T.V.O.D.TM “a place on the edge of reality and fantasy” Volume IX: Chapter 10 October 2003

Wednesday, October 1 and the new episode of Star Trek: Enterprise with a stray sex slave — check out Television Without Pity for full recaps.  We also thank E! Online for capsule biographies.  Oh, and click on the picture of Rosebud before you leave.
 

William Devane is Secretary of State on The West Wing.  During The Dogs of War, Zoey Bartlett is rescued, ending John Goodman’s surprise guesting.  He had great lines — including this pair with Debbie (Lily Tomlin): Walken:  This [the Oval Office] is a weird looking room. Debbie:  Truman called it the crown jewel of the federal penal system.

Thursday, October 2 and the gym, make ravioli, and watch Must See TV.  In this issue of Rolling Stone, David Bowie wrote about Lou Reed: “There was something so fundamental about what he was doing, and it gave him so much room to weave anecdotes and witticisms – things Lou is very good at.  That’s stimulating, because it means it doesn’t matter about the age – it’s about intention, integrity and the power to move people.”

Friday, October 3 and an NYU seminar in the evening.  Paul Barclay, comedy impressario of Boston, calls.  Oliver Keithly, who had a desk next to me when we both worked for Paul, has a comedy club in Portland, Maine since 1993.  Go visit the Comedy Connection if you are ever up north, and say hello for me!

Saturday, October 4 and Marchi’s Restaurant for “discreet old-world Italian” — across from the Church of the Good Shepherd, (an Episopalian congregation founded in 1860).  The full course meal at Marchi is $38.50 — glasses of wine are $5.50, mixed drinks $7.  More than reasonable for the atmosphere and food.

Sunday, October 5 and pictured is Travis Fimmel, a model for Calvin Klein — he is on the cover of TV Guide as the new lead in Tarzan.  My parents are in the theater district to see “Thoroughly Modern Millie” — produced by Whoopi Goldberg and starring Leslie Uggams and Delta Burke.

Bryan and I join them at Capri for dinner.  Appetizers are pasta fagioli soup and carpaccio manzo — entrées include veal scallopine with artichokes in white wine sauce, steak (not so good, actually), and shrimp fra diavolo.  There is the traditional bottle of Umberto Cesari Sangiovese and coffee for dessert.

Monday, October 6 and we’re up at 5 am.  Sound crazy?  Well, it might have been but we’re hungry.  So it’s off to Around the Clock for steak and eggs.  Bryan and I have dinner at Jade Mountain — I try their Iron Steak Jade Mountain special, which is much like a Mongolian beef.  Naturally, there’s lots of MSG in the food, and we both pass out at midnight.

Tuesday, October 7 and a meeting with Steve Cohen, my former management instructor at New York University, at his new venture, Living Independently.

Class always makes me hyper, and this evening is no exception.  Still, it’s nice to get two of my papers back — both with a grade of A.  Back at the apartment, I see a beautiful lasagna on the stove.  Bryan has prepared his signature dish with a side of steamed carrots and a bottle of 2000 Beaulieu Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon.

Wednesday, October 8 and Mother and I have breakfast at the Rustic Mill diner, then my father and I go to Total Wines.  Surprisingly, we see cousin Lorraine there.  I recommend the BV Merlot to her, while she persuades me to get a bottle from Kenwood Vineyards.
 

Star Trek: Enterprise focuses on T’Pol.  On the season’s third episode of The West Wing, I am impressed by the quality of writing by producer John Wells.  But more importantly,Gary Cole is the new Vice President and will appear several times over the upcoming season — You remember him in the insanely weird American Gothic horror television show on CBS.

Thursday, October 9 and Pylos for dinner.  This is the same owner as It’s Greek to Me — thankfully they’ve changed the name and spruced up the surroundings.  It’s all quite up, up, with a menu designed by acclaimed chef Diane Kochilas.  Bryan is impressed enough to write to his friends at Chowhound:
 

The food at Pylos, which didn’t need a complete makeover, remained top notch, going a little more upscale.  I had three types of filo (phyllo)-wrapped appetizer to start, one cheese (yum), one mushroom (eh), and one spicy goat (yum yum) and my bf had an eggplant/garlic/onion dip/spread that was from the old place and very good. For an entrée, I had clay-baked pork medallions in mushroom and wine sauce – very tender and good – and my bf had kotopoulo sartsa,a clay-baked chicken with onions, tomatoes and goat cheese, which I did not taste [tv – it was somewhat bland]. With a bottle of that swill, Retsina (I hate the stuff, but my bf must have it) for $23 and two Greek coffees (eh), the bill came to $95, which includes tip.  All in all a very good value, really nice space, cute Colin Farell looking waiter – we’ll def go back!

Friday, October 10 and it’s the 25^th anniversary of my very first radio show — yes, T.V.O.D.  But do I have anything to do with music today?  Not at all.

Café Deville is a gift to myself.  My menu includes a lobster bisque ($6.50) along with half a dozen oysters — including a pair each of Peconic Bay, Fanny Bay and Kumamoto ($2 each).  Steak tartare ($14) and a glass of Chateau Clarke ($12) and a glass of Piper Heidsieck champagne ($12) — for a total of $62 (plus $18 tip).  Interestingly, I talk with a head waiter, the disc jockey, and other employees, to confirm what I suspected.  This is a very self-aware restaurant with self-serving diners.

Saturday, October 11 and Omnium Gatherum at the Variety Arts Theatre.  The premise is almost untenable but the actors make it very entertaining.  One interesting thing about the play is the food.  The setting is a dinner party and all of the food is real, and prepared at the Strip House.  Bobby Flay, chef of Bolo and Mesa Grill, designed the food during October; the authors re-write specific lines for the actors to accommodate the menu.

It’s a place on the edge of reality and fantasy, a bridge between Earth and Hell, created – like our own, dangerous new world – with the collapse of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.  [ Talkin’ Broadway ]

There are some very broad caricatures; including the hostess (obviously Martha Stewart, but a bit more deranged and ditzy), Tom Clancy, Edward Sayed, Christopher Hitchens (of the New Republic), a whiny PETA activist, a strong black woman, a WTC fireman, and an Islamic terrorist.  Oh, all the characters are dead, having just been killed in one of the towers.

Sunday, October 12 and no gym, but lunch at the dining hall and lasagna in the afternoon.  Hmmm, maybe that’s why I’m gaining weight again.  Do you remember that I wrote about tennis great Andy Roddick last month?  Well, again I have nothing to say but wanted to run a picture of him!

Monday, October 13 and Columbus Day, but does anyone celebrate it anymore?  Time Warner, says, “Now anything is possible.”  But are all things are possible?  Ooops, don’t get theological on me!  I speak, actually, of our new combined digital video recorder and cable box, part of our cable package.
 

Tuesday, October 14 and Bryan is at HSBC — the headquarters was built when it was Republic National Bank.  It is still a unique addition to the skyline in mid-town, gracefully protecting the NY Public Library. I join the “kids” for drinks at Peculier Bar (I know, this place has a weird, uh, peculiar spelling).  Then, dinner at Pangea (fried calamari and penne for Bryan, Greek salad and spaghetti Bolognese for me).

Wednesday, October 15 and a new episode of Star Trek: Enterprise tells the tale of Beauty and the Beast — but without Jean Marais!

But no new episode of The West Wing.  NBC explains that, “With such huge baseball competition [on Fox], it didn’t make sense for us to air original programming.  Strong repeat programming was the way to go.”

Thursday, October 16 and we bus to Cranford.  Mother and Bryan choose dinner at the Spanish Tavern.  We have white Spanish wine — Marques De Riscal, Rueda ($19).  Interestingly, the hotel at the winery was designed by Frank Gehry.  They have escargots while I have the mussels in green sauce (all $9 each).  For entrées, I have the surf and turf ($26), Bryan has paella Valenciana ($21) and mom has pollo al ajillo ($18).  Dessert includes flan, cheesecake, espresso and Sambuca Romana.  The total is $150 before tip.

Friday, October 17 and from CNN:  At a meeting of the Primates in London, +Frank Griswold was asked if he would ask Gene Robinson+ to step aside.  He said, “I might do many things.  I’m simply saying anything could happen.  The Second Coming can occur, which would certainly cancel an ordination.  At this point, I am scheduled to be in New Hampshire on the second of November.  Something could happen to me, but I hope it won’t.”

Saturday, October 18 and our destination is Atlantique City, a huge antique show at the Convention Center, where we stay until closing.  It truly is too, too much.  On the west side of the state is the ordination and consecration of George E. Councell as the XI Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey.  In a sermon he gave on August 15, he said, “I believe … the ordination of the Rev. Canon Gene Robinson … and the consideration of proposals for the drafting of liturgical rites for the blessing of same-gender unions were also signs of engaging God’s mission….  I remain open to the development of a liturgical rite for the celebration and blessing of same-sex unions.”

Sunday, October 19 and I take my mother to IHOP after mass, then stop at Bob’s Stores.  For the last 30 years, I have worn Converse All-stars hi-tops (now made in China, but still $35), and Levi’s 501’s (a good price at $33).

I take the truck into the city, and pick up Bryan to drive to Yonkers and Stew Leonard’s.  Wow, this is some place; originally a dairy (they still make their own milk), it’s one of the largest supermarkets I’ve ever seen.  They even have live animals to entertain the kids!  You cannot believe how much food we get for only $60.

Monday, October 20 and I’m working on a paper about Felice Picano and the role of the agent and have a nice phone conversation with Malaga Baldi, his literary agent.

After class, I make ravioli and watch episodes of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.  FYI, the stars are Ted Allen (food and wine, I have read him in GQ), Kyan Douglas (grooming), Thom Filicia (interior design), Carson Kressley (fashion) and Jai Rodriguez (culture/lifestyle and a complete cutie).

Tuesday, October 21 and the little darling in the picture is Bryan.  Well, actually, the nephew of Bryan who is named after him.  Today is his birthday and Brett and Karen have sent this picture to us.  Bryan has the grill going — so it’s burgers with Luna di Luna Sangiovese-Merlot and chardonnay / pinot grigio in the cobalt blue bottle ($9).  Unfortunately, it’s not so great.

Instead, Lorraine Dizzia, my cousin, recommends “Jacob’s Creek, an Aussie chardonnay that is great for people who don’t like chardonnay — a lovely wine for fish dinners or just drinking when you have friends over but don’t want to spend the family fortune; it usually sells for about $9.”

Thursday, October 23 and Rosebud and I have slept well.  I go uptown to the Episcopal Church Center for drinks at O’Neil’s with Bryan, Tony Jewiss+, Rick Miranda and the Rev. Dr. Clayton L. Morris of the Office for Liturgy and Music.  Joining us are Andrew Gary of the Office of the Bishop Suffragan for Chaplaincies, and Margaret H. Stevens.  Well, it’s a rollicking evening, for sure.

I like to have a Martini, two at the very most.  After three I’m under the table, after four I’m under my host.  [Dorothy Parker]

Saturday, October 25  – “Wearing feelings on our faces, while our faces took a rest” – Supper’s Ready by Genesis from “Seconds Out.”  Listening to Carpet Crawlers and then the live medley of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway and The Musical Box – I am struck by the starkness of the ending lines:

I’ve been waiting here for so long,
And all this time has passed me by.
It doesn’t seem to matter now.
You stand there with your fixed expression
Casting doubt on all I have to say.
Why don’t you touch me, touch me,
Touch me now, now, now, now, now ...

Sunday, October 26 and we walk up to the Episcopal Church of St. Thomas to hear a performance of the Complete Music for Carillon by John Cage performed by organist George Steel.  These are five separate pieces, 3 written in the early 1950s, then 1961 and 1967.  My opinion of John Cage: it’s like medicine — good for you but distasteful.

Merce Cunningham on his partner:  “I’ll tell you a story.  John was often asked, as I was, why we separate the music and the dance.  Sometimes, he’d get belligerent.  But at others, he’d say, ‘Merce does his thing, and I do mine.  For your convenience, we put them together.’”

Monday, October 27 and I see Karyn Reid, yes, the very first disc jockey I ever met.  I meet her at her hotel in Times Square and we take a very rainy walk up Fifth Avenue, going to St. Patrick’s, Rockefeller Center, and finally winding up for drinks at Planet Hollywood, when the rain gets too bad.  It’s absolutely great seeing her; she’s an amazing woman.

Tuesday, October 28 and I came across this quote from Bob Dylan, sent by Peggy Garry:  “May god bless and keep you always; may your wishes all come true; may you always do for others and let other do for you.  May you build a ladder to the stars and climb on every rung, and may you stay ... forever young.”  © Bob [Yes, she remembered her copyright symbol!]

Michael Anderson, Editor of the NY Times Book Review, is our guest speaker in class.  I have some very specific feelings about him.  He has his own taste in things, and that’s ok — but I don’t think it’s necessary to call Oprah’s taste in books “execrable.”  Bryan has made cosmopolitans and pasta for us, before drinks at Dick’s.

Wednesday, October 29 and a new episode of Star Trek: Enterprise.  On The West Wing— “Constituency of One” — Will (Joshua Malina) becomes the new top aide to the Vice President (Gary Cole as Robert Russell).  Josh is having difficulty getting a conservative Democratic senator (Tom Skerritt) to hew the party line.

Thursday, October 30 and “God doeth all things well.”  And so does Rick Whitaker, author of “The First Time I met Frank O’Hara — Reading Gay American Writers” published by Four Walls Eight Windows.  The jacket flap describes it as “part reading journal, part literary criticism” — and I might add, part historical analysis.  He is speaking in Chelsea — I am quite moved by the fact that he doesn’t take the easy road. He read from a letter that Walt Whitman sent to the family of a boy dying from the Civil War.  During it, he looks up and says that he might not be able to finish.  He won our hearts.  After, I was pleased to meet his agent, the formidable Malaga Baldi and his publisher, John GH Oakes.

Friday, October 31 and Bryan creates his pumpkin.  Yes, this holiday, it’s the HULA-ween pumpkin dancer.  We walk to the West Village to see the 30^th Village Halloween Parade.

We’ve a prime viewing location, directly opposite the NY1 camera crew, and stay for about an hour.  And yes, that is a table setting; even the boys in blue don’t blush.

Now I should not reveal this, but EJ’s Luncheonette (432 Sixth Avenue) is the perfect place to watch the parade, as long as you are willing to eat, which we were.

So once we tired of standing outside, Bryan has breaded fish pieces, while I have the Cajun chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries … and two chocolate milkshakes for both of us.  Yes, one has to have them, even at $5 each.

Some restaurant links connect to new york citysearch, the Menu Pages, or amazon's new restaurant site.
I spend hours researching interesting websites; the  hyperlinks open in new windows, and are rarely connected to advertiser-supported sites.  Try them and encourage their existence.

Culture This IS t.v.o.d. © 2003 Anthony Francis Vitale for the T.V.O.D. Companies