One of Patti Smith's claims to fame was helping jump start the New York City punk scene with her early 1970s poetry readings backed by guitarist/critic Lenny Kaye.
One key early venue was Bowery dive bar CBGB & OMFUG, at the time searching for its musical identity. After Patti became a regular, a horde of then unknown--many soon to become very well known--performers followed.
My first concert experience with Patti Smith was January 16, 1976 at the Cellar Door in Washington, D.C. The venue held maybe 100 people if you crammed them elbow to elbow.
Other performers that I saw there back in the day were singer and songwriter Jackie DeShannon, electric violinist and fusion pioneer Jean Luc Ponty (an occasional collaborator with musical iconoclast Frank Zappa), Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, and other names lost in the haze of time (and perhaps a few hazy substances!).
Patti's opening act was Garland Jeffreys, who was completely unknown to me at the time, but performed a powerful set that made me an instant fan.
Also there was legendary record mogul Clive Davis, at that time the former extremely powerful head of Columbia Records and founder of Arista Records. I recall him pacing back and forth during the sets.
Patti was wearing her iconic Keith Richards t-shirt and her band was crammed onto the club's notoriously small stage. My girlfriend, Marian LeBlanc, and I were seated at a tiny table very close to center stage. We had tix for the early and late shows.
Early Show
We’re Gonna Have a Real Good Time Together, One More Cup of Coffee (Bob Dylan) (fragment), Privilege (Set Me Free), Ain’t it Strange, Kimberly, Redondo Beach, Free Money, Pale Blue Eyes/Louie Louie, Pumping (My Heart), Jolene (Dolly Parton) (fragment), Birdland, Gloria, (encore): My Generation*
Late Show
We’re Gonna Have a Real Good Time Together, Slavery Days (Burning Spear), Privilege (Set Me Free), Ain’t it Strange, One More Cup of Coffee (fragment), Kimberly, Redondo Beach, Free Money, Pale Blue Eyes/Louie Louie, Pumping (My Heart), Jolene, Birdland, Gloria, (encore): My Generation*
Note: *Special guest John Cale.
One of the more memorable but least pleasant parts of the evening happened when we left the club to find that the battery in my Gremlin had died. This meant a long and extremely cold walk back to our apartment in Roslyn, Va., that included hiking over the Francis Scott Key bridge as a lusty wind blew down the Potomac River.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Book Nook
Christopher Buckley's memoir regarding his parents, William F. Buckley, Jr. and Patricia Taylor Buckley, mixes childhood memories and anecdotes with the serious business of dealing with their final illnesses and deaths within an 11 month period.
Losing Mum and Pup doesn't pull any punches and frankly there were a few anecdotes and insights regarding his dad that I would have been happy not to read.
Given his unique position as only child, Buckley offers a obviously subjective view of his childhood and adult relationships with his parents, each of whom had strong personalities and were well known, successful, and respected in their individual adult worlds.
This certainly caused tensions in their long marriage and generated no shortage of self-esteem issues for their sole child.
As a writer and thinker, William F. Buckley Jr. had a strong influence on my intellectual growth and emerging prose style during my high school and college years. His talk show, Firing Line, was don't miss television in our household and for a number of years my annual subscription to National Review magazine was a cherished Christmas gift.
At one time I had the pleasure of spending about 10 minutes chatting with him at a sparsely attended political fundraiser in North Jersey for a cause that I can no longer recall. He graciously autographed for me a copy of his latest book The Unmaking of a Mayor (sadly this highly entertaining volume about his 1965 New York City mayoral quest appears to be out of print).
For reasons unknown to me, television personality Fran Allison, longtime host of the popular and long running Kukla, Fran and Ollie puppet show, was also at that event. She, too, was very gracious.
In the end, it was appropriate that he died at his writing desk, having written scores of books, several thousand newspaper columns, and countless articles and essays during his lifetime. He was truly a writer's writer.
Losing Mum and Pup doesn't pull any punches and frankly there were a few anecdotes and insights regarding his dad that I would have been happy not to read.
Given his unique position as only child, Buckley offers a obviously subjective view of his childhood and adult relationships with his parents, each of whom had strong personalities and were well known, successful, and respected in their individual adult worlds.
This certainly caused tensions in their long marriage and generated no shortage of self-esteem issues for their sole child.
As a writer and thinker, William F. Buckley Jr. had a strong influence on my intellectual growth and emerging prose style during my high school and college years. His talk show, Firing Line, was don't miss television in our household and for a number of years my annual subscription to National Review magazine was a cherished Christmas gift.
At one time I had the pleasure of spending about 10 minutes chatting with him at a sparsely attended political fundraiser in North Jersey for a cause that I can no longer recall. He graciously autographed for me a copy of his latest book The Unmaking of a Mayor (sadly this highly entertaining volume about his 1965 New York City mayoral quest appears to be out of print).
For reasons unknown to me, television personality Fran Allison, longtime host of the popular and long running Kukla, Fran and Ollie puppet show, was also at that event. She, too, was very gracious.
In the end, it was appropriate that he died at his writing desk, having written scores of books, several thousand newspaper columns, and countless articles and essays during his lifetime. He was truly a writer's writer.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Tiger's Mess
Here we go again. Another wealthy male celebrity widely reputed to be one of the nicest folks ever born in the history of our planet has a zipper problem, which may or may not be compounded by a fondness for pills and booze, a rampant ego, potential daddy didn't love me enough issues, and lord knows what else.
There is no excuse, story or personality quirk that can justify cheating on your wife under any circumstances (especially when she is busy being pregnant with and subsequently raising your progeny).
One of the more interesting aspects of this pitiful morality play is the use of the word "mistress" by the media. The classic definition of mistress is a "kept woman" who is lavished by her older sugar daddy with jewels, clothes, cars, fancy meals, an upscale place to live, and other baubles. A middle class version of pay for play.
What we appear to have in this case are a bevy of cocktail servers, nude models, hookers, porn stars, golf groupies, good time girls, and self promoters (not that there's anything wrong with that!).
What you do not have here is a mistress situation. You have a rolling international sex tour by a wealthy celeb who likes to go trolling for impressionable young women with more street smarts than book smarts.
So why does this term dominate the coverage? Did the media choose a word less potentially offensive and volatile to the idiot American parents who still believe egotistical millionaire athletes are positive role models for their children?
Does this word make Tiger Woods less guilty of patently offensive behavior? Or is it a case of media celebrities closing ranks to shelter one of their own favorite jocks by playing fast and loose with language?
Only the late language maven William Safire would know for sure. But he is no longer available for comment. Stay tuned, though. There will be many more chapters to read in coming months about this self-inflicted public relations wound.
There is no excuse, story or personality quirk that can justify cheating on your wife under any circumstances (especially when she is busy being pregnant with and subsequently raising your progeny).
One of the more interesting aspects of this pitiful morality play is the use of the word "mistress" by the media. The classic definition of mistress is a "kept woman" who is lavished by her older sugar daddy with jewels, clothes, cars, fancy meals, an upscale place to live, and other baubles. A middle class version of pay for play.
What we appear to have in this case are a bevy of cocktail servers, nude models, hookers, porn stars, golf groupies, good time girls, and self promoters (not that there's anything wrong with that!).
What you do not have here is a mistress situation. You have a rolling international sex tour by a wealthy celeb who likes to go trolling for impressionable young women with more street smarts than book smarts.
So why does this term dominate the coverage? Did the media choose a word less potentially offensive and volatile to the idiot American parents who still believe egotistical millionaire athletes are positive role models for their children?
Does this word make Tiger Woods less guilty of patently offensive behavior? Or is it a case of media celebrities closing ranks to shelter one of their own favorite jocks by playing fast and loose with language?
Only the late language maven William Safire would know for sure. But he is no longer available for comment. Stay tuned, though. There will be many more chapters to read in coming months about this self-inflicted public relations wound.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Who Can You Really Trust?
Just spent 15 minutes on the phone with an agency trying to obtain payment from me for a credit card account my ex-wife opened shortly before our divorce became final in 2001.
She used my name, birth date and SSN to have it sent to her own home. Racked up $5000 in four months then never made a payment. Unfortunately, this wasn't the first time she ran this type of scam on me.
It's a pretty bizarre way to thank me for funding her Master's Degree program and helping to raise her daughter to adulthood. Marry in haste, repent in leisure.
She used my name, birth date and SSN to have it sent to her own home. Racked up $5000 in four months then never made a payment. Unfortunately, this wasn't the first time she ran this type of scam on me.
It's a pretty bizarre way to thank me for funding her Master's Degree program and helping to raise her daughter to adulthood. Marry in haste, repent in leisure.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Book Nook
Family and friends know reading is one of my major pleasures. A portion of any free time that I can scrounge is spent immersed in alternating between multiple books, catching up with The New Yorker (am almost two or three issues behind), and clicking to a few favorite online publications.
Have are notes regarding three books I've read in the last month or so.
Carrie Fisher's novel was a revelation. Having not read her two previous offerings (although I did enjoy the film version of Postcards From the Edge) was caught unaware by her luscious prose style.
It was fun trying to identify the true inspirations behind the characters. Jack Nicholson, Eddie Fisher and her mom were easy, others not so much. Clearly need to get up to speed on my Hollywood gossip.
Historian James MacGregor Burns cleanly written narrative simplifies the often convoluted evolution of the U.S. Supreme Court in Packing the Court: The Rise of Judicial Power and the Crisis of the Supreme Court.
Which reminds me, when did it become mandatory for works of nonfiction to carry a subtitle? Is this supposed to make me feel that shelling out $25 or $35 for a hardcover is a bargain? Is the writer being paid by the published word like back in the good all days of the 19th century penny press?
If nothing else, this book offers a convincing argument that the U.S. Supreme Court has never been aloof from politics. It always has been and will continue to be intimately entwined with politics.
One interesting tidbit the author provides is that James Madison to his dying day expressed remorse that the Constitutional Convention, possibly exhausted from debating and implementing details of the functions and responsibilities of legislative and executive branches, failed to exert similar efforts on behalf of the federal judiciary.
Another fascinating portion deals with the infamous 1857 Dred Scott decision written by Chief Justice Roger Taney. The general lesson taught in history classes is that the Court refused to alter Scott's status from slave to free man because he spent a number of years in a non-slave state.
While this is true to the ruling, the decision's core findings are filled with bile and contempt:
"No black man or woman descended from an American slave could claim national citizenship under the Constitution, which relegated blacks to a subordinate and inferior class of beings who had been subjugated by the dominant race and who had no rights which the white man was bound to respect."
In effect, this shattered the status quo and legislative compromises dating back to the Missouri Compromise of 1820, that specified the contemporary states and territories that would be open to future expansion of the peculiar institution.
After this sweeping dictate by a Court dominated by slaveholders (which also marked the first serious claim by the Court to the alleged right of judicial review initially outlined by Chief Justice Judge Marshall five decades previously ), the War Between the States became inevitable.
Finally, "The Adventures of Arthur Conan Doyle" by prolific British author Russell Miller, fully portrays the extraordinary life and times of the creator of Sherlock Holmes.
It's a classic tale of a man who rose above his dire childhood and difficult family circumstances to find international fame as the inventor of "the world's most famous man who never was."
Ironically, he came to detest the character that brought him worldwide fame and financial success because he believed the Holmes stories overshadowed his many other published -- and in his opinion -- better writings.
It would be interesting to obtain his opinion regarding the upcoming film featuring Robert Downey Jr. The actor who embodied Sherlock Holmes in the largest number of films, Basil Rathbone, would probably also offer some choice comments if he were still amongst us.
Have are notes regarding three books I've read in the last month or so.
Carrie Fisher's novel was a revelation. Having not read her two previous offerings (although I did enjoy the film version of Postcards From the Edge) was caught unaware by her luscious prose style.
It was fun trying to identify the true inspirations behind the characters. Jack Nicholson, Eddie Fisher and her mom were easy, others not so much. Clearly need to get up to speed on my Hollywood gossip.
Historian James MacGregor Burns cleanly written narrative simplifies the often convoluted evolution of the U.S. Supreme Court in Packing the Court: The Rise of Judicial Power and the Crisis of the Supreme Court.
Which reminds me, when did it become mandatory for works of nonfiction to carry a subtitle? Is this supposed to make me feel that shelling out $25 or $35 for a hardcover is a bargain? Is the writer being paid by the published word like back in the good all days of the 19th century penny press?
If nothing else, this book offers a convincing argument that the U.S. Supreme Court has never been aloof from politics. It always has been and will continue to be intimately entwined with politics.
One interesting tidbit the author provides is that James Madison to his dying day expressed remorse that the Constitutional Convention, possibly exhausted from debating and implementing details of the functions and responsibilities of legislative and executive branches, failed to exert similar efforts on behalf of the federal judiciary.
Another fascinating portion deals with the infamous 1857 Dred Scott decision written by Chief Justice Roger Taney. The general lesson taught in history classes is that the Court refused to alter Scott's status from slave to free man because he spent a number of years in a non-slave state.
While this is true to the ruling, the decision's core findings are filled with bile and contempt:
"No black man or woman descended from an American slave could claim national citizenship under the Constitution, which relegated blacks to a subordinate and inferior class of beings who had been subjugated by the dominant race and who had no rights which the white man was bound to respect."
In effect, this shattered the status quo and legislative compromises dating back to the Missouri Compromise of 1820, that specified the contemporary states and territories that would be open to future expansion of the peculiar institution.
After this sweeping dictate by a Court dominated by slaveholders (which also marked the first serious claim by the Court to the alleged right of judicial review initially outlined by Chief Justice Judge Marshall five decades previously ), the War Between the States became inevitable.
Finally, "The Adventures of Arthur Conan Doyle" by prolific British author Russell Miller, fully portrays the extraordinary life and times of the creator of Sherlock Holmes.
It's a classic tale of a man who rose above his dire childhood and difficult family circumstances to find international fame as the inventor of "the world's most famous man who never was."
Ironically, he came to detest the character that brought him worldwide fame and financial success because he believed the Holmes stories overshadowed his many other published -- and in his opinion -- better writings.
It would be interesting to obtain his opinion regarding the upcoming film featuring Robert Downey Jr. The actor who embodied Sherlock Holmes in the largest number of films, Basil Rathbone, would probably also offer some choice comments if he were still amongst us.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
2009 Election Results Tempest in Tea Cup
Republicans have elected governors in Virginia and New Jersey, which means pundits will be claiming (or these days more likely screaming) that President Obama and his policies have been rejected. Well, let's not be so quick to kick a man who is a long way from being knocked down to the ground.
First, despite a few heavily contested and extremely costly races voter turnout was low, as is usually the case for off year state and local elections. Second, Virginia and New Jersey voters have their own quirks that do not necessarily translate into national political trends.
In Virginia, the winner, Robert McDonnell, was from Northern Virginia, the state's wealthiest and most populous area. Challenger Creigh Deeds was from a rural part of the state, lacked statewide name recognition, and was at a clear fundraising disadvantage from the beginning.
In New Jersey, Gov. Jon Corzine was viewed by many as a cold fish, has stonewalled the media regarding his former romantic and financial relationship with a powerful female labor union leader, and floated some notably stupid ideas (e.g., increasing NJ Turnpike and Garden State Parkway highway tolls by several hundred percent in coming years) that called into question his political savvy and personal sanity.
As this is written, the hotly contested Congressional race in New York's 23rd Congressional District was still up in the air. Again, too much is likely to be read into that outcome when the dust settles.
The only political poll that matters on the success or failure of the current administration's economic recovery initiatives will be taken in November 2010. So let's chill for a bit and do what we can to help our families, friends, and neighbors through the current economic crisis.
First, despite a few heavily contested and extremely costly races voter turnout was low, as is usually the case for off year state and local elections. Second, Virginia and New Jersey voters have their own quirks that do not necessarily translate into national political trends.
In Virginia, the winner, Robert McDonnell, was from Northern Virginia, the state's wealthiest and most populous area. Challenger Creigh Deeds was from a rural part of the state, lacked statewide name recognition, and was at a clear fundraising disadvantage from the beginning.
In New Jersey, Gov. Jon Corzine was viewed by many as a cold fish, has stonewalled the media regarding his former romantic and financial relationship with a powerful female labor union leader, and floated some notably stupid ideas (e.g., increasing NJ Turnpike and Garden State Parkway highway tolls by several hundred percent in coming years) that called into question his political savvy and personal sanity.
As this is written, the hotly contested Congressional race in New York's 23rd Congressional District was still up in the air. Again, too much is likely to be read into that outcome when the dust settles.
The only political poll that matters on the success or failure of the current administration's economic recovery initiatives will be taken in November 2010. So let's chill for a bit and do what we can to help our families, friends, and neighbors through the current economic crisis.
Tails Don't Wag Dogs
All the usual media opinionators, bloviators, and blowhards are salivating at the prospect of spending countless hours this evening microscopically examining two gubernatorial and one U.S. House of Representatives election in a vain effort to foretell President Obama's political future. They might as well read tea leaves, chicken entrails or Tarot cards.
Having lived for years in New Jersey and Virginia, neither one is a reliable political weather vane, especially in these dire years of economic collapse, ill advised foreign wars, and media-driven political polarization.
State issues rather than national issues will drive the voters to the polls. Unless pompous panels of radio and tv pontificators provide solid evidence to the contrary, my belief remains that all politics is local, especially in off-year elections.
Will wait until Wednesday morning for conclusive results. My own interest is focused on the Congressional seat in Watertown, New York, where an estimated $3 million has been spent to date (look for a higher final total) in a market with little in the way of mass media to warrant these costs.
A number of underemployed folks like former Gov. Sarah Palin, lackadaisical former presidential candidate Sen. Fred Thompson, and a few overpaid media jackals with personal axes to grind are frantically stirring the political pot up by the Canadian border as if Noc. 3 is judgment day. Either way, the outcomes will be interesting, but not necessarily telling.
Having lived for years in New Jersey and Virginia, neither one is a reliable political weather vane, especially in these dire years of economic collapse, ill advised foreign wars, and media-driven political polarization.
State issues rather than national issues will drive the voters to the polls. Unless pompous panels of radio and tv pontificators provide solid evidence to the contrary, my belief remains that all politics is local, especially in off-year elections.
Will wait until Wednesday morning for conclusive results. My own interest is focused on the Congressional seat in Watertown, New York, where an estimated $3 million has been spent to date (look for a higher final total) in a market with little in the way of mass media to warrant these costs.
A number of underemployed folks like former Gov. Sarah Palin, lackadaisical former presidential candidate Sen. Fred Thompson, and a few overpaid media jackals with personal axes to grind are frantically stirring the political pot up by the Canadian border as if Noc. 3 is judgment day. Either way, the outcomes will be interesting, but not necessarily telling.
Monday, October 26, 2009
The Politics of Dancing
New Jersey has a statewide gubernatorial and legislative election coming up a few days after Halloween. All three major candidates are making desperate efforts to keep their masks from slipping. Current polls show a tight race between the major party candidates, with the third party nominee cast in the (usually typical) role of a spoiler who pulls votes from the mainstream nominees. In this case, many of these votes will likely be coming from Republican Chris Christie's tally.
Democratic incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine, famous in recent years for almost dying after a severe 90+ m.p.h. car crash because he doesn't like seat belts, and refusing to release e-mails or related missives regarding his sexual relationship and possible financial favors for powerful (now former) Communications Workers of America union boss Carla Katz (at least Corzine's not pulling a McGreevey).
Corzine is also spending umpteen millions of his own hard-earned Wall Street (or just as likely easily un-earned, from what we now know these days about the illegal, unethical, and immoral financial plundering by these formers masters of the universe) cash on his down and dirty campaign ads.
The fundamental tv advertising charges (unspoken but unmistakable) againt his challenger, , a former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie and mainstream GOP politico, who has been a dogged and too often lone pursuer of corruption here in the Soprano state, is that he is way too fond of food (i.e., too fat to serve). How's that for rarefied, reasoned, and rational political dialogue in the first decade of the 21st century?
Complicating the outcome is a third party alternate choice, Chris Daggett, who is guaranteed to toss a monkey wrench into what is now an unpredictable three way race. For example, note the massive electoral mess caused in 2008 by the trio running for the Minnesota U.S. Senate seat that was formerly held by deceased DFL Sen. Paul Wellstone. Sit tight, all should be revealed the day after the election.
Democratic incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine, famous in recent years for almost dying after a severe 90+ m.p.h. car crash because he doesn't like seat belts, and refusing to release e-mails or related missives regarding his sexual relationship and possible financial favors for powerful (now former) Communications Workers of America union boss Carla Katz (at least Corzine's not pulling a McGreevey).
Corzine is also spending umpteen millions of his own hard-earned Wall Street (or just as likely easily un-earned, from what we now know these days about the illegal, unethical, and immoral financial plundering by these formers masters of the universe) cash on his down and dirty campaign ads.
The fundamental tv advertising charges (unspoken but unmistakable) againt his challenger, , a former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie and mainstream GOP politico, who has been a dogged and too often lone pursuer of corruption here in the Soprano state, is that he is way too fond of food (i.e., too fat to serve). How's that for rarefied, reasoned, and rational political dialogue in the first decade of the 21st century?
Complicating the outcome is a third party alternate choice, Chris Daggett, who is guaranteed to toss a monkey wrench into what is now an unpredictable three way race. For example, note the massive electoral mess caused in 2008 by the trio running for the Minnesota U.S. Senate seat that was formerly held by deceased DFL Sen. Paul Wellstone. Sit tight, all should be revealed the day after the election.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Dylan Daze
For some reason there's been a lot of Bob Dylan around in the past week. One reason is that I completed reading Suze Rotolo's book, Freewheelin' Time: A Memoir of Greenwich Village in the Sixties. Another is the release of Dylan's first Christmas album, Christmas in the Heart, which of course has generated a wildly varying mix of reviews.
Rotolo's memoir did paint an effective portrait of the folk scene from 1961 to 1964 and offered insights into Dylan's work habits, drive to succeed, and how in three years he transformed himself from a Woody Guthrie copycat into a uniquely American songwriter and singer who combined the socially conscious lyrics of folk and blues with rock-n-roll beats.
However, she offers little original information outside of a few quotes from his letters to her and notes from her own diary. If you're looking for hot dish or deep dirt, you're going to have to look elsewhere.
Meanwhile, I'm still listening frequently to Together Through Life, which was released in April 2009. Here's a review by Rolling Stone magazine writer David Fricke.
If you're interested in keeping up with Bob and his doings, you should visit and bookmark Expecting Rain, a global resource for articles by the mainstream press and commentary by various Dylanologists. It is updated daily and has deep archives dating back to 1988.
Rotolo's memoir did paint an effective portrait of the folk scene from 1961 to 1964 and offered insights into Dylan's work habits, drive to succeed, and how in three years he transformed himself from a Woody Guthrie copycat into a uniquely American songwriter and singer who combined the socially conscious lyrics of folk and blues with rock-n-roll beats.
However, she offers little original information outside of a few quotes from his letters to her and notes from her own diary. If you're looking for hot dish or deep dirt, you're going to have to look elsewhere.
Meanwhile, I'm still listening frequently to Together Through Life, which was released in April 2009. Here's a review by Rolling Stone magazine writer David Fricke.
If you're interested in keeping up with Bob and his doings, you should visit and bookmark Expecting Rain, a global resource for articles by the mainstream press and commentary by various Dylanologists. It is updated daily and has deep archives dating back to 1988.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Back in the Saddle Again
Been gone to Gulf Shores, Alabama, for a few weeks to visit with my sister and cheer her on during her first Triathlon. Nice to be back.
The picture for meaningful healthcare reform looks dimmer each passing day. This is especially painful because of the hours that I expended this afternoon playing pin-the-tail on the responsible party to cover the cost several screening procedures a month or so ago. May have finally gotten this straightened out, but won't have definite answer for about 10 business days.
The picture for meaningful healthcare reform looks dimmer each passing day. This is especially painful because of the hours that I expended this afternoon playing pin-the-tail on the responsible party to cover the cost several screening procedures a month or so ago. May have finally gotten this straightened out, but won't have definite answer for about 10 business days.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Back to Reality
Now that we're over Labor Day and heading into the season of fall foliage, thoughts return to work and school. Professionally, it may be a busy month for me.
Am waiting for delivery of a book manuscript (about 325 pages) that needs editing, plus am waiting word regarding a second manuscript project that I've bid (that would make it three manuscript edits for the year).
Today have to radically rewrite a truly awful marketing brochure as a spec project. A couple of writer/editor contract possibilities are also blowin' in the wind, so this could be a very good month.
One social outing this weekend was to Ponzio's Diner. This landmark establishment has a long history, a nicely varied menu, and its own bakery that each week churns out thousands of amazingly tasty pies, cakes, cookies, brownies, and other dessert treats.
Lucy was totally impressed by the three perfect tilapia fillets drizzled in lemon butter sauce. The coconut cream cake was also a hit. It was her first trip to Ponzio's in a dozen or more years, so she pointed out the renovations and improvements that were new to her.
A different dining experience was a neighborhood BBQ in my mom's neck of the woods. Classic burgers and hot dogs with the traditional complements were a great treat. The verbal bashings of President Obama's healthcare efforts and Rep. Barney Frank's gayness were not a treat.
It's hard for me to understand why so many long knives are being sharpened by right wingers for use against the president. It would be nice for me to think that racist bigotry is not a factor, but I'm being reluctantly forced to reach that conclusion.
Am waiting for delivery of a book manuscript (about 325 pages) that needs editing, plus am waiting word regarding a second manuscript project that I've bid (that would make it three manuscript edits for the year).
Today have to radically rewrite a truly awful marketing brochure as a spec project. A couple of writer/editor contract possibilities are also blowin' in the wind, so this could be a very good month.
One social outing this weekend was to Ponzio's Diner. This landmark establishment has a long history, a nicely varied menu, and its own bakery that each week churns out thousands of amazingly tasty pies, cakes, cookies, brownies, and other dessert treats.
Lucy was totally impressed by the three perfect tilapia fillets drizzled in lemon butter sauce. The coconut cream cake was also a hit. It was her first trip to Ponzio's in a dozen or more years, so she pointed out the renovations and improvements that were new to her.
A different dining experience was a neighborhood BBQ in my mom's neck of the woods. Classic burgers and hot dogs with the traditional complements were a great treat. The verbal bashings of President Obama's healthcare efforts and Rep. Barney Frank's gayness were not a treat.
It's hard for me to understand why so many long knives are being sharpened by right wingers for use against the president. It would be nice for me to think that racist bigotry is not a factor, but I'm being reluctantly forced to reach that conclusion.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Say No to Kebobs, Yes to Wings
Had dinner last weekend at Norma's, a small Mediterranean restaurant in Cherry Hill, N.J. Not overly impressed. About a dozen tables squeezed into a small space, little in the way of decoration or ambience, small portions, slow service, and food that was decent but not especially memorable.
My sliced beef Shawarma had some nice seasonings, as did my friend's ground beef Kafta combination kabobs. As for dessert, the Namoura was killer sweet and the Walnut Maamoul was unexceptional. The belly dancer was good.
Later that same evening, punctuated by thunderstorms and pouring rain, we stumbled into the Jughandle Inn, a vintage road house with an extensive bar and pub menu that has been doing business since 1912. It is locally famous for its chicken wings, which have snagged a number of awards at various wingfests over the years.
This funky establishment features live music or a DJ on weekends, helpful servers, lots of large television screens for sporting and other events, and an outdoor Gazebo bar that offers a range of hot dogs, sausages and other outdoor dining options during the warmer months. Will try to post more on this attraction after the Labor Day weekend.
My sliced beef Shawarma had some nice seasonings, as did my friend's ground beef Kafta combination kabobs. As for dessert, the Namoura was killer sweet and the Walnut Maamoul was unexceptional. The belly dancer was good.
Later that same evening, punctuated by thunderstorms and pouring rain, we stumbled into the Jughandle Inn, a vintage road house with an extensive bar and pub menu that has been doing business since 1912. It is locally famous for its chicken wings, which have snagged a number of awards at various wingfests over the years.
This funky establishment features live music or a DJ on weekends, helpful servers, lots of large television screens for sporting and other events, and an outdoor Gazebo bar that offers a range of hot dogs, sausages and other outdoor dining options during the warmer months. Will try to post more on this attraction after the Labor Day weekend.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Rain Rain Go Away
Lots of rain again last night and today. Good excuse for a late dinner at Pufferbelly, a questionable name for a decent eatery and sports bar in Lindenwold, N.J. The building appears to be a former train station that has been upgraded and loaded up with choo-choo memorabilia.
The sports bar section adjoining the main dining room was predictably rowdy. Pufferbelly offers a decent salad bar, strong and varied selection of popular menu items and a handful of sinfully tempting desserts.
Also lots of specials and discounts for old people, kids, and certain foods and beverages at certain times during the week. Service was a tad dodgy, but the thick open-faced Reuben sandwich was good (albeit a bit skimpy on the dressing). A nicely rare roast beef sandwich with a large cup of au jus on the side got a thumbs up, although the au jus had to be requested twice.
A sliver of cheesecake for dessert was skimpily adequate but overpriced at $5.00, compared to the larger portions and lower prices at other Lindenwold neighborhood restaurants.
The sports bar section adjoining the main dining room was predictably rowdy. Pufferbelly offers a decent salad bar, strong and varied selection of popular menu items and a handful of sinfully tempting desserts.
Also lots of specials and discounts for old people, kids, and certain foods and beverages at certain times during the week. Service was a tad dodgy, but the thick open-faced Reuben sandwich was good (albeit a bit skimpy on the dressing). A nicely rare roast beef sandwich with a large cup of au jus on the side got a thumbs up, although the au jus had to be requested twice.
A sliver of cheesecake for dessert was skimpily adequate but overpriced at $5.00, compared to the larger portions and lower prices at other Lindenwold neighborhood restaurants.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Two Other Losses
Writer Dominick Dunne and pop songwriter Ellie Greenwich also died this week.
Dunne was a successful Hollywood producer until he smashed his career in the 1970s with booze and drugs. After cleaning up he reinvented himself as a novelist and journalist who specialized in covering trials of the rich and famous (e.g., O.J. Simpson, Roxanne Pulitzer, Claus von Bulow) for Vanity Fair magazine. In addition, he hosted a popular true crime show on the tru.tv cable channel.
Greenwich's primary songwriting collaborator was then hubbie Jeff Barry, although she had notable success working with Phil Spector (among others), and also played a key role in launching the career of Neil Diamond.
In her later years she worked with Blondie, Cyndi Lauper and Nona Hendrix. Among her best known hits are Be My Baby, Chapel of Love, River Deep Mountain High, Leader of the Pack, and Doo Ron Ron.
Dunne was a successful Hollywood producer until he smashed his career in the 1970s with booze and drugs. After cleaning up he reinvented himself as a novelist and journalist who specialized in covering trials of the rich and famous (e.g., O.J. Simpson, Roxanne Pulitzer, Claus von Bulow) for Vanity Fair magazine. In addition, he hosted a popular true crime show on the tru.tv cable channel.
Greenwich's primary songwriting collaborator was then hubbie Jeff Barry, although she had notable success working with Phil Spector (among others), and also played a key role in launching the career of Neil Diamond.
In her later years she worked with Blondie, Cyndi Lauper and Nona Hendrix. Among her best known hits are Be My Baby, Chapel of Love, River Deep Mountain High, Leader of the Pack, and Doo Ron Ron.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Summer Doldrums
Today marks the death of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, final surviving son of that old philandering bootlegging rapscallion Joseph P. Kennedy. The fight over succession is going to be a donnybrook. Because of his long tenure, at least a few close relatives view the seat as a Kennedy fiefdom. And how soon will the jockeying begin?
Am reading two recent biographies of important American writers Flannery O'Connor and Hunter S. Thompson. Although they would appear to have nothing in common, both did relish the gothic aspects of life in these United States and did cultivate their own idiosyncratic personalities.
A Life of Flannery O'Connor by Brad Gooch and Outlaw Journalist: The Life and Times of Hunter S. Thompson by William McKean explore the connections between their disparate life experiences, personal quirks, intellectual interests, and how these affected their literary output.
Am reading two recent biographies of important American writers Flannery O'Connor and Hunter S. Thompson. Although they would appear to have nothing in common, both did relish the gothic aspects of life in these United States and did cultivate their own idiosyncratic personalities.
A Life of Flannery O'Connor by Brad Gooch and Outlaw Journalist: The Life and Times of Hunter S. Thompson by William McKean explore the connections between their disparate life experiences, personal quirks, intellectual interests, and how these affected their literary output.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Dog Days
Hot and humid summer weather is vacationing in South Jersey with a vengeance. At least the U.S. Congress is on vacation, so perhaps nationally we'll get a brief respite from hot air and bad behavior until they return in September.
Have seen online buzz from a half-dozen sources, including Billboard, that Bob Dylan has recorded a Xmas album featuring new and traditional tunes. This could be one his most baffling career moves since releasing Self Portrait back in the 1970s.
Spent time Sunday afternoon in Atlantic City at Trump's Taj Mahal (an exercise in bad decorative taste) to take advantage of free tix to Cirque Dreams Pandemonia. Do not confuse this company's efforts with the productions created by Cirque du Soleil.
Featuring a Eurasian cast of nearly two dozen jugglers, acrobats, spinners, twirlers, tricksters flippers, contortionists. drummers, and balancers it was 75 minutes of nonstop music, movement, and flashing lights that elicited many "ooh aahs" from the audience. All performers were top of the line, but the female Asian coterie of spinners, cyclists, acrobats and contortionists were amazing.
On the way back from Atlantic City, we stopped for dinner at the Phoenix Diner on Highway 30 in Absecon, N.J. This landmark eatery had an ambitious and extensive menu. Prices a bit above average, portions average, service mediocre.
Another experience last weekend was visiting the Buck Hotel in Feasterville, Pa. This legendary and historic local landmark was completely demolished in 2001. My companion worked there as a server in the 1980s and was shocked by the monstrous size of the new building.
The formal dining room is fairly pricey, but the Tavern offers pub grub at competitive prices. On weekends live bands alternate with DJs and local AM radio legend Jerry Blavat spins tunes Thursday evenings. Because we had dinner elsewhere, am unable to offer comments regarding food quality or quantity, only the prices.
Have seen online buzz from a half-dozen sources, including Billboard, that Bob Dylan has recorded a Xmas album featuring new and traditional tunes. This could be one his most baffling career moves since releasing Self Portrait back in the 1970s.
Spent time Sunday afternoon in Atlantic City at Trump's Taj Mahal (an exercise in bad decorative taste) to take advantage of free tix to Cirque Dreams Pandemonia. Do not confuse this company's efforts with the productions created by Cirque du Soleil.
Featuring a Eurasian cast of nearly two dozen jugglers, acrobats, spinners, twirlers, tricksters flippers, contortionists. drummers, and balancers it was 75 minutes of nonstop music, movement, and flashing lights that elicited many "ooh aahs" from the audience. All performers were top of the line, but the female Asian coterie of spinners, cyclists, acrobats and contortionists were amazing.
On the way back from Atlantic City, we stopped for dinner at the Phoenix Diner on Highway 30 in Absecon, N.J. This landmark eatery had an ambitious and extensive menu. Prices a bit above average, portions average, service mediocre.
Another experience last weekend was visiting the Buck Hotel in Feasterville, Pa. This legendary and historic local landmark was completely demolished in 2001. My companion worked there as a server in the 1980s and was shocked by the monstrous size of the new building.
The formal dining room is fairly pricey, but the Tavern offers pub grub at competitive prices. On weekends live bands alternate with DJs and local AM radio legend Jerry Blavat spins tunes Thursday evenings. Because we had dinner elsewhere, am unable to offer comments regarding food quality or quantity, only the prices.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Potpourri
Sad to note the death of writer and director John Hughes. He created three of my fave comic films, "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," "Sixteen Candles" and Planes Trains and Automobiles." Always appreciated that his sense of humor was character driven and he didn't reach for cheap obvious sleazy laughs like so many contemporary auteurs (e.g., Judd Apatow).
Duh! Despite inexplicable opposition from so many scaredy cat GOP Senators who fear the wrath of their own extreme rightists, this week we gained a new U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
There may be payback down the road for this knee jerk opposition. The Prez should nominate a really liberal judge at the next opportunity. Justice Stevens is 89, Justice Ginsburg is 76 with health problems and the next shot the GOP has at the White House is 2012. A lot can happen in a few years.
Another RIP artist this week is novelist and screenwriter Budd Schulberg. Best known for "On the Waterfront" (another fave film of mine) he also played a key role in creating "A Face in the Crowd," starring Andy Griffith in a raw and edgy performance light years away from his folksy Mayberry sheriff.
Duh! Despite inexplicable opposition from so many scaredy cat GOP Senators who fear the wrath of their own extreme rightists, this week we gained a new U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
There may be payback down the road for this knee jerk opposition. The Prez should nominate a really liberal judge at the next opportunity. Justice Stevens is 89, Justice Ginsburg is 76 with health problems and the next shot the GOP has at the White House is 2012. A lot can happen in a few years.
Another RIP artist this week is novelist and screenwriter Budd Schulberg. Best known for "On the Waterfront" (another fave film of mine) he also played a key role in creating "A Face in the Crowd," starring Andy Griffith in a raw and edgy performance light years away from his folksy Mayberry sheriff.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Down the Shore
A quick refreshing respite was taken last weekend to Wildwood, N.J., a beach town on the Atlantic Ocean a few miles north of Cape May, which is a beach town famous for its many lovingly and tenderly and colorfully restored late 19th century Victorian homes.
A key element of any trip to the beach is food. In Wildwood, the Bayview is a huge facility that seats a few hundred diners at a time. The menu ranges from traditional fried seafood items to five varieties of chicken wings plus BBQ items (e.g., ribs and shredded pork with a North Carolina spin) and a limited dessert selection. The servers were generally right on top of things.
It is definitely family friendly judging by an adjacent table seating 14 people, half of them under the age of 10. You should expect a wait, especially if you are with a large group. Our party of four was seated in about 30 minutes after arriving about 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
Other things to do include outings to Morey's Piers, riding the boardwalk tram to cover "36 blocks of fun" without wearing a hole in your flip-flops, and sampling the offerings of many local food vendors. If you truly want a unique experience, buy tickets for a dolphin and whale watching cruise.
About 90 miles north of Wildwood is Asbury Park, N.J. Still struggling to come back to life in the wake of the 1968 and 1970 riots, decades of serving as a dumping ground for the homeless and mentally ill, and a rich culture of political corruption, it still has a long way to go.
Recent bright notes include the 2007-2008 rehabilitation of the historic Paramount Theater and adjacent Asbury Park Convention Hall and the opening of the adjacent Tim McLoone's Salt Water Beach Cafe in a former Howard Johnson's restaurant.
The limited lunch menu offers an excellent Angus burger with blue cheese and an artfully overstuffed shrimp salad sandwich. Both were served with fresh potato chips. Alas, the service was only adequate.
A key element of any trip to the beach is food. In Wildwood, the Bayview is a huge facility that seats a few hundred diners at a time. The menu ranges from traditional fried seafood items to five varieties of chicken wings plus BBQ items (e.g., ribs and shredded pork with a North Carolina spin) and a limited dessert selection. The servers were generally right on top of things.
It is definitely family friendly judging by an adjacent table seating 14 people, half of them under the age of 10. You should expect a wait, especially if you are with a large group. Our party of four was seated in about 30 minutes after arriving about 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
Other things to do include outings to Morey's Piers, riding the boardwalk tram to cover "36 blocks of fun" without wearing a hole in your flip-flops, and sampling the offerings of many local food vendors. If you truly want a unique experience, buy tickets for a dolphin and whale watching cruise.
About 90 miles north of Wildwood is Asbury Park, N.J. Still struggling to come back to life in the wake of the 1968 and 1970 riots, decades of serving as a dumping ground for the homeless and mentally ill, and a rich culture of political corruption, it still has a long way to go.
Recent bright notes include the 2007-2008 rehabilitation of the historic Paramount Theater and adjacent Asbury Park Convention Hall and the opening of the adjacent Tim McLoone's Salt Water Beach Cafe in a former Howard Johnson's restaurant.
The limited lunch menu offers an excellent Angus burger with blue cheese and an artfully overstuffed shrimp salad sandwich. Both were served with fresh potato chips. Alas, the service was only adequate.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Miscellany
Here's a quick update. The Obama beer summit was so cheesy Karl Rove should have thought it up. It added or subtracted little to the substance of the debate regarding the whole H.L. Gates Cambridge, Mass. arrest mess. 'Twas nothing but a cute patch on a bleeding wound.
The real reason Sen. Jeff Sessions may have been so hot to go after Judge Sonia Sotomayor as not fit to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court is that in the mid-1980s his nomination as a federal appeals court judge was blocked by the Judiciary Committee on a 10-8 vote due to his visible taint as a racist and bigot. At that time he was the first rejected nominee in almost 50 years. Bet that one hurt, huh Jeff?
Last Wednesday had a great dinner at the Uno Chicago Grill in South Jersey near the State Hwy 70 and I-295 intersection. Hadn't been to one in many years and was pleasantly impressed by the repositioning of the chain, the revamping of the decor, and the expansion of the menu. Not so impressed with a $20 charge for a lobster roll.
The real reason Sen. Jeff Sessions may have been so hot to go after Judge Sonia Sotomayor as not fit to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court is that in the mid-1980s his nomination as a federal appeals court judge was blocked by the Judiciary Committee on a 10-8 vote due to his visible taint as a racist and bigot. At that time he was the first rejected nominee in almost 50 years. Bet that one hurt, huh Jeff?
Last Wednesday had a great dinner at the Uno Chicago Grill in South Jersey near the State Hwy 70 and I-295 intersection. Hadn't been to one in many years and was pleasantly impressed by the repositioning of the chain, the revamping of the decor, and the expansion of the menu. Not so impressed with a $20 charge for a lobster roll.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Sessions is Thumbs Down on Sotomayor
Only one GOP Senator on the Judiciary Committee, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, voted to send Judge Sonia Sotomayor's name to the full Senate for confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, the committee’s leading Republican, said just before the vote that he was compelled to oppose the nomination because in some important cases the judge’s decisions were “unacceptably short” and showed a “liberal, pro-government ideology against the individuals asserting their constitutional rights.”
"In speech after speech, year after year, Judge Sotomayor set forth a fully formed ... judicial philosophy that conflicts with the great American tradition of blind justice and fidelity to the law as written."
For the record, here are some of Sen. Sessions notable floor votes, according to the Red Room Website. They presumably show his blindly objective view of crucial constitutional issues.
Or perhaps the distinguished gentleman for Alabama believes certain types of folks, such as women, gays, and ethnics, do not deserve a place at the American table. He holds interesting views on racial equality and related issues, according to this May 4, 2009, article in Washington Monthly.
Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, the committee’s leading Republican, said just before the vote that he was compelled to oppose the nomination because in some important cases the judge’s decisions were “unacceptably short” and showed a “liberal, pro-government ideology against the individuals asserting their constitutional rights.”
"In speech after speech, year after year, Judge Sotomayor set forth a fully formed ... judicial philosophy that conflicts with the great American tradition of blind justice and fidelity to the law as written."
For the record, here are some of Sen. Sessions notable floor votes, according to the Red Room Website. They presumably show his blindly objective view of crucial constitutional issues.
- Yes on constitutional ban on flag desecration. (June 2006)
- Yes on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. (June 2006)
- No on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (June 2002)
- Yes on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. (October 2001)
- No on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation. (June 2000)
- No on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women. (March 1998)
- Yes on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business. (October 1997)
- Rated 20% by the ACLU, indicating an anti-civil rights voting record. (December 2002)
- Rated 0% by the HRC, indicating an anti-gay-rights stance. (December 2006)
- Rated 7% by the NAACP, indicating an anti-affirmative-action stance. (December 2006)
Or perhaps the distinguished gentleman for Alabama believes certain types of folks, such as women, gays, and ethnics, do not deserve a place at the American table. He holds interesting views on racial equality and related issues, according to this May 4, 2009, article in Washington Monthly.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Restaurant Follies
Saturday night I'd identified a Greek/Mediterranean restaurant in Philly called Mediterranean 2000 for a post-film dinner. Called to verify they were open and asked about the cuisine. Heard "yes yes yes" in response to several questions.
Upon arrival saw a sign identifying it as a Portugese restaurant. Portugal is a long way from Greece. Pull out the GPS and identify a nearby place called the Holy Land. Okay, that sure sounds like the type of food we're looking for. Pull up in front of that establishment and there's a new sign that reads "Kosher Japanese Sushi."
It is about 8:30 p.m. and no food has been consumed for five or six hours. Surrender to the inevitable, pull into a strip mall and stroll into Copa Banana. This is one of three area locations. An experience with the South Street branch earlier in the summer left a bad taste in my mouth. Thought a mandatory tip of 17% regardless of the number of people at a table was robbery.
After sampling a few menu items, including a perfectly juicy bacon cheeseburger with Spanish fries on the side, decided to drop the robbery charges and go with the flow in the interest of good eats.
Upon arrival saw a sign identifying it as a Portugese restaurant. Portugal is a long way from Greece. Pull out the GPS and identify a nearby place called the Holy Land. Okay, that sure sounds like the type of food we're looking for. Pull up in front of that establishment and there's a new sign that reads "Kosher Japanese Sushi."
It is about 8:30 p.m. and no food has been consumed for five or six hours. Surrender to the inevitable, pull into a strip mall and stroll into Copa Banana. This is one of three area locations. An experience with the South Street branch earlier in the summer left a bad taste in my mouth. Thought a mandatory tip of 17% regardless of the number of people at a table was robbery.
After sampling a few menu items, including a perfectly juicy bacon cheeseburger with Spanish fries on the side, decided to drop the robbery charges and go with the flow in the interest of good eats.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Stupid is as Stupid Does
As much as I think the Prez is doing a solid job under difficult circumstances, his recent remarks regarding the Prof. H.L. "Skip" Gates Jr. incident were a rare example (hopefully) of shoot first and ask questions later. The police report makes it clear that Gates, perhaps because he had an unpleasant journey back to Boston or perhaps because he has a massive ego, flared up very quickly in the presence of the police.
A few other reputable media outlets noted that Gates also had a reputation during his academic tenure in North Carolina for being a prickly personality who was quick to take offense.
Bottom line lesson here for all of us is to breathe deeply and count to 10 before mouthing off about things that we don't know for sure are fact or fiction.
A few other reputable media outlets noted that Gates also had a reputation during his academic tenure in North Carolina for being a prickly personality who was quick to take offense.
Bottom line lesson here for all of us is to breathe deeply and count to 10 before mouthing off about things that we don't know for sure are fact or fiction.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Good Eats Update
Have been remiss lately regarding three recent outings to interesting eateries in the South Jersey area.
First was Sweet Jenny's in Barnegat, N.J., a combo diner, restaurant, ice cream parlour and minigolf course right on State Highway 9. Had a very good pulled pork BBQ sandwich with the precisely correct amount of vinegar. My fellow diner indulged in a pastrami on rye. The pastrami was exceptional. Suspect they have a Grade A meat supplier in New York City or perhaps Philly.
The Banana Split Super Sundae was far too much for two folks to consume. This is also a child friendly place, which depending on your appreciation for rambunctious munchkins could mean a happy or hellish dining experience.
Next stop is the Dining Car in the heart of Northeast Philly right on Frankford Ave., one of the main drags. Featured on Guy Fieri's DDD Food Network show, the crisp chicken croquettes (no filler) were served over fresh mashed potatoes and covered with a light gravy.
Rave reviews were also offered regarding the perfectly broiled flounder. A slice of vanilla cheesecake was another winner. There are also dozens of pies, cakes and pastries available for purchase in the vestibule. Note that the Dining Car only accepts greenback dollars. No checks or plastic. An ATM machine is available on site (with a reasonable transaction fee).
Finally, in the same neck of the woods is the Three Monkey's Cafe, with a large outdoor patio adjacent to beautifully renovated late 19th century bar. It's complete with painstakingly restored woodwork, an oversized hand-carved bar, vintage mirrors, a tin ceiling, period fans, and various monkey portraits and multiple objets d'art.
The menu offers variety sufficient for most casual diners (e.g., fish, beef, pork, chicken, salads, appetizers), but you are advised to save tummy space for the Monkey Bread dessert. Yum-o!
First was Sweet Jenny's in Barnegat, N.J., a combo diner, restaurant, ice cream parlour and minigolf course right on State Highway 9. Had a very good pulled pork BBQ sandwich with the precisely correct amount of vinegar. My fellow diner indulged in a pastrami on rye. The pastrami was exceptional. Suspect they have a Grade A meat supplier in New York City or perhaps Philly.
The Banana Split Super Sundae was far too much for two folks to consume. This is also a child friendly place, which depending on your appreciation for rambunctious munchkins could mean a happy or hellish dining experience.
Next stop is the Dining Car in the heart of Northeast Philly right on Frankford Ave., one of the main drags. Featured on Guy Fieri's DDD Food Network show, the crisp chicken croquettes (no filler) were served over fresh mashed potatoes and covered with a light gravy.
Rave reviews were also offered regarding the perfectly broiled flounder. A slice of vanilla cheesecake was another winner. There are also dozens of pies, cakes and pastries available for purchase in the vestibule. Note that the Dining Car only accepts greenback dollars. No checks or plastic. An ATM machine is available on site (with a reasonable transaction fee).
Finally, in the same neck of the woods is the Three Monkey's Cafe, with a large outdoor patio adjacent to beautifully renovated late 19th century bar. It's complete with painstakingly restored woodwork, an oversized hand-carved bar, vintage mirrors, a tin ceiling, period fans, and various monkey portraits and multiple objets d'art.
The menu offers variety sufficient for most casual diners (e.g., fish, beef, pork, chicken, salads, appetizers), but you are advised to save tummy space for the Monkey Bread dessert. Yum-o!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Mindless Opposition
The Senate GOP is still playing dumb and coy about the Supreme Court nominee. If an obviously experienced and qualified judge with a solid track record is unable to garnish no more than a handful of votes from the minority caucus, this does not bode well for future nominees.
Since the 1970s several nominees were defeated or blocked because they were clearly unsuitable by measure of competence and experience or radical viewpoints. Too bad one of the poorer selections, Justice Clarence Thomas, slipped by the gatekeepers.
Since the 1970s several nominees were defeated or blocked because they were clearly unsuitable by measure of competence and experience or radical viewpoints. Too bad one of the poorer selections, Justice Clarence Thomas, slipped by the gatekeepers.
Monday, July 20, 2009
State of the Union
I'm continuing to be alternately amused and confounded by the current crop of Republican dinosaurs who do not realize they are on the verge of extinction.
They're singing that same old song about
That being said, columnist Frank Rich examines just one facet of this ongoing rampant idiocy in this recent piece.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/opinion/19rich.html?em
They're singing that same old song about
- big government evils,
- the sanctity of the family, and
- the virtue of thrift
That being said, columnist Frank Rich examines just one facet of this ongoing rampant idiocy in this recent piece.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/opinion/19rich.html?em
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