Last year, with an Oscar dinner party on the horizon, I crammed in a few last minute screenings and came up with clever and witty menu ideas to pun off some of the nominees. The move, and work and various other factors this year means I am totally clueless about this year’s lineup and I [...]

Moving is stressful. Everyone says it.  I lined up a few weeks to do the move out of the house/studio upstate at a leisurely pace.  But the last week was a s—show for sure.  Mess and mess.  And rain delays. I was stressed about the storage place and its ability to keep precious items dry [...]

Reading the heavy Jonathan Kozol book, Amazing Grace.  The book takes place in the Bronx where Kozol profiles poverty, violence, dismal educational conditions, drugs, and AIDS yet with the underlying current that innocent children have hope and, of course, potential but it must nurtured before too late.   I note the copyright date and think about [...]

So many.  The mainstays are mainstays for a reason.  Gigi’s, Stissing House, Terrapin, Mexican Radio, Babalouie’s, Miss Lucy’s, The Bear Cafe, New World, Basement Bistro, Joshua’s, Village Cafe, Maya Cafe, Red Onion.  And for the low low key but noteworthy: Giordano’s, Village Pizza, Mirabella, Love Bites, Sweet Sue’s.  Still want to try Ruby’s, Havana, Santa [...]

The move away from country mousedom is bringing up a lot of thoughts about what is important.  I thought I was living in such a way that I was doing what is important to me but lately, it has been called to my attention that choices must be made, more specificity is demanded as a [...]

After almost 4 years spending half my time in the Catskills area, we are making some changes and staying in the city for a while. I will miss it so much (the house, my lifestyle here, the area, vibe, and people) and the decision entailed thoughts of fully relocating, existential “where am I supposed to [...]

It’s getting to that time when we are wearing at least 3 layers and so many of us in NY are asking why we don’t live on the West Coast.  I wear flatter shoes more often so I can walk quickly and my long long down to the ankles white down sleeping bag coat–one of [...]

I just came across this found and just released Elliott Smith track from circa ‘97.
More on his other brilliant albums can be found at Sweet Adeline.

I do spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to navigate the state of the music biz, such as it is or isn’t. My problem then is I get bogged down in all the chatter and don’t do much because I don’t know where to begin.  Jon Pareles’ post today on the [...]

Part of me reason for giving up TV was the hope I’d be more productive.  If I’m not out with my friends, I’d like to be home writing or recording.  Having worked from home most of the year, I did not need to unwind after a day at the office.  The big victory  came in [...]