Archive for the 'art' Category

It seemed the logical thing to do at the time*

Saturday, September 10th, 2011

Star date 9.10.11: On September 8, 1966, the first regular episode of Gene Roddenberry’s TV series Star Trek aired, launching one of the greatest sci-fi franchises in TV and film history. For true Trekkies who know most everything about Star Trek, there are few surprises in space.com’s infographic that details the series’ first 45 years. [...]

A superbard weekend

Tuesday, August 16th, 2011

Injury. Slip of the tongue. Two rogue alarms. Unextinguished fire. Extreme heat. Sounds Shakespearean, right? But the show must – you know – go on. And it did. I was given the gift of Shakespeare. But not just by any troupe – it was the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) hosted by Lincoln Center, and in [...]

Star-trippin’

Monday, August 1st, 2011

If it’s summer, there must be stars Hit the road with TCM’s Summer Under the Stars. The series returns today with a medium-fresh group of 31 starry actors who get one full day of devotion. There are the usual heavy duty favorites: Brando kicks it off, Grant, MacLaine, Welles, Dietrich and Stewart etc. TCM has [...]

What stretches 88 miles with 87 branches?

Thursday, July 28th, 2011

As some of the curious g readers may know, I am a huge fan of the New York Public Library (NYPL). It’s a fabulous system and a wonderful resource that is readily available to New Yorkers in Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island. (Brooklyn and Queens have their own branch library systems, more on that [...]

Au revoir Barnes Foundation, à la prochaine

Saturday, July 2nd, 2011

Where did the building end and the art begin? In my mind, they’re one. But only until 3 july 2011. That’s when the fantastic French, Modern and African art collection that The Barnes Foundation founder, Albert J. Barnes, assembled in the early to mid 20th century in Merion, PA will close its doors. Art created [...]

Through the pinhole darkly

Saturday, April 23rd, 2011

Sunday, 24 april 2011 is Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day – an event going into its second decade. Who could make this stuff up? To get a sense of the uniqueness of pinhole-generated images, wander through the archives here. OK, so what is it? An international event to promote and celebrate the art of pinhole photography, [...]

Get on the straight & narrow – Manhattan grid celebrates 200

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011

I’ll take Manhattan. And apparently so will 1,629,053 of my closest friends. Thanks to chief engineer and surveyor John Randel’s proposed plan, known as the Commissioners’ Plan of 1811, the foundation for Manhattan’s future growth was put in place. The original grid illustrated 11 major avenues and 155 crosstown streets. It’s the map that made [...]

Don’t you know everyone wants to laugh?

Saturday, February 19th, 2011

Comedy is funny. It’s hard to define – a gag for one person may not tickle the fancy of another. There are also degrees of comedy. Some films that I enjoy – listed as comedies – produce a smile or a small chuckle, but not a full belly laugh. Make ‘em roar, make ‘em scream [...]

2011 ZipPoll #2: Actor in a Leading Role

Saturday, February 12th, 2011

Now for the men. Who do you think turned in the finest performance this year? Or what actor/performance do you think was overlooked? 2011 Actor in a Leading Rolecustomer surveys

2011 ZipPoll #1: Actress in a Leading Role

Wednesday, February 9th, 2011

And we’re off. Which actress wowed you this year? Was someone overlooked for a particular performance? 2011 Actress in a Leading Roleonline survey