Neat Engine

The NeatEngine's Elected Officials

2009-04-12T09:58:00.012-04:00

I moved to my new residence in Woodside, Queens about four months ago; however, I only recently became a registered voter in the 40th Election District in the City of New York. Since I started voting in 1997, I've always kept careful lists of my elected officials. In keeping with that tradition, I present here my new list of elected officials:

United States Federal Level
Barack Obama (D), President
[Official Website] [Election Website]
Joseph Biden (D), Vice-President
[Official Website] [Election Website]
Charles Schumer (D), Senator from New York
[Official Website] [Election Website]
Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D), Senator from New York
[Official Website] [Election Website]
Nydia M. Velazquez (D), Representative from New York (12th District)
[Official Website] [Election Website]

New York State Level
David Paterson (D), Governor
[Official Website] [Election Website]
Andrew Cuomo (D), Attorney General
[Official Website] [Election Website]
Thomas DiNapoli (D), Comptroller
[Official Website] [Election Website]
George Onorato (D), State Senator (12th District)
[Official Website] [Election Website]
Margaret M. Markey (D), State Assemblymember (30th District)
[Official Website] [Election Website]

City of New York Level
Michael R. Bloomberg (I), Mayor
[Official Website] [Election Website]
Betsy Gotbaum (D), Public Advocate
[Official Website] [Election Website]
William C. Thompson (D), Comptroller
[Official Website] [Election Website]
Eric N. Gioia (D), Councilmember (26th District)
[Official Website] [Election Website]
Helen Marshall (D), Borough President
[Official Website] [Election Website]
Richard A. Brown (D), District Attorney
[Official Website] [Election Website]

Charlie on the M.T.A.

2009-03-23T23:29:00.003-04:00

I came across an old cassette tape that had a recording of "Charlie on the M.T.A." For those of you who spent time living in Boston, you may be familiar with this tune. The lyrics are about
a man named Charlie trapped on Boston's subway system, then known as the Metropolitan Transit Authority (the M.T.A. - but I believe now it's called the M.B.T.A.) because of the fare increase (sound familiar?). Anyway, for more information about the tune, go here:

According to this wikipedia entry, the song was made popular by The Kingston Trio in 1959. You can listen to their recording here:

Well, I was listening to the song and I figured why not adjust it New York City and this "doomsday" 2009 Fare Hike?

----

Charlie on the M.T.A. (adjusted for New York City and possible 2009 Fare Hike)

Well let me tell the story
Of a man named Charlie
On a tragic and fateful day
He put two bucks in his pocket,
Kissed his wife and family
Went to ride on the MTA

Chorus:
Did he ever return,
No he never returned
And his fate is still unlearn'd
He may ride forever
'neath the streets of Brooklyn
He's the man who never returned.

Charlie handed in his dollars
At the Times Square Station
As he changed for Jamaica, Queens
When he got there the conductor told him,
"Two more quarters."
Charlie could not get off that train.

Chorus:
Did he ever return,
No he never returned
And his fate is still unlearn'd
He may ride forever
'neath the streets of Brooklyn
He's the man who never returned.

Well all night long
Charlie rides through the station
Crying, "What will become of me?
How can I afford to see
My sister in Tremont
Or my cousin in Rockaway?"

Chorus:
Did he ever return,
No he never returned
And his fate is still unlearn'd
He may ride forever
'neath the streets of Brooklyn
He's the man who never returned.

Charlie's wife goes down
To the Harold Square station
Every day at quarter past two
And through the open window
She hands Charlie a sandwich
As the train comes rumblin' through.

Chorus:
Did he ever return,
No he never returned
And his fate is still unlearn'd
He may ride forever
'neath the streets of Brooklyn
He's the man who never returned.

Well you citizens of New York,
Don't you think it's a scandal
How the people have to pay and pay?
Fight the fare increase!
Toll the non-toll bridges!
Get poor Charlie off the MTA!

Chorus:
Or else he'll never return,
No he'll never return
And his fate is still unlearned
He may ride forever
'neath the streets of Brooklyn
He's the man who never returned (2x)

He's the man who never returned.
He's the man who never returned.

-----

And for those of you looking for the original lyrics, you can find them here.

:-)

MAS Walking Tour: Go, Go Gowanus

2008-07-26T20:29:00.005-04:00

Saturday, July 26, 11:00 a.m. The Neat Engine and Papa Engine explored the wide banks of Brooklyn’s most famous canal today with the Municipal Arts Society's "Go, Go Gowanus Walking Tour." The tour was led by architectural historian Matt Postal. We began in the Carroll Gardens Historic District (a singular brownstone enclave distinguished by a remarkable street plan), crossed the Gowanus canal over one of the oldest retractile bridges in the United States, and ended in J.J. Byrne Park in Park Slope, Brooklyn. During the trip, we learned about the history of the canal and the surrounding, though faded, industrial zone.

2008-02-05T07:29:00.000-05:00

Principles for a Great New Penn Station from MAS on Vimeo.

2007-05-14T18:04:00.000-04:00

Mark your calendars! The NeatEngine will be singing in the Young New Yorkers' Chorus on Saturday, June 2 at 8:00pm.

Bus Tour of Robert Moses Sites

2007-02-24T21:14:00.000-05:00

Today, the NeatEngine (along with PapaEngine) went on an EXCELLENT "Bus Tour of Robert Moses Sites"- which was organized by the Queens Museum of Art (in conjunction with the "Robert Moses and The Modern City" exhibit) and led by architectural historian and lecturer, John Kriskiewicz. John led us through some facinating discussions and commentaries starting with QMA's Panorama of the City of New York. Along the bus tour, we talked about Pelham Bay Park/Orchard Beach, the Henry Hudson Parkway/Riverside Park, the Brooklyn Heights Promenade and Flushing Meadows-Corona Park - not to mention New York's arterial highway system. These photos chronicle our wonderful journey:

Bus Tour of Robert Moses Sites

After this wonderful afternoon tour, the NeatEngine and PapaEngine enjoyed a fine dinner of "Tortelli Alberto" and "Risotto with seaford" at Alberto in Forest Hills, Queens.

A.O.C. Bedford

2007-02-23T14:06:00.000-05:00

Before attending the YNYC Winter Happy Hour fundraiser at the Town Tavern ...

the NeatEngine and his sweetheart dropped by A.O.C. Bedford in Manhattan's West Village for a quick bite. (A.O.C. in France, D.O.C. in Italy, and D.O. in Spain are terms used to designate products, which exhibit the finest qualities and characteristics of the geographical area, including natural and human factors. Its use is strictly regulated.) We had no idea what to expect but we wish we spent more time there. Our succulent duck and baked bass were heavenly! If only we had the time to try the desserts!!! This is truly a very special restaurant worth revisiting.

[Oh yeah ... and the NeatEngine won a $100 gift certificate to the Town Tavern.]

Kimberton, PA

2007-02-18T20:54:00.000-05:00

The NeatEngine and his sweetheart recently took a road trip to Phoenixville and Kimberton, Pennsylvania. While there, we stayed at the lovely Morning Star Bed and Breakfast and cheered for the visiting team during the Waldorf schools basketball tournament at the Kimberton Waldorf School. We had some delicious meals at the Black Lab Bistro and Iron Hill Brewery. Nearby Valley Forge and the Washington Memorial Chapel brim with American history. And the King of Prussia Mall is HUGE!!! During a side trip to Philadelphia, we listened to Peter Richard Conte perform the world-famous Wanamaker Organ at the Macy's department store in Center City. On the way home, we drove through New Hope, PA and Princeton, NJ - home to the famous Princeton University.

Robert Moses and the Modern City

2007-02-04T19:07:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since the NeatEngine updated his blog. He's been quite busy lately (going to the opera, visiting museums, etc. - not to mention work). But today's visit to the Queens Museum of Art with "Papa Engine" was as good a time as ever to get back into the swing of things. In fact, the same day the NeatEngine and dad visit the QMA, Queens Borough President Helen Marshall was there too. (She must have known we were coming.)

Before we begin discussing, QMA's fabulous exhibit "Robert Moses and the Modern City: The Road to Recreation," let me say that the NeatEngine absolutely LOVES Queens! Not only is it the most ethnically diverse county in the United States, but it is also home to the NeatEngine's sweetheart.

Now, back to Robert Moses. Any study of 20th century New York must include Robert Caro's 1974 Pulibzer Prize-winning biography of Robert Moses, The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York. This 1200 page biography is a reviting page-turner. After I read it and watched PBS's 1999 series, New York: A Documentary, I became a bit of a "New York history-buff" - especially when it comes to 19th/20th century New York history. QMA's exhibit on Robert Moses is one of a three part exhibit and in the coming weeks, I look forward to visiting Robert Moses and the Modern City: Remaking the Metropolis at The Museum of the City of New York and Robert Moses and the Modern City: Slum Clearance and the Superblock Solution at the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Gallery at Columbia University as well as a ton of lectures, tours and other related events.

In addition to seeing the Moses exhibit at QMA, "Papa Engine" and son enjoyed the Panaroma of the City of New York (where else can you walk around New York's 5 boroughs in 5 minutes?), eating free apetizers at the Erasing Borders: Indian Artists in the American Diaspora, the QMA's collection of memorabilia, photography and video from the 1939/40 and 1964/65 New York World's Fairs as well as taking a picture in front of the Unisphere at Flushing Meadows Corona Park:

From 2007-02-04

Afterwards, NeatEngine purchased Robert Moses and the Modern City: The Transformation of New York and got one of the book's editors Hilary Ballon to autograph it! (Unfortunately, we missed Kenneth Jackson.)

[Robin Pogrebin has an article of the exhibit in The New York Times. Jill Priluck has a great post (along with - at latest count - 44 comments) in Gothamist about the exhibits and the ongoing controversy surrounding Moses and the people that have chronicled his life. ]

It seems to me that many of these arguments regarding Moses and his legacy (whether it is good or bad) sees history from two very different perspectives. One is history from above - namely, Caro's Moses fitting the “great man” theory of history. The other is a history from below - i.e., Jackson's Moses as a sympton or symbol of the era. I think both perspectives are equally valid. In regard to this Caro-Jackson bout as touted in Matthew Schuerman's article, "Robert Moses Returns: Power Broker Spurs Caro-Jackson Bout" in the New York Observer is it really fair of us to view the controversy as a "face-off between two great chroniclers of New York?" (Or perhaps we New Yorkers just love a good fight?)

2006-11-11T14:05:00.001-05:00

Mark your calendars! The NeatEngine will be singing in the Young New Yorkers' Chorus on Saturday, December 2 at 8:00pm.

2006-11-05T22:26:00.000-05:00

Having spent the past three years in Seattle, WA, it's nice to once again see trees changing colors. Today's (chilly) walk around Meadow Lake in Flushing Meadows Corona Park reminded me of the splendid colors of Fall.

(On such chilly days as today, it's especially nice when you have someone to keep your hands warm.)

2006-11-04T15:26:00.000-05:00

There are some nice spots on Manhattan Upper West Side: Labyrinth Books, Tom's Restaurant (Broadway and W. 112th St.), the American Museum of Natural History (specifically, the Butterfly Conservatory), Central Park (specifically, Bow Bridge and Bethesda Terrace) and to top it off, hot chocolate at Cafe Lalo. At the end of the day, take the subway out to Queens for Nick's Pizza (108-26 Ascan Ave. (just off Austin St.) in Forest Hills.

Here is a pretty butterfliy from the American Museum of Natural History's Butterfly Conservatory:

If you live in New York's 3rd Congressional District, support Dave Mejias for Congress! (I went to high school with his little sister.)

The Brooklyn Museum has an excellent photo exhibit on Annie Leibovitz. I especially liked the pictures of Susan Sontag.

Sadly, the cultural anthropologist, Clifford Geertz, died on Monday, October 30. Here is his obituary.

2006-10-20T14:28:00.000-04:00

Gaetano Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore at the New York City Opera is a harmless, charming opera. The plot moves methodically and accordingly to the opera buffa style and as I write this post, I'm beginning to think of the entire production - plot, characters, and genre - as a true "coming-of-age" story.

The two main characters (Adina and Nemorino) grow before our eyes. Nemorino, a simple-minded tenor, becomes more outgoing while Adina, the flirtatious soprano (and Nemorino's love), becomes less fickle. For me, Nemorino isn't just a simple-minded tenor, I felt he was a complete wimp - especially in the first act! But by the second act, his maturity blossoms and John Tessier's performance of the "Una furtiva langrima" ("A tear on her cheek") aria awakens our ears to this man's romantic heart:

"A furtive tear showed in her eyes. What more could I ever want."

At first, I had issues with Jonathan Miller's decision to transform "Donizetti's rustic Italian setting into one of pure Americana: a 1950s diner straight out of an Edward Hopper painting." Even the translated super-titles were "Americanized." But as I reflect on the performance, perhaps it was fitting. What era says more about "coming-of-age" - i.e., hoop skirts, Coca-Cola soda machines, and big cars with fins - than the 1950s? (Although, maybe Miller went too far when Dulcamara (played by Jan Opalach) sings a la "Frank Sinatra style.")

Before the opera, we had a deliciouss dinner at Il Violino (180 Columbus Avenue btw. W. 68th and W. 69th Sts.) followed by some Elixirs & Cupcakes at the NYC Opera's Big Deal! Club's after-party. Yummy!

PS. Spider-Man is cool! ;-)

2006-10-15T11:08:00.000-04:00

With the start of the new school year, the NeatEngine has been mad busy. It seems like those warm summer nights of free concerts, movies, and outdoor dances are now a distant memory. And for the first time in 3 years, the NeatEngine is in New York for the Fall season. With the cooler temperatures, it's time to move indoors. But I've been away for so long, my knowledge of "indoor New York" is limited. What to do? Where to go? What to see? On Friday the 13th, some of these questions were answered and with it, my luck changed for the better.

Two of my press releases (about some exciting events at my school) made their way into the Garden City News:

Waldorf Students Visit Metropolitan Opera
Annual Fall Fair Returns to Waldorf School

And after putting it off for nearly 5 years, the NeatEngine finally picked up his new car on Friday. (A brief sidenote: the NeatEngine still maintains a loving, appreciative and supportive relationship with any and all forms of public transportation. Has the NeatEngline "sold out?" No! In my heart, this was a difficult decision and I finally realized that I need to stop asking friends, family and colleagues for rides - especially if I live on Long Island.)

Public transit is still an important part of my life. So later that evening, the NeatEngine rode the LIRR into Manhattan for a delicious dinner and some good company at Sip-Sak (928 2nd Ave. between 49th and 50th Sts.) followed by drinks at the French-Vietnamese restaurant/lounge Le Colonial (149 E. 57th St. between Lexington and Third Aves). Yes, for a "Friday the 13th," it was a surprisingly good day!

Yesterday afternoon, the NeatEngine and his friends checked out CultureFest 2006 at Battery Park. (With a list like this, I now have some answers to those questions.) Afterwards, we enjoyed some tasty burgers, nachos and beer at Ulysses' (58 Stone St.)

Now if only the NeatEngine could share his good luck with the Mets. They lost horribly last night in the NLCS to the St. Louis Cardinals (Cardinals now lead the series 2-1.)

2006-09-24T20:07:00.000-04:00

Last Wednesday, the NeatEngine attended his first opera of the 2006-2007 opera season: the New York City Opera 's production of Georges Bizet's Carmen. Latonia Moore as Micaela was warm, inviting and spellbinding. Unfortunately, I wasn't as impressed by Rinat Shaham's singing in the title role. Overall, it was a delightful evening.

Having been a member of the Seattle Opera's Bravo! Club during the 2005-2006 season, I decided to join the New York City Opera's Big Deal! Club. To kick off this new season, Big Deal! held a pre-opera party at Providence (311 West 57th Street - between 8th & 9th Avenues).

2006-09-18T20:29:00.000-04:00

Three cheers for the Neat Engine! I got two consecutive press releases into the Garden City News:

Waldorf Freshmen Get Oriented
Waldorf Kicks Off 60th Year

2006-08-25T14:33:00.001-04:00

Whoa! An entire month has gone by and I haven't updated my blog.

Some friends and I spent spent an enjoyable weekend (Aug 4-6) in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts.

While there, we saw the 2nd Story Theater do their "Short Attention Span Theatre: a festival of one-acts" in nearby Warren, Rhode Island. Brava to Ms. Linda Monchik for her excellent performance in James Prideaux's "Lemonade."

It was a tiring trip and after we got back to New York, I skipped out on the The Manchurian Candidate (1962) at the HBO Summer Film Festival at Bryant Park. But the following day (Aug 8), I saw The Dirty Dozen Brass Band perform on the Josie Robertson Plaza as part of the Lincoln Center Out of Doors festival.

On Saturday, August 12, a lovely friend had a "Farewell to Another Year... and to New York" party at 230 Fifth.

On Monday, August 14, at the HBO Summer Film Festival at Bryant Park, some friends and I saw Charade (1963).

Between August 17 and 20, I visited some good friends in Washington, DC. We visited the US Capitol.

And the National Archives:

And the Library of Congress (that's me, saying "Shhhh!"):

When I returned to New York, I enjoyed two delightful evenings of the Metropolitan Opera "Met in the Parks" series. On August 22, some friends and I enjoyed Verdi's La Traviata.

Robert: "Noah, I think that's a Neopolitan 6th!"
Noah: "I'll drink to that!"

And on Wednesday, August 23, we saw Verdi's Rigoletto. (Sorry, no pictures.)

The following day, my colleages and I enjoyed a fun evening in Coney Island and saw the Brooklyn Cyclones beat the Aberdeen Ironbirds (4-1).

But this hectic schedule has made me ill and it's time for the Neat Engine to go to bed.

2006-08-03T20:49:00.000-04:00

The #1 topic of discussion these past few days has been the hot weather. As I write this post, the clouds are cumulating which means the t-storms will soon bring some long-awaited relief. Woohoo!

Here are some fun activities that the Neat Engine has been up to:

Last Wednesday, July 26, Jaws was playing at the Hudson River Park's RiverFlicks Festival. Believe it or not, this was my first time to see the famous great white shark terrorize the small island community of Amity, NY.

Last Thursday, July 27, Movies with a View at the Brooklyn Bridge Park showed Pee Wee's Big Adventure. Unfortunately, 10 minutes into the movie, some rumbling t-storms brought an end to our fun. [Kudos to Transportation Alternative for co-sponsoring the evening!] The evening wasn't a complete loss. At least we got to see Zombie-American, an insightful "mocumentary" that will hopefully "help audiences understand the challenges zombies face in our society." Some of us also had drinks at the Henry Stale House - or perhaps it was the Henry St. Ale House - located at 62 Henry St. in Brooklyn

Last Saturday, July 29, I brought my bike on the Long Island Rail Road to Flatbush Avenue Brooklyn. From there, I met up with some friends at Prospect Park for some wiffle-ball, guitar playing, and car-less bike riding around the park. Here are some photos:

Afterwards, my friend and I rode along the bike lane on Ocean Parkway from Prospect Park to Coney Island. There, we watched the Brooklyn Cyclones beat the Staten Island Yankees, 10-6. Here are some photos:

Needless to say, it was late in the day and I was too tired to ride home. So I took my bike on the train.

On Monday, July 31, at the HBO Summer Film Festival at Bryant Park, we saw A Shot in the Dark - one of the best of the Pink Panther films. Here are some photos:

And last night, I saw the New York Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 7-2. These guys make too much money.

2006-07-23T20:52:00.000-04:00

Unfortunately, the Neat Engine was ill last week and missed many fine NY summer events; namely the New York Philharmonic's concert in Central Park, a Brooklyn Cyclones baseball game against the Oneonta Tigers, and Hitchcock's 1951 movie "Strangers on a Train" at the Brooklyn Bridge Park.

By Friday, I was feeling much better. I rode the Long Island Rail Road and visited my friends in Brooklyn for some dinner at the Burrito Bar and Kitchen. Due to a miscommunication, our dinner of pollo con mole came out as guacomole (which wasn't that good either!). The waiter, I guess, felt bad for his mistake and gave us a round of free margaritas!

Saturday, it "rained like balls." Luckily, this ball-like-rain ended just in time to enjoy some cool-cat swing dancing. My friends and I side-stepped our way for the final evening of Midsummer Night Swing at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and swayed to the sweet sounds of the Harlem Renaissance Orchestra.

On Sunday, my friend and I headed to The Supper Club and laughed at the political-satircal humor of the Capitol Steps. Afterwards, we enjoyed a lazy-day walk through Central Park and ate some very large hamburgers at Nice Matin. To our surprise, we were only a few tables away from 1980s singer, Cyndi Lauper.

2006-07-16T20:18:00.000-04:00

Last Friday, at Pier 46 along the Hudson River Park, some friends and I saw the Academy-award documentary film by Luc Jacquet, March of the Penguins. This cute family flick depicts the yearly journeys of the Emperor Penguins of Antartica. The little baby penguins are the cutest of all!

Saturday's trip to Governors Island was a journey into the unknown. For over 200 years, very few civilians have ventured onto this federal government land. But since 2003, good men, women, and children can visit this historic island for free! For those of us that went, we enjoyed a self-guided tour as well as an all day Singer & Songwriter Music Festival. We think it would be cool to have a big "Capture the Flag" game on Governors Island in the not-too-distant future. Anyone interested?

Speaking of "big" --- later that night I enjoyed a very large portion of chicken fried steak at Lobo, a Tex-Mex restaurant located at 218 Court Street in Brooklyn.

And today, just outside Prospect Park, at the Grand Army Plaza, Develop, Don't Destroy, Brooklyn held a rally against the Atlantic Yards project. For those of you unfamiliar with my views on public transportation, I am a strong advocate of trains, metros, subways, buses, trams, trolleys, and any other means of mass-transit. Any urban project that will bring car traffic, pollution, and expensive housing to my beloved city concerns me.

How did I get this way? Back in 1964, a similar project - now known as Madison Square Garden - destroyed one of New York's boldest and grandest train stations - the original Pennsylvania Station. I cried when I learned about this beautiful building's demise on the PBS documentary, New York: A Documentary Film. It would be a grave misfortunte to make a similar mistake again.

[Thomas J. Lueck has an article about the protest in the New York Times. NoLandGrab posted a bunch of photos from yesterday's rally on Flickr.]

2006-07-13T21:35:00.000-04:00

Last Sunday, two lovely women and I headed to Pier 54 along the Hudson River Park and danced to the sweet sounds of David Berger and the Sultans of Swing. Watching the sun set over New Jersey, enjoying the cool breeze off the Hudson River, and gently swaying to the sounds of big band - all in the shadow and chaperone-like-gaze of the Empire State Building - made for a memorable evening. In fact, one young lady (who is 14) asked this old "square" to dance the entire night!

On Monday night, the gang gathered at Bryant Park and saw Bullitt at the 2006 HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival. Everyone enjoyed the famous 9 minute and 42 second car chase scene through San Francisco.

Tuesday night's dinner at Restorante Babbo was delicious! For antipasti, try the "Neci con Funghi Misti." I enjoyed the "Mint Love Letters" ravioli with Spicy Lamb Sausage. Cannonau Cantina Oliena 2003 Sardegna complemented the meal nicely. Unfortunately, it was just too hot and humid to fully enjoy "Mozart with a Downtown Twist" concert at the Washington Square Music Festival.

Bummer. Due to the rain on Wednesday, the New York Philharmonic cancelled their concert on the Great Lawn in Central Park. Luckily, our friend invited us to her humble abode on the Upper East Side and we all enjoyed a glass or two of Martini & Rossi's Bianco. Stay tuned. The NYPhil will play again next Tuesday.

2006-07-09T13:29:00.000-04:00

Walking east from Grand Central Terminal, I wouldn't expect to find bars that catered to the 20-30 year old crowd. That's something I would expect to find in Manhattan's Lower East Side. But Calico Jack's Cantina is one of those East Midtown bars that features cheap drinks, loud noise, and crowded floor space - not my favorite combination. Still, the evening was enjoyable as I got to join my cousins and their numerous friends for some late-night fun!

2006-07-08T14:34:00.000-04:00

The weather yesterday was splendid! It's summer days like this that make living in New York a pleasure. With low humidity and highs in the low-80s, I knew I wanted to be outdoors. I emailed a few friends and asked if anyone wanted to take part in some FreeNYC.net activities. One said yes and we agreed to meet at the South Street Seaport (by the way, this friend also works at the South Street Seaport Museum). After a light dinner of fish tacos and margaritas at Radio Mexico (259 Front St.), we headed to the Seaport Music Festival - a series in the River to River Festival. Unfortunately, we got bored very quickly with the music of "White Magic" so instead, we walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and enjoyed ice cream at the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory.

2006-07-06T20:22:00.000-04:00

A short 7-minute walk from the school, the Adelphi Delicatessen is the neighborhood deli that's been around forever. There are no "kids" behind the counter here. These are learned Irish and Italian men who study the fine art of sandwich-making. I'm always trying something new on their menu with the hope of someday finding "my usual." Today's "Triple Mess" will definitely NOT be "my usual." This 3-egg, sausage, bacon, ham sandwich is a perscription for a serious heart attack. Perhaps a better name would be the "Triple by-pass." Yet despite the warnings, I ordered it anyway.

Alas, the search for "my usual" continues ...

2006-07-05T21:12:00.000-04:00

La Bottega is a charming Italian restaurant just a short bike-ride away from work. My coworkers and I went there today to celebrate our admission director's birthday. I enjoyed a delicious "Matt" panini of Parma ham, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, herb mayonaise, lettuce, sweet red peppers, and balsamic on ciabatta bread. Delizioso!

2006-06-27T21:41:00.000-04:00

Last night, my friends and I saw To Have and Have Not at the 2006 HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival. Sadly, I fell asleep even before that famous line: "You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve? You just put your lips together and blow."

I treated my dad to a big Father's Day steak dinner at Bryant & Cooper Steakhouse in Roslyn, New York. Mmmm! Meat!

Lunch at Caffe Barocco is always a nice break from work.

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to see The Public Theater perform Macbeth as part of their Shakespeare in the Park series. It was very good. Liev Schrieber, as Macbeth, delivered a commanding performance, which reminded me of his performance in The Manchurian Candidate. However, I thought Jennfer Ehle was a bit weak as Lady Macbeth. What was truly marvelous was the way the weather in all of its swings and swirls added an unexpected enhancing effect to the show. It was almost like nature was giving a performance as well.

After a recent trip to West Virginia, some friends and I stopped for steamed crabs at Obrycki's in Baltimore, MD.

2006-06-14T21:16:00.000-04:00

A lot can happen in a month.

I packed up my apartment in Seattle, WA ...

and moved home to Long Island, NY.

The same week I started a new job at my former school - the Waldorf School of Garden City - and attended (and helped coordinate) an event at Camp Glen Brook, the school's extension campus in Marlborough, New Hampshire.

The following weekend, my friends and I attended our college class's 5th year reunion in Saratoga Springs, NY.

And most recently, I attended a baptism with some other friends in Middleway, West Virginia.

But last night, my 2006-fun-filled-free-summer-in New York 'unofficially' began with a walk along the 28th Annual Museum Mile Festival. Three hours is not enough time to visit all 9 museums along Fifth Avenue. (You'd have to move at the speed of light to see all 9 museums in 3 hours.) Still, that didn't keep my friends and I from spending a little over an hour each at the National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts and The Jewish Museum with just enough time to see the lobby of El Museo del Barrio (one I'd like to visit in the not-too-distant future). The 23 car-free blocks along 5th Avenue between 82nd & 105th streets were great! With street chalk in hand, I tagged "PEDESTRIANS RULE!" somewhere between 101st and 102nd streets.

Afterwards, our 7 person party patiently waited for dinner at One Fish Two Fish. Unfortunately, the restaurant had no ice cream!

2006-05-14T02:05:00.000-04:00

Today's high temperature in the 60s, the bright sunny skies, and all-around pleasant weather reminds me that summer is only a few weeks away. Sure summer in New York can be hot, hazy, and humid; but I still prefer that over the cold, dreary, and snowy winters. People are outside enjoying street festivals, baseball games, picnics and bar-be-cues. I've already mentioned the free summer concerts on the Great Lawn in Central Park. But right up there among my favorite summer-time activities is the annual Midsummer Night Swing at Lincoln Center. Throughout high school and college, I attended those dances fairly regularly.

So as the temperature rises, my thoughts inevitably wander to those starry night tangoes on the Josie Robertson Plaza. My body moves to the pulsing rhythms of salsa, merengue, and swing. The night air is thick with humidity and swaying bodies. The music is intoxicating. However, I am without a partner. Then, all of a sudden, the crowds will part and I'll see her across the dance floor. I'll collect my wits, walk up to her, and ask, "Would you like to dance?"

[Tonight, I rented from my local video store the 2005 documentary, Mad Hot Ballroom. This is a great film! For more information about American Ballroom Theater's Dancing Classroom, the program that provides instruction in ballroom dance at over sixty public schools in New York City, click here.]

2006-05-10T01:35:00.000-04:00

Joseph Volpe, the general manager of the Metropolitan Opera, will retire at the end of this season. He's currently in Seattle on a book tour for his recently published memoir, The Toughest Show on Earth: My Rise and Reign at the Metropolitan Opera (Knopf 2006). Hosted by Norm Hollingshead, Mr. Volpe gave a talk tonight about his memoir at the Bellevue Regional Library. I bought his book and got his autograph.

I have many fond memories of the Metropolitan Opera. One that I am looking forward to revisiting once I return to New York will be the free summer concerts by the Metropolitan Opera (as well as by the New York Philharmonic) on the Great Lawn in Central Park. Let me set the scene. Imagine a warm summer evening in the pastoral setting of Central Park's Great Lawn. You and your friends are eating a delicious picnic (perhaps from Zabars) while listening to beautiful classical music. With a glass of wine in hand, you stand up to stretch your legs and gaze at the tall skyscrappers that surrond the park's perimeter. Could it get any better?

Now I already know that the New York Philharmonic concerts in the park will be on Wednesday, July 12th and Tuesday, July 18th. But I'm still waiting for the Metropolitan Opera to post the dates of their free concerts! So tonight, I asked Mr. Volpe two questions. First, could he inscribe in the book "Welcome back to New York Robert" - which he graciously did. And second, "When will the Met be performing their concerts in Central Park?"

"August."

2006-05-08T00:41:00.000-04:00

Currently, I'm in the process of selling my furniture and shipping my belongings home to New York. Ridding myself of these possessions has made me realize that my time in Seattle is quickly coming to an end. But that realization came to a sad and tearful moment today when my cellist friend and I played for our friends - for the last time. Making music with her and our violinist friend are by far my most fondest memories of Seattle. To say that I'll miss our chamber music sessions is an understatement. These wonderful friends have given me a new appreciation for not just a vast repetoire of music; they have given me friendships filled with beautiful harmonies and melodies. And for that, I give them my thanks and an invitation to visit me (with their instruments) in New York anytime!

2006-05-07T21:38:00.000-04:00

In all likelihood, Friday night's concert by the Seattle Symphony - with Christian Knapp conducting and Garrick Ohlsson at the piano - was my last concert at Benaroya Hall. (There are a few more performances this season; but I doubt I'll be attending any of them before I leave Seattle.) As my own personal finale, this was a rousing way to end the 2005-2006 season: Johannes Brahms's Academic Festival Overture, Opus 80; Robert Schuman's Piano Concerto in A minor, Opus 54; and Sergei Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Opus 18. Later in the evening, over a Lotus Sesame Salad and Crispy Lobster Tail at the Jasmine Restaurant & Lounge, one friend aptly mentioned, "This was a meat and potatoes performance."

Brahms's Academic Festival Overture draws heavily from Gaudeamus Igitur, a popular commencement song sung in Latin that is very similar to Edward Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance. (This piece was probably the closest thing I'll have to a graduation ceremony as I won't be attending the University of Washington's Commencement on June 10th.) My $25 seat in the third tier gave me a direct line of sight on Mr. Ohlsson's hands for the Schumann Piano Concerto. The primary theme between Mr. Ohlsson and the clarinet during the Allegro affectuoso movement made an otherwise gigantic production of a full symphony and piano have the intimacy of a small chamber ensemble. Similarly, the second movement's Intermezzo: Andantino grazioso reveled in a haunting theme between the cello section and piano.

(Despite my direct line-of-sight on Mr. Ohlsson's hands, I decided to sneak into an empty seat in the preferred orchestra section after the intermission.)

But truly, the main course for the evening was Rachmaninov's popular and thunderous Second Piano Concerto. This isn't just a piano concerto. It's a a major symphonic work. At times, it's possible for the orchestra to drown out the soloist. Without a doubt, Mr. Ohlsson has the "meat, potatoes" bones, and muscle to be heard over the symphony. He knows how to generate sound - especially in the piano's lower registers. During the first movement, I was impressed by this man's virtuosity. But as the first movement's fast arpeggios came to a dashing end, I wondered about his touch for the intimate Adagio sostenuto movement. (The second movement of Vladimir Ashkenazy's recording of this same piece once brought me to tears.) Although he didn't bring any tears to my eyes, Mr. Ohlsson did a fine job with the second movement. As the third movment commenced, I noticed some agitated nervousness between Mr. Ohlsson and the orchestra. At times, it seemed like Mr. Knapp was desperately trying to bring the symphony up to Mr. Ohlsson's speed.

All in all, the audience was greatly appreciative of Mr. Ohlsson's performance and were treated with not one; but two encores: Rachmaninov's Prelude in C# minor and another piece whose title I didn't catch.

UPDATE: The second encore piece was Bedrich Smetana's "Obkrocau" from the second book of "Czech Dances."

[Melinda Bargreen has a preview article and a review in the Seattle Times.]

2006-05-05T19:48:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I've attended a performance and unfortunately I haven't had much time to contribute to the "Neat Engine." But last night's performance of the Mark Morris Dance Group at Meany Hall for the Performing Arts as part of their UW World Series seemed like a good time to reconnect with all my friends in the blogosphere.

As I mentioned in a previous post, the New York City Ballet was my introduction to professional ballet. Well, last night's production by the Mark Morris Dance Group will be remembered as my entree to the wonderful world of professional modern dance. Now, of course, I'm probably "comparing apples and oranges," but last night's performance, in my opinion, was much more fulfilling than ballet. The movements and gestures of these fine dancers made the music (so much of it "classical") seem much more approachable. Setting modern dance to classical chamber music even makes the music more intimate. Unlike ballet, which I feel focuses so much attention on technical detail, here I felt the gestures were much broader. The choreography of shapes and forms moved so effortlessly. The fugue from "Gloria" was literally 4-point counterpoint (soprano, alto, tenor, and base) set to dance. I had a few "anthropological reservations" about "Cargo" and its representation of South Pacific cultures. But on the whole, this was a very enjoyable performance. I look forward to seeing this dance group again in the not-too-distant future.

Afterwards, my friends and I enjoyed some pretzels, cheese, and hummus at Cafe Metropolitan followed by some delicious Belgian fries at Frites ( 925 E. Pike Street, Seattle, WA 98122)

[Alice Kaderlan has a preview article and a review in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Mary Murfin Bayley also has a preview article and Robin Updike has a review in the Seattle Times.]

2006-04-27T13:39:00.000-04:00

After last night's piano recital by Krystian Zimerman at Benaroya Hall, my friends and I had some coconut cream pie at the Palace Kitchen. We all agreed that Mr. Zimerman's recital will be remembered as one of our favorites of the 2005-2006 Distinguished Artists Recital Series at Benaroya Hall. Mr. Zimerman wasn't overly sentimental or emotional. But his thoughtful and knowledgable (you got to respect a pianist that has piano-building experience) attitude to the piano made for an intellectually stimulating evening.

In contrast to Monday night's all-Mozart extravaganza, Mr. Zimerman's well-tempered attidude to the Mozart C Major piano sonata was so refreshing. In contrast to the Mozart, Mr. Zimerman's emotion for Ravel's Valses nonobles et sentimentales provided an opportunity to show melancholy color without the gooey-ness. At the last minute, Chopin's F Minor Ballade replaced Gershwin's Three Preludes. I was a bit dissapointed that this collection was removed but the F minor ballade was a fine substitute and delighted me nonetheless. I think many of us associate Chopin's music with 19th century French romanticism, but Mr. Zimerman's performance of the Opus 24 Mazurkas reminded me of Chopin's eastern European roots. I learned in the program that Chopin only wrote 3 piano sonatas in his life and Mr. Zimerman's execution of the second one in B-flat minor, Opus 35 (a.k.a. the "Funeral March") ranged an entire spectrum of color and emotion: from dark and macrabre to light and hope.

Despite the sparse attendance last night, the audience - myself included - gave a resounding standing ovation for Mr. Zimerman. And we were privilidged with an encoure. I think it might have been Prokofiev; but I'm not sure. Does anyone else know?

[R.M. Campbell has a review in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Melinda Bargreen has a preview article and a review in the Seattle Times.]

2006-04-27T10:57:00.000-04:00

Mozart - specifically his last three symphonies: #39, #40, and #41 (the "Jupiter") - dominated the The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra's concert at Benaroya Hall on Monday night. I will admit it: the strings are my favorite part of the modern day orchestra and without a doubt, Mozart's symphonies are primarily written for the strings. However, by the end of Monday night's performance, I was exhausted - especially by the powerful and energetic 12-member violin section. (Occasionally, I caught profile views of the conductor, Mr. Roberto Abbado, shushing them!) The pulsing woodwinds during the second movment of symphony No. 39 and the lovely celli during the second movement of the Jupiter left me wanting to know more about the other non-violin musicians of this 35 piece orchestra.

[Rosemary Ponnekanti has a preview article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and John Sutherland has a review of this concert in the Seattle Times.]

2006-04-23T17:32:00.000-04:00

For the past several weeks, I've made a very conscious decision to wear short-sleeve shirts. Even if I have to wear a sweater over them, I feel that wearing short-sleeve shirts can speed the arrival of spring. Of course my wardrobe decisions have little consequence to Mother Nature, but I do it nonetheless.

Today, as I stepped outside for my weekly bagel and newspaper, not a cloud was in the sky. When I returned to my apartment, I opened all the windows and tuned my radio to KING FM 98.1. At that very moment, the sweet sounds of the Philadelphia Orchestra's recording of Beethoven's Symphony No.6 in F, Op.68 (also known as the "Pastoral Symphony") was on the air. This piece, along with the beautiful springtime weather, seemed like such a perfect combination. I can just imagine people enjoying a lazy afternoon in the park or having a nice brunch at a streetside restaurant.

In this idyllic dream, everyone would be wearing short-sleeve shirts!

2006-04-20T22:27:00.000-04:00

When I was in fifth grade, my mom took me and my friends to the Jacob K. Javitz Convention Center to see the annual New York International Auto Show. For a bunch of eleven-year-old boys that dreamt about one day driving Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and the famous Delorean from the movie, Back to the Future, the auto show was "a totally awesome" way to spend one day of Easter vacation.

Growing up in the suburbs of New York, I learned that cars were a basic necessity. My mom drove me everywhere in her trusty Volvo stationwagon: to school, to piano lessons, to swimming lessons, to the mall - or as we say in Lon-GUY-land, "the mawl". But over the years, I've developed - you might say - a difficult relationship with all things "automotive." In high school, the writings of James Howard Kunstler radically changed my ideas about places, geography, and the role of transportation. As an ex-suburban-urbanite, I am desperately trying to live my life "car-free" and it ain't easy! Cars are everywhere. I see them. I hear them. I can even smell them! The automobile industry has bombarded my consciousness (and sub-consciousness) with their fancy and sexy commercials.

Obviously, I will not be in attendance at this year's auto show. But I wonder, why is one of the world's largest auto shows in a city that (1) has reached its maximum capacity for automobiles and (2) prides itself on its public transportation?

[Carla Saunter, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's Bus Chick, has an insightful and intelligent blog with many similar sentiments. Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, Newsday's Car Chick, Meg Ginnetty, is ... well ... playing with cars.]

2006-04-18T01:03:00.000-04:00

Saturday started as a gray, rainy, and dismal morning. (The sun finally peeked through the clouds in the late afternoon when I arrived at McCaw Hall to see Sleeping Beauty.) I spent most of the morning curled up in bed with The New York Times and listened to Gaetano Donizetti's comic-opera, Don Pasquale, on the Metropolitan Opera Radio Broadcast on KING FM 98.1. Anna Netrebko sang beautifully as Norina (and if I may, she's "very sweet on the eyes" too!). Listening to her sweet voice fill the auditorium brought back many fond memories of the Metropolitan Opera: purchasing $20 standing room tickets, drinking water out of cone-shaped cups during intermission, and sneaking into orchestra level seats after the first act.

2006-04-16T08:35:00.000-04:00

Last night, some friends and I attended the Pacific Northwest Ballet's (PNB) production of Sleeping Beauty at McCaw Hall. If memory serves me well, this was my third ballet performance. Last December, I saw PNB's production of that annual holiday standard: The Nutcracker (which I also saw at the New York City Ballet when I was around nine years old).

You probably have noticed that most of my posts are about classical music recitals and concerts. Music has always been one of my joys in life. But dance is the way music moves us in celebration of our friends, our communities, and our lives. After the first act, I asked my ballet-enthusiast friends what they look for at a ballet performance. "Make it look effortless," said one; while another summed it up in one word: "Grace."

Probably the most familiar Sleeping Beauty is the 1959 Walt Disney animated film and last night's ballet reminded me those colorful cartoons. I may have some issues with the plot lines and themes of these fairy tale stories, but I must admit, the entire performance was a visual feast for the eyes. Patricia Barker, as Princess Aurora, was spellbinding.

[R.M. Campbell has a review in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Moira Macdonald has a review in the Seattle Times.]

Afterwards, my friends and I had a late-night dinner at the Fish Club.

2006-04-14T02:42:00.000-04:00

Sometime in June, KCTS will feature a televised concert of tonight's (and/or Saturday night's) performance of the Seattle Symphony. When they do, I hope they'll edit out all the noises their cameraman on stage-left made during the evening. If they don't, look closely. You may actually see some members of the orchestra "shush-ing" him!

Tonight's concert was actually my first time to see Mr. Gerard Schwarz conduct his own orchestra and I was impressed at how well he kept this large ensemble together. It was a challenging program which included Jean Sibelius's "Lemminkainen's Return," No. 4 from Legends, Opus 22; Max Bruch's First Violin Concerto in G minor, Opus 26; and Dmitri Shostakovich's daunting Symphony Number 8 in C minor, Opus 65. Drawing upon rousing and stiring musical themes, these major symphonic works - especially the Sibelius and the Shostakovich - were composed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when struggles for national independence and unification were prevalent throughout Europe.

The gypsy-like sounds of Max Bruch's First Violin Concerto in G minor, Opus 26 featured Julian Rachlin as the soloist. Perhaps Mr. Rachlin should have spent more time following the symphony's commander-in-chief, rather than playing coy with the first violin section. Later in the evening, over a dinner of oysters, calamari, civiche, and mini-burgers at the Brooklyn Seafood, Steak, and Oyster House, a friend of mine proclaimed high accolades for Mr. Rachlin's technique - especially his bowing. It seems to me synchronization between the soloist and the orchestra - and not just bowing - should be of utmost importance when performing a concerto.

After intermission, the audience settled into their seats for a long and extensive second half. Shostakovich's Symphony No. 8 in C minor, Opus 65 concluded the evening and the Symphony's week-long Shostakovich festival. As Mr. Schwarz wrote in the program:

"Written during World War II, the Eighth reflects the tragedy of that dark period of world history. It is among the most poignant and deeply felt works in the symphonic repertory."

This was my favorite piece of the evening. It featured a well-integrated orchestra and highlighted some wonderful soloists among the Symphony's players. Nathan Hughes played an lyrical oboe solo in the first movement that was as smooth as the cheesecake my friends and I shared for dessert at The Cheesecake Factory. And Zartouhi Dombourian-Eby and Judy Kriewall drew my attention to some amazing fluttering flute techiniques in the fourth. Maria Larinoff's violin solo and Raymond Davis's cello solo honored and represented their sections highly. The Allegro non troppo's relentless motor-like theme unifed and integrated practically each section of the symphony as it moved efortlessly from viola to brass to cello to percussion and timpani like a well-oiled machine.

Now, if only the camera-man on stage left could move as easily ...

[Read R.M. Campbell's critique of this same performance here and Melinda Bargreen's critique here.]

2006-04-12T01:49:00.000-04:00

Have you ever had a lucky day? You wake up and think a day of working, eating, and sleeping will just blend together? Then, all of a sudden - out of no where - luck just happens to fall right into your lap (or in this case, into your email inbox)?

This afternoon, I received an email invitation to see and hear Arnaldo Cohen, the Brazilian-born pianist, perform at Meany Hall as part of their 2005-2006 President's Piano Series. Mr. Cohen, now a resident of Bloomington, Indiana, is a professor of music at Indiana University's School of Music.

His program of Chopin Ballades (1-4) and Scherzi (1-4), as the kind ticket-owner rightly said, "was dessert for the ears." I love Chopin. I have fond memories of learning and performing his etudes, nocturnes, improptus, and polanaises throughout high school and college. Chopin's works were written for pianos substantially different from the ones we see and hear today. Still, I believe these pieces sound magnificent on a concert grand Steinway, drawing upon all its splendor and strength. Mr. Cohen's performance wasn't just a wash of beautiful arpeggios and chromatic scales connected with the damper pedal. This was articulation. Watching Mr. Cohen's hands fly across the keyboard so effortlessly gave clarity to my listening. His segmentation of each phrase and section elucidated the distinction and departure of these romantic works from the classical "Sonata form."

[Philippa Kiraly, a freelance writer, has a review in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Melinda Bargreen has a review in the Seattle Times.]

2006-04-11T00:39:00.000-04:00

Anthony Tommasini, the senior music critic of The New York Times, wrote a nice article this past Sunday about Condoleezza Rice's chamber music ensemble. In it I learned that Dr. Rice developed her passion for classical music after listening to a recording of Verdi's "Triumphal March" from his 1871 opera, "Aida." It's interesting that the Secretary of State has such fond memories of a song that romanticizes an aggresive invasion into a foreign country. (Sound familiar?) Personally, I would like the top diplomat representing the United States of America to be informed by political statemanship - rather than a song that celebrates the defeat of Aida's father, the Ethiopian king.

Politics aside, I was personally struck by Mr. Tommasini's statement:

"[It's] wonderful to hear chamber music as [it's] meant to be: played by friends for their own enjoyment, in the confines of a living room, which makes the sound seem enveloping. Playing chamber music is a bonding experience."

I couldn't agree more. Over the past few years, I've dabled in the chamber music repetoire with some wonderful friends. Together, we've played Brahms's Trio in B Major, the first movement of Brahms's Cello Sonata #1 in E minor, and Saint-Saens's "The Swan" from the "Carnival of Animals" - to name a few. Getting to know these friends in that extra-musical way has been very fulfilling. Our rehearsals usually consists of one hour or so of gruling practice, a delicious meal (with wine), followed by another hour or so of practice. Liberal portions of wine usually make the second hour of practice sound much better!

2006-04-10T03:52:00.000-04:00

If you haven't already noticed from some of the links in the right-hand column, I'm a big fan of public transportation. I love trains, metros, subways, buses, trams, trolleys, and any other means of mass-transit. Cars are nice (I am, after all, "Neat Engine") and I'm a proud card-carrying member of Flexcar. But I honestly feel there are just too many cars on the road these days. Hybrid, bio-diesel, and fuel-cell automobiles can definitely help the environment and wean Americans off our addiction to oil; but they won't help with traffic, congestion, and gridlock. If we really want to solve all of these problems, we need to move more people with fewer cars on the road.

Therefore, I have devloped a very loving, appreciative, and supportive relationship with any and all forms of public transportation. Like any relationship, I invest a great amount of trust and faith in these journeys. But if I am going to give up the freedom of personal mobility that a car provides, then I expect a public transportation system that works on a regular and on-time schedule. Today, that relationship failed and I was late to a brunch with some friends. Instead of waiting 15 minutes, I had to wait 45 minutes for a King County Metro bus. I felt angered, hurt, and betrayed. How could this happen?!?! After all we've been through together. I needed some time alone to reflect on this relationship.

Luckily, one of my friends gave me a ride home in his car.

[The Bus Chick has cool blog with many similar sentiments.]

2006-04-08T14:47:00.000-04:00

Located approximately 20 minutes east (by car) from Seattle, Bellevue, once considered a bedroom community, has become one of the largest cities in Washington state, with multiple high-rise structures and a burgeoning business community. There were two concerts at Bellevue's Maydenbauer Center last night: Queens ... On Fire, featuring Regine Velasquez and Pops Fernandez, as well as the Seattle Opera's Young Artists' production of The Turn of the Screw. While tempted to see the highly popular "Asia's Songbird," my friends and I had already purchased tickets to see the latter. This spooky ghost story, based on Henry James's 1888 novella, was adapted into an opera in 1954 by Benjamin Britten. Contemporary opera has had its difficulties and Britten's decision to dominate this opera with several sopranos makes it a bit tough on the ears. Still, I was very impressed by the professional acting and singing within this young opera troupe . Their drive to push the mystery and thrilling plot line forward kept me spellbound. Alexis Martin's portrayal of the nameless governess (and protagonist) kept me wondering who or what exactly is the nature of evil within the story.

For more thorough reviews, see R.M. Campbell and Melinda Bargreen. Margaret posted a nice review up on Seattlest too.

Afterwards, my friends and I joined the Seattle Opera's Bravo Club! for a post-opera reception at the SeaStar Restaurant and Raw Bar.

2006-04-07T01:47:00.000-04:00

The Land Has Eyes kicked off the 5th Annual Native Voices Film Festival this evening to a full house at the University of Washington's Ethnic Cultural Center/Theater. This award-winning feature film from Fiji tells the story of a Polynesian girl who is inspired by the warrior woman in her island’s mythology to challenge the western court after her father has been falsely accused of a crime. Specifically, the story takes place in Rotuma, a small island approximately 465 kilometers north of Fiji. Writer, director, and producer, Vilsoni 'Vili" Hereniko, a native of Rotuma, and his wife, Jeanette, introduced and led a post-film discussion that (I felt) was more genuine and more authentic than Sir James Galaway's shticky recital last Tuesday. Vili is currently a professor at the Center for Pacific Island Studies at the University of Hawaii-Manoa and teaches classes on literature, theater, and film. If you missed tonight's premier, The Land Has Eyes will play for one week from Friday, April 14 to Thursday, April 20 at the Grand Illusion Cinema.

[Sean Axmaker has a review on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.]

2006-04-06T00:01:00.000-04:00

Every time I step into Noah's Bagels in the Broadway neighborhood of Seattle's Capitol Hill, it's like I magically enter a world reminiscent of all my favorite "old" New York venues: Grand Central Terminal, the Brooklyn Bridge, or Bryant Park in the summertime. From the "subway" tiles that deck their floors to the old black and white Brooklyn Dodgers' photographs adorning the walls, Noah's represents the quintesential New York. It's been my home away from home ever since I arrived in Seattle three years ago.

Chain restaurants typically do not appeal to my tastes. Frozen bagels that come out of a box from some corporate factory are NOT the same as the freshly-made bagels cooked in authentic New York water. Still, Noah's Bagels keeps calling me back nearly every weekend. My orders - (1) a plain bagel with lox, cream cheese, tomato, and red onion, (2) a plain bagel with chicken salad, chives, and extra mayo, or (3) a plain bagel with turkey sausage, chedar cheese, and egg - have been more consistent than the store's high employee turnover. Even the "old guys" that join me at the store's big, wooden, kitchen table for bagels and newspapers every Sunday have been frequenting this shop longer than most of its employees.

Sure these "kids" occasionally get my order wrong. They're new. They're slow. They forget my name. Or they forget to include a pickle with my order. That's alright. I don't mind. They've never been rude to me. Maybe it's that "New York state of mind" that keeps me going back week after week. I can go to other bagel shops but I want them to get it right. I want them to know what it means to have a "regular." Today, for the first time in three years, the young woman behind the counter remembered my name.

I gotta tell ya, it made all the difference!

2006-04-05T02:10:00.000-04:00

Sir James Galway performed this evening at Benaroya Hall. It was a nice recital but it certainly didn't impress me as much as Mr. Vadim Repin and Mr. Nicolai Lugansky's Recital on March 22nd. Accompanied on the piano by Christopher O'Riley, Sir Galway's two and a half hour program included Francis Poulenc's "Sonata for Flute and Piano," Philippe Gaubert's "Madrigal," Franz Schubert's "Introduction and Variations on 'Trockne Blumen,' D.802," Antonin Dvorak's "Sonatina in G major, Op. 100," Albert Franz Doppler's "Rigoletto Fantasy for Two Flutes, Op. 38" (with his wife, Lady Jeanne Galway), and Francois Borne's "Brilliant Fantasy on Themes from Georges Bizet's Carmen." His 3 encore pieces were: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Rondo Alla Turca" (again with his wife, Lady Jeanne Galway), Camille Saint-Saens' "The Swan," and "Danny Boy."

At the end of the recital, I asked my friends whether flute repetoire was very different from other instrumental music. It seemed to me that Sir Galway's sound remained at a constant volume throughout the evening. Is this how flute music is supposed to be played? Honestly, I don't know. Wind instruments are very different than string instruments (which, I am sure, have shaped my hearing in very unconscious ways). Sir Galway's breathing technique and musical virtuousity are superb. He is, after all, one of the most well-known flautist in the world. But what happened to his sense of dynamic? Forte (loud) was forte and piano (soft) was forte.

[For a more thorough review, see Melinda Bargreen.

2006-04-04T02:16:00.000-04:00

Today was opening day for Major League Baseball. On the onset, I should mention that I have never been much of a baseball fan. While I vividly remember the 1986 New York Mets winning the World Series against the Boston Red Sox, my childhood baseball memories were limited to a handful of teams and a very superficial knowledge of the game. Throughout elementary, middle, and high school, I never participated in any team sport. Unlike most Long Island children, my parents never enrolled me in little league, I probably went to 1 or 2 sporting events, and I hardly ever played "catch" with my dad. It wasn't until I was 22 that I attended my first baseball game at Shea Stadium. Since then, I've been slowly learning some of the intricacies and charms of this "great American institution" by following the New York Metropolitans.

This year promises to be a good one for the Mets (although I'm sure Met's fans have been saying that ever since the team won the '86 World Series). Fred Wilpon, the team's owner, spent a lot of money to bring in some new players. From what I've read, as long as the team's pitchers can maintain a decent performance, the team should be in good standing for the postseason. Today, they won their first game of the season against the Washington Nationals, 3-2. I look forward to tracking the team's progress from now until October.

2006-04-02T15:04:00.000-04:00

Vancouver is a beautiful city. The 2.5 hour drive along I-5 from Seattle to Canada's second largest city should be part of any visitor's itinerary to the Pacific Northwest. From last Wednesday to this past Friday, I was in Vancouver with many of my fellow graduate students from the University of Washington's Department of Anthropology. We were there for the Society for Applied Anthropology's 66th Annual Meeting at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver Hotel. When not presenting or listening at the various sessions, a few of us walked around the Vancouver neighborhoods of Gastown, Chinatown, and Granville Island. Personally, the highlight of the trip was dinner at Rodney's Osyter House in Yaletown. Our wide selection of oysters came in different shapes and sizes and were nicely complemented by the Oyster Bay Chardonnay from New Zealand. The selection of sauces were good and the fresh grated horseradish was a yummy plus.

My return trip to Seattle, via the Quick Shuttle Service bus line, afforded me the time to read Dan Brown's blockbuster novel, The Da Vinci Code (Anchor 2006). From the moment I picked up this extraordinary book at the Chapters bookstore in downtown Vancouver, I could not put it down. In fact, I just finished this engaging page-turner this morning. I'm already looking forward to the movie - which is due in theaters on May 19.

2006-03-28T21:27:00.000-05:00

The Japanese cherry trees on the University of Washington campus are in full bloom. I brought my digital camera to campus today and took some pictures. Unfortunately, the batteries died after my third shot. Here is one that I liked.

I'll be in Vancouver, British Columbia for the next three days; but hopefully, the trees will still be in bloom when I return.

2006-03-27T23:43:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow night, the Russian National Orchestra will perform Rachmaninov's Vocalise and Piano Concerto No. 3 as well as Tchaikovsky's Suite No. 3 at Benaroya Hall. Under the baton of Mikhail Pletnev, with Alexander Mogilevsky at the piano, this is a performance I really wish I could attend. Colloquially known as "The Rach 3," the 45 minute piano concerto (most concertos are 20-30 minutes) is famous for its technical and musical demands on the performer. It is commonly known as the most difficult piano concerto in the standard repertoire and some have even deemed it "the hardest piece in the world." In the 1996 movie, "Shine," David Helfgott's (played by Geoffrey Rush) mastering of the Rach. 3 is so daunting, it leads to his collapse just as he stands to take his bow to an enthralled audience. When I saw this movie, I was an aspiring musician studying piano at the Manhattan School of Music's Pre-College Division. Needless to say, the story and the piece impressed me greatly. Studying music was difficult; but I never imagined that one piece could lead to a nervous breakdown! Can Mr. Mogilevsky live up to the challenge? Stay tuned! We'll see what the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's R.M. Campbell and the Seattle Times' Melinda Bargreen, have to say.

Unfortunately, I cannot afford the minimum $60 ticket to this concert. To my disappointment, tomorrow night's concert is not available through the Seattle Symphony's Campus Club program, which normally entitles me to $10 concert tickets. (At $10/concert, this is one of the best deals in town!) Oh well. Maybe I'll just rent "Shine" instead.

2006-03-26T23:29:00.000-05:00

Victrola Coffee is a cafe in Capitol Hill's 15th Avenue neighborhood. If I wasn't so lazy, I'd trek up the hill to this friendly neighborhood gathering place on a more regular basis. Still, my occasional visits re-affirm why I enjoy living here. What makes Victrola so different from the millions of other Seattle coffee shops? Many, I'm sure, have remarked upon this very question. Without a doubt, Victrola's selection of coffees, teas, drinks, and pastries are delicious. My palate will not deny that. But I believe the true answer lies in the shop's simple rectangular design and it's close proximity to the sidewalk. When I enter, my body attunes itself to a much slower pace. The outdoor traffic and dreary weather can melt away in the sounds of conversational murmur and various kitchen noises. There's no drive-thru window and to the best of my knowledge, there is no parking lot. There, I can engage in one of my most favorite past-times: people-watching. Standing in line, in fact, is a pleasure.

2006-03-25T23:35:00.000-05:00

When I wake up on Saturday morning and turn on NPR, it's not uncommon to hear short news briefs from around the world in between the usual Saturday morning shows like "Car Talk" and "Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me!" But this morning was different. Rather than hear a story about bombings in Iraq or a Washington DC corruption scandal, I learned that a gunman walked up to a home in my own neighborhood of Capitol Hill and systematically began shooting people in the house! Six people were killed before the gunman took his own life. Numerous Seattle news organizations have been covering this tragic event all day: the Seattle Times, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, KOMO-TV, KIRO-TV, and KING-TV. And the national news organizations, CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News, have been covering the story too - although I noticed that they all rely on the Associated Press (AP) version. What normally should have been an unusually bright and sunny Seattle Saturday turned into a sad and tragic day.

2006-03-25T02:20:00.000-05:00

KUOW, Seattle's Public Radio station, aired a repeat episode of "This American Life". The show featured one of my favorite improv groups called "ImprovEverywhere". "What are they?", you might ask. Well, they're not a "flash mob" and they're certainly not your typical theater group. Their motto is, "We cause scenes." These pre-planned "missions," from pants-less people boarding the New York City subway ("No Pants 2k6") to a deceased Anton Chekov delivering a reading at Barnes and Noble, are hillarious! Depending on the mission, anyone (with a healthy sense of humor) can join the fun! Someday in the not-too-distant future, I might like to participate.