Musical Theater

Mary Martin and the Sound of Music

My parents owned the original Broadway cast albums of "My Fair Lady", "Camelot", "Wildcat", "The Unsinkable Molly Brown", "Carousel", and the ever popular, at least among their children, "The Sound of Music" ( Yes, the hills were alive at Chez Redden, ask my brother, Jack ) among others.  They loved to go to the "hottest musical" on their anniversary and, as we grew older, and could afford it, we would buy them tickets so they could see the original casts whenever possible. Understand that good orchestra seats sold for about $20 at that time, not like today when a full price orchestra seat to a mediocre musical costs in excess of $100.

I was bitten by the Broadway Musical bug rather early.  I inherited it from my parents. Jack and Flo Redden bought a stereo in the 1960's and their collection of albums were heavy on Montevani, Mitch Miller, Glen Miller and Broadway Musicals, and not necessarily in that order.


And I have seen some great musical theater in my day: the original production of "42nd Street" with Jerry Orbach; "Hello Dolly" three times with Betty Grable, Pearl Baily and the wonderful Carol Channing; " Ragtime" with Audra Mac Donald and Brian Stokes Mitchel; "Showboat" with Elaine Stritch; "La Cage aux Folles"; "Shenandoah"; "The Producers"; "Wicked"; "Kiss Me Kate", and "Company".

But I have seen my lot of losers: "The Civil War", "Jekyll and Hyde", "The Scarlet Pimpernel", "Pricilla, Queen of the Desert"; they just did not make the grade.  But the all time worst musical was the one I saw on Thursday: "Spiderman, Turn off the Dark". 

Spiderman on Broadway

This disaster has been running for three...count 'em..THREE years!  It has survived on tour groups, discounted tickets, and the USO which sells severely discounted tickets to service men and women on leave.  (Shame on them)

 

Where do I begin? The aerial stunts were amazing!  The rest was horrible. Bono wrote the music and some lyrics, and it sounds like his work.  Just work he dialed in...nothing great.  One nice song: "If the World Should End".

But the scene that included Nazi-esque,  hot-pant wearing, goose-stepping, break dancers was the worst thing I have seen on Broadway.  I was really glad to go home. 

So folks...do not go.

Mentally Packing



On Sunday I  will be flying to Amsterdam to meet up with some friends and relatives on a journey down the Rhine to visit the Christmas Markets along that river in German, France and Switzerland. That means this week I have been mentally packing and unpacking my luggage.  A process that consumes me the two weeks before I go anywhere...on business for a few days in Baltimore, on a relaxing ocean cruise sailing to Bermuda from New York, planning two weeks in England and a trans-Atlantic float back to America, river cruising through Central Europe...all of these quests come with their own packing challenges and concerns.

I do like my ocean cruising, but there are two types of ocean

Heidelberg Christmas Market

 cruising I do, and packing for each is different.

Cruising to view new sites, such as to Alaska, or the Western Mediterranean or the Panama Canal means one needs to  expect to do a fair amount of in-port travel.  Taking the White Pass-Yukon train in Skagway, visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, climbing Dunne's Falls in Jamaica: these are all wonderful
experiences that  you need to get off the ship and experience for yourself, and, by the way, the gelato in Pisa is exceptional.  You need to keep in mind the time of year you are travelling and the weather.  I did not say "climate".  I know that Seattle and Vancouver share a marine climate, but I need to watch the daily weather reports to see the trends for the upcoming time when I will be there. I like "Weather Underground", and I begin checking it daily two weeks prior to my departure.


White Pass Yukon Train, Alaska

"Relaxing" cruises on the other hand, call for a different kind of planning.  You will still need to check on the weather, but if the reason for the cruise is rest and not sightseeing, a more laid back approach is called for.  Think about taking an on-board "spa day" if you don't intend to jump off the ship at Port Canaveral with the rest of your shipmates, and arrange for that massage or book some time at the quiet indoor pool.  The prices drop and it is certainly more quiet on board. Also, a repositioning cruise is often a good buy and longer sea time makes for  more relaxed landing.
But be warned, these cruises fill up fast.



MS Concerto

The trip I am "prep packing" for is a combination land and water trip, so packing will be tricky. Two full days in Amsterdam, and then eleven on the ship and another four in Munich/Nuremburg. The weather will be in the high 30's and 40's  with some precipitation.  So, I am taking a longish winter jacket,  gloves, two scarves and a warm hat...and a rain hat;  I dislike umbrellas.  I will have my Uggs, walking shoes and a pair of decent looking black flats; two sweaters, five pair of slacks...one "dressy" pair, and only one dress.  I hate to over-pack.  I am hoping  for a laundry in Munich.

That Disappearing Generational Layer

So, this morning I attended  the funeral service for someone I have know for about 25 years.  He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church on Staten Island, and was a loyal volunteer for their feeding ministries.  He was  also a veteran of the US Navy having served during World War II.  Artie was a year younger than my Uncle Bill who died in 2011; he also served in the Navy as a very young man during the same war.

The Mardasson Monument @Bastogne

My Father would have been 96 this past month.  He also served his county during the war in the Army.  A few years ago I was able to visit Belgium where my Father spent the winter of 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge. I went to Bastogne to see the Monument there dedicated to those who fought in that battle.

My Father was wounded badly in that encounter.  He barely survived and spent the rest of his life with shrapnel in his leg and in the back of his skull.  He had a hearing loss in one ear and later in life the shrapnel in his head which over time had become covered in scar tissue, caused other neurological problems.  In addition, he showed symptoms of what we now call "post traumatic stress syndrome".  After watching any movie or  TV show that depicted the war like "Combat", a popular 1960's show, he would have horrific nightmares. I don't think any of these men ever really spoke about their experiences.

Additionally there were the women, strong women who lived through the Great Depression, World War II, The Korean War, the Cold War and the Vietnam War.  They saw their brothers and sweethearts go off to one war, some returning and others never seen again, and later watched with baited breath as they then sent their sons off to fight a  war in an Asian nation so very far away. My mother was one of these women, as were my aunts and the mothers of my friends growing up in Brooklyn.

I remember one woman in particular.  She was a widow supporting her three children as a school teacher.  Her eldest son had been in ROTC in college and was sent of for a tour of duty in Vietnam.  I remember his fiancé was a pert and pretty blond, and they are a "Ken and Barbie" couple.  But their future was not to be as he was killed in that war.  I attended his funeral, but I don't remember exactly why.  It was very sad to realize that his fiancé would be a widow before she was a bride, but his mother was doubly bereft: no spouse to share her grief and still needing to carry on and support her remaining children.

These folk were of a strong stock.  They lived everyday lives and loved extraordinarily and unconditionally.  And they are quickly leaving this earthly veil. That generational layer that separated us from the past is fast disappearing, and soon we will be in their places. Those of us who are their sons and daughters have huge shoes to fill, and a huge responsibility to honor their memories.  Let us hope we are up to the task.

Feeding Ministry

Trinity Lutheran in Staten Isand

For over twenty-five years I have been involved with feeding the hungry on Staten Island. Back in the day Bob and I and at least two of the three kids would volunteer at the Soup Kitchen located at Trinity Lutheran in Stapleton on Saturday mornings.  The kids went to school there and I worked there for  five years in the late 80's.  I would get my church's groups to cook twice a year on a rotating basis: Men's Club, Episcopal Church Women,  Choir, Youth Group, Evening Guild...each group took their turn and prepared a hot meal in winter and cold salad meal in warmer months for no more than 40 people each week.  I remember that the Episcopal Church Women did a lovingly prepared chicken and pasta salad with halved walnuts and halved grapes enveloped in a mayo/half and half dressing.  It was absolutely decadent.  The first time it was served one of our regulars, an older gentleman, stopped by the kitchen to thank them. "You even cut the grapes!", he said in amazement, "Nobody ever did that for me before."


Bob at the Soup Kitchen Easter 2009

This service time became our family time.  The kids brought friends with them.  We made long lasting relationships with the "regulars" at the Soup Kitchen, both the guests and the other volunteers. When groups did not cook, the "regulars", volunteers themselves, would make pea soup and tuna fish sandwiches with canned fruit or yogurt cups for dessert.  We'd give out apples or oranges when we were able to get them, and solicited holiday food and gifts like socks and hats for Christmas from local supermarkets and congregations to make that time festive. But over the years things have changed.

Prep group
 

Our menu has become more sophisticated, and we now routinely serve full complete meals  with artesianal breads, green salads, hot entrees and interesting desserts each week.  I can't remember the last time we served soup and tuna fish sandwiches.

In the current economic climate in New York City we are seeing an increase in the number of meals we serve each week. On an average Saturday we can serve up to 120 people for lunch.  The people are angrier, and many have never been to a Soup Kitchen before.  We see more mothers and young children, seniors, and full families eating there week after week.

And our volunteer stream has changed.  Many folks like to show up for the holidays...this makes me kind of nuts, but I have gotten over it and am now willing to have them come and make a pitch for them to come on an "off week"...in  reality, there are no "off weeks"...hunger happens all year round.

I am also now working with non-profit organizations or HR departments of corporations who have formal programs to send volunteers for "team building" events. I have learned to be appreciative of the help, but resent that I am expected to provide them with quantifiable experiences and then fill out evaluation sheets.  I just tell the leaders that I don't fill out sheets and direct them to someone who has more patience. 

I don't do this work to "feel good", nor do I do it to "give back"...two phrases that make me want to run screaming from the room.  I do it because we are called to do this work.  I believe it was Jesus who said, "Feed my sheep."...that is my reason.

Exploring the neighborhood

 

Today I spent some time tooling about the neighborhood and trying some new stuff.  I had to get my car inspected.  It had actually expired in October, but since I never really look at the windshield of my car, I did not realize it needed to be inspected until the guy in the gas station in Bay Ridge pointed it out.

"Lady, you'd better get this taken care of, or you'll get a ticket." I knew he was right because in years past I had often gotten that ticket for an unregistered or uninspected vehicle. My late husband always took care of the registration/inspection cycle and of the need for an oil change.  Oh, I guess I should tell you that my new car did let me know I needed to have the oil changed, and I also got that done today.



Bay Street Auto

Anyway, this gave me  the chance to find a new mechanic and try out the lunch menu at Bay Street Luncheonette and purchase some pastry at Rispoli's Shop in Rosebank.

My first stop was the Bay  Street Auto Center where a nice young man helped me get my car inspected.  One usually has to make an appointment, but I mentioned that one of his customers, a church member, had recommend I bring my car to him, and he took me right away.  He also changed my oil and gave me a 10% discount because I promised to like him on Facebook., which I did.



1952Chevy

 He also has a collection of vintage cars for sale, and I spied a 1952 green four -door Chevy that was the model my father owned.  I got to open the doors and take a good look inside marveling at the copious leg room in the back seat.  I asked him about it, and he told me it was for sale at around $4,200.  But if I was really interested, he would do a deal....Hummm.




Inside the Bay Street Luncheonette

After paying my bill and taking another look at the Chevy, I was off to the Bay Street Luncheonette and Soda Shop. I had heard nothing but good things about this local spot.  It  serves breakfast all day and lunch.  Prices are reasonable and the food is very good.  The interior is an homage to the owner's teen years on Staten Island in the 70's, and she has her "I Love George" lunchbox on the shelf while she plays a constant loop of Beatle music.  She was talking with a group of high school friends who were in town for the Curtis High School Reunion later in the weekend, and was happily sharing  her yearbook photos.  The waitress was helpful and the service impeccable.

I rounded off my  afternoon  sojourn at Rispoli's Pastry Shop in Rosebank.  I bought a small, individual piece of carrot cake(surprise, surprise) and a small Neapolitan style pizza for dinner.  I have not tried either as of yet, so I can make no judgment call at is time.  Got home in time to watch General Hospital...life is good.

Election Day in NYC

Second Tuesday  in November, hum...must be election day in New York. 

Well, just not in New York, in most of the USA someone is running for public office today.  Many offices are closed and the students  not in school....teachers in NYC  are at work for a "professional development:" day..."PD", as it is sort of affectionately called, can be both a torture and a treat.  Since many of my former colleagues were talking about the new report cards, I will make a presumption that the "PD" of the day will be about out how to fill out and then to fill out report cards.  For elementary teachers this is not too bad since they have only 25-35 students to grade.  Intermediate and High School teachers often have  five classes of 35 students...do the math, lots of "bubbling in".  And then there are comments...2 or 3 required for each student.  Glad to be retired.

Anyway, I will vote today at the local public school.  At the last special election, a primary, we had to use the old lever flip machines that  were invented by Thomas Edison.  They are purely mechanical and tick off the votes as you flip the lever.   They were returned into service when the city felt it could not get the new scanning machines up and running since a possible run off loomed over their collective elective heads.  The run off did happen, but not for the mayoral race, but for the lesser  position of public advocate, the job that was vacated by the current mayoral candidate, Bill DiBlasio.



Bill DiBlasio and family campaigning.

Bill is an interesting candidate.  Raised by  his single mother, he eschewed the surname of his father and chose to use his maternal last name.  He worked for Mayor Dinkins, where he met and married his wife.  Later he did strategy for Hillary Clinton during her senatorial race.  He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two children...well, one is now away in college and the other attends  Brooklyn Tech, one of NYC's prestigious science high schools.  What makes Bill unique is that his wife is African American and he is adamantly against the current mayor's "stop and frisk" policies and is against the co-location of new schools within the buildings of current schools.



Joe Lhota in a jovial mood.

Bill's opponent is Joe Lhota, a local pol who headed the Transit Authority.  He is for charter schools, stop and frisk and is committed to continuing the policies of our current mayor, billionaire Michael Bloomberg. Joe has the support of many here on Staten Island which is considered the most Republican borough of NYC. He has also garnered the support of the Patrolman's Benevolent Society and other police organizations.  Several years ago he got himself embroiled in bridge toll hikes, a hot button issue on this island.  Staten Island is the only borough of NYC in which vehicular drivers: cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles, must pay a toll to use  the bridges to get off island.  The one way, round trip toll to use the Verrazano Narrow's Bridge is $15 per car.  It is higher for tractor trailers.  As Staten Island residents we get a discount and pay ONLY $5.50 per trip, and car pools of three or more can pay less than that, but it is still an annoyance.  There are free East River crossings from Brooklyn and Queens, so this toll mess is like a howling banshee following Joe around.


There is also Prop 1, proposal to legalize casino gambling in New York State.  Our illustrious governor, Andrew Cuomo, has touted this as a way of brining needed jobs to the upstate and southern tier areas of the state, and for filling the coffers of local school districts, but many clergy are against it.  I will probably vote against it.

And Prop 5 is to allow mining in one of our state forests.  NYCO Minerals, a mining company, wants to expand its wollastonite mine in Lewis, NY to include roughly 200 acres of what is now forest preserve land.  They say this will help them sustain around 100 high paying jobs.  In exchange, the company is offering to purchase roughly 1500 acres of land, expanding the Jay  Mountain Wilderness.

I am certainly glad that I am able to vote and have some say in local governance.  Over the years I have backed my fair share of winners and losers, so I always feel that you need to vote in order to complain about the outcome, but in the end , election results are a reflection of the times we live in...sometimes you just have to shut up and get on with it.

Winter Victules...

With the recent nippy weather chilling both the air and my spirits, I have begun to revert to my "winter menu".  This is an alteration in my  eating habits that occurs in mid November both by choice and circumstance.

Heirloom tomatoes

Circumstance because some of the  wonderful seasonal stuff I have been enjoying throughout summer like fresh fruits and vegetables, are slowly disappearing from the shelves of stores and produce stands.  I will miss the fulsome taste of summer peaches, plums and apricots. I must bid adieu to seasonal gems  from New Jersey and Long Island, and especially to home-grown tomatoes. Yes, I know hot-house tomatoes are available all year long, but nothing compares to the lush flavor of a local heirloom tomato topped with a dash of salt and a sprinkle of olive oil.  And although  I can always get the frozen ones, the early spring peas and asparagus will be greatly missed.

Not that autumn does not bring its own bounty. I do love the "BAP" squashes: butternut, acorn and pumpkin. I like to roast or bake first two, and make a fine cream of pumpkin soup with the later.  If you intend to carve a pumpkin for Halloween;  keep the seeds, rinse them well and place them on a cookie sheet, season them with salt at the very lest, and either air-dry or slow dry in a 250 degree oven for an hour or so.  I use them to garish  soup and salad or to just eat out of hand.   The Mexicans call them pepitos. I must admit, I was never one for pumpkin pie...the ones I had as a child were store bought and often too sweet for my taste.  I recently had one made from scratch and I must say it was very good.


In the afternoons I drink either iced tea or water.  I never acquired a taste for colas...Pepsi or Coke.  I don't like the taste either one of them.  My late brother-in-law, John, could tell the difference immediately just by taking a sip or even a smell.  I believe he preferred Pepsi.  My late husband  liked Coke.  If I have to drink a carbonated beverage, that is not a sparkling wine, I prefer Ginger Ale.


My next dilemma is which hot winter beverage?  I ways have tea with breakfast and after dinner.  It is my "go to" hot beverage of choice. When met my future mother-in-law, the irascible Ingrid Viola Carlson-Swanson, she was shocked that I did NOT drink coffee.  Upon hearing that I drank tea she respond "Are you ill, dear?"  She actually called "dear" until I married her son; I presumed she found my name too difficult to remember. (okay...  will move on here)

  I recently heard  that the first flavored Starbucks coffee was their pumpkin latte, and it was invented in an employees kitchen. It was brought in to work for others to try, and the rest is barista history! But for me the mere thought of pumpkin mixed with a hot liquid of any sort intended to be drunk from a paper cup is alien, so I will pass on any hot pumpkin concoction in a disposable coffee cup with a lid...period.


I am thinking, though, that Hot Chocolate could be the solution to my winter hot beverage blues.  A few years ago ,while I was  Paris in February, I began to order that chocolately brew at the local cafes.  I discovered that hot chocolate does not have to be overly sweet.  It can also be a velvety smooth and satisfying adult brew. On a recent trip to Trader Joe's I picked up a package of their "Sipping Chocolate".  I will let you know how it goes.