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A funny new site to read stories from the single life

Baddategreatstory.com is a site that gives a humorous outlet to the antics of dating life. Started by two New York city writers, constantly surrounded by their friends telling them hilarious stories from the nights before or years passed, the site has funny stories from men and women, videos, and motivational spoofs.

The site became so popular in a few months of being online, that the editors decided to create a rotating performance group that has a show every three months in Manhattan.

On December 2nd at the downtown venue Solas, the 3rd Bad Date Great Story comedy reading/stand-up show will strike again!

The site is always looking for new stories from a wide demographic, if you would like, send them a story to be published, they’re always interested in hearing from writers and funny people: baddategreatstory@gmail.com

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joan hickson as beloved miss marple

When Emi told me that Jennifer Garner is scheduled to play Miss Marple, well, the first thought was, Jennifer Garner as the beloved Miss Marple? – how is that possible? Not to say anything against Jennifer Garner. It seems that Disney wants to change Agatha Christie’s famous and well-loved Miss Marple and make her “more contemporary.” And I have to ask why? Few things are perfect just as they are, and maybe Miss Marple as played by Joan Hickson is one of those things. One would think that Disney is capable of creating a story having its own wonderfully enjoyable character perhaps a bit similar to Miss Marple and leaving Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple as played by Joan Hickson just as she is.

And so now instead of post-war England, cups of tea, and a delightful elderly spinster who happens to have a flair for eventually tracking down murderers, will Miss Marple solve murders by computers in a high tech building, speed along in her sports car, have overwhelming adventures, a cell phone she can’t live without, a fashionable wardrobe, and possibly relationship problems, etc.? What exactly does “more contemporary” when referring to Miss Marple mean, Disney?

Have you guessed that I really like watching Miss Marple? You also? Spending time with her is a treat. Agatha Christie didn’t stoop to exaggeraged scenes in her stories; she proceeded softly and intelligently. We feel the wheels turning in Miss Marple’s head as she elegantly, quietly, and efficiently deduces who the murderer is. She likes traveling by train and sometimes she’s in a beautiful English countryside, and then a city, and, yes, the Bahamas usually in the midst of an array of people interesting in their own way. And we’re never quite sure who might have done it until Miss Marple has sorted things out and is ready to explain, all in proper fashion, who did it.

Agatha Christie wanted Joan Hickson to play Miss Marple; Joan Hickson was 78 when she took the role, and “She was the oldest actress ever to take the lead in a major television series,” and “The tools of her trade are frequent cups of Earl Grey tea, her needle sharp eyes and her acute hearing, which enables her constantly to overhear crucial conversations from considerable distances.” (quotes taken from the Independent Arts & Entertainment and written by Alexandra Younger and Tom Vallance.) At the age of 86 she wanted to retire from playing Miss Marple, though not to retire from acting. Imagine that!
www.agathachristie.com

The Classic Mysteries Collection:
A Carribean Mystery
The Mirror Crack’d
From Side To Side
Sleeping Murder
4:50 From Paddington
The Moving Finger
At Bertram’s Hotel
Murder At The Vicarage
Nemisis
They Do It With Mirrors

I feel that having Jennifer Garner play Miss Marple is like offering a chocoholic a bowl of hard candy when the finest of dark chocolate was always the offering. There’s dissapointment in that offering and the chocoholic would rather do without. Jennifer, one would think that there are other roles waiting for your talents, just not this one.

Thank you for listening 🙂 and have a beautiful day.

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tom shadyac

I’m sure it was with tongue in cheek, that she texted me, “greed is good.” I had to smile, mainly because I’d recently seen the acclaimed documentary film, I AM. Have you seen it? If you had, you’d know the reason I had to smile. I AM is a film unlike any I’ve ever seen. And right now I would like to be at the cinema watching it again because the film offers so much that a few more viewings are necessary to take it all in. The writer, director, filmmaker is Tom Shadyac, the director of BRUCE ALMIGHTY, THE NUTTY PROFESSOR, and ACE VENTURA: PET DETECTIVE.

There’s no doubt that Tom Shadyac is a very funny guy. He’s also a very serious one where some things are concerned. In the film we find out that I AM came about after the filmmaker found himself facing his own death after a very serious bicycle accident. With a prognosis he wasn’t ready to accept, he went to the ocean and sat on the sand, and proceeded to silently commune with himself. To find out what happened after that, you’ll have to see the “. . . surprisingly powerful and inspirational film” I AM.

It would take a very long time to sum up all the good parts, and write about the amazing people, in the film. And until you see it, I’ll leave you with something the filmmaker said: “We started by asking what’s wrong with the world, and we ended up discovering what’s right with it.” Also, this: “We are far grander than we’ve been told.” Perhaps you’ll want to listen to the videos on his website; they really shouldn’t be missed because, to put it very simply, he’s an awesome guy!
www.tomshadyac.com

An unusual exit from a theater: At the end of I AM the audience, instead of filing out, began hugging. Truthfully, it wouldn’t have occurred to me to start the hugging because I’m not a huggy kind of person in public places, but at that moment, after watching the film all those hugs seemed right.

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New camera, new look at scenery

I am overjoyed to have just gotten a new camera, the Panasonic Lumix DMC- GH1. It is amazing!
I took it out for a little walk and here are a few stills I took in Morningside Park, uptown NY. Being a filmmaker, I also can’t wait to take some great video of the city… Emi



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A lovely site that promotes beauty inside, outside, and around you – Poreless.com

Poreless.com is an exciting site that guides people to innovative news and new products for revitalizing skin and body. This week they go behind the beauty scene with the director, and the writer, of the short film “The Retreat” www.theretreatfilm.com. This past weekend “The Retreat” received Boston International Film Festival’s award for “Indie Soul Special Recognition.” The film also had a screening at The Big Apple Film Festival 2010, and the NYC Downtown Short Film Festival 2011. Soon it will have another screening at the Staten Island Film Festival 2011.

I hope you enjoy the article. Those at Poreless.com are interested in knowing what you think about their article, along with the questions and answers, and the way they have of handling a busy lifestyle in the entertainment industry. They are open to your comments.
http://poreless.com/?p=711

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“The Gig” a Collaboration of musicians and dancers at Steps

I just went to a brilliant event constructed by Whitney G-Bowley, a dancer who while dating a drummer back in college, was inspired to see dance and music live onstage together. Cut to now. January 2011, Steps dance studio on Broadway between 74th and 75th Street in Manhattan. Caleb Hawley is singer/composer/musician of the night whose work is performed on a stage in the large studio. Caleb was on “American Idol” last week, and his songs are beyond clever and hysterical, a perfect fit for the dancers who brought each lyric to life and kicked and flipped through every piece. It was a super idea of Whitney to bring so many gifted artists together! Caleb and his band were energetic and had fun while playing a great show, and the five trained dancers visually entertained and wowed us all on this very freezing NYC night, in the airy creative womb of a supportive excited crowd.

“The Gig” is aimed to show at The Highline Ballroom in March. I will post the details when they become available. For now here’s the event’s website: http://www.gigtheshow.com/

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Sarah McLachlan’s new album Laws of Illusion is amazing

Before going to see Sarah McLachlan at the Beacon Theater in New York last Wednesday, I was familiar with her popular songs, but not with her work throughout her career. After a night of hearing her amazing voice (which in a decade of autotune is so naturally talented, when she steps up to the microphone, you would swear someone turned on the radio- no studio alterations needed!), how she generously incorporates her backup singers into the show with their own songs instead of having an opening band, (graciously playing back up for them with a smile on her face!), and peppering the show with personal stories as well as a Q/A session, I floated out of the theater with the rest of the audience in high spirits and feeling like the past few hours had been a gift I would always remember.
I have been to a number of concerts and never have I gone to one where the musician/singer gives so much of herself in the performance that you leave feeling like you travelled on a journey, through her past seven years (that’s how long it took her to put together her album having had two children and a divorce, as in living life and having much to sing about) and so connected to the music. An artistic talent as well as enormous supporter of human rights, having donated a tremendous amount of money to women’s shelters and other organizations supporting humanity and animal rights, when her beautifully written lyrics pass through your ears, you want them to seep in and swirl around your mind, because they come from a place that is true, honest and pure.

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consider philadelphia

Historical places, good restaurants, easy walking city, theatre, museums, fine hotels and B&Bs, the best Philly cheesesteak sandwich, and sports are what visitors expect when in Philadelphia. It’s easy to collect a long list of things to see because the city gets better every year. And people tend to know this because more people are coming as tourists, and as residents. Philadelphia is about history, and about museums (many are along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway), there’s Chinatown, small new shops, interesting walking tours, dueling piano bars, comedy clubs, jazz, Reading Terminal Market, Fairmount Park, a terrific zoo, and a Philadelphia Convention Center being expanded for bigger and better meetings. At the Independence Visitor Center at the NE corner of 5th and Market Streets well-informed people stand behind a long counter ready to answer questions and distribute the appropriate pamphlets for neighborhoods of choice. And a cafe awaits nearby for regrouping and sorting of plans. Maybe you can find Albert Lee. www.independencevisitorcenter.com

Though Philly is a fairly small city as cities go; it has all that’s expected of a city without the maddening crowds. The Christmas lights are up, at Macy’s the Wanamaker organ is ready for glorious Christmas music, and Rittenhouse Square Park feels good when walking pass the simply displayed, with a touch of elegance, Christmas lights.

Tour buses, walking tours, horse drawn carriage tours, a Duck tour, or a pointed finger will guide you to the buildings surrounding the Independence Visitor Center where history is waiting. Hungry and feet tired yet? Want a relaxing meal? You won’t have to go far.

With feet rested and energy replenished it’s time to see more of what’s uniquely Philadelphia. If you’re still in the general area of Market Street, a walk on 3nd toward Arch Street offers splendid shopping, and Betsy Ross’s house and Benjamin Franklin’s final resting place are on Arch Street. If Elfreth’s Alley was by-passed earlier, now is a good time to take a look.

And should there be an interest, a nice walk north on 3rd Street toward the 600s, and a turn east toward 2nd Street, will find a retail shop belonging to Penn Herb Co. Ltd. at 603 North 2nd Street, and also where an up-and-coming neighborhood is enjoying a new look. www.PennHerb.com A stroll on 3rd rather than 2nd will find a fine array of shops. However, if someone wants to take a glance on 2nd Street, or other streets leading toward the 600s, why not.

But then, there you are all the way north; perhaps now you have time to go south checking out what’s on Walnut Street, or continue walking south to the antique shops, and the Italian Market, and much more. Or you can wend your way west to the University City area to see what’s going on there, or perhaps you want to go to the theatre. A little reading of maps and pamphlets, a decision, and away you go. Keep it uncomplicated, Philadelphia has been here a while, and you can always come back, right?

Whatever or do, wherever you go, enjoy.

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cell phones in public places

I can be exasperating when it comes to technology, and for me that means anything beyond a paper and pen. I know that. The truth is, I don’t care – not that I don’t care about technology, no, no, I don’t care about being exasperating sometimes. For instance, do we always have to answer the cell phone? – Perhaps no, unless it’s an important call. I feel that answering a call when you’re out with someone is a slap in the face to the someone you’re with, and also it’s an exercise in patience for anybody in a public place forced to listen. Sometimes a call is urgent. Urgent, however, means different things to different people. Cell phone users are often amusing though, and can become entertainers of sorts – the motions, facial expressions, and tone of voice, could easily be part of a comedy show. So, I’ll just say this, thanks for the laughs. And, if I’ve made you laugh when taking an “urgent” call in a public place, you’re welcome – for the entertainment 🙂

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fanny

I watched the movie Fanny this past weekend. To my delight, it fell into my hands quite unexpectedly from my daughter, Sumi. There’s something extremely pleasant happening when seeing a movie of this calibre.

For one thing, it doesn’t start out with a bang, and it’s not about how many people can be killed, maimed, or attacked, or how fast can a city be destroyed from some unknown thing hovering about, and it’s not about a virus that can’t be contained running rampant throughout the world, or a story about someone in a rage whose only thought is how many people can be killed with a gun he’s been embracing for a few hours. No, Fanny has none of these things that we’ve come to expect from many movies. I’m happy enjoying this old movie and munching on lots of unsalted, raw sunflower and pumpkin seeds bought at Sahadi’s in Brooklyn. www.sahadis.com

Fanny very slowly takes us into a gentler world as we get acquainted with the characters and the story, soak up the marvelous views of beautiful Marseilles, and delight in viewing simple things thoroughly enjoyed. Step by step the story evolves – not with a bang – but, sort of with a kindness and respect for the way a good story develops. And when the story ends there’s a feeling of having spent an evening in good company. Oh, yes, good company indeed with Leslie Caron, Maurice Chevalier, Charles Boyer, Horst Buchholz, and other excellent actors.

It’s a DVD that one doesn’t return quickly because watching it again would be very nice. Are you reading this, Sumi? haha