Monday, July 19, 2021
Since I have absolute confidence in the accuracy of everything that I read on the Internet, I took off Sunday for Times Square to buy theater tickets for future dates. After all, while most theaters were silent online about their current box office hours, my primary target clearly stated Sunday box office hours of noon to 6 P.M. Of course, they were locked up tight when I got there at 12:30, as were all the many other theaters that I passed as I walked around.
Why did I bother in the first place when so many ticket outlets appear online? Because fees were running $40-50 per ticket on the Internet for the several shows that I was interested in. That easily justifies a stroll down the Great White Way.
As a partial compensation for the fruitless pursuit, I went into Real Kung Fu Little Steamed Buns Ramen, 811 Eighth Avenue, a little joint hardly big enough to carry its entire name. The 16 two-tops were pushed together into 6 rectangles, with one or more persons at each cluster. Three people in the kitchen at the rear and two servers were kept busy.
I had a scallion pancake ($5), a solid B, but not matched well by either of the two sauces on the table. I also had the pan fried Peking duck buns ($9.25 for 2), a signature dish. The three-inch discs were about one inch thick, filled with small pieces of duck in hot hoisin sauce. I liked it, but I was unable to love it.
. . .
The Social Security Administration has taken the trouble to gather information that may interest and amuse us: Popular baby names over time.
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/
We learn that James, Michael and Robert of the 1950s have been replaced by Noah, Liam and Jacob, just as Mary, Linda and Patricia have given way to Emma, Olivia and Sophia.
I had heard that the most popular boy's name in Israel was Mohammed, representing a significant demographic shift. Indeed, the Internet confirmed this.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-
Except, that Ori, David and Ariel head the list at https://babynames.com/top-
All of which should buoy your confidence in the accuracy of the Internet and/or Israeli recordkeeping.
. . .
We had dinner with Barbara and Bernie tonight. They are cousins of cousins. At their suggestion, we went to Dagon, 2454 Broadway, and it proved to be an excellent choice. I counted 20 two-tops and 12 four-tops outside in front of the restaurant, probably more seating than inside. It is "[n]amed for the Phoenician and Philistine god of agriculture and the earth." The chef has a Tunisian-Israeli background and his Middle Eastern menu goes well beyond the usual.
We shared kubaneh, a Yemenite bread, sort of a spicy, pull-apart babka, served with labneh, Lebanese cream cheese ($12), and the Israeli salad, cucumber, tomato, red onion, parsely, mint, tahini and green schug, a garlicky, herby sauce ($17). Bernie and I ordered the Crispy Roasted Lamb, a big chunk of lamb neck over a small pool of dates, walnuts, wild rice and spices ($41). They managed to get the outside nice and crispy without drying out the thick meat beneath.
The women ordered "Small Plates," not necessarily small or inexpensive. Both had the shishbarak, Lebanese mushroom dumplings in a warm yogurt sauce ($22). I sampled one and it was delicious. Barbara also had Flash Fried Cauliflower ($17), while my young bride had the yellowfish tuna crudo ($21).
In all, an excellent, expensive meal. You will forget hummus and falafel quickly.
Tuesday, July 21, 2021
"I want to be the Jewish mother of New York City." How's that for a catchy campaign slogan? That's what Stacey Prussman proclaims in her race for mayor this year. https://forward.com/
Her big problem is that she is the Libertarian candidate. Not only are her chances for success nonexistent, but her philosophy and her slogan are completely at odds. There is a good case for putting a Jewish mother in charge of the Holy Land's affairs. The late Mother Ruth Gotthelf had an attention to detail that never left her even as she approached 103 years old. Little escaped her and little went unaddressed. That's the point. Even if she knew French, she would not have uttered laissez-faire.
If Ms. Prussman has Studio 54 in mind as the template for governing New York City, she would be wise to avoid having a Jewish mother working the door.
. . .
The bridge across the moat in front of Palazzo di Gotthelf is at West 69th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, which explains my delight when I read this headline in a local publication: "Dumpling Spot to Open on 69th and Amsterdam." It will be the uptown branch of DiDi Dumpling, 38 Lexington Avenue. I'll have to be patient; an opening date has yet not been announced. You'll hear from me at the right time.
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
I won't ruin this with my own snarky comment. "Representative Madison Cawthorn, Republican of North Carolina, suggested that the Biden administration’s door-knocking [vaccination] effort was just a first step. Next, he said in an interview with Right Side Broadcasting Network, they would 'go door to door to take your guns. They could then go door to door to take your Bibles,' he added." https://www.nytimes.
Thursday, July 22, 2021
Republican Representative Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina is the gift that keeps on giving. Yesterday, he went on a podcast to accuse Dr. Anthony Fauci of being "a pawn" of the Chinese government and promised to "prosecute" him should the GOP retake the House majority in 2022.
Friday, July 24, 2021
Clue 45 Down - Initiates a proposal, maybe
Please let us know if you find a way around ticket fee. I have used Goldstar with some success. There is also TDF.
ReplyDeleteI was searching for some of the "hotter" tickets for out-of-towners. TDF, TKTS and similar outfits usually deal in the well-worn shows.
ReplyDelete