Saturday, March 21, 2026
Encores! puts on short term revivals of old (oldish) musicals. Tonight, we saw The Wild Party, a relatively recent show with an interesting back story. It was originally a raunchy poem written in 1928. Only in 2000, when its copyright expired, did it get produced on stage. In fact, two distinct productions appeared, one on Broadway, one off-Broadway. It was the Broadway version that was revived this weekend. Debauchery was the first word I spoke upon leaving the theater, not in disappointment. The New York Times review used the same word in its subheadline. This hedonistic tale of Jazz Age vaudeville performers after hours encompassed a broad array of couplings and uncouplings performed by a very talented cast. The work runs two hours without intermission and is almost entirely sung-through like an opera, demanding a lot from actors and musicians. The rawness is easy to dislike. My reaction, however, was appreciation if not admiration.
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To a degree, the women at The Wild Party back then held their own, but that is hardly the norm today. This survey looks at 25 key indicators of women’s living standards across the country and ranks the results. Massachusetts, District of Columbia and Maine come out on top, while Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana are at the bottom. https://share.google/
Sunday, March 22, 2026
To celebrate my brother's return home in the company of his older grandson, we all had lunch at Deccan Spice, 153 Wood Avenue, Edison, New Jersey, a large, well-furnished restaurant in the midst of a thriving Indian American enclave in Central New Jersey. In looking for a convenient spot, I simply chose a well-reputed joint unaware of the local demographics. Edison is considered the crossroads of Indian life in the United States. There are countless restaurants and almost as many jewelry stores catering to the South Asian population. This PBS documentary offers a good picture of the area and implicitly boosts a liberal immigration policy. https://www.pbs.org/
Deccan Spice itself is enough reason to keep the golden door open, the kitchen door at least. Today seemed to be a holiday or celebrated like one. Deccan Spice had a Special Ugadi Thali Unlimited meal, served on a two-foot long banana leaf, consisting of 21 items for $40, including Gongura Mamasam, mutton curry; Royala Vepudu, stir-fried prawns; Bendakaya Pulusu, okra stewed in tamarind sauce; Korameenu Tawa Fry, fried fish. A vegetarian version is also available. Attentive servers provided seconds and thirds.
The two guys went for the whole enchilada, although that might been the only thing not laid out on the banana leaf. If I feared too much food on the Special, the two dishes from the regular menu that I ordered were more than I could finish. I had four chicken lollipops, the meat of big wings bunched at the top, seasoned and broiled, a lot to eat ($24). Then, I had lamb Rogan Josh, curried meat cooked with alkanet flower, a herbaceous flowering plant, and Kashmiri chiles ($33). Most of the Rogan Josh went home with my brother and his grandson. Madam had Navaratan Korma, "nine gem curry," nine different vegetables, fruits and nuts cooked in a sweet gravy ($20). She made all gone.
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In case all this food arouses the need to exercise, you can get a pair of LOEWE Cloudsolo sneakers for a mere $750.
Monday, March 23, 2026
New York State has a Board of Regents governing public education including a set of Regents examinations for high school students in all the major subject areas. Graduation with a Regents diploma instead of a General diploma required passage of the Regents exams. That is changing. Starting in the 2027-28 school year, students will be evaluated based on a new framework from the state called the Portrait of a Graduate, including six key qualities which high schoolers should master to earn a diploma. They should be able to demonstrate they are academically prepared, creative innovators, critical thinkers, effective communicators, global citizens, and “reflective and future focused.” Aside from the suspicion that this is a dumbing down of the e ducation process, the obvious question arises of how to measure such ephemeral qualities as being creative innovators, global citizens and future focused.
Meanwhile, the San Francisco Board of Education restored eighth-grade algebra 12 years after removing it assertedly to benefit students from disadvantaged backgrounds who were ill-prepared for it. San Francisco Reinstates 8th-Grade Algebra After 'Equity' Experiment Fails
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Eataly, 1122 Lexington Avenue, is the latest in this international chain of Italian food stores. It offers gelato, chocolates, pastries, sandwiches and a variety of groceries. I stopped in to have Arrosto di Tacchino, roasted turkey breast, gem lettuce, Callipo brand red onion jam, and aioli on a crispy, narrow baguette ($14.90). Although I could have handled another inch or two of sandwich, I resisted all the sweet treats, this time at least.
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Pointing to the hypocrisy of this administration seems to be an endless and fruitless exercise, but I am into endless and fruitless exercises. “Trump, Who Calls Mail-in Voting ‘Cheating,’ Just Voted by Mail”
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Speaking of endless and fruitless, Madam and I went downtown to a free preview of a new movie, Fantasy Life. With an unrealistic (inconceivable?) premise, hiring an anxiety-prone, unemployed, male, law school dropout as nanny (Manny) for the three young granddaughters of his psychiatrist, the movie never takes off.
Afterwards, we ate at Arturo’s, 106 West Houston Street, an old-line restaurant and pizzeria with wooden booths, a tin ceiling, a coal-burning oven and live jazz. We shared a small mushroom pizza ($26).
Of course, I hesitated at “small,” but the 13”, eight-slice pie proved more than satisfactory right through lunch the next day.
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Tonight, Tom Terrific and I went to Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute, 47-49 East 65th Street, to hear Heather Ann Thompson discuss her new book Fear and Fury: Bernie Goetz, the Reagan ‘80s, and the Rebirth of White Rage. Anyone in the metropolitan area at the time and many others beyond know the story of the white man and the four Black teenagers on the subway that he shot. Goetz, hailed as a hero by some and a villain by others, was convicted only on a weapons charge and spent eight months in jail. Rudolph Giuliani, Donald Trump and Rupert Murdoch all play a role in the story which is enough to make it unpleasant.
Friday, March 27, 2026
Even with my pupils dilated after treatment by Dr. Englebert, don’t ask, I found my way to Koba Korean BBQ, 918 Third Avenue. It's a small attractive joint decorated with large Korean murals, holding six two-tops and two ledges seating eight. I had a big bowl of japchae, stir-fried sweet potato glass noodles with bulgogi (shaved, marinated) beef, scallions, egg strips, carrots and mushrooms ($20). I was able to feel my way back to the bus stop and home.
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