Replica

Podcasts are good company.

Many of my favorite listens can be alarming [political or just informational]. Due to the algorithm, you know who you are, but for my readers, let me recognize these faves: the Bulwark family of newsletters, especially JVL’s good luck America takes and Sam Stein’s quirky analyses, Sarah on the illegal, and Tim’s interviews. Even better, Tim and Bill Kristol, or JVL/Tim/Sarah.

Robert Reich [with Heather Lofthouse] attempts to soothe, but – let’s face it- these are dire times. Kimmel and Colbert, the crew from The Daily [and The Weekly] Show, Trevor Noah, Josh Johnson bring humor with the bile.

There are inspirational interviews like the one Julia Louis Dreyfus has at Wiser Than Me, and the fun at Amy Poehler’s Good Hang.

Amy Poehler’s set for her chats is intriguing, and the reason for this dissertation. Fake food, replicas of sandwiches and ice cream cones, is on shelves. It’s neatly stacked and referenced during the pod. 

Today, in the New Yorker, I was apprised of fake food as art. At least in Japan. So, this bit of serendipity brought me to this bit of exposition.

At God’s Love

My friends and I were given a tour of the impressive operation at God’s Love We Deliver.

The facilities are in SoHo, near VanDam, although this spring their new distribution center opens in Brooklyn.

I had never seen an industrial kitchen before. Our guide, Nigel Finley, told us it was the largest such in our city.

We saw staff and volunteers at work in the kitchen and bakery.

God’s Love We Deliver provides medically tailored meals to ill and home-bound New Yorkers. They cater specifically to clients’ needs; for instance, low salt for those with high blood pressure, or pureed food for anyone with swallowing issues.

Founded in the midst of the AIDS crisis, GLWD has delivered food since 1985.

This is the 40th anniversary of this excellent service. See how you can participate.

Free lunch?

If you are unfamiliar with both, it is easy to conflate Tom Jones, the book, with Tom Jones, the singer. Even easier if you have seen Tom Jones, the movie. The sexual adulation for the man, in his prime, might seem to echo the debauched lewdness in the film.

I have lost track of why I share this wisdom with you. You may have it for free, with no lesson attached. If you wish.

Free, except that you’re obliged to goggle* the three varieties of TJ on your own.

West 44th

Enjoying a late lunch with my friend T. is a long conversation, catching up. 

Miss Nellie’s lost us to India / Times Square where the menu is long and on a screen. By long, I mean extensive and, let’s face it,  enticing. Miss Nellie’s is catty corner from India etc.

It’s menu is predictably smash burger and salads.

It is truly serviceable but not exotic, and we preferred the wilder choice.

We each chose an item from the vegetarian selections.

Readers

My recently avid reading (or listening) truly expands my knowledge of all sorts of things. I allow one thing to lead to another.

For instance, I never knew of Celia Paul but ran her down after a mention in a book I was indulging in.

Wish, I could credit it, but off hand want to say it was one of Patti Smith’s memoirs.

I just finished Stay With Me, so I know that’s where I gleaned this tidbit of information. In context, I mentioned this in a discussion of violence in children’s stories. That was apropos Peter & The Wolf, which has some grisly bits.

I want to defend that violence as not being random. It is a wolf’s nature to eat birds.

Back to the tidbit lost in my explanation and defense of the fairytale: Stay With Me had an incidental sidetrack of its own.

Nigerian folk tales are easily as quesy as the German or Russian brand.

I followed a few of these down their own rabbit holes. Stories Nigerians tell their children can also seem too blunt.

Psst, in here…

D. has this effect on door men around town. That’s how we wound up at the Speak a few months ago.

The details on this cabinet are astoundingly beautiful. The telephone has an unusual shape. These 3 tough guys are, I guess, part of a German Expressionist grouping. Photos strictly contraband at the Neue Gallery

On Friday, after we attended a Works & Process production of Peter & The Wolf, we got an invitation to come inside. The man at the door of the Neue Galleries tells us that it’s free from 5 to 8pm. We have 40 minutes and I want to see the Klimt.

All I know of Klimt’s work I learned in Lady in Gold. Anne Marie O’Connor’s book was on the reading list J. had shared with me.

The Neue has not just Klimts but also Bauhaus furnishings. There is an unexpected Klimt clock.

On our way out, the man who had greeted us, tells us that the restaurant, too, is excellent. He is awaiting a hot chocolate to top off his evening.

We’ll have to return after the holidays, I’m guessing.