“I read somewhere that everyone on this planet is separated by only six other people,” muses rich New Yorker Ouisa Kittredge in John Guare’s famous play-turned-Will-Smith-movie Six Degrees of Separation. Ouisa goes on: “I find that: A) tremendously comforting that we’re so close, and B) like Chinese water torture that we’re so close.” It’s an … Read more
I’m procrastinating writing about Six Degrees of Separation by searching for now-obscure ’80s film stars online. I look up Anthony Michael Hall, only to find out that, after beefing up, the former nerd played — see where this is going? — one of Will Smith’s conquests in Six Degrees. It’s like everything’s connected, man. Actually, … Read more
Unschooled, but don’t be fooled: A painting and drawing, both untitled, by the eminently influenced Karl Mullen. If art is a record of the times, Karl Mullen’s impotent, armless figures will tell future generations who we were as a nation in the year 2005. But they don’t shed much light on the subject of so-called … Read more
Robert Moog’s invention of the modern synthesizer, now common in contemporary music, brought him respect and admiration from electronic-music enthusiasts the world over — and a deep personal satisfaction. However, Moog, a documentary film by director Hans Fjellestad released on DVD May 31, illustrates the story of a man largely unrecognized by fans of music … Read more
With radio stations in major markets turning away from current pop (due to audience shrinkage) and oldies stations dominating the non-country, non-talk broadcast spectrum, the time seems ripe for an unapologetically retro band: Enter the Cheeksters. Except that a retro genre is nothing new for Mark and Shannon Hines Casson, who’ve been playing British-invasion pop … Read more
CD reviews Rating system No stars: Excellent beer coaster1 star: An even better beer coaster2 stars: Scant moments of grace3 stars: Flawed excellence4 stars: Gun it past the soccer moms and get to the record store Reigning Sound, Too Much Guitar (In the Red Records): Four stars • Kind of music: Rock ‘n’ roll• You’ll … Read more
Flavor: Creperie/bistro with international flairAmbiance: Ranges from relaxing to livelyService: Friendly but sometimes spotty There’s something truly special about the atmosphere at Café Soleil, a cozy creperie on Lexington Avenue. Some evenings, the bar is packed with customers, including a lot of food-industry folks, and laughter and music seem to overflow the restaurant and spill … Read more
The return of Mr. Gene: Much to the delight of his fans, former downtown restaurateur Otis “Mr. Gene” Keaton has reopened Mr. Gene’s Family Restaurant at a new location, 1500 Tunnel Road. From 2001 to 2003, he ran the establishment on Eagle Street; since then, he’s taken a bit of a sabbatical. Now, Mr. Gene’s … Read more
I have to confess that up until this season, my slug awareness had dipped to a very low ebb. The last time I’d had to face down an onslaught of the slimy mollusks must have been in 1976, when I gardened a rich pond-side tract in southern New Hampshire. Since then, my gardening has been … Read more
