Archive | December, 2009

A Quick Broadway & Off-Broadway Update

18 Dec

This time I’m starting with an Off-Broadway offering (another fine reason not to forget Brooklyn) to take advantage of, one which The New York Times TicketWatch recommends as a must see before the production ends on January 3, 2010:

Brief Encounter – Emma Rice’s production of Brief Encounter has garnered absolutely rave reviews by Ben Brantley of The NewYork Times, Joe Dziemianowicz of the New York Daily News, and Elisabeth Vincentellit of the New York Post, who had this to say: “Though it shares its title and plotline with David Lean‘s 1945 weepie, this ‘Brief Encounter’ in Brooklyn transcends its source. … In addition to re-creating scenes from the movie, director Emma Rice also incorporates elements from the Noel Coward play it was based on, ‘Still Life,’ as well as several Coward songs. They’re performed live by the actors, whose versatility is stupefying: They croon, dance, juggle various characters, play instruments and move the sets around. One of them even swings joyously from a chandelier.”  The production is staged at another Brooklyn gem, St. Ann’s Warehouse.  To buy tickets, visit stannswarehouse.org. Tickets are $62.  Do hurry, they’re going fast.

** A quick update … A Brief Encounter has been extended through January 17th.

On to Broadway:

Race – David Mamet’s new play starring James Spader, Kerry Washington, David Alan Grier, and Richard Thomas has garnered impressive reviews.  And now discounts are available through The New York Times TicketWatch.  Orchestra and Front Mezzanine seats: $79.50; Mezzanine seats: $59.50.  Visit BroadwayOffers.com and use code: RATIX1217.   Note: Race has been extended to June 13, 2010.

God of Carnage – With a great new cast  – Christine Lahti, Annie Potts, Jimmy Smits, and Ken Stott – this Tony Award-winning play is “raucous fun” according to The Hollywood Reporter.  I would have to agree.  Now there are some great deals available through TicketWatch.  Friday and Saturday Evenings, and Saturday Matinees – Orchestra/Front Mezzanine: $73.50.  Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday Evenings, and Sunday Matinees – Orchestra/Front Mezzanine: $66.50.  Wednesday Matinees – Orchestra/Front Mezzanine: $59.50.  All Performances – Rear Mezzanine: $46.50.  Visit BroadwayOffers.com and use code: GCNYT1215.

Billy Elliot – According to The New York Times TicketWatch “Winter Ticket Alert” great seats are available for Billy Elliot now through March.  And they’ve increased the number of performances with 5 shows every weekend beginning January 8, 2010.  So, if you’ve been waiting to see this amazing musical, or if you’ve not been able to get tickets, go for it.  It is truly one of the most uplifting theater experiences you’re likely to have.  For tickets, visit Telecharge.com.

A Sad Day is Dawning in Laredo, Texas

17 Dec

On January 16, 2010 the B. Dalton Bookstore in Laredo, Texas will close.  This item would not be noteworthy if it weren’t for the fact that the B. Dalton Bookstore is the only bookstore in Laredo, Texas, and the closest city with a bookstore is San Antonio which is 150 miles away.  This is a city of almost a quarter of a million people and a high rate of illiteracy.

Not surprisingly, the residents of Laredo are upset.  An outing to the bookstore is entertainment, it’s an event, especially for kids.  According to the Associated Press article, “Schoolchildren even wrote letters to the parent company, Barnes & Noble, begging for the store to stay open.”

What’s incredibly frustrating is that it’s not an issue of money – the B. Dalton location is turning a profit – but simply a planned closure of one of 50 remaining B. Dalton stores owned by B&N.  The company has plans to open a new large-format Barnes & Noble location, but that is at least 18 months away, making January 17 one sad day in Laredo.

I can’t imagine life without a bookstore … can you?

Google’s Approach to the News – Living Stories

17 Dec

Last Tuesday, December 8th, Google unveiled a new project as a part of Google Labs.  It’s called Living Stories and is being offered in collaboration with The New York Times and The Washington Post.  If you’re an avid consumer of news, especially the big topics of the day, such as health care reform and the war in Afghanistan, I  suggest you take a look.

The idea is to take advantage of the Internet by presenting news in a format that is easy to digest for the reader and improves the publication’s ranking within Google’s search results.  “So much of what you see online today is a reflection of the way it’s told in newspapers,” says Josh Cohen, senior business product manager for Google News. “They haven’t taken advantage of what the Web offers to tell news in a different way.” The Washington Post

Ongoing stories are aggregated and presented on a single URL.  There is a time line of major events across the top and relevant articles listed in reverse chronological order down the page.  You need only to click on “Read more…” for the rest of a piece to be displayed on the same page, then click on “Show less” or the title to collapse the text.  There’s no need to go click back and forth, or to wait  for pages to load.  In addition, articles are grouped by topic which are shown on the left side.  Once you’ve visited a subject, the site remembers, and when you return new content is highlighted for easy viewing.  “It’s an experiment with a different way of telling stories,” said Martin A. Nisenholtz, senior vice president for digital operations of The New York Times Company. “I think in it, you can see the germ of something quite interesting.” The New York Times

Google plans to run the trial for two to three months, then, if all goes well, to transition the content to the publication web sites.  They will also make the offering available for free to any number of other online publications.

I’ve bookmarked Living Stories and have been visiting daily to check in on the health care debate, the war, and global warming.  I like how easy it is to keep up on a subject.  With that said, I also love The New York Times homepage where I can see everything that’s happening and choose what to dive into from there.  Bottom line, I like a bit of both.

It will be interesting to see how this experiment fares.  Will users skim all of the headlines on a given subject page?  Will they read the articles of interest?  Will it be adopted sufficiently to make the transition to the publications’ sites?  How will it succeed once transferred?

At times I feel a little “Big Brother” about Google, but this is one initiative that I think might be worthwhile without a lot of downside.

Don’t Forget Brooklyn

10 Dec

While a Broadway theater may be the preference of most ardent drama fans, there is a sibling across the East River worthy of your time and attention.  The Brooklyn Academy of Music’s (BAM) Harvey Theater.

To wit, as I type this Cate Blanchett is most likely in her BAM dressing room preparing for her entrance onto the stage of the widely and enthusiastically praised production of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire (see reviews in The New York Times and TimeOut New York).  I would suggest that you snag a ticket for a seat, any seat (with few exceptions, just about every seat is good at the Harvey), but alas the run is SOLD OUT.

Now, so this doesn’t happen to you for the next major event, here’s a heads up.   This winter BAM continues The Bridge Project, “a three-year transatlantic partnership uniting BAM, The Old Vic, and Neal Street Productions.”  Sam Mendes directs a group of highly accomplished actors from the U.K. and the U.S. in this, his second season.  This time around, it’s Shakespeare.

As You  Like It - runs from January 12 through March 13, 2010.

The Tempest – runs from February 14 through March 12, 2010.

So, hop on the 2, 3, 4 or 5 train to Nevins Street.  You’ll find it an experience you won’t forget.

Heading to New York This Winter? Check Out the Things to Do.

10 Dec

TimeOut New York has posted their list of 101 things to do in New York City this winter.  The editors suggest an amazingly wide variety of activities, including: going to see the Grand Central Terminal Kaleidoscope Show; sampling the tastes at City Bakery’s Hot Chocolate Festival (who knew!); attending one of the city’s many Christmas concerts; indulging in cider and donuts at the Shake Shack; checking out the Bronx Zoo’s Wild Winterland; and taking a bus tour of the holiday windows in Manhattan or Brooklyn.  There’s museums, fairs, flea markets, skating…  With 101 things, there’s bound to be at least one that you’ve never thought of and, once you’ve heard about it, you can’t wait to do.

And if you haven’t already, before you go make sure to view my list of what’s on Broadway this winter.

Happy Holidays and Happy Travels!

It’s Amore! Italian Restaurants & New York (Part III)

10 Dec

This is the third, and final, installment of “It’s Amore: Italian Restaurants & New York.”  There really is a love affair between the city and good Italian fare.  Here is the last batch.  Most are downtown, but there are a few on the Upper East and Upper West sides.   As in the previous two postings, each restaurant name is linked to its web site, or to the New York Magazine listing if no web site is available.  Check out the sites or OpenTable for details and reservations.

NoLita

Peasant – This is a fantastic Tuscan-Italian spot that has been serving NoLita locals and tourists alike for ten years.  In a modern, but warm brick-lined, dimly lit space with an open fire for cooking in the back, you’ll be able to feast on Tonno Con Ceci Neri, Anatra Con Fagioli, or Barbabietola E Gorgonzola to start.  As a main, I like Spaghetti Alle Vongole or the Orecchiette Con Cime Di Rape, if you’re in the mood for pasta, and Orata Alla Griglia (fish) or Agnello Con Polenta (lamb) if you’re not.   The wine list is excellent and the wait staff will  help you make your  selection.  Warning: Even if you’re off bread, you will find it hard to resist their chewy Italian pane served with complementary ricotta cheese.  And if you’re looking for a Kelly Ripa Italian favorite, this is one of her spots (along with Mercer Kitchen and La Esquina, which are also great, but they’re not Italian so they’re not on the list).

Soho

Barolo – Is a great Soho standby.  The restaurant’s most appealing feature is the lovely back garden for outdoor dining.  You feel like you’re in another world.  Not that the food isn’t delicious, because it is, as are the wine and cocktails.  Go for Carpaccio Di Manzo Con Arugola E Parmigiano or Tartara Di Tonno.  They do a nice Mozzarella Di Bufala Alla Caprese, as well.  Linguini Alle Vongole is well-done here, as is Rigatoni Alla Buttera.  Poletto Alle Mandorle, Tagliata Di  Manzo Al Rosmarino, and Branzino Con Cavolini Di Brussels are all good choices.  Order a glass of Prosecco to start, perfect after a long day of shopping.

Downtown Cipriani – Yes, Cipriani’s.  There is no more coveted a spot than an outdoor table on the tiny sidewalk patio on West Broadway.  This is all about seeing and being seen.  The food is excellent too which, despite sky high prices, makes it a tough reservation.  You have to start with a Bellini, served for the first time in 1948 by Giuseppe Cipriani, founder of Harry’s Bar in Venice.  To eat, try the Prosciutto crudo from Parma or Baby artichoke salad and avocados and shaved parmesan.  For main, your choice …  you can’t go wrong with any of them.

Giorgione – On the western edge of Soho, this is a gem of a find.  I love everything about the place: the food, the wine, the service, the space.  I took a good friend in from San Francisco and we couldn’t stop talking about it for days.  The Insalata di Fave was one of the reasons.  Order it.   Or if you prefer, try the Carciofi alla Giudia or Tonno con Avocado e Rugola.  We had pastas for our  mains (mainly to save room for dessert): Bucatini all’ Amatriciana and Risotto Giorgione.   Now, assuming you can manage a bite or two of something sweet, you can try the Pera Cotta or Crostata Rovesciata alle Mele or one of their choices of Gelato.  The wine list is expansive and offers reasonably-priced options.  It’s worth the trip.

Upper East Side

Accademia di Vino – This is a newer addition to the Manhattan restaurant scene, but a good one.  Both the wine bar and restaurant serve a broad selection of hot and cold antipasti, carpaccio, tartare, and crudo, salumi, formaggi, pizza alla griglia, pasta (primi), and fish, chicken, beef (secondi),  and, of course, wine.  Prices are reasonable and the atmosphere lively and inviting.

Elio’s – An old-school Italian neighborhood favorite – and another one of Regis Philbin’s favorite restuarants – Elio’s is an Upper East Side staple.  Think dark wood, a friendly bar, sconces for lighting, along with a classic Northern Italian menu, a vast wine list, and excellent service.  You might like the Shrimp & White Bean Salad or Fried Zucchini to start.  If you’re with a group, order an antipasti platter.   Scaloppine Piccata and Marsala are both good choices, as is the Broiled Veal Chop.  Ditto any of the pastas.  Sit back, relax, and enjoy the experience.

Upper West Side

Gabriel’s Bar & Restaurant – Excellent Northern Italian cuisine on the Upper West Side.  Within walking distance to Lincoln Center, this is a perfect spot for a meal pre-/post-theater or opera.  I took my  parents before seeing South Pacific and we all enjoyed the food and the service.  Starters are all good, but to narrow the field, Octopus Carpaccio, Field Mache and Beets, and Baby Arugula are noteworthy.  For pastas, try the Pappardelle with duck ragu, Ravioli Zucca, or Gnocchi, and for mains Marinated Lamb Chops, Grilled Sea Bass, and Sea Scallops are good choices.  And save room for the Italian Style Rice Pudding.  You won’t be sorry.  Note: they do not take reservations online.

West Village

Bar Pitti - Beyonce and JayZ are two of the luminaries that frequent this West Village hot spot.   If you go, and nab one of the advantageous  outdoor patio tables, you’re bound to see one bold-faced name, especially at lunch.  And yes, the basic Tuscan food it good, which is why they go.  Try their Antipasto Toscano or Fettunta E Proscuitto.  Pastas are rich and delicious. Or go for a Panini – the options are mouth-watering.  Note: they accept reservations for parties of four or more and are cash only, seriously.

Da Silvano - Next door to Bar Pitti, and its  senior by some twenty years, Da Silvano is the elder sister to its neighbor – a bit more upscale, in decor, menu, and service.  Silvano Marchetto opened his eponymous ristorante serving authentic Tuscan cuisine in 1975 and it’s been a  hot spot ever since (yes, actors, musicians, artists are frequent customers).  They too have a patio for dining in temperate weather.  Inside or out, Bruschetta, Carpaccio, Grilled Shrimp, Beets & Endive salad area all good to start.  For pasta, go for the Puttanesca, the Bolognese, or any of the daily specials.  Then there’s a choice of steak done various  ways, a veal chop, Cornish hen, langostines …  And remember, one does not put cheese on pasta/risotto with seafood.  Should you ask for it, Silvano himself might just  come around with a bottle of extra virgin olive oil which he’ll proceed to apply liberally to your dish.

dell’Anima Means “of the soul.”  The food is simple and delicious at this West Village favorite.  Sit at the bar.  The menu is seasonal, so if they’re still available, order Charred octopus with rice beans, chorizo and chicory, or Argula with lemon and shaved parmigiano reggiano to start, and Garganelli with funghi trifolati, lemon and parsley for a main.  The space is small and dimly lit, creating a warm, inviting, if occasionally loud, atmosphere.

Morandi Is the Italian outpost of the Keith McNally food empire.  Billed as a “rustic Italian trattoria,” the food is simple and flavorful.  You can’t go wrong starting with the Fritto misto di pesce (fried calamari, shrimp, and fish) or Carciofi alla guidea (fried artichoke with lemon) or Fave e pecorino (escarole, fava beans, mint, and pecorino).  For pastas: Pici al limone and Tagliatelle alla bolognese are excellent.  Orata alla griglia (grilled sea bream with lemon oregano oil) and Tagliata di manzo (grilled flank steak) won’t disappoint either.  The service is excellent, the atmosphere is lively, and the scene is hip.  And it’s always good for a “star sighting” or two.

Sant Ambroeus – Serves traditional Milanese food (the original Sant Ambroeus opened in Milan in 1936) in a casual but elegant setting.  I’ve been for both lunch and dinner.  The dishes were flavorful and the service impeccable.  Just thinking of it now is making me hungry.  To start you might like Insalata di Carciofi or Carpaccio di Tonno, and for pasta Pappardelle alla Tirolese or Risotto ai Frutti di Mare.  All of the secondi are so good, it’s difficult to choose, but choose the Tagliata (sliced Creekstone dry aged Black Angus sirloin steak with asparagus, fresh chanterelle mushrooms, and a balsamic reduction) and the Branzino (pan-seared Mediterranean sea bass with capers, asparagus, and baby pepper) and you won’t be disappointed.   The menu is seasonal, so your options may change.  Not to worry.  Almost any dish Sant Ambroeus offers will satisfy.

TriBeCa

Locanda Verde – This Italian taverna located in the Greenwich Hotel in TriBeCa is the latest offering from Robert DeNiro and his partners. The chef is Andrew Carmellini, previously of A Voce, and the pastry chef is Karen Demasco.  The buzz is great decor, great food, great prices … I’ve gotta get there.

Buon Appetito!

Finally … Some New Movies to See

6 Dec

I don’t know how you feel about the movies released the past six months, but for my liking there has been a dearth of incredibly moving or incredibly smart or incredibly funny or incredibly anything movies.  With that said, I did thoroughly enjoy Julie and Julia, but that had talented, ubiquitous Meryl Streep.

Now, at last, it appears as though this entertainment desert has given way to a film oasis.  Here are some that will see my movie-going dollar (roughly in order of release date):

An Education, Precious, The Last Station, Up In the Air, A Single Man, Invictus, The Lovely Bones, Crazy Heart, The Princess and the Frog, Avatar, Broken Embraces, Did You Hear About the Morgans?, It’s Complicated, Nine, Sherlock Holmes, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

I can’t wait to start eating my share of over-priced popcorn again.

The Michael Buble Effect

2 Dec

I love Michael Buble.  By all accounts, the man seems to be charming, self-deprecating, and funny, and he’s a marvelously good singer.  Then there’s the gorgeous eyes, that great smile, and those dimples.

There was a bit of a brouhaha when his latest release, Crazy Love, premiered in the number 1 spot on the Billboard charts, putting KISS, with their first album in 11 years, at number 2.  Then, the next week it outsold the highly-anticipated Twilight: New Moon soundtrack.  Sites like Gawker and The Daily Beast dissected his appeal and chart-topping success.  The rhetoric went something like this: who is this Michael Buble guy (a Canadian no less!) whose music is “bland” (a matter of opinion), and who on earth is buying his music?  Apparently, it’s “Chardonnay-sipping” moms.  And this is not meant as a compliment.  I found it interesting that no one seemed to complain when those same “Chardonnay-sipping” mothers lined up with their children to see Twilight: New Moon on its opening weekend.

Call Michael Buble “bland” if you want, but he’s a risk taker.  He made Crazy Love with the musicians in the studio, “recorded it right from the floor.”  No one does that anymore.  And, probably more than anything, Michael Buble is an entertainer.  He can sing, live, he can dance, and he can joke, tease, play with his audience.  Dare I say, he appears to be having fun.  How many concerts have you been to where you’re shocked by the actual sound of a performer without the benefit of studio enhancement?  Or have you ever had a concert experience where the singer barely acknowledges the audience who has paid handsomely to be there?  Exactly.  Sure he’s a Frank Sinatra-like “crooner.”  What’s so wrong with that?  At a Michael Buble concert, you have a good time, you enjoy yourself.  Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do?

So take a look at Michael Buble’s web site.  Scroll down and watch the music video for “Haven’t Met You Yet.”  You’ll feel good.  You may even catch yourself bopping, just a bit.  Or singing along, like my dear friend and her six-year-old son do while driving around in her convertible Mini with the top down.  Couldn’t we all use a little more bopping?  A little more singing along?  A little more Michael Buble?

Listen up!

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