New York City is a city of neighborhoods, each distinct yet inextricably linked to the others, a clear example of the “whole being greater than the sum of its parts.” The borders are sometimes stark and other times blurred – they create containers for myriad human activities. At the core, neighborhoods are all about the people who live in them an …
Making the move from the City with its bright lights, noise, and crowds to a urban residential neighborhood where I can see the stars, hear the sounds of birds singing songs I’ve never heard before, was a wonderful opportunity for change. Neither here nor there is better – they’re just different. I still have parks that offer an opportunity …
For several months, I’ve been meeting via Zoom with like-minded folks who oppose the imposition of a toll-tax (aka congestion pricing) to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street. Late last year, as other concerned folks and groups joined our weekly Zooms, those gathered decided to hire a lawyer and explore bringing a lawsuit. The group chose a name an …
Less that a week after seeing the Boss at Met Life, Shelly and I took in a co-headline bill at Radio City. While bill that way, it was one band - Squeeze - that induced the ticket purchase. I heard of the other band, The Psychedelic Furs, but was not even sure I knew any of its music. That said both bands put on strong performances but when you …
First off thank you to substitute bloggers Mike Steger and Reliable Ray Walcott who "covered" for me while my family and I enjoyed our time traveling in Israel and for one day in Jordan. A special THANK YOU to Gotham's travel agent, Laura Avital, who arranged and organized -- perhaps "curated" betters represents things -- special experiences throu …
Everyone knows I like to take in a good show. Last’s week commentary certainly made that point. So what better way for this commentator to celebrate this day with family than at a concert. So following an amazing concert – Sir Paul McCartney at MetLife Stadium Thursday night (Did you know the Boss joined in for two songs? – see the set list), my wi …
In my pre-Thanksgiving blog, I heralded the then-impending announcement of the Gotham Green Awards® for this year. On November 23, 2021, GOtham GREEN®, which since 2007 provided a platform for businesses and professionals who seek to connect and promote sustainable business opportunities, practices and relationships, announced a lucky seven group o …
Usually this space would share an experience that included attending a Broadway show; not this year. Absent Broadway, about which my friend Vincent Russo’s son, Robert, writes a nice newsletter, yesterday’s celebration found a different way to inject culture and visual experience; and instead of the theatre musical, dinner included a live musical p …
No secret to frequent followers of this blog, and to many (most? All?) who know me how much I enjoy music, especially of a certain genre. Yesterday, I saw a tweet between two City Council Members I know that I think was trying to equate the quality and state of music today to politics today and a comparison to an earlier era. I replied my view that …
At the end of every year, I compose a review of the top ten shows that I attended. This year. I posted my commentary to my website on New Year’s Day. While I prefer to post on the eve, this year and last I posted on the first day of the year. As with 2018, many of the shows received coverage in this Gotham space (View the links to review those past …
Last week I needed to prefile my blog. Simple reason. A flight from Edinburgh, Scotland to JFK. One might call it a classical trip. It involved an awful lot of rock. My daughter and I landed a week ago Monday and promptly visited two castles, Hampton Court and Windsor. Tuesday involved the musical variety: a classic rock/ Beatles tour (See pic …
It’s the name of a Neil Young compilation from 1977 covering 1966-1976. A ten-year period that gives some meaning to a relationship many in Gotham believe spans a time much longer. It involves Gotham and I did not even mention it at the Picnic which included a competitive softball game that ended on a controversial play: a ball rolling foul got …
Last week, I lamented the lack of free (and low cost) shows this summer. This, by no means, indicate a lack of quality shows to attend; it just means parting with many, many pennies to access them. My intended lineup of summer shows remains in flux. But, a schedule of sorts appears to show some promise. Vacation plans may impact the ability to ca …
After I put last week’s blog to bed, I noticed responses on twitter to a New York Times column that appeared on line last weekend – ahead of its appearance in print, one week ago today. The op-ed played on the apparent rejection by Queens residents of Amazon. The writer – incredulously to this commentator and many who shared their own valid views o …
Today please join me in celebrating two special anniversaries. One involves music and 50 years. Another not yet a decade but many people think much longer. This eve, as some who follow Gotham’s music listserve know, the first of two anniversary concerts recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the iconic Byrds LP, “Sweetheart of the Rodeo,” takes …
