Cross Town Thoughts
Dickens meets Nietzsche meets Dostoyevsky in Donna Tartt’s third novel. Fabritius’ The Goldfinch, is the masterpiece of this tale. It becomes young Theodore Decker’s only glimmer of light as his life is blown to smithereens one afternoon at the Metropolitan Museum post- 9/11. As fate fractures, the tethered finch on a shelf foretells shackles of guilt and self-loathing.
Full review on TrekBooks. Painting at The Frick Collection thru Jan 19. DutchMasters. No. Not the cigars.
Leaf storm forming backyard blanket. Last gasp of foliage. Bon weekend. 
Fun Columbus Day Weekend SideTrek photo competition. mAdBen vs. Dr.Dad. 
Meandering along the backroads of Western Massachusetts through Whately, Conway, Shelburne. Stopping when a vision struck either photographer. We all won. More on TravelTreks. 
Legislative lunacy lingers on. Obama admin opened the door to the asylum by not having a clue what to say or do about its wacky healthcare law. Fund-raising websites working flawlessly, as exchange sites crash and burn. Nutty.
Good looney. Colby J. Herchel, UConn undergrad has written and staged an original musical to be performed there on October 19. Claire de Loon’s chaotic relationships are set in the tranquil backdrop of the Adirondacks. It’s a modern take on Chekhov’s The Seagull. SisterCindy inspired her nephew by hosting him over the years at Little Moose Lake.
Art Bell returns to midnight radio from the high desert in the Kingdom of Nye. SiriusXM September 16. Crystal Gayle. White Bird. It’s A Beautiful Day. Pretty Ballerina. Bumper music. No call screeners. Uncensored and unafraid. If you’re not a fan, you won’t get any of this. He disappeared in 2010. Long dry spell.
Art’s overnight show kept us sane starting in 1994 when we moved from San Francisco to Northampton. Sleepness nights, getting up at 4:45 a.m. Boston commute. When we found him, he was warning listeners about “noise” in the heartland. Militia militants planning a sinister plot against the government. Predicted something bad was afoot. Oklahoma City followed soon thereafter.
But, it was the crazy callers who compelled us to stay up so late. UFO’s, alien abductions by lizard people and grays. Witches. Yeti. Chupacabra. Yay!
Monday summer trek. Along General Lafayette Trail, Route 143 West, up hills and down vales to Ireland Street in Chesterfield, Mass. Take a right toward the Westfield River and then… a natural wonderment surprise. Chesterfield Gorge. More photos on TravelTreks.
Or not. Some cannot. Who do we incarcerate in our Bastilles? Didn’t Trayvon have the right to stand his ground? Hard to do when a gun is brought to a fist fight. Technically the six women on the jury followed the law. Not guilty has never meant innocent. Le jour de gloire n’est pas arrivé.
Back in France, Maureen Dowd is checking out historic women’s underwear at the Museum of Decorative Arts. Corsets, hoops. Lingerie. Which I pointed out, les citoyens de l’USA can’t pronounce. Hint. It doesn’t rhyme with USA.
A few brave purple crocuses have emerged. Otherwise sky and earth are blurred into April gray on our Vermont foray. The economy has taken its toll as stalwart sandwich shops in Wilmington and Dover have gone away. Boarded businesses up and down the byways. But, thriving treasures are still to be found.
DunberryHillDesigns was our primary destination for this side trek. Recalling a beloved artwork from Fillamento in San Francisco, I searched for a similar painting to adorn our newly refurbished hardwood. Cameron Howard’s studio is filled with breathtaking color and artistry. Sratton Mountain vistas where vibrant hues live year-round. Can’t wait to create masterpieces for our floors.
Finished MadMen5 marathon. Still say MadEnd. MadMen6 begins. Yay.
Life of Pisces. Best astrological season. Winter waning. Spring nigh. Snirt melt. End of Feb. Happy 88th to Betsey Strahl. Birthday brunch at Anthony Bourdain’s Brasserie Les Halles. Steak frites. Flatiron fun for all.
Remember that Turkish guy who died in Mary’s bed? TV’s new Golden Boy. Theo James. James Dean meets James Franco. Whoa. Another British actor takes America. When I think of Golden Boy, it’s the 60’s Broadway show. Starring Sammy Davis and Lola Falana with Daddy Joe.
SoHo’s finest, Lure Fishbar. Tried and true. Go fishes!
Girls. Dr.Husband discovered them a year ago. Not literally. I heard him laughing out loud as he was watching something online. He said it was an intelligent, funny new HBO show about twenty-somethings. Called Girls. Really? Didn’t sound like my kinda thing. Should have known it’d be good. Dr.H has discerning taste.
Late to the game, after all of the hype and accolades this year, I finally succumbed. Have to admit, love the brave, smart writing. Lena Dunham is quite brilliant and talented. Took me back to those days in some ways. Don’t judge. Brian Williams’ daughter in Booth’s booth was over the line. Beyond creepy. It definitely ain’t Downton Abbey. But, I’ll keep watching.
Side Trek . NYC 