THE AUTOMAT–Recipes, In The Movies & More

Assembled by Gary Meyer (Updated November 21, 2022) The theatrical release of a new documentary by Lisa Hurwitz, The Automat, has taken me back in time with its wonderful clips from classic movies and discussions of food favorites of our youth from Baked Macaroni and Cheese, Chicken Pot Pie to Custard Cups and Pumpkin Pie. […]

SANTOS: Skin to Skin

By Gaetano Kazuo Maida October 16, 2022 “The drum is like a heartbeat.” —John Santos I grew up in the Bronx in the ‘50s. This was in an old Italian neighborhood, full of grape arbors and fig trees (even a goat!), but by the time I was eight our neighbors on one side and across […]

Gratitude Revealed : Repurposed—With Purpose

By C.J. Hirschfield September 16, 2022 Gratitude and mindfulness are the subject of countless books right now, with credible medical studies showing that cultivating these practices can actually improve both physical and mental health. So it’s understandable that award-winning director, cinematographer and producer Louie Schwartzberg has chosen the title “Gratitude Revealed” for his visually stunning […]

Hallelujah—Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song

A Review by Gaetano Kazuo Maida July 1, 2022 They had me at “Leonard Cohen.” Ever since Judy Collins introduced his song “Suzanne” on her great 1968 album, In My Life, his name on a project—book, album, song, film—had special meaning, somehow within and yet beyond pop culture. Here, it’s perhaps his best-known, and certainly […]