Words and Music

Metroland Retrospective Dept .: Where did I dine two decades ago? At Sam Zoleo’s newest restaurant. He ran Sam’s Place in Saratoga before op...

Our twenty-fifth Thanksgiving dinner at Jollity Farm. While we can't help but salute the melting pot that is the greater culinary world ...

A preview of my Jan. 24 show at Saratoga's Caffe Lena. Somehow it ties in with Thanksgiving.

MASTERY OF PROKOFIEV’S PIANO MUSIC requires complete mastery of the piano: the composer wrote for (and possessed) a blistering, ambitious te...

From the Metroland Vault Dept .: Meeting larger-than-life actor George DiCenzo in 1987 meant dining with him as well, and we ended up sharin...

From the Metroland Vault Dept. : Saluting my too-many years as Metroland ’s restaurant reviewer, here’s another from the early days. In fact...

Remembering Metroland Dept .: While I don’t think the body has stopped breathing, while Metroland remains in its coda, I’m exhuming some of...

From the Vault Dept. : Pianist Yuja Wang has out a new album sporting Ravel’s two concertos and the Ballade by Fauré, and its cover photo in...

FOUR IDENTICALLY DRESSED MEN, their drab suits and bowler hats suggesting the English civil service, line the stage. From them the presence ...

From the Back Pages Dept .: Martha Argerich’s recordings for DG and Philips have been released in a 48-CD box set, which I’ll be writing abo...

“You can put me at the table in the corner in the back unless you’ve got one in the telephone booth; I’m here and I’m alone again, it’s sad...

From the Vault Dept. : Although I haven’t seen her in concert recently, here’s another review ( here’s the first ) of pianist Pola Baytelman...

AS A DIZZYING SET OF INTRIGUES continues to build through act two, we’re taken to the apartment of Monty Navarro (Kevin Massey), who’s been ...

From the Dutch Oven Dept .: With the onslaught of colder weather, we should be preparing those slow-cooked meals of second cuts of meat, whi...

Sing It Loud Dept. : Loudon Wainwright III returns to the Egg in Albany tonight (Friday) with a program that explores his father's life ...

From the Cookbook Shelves Dept .: I made the lasagna recipe from the book Laurina’s Kitchen , and it’s amazing. Fluffy and flavorful, a perf...

YOU’RE SURROUNDED BY BEES. They move with a purpose, settling on a hive’s landing board abulge with yellow pollen, or clustered on a hive fr...

Get Your Tickets Now Dept. : Interviewing Patricia Kelly was like talking to an old friend. It didn’t hurt that I discovered the magic of Ge...

From the Vault Dept. : Jin Kim took the baton of the Empire State Youth Orchestra in 2000, an ensemble I’d been trying to pay attention to f...

Shepherd across the river, You are not afraid; Sing baïlèro lèrô I am not afraid, and you, too, can sing Baïlèro lèrô. Shepherd, t...