L'Chaim, To Life: Adventures in the Holy Land Pt 1

Well, according to a certain "friend" I would be amiss if I didn't come to Israel and the Holy Land for the 10th anniversary of "Gay Pride" there in Tel-Aviv. 

And Pride in Tel-Aviv is certainly an "event". Not one to spend 4 hours in the prime afternoon heat on the beach, I will say the parade itself was festive, manageable and a gregarious mix! In fact, it brought back pleasant memories of what the 10th annual parade was like here in NYC.

Otherwise, Tel-Aviv being a cosmopolitan seaside center, it's not even spitting distance from its sister city, New York where attitude and circuit sisters are concerned! 

But if you are resourceful and curious there were plenty of things to take in without being caught in Pride Fever!

I can't say how happy I was to take an afternoon off and checked out the Tel-Aviv Museum of Art. This mid-sized institution has enough room to provide a derivative history of Israeli art. However, the pleasant surprise here is the strong engaging collection of late-19th and early-to-mid-20th century art. Strong impressionist works are provided by two major donations that combined include important works in Fauvism, Cubism and Abstract Impressionism. 

The great surprise was an excellent survey show of the Berlin-based, Scottish artist Douglas Gordon. The museum dedicated a great amount of space to display an intriguing collection of video installations. It was nice to see some of this artist's major video works played in context to each other. Personal favorites were "24 Hour Psycho" and "Play Dead; Real Time". They also dedicated a large amount of space to large, text-based installations. 

It was also a delight to encounter some queers who weren't in leather and tweaked out of their gourd at the Tel-Aviv LGBT Film Festival. We took in two late night screenings at the beautiful and well-appointed Tel-Aviv Cinemateque; James Franco & Travis Matthews "Interior. Leather Bar." and the fabulous bio-doc "I Am Divine". 

Let's start with the latter which is a charming sensitive biography of Divine (October 19, 1945 – March 7, 1988), born Harris Glenn Milstead, an American actor, singer and drag queen. An appropriate 90 minutes is dedicated to the subject and the film-makers are able to provide some great early material along with intriguing bits and pieces that remind us of what a diverse career "Little Glennie" had! The original soundtrack is also a lot of fun!!

The Franco/Matthews project is much more troubling. Proposing to "reimagine" a lost 40-minute leather bar sequence from William Friedkin's 1980's "Cruising" with Al Pacino, the film dips its toe into the deep-end of the fetish pool, but in typical Aptow-era homophobia dares you to jump in while pointing rudely at you and snickering. Each man, less gay than the next, "opens up" about their heterosexuality and their discomfort with homosexuality. After a while you have to question the sincerity of anything or anyone involved in this film, except for a brief pornographic scene between a genuine gay couple (ooo shocking). Does toeing the homosexual line really make straight men feel more "complete"? Did anyone really think James Franco was going to take off his clothes for this film? Does anyone really care??

On The Road Again

So what was one to do over a week in Boca Raton, Florida?

Especially since I had to miss Second Saturday Staten Island this month. Deep Tanks features an amazing exhibit until June 4th; a retrospective of Island artist Arthur Williams. 

Arthur Williams at Deep Tanks, Installation View

Highly graphic, slightly hallucinogenic, this densely packed mini-retrospective includes over 100 works in painting and ceramics. Williams has a Pop sensibility, sometimes crossed with the retro checkerboard styling of the 80s. 

Arthur Williams at Deep Tanks, Installation View

The numerous canvases range from adept to truly surprising. I found myself oddly drawn to the objects over the two dimensional work, but all the works are infused with humor and compassion. 

Arthur Williams at Deep Tanks, Installation View

It will undoubtedly put a smile on your face. The show is up until June 3rd and if this doesn't get you up and off your ass and over here, well.......

I was fortunate to have picked up a copy of Alison Bechdel's "Are You My Mother?" from the New York Public Library before taking off to the sunny South. And could I have picked up a more appropriate book? This graphic memoir by the creator of "Dykes To Look Out For" follows up on her 2006 "Fun House". Where the latter dealt with her relationship to her homosexual, transvestite father, this current volume deals with her relationship with her mother, often focusing on the period of her developing "Fun House".  It is a big story contained in a slim volume, but Bechdel is a veteran of the panel concept and knows how to utilize the format to her advantage. Actually a study of the Mother-Daughter relationship at the turn of the century, the author pursues a multi-threaded approach; the story encompasses the psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott and author Virginia Wolff with "sidebars" into the worlds of Sigmund Freud and Stephen Sondheim in a masterful slight of hand.


And I read it in under a week!!


So what DOES one do in Broward County? Well I called Girls' Club in Fort Lauderdale to see if they might be able to open up for me Saturday morning (official hours 12-5 Weds-Fri) on my way down to Miami. And sure enough, they accommodated me! 

Re-Framing The Feminine at Girls' Club, Installation View

"Re-Framing The Feminine" is an exhibit curated by Dina Mitrani, a Miami curator, of almost 50 photographic works from the organization's founder's collection. And it is an impressive collection; leaning heavily in works of the past 25 years, it does pay slight homage to earlier women photographers with unsurprising works by Ruth Orkin and Helen Leavitt. The general slant is the "female" eye but a large majority of the work features the female body. 

Re-Framing The Feminine at Girls' Club, Installation View

The show has a pleasant mixture of the familiar (Tina Barney, Vera Lutter, Sally Mann) and the unfamiliar (Courtney Johnson, Delia Brown, Ania Moussawei) that plays it fairly safe but has some definite high notes that include Lucinda Devlin's interiors of "fantasy" motels, Carrie Mae Weem's charmingly elegiac Untitled photograph, and Delia Brown's sly vamp on the Becher school grid in "Some of My Clothes". 
But where were Catherine Opie, Justine Kurland and Sarah Charlesworth? This may be the downfall of dealing with just one couple's collection when curating a "big" show.


I decided to breakfast in FTL and remembered a place called the Egg and You Diner on Rte 1 in Wilton Manors. I chalk it up to my New Jersey upbringing that made me sense this was a "serious" diner and I indulged in a sinfully delicious breakfast of biscuits with sausage gravy. Sitting at the counter I met other late morning diners who had journeyed 30+ miles just for their poached eggs with cheese sauce!! Yum yum yum!!!

According to friend and curator Dan Cameron, I missed a really good show at the Miami Art Museum while I was down that afternoon, but I did get to visit Scotty's Landing for a leisurely late afternoon meal. Lousy service took some time to acknowledge us, but they did offer Magic Hat #9, a personal hot weather fave. I also experienced my first fish taco!! Featuring fried grouper in a flour tortilla, I did wish the accompanying sides of guacamole, slaw and salsa hadn't arrived in covered #6 plastic containers, but the final composed product was not unsatisfactory.



Speaking of Magic Hat Brewery, I decided to forgo my usual vodka and whatever this trip for a six-pack of their Summer Elder Betty brew. To my luck it's an American Hefeweizen beer with a lovely dark color to it; the elderberries add a dark fruitiness that balances the sharp mustiness of the wheat beer. Nicely done.


Then came Mother's Day when I accompanied my Mother to CHOPS Lobster Bar in Boca Raton so we could split the Dover Sole entree. For high end eating down there it wasn't too shabby. Considering the date, the restaurant was humming but not overwhelmed and the service was attentive without being overbearing. The initial room is a bit dark but the main dining room has a vaulted tiled ceiling reminiscent of the Oyster Bar in Grand Central Station and an ample view into the active kitchen. The bourbon ginger cocktail I had as a starter was excellent and set the bar for the rest of the meal. The Caesar salad was creamy and not overwhelmed by enormous croutons as it often is; here they were represented by thin small dark "crisps". The sole was prepared with care table-side and maintained the general level of richness the entire meal had. Sharing a slice of strawberry cheesecake for dessert, we both slowly rolled home remarkably full!!

Judi Dench and Friends in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

What do you do on a rainy Florida afternoon with your Mum? Why not go to the movies? My Mom had been pitching for the new British import The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, so off one rainy afternoon we went to the multiplex. Effectively directed by John Madden (Her Majesty, Mrs. Brown, Shakespeare in Love), a strong ensemble cast featuring Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson, Penelope Wilton, Bill Nighy, and Maggie Smith as a group of "older" English-folk who find themselves trying to adapt to the ways of the sub-continent in a run-down "hotel" being run by a inexperienced but enthusiastic Sonny (Dev Patel of "Slumdog Millionaire") is perfectly fine. Nothing really surprising unfolds here (the gay character dies and receives a full Hindu burial, the toxic couple separate healthfully, the "desperate" find "hope", Sonny stands up to his Mum, and old codger Maggie Smith ends up liking India!!!) but it is nice to see how competent actors deal with mediocre material. The cinematography does do a nice job of capturing the whirling kaleidoscopic of urban India. If you must.

A GLEANER'S DINNER - Thoughts on Food Pt. 1

This holiday season we are thankful for:



1) DOSA GARDEN, 323 Victory Blvd (@ Cebra), Staten Island, NY 10301


This Indian restaurant, in the heart of the Island's Sri Lankan neighborhood, specializes in Southern Indian delicacies and does a magnificent job of preparing regional dishes such as vada, uttappam, and its namesake, dosa. Paper Masala Dosa is beautifully rolled and stuffed with a robustly spiced potato filling. More 'classic' Indian dishes are savory, rich and flavorful. Chicken Korma should be ordered with plenty of hot fresh naan bread to dip in this delectable sauce. Vegetarian dishes are outstanding, including some of the best palak paneer this side of the Pecos! And you can't go wrong with a samosa appetizer; the two veggie turnovers are richly stuffed and fresh. Did we mention reasonable? Decor could use some work but the service is always friendly and informed.


S61 S62 S66 S46 S48 to Cebra


2) PIER 76, 76 Bay Street, Staten Island, NY 10301


Heaven shone brightly on the North Shore of Staten Island this year with the opening of Pier 76. In easy walking distance to the ferry, this North Shore Italian eatery offers not only Joe & Pat's-style thin crust pizza, but inspired Nouveau Italian from its CIA trained owner. Call from the ferry and it's ready for pick-up by the time you walk there!! The 'fellas' did a lovely job of refurbishing the beautiful bar in the lovely appointed dining room. Check out the Caesar Salad pizza; sounds crazy, tastes delicious!!


2 stops on S46, S48, S52, S61, S62, S66, S74, S76 - Bay & Central




3) Pita Joe's, 2 W 14 St, New York, NY 10011


At the crossroads of uptown/downtown east/west this fab little eatery produces some of the best falafel I've had in NYC in years! Joe is a hard core Israeli and it come out in his falafel; crisp, flavorful & satisfying. Chicken cutlets, schnitzeled or grilled, are also available, along with salads and platters. Joe also offers an interesting selection of flavored lemonades. A fabulous, reasonable lunchtime treat!!


To be continued...

VIA CON DIOS, MI CAFE - Starbuck's VIA Instant Coffee

I am probably considered by Starbuck's marketing as an 'incidental' client. Not working in an office building, I am long out of the daily habit of the daily grind. My trips into Starbuck's are coincidental (there's one a block from a pharmacy I patronize) and basically to restock my supply of Double Shots, their canned coffee and cream drink, which, at $2.10 a pop, is real Starbuck's value.


On my past three visits I've been queried by staff as to my familiarity with the company's latest product/innovation VIA, its answer to instant coffee. And who am I to resist a hard sell and special introductory pricing?


So, have they surmounted the wishy-washy stigma of instant coffee?


I have sampled both 'flavors' or blends, 'medium' or Columbian and 'extra bold' or Italian roast. It should be noted that both 'flavors' have a slightly oily taste and quality, which makes straight black coffee drinking a bit tough. Besides that, neither of them are watery in their flavor.


Of the two, the latter is much more drinkable. Being a light and sweet drinker these days, the Italian roast makes a flavorful cup that I would make again. And at $1.00 / 8 oz cup it comes out as a Starbuck's bargain.

THE TOURONDEL OF THE SCREW: BLT Burger

Of all the top chefs of New York City, Laurent Tourondel seems to have the most sordid past. As the chef many years ago at the Upper East Side boite Cello, Tourondel served up immaculate seafood to rival Eric Ripart at Le Bernardin and flavor combinations to give Daniel Boulud a run for his money. Then POOF!! The place closed overnight, deep in debt, one of the partners having embezzled most of the funds. Tourondel also seemed to disappear into the night.

Then in 2004, he reappeared on 57th St with Bistro Laurent Tournodel Steak, a French twist on the American steakhouse, which proudly proclaimed the chef was back and with a vengeance!! As the restaurant garnered praise, the Bistro Laurent Tourondel (BLT) brand spread; BLT Fish and BLT Prime opened in the City; satellites of BLT Steak sprung up around the country. Like a spurned lover, Tourondel reemerged as a restaurateur determined NEVER to have THAT happen to him again!!

Now we have BLT Burger, on 460 Sixth Avenue (twixt 11th and 12th st). Taking on the all-American hamburger, Tourondel has eschewed the high-end Boulud Burger for the basic Burger King take-out variety.

Diagrammatically analyzed and constructed (bun, burger, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, mustard, ketchup and mayo), they are never cooked beyond medium. You can upgrade your beef to American or Japanese Kobe beef (the Japanese will raise your burger investment closer to Boulud's at $62!), but I'd question whether it's worth it. Using a blend of four different beef cuts for his patties, I found the burger genuinely tasty and moist. Whether striped down to its essential beef-and-bun (you can request items be removed from your burger) or all dolled up (sorry but I just don't do pickles and mustard on ANYTHING), the sandwich is consistently flavorful with a nice grill-charred smokiness to it. Matched with nicely prepped French Fries, a classic platter with a soft drink will set you back $13. Platters can also be ordered with a milkshake (served in a classic fountain milkshake glass) for $16 or a draft beer (brewery choices include Blue Point, Mad Hat and Smutty Nose) for $17. If you are going a la carte, I would suggest replacing your fries with the Vidalia Onion Rings to accompany your burger. Desserts such as pie a la mode and ice cream sundaes are available, if you have room.

Decor seems overlooked in this shotgun bistro-cum-diner, and the frosted lighting give the impression of it being smoke-filled and dank on the nicest day. But I haven't been returning for the "scene". I have finally found where the beef is!!