It can be easy to miss great shows that arrive early in a month, when you have a general idea of their impendingness, but maybe not a firm and determined grasp, til it's too late.
So let us mention two noteworthy shows that arrive even before the first full weekend in October: Michael Franti and Spearhead, on Thursday 4 October, and Yungchen Lhamo, on Friday 5 October, both at the State Theater.
The shows are alike in presenting very current, political, world-influenced music.
Franti is a hip-hop singer with reggae influences, or vice versa. He comes from the Bay Area in California and has been making important music for over a decade, slowly but surely expanding his audience across geography and demographics . In 2006 he was a headliner at GrassRoots Festival.
Yungchen Llaho is known as the Voice of Tibet, for bringing Tibetan music to the world in a politically imperiled time. The New York Times has noted her "prisitne, gliding vocal lines." Ms. Llaho has sung with Peter Gabriel, Laurie Anderson, Lou Reed and Natalie Merchant, and at the State will perform with Hank Roberts and Richie Stearns.
Music by all the artists performing at the State is available at Small World Music.
Details on ticket prices and availability are at the State Theater's website, http://www.stateofithaca.com/.
Monday, October 01, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Weekend Activities, Sept. 28 - 30
The change of season is marked by the Apple Harvest Festival on the Commons. This year's is the 25th annual. Lots of good music and food, and a Ferris wheel. 11 - 6 p.m. on Friday, 10 - 6:30 on Sat. and Sun.
Friday, 9/28: David Bordon reunites his band of 1970s Moog music pioneers, Mother Mallard's Portable Masterpiece Theater. At Cornell's lovely Barnes Hall, 8 p.m., free.
Saturday, 9/29: Personally, we agree with the opinion that what is called country music (Garth Brooks, Reba McEntyre, Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, et al.) should be called Americana, and what is called Americana (Old Crow Medicine Show, Gillian Welch, Buddy and Julie Miller)should be called country. Nevertheless, the Americana Jubilee at the Rongo has an all-day and -night bill of local genre-sharing musicians such as Hubcap, Richie Stearns, and the Urban Horse Thieves. The event is a benefit for Bert Scholl, a local musician who is battling cancer. Starting at 2 p.m.
Little Toby Keith plays finger-picking guitar in a show for the Cornell Folk Song Society. Tickets are $17 at the door, $15 in advance at Small World Music. Showtime is 8 pm, at Cornell's McGraw Hall.
Boy With A Fish, with members from the Horseflies and Plastic Nebraska, and the gone-but-not-forgotten Actual Facts are a lively double bill at the Chapter House, 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, 9/30: Kelly Birtch has a return engagement playing excellent flamenco/rock guitar at ABC's brunch. Music starts at 11 a.m.
Cornell Orchestra plays for free in Cornell's newly-renovated Bailey Hall. 3 p.m.
Have fun -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Friday, 9/28: David Bordon reunites his band of 1970s Moog music pioneers, Mother Mallard's Portable Masterpiece Theater. At Cornell's lovely Barnes Hall, 8 p.m., free.
Saturday, 9/29: Personally, we agree with the opinion that what is called country music (Garth Brooks, Reba McEntyre, Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, et al.) should be called Americana, and what is called Americana (Old Crow Medicine Show, Gillian Welch, Buddy and Julie Miller)should be called country. Nevertheless, the Americana Jubilee at the Rongo has an all-day and -night bill of local genre-sharing musicians such as Hubcap, Richie Stearns, and the Urban Horse Thieves. The event is a benefit for Bert Scholl, a local musician who is battling cancer. Starting at 2 p.m.
Little Toby Keith plays finger-picking guitar in a show for the Cornell Folk Song Society. Tickets are $17 at the door, $15 in advance at Small World Music. Showtime is 8 pm, at Cornell's McGraw Hall.
Boy With A Fish, with members from the Horseflies and Plastic Nebraska, and the gone-but-not-forgotten Actual Facts are a lively double bill at the Chapter House, 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, 9/30: Kelly Birtch has a return engagement playing excellent flamenco/rock guitar at ABC's brunch. Music starts at 11 a.m.
Cornell Orchestra plays for free in Cornell's newly-renovated Bailey Hall. 3 p.m.
Have fun -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Low Voter Turnout, and the Log in the Journal's Eye
The Ithaca Journal wrote an editorial today decrying the low (25%) voter turnout in last week's Democratic primary for town supervisor. They never mention the responsibility they have, as the city's only daily newspaper.
As we wrote in a posting a week ago today ("Ithaca's Newspapers Fail Civics Test"), neither the Journal nor the weekly Times was interested enough to endorse a candidate in the election.
Or we might say bold enough. It was a hotly contested election and apparently the newspapers didn't want to get hurt by getting in the middle - or, worse, picking the loser.
Ithaca Blog posed the question to the Journal's editorial department on the phone this morning: If the Journal had endorsed a candidate, or provided substantial criticism or analysis of the candidates, don't you think that would have increased voter interest, and turnout?
We asked whether, as a follow-up to their editorial today, they would be forthright enough to scrutinize their own role, in print, about the issues they raised today. We'll see.
We do thank the Journal for their time in discussion this morning.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
As we wrote in a posting a week ago today ("Ithaca's Newspapers Fail Civics Test"), neither the Journal nor the weekly Times was interested enough to endorse a candidate in the election.
Or we might say bold enough. It was a hotly contested election and apparently the newspapers didn't want to get hurt by getting in the middle - or, worse, picking the loser.
Ithaca Blog posed the question to the Journal's editorial department on the phone this morning: If the Journal had endorsed a candidate, or provided substantial criticism or analysis of the candidates, don't you think that would have increased voter interest, and turnout?
We asked whether, as a follow-up to their editorial today, they would be forthright enough to scrutinize their own role, in print, about the issues they raised today. We'll see.
We do thank the Journal for their time in discussion this morning.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Cooperstown Recommendations
Here are some recommendations for a trip to Cooperstown (see previous posting).
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. every day in fall and winter, except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day. Adult admission is $14.50, or $13 with AAA membership, which we think we have, and they agreed. Seniors and veterans are $9.50, children 7-12 are $5.00, and under 7, free. The Hall is on Main Street and is the center of existence in Cooperstown.
The Tunicliff Inn is a 200-year old hotel on Pioneer Street, one block from the HOF. The small, intimate hotel has an understated but distinct historical character. Rooms with king size beds are spacious and comfortable. The location is unbeatable, and there is a good pub-style restaurant in the basement.
The Lakefront Motel is a modern (or at least 50's style - in Cooperstown, this is modern) motel on Lake Otsego, 2 blocks from the HOF. More casual than the Tunicliff and more appropriate for families and groups of friends. Large restaurant on the premises.
Nicoletta's Italian Cafe, on Main Street, has solid, traditional Italian food with enough modern touches to keep it interesting. Reasonable prices and a charming room that provides both for private conversation and good people-watching. We saw look-alikes of Elle MacPherson and Tommy LaSorda, but she ate too much for Elle, and he ate too little for Tommy.
Cooperstown Diner, also on Main Street, is a very small diner, with very large portions.
Steve Burke
for Itaaca Blog
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. every day in fall and winter, except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day. Adult admission is $14.50, or $13 with AAA membership, which we think we have, and they agreed. Seniors and veterans are $9.50, children 7-12 are $5.00, and under 7, free. The Hall is on Main Street and is the center of existence in Cooperstown.
The Tunicliff Inn is a 200-year old hotel on Pioneer Street, one block from the HOF. The small, intimate hotel has an understated but distinct historical character. Rooms with king size beds are spacious and comfortable. The location is unbeatable, and there is a good pub-style restaurant in the basement.
The Lakefront Motel is a modern (or at least 50's style - in Cooperstown, this is modern) motel on Lake Otsego, 2 blocks from the HOF. More casual than the Tunicliff and more appropriate for families and groups of friends. Large restaurant on the premises.
Nicoletta's Italian Cafe, on Main Street, has solid, traditional Italian food with enough modern touches to keep it interesting. Reasonable prices and a charming room that provides both for private conversation and good people-watching. We saw look-alikes of Elle MacPherson and Tommy LaSorda, but she ate too much for Elle, and he ate too little for Tommy.
Cooperstown Diner, also on Main Street, is a very small diner, with very large portions.
Steve Burke
for Itaaca Blog
Baseball, N.Y.'s Pastime: Visiting Cooperstown
It's been an exceptional season for baseball in New York as the summer game prepares for the fall post-season. New York's big league teams, the Yanks and Mets, are contending for post-season championship play in the same season for only the third time ever. Attendance in New York City will set a record this year, and our scouts in the Big Apple report that interest in the game is immoderate, even by New York standards.
And it's not just the Big Apple. Minor league baseball set an all-time attendance record this season, drawing almost a million more fans than last year.
Here in central New York, we have a Mets minor league team in Binghamton, a Yankee affiliate in nearby Scranton (well, nearby enough for the fanatic), and a Toronto team in Syracuse.
The minor league season is over, however, so barring a trip to Yankee or Shea Stadium, the closest cool trip for an Ithaca fan is a visit to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, about 2 hours away. We went this past weekend.
It's an excellent time for a visit, as the out-of-school kids and summer vacationers are gone. The Hall is less crowded, and so are restaurants. Hotels have off-season rates.
Cooperstown is a lovely little town, like a movie set, but real. Baseball has been good to the town and it is well-kept and appointed. There are no chain stores downtown, besides a useful CVS. The noteworthy architecture includes Federal-style houses from the 18th century.
Lake Otsego is a 2-block stroll from Main Street and, like the town, pristine. A 20-foot wide outflow from the lake is the humble-seeming source of the Susquehanna River. The river flows a hundred miles or so west - past the Dunkin' Donuts in Owego - !!- - before turning back east, picking up myriad tributaries all along to its far-flung destination, the Chesapeake Bay.
The Hall of Fame has safeguarded baseball's legends since its start in 1939. For the fan, it is a repository of history, memory, and fun that transcends rationality. For the casual fan, or even non-fan, the Museum has exhibits of art and history that should provide sufficient edification and entertainment. (If not, the Hall has a re-entry policy that allows guests to take revivifying breaks outside.)
We will have a few particular recommendations from our trip in the next posting.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
And it's not just the Big Apple. Minor league baseball set an all-time attendance record this season, drawing almost a million more fans than last year.
Here in central New York, we have a Mets minor league team in Binghamton, a Yankee affiliate in nearby Scranton (well, nearby enough for the fanatic), and a Toronto team in Syracuse.
The minor league season is over, however, so barring a trip to Yankee or Shea Stadium, the closest cool trip for an Ithaca fan is a visit to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, about 2 hours away. We went this past weekend.
It's an excellent time for a visit, as the out-of-school kids and summer vacationers are gone. The Hall is less crowded, and so are restaurants. Hotels have off-season rates.
Cooperstown is a lovely little town, like a movie set, but real. Baseball has been good to the town and it is well-kept and appointed. There are no chain stores downtown, besides a useful CVS. The noteworthy architecture includes Federal-style houses from the 18th century.
Lake Otsego is a 2-block stroll from Main Street and, like the town, pristine. A 20-foot wide outflow from the lake is the humble-seeming source of the Susquehanna River. The river flows a hundred miles or so west - past the Dunkin' Donuts in Owego - !!- - before turning back east, picking up myriad tributaries all along to its far-flung destination, the Chesapeake Bay.
The Hall of Fame has safeguarded baseball's legends since its start in 1939. For the fan, it is a repository of history, memory, and fun that transcends rationality. For the casual fan, or even non-fan, the Museum has exhibits of art and history that should provide sufficient edification and entertainment. (If not, the Hall has a re-entry policy that allows guests to take revivifying breaks outside.)
We will have a few particular recommendations from our trip in the next posting.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Friday, September 21, 2007
Weekend Activities, Sept. 21 - 23
Friday 9/21: The Irish band Scythian returns to Ithaca after a memorable show at GrassRoots Festival. The world music influences of their music are notable as Ireland becomes a nation of immigrants rather than emigrants for the first time in its history. Castaways, 8 p.m.
Saturday 9/22: From Berlin, Germany, 17 Hippies bring a slightly wacky musical perspective to a show at Pancho Villa Upstairs, on the corner of W. State and Meadow Streets, as part of the Crossing Borders Series. They don't look like hippies, any more than 10,000 Maniacs looked maniacal - nor are they 17; they are 13, and play guitar, ukelele, violin, cello, flute, trumpet, accordion, sax, banjo, harp, and other things. Tickets are $15 at the door, $10 in advance at Small World Music.
Eugene Chadbourne is doing his best to sustain entertaining anarchy in American music. He's doing it now with one of music's legendary eccentrics, Jimmy Carl Black, a founding member of the Mothers of Invention. Chapter House, 10 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door.
Sunday, 9/23: Kelly Birtch, one of the area's best guitarists, plays at one of the best brunches, at the ABC Cafe. The music starts at 11 a.m.
The East Hill Flying Club has a charity fundraising breakfast at the airport from 7 a.m. - 1 p.m., with the opportunity to take a plane ride. Bring your camera.
Mignarda play Elizabethan English music, primarily on lute, and Scottish tunes. At the Unitarian Church, Buffalo & Aurora Streets, 4 p.m. Admission is $12, students & seniors $10, and Ithaca Hours are accepted. More information at http://www.mignarda.com/.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Saturday 9/22: From Berlin, Germany, 17 Hippies bring a slightly wacky musical perspective to a show at Pancho Villa Upstairs, on the corner of W. State and Meadow Streets, as part of the Crossing Borders Series. They don't look like hippies, any more than 10,000 Maniacs looked maniacal - nor are they 17; they are 13, and play guitar, ukelele, violin, cello, flute, trumpet, accordion, sax, banjo, harp, and other things. Tickets are $15 at the door, $10 in advance at Small World Music.
Eugene Chadbourne is doing his best to sustain entertaining anarchy in American music. He's doing it now with one of music's legendary eccentrics, Jimmy Carl Black, a founding member of the Mothers of Invention. Chapter House, 10 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door.
Sunday, 9/23: Kelly Birtch, one of the area's best guitarists, plays at one of the best brunches, at the ABC Cafe. The music starts at 11 a.m.
The East Hill Flying Club has a charity fundraising breakfast at the airport from 7 a.m. - 1 p.m., with the opportunity to take a plane ride. Bring your camera.
Mignarda play Elizabethan English music, primarily on lute, and Scottish tunes. At the Unitarian Church, Buffalo & Aurora Streets, 4 p.m. Admission is $12, students & seniors $10, and Ithaca Hours are accepted. More information at http://www.mignarda.com/.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Ithaca's Newspapers Fail Civics Test
The primary election for Town Supervisor is over. Herb Engman defeated incumbent Cathy Valentino with over 80% of the vote.
Ms. Valentino expressed her congratulations to Mr. Engman. She also expressed disappointment in the turnout: about 25% of eligible voters.
25% is actually about normal for a primary vote in an off-year election. But a contributing factor, and the greater reason for disappointment, is the refusal of either the Ithaca Journal or the Ithaca Times to endorse a candidate, presumably for fear of displeasing anyone.
Newspapers have a responsibility to express opinions, along with reporting facts. We're sorry Ms. Valentino didn't take the opportunity to make that point in expressing her disappointment about the voter turnout. A newspaper's unwillingness to take a stand in an election is no doubt a factor in low voter interest, just as failure to write stories would be.
The failure of Ithaca's newspapers to endorse candidates and positions is tantamount to a citizen's failure to vote. We hope to hear from Ithaca's political and community leadership about our newspapers' dereliction of duty.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Ms. Valentino expressed her congratulations to Mr. Engman. She also expressed disappointment in the turnout: about 25% of eligible voters.
25% is actually about normal for a primary vote in an off-year election. But a contributing factor, and the greater reason for disappointment, is the refusal of either the Ithaca Journal or the Ithaca Times to endorse a candidate, presumably for fear of displeasing anyone.
Newspapers have a responsibility to express opinions, along with reporting facts. We're sorry Ms. Valentino didn't take the opportunity to make that point in expressing her disappointment about the voter turnout. A newspaper's unwillingness to take a stand in an election is no doubt a factor in low voter interest, just as failure to write stories would be.
The failure of Ithaca's newspapers to endorse candidates and positions is tantamount to a citizen's failure to vote. We hope to hear from Ithaca's political and community leadership about our newspapers' dereliction of duty.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Herb Engman for Town Supervisor
Today is the Democratic primary for the party's candidate for the important, executive position of Town Supervisor. We strongly urge the election of Herb Engman.
Engman serves on the Town Board and has the support of every member of the Board, who can be a rather disparate group on most issues.
Engman's opponent, Cathy Valentino, has held the job for three terms. Her supporters characterize her job performance as tough-minded and competent. Her detractors call her untrusting and, concomitantly, untrustworthy. Her tenure has been marked with lawsuits and personal attacks against those who differ with her.
Engman has the endorsement of his party organization. His rival for the endorsement, Tim Joseph, declined to run in the primary to support Engman.
Stories about the considerable political intrigue of this election appear in Ithaca Blog postings from January 20 and June 20.
We urge you to vote, and remind your friends. The year Alan Cohen beat Ben Nichols for mayor, he won by 58 votes.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Engman serves on the Town Board and has the support of every member of the Board, who can be a rather disparate group on most issues.
Engman's opponent, Cathy Valentino, has held the job for three terms. Her supporters characterize her job performance as tough-minded and competent. Her detractors call her untrusting and, concomitantly, untrustworthy. Her tenure has been marked with lawsuits and personal attacks against those who differ with her.
Engman has the endorsement of his party organization. His rival for the endorsement, Tim Joseph, declined to run in the primary to support Engman.
Stories about the considerable political intrigue of this election appear in Ithaca Blog postings from January 20 and June 20.
We urge you to vote, and remind your friends. The year Alan Cohen beat Ben Nichols for mayor, he won by 58 votes.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Friday, September 14, 2007
Weekend Activities, Sept. 14 - 16
Friday, 9/14: It might be a little breezy in the alley at Felicia's tonight at Happy Hour, but the music will be nice, with Chad Crumm and Friends. 5:30 p.m.
Joe Crookston performs his series of songs inspired by the Finger Lakes, at the Community School of Music and Arts, 8 p.m. With guests Molly MacMillan, Charlie Shew, Mike Levy, Mike Ellis, and others.
Saturday, 9/15: Legendary jazz pianist and scholar Dr. Billy Taylor performs at the Whalen Center at Ithaca College, 8 p.m.
Kelly Birtch performs originals and covers on guitar at Kilpatrick's Pub, which we consider to be on N. Tioga St., though they list their address as 130 E. Seneca St. 10 p.m.
Sunday, 9/16: Jazz giant Pharoah Sanders performs at Cornell's Bailey Hall, for a reasonable price for the Cornell community, and an exorbitant price for others. 8 p.m.
Folk singer Garnet Rogers plays real good for free, for everyone, regardless of Cornell status, at Bound For Glory in Anabel Taylor Hall. First set is at 8:30.
Have a good weekend -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Joe Crookston performs his series of songs inspired by the Finger Lakes, at the Community School of Music and Arts, 8 p.m. With guests Molly MacMillan, Charlie Shew, Mike Levy, Mike Ellis, and others.
Saturday, 9/15: Legendary jazz pianist and scholar Dr. Billy Taylor performs at the Whalen Center at Ithaca College, 8 p.m.
Kelly Birtch performs originals and covers on guitar at Kilpatrick's Pub, which we consider to be on N. Tioga St., though they list their address as 130 E. Seneca St. 10 p.m.
Sunday, 9/16: Jazz giant Pharoah Sanders performs at Cornell's Bailey Hall, for a reasonable price for the Cornell community, and an exorbitant price for others. 8 p.m.
Folk singer Garnet Rogers plays real good for free, for everyone, regardless of Cornell status, at Bound For Glory in Anabel Taylor Hall. First set is at 8:30.
Have a good weekend -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Food World: Taste of Thai Express, 528 W. State St.
This will be too short a piece to really qualify as anything-world, and it covers a culinary area we don't know much about, but we never let modesty stop us, around here.
The thing is, we went to Taste of Thai Express on W. State St. this week, and mealed up so nicely that we thought we should publicize it.
Taste of Thai is a little joint at 528 W. State St., in a kind of ramshackle space. Our first impression was that the small, oddly-shaped room would not be conducive to conversation, and we were with friends we hadn't seen for a while. But the space proved comfortable and welcoming in all respects.
The others in my party all know the cuisine, and ordered things I didn't know, and I wish they wrote here, so you could learn about some subleties of this cooking. I ordered the boringest thing, that even novices know, pad thai, because I figured if they don't do that well, it's a sign.
But the dish was delicious in all manner. A calvacade of flavor, fresh spices and garnishes, good chicken and shrimp, and unsticky and light, but filling, noodles.
Everyone at our table was very happy with their selections, which were all different. One was vegetarian. The vegetarian, and I, had more quantity than we could handle, and happily got wrap-ups for the next day's lunch.
The service was friendly and easy-going, but ruthlessly efficient and fast. The prices were modest.
There is no liquor license, and we noticed a guy walk in with a bottle of wine - his only company. They popped it for him and gave him a nice wine glass and he looked content.
Taste of Thai has a website, with menu, at http://www.tastofthaiexpress.com/.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
p.s.: don't miss the Thai iced coffee.
The thing is, we went to Taste of Thai Express on W. State St. this week, and mealed up so nicely that we thought we should publicize it.
Taste of Thai is a little joint at 528 W. State St., in a kind of ramshackle space. Our first impression was that the small, oddly-shaped room would not be conducive to conversation, and we were with friends we hadn't seen for a while. But the space proved comfortable and welcoming in all respects.
The others in my party all know the cuisine, and ordered things I didn't know, and I wish they wrote here, so you could learn about some subleties of this cooking. I ordered the boringest thing, that even novices know, pad thai, because I figured if they don't do that well, it's a sign.
But the dish was delicious in all manner. A calvacade of flavor, fresh spices and garnishes, good chicken and shrimp, and unsticky and light, but filling, noodles.
Everyone at our table was very happy with their selections, which were all different. One was vegetarian. The vegetarian, and I, had more quantity than we could handle, and happily got wrap-ups for the next day's lunch.
The service was friendly and easy-going, but ruthlessly efficient and fast. The prices were modest.
There is no liquor license, and we noticed a guy walk in with a bottle of wine - his only company. They popped it for him and gave him a nice wine glass and he looked content.
Taste of Thai has a website, with menu, at http://www.tastofthaiexpress.com/.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
p.s.: don't miss the Thai iced coffee.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Anita Roddick, Business Activist and Founder of Body Shop, Dies at 64
Anita Roddick, who started The Body Shop chain of cosmetic stores to promote causes such as trade with small-scale, indigenous growers and an end to animal testing, died Monday evening of a brain hemmorage. She was 64.
Ms. Roddick was a maverick entrepreneur determined to show that businesses could do well by doing good. The Body Shop eschewed advertising, promoted and supported myriad environmental and social justice causes, and within 15 years numbered over 2,000 stores in 50 countries.
Ms. Roddick was a pioneer in both the green movement and the Fair Trade movement. She called community trade "the best poverty eradicator in the world."
Ms. Roddick had a brief but profound interaction with Ithaca in 2003, when she worked on a British television documentary on local currencies around the world which included Ithaca Hours. It was by far the best and most incisive of the scores of media treatments of Ithaca Hours over the years. It can be seen at the following site:
www.handsontv.info/series4/cash_no_questions.html
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Ms. Roddick was a maverick entrepreneur determined to show that businesses could do well by doing good. The Body Shop eschewed advertising, promoted and supported myriad environmental and social justice causes, and within 15 years numbered over 2,000 stores in 50 countries.
Ms. Roddick was a pioneer in both the green movement and the Fair Trade movement. She called community trade "the best poverty eradicator in the world."
Ms. Roddick had a brief but profound interaction with Ithaca in 2003, when she worked on a British television documentary on local currencies around the world which included Ithaca Hours. It was by far the best and most incisive of the scores of media treatments of Ithaca Hours over the years. It can be seen at the following site:
www.handsontv.info/series4/cash_no_questions.html
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Nancy Griffith & Mary Lorson , State Theater, Tues. 11 Sept.
The State Theater starts its 2007-08 season on Tuesday, 11 September, with Grammy-winning folk and country musician Nanci Griffith, and local band Saint Low, featuring Mary Lorson.
Nanci Griffith has had a long and prodigious career, but no appearances in Ithaca until now. Her most recent release, "Ruby's Torch", is an album of torch songs she has written, as well as interpretations of songs by Tom Waits, Willie Nelson, Jim Webb, and others.
Griffith's career began in the early 1980's, when her songwriting won her an award at the prestigious Kerrville Festival in Texas. One of her early songs was covered by Kathy Mattea, and went to #3 on the country charts.
She is known for her work with other artists, particularly on her best-selling albums "Other Voices, Other Rooms," volumes 1 and 2, which featured Guy Clark, Richard Thompson, Tom Paxton, Bob Dylan, and others. Dylan asked Griffith to perform "Boots of Spanish Leather" for his 30th anniversary concert and album.
Mary Lorson and Saint Low moved to Ithaca after a successful beginning in New York City. Their piano-driven, elaborately-arranged music is pop music for thinking people. The Mail of London wrote of "Realistic", the band's new album, "Easy on the ear needn't mean mannered and soulless. Lorson's songs and her voice are appealing and unsweetly unsentimental. Her unfancy but neat piano work guides an album which generously rewards close attention."
For information on ticket sales, see the State Theater's website: http://www.stateofithaca.com/.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Nanci Griffith has had a long and prodigious career, but no appearances in Ithaca until now. Her most recent release, "Ruby's Torch", is an album of torch songs she has written, as well as interpretations of songs by Tom Waits, Willie Nelson, Jim Webb, and others.
Griffith's career began in the early 1980's, when her songwriting won her an award at the prestigious Kerrville Festival in Texas. One of her early songs was covered by Kathy Mattea, and went to #3 on the country charts.
She is known for her work with other artists, particularly on her best-selling albums "Other Voices, Other Rooms," volumes 1 and 2, which featured Guy Clark, Richard Thompson, Tom Paxton, Bob Dylan, and others. Dylan asked Griffith to perform "Boots of Spanish Leather" for his 30th anniversary concert and album.
Mary Lorson and Saint Low moved to Ithaca after a successful beginning in New York City. Their piano-driven, elaborately-arranged music is pop music for thinking people. The Mail of London wrote of "Realistic", the band's new album, "Easy on the ear needn't mean mannered and soulless. Lorson's songs and her voice are appealing and unsweetly unsentimental. Her unfancy but neat piano work guides an album which generously rewards close attention."
For information on ticket sales, see the State Theater's website: http://www.stateofithaca.com/.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Friday, September 07, 2007
Summer Weekend Choices, Sept. 7 & 8
Labor Day passes, and the talk in the media is about summer being over, and stores start displaying candy and pumpkins. Meanwhile, there are still weeks of official summer, and then there will be unofficial ones, and today it is 92 degrees.
There is no sanctioned swimming at the state parks after Labor Day, when lifeguards are dismissed. The parking lot people are still there, though, on the weekends, to take the same $6 fee from you as when they are full-serve. That will burn your burgers, won't it?
But the state parks are a luxury you can afford, as they say, and if, when I lived in the concrete city, you told me I could fill a car with friends, and for six bucks total, go to a beautiful lake and swim stealthily and picnic and enjoy natural splendors ten miles from my house, I would have liked that very nicely.
You can do that, this weekend, and if you do, you might see me.
But, at night:
Friday, 9/7: John Brown's Body, with Dub is a Weapon, at Castaways, 8 p.m.
Pete Panek and the Rockers, at 8 p.m. at the Lehigh Valley House - an unusual venue. Also, can Pete be the first guy to think of calling his band, simply, the Rockers? If so, nice going, Pete.
Saturday, 9/8: Shelly King, Kevin Kinsella, and the Sim Redmond Band at the Ithaca Brew Fest in Stewart Park, 4 p.m.-8 p.m. See details in yesterday's Ithaca Blog posting.
J-san and the Analogue Sons, the Chapter House, 10 p.m.
Watch out for the parkies -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
There is no sanctioned swimming at the state parks after Labor Day, when lifeguards are dismissed. The parking lot people are still there, though, on the weekends, to take the same $6 fee from you as when they are full-serve. That will burn your burgers, won't it?
But the state parks are a luxury you can afford, as they say, and if, when I lived in the concrete city, you told me I could fill a car with friends, and for six bucks total, go to a beautiful lake and swim stealthily and picnic and enjoy natural splendors ten miles from my house, I would have liked that very nicely.
You can do that, this weekend, and if you do, you might see me.
But, at night:
Friday, 9/7: John Brown's Body, with Dub is a Weapon, at Castaways, 8 p.m.
Pete Panek and the Rockers, at 8 p.m. at the Lehigh Valley House - an unusual venue. Also, can Pete be the first guy to think of calling his band, simply, the Rockers? If so, nice going, Pete.
Saturday, 9/8: Shelly King, Kevin Kinsella, and the Sim Redmond Band at the Ithaca Brew Fest in Stewart Park, 4 p.m.-8 p.m. See details in yesterday's Ithaca Blog posting.
J-san and the Analogue Sons, the Chapter House, 10 p.m.
Watch out for the parkies -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Brewers' Art at Stewart Park: First Annual Ithaca Brew Fest
Last June, a new Ithaca resident at her first Ithaca Festival told us she couldn't get over the number of people having fun without drinking.
"In New York, you never see this many people at one time without drinking," she said.
So how much fun can one expect at a public event in Ithaca that centrally features beer?
You can find out this Saturday, 8 September, at the first annual Ithaca Brew Fest, at Stewart Park, from 4 to 8 p.m.
The Brew Fest has 30 regional breweries offering samples of their drinks (and, one guesses, six-packs to go). The Ithaca Beer Company is a participant and sponsor.
Other well-known participants include Brooklyn Brewery, Cooperstown Brewery, Magic Hat of Burlington, Roosterfish Brewery of Watkins Glen, and Saranac.
Entertainment is provided by Kevin Kinsella, the Sim Redmond Band, and Shelley King, the first woman ever named the Official State Musician of Texas.
Tickets are $25 in advance, available at Ithaca Beer Company, or $30 at the gate. "Designated driver" tickets for non-drinkers are $10.
The event is sanctioned by the New York State Brewers Association, and sponsored by the Ithaca/Tompkins County Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Ramada Inn is offering a special Brew Fest package of a room, 2 tickets to the Brew Fest, and Sunday brunch for $139.
For more information, see http://www.ithacabrewfest.com/.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Grog
"In New York, you never see this many people at one time without drinking," she said.
So how much fun can one expect at a public event in Ithaca that centrally features beer?
You can find out this Saturday, 8 September, at the first annual Ithaca Brew Fest, at Stewart Park, from 4 to 8 p.m.
The Brew Fest has 30 regional breweries offering samples of their drinks (and, one guesses, six-packs to go). The Ithaca Beer Company is a participant and sponsor.
Other well-known participants include Brooklyn Brewery, Cooperstown Brewery, Magic Hat of Burlington, Roosterfish Brewery of Watkins Glen, and Saranac.
Entertainment is provided by Kevin Kinsella, the Sim Redmond Band, and Shelley King, the first woman ever named the Official State Musician of Texas.
Tickets are $25 in advance, available at Ithaca Beer Company, or $30 at the gate. "Designated driver" tickets for non-drinkers are $10.
The event is sanctioned by the New York State Brewers Association, and sponsored by the Ithaca/Tompkins County Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Ramada Inn is offering a special Brew Fest package of a room, 2 tickets to the Brew Fest, and Sunday brunch for $139.
For more information, see http://www.ithacabrewfest.com/.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Grog
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Surprise Small World Music Review
We write a lot of reviews and publicity at Ithaca Blog, from our desk here at Small World Music, and each of our enterprises here get their share of publicity, too. We saw a brief one recently that we liked particularly (we like brevity, generally), from an on-line guide called Judy's Book.
Small World Music is a bit hard to find, but definitely worth the look. This small space is big in the eclectic quality of selection, especially in the rock, jazz, and blues genres. We've usually managed to find what we want. If what we want isn't in stock, Steve, the owner, will order it. He also gives excellent suggestions for alternatives if you need a gift RIGHT NOW. Often you'll come out of Small World Music with something a bit more interesting. Small World Music also carries used CDs.
Thanks from us at Small World Music to the anonymous author.
Steve Burke
Small World Music and Ithaca Blog
Small World Music is a bit hard to find, but definitely worth the look. This small space is big in the eclectic quality of selection, especially in the rock, jazz, and blues genres. We've usually managed to find what we want. If what we want isn't in stock, Steve, the owner, will order it. He also gives excellent suggestions for alternatives if you need a gift RIGHT NOW. Often you'll come out of Small World Music with something a bit more interesting. Small World Music also carries used CDs.
Thanks from us at Small World Music to the anonymous author.
Steve Burke
Small World Music and Ithaca Blog
Friday, August 31, 2007
Ithaca Weekend, 31 Aug. - 1 Sept.
We are a bit surprised to note that there is not a glut of entertainment this 3-day weekend, when people presumably have more time for fun. Maybe the performers need time off, too.
Friday, 8/31: Richie Stearns and Friends, in the alley at Felicia's Atomic Cafe, "Happy Hour" show, with $2 Yuengling pints and other specials. 5:30 pm.
Johnny Dowd and Fiends (including headliners Tsar), Lost Dog Lounge, 10 pm.
Saturday, 9/1: The Lansing Harbor Festival. This is the first annual, we believe, and it was thwarted by near-tornado like conditions in last Saturday's thunder- and lightning storm. Organizers are betting it won't strike twice. The Burns Sisters perform from 2-4 pm. Other acts include Pete Panek, Tom Knight, and their respective ensembles. For full schedule and details, check http://www.lansingharborfest.org/.
Wingnut and Hank Roberts bring heady, exciting jazz to the Chapter House, 10 pm.
Happy Labor Day -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Friday, 8/31: Richie Stearns and Friends, in the alley at Felicia's Atomic Cafe, "Happy Hour" show, with $2 Yuengling pints and other specials. 5:30 pm.
Johnny Dowd and Fiends (including headliners Tsar), Lost Dog Lounge, 10 pm.
Saturday, 9/1: The Lansing Harbor Festival. This is the first annual, we believe, and it was thwarted by near-tornado like conditions in last Saturday's thunder- and lightning storm. Organizers are betting it won't strike twice. The Burns Sisters perform from 2-4 pm. Other acts include Pete Panek, Tom Knight, and their respective ensembles. For full schedule and details, check http://www.lansingharborfest.org/.
Wingnut and Hank Roberts bring heady, exciting jazz to the Chapter House, 10 pm.
Happy Labor Day -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Major Cause of Cancer Deaths: No Health Insurance
The American Cancer Society will spend its entire advertising budget this year on a campaign citing lack of health insurance, and of access to health care, as a leading cause of cancer deaths.
John Seffrin, chief executive of the society, said in an interview, "I believe, if we don't fix the health care system, that lack of access will be a bigger cancer killer than tobacco."
Despite advances in prevention and treatment, cancer rates are not dropping as rapidly as hoped.
"The ultimate control of cancer is as much a public policy issue as it is a medical and scientific issue," Mr. Seffrin said. 47 million Americans lack health insurance.
Studies show that uninsured cancer patients are twice as likely to receive late diagnoses as insured patients. Late treatment is impeding the cancer society's goal of reducing cancer death rates by 50% between 1990 and 2015. If present trends continue, the goal might be missed by half.
Without increased access to health care, Mr. Seffrin said, cancer "will become the leading cause of death in the world, needlessly," while impovershing afflicted families. Financial ruin comes to one in four uninsured families afflicted by cancer, and one out of five insured families.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
John Seffrin, chief executive of the society, said in an interview, "I believe, if we don't fix the health care system, that lack of access will be a bigger cancer killer than tobacco."
Despite advances in prevention and treatment, cancer rates are not dropping as rapidly as hoped.
"The ultimate control of cancer is as much a public policy issue as it is a medical and scientific issue," Mr. Seffrin said. 47 million Americans lack health insurance.
Studies show that uninsured cancer patients are twice as likely to receive late diagnoses as insured patients. Late treatment is impeding the cancer society's goal of reducing cancer death rates by 50% between 1990 and 2015. If present trends continue, the goal might be missed by half.
Without increased access to health care, Mr. Seffrin said, cancer "will become the leading cause of death in the world, needlessly," while impovershing afflicted families. Financial ruin comes to one in four uninsured families afflicted by cancer, and one out of five insured families.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Bush in New Orleans: What He Didn't Say
In his visit to New Orleans yesterday on the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, President Bush said, "We understand."
He didn't say, "We care."
He understands, all right. He understands that New Orleans is not to his liking: culturally, politically, or demographically. He understands it is a city that is largely impoverished and non-white. That means low priority. Real, real low.
President Bush doesn't know any poor or working-class non-white people and he sure doesn't want to start now, with any who are in crisis.
He understands that no one can really make him do anything, so he sure won't, except visit on anniversaries, and get photographed moving around the city a little, and then get out. Fast.
The last time he visited, he was barely there. He didn't stay in the city. He stayed on an aircraft carrier in the Gulf of Mexico.
Hurricane Katrina was a natural disaster. It didn't have to be a catastrophe of years, with no end in sight. As in Iraq, for that you need George Bush, who simply doesn't care.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
He didn't say, "We care."
He understands, all right. He understands that New Orleans is not to his liking: culturally, politically, or demographically. He understands it is a city that is largely impoverished and non-white. That means low priority. Real, real low.
President Bush doesn't know any poor or working-class non-white people and he sure doesn't want to start now, with any who are in crisis.
He understands that no one can really make him do anything, so he sure won't, except visit on anniversaries, and get photographed moving around the city a little, and then get out. Fast.
The last time he visited, he was barely there. He didn't stay in the city. He stayed on an aircraft carrier in the Gulf of Mexico.
Hurricane Katrina was a natural disaster. It didn't have to be a catastrophe of years, with no end in sight. As in Iraq, for that you need George Bush, who simply doesn't care.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Post-Katrina Help from Ithaca
The second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina has arrived, and the situation in New Orleans is still dire, as federal aid stays stagnant.
As is often true, however, ordinary people are taking extraordinary measures to act where leaders fail.
In Ithaca this past weekend, the Rotary club held one in a series of rummage sales to raise funds to bring supplies and workers from Ithaca to the Mississippi coast.
The group Love Knows No Bounds conducts similar relief efforts for New Orleans, particularly the city's Seventh Ward. The group is working with the city of Ithaca to create a "sister city" relationship with the ward to formalize and co-ordinate relief work.
Ithaca Hours, the local currency system, is negotiating a place in the proposed relationship, with the goal of bringing a local currency system to New Orleans, to replace absent dollars in New Orleans, and resusicate their local economy.
A local currency can be a particularly potent tool in a situation where there are great needs, and people and resources to meet needs for labor and trade, but no dollars to connect them. A local currency system in New Orleans would be a systematic way to create and perpetuate economic vitality.
A proposal for a New Orleans currency will be reaching Mayor Ray Nagin soon - perhaps sometime this week. Ithaca Blog will have first news of all developments.
Meanwhile - find out more about Love Knows No Bounds at http://www.loveknowsnobounds.org,/ and Ithaca Hours at http://www.ithacahours.org/.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
As is often true, however, ordinary people are taking extraordinary measures to act where leaders fail.
In Ithaca this past weekend, the Rotary club held one in a series of rummage sales to raise funds to bring supplies and workers from Ithaca to the Mississippi coast.
The group Love Knows No Bounds conducts similar relief efforts for New Orleans, particularly the city's Seventh Ward. The group is working with the city of Ithaca to create a "sister city" relationship with the ward to formalize and co-ordinate relief work.
Ithaca Hours, the local currency system, is negotiating a place in the proposed relationship, with the goal of bringing a local currency system to New Orleans, to replace absent dollars in New Orleans, and resusicate their local economy.
A local currency can be a particularly potent tool in a situation where there are great needs, and people and resources to meet needs for labor and trade, but no dollars to connect them. A local currency system in New Orleans would be a systematic way to create and perpetuate economic vitality.
A proposal for a New Orleans currency will be reaching Mayor Ray Nagin soon - perhaps sometime this week. Ithaca Blog will have first news of all developments.
Meanwhile - find out more about Love Knows No Bounds at http://www.loveknowsnobounds.org,/ and Ithaca Hours at http://www.ithacahours.org/.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Friday, August 24, 2007
Weekend Picks, Aug. 24 - 26
Friday, 8/24: We wouldn't call a band the best of its type you might ever hear just because we have relatives in the band. Would we?
There's no way to know, in this case, because Burke, Burke, & Bone really are the best acoustic country blues band you might ever hear. They do originals, and classic material by Charlie Patton, Rev. Gary Davis, John Hurt, Fred McDowell, the Mississippi Shieks, and others. They play it right, with a lot of technical skill, and a lot of love for the music and the good times it brings, which is just as important. Free "Happy Hour" show, Friday at 6 p.m. in the alley at Felicia's Atomic Lounge, next to Gimme Coffee , 508 W. State St.
Saturday, 8/25: Country rock and rock rock original music from Hubcap and the Splendors, Castaways, 10 p.m.
Roots rock at two locations in Trumansburg: the El Caminos at the Pourhouse, 7 p.m., and the Billy Eli Band at the Rongo, 10 p.m.
Sunday 8/26: It's just a coincidence, we think, that the other fine acoustic country blues performer in Ithaca is - no relation - Gerard Burke. Performing at ABC Cafe's brunch, 11 a.m.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
There's no way to know, in this case, because Burke, Burke, & Bone really are the best acoustic country blues band you might ever hear. They do originals, and classic material by Charlie Patton, Rev. Gary Davis, John Hurt, Fred McDowell, the Mississippi Shieks, and others. They play it right, with a lot of technical skill, and a lot of love for the music and the good times it brings, which is just as important. Free "Happy Hour" show, Friday at 6 p.m. in the alley at Felicia's Atomic Lounge, next to Gimme Coffee , 508 W. State St.
Saturday, 8/25: Country rock and rock rock original music from Hubcap and the Splendors, Castaways, 10 p.m.
Roots rock at two locations in Trumansburg: the El Caminos at the Pourhouse, 7 p.m., and the Billy Eli Band at the Rongo, 10 p.m.
Sunday 8/26: It's just a coincidence, we think, that the other fine acoustic country blues performer in Ithaca is - no relation - Gerard Burke. Performing at ABC Cafe's brunch, 11 a.m.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Another Unsurprising Headline
This is a little too easy to include as a regular Blog feature (see last Saturday's post), but here's another unsurprising headline from the world of politics. From today's New York Times:
Now a Lobbyist, an Ex-Senator Uses Campaign Money
Since leaving Congress, Robert G. Torricelli has made donations from his Senate campaign chest to politicans with influence over his business interests.
Now a Lobbyist, an Ex-Senator Uses Campaign Money
Since leaving Congress, Robert G. Torricelli has made donations from his Senate campaign chest to politicans with influence over his business interests.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Musefest: August 24 - 26
Musefest, the self-styled "best end-of-summer party in the Northeast," comes to Newhart's Lodge in Newfield this weekend, 24 - 26 August.
Musefest focuses on regional talent, and has quite a roster: Jsan and the Analogue Suns, Thousands of One, Five2, Blue Sky Mission Club, the Settlers, Seth Feldman, Urban Horse Thieves, the Native Earthling Band, Linda Stout, Pete Panek and the Blue Cats, Alan Rose, Technicolor Trailer Park, and many more.
It's the 8th annual show for Musefest, which has gone through changes of format, locale, and policies in trying to present the best possible show in the best possible environment.
The shadow of the GrassRoots Festival looms over Musefest, which has struggled with a smaller-sibling status, and also the issue of possible festival fatigue among the 15,000 attendees of GrassRoots, about a month before.
There's only one way to see if Musefest is for you, and to help it progress, and that's to go.
Admission is $45 at the gate, and $30 in advance from Small World Music, at 614 W. State St., 256-0428. Advance tickets are still available at Small World as of Friday, 8/24.
More information is available at Musefest's website, http://www.musefest.org/.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Musefest focuses on regional talent, and has quite a roster: Jsan and the Analogue Suns, Thousands of One, Five2, Blue Sky Mission Club, the Settlers, Seth Feldman, Urban Horse Thieves, the Native Earthling Band, Linda Stout, Pete Panek and the Blue Cats, Alan Rose, Technicolor Trailer Park, and many more.
It's the 8th annual show for Musefest, which has gone through changes of format, locale, and policies in trying to present the best possible show in the best possible environment.
The shadow of the GrassRoots Festival looms over Musefest, which has struggled with a smaller-sibling status, and also the issue of possible festival fatigue among the 15,000 attendees of GrassRoots, about a month before.
There's only one way to see if Musefest is for you, and to help it progress, and that's to go.
Admission is $45 at the gate, and $30 in advance from Small World Music, at 614 W. State St., 256-0428. Advance tickets are still available at Small World as of Friday, 8/24.
More information is available at Musefest's website, http://www.musefest.org/.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
GrassRoots Reprise at the Fairgrounds Tonight
The GrassRoots Festival plays an evening's reprise tonight at the Trumansburg Fairgrounds, as part of the venerable Fairgrounds' other major annual event, the Trumansburg Fair, which precedes GrassRoots by 14 decades or so.
Participating in this show of respect and affection for the Fair are "the GrassRoots All-Stars," a fittingly ragtag crew of local luminaries that includes Sim Redmond, Tara Nevins, Jeb Puryear, Johnny Dowd, Jennie Stearns, Kevin Kinsella, Pat Burke, Gregor Sayet-Bone, Amy Glicklich, Timmy "Luscious" Brown, and many others.
The concert starts at 7 and will go until midnight. Admission to the Fair is $4, and includes the show.
The rest of the Fair is also a trip, with a Ferris wheel, and many other rides whose names don't get capitalized, or maybe they do (Tilt-A-Whirl?). Chances to win kewpie dolls in games of skill also abound, as do funnel cakes.
You don't really know the Fairgrounds until you've been to the Fair, so take a shot. This is the first year there is no extra charge for the music.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Participating in this show of respect and affection for the Fair are "the GrassRoots All-Stars," a fittingly ragtag crew of local luminaries that includes Sim Redmond, Tara Nevins, Jeb Puryear, Johnny Dowd, Jennie Stearns, Kevin Kinsella, Pat Burke, Gregor Sayet-Bone, Amy Glicklich, Timmy "Luscious" Brown, and many others.
The concert starts at 7 and will go until midnight. Admission to the Fair is $4, and includes the show.
The rest of the Fair is also a trip, with a Ferris wheel, and many other rides whose names don't get capitalized, or maybe they do (Tilt-A-Whirl?). Chances to win kewpie dolls in games of skill also abound, as do funnel cakes.
You don't really know the Fairgrounds until you've been to the Fair, so take a shot. This is the first year there is no extra charge for the music.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Least Surprising Headline of the Month
Do you sometimes think there's so much to think about that you don't have time for it all?
Well, here's one news item you don't have to spend too much time with. From today's New York Times:
"Spurning Criticism, Rove Puts Blame on Democrats"
The amazing thing is that at least one writer and one editor thought this was a story.
Have a good weekend -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Well, here's one news item you don't have to spend too much time with. From today's New York Times:
"Spurning Criticism, Rove Puts Blame on Democrats"
The amazing thing is that at least one writer and one editor thought this was a story.
Have a good weekend -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Friday, August 17, 2007
Review: the New Movie Theater at the Mall
There are usually better things to do on a summer weekend than go see a mainstream movie at a mall, but we owe it to our Ithaca Blog public to review such things as the new movie theater at The Mall Formerly Known as Pyramid, so we made time last weekend.
There is a confusing new name for the mall. It was called Pyramid Mall since its inception in the late 1970's. (Or Pyramid Maul, by some who disparaged the car-centered drain of retail sales, jobs, and taxes from the city of Ithaca to the suburb of Lansing.) Now it has a fancy new name that is a little too long and non-descript to remember.
The name of the movie theater is also a challenge. In my old neighborhood we want to the Rugby. This one is offically called Regals Cinema Ithaca Mall Stadium 14.
It's "14" because there are 14 screens. Not 14 good movies, in fact maybe not even 2 at present, but 14 screens.
It's "stadium" because they have "stadium" seats. Pretty nice seats. They are big, and they rock back a little. The "stadium" design means that each row is substantially higher than the one before it, so you barely even notice anyone in front of you, even tall guys. The head ahead of you is at your knee level.
It is also, maybe, "stadium" because, like at a stadium, they have vendors. Three vendors come into the theater before the movie (after the 15 minutes of commercials, public service announcements from AT&T to shut off the device of theirs they hope you have on you, etc.), with a rolling cart of snacks, in case you possibly missed the concession stand in the lobby, which is as big as a train station.
One of the vendors addresses the audience about this snack selection, and informs you that these other two vendors are ready to perform wonderful running action to go get any other ingestibles you might possibly desire. What I personally desired was a luxury Dove brand candy bar for 87 cents from Target, down the hall, but I didn't have to ask them if they would go get that, because I got one for myself on the way in to the mall.
The other reason it might be stadium is that, relatively speaking, it is expensive, like going to modern stadia. The movie is $9.50, same as most Manhattan theaters, though the rents and other operating costs are presumably higher in Manhattan than in Lansing.
The smallest popcorn is $4.50, but don't worry, it is not a small, because even though it is the smallest, it is called a Large.
This could insult your intelligence, but I guess they are willing to take that chance, considering that the mainstream movie you are about to see there could insult the intelligence of a zebra.
The popcorn is not bad, though. We ordered a small (i.e. Large), and it was enough for two. It was pretty fresh-tasting and, you know, you have to eat popcorn at the movies every once in a while, on the macrobiotic principle of eating foods indigenous to your environment, even if it is a temporary, 2-hour environment.
If they can keep that popcorn fresh-tasting, and keep the theaters comfortable and clean, we will not begrudge them the prices. Honest, we won't. Talking about it publicly here is our job, but we won't begrudge. And we'll go up there once in a while to rock in the comfortable seats, oblivious to our neighbors, and us to them. But we would go a lot more frequently if they scouted out a few more things worth seeing. Honest, we would.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
There is a confusing new name for the mall. It was called Pyramid Mall since its inception in the late 1970's. (Or Pyramid Maul, by some who disparaged the car-centered drain of retail sales, jobs, and taxes from the city of Ithaca to the suburb of Lansing.) Now it has a fancy new name that is a little too long and non-descript to remember.
The name of the movie theater is also a challenge. In my old neighborhood we want to the Rugby. This one is offically called Regals Cinema Ithaca Mall Stadium 14.
It's "14" because there are 14 screens. Not 14 good movies, in fact maybe not even 2 at present, but 14 screens.
It's "stadium" because they have "stadium" seats. Pretty nice seats. They are big, and they rock back a little. The "stadium" design means that each row is substantially higher than the one before it, so you barely even notice anyone in front of you, even tall guys. The head ahead of you is at your knee level.
It is also, maybe, "stadium" because, like at a stadium, they have vendors. Three vendors come into the theater before the movie (after the 15 minutes of commercials, public service announcements from AT&T to shut off the device of theirs they hope you have on you, etc.), with a rolling cart of snacks, in case you possibly missed the concession stand in the lobby, which is as big as a train station.
One of the vendors addresses the audience about this snack selection, and informs you that these other two vendors are ready to perform wonderful running action to go get any other ingestibles you might possibly desire. What I personally desired was a luxury Dove brand candy bar for 87 cents from Target, down the hall, but I didn't have to ask them if they would go get that, because I got one for myself on the way in to the mall.
The other reason it might be stadium is that, relatively speaking, it is expensive, like going to modern stadia. The movie is $9.50, same as most Manhattan theaters, though the rents and other operating costs are presumably higher in Manhattan than in Lansing.
The smallest popcorn is $4.50, but don't worry, it is not a small, because even though it is the smallest, it is called a Large.
This could insult your intelligence, but I guess they are willing to take that chance, considering that the mainstream movie you are about to see there could insult the intelligence of a zebra.
The popcorn is not bad, though. We ordered a small (i.e. Large), and it was enough for two. It was pretty fresh-tasting and, you know, you have to eat popcorn at the movies every once in a while, on the macrobiotic principle of eating foods indigenous to your environment, even if it is a temporary, 2-hour environment.
If they can keep that popcorn fresh-tasting, and keep the theaters comfortable and clean, we will not begrudge them the prices. Honest, we won't. Talking about it publicly here is our job, but we won't begrudge. And we'll go up there once in a while to rock in the comfortable seats, oblivious to our neighbors, and us to them. But we would go a lot more frequently if they scouted out a few more things worth seeing. Honest, we would.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Weekend Picks, Aug. 17 - 19
Friday, 8/17: Students are back - freshman, anyway - thus, shows are back at the Nines in Collegetown. Tonight, at 10 p.m., it's Mectapus, who do not play as often as they might. Dirty Linen magazine reviewed their self-titled CD thusly:
This seven-piece ensemble from Ithaca, New York, integrates world, jazz, Latin, and rock influences into an original blend. Eric Aceto's violin is the main focus in most of the tunes, with acoustic and electric guitars, keyboards, bass, drums, and percussion rounding out the complex sound. Tunes range from melodic and slow, to others with jazzy time changes, to King Crimson-like free-form jams, all of which the band plays with ease.
The CD is available at Small World Music.
Saturday, 8/18: Liz Berlin, singer for Rusted Root, does solo work too, and tonight she comes to Castaways, 8 p.m.
Mary Lorson and Saint Low are at the Chapter House, 10 p.m. (Watch for Mary and the boys at the State Theater on Sept. 11, opening for Nanci Griffith.)
Sunday, 8/19: Kelly Birtch, at brunch at the ABC Cafe. Kelly has a new CD, which she brought a demo copy of to Small World Music, and we think she is probably the best and most entertaining guitarist in Ithaca. She does original material, largely influenced by flamenco, and plays covers you will know, which are artfully chosen and rendered. 11 a.m.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
This seven-piece ensemble from Ithaca, New York, integrates world, jazz, Latin, and rock influences into an original blend. Eric Aceto's violin is the main focus in most of the tunes, with acoustic and electric guitars, keyboards, bass, drums, and percussion rounding out the complex sound. Tunes range from melodic and slow, to others with jazzy time changes, to King Crimson-like free-form jams, all of which the band plays with ease.
The CD is available at Small World Music.
Saturday, 8/18: Liz Berlin, singer for Rusted Root, does solo work too, and tonight she comes to Castaways, 8 p.m.
Mary Lorson and Saint Low are at the Chapter House, 10 p.m. (Watch for Mary and the boys at the State Theater on Sept. 11, opening for Nanci Griffith.)
Sunday, 8/19: Kelly Birtch, at brunch at the ABC Cafe. Kelly has a new CD, which she brought a demo copy of to Small World Music, and we think she is probably the best and most entertaining guitarist in Ithaca. She does original material, largely influenced by flamenco, and plays covers you will know, which are artfully chosen and rendered. 11 a.m.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Big Block Party Tonight on Aurora Street
The city and the Downtown Business Partnership are throwing a big block party tonight to celebrate the re-opening of the Aurora Street bridge above Six Mile Creek, and the 100 block of N. Aurora Street, between State and Seneca Streets.
Music will be provided by IY at 5 p.m., and the Horseflies at 7.
There will also be roving street performers such as jugglers, magicians, and stilt-walkers.
The bridge and the street have been closed since the spring for repairs and renovation. The most noteable change is the elimination of most parking spots on the block, to accomodate larger sidewalks for expanded outdoor dining on a street now being promoted as Restaurant Row.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Music will be provided by IY at 5 p.m., and the Horseflies at 7.
There will also be roving street performers such as jugglers, magicians, and stilt-walkers.
The bridge and the street have been closed since the spring for repairs and renovation. The most noteable change is the elimination of most parking spots on the block, to accomodate larger sidewalks for expanded outdoor dining on a street now being promoted as Restaurant Row.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
The Future for Ithaca's Water: From Six Mile Creek or Cayuga Lake?
The city of Ithaca is on the verge of an historic decision: whether to keep the Six Mile Creek reservoir system as its water source, or switch to Cayuga Lake.
To stay in service, the century-old reservoir system needs considerable modernization, including the addition of new access roads through its woodland setting. The alternative is to partner with the Town of Ithaca's exisiting water source, Bolton Point, at Cayuga Lake.
From an engineering and environmental standpoint, a switch to Bolton Point might be simpler and lower-impact, although significant expansion of the system will be necessary.
From a governance standpoint, a move to Bolton Point is potentially troublesome, as the city of Ithaca would no longer have sole autonomy over its water source.
From a political standpoint, there is likely to be strong public sentiment to retain the site at Six Mile Creek. Preliminary studies indicate little difference in water quality between the two sources. But the protected nature of the reservoir watershed creates the perception that it is a safer, purer site.
The historical nature of the Six Mile Creek site might also be a political factor that is perhaps emotional in nature, yet real. It is a municipal asset that people might resist losing - regardless of whether or not it is the best choice.
The acronym NIMBY is well known in the politics of development: "Not In My Back Yard." The idea of a shift from Six Mile Creek might lead to a new one that is less pronounceable, perhaps irrational, yet potent: IJDLI, or "I Just Don't Like the Idea."
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
To stay in service, the century-old reservoir system needs considerable modernization, including the addition of new access roads through its woodland setting. The alternative is to partner with the Town of Ithaca's exisiting water source, Bolton Point, at Cayuga Lake.
From an engineering and environmental standpoint, a switch to Bolton Point might be simpler and lower-impact, although significant expansion of the system will be necessary.
From a governance standpoint, a move to Bolton Point is potentially troublesome, as the city of Ithaca would no longer have sole autonomy over its water source.
From a political standpoint, there is likely to be strong public sentiment to retain the site at Six Mile Creek. Preliminary studies indicate little difference in water quality between the two sources. But the protected nature of the reservoir watershed creates the perception that it is a safer, purer site.
The historical nature of the Six Mile Creek site might also be a political factor that is perhaps emotional in nature, yet real. It is a municipal asset that people might resist losing - regardless of whether or not it is the best choice.
The acronym NIMBY is well known in the politics of development: "Not In My Back Yard." The idea of a shift from Six Mile Creek might lead to a new one that is less pronounceable, perhaps irrational, yet potent: IJDLI, or "I Just Don't Like the Idea."
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Friday, August 10, 2007
Weekend Picks, August 10 - 12
Friday 8/10: The Haunt continues its diverse and energetic programming with Kaplan-Shaw Blues Band at 6:30, and a dj-hosted salsa dance party ("Salsa, Salsa, y Mas Salsa") at 10.
Keeping pace, Castaways also has a blues band early, 505 Blues, at 5 p.m., and a nighttime show, at 9:30, featuring local boys the Fuzz Brothers, and IY.
Saturday 8/11: Don't miss what is likely to be a peak week at the Farmer's Market. Tomatoes? Corn? Peaches? Find out starting at 9 a.m.
Black Castle brings its popular 21st century reggae to the Chapter House, 10 p.m.
Sunday 8/12: ABC Cafe has one of the best Sunday brunches in town (Cafe Dewitt has the other) ; ABC also has live music for your brunching pleasure. Kitchen Chair is a 2-woman ensemble of guitar and fiddle. Performance starts at 11, but be warned, tables start filling up with the ravenous pretty nicely by 10.
On the right side of Nashville, there was Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton; Ernest Tubb and Loretta Lynn; and of course Johnny Cash and June Carter. On the wrong side, there are Johnny Dowd and Kim Sherwood Caso. Felicia's Atomic Lounge, 7 pm.
Keeping pace, Castaways also has a blues band early, 505 Blues, at 5 p.m., and a nighttime show, at 9:30, featuring local boys the Fuzz Brothers, and IY.
Saturday 8/11: Don't miss what is likely to be a peak week at the Farmer's Market. Tomatoes? Corn? Peaches? Find out starting at 9 a.m.
Black Castle brings its popular 21st century reggae to the Chapter House, 10 p.m.
Sunday 8/12: ABC Cafe has one of the best Sunday brunches in town (Cafe Dewitt has the other) ; ABC also has live music for your brunching pleasure. Kitchen Chair is a 2-woman ensemble of guitar and fiddle. Performance starts at 11, but be warned, tables start filling up with the ravenous pretty nicely by 10.
On the right side of Nashville, there was Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton; Ernest Tubb and Loretta Lynn; and of course Johnny Cash and June Carter. On the wrong side, there are Johnny Dowd and Kim Sherwood Caso. Felicia's Atomic Lounge, 7 pm.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Drop-In Center Gets Funding, Avoids Closing
In the spirit, perhaps, of it takes a county to raise a child, the Tompkins County Legislature last night allocated $50,000 to the Drop-In Children's Center to prevent the Center from closing.
The Drop-In Children's Center provides child care on a sliding scale for up to 84 children, including 18 slots left open for emergency drop-in services.
The Center has pressing financial needs from an expansion in 2005, and an increase in service to low-income families paying on the lower end of the sliding scale fee structure.
Dozens of people came to the meeting to advocate for the funding, which passed by a 9-5 vote.
County Chair Tim Joseph explained that the county has the necessary funding available in its contingency fund, which exists to aid in emergency situations.
The Center has operated in Ithaca's northside neighborhood since the 1970's, when it started as a parents' cooperative. Today it is run by a professional staff, with opportunities for parents to work for child care credit.
The Center still has another $50,000-plus in debt, and community help is still crucial.
The Center has a fundraising CD set, "Families Are a Rainbow," produced by local musicians. The 2-CD set costs $19.95, and is available at Small World Music. 100% of the purchase price goes to the Center. The compilation recording includes songs by The Horse Flies, Mamadou Diabate, Amy Glicklich, Annie and Amelia Burns, Mbusi, Tom Knight, Cornerstone, Vitamin L, Radio London, and others.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
The Drop-In Children's Center provides child care on a sliding scale for up to 84 children, including 18 slots left open for emergency drop-in services.
The Center has pressing financial needs from an expansion in 2005, and an increase in service to low-income families paying on the lower end of the sliding scale fee structure.
Dozens of people came to the meeting to advocate for the funding, which passed by a 9-5 vote.
County Chair Tim Joseph explained that the county has the necessary funding available in its contingency fund, which exists to aid in emergency situations.
The Center has operated in Ithaca's northside neighborhood since the 1970's, when it started as a parents' cooperative. Today it is run by a professional staff, with opportunities for parents to work for child care credit.
The Center still has another $50,000-plus in debt, and community help is still crucial.
The Center has a fundraising CD set, "Families Are a Rainbow," produced by local musicians. The 2-CD set costs $19.95, and is available at Small World Music. 100% of the purchase price goes to the Center. The compilation recording includes songs by The Horse Flies, Mamadou Diabate, Amy Glicklich, Annie and Amelia Burns, Mbusi, Tom Knight, Cornerstone, Vitamin L, Radio London, and others.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Saturday, August 04, 2007
What, Now We Shouldn't Drink Bottled Water?
W.C. Fields wouldn't have this problem. He never drank water, he once said, because of the things fish do in it.
Of course, W.C. was no paragon of health, and we know that drinking plenty of fresh, clean water is an excellent health habit.
But Americans today are drinking four billion gallons of water a year in store-bought, individual-serving bottles, and the commercial water industry is turning into an environmental health hazard.
Water bottles are a petroleum-based product. It takes 1.5 million barrels of oil to make the water bottles Americans use each year. That's as much fuel as 100,000 cars use.
It also takes a lot of fuel to transport those billions of pounds of water from the source, to the distributor, to the retailer, to the consumer.
Unlike beer and soda, bottled water is exempt from deposit and redemption programs. Almost 80 percent are thrown away rather than recycled.
It's a lot of waste simply for the convenience of a bottle. In most places, commercial water is not superior to the water from the tap. In fact, in many cases it is water from the tap.
It's also a waste of money. Someone choosing commercial water for their eight recommended servings a day will spend well over $1,000 a year. The same amount of tap water costs less than a dollar.
This summer, San Francisco prohibited its city agencies and departments from spending money on bottled water. The mayor noted that the city's municipal water is "some of the most pristine on the planet."
Then, of course, there are the larger geo-political issues of private companies potentially seeking to buy up sources of this most necessary, public resource for commercial gain.
So don't be like W.C., but also don't believe the rap, or fall into the trap. Instead, turn on the tap.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Of course, W.C. was no paragon of health, and we know that drinking plenty of fresh, clean water is an excellent health habit.
But Americans today are drinking four billion gallons of water a year in store-bought, individual-serving bottles, and the commercial water industry is turning into an environmental health hazard.
Water bottles are a petroleum-based product. It takes 1.5 million barrels of oil to make the water bottles Americans use each year. That's as much fuel as 100,000 cars use.
It also takes a lot of fuel to transport those billions of pounds of water from the source, to the distributor, to the retailer, to the consumer.
Unlike beer and soda, bottled water is exempt from deposit and redemption programs. Almost 80 percent are thrown away rather than recycled.
It's a lot of waste simply for the convenience of a bottle. In most places, commercial water is not superior to the water from the tap. In fact, in many cases it is water from the tap.
It's also a waste of money. Someone choosing commercial water for their eight recommended servings a day will spend well over $1,000 a year. The same amount of tap water costs less than a dollar.
This summer, San Francisco prohibited its city agencies and departments from spending money on bottled water. The mayor noted that the city's municipal water is "some of the most pristine on the planet."
Then, of course, there are the larger geo-political issues of private companies potentially seeking to buy up sources of this most necessary, public resource for commercial gain.
So don't be like W.C., but also don't believe the rap, or fall into the trap. Instead, turn on the tap.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Friday, August 03, 2007
Weekend Picks, Aug. 3 & 4: Battle of the Bars
The focus on local entertainment this weekend is not so much on the artists, but the venues, as the Haunt holds its heralded Re-Opening (without having ever actually closed), and Castaways aims to keep pace, with a large roster of performers each night.
It will be interesting to see where Thousands of One actually go, as both venues are claiming them on Friday night. The Haunt is also advertising Kevin Kinsella, and Mbusi, and Castaways Rising Sun, Yacouba Diarra, Eliot Rich, and Ezekiel.
On Saturday, Castaways lists Thousands of One again, with Void Union. The 9 pm show is billed as a benefit for the Multicultural Resource Center. The Haunt throws in the towel in the T. of One stakes, with Fairway and Seth Feldman.
The Chapter House weighs in on Saturday, with a rare show by Plastic Nebraska.
Urban Horse Thieves perform outdoors at Taughannock Park's lovely Saturday night series, at 7 pm. Admission is free, but parking is $5.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
It will be interesting to see where Thousands of One actually go, as both venues are claiming them on Friday night. The Haunt is also advertising Kevin Kinsella, and Mbusi, and Castaways Rising Sun, Yacouba Diarra, Eliot Rich, and Ezekiel.
On Saturday, Castaways lists Thousands of One again, with Void Union. The 9 pm show is billed as a benefit for the Multicultural Resource Center. The Haunt throws in the towel in the T. of One stakes, with Fairway and Seth Feldman.
The Chapter House weighs in on Saturday, with a rare show by Plastic Nebraska.
Urban Horse Thieves perform outdoors at Taughannock Park's lovely Saturday night series, at 7 pm. Admission is free, but parking is $5.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Local Organic Flowers From Three Sisters Farm
Funny how people will stop into a coffee bar, or bar, or bakery to buy themselves a treat they deserve, but don't often treat themselves to flowers.
Maybe it is the relative inaccessibility of the commodity, or maybe it's just an unfamiliar notion.
Whatever the reason, Three Sisters Farm is hoping to change it.
Three Sisters Farm is beginning retail sale of flower bouquets that are grown locally and organically. They will be at the Farmers Market on Thursdays, from 3 - 7 pm.
Mary Loehr of Three Sisters answered a few questions from Ithaca Blog.
Ithaca Blog: Where is Three Sisters Farm?
Mary: We grow the flowers on Snyder Hill Road, on land that we rent.
IB: Is it strictly flowers?
Mary: No - we have a vegetable farm, a CSA with 25 or so subscribers. I read an excellent book, "The Organic Flower Farmer," and began growing flowers for subscribers. We still have space for subscribers, and enough to sell retail, hence Farmers Market.
IB: And Three Sisters is an organic flower farm.
Mary: Yes. Flowers are a huge source of pesticide use. Buying local and organic is safer for all involved. In our case, it's a chance for people to support a woman-owned, small organic farm.
Mary's partners in Three Sisters Farm are Aro Veno, Rebecca Nellenback, and Amy Garbincus. They plan to be at Farmers Market on Thursdays through September.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Maybe it is the relative inaccessibility of the commodity, or maybe it's just an unfamiliar notion.
Whatever the reason, Three Sisters Farm is hoping to change it.
Three Sisters Farm is beginning retail sale of flower bouquets that are grown locally and organically. They will be at the Farmers Market on Thursdays, from 3 - 7 pm.
Mary Loehr of Three Sisters answered a few questions from Ithaca Blog.
Ithaca Blog: Where is Three Sisters Farm?
Mary: We grow the flowers on Snyder Hill Road, on land that we rent.
IB: Is it strictly flowers?
Mary: No - we have a vegetable farm, a CSA with 25 or so subscribers. I read an excellent book, "The Organic Flower Farmer," and began growing flowers for subscribers. We still have space for subscribers, and enough to sell retail, hence Farmers Market.
IB: And Three Sisters is an organic flower farm.
Mary: Yes. Flowers are a huge source of pesticide use. Buying local and organic is safer for all involved. In our case, it's a chance for people to support a woman-owned, small organic farm.
Mary's partners in Three Sisters Farm are Aro Veno, Rebecca Nellenback, and Amy Garbincus. They plan to be at Farmers Market on Thursdays through September.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
"Respect Yourself": Stax Records Documentary on PBS Tonight
The "Great Performances" series on public television tonight airs "Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story." If you know the Stax story, you know how much you will enjoy its depiction. If you don't, you owe it to yourself to find out.
Stax Records was a homegrown label from Memphis in the 1960's with such stars as Otis Redding, Booker T. and the MGs, Sam and Dave, Isaac Hayes, the Staples Singers, and many others. It was a fledgling operation run by friends and colleagues who believed in their ability to produce good music and compete in that era's heady marketplace of radio, records, and performance.
Motown, its more famous, less funky counterpart in Detroit, eclipsed Stax with enormous success courting the young white audience. Stax never consciously courted any market, except the market for good, soulful music. While never disparaging commercial success, with Stax the mission was, first, the music.
The mission was also social. Stax operated out of a renovated, abandoned movie house in a racially mixed downtown area. Segregation was law at the time, but Stax ignored it. Blacks and whites worked together in every aspect of the business.
The triumphs were profound, though fleeting, with the death of Otis Redding, Stax's biggest star, in an airplane crash in 1967 at age 26 (he died before the release of his biggest hit, "(Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay"), and a subsequent series of business downturns. But the artistic and social triumphs live on, as recounted in this important and exciting documentary.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Stax Records was a homegrown label from Memphis in the 1960's with such stars as Otis Redding, Booker T. and the MGs, Sam and Dave, Isaac Hayes, the Staples Singers, and many others. It was a fledgling operation run by friends and colleagues who believed in their ability to produce good music and compete in that era's heady marketplace of radio, records, and performance.
Motown, its more famous, less funky counterpart in Detroit, eclipsed Stax with enormous success courting the young white audience. Stax never consciously courted any market, except the market for good, soulful music. While never disparaging commercial success, with Stax the mission was, first, the music.
The mission was also social. Stax operated out of a renovated, abandoned movie house in a racially mixed downtown area. Segregation was law at the time, but Stax ignored it. Blacks and whites worked together in every aspect of the business.
The triumphs were profound, though fleeting, with the death of Otis Redding, Stax's biggest star, in an airplane crash in 1967 at age 26 (he died before the release of his biggest hit, "(Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay"), and a subsequent series of business downturns. But the artistic and social triumphs live on, as recounted in this important and exciting documentary.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Travelogue: The Irish Kingdom in the Northeast Catskills
We snuck away for another brief vacation this past weekend, and therefore have nothing to report about Ithaca, until we get back into the swing of things, and there seems to be a lot to cover, between southwest development, water sources, the November elections, etc.
What we have to offer right now is a description of the section of New York northeast of Catskills Park. That's where we went, and had never been before. If you're like us, you're curious about places you've never been, especially places so close and yet so far, so here is the story on the area.
We went there for a big gathering of high school and college friends who still stick together, after decades. Two of our gang just bought 90 remote acres, and it was big enough for our group; with about 100 of us attending, we had about an acre apiece. Of course, most of the action took place on a central parcel where, among other things, a stage was built. We like to perform.
The area altogether is remote. The main thing of note is a large ski operation in Windham. We were just north of there, in a town called Durham, where there is a notable Irish cultural center, with music performances and classes.
Probably the most notable thing of all is the Irish identity of the area. It is like a living, Irish theme park. There are signposts in Gaelic, shamrocks on business signs, and a lot of restaurants and motels called Hogan's, Gavin's, Mickey's, the Four Green Fields, and like that. People have brogues.
Our motel-keeper said that, for decades, Irish from New York City have been attracted to the rural, rolling hills there, similar to the home landscape. We suspect they were also attracted by land prices cheaper than on the southern side of Catskills Park, which is much closer to the city.
The relative inaccessibility seems to have kept the area from much snazzy development. There are miniature golf courses galore, from the 1950's it seems, and unrefurbished since then. We played at one called Supersonic Fun Park, which also had go-karts and a batting cage. It was nestled in trees and it had an ice cream parlor where they had egg creams for $1.65, and Proudly Sold Sealtest Ice Cream. It was not too crowded and it was not too expensive, either, believe me.
We passed a water park called Zoom Flume that seemed circa 1972 or so, was also hard to find, among thick trees, and looked like relatively supersonic fun. We could see that there were not long lines, which is the bane of most modern theme parks.
There were very few exotic places to eat - like, none. Each town semed to have one Italian and one Chinese restaurant, and that was exotic as it got.
Primarily, this is a place of high hills, wistful vistas, and what you might call peace and quiet. There are no traffic jams (there are few, if any, traffic lights in most towns). The area is unwired and untowered. Do not assume the presence of a telephone in your motel room - ask.
It is three hours from Ithaca, on mostly small roads. You take 79 East to Whitney Point, to 206 East, to Interstate 88 East. The easiest, though not most direct route is to stay on 88 to Cobleskill, to 145 South. That takes you there.
It is a trip not far in distance, but pleasantly distant in aspect. It is also quaint in price. We stayed at a servicable place called the Rose Motel for $65. It was clean, quiet, friendly, and had a small swimming pool. The depiction of a rose, not a shamrock, on their sign makes it easy to find.
Stephen (Patrick) Burke
for Ithaca Blog
What we have to offer right now is a description of the section of New York northeast of Catskills Park. That's where we went, and had never been before. If you're like us, you're curious about places you've never been, especially places so close and yet so far, so here is the story on the area.
We went there for a big gathering of high school and college friends who still stick together, after decades. Two of our gang just bought 90 remote acres, and it was big enough for our group; with about 100 of us attending, we had about an acre apiece. Of course, most of the action took place on a central parcel where, among other things, a stage was built. We like to perform.
The area altogether is remote. The main thing of note is a large ski operation in Windham. We were just north of there, in a town called Durham, where there is a notable Irish cultural center, with music performances and classes.
Probably the most notable thing of all is the Irish identity of the area. It is like a living, Irish theme park. There are signposts in Gaelic, shamrocks on business signs, and a lot of restaurants and motels called Hogan's, Gavin's, Mickey's, the Four Green Fields, and like that. People have brogues.
Our motel-keeper said that, for decades, Irish from New York City have been attracted to the rural, rolling hills there, similar to the home landscape. We suspect they were also attracted by land prices cheaper than on the southern side of Catskills Park, which is much closer to the city.
The relative inaccessibility seems to have kept the area from much snazzy development. There are miniature golf courses galore, from the 1950's it seems, and unrefurbished since then. We played at one called Supersonic Fun Park, which also had go-karts and a batting cage. It was nestled in trees and it had an ice cream parlor where they had egg creams for $1.65, and Proudly Sold Sealtest Ice Cream. It was not too crowded and it was not too expensive, either, believe me.
We passed a water park called Zoom Flume that seemed circa 1972 or so, was also hard to find, among thick trees, and looked like relatively supersonic fun. We could see that there were not long lines, which is the bane of most modern theme parks.
There were very few exotic places to eat - like, none. Each town semed to have one Italian and one Chinese restaurant, and that was exotic as it got.
Primarily, this is a place of high hills, wistful vistas, and what you might call peace and quiet. There are no traffic jams (there are few, if any, traffic lights in most towns). The area is unwired and untowered. Do not assume the presence of a telephone in your motel room - ask.
It is three hours from Ithaca, on mostly small roads. You take 79 East to Whitney Point, to 206 East, to Interstate 88 East. The easiest, though not most direct route is to stay on 88 to Cobleskill, to 145 South. That takes you there.
It is a trip not far in distance, but pleasantly distant in aspect. It is also quaint in price. We stayed at a servicable place called the Rose Motel for $65. It was clean, quiet, friendly, and had a small swimming pool. The depiction of a rose, not a shamrock, on their sign makes it easy to find.
Stephen (Patrick) Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Friday, July 27, 2007
Weekend Picks, July 27 - 29
Friday, July 27: Traonach, who are leading a burgeoning of Celtic music in this area, play a free, happy hour gig at Felicia's Atomic Lounge. In the enchanting alleyway, 5:30 pm.
Two (more) free shows, up east hill. The Burns Sisters perform at 6:30 at the Cornell Business and Technology Park, on Brown Road, near the airport. The Destination plays at 7:30 on Cornell's Arts Quad.
Saturday, 28 July: The Sim Redmond Band plays at Taughannock State Park. $5 to park, otherwise free. Prepare for a rare, slight traffic jam at the entrance on Rt. 89!
Sunday, 29 July: Johnny Russo, Ithaca's ambassador of jazz, will play at the Farmer's Market, 11 am. Pick up a copy of Johnny's new CD. Also, a Jollyburger, Ithaca's newest meatless taste sensation. Tell them Ithaca Blog sent you.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Two (more) free shows, up east hill. The Burns Sisters perform at 6:30 at the Cornell Business and Technology Park, on Brown Road, near the airport. The Destination plays at 7:30 on Cornell's Arts Quad.
Saturday, 28 July: The Sim Redmond Band plays at Taughannock State Park. $5 to park, otherwise free. Prepare for a rare, slight traffic jam at the entrance on Rt. 89!
Sunday, 29 July: Johnny Russo, Ithaca's ambassador of jazz, will play at the Farmer's Market, 11 am. Pick up a copy of Johnny's new CD. Also, a Jollyburger, Ithaca's newest meatless taste sensation. Tell them Ithaca Blog sent you.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Standing Room Only for "St. Patrick's Four" Film
Last night's showing of a new documentary on the St. Patrick's Four, the Iraq war protesters from Ithaca, drew a capacity crowd to Cinemapolis, despite a lack of advertising for the event.
An extended run seems like a good idea. Ithaca Blog has contacted Cinemapolis but has not received a reply. We will let you know as soon as we do. Meanwhile, if you want to see it, consider calling them, too.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
An extended run seems like a good idea. Ithaca Blog has contacted Cinemapolis but has not received a reply. We will let you know as soon as we do. Meanwhile, if you want to see it, consider calling them, too.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
"St. Patrick's Four" Film at Cinemapolis, Tonight (Only)
It is late notice, but Ithaca Blog just received word that tonight, Cinemapolis will host a screening of a new film about the St. Patrick's Four, the Iraq war protesters from Ithaca.
The film will screen at 7:15.
On March 17, 2003 - St. Patrick's Day - four anti-war protesters engaged in civil disobedience against the impending invasion of Iraq at a military recruitment station in Ithaca. The four were exonerated by a hung jury at trial in Ithaca, but were subsequently brought up on the same charges in federal court in Binghamton, where they were again found innocent of the most serious criminal charges, but imprisoned for lesser ones.
The film tells their story, and examines the rights of non-violence advocates to protest meaningfully in our democracy.
Ithaca Blog will report on possible future showings of the film.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
The film will screen at 7:15.
On March 17, 2003 - St. Patrick's Day - four anti-war protesters engaged in civil disobedience against the impending invasion of Iraq at a military recruitment station in Ithaca. The four were exonerated by a hung jury at trial in Ithaca, but were subsequently brought up on the same charges in federal court in Binghamton, where they were again found innocent of the most serious criminal charges, but imprisoned for lesser ones.
The film tells their story, and examines the rights of non-violence advocates to protest meaningfully in our democracy.
Ithaca Blog will report on possible future showings of the film.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Monday, July 23, 2007
GrassRoots 2007 Breakout Artist
Reporting back from GrassRoots Festival:
We love GrassRoots as much as anyone, and appreciate with amazement how, for four days, the Trumansburg Fairgrounds becomes a beautiful, intensified reflection of this creative, loving community.
We also appreciate how four days of camping can rekindle your love for your bed, your routine, and porcelain.
The most exciting thing each year at the festival is to see who the breakout artist will be. In the past two years it has been the Avett Brothers and Musafir. This year it was no newcomer, but Hugh Masekela, the veteran jazz trumpeter from South Africa.
Most people who know Masekela at all will know him for his sole hit song, from the 1960's, "Grazing In the Grass." But his performance Saturday night showed him to be a consummate composer, bandleader, trumpeter, singer, stage presence, and ambassador of world music.
Masekela's playing, and even moreso his voice, had the strength and passion of someone decades younger. Our friend and keen appraiser of such things, Hollywood Joe, said, "It was like hearing Miles Davis and James Brown, at the top of their game, in one person."
Masekela enthralled the crowd with stories of defeating aparetheid in South Africa. He performed "Mandela," his anthem to his friend.
He elicited laughter with casually risque stage patter, and enthusiasm with talk of togetherness and love.
It was a great performance - and a lesson that newness, freshness, and impact are not provinces exclusively of the young.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
We love GrassRoots as much as anyone, and appreciate with amazement how, for four days, the Trumansburg Fairgrounds becomes a beautiful, intensified reflection of this creative, loving community.
We also appreciate how four days of camping can rekindle your love for your bed, your routine, and porcelain.
The most exciting thing each year at the festival is to see who the breakout artist will be. In the past two years it has been the Avett Brothers and Musafir. This year it was no newcomer, but Hugh Masekela, the veteran jazz trumpeter from South Africa.
Most people who know Masekela at all will know him for his sole hit song, from the 1960's, "Grazing In the Grass." But his performance Saturday night showed him to be a consummate composer, bandleader, trumpeter, singer, stage presence, and ambassador of world music.
Masekela's playing, and even moreso his voice, had the strength and passion of someone decades younger. Our friend and keen appraiser of such things, Hollywood Joe, said, "It was like hearing Miles Davis and James Brown, at the top of their game, in one person."
Masekela enthralled the crowd with stories of defeating aparetheid in South Africa. He performed "Mandela," his anthem to his friend.
He elicited laughter with casually risque stage patter, and enthusiasm with talk of togetherness and love.
It was a great performance - and a lesson that newness, freshness, and impact are not provinces exclusively of the young.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Friday, July 20, 2007
Ithaca Blog on Vacation
Ithaca Blog will be on vacation, or at least hiatus, until after the GrassRoots Festival.
Thanks and see you soon -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Thanks and see you soon -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Decline of Stewart Park Reaches Notice of Ithaca Journal
We were happy to see the Ithaca Journal's piece today about the decline of Stewart Park and possible remedies. A similar piece ran in Ithaca Blog on 29 June ("Stewart Park: Big Park, Lean Budget").
The Journal noted, as we did here, that the park's decline is largely a matter of fiscal priorities.
We bet that the city pays a lot more maintaining parking areas, for example, than Stewart Park. The park runs on an annual budget of less than $100,000. That's labor, materials - everything.
Of course, it you don't maintain parking lots and garages, they get run down, and more expensive to fix, eventually. But the same is true with the park.
If there was insufficient money in the budget to maintain parking areas, we would simply raise their budgets so they wouldn't fall into disrepair. We should do the same for Stewart Park.
The time, it would seem, is now. We look forward to the Journal following this story in the months leading up to city elections, as we will in Ithaca Blog.
Stephen Burke
The Journal noted, as we did here, that the park's decline is largely a matter of fiscal priorities.
We bet that the city pays a lot more maintaining parking areas, for example, than Stewart Park. The park runs on an annual budget of less than $100,000. That's labor, materials - everything.
Of course, it you don't maintain parking lots and garages, they get run down, and more expensive to fix, eventually. But the same is true with the park.
If there was insufficient money in the budget to maintain parking areas, we would simply raise their budgets so they wouldn't fall into disrepair. We should do the same for Stewart Park.
The time, it would seem, is now. We look forward to the Journal following this story in the months leading up to city elections, as we will in Ithaca Blog.
Stephen Burke
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
GrassRoots Tickets Information For the Last-Minute Buyer
1. Today (Tuesday, 17 July), GrassRoots Festival advance sale weekend tickets are still available at Small World Music., 614 W. State St., 256-0428. We are open until 6 pm.
Tickets may still be available here tomorrow. But at some point GrassRoots people will be here to collect them. We open at 11 am.
2. Advance sale weekend tickets are $85.
3. Weekend tickets sold at the gate cost $110.
4. Cash or check is necessary for advance sales purchase. (There is an ATM at Alternatives Credit Union, down the street from Small World Music.)
5. Tickets for individual days are not available in advance. They must be purchased at the gate.
6. Tickets are no longer available on the GrassRoots web site. It is too late for orders to be processed. There is good info at the site, though, including programs for all 4 days: www.grassrootsfest.org.
see you there -
Steve Burke
Tickets may still be available here tomorrow. But at some point GrassRoots people will be here to collect them. We open at 11 am.
2. Advance sale weekend tickets are $85.
3. Weekend tickets sold at the gate cost $110.
4. Cash or check is necessary for advance sales purchase. (There is an ATM at Alternatives Credit Union, down the street from Small World Music.)
5. Tickets for individual days are not available in advance. They must be purchased at the gate.
6. Tickets are no longer available on the GrassRoots web site. It is too late for orders to be processed. There is good info at the site, though, including programs for all 4 days: www.grassrootsfest.org.
see you there -
Steve Burke
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Ithaca Weekend: More Free Shows, 13 and 14 July
Summer is the time for fine music in splendid settings, for free. There were three nice shows last weekend; and this weekend, too.
Friday the 13th: Chad Crumm and Friends at Felicia's Atomic Lounge, 518 W. State St., 5:30 pm. Chad is one of the seminal architects of that elusive "Ithaca Sound" (cf. Horseflies, Donna the Buffalo, Johnny Dowd). A Happy Hour show in the elegant alleyway between Felicia's and Gimme Coffee.
Traonach is the reigning Celtic band of Ithaca, and well beyond (see previous Blog posting, "Ithaca, Capital of Celtic Music?"). They do a free show on the Cornell Arts Quad at 7:30 pm. Bring picnic & outdoor accoutrements.
Saturday 7/14: The Crow Greenspun Band play their original folk-rock-soul-hip hop at Taughannock Falls. $5 to park, otherwise free. Another picnic opportunity. Finger Lakes Wines for sale by the bottle or glass, or BYOE. 7 pm.
What's not to enjoy -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Friday the 13th: Chad Crumm and Friends at Felicia's Atomic Lounge, 518 W. State St., 5:30 pm. Chad is one of the seminal architects of that elusive "Ithaca Sound" (cf. Horseflies, Donna the Buffalo, Johnny Dowd). A Happy Hour show in the elegant alleyway between Felicia's and Gimme Coffee.
Traonach is the reigning Celtic band of Ithaca, and well beyond (see previous Blog posting, "Ithaca, Capital of Celtic Music?"). They do a free show on the Cornell Arts Quad at 7:30 pm. Bring picnic & outdoor accoutrements.
Saturday 7/14: The Crow Greenspun Band play their original folk-rock-soul-hip hop at Taughannock Falls. $5 to park, otherwise free. Another picnic opportunity. Finger Lakes Wines for sale by the bottle or glass, or BYOE. 7 pm.
What's not to enjoy -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Ithaca Hours on NPR's "Morning Edition"
"Morning Edition" on National Public Radio ran a segment this morning on Ithaca's local currency, Ithaca Hours.
"Ithaca, N.Y. Forms Currency For Local Use" is the title of the segment. The reporter visits Small World Music, Autumn Leaves Books, and Littletree Orchard's booth at the Farmers Market, all of which accept Hours, and Starbucks, which doesn't.
You can hear it by visiting http://www.npr.org/. Find out more about Hours by visiting http://www.ithacahours.org/.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
"Ithaca, N.Y. Forms Currency For Local Use" is the title of the segment. The reporter visits Small World Music, Autumn Leaves Books, and Littletree Orchard's booth at the Farmers Market, all of which accept Hours, and Starbucks, which doesn't.
You can hear it by visiting http://www.npr.org/. Find out more about Hours by visiting http://www.ithacahours.org/.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
GrassRoots Tickets Are Available at Advance Sale Price!
GrassRoots Festival tickets are available for sale at a discounted, advance-sale price, despite contradictory information around town.
Advance sale tickets are $85 for the 4-day festival, which starts on Thursday, 19 July.
Tickets at the gate are $110.
The confusion apparently stems from the fact that advance sales on-line from the GrassRoots website will stop on Wednesday, 11 July, since the festival can't guarantee on-time processing past then.
But tickets will be available at outlets around town, until they run out, which they won't necessarily, but it is a good idea not to wait until the last day (or last few days, even).
There's a lot of festival info at http://www.grassrootsfest.org/, or feel free to call us here at Small World Music/Ithaca Blog, at 256-0428. We have tickets for sale here and are open 11 am - 6 pm, Tuesday through Saturday.
Steve Burke
GrassRoots Festival tickets are available for sale at a discounted, advance-sale price, despite contradictory information around town.
Advance sale tickets are $85 for the 4-day festival, which starts on Thursday, 19 July.
Tickets at the gate are $110.
The confusion apparently stems from the fact that advance sales on-line from the GrassRoots website will stop on Wednesday, 11 July, since the festival can't guarantee on-time processing past then.
But tickets will be available at outlets around town, until they run out, which they won't necessarily, but it is a good idea not to wait until the last day (or last few days, even).
There's a lot of festival info at http://www.grassrootsfest.org/, or feel free to call us here at Small World Music/Ithaca Blog, at 256-0428. We have tickets for sale here and are open 11 am - 6 pm, Tuesday through Saturday.
Steve Burke
Friday, July 06, 2007
Weekend Picks: Three Free Shows, July 6 - 8
Three great shows, one each night, all free.
Friday 6 July: The Contradictions play fiddle-based old-timey tunes in a free show on the Arts Quad at Cornell. 7:30 pm.
Saturday 7 July: The Burns Sisters play their heralded brand of folk-rock-country, heavy on the harmony, in a free show (except for parking) at Taughannock Falls State Park. 7 pm.
Sunday 8 July: Ithaca's sweetheart, Mary Lorson, leads her band Saint Low in at Maxie's restaurant, 6 pm.
Have fun -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Friday 6 July: The Contradictions play fiddle-based old-timey tunes in a free show on the Arts Quad at Cornell. 7:30 pm.
Saturday 7 July: The Burns Sisters play their heralded brand of folk-rock-country, heavy on the harmony, in a free show (except for parking) at Taughannock Falls State Park. 7 pm.
Sunday 8 July: Ithaca's sweetheart, Mary Lorson, leads her band Saint Low in at Maxie's restaurant, 6 pm.
Have fun -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Open Letter to Friends and Readers on Independence Day
We, and a few other people, got an e-mail message from our friend Nick on Independence Day, about the latest blatant malfeasance of the Bush administration, in the Scooter Libby case.
Like a lot of people we know, Nick would like to see impeachment proceedings against Bush and Cheney. In the realm of things we can control, Nick was calling for diligent citizenry on Independence Day - and beyond, of course - as our democratic prerogatives are beseiged by officials who find them inconvenient.
We wrote back to Nick with emphatic empathy, with similar thoughts on the subject. We thought we'd open that letter here to Ithaca Blog readers, as it explains a bit what we are trying to do on this site:
Nick,
I agree completely, that our country is threatened by our own officials, subverting our laws.
In the Libby case, which stems from the war in Iraq, we see that the administration lied to the U.N., to intelligence officials, to the press, and to American law enforcement.
When found guilty in a court of law, they commute their own sentences, and close the case.
I'm glad you took the time to write. It's important for all of us to talk about what we see. Otherwise we get caught in the apathy and hopelessness of thinking no one else notices or cares.
Fifteen years ago I was in Washington preparing for a career in journalism. What I found there among the media were a lot of people of middling ability and ambition who were primarily interested in easy work, in corporate jobs, rather than careers dedicated to serving the public with intellect and nerve.
While I thought about leaving, I talked to an older reporter and teacher. He said, "Steve, if you want to know the truth, don't talk to the government. Talk to your neighbors." It was like a grade-B movie scene: get out, kid, while you can. There's still time for you.
So I got out. He was right. Look at our own senator today, Hillary Clinton. Obviously a person of great intelligence and skill. But when we needed her leadership on the question of war, she ducked. She hid. She says now she didn't know enough then to know the war was wrong. Who was she listening to? Who was she talking to? Not to me or my neighbors. We all knew. That's what my teacher was telling me. Your neighbors can see the truth and will tell the truth. Your leaders might see the truth, but they won't tell you.
Now I'm trying to do my litle bit with Ithaca Blog. We write about local things, but also larger issues. I try to write in a way that respects the truth as the ultimate goal. I try to do it in a way that repects the reader - no rants or raves here. No foul language. Using whatever skill I can muster in trying to see, think, and talk straight.
Do me a favor and tell your friends about the Blog. Maybe together, the little bit we each do will be magnified and make a difference.
Meanwhile, take heart and have faith and find pleasure in the effort.
Steve
Like a lot of people we know, Nick would like to see impeachment proceedings against Bush and Cheney. In the realm of things we can control, Nick was calling for diligent citizenry on Independence Day - and beyond, of course - as our democratic prerogatives are beseiged by officials who find them inconvenient.
We wrote back to Nick with emphatic empathy, with similar thoughts on the subject. We thought we'd open that letter here to Ithaca Blog readers, as it explains a bit what we are trying to do on this site:
Nick,
I agree completely, that our country is threatened by our own officials, subverting our laws.
In the Libby case, which stems from the war in Iraq, we see that the administration lied to the U.N., to intelligence officials, to the press, and to American law enforcement.
When found guilty in a court of law, they commute their own sentences, and close the case.
I'm glad you took the time to write. It's important for all of us to talk about what we see. Otherwise we get caught in the apathy and hopelessness of thinking no one else notices or cares.
Fifteen years ago I was in Washington preparing for a career in journalism. What I found there among the media were a lot of people of middling ability and ambition who were primarily interested in easy work, in corporate jobs, rather than careers dedicated to serving the public with intellect and nerve.
While I thought about leaving, I talked to an older reporter and teacher. He said, "Steve, if you want to know the truth, don't talk to the government. Talk to your neighbors." It was like a grade-B movie scene: get out, kid, while you can. There's still time for you.
So I got out. He was right. Look at our own senator today, Hillary Clinton. Obviously a person of great intelligence and skill. But when we needed her leadership on the question of war, she ducked. She hid. She says now she didn't know enough then to know the war was wrong. Who was she listening to? Who was she talking to? Not to me or my neighbors. We all knew. That's what my teacher was telling me. Your neighbors can see the truth and will tell the truth. Your leaders might see the truth, but they won't tell you.
Now I'm trying to do my litle bit with Ithaca Blog. We write about local things, but also larger issues. I try to write in a way that respects the truth as the ultimate goal. I try to do it in a way that repects the reader - no rants or raves here. No foul language. Using whatever skill I can muster in trying to see, think, and talk straight.
Do me a favor and tell your friends about the Blog. Maybe together, the little bit we each do will be magnified and make a difference.
Meanwhile, take heart and have faith and find pleasure in the effort.
Steve
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Libby Case: Justice is Blind-Sided
The New York Times says President Bush's commutation of the jail sentence of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby "came as a surprise."
Maybe not, if one considers the president's earliest words about the case in the right light.
Libby was sentenced to prison for lying to a grand jury about leaks from the administration that were designed to punish Joseph Wilson, an early critic of the war in Iraq, and intimidate other critics. The leaks revealed the identity of Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame, as an undercover agent of the CIA.
Early in the investigation, on Sept. 30, 2003, President Bush commented on the proceedings:
"There's leaks in the executive branch; there's leaks in the legislative branch. There's just too many leaks. And if there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is. And if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of."
Mr. Bush was true to his word. Mr. Libby was taken care of.
Usually, according to Justice Department standards, "requests for commutation generally are not accepted unless and until a person has begun serving that sentence," which Mr. Libby hasn't, and are generally not granted to those appealing their convictions, which Mr. Libby is.
Margaret Colgate Love, the pardon lawyer at the Justice Department for most of the 1990s, said, "I can't think of a recent commutation that was granted before at least some prison time was served."
Additionally, cooperation with prosecutors is an important consideration in granting commutation. It seems clear that in this case, past non-cooperation is the requirement, and its continuation the goal.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Maybe not, if one considers the president's earliest words about the case in the right light.
Libby was sentenced to prison for lying to a grand jury about leaks from the administration that were designed to punish Joseph Wilson, an early critic of the war in Iraq, and intimidate other critics. The leaks revealed the identity of Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame, as an undercover agent of the CIA.
Early in the investigation, on Sept. 30, 2003, President Bush commented on the proceedings:
"There's leaks in the executive branch; there's leaks in the legislative branch. There's just too many leaks. And if there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is. And if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of."
Mr. Bush was true to his word. Mr. Libby was taken care of.
Usually, according to Justice Department standards, "requests for commutation generally are not accepted unless and until a person has begun serving that sentence," which Mr. Libby hasn't, and are generally not granted to those appealing their convictions, which Mr. Libby is.
Margaret Colgate Love, the pardon lawyer at the Justice Department for most of the 1990s, said, "I can't think of a recent commutation that was granted before at least some prison time was served."
Additionally, cooperation with prosecutors is an important consideration in granting commutation. It seems clear that in this case, past non-cooperation is the requirement, and its continuation the goal.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Friday, June 29, 2007
Weekly Give-away: Name Your Park
With summer swinging, we have blogged a lot about parks this week. For this week's shot at a $10 gift certificate to Small World Music, simply tell us which park you visit most frequently.
Send your reply directly to Small World Music: sworldmu@twcny.rr.com. Entries will be accepted through the week, and winner announced on Friday 6 July.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog and Small World Music
Send your reply directly to Small World Music: sworldmu@twcny.rr.com. Entries will be accepted through the week, and winner announced on Friday 6 July.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog and Small World Music
Stewart Park: Big Park, Lean Budget
The problems at Stewart Park cited in Ithaca Blog this past week can be officially attributed to something:
Money.
Ithaca Blog spoke to Rick Ferrell, of the Public Works Department. We asked Mr. Ferrell about park maintenance and improvements, strategies, and budgets.
Mr. Ferrell said, "We had tough times with budgets through the '90's and the first couple of years of the 2000's." He said that the annual budget for Stewart Park is $90,000 for all labor and materials.
There is one full-time worker at Stewart Park, and one seasonal worker in the summer. Mr. Ferrell said that at one time there were 4 seasonal workers.
There is no money regularly designated for capital improvements. Such funds come only through a special application process with the city, which considers them in the context of all applications from all city departments.
" No, 'competition' is the right word," Mr. Ferrell said, when asked if competition was too strong a word for the process.
Cleaning the shoreline is a job that requires additional workers and additional budget. Thus it only happens once every 6 or 7 years, when Public Works' turn comes around.
The closing of the concession stand also comes from budget shortages. Mr. Ferrell says the building needs work on its roof and interior, and upgrades for access for the disabled. Which might or might not ever happen?, he was asked. "No, it will happen eventually," he said.
Recent complaints about the conditions of the restroom have been addressed, Mr. Ferrell says. He said that heavy use of the park by day camps and other youth groups on certain days results in a need for extra maintenance, and he has discussed the matter with park personnel.
Complaints about goose droppings are not so easily addressed. "I wish I had an answer for that one," Mr. Ferrell said, noting the scope of the problem in parks throughout the northeast.
One thing we didn't think to ask Mr. Ferrell was whether he thought input from the public to the city could help prioritize Stewart Park's needs. In retrospect we guess he'd say it couldn't hurt. That's what we would say, anyway, now that we know how much the condition of the park is a matter of money.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Money.
Ithaca Blog spoke to Rick Ferrell, of the Public Works Department. We asked Mr. Ferrell about park maintenance and improvements, strategies, and budgets.
Mr. Ferrell said, "We had tough times with budgets through the '90's and the first couple of years of the 2000's." He said that the annual budget for Stewart Park is $90,000 for all labor and materials.
There is one full-time worker at Stewart Park, and one seasonal worker in the summer. Mr. Ferrell said that at one time there were 4 seasonal workers.
There is no money regularly designated for capital improvements. Such funds come only through a special application process with the city, which considers them in the context of all applications from all city departments.
" No, 'competition' is the right word," Mr. Ferrell said, when asked if competition was too strong a word for the process.
Cleaning the shoreline is a job that requires additional workers and additional budget. Thus it only happens once every 6 or 7 years, when Public Works' turn comes around.
The closing of the concession stand also comes from budget shortages. Mr. Ferrell says the building needs work on its roof and interior, and upgrades for access for the disabled. Which might or might not ever happen?, he was asked. "No, it will happen eventually," he said.
Recent complaints about the conditions of the restroom have been addressed, Mr. Ferrell says. He said that heavy use of the park by day camps and other youth groups on certain days results in a need for extra maintenance, and he has discussed the matter with park personnel.
Complaints about goose droppings are not so easily addressed. "I wish I had an answer for that one," Mr. Ferrell said, noting the scope of the problem in parks throughout the northeast.
One thing we didn't think to ask Mr. Ferrell was whether he thought input from the public to the city could help prioritize Stewart Park's needs. In retrospect we guess he'd say it couldn't hurt. That's what we would say, anyway, now that we know how much the condition of the park is a matter of money.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Weekend Picks, June 29 & June 30
Oona Grady deFlaun and Marie Grady Demott play traditional Irish music (see yesterday's Ithaca Blog post) at Felicia's Atomic Lounge, 508 W. State St., Friday at 5:30 pm.
Samite performs a free outdoor concert on the Arts Quad at Cornell, Friday at 7:30.
The Splendors and Trevor MacDonald play at Castaways, 10 pm. Cover is $5.
Saturday 30 June: The best shows tonight require a little traveling. Weatherwise, it should be a nice night for a road trip. Vance Gilbert, a well-known folksinger of great guitar style and vocal range, performs at the Night Eagle Cafe in Binghamton. Vance is also a funny enough guy to have opened for George Carlin at the State Theater.
Another funnyman of music, one of the ultimates, is Dan Hicks, who performs at the Opera House in Earlville at 8 pm.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Ithaca, Capital of Celtic Music?
This year marks a big anniversary for Irish music in Ithaca: the 20th consecutive year of the local weekly music session, known in Gaelic as a ceili (pronounced kay-lee; meaning "visit"), featuring informal sets of traditional music on fiddle, flute, guitar, tin whistle, accordion, and bodhran (a hand drum).
The ceili - or, simply, session - was started in 1987 by Mark Bickford, who went on to form the enduring band, Traonach. Joel Cowan, also of Traonach, was an early participant in the first sessions, which were held at the Rongo in Trumansburg.
The session changed venues over the years, located at various times at the Chapter House, Micawbers, the Nines, and Kilpatrick's. Not many players have fallen away, while a a new generation has joined.
Reflecting the youth movement is a show on Friday 29 June at Felicia's Atomic Lounge, not your father's (nor anyone's) traditional Irish pub. The friendly hipster hangout, at 508 W. State Street, will host a 5 pm show by cousins Oona deFlaun Grady and Marie Grady Demott, on fiddle and flute.
Ed McGowan, fiddler for Traonach and a family friend of the cousins, is delighted by the headliner status of the young women. He instructed Oona as a girl, and notes that both women have played intensively since early childhood. In recent years, the cousins studied music at university in Ireland.
McGowan compares the Felicia's show to an event one might find in downtown Manhattan or Brooklyn, and not many other places. He notes that for years the Hudson Valley was a hotbed of Irish music, perhaps the foremost in the U.S., but seems to be fading, while Ithaca's scene grows. A weekly ceili held in that region for 19 years is ending, according to the Irish Echo newspaper.
McGowan is planning some informal celebrations of the anniversary of the Ithaca session - partly, he says, to let the wider community know that perhaps Ithaca is the regional capital of the music now, if not the national one.
"The music critics at the Echo are engaged in a certain amount of hand-wringing right now," he says. "They should know that the scene is alive and well up here. We've been doing this for twenty years, and it's better than ever."
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
The ceili - or, simply, session - was started in 1987 by Mark Bickford, who went on to form the enduring band, Traonach. Joel Cowan, also of Traonach, was an early participant in the first sessions, which were held at the Rongo in Trumansburg.
The session changed venues over the years, located at various times at the Chapter House, Micawbers, the Nines, and Kilpatrick's. Not many players have fallen away, while a a new generation has joined.
Reflecting the youth movement is a show on Friday 29 June at Felicia's Atomic Lounge, not your father's (nor anyone's) traditional Irish pub. The friendly hipster hangout, at 508 W. State Street, will host a 5 pm show by cousins Oona deFlaun Grady and Marie Grady Demott, on fiddle and flute.
Ed McGowan, fiddler for Traonach and a family friend of the cousins, is delighted by the headliner status of the young women. He instructed Oona as a girl, and notes that both women have played intensively since early childhood. In recent years, the cousins studied music at university in Ireland.
McGowan compares the Felicia's show to an event one might find in downtown Manhattan or Brooklyn, and not many other places. He notes that for years the Hudson Valley was a hotbed of Irish music, perhaps the foremost in the U.S., but seems to be fading, while Ithaca's scene grows. A weekly ceili held in that region for 19 years is ending, according to the Irish Echo newspaper.
McGowan is planning some informal celebrations of the anniversary of the Ithaca session - partly, he says, to let the wider community know that perhaps Ithaca is the regional capital of the music now, if not the national one.
"The music critics at the Echo are engaged in a certain amount of hand-wringing right now," he says. "They should know that the scene is alive and well up here. We've been doing this for twenty years, and it's better than ever."
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Stewart Park: Second-Class?
Is Stewart Park becoming a second-class citizen among local parks?
Buttermilk, Treman, and Taughannock are the superstars of the local park system. They have waterfalls, swimming areas, recreational features, and camping facilities.
They are state parks and receive state funds and maintenance. They charge a fee for parking, which helps with their upkeep.
Stewart Park, on the other hand, is a city park, and receives no direct state aid. A true people's park, it is entirely free, even the parking.
Lately, however, there are grumblings about the condition of the city's park.
Goose droppings are almost everywhere you might want to spread a blanket. The shore line is heavy with detritus. The restrooms are less than inviting.
People seem to be complaining about the park not because they love it so little, but because they love it so much. It is wonderfully accessible to town. It has beautiful trees and views. There is plenty of room, even on busy weekends. There is no swimming, but there is a sprinkler system, popular with children and unabashed adults. There are picnic tables, pavilions, and grills. The breeze off the lake is strong enough to keep you entirely cool as you suntan your way to a burn.
Stewart Park is a great resource. Recent visitors from New York City said, "At home we'd have to drive an hour to get to a place like this, and then it would be mobbed."
But like any major resource, the park needs resources itself.
Who is responsible for the upkeep of Stewart, and other city parks? A look in the phone book does not reveal a Parks Department in the city of Ithaca.
Ithaca Blog called the mayor's office today to ask about park management. What is the budget? How is it allocated?
In New York City, the most-used parks are scrutinized from almost every imaginable angle: numbers of visitors each day, to each section, by gender, by age group. Central Park is the second-most visited area in the city (after Times Square), so care is taken to maintain its value.
Ithaca Blog is interested to learn if there are similar analytical tools used here in Ithaca.
We will be back with more after speaking to the city.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Buttermilk, Treman, and Taughannock are the superstars of the local park system. They have waterfalls, swimming areas, recreational features, and camping facilities.
They are state parks and receive state funds and maintenance. They charge a fee for parking, which helps with their upkeep.
Stewart Park, on the other hand, is a city park, and receives no direct state aid. A true people's park, it is entirely free, even the parking.
Lately, however, there are grumblings about the condition of the city's park.
Goose droppings are almost everywhere you might want to spread a blanket. The shore line is heavy with detritus. The restrooms are less than inviting.
People seem to be complaining about the park not because they love it so little, but because they love it so much. It is wonderfully accessible to town. It has beautiful trees and views. There is plenty of room, even on busy weekends. There is no swimming, but there is a sprinkler system, popular with children and unabashed adults. There are picnic tables, pavilions, and grills. The breeze off the lake is strong enough to keep you entirely cool as you suntan your way to a burn.
Stewart Park is a great resource. Recent visitors from New York City said, "At home we'd have to drive an hour to get to a place like this, and then it would be mobbed."
But like any major resource, the park needs resources itself.
Who is responsible for the upkeep of Stewart, and other city parks? A look in the phone book does not reveal a Parks Department in the city of Ithaca.
Ithaca Blog called the mayor's office today to ask about park management. What is the budget? How is it allocated?
In New York City, the most-used parks are scrutinized from almost every imaginable angle: numbers of visitors each day, to each section, by gender, by age group. Central Park is the second-most visited area in the city (after Times Square), so care is taken to maintain its value.
Ithaca Blog is interested to learn if there are similar analytical tools used here in Ithaca.
We will be back with more after speaking to the city.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
CTB Express Loses Battle With Dunkin' Donuts
The Drive-Thru War of Meadow Street has been won by Dunkin' Donuts in a knock-out. This past weekend, Collegetown Bagels Express quietly announced its closing, effective immediately.
CTB Express was the newest of six outlets in the local franchise comprising Collegetown Bagels and Ithaca Bakery. Its raison d'etre was a drive-thru window, the only branch to have one.
It might have been a longshot in the first place, as the Express was actually competing with its own flagship store, only 4 blocks away. But a big blow was delivered last November, when Dunkin' Donuts opened a drive-thru facility right next door.
The Dunkin' Donuts store had the advantage of an entrance on Green St. as well as Meadow Street. CTB's side street was Cleveland Av., which is closed to car traffic at Meadow Street.
Then, of course, there is the strength of a national chain, with commercials with Rachael Ray, and the fact that CTB Express was considerably more ambitious than Dunkin' Donuts in its food offerings, which takes time. The CTB staff made food, whereas the Dunkin' Donuts staff only has to find donuts.
CTB/Ithaca Bakery is a great local business that provides great food, service, and ambience. They are a point of local pride, and they do an enormous amount of good work in the community.
We congratulate them on a valiant effort, and wish them continued success in their other enterprises, and thank them for all they do for Ithaca. If Dunkin' Donuts is really up for a challenge, we invite them to try to compete with CTB/Ithaca Bakery on that turf.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
CTB Express was the newest of six outlets in the local franchise comprising Collegetown Bagels and Ithaca Bakery. Its raison d'etre was a drive-thru window, the only branch to have one.
It might have been a longshot in the first place, as the Express was actually competing with its own flagship store, only 4 blocks away. But a big blow was delivered last November, when Dunkin' Donuts opened a drive-thru facility right next door.
The Dunkin' Donuts store had the advantage of an entrance on Green St. as well as Meadow Street. CTB's side street was Cleveland Av., which is closed to car traffic at Meadow Street.
Then, of course, there is the strength of a national chain, with commercials with Rachael Ray, and the fact that CTB Express was considerably more ambitious than Dunkin' Donuts in its food offerings, which takes time. The CTB staff made food, whereas the Dunkin' Donuts staff only has to find donuts.
CTB/Ithaca Bakery is a great local business that provides great food, service, and ambience. They are a point of local pride, and they do an enormous amount of good work in the community.
We congratulate them on a valiant effort, and wish them continued success in their other enterprises, and thank them for all they do for Ithaca. If Dunkin' Donuts is really up for a challenge, we invite them to try to compete with CTB/Ithaca Bakery on that turf.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Friday, June 22, 2007
Weekend Picks, June 22 - 24
Friday 22nd: Castaways has a full night of music, starting with Rick Redington, a New England musician developing a following in New York, and local favorites Mu-tron Warriors and Revision. Redington plays early, at 5. The local bands start at 9.
Saturday 23: the Southside Community Center hosts a Juneteenth celebration of African-American history and heritage, with music and dance, food, and family activities. From 12 - 7 pm, at the SCC on S. Plain Street.
I-Town recording artists IY play an acoustic show at ABC Cafe, 308 Stewart Ave., 10 pm.
Sunday 24: Nawal, "the Voice of Comoros," plays and sings the music of the African archipelago, and her Sufi ancestry. Global Rhythms magazine calls her "a legend in the makking." Castaways, 8 pm.
Big, big benefit concert for the Trumansburg Learning Cooperative, featuring Sim Redmond Band, Five2, Amy Glicklich, Chad Crumm, Vinny and the Vinenots, Thousands of One, and others. The show is scheduled for 2 pm through midnight, at the Rongovian Embassy in T'burg.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Saturday 23: the Southside Community Center hosts a Juneteenth celebration of African-American history and heritage, with music and dance, food, and family activities. From 12 - 7 pm, at the SCC on S. Plain Street.
I-Town recording artists IY play an acoustic show at ABC Cafe, 308 Stewart Ave., 10 pm.
Sunday 24: Nawal, "the Voice of Comoros," plays and sings the music of the African archipelago, and her Sufi ancestry. Global Rhythms magazine calls her "a legend in the makking." Castaways, 8 pm.
Big, big benefit concert for the Trumansburg Learning Cooperative, featuring Sim Redmond Band, Five2, Amy Glicklich, Chad Crumm, Vinny and the Vinenots, Thousands of One, and others. The show is scheduled for 2 pm through midnight, at the Rongovian Embassy in T'burg.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Valentino's Change of Mind: Political Charade?
Cathy Valentino, the Ithaca town supervisor, made a surprising announcement in January that she would not seek re-election to the politically powerful post she has held for 12 years.
This week she made another surprising announcement, that in fact she would seek re-election.
The local media reported the development as a simple change of mind. But circumstances suggest that Valentino never really intended to retire at all, and her announcements were part of a plan to hold onto her job against the scrutiny of her Democratic party leadership.
As part of the electoral process, political parties actively seek candidates for all open positions. There were signs this year that strong candidates would emerge to challenge Valentino for the Democratic endorsement, and she might not get it.
Announcing her retirement was a way to avoid non-endorsement by her party.
In the spring, the Democrats conducted a candidate search that focused on a choice between Tim Joseph, of the county legislature, and Herb Engman, of the town board. Both candidates announced in advance that they would not contest the party's endorsement if they failed to get it, and would support the other candidate.
Engman won, and Joseph immediately endorsed him.
It seems clear that Valentino did not feel comfortable about her chances against other candidates, nor with a pledge to support any other candidate.
So, in the words of a Democratic leader who responded to a call from Ithaca Blog today, Valentino "did an end-run" around the process.
Having avoided scrutiny and accountability herself, Valentino re-entered the race with a crude attack on Engman, who had participated in a thorough and open selection process that revealed a high regard for his work on the town board.
Valentino has a powerful personal political base in town. The question is whether that will be enough to win against her party's endorsement of another candidate, not to mention a blatant lack of transparency in her actions pertaining to the election, and a blistering political style that many seem to wish to transcend.
Valentino will challenge Engman in a Democratic primary in September. The Republicans have not announced a candidate for the general election in November, and will probably not field one.
The speculation here is that if Valentino loses the primary to Engman, she will challenge the Democratic nominee in November as an independent.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
This week she made another surprising announcement, that in fact she would seek re-election.
The local media reported the development as a simple change of mind. But circumstances suggest that Valentino never really intended to retire at all, and her announcements were part of a plan to hold onto her job against the scrutiny of her Democratic party leadership.
As part of the electoral process, political parties actively seek candidates for all open positions. There were signs this year that strong candidates would emerge to challenge Valentino for the Democratic endorsement, and she might not get it.
Announcing her retirement was a way to avoid non-endorsement by her party.
In the spring, the Democrats conducted a candidate search that focused on a choice between Tim Joseph, of the county legislature, and Herb Engman, of the town board. Both candidates announced in advance that they would not contest the party's endorsement if they failed to get it, and would support the other candidate.
Engman won, and Joseph immediately endorsed him.
It seems clear that Valentino did not feel comfortable about her chances against other candidates, nor with a pledge to support any other candidate.
So, in the words of a Democratic leader who responded to a call from Ithaca Blog today, Valentino "did an end-run" around the process.
Having avoided scrutiny and accountability herself, Valentino re-entered the race with a crude attack on Engman, who had participated in a thorough and open selection process that revealed a high regard for his work on the town board.
Valentino has a powerful personal political base in town. The question is whether that will be enough to win against her party's endorsement of another candidate, not to mention a blatant lack of transparency in her actions pertaining to the election, and a blistering political style that many seem to wish to transcend.
Valentino will challenge Engman in a Democratic primary in September. The Republicans have not announced a candidate for the general election in November, and will probably not field one.
The speculation here is that if Valentino loses the primary to Engman, she will challenge the Democratic nominee in November as an independent.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Monday, June 18, 2007
Free Ticket to Bill Kirchen Show
Late notice for this, so there's no quiz question to ponder to win a free ticket to see Bill Kirchen, the Hot Rod Lincoln man, at Castaway's this Thursday, courtesy of Rootabaga Boogie Productions. Just send an e-mail to sworldmu@twcny.rr.com for a chance to win.
Thanks and good luck!
Thanks and good luck!
Contest Winner: Maybe Groucho Was Wrong...
... when he opined that there aren't many songs about fathers. Our contest entries cited the following:
Song for My Father - Horace Silver
My Daddy Was a Lovin' Man - the Harlem Hamfats
Poppa's Got a Brand New Bag/Don't Take No Mess - James Brown
Daddy Sang Bass/Played Dobro .... Johnny Cash, Jerry Douglas, et al.
Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast - Wayne Newton
Come to Papa - Bob Seger
My Hometown - Bruce Springsteen
Papa Was A Rollin' Stone - the Temptations
We honored an entry about a satiric "fatherland" from "The Producers," and "Hot Rod Lincoln," by Commander Cody (and Bill Kirchen), submitted for the lines,
They arrested me and threw me in jail
And they called my pappy to throw my bail
And he said son, you're gonna drive me to drinkin'
If you don't stop drivin' that Hot Rod Lincoln.
We had to honor it, Bill Kirchen is coming to town this week.
We were a little surprised at no mention of "Cat's In the Cradle," the most melodramatic song of father-induced trauma we can think of, and a song by an Ithaca guy, Harry Chapin. Perhaps Ithaca Blog readers are sunnier than that.
But the randomly selected winner was Marie, of Ithaca, the jazz fan of the bunch. Marie wins a $10 gift certificate to Small World Music. Congratulations to Marie, and thanks to all.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Song for My Father - Horace Silver
My Daddy Was a Lovin' Man - the Harlem Hamfats
Poppa's Got a Brand New Bag/Don't Take No Mess - James Brown
Daddy Sang Bass/Played Dobro .... Johnny Cash, Jerry Douglas, et al.
Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast - Wayne Newton
Come to Papa - Bob Seger
My Hometown - Bruce Springsteen
Papa Was A Rollin' Stone - the Temptations
We honored an entry about a satiric "fatherland" from "The Producers," and "Hot Rod Lincoln," by Commander Cody (and Bill Kirchen), submitted for the lines,
They arrested me and threw me in jail
And they called my pappy to throw my bail
And he said son, you're gonna drive me to drinkin'
If you don't stop drivin' that Hot Rod Lincoln.
We had to honor it, Bill Kirchen is coming to town this week.
We were a little surprised at no mention of "Cat's In the Cradle," the most melodramatic song of father-induced trauma we can think of, and a song by an Ithaca guy, Harry Chapin. Perhaps Ithaca Blog readers are sunnier than that.
But the randomly selected winner was Marie, of Ithaca, the jazz fan of the bunch. Marie wins a $10 gift certificate to Small World Music. Congratulations to Marie, and thanks to all.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Friday, June 15, 2007
Father's Day Contest Continues
Normally, our weekly contests go from Friday to Friday, but we are extending our Father's Day contest until actual Father's Day, this Sunday. Win one for pop.
We're asking you to send in a song about father(s). See the original posting for context, if you like, but that's pretty much it.
Send your entry to Small World Music, sworldmu@twcny.rr.com, for a chance to win a $10 gift certificate to the fabulous storefront of hard to find, easy to love music, and who knows what all else.
Our contest for the coming week will feature a different prize than usual: courtesy of Rootabaga Boogie Productions, a ticket to see Bill Kirchen, "King of Dieselbilly," ex of the Commander Cody Band, live at Castaways next Thursday. Details soon.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
We're asking you to send in a song about father(s). See the original posting for context, if you like, but that's pretty much it.
Send your entry to Small World Music, sworldmu@twcny.rr.com, for a chance to win a $10 gift certificate to the fabulous storefront of hard to find, easy to love music, and who knows what all else.
Our contest for the coming week will feature a different prize than usual: courtesy of Rootabaga Boogie Productions, a ticket to see Bill Kirchen, "King of Dieselbilly," ex of the Commander Cody Band, live at Castaways next Thursday. Details soon.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Weekend Picks, June 15 & 16
Friday, 15 June: the Lonesome Sisters, a fine old-timey ensemble, at Felicia's Atomic Lounge, 508 W. State St. A happy hour show, at 5:30 pm. (They appear even earlier tomorrow at Felicia's, at 4 pm, with Chad Crumm. Chad and his band, the Chokers, have a new CD which, like the Lonesome Sisters', is available at Small World Music, one block from Felicia's.)
GrassRoots Festival favorites Big Leg Emma make an all-too-rare Ithaca appearance at Castaways, 10 pm.
Saturday, 16 June: Radio London played a nice set Thursday for Bill Myers' retirement party at Alternatives Credit Union. Tonight they bring their classic rock, with excellent vocals on hard-to-sing songs, to the Common Ground, 7 pm.
Baby Gramps is a street musician extraordinaire who mixes equal parts Blind Blake, Tuvan Throat Singers, and Popeye. He has worked with Johnny Depp, appeared on Letterman, and is a fixture in hipper quarters of NYC. He was featured this week in the New York Times in a piece on the Lower East Side. Tonight he performs at the Nines, at 10 pm.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
GrassRoots Festival favorites Big Leg Emma make an all-too-rare Ithaca appearance at Castaways, 10 pm.
Saturday, 16 June: Radio London played a nice set Thursday for Bill Myers' retirement party at Alternatives Credit Union. Tonight they bring their classic rock, with excellent vocals on hard-to-sing songs, to the Common Ground, 7 pm.
Baby Gramps is a street musician extraordinaire who mixes equal parts Blind Blake, Tuvan Throat Singers, and Popeye. He has worked with Johnny Depp, appeared on Letterman, and is a fixture in hipper quarters of NYC. He was featured this week in the New York Times in a piece on the Lower East Side. Tonight he performs at the Nines, at 10 pm.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Thursday, June 14, 2007
"Scooter" Libby Faces Jail Sooner Rather Than Later
Judge Reggie Walton today denied a petition from "Scooter" Libby, ex-chief of staff for Vice President Dick Cheney, to delay his incarceration while his lawyers file appeals for his convictions for perjury and obstruction of justice.
Libby thus might be ordered to prison within the next six to eight weeks. He was ordered to surrender his passport in the basement probation office of the federal courthouse today after his hearing.
In an improbable twist of fate, Libby finds his name linked with Paris Hilton, another public figure who recently sought release from a prison conviction on the grounds that it is uncomfortable for a person of privilege.
Unlike Ms. Hilton, Mr. Libby has the potential trump card of a presidential pardon from George W. Bush.
The Bush adminstration has so far deflected all questions about a pardon, which it knows will be unpopular, and another blow to the already-reeling Republican party.
Now, however, with Mr. Libby's incarceration looming sooner rather than later, Mr. Bush's role as "the decider," as he has famously descibed himself, will soon face a significant test.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Libby thus might be ordered to prison within the next six to eight weeks. He was ordered to surrender his passport in the basement probation office of the federal courthouse today after his hearing.
In an improbable twist of fate, Libby finds his name linked with Paris Hilton, another public figure who recently sought release from a prison conviction on the grounds that it is uncomfortable for a person of privilege.
Unlike Ms. Hilton, Mr. Libby has the potential trump card of a presidential pardon from George W. Bush.
The Bush adminstration has so far deflected all questions about a pardon, which it knows will be unpopular, and another blow to the already-reeling Republican party.
Now, however, with Mr. Libby's incarceration looming sooner rather than later, Mr. Bush's role as "the decider," as he has famously descibed himself, will soon face a significant test.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Retirement Party for Bill Myers, President of Alternative Federal Credit Union
Bill Myers, president of Alternatives Federal Credit Union, is retiring after 28 years. His retirement party is at 6 p.m., Thursday 14 June, at the credit union, 125 N. Fulton Street. It is open to the public.
There is no truth to the rumor that Hillary Clinton will be there to honor Bill, nor to the rumor that she asked to come, but was asked not to. We know there is no truth to either proposition, because we invented them.
The speculation is not baseless, however. It is true that Alternatives considered inviting the senator, who visited Alternatives in 2004, but decided against it, to avoid politicizing the event.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
There is no truth to the rumor that Hillary Clinton will be there to honor Bill, nor to the rumor that she asked to come, but was asked not to. We know there is no truth to either proposition, because we invented them.
The speculation is not baseless, however. It is true that Alternatives considered inviting the senator, who visited Alternatives in 2004, but decided against it, to avoid politicizing the event.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Friday, June 08, 2007
Father's Day Contest
Groucho Marx once noted that there are many songs about mothers, but few about fathers. Our contest for the week leading up to Father's Day simply asks you to name one.
(If you need a lead: Groucho had a couple in his stage repertoire.)
Creative entries are acceptable. Send your entry directly to Small World Music, sworldmu@twcny.rr.com, for a chance at the weekly prize of a $10 gift certificate to the store, which you can learn about via a couple of pdf links here in the margins of Ithaca Blog.
The winner of last week's contest was A.W., who submitted the (sole) correct reply to the question we posed for the 40th anniversary of the release of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" by the Beatles pop group: Who was the celebrity (semi-celebrity, really) whose image was removed from the cast of characters on the cover, because he (and only he) demanded payment (of $500)?
The answer: star of "Mr. Hex", "Bowery to Baghdad", and about 6 or 7 grade-B movies per year at the height of his career in the 1940's, Mr. Leo Gorcey. You can see the space where his head was supposed to be in the top row, in a blank space next to the image of his Bowery Boys co-star, Mr. Huntz Hall.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
(If you need a lead: Groucho had a couple in his stage repertoire.)
Creative entries are acceptable. Send your entry directly to Small World Music, sworldmu@twcny.rr.com, for a chance at the weekly prize of a $10 gift certificate to the store, which you can learn about via a couple of pdf links here in the margins of Ithaca Blog.
The winner of last week's contest was A.W., who submitted the (sole) correct reply to the question we posed for the 40th anniversary of the release of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" by the Beatles pop group: Who was the celebrity (semi-celebrity, really) whose image was removed from the cast of characters on the cover, because he (and only he) demanded payment (of $500)?
The answer: star of "Mr. Hex", "Bowery to Baghdad", and about 6 or 7 grade-B movies per year at the height of his career in the 1940's, Mr. Leo Gorcey. You can see the space where his head was supposed to be in the top row, in a blank space next to the image of his Bowery Boys co-star, Mr. Huntz Hall.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Weekend Picks, June 8 - 10
Friday: tomorrow is the Belmont Stakes, third jewel in horseracing's Triple Crown, so that means one thing for tonight: a road trip to Cortland, to Uncle Louie's restaurant/Off-Track Betting parlor, to get dinner and bets. (See the May 2 Ithaca Blog entry for details on this worthy out-of-town junket.)
If you're not feeling lucky, and you would go betting with scared money, don't go. Stay in town and hear some music. Select from three fine local bands playing tonight:
The Hogwarshers, 7 pm at Felicia's Atomic Lounge.
Thousands of One, 9 pm, the Haunt.
Wingnut, with Hank Roberts, 10 pm, ABC Cafe.
Saturday: The Void Union brings "ska for the people" (their credo) from Boston to Castaways, 9 pm. An additional attraction on the bill is Bronwen Exter, who left Ithaca to pursue music stardom in NYC, and seems to be gaining on it, with a lot of good gigs, and notice in important journals.
Sunday: the Pine Leaf Boys are the up-and-comingest band playing Louisiana music anywhere. Catch them before they achieve massive genre fame at Castaways, in a daytime show, 3 pm.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
If you're not feeling lucky, and you would go betting with scared money, don't go. Stay in town and hear some music. Select from three fine local bands playing tonight:
The Hogwarshers, 7 pm at Felicia's Atomic Lounge.
Thousands of One, 9 pm, the Haunt.
Wingnut, with Hank Roberts, 10 pm, ABC Cafe.
Saturday: The Void Union brings "ska for the people" (their credo) from Boston to Castaways, 9 pm. An additional attraction on the bill is Bronwen Exter, who left Ithaca to pursue music stardom in NYC, and seems to be gaining on it, with a lot of good gigs, and notice in important journals.
Sunday: the Pine Leaf Boys are the up-and-comingest band playing Louisiana music anywhere. Catch them before they achieve massive genre fame at Castaways, in a daytime show, 3 pm.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Help for Underemployment in Ithaca
The Ithaca Times published an insightful article today on the phenomenon of '"underemployment" in Ithaca.
The situation, basically, is that Ithaca is a desirable place to live, but without a surplus of large employers or jobs.
The appeal of Ithaca is easy to see. It is beautiful, safe, friendly, pleasant, and cosmopolitan.
Thousands of people come to Ithaca from around the country and the world because of Cornell University, and many want to stay, at least for a while. To people from New York City, Ithaca can seem a lovely, lively alternative to stressful urban situations. And in central and upstate New York, Ithaca is a cultural oasis.
There is a driven population, therefore, looking for work.
The unemployment level in Tompkins County is perennially the lowest in New York State. On the face of it, that seems good. But it also means a perennial scarcity of jobs.
And it means a low wage structure, even at large and elite workplaces. An adminstrator at Cornell, for example, makes a fraction of what the same job would pay at Columbia University in New York. Of course, the cost of living in higher in New York, but not for everything. For housing, certainly. But it costs the same here as there for food, clothing, taxes, a car, gas, a college education for your children, and most other things.
The problem of underemployment led to the founding of two unique institutions in Ithaca: the Alternatives Federal Credit Union, and Ithaca Hours.
Alternatives says plainly in its mission statement, "Alternatives is dedicated to economic justice, to building wealth and creating economic opportunity for underserved people and communities."
The basic fees at Alternatives are well below industry norms. Savings accounts have no monthly charges or transaction fees, and only a five dollar minimum balance requirement. Checking accounts are free: no monthly fees, and no transaction fees.
Beyond the basics, Alternatives has a raft of innovative programs for building savings, borrowing easily and fairly, managing resources, and creating new opportunities.
Aware of the number of poor and working people who are not getting tax benefits such as the Earned Income Credit, the credit union started a program of preparing members' tax statements, for free. The credit union also offers free, extensive credit counseling.
Alternatives has a remarkable program called the Individual Development Account. An individual who saves $1000 in an IDA receives double that amount in matching funds through the program.
For information about these and other Alternatives features, call the credit union at 273-4611, or visit www.alternatives.org.
Ithaca Hours is a local currency system started in the 1990's specifically to help with the problem of underemployment. The thinking was, there were people in the community with needs, and people with resources. The only thing keeping them apart was money, or the lack of it. The solution was to create new money, to enable transactions to happen.
Since then, Hours has grown into a bona fide revenue stream for Tompkins County, with over $120,000 worth of Hours in circulation, and a new issuance of perhaps another $30,000 planned.
Many businesses accept Hours in partial payment (some in full) to attract customers. Hours publishes a Directory that provides inexpensive advertising for businesses, and for moonlighters.
Researchers have lauded Hours for its "multiplier effect" of creating economic transactions. Because Hours do not leave the area, studies show, an Hour spent will create up to 30 times more transactions locally than a dollar will.
The local scope of the currency helps small, independent businesses to compete with larger chain stores from outside the area. Observers have noted the relative health of Ithaca's downtown compared to other cities in central New York, and the growth of local institutions such as the Farmers Market.
For more information about Ithaca Hours, visit their website, www.ithacahours.org.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
The situation, basically, is that Ithaca is a desirable place to live, but without a surplus of large employers or jobs.
The appeal of Ithaca is easy to see. It is beautiful, safe, friendly, pleasant, and cosmopolitan.
Thousands of people come to Ithaca from around the country and the world because of Cornell University, and many want to stay, at least for a while. To people from New York City, Ithaca can seem a lovely, lively alternative to stressful urban situations. And in central and upstate New York, Ithaca is a cultural oasis.
There is a driven population, therefore, looking for work.
The unemployment level in Tompkins County is perennially the lowest in New York State. On the face of it, that seems good. But it also means a perennial scarcity of jobs.
And it means a low wage structure, even at large and elite workplaces. An adminstrator at Cornell, for example, makes a fraction of what the same job would pay at Columbia University in New York. Of course, the cost of living in higher in New York, but not for everything. For housing, certainly. But it costs the same here as there for food, clothing, taxes, a car, gas, a college education for your children, and most other things.
The problem of underemployment led to the founding of two unique institutions in Ithaca: the Alternatives Federal Credit Union, and Ithaca Hours.
Alternatives says plainly in its mission statement, "Alternatives is dedicated to economic justice, to building wealth and creating economic opportunity for underserved people and communities."
The basic fees at Alternatives are well below industry norms. Savings accounts have no monthly charges or transaction fees, and only a five dollar minimum balance requirement. Checking accounts are free: no monthly fees, and no transaction fees.
Beyond the basics, Alternatives has a raft of innovative programs for building savings, borrowing easily and fairly, managing resources, and creating new opportunities.
Aware of the number of poor and working people who are not getting tax benefits such as the Earned Income Credit, the credit union started a program of preparing members' tax statements, for free. The credit union also offers free, extensive credit counseling.
Alternatives has a remarkable program called the Individual Development Account. An individual who saves $1000 in an IDA receives double that amount in matching funds through the program.
For information about these and other Alternatives features, call the credit union at 273-4611, or visit www.alternatives.org.
Ithaca Hours is a local currency system started in the 1990's specifically to help with the problem of underemployment. The thinking was, there were people in the community with needs, and people with resources. The only thing keeping them apart was money, or the lack of it. The solution was to create new money, to enable transactions to happen.
Since then, Hours has grown into a bona fide revenue stream for Tompkins County, with over $120,000 worth of Hours in circulation, and a new issuance of perhaps another $30,000 planned.
Many businesses accept Hours in partial payment (some in full) to attract customers. Hours publishes a Directory that provides inexpensive advertising for businesses, and for moonlighters.
Researchers have lauded Hours for its "multiplier effect" of creating economic transactions. Because Hours do not leave the area, studies show, an Hour spent will create up to 30 times more transactions locally than a dollar will.
The local scope of the currency helps small, independent businesses to compete with larger chain stores from outside the area. Observers have noted the relative health of Ithaca's downtown compared to other cities in central New York, and the growth of local institutions such as the Farmers Market.
For more information about Ithaca Hours, visit their website, www.ithacahours.org.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Wine Tour Finale: Hosmer
Hosmer Winery has been around since 1985, and in that time has developed into a formidable producer of good quality wines.
Hosmer wines have been recognized with a raft of prestigious awards, but the winery retains a fun, friendly touch. Hosmer was voted Best Finger Lakes Winery in the most recent Ithaca Times readers poll.
The tasting room is expansive, with high ceilings and lots of natural light. A big crew of workers took care of a large group of visitors. Our servers at the tasting bar were knowledgable about what they were selling, and personable in sharing it.
A look around the room showed about two dozen wine competitions won by Hosmer varieties. What intrigued us, though, were a couple of off-beat offerings exclusive to Hosmer.
One was a dessert wine - the only one Hosmer makes - called Raspberry Royale, a fortified (i.e., high alcohol) wine infused with locally-grown raspberries. It has a lot of strength and flavor, and is the kind of drink you can't drink much of and remain lucid, so it is a good drink to get visitors to go to bed.
The other Hosmer exclusive we liked, and bought, was Sangria. At the other end of the wine spectrum from the dessert wine, it is a light and welcoming wine to celebrate the start of a summer evening. It is also a good buy (ahem), at $10 for a 1.5 liter bottle.
Hosmer was the last of our stops. Altogether we spent about four hours patronizing six wineries, one eatery (and checking out 2 others), enjoying much scenery (personally I have a limited capacity for scenery, but this was about right), and tangentially visiting Sheldrake, a tough place to define (town, hamlet, settlement?), oddly befitting its most famous resident, the late Rod Serling, creator of the Twilight Zone.
We had fun, stayed legal, got to know our region better, and got ready for our '07 vintage of house guests. You can find more information at www.cayugawinetrail.com, which will also direct you to individual winery websites.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Grog
Hosmer wines have been recognized with a raft of prestigious awards, but the winery retains a fun, friendly touch. Hosmer was voted Best Finger Lakes Winery in the most recent Ithaca Times readers poll.
The tasting room is expansive, with high ceilings and lots of natural light. A big crew of workers took care of a large group of visitors. Our servers at the tasting bar were knowledgable about what they were selling, and personable in sharing it.
A look around the room showed about two dozen wine competitions won by Hosmer varieties. What intrigued us, though, were a couple of off-beat offerings exclusive to Hosmer.
One was a dessert wine - the only one Hosmer makes - called Raspberry Royale, a fortified (i.e., high alcohol) wine infused with locally-grown raspberries. It has a lot of strength and flavor, and is the kind of drink you can't drink much of and remain lucid, so it is a good drink to get visitors to go to bed.
The other Hosmer exclusive we liked, and bought, was Sangria. At the other end of the wine spectrum from the dessert wine, it is a light and welcoming wine to celebrate the start of a summer evening. It is also a good buy (ahem), at $10 for a 1.5 liter bottle.
Hosmer was the last of our stops. Altogether we spent about four hours patronizing six wineries, one eatery (and checking out 2 others), enjoying much scenery (personally I have a limited capacity for scenery, but this was about right), and tangentially visiting Sheldrake, a tough place to define (town, hamlet, settlement?), oddly befitting its most famous resident, the late Rod Serling, creator of the Twilight Zone.
We had fun, stayed legal, got to know our region better, and got ready for our '07 vintage of house guests. You can find more information at www.cayugawinetrail.com, which will also direct you to individual winery websites.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Grog
Friday, June 01, 2007
Weekly Contest Winner, & New Quiz
Our contest winner last week was Arthur, randomly selected from the many repsondents who knew that Miles Davis was the guy who, IHOHO, "changed music four or five times."
Arthur wins a $10 gift certificate to Small World Music, where we certainly appreciate what Miles meant, in his unreconstructed way.
This week's quiz: you may be aware that today is the 40th anniversary of the release of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" by the Beatles pop group. The iconic cover featured a gamut of celebrities and historic figures, from Albert Einstein and George Bernard Shaw, to Tom Mix and Marlon Brando.
Two images originally used on the cover were removed.
The image of Mahatma Ghandi was removed for fear the use of a spiritual leader would offend people.
The other guy was not a spiritual leader.
He was a B-movie actor, possibly the least renowned person on the cover, but the only one to demand a fee - reportedly $500, although he purportedly later said he would have taken $400. A man after our own hearts, and actually one of our favorite actors, if you conceive of the term loosely. Who was he?
Send your reply directly to Small World Music at sworldmu@twcny.rr.com. $10 gift certificate winner will be announced next Friday.
Good luck!
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Arthur wins a $10 gift certificate to Small World Music, where we certainly appreciate what Miles meant, in his unreconstructed way.
This week's quiz: you may be aware that today is the 40th anniversary of the release of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" by the Beatles pop group. The iconic cover featured a gamut of celebrities and historic figures, from Albert Einstein and George Bernard Shaw, to Tom Mix and Marlon Brando.
Two images originally used on the cover were removed.
The image of Mahatma Ghandi was removed for fear the use of a spiritual leader would offend people.
The other guy was not a spiritual leader.
He was a B-movie actor, possibly the least renowned person on the cover, but the only one to demand a fee - reportedly $500, although he purportedly later said he would have taken $400. A man after our own hearts, and actually one of our favorite actors, if you conceive of the term loosely. Who was he?
Send your reply directly to Small World Music at sworldmu@twcny.rr.com. $10 gift certificate winner will be announced next Friday.
Good luck!
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Wine Tour, part 5: Knapp
Knapp Winery was the furthest point north on our trip, and not part of our original itinerary, but we recommend it. It is no behemoth, but it is the largest of the wineries on our path, and it has a long, strong roster of product.
Knapp produces 33 varieties, all available to sample. The sampling station is big and well-run. They have the most liberal policy of the tasting stations we visited. The fee is $1, and we were told, "You can sample up to 8 wines, but we're not counting." Every other place was 4 to 6, and they were counting.
Knapp offers premium reds and whites from vinifera vines, along with sparkling wines, specialty blends, brandy and cordials. The prices are competitive with the other wineries we visited, and there is a discount of 5% off three bottles, 10% off six, and 15% off twelve.
We sampled high end, low end, and in-between, thanks to that liberal policy (though we stayed below the count-line). The high end was represented by their sparkling Brut, which was crisp and energizing. The low end was a red that was described as a "French American Grape Based Blend." The American part meant concord, we could tell, with that inimitable hint of Flinstones jelly - a reminder of the bad old days of New York wines, before the introduction of vinifera.
Knapp also has a restaurant, full-fledged, with fancy fare (American continental?), appropriately priced, and both indoor and outdoor seating.
Our next, and final, stop - and installment here- Hosmer Winery.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Knapp produces 33 varieties, all available to sample. The sampling station is big and well-run. They have the most liberal policy of the tasting stations we visited. The fee is $1, and we were told, "You can sample up to 8 wines, but we're not counting." Every other place was 4 to 6, and they were counting.
Knapp offers premium reds and whites from vinifera vines, along with sparkling wines, specialty blends, brandy and cordials. The prices are competitive with the other wineries we visited, and there is a discount of 5% off three bottles, 10% off six, and 15% off twelve.
We sampled high end, low end, and in-between, thanks to that liberal policy (though we stayed below the count-line). The high end was represented by their sparkling Brut, which was crisp and energizing. The low end was a red that was described as a "French American Grape Based Blend." The American part meant concord, we could tell, with that inimitable hint of Flinstones jelly - a reminder of the bad old days of New York wines, before the introduction of vinifera.
Knapp also has a restaurant, full-fledged, with fancy fare (American continental?), appropriately priced, and both indoor and outdoor seating.
Our next, and final, stop - and installment here- Hosmer Winery.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
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