Gotham Gal

Tarnation

I am one that peruses through the Arts and Leisure section, Style sections and movie sections so I can keep up to date on the latest and greatest. Doesn't mean that I always get there but at least I know what is happening in the world of pop culture.

There was one movie that really stuck out over and over the last few weeks, Tarnation. The movie was playing at the Film Forum and as a reader of the Villager, I realized that it was only playing until 10/19 so I called my friend and we made sure we got there on Friday. Well worth the journey.

Tarnation is a self-portrait of Jonathan Caouette. The movie was a collection of snapshots, home movies etc., that he has been compiling since he was 11. He took the entire archives and put it on iMovie software and created this feature. You are literally watching his life unfold over the course of the film. A true slice of America. The film was edgy, clever and insightful. The music that was used really brought the film to even a high level of trying to understand this young man.

He was raised in Texas. Grew up with his grandparents, mostly. His mother Renee was supposedly mentally ill. Jonathan also spent time in the foster care system. Filming himself and his family appeared to be his own personal therapy.

I am so glad that I saw this film. It has absolutely stayed with me. Truly an interesting piece of art. My guess is that we will see many more films like this down the line. The access to filming your own history and recreating a movie at home is easily available and not that expensive to do. It will be hard for someone to top Tarnation.

Richard III

Drinking a few scotches before going to see Richard III, is not something I would highly recommend. Generally we go out after the play but I really wanted to get home to see the debates. We had tivo'd the debate and at least we could see it before we read all the news the next morning. Drinking before theater, big mistake.

As much as I appreciate Shakespeare, how the plays are still fresh and modern yet, I find Shakespeare very hard to take. Although, Peter Dinklage was fantastic and he is worth seeing. Perhaps because I just finished reading The Other Boleyn Girl which I do recommend, that I found Richard III hard to take.

As much as I loved The Other Boleyn Girl, I do not think I would have survived the Elizabethean or Victorian Age. I would have probably been beheaded. I am very clear about everything whereas in these past eras people talked around each other. Nothing was really taken at face value. It was if everything was a charade. Women could not take anything or anyone head on. So, seeing Richard III last night put me in the same thoughts as I had after the book. I am a real now and future girl. Even what I like to read. I like new novels, new information, technology...anything that is now.

I admit, due to the scotch, I slept through the first half of the first half. My husband slept through the entire first half. The first half, mind u, is 1 1/2 hours. When the lights went on, my husband woke up and asked me "did he kill everyone yet"? I said, "let's go and watch the debates". So, off we went.

Searching NYC High Schools

There is a phenomenon in NYC when u hit 8th grade which is about 20% of each class decides to move another high school. It is not something most school's talk about. Yet, if you are in a school that only goes to 8th grade, u have no choice but to look elsewhere. Our school, which does go to 12th grade, has been losing kids for years once they hit 8th grade. That is changing as our school is changing - more rigor, accountability, etc. but looking has been part of the culture.

So, we have had the pleasure of looking at other schools. It is very illuminating. But, it is always fun to shop and look and hear what else is out there. The question that u have to ask yourself is "can i see myself here"?

The one thing that I find interesting is the questions of the parents at these forums. Now mind u, our kid is in 8th grade, 13 years old so that gives me the basis for forming opinions on the parental questions. Questions are: What do the kids get on SAT scores here? How many AP courses are there? How do you help them get into college? Granted, these are all good questions but again, can u see yourself in this institution for 4 years?

I guess what I am trying to get at is the pressure and expectations that are put on 13 year olds to perform. There is no conversations about nurture and navigating the social scene. Can't kids be kids for a little while more? Of course they will learn if u are sending them to a good institution. Of course they will be prepared to get into college - look at the list of colleges that this school sends kids to and if you are a concerned parent, you will help them get there.

I see so many parents pushing their kids to be something that they might not what to be. My brother refers to this as a different kind of welfare. Parents force their kids to take the path to go to the best college, the best university, the best sports program, the best everything but do they actually take into account the type of kid that they have? Maybe there kid is more arts oriented and that should be nurtured. Perhaps their kid doesn't belong in a traditional type environment. I don't believe that this is just happening in NYC but across the country.

At one point, I believe that there will be a backlash. The 60's was a backlash. There was a war but there was also the social behavior of their 50's parents that was unappealing to that generation. Will this generation say "enough, I just want to teach or be an artist". I don't know the answer but as I see the fear in parents eyes as they walk through the potential schools of their choice, I don't see them looking out for their kid but looking out that their kid can compete in a world that perhaps is not allowing people and kids to be who they want to be and who they are.

It is like anything. People in the end will revert back to who they are, what they are comprised of. Wouldn't it be nice if we could allow kids to hone themselves through life - right brain thinkers or left brain thinkers - instead of pushing them to be what they are supposedly supposed to be. That way, wouldn't we have a much more interesting diverse group of people.

Blogging for a year

I realized today that I have been blogging for over a year. I started last year on my 42nd bday. My bday was last week, so it has been just over a year that I have been blogging. Wow!

I really enjoy the daily ritual. I love writing about my experiences. I have 100 people a day that now get an email each time I blog, which is pretty amazing. About 400 - 500 people visit my site daily which is also pretty cool. All and all, I hope that it has been worthwhile for people who read what I write because it has certainly been worthwhile for me.

The whole blogging world is an interesting place. I enjoy reading the other blogs that I read daily. Other blogs I only read on occasion. It will be of interest to watch where the blogging industry takes us. Maybe somewhere away from the regular daily newspapers and magazines, maybe not. But, it is certainly interesting to read other people's thoughts and comments on anything of value to me.

Obviously our President, Mr. Bush is out of touch with the World Wide Web. At the 2nd debate, he said that you could read about something all over the Internets. Internets? I thought Kerry should have used that line to counter with, that would be Internet. Singular not plural. Just shows u how far and wide the Internet as a tool has to go. Blogging is just another wonderful thing that makes the Internet one of the best developments of our time.

Fall Rituals

One of my favorite Fall rituals is picking apples. This past weekend was the perfect weather for it. There was a bite in the air.

We transplanted ourselves out to the Eastern end of Long Island for 3 days. It was bliss. The leaves are just beginning to turn. The night gets chilly. The air just smells good.

Apple picking was in order on Saturday morning. The Milk Pail in Bridgehampton owns a huge amount of property for picking apples, pumpkins, squash, gourds, etc. I pray that they never sell out. The trees are dwarf size so you can just walk up to a tree and pick off the apple of your choice. We opted for the Royal Galas, Jonagolds and Mutsuis. There were plenty of other options but those were our favorites. There is a tasting table before entering the orchard so you can insure that you don't pick something that u don't like. A 20 lb. bag cost u $21 and off u go.

Upon leaving, we also had to buy the donuts, the cider, the gourds and a bag of dried apples. Perfect fall festivity. Afterwards, we made our way out to the Clam Bar, between Amagansett and Montauk, for one last meal before it gets too cold to sit outside and eat clam chowder.

The rest of the weekend was centered around bike rides, football at the beach and just being outdoors. We don't get out there as often as I'd like but when we do, it is always special. We hang together as a family and enjoy the complete relaxation of getting out of the city for a couple of day to recharge our batteries. Much needed when u live in Manhattan.

Of course, we all pitched in to make an apple crisp for dessert. That is also part of the ritual. First u pick them, then u eat them and then u make a treat.

Fall is definitely here and it feels good.

Rick's Picks

I love Union Square Greenmarket. It is open on Monday, Wed, Friday and Saturday. Different vendors are there on different days, some vendors are there everyday.

I generally get a bit crazy when I am there. If I have a cart, you can guarantee that I fill it up to the brim. If I just happen to be walking through, it takes all my energy not to schlep bags home knowing that I'd never be able to carry everything. The options are huge. Fresh apples, homemade pretzels, farm fresh cheese, tomatoes, squash, pumpkins, flowers, mushrooms, peppers, etc. Everything is straight from the farm and so inexpensive compared to the supermarkets. It is a foodies dream. There is a guy there that sells fresh chickens and turkeys that are incredible.

Yesterday as I strolled through, I noticed a new vendor. Rick's Picks. Rick makes pickles with very interesting flavors. At first I was dubious about how good could they actually be? The answer was quite good! I was en route somewhere and could not carry but I did get a chance to try everything Rick had out for tasting. What a wonderful addition to the market. Extra bonus, Rick has a website. The turbo charged bread and butter pickles would be the perfect addition to a burger. Loved the hints of cumin in the dill pickles. Also, the wasabi green beans are good to just eat or put in a salad or even a drink. The Pepi Pep Pipps were delicious too. But, my total fav was the GT1000's.

When I got home, I went to the site. I'm filling up. This guy has a gold mine. What a great niche. Don't be surprised to be seeing Rick's goodies at your local gourmet grocery store soon.

Major kudos to Rick!

Kristen Frederickson Art Gallery

Kristen, who owns Kristen Frederickson Contemporary Art, had emailed after finding my blog through a search. Her gallery is in Tribeca. She reconnected with me about her latest show of Kathleen Kucka's work, so I made sure I got down there before it closed.

We happen to own a piece of Kathleen's work so I wanted to see what her latest body of work looked like. I had seen Kathleen's work about 3 years ago. I really liked her work but wasn't sure where she would grow. As I see artists work, I buy not only what appeals to my senses but also artists that I believe will be producing new and interesting work as they grow. As much as I liked Kathleen's work, I wanted to wait and see what came next. One year passed and I went to see her new body of work. It was impressive. She had really taken her work to another level and decided that we should really purchase a piece. Yesterday I saw a whole other level of her work. She has incorporated her work from the past and moved it into the future. It was really impressive. So much that I am very curious to see what another year will achieve for Kathleen. She has completely grown as an artist.

The added bonus yesterday was that I got to meet Kristen. She has a wonderful space on Reade Street in Tribeca. She represents a variety of artists, men and women but she is taken with women who are around 40 years old, have raised kids while doing their art and have a feminist side. I got to take a peek in the basement and check out the variety of artists that she carried. Some I liked more than others but all had interesting stories behind them and did interesting work.

Besides Kathleen's exhibit was an exhibit downstairs of birthing robes. Now, I would not buy something like this to hang in my home but conceptually it was very cool. The birthing robes represented a group of women that had trouble getting pregnant so they were put into rooms for a period of time to literally fatten them up like cows. Then, their partners came into the room and they all ended up conceiving. Strange but intriguing.

As always, I so enjoy making the gallery rounds. It was really refreshing to find a new gallery where I really enjoyed the owner. I'm looking forward to my next visit.

Mas on Downing Street

Mas on Downing Street was a treat! When you walk in, you immediately feel as if you have found a tiny oasis in a big city. The ceilings are low which creates and atmosphere of warmth. The attention to detail is incredible.

The restaurant has a small bar when you walk in but opens up into the restaurant. The restaurant has banquettes all around room and one larger table in the middle that is set up like a communal table in between two wooden columns. Each table is covered with white linen with a reflective candle glowing in the middle. The china is white with a red design of small berries running through it. The napkins are pulled through a mother of pearl napkin holder. The table is basically set as if you are having a beautiful dinner party in your home.

The service is spectacular. They immediately get you water, a cocktail or wine. First servings of a small tasting from the chef. Even the menu has attention to detail. It is made of paper, daily, and threaded together with a small piece of string at the top. Handmade. You can also have them serve a different glass of wine with each course, if you prefer. I loved that! So, the wine can be enhanced with the dish you are having.

We started with 2 different appetizers. I had the portugese sardines which were butterflied, grill and served over a parmesean cracker and carmelized onions between the cracker and the fish with a toasted pine nut vinegarette. An interesting mix of flavors and consistencies. Absolutely delicious. My husband had the tuna which is a signature dish. Raw tuna served in a vinegarette. I found the tuna a bit too thick and rich. I would have preferred if it had been more on the thinner side like a carpaccio but the taste was good.

Dinner was also good. We had a sliced seared duck over vegetables and pork bellies served with a maple syrup sauce and cabbage. So good. For dessert we opted for the cheese platter. There are a variety of different cheese and information about the region, taste etc. It was a nice change from dessert. Although they served a few pop in the mouth cream puffs at the very end for an added bonus.

I really enjoyed Mas. I am looking forward to my next visit. The restaurant is so elegant. Such a nice retreat from the craziness of the day's activities. It is almost like going to a spa. I felt like we had escaped from the realities of the day for a few precious hours. What a treat!

Asiate

Yesterday was my birthday. On this day, and on one of my best pal's in life's bday, we take each other out for lunch or a massage, or a shop or whatever. So, yesterday we did a real "ladies who lunch" lunch at the Asiate restaurant that sits at the top of the Mandarin Hotel in Columbus Circle.

I am really glad that we went there because the truth is, if she had not invited me up there, I might have spent my entire New York life never going to the "Time Warner mall" on the upper West side. So, now that I have gone, I can give my critique.

The restaurant is really beautiful. The views are needless to say, spectactular. The banquettes line the room and have mirrors over them so that person with their back sitting to the window gets the same view. Very clever. The service is good. It is definitely a place that u need to dress accordingly. The food was actually good. We split everything so more tasting.

We started with 2 appetizers. One was a carpaccio of salmon topped with salmon roe and surrounding the plate a cilantro pesto which was very light. Simple and good. We also split crab rolls that was crab meat and vegetables rolled up in a cucumber piece. There were 4 pieces. Each piece also had a small square of red pepper custard with it. The crab rolls were sort of hard to eat and were not that interesting. They were actually kind of bland and the small custard portion which packed an intense flavor did not work with the mild crab roll. Although the presentation on a wooden block was really beautiful, the tastes did not work.

We split the main courses. We had a roasted/carmelized cod with 3 small salads next to it. One was a seaweed salad which was not that good, the other was a mushroom concoction which was ok and the other was a sliced cucumber salad with onions and a asian dressing. This was the best of the three. The cod was perfectly done and really delicious. We also had a sea bass that was cooked perfectly with a crispy skin topped over a group of roasted vegetables. I really liked this. Again, light and simple but plenty of flavor.

We had to have dessert. We split a mango souffle which was delicious. Light and fluffy with a crisp airy top and a gooey sugar mango custard at the bottom. This was served with coconut ice and mango syrup. Top! They also gave u 3 little extra bites to share at the end. One was a homemade reese's peanut butter cup and chocolate covered nuts and a gelled mango treat.

All and all a delicious meal...a bit more than I realized later on for lunch but it was fun. I felt very lady like. It would be a fun place to take my girls for a fancy lunch, like they were going to be princess for the day. Although, they are actually princesses everyday so that might defeat the purpose.

I am really glad we went there because it was a treat, a new discovery and I doubt I'll ever go back. We wandered around the mall afterwards. It was empty, stark and strange in feel. I am not sure who is shopping there but by the looks of the crowds, noone is. The Whole Foods is in the basement is absolutely amazing. I hope the one that is being built in Union Square takes on the same breadth of merchandise.

I left and jumped on the subway back down to my part of the world. My guess is that mall will go through many transformations and closed shops before it ever figures out their customer. The hotel will do great, so the Asiate will survive. The other restaurants, well that is left to be seen. Personally, I don't like going to the mall to eat but as I said, only time will tell.

Papers on the Subway

I'm taking the subway uptown and sitting next to me is the Financial Times. Never read this paper but I have time to kill so I start to scan the articles. There isn't much that grabs my attention but the weekend section has an article on Karl Rove with the big title "The Man Behind Bush" by James Harding.

The article starts off telling us that George Bush refers to Karl Rove as "Turd Blossom". Sort of frightened me but a Turd Blossom is supposedly a Texan term of a flower that blooms on manure. Nice, eh? The article continues on about Rove's control over the Bush message. Republican strategists are impressed with his skills but on the other hand, find him a bit scary.

My favorite quote of the article is one what I had to share because it made me laugh outloud, although I should have shuddered instead. Kevin Phillips, who is the author of the 1967 classic The Emerging Republican Authority said this, "There is one thing which is really special about him, he is the first strategist to elect a schmuck as President of the United States - to orchestrate the triumph of a relatively mediocre thinker who lost the popular vote and now has the chance to become a historical figure thanks to Osama bin Laden.". Well, that truly captures it all.

Another senior Republican party figure, who would only speak anonymously said "People are scared to death of Karl".

I hope that as we continue in the debates, with 4 weeks left to the election, that the American people begin to see what is really happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.