Nice Night For Felicia's

It's too nice to be in, but at Felicia's Lounge you can go out and actually be out. The State Street bar has an alley with tables and chairs, and it is a pleasant spot.

On Sundays, they have music, with no cover charge. Tonight is Jennie Lowe Stearns, with Mike Stark.

On Sundays, too, they have Champagne specials, which we don't know details of. But we know about the $5 pizza specials (usually $7, we think).

Bensonhursters might not recognize Felicia's as pizzas. No sauce. Instead, they are fancy-ingrediented, with stuff like figs and feta; or apples and blue cheese; and pesto. It isn't Vito's, but it's nice.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

Amy LaVere Plays Free at Angry Mom Records, Wed. 14 March

Acclaimed singer Amy LaVere comes to Ithaca for a show at the new Lot 10 space on S. Cayuga Street. Before the show, Ms. LaVere performs free at an in-store event in Angry Mom Records, on the Commons.

Ms. LaVere came to prominence about 5 years ago as a rising Americana artist. Born in Louisiana, she has been described as "a noir-ish southern storyteller."

She appeared as rockabilly legend Wanda Jackson in the film "Walk The Line". 

Ms. LaVere recently finished a European tour in support of her new release, "Stranger Me".

The in-store performance at Angry Mom Records starts at 5:30. The show at Lot 10 is at 9 p.m. Tickets for the show are available at Angry Mom.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Mets Stick With Binghamton

The glum word among local baseball fans was that the NY Mets would move their minor league team from Binghamton at the end of its contract this year.

But, good news. The Mets signed a new 5-year contract to keep the team in Binghamton.

The Binghamton Mets are a Double-A team, the second-highest minor league level. The team regularly develops and sends players to the major league Mets.

We go see the B-Mets, as they are known, a few times a season. Invariably the attendance is about 1,000 people, in a park that seats 5,000.

We wonder what the other people in Binghamton are doing. There are 250,000 in the Binghamton metropolitan area.

It's a professional sports franchise with significant affiliation. The ballpark is pleasant and clean. The tickets are cheaper than movie tickets.

The team was avidly pursued by other cities. Locals, and other regionals, please note. The team needs and deserves support.

The season opens on Thursday 5 April.

play ball!
Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Our Readers Like Mob Movies

We got a couple dozen replies to our question about movies our readers have watched most repeatedly.

It doesn't surprise us too much that the most popular were mob movies. "Godfather" and "Goodfellas" got numerous citations. "My Blue Heaven" got a nod: an oddball mob movie, but of the genre, technically.

On the other end of the sensibility spectrum, "The Sound Of Music" got two affirmations.

Personally, we have yet to see "The Sound Of Music".

The only other picture with more than one mention was "The Big Chill".

There were a couple of semi-classics: "Chinatown", "Duck Soup". There were some decidedly not classic; but this is what makes a horserace: "French Kiss", "Overboard", "That Thing You Do!".

A few we had to look up: "An Affair To Remember", "Wings Of Desire", "Inland Empire".

"A River Flows North" is probably pretty obscure to most, but not to Rip Torn fans, nor Ithacans (the Horse Flies did the soundtrack).

"Fail-Safe" was the only political film mentioned, and made us think, how does "Dr. Strangelove" miss this list? (We pretty much know "Dr. Strangelove" by heart.)

At the end, we thought, something is missing here, but we couldn't think what. Then it occurred to us: the movies that are on cable TV all the time. Why no entry from that group? Then, just a few minutes ago, came  this submission: " 'Moonstruck', of course."

Of course! We have seen "Moonstruck" a million times, too. We have always wondered about "Moonstruck" on the masculine/feminine movie matrix. But that's another topic.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

What's Your Most-Watched Movie?

Last week, with the Oscars, we thought about the movies we like so much that we watch them repeatedly.

We think your #1 most-watched movie ever tells a lot about you.

Mine is "The Godfather." A co-worker's is "Tootsie." Nobody who knows us would have trouble guessing whose was whose.

What's yours? We're interested to know the roster among Ithaca Blog readers.

Tell us anonymously, if you wish, or with your name, and we will print them.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Rockwood Ferry on the Radio

A while back, we wrote here about Rockwood Ferry, a new old-timey band in town that features veteran player Richie Stearns and a newcomer to the scene named Tenzin Chopak, who plays guitar, sings, and writes songs.

We think (so we wrote) that Tenzin is the best male singer in town.

Tomorrow, you can hear Rockwood Ferry from the comfort of your living room. The band will play live on WITH-FM radio, 91.1, on the Rootabega [sic] Boogie program with Tracy Craig.

The band are talented and affable. It should be an entertaining show.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

The Horse Flies & Natalie Merchant Vs. Fracking: Sat. 10 March

Natalie Merchant and the Horse Flies have both logged lots of miles as touring musicians, but they call central New York home. Like many of us, they oppose drilling for natural gas in our region, and are doing something about it.

On Saturday 10 March, Ms. Merchant headlines a benefit performance for anti-fracking efforts. The Horse Flies open. Dr. Sandra Steingraber of Ithaca College will speak about fracking issues.

The venue is the Broome County Forum Theater in Binghamton. For ticket information, call the Forum: 607/778-6626.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

One More More Stop For Mardi Gras: Angry Mom Records

What better way to celebrate Mardi Gras than by bringing a little music into your life?

Angry Mom Records/Small World Music is the place to do that in Ithaca. New & used CDs and LPs in an appropriately funky setting, in the basement of Autumn Leaves Used Books, 115 The Commons.

Yes, this is self-promotion, as we are a partner in the store, but what of it? As they say, if you don't blow your own horn, there's no music.   

We are here working all day today. Right now the Neville Brothers are playing. Next Dr. John. Then Kermit Ruffin. Then Trombone Shorty.

Come in!

Steve Burke
for Angry Mom Records/Small World Music/Ithaca NY Blog

One More Stop For Mardi Gras: GreenStar

We mentioned Maxie's yesterday as the surrogate here in Ithaca for New Orleans on Mardi Gras day.

It turns out that GreenStar Coop is also in the spirit today, with special Big Easy items on the deli menu. For lunch, we picked up some red beans, some greens, and some gumbo from their hot bar.

Deli manager Eric tells us there are lots of changes coming to the department. The ones we got right here indicate a flying start.

red beans and ricely,
Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

In Ithaca, Mardi Gras Means Maxie's

We don't know why people bother searching online for "Mardi Gras & Ithaca" when the obvious site is Maxie's.

Maxie's Supper Club conjures Oak Street in New Orleans any night, but it is truly New Orleans North around Mardi Gras day.

There have been special features at Maxie's all weekend. Tonight is Drag Night. Don't be scared, it isn't mandatory.

Tomorrow, of course, is the big night, and there will be live zydeco music, and much revelry.

If you know what it means to miss New Orleans, stop in and say How You Feelin'. You'll be happy.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca New York Blog

Pearly Snaps on Bound For Glory Tonight

Bound For Glory, the live weekly folk music show, somehow doesn't get around much to featuring local artists, although Ithaca is certainly large with them.

Tonight that changes with the appearance of Pearly Snaps, a female folk duo from town.

Rosie Newton and Stephanie Jenkins play fiddle and standup bass and a few other acoustic instruments. The music is more old-timey than folk. It tends to feature a lot of vocals and it is very good. The duo have a good time when they play.

Bound For Glory broadcasts from Anabel Taylor Hall at Cornell. The show starts at 8 p.m. Admission is free.

  

Live Music This Week, Somewhere Under the Radar

We won't bother to promote the music of Devil Makes Three and Nat Baldwin to those who don't already know it. But for those who do, we want to make sure you know they are playing weeknight dates in Ithaca this week.

Devil Makes Three is at the Haunt on Wednesday the 15th. Doors open at 7:30. Tickets are $12.50.

Nat Baldwin is at Culture Shock on Thursday. Doors open at 8 p.m. for the 9 p.m. show. Tickets are $10, and are limited to 50.

Tickets for both events are available at Angry Mom Records, on the Commons, and business has been brisk today.

Steve Burke
for Angry Mom Records/Small World Music
and Ithaca Blog

Get Out

We guess people really mean it when they say they miss and like winter, as there are a lot of people downtown today, though nothing special is going on, and it is one of the first snowy days this season.

We guess they just want to experience cold. We understand; we like planet Earth too.

So imagine what next weekend will be like downtown, with the Light In Winter festival in the State Theater and other city venues, and the Chili Cookoff on the Commons on Saturday afternoon. Busy, that's what.

We hope and trust we will see you out there, enjoying Ithaca's cultural climate.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Coneheads Puzzler Revealed

So you can all enjoy the football contest tonight with a clear head, we will reveal the answer to the Coneheads crossword puzzler, previously posted.

The correct New York Times crossword puzzle answer for the clue, "The Coneheads, etc.", six letters, was "aliens."

My answer was "French." And I was sincere. 

The winner of our contest, for a $10 gift certificate to Angry Mom Records/Small World Music, is Chris M., of Lansing. Chris was randomly selected from a number of people who gave "aliens" as the correct answer, and guessed our incorrect answer was "sketch", which is a good guess at an incorrect answer, but not as funny as our actual one, is it?  We wouldn't have brought the whole thing up if it wasn't funny.

Enjoy the game!
Steve Burke
for Itahca NY Blog

"Coneheads" Puzzler

One of our missions here at Ithaca Blog is to provide high-caliber intellectual fodder for our readers. Here goes.

We're doing a crossword puzzle. New York Times, the best, we don't bother with anything else.

3-across is six letters. The clue is, "The Coneheads, etc."

We are very fast at crosswords, like Bill Clinton, and we pen our answer in. Easy one.

Except our answer was wrong.

We found this out when we started working on the downs.

We're making this a contest for you. Tell us what our wrong answer was, or what the right answer was, and we enter you in a drawing for a $10 gift certificate to our business, Angry Mom Records/Small World Music, on the Commons.

Tell us what both answers were, and you're in a drawing for a $20 gift certificate.

Knowledge is good -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

CD By Mary Lorson, Among the Greats

There's a roster of musicians comprising the great, not unified by style nor even proficiency, but with the simple quality that as soon as you hear them, you know it's them.

Sinatra, Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, T. Monk, Muddy Waters:  you get the idea.

I remember once pulling my car off the road, about 20 years ago, to make sure I caught the name of this song on the radio with beautiful slide guitar that sounded so much like George Harrison. The song was "Handle With Care" and of course it was George Harrison.

You'll have your own list. May I suggest you listen to Mary Lorson ( Ithaca's own) and see if you don't add her to it, sooner rather than later.

Ms. Lorson has a new CD, with her new band the Soubrettes, "Burn Baby Burn," which is released for radio play this week, after first release in 2011, to glowing reviews. (The last Sunday New York Times of 2011 named it as a recording not to miss from the year.)

Ms. Lorson's singularity includes her singing, playing (guitar and piano, primarily), and songwriting, which are all of a piece, a trifecta that not many achieve (Sinatra doesn't play or write; Monk doesn't sing).

The songs are mostly piano-based, which generally rules out folkiness, but Ms. Lorson rules it in, composing also for banjo, tenor guitar, and standup bass. The rhythms are direct, with a modest backbeat, but are mostly propelled by Ms. Lorson's vocals, and the meters of her lyrics. This is the strongest part of the hey-that's-Mary Lorson factor. Her singing sounds like her lyrics, her lyrics sound like her songs, her songs sound like her singing.

Ms. Lorson is a just-right singer: never attempting to overpower the notes, but never afraid to meet and define them. Her voice is understated in its beauty. Her diction is perfect but never fussy.

The CD's last song, the only one not written by Ms. Lorson, is "I Don't Care," a vaudeville tune popularized by Eva Tanguay, a favorite of Ms. Lorson's. The final words are "If I'm never successful, it won't be stressful, 'cause I don't care." We don't know how ironically to take this, which is probably the idea, but we think Ms. Lorson will be as successful as she wishes with the strength of this release.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Music Versus Football Fans, Sunday 22 Jan.

There is excellent local music tonight, for those fortunates unensnared by the evening's football hype (New York Giants, championship game).

The Black Walnut Band plays western kind of music at Maxie's, from 6 to 10. It jumps, and is a great tonic for a winter night.

Rockwood Ferry is a new amalgam of acoustic musicians playing original songs: love songs, ballads, perfect ponders. Richie Stearns plays banjo and our pal Tenzin, who we think is the best male singer in town, writes the songs and plays guitar. At Felicia's, 7 - 9 p.m.

Both shows are free, and both venues feature fine drinks, with a limited menu of food at Felicia's (tavern), and a practically unlimited one at Maxie's (restuarant).

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog (and, from the sports desk: we predict NY 27, SF 10.)  

Uncle Jimmy, The Great Black Sheep

My Uncle Jimmy passed away this week. Cancer.

Or smoking, basically. Of the 10 siblings of my father's family, the 4 who are alive do not smoke, and the 6 who have died all did.

Jimmy cooperated well with his doctors, which surprised us, as he could be irascible, especially with authority figures. On the other hand, he could be charming, especially with children. He and my Aunt Sheila had three great boys. He loved children, and they loved him.

Including me. He taught me the expression "Peepings might be catchings." We were riding in a car and I pointed out a prison on Atlantic Avenue. He physically turned my head. "You should never look at a prison," he said. " 'Peepings might be catchings,' you ever hear that saying? It means if you want to look at it so bad, maybe you'll be inside next. Get me?" I suppose I did, but I was 3 at the time.

Jimmy would pay bridge tolls for people behind him, whom he didn't know, but would tell the collector they were his family and they didn't have cash. Then we would all turn and watch the confusion.

And as much as I regret his smoking, I will mention that he made me laugh pretty good once as the only person I ever saw smoking a cigarette in church.

He was a tough guy, a funny guy, and a good man, especially a good family man. I loved him and will always miss him.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Crucifix Moon

Various friends of ours posted Facebook pictures of this month's full moon, with ice crystals giving it a rainbow effect, or a halo, depending on vantage point.

I was looking for such pictures last month, when December's full moon had a crucifix emanating from it.

I was hoping for confirmation, but didn't get it.

Did I imagine it? I had never seen nor heard of such a thing.

It shocked me, at 5 in the morning. I woke, and from bed,  looked out my western window. I saw the moon in the middle of a golden cross. The beams of the cross stretched as far as you could see.

At first I thought I was dreaming. Then I thought it must be a reflection in the window.

Nope. I got up and opened the window. The cross was in the sky.

It was wacky. I am from Brooklyn and don't know about things in nature like ice crystals by the moon. In Brooklyn we assumed religious phenomena are behind inexplicable things, especially mammoth golden crosses in the sky.

That morning I figured it was a sign from God about something, like play the lottery. Now I know better: or maybe not. Since I am bringing this up today, I will play a number tonight. If I hit, I will know it was not ice crystals, after all. It was God telling me play the Win 4.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Six Saltines, But Not Seven

They say you should avoid controversial issues if you want happy family get-togethers at the holidays.

We emerged relatively (ahem) unscathed, but it was shaky ground for a while, with the proposition put forth, in conversation, that it is impossible to eat seven saltines in one minute without drinking anything.

Talk about a dialectic minefield. This is how it went, in part, alternatively rapid-fired and measured, among a table of 6 participants.

- I bet you can. They're so small.

- You just woof 'em down.

- Yeah. Saltines, come on, no problem. Little cracker.

- Yeah, but a little cracker that requires a lot of saliva. Seven? That's more saliva than you can supply in a minute.

- How do you know how much saliva I can supply in a minute?

- What if you store it up first for a while?

- That's cheating.

- It's still eating them.

- What if you naturally have a lot of saliva? I've known people who do.

- I bet it wouldn't matter. Saltines will absorb whatever saliva you got.

- Damn right they will.

- Then you got the matter of the bulk. There's your problem. The saltines absorb all that moisture and then they're not so small, anymore. You can pour on all the saliva you want. Saltines will absorb it with glee.

- Pal.

- Yeah.

So, there was disagreement. I guess the diplomatic aspect is that we left it at the speculative level. Although there were, reportedly, saltines in the house, we did not fetch them to launch science. Somebody would lose, that way. It went unspoken, but my supposition was that we would all try it at home, and the people who were correct about it would bring it up again sometime, and the losers would gain amnesia.

Because I bring it up, you can surmise my position. I came down on the side of impossible.

And, by scientific method? Six is do-able: just barely. Seven? Try it. I say never. Pal.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog