One of the very very best aspects of the total Gotham networking experience is our Friday at 5:00, Zoom, Happy Hour, hosted by would be jokester Norman Spizz. It was spawned during COVID, but has proven to survive and flourish, fueled by many regulars (you know who you are) and enhanced by a too few sprinkling of circuit riders and guests. Yes, …
We have just finished our month long binge on the 134 episodes of the 2011-2019 law firm TV series Suits, which mostly appears on Netflix and, inexplicably, has its final season on Prime. As mentioned in previous blogs, one of the compelling reasons to watch Suits is to witness Meghan Markle, who, for me, lit up the screen for 108 episodes over 7 …
Love is defined as an intense feeling of deep affection. The purpose of this blog is to register my disapproval of what seems to me is the present day watering down and usage of the word. Unless memory fails me, Love was once only expressed in a very special sense in very special situations. Now I hear the word bandied about in the most everyda …
Every summer we spend special time in Cape May with our dear friends Natalie and Richard and we are still in their thrall following our return home yesterday. We have known them since we were young and share over 50 years of intimate history. Yes, Natalie is like the perfect sibling. Yes, she's devoted to important Women's causes and has clout. …
I regularly post on X (formally know as Twitter) and I've never had more than 50 views. Then I posted a pic of Meghan Markle and said "Bingeing on Suits (and Meghan Markle)!!! and suddenly I'm a virtual influencer with 14K views to date. To me there is no question that the abundance of views is attributable to Meghan. What I do question is why? …
Spoiler alert, I am a lawyer and have had my name on the door and been Managing Partner, both key quests of the lawyers in the fabulously successful reboot of Suits on NETFLIX. Suits is a legal drama originally on the USA network for 8 seasons starting in 2011. Because of my affinity, I can't get enough of it and I admit I am bingeing. B …
This entry is a followup to last week's Friday With Fred blog "Preparation" (for my First Pitch at the Coney Island Cyclones game last Sunday). Well, the journey is over and the truth is that the (pictured) Coney Island Cyclones ball was on line, but fell (just) short of its intended target :( Shortfall yes, but not for want of trying or p …
On Sunday I will be throwing out the first pitch at the (Mets minor league team) Coney Island Cyclones game (against the Yankees Hudson Valley minor league team). This is a great honor (bestowed upon me by my Gotham City Networking colleagues, especially Rosalia Ruberto and Corey Bearak) and I am both most appreciative and bigly apprehensive...I am …
We have a 10 year old female Schnoodle (mixed breed Schnauzer/Poodle) appropriately named Charcoal by my wife Joanne. She is, by far, the best dog we have ever lived with. She is so smart that she communicates with her eyes, snorts, barks and tail. So smart that she can tell (dinner) time. She is loving, loyal, brave, vigilant, sweet, curious …
As I mature, I find that I have learned to restrain myself in the face of real or perceived provocation. While the blood is up, I tell myself "Don't let them get to you. Don't dignify it with a response." Oft times, silence is golden in the face and place of fury. Why say or do something that you may later be sorry for? Think before you act! …
I was recently asked for advice by someone who is transitioning from school to the work force. The following are my Top Ten Work Tactics which I shared with her: 1) Show up! Every day. No sick days. Be someone to rely upon. 2) Prepare, no, over prepare! Be ready for any contingency. 3) Work hard, real hard! They may be smarter, but they can be …
This past Tuesday night we had 2 Art Aficionado friends over for what I have dubbed as a Social Art Project. It took place in my Artist wife Joanne's Art studio and there was champagne, Dylan music and delicious Greek food, but mostly it was about creating Art. Our Art Project is called Exquisite Corpse (words in the first line of a similar writ …
We have started going back to the movies, but following our last, most recent, visit I'm not quite sure... We arrived in time for the scheduled start of our chosen flick, unaware that the next 15 minutes are devoted to Coming Attractions and other less biting commercials. I say "less biting" because the Coming Attractions took a shocking bite out …
As a young boy my father constantly told me "You can't get ahead laying in bed with the covers over your head!" Later, Woody Allen said "80 percent of success is showing up."I have led my whole life adhering to these precepts. I suggest that others follow this advice...
Recently, I organized a reunion of fellow contemporary graduates of my Syracuse University alma mater. It was held at the University's mid town New York City "Embassy", Lubin House, a beautiful, circa 1876, brown stone building. The inspiration for the reunion came from my granddaughter Maggie, a recent SU grad who works at Lubin House as Assista …
Fridays With Fred
A perfect way to send you into your weekend