White Line Black Line

I was flipping channels and thought about this new paranormal craze.  I find it fascinating that public interest in the supernatural has become such a huge trend.  In addition to the Paranormal movies that have come out (which I will not see), there are at least a dozen reality shows dedicated to the topic.  Just on two networks alone, I saw listings for Celebrity Ghost Story, Ghost Adventures, Ghostly Encounters, Psychic Kids, Haunted History, Paranormal Activity, My Ghost Story, The Haunted, and Paranormal State. 

There is a new heightened awareness of other levels of spirit existence because of the sharing of paranormal experiences and ghost stories on these reality shows.  I dedicate my blog to exploring my own interests and discovering new ones that I never thought would be my own, but this trendy interest is one that I will keep at arm’s distance. 

It did inspire me to write a short story though. 

I call it  WHITE LINE BLACK LINE.

Rita fastened the top button on her nurse’s uniform and peeked into her kids’ bedroom. Ten-year-old Sarah was laying on her belly, knees bent, feet swinging back and forth. She seemed mesmerized by the episode of iCarly that she was watching and hardly noticed her mom.

Her little brother, Matt, suited up in Spiderman pajamas, was sitting with legs crossed on the floor trying to figure out how to snap the sword onto his Red-lion Power Ranger action figure.

“Kids, I got called in for the late shift tonight. I want you both in bed by nine o'clock.  Aunt Judy will be here by ten to sleep with you for the night. We’ll all go out for blueberry pancakes in the morning.”

“Bye Mom,” she heard as she walked down the creaking pine stairs and out of the front door.

The children continued to play in their room until Sarah noticed that the clock read 9:10pm.

“Matt, it’s time to go to bed.”
“Where’s my blue Power Ranger?” he whined.
“Matt, BED!”
“But I need it!” he screamed back.
“We’ll find it in the morning,” she assured him.

With a huff, he climbed into bed. Sarah turned off the light, shut the bedroom door, and got into the twin bed across the room.

She lay for a while watching the linen curtain float up and down then twist and whip as the night wind picked up. The sounds of her brother’s faint snores relaxed her and she soon fell asleep too.

SLAM

With a great startle, they both awakened to what sounded like a slam of the back door. But the back door had been bolted for years.  Spider-leaf bushes had grown to almost reach the top of that door.

Sarah pulled her cover to her chin and peered over to Matt.  A red glow from the digital clock showed across his face exposing his fearful expression.  The glow flickered as the number switched from 1:46am to 1:47am.

Motionless, they listened to slow, heavy movement just down the stairs.

KNOCK - STEP STEP     KNOCK - STEP STEP

Their minds immediately took them back three years to their grandfather’s last days, sluggishly walking the corridor, cane in hand, cigarette dangling from his cracked lips.

KNOCK - STEP STEP     KNOCK - STEP STEP then a creak in the stair – then again.

Sarah didn’t move except for a single tear that leaked from the corner of her eye onto her pillow. They listened to their door knob turning – then nothing – then the door slowly opening. Both children felt compelled to shut their eyes as hard as they could.  They listened as the pointed tip of a cane hit their wood-paneled floor and what seemed like two sand-laced soles dragging behind.

In terror, Matt clutched his blanket and tightened his eyelids. He could smell mildew and stale smoke from the figure that now stood over him.

As a desperate whimper made its way through Matt’s throat, Sarah felt a tug at her arm and heard a soft voice whisper to her, “Hurry, come with me.”  Relieved to be saved from the frightful figure, she jumped up.

The room still dark, Sarah yelled to Matt to follow them. They scurried into their mother’s bedroom and quickly into bed. She held the children close and stroked their hair while they buried their heads between her arms and chest. In the warmth and security of their mother’s bed, they eventually settled to sleep.

6:20am…

Rita, exhausted from her shift, walked in the front door. She headed to the kitchen and dropped her keys on the counter. She grabbed a cold bottle of Evian from the fridge and swigging it back, pressed the blinking button on the answering machine.

“Rita. It’s Judy.  I’m really sorry but I can’t make it over tonight to babysit.  Rich came in a day early and surprised me with theater tickets to RAIN at the Kimmel Center.  And you know how much I love the Beatles!  We’re headed into Center City now. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Rita set the water bottle down to go and check on the kids.  She shifted the position of the out-of-place umbrella vase at the base of the stairs and headed up.  She looked into the kids’ room to see blankets strewn across their beds and then turned to approach the closed door of her bedroom. She quietly opened the door and smiled when she saw Sarah and Matt sound asleep. Kicking off her shoes, she climbed into bed.

Sarah turned over and opened her eyes to the first light of day.  She smiled as she laid her head on her mother’s shoulder. Matt soon followed suit on the other shoulder. Rita clicked the TV on.

“Turn it to Spiderman, Mom,” Matt pleaded.

Rita flipped through the channels, gave out a yawn and asked, “Hey, what happened to the old walking cane that was in the umbrella vase?  It’s gone.”

Illustrations by my talented friend, Nicoletta Mazzesi

Do you know why the story is called White Line Black Line?

Begrudgingly,

BB

Malbecs of Argentina

Malbec grapes originated from the Bordeaux region of France and have been known as one of the six grapes allowed in the blend of red Bordeaux wine.  Malbec is a finicky vine whose fruit is prone to rot and mildew in the cool, damp coastal climate of Bordeaux.  Sensitivity to frost and proclivity to shatter or coulure is the primary reason that Malbecs have not flourished as a stand-alone wine in most of France.  

Malbec has come into its own in Argentina, where it is the major red varietal planted. Much of the Malbec vines there were transplanted from Europe prior to the outbreak of phylloxera in the 1950s and most is therefore on its own roots.  Malbec  vines thrive in the sunny, arid climate of Argentina.  



    

According to an article I read in this month’s issue of Wine Spector called “Malbec’s Moment,” Argentine wine was a blank space on the map for most Americans until recently.  In the mid-1990s, Malbec wine exports from Argentina to the United States were nearly nonexistent.  By 2002, Argentina exported just 200,000 cases to the U.S., but then exports began to skyrocket.   In 2010, Argentina exported more than 4 million cases of Malbec to the United States, which is 20 times what the exports were eight years earlier.   Malbecs provide a lot of drinking pleasure at the right price, and Americans love that.

Malbec is typically a medium to full-bodied red wine. Ripe fruit flavors of boysenberry, blueberry, plums and blackberry define its character. The tannins are supple and earthy, making it a rustic and versatile wine.   

Malbec’s rich flavors pair nicely with red meats such as steak, sausage, and lamb.  With their rich, jammy flavor, they also pair well with Mexican, Indian, and Creole cuisine.  As I recall from my sampling last night, that they are also enjoyable on their own after dinner.  

The two bottles that I sampled are the 2009 Catena Malbec and the 2008 Gouguenheim Valle Escondido, both from the Mendoza region of Argentinian in the foothills of the Andes.

2009 Catena Malbec is developed from a blend of four unique vineyard sites in the Mendoza region resulting in dark violet wine with hints of plum, black currant and spicy black pepper. 

The second wine I sampled is the 2008 Gouguenheim Valle Escondido, also from the Mendoza area.  The balanced flavor with fruit and spice will leave you with a long, pleasant finish.

Malbec is one of the best value price wines around.  Most selections, like the ones I sampled yesterday, will run you between $12 and $20 dollars.  But, you can also find some very high-end Argentina Malbecs from some of the most renowned winemakers like the legendary Paul Hobbs from California, and the world-famous Michel Rolland, who moved from Bordeaux to produce Malbecs in Argentina.

If your typical red wine choice is a Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, give Malbec a try.  A nice full-flavored, reasonably priced Malbec, may just become your next go-to wine.

            

Begrudgingly,

BB

Interview with Sculptor, Jerome Harris Parmet

From graduating design school at Syracuse University in 1957, to managing his own interior architecture firm for 35 years, to exhibiting works throughout the country – acclaimed sculptor, Jerome Harris Parmet, has dedicated his life to the arts. 

His sculptures, displayed in art centers, sculpture gardens, and private collections are revered for their presentation of simple shapes that assume complex dimensions and new forms from every angle.   I was fortunate to interview Jerome Harris Parmet and get a glimpse into how he is able to manipulate metal into the multifaceted flowing figures that are his sculptures.

What inspired you to become an artist?

My mother recognized my early interest in art and sent me to the Brooklyn Museum to attend art classes while I was still a child.  And, in high school, I was a member of the art society, The Artsmen.  When I entered the design field after graduating with a BFA in Interior Design from Syracuse University, an aspect of the business that particularly fascinated me was solving spatial interrelationships in building architectural interiors.  This carries over to developing my sculptures today, because just as in my past field of architecture, I am working with art in three-dimensional space.

Where did you get your training on welding and sculpture?

Back in my senior year of college, I had a welding class on Fridays from 2:00pm to 5:00pm, which is really not an optimal time for a college kid to attend class.  Yet, when I looked up from my welding at 6:00pm to find my class room empty, I knew that I was hooked.  It was my passion and I resolved that when I retired, I would pursue my passion again full time.  And, that’s exactly what I have been doing for the past 12 years.

What inspires your work?

I am always captivated by well-designed products, art, and architecture in the world around us.  I try to apply the principles of good design as guiding elements in my own work.  My creative process usually begins with existing pieces of metal that have character… that speak to me.  I add to it, my creative thinking to reshape that piece in an entirely new direction. 

Are there any historical or contemporary artists that you specifically admire?

I admire the work of Mark di Suvero, John Chamberlin, John Van Alstine, and Richard Serra.  Each artist has a different and distincitve style, and each motivates me in a different way.

What materials do you prefer to handle in the creation of your sculptures?

I sculpt mostly in steel.  It talks to me and it listens to me, bending at my direction.  I cut it, hammer it, melt it, twist it, and weld it – and it still loves me.  Occasionally, I might add a chunk of glass or rough piece of wood to the mixture, but it’s primarily steel that I enjoy handling.

What satisfaction do you gain from creating your sculptures?

I gain emotional satisfaction from my craft.  When I sculpt, there are moments... days sometimes of agony, when the work is frustratingly slow.  The shapes are not right; the metal won’t bend.  But, then the answers start to emerge and I can feel the piece talking to me.  We are talking to each other.  And, when it is complete, with every element having come together, we reminisce on the pains and delights it took to get there.

Have you found the Internet to have any effect on your work or creative process?

It has not affected my sculpting process, but has allowed me to appreciate the work of other sculptors.

Do you have a favorite sculpture that you have created?

Yes, I have two favorite pieces that are actually substantially different from each other.

1.   In the piece I call, “SUMA,” I was trying to reflect the balance/tension dichotomy with steel sheeting.  The name “SUMA” is dedicated to my dear friend from the design community, Richard Suma, who passed away from multiple myeloma at an early age.

2.  “new fish, BLUE FISH” is a piece I made from steel stripping.  It’s a similar technique to the one I used on my “untitled fish” sculpture currently on display in the Leonia Sculpture Garden.  “new fish, BLUE FISH” turns 360 degrees, while reflecting the motion of the waves.  It has been displayed at the historic Chesterwood, MA annual sculpture exhibition and home of Daniel Chester French, the sculptor who shaped Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in D.C.

What advice can you give to artists just starting out?

Take classes, learn your tools, and just keep producing.

Where can people go to see more of your work?

They can see my sculptures by going to www.sculpture.org/parmet.

Mr. Parmet,  Thank you for sharing your talents.  And, thank you for granting me this interview.  It has been my honor to discuss your work with you.

I must say that I have a favorite one of your sculptures, too.  The twists of the metal, the pairing of the colors, and the assembly of the elements remarkably reflect the title:  “All That Jazz.”

I look at this piece and can just hear the drum brushes and saxophone.  All I need is a Brandy Old Fashioned with orange twist.

Begrudgingly,

BB

 

The New Victory Theater

When I find myself searching for something interesting to do on weekends, I will often-times check out what is going on in the world of live theater.  Dramatic plays are my preference and I have thoroughly enjoyed plays including God of Carnage and Race.  My all-time favorite, I have to say, was August Wilson’s, Fences, with Denzel Washington and Viola Davis.  The story, set in the 1950s, explored the relationships, regrets, and struggles of main character, Troy, played by Denzel Washington. 

But, going to see one of these types of major Broadway plays takes a bit of advanced planning.  This past Saturday, I hadn’t planned anything, so I turned to my trusted and sometime last-minute go-to, The New Victory Theater, on 42^nd Street.  

It’s a quite beautiful, Venetian-style theater that was built in 1900.  Sitting on the red velvet seat looking up at the domed ceiling adorned with golden angels is an experience itself.

The theater had a string of successful plays and vaudeville acts in the early 1900s, including Abie’s Irish Rose.  In the 1930s, the theater became Broadway’s first striptease house and featured the famous, Gypsy Rose Lee.

In the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, the theater ran second-run motion pictures, and at the pitch of 42^nd Street’s decline in the 1970s, the Victory became the block’s first XXX-rated movie house.

When I’m in a theater that was built over 100 years ago, I can’t help but think about those who have sat there before me and the acts that have performed on the stage at the turn of the century.  (In this case, I try hard not to think about who sat there before me in the 70s and 80s when the Victory was a XXX movie theater :o )  

I do appreciate what it is today, which is New York City’s first performing arts theater for kids and their families.  It’s a delightful way to spend a Saturday afternoon – watching story books come to life, experiencing dances assembled by troops from around the world, and seeing performance art that captivates young audiences. 

This winter, the New Victory Theater is featuring the following performances:

Untapped
November 11 - 27

Raw Metal Dance
Brisbane, Australia

Andrew, Daniel, Matthew, Reece and Sam strut their stuff in a mash-up of moves drawn from tap, acrobatics and funk in this raucous and irreverent reinvention of rhythm.

BAI XI
December 2 – January 1

Cirque Shanghai
Shanghai, China

The world’s premiere company of Chinese acrobats makes the impossible look effortless as they perform astounding feats with mind-blowing perfection.

Rumplestiltsckin
January 6, 7 & 8

Stella Den Haag
Den Haag, Netherlands

An artful, eerie rendition of the classic story, Rumplestiltskin tells of millers and maidens, castles and curses and of a dreadful bargain saved by a beautiful friendship.

Wuthering Heights: Restless Souls 

January 27, 28 & 29

Theater Artemis
’s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands

Emily Brontë’s love story sweeps across the moors and into the New Victory in a contemporary adaptation of the ultimate gothic romance.

Brazil! Brazil!
February 10 – 26

World Stage Productions and Broadway Asia Int'l
Salvador da Bahia, Brazil

This is a sizzling celebration that blends music, dance, acrobatics and capoeira with the lightning fast footwork of soccer freestyle superstar Arturo.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
March 2 – 11

Actors Theatre of Louisville, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Kansas City Repertory Theatre & Hartford Stage
United States

This adaptation of Twain's novel captures the thrill of mischief-making, the fickleness of first love and the shivers that linger after a graveyard adventure gone very, very wrong.

You may find the New Victory Theater to be that last-minute (or even planned) solution to the "what should we do this weekend?” question.

Begrudgingly,

BB

Time for Turkey Croquettes

With the holidays around the corner, I wanted to post an original recipe that you can add to your spread.  I considered braised short ribs or gumbo, but decided on turkey croquettes because they are a perfect way to transform Thanksgiving leftovers.

You’ll use your leftover stuffing and turkey for this recipe.  Everyone has different recipes for stuffing.  Some use nuts, some use cranberries, some use sausage.  All of that is fine.  You can use what you have.  I included a simple stuffing recipe for these Turkey Croquettes.

You will need:

1 package (12 oz) of seasoned stuffing mix

1 cup chopped celery

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup of a combination of green, yellow, and red peppers

3 cups of chicken stock

Italian seasoning

6 cups of cubed turkey

3 cups of milk

1 tablespoon of flour

Tony Chachere’s creole seasoning

Garlic powder

2 cups of seasoned breadcrumbs

2 cups of vegetable oil

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Sauté the celery, onions, and peppers in olive oil.   Add Italian seasoning to this mixture.

When the vegetables have cooked down, add them to a casserole dish and mix with the dried stuffing mix. 

Add the chicken stock and cover with the casserole lid or foil.  

Bake for 45 minutes and then let cool.

Cube about six cups of turkey.

In a large pot or Dutch oven heat two cups of milk on medium heat.  Stir in one tablespoon of flour and continuously stir for about three minutes.   

Add the cubed turkey and stuffing to the pot and stir.  If the mixture is too thick to stir, you may want to add bit more milk.  Then, season heavily with Tony Chachere's creole seasoning and garlic powder.  If you do not have Tony Chachere’s, then you can use a mixture of onion powder, paprika, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder. 

When mixed well, turn off the burner and let cool.  Line your countertop with wax paper.  In a bowl, pour a cup of milk.  You will use this to moisten your croquettes before rolling in breadcrumbs.  On a plate, pour two cups of seasoned breadcrumbs.

Heat two cups of vegetable oil in a large pan over medium heat.

Roll the stuffing/turkey mixture into small balls.  Moisten in the milk and roll in the breadcrumbs.  Place in the hot oil and continue to rotate until the croquettes are golden brown.  Let stand on a cooling rack or paper towels.

Serve warm with Tiger Sauce. 

(If you can't find Tiger Sauce in your local grocery store, you can order it onlin from the Cajun Grocer.  It's worth trying. The spicy, sweet flavor complements meats, seafood, sandwiches, soups, and dips.)

Turkey Croquettes are a perfect snack when you have company because you can put them out on your kitchen counter or coffee table and guests can snack on these hearty and delicious treats at their leisure.  

Begrudgingly,

BB