Category: Uncategorized

I stayed at the Omni Netherland in Cincinnati this week. (I think it’s now a Hilton …). The rooms leave something to be desired, but the public spaces are an incredible testament to art deco. The example at right is one of the eye motifs that filled the conference room we were using. The art in the hotel earned it a National History Landmark designation. The bar is especially cool. Great place to smoke a cigar and just marvel at the art. It pretty much makes up for the shoebox-sized rooms and the slow elevators. If you’re ever in town, definitely swing by to check it out.

My first introduction to art deco was during a trip to New York, when Pearl, a screaming queen friend of mine, took me on a tour of the Empire State Building pointing out all the art deco touches. I was hooked. I’ve loved art deco ever since.

Xena has been obsessing over rabbits and squirrels during our morning hikes, so I didn’t think much of it when she disappeared into the brush. Suddenly, I heard a commotion, mighty flapping and what sounded like a struggle. Another huge turkey. This one emerged from the brush with Xena right behind it, flew about 30 yards away and landed, leaving the disappointed Newf behind. Just as well. I’m not sure she’d have been the victor in the encounter …

I’ve never been a big Dylan fan, and my knowledge of jazz is cursory, at best. But I heard a tune during the jazz show on WUOT the other night and made a note to order the CD.

It’s the best thing I’ve heard since Gillian Welch’s “Time (The Revelator)“. Different, of course, but really ethereal and vast.

The CD is “Jewels and Binoculars: The Music of Bob Dylan.” It’s by Michael Moore (no, not that Michael Moore). This Moore is an American expatriate living in Amsterdam. He plays alto sax, clarinet, bass clarinet, melodica, bells.

I really had to fish around on the Internet to find a place to order a copy. Amazon didn’t have it. I finally found it here. It was worth the hunt.

I really like the bass playing of Pittsburgh native Lindsey Horner. Without his bass backbone some of the tunes would fall apart like a jellyfish in the surf. But it all holds together with a delicate, haunting beauty.

I recommend this one highly …