Two True Villagers on Why the Village Still Matters
My friends Reverend Billy and James Drougas got game. I asked these true villagers about the past, present and future of the Village.
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Year: 2026
First Impression: Monet and Venice
One can only wonder what Claude Monet first thought when he finally set foot in Venice in 1908 so late in life.
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Turning 80!
On July 7, 2025 I was ecstatic to turn 80. I had survived almost dying of amoebic dysentery in the Peace Corps in the 60s.
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Alan Berliner’s BENITA
Recently, the 16th annual DOC NYC was held in Lower Manhattan where more than 300 documentaries were showcased. I was fortunate to see Alan Berliner’s BENITA, a feature-length documentary directed by the veteran New York City filmmaker.
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When ICE Comes Knocking
On Saturday, December 13, small businesses of the West Village were approached by 21 members of the Village Independent Democrats (VID) to help educate them about their rights against ICE.
Read MoreAwakening is Alive and Well
Awakening is another word for becoming aware of deeper realities. It is a synonym for increasing openness to what is learned, be that painful or pleasurable.
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My 36 Resolutions for 2026
1. Go to the gym three or four times a week.
2. Use as many machines as I do towels.
Three Little Italy Neighborhoods
What gives a neighborhood an ethnic identity? Is it the ethnicity of the people who live there, the history of the area, the ambience created by local businesses (restaurants, bars, souvenir shops, etc.), or something else? Here is my description of three neighborhoods frequently described as “Little Italy”… so you decide.
Read MoreIn Defense of Caving In
When eight Democrat and Independent senators voted to end the government shut down, they were severely criticized for giving in to the Republicans. Other Democratic leaders, like Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, also caught flak for not fighting harder or somehow controlling the senators and preventing them from caving in.
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The “Oppenheimer Moment”
There is much euphoria coming from AI tech companies, just like the over exuberance on social media with the advent of Facebook.
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Inside the Magical World of Li-Lac Chocolates
During my first visit to Li-Lac’s chocolate factory in Brooklyn, I was taken on a tour by co-owner Christopher Taylor and corporate sales manager David Landeros.
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Last Dance at Westbeth for Graham Studio
Dancers need space. Space is at a premium in New York City. Since its inception, Westbeth has provided a premium place for dancers to run, leap, skip and spin their healing magic. The vicarious experience of a dance audience is unique for both mind and body. If you can’t dance, just watching is valuable for your health!
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Marty Friedman on His Life as a Guitar Hero: Dreaming Japanese to a New Reality
One of the most fascinating musicians I’ve ever known, Marty Friedman has been and remains a rock star, a guitar hero, and a man who after achieving his wildest dreams through huge music success in America during the 80s and 90s, completely started over and became an unlikely media celebrity in the early 2000s in a country half a world from his homeland.
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Two “Abys” Are Better Than One
Abyssinians are often called the “dogs of the cat world,” and our two-year-old cat, Busy, has certainly lived up to that description. She is smart, loyal, and always on the move, with an impressive amount of energy for a small cat.
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Worth the Wait
Originally, my mom had booked a table at Dante Aperitivo, but our reservation was moved to Dante West Village because Dante Aperitivo had a private party. This was very exciting because I had never been to Dante West Village. It’s the restaurant on Perry and Hudson that always has a line outside.
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- The Story of Rupert & Lulu
Rupert Pupkin and Lulu Bean both hail from the great state of Texas, arriving one year apart via a rescue group called Peyton’s Safe Haven. They’re Heelers born to herd, manage, supervise, and occasionally micromanage ─ and they take this responsibility very, very seriously.