Halloween (2007) Revisited

Doing an enterprise like Ithaca Blog, there are always new things to write about, but there are also recurring things sometimes not to write about.

One is aware of Halloween each year, for example, but how much new is there to say about it?

We remembered writing here about Halloween a few years ago -  in 2007, as it turns out, upon search. "The Meaning of Halloween," we called it. And that's what it was, for us.

Hunter S. Thompson once said that writers are in trouble when they steal from themselves. He didn't say what it meant when they cite themselves. So we'll do that. If you want to see our take on Halloween, just search "Meaning of Halloween" in the "Title" bar above.

Astute scholars will also see, in that posting, the literary genesis of our other blog, Brooklyn 3 New York: stories of Brooklyn we intend for a book, which we have been writing for a while now. A simple search for "Brooklyn 3 New York" will show you those, to your reading delight, no doubt.

Steve Burke
Ithaca NY Blog
and Brooklyn 3 New York

Jimmy Breslin Hitting Stride in NY Daily News

Newspaper legend Jimmy Breslin is back, after a period of retirement that apparently didn't take. The octogenarian dean of New York columnists, and quintessential city-o, is writing a column once a week for the NY Daily News.

We love JB, #1, but will say that he seemed a little rusty, for a while. But this week's column is barbed, funny, and relevant to ordinary people in a way that 95% of stuff in any newspaper is not.

Rather than excerpt here, we will simply encourage you to check him out in this week's NY Daily News online, if you like good writing.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Evil City String Band in Brooklyn's Best Bar, Sat. 22 Oct.

A reminder to all our friends in Brooklyn, and music fans everywhere who could see a trip to Brooklyn (autumn in New York, you know?), that Evil City String Band of Ithaca plays a gig at Rocky Sullivan's bar/restaurant in Red Hook on Saturday, 22 Oct., at 9 pm.

Rocky's is a great joint with a big music room, and music-loving owners, who have come to Grassroots Festival, and want our musicians down there.

We're hoping this will be a start of beautiful thing. Talk to any musicians you know about where they like to play in NYC, and they will say nowhere. It's all hassles and ripoffs.

Rocky's is different: convivial and lovely. A good crowd for this gig could create a scene of regular shows by Ithaca musicians there.

We hope you might make it, and will tell your friends.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Native American Day

Today is officially Native American Day in South Dakota. The state legislature established the designation in 1990, and called for a Century of Reconciliaton in the U.S.

"... they ask me to remember
but they want me to remember
their memories and I keep remembering
mine." - Lucille Clifton, American poet (1936 - 2010)

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

"Occupy Ithaca" Has First Meeting, Sunday 9 Oct.

Occupy Ithaca is a group forming in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street movement.

The group will hold an introductory meeting at 2 p.m., Sunday 9 October, in Dewitt Park.

The stated purpose is for prospective members to meet one another, and to discuss not ideology, but action.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Sign On Wall Street

"I lost my job," the woman's sign said. "But I found an occupation."

Steve Burke
Ithaca NY Blog

Indoor Entertainment At State Theater

Now that the outdoor entertainment season is over, the State Theater is ready to pick it up with, we've noticed, a great slate in their beautiful venue for the fall.

Among the looming luminaries are Richard Thompson, this week (Saturday 8 Oct.); Gillian Welch (Sun. 23 Oct.); Joan Baez and Kris Kristofferson (5 November); Drive By Truckers/Felice Brothers (16 November); and Ray Davies (26 November).

See details of these and other shows at www.stateofithaca.com. Tickets can be purchased there, conveniently, but with service charge. The theater also runs a convenient and convivial box office, with no service charges. The box office is open Monday - Friday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Saturday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog