Hello again, here we are at the end of week 8 and the weekend before Memorial Day. Our tri-state governors have announced that the beaches will be open for the holiday. Some people are beside themselves with excitement. Others aren’t so sure.
This has been a gorgeous spring in the Garden State; even though we’ve had to (mostly) stay inside, we can take walks and the flowers in the neighborhood are lovely. People have started their seedlings and tomato plants.
My sister Cathy found a farm that used to distribute to restaurants. But, since the restaurants are closed, they’ve been able to pivot nicely and are now selling to us regular people. I’m amazed that they were able to do it so quickly with a very basic website. If you want to order, you call them up, the old fashioned way! The eagle landed yesterday with a giant bag of fresh spinach, broccoli and sweet potatoes. And since they are wholesale, they have the capability of washing and trimming all their produce. A godsend!
What to watch: “Pipeline, “ Lincoln Center — free for one week
About a mother’s fears for her son in the urban school system
https://www.broadwayhd.com/movies/AW2GtZIXpx3F9_4Aqeub
Famous lines of poetry rewritten by Dave Pell
(w/ apologies to Sylvia Plath)
There’s a stake in your fat black heart
And the villagers never liked you.
They are dancing and stamping on you.
They always knew it was you.
Who coughed in the produce aisle.
Music
Nick Forster, host of eTown, is calling on his friends, asking them to teach him something while he’s at home. “Teach Me One Thing” lets him connect and learn something new. The first episode is with Mike Gordon, bass player for Phish.
https://www.etown.org/teach-me/test-teaching-one/
Art
I’ve never heard of painter Joaquim Beuckelaer. The Met’s video about restoring his “Fish Market” is fascinating.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qhAeND5_k8
Art competition (do it!)
Locked down in France, David Hockney has been drawing the blossoming of spring. He’s backing a competition called “Hope in Spring: Draw like Hockney“ to encourage people to create an image that captures the season. He said he moved to Normandy to be able to smoke in restaurants: “I’d like to just work and paint, and to be able to smoke and eat in a restaurant at the same time.”
The deadline for entries is June 21. I would LOVE it if you send us your entry as well!
Entries can be sent to hockneyprintemps@sabir.paris or posted on social media with the hashtag #HockneyPrintemps
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/may/15/david-hockney-invit…
Inspiration: South Africa
My friend Raymond is the Director of the Denis Hurley Centre. They serve the poorest and most marginalized people in Durban. Here is an sobering photo essay about the homeless citizens they’re caring for during the Pandemic.
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-05-03-street-dreamers-rebui…
Restaurant news
Momofuku is closing two of its popular restaurants and people are pretty upset. David Chang says, “This crisis has exposed the underlying vulnerabilities of our industry and made clear that returning to normal is not an option.”
Here is a poignant essay by Gabrielle Hamilton from Prune, a place I loved:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/23/magazine/closing-prune-restaurant-cov…
Sports:
I love tennis and so do those who are dear to me. Out of season we text and exchange player gossip. I can’t even imagine the US Open being played anywhere else! Speaking of gossip, seems the USTA didn’t buy cancellation insurance.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/13/sports/tennis/coronavirus-us-open-ust…
Donations:
Here’s a link to the Denis Hurley Centre and how to donate from the US:
http://www.denishurleycentre.org/page/donating-in-the-united-states
Have a good weekend.
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