A week ago this morning found Shelly and I at the Legislative Breakfast of the Queens Jewish Community Council (“QJCC”) at the Young Israel of Jamaica Estates. Shelly does not usually join me at these breakfasts but this year our daughter got installed as a director by Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. I posted the proud parent moment to …
In advance of this Friday, or for when you opt to observe the sentiments associated with that day, enjoy an updated a set of songs that reflect the sentiments of the day (and more). I present this most current iteration of Songs of Love, a set of 77 videos on YouTube or some 74 tunes on Apple Music. The back story to this playlist: In the summ …
Grandpa Sol used to tell his eldest grandchild: “Stay calm and cool at all times.” Not easy to follow as so many triggers to be anything but calm occur -- often daily. That said, I more than followed that advice yesterday. No clock really existed on my time. I knew I would pick up my daughter, visit mom and go to the mall with Shelly and there w …
While bitter cold weather might predominate many current discussions, some other kind of polar entity captures much of my attention of late. A polar bear, of the sports variety, namely the one my team needs to re-sign, but cannot figure out how to achieve what needs to be done. Yes, I want the Mets to re-sign Pete Alonso: indeed, I am not the own …
Tomorrow is a special day. I point out that if it were not this year, it would still be a special day as we celebrate Martin Luther King. In thinking about tomorrow and the change(s) to then occur, as well the traditional Martin Luther King Day observances, I looked at my playlists and offer these for your consideration: Songs to Inspire a …
The Football playoffs started yesterday and I paid no attention with my team (way) out of it. I did notice that I picked correct on yesterday’s outcome for a pool with my friend Eric that started with two seasons back. It often put us in the hate position of picking our team’s opponent even while we rooted for our team to prevail. That all said my …
Shelly and I played host to a visitor from just before Christmas through New Year's Day. We last hosted Jackson in the Spring. Marisa came "home" to help. Jackson is a playful not so young anymore dog who likes to have things his way. My friend Jeff Goldberg's son Justin dropped off Justin on the way to visit his dad and mom Karen. Justin and …
At the end of each year I traditionally rank my top ten concerts. This year I took a different approach. I shared a chronological listing as I found it difficult to rank them. As I related in my commentary, "What I found really difficult throughout involved settling on one concert as the best of the bunch. All I found special; some sets were l …
I Know we have not "encountered" Christmas and Chanukah yet but one tradition I follow is to post on the Sunday before Christmas eve and earlier if Chanukah which starts this year the eve of Christmas Day, falls sooner, my verified (meaning all the links work) Songs to Ring In The New Year playlist to ring in New Year’s eve. As most know, with …
Most folk know this commentator’s affinity for live music. I enjoy attending concerts – immensely. I was viewing a YouTube video and I saw a few links to top 10 live albums. Both I checked out involved vinyl. I had a few on each list. While I like such lists, I never thought to list a top ten of my live LPs. It got me curious to how many Live …
Each Thanksgiving I check to see when I blogged the prior year about music for the holiday season. That we often begin to hear that music when families gather the last Thursday in November is what brings my Holiday Music Playlist to mind. The only thing that delays that blog is the need to timely report this year’s Gotham Green Award® winners an …
Early in my career I enjoyed opportunities to work to enact major environmental initiatives including “The NYC Recycling Law,” the “Spill Bill,” mandating cleanup of accidental releases of hazardous substances or assessing three times the cost of any cleanup performed by the City of New York (The Hazardous Substance Emergency Response Law - 1987 Lo …
It was that time again. Cannot ignore it. Cannot avoid it. Cannot delay it. The outside office —at least of very last vestiges of it — got formerly closed yesterday. Much of the work got done the preceding weekend. Just needed to dispose of some cushions for my chair; we decided to secure new cushions next season. I’ll miss being able to “deploy” …
A Gotham mantra – it’s better to give than receive...” – takes a special meaning as next month begins. Not just because Gotham approaches a countdown to when our tribe announces the recipient charities of its annual Season of Giving. In just over two weeks, the first Tuesday, after Thanksgiving, that’s Tuesday, December 3, this year 2024, Giving Tu …
We had decided to replace more Post caps on the fence around my deck. Some of the original caps cracked and we liked the replacements our "painting (and more) contractor" installed. I found them on line at one of my go to hardware stores but for some reason the transaction was not going through; they insisted the issue was with my credit card; th …
I blog about what muses me.
