Google's heightened security concerns prevented me from adhering to my normal publishing schedule while traveling abroad. I have divided the accumulated material into two articles, Germany and Not Germany.
While he makes a good case, I am duty bound to investigate this personally, probably in the company of my fresser friends, and you know who you are.
Monday, September 4, 2017
I came across another best of restaurant list, in fact, a collection of such lists.
The one that I found most relevant was the oxymoronic top 100 "Gourmet Casual." It's an extremely rare American restaurant today that expects its patrons to appear as if they are about to engage in a serious, adult activity. While some might balk at bare feet, there's little else that might be recognized as other than casual, regardless of the hefty price tag at the end of the evening.
Ironically, the only one of the first 10 of this oddly-named group that I was familiar with is Pêche Seafood Grill in New Orleans, where we ate (very well) in early May. I didn't even recognize the names of the two local entries in the top 10, placing second and third: Roberta's, 261 Moore Street, Brooklyn, not to be confused with our longtime favorite Roberto's, 603 Crescent Avenue, Bronx, and Wildair, 142 Orchard Street. Maybe I shouldn't complain (as if you could stop me), since 29 of the 100 are located in the Holy Land.
To be fair, as I went down the list, I noticed that none of the fabled la-di-dah joints were present, thus somewhat justifying the label "casual."
. . .
If the enemy of my enemy is my friend, North and South Korea have good reason to cooperate, even seek unification. "Why Trump, After North Korea’s Test, Aimed His Sharpest Fire at the South." https://www.nytimes.com/2017
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
Today, with a plane to catch early in the evening, I stayed very close to home in the company of Stony Brook Steve. We went to Empire Columbus Avenue, 193 Columbus Avenue, which has been around since 1976, but today may have only been the second time that I have eaten there even though no other Chinese restaurant is closer to Palazzo di Gotthelf. My lack of enthusiasm in the past was a matter of distance, not how close to my residence, but how far from Chinatown. With few exceptions, tam, the Yiddish word for flavor, decreases as you move north on Manhattan Island, even as prices increase .
We shared a scallion pancake ($4.95), Crispy Beef w. Orange Flavor ($15.95), and Walnut Chicken ($13.95). The beef was among 3 dozen items available as a lunch special at $8.25 - $10.75, which gets you a choice of rice -- white, brown, plain fried -- and soup, egg roll or spring roll. The scallion pancake lacked crispiness and scallions. I liked the beef very much, especially its goopy sauce. Steve enjoyed the chicken more; I found it too salty.
Should I have sought a more exalted experience before leaving the Holy Land for downtown Europe? Maybe, but time was flying before I had to, and, after all, it was still Chinese.
. . .
It took three taxicabs seriatim to get us to the airport for a far less dramatic journey across the Atlantic Ocean.
Thursday, September 7, 2017
The New York Times announced the winner of the New Yorkest New York film -- Crooklyn by Spike Lee. I can't properly criticize the choice, since I never saw it. Everyone will have the opportunity to see it on September 13th, when it will be shown all over the city, except me because that's the day of our return flight.
. . .
My problems with the Internet while traveling did not extend to receiving messages and material. Thus, I was able to read this appraisal of America's First Daughter. "She is more a logo than a person, a scarecrow stuffed with branding, an heiress-turned-model-turned-mu
Overnight, I received photographs of dear Donna J.'s lumberyard on St. Martin, which two days ago had been a hotel.
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
High winds over Germany, sounds like a WWII movie, but it was the reason that our departing flight sat on the ground one extra hour before taking off, just enough to have us miss our connecting flight in London. However, we were booked on British Air and they had ample alternatives once we got to London.
The actual transatlantic leg was quite pleasant and edifying. I read for hours, finishing another Donna Leon crime novel, featuring Guido Brunetti, Commissario of Police in Venice. Following my young bride's suggestion, I then watched some episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm, the language and neuroses left intact, something rare in airplane entertainment. The episodes dated from 2009 and were only partly familiar. But, I found them very educational. What a jerk! Am I that big a jerk? I'm not going to be such a big jerk.
. . .
The New York Times restaurant critic is asking for big trouble with the headline "Is New York’s Best Pizza in New Jersey?"
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/12/dining/razza-pizza-review-jersey-city.html?_r=0While he makes a good case, I am duty bound to investigate this personally, probably in the company of my fresser friends, and you know who you are.
Thursday, September 14, 2017
Ron Goldbrenner said it best: "We have all now finally graduated from City [College]. Stanley Feingold passed away today."
. . .
The newspaper has a provocative story today that poses basic questions of crime and punishment.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/
In 1996, Michelle Jones was sentenced to 50 years for murdering her infant son. In prison, she apparently devoted herself to education and self-improvement. She eventually received a bachelor’s degree from Ball State University in 2004, and audited graduate-level classes at Indiana University. She was recently paroled in recognition of her rehabilitation.
She applied to several graduate schools, including Harvard, which at first admitted her to its History Department. Then, "the university’s leadership — including the president, provost, and deans of the graduate school — reversed." According to the New York Times, there is evidence that the administration was "concern[ed] that her background would cause a backlash among rejected applicants, conservative news outlets or parents of students." I know, at least, how to have mollified conservative news outlets. Ms. Jones would have to declare herself as a Republican who found Jesus. Instead, she decided to go to N.Y.U., starting classes last week.
Justice?
In 1996, Michelle Jones was sentenced to 50 years for murdering her infant son. In prison, she apparently devoted herself to education and self-improvement. She eventually received a bachelor’s degree from Ball State University in 2004, and audited graduate-level classes at Indiana University. She was recently paroled in recognition of her rehabilitation.
She applied to several graduate schools, including Harvard, which at first admitted her to its History Department. Then, "the university’s leadership — including the president, provost, and deans of the graduate school — reversed." According to the New York Times, there is evidence that the administration was "concern[ed] that her background would cause a backlash among rejected applicants, conservative news outlets or parents of students." I know, at least, how to have mollified conservative news outlets. Ms. Jones would have to declare herself as a Republican who found Jesus. Instead, she decided to go to N.Y.U., starting classes last week.
Justice?
Friday, September 15, 2017
Tradition holds that Jewish ritual objects and prayer books are not to be simply discarded, but buried in a Jewish cemetery. So, today, humming the Rolling Stones' song "Beast of Burden," with the able assistance of Jeff Heller, humanitarian and first class schlepper, I collected 20 boxes of early vintage prayer books, no longer in use, from one of West End Synagogue's overstuffed storage rooms for delivery to Plaza Jewish Community Chapel, slightly over one mile north of the synagogue. May they rest in peace.
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