Category Archives: Blog

30. It’s Automatic: NY Phenomenon: Fun Fast Food

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One of my fondest memories of growing up on East 14th Street in Manhattan was the Horn & Hardart, Automat, near Union Square. My mother would take me on the Avenue B bus for a 10 minute ride, and the excitement would build. We’d often go shopping first at S. Klein on the Square, where one could find bargains galore; great stuff and everything at low prices. After some heavy shopping, we’d round the corner and pop into the Automat. It was a chain that started in Philadelphia by Joseph Horn and Frank Hardart, and became most popular in New … Continue reading →

31. Age of Love

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For a number of Monday nights I have been glued to my television set for an hour watching a pop program, “Age of Love,” which proposes an interesting question. When it comes to couples, does age really matter? The Bachelor: Mark, an Aussie hunk, pro tennis player. Age: 30. The Women: A gorgeous bunch: Age: 40’s. Mark meets the women in their 40’s and is amazed by their beauty, intelligence, spunk, sense of fun, humor and adventure. He has to eliminate one each week and will be left with his dream date/mate. Things get complicated. More Women: A gorgeous bunch: … Continue reading →

33. Whole Foods: Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get

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While walking down the produce aisle at the Whole Foods Market, (a food store that specializes in supposedly healthier food, some organic, and decidedly higher priced than regular food stores) my Cerebral Jukebox honed in on soul music playing in the background, Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get. I was happy.  I felt like dancing.  I flirted with the produce guy over a bunch or cilantro, I boogied over to the radishes.  I looked at faces staring intently at the ears of corn and white peaches.  No one else was on planet 60’s with me. I decided to make gazpacho. I … Continue reading →

38. Technology: Don’t Read This Blog; You’ll Be Bored

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I am no technophobe. As a matter of fact, I love technology; I love learning about it, applying it, using it and conquering it. I am a techno-warrior.Over the years I learned my way around the techno mazes.I’ve explored the ins and outs, up and downs.I’ve been troubleshooting and upgrading and even getting friends’ computers up to snuff.But this has been a notable techno-wacky year. In early February I was the first kid on my block to unpack a shiny new Dell computer.Running Vista.  My new computer turned out to be a gleaming elephant of a paperweight for weeks.Every technician … Continue reading →

25. Part II: Dyre Avenue Days

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Click here for an introduction to the poem Dyre Avenue Days ©2002 by the author, all rights reserved Windows black with soot: Try to look through the paths etched by rain at a sky forever attempting to be blue, never passing gray, as you stand within the elevated 120 decibel train, ironically known as the subway, the number 5; the Dyre Avenue line. You are the voyeur of the balloon lettered spray painted buildings, of the subliminal flashes of factory workers all named by the Caribbean, tied together with threads colored Carmen, Marisol, Maria, Chica, as the train races, singing … Continue reading →

24. Part I: In A New York Minute: Underground Birthday

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    The way it used to look: Thoughts pull me back to my New York subway days. New York City is a public transportation town unless you live in the borough of Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island or the Bronx, where there is more breathing room and a place to park. I lived in The Bronx for the 7 years I was married to my first husband; it was hishim.It was a long commute for me to get to Manhattan to get to college, and later to get to work. Buses, trains, transfers, pushing, crowds.This particular train line, the (fitting … Continue reading →

Part 10a On a Formerly Feral Feline Family and the C Word

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original post 4/7/07/Yahoo Last night at a Passover seder, I was greeted by a dog. It came bounding down the hallway of the apartment building, barking, bonking, raising one helluva reverberating racket. I had made its acquaintance last year, and most likely it didn’t remember me; barking, bonking and raising one helluva racket is what dogs do. All night long, I thought my hostess’s father was playing footsie with me, but it turned out to be the dog. The dog, kept time with its tail knocking against the table as we read the Haggadah. The cat, on the other hand, … Continue reading →

21. Back to the Future: Winky Dink:The First Video Game

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The best kids’ television was in the 1950’s, in my biased, humble opinion. Winky Dink and You premiered on Saturday, October 10, 1953, at 10 in the morning on CBS. Our parents rushed to the 5 & 10 to buy the famous Winky Dink Kit, for 50 cents, which contained a plastic screen that when placed over the television screen–glass, not plasma, created a guiding drawing board. We traced dutifully, getting Winky out of trouble, providing him with ropes and bridges. He wasn’t 007, but he was surely cute. As I mentioned somewhere previously about my childhood, I grew up … Continue reading →

20. In Labor with Lassie

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It feels like I have been running and spinning since May; a full 4 months since picking the prodigal son up from college with his truck load of boxes and dirty laundry, until this weekend when we returned him to school his last year with a truckload of boxes and soon to be dirty laundry.It’s Labor Day, a day of rest for the worker who resumes his or her life of stress tomorrow, behind a desk, in an office, at a hospital, in front of a computer or a classroom, washing floors in an airport, slinging hash at a diner, … Continue reading →

19. The Kavorka: either you have it or you don’t

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As an admirer of the Seinfeld series, I have watched each episode over and over again; I am never bored. Seinfeld’s genius lies in his ability to view human nature and reflect it, with all its silliness and inadequacies, through the use of a marvelous ensemble cast. Seinfeld manages to weave several mini-themes throughout each main theme, which can best be described as a game of trivial pursuit. But it fascinates us because we all can see ourselves playing out the same ridiculous situations, or perhaps we just like to laugh along—at ourselves. As I was eating dinner this evening, … Continue reading →

14. Charmed. I’m Sure

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originally posted 4/12/07 Bloggers and Bloggettes; This morning as I was brushing my teeth my day’s idea came to me. I write in many different forms. One is in silver. This is my story. One day in the early 1950’s, my parents took me on a subway ride to the Bronx (one of the 5 “boroughs of New York City: Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, Staten Island, and Manhattan are the five boroughs and are largely residential.”) Part of the train ride is elevated and it is a kick for a young child to kneel backwards in her seat and look … Continue reading →

117. An Introduction to Polygraph Lounge (cousin Rob Schwimmer)

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Rob Schwimmer is a composer-pianist and thereminist who has performed and recorded throughout the world. His work has been described as “… a brilliant meld of musical discipline, sensuality, technical acumen, and freedom” —A combination that has made Rob’s debut solo piano album Beyond The Sky so highly anticipated. His personal vision of music reflects a unique and probing sensibility combined with his vast experience in many genres with great and fascinating artists. Rob is also one of the few theremin virtuosos in the world, performing as featured theremin soloist for many projects including the upcoming movie by R.W. Goodwin … Continue reading →

169: Cool News–Cousin Rob won an Academy Award!

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Good morning! I am about to start my day and will be back later to post the sign in page for Poetry Wednesday, but I wanted to share this first. I have spoken about our cousin Rob Schwimmer many times. Here is an email we just received. Mark and Rob, with Melissa, the Polygraph Lounge…the greatest laugh, ever. If you saw the Library of Congress tribute to Paul Simon on PBS, Mark was on stage all night backing up on guitar.   Rob is a music master of classical, jazz, and a composer. Hello, all– I’m just sending this brief … Continue reading →

156. CreARTive Sunday: Vintage Charms and Charm Bracelets: Say “Cheese!” Watch The Birdie!

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* Kate, I think you’ll love this~ one of my favorite bracelets –and people! Dedicated to all photographers.         Smile, say, “cheese!”           Vintage Machanical Cameras *= mechanical (moving parts) **= see detailed photo Charms: “Around the dial,” clockwise~ *back opens for a picture; *black “leather body” opens, has picture frame inside; *side view of old camera, back opens for picture; looks like my dad’s Graflex *A**when the knob is pressed on top, the camera pops open; *movie camera, opens, “babe inside”; black-bodied camera with flashbulb; *B**camera opens, enamel bluebird inside—“Watch The Birdie” … Continue reading →

204. CreARTive Sunday: 4/13/08: Italy: Travel Bracelets cont’d.

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This is a continuation of my favorite bracelets, my Italy travel series. All my creations. All photos are enlargeable by clicking on them.             This Vatican Swiss Guard Charm stands alone; he fends off danger and pulls on sweaters, but he is one handsome dude.   Gondola straw hat (Venice) a higly detailed geographic map of Italy engraved heart “Italy” 1920’s grapes chianti bottle “Gobbo” hunchback for good luck Lantern vespa “Figa” good luck charm fleur de lis of Florence Dante political map of Italy bell ringers of Venice bell tower-Jacquemarts A prize collectionThis was … Continue reading →

537. Going to see my hero, Gustavo Dudamel: Music can save the world

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Sunday, October 3, 2010 Carnegie Hall Gustavo Dudamel, conductor: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Yo-Yo Ma: Cello Program View Gustavo Dudamel conduct the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra two weeks ago. Previous blog on Dudamel. Dudamel Bio The clarinet: “It’s completely different than when you hold a gun. 7 CommentsChronological Reverse Threaded reply catfishred wrote on Oct 3, ’10, edited on Oct 3, ’10 I am SO into this theme, Suz! Every year we support the Daniel Pearl Music Foundation on Daniel’s birthday, which is 10 October. He was a violinist who believed that music bridged the gap between love and hatred, bringing mutual … Continue reading →

564. Mercury in Retrograde: here we go again!

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I am not a superstitious person and I like to have some kind of “scientific proof” for popular beliefs. Most of the time. A number of years ago someone called the concept of “Mercury in Retrograde” to my attention and since then I have noted curious events. When a planet is “in retrograde” it appears to be moving backwards. It first appears to stand still, then back up, stand still again and then move forward. The length of the retrograde depends on the planet’s orbit and for Mercury it is usually about twenty-two days.     Mercury is the messenger, … Continue reading →

378. NYC Photo Journal: Flushing Town Hall Jazz series: and a poem for Poetry Wednesday

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The beautiful, restored Victorian Flushing Town Hall (near the hubbub of Main Street Flushing, not far from Citifield (the replacement for Shea Stadium), is now a cultural hub and the home of jazz. You can follow the Queens Jazz Trail here. If you are a lover of jazz and coming to New York City, order the maps and info from the link above and take the walking tours. The borough of Queens is the home to many of the performers in the newly formed Jazz Orchestra. It is home to Jimmy Heath, and was the home to the late Louis … Continue reading →

469 Your book review: comments here, please

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Please leave your comments here. I’d love to hear your reactions and feedback. Please let me know if you have a favorite poem. [mp3j track=”ascension.mp3″] With gratitude. Sans Souçi             39 CommentsChronological   Reverse   Threaded reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Jun 21, ’10 Mazel tov, cuz! I sat on my porch this beautiful afternoon with your book and read it cover to cover.  I found the autobiographical poems most affecting, maybe in part because I’m familiar with your cast of characters.  The memories of Stuyvesant Town and childhood friendships are so vivid.  I particularly admired the story-poem … Continue reading →

469. My book: Email from my cousin

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Mazel tov, cuz! I sat on my porch this beautiful afternoon with your book and read it cover to cover.  I found the autobiographical poems most affecting, maybe in part because I’m familiar with your cast of characters.  The memories of Stuyvesant Town and childhood friendships are so vivid.  I particularly admired the story-poem about your exhausted mother sending her two little girls downstairs for a birthday present.  What a wonderful snapshot of that time and place and those beleaguered men and women known as our parents.  Congratulations, dear Susan.  And thank you for your sweet inscription. Best of luck … Continue reading →