The Rabbi Report

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:01:45 -0600

Today, July 2nd would have been my father's 98th birthday and not a day goes by that I don't miss him. Every day, something flashes through my mind, across the computer screen or on TV that makes me, just for an instant, think I should call dad. But I can't. He's been gone a little over a year and a half and it doesn't yet seem real. How can someone so huge in life, so forceful, so robust, so devoted to the betterment of the world no longer be around, fighting the good fight? It's not fair. The world is a poorer place. That said, his progeny and grand progeny are carrying on his legacy as best we can. We're not a large family by most standards but what there is of us is pretty special in that there are really no "black sheep" in the family, politically speaking. You hear about apples falling far from the tree but we're all clustered around the trunk. Dad was an amazing man by almost any measure. He stuck to his principles even when doing so cost him his place at the law firm he had built for 40 odd years. He was a defense attorney who specialized in civil rights, labor and international law and counted Dr. Benjamin Spock, Dashiell Hammett (dad referred to him as "Dash"), Jimmy Hoffa as clients and friends and was a frequent chess partner of Che Guevara. He represented the government of Cuba, Papandreou's Greece, Angola and the Nicaraguan mission to the United States under Ortega, among others. He defended countless nameless teachers, union workers and anti-war demonstrators though the McCathy 50's, the 60's and the anti-Vietnam War 70's with courage and conviction, although many were pro bono and none brought him fame or fortune. He was truly an inspiration. He and mom dragged me around the world as a kid and as such, gave me my wanderlust but I think he was happiest digging in the garden of our house in East Hampton. Summer, winter, hot or cold, you could find dad in East Hampton every weekend and most holidays. If it was too hot or too cold to work in the garden he just sat on the couch and read or on the deck and watched the squirrels try and get at the bird feeders. I think he would be very happy that I've moved out here. I don't have my feeders up yet, but I will. There will be seed in the summer and suet in the winter and if I can help it, the neighbor's cat won't get any of my birds or rabbits. Dad protected his birds, too. Happy birthday, dad. I miss you.

The Rabbi Report 3.0: Notes From "Out East"

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:49:57 -0600

Wow. I just looked at my blog and realized that it's been more than six weeks since I posted an entry! I have sort of an excuse seeing that I was homeless for a few week, looking for a place to live and then a major move to East Hampton, but still, six weeks? LAME! So here I go. Rabbi Report 3.0 starts....NOW. I seriously don't know what the next 11+ months is going to bring for me, but suffice to say, this isn't just the rebirth of the blog. Over the past 4-5 years I've lost both parents (insert Importance of Being Earnest ref. here) lived in LA, New York and now East Hampton, worked in a variety of positions, including film festivals, freelance writing, blogging for an award-winning ad campaign and I've been a character in an ARG. And now....country squire? We'll see. For now, I am busy planting a vegetable garden, buying bird feeders and keeping the neighbor's cat away from my birds and bunnies. That and whipping the house into shape with, I am relieved to say, a little help from my friends! God knows what it would look like if I was left to my own devices. At any rate, I'm back. There's likely to be a lot more about food and cooking, here from now on. I won't be skimping on other things, but my nine week trip through the south this Spring inspired me as a cook, as a writer and as someone who is concerned with what we're eating and drinking as a nation. I was introduced to the work of some outstanding chefs and food luminaries in my travels, including "eater/writer/educator" John T. Edge and chef John Currence in Oxford, MS; chefs Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski in New Orleans; chef Frank Stitt in Birmingham, AL and chefs Sean Brock & Mike Lata in South Carolina. All of whom you'll be reading about, along with many more in the coming days and weeks, complete with mouth-watering pics from their establishments and maybe even some examples of my own experiments with Southern-infused Long Island cooking. Stay tuned! Until next time, here are a few pix of my new (rented) house (after the jump) in East Hampton and a couple of yummy goodness! Yours from Northwest Woods, Mark

Want. WANT! - The Persu Hybrid

Sat, 16 May 2009 15:03:03 -0600

Thanks to @NathanFillion for clueing me in to the car/bike/toy of the future, the Persu Hybrid. Close your eyes and picture this: A three wheeled, enclosed vehicle that seats 2, gets 75-100 MPG, goes 0-60 in 6 seconds, goes at least 20 miles all-electric and goes at least 400 miles on each 6 gallon tank of gas and is projected to cost less than $25,000. Now open your eyes and click the above link (yes, I do know that your eyes weren't really closed). Also, if you think $25,000 is expensive, look at it this way: If you drive your regular car 12,000 miles per year and get 30 MPG, that's $960/year in gas at $2.40/gallon. With the Persu, that cost drops to $384/year, a savings of $576. In five years you've saved $2,880. Add in cost of oil changes and other car maintenance and you're saving even more. Yes, I know this isn't a car for a family and is more like a 2nd vehicle, but for single people or for a 2nd car, it's rather amazing. Also, according to Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson (click on the "video" tab on the left), it's really, REALLY fun. In fact, he says it's the most fun you can have and coming from a thrill seeker, that's high praise, indeed! Watch all the videos, read the specs and then tell me you don't want one!

Theatrical Review: Summer Hours

Fri, 15 May 2009 15:40:09 -0600

Summer Hours Director: Olivier Assayas Screenwriter: Olivier Assayas Producers: Marin Karmitz, Nathanaël Karmitz, Charles Gillibert Cinematography: Eric Gautier A.F.C. Editor: Luc Barnier Cast: Juliette Binoche, Charles Berling, Jérémie Renier, Edith Scod IFC Films 102 Minutes, not rated Summer Hours, Olivier Assayas' latest film, opens with children running free through gardens and woods around a typically beautiful French summer home. Filled with antiques and objets d'art, the house belongs to the Berthier family, whose matriarch is the 75 year old but still stunning Hélène (Edith Scob). Hélène owns the art collection that was handed down to her by a deceased uncle, a famous artist himself, with whom she may have had an intimate relationship years earlier. Now, at the end of her life, Edith is beginning to make the practical preparations of passing along the collection and the house to her three grown children, Adrienne (Juliette Binoche with blond tresses), Frédéric (Charles Berling) and Jérémie (Jeremie Renier). Only Frédéric, himself the single father of a tempestuous daughter, is the only one of the siblings who wants to keep the beautiful house and leave it to the next generation. Both Adrienne and Jérémie have jobs and lives that keep them both physically and emotionally distant from France. It is emotional distance that is at the heart of Assayas' beautiful story.

Shatner Plays ... Guitaaaaa-aaaarrrrr!

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:50:40 -0600

William Shatner poses after receiving the Nashville Film Festival's 2009 President's Impact Award, a specially designed Gibson guitar hand-painted by artist Mandy Lawson. This year's fest saw the world premiere of "Willian Shatner's Gonzo Ballet" from director Pat Buckley. Shatner was playful during the pre-screening presentation, remarking that in the 1950's, he used to travel around with a fretboard, always intending to learn how to play. He never did, but at the screening he promised....himself, he'd learn. Alas, a rumored performance of Shatner and Ben Folds at the screening's after party at the Gibson Guitar HQ never unfolded, as Folds was a no-show and Shatner only stuck around for 15 minutes. That said, word had it he was due back in LA at 10am the next morning, so I was disappointed but can't be pissed at Bill! That said, I really would have liked to meet the legend, as his CD "Has Been" was in my top ten albums of 2004. More on the film in my indieWIRE Nashville Film Festival round up!

GSRT - A SXSW Road Trip To Lockhart or "Meat or Bust!"

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:33:38 -0600

NB: My apologies for the lack of posts, recently. My computer died and was in the shop for a while. Now, on with the Great Southern Road Trip! If you haven't already figured it out, a big part of this trip and my life is food. I love to cook for people, introduce them to new things and I love to try new things myself. In fact, I was very close to trying baby eel at Chez Phillippe in the Peabody Hotel in Memphis until I read that they were overfished, often counterfeited and $30 in addition to the already steep prix fixe menu... Anyway, way back near the beginning of the trip were the SXSW Film, Interactive and Music Festivals and Conferences, from which I have a lot of pix and video to come soon. But first, meat! That's right. On this, my 3rd visit to SXSW, I finally made it out to Lockhart, Texas and Smitty's Market. SXSW Film Conference & Production Manager Jarod Neece was kind enough to put together a little outing of filmmakers, press and SXSW staffers on the last Friday of the fest and chuck us into a van for the 40 minute drive to the cradle of Texas Bar-B-Q. You see, Lockhart has not one, not two, not three but 4 "world-class" BBQ joints, or so they claim. I've only been to Smitty's, and about Smitty's I can swear that if there were a god, she'd eat there. There ain't, so I guess that makes my analogy useless, but whatever. It's some fan-fucking-tastic BBQ. Now, Texas is known for beef BBQ. if pork's your thing, I would suggest you head to Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, etc. I'll be writing plenty about the pork in those places, but for now, concentrate on the beef. Don't get me wrong, they have the pork, but in Texas it seems like the swine is a secondary food source much of the time. I beg to differ, but when in Rome....

Sarasota 09: Voight and Young

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:44:29 -0600

Long time friends Jon Voight and Burt Young share a moment during the often moving tribute to the late, great director Hal Ashby (Coming Home, Harold and Maude) at the 2009 Sarasota Film Festival. Voight and Young co-starred in Ashby's 1982 film Lookin' to Get Out, the director's cut of which was recently discovered in the UCLA Film Archives and world premiered in Sarasota the night before the tribute. Ashby's daughter Leigh MacManus was on hand to accept the SFF's Master of Cinema award on her father's behalf and gave a stirring thank you speech wherein she spoke of never knowing her father and how much the closing moments of Lookin' to Get Out meant to her. I won't spoil the film for you (director's cut out soon on Warner Home Video!), but suffice to say, there wasn't a dry eye in the house and both MacManus and Voight were brought to tears during the evening.

Happy 79th Birthday, Mom!

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:36:43 -0600

NB: The pix are not loading well. I hope to fix them soon! -M Today, March 30th would have been my mother's 79th birthday, had she not passed away on January 9th, 2005 so I thought maybe I'd post a few pix and say Happy Birthday, mom! This first one is from her trip to India in the early 1960s. One of my regrets regarding my parents is he lack of conversations I had with them about their lives. At least with dad I have his book to read and re-read (will be doing so later on this trip, actually) but with mom, all I have are fragments of her memoirs, which she was working on before she died. I would have loved to talk to her more about India and the Movement, but I can't. So I make due with her writings and stories from her friends and pictures. In 1960 mom was working for the National Guardian and it was for this newspaper that she would cover the Civil Rights movement. While packing up the apartment, I came across her official press ID card, signed by the notable and much revered journalist, James Aronson, for whom the James Aronson Award for Social Justice is named. In 1957 mom traveled to "Red" China, in violation of a US State Department ban. (Not the first or last time she'd do something "against the rules,' BTW!) She was already at a world youth conference in Moscow, so what the hell, right? She went with 40 others, some of whom would become lifelong family friends, including my godmother Faye Goodman, the reverend Warren McKenna and his wife Elizabeth and the late Sally Belfrage, one of the finest people I ever knew. Below is a picture of mom (2nd left), Warren and Faye. Not sure who the young Chinese woman is. I suspect a translator. Below is the New York Times article from August 15th, 1957 about the trip to China:

GSRT: Memphis - Payne's Is King

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:54:24 -0600

After visiting Gill and August's Green Building, I hopped in the car and made the 385 mile drive to Memphis and my three day stay at the Peabody Hotel. Billed as the "South's Grand Hotel," the Peabody is all it's cracked up to be. The staff in unerringly friendly and remembered my name instantly and they were very helpful about the local area, even if one of the valets had never heard of Payne's. He must have been new.... While the Peabody is indeed a fancy joint (it boasts Memphis' most fancy fine dining restaurant in Chez Philippe) there are deals to be found online. My stay was only $140/night through Orbitz but unlike some other hotels, I received no "bargain shopper scorn" when checking in. The Peabody is all class and that might have something to do with hotel Duckmaster Jason Sensat who also oversees the customer relations employees in the hotel, including front desk personnel and concierges. More on him and the ducks in a later post, complete with video! But now....Food! My first day in Memphis was a disappointment, since I drove out to Payne's and it was closed. A main goal of this trip is experiencing the finest BBQ known to man or beast and consistently listed on "Best of" lists and written up in any BBQ book worth its salt, Payne's (located at 1762 Lamar, Av.) was my #1 stop in Memphis. Alas, it was closed and my iPhone's map feature led me astray when I went looking for my other important stop on this trip, Cozy Corner BBQ. I ended up no where near where I was supposed to be, but instead wound up near another highly-rated joint, Central BBQ. There I made the mistake of choosing sauce on the side. Never choose sauce on the side. Let them sauce up your sandwich. I guess I'll have to go back, because it's supposed to be fantastic. At any rate, that evening, through a suggestion from the hotel, I ate at McEwen's on Monroe and it was fantastic. I decided to try three small plates and was blown away by the Warm Hazelnut Crusted Goat Cheese Salad, the Shrimp & Grits (always a favorite) and the wholly original Red Tasmanian Sweet Crab Fritters. It was Americana with a southern bent, all prepared with care and excellent service. For dessert (I don't usually indulge, but....) the trio of sorbets was fantastic, see:

Theatrical Review: Hunger

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 01:46:32 -0600

Hunger Director: Steve McQueen Screenwriters: Enda Walsh and Steve McQueen Producer: Laura Hastings-Smith and Robin Gutch Cinematography:  Sean Bobbitt BSC Editor: Joe Walker Music: David Holmes with Leo Abrahams Cast: Michael Fassbender, Liam Cunningham, Stuart Graham, Brian Milligan, Liam McMahon  UK-Ireland, 2008, 96 minutes The double meaning in this astonishing film's title refers to both the hunger for food as well as for freedom. The prisoners in this factually-based and brutally realistic film are starved for both. In 1981, during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the UK government was imprisoning IRA members but refusing to give them political prisoner status. As a result a group detained at the HM Prison Maze (aka Long Kesh), led by Bobby Sands, went on "blanket protest" which basically meant refusing prison uniforms. This led to them being exposed to almost unimaginably horrendous conditions and as well as to a series of violent repercussions. The film, the first directed by British multi-media artist Steve McQueen, opens with a middle aged man beginning his day. Much of his initial behavior seems mundane; getting dressed and being served toast & tea by his wife. But then we see him soaking his bloodied and swollen knuckles in the bathroom sink; and, just before he drives off to work, he kneels down to look under his car for a bomb. This man turns out to be prison guard, Raymond Lohan (Stuart Graham). The film's narrative is confusing at first; we assume that the story will be about this wounded individual. We also assume that he is carrying around fear, guilt and grief since he works in such a brutal environment. Surely he must feel ambivalent about his job.

GSRT: Hagerstown to Louisville or "Such a Dirty Bad Girl!"

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:09:02 -0600

After my preamble trip to Hagerstown I had just enough energy to check my email when I arrived. It had been a rough day, considering I'd moved out of the family home I'd had for 30+ years, so when I pulled into the hotel just past 11, I didn't even care that I'd missed the cut-off time for beer at the hotel mini mart by only 5 minutes. I didn't even pitch a fit when the guy at the front desk told me that they were out of foam pillows. My allergies made me pay for that one. At any rate, I was up at 8am and ready to go.... and after the mother of all time sucks, a visit to a local mall for some needed road supplies, I was on the road to Louisville and 534 miles awaited me. Were I driving with another person, 500+ miles wouldn't be a big deal but alone? It's drowsy time. Seriously, after about 375 miles or so I find myself chanting things like "badda badda bang ging gong bung ding badda ding big gong dang..." like some half-baked Bhangra singer with tertiary stage syphilis.

GSRT '09: Some Random Thoughts

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:05:41 -0600

Drive alone, for hundreds of miles and you might find yourself talking to yourself. Or maybe even your video camera:
If you needed proof that the Mason-Dixon Line really does start at the Maryland border:

Spring '09: The Great Southern Road Trip-Preamble

Sun, 08 Mar 2009 20:32:30 -0600

As some of you know, I have embarked on what might accurately be called an adventure. 2 days ago on Friday, March 6th, I left what had been been my family home for more than 30 years for the last time. With both my parents having passed away (and having sold the apartment) it was time for me to move on. That said, I'm not entirely sure where I am moving on to. To that end, I have embarked on a 6 week, 16 state road trip around the Southern United States. To wit:
View Larger Map Why? Well, I'm going to South by Southwest and thought it would be fun to drive there. Then I realized that the Sarasota Film Festival starts shortly after SXSW ends, so I figured I'd drive there. Then I realized that since I'd be in the neighborhood, maybe I should visit New Orleans and some places in Alabama and Georgia that figured prominently in the Civil Rights Movement. Pretty much all of my family was involved in that monumental struggle and I feel like I should pay my respects, especially in light of our new president. After that, it's on to Sarasota, other parts of Florida, South and North Carolina, Virginia...and well, we'll see! Along the way I'll be shooting video, eating and drinking some local specialties and just generally commenting on my trip. Should be fun! Day one was uneventful...besides leaving my home. After I closed the door for the final time, I noticed this on the door and peeled it off. It's getting framed: Then I got in my car and left Manhattan.....

SXSW 09 Film: Texas Film Hall Of Fame Awards

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 22:33:14 -0600

One of my favorite nights of the year on the festival circuit is the annual Texas Film Hall of Fame cocktails and dinner and auction. Don't ask me why I love it so much, I just do. Part of it is because it is a benefit for the Austin Film Society and I think they're a very worthy group. Also, the indieWIRE guys and I, along with other friends, like UT prof John and new SXSW Film Festival & Conference honcho Janet Pierson get to mingle, have some drinks, a dinner and watch a better than average awards ceremony and auction, which is cool, too. Last year Law & Order SVU's Mariska Hargitay was moved to tears when accepting for her mother, Jayne Mansfield. This year's honorees include Wes Anderson's Rushmore, which is receiving the Tiffany & Co. Star of Texas Award, Larry Hagman, Powers Boothe, Catherine Hardwicke and Billy Bob Thornton. About Boothe a friend of mine once said: "They should create a TV channel for him and just call it Powers Boothe." I kind of agree. Other expected guests for the evening include Dennis Quaid, Keith Carradine, John Cusack, Linda Gray, Kyle Chandler, Connie Britton, Brad Leland and Dana Wheeler-Nicholson who will host a new feature for the evening, Party in the Red Room with actor and writer Paul Saucido. This year's host is Thomas Haden Church. From 2002-5, the event was hosted by former Texas Governor, the late Ann Richards who passed away in late 2006. In 2007 the award was emceed by Richards' close friend and 2001 inductee, Liz Smith and in Richards' honor, the organizers handed out some special party favors:

SXSW Music Pix: Nicole Atkins, 2008

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 15:44:07 -0600

One of my favorite new artists from the past couple of years is Nicole Atkins who, both with and without her band, The Sea played several sets at SXSW over the past couple of years and who I've seen live 4 or 5 times in the same time span. Her song "The Way It Is" gives me shivers every time I hear it. The first time I heard her excellent debut CD (which I wrote about back in November of 2007) I compared the sound to long time David Lynch collaborator, Angelo Badalamenti and what do you think I saw when I just perused Nicole's Wikipedia entry?

"Atkins also feels a kinship with Angelo Badalamenti, who has scored many of Lynch's films. She once emailed an mp3 of "The Way It Is" to Badalamenti, who is said to have replied, "I think our Sicilian great-great-great-grandparents must have laid down on a picnic blanket in the park and done something together, if you know what I mean." Atkins subsequently received an invitation to Badalamenti's home in Morristown, New Jersey to talk music."

All I have to say to that is "Ha!" At any rate, I saw Nicole at SXSW 2008 and it was a typically fantastic set and she was wearing an absolutely stunning dress. See? More pix on my Flickr stream, here.