Nuff said - enjoy:
http://www.uberreview.com/2006/03/top-ten-most-annoying-alarm-clocks.htm
Friday, January 23, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Unorganized but lucky
With long weekend fast approaching, I am braving east coast ski scene and going skiing up in Vermont, Killington Mountain. I am hoping for snow, lots of it, as I never skied on the east coast before.
Four days ago, I discovered my helmet and goggles were not in New York with me. A quick phone call and we discovered that my parents had them. Crises were averted by my dad who packaged and shipped the goodies next morning. I have my gear now, well almost… Two days ago I discovered that my skiing jacket was MIA – it was alas, you guessed it, in Chicago.
Events of that evening/ next morning and afternoon unfolded as follows:
(a) I came home to discover jacket is about 850 miles away and I have to leave in 3 days. (b) Asked my roommate if he know anyone flying from Chi-town here. His response was: “Yes, J. is flying tomorrow morning” (Really? WOW). (c) About an hour later, roommie talked to J., my mom had J.’s phone number and within 8 hours had it on the train with her going to work. (d) At noon the following day J. picked up my jacket from mom and flew to NYC. (e) At 9 pm yesterday all 3 of us were having drinks are Death and Co – love that bar!
It looks like I will have my jacket to ski in – yuppie!
Verdict? Unorganized but lucky! :-)
Four days ago, I discovered my helmet and goggles were not in New York with me. A quick phone call and we discovered that my parents had them. Crises were averted by my dad who packaged and shipped the goodies next morning. I have my gear now, well almost… Two days ago I discovered that my skiing jacket was MIA – it was alas, you guessed it, in Chicago.
Events of that evening/ next morning and afternoon unfolded as follows:
(a) I came home to discover jacket is about 850 miles away and I have to leave in 3 days. (b) Asked my roommate if he know anyone flying from Chi-town here. His response was: “Yes, J. is flying tomorrow morning” (Really? WOW). (c) About an hour later, roommie talked to J., my mom had J.’s phone number and within 8 hours had it on the train with her going to work. (d) At noon the following day J. picked up my jacket from mom and flew to NYC. (e) At 9 pm yesterday all 3 of us were having drinks are Death and Co – love that bar!
It looks like I will have my jacket to ski in – yuppie!
Verdict? Unorganized but lucky! :-)
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Artists of the Russian Jewish Theater
Chagall and the Artists of the Russian Jewish Theater, 1919-1949 at the Jewish Museum
"...a fascinating tale of two vanguard theater companies…" - The New York Times
The Jewish Museum organized the first exhibition devoted to the extraordinary artwork created for Russian Jewish theater productions in the 1920s and 1930s. The exhibition brings to light a remarkable period in the early years of the Soviet Union when innovative visual artists, including Marc Chagall, Natan Altman, and Robert Falk joined forces with avant-garde playwrights, actors, and theatrical producers to create a theater experience with extraordinary mass appeal. Through paintings, costume and set designs, posters, photographs, film clips and theater ephemera - many of which have never been exhibited before- Chagall and the Artists of the Russian Jewish Theater, 1919-1949 captured an exhilarating but fleeting moment in the cultural history of the Soviet Union.
The two most important Jewish theater companies in post revolutionary Moscow—the Hebrew-speaking Habima and the Yiddish-language Moscow State Yiddish Theater (GOSET)—galvanized a growing community of Jewish artists, actors, and composers. At first, the Bolseheviks believed Habima and GOSET were an effective means for conveying the goals of the Revolution. Later, even as Stalin instituted increasingly repressive measures against creative expression, the two theater troupes were the most prominent manifestation of Jewish identity and culture in the Soviet Union.
Habima was founded by a former Hebrew teacher, Naum Tsemakh (1887–1939), in Bialystok in 1912, and then reestablished in Moscow in 1918. By performing solely in Hebrew, the company stressed the continuous relationship between the heroic past of the Bible and the present. The use of a language unfamiliar to the majority of Russian Jews and primarily associated with prayer ultimately alienated those it wished to attract. The company was forced to leave the Soviet Union for good in 1926. It eventually settled in Palestine, and today is the national theater of Israel.
GOSET - from its beginning in 1918 until it was disbanded in 1949 was a dynamic expression of Jewish culture. Founded by Aleksei Granovsky in Petrograd, GOSET performed in Yiddish, the Russian Jewish vernacular. In 1920 the troupe relocated to Moscow, and the following year the theater received the patronage of the government and was renamed State Yiddish Chamber Theater. That same year Marc Chagall was invited to design the sets and costumes for An Evening of Sholem Aleichem, the troupe’s inaugural production in Moscow. Chagall had a tremendous influence on the company with his innovative stage, costume, and makeup designs. He also played a key role in conceiving the extreme stylization of the actors’ gestures for which GOSET became known (read more at: http://www.thejewishmuseum.org/exhibitions/JewishTheaterUSSR).
It was an interesting and curious exhibition mostly because I didn't know much about Jewish theater in Soviet Russia, nor have heard my family talk about it much. I called my grandfather walking out of the exhibit and inhaling cold crisp air of New York winter. He grew up in Soviet Belorussia close to the theater circles of Minsk and knew some of the prominent Jewish theater figures both in Minks and later in Moscow. He however, never heard of Habima, only Goset. Strangely enough, one of Habima's plays featured Tmima Yudelevich in its roster of actors (her last name spelled in Russian exactly the same way mine is - I doubt we are related though).
"...a fascinating tale of two vanguard theater companies…" - The New York Times
The Jewish Museum organized the first exhibition devoted to the extraordinary artwork created for Russian Jewish theater productions in the 1920s and 1930s. The exhibition brings to light a remarkable period in the early years of the Soviet Union when innovative visual artists, including Marc Chagall, Natan Altman, and Robert Falk joined forces with avant-garde playwrights, actors, and theatrical producers to create a theater experience with extraordinary mass appeal. Through paintings, costume and set designs, posters, photographs, film clips and theater ephemera - many of which have never been exhibited before- Chagall and the Artists of the Russian Jewish Theater, 1919-1949 captured an exhilarating but fleeting moment in the cultural history of the Soviet Union.
The two most important Jewish theater companies in post revolutionary Moscow—the Hebrew-speaking Habima and the Yiddish-language Moscow State Yiddish Theater (GOSET)—galvanized a growing community of Jewish artists, actors, and composers. At first, the Bolseheviks believed Habima and GOSET were an effective means for conveying the goals of the Revolution. Later, even as Stalin instituted increasingly repressive measures against creative expression, the two theater troupes were the most prominent manifestation of Jewish identity and culture in the Soviet Union.
Habima was founded by a former Hebrew teacher, Naum Tsemakh (1887–1939), in Bialystok in 1912, and then reestablished in Moscow in 1918. By performing solely in Hebrew, the company stressed the continuous relationship between the heroic past of the Bible and the present. The use of a language unfamiliar to the majority of Russian Jews and primarily associated with prayer ultimately alienated those it wished to attract. The company was forced to leave the Soviet Union for good in 1926. It eventually settled in Palestine, and today is the national theater of Israel.
GOSET - from its beginning in 1918 until it was disbanded in 1949 was a dynamic expression of Jewish culture. Founded by Aleksei Granovsky in Petrograd, GOSET performed in Yiddish, the Russian Jewish vernacular. In 1920 the troupe relocated to Moscow, and the following year the theater received the patronage of the government and was renamed State Yiddish Chamber Theater. That same year Marc Chagall was invited to design the sets and costumes for An Evening of Sholem Aleichem, the troupe’s inaugural production in Moscow. Chagall had a tremendous influence on the company with his innovative stage, costume, and makeup designs. He also played a key role in conceiving the extreme stylization of the actors’ gestures for which GOSET became known (read more at: http://www.thejewishmuseum.org/exhibitions/JewishTheaterUSSR).
It was an interesting and curious exhibition mostly because I didn't know much about Jewish theater in Soviet Russia, nor have heard my family talk about it much. I called my grandfather walking out of the exhibit and inhaling cold crisp air of New York winter. He grew up in Soviet Belorussia close to the theater circles of Minsk and knew some of the prominent Jewish theater figures both in Minks and later in Moscow. He however, never heard of Habima, only Goset. Strangely enough, one of Habima's plays featured Tmima Yudelevich in its roster of actors (her last name spelled in Russian exactly the same way mine is - I doubt we are related though).
Israel Solidarity Rally
Israel Solidarity Rally
42nd St & 2nd Ave (Israeli Consulate)
Sunday, Jan. 11th, 11:00am
In 1967, Israel's resounding victory in the 6-Day War was a tremendous source of strength, hope and unity for Jews living in the Soviet Union. Now, as we are Jews in the free world, Israel needs our support more than ever. Join the greater Jewish community of New York in support of Israel during this critical time of war. Every voice counts - please be there to show that WE STAND WITH ISRAEL!
I was there; I was cold; I felt proud.
42nd St & 2nd Ave (Israeli Consulate)
Sunday, Jan. 11th, 11:00am
In 1967, Israel's resounding victory in the 6-Day War was a tremendous source of strength, hope and unity for Jews living in the Soviet Union. Now, as we are Jews in the free world, Israel needs our support more than ever. Join the greater Jewish community of New York in support of Israel during this critical time of war. Every voice counts - please be there to show that WE STAND WITH ISRAEL!
I was there; I was cold; I felt proud.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Well “Made in America”
Gran Torino – best Clint Eastwood movie, hands down. Go see it!
It’s NYC Critics Pick: http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/12/12/movies/12tori.html
It’s NYC Critics Pick: http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/12/12/movies/12tori.html
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Melancholia of Eight
12 shows, 8 days… Performance Space 122 (http://www.ps122.org/) presented its annual winter event, COIL 2009, featuring some of the newest theatre, dance, and music from NYC and around the globe.
I saw “Eight” last night – eight actors, eight short 15 minute snippets presenting their lives, struggles and the darkest deepest secrets to the audience in a concise, very well acted and heartfelt manner. All of the actors, as well as the author are Edinburgh graduates and/or students. They are young, talented and eager. They feel struggles of their characters even if they could not have experienced their lives with surprising self-awareness and style.
Collection of stories started with a monologue of a politically and socially conservative prostitute keeping old values alive –well played, funny in its sincerity and charming all at the same time. A life story of a young girl living in the house with no doors, with a mother who invites in strangers and keeps no secrets only to alienate her daughter, force her to run away and become impregnated by a stranger to become her mother’s prisoner once again. Actress’ powerful performance made this particular bit my favorite one. There was an Iraqi war veteran all of 20 years old working at the morgue, with corps and no one else to confide in; a hugely successful stockbroker walking out of his life; a gallery owner discovering the suicide of his partner hanging by a Hermes scarf to name the few…
Walking out of the theater I felt melancholy come over me, cover me as a warm blanket but not suffocate me. A friend thought Eight was depressing. Go figure.
I saw “Eight” last night – eight actors, eight short 15 minute snippets presenting their lives, struggles and the darkest deepest secrets to the audience in a concise, very well acted and heartfelt manner. All of the actors, as well as the author are Edinburgh graduates and/or students. They are young, talented and eager. They feel struggles of their characters even if they could not have experienced their lives with surprising self-awareness and style.
Collection of stories started with a monologue of a politically and socially conservative prostitute keeping old values alive –well played, funny in its sincerity and charming all at the same time. A life story of a young girl living in the house with no doors, with a mother who invites in strangers and keeps no secrets only to alienate her daughter, force her to run away and become impregnated by a stranger to become her mother’s prisoner once again. Actress’ powerful performance made this particular bit my favorite one. There was an Iraqi war veteran all of 20 years old working at the morgue, with corps and no one else to confide in; a hugely successful stockbroker walking out of his life; a gallery owner discovering the suicide of his partner hanging by a Hermes scarf to name the few…
Walking out of the theater I felt melancholy come over me, cover me as a warm blanket but not suffocate me. A friend thought Eight was depressing. Go figure.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
