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“Spinal Tap II: The End Continues” A Review

The lede shall not be buried. The sequel to “This is Spinal Tap” is not as good as the original. It happens. There’s only one “Godfather 2.” Only one “Astral Weeks.” Only one “Guernica.” That settled, next question: Should there have been a sequel? After all, the original is a masterwork. It essentially invented the […]

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Mad Magazine: Blast from the Past

Impulsive compulsive consumerizer that I am, it doesn’t take much. So, I was toast when the face stared out at me from the ‘zine rack by checkout at Jeff Bezos’ grocery store — purposely there to snare a dude with my predilection. From the way back machine. Someone I haven’t thought about for decades frankly. […]

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“Thunder Road”: Fifty Years On

Screen door slams/ Mary’s dress sways/ Like a vision she dances across the porch as the radio plays It is the opening line of the opening tune of Bruce Springsteen’s 1975 masterwork of an album, “Born To Run.” A collection of eight short stories no less relevant and seminal than Salinger’s “Nine Stories,” or Joyce’s […]

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Celebrity Wedding Culture & the Antithesis

It has happened a few times recently. A moment when I’ve been chided with something like, “You’re the Culture Maven, or so you say, but you don’t seem to be posting much about, eh, culture. “The occasional movie review, or another blog about how much you love the Tedeschi Trucks band, but not much else. […]

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A Hoopaholic’s Derby

Yes, kids, that’s me wearing my personalized Hoopaholic ballcap. All day, Derby Day. Along with a Dr. Gonzo Kentucky Derby is decadent and depraved t-shirt. As for the quote on the back above the signature of Randall Ave’s Favorite Tormentor, “From that point on, the weekend became a vicious drunken nightmare,” those days are long […]

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JazzFest Redux: Whither New Orleans

Since I’m not at JazzFest — COVID shutdown years aside — for the first time since 1990, I’ve decided to repost some of my favorite reports from the past.   This from the first Fest after Katrina. Bob’s back at Galatoire’s. Sumptuous and gracefully worn, it’s New Orleans finest old line eatery. Both survived Katrina. So […]

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Facing 80

I am now a denizen of the Land of Daily Medical Treatments. I know my pharmacist better than the neighbors who live on either side of me at my condo building. Last week’s smile inducer was discovering there’s a 24 hour/ 7 day pharmacy just five minutes from my place. On the Sunny Side. Paying […]

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“Paddington 2”: Who Knew? Not Me!

Culling through the NYT, I saw a header that touched my inner cinephile. “Why Everyone Is Still Talking About ‘Paddington 2′” A kid’s move that appeals to adults. Funny. Clever. Well crafted. Deftly acted. Overwhelmingly well reviewed. A perfect 100% rating at Rotten Tomatoes. Until, that is, one naysaying critic retroactively posted his negative review […]

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“Bad Shabbos” & JFF Preview

As those enamored with “The Big Lebowski” know, Walter Sobchak “don’t roll on Shabbos.” Others might not know Shabbos, that it is another arguably more immersive reverential for the Sabbath Day. No, the cult classic is not a part of this year’s Jewish Film Festival. But a truly cockamamie gem titled “Bad Shabbos” is. Sobchak […]

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