FEARSOME FOURSOME....FANTASTIC FOUR....FOURPLAY......FOUR PLAYS WHATTAYA SAY!

YES BOYS AND GIRLS ITS REVIEW TIME! WHAT? DID YA'LL THINK THAT THE "CULTURE" BLOGS WERE ONCE A YEAR? WAY BACK IN MARCH WE REVIEWED THREE BUT FOR THIS IPHONE FRIDAY WE GOT FOAH(4) TO GO THRU. EVEN BETTER WE HAD SOME GOOD EATING JOINTS.

FIRST UP IS:

HORIZON

WE SAW THIS PLAY THIS PAST WEDS NIGHT (JUNE 27) AT ONE OF OUR FAVE LITTLE THEATERS NYTW - NEW YORK THEATRE WORKSHOP. HORIZON IS CREATED, WRITTEN, COMPOSED AND FEATURES RINDE ECKERT MOVING AROUND! I DID KINDA OF LIKE WHEN THE TWO SIDEKICKS MORPHED INTO THE SCOTTISH/IRISH MASONS . WHEN I SAW MR ECKERT ON STAGE PRIOR TO THE SHOWS START, I REMARKED TO THE MRS THAT THE BALD GUY LOOKS LIKE A SCREAMER (SOME ONE WHO YELLS ALOT ON STAGE). TURNS OUT I WAS PARTIALLY CORRECT (THREE SCREAMERS!!!). THIS PLAY IS ABOUT A TEACHER PREACHER IN THE MIDWEST WHO (SEEMS TO ME IS ON AN ACID TRIP) WHO IS GOING THRU A "SPIRITUAL" NIGHT WITH VARIOUS CONVERSATIONS WITH HIS BROTHER, FATHER WIFE AND OTHER ASSORTED DEMONS. I MUST ADMIT THE TRIO'S ACTING IS OUTSTANDING. MANY CRITICS APPLAUD THE SHOW BUT FOR ME THIS PLAY HAD NO INTEREST. THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT AN HOUR TOO LONG. THE ONLY REASON I STAYED AWAKE WAS BECAUSE OF THE BARITONE SINGING AND MOVING OF CINDER BLOCKS. FOR A FULL REVIEW OF THIS AND THE NEXT 3 SHOWS CHECK OUT THEATERMANIA. NOW ON TO THE BEST PART OF THE EVENING...THE DINING!!!

RESTAURANT RECOMMENDATION: WE WENT NORTH TO EAT .......... NORTH AFRICAN FRENCH CUISINE TO BE EXACT AT NOMAD (SEE WEB SITE FOR PICS) RESTAURANT. A PLACE FIRST DISCOVERED AND ENJOYED WITH MY FAVORITE YOUNGEST BROWN EYED DAUGHTER. WHAT A NIFTY, SPARKLY LITTLE PLACE IN THE EAST VILLAGE. THEY HAVE THE BEST LOOKIN RED RESTROOM YOU WILL EVER SEE! THE NY TIMES EVEN GIVES IT A "TOP PICK" RATING AND RAVES ABOUT THE COOKIE PLATTER. OTHER THAN THE COOKIES WE DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING ELSE THEY REVIEWED. WE STARTED & ENJOYED THE "FOOUL" - SLOW COOKED FAVA BEANS WITH CUMIN & LEMON ALONG WITH THE "OCTOPUS SALAD" - WITH FRESH SHAVED FENNEL, ORANGE & MINT. WE THEN MOVED ON TO THE "MOROCCAN MUSSELS" - COOKED WITH TOMATO SAUCE, CILANTRO, GARLIC & GREEN OLIVES AND THE "SAFFRON GRILLED SHRIMP" - WITH TASTY CHICKPEA PUREE & CILANTRO. SO NOW WE WERE DONE WITH THE APPETIZERS SO WE SHARED THE DAILY SPECIAL WHICH WAS A "STRIPED BASS TANGINE" - A WONDERFUL FISH STEW WITH TOMATOES, OLIVES, POTATOES AND SPICES. OK BY NOW THE WINE WAS GONE AND SINCE WE HAD A 15% DISCOUNT COUPON WE WENT FOR THE SUPER DELICIOUS DAMN TASTY "COOKIE PLATTER" (READ THE TIMES REVIEW AS THEY FALL ALL OVER THEMSELVES ABOUT THE COOKIES). THIS PLACE WAS SO GOOD AND THE PEOPLE WERE SO NICE WE ATE THERE TWICE (SEE 3RD SHOW BELOW)! SECOND UP

IN A DARK DARK HOUSE

SECOND UP WAS ON JUNE 2ND. THIS WAS MCC'S PRODUCTION OF NEIL LABUTE'S IN A DARK DARK HOUSE. LET ME JUST SAY RIGHT HERE AND NOW THAT THIS WAS A MOST DISTURBING PLAY. THIS WAS THIRD & FINAL MCC PRODUCTION AT THE LUCILLE LORTEL THEATRE FOR THIS YEAR. THE STORY WAS ABOUT TWO VERY DIFFERENT BROTHERS. THEY ARE BROUGHT TOGETHER AT A MENTAL HEALTH (NUT HOUSE) FACILITY TO FACE & CONFRONT THEIR HORRIBLE, TERRIBLE, ABUSIVE CHILDHOOD PAST. STRONG PERFORMANCES BY RON LIVINGSTON & FREDERICK WELLER COULD NOT SAVE THE DAY FOR ME. IT WAS UNCOMFORTABLE TO WATCH & SIT THRU TO SAY THE LEAST. THIS PERHAPS WHAT THE PLAYWRIGHT HAD IN MIND. SPEAKING OF THE PLAYWRIGHT, SOMEONE SHOULD CHECK MR LABUTE'S BACKYARD AND OR BASEMENT . AT LEAST THE FOOD AFTERWARDS WAS GOOD.






RESTAURANT RECOMMENDATION: PINTO, THAI NOUVEAU CUISINE WHICH IS STEPS AWAY FROM THE THEATER. THAI NOUVEAU CUISINE YOU SAY? YES, WE KNOW THAT USUALLY MEANS REALLY BIG PLATES WITH LITTLE BITES TO EAT AT REALLY HIGH PRICES IN A SHINY, SLEEK PLACE! WELL THIS PLACE FITS THE STEREOTYPE, EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT THE FOOD WAS VERY DELICIOUS AND VERY, VERY FRESH. WE STARTED OUT WITH THE "CRISPY ROLLS" - LIGHT CRISPY DELIGHTS FILLED WITH LOTUS ROOT & MUSHROOMS WITH JUST THE RIGHT CHILI SAUCE. "GREEN PAPAYA" - SALAD WAS TASTY FRESH WITH CHERRY TOMATOES, GRILLED SHRIMP AND A TANGY GARLICKY-CHILI DRESSING. "SCOTTISH SALMON SASHIMI" - JUST MELTED IN YOUR MOUTH GOOD. WE FINISHED WITH THE "SEARED RED SNAPPER" - WITH RUBY TOM YAM & DASHI BROTH ALONG WITH SOME JASMINE RICE. ALL IN ALL A QUITE DELICIOUS MEAL. STILL DON'T GET THE NAME THOUGH, PINTO IS A HORSE OR AN ITALIAN SOMETHING? ANYWAYS ON TO PLAY NO. 3!

ALL THE WRONG REASONS

THIRD, ON MAY 2ND WE GO BACK TO NYTW FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS: "A TRUES STORY OF NEO-NAZIS, DRUG SMUGGLING AND UNDYING LOVE". ALL THE WRONG REASONS IS A ONE MAN SHOW STARRING JOHN FUGELSANG. MR FUGELSANG TELL AN ANIMATED AMUSING STORY ABOUT BEING THE SON OF A FORMER PRIEST AND FORMER NUN ON A TRIP TO TELL HIS FOLKS HE IS GETTING MARRIED. ALONG THE WAY HE COVERS SEX, POLITICS, NEO NAZIS, KKK, DRUGS, STEMS CELLS, LOVE ETC WITH MUCH WIT AND CLEVER HUMOR. A BIT LEFT WINGISH BUT PRETTY HYSTERICALLY FUNNY AT TIMES. A JOLLY GOOD FUN SHOW!

OH AND BY THE WAY WE DINED AT NOMAD ( SEE RECOMMENDATION ABOVE). SO, ON TO PLAY NO. 4

EXITS AND ENTRANCES

FOURTH & FINALLY WAY BACK ON APRIL 29TH AT THE 59E59 THEATER, WE ATTENDED PRIMARY STAGES FINAL PRODUCTION OF THE 2007 SEASON, ATHOL FUGARD'S EXITS AND ENTRANCES. AN AMUSING AND SAD TALE OF AN AGING, DECLINING "LAWRENCE OLIVIER" TYPE ACTOR IN PRE & POST APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA. THIS SHOW WAS WELL ACTED AS WELL AS FUNNY, SENTIMENTAL AND SAD. THE DIALOGUE WAS WELL WRITTEN AND INTERESTING. WE BOTH ENJOYED THIS PLAY. WE BOTH ALSO REALLY ENJOYED SUNDAY BRUNCH BEFORE THE SHOW

RESTAURANT RECOMMENDATION: SUNDAY BRUNCH AT PADDY MCGEES FISH HOUSE & BAR IS A LOVELY WAY TO GORGE YOURSELF. THEY HAVE THE ABSOLUTE BEST BAKED BLUEBERRY FRENCH TOAST ANYWHERE. THIS DISH CARRIES THE JIMITHEGREEK'S MONEYBACK GUARANTEE. IT IS A DARN TOOTING TASTY TREAT IN A CHAFING DISH! THERE ARE ALL THE OTHER USUAL BRUNCH SUSPECTS INCLUDING FRESH CUSTOM MADE OMELETS, WAFFLES, BACON, SAUSAGES, QUICHES, LASAGNA, LONDON BROIL CARVING STATION, SALADS, BREADS ETC. OH AND A VERY CREAMY RICE PUDDING ALONG WITH ALL THE BLOODY MARYS YOU CAN IMBIBE. YOU CAN EAT TILL YOU BURST WHILE ENJOYING A GREAT WATERFRONT VIEW.

JOGGING AND BLOGGING IN LONG BEACH

I USED TO JOG ON THE BOARDWALK BUT RECENTLY DISCOVERED THE JOY OF RUNNING ALONG THE BEACH. WHAT AN UPLIFTING EXPERIENCE. AFTER MY CHINA TRIP I WENT FOR A 10K RUN ON TUESDAY AND IT WAS ALMOST SURREAL. I THINK I WAS STILL DISORIENTED FROM THE WONDERFUL FIFTEEN HOUR FLIGHT. MY RUN THIS MORNING WAS QUITE EXHILARATING. I WAS UP EARLY, DARN EARLY. I RAN ALONG THE BOARDWALK WEST TO EAST FOR ABOUT A MILE WHILE THE SUN WAS RISING. PRETTY DARN TOOTING! THEN I WENT ON TO THE BEACH JOGGING WHILST BLOGGING IN ME HEAD MATE!!.

I RAN WITH THE SUN WARMING MY BACK FOR ABOUT TWO AND A HALF MILES BEFORE TURNING AROUND FOR THE HOME STRETCH BACK ON THE BOARD WALK. BY THE WAY 10K IS APPROXIMATELY 6.3 MILES (1 & 1/2 ROTATIONS ON THE BOARDWALK) . IT IS NICE EARLY IN THE MORNING ON THE BEACH. IT IS NOT AS WINDY AS ON THE BOARDWALK. IT BASICALLY ME , MAYBE HALF A DOZEN WALKERS / RUNNERS, THE FILTHY SEAGULLS, A COUPLE OF GUYS SURF FISHING AND A COUPLE OF FOLKS WALKING THEIR DOGS. THE AIR IS CRISP AND SALTY. THE FEEL OF THE SMALL SEA SHELLS CRUSHING UNDER MY FEET, & THE SOUND OF THE WAVES PLAY SOME BACKGROUND MUSIC TO MY IPOD. LIFE IS HARD BUT LIFE IS GOOD !!!

CUCKOO IN CANCUN!

IN THE BEGINNING OF MAY I WENT ON MY YEARLY PILGRIMAGE TO CANCUN. NOW I HAVE BEEN GOING THERE ONCE A YEAR FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS OR SO. THIS YEAR WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT; WE STAYED AT THE ALL - INCLUSIVE GRAN CARIBE REAL RESORT AND FLEW IN ON THE ALWAYS BETTER WAY TO FLY, JETBLUE ON ONE OF THEIR PACKAGE DEALS. NOT ONLY WAS IT A GOOD DEAL BUT A PLEASANT FLIGHT AS WELL.

NORMALLY WE GO WITH FOUR OF THE BOYS OR MORE ! THIS TIME IT WAS JUST ME AND THE CRAZY ALBANIAN ALONG WITH THE TWO GALS.

THE GIG IN CANCUN IS SIMPLE AND SWEET. WE BASICALLY GO TO ONE OF THOSE ALL INCLUSIVE RESORTS TO DRINK MASSIVE QUANTITIES OF ALCOHOL AND EAT LARGE AMOUNTS OF FOOD. OH AND DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. NO SHOPPING, NO FISHING, NO BOOZE CRUISE, NO CHICHEN ITZA, NO ISLA DE MUJERES! I MEAN NOTHING BUT LOUNGE AROUND THE POOL ALTERNATING BETWEEN DRINKING AND SLEEPING WITH THE OCCASIONAL DIP TO COOL OFF. I DO HOWEVER, WORK QUITE DILIGENTLY ON MY TAN. IT TAKES SKILL TO ROLL OVER AT THE PROPER TIME YOU KNOW!

ANYWAYS, LIKE I SAID WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS. EVER SINCE MY LOONEY LIMEY BUDDY DISCOVERED THE ALL YOU CAN DRINK 24/7 PART!! THIS YEAR THE SCHEDULING WAS ROUGH FOR EVERYONE. EVEN THE WARDEN COULD NOT GET OUT OF JAIL TO MAKE IT. MY GAL FRIEND STARTED OUT AS A CUSTOMER BUT HAS SINCE BECOME ONE OF MY BUDDIES....STOP YOUR DIRTY THOUGHTS RIGHT NOW! SHE IS LIKE A SISTER TO ME. ALSO SHE ALWAYS VACATIONS, TRAVELS, CELEBRATES HOLIDAYS AND VISITS WITH HER SPECIAL FRIEND. BOTH THE GIRLS ALWAYS SHARE A ROOM. THE FUN PART IS THAT THEY ALSO CONSUME MASS QUANTITIES OF ALCOHOL & FOOD. IT IS A GOOD THING ITS ONLY FOUR DAYS & THREE NIGHTS OR I MIGHT LOSE ALL OF MY HAIR! GOOD FUN HAD BY ALL

P.S. CHINA TRIP BLOG IS COMING SOON TO A THEATRE NEAR YOU. GOT ALOT OF CATCHING UP TO DO!

JIMITHEGREEK JUMPS FOR JOY

YES BOYS AND GIRLS I AM JUMPING FOR JOY BECAUSE I AM BACK! AFTER A LONG TWO WEEK TRIP TO CHINA, IT IS GOOD TO BE BACK HOME WHERE THE BUFFALO ROAM. DO I HAVE STORIES TO TELL? THE CHINAMAN, CHINAMAN JR, THE CELESTIALS, RESTAURANTS TO REVIEW, WITTY ANECDOTES, CLEVER OBSERVATIONS, THE GREAT WALL AND ASSORTED OTHER PARAPHERNALIA TO DISCLOSE. THE BLOGGING WILL BE MAGNANIMOUS TO SAY THE LEAST. CHECK BACK EARLY AND OFTEN FOR THE FULL MONTY!

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"THE DOG IS NOT A CAT!"

- PAPOU GANGSTA STYLE

WHAT THE FRIGGIN HECK??????????????

A BUNCH OF STUFF; IRRITATIONS, RANTS, RAVES, COMMENTS, OBSERVATIONS & OBSESSIONS!

I READ IN THE WSJ, ABOUT THIS 46 YEAR OLD LADY IN CALIFORNIA, JACQUELINE GAGNE WHO HAS HIT TEN HOLE IN ONES SINCE JANUARY 23 OF THIS YEAR! HOLY GOLF BALLS BATMAN!! HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?

I MEAN PEOPLE (LIKE ME) CAN GO A LIFETIME WITHOUT GETTING ONE OF THESE. AM I GLAD THAT I HAVE BASICALLY GIVEN UP ON GOLF AND JUST PLAY ONCE IN AWHILE NOW. I WAS LUCKY TO BEAT MY WEIGHT ON THE SCORECARD. HOW DOES MS GAGNE DO IT? I WONDER IF I CAN GET HER TO RUB MY CLUBS FOR GOOD LUCK?...ERH THAT DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT BUT WHAT THE FRIGG!!

WHAT IS UP WITH THE BRONX BOMBERS? WHAT THEY CAN'T OVERCOME A FEW INJURIES? A COUPLE OF HITTING SLUMPS? ALL I WILL SAY AT THIS POINT IN TIME IS THAT THERE ARE FOUR MONTHS LEFT IN THE 2007 SEASON. LET US STOP THE HYSTERICS. THIS IS STILL ONE OF THE TOP TEAMS IN BASEBALL. I WILL SAY THAT AFTER THIS SEASON IT IS TIME FOR JOE TORRE TO GO. MR TORRE HAS HAD A GREAT RUN AND WILL ENTER THE HALLOWED HALL OF FAME AS A MANAGER. IT IS JUST TIME. THE TEAM NEEDS A CHANGE, SOME ONE WHO CAN WORK WITH THE YOUNG PITCHERS WE HAVE COMING UP. NO NOT DONNIE BASEBALL, BUT JOE GIRARDI WILL AND SHOULD BE THE NEXT YANKEE MANAGER, WELL MAYBE, MAYBE NOT! ANYWAYS MR TORRE WAS THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR THE TEAMS THAT REALLY DID NOT REQUIRE MUCH ON THE FIELD MANAGEMENT. YES I HAVE SUCCUMBED THE BIG BALD GUYS VIEW, ( "I AM GONNA GET IN THE CAR RIGHT NOW, DRIVE TO THE BRONX AND DRAG TORRE OUT OF THE DUGOUT") THE DARKSIDE! GIAMBI SHUT UP AND TORRE'S GOTTA GO!

THE SOPRANOS SERIES IS ENDING. I GUESS IT IS TRUE THAT ALL GOOD SHOWS MUST END. THIS IS SUCH A GREAT SHOW. I ONLY HOPE THE ENDING WILL BE AS GOOD AS THE SIX FEET UNDER FINALE OR EVEN CLOSE TO IT. THERE HAS BEEN TONS OF STUFF WRITTEN ABOUT THE SOPRANOS AND I REALLY WISH THEY END IT RIGHT. AT LEAST TWO OF MY FAVES; SILVIO & PAULIE WALNUTS ARE STILL AROUND. WHAT A SUPER CAST AND CHARACTERS THAT HAVE APPEARED THROUGH THE YEARS HBO SUNDAY NIGHTS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME!

HOTTEST WEB SITE FOR DATING IS PLENTYOFFISH ? WEBSITE DATING AND MATCHMAKING HAS BECOME SECOND TO PORNO SITES AS MOST VISITED. WHAT THE HEMP IS THAT ALL ABOUT? ACTUALLY I JUST DON'T GET INTERNET DATING PERIOD, GUESS I'M AN OLD FART THAT WAY! ACTUALLY I AM AN OLD FART ANYWAY.!

WHATS UP WITH HALL OF FAMER SMOKIN JOE FRAZIER SUING HIS DAUGHTER JACQUELYN FRAZIER-LYDE FOR ALLEGEDLY MISMANAGING HIS ASSETS WHEN SHE WAS HIS BUSINESS MANAGER & LAWYER FROM 1989 THRU 2004.? THIS RIGHT AFTER SHE WAS ELECTED AS A JUDGE? I JUST DON'T GET IT.

FOR ANYONE WHO MISSED THE LAST QUARTER AND TWO OVERTIMES IN LAST NIGHTS NBA EASTERN FINALS BETWEEN DETROIT & CLEVELAND...WOW GO GET A TAPE OF IT , YOUTUBE IT OR WHATEVER AND WATCH IT. LEBRON "KING" JAMES PUT ON ONE OF THE BEST PLAYOFF PERFORMANCES EVER. THE KING SCORED 48 POINTS IN A 109-107 DOUBLE OVERTIME WIN AT DETROIT. EVEN MORE AMAZING IS THE FACT THAT HE SCORED 29 OF THE LAST 30 POINTS MADE BY CLEVELAND INCLUDING 25 IN A ROW! HE ALSO MADE A COUPLE OF THE NASTIEST, FILTHIEST CANNOT BE DENIED DUNKS I HAVE EVER SEEN IN THE PLAYOFFS. I HOPE THAT THE CAVALIERS GO TO THE FINALS AGAINST THE SPURS BECAUSE THEN THE GAMES WILL BE AT LEAST SOME FUN TO WATCH WITH THE KING IN THERE. ALL THIS AND HE IS STILL ONLY 22 YEARS OLD!

NEXT WEEK I GET TO GO ON A BIZINESS TRIP TO BEIJING, CHINA!

BEIJING, WHERE THEY ARE TRYING TO CLAMP DOWN ON THEIR SPITTING PROBLEM. SPITTING PROBLEM?? WHAT THE FRIGG! THERE IS A VERY AMUSING AUSSIE ARTICLE ABOUT THIS.
SEEMS TO BE HYGIENE & LITTER PROBLEMS AS WELL. ALSO SOMETHING ABOUT SMELLY CABS? OH WHAT A JOY THIS TRIP SHOULD BE!!!