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So..............
They've come. They've gone!
And...........
What did we think?
Everyone's been gripping about NBC's coverage. But let's face it! They were doomed from the start! London is 5-6 hours ahead of us and even NBC Universal cannot control time! Maybe next time.
But there are other things with which one can take offense.
And the guilt lies with NBC!
The English, in their true blue manner, managed to present us with an image of themselves that is quirky and innovative. The Brits, with Shakespeare, Sheridan and Shaw in their blood, returned to their roots: words and theater.
The two epic productions that book-ended the event this Summer seem to confuse people... Why wouldn't historic figures quote Shakespeare? The over-arching "weirdness" of the opening ceremony was what makes the Brits the Brits!! Hospital nannies (looking remarkably close to Tea Ladies), phosphorescent blankets and multiple Mary Poppins. Music, drama and fashion book-ended the two-plus weeks that the Olympics took in London, a city that has, like in 1948, overcome its past to recreate itself as an international capital all over again!
(London performed this miraculous act over a decade ago, but now its internationally official. I sum it up to the Chunnel!)
Let's face it: Anyone that could get Elizabeth II, Queen of England, to not only appear for the whole opening ceremony but enter with 007 via helicopter is alright with me!! It seems Queen Elizabeth II has finally learnt the lesson that Dame Edna Everage tried to teach her over 25 years ago: "Learn to laugh at yourself, otherwise you may be missing out on the joke of the century"!
As I said earlier, the English are the masters of the theater and spectacle! NBC is not. From the beginning they seem to drop the ball. Why put us through the entire Parade of Nations but cut out Akram Kahn's touching tribute to the victim's of the 7/7 attacks in London to hear Michael Phelps pontificate about his possibilities? It wasn't bad enough that IOC refused to acknowledge it's own history (and hat's off to Bob Costas for even bringing the subject of the Munich Massacre up during the parade), NBC seem to want to refuse any acknowledgement of true feel at all! As major allies of ours, I think all of us felt as strongly during their ordeal as they did during ours on 9/11 and I think NBC made them a major disservice.
And now NBC, answer me this: why, when a preliminary competition was held could you not tell us exactly when we could catch the following broadcasts? Seems like good TV etiquette, no? And why put in two channels dedicated to basketball and soccer then run the same games at the same time on a second family network? And WHY couldn't you take BRAVO out of commission for two full weeks instead of just one!?! WHY!!??!!
Anyway.......
I did rather enjoy the closing event. The Brits are masters of Pop Music and they put up a nice representation. It seems Kate Bush got chopped out of the event and I didn't miss her. Annie Lennox came through in true-blue divahood and kudos to Jessie J for not one but TWO flesh-colored catsuits in one evening!! Both opening and closing presented a fabulous slice of English music, but it did beg the question.........
WHERE WAS LULU??!!??
Welcome to 2012, the year we all die, according to Mayan prophesy!!
In the meantime, let's live, laugh and love! Since it is Winter and cold we are staying close to home these days. But I was lured out for dinner last week at Bin 5 (1233 Bay Street at Maryland), the new establishment that took over the space occupied by long-time Island favorite Aesop's Table. The new owners are part of the Da Noi Italian Restaurant group and what they might turn this charming dining spot into was causing me great apprehension.
I'm happy to report my fears were unjustified. The interior has been totally revamped, replacing the bright pressed-tin walls with dark wood and paneling. The bar area has (rightly) been moved to the front of the main dining room and the areas once taken up with tacky window arrangements has made room for cozy, romantic seating. The room has been transformed into a warm, inviting boîte. The menu has a foothold in Italy, but is brave enough to venture into other culinary worlds. The duck and scallion rolls with hoisin sauce aren't the most imaginative thing on a menu, but they were crisp and hot, the duck was juicy and the sauce didn't overwhelm the dish. Salad greens were crisp and clean. My entree of Veal Cannellini, veal scalloppines stuffed with white beans, was simple and flavorful, as was the nightly special of Shepard's Pie! There is an extensive bottled wine list, and the by the glass selections were very good! Looking forward to a return visit soon.
Last night was the first Second Saturday Staten Island of the new year and if it was indicative of what's ahead for the arts on the Island, then I foresee an interesting and provocative year. We were finally able to find the DOORWAY gallery where Gayil Nalls had an installation called "The Smell of a Critical Moment". The few grids of photographs showing people silk-screening and wearing T-shirts designed by Nalls identifying the wearer as part of the 99% does not prepare you for the impact of the main part of the installation. Nalls worked with Occupy Wall Street protesters, providing them with white cotton T-shirts to wear and adorn. Each shirt hangs pristine on a rack in the rear gallery, along with a tag that shares some of the wearer's experience. Nalls is an artist who has been interested in olfactory experience as art and after two minutes or so in the rear gallery you begin to fully take in the invisible ambiance that takes over the space. I appreciated the effort to collect a moment in time; the idea that the 99% is characterized by sweat and perspiration may not be new, but the slightly antiseptic showroom quality of the display, along with (some of) the wearers' tags helps to brings a face and focus to a movement many in the Media call vague.
At Deep Tanks (150 Bay Street), Island artist DB Lampman performed a piece called "Brain Furniture". I had encountered some of Ms. Lampman's work out at the Freshkills Park not long ago, but I missed the performance she did with the strained bio-morphic figures she installed there. Here, working in a small confined space, she interacted with four torso-like light sculptures. Dressed in a youthful pinefore, Ms. Lampman interacted with these objects, controlling their light levels, raising them up and down and generally exploring and creating a neural network. Well scored, the piece was bright, fun, and concise, all positives in the world of performance. The piece had a strong feminist voice that was neither strident or clichéd. Drawings and paintings accompanied the installation and performance. Brava!!
