Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Why I Don’t Like Paul McCartney but Revere Elton John

One is known for his bands, but acts like a primo divo, while the other is known as a solo artist, but always puts collaboration and community first






     My Aunt bought tickets to see Paul McCartney and I’m as excited for her as I was for my former stylist – who left town to make it in New York and since she made it here I know she’ll make it there – when she saw Paul McCartney at Bengals Stadium last summer.  By ‘excited’ I mean the way Nina Garcia looks on Project Runway when Heidi Klum overrules her for which contestant is out.  It’s a tense, closed lip smile that says “I can

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Vive la Table du Jean-Robert!

It feels like everyone’s cozy club with world-class food

The Canopied Cochon Entrance to Jean-Robert's Table
     We’ve reviewed Jean-Robert’s Table before – it was actually the first restaurant article on this blog – but he’s so willing to change things up while remaining grounded in an egalitarian American-French vision that this deserves a second look.  Most regional food enthusiasts know that Jean-Robert de Cavel

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Kim Taylor

Due for the Big Time, Love’s A Dog 
Delivers Quicksilver Joy

Kim Taylor at WNKU's Studio 89
     Kim Taylor performed acoustically during WNKU’s Studio 89 in the Digitorium at NKU on Monday night.  This is an economical way to see some wonderful talent in a unique space and be part of a live show on the best radio station in

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Red Lobster: Setting the Standards

Great service, a variety of choices, and excellent deals

Dexter Explores the New Menu
     My Mom and Nana used to drive fifty miles to Red Lobster regularly.  I couldn’t believe it and my Mom called me a food snob.  My sister sent us a Red Lobster gift certificate a few years ago and we went for lunch at the Kenwood location and

Friday, April 5, 2013

Goodbye, Roger Ebert,——————— Au Revoir, Elaine Stritch

Two legends move on and signal the end of an era

Roger Ebert (1942 - 2013)*
     Roger Ebert (1942 – 2013) died Thursday after a long, heroic battle against cancer.  He was a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, whose criticism was informed by his background as a screenwriter on various movies in the ‘60s, including a couple of Russ Meyers’ wild, sort of feminist, sort of soft core porn fantasy epics.  He was passionate about movies and more encouraging to new filmmakers and receptive to the failed efforts of others than almost any other major critic. 

Siskel & Ebert...& Dexter
     He was most widely known for his collaboration with Gene Siskel (he was The Chicago Tribune’s reviewer while Ebert wrote for The Chicago Sun-Times) from the 1970s until

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Agnès Jaoui: Actress, screenwriter, director, (and singer)

1/3 Tina Fey + 1/3 André Téchiné x 3/2 Chekhov = Jaoui

Agnès Jaoui
     Agnès Jaoui has acted professionally in French since her early twenties and has written, directed, and played parts in her own movies for the past dozen years.  I saw her first creation The Taste of Others at the Esquire in 2001.  I think

Monday, April 1, 2013

Persian Nights Fills Missing Niché

Kabobs, belly dancing, and a family passion

Dexter Oogles the Pastries
      Let's get right to the food because that is where Persian Nights really soars.  Eric immediately chose the Lamb Shank special when it was recommended by our server.  I asked for

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Russ Kick’s staggering "The Graphic Canon"

World Literature inspires two generations of artists    
     

     The Graphic Canon, Volume 1 (yes, there are three volumes so far) is an adventurous journey through the Great Books from a variety of world cultures as drawn by major

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Montgomery Inn at the Boathouse

Ribs and sauce: bring your appetite and your wallet

Dexter Checks Out the Entrance
     The original Montgomery Inn and its second location, the downtown riverside Montgomery Inn at the Boathouse, were in the top ten of customer volume nationally a few years ago.  They’re known for their ribs and we use their sauce at home.  It’s tomato-based with a sweet tang.  It’s not to everyone’s

Monday, March 25, 2013

Ingrid Bergman

The glow of sensibility and sense

     Turner Classic Movies has run a few Ingrid Bergman movies over the past few weeks and they reinforce the American Film Institute’s selection of her as the 4th greatest female film star.  She was known for her ‘naturalness’ where