T'giving Festivities in Washington Heights

HELLO GEORGE!

THE BOYZ

THE GIRLZ

THE HOSTZ

AYHAN & CHUCK

CAMILLE & CHUCKLEZ!

DAVID & SALLY, THE IN-LAWZ

G'NIGHT GEORGE!

Celine Dion New Commercial for SENSATIONAL scent!

Click on the link to see the commercial!

Grand Army Plaza/Brooklyn 1940s to 2008

A recent hike through Park Slope led me to the magnificent Grand Army Plaza and main branch of the Brooklyn Library. Thankfully, while there are heinous new residential highrises scorching the edge of the circle, the primary beauty remains intact.

What I Will NOT being doing today!

Baby, if it's not available online, I don't need it... TV shopping from the gentle quiet of my living room, face forward with the laptop, coffee cup in hand... It's called 2008. You couldn't pay me to stand in these lines.

New York Subway 1977

Are we headed to this again?

Favorite Web Sites of 2008

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Kim Roberti's latest series...

As anyone knows who frequents this blog (all four of us), my favorite artist is Kim Roberti, whom I discovered on the wonderful Web site dailypainters.com. In the past several months (if you scroll down), you will see that a relationship has developed, which led to the amazing feat of Ayhan and me having our portraits done in oil by this talented lady (click on the link above to see her blog). She has recently painted a series of nudes, both women and men, and this latest, "A Touch of Blue" is a masterpiece. I've already put in my bid on ebay to own the original, though her art is justifiably competitive to win by auction. The male form... something I give thanks for every day, not just on Thanksgiving. Enjoy.

Happy Thanksgiving from CTB!

Here's hoping that you have a warm, wonderful, flavor-filled, laughter-abounding Thanksgiving! Ayhan and I are headed uptown to spend the day with our friends Perry & David at their beautiful apartment in Washington Heights. Mmm mmm good...




This bizarre potion alleges to be my first attempt at homemade cranberry sauce. Is it too late for canned?

Celine's "My Love"

Lord knows it's been far too long since adult contemporary radio has given Celine her due... I am thrilled that "My Love" has reached No. 15 on the Billboard AC chart today... just as the format is flipping nationwide to full-time Christmas music, meaning that this is probably where the song will peak. But given that her previous single "Alone," a cover of Heart's already consummate ballad, never even charted on the format (um, given my review in Billboard that insisted "No, no, no!") I will take what I can get. Truly, I am so proud that this song is getting airplay, with its understated vocal and stunning lyric about love's humility (or so it seems).

Following is my Billboard review that ran in the Oct. 11, 2208 issue:

CELINE DION
My Love (4:09)
Producer: Linda Perry
Writer: L. Perry
Publishers: Stuck in the Throat/Famous, ASCAP
Columbia
“Taking Chances” possesses dubious rights as Celine Dion’s least-successful album from the past 15 years—ever, in fact. Not surprising, given that nearly all of her original Sony proponents have exited the company, leaving few to embrace her command of an everlasting base—i.e., that of labelmate Barbra Streisand—if only properly promoted. Previous single “Alone” was a disaster, failing to even chart at AC. But now, as Dion’s two-year worldwide tour reaches North America, “My Love,” written and produced by Linda Perry, has struck programmers’ fancy—and it is truly an inspired choice from “Chances.” Highly emotive and yet graciously understated, “My Love” oozes ache and uncertainty, as Dion pleads, “My love, can you give me strength, somehow I forgot how to ease my pain/I stand tall to get by, no matter how hard I try to hide.” This splendid composition and Dion’s atypical delivery offer potential to save a career in commercial turmoil. If Sony has any intention of protecting its investment, “My Love” needs a meaningful embrace.—CT

LIVE at MSG, November 24, 2008!

Sunday night din din with folks I adore...

So it was freezing, 30 degrees, and so what if winter arrived in New York before Thanksgiving... I had a great dinner at The Dish in Chelsea with dear Deborah Evans Price, her kid Trey, beloved Michael Paoletta, my husband Ayhan... and several proud Southerners who departed before this picture was taken. My entree: robust salad with Russian dressing, turkey, baked potato, broccoli and enough bread and butter to swell my toes. A mere warm-up for official Thanksgiving, I'd say... great, great night.

A stunning bride... my mom!

Okay, so I was listing some items to sell on craigslist tonight... a bed, a clock and doggy stairs, and as I was running through pics on iPhoto, I was stopped by this beautiful photo that I scanned some time ago of my mother Evelyn as a bride. She and my dad married June 27, 1950... they've been married for more than 58 years and are still healthy, loving and together... it's such a blessing for me. And the best part. They are coming to New York in December as part of a tour group and I will see them and bring them to our home. This is a gift that I never take for granted. As snarky as I pretend to be, when it comes to my parents, they have set the ultimate example for me in so many ways...

Sexiest Man Alive 2008

So cool cats, People magazine named Hugh Jackman the Sexiest Man Alive for 2008... nice choice... but he's no Joey Lawrence. So there. The CTB names Mr. Lawrence—when he had hair—as our choice for the year. Let the angels sing.

Kings Dominion 1980

Kings Dominion with Carlton, Mary, Dino, Donna and Charles... ridiculous.

Chuck & Donna... Then & Now

1978 morphs into 2008... sigh...

2 Pierrepont Place... now & then

One of the things I appreciate most about Brooklyn Heights is its status as the nation’s first nationally recognized historic district. Case in point: 2 Pierrepoint Place, the home of the original patriarchs of the nabe, who parceled the land and humbly named most of the streets after their high-ranking kin. Below is a photo of this stunning property in the early 1900s and today. Very little has changed, including the original observatory, in front to the left. One major shift: There used to be a bridge that connected the property down to the waterfront, which now links to the Brooklyn Heights Esplanade.

GOBBLE, GOBBLE!

Five days and counting for my favorite meal of the year... We're heading uptown to visit with our dear friends Perry & David in Washington Heights. Love their home, love their company, love their food (and wine)! Mmmm mmmm, good.

Times Square's FABULOUS new Duffy Square Stairs

On a clear day you can see forever... love it...

JOSE PROMIS Life Is Grand!!

Jose and Ayhan's great labor of love is out! Promis' fourth CD is now in hand... with all songs written and produced by the two and duets with Karine Hannah, Lina Koutrakos, Emre Yilmaz and Jerri Bocchino. Click on the heading to see Jose's Web site! CONGRATULATIONS, BOYS!

Winter Wedded Bliss

Facebook: The 200 Friends Marker

Today I hit my 200th Friend on Facebook. Surely you know what that means!.... That's right, absolutely nothing. But it's right fun.