Over There/Over Here

Saturday, May 9, 2026

We attended Sabbath services at the West London Synagogue, 34 Upper Berkeley Street, which calls itself “The Heart of Progressive Judaism in Central London.” In fact, most London synagogues seem to be Orthodox, so there is not much competition at the other end of the bell curve. We had to answer some simple questions and send a photo ID in advance, which has become customary for admission to synagogues outside Israel and the United States. At the front door, we were checked off a list by an Israeli security guard. 

Inside, we got information from Hanne-Marie Braaten, one of three Wardens, a position unfamiliar to us, recognized by wearing a top hat during services. The main sanctuary appears quite grand in photographs, but is under renovation. Services were held in an auditorium configured as a theater. 

The synagogue was founded in 1840 and now numbers some 3,000 members. Attendance today was about 200 people of varying generations. This was not surprising given that there was a triple header, a Bar Mitzvah, an Auf Ruf (blessing of a couple about to be married) and a baby naming. What was remarkable was that all of this was conducted within one hour and 45 minutes, including a Torah service and an excellent sermon by Senior Rabbi David Mitchell on the use of the terms “Jews” and “Israel”. Such efficiency seems beyond most American rabbis and their congregations.

Following was a generous Kiddush (repast), with lox (no bagels), egg salad, fried fish!, potato pancakes the size and shape of ping pong balls, and pastries. I limited my intake in anticipation of a special dinner, but it amounted to a tasty interlude.

.  .  . 

Dinner was very exclusive, not open to the public. We ate at Chez Brodie, accessible only by invitation. The small, elegant dining room was candlelit with only one other guest, Ms. Rafferty, present in addition to the hosts.

The first course was a delicious salad built on goat cheese and cherry tomatoes. Then, we were served an onion pie, creamy rich. It was accompanied by haricot verts (French green beans) and boiled whole baby potatoes. Finally, thanks to the dual role of Ms. Rafferty, a thick chocolate mousse, fresh raspberries and whipped cream was our dessert, or pudding as the British say.

Sunday, May 10, 2026

Abe Foxman, former director of the Anti-Defamation League died today. He was a CCNY classmate and for many years his office was down the block from where I lived, which afforded me the opportunity to visit him. He was a hidden child during WWII, sheltered by his Catholic babysitter, reunited with his family in 1945. In his long career, he not only was the most effective defender of Jews here and abroad, he actively sought justice for other marginalized groups. He will be sorely missed.

.  .  .

 

Madam and I strolled through Covent Gardens this afternoon. It has a big collection of stalls selling anything from T-shirts to hooded sweatshirts and lots of other stuff. It is also home to the London Transport Museum and its fabulous gift shop where Mind the Gap is printed on everything.

.  .  .

We had an early dinner at the Mayfair Chippy, 138 Brompton Road. The name is not attached to a flirty female, but to a pair of fish and chips eateries. It has a mildly nautical decor with a black and white checkerboard floor. The tabletops are covered with colorful tiles. Its main room sits under a big skylight. We sat up front opposite the bar where there were fewer tables.

Fish and chips may have once been a cheap, worker’s lunch, but no longer. We each had the Mayfair Classic, a big piece of beer batter fried hake (cod suspended to avoid depletion), a medium portion of French fries (not the wedges I’ve had before), mushy peas and surprisingly tasty tartar sauce (£25.95). I also drank a half liter bottle of Cornish Orchard Blush Cider, elderberry and raspberry flavor (£6.95).

Monday, May 11, 2026

We made a pleasant day trip, accompanied by Ms. Rafferty and Lady and Lord Kennington. We took the train from Euston Station to Bletchley (as little as 35 minutes) to visit Bletchley Park, the site of the brilliant British code breaking operation in WWII, primarily conducted by women.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bletchley_Park

It has been restored and organized as a major tourist destination with audio and guided tours. Admission is £23.62 for seniors and the ticket may be reused repeatedly for one year. A comprehensive visit could last most of a day and you should get there on your second visit to England. 

.  .  .

When we returned to London, Madam and I had dinner at Sale e Pepe, 9-15 Pavilion Road. It looks and feels expensive; it is and might be worth it. Pasta is available in small and full portions. I had Bucatini Cacio e Pepe, a hollow spaghetti-like pasta cooked with Pecorino Romano cheese (£25, full portion). My young bride had a small portion of Paccheri alla Vodka, big pieces of tube-shaped pasta in a rich sauce of tomato paste, vodka, and heavy cream (£18). I drank sparkling water, seltzer by another name, while she had a glass of Franz Haas Pinot Grigio (£14). Glasses of limoncello were complimentary at the end of the meal.

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Our flight was scheduled for departure at 1410 (when in Rome), giving us plenty of time in the morning to pack up and get organized. Also advantageous was the uncharacteristic placement of the departure gate at Heathrow. #17 was the first one on the corridor which otherwise seemingly stretched to Scotland. The flight itself was equally agreeable.

We were back in Palazzo di Gotthelf by 6:30 PM, or 1830 as they say.

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

The New York Times published its list of 100 best local restaurants today. 

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/dining/best-nyc-restaurants.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

If blocked by a paywall, try this.

https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/the-new-york-times-just-named-this-caribbean-stunner-the-best-restaurant-in-all-of-new-york-051226

Issuing such a list is like a fisherman throwing chum into a pool of sharks. There will be a very high level of snapping and yapping among us. It’s the product of Ligaya Mishan, the paper's new chief restaurant critic. I don’t fault her for being born outside the Holy Land or her omission of some of my favorites. Rather, she reaches far afield to collect a diverse (still a good word by me) assortment of joints, leaning toward the ethnic, unpretentious and family run. And, at first glance, I haven’t come across any stinkers. Your comments are welcome. 

.  .  .

The dramatic rise in gasoline prices, if unreversed, will probably fuel political turmoil. Here is an interesting view of the economics, how much gasoline prices eat into income.

Thursday, May 14, 2026

It is sickening to learn that “four-in-ten U.S. adults (and half of those under 50) now get health and wellness information from social media influencers and podcasts.”

https://www.pewresearch.org/data-labs/2026/05/07/moms-coaches-doctors-entrepreneurs-who-are-americas-health-and-wellness-influencers/

.  .  .

These folks, social influencers and podcasters, are the fruit of private enterprise. Compensation varies day-to-day with their popularity. Others eschew the private sector and dedicate themselves to public service where the rewards are sometimes less tangible. My academically inclined brother supplies this view of the material benefits of the public sector, the highest paid public employee in each state.

Friday, May 15, 2026

"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others" George Orwell, 1984

Headlines on the same page today:

“Justice Dept. Sues to Block Punishment Of Trump Ally”

“Yale Medical School Is Accused by Justice Dept. of Favoring Black Applicants”

Over Here/Over There

Saturday, May 2, 2026

We got a message this morning that said that "Gayle died last night." This was puzzling since the only Gayle (Gail) we could think of lives near Albany, New York and the message came from Florida. When I telephoned the sender, I learned that voice-to-text got it wrong. Gil Glotzer, whom I met in high school, died at age 85. After Stuyvesant, we went to different campuses of CCNY, but arrived at Cornell University at the same time, him in law school, me in graduate school. He has been a good friend for so long.

.  .  .

Stony Brook Steve and his lovely wife Susan have been friends for about two decades, so we were happy to have dinner with them this evening at Canto, 2014 Broadway. The place used to be Luce (loo•chay), known for showing Susan to a bad table when it was otherwise empty. Tonight, it was jammed.

We shared a too small Caesar salad with only two anchovies ($18). Everything else was very good and amply sized. I had Pappardelle Cinghiale, wide noodles with a wild boar ragu ($26) and some of my young bride’s Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe, thick spaghetti in a creamy sauce ($24). The waiter misheard my drink order and I wound up with vodka on the rocks which had a pacifying effect.

Monday, May 4, 2026

Caring Ken Klein suggested that we have lunch together, always a fine idea. We went to Vanessa's Dumpling House, 452 Amsterdam Avenue, an offshoot of a very successful business on the Lower East Side. It’s a very small place, narrow and deep, half a dozen two tops and some tables outside now that warm weather is approaching.

You order on a tablet or with a human; you pick up when your number is called. I had a small soup with four wontons, chicken and shrimp ($4.88). The broth was a little thin, but the wontons good and fresh. Then, I had a scallion pancake wrapped around Peking duck ($9.98). Actually, the wrapping was much closer to a sesame encrusted roll than a scallion pancake, but what’s not to like? To drink, I had an excellent coconut smoothie, an unusual choice for me, but a very refreshing one ($5.68).

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

What do Melanie and Jerry and Miriam and David and Marion and Peter and we all have in common? All of us are in England this week, in return for the visit of Camilla and Charles to the U.S. last week. 

We flew to London yesterday on a Boeing 777, an enormous plane. After the endless corridors of the airport, the distance to our seats seemed like a hop, skip and jump. The Gotthelf Gate Gambit was in play. Our departure was at Gate 2, right up front you would imagine. Ugh, ugh. At the furthest end of the terminal. The poor guy pushing my wheelchair had such a hard time that I offered to switch with him about halfway.

On the other hand, Madam had chosen wisely. In a section that had ten seats across, we had two seats alone facing a bulkhead, affording lots of legroom. Fortunately, nothing on the flight was more exciting than that.

.  .  .

We are in a lovely boutique hotel in Knightsbridge, a posh neighborhood. The hotel is so swank that it has its own numbering system. Our room is #243 which is on the fourth floor not the second. In fact, the fourth floor would be the fifth in much of the Great Again America, because there is an unnumbered ground floor.

.  .  .

We had dinner at Harry’s La Dolce Vita, 27-31 Basil Street, as we did on our two most recent visits. The excellent food and service in a very European setting is sufficient reason to return even if it were not two blocks from our hotel. By the way, blocks in London are rather amorphous, sometimes stretching great distances, but no two the same length.

I started with Zucchini Fritti, a large portion of lightly fried zucchini threads with a side of mildly spicy dipping sauce ( £8.50 ). A normal person might have been finished, but I soldiered on into a plate of Spaghetti allo Scoglio, fine spaghetti, sautéed king prawns, squid, clams & mussels, Datterini (plum) tomatoes, garlic & chilli (£24.95). I was definitely pleased although I had no room left for dessert.

.  .  .

Inter Alia is coming! Inter Alia is coming! Joined by Lady and Lord Kennington, we saw this fabulous play written by Suzie MIller, brilliantly performed by Rosamund Pike (winner of the 2026 Olivier Award) this afternoon. It opens on Broadway November 10. If you can get out of bed, go see it.

.  .  .

After the theater, we had dinner at The Ivy, 1-5 West Street, founded in 1917, now with branches all over the United Kingdom. Since I had a snack earlier at Canton, 11 Newport Place, a joint that I first went to in 1985, I was a little less hungry than usual. I ordered the delicious Ivy Classic Crispy Duck Salad, roasted cashew nuts, sesame, watermelon, ginger and hoisin sauce (£14.25). I didn't skip dessert, though. I had the Ivy Sherry Trifle, raspberries, strawberries, jelly sponge, vanilla custard and cream (£11.75). It needed more booze.

Friday, May 8, 2026

There is no question that the events surrounding Gaza have turned many people against Israel and have bred or released antisemitic feelings in the United States, Europe and elsewhere. Estimates of the deaths in Gaza exceed 70,000, from October 8, 2023, to the present. Just as it is idle to compare great sports figures from different eras, Babe Ruth vs. Shohei Ohtani, for instance, historical events have their uniqueness. However, some lessons maybe learned from this exercise. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, killed 2,403 people, presumptively Americans, according to Wikipedia. The atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, killed at least 90,000 Japanese according to Wikipedia. Both dates, December 7, 1941, and August 6, 1945, haunt Americans and Japanese alike.

As I observe it, Americans and Europeans generally focus on October 8, 2023, and beyond, while we Jews cannot forget October 7, 2023, when 1,195 people, including 71 foreign nationals were killed in Israel, according to Wikipedia. 

Common perception  

December 7, 1941 = Tragedy / August 6, 1945 = Tragedy

October 7, 2023 = Incident / October 8, 2023 + = Tragedy 

.  .  .

The many Middle Easterners in London come from all over the region, but their cuisine is generally identified as Lebanese. We had dinner tonight at Al Arez 2, 128 Brompton Road, one of a local group of five, the name meaning "The Cedars" as in the cedars of Lebanon. An open kitchen takes up most of the ground floor. The ground floor also has a handful of tables indoors and five outdoors, where hookah smoking is offered. There are two more floors upstairs. 

Its menu is lengthy, but we did not stray from the conventional, ordering Moutabal (Baba Ghanoush), smoked aubergine purée with tahini, pomegranate seeds and lemon juice (£9); Fatayer b'Sabanekh, Lebanese spinach pies shaped like hamantaschen (£9); and, mixed shawarma, shaved marinated lamb and shaved marinated chicken, served with rice, grilled tomato, grilled onion, grilled pepper and parsnip spears (£19.50). The table is set with a dish of olives, fresh pita, labneh (strained Greek yogurt) and muhammara (roasted red pepper dip), good by themselves or enhancing other food. I drank a non-ethnic strawberry smoothie (£5). By the way, the staff was mostly Lebanese, but the friendly manager is Moroccan. The food is Halal, of course.

.  .  .

"A French academic is under investigation for inventing a Nobel-style prize for philology in order that he could win it."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g8pwjdp6do

Professor Montaclair meet President Trump.

.  .  .

Financial news: 1£  = $1.35

Mamas, Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Corporations

Saturday, April 25, 2026

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is investigating whether OpenAI is criminally responsible for the mass shooting at Florida State University last April, he announced Tuesday. “If it was a person on the other end of that screen, we would be charging them with murder,” Uthmeier said during a Tampa press conference.    Uthmeier investigating whether ChatGPT is criminally liable for FSU shooting • Florida Phoenix

However, in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 310 (2010), by a 5-4 vote, the United States Supreme Court held that a corporation is effectively a person in regard to political campaign contributions and may not be limited under the First Amendment of the Constitution. And, it seems that its criminality must go unpunished. 

.  .  .

Some of you were unable to get to shul this morning and could not attend our granddaughter's Bat Mitzvah. Let me assure you that she did a superb job chanting the Hebrew prayers and Bible portions. In fact, the extended family took a major role in the services; 15 relatives participated in one way or another. The total audience of over 200 people stayed for lunch with bagels and lox as the centerpiece.

In the evening, there was a party with DJ and earplugs (thank goodness).

Sunday, April 26, 2026

This license plate should be very valuable. 

.  .  .

The shooting at the White House press corps dinner last night dominated the news this morning. Not all the attendees were shocked or frightened. Lloyd Blankfein, the former chief executive of Goldman Sachs, was sitting with CBS News journalists toward the front of the room when the emergency occurred. As the confusion unfolded, Mr. Blankfein turned to his seatmate and asked, "Are you going to finish that salad?" Lloyd Blankfein on WHCD Shooting: 'No One Was Killed, and Ended Early' - Business Insider

He wasn't the only one who was undistracted. Michael Glantz, a talent agent, continued eating. He later explained: “First of all, I have a bad back. I couldn’t get on the floor, and if I did get on the floor, they’d have to bring in people to get me off the floor. And No. 2, I’m a hygiene freak. There was no freaking way I was getting in my new tux on the dirty Hilton floor. It was not happening.”

Most Guests Ducked for Cover. This Man Munched on His Burrata Salad. - The New York Times

.  .  .

While there were no intruders and no gun shots, madam and I had a memorable dinner at Juniper, 13 Central Street, Wellesley, Massachusetts, a very unremarkable place from the outside. A long bar and a few tables occupy the front room, with a large space at the rear. The cuisine is Mediterranean and imaginative. 

We started with three dips, chosen from four alternatives, muhummara, red peppers, walnuts and pecans; baba ghanouj, smoked eggplant and rosemary; tzatziki, garlic, cucumber and Greek yogurt ($30). This was accompanied by freshly baked pita, hot and puffy. It was so generously sized that a full entree was unnecessary. I had what was considered an appetizer, lamb  beyti kebab (named for Istanbul restaurateur Beyti Güler who created the dish in 1961), phyllo wrapped spiced lamb, mint, tomato gravy and garlicky yogurt, simply delicious ($18). Juniper is a hidden gem.

Monday, April 27, 2026

Rudi Gurvich died this morning, a gentle and kind soul.

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Unpopular opinion.

.  .  .

In case you didn’t make the White House dinner for King Charles, here is what you missed:

First Course
Garden Vegetable Velouté
Hearts of Palm
Toasted Shallots
Micro Mint

Second Course
Spring Herbed Ravioli
Ricotta Cheese
Morels
Parmesan Emulsion

Third Course
Dover Sole Meunière
Potato Pavé
Spring Ramps
Snow Peas
Parsley Oil

Dessert
White House Honey & Vanilla Bean Cremieux
Flourless Chocolate Gâteau
Almond Joconde
Crème Fraîche Ice Cream

Looking closely, this seems to be a milchigs menu, no fleischigs, even though no rabbis were identified on the guest list. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/28/us/politics/state-dinner-guest-list.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Dr. Andrea Yoo is an excellent neurologist at Weill Cornell Medical Center. She has diagnosed and treated me with great competence.  Additionally, she provides the opportunity for some verbal play.

Husband: "Yoo said."

Wife: "I did not." 

Husband: "Yes, Yoo did."

.  .  .

I had lunch at the newly opened Pho Broadway, 2058 Broadway. It’s a small space, efficiently arranged with eight two-tops and two four-tops, about half-occupied while I was there. The menu is similarly compact with familiar items, Vietnamese appetizers, noodles, soups and sandwiches with the unusual addition of tacos. I had a beef banh mi on a toasty 7” baguette with pickled carrots, daikon, fresh cilantro and cucumber ($10).

Thursday, April 30, 2026

The closing of Pastrami Queen on West 72nd Street is annoying. I ate there every so often. Now, our neighborhood has been hit with a bigger bombshell.

Trader Joe's, 2073 Broadway, promises that this will be only temporary, but it evokes a crisis. The prices on some items and the uniqueness of others makes me a loyal customer and I shop there almost daily. 

Friday, May 1, 2026

I had lunch with my stockbroker today. Yes, I am a capitalist. We met at his office and ate in a conference room. Food was delivered from Blake & Todd, 52 East 53rd Street, a slightly upscale sandwich shop. I ate a good Grilled Filet Mignon Specialty Sandwich, grilled filet mignon with roasted peppers, arugula and horseradish dressing on a French baguette ($19.50) and drank diet soda from the cellars of Morgan Stanley.

Educated Guess

Saturday, April 18, 2026

Up until recently, it was conventional wisdom to promote college attendance. Health, wealth and happiness seemed to be linked to higher education. Now, at least in the United States, the value of college is being questioned especially as the job market twists and turns in response to technology and geopolitics. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/poll-dramatic-shift-americans-no-longer-see-four-year-college-degrees-rcna243672

Here is where the college graduates are worldwide.

 

U.S.A. is only tenth, a bit of a surprise. We do a little better when looking at the overall level of education in the population.

Of course, not every successful venture requires a college degree. For instance, there’s the guy who figured out that a package of dry macaroni sounds like a box of Legos.

https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/california-man-allegedly-swapped-lego-203000314.html

Sunday, April 19, 2026

President Trump claims that the word affordability has just been made up by the Democrats. 

Trump calls affordability crisis a 'hoax.' The data tells a different story : NPR

Fortunately, he is not replacing Noah Webster as Lexicographer-in-Chief. Few of us have failed to notice price rises almost everywhere we turn and politicians are wielding the term effectively. "From a democratic socialist in New York to moderates in Virginia and New Jersey, Democrats found success by focusing on the cost of living — not culture wars." Affordability, affordability, affordability: Democrats’ new winning formula - POLITICO

Monday, April 20, 2026

While not quite the disruptive effect of the Iran War, we have news that could seriously disorient our local population. Pastrami Queen, 138 West 72nd Street, the only Kosher delicatessen on the West Side of Manhattan above 38th Street, and one of the scant handful on the entire island, appears to have closed, Steve Goldfarb informs us. A sign in the window says "Deli Chin - Home of the Pastrami Egg Roll." Mind you, I have nothing against a good pastrami egg roll, it's the rest of the cuisine that concerns me -- corned beef, tongue, kasha knish, kishke and, of course, Dr. Brown's. The exact direction of Deli Chin is unknown at this point.  

  

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Besides Deli Chin, I am worried about The Corner, 698 Ninth Avenue, a restaurant that I have enjoyed several times in the past. While Michael Ratner, Terrific Tom and I had a good lunch today, there were some notable gaps. No ribs, no spare ribs, bones or boneless. Even a bigger existential crisis was the absence of tea! No tea in a Chinese restaurant? How can that be? Yet, it was. Remember when “All the tea in China” was a unit of measure?

There was still plenty of food for us. We shared a scallion pancake ($8.24), 2 filet mignon egg rolls ($6.16 each), crispy shredded beef ($18.54), orange peel chicken with brown rice ($19.57) and beef chow fun ($16.48). Prices are for credit card purchases. Note that a Groupon coupon will round the prices down considerably.

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

British politicians are taking a considerable risk. A law pending would ban cigarette smoking for people born after 2008, those under 18 today. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/21/world/europe/uk-smoking-ban-2009.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

"An estimated 28.6 billion cigarettes are smoked in Britain each year, equating to 78 million every day." Britons still smoke an astonishing number of cigarettes every year | The Independent

While adults smoke most of these cigarettes, the tobacco industry must fear that any change to consumer habits might snowball with significant economic consequences. Let the lobbying begin.

Thursday, April 23, 2026

The Upper West Side's Power Couple took to the highway heading East to a weekend of celebration of our granddaughter's Bat Mitzvah. Highlights to follow.

.  .  .

Above, I mentioned a couple of worrisome items for the local dining scene. Now, a positive just popped up. A sign has appeared on empty space at 208 West 70th Street (between Amsterdam and West End Avenues) announcing a "Cantonese Dim Sum Restaurant." I am only partially enthused by this news. This location, right next door to the very successful Cafe Luxembourg, 200 West 70th Street, has been ill-fated. While Luxembourg has thrived since 1983, its neighbor has turned over 5, 6, 7? times. In recent years, there was Compass, then a steakhouse, then an Italian restaurant that opened weeks before Covid hit the Holy Land. I hope the spell is broken, but I'll keep my chopsticks crossed.   

Friday, April 24, 2026

Tonight, family members from near and far went to synagogue services and then dined together. We heard about recent adventures and repeated old favorite stories. It was a great start to the weekend.

Ladies Last

Saturday, April 11, 2026

Now that we are back to our full range of cuisines, ingredients and preparations, I can better plan our dining options. As can be expected, Madam and I are not of one mind when it comes to restaurants, although we are on the same continent. She prefers Indian and I prefer Chinese. Neither eschews the other. Here is an interesting comparison of these two enormous countries. ​

​

I think that it is instinctive to throw yourself into the middle of this and imagine how you would fare under these living conditions. The critical factor is Average Monthly Salary where, if employed, the average American earns $5,220 monthly.  https://www.consumershield.com/articles/average-salary-per-month

​.  .  .

According to Emma Allen, The New Yorker’s cartoon editor, of the roughly 1,000 cartoons she receives weekly, about 15 get into the magazine. It’s easier to get into Yale.

Sunday, April 12, 2026

Caring Ken Klein and I celebrated Stony Brook Steve's birthday today by having lunch at the Fairway Cafe, 2131 Broadway, on the second floor of the famous market.  I'm not sure that we told Steve what we were doing, but he certainly would have been pleased that the two of us had a good time. I had their bacon-egg-cheese sandwich on a hard roll, a very generously stuffed sandwich ($10). I kept squeezing the complimentary lemons into the glass of refreshing cold water frequently being refilled.

.  .  .

Marie-Louise Eta has made history being appointed head coach of Union Berlin, one of the teams in the Bundesliga, Germany's major professional soccer league. Union Berlin make history by appointing Marie-Louise Eta as Bundesliga’s first female head coach - Yahoo Sports

She becomes the first full-time female head coach of a top tier professional male sports team anywhere. Becky Hammon was head coach of the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association for one day in 2020, when the head coach was ejected from a game with the Los Angeles Lakers. It took six years for the next step. 

.  .  .

Another ray of sunshine: Hungarian voters rejected the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban who had become increasingly authoritarian over the last decade. His success, with Trump’s, was viewed as part of a worldwide political shift to the right. Anticipating our midterm elections, we hope that 2026 will see a major course correction.

Monday, April 13, 2026

Does this map showing the percentage of Americans working after the age of 65 contain good news or bad news? 

As an unappointed representative of the lame and the halt, I am pleased that so many of us have not retired to the sidelines. However, West Virginia with the lowest rate of senior employment lost more jobs between May 2024 and May 2025, than any other state. West Virginia lost more jobs than any other state last year, labor bureau says | WV News | wvnews.com

It's likely that many of those folks of any age sought work unsuccessfully and it's no surprise that West Virginia trailed only Hawaii in losing population in 2025. https://flowingdata.com/2026/01/29/population-drops-and-gains/    

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Armed with my new New York City Special Parking Identification Permit, attesting to my infirmities, I drove to Chinatown with three passengers to join two other compañeros at Wu’s Wonton King, 165 East Broadway, once the site of the legendary Garden Cafeteria. I found parking right alongside the restaurant. 

We ate well, sharing shumai ($4.79 for 4 pieces but two guys came late), spare ribs ($19.99), two orders of scallion pancakes ($6.49), Singapore rice noodles ($18.99), Famous Garlic Aromatic Crispy Chicken ($22.99). Our only disappointment came after lunch when the Naz directed us to a new ice cream parlor, Julia Jean's, 202 Clinton Street, which promised  Apple Cider Caramel ice cream and blackberry and nectarine sorbet among other flavors. It was closed on Tuesday.

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

File for an extension.

Thursday, April 16, 2026

The temperature was 88° when I went out for a late lunch at Choice Brooklyn, 2040 Broadway. In fact, I was not headed for Choice Brooklyn, which I had never heard of. It occupied the space of a failed patisserie that had just closed. I passed it on the way to a new Vietnamese joint up the block and I decided to stop in especially when I saw that it made sandwiches to order. I chose roast beef with horseradish aioli, roasted baby beets, provolone and baby arugula on a ciabatta roll, a tasty concoction ($15.95). 

Friday, April 17, 2026

I had an appointment with Dr. Brucker today for an unspeakable procedure.

.  .  .

By contrast, dinner tonight was quite speakable, the Supper Club gathering at the Schneiders. The discussion was the movie Denial, an account of the trial of Deborah Hofstadter for allegedly libeling a Holocaust denier. It wasn't quite the slam dunk you might imagine. In Britain, the burden is on the defendant to prove the truth of the statement rather than the plaintiff to prove the falsity. 

Dinner was excellent, salmon roasted in citrus fruits, oranges, blood oranges, lemons. Our team (you know who really) supplied the lemon squares and the chocolate chip mandelbrot for dessert. 

 

Passing Over

Saturday, April 4, 2026

For many Jews and Christians this is a time of refreshing and renewal, comporting with the change of seasons. Unfortunately, I failed to get the message and am still displaying bad conduct. It would seem at my age that I would know better.

.  .  .

I find it interesting to put these two maps together. The first shows obesity by state and the second shows relative prosperity, the percentage of households earning over $200,000 annually. 

There appears to be a correlation, although not a perfect one. Living high on the hog does not seem to lead to eating like one. 

Monday, April 7, 2026

For better or worse, I am willing to court controversy. The supposed newspaper of record has updated its list of New York City's best bagels.  https://www.nytimes.com/article/best-bagels-nyc.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

While I have enjoyed some of their choices, omitting Zucker's Bagels & Smoked Fish, multiple locations, is unforgivable. Not only does Zucker's bake excellent bagels all day long, its whitefish salad is unchallenged. Check it out for yourself.

.  .  .

It is far too early to be worried about Hanukkah gifts. Certainly, getting bagels now would be a bad idea unless you are building up an inventory of hockey pucks. However, I did come across an item that might fill many of your gift giving needs.

This would demonstrate adherence to the Second Amendment discreetly.

Tuesday, April 8, 2026

We have one high school senior in the family who has chosen another path rather than the Ivy League. While I have complete confidence that he would have been welcomed at any one of those venerable institutions, he avoided the angst associated with their admissions process. "Yale admitted a record-low 2.9% of regular decision applicants from a pool of nearly 55,000 students, the second-largest in the school's history. Columbia  received 61,031 applications — the largest pool in its history — and admitted just 4.23%. Brown admitted 5.35% from a record pool of nearly 48,000 applicants. Harvard and Princeton withheld their official data, but estimates place their acceptance rates at approximately 3.7% and 3.9%, respectively." 

https://share.google/a1WeeA0CHSYoLS2LH

Wednesday, April 9, 2026

I spend a lot of time on the Internet, as you can probably tell. Lately, two hustles have been taking up a lot of space — lose 20 pounds in two weeks with a diet based on Jello or ward off dementia by drinking honey daily. You will just need one little ingredient sold by our on-line advertiser. In each case, Big Pharma is allegedly trying to squelch the news which threatens its profits. Hurry up and get skinny and stay sharp.

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Phil Ochs committed suicide 50 years ago today.

Cut and paste this into your browser and play the whole album.  https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k7zIecZopiQMeHuuXLgCzAg4Ot7v6FVJ4&si=e4zAeSnM0irY8Rlz

.  .  .

Herring in wine sauce, gefilte fish from a jar; not even a piece of matzoh. That lunch was my last Passover meal this year. I’ll wait until sundown approaches to resume my heathen ways. Since my return from physical therapy sessions takes me within one block of Zabar’s, 2245 Broadway, the transition will be easy.

I’m sure there a few of you who have never set foot on Manhattan Island and know not from Zabar’s. This 92-year old food store excels in cheese, coffee, smoked fish, knishes, crumb cake, egg salad, chocolate bobka and a housewares department on the second floor where senior citizens sometimes get a discount. It's a Jewish oasis. 

Friday, April 10, 2026

Today’s Headline:

Swalwell Faces Sex Assault Accusation as He Runs for California Governor

Tomorrow’s Headline:

Swalwell Becomes Republican, Charges Dropped

No, That Way!

Saturday, March 28, 2026

I confess that I really like the Rocky Horror Picture Show and Little Shop of Horrors and have seen each of them multiple times. That sets the stage, so to speak, for my enjoyment of Bigfoot!, a new musical, much of it the work of comedian Amber Ruffin. If you are pained by reading the front section of the New York Times, go see what it called the “show with ecstatically silly punchlines and physical gags.” 

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/02/theater/bigfoot-review-amber-ruffin.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

.  .  .

If Muddirt, Bigfoot’s hometown, doesn’t appeal to you, you can choose among America’s healthiest cities and avoid the unhealthiest. That would allegedly be San Francisco, Honolulu and Seattle on one end and Shreveport, Louisiana, Gulfport, Mississippi, and Brownsville, Texas on the other.

https://share.google/Wddnmac5EjkmDI7Hc

Sunday, March 29, 2026

It’s no secret that I go out to eat a lot. It’s not that our larder is bare or that America’s Favorite Epidemiologist is unable to serve a first-class meal. From boyhood, I liked the commotion in a restaurant and the foods that I was unlikely to get in a traditional Jewish household. This survey looks at the cost of dining in the larger American cities.

https://www.foodandwine.com/most-least-expensive-dining-cities-11935521

While not perfectly identical, the expensive cities are often the healthiest, as identified above.

.  .  .

When I read these two sentences below my jaw dropped. They capture our national character in a brief, brilliant fashion.

America does not know how to exist in a world it does not control. Since its inception, America has assured itself it was simply too big, too far away and too richly endowed to suffer any serious consequences for its actions.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/26/opinion/trump-america-iran-war.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

.  .  .

Barbara and Bernie, cousins of cousins, joined us for dinner at Miriam’s, 973 Lexington Avenue, its third site. They had just come in from their home in Palm Desert, California, where it was 102°. We offered a cool alternative.

The restaurant is narrow, just one storefront wide. We sat toward the front, opposite a full bar. The menu is Mediterranean with an Israeli tinge. We shared two appetizers, spanakopita, spinach pie presented in a spiral rather than the traditional wedge or rectangular shape ($17.50); and pistachio-crusted goat cheese crostini with toasted za'atar pita, Fresno chili, fire-roasted peppers, truffle oil, honey vinaigrette, absolutely delicious ($14.50). Bernie had a large piece of chicken schnitzel with mashed potatoes ($27.50) while I had three Middle Eastern pomegranate meatballs with mashed potatoes ($27.50). The women shared pistachio pesto pasta, leaving enough for me too ($23.50).

We also shared two desserts, burnt cheesecake with white wine-braised grapes ($13) and Bambousa, semolina cake with orange syrup, whipped cream and a chocolate disc ($13). It might go without saying, but a good time was had by all.

Monday, March 30, 2026

I had a new doctor today who thought that I was peachy keen.

.  .  .

Sacre bleu! 

“Air Canada CEO to step down after backlash over his English-only crash message."

.  .  .

The New York Times reports on a number of instances where senior Democratic elected officials are being challenged by young opponents, claiming a need for fresh blood. However, from my superannuated perch, I cannot help but point to the value of tested experience in these difficult times.

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

The Upper West Side’s Power Couple took to the highway to Eastern Massachusetts having heard that Natick, Massachusetts is a good jumping off point for the Sinai Desert. We arrived in time to enjoy Irit’s fabulous pre-Passover chocolate-peanut butter mousse pie and wish David Happy Birthday.

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

America’s Loveliest Nephrologist arrived in the early morning hours and rested enough to join us for a late breakfast at J&M Diner, 50 Worcester Road, Framingham, an institution that really gets breakfast right. I had the best waffle that I ever had, with soft scrambled eggs, crisp bacon and Vermont maple syrup ($15). I drank a tall glass of cold brew iced coffee ($5.25). The young doctor had an egg, cheese and tomato sandwich on a toasted English muffin with a side salad in a lemon white balsamic vinaigrette dressing ($12) while Big Mama had a vegetable Benedict, two poached eggs over spinach on an English muffin with a side fruit cup ($15.50). 

.  .  .

Tonight, we took our first steps towards the Promised Land fleeing slavery and oppression, under David's learned direction.

Thursday, April 2, 2026

A federal judge has ruled that the University of Pennsylvania must comply with the Trump administration’s order to provide the government with a list of its Jewish employees. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/judge-orders-upenn-provide-list-jewish-employees-sought-by-eeoc-rcna266103

The honorable response is to provide a list of all university employees. “I am Spartacus!”

.  .  . 

Meanwhile, Syracuse University is closing or pausing 93 of its 460 academic programs in order to create a university that would be “more focused, more distinctive and more aligned with student demand.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/01/nyregion/syracuse-university-degrees-eliminated.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

A popular new offering is Beer 101.

Friday, April 3, 2026

Two numbers are important part of the Exodus story, the original, not the Leon Uris version. The Israelites were enslaved by the Egyptians for 400 years until Charlton Heston led them to freedom. However, it took 40 years wandering in the desert before they reached the Promised Land, actually few of the actual escapees living to see it. 

I am skeptical about these measurements of time. While calendars date from 3000 BCE or so (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_calendars), and the Exodus is estimated around 1350 BCE, the ordinary Joe would have trouble if someone asked him for the correct date. What could he have carried around and where would he carry it to answer the question out on the agora?

So, I think the 400 supposed years of bondage really meant just a long time. As to the 40-year trek, biblical scholars and modern geographers agree that spending 40 years in Sinai could only result from going around in circles. Not all of us have a good sense of direction. Thinking of couples I know, I think this is where opposites attract. If the Israelites indeed spent 40 years in the desert, I am certain that half the time they stood around bickering.