TWO TAKES ON ONE SPACE

Today we headed out to Laguna Gloria (our first visit) in this glorious weather and saw two wonderful exhibit/installations.....one from a New York artist and the other from Steve Wyman, the owner of UNCOMMON OBJECTS on S. Congress.  Talk about a melding of our two worlds.  Lauren Fensterstock's installations of black cut paper and lucite are gorgeous!  And Steve Wyman's installations of found objects and collages of same remind me of why I fell in love with Austin.  When I first visited Lizzie here she took me to his shop.  And I took photos of her typing on an old typewriter, sitting on an old settee, surrounding herself with uncommon objects and I fell in love!  Then we went to Mayfield Park to see the peacocks and ran into Liz's friends Claire and Marcie.  Nothing more makes you feel like a part of a community than when you run into people who know you.    And are happy to see you and thank-you for the latke party.  And for this lost transplant at this time of year I am thankful for that. 

The lasagne is in the oven.  We had drinks at the Driskill.  And to all of my friends Happy New Year!

WE BOUGHT A ZOO/MISSION IMPOSSIBLE

I soloed to WE BOUGHT A ZOO while Abe saw  MISSION IMPOSSIBLE at the Westgate.  Perfectly intelligent choices  when you're married 29 years.  And the timing coincided perfectly!

I loved the ZOO film.  A widower is left with a 14y.o. son and a 7y.o. daughter and all three are grief stricken in the most realistic and true to life portrayal of a family. Like THE DESCENDANTS.  Imperfect parent, imperfect kid.  Just like life.  This film is heartwarming, oh yes formulaic, but inspiring and a pleasure to watch.  Matt Damon and  Scarlett Johansson are fine actors as always, and that 7 y.o. Maggie Elizabeth Jones is absolutely breathtaking and adorable.!!  I'm glad I saw this film at this time of year.  It portrayed a family authentically, with clashes, stresses, and yelling!  Not like what's portrayed on TV ads this time of year.

Abe said MISSION IMPOSSIBLE was fun, a good action film!  Tom Cruise is older but good.

The weather is perfect, Austin is beautiful.  I'm happy we're here.

Cookin' With SARAH JAROSZ

When I first got to Austin I'd listen to KUT while cooking and hear lots about  this 18y.o. girl, about to graduate H.S. and heading East to Boston to their prestigious Conservatory of Music.  On a Presidential Merit Scholarship no less.  I was impressed with her music, her bio and so I went to Waterloo, bought her first CD, SONG UP IN HER HEAD and I've been hooked.  She's a talented musician, great song writer, child of school teachers and from Wimberley, Texas.  Talk about an American treasure! She's been strumming her mandolin and other instruments with the best of the best since she's a small girl.  On her second CD FOLLOW ME DOWN (yup, Waterloo) she's matured and it just gets better.

Listen to "Come On Up To The House" on her first CD.  You'll be stomping your feet while you cook.  And that's what I did this late afternoon while I made Chicken, Broccoli, Sundried Tomatoes and Farfalle in wine sauce. Of course for Abe who's up at Spring Terrace sharing his good heart with folks.

It's 65 degrees in Austin.  Hallelujah!!

FLOWERS FROM SOFIA

An ordinary day in Austin.  Gym, gardening, tennis for Abe and a stop at THE GREAT OUTDOORS for a 50% sale on plants.  And so it's December in Austin and I acted like it's Spring.

But the highlight of the day was coming downstairs and finding flowers.  For me!  A colleague of Abe's, Sofia, a Residence Coordinator at Foundation Communities sent me flowers.  And the greatest gift of all was her message.  She said that meeting our family reminded her of what was good in the world.  Could you ever imagine a higher praise?  And this evening I feel more content than I have in days.  Thank-you Sofia.

Shrimp and Chicken Tortilla Soup/Latkes Too!

The last night of Chanukah and Liz and Jared joined us for dinner. Jared recited the brucha (blessing) over the candles.  He has a fine singing voice.  Sweet.  A completely eclectic menu of shrimp and chicken tortilla soup; spicky chicken sausage and roasted veggies; chicken tenders; and of course more potato latkes!  A real success.  Here's the recipe for the soup, you won't be disappointed.

Shrimp and Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe | Yummly

It was good to have Liz back in town.  Funny how you get used to having a kid close by when you've lived in different cities for 5 years.  The love of her life is Jared.  He's a fine young man, and a lucky one too.  Abe and I are happy.  Night y'all.

Fiscal Literacy and Biking

Today I learned a new term.  Has to do with educating  people who don't have access to banks, credit cards or the world of finance.  I remember my folks did not have  a checking account until I was in High School.  They relied on my grandpa to write their checks.  And he did not live with us!  So I was in my twenties before I had my own checking account.  Relied on bank money orders.  Can you imagine?  And now our son has helped people without bank accounts or credit cards to share in bike rentals and have access to banking and biking in Washington D.C.  Where there is a large population of  poor people.  A shout out  to you Josh Moskowitz.  You make us proud!

Bike-Sharing for the Unbanked - Commute - The Atlantic Cities

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

The character Lisbeth Salendar is so edgy, unique and refreshingly unparalleled in recent American films.  The Swedish actor Noomi Rapaci really nailed it for me and we both  loved the Swedish film.  But now I can say Rooney Mara does the same.  Her interpretation of this character is perfect.  It's a wonderful film.  Well directed, beautiful cinematography and intelligent plot.  A pleasure to see a film about a man who really cares about what happens to women.  And shows the truth about what happens to women.

We did what all Jews around the world do on Christmas Day.  We went to the cinema.  And it was packed to every last seat.  Just like last year at TRUE GRIT.  Proof that Austin is the quintessential film lovers city.  To our friends celebrating Christmas our wishes are for peace on earth, in every home, with good health and happiness in abundance.

THE ARTIST / Aly Winningham Mosaics at the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar

I saw this silent beautiful B&W film today at the Alamo.  Yep, it's beautiful, the actors are terrific, the direction and photography beautiful...but alas, give me some sound!!!!  Abe opted out saying he didn't want to see a silent film.  I thought he wasn't willing to step out of his comfort zone.  I guess neither am I after seeing this film.  I love films, but what I love is the screenplay being interpreted by actors into emotional living people.  So...be forewarned.  It's a reach.

I then returned to the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar where I follow my favorite artists.  Jason Hooper a potter from UK or down under (who knows but what an accent), and Aly Winningham, a wonderful mosaic artist.  And today after coveting her work for 2 years I bought a mosaic mirror.  And when I got home and hung it with Abe it reminded me how fortunate I am to surround my life with crafted beauty.  Thank-you to the creative artists who have brought beauty and  happiness and a sense of well being to my life.  I am appreciative.

Garrido's

Deeeeeelicious!  Modern Mexican.  We walked over the 1st St bridge, stopped at Urban Outfitters (returned what I bought yesterday---too big),  picked  up some free passes from Violet Crown (there were some tech difficulties at the last film); and cashed in on my Groupon Coupon for this very fine restaurant.  Great atmosphere and location (3rd and Nueces).  We'll be back.  Service, prices, atmosphere just terrific!  And I didn't have to cook!!!!

RAY WILEY HUBBARD and the ARMADILLO CHRISTMAS BAZAAR

I LOVE this annual crafts fare at the Palmer Center every year.  It runs for 10 days and offers three music sets every day and absolutely beautiful art and crafts are sold.  Each year I buy pottery from my favorite potters, animals made of recycled metal, ogle at Aly Winningham's gorgeous mosaics and bop in place to Ray Wiley Hubbard's fabulous country music.  He is a wonderful songwriter, great story teller, and provides us with a view of Texas that really broadens Abe's and my understanding of what people's lives were like growing up here.  This is one of my favorite events in Austin.  A combination of American crafts made by local artisans and very American country  music.

YOUNG ADULT /A New York Kind of Day

While there is no question that Charlize Theron and Patton Oswalt deliver brilliant performances this is not a likeable film.  In fact I thought it plodded along given that the main character is someone you really have to work to care about.  Think of the nasty prom queen (if you grew up in a small town or suburb) who goes off to a big city (Minneapolis????) and pretends to be a successful writer (ghost writer) who is actually a narcissistic infantile alcoholic.  While one could wish that this happens to the girl who made our lives miserable in high school when it actually does it's so predictable and  redundant that it's boring.  And that's how I felt... bored.  She returns to her hometown to steal her H.S. boyfriend from his wife and their newborn baby girl.  While there she befriends the H.S. victim who was brutalized and left impaired by the town jocks.  Of course she manages to have sex with him before she leaves.  I do not recommend this film.  If you're curious take it out on DVD.

The day was otherwise a good one.  I walked over the 1st Street Bridge, shopped at Urban Outfitters, soloed the film and walked back over the bridge.  That's a New York kind of day only with much warmer weather in December.    

ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND/AUSTIN FILM SOCIETY

Tonight was the last film in this Essential Cinema series of comedies of remarriage.  Abe and I have loved these films curated by Kimberley Jones, film and book critic at THE CHRONICLE.  No comedy here.  A movie written by the unusual and independent writer and thinker, Charlie Kaufman.  This movie makes you think as Jim Carrey (great performance here) and Kate Winslet (a pleasure to watch) have their memories erased of each other after a difficult time in their relationship.  Think hallucinations, dream like states, time machine events, a grown up Jim Carrey reduced to a 4y.o. size in pajamas and slippers under a table, and psychological roller coaster rides.  Once again an affirmation that relationships are difficult.  That mistakes are made and will be made.  But the willingness to accept that about the person you love is what works.  This stuff ain't easy.  That's the important message.  It's called life.

Happy Chanukah y'all.   Let the light shine on.

SHAME

Late this afternoon we saw this beautifully made film at the Violet Crown.  While it has an NC 17 rating it is not due to hard core sex, but rather frontal nudity.  This is a film about a brother and sister's pain and how they have developed behaviors to cope with their pain.  Michael Fassbender plays the sex addict and Carey Mulligan, the cutter.  They both are on a mission to self destruct to cope with some dark past experience in their lives.  Hats off to Steve McQueen, director of this beautifully shot film in New York.  This is a painful movie, visually appealing and enhanced by a wonderful score. Go see it but don't expect to leave untouched.

Toward the end of the film two young men left to replenish their beers and as the film came to a conclusion four drinks from different viewers were then spilled with  glasses broken as well.  All accidents?  Abe didn't see a connection.  I certainly did!!!

Latkes and Community

And so tonight we partied with the community we've begun to create in Austin.  Thank-you to all of the good people we've met and to Liz and her friends for appreciating our home, my fixin's, and making me feel this was a wonderful way to welcome people into our home and hearts.  And now the cook rests.

Skinny's Ballroom/Graham Reynolds

How fortunate were Abe and I to spend a few hours with Chale Nafus in this skinny bar surrounded by friendly Austin patrons listening to Graham Reynolds perform his version of holiday classics.  As Chale said think cubism when listening.  You'll hear the melody you know within Graham's constructed interpretation.  We've followed this composer/musician since we've arrived in Austin hearing his original score to WINGS and then an interpretive piece of Mozart's with the Austin Ballet.  He is a brilliant composer/musician.  And a very pleasant man who wheels in his own piano.  While Abe couldn't get past the decibel level (it was advertised as a Holiday LOUD  SHOW) he was patient and open to interpretation (thank-you Chale).  A fine evening ending with more latke cooking.  I'm done!  Yay!

LATKES!!!!

Spent this rainy day making latkes for friends.  Lots of latkes.  But don't fret.....while I peeled potatoes, grated onions and fried up all these potato pancakes I listened to Curtiss Mayfield, Nina Simone, Marvin Gaye, TheTemptations, Creedence Clearwater, Willie Nelson, Edith Piaf, Frank Sinatra, Sonny Rollins, Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton, Hot Chocolate (thanks Liz) and on and on.  Good music has no boundaries.  And while I cooked I drank some wine and danced too!  Who said old boomers can't multi task?

10 UNDER 10/AFS and UT RTF

We were back at the Alamo South Lamar this evening to see the 10 UT student documentaries selected by Chale Nafus and other jurors for this annual event. 10 docs under 10 minutes each (some a trifle longer).  Abe and I loved them all.  Subject matters with a large range of human appeal:  a young woman from Oklahoma traveling to Pakistan to marry her fiancee; a Virginia Tech student now at UT talking about the 2007 shooting rampage and his opposition to handguns on campus; a film about stutterers;  developmentally challenged young people in a swimming pool; an artistic film about memory; a gay Hispanic couple with an adopted daughter facing immigration difficulties, and more.  The film making students are always so appreciative of people coming out to see their films and just love talking about them.  I love these shorts and the glimpses they provide about issues that are so appealing and important.  They each delivered a real punch.

TWO FOR THE ROAD/Austin Film Society

Moving along in this Essential Cinema Series of remarriages is TWO FOR THE ROAD starring the exquisite Audrey Hepburn and the once adorable Albert Finney.  The wardrobe for Ms. Hepburn and Mr. Finney reminded me how easily star struck I can become.   I would have dismissed this film in 1967 (we were very busy protesting the war in Viet Nam and could have cared less about couture) but I am so happy to revisit it now. This film  is so very realistic about a relationship filled with so much passion early on which then becomes a marriage filled with life's realities.  Sometimes it is painful to see the unhappiness, resentment, frustration, and loss of warmth between the two.  But throughout the film (as Kimberley Jones forewarned us) there is so much laughter between the two, so much fun being had.  The underlying truth about a long term marriage unfolds in this film.  It's a relationship that markedly changes.  Sometimes frighteningly so. What wins out  is the acceptance of those changes because this is the person you truly love and want to be with.  There is something special about the  familiarity of one other person  throughout your adult life and the ultimate acceptance that mistakes have been made with that person.  I loved watching this film with my husband of 29 years.  Very reaffirming.

Jeffrey's

Six months ago I bought a Groupon deal for this classy restaurant.  And this evening after a day of pure domestic stuff (baking, cleaning, cooking) gym and run to Petco and Old Navy with Abe I was in wife heaven.  Sitting down, someone else cooking, no World News on the tube, and being served a fine meal by a lovely waiter and talking to Abe.  And the bill didn't hurt so much because of that long ago bought deal.  Groupon I love you.  But not as much as Abe.

A SOUTH SIDE STORY/AN AMERICAN MISSION

Just received word that the film made by UT student James Pinedo at Mission Espada is complete.  And will now be sent out to festivals and wherever else James chooses.  I am looking forward to seeing the DVD.  Film has been renamed  A SOUTH SIDE STORY.

East Side Liz returned to 4th Street today for bagels and lox, help Mom connect her laptop to our speakers, help with a playlist, pick up clothes and of course get some much needed sleep.  She is so happy in her new home.  What could be better?

Matt The Electrician

A number of months ago I heard a song on KUT by Matt the Electrician about a Wal Mart employee, Angela.  Seems she saved Matt from catastrophe by replacing a dead battery in his car which allowed him to get to a gig in Dallas.  The song was  clever, heartfelt, well written and sung with a beautiful voice.  Tonight we headed up to the Cactus Cafe where Matt performed with his band.  And played the Wal Mart song! A great performance delivered by a funny, very personable musician who has a really warm style.  The house was full, the audience really appreciative and clearly filled with his fans.   For me the best part was Abe really enjoying this night of music.  Thank-you Matt The Electrician.

HUGO 3D

Scorsese has created a beautiful film that is magical, visually stunning and if you can suspend disbelief for the length of the film I promise an enchanting experience.  Anyone who loves films and film making will cherish this experience.  A boy lives in a clock in a clock tower in a railroad station.  He fixes broken things, he steals things from a toy shop to fix an automaton who draws, he remembers seeing movies with his dad who has died, he befriends a girl whose godfather has a mysterious past with film making.

On a personal note, the young star of this film looks remarkably like Jason Murphy, Liz's friend.   And when we left the theater two people came up to Abe to tell him he looked just like Ben Kingsley in this film.  He did!  And a couple who sat by us then told us they thought we could have both been put  in the film (that's because the wife has curly hair).  Let's hear it for Texas friendliness.   A nice way to leave a theater.

PAUL GOODMAN CHANGED MY LIFE/AFS & Monkey Wrench

Tonight we ventured up to MONKEY WRENCH, a  radical bookstore we'd heard about back in Brooklyn.  Known for it's collection of anarchist, left wing and  radical literature.  A perfect setting to see this documentary about Paul Goodman, a philosopher, poet, gestalt therapist, father, husband, bisexual lover of many people, and OH SO NY and Jewish. A black and white beautifully photographed film which presented this brilliant man in a kind and non-judgmental light.  The people who spoke of him clearly held him in high esteem, and in some cases loved him.  One man, a gay Texan who never met him, recited his poetry emotively with great reverence crediting Mr. Goodman with his acceptance of himself, his place in the world, and his ability to move to NYC.  Abe loved seeing  NYC with it's handball players, CCNY (his alma mater) and Columbia (his alma mater).  I loved the accents, the culture and listening to a man who made so much sense about the world.  Abe and I were so fortunate to be with Reed and Chale watching this film.   And Abe bought a philosophy book to support MONKEY WRENCH.  A fine night!

It's Still Cold in Austin

Most of my garden made it.  Whattyado?  You go to HEB, the gym for bicycling with Judith and Body Pump, you begin to bake for Latkes, Latkes, Latkes.  You put together a playlist for the party and realize you like Curtiss Mayfield, Edith Piaf, Motown music, Otis Redding, Nina Simone, Bob Dylan, Ella Fitzgerald, The Gypsy Kings and Rudy Vallee and more.  Oy Vey.  Eclectic out of control.  Will ask Liz for help.

PHFFFT!/Austin Film Society

Moving along in this series of remarriages was tonight's film PHFFFT!  The house was packed, lots of couples I observed.  And what could be better than Jack Lemmon, Judy Holiday, Kim Novak and Jack Carson portraying a post divorce couple and the lamentations and silly hook ups that occur once they obtain their freedom?  Abe just loved the make-up, wardrobes and sets of this 1954 film.  And I loved the schmaltz.  That when all is said and done the partner you've been through life's mundane exercises and crises and tribulations with may just well be the person you actually love.  What a great message to be reminded of.

Cold Day in Austin

So whattayado?  Talk to Pam at CCNY; go to the gym for bicycle and Body Pump;  drop off and pick up Abe at his SW consultation job at Skyline/Foundations Community; go to Academy for warmer gym clothes (brrrr it's cold) and Party City in prep for Latkes, Latkes, Latkes.  And come home to a fireplace and wine and cooking for Abe.  Once again...this is a good life and I am grateful for every healthy good day.

GOD OF CARNAGE/Zach Theater

On this rainy cold afternoon we saw a fabulous company of 4 performers in GOD OF CARNAGE.  So spoke to us both.  A  scene between two sets of educated posturing parents in one of the gentrified hoods of Brooklyn discussing an altercation that occurred between their 11 y.o. sons.  One of the boys lost two teeth.  And let the rumpus begin.  We laughed our heads off. The pretentious  posturing of the "victim's" mother all comes undone when a mother vomits, a father's cellphone rings uncontrollably, a father admits to not being a liberal, a mother confronts a father for his murder of the family's hamster, people get drunk on rum, women smash their husband's over the head, alliances shift.  You get the picture.  It's called LIFE.  Hats off to the company and a shot out to Angela Rawna.  You rocked it!

Liz is Eastward Settled

Just returned from moving Liz to her new home on the East Side.  Her style of a house shared with 3 women, chickens, 2 dogs, a big water collector and garden for vegetables.  Reminded me of when Abe and I moved into our loft on 12th street.  Pioneers moving south of 9th Street and not caring that it wasn't manicured and polished.  She will do well there.  She's equipped with an open intelligent mind and a kind heart.  And when I left her all I could think of was "whither thou goest."  And now I'm home to exorcise her room.  Have a nice week-end.

MELANCHOLY RAMBLERS at New World Deli

Tonight we headed up to Hyde Park to hear Marco Parella, acting coach, play his hummel with his Melancholy Ramblers.  Fun old time folk, country, authentic American music.  An up beat group, an appreciative crowd all at a deli owned by a man whose Dad had a deli counter back in New Jersey.  Much like my Dad who had an appetizing/deli counter in all the rich suburbs of NY.  He raised us in the Bronx and he would leave each morning at 6a.m. and get home each week night way past 7 and then 11 on week-ends.  He loved that job.  And loved his retirement job at the Bronx Zoo even more.  He raised me on country western music and would have loved MELANCHOLY RAMBLERS.  He'd be so happy to know I found my way to Austin.

THE FALLS At the Aviary

Tonight Chale and AFS brought us Peter Greenway's THE FALLS a most unusual film about an apocalyptic event that has devastated Great Britain.  The title stands for the last names of 92 victims whose names begin with F-A-L-L.  The writing is clever, the facts about the victims are bizarre, they speak unknown made up languages, they have physical conditions that can make you laugh and cry and after 46 names and vignettes we were bleary eyed.  Abe found it boring and I found it clever.  We left but enjoyed this really cool home decor place that serves wine, beer and snacks.  And the owner is a transplanted Brooklynite who managed Sweet Melissa, a cafe across the street from the Cobble Hill theater in Brooklyn.  I love those connections between Austin and Brooklyn.

This afternoon Judith and I ate at Madeleine's and shopped and most importantly shared intelligent conversation about our lives freely and comfortably.  It was a post bd celebration from Judith.  What a fine day!