Category Archives: ahh

Less vibrato?

Thanks to my (jazz) flautist buddy Carol Sudhalter, I went to the New York Flute Club’s October program.

Robert Langevin, flute, and Min Young Kang, piano, presented a program in honor of Maurice Ravel’s 150th birthday. It was all so very beautiful.

Shout out to a young composer, C.R.R. Klevin, whose Sonata (2024) was wonderful.

Inspired by this evening I googed my way to this fun overview:

I encourage you to seek out more music videos featured on YouTube, or wherever you watch and listen.

William Marlowe? Kit Shakespeare?

Speculation is the keyword in the History Lord intro to Christopher Marlowe.

Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare were born on the same day. Hmm:

  • Was he Shakespeare?
  • Was he killed in 1593?
  • Was he a spy for Queen Elizabeth [I]?
  • Was he a homosexual?

Only history will tell… wait, it actually has not.

“You are icons”

W 10th & Hudson Environs of our speakeasy adventure

My doorman remarked on my late night arrival. I said, “I was pulled into a speak.”

My friend D asked the bouncer at this unmarked [or, perhaps, mismarked] venue what the line was and next thing we had a table.

Our ages, though D is more than a generation my junior, made us stand out at this West Village speakeasy.

The youngsters around us were appreciative and friendly. We got every courtesy as they passed our corner perch. A fellow helped me up when we were ready to leave.

One young woman took our picture, murmuring “You are icons,” in approving tones.

The loud tunes had D dancing in her seat, and me repeating “what” in every attempted conversation.

We had eaten down the block at The Warren before going to the theater, so this detour was drinks. Kudos for the joint’s beautiful deep raspberry-colored mocktail.

Thanks to D’s willingness to look behind the curtain (it’s a speak, folks) and take a seat at that coveted table, we had a blast.

Oh, and an extra special thanks to the maitre d’ (bouncer) who brought us in from the sidewalk to the club. Yeah, we cut the line and VIPed our way in!

A red carpet moment.

Green eating

Le Botaniste

Did I… oh, yes, of course I did. You know I like my greens. 

The city is now home to several eateries that give priority to those of us who eat our veggies, who prefer vegetables over other dinner choices.

Le Botaniste offers plant-based gourmet dining in a cute, if not gourmet setting. A good choice for a meal, and the one I made with my gal-bud D yesterday before seeing Gene & Gilda.

Writing blocks

There are many ways to tell a story. I knew that but hearing Ann Pachett debunk my “they write themselves” theory and talk about writing as work¹ was confirming.

Like the book Patchett is reading to me, the story I intend to tell is about “a happy marriage.” These stories are fraught; the telling is fraught.

I layout what I have to say conversationally. I am talking to myself. Will the story flow as smoothly and easily when I finally get it out on paper? [Or, more precisely, on electronic page?]

As the cliché goes, and saying that makes it no less clichéd, stay tuned. Aka, I’m working on it.

Note to self, and you, dear reader, I never tried to support myself on my writing. I am an amateur. Amateur auteur has a ring, yes?

¹This Is A Story Of A Happy Marriage, written by Ann Patchett, read by the author. HarperAudio