You can’t roller skate in a buffalo herd*

And you can’t play tambourine while wearing ski mittens. One mitten, okay, but you’ve got to go down to a glove on the active hand. (I discovered and demonstrated this at the Streetsingers’ caroling party last week.)
*Does anyone else remember this old Roger Miller tune?

New header.

My new header photo shows the Red Hook waterfront in the snow, looking west and north. You can see the Statue of Liberty and the warehouses at the base of Van Brunt Street. It’s a detail of a photo by photographer Matthew Furman, who should let me know if he wants me to take it [...]

Loaf on the step.

A few years ago my friend Z pointed out a phenomenon I’d somehow missed. Late at night or early in the morning, brown bags with a clutch of long loaves poking out are left in the doorways of restaurants and cafes, delivered fresh out of the ovens that work at night (and puff their [...]

Local fixture.

The lady on the bus-stop bench was having a hollered colloquy with a guy across the street when I walked up. When he moved on, she turned to me and explained that she was always getting into conversations. “I’ve lived here for many years. Sometimes I walk down Court Street, and I talk to [...]

11 of your friends are attending Assembly in Meryton.

Austenbook.
I’m not on Facebook, but my evil twin is.

They also serve, 12/12 edition

Gol-lee, there are a lot of new movies this week. And I never picked up Friday’s paper so I had to read every review online, which is klutzier. Anyway, a tie: Down at the bottom of the list (and the barrel), Jeannette Catsoulis on Delgo: PG (Parental guidance suggested). A wicked aunt, [...]

Dead Gingerbread Men

In the cranky spirit of the season.
Dead Gingerbread Men.
And for those into pre-mutilation of your gingery buddies, bitten gingerbread cutters.

Calendar updated

with both early music and shapenote for the next few weeks. I’m not totally undiscriminating but this is a busy season, so more good choices may turn up. Check the Coming Attractions, and if you want to see the Play of Daniel (which I strongly recommend), order tickets now. I’m betting it’ll sell [...]

They also serve, 12/5 edition

Nothing really fab this week, so I have a bonus (below), but try this, from A.O. Scott on Cadillac Records: Rated R. It has smoking, swearing, sex, and mayhem in excess, which is just the right amount.
Bonus geological correction, from the Sunday Styles section, source of so much amusement, willed or otherwise:
The Modern [...]

La bomba! Monday, Dec. 8, at 8:30

That’s la bomba, the pump, not la bamba, the dance. This very Monday the Mannes Collegium Musicum presents its end-of-semester concert featuring Spanish Renaissance music about boats and bodies of water. Who wants to go in the boat with me? (Quien quiere entrar comigo en el barco? Quien quiere entrar comigo a la [...]