mesrevesnj.com/dinner_menu.html"><b>menu</b></a> offerings - e.g., pan-seared duck breast ($26), pork tenderloin ($20), roasted Cornish hen ($20),</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> sautéed skate ($22) - for a listing <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5Uurui8lf8U9wZtL856qBkUgbTnmNpxO4s_LKO4L9nqWU898_eSZkR6YMZ7UWtPzznyDTAe8CpTsdG77flSpZspuqD47Paz04ChOE3bD8EarPMeqpq39u2tdLez3TR4T97VKkhg0RLE/s1600/Mes+Reves+skate+-+better+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5Uurui8lf8U9wZtL856qBkUgbTnmNpxO4s_LKO4L9nqWU898_eSZkR6YMZ7UWtPzznyDTAe8CpTsdG77flSpZspuqD47Paz04ChOE3bD8EarPMeqpq39u2tdLez3TR4T97VKkhg0RLE/s1600/Mes+Reves+skate+-+better+photo.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sautéed Skate</span></b></td></tr>
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& descriptions of their other enticing </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="st"> <i>entrées</i></span>. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wfYa2243YWV9ZJ5jhYSKOtbNTOFqzZ0pyoAIoScHexoqzTNa1H-6uJzhc1k9I-U97lmoJ2JgdjZUFYUJ7i87rqbpsQ86VYAzD9MeerlGO_li-ItOwPmC6HsgrUAob3sAzH0nvax9tLA/s1600/Mes+reves+-+Bread+pudding+%232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wfYa2243YWV9ZJ5jhYSKOtbNTOFqzZ0pyoAIoScHexoqzTNa1H-6uJzhc1k9I-U97lmoJ2JgdjZUFYUJ7i87rqbpsQ86VYAzD9MeerlGO_li-ItOwPmC6HsgrUAob3sAzH0nvax9tLA/s1600/Mes+reves+-+Bread+pudding+%232.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Bread Pudding w/Ice Cream</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<h2>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We waited a while before ordering our dessert & coffee. We knew from experience what we would select: the rich & scrumptious <b>bread pudding</b> (@ $5), along with cups of robust black coffee ... a perfect combo with which to wind down our small celebration!</span></span></span></h2>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiJna-OMmQ51dEfbG6Vp08Ro5tLXo0e3IPbbPH2gtGSeD53z_-TfAYROttj6MD_BiiqqER5ki7q7kPiUxRtzDsFr67RUzbzjmnk5HmSuf64XRkMobZgFHRCK5feDH_sg7rJcEoRTCduY/s1600/mesreves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiJna-OMmQ51dEfbG6Vp08Ro5tLXo0e3IPbbPH2gtGSeD53z_-TfAYROttj6MD_BiiqqER5ki7q7kPiUxRtzDsFr67RUzbzjmnk5HmSuf64XRkMobZgFHRCK5feDH_sg7rJcEoRTCduY/s1600/mesreves.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bravo, <i><b>Mes Reves</b></i> ... <i>et Merci bien</i>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><u><b>PS</b></u>: The bistro offers a very nice & varied <a href="http://www.mesrevesnj.com/prefix_menu.html"><b>prefix menu</b></a> (@ $25) weekdays, from 4:45 to 6:30.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">(Photo of the external front facade.)</span></b></span></span><br />
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H. J. Scheiber, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366292492767857006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693133104581549318.post-78077206426320637312014-04-24T07:04:00.000-07:002014-04-24T14:18:48.694-07:00Just back from Israel - a quick review of sights + sites, sea, spa & sounds <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>View of the Jerusalem Hills</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Recently back from an extended trip to Israel where we attended a nephew's wedding in the <a href="http://goisrael.com/Tourism_Eng/Tourist%20Information/Discover%20Israel/Geographic%20Regions/pages/The%20Jerusalem%20hills.aspx"><b>Jerusalem Hills</b></a>; ate in a number of <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g293984-Tel_Aviv_Tel_Aviv_District.html"><b>Tel Aviv restaurants</b></a> - from Thai to, for lack of a better term, "new" Israeli cuisine; traveled for a couple of days to the <a href="http://twistedsifter.com/2012/06/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-dead-sea/"><b>Dead Sea</b></a> area; visited (and dined in) <b>Yafo</b>, in the "gentrified" flea market area, on two occasions; and lunched in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ra%27anana"><b>Ra'anana</b></a> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">... in the bright <i>mid</i>-afternoon sunshine ... </span></span></span></span>in a simply beautiful garden restaurant </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">called <a href="http://www.makombalev-raanana.co.il/b/"><b>Makom Balev</b></a>. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Seated at Makom Balev</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This friendly & welcoming restaurant & upscale coffee shop offers</span></span> a <i>prefixe</i> menu, specializing in what they identify as "fresh rustic delicacies" - e.g., chicken liver pat</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">é;</span></span> unique pasta dishes (including a spinach linguini); a chicken liver plate with </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">puréed</span></span></span></span> potatoes & fresh red currant berries; variously intricate seasonal salads (such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fattoush"><b>Fattoush salad</b></a>) all composed of locally grown vegetables; an interesting array of pastries & pies & other dessert items, including gelato & their unique chocolate souffl</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">é</span></span>.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>View of Ruins at Shivta (near Nitzana)</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Additionally, we participated in my wife's "youth group" reunion in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitzana,_Israel"><b>Nitzana</b></a> (in the western Negev & just a short <i>trek</i> by foot to the Egyptian border) where we ate dinner and lunch, communally, in a Bedouin-style (tent-like) structure - featuring various tasty (local) dishes: eggplant, hummus, tahina & a variety of fresh veggie salads; a mildly spicy rice & "crumbled" beef dish seasoned with <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/spice-mix-baharat-67863"><b><i>baharat</i></b></a> (a clove-based spice mixture); endless thin & stretchy gum-like "lengths" of pita; and cast-iron frying pans filled with onions, tomatoes, garlic & eggs ... a homey <i>shakshouka</i>. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Tel Aviv Museum of Art</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And, almost dutifully, I returned to the <a href="http://www.tamuseum.org.il/"><b>Tel Aviv Museum of Art</b></a>, specifically to attend to an extensive exhibit entitled "<b>20th-Century Art: The First Half</b>," underscoring "... where modernism took form in Europe" and displaying pieces by every (?) major and many minor painters & sculptors, like Juan Gris, Picasso, Georges Braque, Leger, Magritte, Ben Nicholson, Jackson Pollock, Joan Miro, Dubuffet, Francis Bacon, Giacometti - from representative works of Fauvism to Cubism & Surrealism, from "Art Informel" to American Abstract Expressionism. Just a wonderfully curated, memorable, intense & extensive, all-encompassing show. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpF6kgx0YDLRKzvgknfRVzXjjeOAna9JvB-syoy9m3LsWAqFbTFlgFbXXGND7hORu8qGO-ElNeNJgPu2WUzHurA84_wbm2uUqs-sgQsJN2vGtNogOZio6chE1OsUh0M38_XZ3DyO9S_Q/s1600/Pollock-+Earth+Worms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpF6kgx0YDLRKzvgknfRVzXjjeOAna9JvB-syoy9m3LsWAqFbTFlgFbXXGND7hORu8qGO-ElNeNJgPu2WUzHurA84_wbm2uUqs-sgQsJN2vGtNogOZio6chE1OsUh0M38_XZ3DyO9S_Q/s1600/Pollock-+Earth+Worms.jpg" height="200" width="151" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Earth Worms</b></span></span> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>- 1946</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUx0sRUDVnWsaywcgRbzi3wTM0tMloi2l_qUn2_6CCou_3XJNfWxhXgIQohs4plotVh1hS8OOBMA7g-TOzRIwfyDVIi-BW8U-IuZJWeuzkNRlumaYTGIpNgnpxEvGKyyvZflF-Pa2EbQ/s1600/Jackson+Pollock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUx0sRUDVnWsaywcgRbzi3wTM0tMloi2l_qUn2_6CCou_3XJNfWxhXgIQohs4plotVh1hS8OOBMA7g-TOzRIwfyDVIi-BW8U-IuZJWeuzkNRlumaYTGIpNgnpxEvGKyyvZflF-Pa2EbQ/s1600/Jackson+Pollock.jpg" height="155" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My favorites pieces on display in the exhibit: some masterful works (in oil, if I recall) by Juan Gris & George Braque, as well as one of Pollock's drip paintings, the smallest of that ilk I had ever seen (roughly 3 1/2 feet by 2 1/4 feet, or thereabouts!). But arresting, nevertheless!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Illuminated Woman, 1966-1967</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><u><b>NOTE</b></u>: The Tel Aviv Art Museum is also running an extremely impressive show presenting, in a rich assortment, the <u>major</u> sculptural work of the Polish-French (Jewish)<b> </b>sculptor,<b> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alina_Szapocznikowhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alina_Szapocznikow">Alina</a></b></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alina_Szapocznikowhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alina_Szapocznikow"><b> Szapocznikow</b></a>, entitled "<a href="http://www.tamuseum.org.il/en/about-the-exhibition/szapocznikow"><b>Body Traces</b></a>." If you missed the recent </span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Szapocznikow exhibit mounted at<b> MoMA</b> just a few months ago (October - January), you can see all (or most) of the same singular items here in Tel Aviv (through 31st May). (I discussed the <b>MoMA</b> show -</span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/exhibitions/1241"><b>Sculpture Undone, 1955–1972</b></a>"</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> - in a blog post a while back; have a look!) </span></span></span> </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Isrotel Ganim / along Ein Botek "Strip</span>"</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While on our brief excursion to the Dead Sea area, we stayed at a very comfy & posh (neither too elegant nor too elaborate, nor baroque) <i>spa</i>-hotel in <a href="http://www.einbokek.com/index.htm"><b>Ein Bokek</b></a>, along the Dead Sea hotel "strip," the <a href="http://www.isrotel.com/isrotel_ganim/"><b>Isrotel Ganim</b></a>. The hotel offered us expansive breakfasts (the various herring & salmon platters alone were truly alluring) and dinner buffet meals replete with a wide mix of meats (the freshly sliced pastrami was divine!), poultry, fish, cut & sliced veggies, potatoes (prepared every which way), and salads of every content, color & texture. Moreover, we made good use of the spa facilities (we each had a "rejuvenating" massage) and the crystal-clear, ultra clean, buoyant & therapeutic Dead </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Man "Buoyed up" in The Dead Sea</b></span></td></tr>
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</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sea-like saltwater pools in the spa area, not to mention the two large jacuzzi tubs we also took advantage of. This Ein Bokek spa-hotel proved calm, commodious, and relatively quiet throughout - inside & out - and there were plenty of "beach" chairs, couches, and lounge chairs, also inside & out, in which to read, relax, nap, chat, or simply to imbibe a hot or cold drink.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Ein Gedi</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Ein Gedi Park - Ibix</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">During our stay in Ein Bokek, along the Dead Sea (the lowest place on earth!), we managed to take an excursion to <b><a href="http://goisrael.com/tourism_eng/tourist%20information/discover%20israel/cities/Pages/ein%20gedi.aspx">Ein Gedi</a> </b>(where we'd ventured some 35+ years before),</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">an oasis in Israel, located west of the Dead Sea, near <a href="http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Archaeology/Masada1.html"><b>Masada</b></a> & the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qumran_Caves"><b>Qumran Caves</b></a>. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We hiked up to the pools & waterfalls at various levels and meandered in and around the park, also hiking, not far,<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhrDGbmRMNErAKWkthHavqERwp0Qtp_I6O3s5m8dZy0zYco_x-LaV7-HEr__TUfQxDuZOUsytUJ1lMTocYxLnYlMEyk6JWTyMnMxcCK3WFrb7nirwVbKWGNydh-i1nc0qegBcOEz6LyU/s1600/SynagogueSAM_0488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhrDGbmRMNErAKWkthHavqERwp0Qtp_I6O3s5m8dZy0zYco_x-LaV7-HEr__TUfQxDuZOUsytUJ1lMTocYxLnYlMEyk6JWTyMnMxcCK3WFrb7nirwVbKWGNydh-i1nc0qegBcOEz6LyU/s1600/SynagogueSAM_0488.JPG" height="271" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Ancient Synagogue - Tile Floor</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">over to the remains of an <i><b>ancient</b></i> <a href="http://goisrael.com/Tourism_Eng/Tourist%20Information/attractions/Pages/Ein%20Gedi%20Ancient%20Synagogue.aspx"><b>synagogue</b></a>, with original colorful (just slightly faded after <i>thousands</i> of years) tiled floors lining the various "rooms" of the partially excavated structure. The synagogue was (is) part of a Jewish settlement dating back to somewhere between the 3rd and 6th centuries, CE. Miraculous, indeed!</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But one of the most interesting experiences we had on this trip to Israel turned out to be a jazz concert in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kfar_Saba"><b>Kfar Saba</b></a>, featuring <a href="http://www.ptashka.com/"><b>Leonid Ptashka</b></a> (with a<b> </b>bassist & drums), the Russian-Israeli jazz phenom whose piano just sizzles as he pounds out traditional jazz themes, folk-inflected jazz tunes, pop (jazz) tunes, salsa & syncopated rhythmic fare. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1on6GqW-xWLkuVlI6_R0yPVygLDknyKhLJbvcpkOX92guJS8_A0nw3IdUTVriPwfb5dDXLtocmniyqqNALViSGpttFd2DXeTYaTUfTKdbmMIlMRMjxnr7EoNDd2hyphenhyphenu4dufwumzB99SZg/s1600/Leonid+Ptashka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1on6GqW-xWLkuVlI6_R0yPVygLDknyKhLJbvcpkOX92guJS8_A0nw3IdUTVriPwfb5dDXLtocmniyqqNALViSGpttFd2DXeTYaTUfTKdbmMIlMRMjxnr7EoNDd2hyphenhyphenu4dufwumzB99SZg/s1600/Leonid+Ptashka.jpg" height="194" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Leonid Ptashka in Concert</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Mr. Ptashka</b> is a masterful pianist (classically trained in Russia at various top-notch music institutes & conservatories). But, besides his obviously awesome musical talent, what makes Ptashka unique is his "artful" showmanship, audience-centric style & bravado performances. And on this particular evening ... his unlimited energy prevailed throughout a very long & thrilling show. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ptashka combines, in the jazz idiom, the somewhat incongruous sparks & fire of a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IjgZGhHrYY"><b>Jerry Lee Lewis</b></a>, the attention-drawing dress (white jacket, red boots, pompadour, rings) of an entertainer like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dioRwB4RvrQ"><b>Liberace</b></a>, the frenetic fingers on the piano <i>a la</i> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMmeNsmQaFw"><b>Thelonious Monk</b></a>, and the technical skill & emphatic approach of an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brbsdE70A2g"><b>Andre Watts</b></a>. Ptashka's "act" (and I certainly don't use the word in any derogatory sense) must be seen & heard first, in concert (or club), then a listener can be mesmerized by the music on a <b>CD</b>, alone! Just listen, for example, to his stunningly precise interpretation of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQYXn1DP38s"><b>Dizzy Gillespie's</b></a> "<i>A Night in Tunisia</i>," or his "borderline mellow" version of <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fVaP6dM1fs">Nat King Cole's</a> </b>"<i>Straighten Up and Fly Right</i>." </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-2YJkv9R41eTZAJn0nJKhAm3-CpRHsSb6JLpVNuprucwD6CobAeGR3JmCkdOI3kkpvZ7GQa40FWKDMjIsTrXEGur6-AwRm6Fk1EjjWs5fGXsVnpcPnlsjDR6j8wKM7Bm7CU3FI3GaM0/s1600/Leonid+Ptashka+-+white+CD+jazz-friends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-2YJkv9R41eTZAJn0nJKhAm3-CpRHsSb6JLpVNuprucwD6CobAeGR3JmCkdOI3kkpvZ7GQa40FWKDMjIsTrXEGur6-AwRm6Fk1EjjWs5fGXsVnpcPnlsjDR6j8wKM7Bm7CU3FI3GaM0/s1600/Leonid+Ptashka+-+white+CD+jazz-friends.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In sum, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxQBWlWduzU"><b>Leonid Ptashka</b></a>, according to the biographical notes to be found on his web site "... has established himself as a virtuoso instrumentalist, a brilliant performer and an artist <b><i>passionately</i></b> committed to his music."</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> [italics added]</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Just pick up a copy of the <b>CD</b>, <a href="http://leonidptashka.com/recordings/"><i><b>Leonid Ptashka & Jazz Friends</b><b>, 2005</b></i></a>; listen with care ... & you'll be a convert, too! </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhkkvJiFupmOiET3Tyi9h76_Gzngu0LRe-jfUq4Y5hqdeXdDAvxJrt9ryatwYC-_VglaBnp2xjECmuKSMxsxQXedbUJtWs7YgRIvvrY38tb8CF3BZz1mvqfHvN11l-PCNKdjrrXUKepo/s1600/Israeli+Opera+@+Masada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhkkvJiFupmOiET3Tyi9h76_Gzngu0LRe-jfUq4Y5hqdeXdDAvxJrt9ryatwYC-_VglaBnp2xjECmuKSMxsxQXedbUJtWs7YgRIvvrY38tb8CF3BZz1mvqfHvN11l-PCNKdjrrXUKepo/s1600/Israeli+Opera+@+Masada.jpg" height="265" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Israeli Opera at the Foot of Masada</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Alas, based on what I observed and the people I spoke with on this recent trip, things are - with the exception of the lingering Palestinian peace treaty still in a state of limbo - </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">pretty solidly & obviously thriving in the State of Israel: particularly in the areas of science & medicine; high tech & tourism; literature, opera & film; food & gourmet dining; <u><b>and</b></u> construction, commerce ... choreography & concertizing.</span></span>H. J. Scheiber, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366292492767857006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693133104581549318.post-53548680605527974332014-03-13T09:16:00.000-07:002014-03-14T12:48:51.402-07:00Restaurant Week, come & gone; racy, risque & rambunctious comedy; and ruthlessly reciprocal films from Israel & Palestine<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfmFiWXkd3_9uaHnHcAMdQZw0PezqnlFDubua2Bgqd5YEmvIW6RkIPxuoAdseJoZ30qcWtTWIb2kFNizy08C_xXlEEtfKwFjSPGe8jkFfkT3Z3hOcoHrNmll86x2P7eypftBTTf1P6Fw/s1600/Eat+Up+-NYC_WRW14_950x250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfmFiWXkd3_9uaHnHcAMdQZw0PezqnlFDubua2Bgqd5YEmvIW6RkIPxuoAdseJoZ30qcWtTWIb2kFNizy08C_xXlEEtfKwFjSPGe8jkFfkT3Z3hOcoHrNmll86x2P7eypftBTTf1P6Fw/s1600/Eat+Up+-NYC_WRW14_950x250.jpg" height="105" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As they say, <i>been a long time between "drinks"</i> ... what with horrendous winter weather, bad colds & coughs, some travel to warmer climes, coupled with some mediocre theater experiences & unmemorable films, I haven't accrued the depth of material to put up a new blog post since <i>mid</i>-January.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But things, of course, rapidly (seasonally) change: huge quantities of snow melt, the intensity & frequency of colds & coughs diminishes ... and a new post has finally taken shape & emerged, just in time for <a href="http://www.opentable.com/promo.aspx?pid=69&m=8"><b>New York Restaurant Week</b></a> (2014) to come and to go, what with nearly 300-odd restaurants to explore for <b>lunch</b> (@ $25 for <i>three</i> courses, excluding beverages, gratuities & taxes) or <b>dinner</b> (@ $38)!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWqBM6RLNJ7NBCRJA5A3L1YMD9UqWQ-Zf-_N1srcI5Z4j5G3Lrbd0iwmaWwUANKWV7-uN0kbpYYeXMM35IcaI8YPOqfIPf2DOEb4PB-IQ1NTC12t7PL-2qMSI3t9TfFLKJO-ib9hiwOg/s1600/Perry+St+-+Inside+waiters+++bar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWqBM6RLNJ7NBCRJA5A3L1YMD9UqWQ-Zf-_N1srcI5Z4j5G3Lrbd0iwmaWwUANKWV7-uN0kbpYYeXMM35IcaI8YPOqfIPf2DOEb4PB-IQ1NTC12t7PL-2qMSI3t9TfFLKJO-ib9hiwOg/s1600/Perry+St+-+Inside+waiters+++bar.jpg" height="233" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We narrowed our <b>Restaurant Week</b> search down to two choices: one mid-town east resto (which we will explore some time soon) and one downtown in the far West Village, <a href="http://www.perrystrestaurant.com/#!/about-perry-street/jean-georges-vongerichten/"><b>Jean-Georges Vongerichten's</b></a> <a href="http://www.perrystrestaurant.com/#!/about-perry-street/restaurant/"><b>Perry St</b></a> (at 176 Perry Street, just in front of & facing West Street & situated in one of the <b><a href="http://www.richardmeier.com/www/">Richard Meier</a> Towers</b>; tel. 212-352-1900). Indeed, <b>Perry St</b> is an extremely eclectic, friendly & welcoming, sleekly elegant, commodious </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">eating establishment - categorically </span></span><i>beyond</i> "<i>new American</i>." </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKyYVQi74qPntkkmTxl7Q5UFie8_MpsAlVI5Nk_mAxdyTEK79sch4SQWIjVn7jXb3dY4N1-5Aj4otDnBJ5dAg9QYcE7PW3YYsnaJ4HZ65ql0L_ACaRt6WZaG69Q9sShIwibkpTomgV_k/s1600/Perry+St+-+Cedric+Vongerichten.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKyYVQi74qPntkkmTxl7Q5UFie8_MpsAlVI5Nk_mAxdyTEK79sch4SQWIjVn7jXb3dY4N1-5Aj4otDnBJ5dAg9QYcE7PW3YYsnaJ4HZ65ql0L_ACaRt6WZaG69Q9sShIwibkpTomgV_k/s1600/Perry+St+-+Cedric+Vongerichten.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Cedric Vongerichten</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">ccording to <a href="http://www.perrystrestaurant.com/#%21/about-perry-street/c-dric-vongerichten/"><b>Cedric Vongerichten</b></a>, [who] "helms the kitchen,"</span></span> they strive to exhibit a range and blend, "of French, American and Asian influences and ingredients." In sum, the food they turn out at <b>Perry St</b> is artfully presented, </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">carefully & creatively textured, </span></span>delicious, flavorful, memorable ... with nary a miss in their whole culinary arsenal. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While the <b>Perry St </b>menu changes somewhat during Restaurant Week (actually two weeks, <i>in toto</i>), but the quality control seems to remain tight and each dish arrives at your table picture perfect! For each of our three courses my wife and I selected different items in order to obtain the widest possible sampling of what <b>Perry St</b> might offer for lunch.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmwlXlSVnJQdeoWU1imyreOp68lzQQnpCtajhnDcLxgAmpQPTJk8QTmNhMQoVz5HZrHuCu1yMmBfBjD7RH96T8c5Fzt7ijukZYF0K8wSJZ0e4dRfbEgDvl4hbydTUQt858JgsALGNGck/s1600/Perry+St+-+Salmom+sashimi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmwlXlSVnJQdeoWU1imyreOp68lzQQnpCtajhnDcLxgAmpQPTJk8QTmNhMQoVz5HZrHuCu1yMmBfBjD7RH96T8c5Fzt7ijukZYF0K8wSJZ0e4dRfbEgDvl4hbydTUQt858JgsALGNGck/s1600/Perry+St+-+Salmom+sashimi.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Salmon sashimi</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Upon being seated at our quiet, relatively private table, we each </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">ordered</span></span> a glass of white wine - the Rioja Blanc, Ermita di San Felices, Spain, 2011 (@ $6). We then chose our <u>appetizers</u>, <b>salmon sashima</b> (<i>pour moi</i>), with chili tapioca & Asian pears in a coconut broth ... an absolutely exquisite & unique first course, rich in flavors (the pear, the chili tapioca, & the coconut and an array of salmon slices further cut up into mouthwatering tender morsels. Surely the <i>piece de resistance</i> of this afternoon repast. My wife ordered the <b>house-made <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burrata">burrata </a></b>(a fresh Italian cheese made from mozzarella & cream), placed on a plate of wasabi, cara cara, sourdough & purple shiso. Interesting admixture of ingredients, with very pronounced & powerful wasabi scattered about the burrata & which efficiently cleared my sinuses when I was offered a few bites!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Next, on to the <u>entrees</u>: Dalia chose the very tender, sumptuous & flavorful <b>slow-cooked hake</b>, the slice of fish coupled with potato fondant & jalapeno lime salsa. I, therefore, ordered the equally tender <b>crispy fried chicken</b> atop pecan collard greens, wild rice & a Scotch bonnet sauce ... for dipping the perfectly fried chunks of fowl. (Not exactly - not at all - your "standard" KFC fried chicken meal!)</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9Plf2LlwgCtNNreacRdyo8w4CTMe-sv3Gq9ky13hEhgqnR7ozH4Z_HOeLTbAz0gVBu0987ugRzBsYsu6flvMDJxDpu6w0JQ-S-CHC0u2uERNiOCNKk8u76uk-3wSvqfSxJaE8m-fft4/s1600/Perry+St+-+Chocolate+molten+cake+w+vanilla+ice+cream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9Plf2LlwgCtNNreacRdyo8w4CTMe-sv3Gq9ky13hEhgqnR7ozH4Z_HOeLTbAz0gVBu0987ugRzBsYsu6flvMDJxDpu6w0JQ-S-CHC0u2uERNiOCNKk8u76uk-3wSvqfSxJaE8m-fft4/s1600/Perry+St+-+Chocolate+molten+cake+w+vanilla+ice+cream.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Molten chocolate cake & vanilla ice cream</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><u>Desserts</u> also revealed to us a sense that <b>Perry St</b> strives for perfection even at the close of the experience. Here, both desserts ordered - the <b>molten chocolate cake</b> <b>& vanilla ice cream</b>; the <b>gingerbread cake & apple butter</b>, <b>with walnut brittle & green apple sorbet</b> - proved extremely attractive, luscious, sweet & rich, nicely complementing our coffee.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBj_VLawWpBypC6-xgsdSwzWzLPZfCUJXsoI1so36WqPuYTjo1x_ydOuz0nHN1mCBcIcHpJW1GaIlnXDkgeemEmN2r6Qw4L1DrkKJnLcfFNMaB9AWYPdGjVQXSBviuRGaoIu7uthhLebc/s1600/Perry+St+-+Menu+++table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBj_VLawWpBypC6-xgsdSwzWzLPZfCUJXsoI1so36WqPuYTjo1x_ydOuz0nHN1mCBcIcHpJW1GaIlnXDkgeemEmN2r6Qw4L1DrkKJnLcfFNMaB9AWYPdGjVQXSBviuRGaoIu7uthhLebc/s1600/Perry+St+-+Menu+++table.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The entire dining experience succeeded in every respect, but most effectively in doing what <b>Restaurant Week </b>visits are supposed to achieve - and that is, to make us <b><i>customers</i></b>, repeat diners, who will return for more fabulously, creatively prepared food, more frequently ... for dinner & for lunch, albeit to a somewhat out-of-the-way location in the far West Village. In this case, however, despite the long walk to West Street & the Hudson, we shall, for certain, return for <u>more</u> <i><b>Vongerichten</b></i> - <i>pere et fils</i> - culinary creations!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For some reason my wife & I don't attend too many comedy events at comedy clubs or other venues where stand-up is on offer. Probably my own self-imposed limitation because there are some very funny comics out there in Manhattan & environs.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnk4u0WN7qkAPwR0A6i1spoCEDuu2qVnVnSyYCCm4WY1Xtfp-7T1sjK-0lCz_C4Cd4MiGgC-UVVUdYGQGF4PjklIbbpIKwSZV2i0tEqzUFpdgvMMNYLrvAhT0eQml2mFNbAqmkvl9kq4/s1600/Mary+Dimino+at+Theatre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnk4u0WN7qkAPwR0A6i1spoCEDuu2qVnVnSyYCCm4WY1Xtfp-7T1sjK-0lCz_C4Cd4MiGgC-UVVUdYGQGF4PjklIbbpIKwSZV2i0tEqzUFpdgvMMNYLrvAhT0eQml2mFNbAqmkvl9kq4/s1600/Mary+Dimino+at+Theatre.jpg" height="203" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Mary Dimino</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Two weeks ago, though, at the last minute, we did purchase tickets for a show at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/13th-Street-Comedy-Company/1390866967835504?ref=stream"><b>The 13th Street Comedy Company</b></a> (@ $9 each, from <a href="https://secure2.tdf.org/welcome/authenticate.html"><b>TDF</b></a>) located in the West Village at 50 W.13th St., off 6th Avenue, and housed in <a href="http://www.13thstreetrep.org/"><b>The 13th Street Repertory Company</b></a>. The 2-hour (or so) show - entitled "<b>Mary Dimino</b> <b>& Friends</b>" - featured stand-up material from <u>four</u> comics, three of whom were not very funny at all and laughter from the audience triggered by the initial 3 was mechanical, light, sporadic and, well, merely hopeful. But the wait for the <i>headliner</i>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzRkrvOO3yo"><b>Mary Dimino</b></a>, herself, proved highly worthwhile. She had (she has) what Jerry Lewis deemed essential for any comic: <i><b>funny bones</b></i>! She was consistently funny, at times hysterical, personable, plain fun, self-effacing/self-less and <i>audience</i>-centric. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Her comic <i>modus operandi </i>(and role) is, understandably, to be herself, to tell one long "story" - not at all a rant - about herself, her family (e.g., her husband, her Italian grandmother, her father), food, dieting, sex. And, in the process of <i>telling her story</i>, she casually & periodically elicits input from audience members. She then mixes these audience responses into her "narrative" & twists them into repeated "mantras," of sorts, that she either hears incorrectly or chooses to repeat incorrectly in order to achieve a sustained atmosphere of hilarity and relative incoherence.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzytatq7eVxhsh-JuVwi6HpBexFNORaVyLIHgm1Bojpmxi5uyLlzZHEWSSlpQlpWzVND9zR5wldw6dESViO8j1godCZEHqcfom0rdR5q9II-vsfn7_AjfLITK0CacXuonHbXkAEYKjgQ/s1600/Mary+Dimino+-+Portrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzytatq7eVxhsh-JuVwi6HpBexFNORaVyLIHgm1Bojpmxi5uyLlzZHEWSSlpQlpWzVND9zR5wldw6dESViO8j1godCZEHqcfom0rdR5q9II-vsfn7_AjfLITK0CacXuonHbXkAEYKjgQ/s1600/Mary+Dimino+-+Portrait.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At some points in her routine, I laughed so long and so hard that I found myself in need of a pocketful of tissues to wipe away the build-up of tears of laughter. Kudos to <b>Mary Dimino</b> ... she is a standup<i> standout</i> ... with funny (<i>funny!</i>) bones; funny (generally upbeat & pleasant, not hurtful nor bitter) stories; and a comedic routine - and <i>center </i>- that is not particularly, not routinely, nor unnecessarily, off-color!</span></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Love to see her again some time soon and I urge you to catch her when & where you can!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And, finally, on a more, well, serious note ...</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYga9UCkRhi5sXHPih8m9rrBwhX7xQsGXtaaT3uX1mAGerfE6mjzTaDYNOs2SsgtyvofjuWKADViyqnJqyjoxFrMTWEI0vhGuIJrQIawYgDI_GjBwvE6E1K0J9NzILm_YTS3mohgsXZVM/s1600/Beth+-+52_Razi+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYga9UCkRhi5sXHPih8m9rrBwhX7xQsGXtaaT3uX1mAGerfE6mjzTaDYNOs2SsgtyvofjuWKADViyqnJqyjoxFrMTWEI0vhGuIJrQIawYgDI_GjBwvE6E1K0J9NzILm_YTS3mohgsXZVM/s1600/Beth+-+52_Razi+6.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Tsahi Haleva - Scene from <i>Bethlehem</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'd like to recommend two new films, each set squarely within the geographical & emotional confines of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Both of these films - </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/07/movies/yuval-adler-and-ali-waked-breathe-life-into-bethlehem.html?_r=0"><i><b>Bethlehem</b></i></a>, from Israel (directed by <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethlehem_%28film%29">Yuval Adler</a></b>); <b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2852406/"><i>Omar</i></a>,</b> from Palestine (located in & around the West Bank and directed by <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hany_Abu-Assad">Hany Abu-Assad</a></b>) - had been put forward from their respective national precincts for the recent Oscar competition where <i><b>Omar </b></i>was actually one of the 5 nominated films in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Academy_Award_winners_and_nominees_for_Best_Foreign_Language_Film"><b>Best Foreign Language Film</b></a> category. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuJLlGZZ1Ebyi5P1Q6o3flg8-cD4HdZE562ORqt4Ce2g8BsvihPKPtdhPdJ8An2E_IBrIl5O6Oe8fNHedgwqyb7yofTtfLUytF6EQ3gWtCNGY8VvWe9Gx4q5e_qMD9jehRnPtZtMoeOQ/s1600/Omar+Omar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuJLlGZZ1Ebyi5P1Q6o3flg8-cD4HdZE562ORqt4Ce2g8BsvihPKPtdhPdJ8An2E_IBrIl5O6Oe8fNHedgwqyb7yofTtfLUytF6EQ3gWtCNGY8VvWe9Gx4q5e_qMD9jehRnPtZtMoeOQ/s1600/Omar+Omar.jpg" height="320" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Adam Bakri - <i>Omar</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">These films</span></span>, with <a href="http://www.npr.org/2014/02/23/280712026/director-says-omar-is-a-love-story-not-a-war-story"><i><b>Omar</b></i></a> being the more emotion-laden and personal of the two, serve as bookends, one to the other, displaying all aspects of the struggle from each geo-ethnic perspective: there are the Israeli intelligence & security "handlers" who attempt to garner essential logistical & strategic information from Palestinian prisoners & members of various anti-Israel terrorist & guerrilla factions; there is the ongoing effort of Israeli security agents to co-opt & recruit these individuals, to "employ" them for use as informants; there are the internecine, "counter"-struggles between & among various Palestinian gangs, factions, and politically divided families (deep-rooted tensions between fathers & sons, brother & brother, sisters & brothers, nephew & uncle); there are the planned bombings, "successful" assassinations & calculatedly brazen torture efforts; there are the divided and perplexing loyalties of the identified (would-be, <i>seeming</i>) informants - the young man, Omar, himself, or the teenage Sanfur in <i><b>Bethlehem</b></i>.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMMuDqJwwmMdVYOnx58cRH9oK9BnP-QnANzEhTQcvlRB557tOHS_PawZ1a69li3ZCqCN5xKHtEgmEVbNoTY8-vB6tLuqlACiXUdylzum4DFWvfDmngcV69WN6JmZ9Mgl9YRjB3Bd_gCg/s1600/Hany+Abu-Assad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMMuDqJwwmMdVYOnx58cRH9oK9BnP-QnANzEhTQcvlRB557tOHS_PawZ1a69li3ZCqCN5xKHtEgmEVbNoTY8-vB6tLuqlACiXUdylzum4DFWvfDmngcV69WN6JmZ9Mgl9YRjB3Bd_gCg/s1600/Hany+Abu-Assad.jpg" height="208" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Hany Abu-Asad</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But while the director of <i><b>Bethlehem </b></i>creates a taut dramatic & atmospheric film and works assiduously to humanize the <u>political</u> conflict, the narrative, and the central characters involved in the action, it is in <i><b>Omar</b></i> - skillfully crafted by the Palestinian director,<b> Mr. Abu-Assad </b>- where the universal struggle of people against their so-called oppressors begins to take the depth of the action to a personal level, for at the heart of <i><b>Omar</b></i> is a genuine love story (echoing the pangs of love <i>a la</i> <i><b>Romeo & Juliet</b></i>), as well as a tale of old school friends (genuine "buddies") interacting in the capacity of friends, terrorist-conspirators, and would-be assassins.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHrQtIbiHiNzssgtFYMD1ZjBNn1x5L9Mljij3vJOaNOGalJfY9sUExLgi144Saab2uIYC8oqLILcckFz210bYJ7gZzqZiNXAZDgkPXJJ7vgEoHE5f2S2x_k83k9J84RRXMOoNEessppM/s1600/Beth+-+Poster+of+film.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHrQtIbiHiNzssgtFYMD1ZjBNn1x5L9Mljij3vJOaNOGalJfY9sUExLgi144Saab2uIYC8oqLILcckFz210bYJ7gZzqZiNXAZDgkPXJJ7vgEoHE5f2S2x_k83k9J84RRXMOoNEessppM/s1600/Beth+-+Poster+of+film.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b>Bethlehem</b></i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">See these two films reflecting the tragic nature of the Israeli-Palestinian struggle: compare-and-contrast the two perspectives exhibited in these searing films and you will witness a sorrow-filled region depicted in consistent turmoil, a region fraught with besieged & bitter life, love, lies, </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">intrigue, </span></span>brutal assassinations, needless diurnal death.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span>H. J. Scheiber, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366292492767857006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693133104581549318.post-65128155529194157622014-01-10T07:17:00.002-08:002014-01-12T10:11:52.777-08:00Balthus at The MET; Beyoglu / Mediterranean ... upper east side Turkish resto<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJKCSE963ikaLg9zYa7kpJKjnIS9ZC_WeLQYo3ozVN1ce7rFQOhMbXrlXbJD4OOQHyeKRYW4vPEXfqYe9rmdEI-ahqQ05Hl1eXloa_UVxJlEg2bkLJjrK2wqpiDvvGKTtG58r4ER-8D0/s1600/MET+-+Balthus+-+Cats+&+Girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJKCSE963ikaLg9zYa7kpJKjnIS9ZC_WeLQYo3ozVN1ce7rFQOhMbXrlXbJD4OOQHyeKRYW4vPEXfqYe9rmdEI-ahqQ05Hl1eXloa_UVxJlEg2bkLJjrK2wqpiDvvGKTtG58r4ER-8D0/s1600/MET+-+Balthus+-+Cats+&+Girls.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you've been thinking about heading for </span><a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Metropolitan Museum</span></b></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> (<b>The Met</b>) @ 5th Ave. & 82nd St. (tel. 212-535-7710) intent on seeing the spectacularly </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">luminous</span></span> <b>Balthus</b> exhibition - entitled "<a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2013/balthus"><b>Cats & Girls--Paintings and Provocations</b></a>") - you would do well to venture over to <b>The Met</b> very soon, indeed, as the show is scheduled to close on January 12th.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfluEAdocmoumZd4p3adZTpWk9PbUDdb3DrTDhUe1cYWwXrVYXs-EDVG6L4lzsfpgjtv1w7NuaSp-Xl1jMWKMkEb_67pb80rjOQ_DKc9yCWZHAGf5nbxMLReYmIl3CgliLk0Vyceem4ns/s1600/MET+-+Balthus+Portrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfluEAdocmoumZd4p3adZTpWk9PbUDdb3DrTDhUe1cYWwXrVYXs-EDVG6L4lzsfpgjtv1w7NuaSp-Xl1jMWKMkEb_67pb80rjOQ_DKc9yCWZHAGf5nbxMLReYmIl3CgliLk0Vyceem4ns/s1600/MET+-+Balthus+Portrait.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Portrait -</span><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%;"> Thérèse Blanchard</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">According to <b>The Met's</b> web site, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balthus"><b>Balthus</b></a> (Balthasar Klossowski, 1908-2001) was a modern Polish-</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">French</span></span> artist "best known for his <i>series</i> of pensive adolescents who dream or read in rooms that are [seemingly] closed to the outside world." <b>The Met's</b> <u>current</u> Balthus show comprises some 35 </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">of these, and other, striking</span></span>, somewhat enigmatic portraits - mainly of young teenage, female "models" (Parisian friends or neighbors), some of which were (are still?) provocative - from what is considered to be his most fertile and memorably creative period: </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> the<b> mid-1930s </b>to the<b> 1950s</b></span></span>. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYi-_1phK0O1zu1ZZz6pNdrr9s3AJP9TYEdMA_zrvOpRCfun1_L2ksZpjRGvx46te_yTFwomKiIlngSh_37XAJAGqn7JWiiW9vgG6bEbHm4s-ljjiPHswv2IZqoDqJOYsWgoEyQXPOTAs/s1600/MET+-+Balthus+Portrait+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYi-_1phK0O1zu1ZZz6pNdrr9s3AJP9TYEdMA_zrvOpRCfun1_L2ksZpjRGvx46te_yTFwomKiIlngSh_37XAJAGqn7JWiiW9vgG6bEbHm4s-ljjiPHswv2IZqoDqJOYsWgoEyQXPOTAs/s1600/MET+-+Balthus+Portrait+2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Portrait</b></span> -<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> Thérèse</b> </span><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blanchard</span> </b></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I would suggest that</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> these serious, or seemingly serious, young girls are depicted by Balthus in a manner that tends to bracket them in what amounts to some kind of <i>narrative</i> - or "episode" - there, in a sense, to be unraveled by the viewer. Moving through the three (or so) rooms of these predominantly earth-toned portraits, we just might be continually asking ourselves a series of questions triggered by the paintings (the narratives, the episodes) ... and achieving little real closure in the process. For example: What, exactly, are these young girls thinking about ... and why? Why has the painter decided to focus so intensely upon adolescent girls with such serious (stoic, impenetrable) facial expressions? What precipitates so strong an interest in, and relationship with or connection to, the myriad cats we see in these portraits?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In all, we learn that Balthus as an artist was, at one time in his lengthy career, consistently fixated on a few youthful models, their mystical & mysterious (even unknowable) lives, their "adult," somewhat enigmatic expressions that, perhaps, only he would (could) capture via his portraiture. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_EVl9URFkD2sywcGV09-ir4I0i0eKjOQ15c5Nt0jvXiS9WViPmruoBXJLzoWO7YbyuVIwhnZUy92lls6Q5OLjiWdEIwS-EvVSxxfbWt5JT-r7fe6nWG2rOxHNJosbP0BO4Y5i3FGoao/s1600/children-1937.jpg!HalfHD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_EVl9URFkD2sywcGV09-ir4I0i0eKjOQ15c5Nt0jvXiS9WViPmruoBXJLzoWO7YbyuVIwhnZUy92lls6Q5OLjiWdEIwS-EvVSxxfbWt5JT-r7fe6nWG2rOxHNJosbP0BO4Y5i3FGoao/s1600/children-1937.jpg!HalfHD.jpg" height="304" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Children, 1937</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In explanatory-biographical material accompanying the exhibition, <b>The Met </b>curators inform us that between 1936 and 1939 Balthus produced </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">his singularly acclaimed series of portraits </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">of <b>Thérèse</b> <b>Blanchard </b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- on view at the beginning of the show - who he painted frequently by herself,</span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> at times with a cat, or with her brothers. During the Second World War he had moved (escaping from the Nazi occupation) to Switzerland where he produced considerably "more colorful interiors in which different nymphets daydream, read, or nap." By the 1950s (reflected in the concluding portion of the show), Balthus had returned to France, to Chateau de Chassy (in the Morvan region), where he "adopted" <b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Frédérique Tison</span></b> as his preferred model and produced <i>images</i> of her with his chateau as backdrop.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIHOwW3NNdgotY8WmVO4m69TCh8dhdnt9oXZB3xRKTqNz6A-MR5UbOrdCO0irFV5rY8sS_GGXL5DL4uq8fd-ffrWRDpNDfuIxQUoAXKl8WNrICCi57mMbiJRATSt3-C0FqKWRf5-jmaY/s1600/MET+-+Balthus+Face+-+D.+Pettigrew,+1996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIHOwW3NNdgotY8WmVO4m69TCh8dhdnt9oXZB3xRKTqNz6A-MR5UbOrdCO0irFV5rY8sS_GGXL5DL4uq8fd-ffrWRDpNDfuIxQUoAXKl8WNrICCi57mMbiJRATSt3-C0FqKWRf5-jmaY/s1600/MET+-+Balthus+Face+-+D.+Pettigrew,+1996.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Balthus - 1996 </b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>(D. Pettigrew)</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hopefully, you will have seen the <b>Balthus</b> exhibition before reading through this current post. If not, well, you will have missed - for now, at least - the work of a thoroughly engaging & idiosyncratic 20th century master whose paintings are truly rich in visual <i>provocation</i>!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhB9zsYiymgeMfHt9uqy5BHrMfptmqvVkyUDG076b6K_nnyp8OJMNI7ml4iJTdZjdZLllMyPBn7qmkpA8hEmuHYS1ysyl3viIz7AnOz8cjHLpCJvNtvL7l9lAYYQkgqi7OCDNlBESAc0/s1600/Beyoglu_Istanbul+Cezayir_Sokagi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhB9zsYiymgeMfHt9uqy5BHrMfptmqvVkyUDG076b6K_nnyp8OJMNI7ml4iJTdZjdZLllMyPBn7qmkpA8hEmuHYS1ysyl3viIz7AnOz8cjHLpCJvNtvL7l9lAYYQkgqi7OCDNlBESAc0/s1600/Beyoglu_Istanbul+Cezayir_Sokagi.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Beyoglu, Istanbul District</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And speaking of visual provocation, we turn now to a rather different order of perception ... combining the visual & the olfactory: yes, the culinary! We recently visited an appealingly contemporary Turkish resto, <a href="https://plus.google.com/111784672235930052632/about?gl=us&hl=en"><b>Beyoglu / Mediterranean</b></a>, not far from <b>The Met</b> at 81st & 3rd Ave. (1431 3rd; tel. 212-650-0850). </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Taking its name from a district (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beyo%C4%9Flu"><b>Beyoglu</b>)</a> on the European
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4naKcErbAl6srPRQ3la9VFGGfIauIuS_DlfP1lOwRihyphenhyphenAbnc4AYLNXpCnMiKKpcbZf4PK9g0bjgU-ue3uVNufzK26idNNud8tOkCKwAScR2GP60M_60ayI5I8tOAeCXIX88y4YcU51c/s1600/Beyoglu+-+Vegetarian+Meze+Platter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4naKcErbAl6srPRQ3la9VFGGfIauIuS_DlfP1lOwRihyphenhyphenAbnc4AYLNXpCnMiKKpcbZf4PK9g0bjgU-ue3uVNufzK26idNNud8tOkCKwAScR2GP60M_60ayI5I8tOAeCXIX88y4YcU51c/s1600/Beyoglu+-+Vegetarian+Meze+Platter.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Vegetarian Meze Platter</b></span></td></tr>
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side of Istanbul, across the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosphorus"><b>Bosporus</b></a> from the historic old city on the northern shore of the <a href="http://www.istanbultrails.com/2009/01/the-golden-horn-separates-the-european-shore-of-istanbul-into-two/"><b>Golden Horn</b></a>, this establishment whips up a wide variety of authentically tasty Turkish fare - from soups & hummus & falafel to all kinds of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meze"><b><i>meze</i></b></a> ($5 to $8), including <b>cacik</b>, a thick homemade yogurt with cucumber & garlic; or <b>ahtapot salatasi</b>, char-grilled octopus marinated in olive oil, lemon & vinegar; wonderfully fluffy & light <b>Turkish bread</b>;
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvLooHaI59XyGr0u3j57-y5aW0YmnhgS-eLxaNcCHRNpdbKa3XNpymT1r3GswglMPNnPHAeNzo6Sn0pqK9Ysn3noODtRDnn824c03SLiUYoWy_qPd_ZYh1VY69h49jRzMCBRZbMAyKvE/s1600/Beyoglu+-+Turkish+Bread+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvLooHaI59XyGr0u3j57-y5aW0YmnhgS-eLxaNcCHRNpdbKa3XNpymT1r3GswglMPNnPHAeNzo6Sn0pqK9Ysn3noODtRDnn824c03SLiUYoWy_qPd_ZYh1VY69h49jRzMCBRZbMAyKvE/s1600/Beyoglu+-+Turkish+Bread+2.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Turkish Bread chez Beyoglu</b></span></td></tr>
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Mediterranean salads (including <b>Beyoglu salad</b> (@ $9.50), combining a good-size mix of crisp lettuce with cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers, feta cheese & grilled chicken with lemon vinaigrette; to fish specials like <b>kilic sis</b> ($17), a char-grilled swordfish kebab served with rice pilaf; <b>AND</b> a variety of kebabs & char-grilled lamb & beef & chicken "daily specials" (from $14.50 to $17<b>...</b> for the mixed <i><b>meze</b></i> platter).</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtmZsIG7mKcfZa06JWL-oubZil2eFb2imKW-jSzypr5y-TLvc4lVBDTiW_VMWHtgmd6SUretNRJGYp4SJJ9luM8e575SpAbbDtyWaSVGeKAJ3Stxmh1DDjXPtLGUdgxrdhaIJAT-3Bnk/s1600/Beyoglu+-+External+Photo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtmZsIG7mKcfZa06JWL-oubZil2eFb2imKW-jSzypr5y-TLvc4lVBDTiW_VMWHtgmd6SUretNRJGYp4SJJ9luM8e575SpAbbDtyWaSVGeKAJ3Stxmh1DDjXPtLGUdgxrdhaIJAT-3Bnk/s1600/Beyoglu+-+External+Photo+2.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Beyoglu - External View from across 3rd Ave.</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After a brief review of the <b>Beyoglu</b> menu, we determined that my wife would order a couple of <b><i>meze</i></b> dishes (appetizer size); we would share a third; and I would order an entree-size plate ... all coupled with a few Turkish beers - <i><b>Efes</b></i> - which seemed to blend particularly well with the miscellany of items we had just ordered. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Specifically, we began with a shared "batch" of small,
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrdP98Zj2KTcd-6RBQylFGKDDf7ve8ylS-W3tTcz2zdC4v2WDjBbd6nKSYMl0t-OyDd2Ar0kejQ-zT3mzUNj3Z2lR_Od6U7JKLGvtO4NRvaYUjVHniGObzXE9IkAIscAr9k7onLKwfpo/s1600/Beyoglu+-+Efes+-+Turkish+Beer+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrdP98Zj2KTcd-6RBQylFGKDDf7ve8ylS-W3tTcz2zdC4v2WDjBbd6nKSYMl0t-OyDd2Ar0kejQ-zT3mzUNj3Z2lR_Od6U7JKLGvtO4NRvaYUjVHniGObzXE9IkAIscAr9k7onLKwfpo/s1600/Beyoglu+-+Efes+-+Turkish+Beer+2.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Turkish Beer!</b><b></b></span></td></tr>
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circular lightly pan-fried <b>crab cakes</b> accompanied by a mayonnaise-based piquant sauce, with a bit of lemon, olive oil, pepper & vinegar (@ $8). Following the shared plate of crab cakes, I chose the <b>iskender kebab </b>($15) ... a large plate of "vertically grilled" thinly sliced lamb & beef atop a bed of sliced pita bread, with yogurt, tomato sauce, and a grilled jalapeno pepper right smack at the center of the dish. A veritable Turkish delight, nicely seasoned,nicely spiced ... abundantly showcasing the overall "trickle-down" effect of succulent tomato sauce and the<i> jalapeno</i> pits & "juices" contained therein. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_c4aNEP_mH4emGaQUAsu_AjzmPm7KmlqNaIEBcYWBQp2Yu_ovVAoUJ5LW_-LufI4akMqZFfwZz7gG-jOGrBCLI_fnHeFFAbuNV9KHj8CY3LhQahpeBea8CVH4OlQsdrxEzsNbjOends/s1600/Beyoglu+-+Iskender+Kebab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_c4aNEP_mH4emGaQUAsu_AjzmPm7KmlqNaIEBcYWBQp2Yu_ovVAoUJ5LW_-LufI4akMqZFfwZz7gG-jOGrBCLI_fnHeFFAbuNV9KHj8CY3LhQahpeBea8CVH4OlQsdrxEzsNbjOends/s1600/Beyoglu+-+Iskender+Kebab.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Iskender Kebab</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As I scarfed down the <b>iskender kebab</b>, my wife was busy with two <i>meze</i>- (or tapas-) size dishes: the <b>patlican domates soslu</b> ($7) which proved to be a mix of lightly pan-fried cubes of eggplant topped with stuffed fresh tomato; <u>and</u> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><cite><b>s</b></cite><b>ucuk izgara </b>($7) ... a plate of cumin & garlic spiced cured beef sausages, along with chunks of lightly fried </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">potatoes </span></span></span></span>chopped in small squares. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the Turkish bread we were served - well, let's not forget that tasty, freshly baked item - was used to soak up every bit of the various spicey sauces still speckled on our plates.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaWJGuXnG4ULEl4F6e1PBcHRnuhPHkSl-ZrJGzuVYH3Z5c9ITvg4dqcE5ftk8LPNmL-FVUELVFk0bz0r2C21aZzEdZmdXmIOIRLOjxQEqUKyECRe6-pR6BweMNiPJNoBiJnK2EDY00Vw/s1600/Beyoglu+-+kadaif.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaWJGuXnG4ULEl4F6e1PBcHRnuhPHkSl-ZrJGzuVYH3Z5c9ITvg4dqcE5ftk8LPNmL-FVUELVFk0bz0r2C21aZzEdZmdXmIOIRLOjxQEqUKyECRe6-pR6BweMNiPJNoBiJnK2EDY00Vw/s1600/Beyoglu+-+kadaif.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Kadaif</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We chose Turkish coffee & Turkish tea to accompany our <i>dessert</i> ... a very sweet piece of <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/852079/kadaif"><b>kadaif</b></a> ($6) ... a classic Middle Eastern dessert composed of shredded phyllo dough tossed until </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">crispy & </span></span>thin, noodle-like, along with a vanilla sugary syrup, walnuts & pistachio & baked until golden brown. Indeed, our <b>Beyoglu</b> meal, now complete, added up to an utterly satisfying experience; we, therefore, welcome another opportunity to dine again, equally well, at this lively, friendly & unique upper east side Turko-Mediterranean venue. You simply must try it for yourself, that is, if you are in the vicinity of <b>The Met</b> and an <i>aficionado</i> of Turkish or Middle Eastern cuisine! Or, if you just happen to enjoy fresh, flavorful food at reasonable prices ...</span></span>H. J. Scheiber, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366292492767857006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693133104581549318.post-46527464382967454062013-12-26T18:19:00.002-08:002013-12-28T09:13:47.458-08:00Afternoon in the west 20s ... eve in the West Village: The High Line; Chelsea galleries; Amber / Asian cuisine + "Small Engine Repair"<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SgeeOhIwUzzK9yytqOUcOxdqnk3GLZul4wr2xZrj7R-mxG7WyaoKVvC9yjsJk0aMLybpHGvSB0n1ycrl9CZp1FxrTFvAgHLBfsiIgZvL2I3OCNHTXt5sMB3P4oQSCW8Njvn2329W3nE/s1600/Highline+Park+-+Segment+of.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SgeeOhIwUzzK9yytqOUcOxdqnk3GLZul4wr2xZrj7R-mxG7WyaoKVvC9yjsJk0aMLybpHGvSB0n1ycrl9CZp1FxrTFvAgHLBfsiIgZvL2I3OCNHTXt5sMB3P4oQSCW8Njvn2329W3nE/s320/Highline+Park+-+Segment+of.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>The High Line - Chelsea Segment</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">With some time on our hands and tickets to an <i>off</i>-Broadway play (a 7:00 pm curtain for <a href="http://www.mcctheater.org/shows/13-14_season/smallenginerepair/index.html"><i><b>Small Engine Repair</b></i></a>) at the Lucille Lortel Theatre on west Christopher Street, we figured we'd spend the afternoon doing a bit of gallery hopping in Chelsea, focusing on a few key shows on <b>West 21st St.</b>, and then taking a short walk on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Line_%28New_York_City%29"><b>The High Line</b></a> ... just strolling along a section of the elevated park between 14th & 23rd. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>The High Line - I. Baan, 2009</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you've never been to <b>The High Line</b>, you're missing an above-street-level park & promenade - a so-called "aerial greenway" (see photo) - with wild, natural vegetation that runs, now, from Gansevoort St., a few blocks below 14th St. in the <a href="http://www.nyc.com/visitor_guide/meatpacking_district.75871/editorial_review.aspx"><b>Meatpacking District</b></a> (between 10th & 11th avenues) up to 30th St. and soon, in the 3rd & final phase of the project, will reach 34th.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqXB2Hut5mdTz-0PppGZnwMh4Y7KoOXnTmihpl3d2HXZndnyyx9W6lcTjW7hfGi4F_gY23nleKHT-E6jk6gckZI-FN7hu-z1ScseBrJwGlgTKO9g9z7FPJqQc51syBvgFTMDyolIpbmo/s1600/Promenade-Plant%C3%A9e-The-First-Elevated-Park-in-the-World-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqXB2Hut5mdTz-0PppGZnwMh4Y7KoOXnTmihpl3d2HXZndnyyx9W6lcTjW7hfGi4F_gY23nleKHT-E6jk6gckZI-FN7hu-z1ScseBrJwGlgTKO9g9z7FPJqQc51syBvgFTMDyolIpbmo/s1600/Promenade-Plant%C3%A9e-The-First-Elevated-Park-in-the-World-.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Promenade </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b>Plantée</b></span></span></b></span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>- Paris, 1993</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Modeled on, and inspired by, the nearly 3-mile <span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promenade_plant%C3%A9e"><b>Promenade Plantée</b></a>, or "<b>Tree-lined walkway</b>," </span>in Paris which was completed in1993 (it begins just east of the </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Opéra </span></span></span>Bastille & winds through to the boulevard</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Demi","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Perpetua; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Périphériqu</span><span style="font-size: large;">e)</span></span></span>, the 1-mile long <b>High Line</b> park/promenade was built on & along the north-south</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> RR</b> </span></span>"bed" of the old West Side spur of the </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">New York Central</span></span>. An elevated freight line, long in disuse, it was to be demolished by the City of New York; but, instead, after considerable pressure & support by a vocal & involved group of local residents it was determined that the space would become a city park - a recreational structure & cultural site. Today, <a href="http://www.thehighline.org/"><b>Friends of the High Line</b></a> effectively maintains & preserves the <i>public</i> park/promenade as a "non-profit <u>conservancy</u> working with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation." </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNt2IvGKHDspaT6o8SSm0DjekuRDUrJkIf5J6rYamkvLXm_-RwE9yM9eFQb4QnBQM_KfyDbZoLf4RgCF_mTsqrzcAOAdLIewj7RLCQwMuACovK0RvlwDfI3fdTxKayqTKGV2gWKbQAvE/s1600/High+Line+map.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNt2IvGKHDspaT6o8SSm0DjekuRDUrJkIf5J6rYamkvLXm_-RwE9yM9eFQb4QnBQM_KfyDbZoLf4RgCF_mTsqrzcAOAdLIewj7RLCQwMuACovK0RvlwDfI3fdTxKayqTKGV2gWKbQAvE/s320/High+Line+map.png" width="139" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:West_side_line.png"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Map - The High Line</span></span></b></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, if you plan to visit the Chelsea area of Manhattan, and hop to and from a few art galleries, as well, enjoy a walk on <b>The High Line</b>, now operating on a winter schedule, open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm,<b> </b>seven days a week. Lots of interesting urban architecture, sculpture, cityscapes, vegetation - and people - to be seen (and photographed) along this unique 20+ block route! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We exited <b>The High Line</b> at 23rd & 10th, dipping down (again) to street level via the stairs (as the elevator wasn't in operation), and walked the few blocks to West 21st (our immediate goal) to visit two notable gallery exhibits: <a href="http://www.gagosian.com/artists/richard-serra/"><b>Richard Serra's</b></a> <i>New Sculpture - <b>Inside Out</b>, </i>2013 (<a href="http://www.gagosian.com/"><b>Gagosian Gallery</b></a> @ 522 West 21st) <u>and</u> <a href="http://www.bingwright.net/"><b>Bing Wright's</b></a> unusual stained-glass photo "montages" (<a href="http://www.paulacoopergallery.com/"><b>Paula Cooper Gallery</b></a> @ 521 West 21st). </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDdR6ixFHfRdL_RxLYdOqExIzNlzURB_AB3f8gXmdjXzBS0UjUV6C1l9USWL-01gy92IosXo6z8TODgFTeGY-o64M-zaqRxoBrzFdB58HVlCajWX9YeBdRVrpo6UZF4DlF56grdELP-8/s1600/Richard+Serra+-+Inside+Out+-+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDdR6ixFHfRdL_RxLYdOqExIzNlzURB_AB3f8gXmdjXzBS0UjUV6C1l9USWL-01gy92IosXo6z8TODgFTeGY-o64M-zaqRxoBrzFdB58HVlCajWX9YeBdRVrpo6UZF4DlF56grdELP-8/s320/Richard+Serra+-+Inside+Out+-+2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Richard Serra - "Inside Out," 2013 </b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Serra's <i><b>Inside Out </b></i>(see photos) consists in a substantial edifice, constructed of attached weathered steel plates. Viewers can enter the maze-like structure <i></i>and proceed in a small number of different directions<i> </i>within reaching, at some point, an egress from whose vantage point one can see different sides and portions of the whole. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">One can also walk around the whole and attain a feel for the massiveness of the "sculpted" project. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTQIZ3s0BxAAP5MKrPx57kY_4se1YSYZyPmKTnlktDXu3daET3gGMOI4NHPp18HDIooj-qtU-U9QJrjqcMAckh6LryprRybzX8HpENQKSWeE1pvesHzEfGPaDqengPbROM2sgtsX0Cvw/s1600/Richard+Serra+-+Inside+out+-+color.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTQIZ3s0BxAAP5MKrPx57kY_4se1YSYZyPmKTnlktDXu3daET3gGMOI4NHPp18HDIooj-qtU-U9QJrjqcMAckh6LryprRybzX8HpENQKSWeE1pvesHzEfGPaDqengPbROM2sgtsX0Cvw/s1600/Richard+Serra+-+Inside+out+-+color.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Richard Serra - "Inside Out" Section</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But, whether one enters and circles through the structure or walks slowly, diffidently, around the external portions (i.e., the attached plates) of the massive figure, one cannot help but feel that the finished project would have benefited from a larger, more open venue. The structure's exceedingly solid, heavy, massive presence feels somewhat cramped & constricted - excessively massive - for the available gallery space at Gagosian. <a href="http://www.wnyc.org/story/richard-serra/"><i><b>Inside Out</b></i></a> is a substantial piece of imaginatively "sculpted" steel which seems, in a sense, to be occluded all around by the limitations of the gallery space ... to the extent that the full impact of the work feels reduced in stature, power & value. (<u>Note</u>: I have seen Richard Serra's huge sculpted steel works in considerably larger, more spacious surroundings - at the <a href="http://www.diaart.org/sites/main/beacon"><b>Dia Beacon</b>,</a> for example - and the overall effect(s) proved much more powerful</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> & dynamic.)</span></span> </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7QQOGKaRch4KeVQSnJt6tUFRX0_wY2SRdEB1_1oUUV1vn21GIg6eMiJ_fpJ5-CJq_Ya-lzc8Yw4UwA5f-L0YMJVUqTnP7qA9vKVwqHxprhMw_m8fJV5v-6ryDKArRhxTyVQ2CR4pa1Y/s1600/Bing+Wright+-+Broken+Mirror_Evening+Sky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7QQOGKaRch4KeVQSnJt6tUFRX0_wY2SRdEB1_1oUUV1vn21GIg6eMiJ_fpJ5-CJq_Ya-lzc8Yw4UwA5f-L0YMJVUqTnP7qA9vKVwqHxprhMw_m8fJV5v-6ryDKArRhxTyVQ2CR4pa1Y/s320/Bing+Wright+-+Broken+Mirror_Evening+Sky.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Bing Wright <span style="font-size: small;">- </span>BrokenMirror/EveningSky</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Bing Wright's</b> show housed just a few doors away & across the street from the "Richard Serra: <i>New Sculpture</i>" (at Gagosian) did not disappoint at all. While there is a degree of <i>sadness</i> that seems to permeate the broken mirror motif witnessed in all of the photo montages on display here (see photo), the bold & muted colors amid cracks suffused with setting sunlight all join together synergistically to promote a masterful overall aesthetic effect. Wright has, it would seem, developed a photo technique - one of efficiency & directness - that has clearly evolved into a dazzlingly radiant form. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you decide to take that walk on <b>The High Line</b>, in the Chelsea vicinity, consider dropping down to </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">street level, navigate yourself to <b>521</b></span></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span>West 21st</b>, and have a good look: the <b>Bing Wright</b> show runs through January 18th @ Paula Cooper. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Following our "dip" into the art galleries on (and near) West
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Amber - External View</b></span></td></tr>
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21st St., we thought we'd wend our way downtown (further) for dinner and our <i>off</i>-B'way theater engagement at the <a href="http://www.lortel.org/llt_theater/"><b>Lucille Lortel Theatre</b></a> on west Christopher Street, just 1/2 a village-length block from <a href="http://ambergroupnyc.com/amberwestvillage/"><b>Amber / West Village</b></a> (@ 135 Christopher St.; tel. 212-477-5880). Specializing in sushi, sashimi, wok & grill platters & <i>pan</i>-Asian cuisine, this small, cozy & pleasant spot </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">- with staff consistently eager to please!</span></span> - and a small, friendly & welcoming bar up front, seemed perfectly suited for our needs that evening: a relatively quick meal to fortify us for what would soon prove a pretty intense theater event (billed as a "comic thriller") ... & with no intermission.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Amber - Internal View</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We began with a tasty <b>tempura mixed-vegetable appetizer</b>, with a mildly spicy sauce - crispy, well-prepared, and certainly large enough to share. While the salads & "special rolls" seemed particularly tempting, as described, we opted for our mains directly after our final bites of the tempura appetizer. My wife selected the bowl of <b>pineapple fried rice</b> accompanied by a large quantity of good-size shrimp (@ $12). The dish was extremely appealing but prolific and so she needed some help wading through both the shrimp and the fried rice. (Of course, I was glad to accommodate her, digging into the bowl for a few spoonfuls of its contents!). </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUO6lbO-V1eMB_kRjzGMQBQXz7xXa7JDxlHk3BO0LQs67ZTMkdii_Ztd3uaAN0Iy14uu6aS5lwHE0a0n2a8npNvhXkVypBxlCMICIqTODFwO6wIGl9XlUvYxY_TkRENR1SQbRhqF9CLbQ/s1600/Amber+-+Shrimp+salad.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUO6lbO-V1eMB_kRjzGMQBQXz7xXa7JDxlHk3BO0LQs67ZTMkdii_Ztd3uaAN0Iy14uu6aS5lwHE0a0n2a8npNvhXkVypBxlCMICIqTODFwO6wIGl9XlUvYxY_TkRENR1SQbRhqF9CLbQ/s320/Amber+-+Shrimp+salad.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Shrimp Salad with Spicy Chili Sauce</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But my own plate - <b>Sangria crispy duck</b>, with red wine glaze (@ $18) - proved, well, just about perfect ... yep, crispy on the outside and tender, fragrant, carefully cooked sections in the interior. A small Asian-inflected masterpiece, indeed: </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">sweetly (</span></span>heavenly) glazed &</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> thoroughly, hardily, grilled, all adding up to justify my to return to this little<i> pan</i>-Asian gem!</span> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We also knocked down two tall glasses of pale ale, an antidote to all that fried rice ... and opted to skip dessert when we found out that their signature crepe item (a dessert praised by other diners) was <u>not</u> available that night. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Steamed Vegetable Dumplings</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In short, a fine, filling & fairly priced <i>pre</i>-theater meal at a West Village (Asian) dining spot to which we will certainly come again for a wider sampling of their diverse fare - including, most especially, their <b>home-made pan-fried pork dumplings</b>; their sushi; & a small selection of items from their list of "special rolls" ... possibly the "<b>Double Dragon</b>," a shrimp tempura roll topped with eel, avocado & salmon roe! Hmmm ... </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Onward, finally, to the <i>theater </i>- and to our 7:00 pm curtain - for an in-depth look at <i><b>Small Engine Repair</b></i> ...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">An <a href="http://www.mcctheater.org/"><b>MCC Theater</b></a> production, directed by <a href="http://americantheatrewing.org/biography/detail/jo_bonney"><b>Jo Bonney</b></a>, <b><i>Small Engine Repair</i> </b>is an intense, relatively fast-paced comedy-drama 75 minutes long (straight through) <i>without</i> intermission. The play is set in an orderly but run-down repair shop in Manchester, NH, owned by <b>Frank</b> (<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/17/theater/john-pollono-brings-small-engine-repair-to-new-york.html?_r=0"><b>John Pollono</b></a>; actor & author), the central motivational "force" behind all the action. Frank has invited two of his high school buddies to meet at his shop, bringing together these foul-mouthed "friends," <b>Packie</b> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">(a slacker) </span></span>& <b>Swaino</b> (a blowhard & loser) - with some bad blood between them - for what turns out to be, well, rather hyperbolic, alluring, and mysterious pretenses. Packie is told that Frank may have cancer & Swaino was informed that strippers would be on hand for a party. Neither, of course, turns out to be true, but plenty of beer and Johnnie Walker Blue is provided by Frank as tensions mount between the three old friends. And so we begin to wonder exactly what a seemingly calm, steady & avuncular Frank has on his mind.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>John Pollono</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It turns out that while his two friends have been persistently evolving into near-complete failures, drifting around & about pretty much aimlessly, Frank has been running a business </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">successfully </span></span>& raising a daughter, Crystal (now a 17-year-old ready to attend college), pretty much by himself since high school. But something more seems to have transpired beyond what Frank is letting on, amounting to the real reason that Packie & Swaino have been summoned to the shop. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Something is, indeed, amiss, and we only learn about what this issue consists in as the evening proceeds and the Johnnie Walker gets more heavily dispersed. We learn, for example, that Packie, though seemingly an intellectual Neanderthal, knows something about the internet, the uses of social media, and cell-phone-related apps, like</span></span> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foursquare"><i><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Foursquare</span></span></span></b></i></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">, for "checking in";</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> we learn</span></span></span><i><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></b></i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">more about the relationships, both current and past, between & among the three friends; and we learn that Frank's daughter Crystal - and thus Frank himself - is in some kind of difficult or compromised situation and that it is all related to a "preppy," rich, college athlete named <b>Chad</b> who shortly enters the mix, arriving on the scene, he thinks, to sell Frank some drug-related <i>materiel</i> ... he deals in "ecstasy." </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And here, as they say, is where the Mamet-like plot proverbially thickens ... with Frank's anticipated assistance & "payback" from his old friends; with social media <b><i>apps</i></b> influencing action & outcomes; with revenge, retribution, and things increasingly more sinister developing which I won't dare reveal here just in case you have the opportunity to see the play when it (again) surfaces, on or off Broadway, or elsewhere. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">(<u><b>Note</b></u>: A brief fall, early-winter run of <i><b>Small Engine Repair </b></i>was extended through December 21st and has now closed.)</span></span>H. J. Scheiber, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366292492767857006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693133104581549318.post-73525125979289262742013-12-22T10:53:00.001-08:002013-12-23T09:58:27.380-08:00LOVE, LINDA ... a musical review & Land of Plenty / east side Sichuan cuisine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6WVqoYg3AGvJc0W6nWwJlV_5n2tG9fNvRtBUI1bS_sSAhl6gp5Nk28_wfHCU-MCcBWnN0x_tWrc3rPOUOtxh3TF4e6psR_TnEbSQ0RHshHYDpBLfF8RKcG10QV9dTNWV_35LqUpY0xk/s1600/love_linda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6WVqoYg3AGvJc0W6nWwJlV_5n2tG9fNvRtBUI1bS_sSAhl6gp5Nk28_wfHCU-MCcBWnN0x_tWrc3rPOUOtxh3TF4e6psR_TnEbSQ0RHshHYDpBLfF8RKcG10QV9dTNWV_35LqUpY0xk/s320/love_linda.jpg" width="311" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">f you are an <i>aficionado</i> of the <b>Great American Songbook</b>, then you must catch </span></span><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Love, Linda</span></span></i></b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">, a taut, at times tender, and bold (!) musical review portraying in song and dramatic monologue the outline</span></span><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></i></b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and high (& low) points in the life of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Lee_Thomas"><b>Linda Lee Thomas</b></a> & <a href="http://www.coleporter.org/"><b>Cole Porter</b></a>. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Running now (through January 5th) at <a href="http://www.yorktheatre.org/"><b>The York Theatre Company</b></a> (The Theater at Saint Peter's at 619 Lexington Avenue; tel. 212-935-5820), <i><b>Love, Linda</b></i> is an intimate theater piece that explores </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">the life journey of the "southern beauty" who became <a href="http://www.thegloss.com/2013/02/12/beauty/linda-porter-biography/"><b>Mrs</b>. <b>Cole Porter</b></a> despite the fact that the legendary & prolific composer-songwriter was a gay man. And, although <b>Cole Porter</b> was gay, the marriage and friendship, begun in the <b>Roaring Twenties</b>, succeeded in lasting for some 35 years. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Cole Porter</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This one-woman show, starring the "acclaimed jazz vocalist," <a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><b>Ms. Stevie Holland</b></a> celebrates, according to the theater's <b>PR</b> material, Porter's "timeless" music along with a "compelling narrative" ... all accentuating the "deep love that Linda and Cole shared, while examining the darker sides" of their lives.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">D<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">irected by</span></span> <a href="http://www.masterworksbroadway.com/artist/richard-maltby-jr"><b>Richard Maltby, Jr.</b></a>, and replete with music & lyrics by Cole Porter, <i><b>Love, Linda</b></i> runs about an hour (without intermission) and contains perhaps fifteen or sixteen of Porter's iconic songs delivered confidently & vivaciously with sensitivity, intelligence, and panache by Ms. Holland ... and featuring arrangements & additional music by <a href="http://www.garywilliamfriedman.com/"><b>Gary William Friedman</b></a> (co-author of the book with his wife, Ms. Holland). </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Cole Porter Songbook</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Most <i>memorable</i> songs offered up during the evening, in my view - and, perhaps, most interestingly or idiosyncratically arranged for the 65-minute performance - proved to be the following: "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIW1ZrDio7M"><b>Miss Otis Regrets</b></a>," "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W_OLLO5Hh4"><b>Love For Sale</b></a>," "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF_yN1R2b5M"><b>I Love Paris</b></a>," "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fvP4BCK840"><b>Night and Day</b>,</a>" "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axB44FNwv4k"><b>In the Still of the Night</b></a>," and the "combo" appropriately kicking off the music (& the drama) at the beginning of the show ... "<b>So In Love</b>" / "<b>What Is This Thing Called Love</b>." Two other nicely rendered Porter gems are "<b>Ridin' High</b>" & "<b>My Heart Belongs to Daddy</b>." And, additionally, right smack in the middle of the review, Ms. Holland launches into a short <i>medley</i> of well-known Porter material.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Very Best of Cole Porter</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Once </span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">again, if you consider yourself a die-hard "jazz-age"/jazz-inflected Cole Porter fan</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> (or even if you don't),</span></span> you still have time to see & hear Stevie Holland <i>et</i> <i>al</i>. during the next two weeks, or so, mid-town east at </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>The York Theatre Company </b>(theater entrance on 54th just east of Lex). And check with <b>TDF</b> where some (discounted) tickets for the review might just still be available. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, e</span></span>njoy yourself ... at this sophisticated, one-of-a-kind musical confection!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><u><b><i>Note</i></b></u><i>:</i> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Senior rush tickets (@ <b>$20</b>., <u>cash</u>) can be purchased at the box office beginning an hour before a scheduled performance. There is a limit of one ticket per person,subject to availability. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Land of Plenty</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Prior to trundling down to the theater on 54th & Lex to pick up our <b>TDF</b> tickets to see <i><b>Love, Linda</b></i>, the four of us out on the proverbial town decided to dine at a very welcoming & pleasant <a href="http://www.landofplenty58.com/"><b>Land of Plenty</b></a> - featuring "<i>authentic</i> Sichuan cuisine" (at 201 East 58th, near 3rd Ave.; tel. 212-308-8788).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This east-side Sichuan resto offers an extremely varied<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">menu of <b>hot & cold appetizers</b> (a variety of steamed or fried dumplings, baby eggplant with spicy sesame dressing); <b>soups</b> (including Mme. Songs Fish Chowder, for two!); <b>vegetables</b> (for example, braised pumpkin with ginger & scallion); <b>poultry</b> (a very hot stir fried chicken with roasted chili & Asian green chili?); <b>meats</b> (braised beef filets with Napa cabbage & roasted chili); <b>seafood </b>(all kinds of whole fish, smoked, braised, or sauteed); <b>rice & noodles </b>... and "<b>Plenty's</b>" ... a full column's length of specially prepared chef's offerings. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Shredded Pork w/Garlic Sauce</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Much to choose from at <b>Land of Plenty</b>. The constant flow of mains & appetizers - dishes of all sorts - coming out of the kitchen, along with their accompanying fragrances, enticed us & also confused us to the extent that we all felt it best to consult with our waiter as we set out to order a meal that would reflect: individual "mandates"; </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">a group effort; </span></span>and at least a minimum degree of Sichuan diversity. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Braised Beef Filets</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>So</u>: We began with two orders of dumplings, a plate of <b>pan- fried pork dumplings</b> (@ $5.95), </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">nicely crisped,</span></span> gingery, <u>and</u> another of <b>steamed "mini-juicy" pork dumplings </b>($6.95). We followed up the dumplings with the <b>baby eggplant </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>in spicy sesa</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>me dressing</b> ($6.95) and <b>honey-glazed spare ribs </b>($7.95) ... and then ordered </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">three</span></span> mains (still sharing all!): the thick & tender <b>braised beef filets</b> with Napa cabbage & roasted chili (@ $14.50); the<b> shredded pork with spicy garlic sauce </b>(a traditional Sichuan pork dish, but very juicy & mildly spiced; $11.50);<b> </b>and, from the <i><b>Plenty's</b></i> column, a <b>braised whole tilapia with chili miso</b> (a bit bony, delicately prepared & flavorful, and, again, nicely, but not overly, spiced; $21.50). </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Of course, we had called for rice - and bowls of both brown and white were served, one or the other for each of us. And we washed all this food down with a few bottles of <b>Tsingtao</b> & <b>Amstel Lite</b> ... while one of our number couldn't refrain from her usual glass (or two) of <b>Malbec</b> for, admittedly, digestive purposes (to be sure).</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Spicy Steamed Pork Dumplings</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In short, a very diverse, comprehensive, filling, & memorably "<i>authentic</i>" Sichuan dining experience. And whether we return will certainly <u>not</u> be based on an<i><b> if </b></i>(if, for example, we see another musical review "off-B'way," mid-town, on the east side) ... but, rather, <i><b>when</b></i> ... and, hopefully, very soon, indeed!</span></span><br />
<br />H. J. Scheiber, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366292492767857006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693133104581549318.post-1193313416099455472013-12-03T11:24:00.000-08:002013-12-09T10:02:20.280-08:00Art Spiegelman at the Jewish Museum; Dawat - haute cuisine of India; & New Perspectives / off-off Broadway<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Spiegelman, Self-Portrai</b></span></span>t </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In case you haven't been following the cultural & artistic "news" of late, you might just be unaware that a varied mixture of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Spiegelman"><b>Art Spiegelman's</b></a><i> </i>work produced during the past five decades, or so<i> - comix</i>, comics, memorable & idiosyncratic <i><b>New Yorker</b></i> covers, graphic novels, cartoon magazines & ephemera - is currently represented in a comprehensive retrospective</span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">exhibit at <a href="http://www.thejewishmuseum.org/"><b>The Jewish Museum</b></a> (5th Ave. at 92nd St.; 212/423-3200).</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Twas the Night Before Hanukkah</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Entitled "<a href="http://www.thejewishmuseum.org/exhibitions/art-spiegelman"><b>Art Spiegelman's Co-Mix: A Retrospective</b></a>," the show runs through March 23rd 2014 and celebrates in-depth, according to museum publicity, "the career of one of the most influential living comics artists." While Spiegelman is well known for his thematically bold <i><b>New Yorker</b></i> covers, he is, perhaps, best known for the 2-volume <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Maus-Survivors-Tale-Art-Spiegelman/dp/0141014083"><i><b>Maus</b></i></a> graphic novel, a Pulitzer Prize-winning project focusing allegorically, but laser-like, and with great profundity, on his parents' experiences during, & their survival of, <b>The Holocaust</b>. Spiegelman's work has been given prominence by the museum and is displayed in a large space (4 rooms, or more)</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> throughout much of the museum's main floor</span></span>. Reflecting all aspects of his diverse career, the show features drafts notes/idea pads, notebooks, preliminary drawings, completed early works (both comix & comic books), prints & finished volumes ... all currently on view & accessible. Indeed, there is much to see, much to read & skim, and much, too, to linger over and ponder in the various sections and display cases that comprise the exhibition.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbnJJH-ZwqeLD7T4Vhsi0sKCU1dm4la4XtyHmErdRfESGe4Bg9uNuyFK_Tgu5YP-jbqjvNXwCO_rEYn6KdUqLHzsisOpEp2MM3bljVFLdINYRIpGvuF-p0kcIsBIvlvp9we8vzzRhGCw/s1600/Spiegelman+-+Twin+Towers+New+Yorker+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbnJJH-ZwqeLD7T4Vhsi0sKCU1dm4la4XtyHmErdRfESGe4Bg9uNuyFK_Tgu5YP-jbqjvNXwCO_rEYn6KdUqLHzsisOpEp2MM3bljVFLdINYRIpGvuF-p0kcIsBIvlvp9we8vzzRhGCw/s1600/Spiegelman+-+Twin+Towers+New+Yorker+Cover.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Twin Towers Cover</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is a must-see show and one you might want to return to & mull over during a second visit because of the density of textual material and diversity of the graphic material on display. A great deal to see and to absorb has been accumulated & presented here, including Spiegelman's work and associations with other cartoonists, graphic artists, & children's authors ... notably his wife, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7oise_Mouly"><b>Francoise Mouly</b></a> (with whom he began to publish </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">the "influential graphics magazine," </span></span><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raw_%28magazine%29"><b>RAW</b></a>,</i> in 1980); <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_M._Schulz"><b>Charles M. Schulz</b></a> (of <i><b>Peanuts</b></i> fame); and the late <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Sendak"><b>Maurice Sendak</b></a>.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Meta Maus</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Originally organized for the 2012 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angoul%C3%AAme_International_Comics_Festival"><b>Festival International de la Bande Dessinee</b></a> in Angouleme, France, by Rina Zavagli-Mattotti, kudos must go to<b> Ms. Emily Casden</b>, Curatorial Assistant at <b>The Jewish Museum, </b>particularly for providing the rich descriptive print (& PR) materials reflecting so thoughtfully (in small spaces) on all aspects of Art Spiegelman & his work, as well as on the thematic content of the exhibition at large!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>NYC [Agam] Menorah</b></span></span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Before dining, and following our afternoon visit to the Art Spiegelman show, we trundled down <b>5th Avenue</b> to 59th Street at <a href="http://www.centralparknyc.org/visit/things-to-see/south-end/grand-army-plaza.html"><b>Grand Army Plaza</b></a> where "the world's largest menorah" would be lit, ceremonially, at about 5:30. The golden-colored <b>Hanukkah</b> menorah - designed after a model created by the celebrated Israeli sculptor & experimental artist,</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaacov_Agamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaacov_Agam"><b>Yaakov Agam</b></a> - stands 32 feet high, weighs in at 4,000 pounds, <u>and</u>, if you look up & away from the traffic & the pedestrian crowd, can (still?) be seen diagonally across from <b><a href="http://www.fairmont.com/the-plaza-new-york/">The Plaza</a> </b>hotel right near the tip of Central Park (just off 5th Avenue!).</span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Yaakov Agam</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Although delayed a bit for "technical" reasons, we succeeded in witnessing the candle-lighting event from a prime spot just below the great menorah: five candles were lit & glowing in the bustling plaza signaling to all of New York that the 5th night of <b>Hanukkah</b>, 2013, was, indeed, upon us. Next, we moved along, down to 58th St. and over to 3rd Avenue to <b><a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/dawat-haute-indian-cuisine-new-york">Dawat</a> </b>(210 E. 58th; 212/355-7555) where the <i>self</i>-proclaimed <i>haute cuisine</i> of India awaited us and where several of the personal recipes of <a href="http://www.madhur-jaffrey.com/"><b>Madhur Jaffrey</b></a> ("unique to Dawat") can be tasted.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqWNdSGOd4_szUwD_VbUOci1vEAqBHEj9WvzJKqlUPyJVhVzpJrielvh-G057JwKzGl84pJfFBTFefUlhyphenhyphendnT0aH4fZ_hukm3iENo-3cQ3_30Df-R2wd-b1_tH6gZBkOp-lM6frIJNa4/s1600/Dawat+-+Interior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqWNdSGOd4_szUwD_VbUOci1vEAqBHEj9WvzJKqlUPyJVhVzpJrielvh-G057JwKzGl84pJfFBTFefUlhyphenhyphendnT0aH4fZ_hukm3iENo-3cQ3_30Df-R2wd-b1_tH6gZBkOp-lM6frIJNa4/s1600/Dawat+-+Interior.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Dawat - Interior</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.opentable.com/dawat"><b>Dawat</b></a> is a very welcoming & pleasant eating establishment - with exceedingly attentive & helpful service to diners and a head waiter(s) who offers (offered us, at least) solid advice & useful direction in terms of identifying our "final" choices among the various categories (& <i>sub</i>-categories) of dishes (mains, starters, soups, salads, etc.) offered on a highly diverse menu. And, once chosen, aimed to please my wife in permitting her (and us, really) to make personal <u>substitutions</u> - <i>without</i> additional charge - within the framework of her commodious <b>Dawat Special</b> (@ $29.95), affording her (still) a very complete & diverse dinner.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfzP7rdPNAYz8xKduOEASl68_YieMalQhwxtMfshFVmj4Q5sjatmSvJrfLox7gcTzHFLnv0_886WcLbS9g67H4VBU7-k4hQD_prliWq6MV4ROaOrxrmjg-E06P1gCzJtmmVcXwu5qf-A/s1600/Dawat+-+Tandoori+Chicken.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfzP7rdPNAYz8xKduOEASl68_YieMalQhwxtMfshFVmj4Q5sjatmSvJrfLox7gcTzHFLnv0_886WcLbS9g67H4VBU7-k4hQD_prliWq6MV4ROaOrxrmjg-E06P1gCzJtmmVcXwu5qf-A/s200/Dawat+-+Tandoori+Chicken.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Tandoori chicken</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My wife's "<i>Dawat Special</i>" - again, a <i>complete</i> dinner, offering a substantial</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">amount of food for one person (possibly two, depending) - contained the following "segments": a bowl of thick, creamy <b>lentil soup</b>; an order of <b>tandoori chicken</b>; <b>seekh kabab</b> (delicately spiced skewered vegetable rolls); <b>fish tikka</b> (a chunk of Chilean sea bass marinated in an aromatic herb mixture); <b>chicken saag</b> (chicken pieces smothered in a spicy spinach puree); potatoes with ginger & tomatoes in a thick sauce; a basket of naan bread; <u><b>and</b></u> a vegetable rice pilau, more than enough for two diners to share!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My own choice, the (tandoori) <i><b>raan</b> </i>($26.95), heartily </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">endorsed </span></span>by our head waiter, consisted of a whole small tender leg of lamb braised with ginger & spices, then roasted in the tandoor oven until crispy outside and "meltingly tender" inside. A lightly spicy lentil sauce came with the dish to provide just the right amount of moisture & additional flavor. Although advertised on the menu as comprising a <u>small</u> leg of lamb, the results proved to be a large dish half of which I had packed up & took home. A very unusual lamb dish, indeed, and one I had never before encountered on a "standard" Indian menu.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzguY7GKOUsduw6FzPHbvwJFbx3ahVKZapXIcHTRLEsMfxfXPw8FrwEfUktA2jF5kcSvVo7SpBVHOXbDv-sPAYeQOIKQXx1svTktFmHjMN05lzRedZuyk81xKdLwqG1UEeKkEbakYeRk/s1600/Dawat+-+Chicken++Adraki++Tikka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzguY7GKOUsduw6FzPHbvwJFbx3ahVKZapXIcHTRLEsMfxfXPw8FrwEfUktA2jF5kcSvVo7SpBVHOXbDv-sPAYeQOIKQXx1svTktFmHjMN05lzRedZuyk81xKdLwqG1UEeKkEbakYeRk/s200/Dawat+-+Chicken++Adraki++Tikka.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Chicken adraki tikka</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We ordered two Indian pale ales to complement our dinner ... to aid us in digesting all of the attentively prepared, (moderately) spicy fine food. While we were full & content ... and pleased with what we had ordered, we barely scratched the proverbial surface of the very comprehensive & varied <a href="http://www.opentable.com/rest_profile_menu.aspx?rid=1049&tab=1"><b>Dawat menu</b></a>. Therefore, suffice it to say, we simply must return, in the not-too-disant future, for another "go-round" - many more choices to be made here at Dawat, including samplings on the menu from their "<b>popular curries</b>," "<b>kebabs</b>," "<b>seafood</b>" & extensive <b>tandoori</b> offerings! Perhaps we'll even try a Madhur Jaffrey item or two, such as the Western Indian vegetarian stew called <b>Sindhi Karhi</b> or <b>Crab Nazakat</b>, an "exotic" crab salad combined with mustard seeds, kokum, honey, coconut milk & fresh curry leaves served up with a spicy potato croquette. But ... <i>who knows</i>.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYlIUwcqkhK0y9etc4nefESh1X0LEPqZIt15w27sFp6tJx08_IDhr5edBFM8q6VEJa9SwTLJu3p-n4v0kHK-MG8trHPgxjMosCM1zUjy0vqRKKLA2asDQTlJjObZigU95pws52fNRpWk/s1600/Richard+III.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYlIUwcqkhK0y9etc4nefESh1X0LEPqZIt15w27sFp6tJx08_IDhr5edBFM8q6VEJa9SwTLJu3p-n4v0kHK-MG8trHPgxjMosCM1zUjy0vqRKKLA2asDQTlJjObZigU95pws52fNRpWk/s1600/Richard+III.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And now, for a moment, on to the <i>"theatre"</i>: This season Broadway & Off-Broadway houses seem to be just inundated with exciting <u>new</u> plays (<i><b>Domesticated</b></i>, <i><b>The Jacksonian</b></i>, <i><b>Bad Jews</b></i>,<i><b> The Night Alive</b></i>) and attractive <u>revivals</u> (<i><b>Richard III</b></i>, <i><b>Waiting for Godot</b></i>,<i><b>The Glass Menagerie</b></i>, <i><b>No Man's Land</b></i>). Much to see this season - perhaps more than usual, both on, and off, Broadway. But, in your search for a musical, drama, or comedy, you ought not to neglect the sometimes "budget" productions offered in <i><b>off-off-Broadway</b></i> venues, housing small theater companies where actors, directors & writers are experimenting in new forms, brief(er) formats, mixtures of short plays, and other idiosyncratic theater pieces which might just satisfy your varied entertainment needs & aesthetic interests. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyuQe6qqTKIEE0FOOd9LWAZ_w7-9uAl6Y7Aa-I5jJ19r3YguVzNtJ1YAbfSWHpvqivk66G8drC2Fwj_0vuAKsT3yAFkBsiT5adWSLS5Dw5jS8ibtyQq_woD1pJJ0ppVASC4UD6jH8p2B4/s1600/Richard_Vetere.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyuQe6qqTKIEE0FOOd9LWAZ_w7-9uAl6Y7Aa-I5jJ19r3YguVzNtJ1YAbfSWHpvqivk66G8drC2Fwj_0vuAKsT3yAFkBsiT5adWSLS5Dw5jS8ibtyQq_woD1pJJ0ppVASC4UD6jH8p2B4/s320/Richard_Vetere.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Richard Vetere</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One such organization is the <a href="http://www.newperspectivestheatre.org/productions/SEASON22.htm"><b>New Perspectives Theatre</b></a></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.newperspectivestheatre.org/productions/SEASON22.htm"><b>Company</b></a></span></span></b> (<b>Melody Brooks</b>, Artistic Director), located in a small but satisfactory space at 456 West 37th St., where we recently saw <a href="http://www.newperspectivestheatre.org/productions/VETERE.htm"><i><b>Richard Vetere Explains the World ... Ten Minutes at a Time</b></i></a>. The production comprises six short (10-minute) "plays" (some, well,mere sketches) with such titles as "The Intern," "Fortress America," "88%," "No More Writers," "A Strip Club Christmas Memory" ... and features a diverse, highly talented ensemble cast of multi-racial actors delivering the material with intelligence, spirit & panache. The subject matter reflected in these short plays proved funny, sad, odd & timely focusing on such topics as, well, (unpaid) "internships," perhaps the most seamless & funniest of the six. Other content broached the borderline between the accused terrorist(s) and one's civil rights, and the question, or condition, of a world without writers & writing, in which writers "work" purely underground, positioned precariously, awaiting interrogation &</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> punishment</span></span> for their <i>words</i>. All content, of course, is emphatically generated by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Vetere"><b>Richard Vetere</b></a> and his roving, salt-impacted, </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(black) comedic,</span></span> idiosyncratic world view: "I don't always find the world most interesting," he declares. "But when I do, I <i>write</i> about it." And so Mr. Vetere does, extensively ... in the guise of playwright, novelist & screenwriter.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIeAwsXjYG2bQ0hvmoW_i-Sm8X699vbtbWtw6s0IuZc6B4Kzoe2bGBdK07hXPTnVC-I2rTHtBu_kP-63yOxA80olx0nKqmEyiTZhmCynz-2JNJs6vDSXt9VyPNTsXupqLCcU2ewjMEso/s1600/TDF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIeAwsXjYG2bQ0hvmoW_i-Sm8X699vbtbWtw6s0IuZc6B4Kzoe2bGBdK07hXPTnVC-I2rTHtBu_kP-63yOxA80olx0nKqmEyiTZhmCynz-2JNJs6vDSXt9VyPNTsXupqLCcU2ewjMEso/s1600/TDF.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Theatre Development Fund</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sadly,<i><b> Richard Vetere Explains the World </b></i>closed in <i>mid</i>-November (we attended the final performance of the run on November 17th). Next up at <a href="http://ctivestheatre.org/productions/SEASON22.htm"><b>New Perspectives</b></a> seems to be a collection of <u>five</u> short plays by <b>Richard Wentz</b>,a world premiere preview - entitled <i><b>Night of the Working Dead</b></i>.<i><b> </b></i>Beginning on January 15th, the 5 plays in the sequence organize a tribute to, and honor, "working stiffs across the country." You can probably catch this next group of short plays for $9 a ticket via <b><a href="http://www.tdf.org/">TDF</a> </b>... so check out the <b>off-off</b> <b>Broadway</b> listings during the next few weeks! You're sure to enjoy at least a few of the plays in the upcoming production ... mounted under the aegis of the <i>new play development program</i> at <b>New Perspectives</b>. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At any rate, take yourself to an off-off theater in the near future for, well, any play whose description catches your fancy ... anything can happen; you just might be pleased, charmed, shocked or (simply) satisfied for having had the experience! </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Chekhov's <i>Cherry Orchard</i> - Off-Off</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm checking the <b>TDF</b> web site, simultaneously, <i>as we speak </i>... for interesting possibilities during the coming weeks; there is consistently something in the <b>off-off</b> "<i>marketplace</i>" for just about every imaginable taste & theatrical preference. And the <b>TDF</b> web site works just fine!</span></span><br />
<br />H. J. Scheiber, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366292492767857006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693133104581549318.post-83367585467036230052013-11-09T13:42:00.003-08:002013-11-11T09:09:40.906-08:00Trece & Jinya - two ethnic restos to try out; Pinter play to witness on B'way<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.trecenyc.com/welcome"><b>Trece</b></a>, a M</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">exican resto & tequila bar (at 54 E. 13th St.), <u><b>and</b></u> </span></span> <a href="http://www.jinya-ramenbar.com/"><b>Jinya</b></a>, a Japanese <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramen">ramen</a> </b>bar (24 Greenwich Ave.) are two ethnic finds below 14th Street worthy of checking out for yourself. Both are cozy, commodious & friendly low-key establishments that you will surely enjoy. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">According to the text on their own web site, the folks at <b>Trece </b>serve "carefully crafted" Mexican dishes reflecting </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">traditional </span></span>"bold flavors" that incorporate fresh ingredients "delivered daily" for a wide spectrum of their "homemade salsas, sauces & sides" </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">prepared onsite </span></span>... all to be found within the context of a broad menu of equally wide possibilities. The best deal offered - and one with which to familiarize yourself to the resto's cuisine - is the <b>$7.95 </b>"special" lunch menu, pretty much a distillation of the whole.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Guacamole & chips</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We began our late lunch (served until 3:00, or a bit beyond) with a margarita classica, with ice (@ $5) and quickly, simultaneously, ordered the "delectably creamy & fresh" (it was, indeed!) <b>guacamole & chips</b> (@ $10). </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMJxfjr6ZLCohhP6_nQiCw57afyK_T2oH4Qw26Z2ZV0nOkwquQJ0hovZlhyphenhyphenITa03S50J3LNtt9ZzXXQCpNTP-iu2Gu4LLKBv2GUSkEmVBWm1QBe-0LJhgOio75yeNRosLpzkPGIps39I/s1600/Trece+-+Tacos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMJxfjr6ZLCohhP6_nQiCw57afyK_T2oH4Qw26Z2ZV0nOkwquQJ0hovZlhyphenhyphenITa03S50J3LNtt9ZzXXQCpNTP-iu2Gu4LLKBv2GUSkEmVBWm1QBe-0LJhgOio75yeNRosLpzkPGIps39I/s320/Trece+-+Tacos.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Tacos al pastor</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Next, we chose two generous items - which proved equally delectable & fresh - from among the various plates offered on the special menu: the <b>tacos al pastor</b> (two soft "tortilla" tacos with </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">adobo </span></span>marinated pork and grilled pineapple, @ $7.95); <u><b>and</b></u> the <b>tacos de carnitas</b> (again featuring two soft tortilla tacos of pork, braised in cola, bay leaf & an orange-based salsa, also priced @ $7.95). The flavors emanating from each taco plate seemed subtle at first, but, as one began to dig in & taste, proved invitingly rich & carefully spiced, and both were amply complemented by white rice & black or red beans (<u>not</u> <i>re</i>-fried!). </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Trece - by the Tequila bar</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And we washed all of this down with a couple of premium Mexican beers - a Dos XX and a Negra Modelo - priced favorably at $6 a bottle. Additionally, the resto & tequila bar offers a very broad range of interestingly concocted and unique mixed drinks - for example, the <u>chocolate</u> Mexican martini - as well as an extensive list of all sorts of reasonably priced wines from Europe & the Americas, both by the glass & the bottle.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our introduction to <a href="http://www.trecenyc.com/menu/lunch-specials-2"><b>Trece</b></a> proved, as you can, of course, readily tell, very positive and will surely prompt us toward a return visit soon, perhaps in the evening, to sample some of their "special" tequilas (a <b>Patron Platinum</b>, say, or <b>Don Julio 70th</b>) & a couple of their regional preparations ... say, <b>enchiladas de pollo con mole</b> (roasted pulled chicken rolled in corn tortillas, with Chihuahua cheese, homemade mole <i>poblano</i>, and served with pinto beans & rice; @ $13.50); or <b>puerco en salsa verde </b>(shredded pork in green sauce served with rice & beans and corn tortillas; @ $10.50). Simply have a look at the extensive online menu for the considerable number of specialty & regional dishes offered and for the descriptions of their preparation ... and (or) provenance!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, until our next visit to <b>Trece</b>, a hearty & satisfied ... <i><b>ole</b></i>!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Jinya Ramen Bar</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our second <i>below</i>-14th St. ethnic find is, as noted above, a ramen bar on Greenwich Ave. in the West Village called <b><a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/jinya-ramen-bar-new-york">Jinya</a></b>, with sister restos (franchise sites, that is) in LA, Tokyo, Seattle, Vancouver & Jakarta. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A seemingly authentic Japanese ramen bar, the resto is efficiently run by a (mostly) Japanese staff & operates, roughly, according to Japanese </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>principles</i> & overall </span></span>dining <i>orientation</i>. The resto's space, for example, comprises typically large communal tables, as well as individual tables for couples & smaller dining parties. In an effort to adhere to some sort of "strategically" devised approach, </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">we decided</span></span> that we would try to <u>sample</u> the gamut of foods & preparations that such a unique establishment had to offer. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDO3ULb4cJTLnhCdB3XDpnJD2oOeJgZTKKM1CzxrbGN_pFUF_RTj5OdM0dNjwukDCoUd_uFffxFPIjkWL-sWIdw4Ryx2g4gfppDcOgBD9ULmTYbPg1jln79cO5BuseTzYopvhg01PF14/s1600/Jinya+-+Tonkotsu+Black+-+closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDO3ULb4cJTLnhCdB3XDpnJD2oOeJgZTKKM1CzxrbGN_pFUF_RTj5OdM0dNjwukDCoUd_uFffxFPIjkWL-sWIdw4Ryx2g4gfppDcOgBD9ULmTYbPg1jln79cO5BuseTzYopvhg01PF14/s320/Jinya+-+Tonkotsu+Black+-+closeup.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Tonkotsu "black"</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">With our plan in mind, however amorphous & malleable,</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> we thought we would certainly sample the <b>ramen</b> (Tonkotsu) and as many additional small-plate items as we (and they) thought might be needed to structure a roundly satisfying dinner meal. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And, indeed, we did! </span></span>Our selection included a variety of <b>tapas</b>,<b> buns</b>, & smallish <b>skewered dishes</b> ... that is, something from each major category on the menu. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And, according to Japanese ramen bar service etiquette, our waiters would bring each dish we ordered to our table approximately one dish at a time, as they were ready, along with a shout (an actual shout by one or two or more chefs) ostensibly to signify all is well with the preparation and that a dish was completed and ready for pick-up. We initially tried out an order of the <b>Brussel sprouts tempura</b>, lightly doused with <i>truffle oil</i> (@ $6), which arrived perfectly done & which we consumed carefully with enthusiasm. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Kobe beef buns</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Next, two <b>Jinya buns</b> were delivered - one filled with <b>Chasu pork</b> (@ $3.50); the other with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobe_beef"><b>Kobe beef</b></a> ($8.50). The pork was tasty & flavorful, but the Kobe beef bun proved divine (</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>hmmm</i>, </span></span>in retrospect, we ought to have ordered <u>two</u> of the Kobe buns, <i>hers </i>& <i>his</i> ... but, well, a few more items were <i>en route</i> to our table so we would soon be, as they say, otherwise engaged). An order of <b>Tsukune, </b>or chicken meatballs (@ $3) followed the buns; these were nicely textured, with a gingery taste & ginger-laden brown sauce (perhaps two small plates of these would have been in order, as well). But we would press onward toward <i>piece de resistance</i>: </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Jinya's </b></span></span><b>Tonkotsu black, </b>a substantial noodle bowl filled with pork broth, pork Chasu, kikurage, cabbage, dried seaweed, seasoned egg, garlic chips & garlic oil (@ $14) <u><i>plus</i></u> a <b>chicken-filled wanton</b> ($2) to top off the whole ... all adding up easily to a dish for two, and then some. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This time, we aided & abetted the digestion of the</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> meal - that is, the Tonkotsu "black" ramen bowl, the buns, the Kobe beef, the Brussel sprouts tempura, the Tsukune - with a tall glass of <b>Sapporo</b> draft beer (@ $5) and a 17-oz bottle of </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/5046/17036"><b>Echigo Koshihikari</b></a>,<b> </b></span></span>a light, smooth, dry & crisp rice-based lager<b> </b>(made from Niigata grown rice).</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Gyoza pork dumplings</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All told, we very much reveled in our dining experience at <b>Jinya</b> and, now fully assessed, we will surely return for the many items we missed and for another shot at a <b>Kobe beef bun</b>, or two, the <b>Gyoza pork dumplings</b> & the <b>spicy-creamy shrimp tempura</b>. See you there some time soon ... on Greenwich Avenue in the Village or, perhaps, munching away in Tokyo, Seattle, Vancouver or LA! </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgZZOCMp1ki2h0fsq00-ETGmHXQHW7yfFTD_yIqiK6d2YqDe0Tf3py7yRHhE7RrhNbbyaTD3h_fEHWqx194U8llpNnw7PaWXbxdEFC87JQnRWBIIJeRMt_PsMmcV8zzuLLyRYTsZgYFM/s1600/Pinter+-+in+study+solo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgZZOCMp1ki2h0fsq00-ETGmHXQHW7yfFTD_yIqiK6d2YqDe0Tf3py7yRHhE7RrhNbbyaTD3h_fEHWqx194U8llpNnw7PaWXbxdEFC87JQnRWBIIJeRMt_PsMmcV8zzuLLyRYTsZgYFM/s1600/Pinter+-+in+study+solo.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Harold Pinter</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ever since <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Pinter"><b>Harold Pinter's</b></a> death in 2008 Pinter revivals have been sprouting up (a few each year) in New York theaters, on and off Broadway, both in small-scale and large productions. I've seen a bunch of these, including <i><b>The Homecoming</b></i>, <i><b>A Kind of Alaska</b></i> & <i><b>Celebration</b></i>, to name just three. All were interesting productions; all were well acted & carefully directed. But this year's "Pinter season" brings us <b><i><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/28/theater/reviews/daniel-craig-and-rachel-weisz-star-in-betrayal-on-broadway.html?_r=0">Betrayal</a> </i></b>(a revival I haven't yet seen) and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_man%27s_land"><i><b>No Man's Land</b></i></a>, featuring <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Stewart"><b>Patrick Stewart</b></a> & <a href="http://www.mckellen.com/"><b>Ian McKellen</b></a></span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">in a truly solid, stunning & memorable production now in previews at the <a href="http://www.shubertorganization.com/theatres/"><b>Cort Theatre</b></a> on Broadway (West 48th, between 6th & 7th). These two actors are superb in every way & superbly cast and their verbal interactions, in manifestly <i>Pinteresque</i> dialogue, radiate & glow beyond the proscenium and throughout the theater. Indeed, these two actors will be heard!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_pTwJb5SJCBjQGn1HADsogl_3OkdBFdvRKbSBQtaw_9ctbdIszFXsOFRy26yxswTe8rAzWyeLffjgpuTfdIalb2QhypCMExUk9olHi0yfFB-rKxPogh3tqaZjfo8sCk57xwmeznmrvk/s1600/Pinter+-+from+no+man%27s+land.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_pTwJb5SJCBjQGn1HADsogl_3OkdBFdvRKbSBQtaw_9ctbdIszFXsOFRy26yxswTe8rAzWyeLffjgpuTfdIalb2QhypCMExUk9olHi0yfFB-rKxPogh3tqaZjfo8sCk57xwmeznmrvk/s320/Pinter+-+from+no+man%27s+land.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Ian McKellen (Spooner) & Patrick Stewart (Hirst)</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The play is essentially about a battle of wit(s) and words - and shared memories & reminiscences that may or may not to be true - between <b>Spooner</b> (McKellen), a down-and-out, disreputable, shabby fellow who may or may not be even a failed poet</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> (think <b><a href="http://www.bartleby.com/198/1.html"><i>Prufrock</i></a></b>)</span></span> <u>and</u> <b>Hirst</b> (Stewart), </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">an<i> haute</i> literary type (</span></span>a rich & successful poet, essayist, critic) who is stymied in his creativity by excessive alcohol. Hirst seems to have come upon Spooner at a local, neighborhood (Hampstead) pub, picked him up, in a sense - and brought Spooner home with him for, well, whatever obvious and subterranean reasons.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">According to one British critic, <i><b>No Man's Land</b></i> is "funny, scary, and resonantly poetic" ... a "haunting drama." I would agree, but add that this comedy-drama (profoundly Pinteresque in style & tone) presents an identifiable world where characters find themselves engaged with each other somewhere between <b><u>appearance</u></b> (what <i>appears</i> to be true & solid but just might prove to be false) and <u><b>reality</b></u> (what appears to be true and real might be so ... or, well, might not). What memories a character purports to have in this </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">circumscribed "universe" </span></span>- and posits to the other of the two central characters - might or might not be true, or accurate, or even have any basis whatever in reality. This is the titular "<i>no man's land</i>" ... the murky region between the <u>known</u> (knowable) and <u>unknown</u> (at least unsubstantiated, unverifiable), between illusion & reality, between what appears to be the case & what may or may not. </span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yCRNHW6snbAQRVydwPR190v8d8SEKQFU5xq-cqpUQeirChgPLlhjZy0N6CT0rs7zzGi4XX7WhZTFjJ9tLQdBmbCcDO0xf0sRGAJdgPiSXuLMJ4TuhMyKrnBeUKb2cKYaAp8TXGo-S5c/s1600/Pinter+-+Play+Bill+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yCRNHW6snbAQRVydwPR190v8d8SEKQFU5xq-cqpUQeirChgPLlhjZy0N6CT0rs7zzGi4XX7WhZTFjJ9tLQdBmbCcDO0xf0sRGAJdgPiSXuLMJ4TuhMyKrnBeUKb2cKYaAp8TXGo-S5c/s320/Pinter+-+Play+Bill+Cover.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Moreover, the play is permeated by, and refracts throughout, Pinter's signature climate of menace - a lurking presence of hostile instability. It projects an atmosphere that (gradually) physically & linguistically reveals at least the potential, the lingering possibility, that something frightful, or destabilizing, might occur ... something that awaits us (& the characters), incrementally emphasized, say, when a door is locked, or lights are dimmed, or a window's curtains are drawn & the light is shut out ... or, more specifically, when Hirst's self-identified <i>amanuensis</i>, Foster (played predatorily & icily by Billy Crudup), might actually be, and seems more likely to be, a body guard or lover ... and up to <i>who knows what</i>. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyBCEU9XxJDuinXKP2i7bbLjlJiWGV5eaMCiVkLRjufJUhsyLn97gkVlFcUS-hPY1brICuf3G4JEPoZjr6Xzk1P8vT_ou0VQjWTXkzA5xutYP_7iUa3-wA_VsfQOf0sIzTRLXoXmDdB0/s1600/Ian+McKellen+-+Derby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyBCEU9XxJDuinXKP2i7bbLjlJiWGV5eaMCiVkLRjufJUhsyLn97gkVlFcUS-hPY1brICuf3G4JEPoZjr6Xzk1P8vT_ou0VQjWTXkzA5xutYP_7iUa3-wA_VsfQOf0sIzTRLXoXmDdB0/s320/Ian+McKellen+-+Derby.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>The Inimitable Ian McKellen</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This</span></span><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> No Man's Land</span></span></b></i> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">is a first-rate production in all respects ... and a vehicle through which you can see a few of the preeminent stage actors working today. The play, about what <i><b><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/08/theater/scene-partners-step-into-the-void.html?_r=0">The New York Times</a> </b></i>calls "the vagaries of <i>memory</i>," will linger in yours for some time to come!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">PS<i><b> No Man's Land</b></i> opens on November 24th, running in "rep" with Samuel Beckett's<i><b> <a href="http://www.twoplaysinrep.com/">Waiting for Godot</a> </b></i>through early March.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
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H. J. Scheiber, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366292492767857006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693133104581549318.post-31694352941521447552013-10-25T17:11:00.000-07:002013-11-15T10:04:54.637-08:00Magritte & the surreal; Russian food & drink on west 52nd street ... and more!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOlCbS6RyUjSfDSwKrKnEuaA34brmk-MquVnZaCrXcOdxIDKr0ZwnoovAfcwOLFj9Yge6NXIGTJ36SxnnySnJX3e4T32UiDA-C5i-npanZYTniCas5VvME2O3aCfOUkIG5Yl3Yf9eKZA/s1600/1-1-SAM_0322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOlCbS6RyUjSfDSwKrKnEuaA34brmk-MquVnZaCrXcOdxIDKr0ZwnoovAfcwOLFj9Yge6NXIGTJ36SxnnySnJX3e4T32UiDA-C5i-npanZYTniCas5VvME2O3aCfOUkIG5Yl3Yf9eKZA/s320/1-1-SAM_0322.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Doric Temple at Segesta</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After a three-week blogging hiatus while on a trip abroad to ... <i>northwest <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicily"><b>Sicily</b></a></i> ... <b>for</b> traditional, regional food; an "agriturismo" <b>B & B</b> stay at <a href="http://www.agriturismo.it/en/farmhouse/sicily/trapani/Sanacore-1320310/index.html"><b>Sanacore</b></a> (a working farm near <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trapani"><b>Trapani</b></a>); historical & archeological sites, including the near-fully restored Doric temple at <a href="http://www.thinksicily.com/guide-to-sicily/archaeological-sites-in-sicily/segesta.aspx"><b>Segesta</b></a>; the notable <i>gem</i>-quality wines of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsala"><b>Marsala</b></a>; & Trapanese culture & cuisine, including, yep, a 9"-long <i>canoli</i> at the Euro Bar in <b><a href="http://hallicino.hubpages.com/hub/Discovering_The_Finest_Cannoli_In_All_Of_Sicily">Dattilo</a>.</b> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">... <u><b>AND</b></u> ... </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53g48YKI1lHA4HVypjLoXCgKG-yw5NwfiWI3s09SCym5fb54tSsIN8vBvZWMHbPQ-CoXLDflnnWVP5TIVBysYlUI42bdCzmpoGr5Q_QM7jU66-QFbmTHdwA0Gkt1NfQt00PX7wix2wg8/s1600/SAM_0360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53g48YKI1lHA4HVypjLoXCgKG-yw5NwfiWI3s09SCym5fb54tSsIN8vBvZWMHbPQ-CoXLDflnnWVP5TIVBysYlUI42bdCzmpoGr5Q_QM7jU66-QFbmTHdwA0Gkt1NfQt00PX7wix2wg8/s320/SAM_0360.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>The "White City"</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tel_Aviv"><b><i>Tel Aviv</i></b></a> ... to sample an almost endless array of sophisticated restaurants, upscale (pricey) & moderate, like <a href="http://www.cafnoir.rest-e.co.il/"><b>Cafe Noir</b></a> (famous for its veal, pork & chicken schnitzel); the intricate gastronomic creations & cross-cultural blending(s) of talented Israeli "experimental" chefs (try <a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><b>Adora</b></a>, on the high end, a delectable bistro at 226 Ben Yehuda, or<b> <a href="http://kebabquest.com/street-food-gone-good-at-ha-miznon-tel-aviv/">Eyal Shani</a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null">'s</a> </b><i>Everything-in-a pita</i> on the low end, at 23 Ibn Gvirol; and a tour of Tel Aviv's internationally celebrated, protected & noteworthy <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauhaushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauhaus"><b>Bauhaus</b></a> architecture situated in what is known as the "<i>white city</i>," on & around <a href="http://www.touristisrael.com/rothschild-boulevard-tel-aviv/5275/"><b>Rothschild Boulevard</b></a> ... </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jLXYflye36z5tuHKfyPZQbO7CziI7mFQC1GKU9uBgmXu3iuoEhzbGOURuf4g1bZeENv61e0lI1Hz_xhBFgCERsitH1QvbPjwu02nwBhEBTZLVkflQRn1thImudA7Plh7lJD5cxxLqCo/s1600/Rothschild+Blvd+-+the+heart2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jLXYflye36z5tuHKfyPZQbO7CziI7mFQC1GKU9uBgmXu3iuoEhzbGOURuf4g1bZeENv61e0lI1Hz_xhBFgCERsitH1QvbPjwu02nwBhEBTZLVkflQRn1thImudA7Plh7lJD5cxxLqCo/s320/Rothschild+Blvd+-+the+heart2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Rothschild Boulevard, Tel Aviv</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And for a free, entertaining, knowledgeable, <i>non</i>-pedantic tour of the area, simply contact <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0FRh7gugg0"><b>Daniel Rosenblum</b></a>, a licensed tour guide, via e-mail: <u><span style="color: blue;">danielguide12@gmail.com</span></u>. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tours of Rothschild Blvd. take place every Saturday at 11:00 </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">a.m.<b> </b>Call ahead to verify assembly location - corner of <b>Shadal Street</b> - for the start of & introduction to the walking</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">tour (tel. 972-52-6656525).</span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkrQbTWzYtizCIkGmeGR_SHJdAul1ozqvNBCRLEpbHoUJitNLO3qyJfFtL-jkYWJr_CbHpiNAY74oIKyWPxxJZZNDxmvAN212_6V7oQN_TH8mD18pN6xldN8gKKfdro8a7TLuLxnswt8/s1600/Cafe+Noir.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkrQbTWzYtizCIkGmeGR_SHJdAul1ozqvNBCRLEpbHoUJitNLO3qyJfFtL-jkYWJr_CbHpiNAY74oIKyWPxxJZZNDxmvAN212_6V7oQN_TH8mD18pN6xldN8gKKfdro8a7TLuLxnswt8/s200/Cafe+Noir.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><u><b>But, alas ... w</b><b>e are back</b></u></i> - on the cultural & culinary prowl - here in New York and environs. However, we are certainly <u>not</u> sufficiently well rested from the vicissitudes of our rather lengthy trip.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Nevertheless, continuing our New York Metro peregrinations, we turn, once again, to <a href="http://www.moma.org/"><b>MoMA</b></a> (11 West 53rd, between 5th & 6th) which has, yet again, mounted a spectacularly rich & comprehensive show entitled</span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>"</b><a href="http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/exhibitions/1322"><b>Magritte: The Mystery of the Ordinary, 1926- 1938</b></a><b>"</b> (running through January 12th, 2014).</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCz_ovAKRX0-pOxlx3ZJizxslCQJRWDWZk_jnn6aT8WdTvAD8QzLqbRQSdKlhLJ8TWeDiIe52X733m1yLJ8JvA1V3e5ia7uAKGoJodkoXdqn73_K38UaIALe8zwfAYAaT6M8mCUYpjOn4/s1600/Magritte-The-Lovers-1928+-+small+version.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCz_ovAKRX0-pOxlx3ZJizxslCQJRWDWZk_jnn6aT8WdTvAD8QzLqbRQSdKlhLJ8TWeDiIe52X733m1yLJ8JvA1V3e5ia7uAKGoJodkoXdqn73_K38UaIALe8zwfAYAaT6M8mCUYpjOn4/s200/Magritte-The-Lovers-1928+-+small+version.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>The Lovers</i>, 1928</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In looking upon a great many of Magritte's major works </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(some 80 items, according to information provided on <b>MoMA</b>'s web site)</span></span> and related objects (artifacts, journal publications,</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> photographs, snippets of</span></span> philosophical-aesthetic writings) in one location, side-by-side, I can only guess at the range of responses that viewers might "conger up" toward such a preponderance of bold works. All kinds of personal & idiosyncratic, emotion-laden and irrational (?) responses must routinely, necessarily, be born among serious Magritte viewers ... especially in witnessing</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> the major, well-known <i>surrealistic</i> works, like <b><i>The Lovers</i></b>. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvgLdhWUiS944lqh15tZ3_wo1fVgnwCRnppUet8KkW8B6kgDpLTxow3jflPJYO3yLAY1EIxpnL6eXHQxpjZSvewh81SpMivDU6HIUnbgXXnU7TLmDZNY4BPYmhmV8L30o1zpVX1Pfy_U/s1600/Magritte+painting+w+bowler+hats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvgLdhWUiS944lqh15tZ3_wo1fVgnwCRnppUet8KkW8B6kgDpLTxow3jflPJYO3yLAY1EIxpnL6eXHQxpjZSvewh81SpMivDU6HIUnbgXXnU7TLmDZNY4BPYmhmV8L30o1zpVX1Pfy_U/s320/Magritte+painting+w+bowler+hats.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>The Menaced Assassin</i>, 1927</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I, for o</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">ne, see the work not so much in terms of "the <i>m</i></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>ystery</i> of the ordinary," but rather as an almost natural juxtaposition of the ordinary and the uncanny</span></span>, or the <i>uncanny amidst the ordinary</i> (see, for example, Magritte's </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i>The Menaced Assassin</i></b>, painted in Brussels,1927);</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Kl9EYzaxXUqnXY5H0lYk26FU7FEgajA5gRH9mgSMe7-Kmp2CUS3elANfraFNVyQyI1ZF9gnpCLNpT-EYYVJFBDVQ52fRkceqVAw1QnMzUVDenD-_gblZ5RBw6NzdCxspa_nOLyjCu6w/s1600/Magritte+eye2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Kl9EYzaxXUqnXY5H0lYk26FU7FEgajA5gRH9mgSMe7-Kmp2CUS3elANfraFNVyQyI1ZF9gnpCLNpT-EYYVJFBDVQ52fRkceqVAw1QnMzUVDenD-_gblZ5RBw6NzdCxspa_nOLyjCu6w/s1600/Magritte+eye2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>The False Mirror, 1928</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">for, Magritte places things - like faint patches of cumulo-nimbus clouds - in unlikely places (in various eyes, within faces & solo) depicting both calming (heavenly) <u>and</u> disquieting (seemingly ordinary) images. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQljI0ArbgP7TnAX1g1rkGXgJMK7Q5OmSFYCig-R7RWJ52eyD25-rG6rtMEOvd6dFaSGqtbqbq1mMOD_7-5WECjhzPmpubghYIF2dGd2ZLBVBBtCbor-2M_42uF1AV3FFPbGKKblwYWEE/s1600/Magritte+-+Pipe+Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQljI0ArbgP7TnAX1g1rkGXgJMK7Q5OmSFYCig-R7RWJ52eyD25-rG6rtMEOvd6dFaSGqtbqbq1mMOD_7-5WECjhzPmpubghYIF2dGd2ZLBVBBtCbor-2M_42uF1AV3FFPbGKKblwYWEE/s1600/Magritte+-+Pipe+Image.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i>The Treachery of Images</i>, 1929</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Additionally, Magritte creates images tending to deny (to negate) images (themselves) with language and he presents instances of language which tend to deny the image presented (the well-known but still noteworthy, "<b><i>Ceci n'est pas une pipe</i>.</b>"). </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">By the way, <b>MoMA</b> is offering a typically in-depth, comprehensive catalogue for purchase that accompanies this major exhibit assembled for Magritte - Belgian painter, print-maker & photographer who has come to be known as one of the great figures of the <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrealism"><i>surrealist</i></a></b> tradition, or, as <b>MoMA</b> has put it, he is "perhaps the greatest Belgian artist of the 20th century."</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjlD4d7zzD6ZpFCJqf9WBzyqVaQCv6i_9jH9D8IEvDwpojdZWByzB8OzjuBixhhjvaYlXA0hCdgebvIOnCICrpbSKeuqjffJHs9rzBGTR3wC_DPO3rVcvzl9TGUdOCX6KfnBlotJ3kPtc/s1600/Magritte+-+attempting-the-impossible-1928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjlD4d7zzD6ZpFCJqf9WBzyqVaQCv6i_9jH9D8IEvDwpojdZWByzB8OzjuBixhhjvaYlXA0hCdgebvIOnCICrpbSKeuqjffJHs9rzBGTR3wC_DPO3rVcvzl9TGUdOCX6KfnBlotJ3kPtc/s320/Magritte+-+attempting-the-impossible-1928.jpg" width="220" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Attempting the Impossible</i>, 19</b></span></span><b>28</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Magritte show is a must see cultural event (I admonish you, if you can, to avoid the crowded weekends) ... co-sponsored & co-organized by <b>MoMA</b>, <a href="http://www.menil.org/"><b>The Menil Collection</b></a> (Houston), and <a href="http://www.artic.edu/"><b>The Art Institute of Chicago</b></a>; it is, <b>MoMA</b> suggests, the first exhibition "to focus on the breakthrough Surrealist years" of Rene Magritte. His many extraordinarily uncanny images ultimately depict the <u><b>place</b></u> of man & woman - flanked by words & phrases (<i>les petites textes</i>) - in the world, an odd world, a world of partially awaken states, fluid & dreamy ... presenting, in Magritte's own words, a "challenge [to] the <i>real</i> world." [italics mine] The exhibition emphasizes & reflects central "strategies and themes from the most inventive and experimental period" in Magritte's prolific artistic career.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhne31irLRuR7IIExflCVzst2ZDpTntJLcOeVQCdcUHkAYodgCkUhWp2JIL9viGIlEB-1JVwDNofc37ADayW8cTGHEfit9c5Lz7Zm12OzzZuMnI9HA0v2kBV60W9VUZvVg5qmBkJX1q-94/s1600/Not-to-Be-Reproduced-1937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhne31irLRuR7IIExflCVzst2ZDpTntJLcOeVQCdcUHkAYodgCkUhWp2JIL9viGIlEB-1JVwDNofc37ADayW8cTGHEfit9c5Lz7Zm12OzzZuMnI9HA0v2kBV60W9VUZvVg5qmBkJX1q-94/s200/Not-to-Be-Reproduced-1937.JPG" width="155" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Not to be Reproduced</b></span></i>, <span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>1937</b></span></td></tr>
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If you attend the Magritte exhibition, and other shows at <b>MoMA</b>, and you decide <u>not</u> to eat on the museum premises, might I suggest a visit to the cozy, dark-<i>ish</i> <a href="http://russianvodkaroom.com/"><b>Russian Vodka Room</b></a> (my wife's resto selection), just a few short blocks away from the museum at 265 West 52nd St. (212-307-5835). </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtZYkG9Tn1qc-EJOwbVWzE63NxI2hFbVMW-FsTVLNW0h436BZAj7WTwmXuyUhTAC1rthoQevp7uCP_NrYsRkMThUJTD17BOWAwhwnmN6ezNWpj27fIQA8FJmyqVI9-LQTVn-ZVXd3QJc/s1600/Vodka+shots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtZYkG9Tn1qc-EJOwbVWzE63NxI2hFbVMW-FsTVLNW0h436BZAj7WTwmXuyUhTAC1rthoQevp7uCP_NrYsRkMThUJTD17BOWAwhwnmN6ezNWpj27fIQA8FJmyqVI9-LQTVn-ZVXd3QJc/s200/Vodka+shots.jpg" width="158" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Vodka Infusions</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We enjoyed the drinks, the infused vodka "shot" varieties (especially reasonable at $4 per 2-oz. shot during <b>Happy Hour</b>, 4-7, daily), and the homey, well-prepared, capacious dinner plates at reasonable prices. The <b><i>apple & pomegranate</i> </b>infused vodka shot proved the tastiest (tending to blend nicely with the smooth alcohol; we didn't chance the highly touted <i>garlic pepper & dill</i> infusion; perhaps next time!), while the <b>roast duck</b>, with apples, prunes & apricots (@ $24.75), and the <b>chicken schnitzel</b>, with truffles, dill butter & potatoes ($22.50), were standouts - tasty, elegant dishes that were rich & perfectly prepared (in the case of the duck) and very tender & moist (in the case of the thick "side" of schnitzel). </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi14fk24HxMbJlLFDQI8ZG1twPXd44KhUCgcY_qCFiOL0fhb1LffhoDlSuOELI7oOSEqcWmB30IxkPTB7ebnGnshwkL-NMIV6fakoQE8lzgaaOOEmCbxv5pmd5_8l75A8qIkcbe8-Jeck/s1600/Russian+Vodka+Rm+-+Beef+Stroganoff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi14fk24HxMbJlLFDQI8ZG1twPXd44KhUCgcY_qCFiOL0fhb1LffhoDlSuOELI7oOSEqcWmB30IxkPTB7ebnGnshwkL-NMIV6fakoQE8lzgaaOOEmCbxv5pmd5_8l75A8qIkcbe8-Jeck/s200/Russian+Vodka+Rm+-+Beef+Stroganoff.jpg" width="187" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Beef Stroganoff</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JlY7Dh9AaNeMIiND_Y7oXsqc7T6ShXtbQeqUmjAPVuvUOLLB6eShGLfXDW9OWgshIEOvOWsEl32oWZAe7djrDJe_QkxiKWgslf17oGTFioRncaSMcPnj0wBh12rDssoLLoB3VfAaZt0/s1600/Russian+Vodka+Room+-+Gravlax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JlY7Dh9AaNeMIiND_Y7oXsqc7T6ShXtbQeqUmjAPVuvUOLLB6eShGLfXDW9OWgshIEOvOWsEl32oWZAe7djrDJe_QkxiKWgslf17oGTFioRncaSMcPnj0wBh12rDssoLLoB3VfAaZt0/s200/Russian+Vodka+Room+-+Gravlax.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Gravlox + Potato Pancake</b></span></span>s</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We (the four of us) also sampled the <b>beef Stroganoff</b> with kasha (@ $22.75) and shared a few ethnic appetizers: the calming, comforting & familiar plate of<b> gravlox with potato pancakes</b> (@ $16.50); the appealing & succulent "<b>three- colors</b>"<b> eggplant caviar</b> ($9.50); the traditional <b>Russian meat dumplings</b> ($9.95); and the uniquely prepared & unusually plated <b>mushroom julienne <i>en cocotte</i></b> ($9.75). And, finally, we swilled a couple of glasses of red wine, including a light, delicate & fruity Pinot Noir ($10) precisely the right choice to accompany the chicken schnitzel.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jZg6qYpIQ5fXkSj_4gmjZX0ERoKFCv7tnrHEmVElThJHYN3GIMuLBPVC3mhSwkvHc7Bix1aKe3Vilobb_3cNN-I1GLuBCju_hsUA6LWvMcV37U1lFBKlrVH4JFGRtcumiqw47zmTTbI/s1600/Russian+Vodka+Room+-+medal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jZg6qYpIQ5fXkSj_4gmjZX0ERoKFCv7tnrHEmVElThJHYN3GIMuLBPVC3mhSwkvHc7Bix1aKe3Vilobb_3cNN-I1GLuBCju_hsUA6LWvMcV37U1lFBKlrVH4JFGRtcumiqw47zmTTbI/s320/Russian+Vodka+Room+-+medal.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Welcome to Russian Vodka House</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Between the magic & mystery of the Magritte show at <b>MoMA</b> and our <i>near</i>-serendipitous<i> experimental </i>incursion into Russian culinary territory (both food & drink), we had a memorable (mid-fall) Sunday afternoon - <i>post</i>-Sicily, <i>post</i>-Tel Aviv. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtwjm7pLGtg5V_UH6K2khLj20EVajX_Z0tvonBoc9tv-mR5uqTHe6pQqvBKH5G3QcTBg2JospVkE6vVbFdIiTi60X9OaTk5EmT_d1sUXtugaFNkGEdNzHNAUGfya__QMXfE705M6UZ0A/s1600/Russian+Vodka+Rm+-+Cornish+hen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtwjm7pLGtg5V_UH6K2khLj20EVajX_Z0tvonBoc9tv-mR5uqTHe6pQqvBKH5G3QcTBg2JospVkE6vVbFdIiTi60X9OaTk5EmT_d1sUXtugaFNkGEdNzHNAUGfya__QMXfE705M6UZ0A/s200/Russian+Vodka+Rm+-+Cornish+hen.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Grilled Cornish Hen</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Clearly, we'll be heading back to the <b>Russian Vodka Room</b> again, soon, to pick up where we left off: The <b>duck liver pate</b> (@ $12.75) & the <b>chicken</b> <i><b>Tabaka</b></i> (a whole <b>Cornish hen</b> "grilled under press"; $18.75) </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">await us </span></span>... as does a shot glass or two of just one more, <i>pre</i>-dinner vodka infusion ...how 'bout the "ultra premium" <i>blueberry & Tahitian vanilla</i>? Sounds good ...<i> da da da</i>!</span></span><br />
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H. J. Scheiber, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366292492767857006noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693133104581549318.post-22492051999556664172013-09-01T10:21:00.000-07:002013-10-24T17:46:37.577-07:00A trio of noteworthy mid-town & "Flatiron" restaurants …<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYJbxdvgKFpYQZ8t7naUv8dksCVXkx7o26CX8kNy7ZhSy1s-pR6CGdfhx4Crnlwi4NCn5gY2dTUZbnAnK5oq9rRGMRCig-QwS26f5pj1eVYW6rePKWOK2j0doRKCOIOVPYPzinRh0Lk0/s1600/Tony+-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYJbxdvgKFpYQZ8t7naUv8dksCVXkx7o26CX8kNy7ZhSy1s-pR6CGdfhx4Crnlwi4NCn5gY2dTUZbnAnK5oq9rRGMRCig-QwS26f5pj1eVYW6rePKWOK2j0doRKCOIOVPYPzinRh0Lk0/s200/Tony+-2.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Restaurants in the New York metro area seem, as we are all well aware, to proliferate much as wild mushrooms do in a forest after a substantial rainfall. And restos - both new & long-standing - tend to open and close all over the city on a relatively routine basis. Simply have a look at any issue of <a href="http://www.timeout.com/newyork/food-drink"><i><b>Time Out New York</b></i>'s</a> (<i><b>TONY</b></i>'s) "Food & Drink" section each week. There is, then, really no paucity of restos in any & every culinary category and every possible metro location. Our choices of restos to visit are virtually limitless. And out of this limitless universe of possible eating establishments, we select what appeals to us with the help of publications like <i><b>TONY</b></i> or <i><b>T</b><b>he NY Times</b></i>, or via online sources like <i><b><a href="http://www.yelp.com/c/nyc/restaurants">Yelp*</a> </b></i>or <a href="http://www.menupages.com/"><i><b>Menu Pages</b></i></a>, or <i><a href="http://www.opentable.com/new-york-city-restaurants"><b>Open Table</b></a></i>. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFX7piXMW3yd0sBGIM8xB3JcvYmoNLrhTJvLA7Wb5fvOxvpghp_BeM3bbx6ukweqFwJUdCYY4EM-bi0W4NXLa1PJiLoJ0u5zyIK2tpU8VvzJGiEQdhkWk-RHft_bCVUFtz06gpSm3pUo/s1600/Yelp.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFX7piXMW3yd0sBGIM8xB3JcvYmoNLrhTJvLA7Wb5fvOxvpghp_BeM3bbx6ukweqFwJUdCYY4EM-bi0W4NXLa1PJiLoJ0u5zyIK2tpU8VvzJGiEQdhkWk-RHft_bCVUFtz06gpSm3pUo/s200/Yelp.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>from <i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Yelp*</span></span></i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We also, of course, select restaurants based on menus strategically placed in the front window of an establishment where it can be perused from top to bottom for their fare, for pricing, for daily "specials," for a <i>prix fixe</i>, or for the latest culinary event(s) offered by the chef (like the 4-course "<b>Taste of Mexico</b>," at <b><a href="http://www.mercaditorestaurants.com/grove/">Mercadito</a> </b>in the West Village). And then sometimes, too, we check out restos & attempt to assess the quality of their fare using all of the sources mentioned just above - consulting reviews, scanning online sources, selecting by walking around neighborhoods & locales of interest, and so forth.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And so, for this brief post I've chosen a <u>trio</u> of relatively new (new to me, to us, at any rate), unique, and very different - each one from the others - eating establishments that we've recently investigated, having consulted a few of all possible sources ... and, most importantly, having dined at successfully.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Two of the restos - <b>Aldea</b> & <b>Rye House</b> - are located, roughly, in the <b>Flatiron district</b>, just doors away from one another on West 17th Street (at 31 W. 17th St. & 11 W. 17th St., respectively) and, therefore, in walking distance to Union Square, to Madison Park ... and to our movie-house "mecca," <b>Cinema Village</b> (noted in my last post). In fact, we were heading for these specific destinations following our lunch visits</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">, during the past couple of weeks</span></span>, to both Aldea & Rye House. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxNqvK6rt32Ho-H-6Tlys2hxtS5EUn01PUg2J7r8KxlCE3UaaKmf7F-xpsZKT27yCzzifeMwkwvQ57GT0MdmIRB1tV9Vut4wCv68ynogM37Kc-Np34t3Jp9l15Fe7JcDXMCjvNFONGoY/s1600/Aldea+Inside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxNqvK6rt32Ho-H-6Tlys2hxtS5EUn01PUg2J7r8KxlCE3UaaKmf7F-xpsZKT27yCzzifeMwkwvQ57GT0MdmIRB1tV9Vut4wCv68ynogM37Kc-Np34t3Jp9l15Fe7JcDXMCjvNFONGoY/s320/Aldea+Inside.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Aldea</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://aldearestaurant.com/"><b>Aldea</b></a> (tel. 212/675-7260) is, by far, the most sophisticated of the <u>three</u> restos under discussion in this post. It is a bit of a high-end Portuguese establishment with a sleek though comfortable interior, very helpful & attentive servers, and delectable & intriguing food. We had initially found Aldea on our way to a recent lunch at Rye House and the <a href="http://aldearestaurant.com/pdf/AldeaLunch.pdf"><b>3-course $25</b><b> </b></a></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://aldearestaurant.com/pdf/AldeaLunch.pdf"><b>prix fixe</b></a> </i>described on the menu posted in the window</span></span> lured us in to have a quick look. A week or so later three of us reserved a table & dined there ... and thoroughly enjoyed the food, the wines, the crispy & warm bread supplied, and the desserts (the 3rd course on the <i>prix fixe</i> menu "schedule"). Indeed, Aldea produces a reasonably priced, high-quality lunch, very carefully plated, with all choices & all courses solidly thought through and delicately & painstakingly prepared. It proved to be one of those memorable, special experiences.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Mjy6QBZNZxqOqFGN1NUDLABE6DrABMqQx2AT6zOHFFNQCQi7f1ppe8wBKlaDxi4T6yZJTgSKVaBWPW5ThKXmIZkTtzcqi9N6uJntSyMkPZAfJwDe_GI1-V81YDHHcsWY6Cm6pU6Kf5o/s1600/Aldea+-+Gazpacho.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Mjy6QBZNZxqOqFGN1NUDLABE6DrABMqQx2AT6zOHFFNQCQi7f1ppe8wBKlaDxi4T6yZJTgSKVaBWPW5ThKXmIZkTtzcqi9N6uJntSyMkPZAfJwDe_GI1-V81YDHHcsWY6Cm6pU6Kf5o/s200/Aldea+-+Gazpacho.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Gazpacho</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We began with appetizers and a selection of wines by the (relatively large) glass - two whites and a rose. My wife, and our dining partner, Ms. F.L., each chose the "early" tomato <b>Gazpacho</b>, filled with hearts of palm, cut cucumber, basil & mint ... which, according to the two of them, was emphatically memorable, strikingly flavorful, utterly superb! My wife selected a <b>Sancerre/Sauvignon Blanc</b> blend (Philippe Raimbault, "Apud Sariacum"; Loire Valley; 2012; @ $15) to complement her appetizer and succeeding choices, while F.L.sipped a glass of Portuguese white "Fefinanes" Albarino (Rias Baixas; Galacia; 2012; @ $14) serving her well, complementing her portion of Gazpacho and what followed.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7TyCU2N1jS1iB4ag8WB4YcRsyfeMto-sheZBsp0t1dizVpRTZJbYkSi6HabvoesKsuk9ORd1bC7uTdjldKgwy5BF5fWynRO0jauPsASfaD2_4T8fKY9aHejLxbtSHe78nRpsQqQAl5U/s1600/Aldea+-+Rustic+Pork+&+Duck+Terrine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7TyCU2N1jS1iB4ag8WB4YcRsyfeMto-sheZBsp0t1dizVpRTZJbYkSi6HabvoesKsuk9ORd1bC7uTdjldKgwy5BF5fWynRO0jauPsASfaD2_4T8fKY9aHejLxbtSHe78nRpsQqQAl5U/s200/Aldea+-+Rustic+Pork+&+Duck+Terrine.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pork & Duck Terrine</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For a first course, I chose the <b>rustic pork & duck terrine</b> flavored with muscat wine </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">gelée, accompanied by a small salad of mixed market greens. Very fresh, especially tasty ... smooth & particularly rich when the flavors of pork & duck were enhanced by a glass of Cabernet Franc Rose (Domaine Ameztia; Northern Basque Country; Frannce; 2012; $13). We slowly moved onward to our <b>e<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">ntrées</span></b> ...</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzSQXTbvEyz0tF2dpnqsLibdM7tIUR9rgV3qJxY4jjdK1ZTyc9TDE2J0cHoSnX-gSnQ_YPw7ope45XiLKLyn0T_1Of7tYbCxpbqrph1Q5I5QSo6K7scrgVtQ6PY20RwV2I0aZMME1Dvo/s1600/Aldea+-+Skate+Wing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzSQXTbvEyz0tF2dpnqsLibdM7tIUR9rgV3qJxY4jjdK1ZTyc9TDE2J0cHoSnX-gSnQ_YPw7ope45XiLKLyn0T_1Of7tYbCxpbqrph1Q5I5QSo6K7scrgVtQ6PY20RwV2I0aZMME1Dvo/s200/Aldea+-+Skate+Wing.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Skate Wing</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The ladies ordered the <b>Skate Wing</b> with pickled carrot,cauliflower "cabbage" & served in a finely textured brown butter sauce. These plates, too, were delicate & memorable, full-flavored, practically melting their way into one's mouth, on entry. The ladies acknowledged that they were quite pleased with their main selection. Just to be different, however,and to get a little greater feel for the menu and its variation, I chose the <b>Free Range Chicken Breast</b>, with a mixture of asparagus, English peas, <i>chorizo</i> (!) & fava beans - an exquisitely</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> flavorful & </span></span>complex "<i>country</i>" dish which paired extremely well with my Cabernet Franc Rose. (I practically cleared my plate of any remnant with a few more quick strokes of their crunchy bread!)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The dessert course was soon upon us and we ordered a <i>unique</i> bowl of <b>Cinnamon Rice Pudding </b>bolstered with whipped cinnamon, chocolate, pistachio</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <i>dragée</i></span></span></span>, fresh raspberries & served with a raspberry sorbet swirl. (This subtly sweet dessert concoction had been recommended by several writers on <b>Yelp* </b>and certainly lived up to the praises it had received.)</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLhFRu_vi82QYDQPmtqDXzj8RMGsbpae3hjkbXQ6UM-ELJIP0QcOKmqJCBhro8UE_j_QXYR4cMp7ZD3BtlutPLqjLiEZ67tXHbxX5ruSGKYyFt1cdByPKSjZt1qi3btxTTnEXusHc9Dg/s1600/Aldea+-+Giandujia+mousse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLhFRu_vi82QYDQPmtqDXzj8RMGsbpae3hjkbXQ6UM-ELJIP0QcOKmqJCBhro8UE_j_QXYR4cMp7ZD3BtlutPLqjLiEZ67tXHbxX5ruSGKYyFt1cdByPKSjZt1qi3btxTTnEXusHc9Dg/s200/Aldea+-+Giandujia+mousse.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Gianduja Mousse</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We also ordered -- and wholly enjoyed - our two portions of the<b> Gianduja Mousse</b>, where much seemed to be going on at once ... what with toasted orange pound cake, banana </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">brûlée</span></span></span></i>, nutella powder ... amidst a mound of frozen Greek yogurt. After a small, initial taste, it was clear to us that both desserts seemed to cry out for cups of rich, robust black coffee to tame (alright, subdue) all that sweetness into some kind of digestible finish. So we ordered black coffee, polished off the remaining few sips of wine in our glasses, and paid our check! <i>Ah</i> ... we must award<b> kudos</b> to a talented <b><a href="http://aldearestaurant.com/bio.php">Chef George Mendes</a> </b>and his highly competent staff for preparing & "orchestrating" the fine food we'd eaten and for presenting it to us with such care in such a low-key but regal fashion!<b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You'll surely see us at Aldea again, soon ... for lunch, and, possibly, for a celebratory evening meal! Ladies, are you with me?</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSoPUnhdvPWBh6fA3kroD9TC3WfQmcsdR1AdqMsjXdXIanHRf_uXd2hdvlb0Z-21CvWEKS6wZ_6ng-3SVuV0ypMIDgVw_-fodtc22cm4lV_VqEd81T0ofSjzM59-YPyaMc-uxnHbfMwOg/s1600/Rye+House+external.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSoPUnhdvPWBh6fA3kroD9TC3WfQmcsdR1AdqMsjXdXIanHRf_uXd2hdvlb0Z-21CvWEKS6wZ_6ng-3SVuV0ypMIDgVw_-fodtc22cm4lV_VqEd81T0ofSjzM59-YPyaMc-uxnHbfMwOg/s200/Rye+House+external.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://ryehousenyc.com/"><b>Rye House</b></a> (212/255-7260), essentially a rustic resto & bar, serving unique & sophisticated <i><b>bar</b></i> food, is also on our well-worn path to <a href="http://www.cinemavillage.com/chc/cv/"><b>Cinema Village</b></a>, practically mid-way between Penn Station and East 12th Street (off University Place). It is a perfect spot for a relatively quick but interesting lunch ... not at all what you'd expect to be served in your typical New York bar. In fact, the food, as one online writer noted, is produced with "a batch of magical ethnic twists" by a chef who knows "the intricacies of flavors, tastes, textures & ingredients."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This establishment is essentially - <i>preeminently</i>! - a spot for whiskey <i>aficionados</i> ... but which, according to one <b>Yelp*</b> reviewer, "even if whiskey is not completely nor always your thing, you should try Rye House out" ... for the substantial <b>$15 2-course </b><i>prix fixe</i><b><i> </i>lunch</b>, maybe coupled with an unusual (gourmet) draft beer, or two, or begun with an interesting whiskey selection. There is a plethora, a veritable goldmine, of all kinds of hard stuff ... rare Bourbon, Irish, Scotch, American whiskeys, Mezcal, Vodka, of all large & small-batch varieties, including some odd & idiosyncratic <u><i><b>blends</b></i></u> of the week. There is also an extensive list of creative & unusual cocktails - e.g., the <b>Oaxaca</b>, featuring Del Maguey Mezcal Vida, St. Germain, Lime, Ginger, Peychaud Bitters & Salt Rim @ $12; or the <b>Jimmy Stewart</b>, with Balcones Brimstone Smoked Whiskey, Grand Marnier, Angostura & Orange Bitters & Honey @ $14.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And while the beer & whiskey might allure you and attract, the Rye House food should, as well. Just recall the aforementioned </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><u>substantial</u> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">& </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(yep!)</span></span></span></span> unique</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> 2-course $15 <i>prix fixe </i>which we - just the <i>two of us</i>, this time - focused on and ordered from. Lots of fine <i>rustic but sophisticated</i> fare to choose from ...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We each started out with a rather generous <i>1st</i>-course salad. D. selected the <b>kale Caesar salad</b>, with croutons & Wisconsin "parm," while I chose the <b><i>f</i></b></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">risée</span></span></span></i> salad</b>, with cherry tomatoes, bacon bits, red onion & a buttermilk ranch dressing. We also </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">ordered a plate of Rye House's famous "<b>fried pickles</b>" (a supplement, @ $6) and a couple of gourmet draft beers (</span></span><a href="http://www.ommegang.com/#!beer_hennepin"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ommegang Hennepin Saison Ale</span></span></span></span></b></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">, @ $7 each) large enough to take us through the rest of lunch, through our 2nd course, that is.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhag1eNFy_e-WRVAx253sQu3uUQ8_zbx7hR1ELtbwqPnhInbytqinflG4kqNAq6_lAJ6hKrgo5lAJI2Sut0clgtRw_uXcPCv4lFEhbKokwvzf1LbxQ6wRuXBZGtTD83HRp4CGv9I-ypt9g/s1600/Rye+House+andouille+sausage+sandwich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhag1eNFy_e-WRVAx253sQu3uUQ8_zbx7hR1ELtbwqPnhInbytqinflG4kqNAq6_lAJ6hKrgo5lAJI2Sut0clgtRw_uXcPCv4lFEhbKokwvzf1LbxQ6wRuXBZGtTD83HRp4CGv9I-ypt9g/s200/Rye+House+andouille+sausage+sandwich.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>"The Pittsburgh"</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For her main, D. chose the large plate of <b>crispy shrimp tacos</b>, surrounded by red cabbage & filled with cole slaw, cilantro cream & smoked poblano peppers. This "tacos" course reflected a delectable combination of tastes with more than enough on the plate to share. My own main, "<b>the Pittsburgh</b>" - a bulging sandwich that proved equally unique, tasty & abundant - was firmly stuffed with a batch of complementary, nicely integrated ingredients ... including grilled Andouille sausage, provolone, house slaw & fries. This unusually appealing sandwich packed a proverbial wallop & would certainly satisfy even the most profound luncheon appetite.</span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sorry, hold the dessert; simply no more room whatsoever! (Next time.)</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7AF9CUCrJ5-AYGFZk7228O4aVvAJaG7EBE7D950CmADgEWPqU8fXo0_atVtYNSmRoMe7qMQAurjy3QhVncwlCrJ2ViXp4RjGxGYm4E8x4l4OyQkeDCy_Ue2X6UdH5PRyC3xpzB7DbY94/s1600/Shanghai+Mong+-+exterior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7AF9CUCrJ5-AYGFZk7228O4aVvAJaG7EBE7D950CmADgEWPqU8fXo0_atVtYNSmRoMe7qMQAurjy3QhVncwlCrJ2ViXp4RjGxGYm4E8x4l4OyQkeDCy_Ue2X6UdH5PRyC3xpzB7DbY94/s200/Shanghai+Mong+-+exterior.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Billing itself<b> </b>as a <i>Fusion Chinese</i> <i>Restaurant (</i>with Korean culinary hints along the way), <a href="http://www.shanghaimongnyc.com/best_asian_fusion_restaurant_nyc/"><b>Shanghai Mong</b></a> (@ 30 W. 32nd St.; between 5th & B'way; 212/629-6405) is, simply, a standout resto smack dab in the middle of Manhattan's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koreatown,_Manhattan"><b>Koreatown</b></a>. This eclectic resto features a veritable compendium of idiosyncratic </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">& unique </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Asian</span></span> dishes ... featuring very complex sauces, emphatic flavors & Korean spices of many varieties & sources. And a helpful (very busy!) waitstaff is never too far away to help you navigate the </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">singularly vast & intriguing</span></span> menu & to highlight items that might appeal to the Western palate. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3dtjlx9NocS3BT_HUwZQO6GqRF71ktPwOUoANvmCbH_PsHT6sxjkT7o2h-ZdN0MDEhMjmSSvn3F_PZZ-vcfrf7l01NPjjBIpzCwrHaHWZYouCQoCSEq7zu8BWjPOAaiXrFMwcb1YPsU/s1600/Shanghai+Mong+-+inner+tables.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3dtjlx9NocS3BT_HUwZQO6GqRF71ktPwOUoANvmCbH_PsHT6sxjkT7o2h-ZdN0MDEhMjmSSvn3F_PZZ-vcfrf7l01NPjjBIpzCwrHaHWZYouCQoCSEq7zu8BWjPOAaiXrFMwcb1YPsU/s200/Shanghai+Mong+-+inner+tables.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Interior - Shanghai Mong</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All kinds of specialties are available at this resto, including a wide assortment of spicy (and <i>semi</i>-spicy) noodle dishes. To get a feel for the culinary orientation, try any of the <u>specialty</u> noodle dishes ("solo" or in "combo") ... say <b>Seafood Jja Jang Myun</b> (@ $9.99; noodles with seafood & vegetables in black bean sauce); or <b>Jja Jang Mmyun</b> ($8.99; noodles with pork & vegetables in black bean sauce; or even <b>Jjamppong</b> ($11.99; hot noodles with seafood & fresh vegetables). And opt for one of the generous "</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>signature</i>"</span></span> dishes like <b>pepper shrimp</b> (@ $20.99) with, naturally, large & succulent sauteed shrimp in a black, green & red pepper sauce.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>"Mini Bites" / Dumplings</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Whatever you select - or whatever a waitstaff member recommends to you - do <u>not</u> leave the resto without trying the "<b>mini bites</b>" <b>lemon cream fried dumplings </b>(6 pieces @ $8.99; 12 @ $13.99; tender, compact [pork] dumplings swimming in a garlic-lemon cream-based sweet & sour sauce). </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkP1VyAaM8Z6CUCE5oRciSW8lETAHjmSj8vYZgZx4OjAHWuOZOyvdhZOyZaZ8oJqxKbh_CQmm66K_8KNifbw2ZYi0MfU1Ge8jwbczuXOITCcZS3KhZuB5tkx-GH2Zp7XWQh6mQepblvc/s1600/Shanghai+Mong-++Seafood+Noodle+Specialty+&+Jjajiangmien.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkP1VyAaM8Z6CUCE5oRciSW8lETAHjmSj8vYZgZx4OjAHWuOZOyvdhZOyZaZ8oJqxKbh_CQmm66K_8KNifbw2ZYi0MfU1Ge8jwbczuXOITCcZS3KhZuB5tkx-GH2Zp7XWQh6mQepblvc/s200/Shanghai+Mong-++Seafood+Noodle+Specialty+&+Jjajiangmien.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Seafood Jja Jang Myun</span></span></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You might want to order a round or two of any Asian draft or bottle beer (@ $5) to temper the hot sauces you will surely encounter along the way. And you <i><b>will</b></i> want to return to this establishment to sample more of these unique <i><b>eastern</b></i> "eats" on future occasions ... when you find yourself inexplicably hungry & in walking distance of this mid-town area haven, just a couple of blocks from Penn Station & steps off 5th Avenue.</span></span><br />
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H. J. Scheiber, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366292492767857006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693133104581549318.post-47068385148213871482013-08-28T16:19:00.000-07:002013-08-29T09:43:34.364-07:00“Still Mine” ... a small Canadian film of note<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOWaL8vPRqdHky1eTGcivUXZwWmzqhV6ZhHRJ6kch_wCWJZ4T4igoxOtc8m6D_hxT4lu7Hp3KHP_KyIjH71R847aCjJf0JIjaJqEebPMT73WWuJsM1DEhSK9jeWgrOnRtSHYi1lOM05k/s1600/Michael+Keaton_as_Batman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOWaL8vPRqdHky1eTGcivUXZwWmzqhV6ZhHRJ6kch_wCWJZ4T4igoxOtc8m6D_hxT4lu7Hp3KHP_KyIjH71R847aCjJf0JIjaJqEebPMT73WWuJsM1DEhSK9jeWgrOnRtSHYi1lOM05k/s1600/Michael+Keaton_as_Batman.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Michael Keaton - as Batman</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Summer is thought to be the time when "<i>blockbusters</i>" prevail at your neighborhood movie theater</span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">& throughout the Metro area ... movies, that is, full of thunderous</span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">explosions, bizarre adventure, tawdry robberies, incessant gunfire & hyperbolic explosions, animation-based narrative, arachnid superheroes, biotech thrillers, pubescent & puerile comedies. There are, fortunately, serious (small, thoughtful, independent) films too depicting adult life, adult issues & adult situations - in fiction film or documentary formats, domestic & foreign. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwTeScZ-2qWJSZkIpJjFZxYLACbT_1Bq8Cb2NcxMP5ghc3QbwHfKUL6ZMeq2tk-7YhiSTG6LmfNPqA3hIjq8Lb1nPIbSP4azSSuAJfMwUdpozTsTQQv6EzBsHFFjzfbxQdrjn9Q3fvwjw/s1600/Cinema+Village.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="67" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwTeScZ-2qWJSZkIpJjFZxYLACbT_1Bq8Cb2NcxMP5ghc3QbwHfKUL6ZMeq2tk-7YhiSTG6LmfNPqA3hIjq8Lb1nPIbSP4azSSuAJfMwUdpozTsTQQv6EzBsHFFjzfbxQdrjn9Q3fvwjw/s320/Cinema+Village.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">While clearly not as ubiquitous as the so-called blockbuster or the latest "hot" adolescent <i>mega</i>-movie, these "adult" films can be found & viewed in various "art" houses all around the city (<a href="http://www.cinemavillage.com/chc/cv/"><b>Cinema Village</b></a> & <a href="http://www.filmforum.org/"><b>Film Forum</b></a>, just to name two), and I've discussed several of them in earlier posts (<b><i>The Hijacking</i></b>, <b><i>Renoir</i></b>, <b><i>Plimpton</i></b>). </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGo0l2opj0LHprrFRiHQyyB9VR3PcU-6olps5iw4rtoZTPKdtS2Q9_bOqZH6E93h9Yp-gO7FJiLr66zZMqEITRAJ9T54JTLOgcf114DnhVBFmbKRZnPoQLXHsxvC5N8zZkgo71n7P6zuA/s1600/The_Hunt_(2012_film).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGo0l2opj0LHprrFRiHQyyB9VR3PcU-6olps5iw4rtoZTPKdtS2Q9_bOqZH6E93h9Yp-gO7FJiLr66zZMqEITRAJ9T54JTLOgcf114DnhVBFmbKRZnPoQLXHsxvC5N8zZkgo71n7P6zuA/s1600/The_Hunt_(2012_film).jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Additionally, and also worth your while, is another small, compelling but somewhat irksome, infuriating & destabilizing Danish film entitled <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hunt_%282012_film%29"><b>The Hunt</b></a> </i>(directed by <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Vinterberg">Thomas Vinterberg</a></b> & starring <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0586568/"><b>Mads Mikkelsen</b></a>; 2012) centered on a thirty-something male kindergarten teacher-assistant<i> </i>(Mikkelsen) living & working in a rural Danish community. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The whole town becomes increasingly (even brutally) hostile & incensed after the teacher is accused of sexually assaulting a young girl (his best friend's slightly off-balance daughter) and engendering a climate of near-mass hysteria just before and during the Christmas holiday period. A difficult film to watch, but, all the same, a small-scale, worthwhile narrative film to view & reflect upon dealing with a not altogether uncommon societal situation (these days, anyway) but one whose treatment here is, well, both perplexing & unique.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUh0ctoihU8VbcdvaR3ixije0LD2b1GTRp0Kw_Ijtxp2B2BD0GTa_FhfEf_iADlSA5EL3cYEsSX94o6j-CIDpcY1xtb0i01guOMMgV9sGVfMpxm8uS4Ajs9vs4bpLtwXgCrofuS0VQK0/s1600/Still+Mine+-+Movie+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUh0ctoihU8VbcdvaR3ixije0LD2b1GTRp0Kw_Ijtxp2B2BD0GTa_FhfEf_iADlSA5EL3cYEsSX94o6j-CIDpcY1xtb0i01guOMMgV9sGVfMpxm8uS4Ajs9vs4bpLtwXgCrofuS0VQK0/s1600/Still+Mine+-+Movie+poster.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In<b><i> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2073086/">Still Mine</a></i></b>, a recently released Canadian film starring <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000991/"><b>Genevieve Bujold</b></a> & <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Cromwell"><b>James Cromwell</b></a>, and directed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_McGowan_%28director%29"><b>Michael McGowan</b></a> (based on a true story), the focus is upon an aging New Brunswick farming couple, the Morrisons (he 87; and she, perhaps in her mid-70s), their long marriage, and the increasingly complex & realistic demands impacting their lives precipitated by the condition of the wife, Irene, and her incipient symptoms of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dementia"><i>dementia</i></a> (probably Alzheimer's). As the narrative progresses, we witness, </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">in various tender, emotion-laden scenes</span></span>, the slow stages of Irene's mental deterioration - and the husband's seemingly <i>rational</i> responses to the new (the latest) conditions. For example, following her fall down a flight of stairs, with no significant physical injury, the husband (Craig) arranges for their bed to be situated on the first floor where there are no steps to navigate. As more time passes, it becomes obvious to the viewer, evident to Craig and to his adult children, that feisty Irene is now consistently having difficulty recalling people in appropriate contexts, remembering both significant and mundane events, and, at various times, registering her own needs, movements, and doings when Craig is not around and available to guide her. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Cromwell & Bujold</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As if coping with, and monitoring, a mentally deteriorating spouse, </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">on a daily basis</span></span> (and cooking, collecting eggs, milking cows, harvesting & selling strawberries, and so forth) is not complicated enough, Craig Morrison has determined that the couple can only survive their aging (slowly deteriorating) ordeal if they can live in a small new one-floor home that he intends to build on a lovely plot of land on less than an acre of the 2,000 he owns. In fact, he succeeds in building the home despite the major permit and construction & local legal impediments he must overcome along the way. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Cromwell & Bujold</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But Craig is a tough old bird and prideful about what he can do, should continue to do, and can't do (i.e., he just can't stop the construction process as the local authorities insist he must). Despite the legal roadblocks due to town ordinances & bureaucrats, despite Craig's impending (precarious) court appearance, and despite a lengthy separation from Irene because her condition has worsened and she is confined to a hospital/rehabilitation center for a time - </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">the Morrisons </span></span>actually finish the project and move in ... enabling them to celebrate a few more birthdays in a comfortable, new &, above all, <u><i>safe</i></u> home environment. In the end, the couple - perhaps Craig more obviously - seem tougher and healthier for their battle with encroaching terminal disease and with the construction </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">inspectors </span></span>& legal representatives of their New Brunswick locality.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>James Cromwell & Campbell Scott</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This film, though, recounts a tender, upbeat story, however sad, mournful, disturbing & difficult - and <i><b>inevitable</b></i> - some of the scenes prove to be along the way. There is the rather painful, stress-filled scene just outside the farmhouse where Irene is settled in out in the cold night air, refusing adamantly, despite the intense cold, to be taken inside to her warm bed; there is the sequence, too, where Irene slips away from her home and ends up a considerable distance away near a local lake, just on the beach, simply watching & wondering (seemingly steady & safe) in this new spot, until Craig finally discovers her whereabouts and slowly, after a bit of his own watching, wraps his long, safe, purposeful arms around her. <i><b> </b></i></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Bujold & Cromwell</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Still Mine</b></i>, spare, powerful & intense, remains the story of two people who have been close & in love for some 50+ years caring deeply the one for the other ... and <b><i>both</i></b>, in concrete & demonstrable ways, sacrificing long stretches of their lives - one for the other - achieving a rare level of commitment, contentment & happiness at various points along the way ... and (surely) as <b><i>we</i></b> witness them approaching the end of life, the very end!</span></span>H. J. Scheiber, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366292492767857006noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693133104581549318.post-27574835744288672792013-07-30T17:08:00.001-07:002013-07-31T17:19:30.851-07:00Oldenburg & Le Corbusier at MoMA + Summer Reading<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On an insufferably hot and humid day </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(Tuesday, July 23rd)</span> </span>this past week, we lunched on 9th Avenue, in <i>mid</i>-town (@ The Ember Room; discussed in my April 25th blog post), now "reformatted" & reinvented as <a href="http://obaony.com/"><b>Obao Restaurant</b></a>) ... and then proceeded over to <a href="http://www.moma.org/visit/exhibitions"><b>MoMA</b></a></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b><span style="font-size: large;">(on 53rd, between 5th & 6th).</span><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>MoMA - Rain Room, 2012</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We consciously passed up the <b>Rain Room</b>, a popular installation housed just outside & west of the museum's main building. Featuring a "large-scale interactive environment," the exhibit </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">(thru July 28th) </span></span>consists of "a field of falling water that visitors may walk through and experience how it might feel to <i>control the rain</i>." </span></span> <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Oldenburg - Giant Hamburger w/Pickle (MoMA)</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We had, however, other things in mind: a major <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claes_Oldenburg"><b>Claes Oldenburg</b></a> retrospective exhibit and (right next door) a large & commanding show examining the life, projects, thought & thought processes of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Corbusier"><b>Le Corbusier</b></a> - displaying a broad, idiosyncratic & diverse career of architectural design & building, writing (30+ books), painting & more. Le Corbusier was, of course, an architectural giant & "<i>big thinker</i>" (there is an interview with him and a lecture on the philosophical underpinnings of his large body of work); <u><b>and</b></u> Oldenburg, you might recall, introduced the world to the possibilities of the <i>commercial product</i> <u>and</u> <i>street-based refuse</i> as viable forms of art - designing, and focusing in on, brightly painted sculptures & "sculptural reliefs" ... from a giant hamburger (see <b>MoMA </b>photo) to such subjects as lingerie, pastries, pies, eggs & omelettes, hats, suits, ties, jumbo sneakers ... focusing, that is, on all sorts of <i>socio</i>-cultural artifacts and, writ large and colorful, making them art! Hence the title of the show: <span style="line-height: 115%;">"</span><a href="http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/exhibitions/1320"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Claes Oldenburg: The Street and The Store</span></b></a><span style="line-height: 115%;">"(running thru August 5th).</span></span> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Oldenburg - Pastry Case, I</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">According to the museum's online curator-based discussion of the show, "... Oldenburg's audacious, witty, and profound depictions of everyday objects have earned him a reputation as one of the most important artists of the 20th century." And the current exhibition, they continue to note, aims to reflect & penetrate the early phases of Oldenburg's career "... with an in-depth look at his first two major bodies of work: <i><b>The Street </b></i>(1960) and<i><b> The Store</b></i> (1961-1964)." And both components in Oldenburg's early & developing sculptural idiom are, I should emphasize, equally fascinating, with the larger pieces - components of <i><b>The Store</b></i> - possibly the more audacious, memorable & fun.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzEB7yzMhfP2Tjo7P6ZJDwdL3X6a1l3bOwvpzkZ_QPpDcEh8yjcIKGgmBcnUZhqACjLVVtncJXyfrCg-T2Kj1AlJtyciMZ9r5eo5ji3PpXx5T4Mul4x4D__wKIw5bnI0S388C6zmFpIJA/s1600/Le_Corbusier_An_Atlas_of_Modern_Landscapes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzEB7yzMhfP2Tjo7P6ZJDwdL3X6a1l3bOwvpzkZ_QPpDcEh8yjcIKGgmBcnUZhqACjLVVtncJXyfrCg-T2Kj1AlJtyciMZ9r5eo5ji3PpXx5T4Mul4x4D__wKIw5bnI0S388C6zmFpIJA/s320/Le_Corbusier_An_Atlas_of_Modern_Landscapes.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Both of these shows - the Oldenburg & Le Corbusier ("<b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null">An Atlas of Modern Landscapes</a></b>"; thru</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> September 23rd) - present, for the viewer-attendee, rich, complete, entertaining, complex (culturally, artistically), circumscribed environments and equally rich & entertaining experiences. You owe it to yourself to get over to MoMA and see one or both of these, well, major<i> events</i> before they close!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>On another note entirely</i>: I'd like to propose some summer reading material for those upcoming August, "dog-day" afternoons or leisure-laden evenings. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Andrea Camileri</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">First, let me propose the <a href="http://italian-mysteries.com/ACAap.html"><b>Andrea Camilleri</b></a> mystery series (now in Penguin paperbacks, @ <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=andrea+camilleri&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Aandrea+camilleri"><b>Amazon.com</b></a>) in which the action is based in northwest Sicily. In some 12 or 14 books (translated efficiently, effectively & responsibly by Stephen Sartarelli), we follow <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvo_Montalbano"><b>Inspector Salvo Montalbano</b></a> battling all sorts of crime of the most riveting variety - featuring daunting criminals, bizarre cases, and equally entertaining & oddly depicted cops. But the real pleasure is as much (or more) in the character, habits & interests of Montalbano, himself, as it is in the narrative & context of the case under investigation. For me, the fun is simply underscored by the allusions to the food and culture of Sicily that Montalbano concentrates upon & addresses, day & night, in a variety of matters, along the way. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtDNIFuVlBrBIwBnhmzVk0eqUBAlhC305xxCkd29HZL1LHTpm5E0dTTDwe4sJCsThPg8eTA4_6Y65zuuGLVDs8D82kY8YLeFyHn1Sv_6D600_oObi9dOM92q6GeLIVFZP31usQjOHxWo/s1600/Voive+of+Violin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtDNIFuVlBrBIwBnhmzVk0eqUBAlhC305xxCkd29HZL1LHTpm5E0dTTDwe4sJCsThPg8eTA4_6Y65zuuGLVDs8D82kY8YLeFyHn1Sv_6D600_oObi9dOM92q6GeLIVFZP31usQjOHxWo/s320/Voive+of+Violin.jpg" width="210" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And, as I was saying to my ole friend, Leonardo L., just the other day, in an e-mail response to his letting me know how much he enjoyed <i><b>The Shape of Water</b></i> (volume #1 in the series), this detective series is full of humor & humanity; it is interesting and entertaining; positively rich in local "color" - culture & food(!) & books & Sicilian locales; somewhat light in texture & tone (but only somewhat); and full of ongoing philosophical probing and existential issues. You would do well to take a look at one of Andrea Camilleri's Montalbano mysteries!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9ZXpjuKlNRgjk_5vlPJ98_kq6_RbNQV4qlw9LMbI9byFuJa5yhEwujT9RyiMhzEGJxyrVDIh6A5VlqhbMLO0_JrBvc4b8B7ACQUjr5759eva65q06X7wFAqpMQTMZria0eua5lo4D6g/s1600/Provincial+Life+-+novel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9ZXpjuKlNRgjk_5vlPJ98_kq6_RbNQV4qlw9LMbI9byFuJa5yhEwujT9RyiMhzEGJxyrVDIh6A5VlqhbMLO0_JrBvc4b8B7ACQUjr5759eva65q06X7wFAqpMQTMZria0eua5lo4D6g/s1600/Provincial+Life+-+novel.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My second suggestion for summer reading material (in this case rather rare and, possibly, out of print; consult <b><a href="http://abe.com/">ABE.com</a></b>) consists in <u>four</u> novels by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Cooper_%28novelist%29"><b>William Cooper</b></a>, the British novelist (published in the U.S., </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">beginning in 1950, </span></span>by E.P. Dutton) who influenced the likes of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Braine"><b>John Braine</b></a>, <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingsley_Amis">Kingsley Amis</a></b> (think <i><b>Lucky Jim</b></i>!), <a href="http://www.malcolmbradbury.com/"><b>Malcolm Bradbury</b></a>, and, even, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Lodge_%28author%29"><b>David Lodge</b></a>. Cooper's lyrically comical novel series begins with <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Scenes-Provincial-Life-Including-Married/dp/0141046880/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375219081&sr=1-3&keywords=William+Cooper"><i><b>Scenes from Provincial Life</b></i></a>, focusing on, and tracing, the life of one Joe Lunn, narrator & would-be novelist - his life, loves, doings, involvements, friends, dreams, likes, interests, limitations - as he moves through adult life and through a series of three additional equally comic, lyrical novels - <i><b>Scenes from Metropolitan Life</b></i>,<i><b> Scenes from Married Life & Scenes from Later Life</b>. </i>I suspect you'll be intrigued by this relatively obscure but influential novelist, and will agree with <i><b>Library Journal</b></i> in their abbreviated & pithy assessment of William Cooper's <u><i>oeuvre</i></u>: "Finely crafted, witty, and highly civilized." </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Consider yourself set, now, for the remainder of the summer, through, say, Labor Day weekend, at the very least ...</span></span>H. J. Scheiber, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366292492767857006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693133104581549318.post-85582848976403015892013-07-16T15:02:00.000-07:002013-07-23T06:24:32.885-07:00From PS1 in Queens ... to MoonDance on Pier 84 ... & More!<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Summertime</i> in the New York area this year is, well, hot &
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>MoMA PS1, Long Island City, Queens</b></span></td></tr>
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humid ... or, as my mother used to say, very <i><b>close</b>. </i> And while the living ain't exactly easy, it is, indeed, replete with all kinds of wonderful choices, unique activities, all manner of possibilities - cultural, entertainment, culinary and more. Our first choice, during the past few weeks, centered on <a href="http://momaps1.org/"><b>MoMA's PS1</b></a>(22-25 Jackson Ave., Long Island City), </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and entailed an outing to</span></span> this <b>MoMA</b> branch in Queens for two </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">essential </span></span>reasons: the "culture" (the art) & the culinary. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaUSLBa5TlHVY0QKnsvGfrgorbHg9wSXN0_82NeNyfVlbS5zPvLfqtnI6-XgbLJFKt6ia2uLEO3VOP5wyyyObvOKkAvDjA_AHfnshuQQCiWRdH5l0idQ8P4kFp_K0HhjyCqfQO6fDJEM/s1600/M.WellsDinette+@+PS-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaUSLBa5TlHVY0QKnsvGfrgorbHg9wSXN0_82NeNyfVlbS5zPvLfqtnI6-XgbLJFKt6ia2uLEO3VOP5wyyyObvOKkAvDjA_AHfnshuQQCiWRdH5l0idQ8P4kFp_K0HhjyCqfQO6fDJEM/s320/M.WellsDinette+@+PS-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">M. Wells Dinette, PS1</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Actually, in terms of our trip out to PS1, the culinary proved the greater motivating factor; that is, we were (for a long while) intent on dining at <b><a href="http://momaps1.org/about/mwells/">M. Wells Dinette</a>,</b> the new bistro-like restaurant on the main floor of the building and established by French Canadians (from Montreal, I believe). The focus appears to be on all things fresh (vegetables, soups, salads) and, primarily, on an ever-changing variety of meat plates. The resto is housed in what was the original public school ("PS-1") cafeteria and has the odd feel, now, of a school lunch room <i>cum</i> bistro (see photo). It is a bit noisy dining there & chatting amidst the elongated cafeteria-type tables and the extra high ceilings, but the food is excellent (the menu changes almost daily) & the service is as friendly & helpful as your sweetest & most approachable (or, on our visit, avuncular) 1st-grade teacher.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zgIuPIGc8jb1HnkHkdLjj_rLknfHKv83uIPq4BsOHVUrINajj1yQppqI-PQHsYorNkFM_2DIqsBXAMiEDWuvjimPgDclbqzO0ivSQRccNr1a3NGOUCiiI0TU3DRcZnRe7sO2JWL9pVU/s1600/pork+chop+diner+@+m+wells.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zgIuPIGc8jb1HnkHkdLjj_rLknfHKv83uIPq4BsOHVUrINajj1yQppqI-PQHsYorNkFM_2DIqsBXAMiEDWuvjimPgDclbqzO0ivSQRccNr1a3NGOUCiiI0TU3DRcZnRe7sO2JWL9pVU/s200/pork+chop+diner+@+m+wells.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pork Chop w/truffles & mash potatoes</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We were two couples and we each began the meal with an inviting, interestingly spiced, large bowl of gaspacho (@ $8) which proved a great starter for this outing and what would come next ... and after that! (I highly recommend the gaspacho and would opt for it again if it happens to remain on the menu.) Two of us, next, had selected the <b>pork chop</b> with truffles & mashed potatoes ($16) ... which proved very tender & very tasty, an enjoyable dish reflecting a harmoniously constructed "take" on a somewhat traditional theme. My wife chose the <b>liver & onions</b> ($16) entree with snippets of bacon bits atop the veal liver; also a nicely prepared plate reminiscent of yet another (traditional) hardy theme. The 4th entree that arrived was an interesting amalgam of <b>foie gras & rabbit pate </b>(@ $18), a country French dish that, in terms of the natural blend of the two major components, metamorphosed into, well, none other than an epicurean delight! </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqKzv2xZEl0VOjIjki8x5XyCz3UQNuuh87xYi_7tDNEQ_6tIVMLaSOn2MhVhhd5Me7YmgKST3iBEILy7PYhScecdiAQiAZKsX7gATsh21Cp6eOFbzfp_EAWaQIBaDecUptfBDM6AuRo8/s1600/petit-cochon--rose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqKzv2xZEl0VOjIjki8x5XyCz3UQNuuh87xYi_7tDNEQ_6tIVMLaSOn2MhVhhd5Me7YmgKST3iBEILy7PYhScecdiAQiAZKsX7gATsh21Cp6eOFbzfp_EAWaQIBaDecUptfBDM6AuRo8/s1600/petit-cochon--rose.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Petit Cochon</b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As a complement to our food choices we ordered what turned out to be a refreshingly smooth bottle of <b><a href="http://www.unionsquarewines.com/wines/--w7694922gc">Petit Cochon</a>, </b>a <b><i>rose</i> </b>from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languedoc-Roussillon"><b>Languedoc</b></a> ($32; 2012, Domaine Rimbert); we savored the mixture of grape varieties - Grenache, Syrah & Cinsaut - blended within this lovely wine from the south of France.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Coupled all around with cups of rich & robust black coffee, we ended our "school cafeteria" visit with a dessert suggested by our waiter: an extra large "bowl" of raspberry-inflected <b><i>creme brulee</i></b> ($15) which we four shared. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Indeed, both the <i>creme brulee</i> & the resto, itself, scored a solid hit with the four of us.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Moonrise - Hernandez, NM; c. 1941</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And our visit to the museum proved equally worthwhile, with lots to see, to savor, to linger over & discuss. Tops were the large rooms full of stark, powerful, enigmatic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansel_Adams"><b>Ansel Adams </b></a>black-&-white photos. Entitled by the curators - "<b>The Politics of Contemplation</b>" - these celebrated photos depict the harsh elements of nature, highlighting stunning contrasts between earth and sky ... <b>AND</b> focusing on such things as "Yosemite's grand mountains, melancholic forests, falling rivers, operatic geysers, and <i>sci-fi</i> moonrises [from <a href="http://momaps1.org/exhibitions/"><i><b>Expo-1: New York</b></i></a>]." </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Brodno People - Pawel Althame</span>r</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> (Warsaw)</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Also impressive was an installation called <a href="http://www.momaps1.org/expo1/image/installation-view-of-brodno-people/"><b>Brodno People</b></a>, actually a series of <i>sculptures</i> - in metal, soft medal, plastics, celltape & LED light - created by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pawe%C5%82_Althamer"><b>Pawel Althamer</b></a> (Polish; born 1967) and a group of his neighbors who lived in an apartment block in the <b>Brodno </b>neighborhood of <b>Warsaw</b>. The installation-sculptures depict (see photo) these people - "in a range of techniques and styles" - in <i>self-portraits</i> posed as a group of robots, cyborgs & astronauts as if in a science fiction film ... "each figure an imagined persona from a dystopic future."</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>MoonDance Sponsor</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zQKA4KLMOKu_h-MH6MEfQf9eZiv3AD8u_LSc5Q9qKnfKw42WFIriPCZw93YL4K9C_gMHUsapRu2H2PYlKOzTLeFXziTzSDxOomsy1xPbJhFQey8K21ilfFWJsR9rpDuVo-zhQRM0Jag/s1600/Salsa+with+Los+hermanos+Colon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zQKA4KLMOKu_h-MH6MEfQf9eZiv3AD8u_LSc5Q9qKnfKw42WFIriPCZw93YL4K9C_gMHUsapRu2H2PYlKOzTLeFXziTzSDxOomsy1xPbJhFQey8K21ilfFWJsR9rpDuVo-zhQRM0Jag/s200/Salsa+with+Los+hermanos+Colon.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Salsa w/Los Hermanos Colon</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On a somewhat lighter, more "<i>swinging</i>" note,<b> <a href="http://www.hudsonriverpark.org/events/series/moondance">MoonDance</a> </b>(2013; <b>July 14th - August 11th</b>; & <b>FREE</b>!) began this past Sunday evening on <a href="http://www.hudsonriverpark.org/explore-the-park/locations/pier-84"><b>Pier 84</b> </a>(at W. 44th St.). A wide variety of people - old & young, experienced dancers & beginners, dancers from every ethnic group - come out & "boogie" along the Hudson River. Sponsored by <a href="http://www.citywinery.com/newyork/"><b>City Winery</b></a> and supported in every way by <a href="http://www.dance-manhattan.com/"><b>Dance Manhattan</b></a>, MoonDance provides you with your "chance to strut your stuff under the stars ..." in a program series featuring alternating evenings of swing, tango & salsa. Live bands start playing at 7:00 pm and free dance lessons, courtesy of Dance Manhattan, begin at 6:30. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>George Gee Swing Orchestra</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The irrepressible <a href="http://www.georgegee.com/"><b>George Gee Swing Orchestra</b></a> kicked off the MoonDance series on this hot summer evening and my wife (a superb, intuitive dancer!) and I were out there for better than an hour doing the swing, the Lindy Hop & a mixture of the two ... with cool, penetrating Hudson River breezes preventing us - and all on the dance floor - from the damaging "rages" of the latest New York area heatwave. Come on out and join the festivities next Sunday evening (July 21st) for salsa with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcZduK2_e7I"><b>Los Hermanos Colon</b></a>!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <b> </b></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0jT5Og-yVvyrB0fOqYnSNZeqTH0I0yXPuA-RvlJC_WcdVjcuT4ySBYlubaoirPveDkNUb66-vRN_FOtvn9nktUFdeg2posNiJsUShpHRQpvhgP8EbOpxzD_bc3ERT4gNrOT2WKQO3-g/s1600/Hummus+Place.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0jT5Og-yVvyrB0fOqYnSNZeqTH0I0yXPuA-RvlJC_WcdVjcuT4ySBYlubaoirPveDkNUb66-vRN_FOtvn9nktUFdeg2posNiJsUShpHRQpvhgP8EbOpxzD_bc3ERT4gNrOT2WKQO3-g/s200/Hummus+Place.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>7th Ave. South @ Bleecker</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Finally, if you happen to find yourself hungry in the West Village - prior to, or just after, a movie, say, at the <b>Film Forum</b> - consider walking a few blocks back uptown for a light lunch or early dinner at <a href="http://www.hummusplace.com/?categoryId=45485"><b>Hummus Place</b></a>. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Shakshuka</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Falafel plate</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This little culinary gem at 71 7th Ave. South, at Bleecker (actually one of three Manhattan locations), features everything</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Middle Eastern: </span></span> from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falafel"><b>falafel</b></a> (5 balls served on tahini & green sauce; @ $4.50) & <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2010/04/shakshuka/"><b>shakshuka</b></a> (a substantial omlette-type "stew of tomatoes, peppers & eggplant topped with 2 eggs over easy"; $8.95) ... to crunchy salads & silky hummus of every (popular) Mediterranean provenance ... along with some pretty fabulous desserts (try the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16SjITGB1fk"><b>kadaif</b></a> @ $5; "dry kadaif topped with vanilla-infused ricotta cheese, halva shreds & honey date"). A wide </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">variety of hot & cold drinks is available, as well</span></span> ... an incomparable "house" mint tea ($2.50), "homemade" lemonade, Turkish coffee ($2.50), espresso & a short list of beers (@ $5), from <b>Brooklyn Lager</b> to <b>Heineken</b> to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/css/history/orders/view.html?ie=UTF8&ref_=ya_C_openorders&orderFilter=open&"><b>Goldstar</b></a> (a bottle beer from Israel). </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Those fluffy pitas</b></span></span>!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Best of all, perhaps, are the unusually thick & fluffy <b>pitas</b> you will surely consume & strategically apply to remnants of anything accidentally left on your plate! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Simply do yourself a favor & give <b>Hummus Place</b> a try when next you're in the neighborhood!</span></span><br />
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H. J. Scheiber, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366292492767857006noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693133104581549318.post-50787899467736825712013-06-27T10:14:00.001-07:002013-06-29T12:21:59.650-07:00Some summer events, three unique cinema experiences + two noteworthy, unpretentious restos in Manhattan<div style="text-align: left;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9egHrRYyBADXU9YCzFQjNDoruy7sTe8ar3hpGD8zvhqfXbq2cQB7Mni8EplEaow2UlBwMcYXcufRnxv29E2P6Wx_KEQRBVoxbtI-PCpv9IY-jg110v4Ow246ma0RY05uxFqQp20goPQ/s400/AnatCohen_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9egHrRYyBADXU9YCzFQjNDoruy7sTe8ar3hpGD8zvhqfXbq2cQB7Mni8EplEaow2UlBwMcYXcufRnxv29E2P6Wx_KEQRBVoxbtI-PCpv9IY-jg110v4Ow246ma0RY05uxFqQp20goPQ/s320/AnatCohen_400.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Anat Cohen</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Large & small festivals of all sorts seem to proliferate throughout New York City during the summer months. As we are all, by now, well aware, there are theater, music, film, food, wine & beer, and street festivals of every ilk: there is, among hundreds of such summer-long events, the "<a href="http://www.rivertorivernyc.com/"><b>River-to River, 2013</b></a>" festival featuring numbers of performing artists, including the <a href="http://www.rivertorivernyc.com/artists/lar-lubovitch-dance-company/"><b>Lar Lubovitch Dance Company</b></a> (scheduled for June 25th @ 7:30 at the <a href="http://schimmel.pace.edu/"><b>Schimmel Center for the Arts</b></a>; 3 Spruce Street, downtown, in the heart of <b>Pace University</b>); or the<b> <a href="http://www.madisonsquarepark.org/news/mad-sq-music-oval-lawn-series-2013">Madison Square Park Conservancy / Music 2013 Oval Lawn Series</a></b> (featuring the likes of <b>Suzanne Vega</b>, <b>Ben Sollee</b>, & the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-Q1o3ZBN70"><b>Anat Cohen Quartet</b> </a>this week, June 26th @ 7:00; located between Madison & Fifth @ 23rd/24th Streets); <u><b>AND</b></u> a 3-week long <b>50th Anniversary Ozu</b> film festival at the <a href="http://www.filmforum.org/"><b>Film Forum</b></a> (June 7th-27th; 209 West Houston St; 212/727-8110) commemorating the work of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasujir%C5%8D_Ozu"><b>Yasujiro Ozu</b></a> (1903-1963). </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTx7quB78lixuJcxpIfS-WzES7dXgkezp7idnMQgse5P37B99p5G8u9vnFacSqalCtelNQs_mSldSUNbLtv28g247Uhyphenhyphenx_MldGvXKAYK-xgDPkZA_OR1HQSbBUkbBAqA2u7enBgMzxJA/s344/OZU-PORTRAIT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTx7quB78lixuJcxpIfS-WzES7dXgkezp7idnMQgse5P37B99p5G8u9vnFacSqalCtelNQs_mSldSUNbLtv28g247Uhyphenhyphenx_MldGvXKAYK-xgDPkZA_OR1HQSbBUkbBAqA2u7enBgMzxJA/s320/OZU-PORTRAIT.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Yasujiro Ozu</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The festival couples both his well-known masterpieces -<i>The </i><i>Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice</i>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046438/"><b><i>Tokyo Story</i></b></a>,<i>The End of Summer</i>, <i>Late Autumn</i> - with lesser known films (too numerous to list in full), such as one we were able to catch entitled<i> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051720/"><b>Equinox Flower</b></a></i> (1958), Ozu's first color feature, superbly, carefully, sensitively acted but with a light "footprint," focusing on all aspects of marriage & the family - from traditional & arranged marriages, to the rigors of a daughter(s) choosing her <i>own</i> husband & a stern father's having to get used to new, <i>non</i>-traditional ways. Ultimately, according to one reviewer, the film presents "a balanced picture of Japanese family life, made with loving irony." (Don't know if this charming film is currently available from Netflix.) </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFNvK_UHVmAHSEDT2EEqQ1NiueSHAdi4chRTbJnT2sVnegdmxqEOo9wRFCpRvQc1-FQVN-KW-a3e6x7dWlyQRlv4zX5DCcXFNwVIXYn5fZ-0XFkRwv2M2HtR7_60xCK5oQU5sUNGpu00/s186/Hopper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFNvK_UHVmAHSEDT2EEqQ1NiueSHAdi4chRTbJnT2sVnegdmxqEOo9wRFCpRvQc1-FQVN-KW-a3e6x7dWlyQRlv4zX5DCcXFNwVIXYn5fZ-0XFkRwv2M2HtR7_60xCK5oQU5sUNGpu00/s186/Hopper.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Edward Hopper work</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One other special (somewhat "summer") event which should be noted - especially by those living in the Montclair, NJ area, or with easy access to Essex County - concerns a creatively arranged & mounted show entitled <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwNRgKPe27w"><b>The New Spirit: American Art in the Armory Show, 1913</b></a>. The show ran from February 17th thru June 16th (it has, obviously, just ended). </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Mary Cassatt work</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">According to <a href="http://www.montclair-art.com/"><b>Montclair Art Museum</b></a> publicity material, the "exhibition [which opened 100 years to the day from the original <a href="http://www.askart.com/askart/interest/new_york_armory_show_of_1913s_1.aspx?id=15"><b>New York City Armory Show</b></a>] focuses on the diverse range of American art, that was exhibited alongside modern European art by Cezanne and Matisse." Included, for example, were works of <a href="http://www.biography.com/people/mary-cassatt-9240820"><b>Mary Cassatt</b></a>, <a href="http://www.edwardhopper.net/"><b>Edward Hopper</b></a> (<i>Sailing</i>, 1911), and <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/26/arts/design/montclair-art-museum-shows-oscar-bluemner-new-spirit.html"><b>Oscar Bluemner</b></a> (<i>Hackensack River</i>, c. 1912). The show was, indeed, a stunning, circumscribed representation of American art earlier displayed at the NY City Armory Show in 1913, providing a fine opportunity for local museum-goers to witness some truly wonderful works in various media (along with some original documents & memorabilia), all assembled tastefully in a few well lighted rooms for relative ease of viewing.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Three new, or recent, films </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">to take note of </span></span>and that I must recommend to you </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- <i>without</i> pyrotechnic activity & artificial mayhem - </span></span>consist in the following: <i><b>Renoir</b></i> (2012, directed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilles_Bourdos"><b>Gilles Bourdos</b></a>); <i><b>Plimpton</b></i> (2013, a documentary directed by <a href="http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2012/06/21/the-making-of-plimpton/"><b>Tom Bean</b> & <b>Luke Poling</b></a>); and <i><b>A Highjacking</b></i> (2012, a feature film directed by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2105585/"><b>Tobias Lindholm</b></a>). To even mention these three currently running films is to speak of three strikingly different & original kinds of cinema experiences. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0-OKBKbNSN9xG1X20afmhS0mOw_Gcyybv6az4ql2kUQR0L7ZU5GxQkp6O9ber3srY0UXZDwz0pGcOciI6LP2L7L26qErWL90u13wC22CeNyV5aLsDm0NdE7ceMRo5DS4DTJurq_oDrM/s317/Renoir+-+Poster+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0-OKBKbNSN9xG1X20afmhS0mOw_Gcyybv6az4ql2kUQR0L7ZU5GxQkp6O9ber3srY0UXZDwz0pGcOciI6LP2L7L26qErWL90u13wC22CeNyV5aLsDm0NdE7ceMRo5DS4DTJurq_oDrM/s317/Renoir+-+Poster+II.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2150332/"><i><b>Renoir</b></i></a> is composed of lush scenes & richly colorful vistas to be <i>discovered</i> by the viewer and dwelt upon - "painted" by both <a href="http://www.biography.com/people/pierre-auguste-renoir-20693609"><b>Pierre-Auguste Renoir</b></a> (imperially & imperiously played by Michel Bouquet) and, also, by the film's cinematographer (</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mark Lee Ping Bin</span></span></span>) ... and set primarily at Renoir's estate in the south of France along the Cote d'Azur. The film focuses on the diurnal life of the working artist struggling in old age with constant, terrific, arthritic pain (his brushes must be strapped to his grizzled hands and fingers so that he can hold them, sketch & paint). This impressionist film, then, is centrally a portrait of an individual - a great impressionist painter - who cannot live without painting and without his current young model & bevy of loyal older models ... and who <i>must</i> endure the pain (both physical & emotional) as he <i>must</i> go on creating during the period of World War I. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2nuEw-tyWWI2H270TiVyqk6MQnqoi9DfpknGZTpZsQ0lNWw5ApNYO4zbjczw74G_6WH1v4pSdfLBKWByythUCP0TZS_JQPbAFoKmdsTxAc6fhzdZCyURRp93hhQ20eZGjJYmaM0ze2M/s105/P-A+Renoir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2nuEw-tyWWI2H270TiVyqk6MQnqoi9DfpknGZTpZsQ0lNWw5ApNYO4zbjczw74G_6WH1v4pSdfLBKWByythUCP0TZS_JQPbAFoKmdsTxAc6fhzdZCyURRp93hhQ20eZGjJYmaM0ze2M/s200/P-A+Renoir.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>P-A Renoir (Michel Bouquet)</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b>Renoir</b></i> is also the story of a war-wounded <a href="http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/498192/Jean-Renoir"><b>Jean Renoir</b></a> convalescing on his father's estate and the affair he has with his father's most interesting, youthful, recalcitrant & sensual model, </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.myheritage.com/person-2000345_65359181_65359181/andree-madeleine-renoir-born-heuschling"><b>Andrée Heuschling</b></a>, </span></span>as he recovers from his leg injury, develops as a man (a <i>thoughtful</i> man) and begins to refine his interest & skills in the art of film. This is a fabulously colorful, sensuous film to view, seemingly "painted" on a broad canvas & finely textured, a film displaying superbly natural acting by all the cast members, <i>en ensemble</i>, a film that is sincere & powerful, deep & natural, and somewhat enigmatic, at times, in its portraits of Jean and his beguiling, difficult, even truculent father,<i> </i>Pierre-Auguste,</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i> </i>"<i>le patron</i></span></span>."</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwTKScJ8XxorjY4FzHUedZI82Y58YsSXKRcgXFUx782bZvp7fyui73U0sREpZWsm0D1SzDux4WmjXWHbu6guWRJ5J9BrFuhD5-inBbA7Hh1mVeaKs24ZmbGrGd2Qakubl_7sWFx79oAVQ/s618/Plimpton+-+movie_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwTKScJ8XxorjY4FzHUedZI82Y58YsSXKRcgXFUx782bZvp7fyui73U0sREpZWsm0D1SzDux4WmjXWHbu6guWRJ5J9BrFuhD5-inBbA7Hh1mVeaKs24ZmbGrGd2Qakubl_7sWFx79oAVQ/s320/Plimpton+-+movie_poster.jpg" width="207" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://plimptonmovie.com/"><i><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Plimpton</span></b></i></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> is a black-and-white, feature-length documentary film about the celebrated writer-editor-journalist, himself, George Plimpton. With Plimpton at center stage, the film essentially explores how he involved himself in all kinds of what he calls "<i>participatory</i>" journalistic activities. The film is, for the most part, narrated by Plimpton ... reflecting <i>Plimpton writ large</i> over 3 or 4 decades. And the material is presented throughout in Plimpton's own <i>voice</i> along with a few talking heads, such as Plimpton's good friend, the writer Peter Matthiessen, who invited him to Paris in 1953 to help begin what would become<b><i> </i></b>- under Plimpton's diligent editorship -</span></span>.<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.theparisreview.org/"><b><i>The Paris Review</i></b></a><i>,</i><i><b> </b></i>one of the most elegant literary magazines in the entire canon of "small" magazines, in America & abroad. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCMpH1pINczGYnBjPF2-K_oyIGs5TLkRMhlz8n7r-BgWEIhUp8WKRLX_7q14Ugo0L3mAYzw9jbDBWzIx5BhirFzRXCPVQfLA8-UfNWav443_mIqhIgEpV_t02Xl3RYsPMXrVkQPajVyVE/s265/iPlimpton+-+Q-back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCMpH1pINczGYnBjPF2-K_oyIGs5TLkRMhlz8n7r-BgWEIhUp8WKRLX_7q14Ugo0L3mAYzw9jbDBWzIx5BhirFzRXCPVQfLA8-UfNWav443_mIqhIgEpV_t02Xl3RYsPMXrVkQPajVyVE/s265/iPlimpton+-+Q-back.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Plimpton / Quarterback</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Indeed, Plimpton, defining & emphasizing his <i>amateur </i>role as a sports figure (though certainly identifying himself as a <i>professional</i> writer) ended up in some very difficult, even precarious, situations - playing a goalie for the <b>Boston Bruins</b> professional hockey team; a 9th-string quarterback for the <b>Detroit Lions</b>; a baseball pitcher pitching to the likes of <b>Willie Mays</b>; a trapeze artist (with a net), very high above the circus crowd swinging and being caught by the legs; boxing (sparring) with the famous champion, <b>Archie Moore</b>; acting alongside <b>John Wayne</b>; taming lions; and playing the triangle & bass drum in the percussion section of the <b>New York Philharmonic</b>. Plimpton is depicted throughout the film participating in all of these difficult professional activities - seemingly </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>sans</i> fear, </span></span>as an <i>amateur</i> - and ends up writing several books about these stunts (including <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Paper-Lion-Confessions-Last-String-Quarterback/dp/1599218097"><i><b>Paper Lion</b></i><b>:</b><i><b> Confessions of a Last-String Quarterback</b></i></a>; 1966) and his relatively consistent desire to <i>participate</i>. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You can't help but get to know George Plimpton, his ticks, his failings, his strengths at managing a major literary magazine, managing writers, and motivating people - both readers & writers <u>and</u> the athletes with whom his activities coincided. It seems that Plimpton, who died in 2003 at 76, is a literary figure very much missed ... but still, really, very much present & very much on the literary scene!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38KUQSJtkcHtsZjPe3wSPEJwR5MleOdnEP76dZjIEeF62zgQZM1WUT2-7DslYgjsGGUWXwS26ftTJzDfQxHFTBqZmdm94Rnt6sul9shUG8hZnc5sBtaUwyWbbudDP8yTLSYrLFmklYVU/s155/Paper+Lion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38KUQSJtkcHtsZjPe3wSPEJwR5MleOdnEP76dZjIEeF62zgQZM1WUT2-7DslYgjsGGUWXwS26ftTJzDfQxHFTBqZmdm94Rnt6sul9shUG8hZnc5sBtaUwyWbbudDP8yTLSYrLFmklYVU/s320/Paper+Lion.jpg" width="243" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In summing up this documentary film, I offer you what Plimpton has articulated about himself and his work</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">, in his own words</span></span>: </span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well, I have to write. A lot of people forget that. They think I'm some sort of a crazy buffoon who can't quite make up putting his mind [at] what he wants to do in life. But it's not that at all. It's, I'm a professional writer and have this device, really, of trying other people's professions." And so he did ... many times, over many years.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqCwkQAEqcCr9vGVLS1JMc9goj7cY7k11znqpqkIbPTU74lNPZsYEmult0jawWOeGiSqCUtOCeXK4UF9rGfbLuQbir_6D9-kiZzrDXtpRqF06ys5XxImSwA2tV5HrKiyEIC-fXI36Fz0/s267/A+Highjacking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqCwkQAEqcCr9vGVLS1JMc9goj7cY7k11znqpqkIbPTU74lNPZsYEmult0jawWOeGiSqCUtOCeXK4UF9rGfbLuQbir_6D9-kiZzrDXtpRqF06ys5XxImSwA2tV5HrKiyEIC-fXI36Fz0/s267/A+Highjacking.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Based on an actual 2007 incident in the Indian Ocean involving the Danish cargo vessel, the <i>MV Rosen</i>, </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tobias Lindholm's<i><b> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2216240/">A Hijacking</a> </b></i>is the incredibly tension-laden, taut, nerve-wracking story<i><b> </b></i>of the actual event, a precarious highjacking situation which lasted some four (+) months. The film examines the bleak events sparely, in almost <i>cinema verite</i> style, from the point of view of the ship's crew (notably the ship's cook, the captain & a mate); the corporate "chief" who negotiates with the Somali pirates that have taken over the ship; and the pirates' enigmatic representative, Omar. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoc1lBrdIVGUHNeoWOer9tMJ013rrEPH_37vaNvUCzLEBcP18oEinOR-bryNnZl53i6UL9EQdwvXcNG0ErJovzurZGmLq07H19sj0Dy3MmoG7kkzi-SOwzvjZplD0mBA4_TNvNrd0I6os/s581/A+Highjacking+-+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoc1lBrdIVGUHNeoWOer9tMJ013rrEPH_37vaNvUCzLEBcP18oEinOR-bryNnZl53i6UL9EQdwvXcNG0ErJovzurZGmLq07H19sj0Dy3MmoG7kkzi-SOwzvjZplD0mBA4_TNvNrd0I6os/s320/A+Highjacking+-+Photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Scene from A Hijacking / Pilou Asbaek (Cook)</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While we don't actually witness the pirates boarding & taking over the ship, we see all of the results: the pirate negotiator continually passing on the hijacker demands (via phone & fax) for millions of dollars in exchange for the safe return of the ship & the crew; the disheartened, edgy & physically diminished crew (seen primarily through the person of the cook who serves as symbolic stand-in for the crew of seven men); the corporate CEO who, choosing to negotiate himself (without this kind of experience) also becomes a prisoner of the hijacking, growing increasingly nervous, sleepless, ragged; the primitive trigger-clinging pirates, ready to pounce on the members of the crew for almost any reason.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To wrap up for the moment, it should be noted that events developing throughout the hijacking - and the prolonged negotiation with the pirates - are depicted in real time with incredible tension mounting steadily on both the hijacked vessel and in the equally "hijacked" company's corporate conference room. Negotiations do, indeed, move forward, slowly, during what becomes - and we witness as - a fractured & shattering <i>process</i>: A fast-paced western European corporate culture slowed down to a proverbial crawl in its negotiations (in its "<i>battle</i>") with the all-the-time-in-the-world <u><b>and</b></u> nothing-to-lose </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">culture </span></span>of the Somali pirates. You'll just have to see it all for yourself to determine who, or what, actually wins out - or loses - in the end.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Two West Village restaurants you might want to know about are <b>Mercadito</b>, an exceptionally friendly & unique Mexican resto ("taqueria & cevicheria"), <u>and</u> <b>Pinto</b>, offering up somewhat idiosyncratic but quintessentially tasty <i>Thai-Asian </i>cuisine at very (very!) inviting prices. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDd0Ub3zK-7z55FvQT2CSawoSUnpdts0ebqPBCUJ1wqb-6qy-YESh59UxJPmqqQoMC9z550TCEYICs0c-zVkeufef1qbIilPeVEJiiK2Y1tsO-GCgn7dYfiuUoRfuVPJhJVlf2oB6YGnU/s210/Mercadito+Inside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDd0Ub3zK-7z55FvQT2CSawoSUnpdts0ebqPBCUJ1wqb-6qy-YESh59UxJPmqqQoMC9z550TCEYICs0c-zVkeufef1qbIilPeVEJiiK2Y1tsO-GCgn7dYfiuUoRfuVPJhJVlf2oB6YGnU/s320/Mercadito+Inside.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Mercadito - Grove Street</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.mercaditorestaurants.com/grove/"><b>Mercadito</b></a> (100 7th Ave. South @ Grove Street; tel. 212/647-0830; with another location in the East Village at 179 Ave. B, between 11th & 12th) features, among other possibilities, an array of interesting Margaritas, guacamole<u>s</u> (<u>plural</u>!), ceviches, soft tacos, & large plates (<i>platos fuertes</i>). But we chose to visit Mercadito because of their announced "<i>regional dinners</i>" served on two nights each month. For these evening events, organized & executed by Executive Chef Aldo Ayala, a special 4-course menu for $25 ($30, if you add beer, wine, or a cocktail) becomes available and ours - during<i> mid</i>-June (the 12th & 13th) - emphasized a menu of <i><b>Mexican Grilling</b></i>. What follows is what the chef plated & what we each dined on: </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqWEKR_ZsAKQXpaBTz3AfXu5Sg9C17piC5FQCYS40vsvQEb9ugFnyQqr8o1KbWN0c8Ul7BOmGZbx-rjUt44nNJ0k9sc9PQ7cIbOobDRo-7Xx07ochO8bmdscBd3SlMbc4Chuqs5E_nkA/s210/Mercadito+-+Fish+tacos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqWEKR_ZsAKQXpaBTz3AfXu5Sg9C17piC5FQCYS40vsvQEb9ugFnyQqr8o1KbWN0c8Ul7BOmGZbx-rjUt44nNJ0k9sc9PQ7cIbOobDRo-7Xx07ochO8bmdscBd3SlMbc4Chuqs5E_nkA/s210/Mercadito+-+Fish+tacos.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Taco de pescado</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We began with <i><b>crudo de callo de hacha</b></i>, grilled diver scallops, with watermelon & pickled red onion, in a key-lime habanero broth. Very tender, very tasty; spicy & flavorful! Next came the <i><b>taco de pescado</b></i> plate, tacos filled with adobo marinated grilled red snapper, along with sides of apple-jicama slaw & tomatillo salsa ... an interesting mixture of tastes, aroma ... piquant & tender. The main course - <i><b>carne a la parrilla</b></i> - was, in short order, placed before us. The entree comprised a large slice of rib eye steak, grilled to (near) perfection ... prepared with rosemary butter, and enhanced with charred scallions, cactus salad & a side of grilled corn. Simply overflowing, this well integrated plate, with nicely prepared "veggie" accompaniments, surrounding the rosemary butter "daubed" steak, worked well, although it proved a bit too large for my wife to finish. Our dessert - <i><b>fruta de temporada</b></i> - while maintaining the regional ("grilled") theme, was slightly disappointing. Anticipating something sweet and, perhaps, creamy, the fruit salad proved singularly tart & spicy. Some kind of "chocolaty," mousse-like, item might have proved a better finale to an otherwise successful meal. Nevertheless, we will, indeed, return to Mercadito to sample another regional, "<a href="http://www.mercaditorestaurants.com/grove/promo_taste_of_mexico_2013.php"><b>Taste of Mexico</b></a>," 4-course menu!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvCN_imj-sX8XgDUNLe5lSZPXfgprpCLJQ3XGGpPr5zbZ0fA9SAse7R1RNJ2lLX5ODi4KfaJbna2XeaDSTZhVN1EVtNH0l9vn9wxiurI8P1yVQePpXD_OGCLzQYSFNk8UEYeOo-nEUZU/s515/Pinto+-+External.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvCN_imj-sX8XgDUNLe5lSZPXfgprpCLJQ3XGGpPr5zbZ0fA9SAse7R1RNJ2lLX5ODi4KfaJbna2XeaDSTZhVN1EVtNH0l9vn9wxiurI8P1yVQePpXD_OGCLzQYSFNk8UEYeOo-nEUZU/s320/Pinto+-+External.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.pintonyc.com/">Pinto</a> </b>(at 118 Christopher St., west of Bleecker; tel. 212/366-5455) is, as I alluded to above, an inviting Thai-Asian "bistro" we selected for its eclectic, interesting & varied menus. They serve an $8 <i>prix fixe</i> lunch (an appetizer & a main) and dinner; they also offer a "<a href="http://www.pintonyc.com/#sunsetid"><b>Sunset Menu</b></a>" at $15, between 3:30 & 6:00, which includes an <u>appetizer</u>, a substantial <u>main dish</u> & a <u>drink </u>(e.g., a variety of iced teas, Asian beers, house wines). Lots of possibilities in each category to choose from: For appetizers we chose the <b>mushroom crunch </b>(sesame-crusted mushroom served with jalapeno tartar sauce) & the<b> grilled beef salad </b>(succulent slices of beef with spicy tomato vinaigrette). </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtYFaCKKPFHYCoeZezGA6rPmUNkpSYcqEZXlT8owU73Ex_YYNrrsNJypUqU_X9w6acBbOFGchlBS65wxM5vv1qbuB5nPLHO3IfFlJMEBBCKfbsDLU02Zxp0tgGoL6kgj8t_Sq1GXZ5GGE/s535/Pinto+-+Beef+PCU+Noodle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtYFaCKKPFHYCoeZezGA6rPmUNkpSYcqEZXlT8owU73Ex_YYNrrsNJypUqU_X9w6acBbOFGchlBS65wxM5vv1qbuB5nPLHO3IfFlJMEBBCKfbsDLU02Zxp0tgGoL6kgj8t_Sq1GXZ5GGE/s320/Pinto+-+Beef+PCU+Noodle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>PCU noodle dish</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We followed up with a delicious, moderately spicy <b>pork PCU noodle</b> dish (rice noodles sauteed with sweet dark soy sauce, baby bokchoy & egg) <u><b>AND</b></u> a spicy (& complexly varied) bowl of <b>tom yam fried rice with shrimp</b> (jasmine rice wok-tossed with lemongrass & mixed with lime, fresh pepper-chili paste, mushroom, bell peppers & <i>enoki</i> mushroom). Our "sunset" meal was accompanied by a couple of Asian beers - Singha & Sapporo - both of which tended to temper & complement the relatively piquant food we sampled.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Food here at <b>Pinto</b> is very fresh and the service is extremely pleasant & accommodating; portions are commodious & prices are, well, utterly reasonable. This spot could easily become our <i>fall-back</i> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">West Village </span></span>Thai-Asian resto. Give Pinto a try; it might continue to kindle your interest, too!</span></span>H. J. Scheiber, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366292492767857006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693133104581549318.post-68958387990855620522013-05-28T10:15:00.001-07:002013-05-28T13:00:18.146-07:00Chick Corea, Chom Chom, an 8-gallery spectacle at The Met & more ...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrPqP1c3FE959TxxFPCMTfKnDOobyDAkLV2Is0bwhlXkCV7yNMxNEhnhDyyANt39bBbZLAK9gEYDwEe5d_RYHHi3EI0fWP-fNsdyybcakUngnSs0gAlbab0tPrlSnlPYsV41tO4XZl78/s1600/Chick+Corea+with+hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrPqP1c3FE959TxxFPCMTfKnDOobyDAkLV2Is0bwhlXkCV7yNMxNEhnhDyyANt39bBbZLAK9gEYDwEe5d_RYHHi3EI0fWP-fNsdyybcakUngnSs0gAlbab0tPrlSnlPYsV41tO4XZl78/s200/Chick+Corea+with+hat.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This past weekend (May 17th-18th) <a href="http://jalc.org/"><b>Jazz at Lincoln Center</b></a> mounted a fete to NEA Jazz Master & 16-time Grammy award winner, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chick_Corea"><b>Mr.</b> <b>Chick Corea</b></a>. And well they should, as, according to one spot-on (anonymous) source, Chick Corea has attained "living legend status after four decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering."</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Friends of Chick Corea</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And, what's more, <b>Jazz at Lincoln Center</b> seems to have devoted all of its resources (and two of its venues) to celebrating the inimitable Chick, in his capacity of composer, musician (pianist), and, well, "friend." We were, in fact, on hand for the Saturday show (the 2nd, 9:30,</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> show</span></span>) at <a href="http://jalc.org/about/our-home/allen-room"><b>The Allen Room</b></a> (a truly magical venue overlooking Columbus Circle) for the tribute entitled "<b>Friends of Chick Corea: Musicians of the Future</b>." </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The concert featured two outstanding young jazz pianists - <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/20/arts/music/beka-gochiashvili-and-gadi-lehavi-at-the-allen-room.html?_r=0"><b>Beka Gochiashvilli</b></a> (from Tbilisi, Georgia) & <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/20/arts/music/beka-gochiashvili-and-gadi-lehavi-at-the-allen-room.html?_r=0"><b>Gadi Lehavi</b></a> (from Tel Aviv), both friends & proteges of Mr. Corea - as well as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravi_Coltrane"><b>Ravi Coltrane</b></a> (tenor sax), <b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/artist/wallace-roney-mn0000813629">Wallace Roney</a> </b>(trumpet; & Miles Davis <i>mentee</i>), <a href="http://www.myspace.com/johnpatitucci"><b>John Patitucci</b></a> (bass) & <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/12/arts/music/12drummers.html?pagewanted=all"><b>Marcus Gilmore</b></a> (on drums). A varied assortment of Chick's music was on display at this event, including a newly orchestrated selection from his "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Three-Quartets-Chick-Corea/dp/B000003OZE"><b>Three Quartets</b></a>" album (1997).</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Chick on Drums!</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But, most memorable - and a true highlight of the evening - was an appearance by Mr. Corea himself (having just concluded a set in the Rose Theater across the hall, with <a href="http://wyntonmarsalis.org/"><b>Wynton Marsalis</b></a> & the <a href="http://jalc.org/about/jlco"><b>Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra</b></a>) ... jumping around the Allen Room stage, bubbling with his inimitable energy, and enthusiastically promoting great good will among the attendant musicians & members of the concert audience amassed before him.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zVHo7FkHo697wpFnYLMYrjLrIdKlljLmXYg18irlTfwBNe_t38HYqpRXGdIDJvxGjsEzsQdl8C_lIKTvU08eTxDxX0xTPJO4sAY0Bv_DeSLjw431LyRf1JSFzQR3vpiq_2xwD6hnCIE/s1600/Chick+Corea+w-glasses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zVHo7FkHo697wpFnYLMYrjLrIdKlljLmXYg18irlTfwBNe_t38HYqpRXGdIDJvxGjsEzsQdl8C_lIKTvU08eTxDxX0xTPJO4sAY0Bv_DeSLjw431LyRf1JSFzQR3vpiq_2xwD6hnCIE/s200/Chick+Corea+w-glasses.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Seems everyone just had a grand time celebrating the musical "life" & work of this treasured virtuosic pianist-composer, and his decades long presence in & impact on the international jazz scene!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Chom Chom</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Just prior to meandering a few blocks over to this Jazz at Lincoln Center event, we (two couples) took some time out for an opportunity to dine at <a href="http://www.chomchomny.com/Menu.php"><b>Chom Chom</b></a> (at 40 W. 56th, between 5th& 6th; tel. 212/213-2299), which offers what they (<i>self</i>-) identify as "modern" Korean cuisine. The food does, indeed, tend toward the <i>modern</i> (in N.Y. Korean terms), is varied in portion sizing & degree of <i>spicy</i>-ness, and tastes just wonderfully <i>appealing</i> throughout all reaches of a very extensive menu, including the small plates and those at the entree size. I might note, also, that the menu neatly divides into, roughly, 7 principal areas - salads; soups/stews; rice entrees; modern <i><b>kapas</b></i> (tapas, Korean-style); noodles; homemade dumplings; <u><b>and</b></u> dinner entrees. We sampled a batch of interestingly & </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">delicately </span></span>prepared items from the <i>kapas</i> section, from the rice & dinner entrees areas, as well as a plate of homemade ("<i>handmade with love</i>") shrimp dumplings from ... you know (now) what area of the <a href="http://www.chomchomny.com/ChomDinnerMenu.pdf"><b>Chom Chom menu</b></a>.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnddgbKES1zXulYkyDQspldV-PuzpUmvFlSH1D81PwcIMhpIqlJwXP9epmipIWOdrl20EXul_NJfcAaiASJLPInD0oIIyVOWjSw9KxkbjA1FDE2xQ3-N9OnEK9v5HGL_8Zxukequv8Ejw/s1600/Chom+-+Miso+Black+Cod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnddgbKES1zXulYkyDQspldV-PuzpUmvFlSH1D81PwcIMhpIqlJwXP9epmipIWOdrl20EXul_NJfcAaiASJLPInD0oIIyVOWjSw9KxkbjA1FDE2xQ3-N9OnEK9v5HGL_8Zxukequv8Ejw/s200/Chom+-+Miso+Black+Cod.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Miso Black Cod</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Perhaps our tastiest & most piquant dish proved to be the <b>Kalbi Jjim</b>, an entree composed of braised beef short ribs slowly simmered over low heat to a "tender & sweet finish" (@ $30). We also very much enjoyed the extremely tender & succulent <b>Miso Black Cod</b> ... comprising pieces of<i> miso</i>-marinated black cod served with a red wine balsamic reduction ($15). </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZAggQHPvXvg0H5RXi7wh4dSudA-oDeRJKjLETNFTBCCi-CpGo19LJ1vyyw1BYzn-1oYnjSy8kWR3c666voYF2gzTM-xAzS6qkeIqobAvD7a4S3hZJKdqS1OQc5XsYFWzpmiAJ4oazSo/s1600/Chom+-+Dolsot+Bibimbap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZAggQHPvXvg0H5RXi7wh4dSudA-oDeRJKjLETNFTBCCi-CpGo19LJ1vyyw1BYzn-1oYnjSy8kWR3c666voYF2gzTM-xAzS6qkeIqobAvD7a4S3hZJKdqS1OQc5XsYFWzpmiAJ4oazSo/s200/Chom+-+Dolsot+Bibimbap.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Dolsot Bibimbap</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Two other plates we all deemed memorable were the <b>Dolsot Bibimbap</b> ($17), a rice entree with sauteed seasoned vegetables cooked & served in a hot stone bowl, along with "house" chili pepper paste, topped with Bulgogi beef & a "<i>sunny-side up</i>" egg; <u>and</u> <b>Asparagus Shitake</b> ($10), a dish of lightly done asparagus & shitake mushrooms sauteed in a sweet soy reduction. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Two of us washed all of this food down with glasses of <b><a href="http://www.trifood.com/soju.asp">Soju</a> Sangria</b>, an infusion of fruits, red wine & traditional "soju" [a Korean distilled beverage] ($10/glass), while the other two of us quaffed </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">two bottles of a very flavorful lager-style Korean brew, <b>OB Beer</b> ($7), along with</span> </span>our portion of the dinner. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Indeed, <b>Chom Chom</b> provides a unique dining experience in a friendly, attentive & comfortable <i>mid</i>-town environment. If you're anywhere near 5th (or 6th) Avenue & anywhere in or around the west 50s - and have a hankering for (Asian) food in the growing Korean "<i>modern</i>" domain - I urge you to give this resto a try. If you do, and love it ... well, we'll just keep that our secret!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">During the past few seasons, <a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/"><b>The Metropolitan Museum</b> <b>of</b> <b>Art </b></a>(1000 5th Ave., at 82nd St.) has curated several truly spectacular shows in the sector where art reflects fashion (<i>couture</i>) & fashion (<i>couture</i>) parallels and, sometimes, metamorphoses into art. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFG4a3s-AssNTxlYVehOv3DHBt61HIU6ZH5Kv-FYR_Uhb2Sx8HvQ0Y0zkYQiubblK-6HnmuP-Qbm1DXWY4F28wnfraT-8Fon83i_tOG7Mg9uEH9kgmr0feSKkXbiuG5tkBj8kGRuNVCY/s1600/Met+-+Intro+to+Show+-+Impressionism,+Fashion,+etc..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFG4a3s-AssNTxlYVehOv3DHBt61HIU6ZH5Kv-FYR_Uhb2Sx8HvQ0Y0zkYQiubblK-6HnmuP-Qbm1DXWY4F28wnfraT-8Fon83i_tOG7Mg9uEH9kgmr0feSKkXbiuG5tkBj8kGRuNVCY/s400/Met+-+Intro+to+Show+-+Impressionism,+Fashion,+etc..jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Currently, "<a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2013/impressionism-fashion-modernity"><i><b>Impressionism, Fashion & Modernity</b></i></a>," is just such a show, just such a spectacle, well worth a visit ... a must see that is ending, regrettably, next week. If you make your way to The Met soon, you will witness <u>eight</u> galleries replete with fabulous modernist/impressionist paintings, sculpture & fashion items, for example, that are well known (e.g., by Manet, Renoir, Degas) and others that are, simply, new to you.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>"The Swing"</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The notion - the point of view - that fashion <i>is</i> art, is reflected in art, or underlies certain themes & content of specific paintings, while not new at all ... is, again, spectacularly on view here in these 8 galleries, in numerous paintings, sculptures, photographs, fashion plates & assorted preserved period pieces (including everything from summer dresses for the park, to evening wear, to hats, scarves & accessories of all sorts, and even <i>men's</i> suits, shoes & <i>les chapeaux</i>).</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>The Black Dress</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Summing up - according to The Met's online description of this show - you will see the major role that fashion played "in the works of the <a href="http://www.biography.com/people/groups/artists/painters/art/painting/impressionists-painters"><b>Impressionists</b></a> and their contemporaries." You will explore "the vital relationship between fashion and art during the pivotal years, from the <i>mid</i>-1860s to the <i>mid</i>-1880s, when Paris emerged as the style capital of the world." And, finally, you will witness the celebrated writers & painters of the then </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">current Parisian <i>avant-garde</i> (<span style="line-height: 115%;">Monet, Baudelaire, Mallarmé, Zola) </span>as they</span></span> "turned a fresh eye to contemporary dress, embracing <i>la mode</i> as the harbinger of <i>la modernité</i>." </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">By the way, before you leave the museum, you might want to rest your now weary legs for just a bit and sit down to have a look at <a href="http://jamesnares.com/index.cfm/film-video/street/"><i><b>Street</b></i> </a>(running through May 27th), a new & unique video by <a href="http://jamesnares.com/index.cfm/film-video/street/"><b>James Nares</b></a>. Shooting with a camera </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">from a car moving almost randomly throughout The City, </span></span></span></span>at a remarkably scaled down pace, Mr. Nares </span></span>explores the streets - and faces "peopling" the streets - of New York City, very literally, indeed. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(If you should miss this idiosyncratic, <i><b>3-D</b></i>-like video now showing at The Met, be on the lookout for <i><b>Street</b></i> to surface again; you can bet it will turn up soon at some other city venue.)</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VWRdc7_lcKjjnvUWVkBjc4rLHdwdCwbgopC4WgbFqLXwndL1HnxkE0-Uo1Pby4FOviRBt4HiuOPfRcFiSihA5CHKsX1zRH5Zm_J8vunmjL28sCad_QWgFagK7VuBx7jz497kz1Gft5c/s1600/Garcia_lorca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VWRdc7_lcKjjnvUWVkBjc4rLHdwdCwbgopC4WgbFqLXwndL1HnxkE0-Uo1Pby4FOviRBt4HiuOPfRcFiSihA5CHKsX1zRH5Zm_J8vunmjL28sCad_QWgFagK7VuBx7jz497kz1Gft5c/s200/Garcia_lorca.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Federico Garcia Lorca</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And, finally, if you have some spare time, an hour or so, and find yourself near <a href="http://www.nypl.org/"><b>The New York Public Library</b></a> (The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, 5th Ave. & 42nd St.), stop in to see the important new exhibit entitled "<a href="http://www.nypl.org/events/exhibitions/back-tomorrow-federico-garc%C3%ADa-lorca-poet-new-york"><i><b>Back Tomorrow: Federico Garcia Lorca, Poet in New York</b></i></a>" (through July 20th). </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lPTJfeuJMuJZaXlSWSLmfVie4AlIqGgBTB9QjERVPRbMhjGPqKYc4oOuZjAhG-F8Ba0xNmDaRavvyfRzNFTRJgTDIcB76s90n4CfdrV-IXjaZqEhCCaSRMwS9k3wJMEmCcEtqvcOnv8/s1600/Garcia+Lorca%27%27s+Letter+to+His+Sisters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lPTJfeuJMuJZaXlSWSLmfVie4AlIqGgBTB9QjERVPRbMhjGPqKYc4oOuZjAhG-F8Ba0xNmDaRavvyfRzNFTRJgTDIcB76s90n4CfdrV-IXjaZqEhCCaSRMwS9k3wJMEmCcEtqvcOnv8/s320/Garcia+Lorca%27%27s+Letter+to+His+Sisters.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Letter to His Sisters</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Organized jointly by the Fundacion Federico Garcia Lorca, <b>NYPL</b> & Accion Cultural Espanola, this small but painstakingly curated exhibit on Lorca's <b>1929</b> nine-month visit to New York<i><b> </b></i>City (followed by three months lecturing in Havana) fully documents the period during which he composed <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Poet-New-York-Bilingual-Edition/dp/0374525404"><b>Poet in New York</b></a>,<b> </b></i>the unique collection of his poems inspired by New York City & published posthumously in 1940 after a long period of time missing ... "mysteriously disappeared, lost to scholars." </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Lorca Self-Portrait w/Black Beast</b></span></span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ostensibly in New York to study English at Columbia University, <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federico_Garc%C3%ADa_Lorca">Garcia Lorca</a></b> devoted his time to the creation of the poems that would, ultimately, comprise <i><b>Poet in New York</b></i>. The <b>NYPL</b> exhibit brings together, for the first time, an unusually complete compendium of drawings, photographs, letters, mementos, typescripts & manuscript pages, tracing the genesis of, & basis for, <i><b><a href="http://books.google.com/books/about/Poet_in_New_York.html?id=YP8DE_hnLvAC">Poet in New York</a> </b></i>" ... <i>and</i> of New York in a poet." </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you are in the area, visit <b>NYPL</b> (soon) and have at least a brief look at the life of the poet behind this masterful collection of poems!</span></span>H. J. Scheiber, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366292492767857006noreply@blogger.com0