Main Street and Roosevelt Ave in Flushing - My Choice for the Most Crowded Sidewalk in Queens

 

I just read this New York Times article Think N.Y.C.’s Roads Are Crowded? Good Luck on the Sidewalks.  It made me think about the intersection of Roosevelt Avenue and Main Street in downtown Flushing.  Since the #7 subway line ends there with connections to numerous bus lines, that area is so crowded with pedestrians.  A few years ago the sidewalks were widened, but street vendors took over that space.  The police chased them away, but some came back.  You never know when there are bicycle riders on the sidewalk.  I read that the police confiscated some e-bikes on the sidewalk, but they can't get every bike.

This is a consequence of city life.

Braves 4 Mets 0

 

We went to a Saturday game at Citi Field for a change, but it was pretty boring.  The Mets could only get four hits off three Braves pitchers and gave up home runs by:

• Marcell Ozuna
• Matt Olsen
• Eddie Rosario

Game Recap

The Mets got some bad news as they found out that Kodai Senga will likely miss the rest of the regular season due to a calf strain.

The Bill Nowlin Bob Dylan Connection

 

I became acquainted with Bill Nowlin when I joined the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR) about eight years ago.  I have fact-checked many of his contributions to the Games Project.  He must be SABR's most prolific writer with over 1000 publications with most of them concerning the Boston Red Sox and their players. Bill has written biographies of even the most obscure players for the Red Sox.  Some are in the SABR Bio project while others are complete books.

Bill was also one of the founders of Rounder Records.  I have a journal entry reviewing Vinyl Ventures My Fifty Years at Rounder Records.

He has just published a new book Bitten By the Red Sox Bug a Fan's Lifelong Passion.  I just started to read it today,  While I had to read up to page 958 in Barbra Streisand's to find a connection to Bob Dylan, but I only had to read to page 48 to find a Bob Dylan connection in Bill's book.  In 1963 he saw Bob Dylan at Cafe Yana next door to Fenway Park.  I used my expert research skills to find documentation of this concert.  There is also a reference to this concert in the April 19, 2023 edition of the Boston Globe that can be accessed through Newspapers.com.

It is a shame that Bill didn't sign Mr. Dillon to Rounder Records.

A Complete Unknown - a Bob Dylan Biopic will be Released in December

 

A Complete Unknown is an upcoming American biographical drama film directed by James Mangold and written by Mangold and Jay Cocks, based on the 2015 book Dylan Goes Electric! by Elijah Wald.  Timothy Chalomet plays the young Dylan during the controversy when he gave up acoustic folk music.

The trailer was just released.  Since my local multiplex recently closed, I must travel somewhere to see the film.

If I Were a Carpenter - Versions by the Four Tops and Bobby Darin

 

A few days ago we discovered that Duke Fakir, the Four Tops' last surviving member, passed away at age 88.  This cover of a Tim Hardin song hit #20 on the Billboard Chart in 1968.  Bobby Darin had the bigger hit reaching #8 on Billboard in 1966.

An Atlas of Es Devlin at the Cooper-Hewett Museum

 

Instead of watching a ball game on TV, we decided to go to a museum on a Sunday afternoon.  Our last museum trip was last November at MOMA .  Our last visit to Cooper Hewitt was in August 2021.

The entire third floor was devoted to "An Atlas of Es Devlin,  an English artist and stage designer who works in a range of media, often mapping light and projected film onto kinetic sculptural forms. She has received several accolades including a Tony Award and two Olivier Awards. 

While I was in the museum I looked at my phone and found out about Biden's dropping of the race for President.

Both the Mets and Yankees lost this afternoon so we picked the right Sunday to go to a museum

There is a Barbra Streisand - Bob Dylan Connection

 

I finally finished the 966-page memoir of Barbra Streisand.  It was an excellent book, but I think she could have cut it down.  There was no mention of Bob Dylan until page 958 seen below.

You may have to download the JPG and enlarge it to read it.  In the 1970s Dylan sent her flowers and a note asking her to sing with him. It never happened but  I don't think that would have worked out since their voices would have clashed.  In 1983 when the film Yentl was released Dylan sent Barbra a letter saying there are songs on that album (I assume Infidels) that he thought she would like to do,  Which one? Jokerman? License to Kill? Union Sundown?  In any event, it never happened.

In 2020 a transcript of an unpublished interview from 1971 Dylan said "Lay Lady, Lay" was written for Barbra Streisand.

Thoughts on Writing 5000 Posts for Bruce's Journal

It is hard to believe that I have reached 5000 journal entries since I started writing on October 15, 2005.  I made one entry and kept going.  I guess I express myself better in writing than I do verbally.  Back then AOL supported blogs, but later on I transitioned the journal to Blogger a service of Google, and got the domain bruceslutsky.com .  The entries range from the ridiculous to the sublime.  I don’t know the real number of how many people have read an entry.  The stats provided by Blogger indicate there were about 1,700,000 hits, but most of those must have come from robots.  The statistics also state that many hits are from China where I am a complete unknown.

I have written on topics including (in no particular order):

• ·        New York Mets
• ·        Baseball
• ·        Bob Dylan
• ·        Other Music – very often I post a song from YouTube.  Many of those videos have been deleted. I should try to replace them.
• ·        Jeopardy
• ·        Random Thoughts of the Day

According to Blogger, my most popular entries were

·        TGIF

• ·        The Tale of the Two-Dollar Bill
• ·        Jeopardy and the Two-Dollar Bill
• ·        Congratulations to the Beach Boys on their 50^th Anniversary
• ·        Jason Keller – Jeopardy Superstar
• ·        Mumbles was my Favorite Dick Tracy Villain

Those are certainly not my most distinguished posts.

My best posts IMHO were these two that were very personal

Remembering Alan Berman

Bruce and Karen (October 16, 1983 - February 16, 2021) Remembering the Good Times - Her Memory is a Blessing

Many posts were autobiographical.  The best way to find those is to go to the search box in the upper left corner and search for:

• ·        Rego Park
• ·        Forest Hills
• ·        City College
• ·        Rhode Island
• ·        New Brunswick

 

Readers can post comments on Blogger, but most of the comments I receive are on Facebook.

I got into “trouble” once when a pompous professor objected to something I wrote about.  This actually made it to the New York Times.  I challenge my readers to find the article.  Since that time I have been more careful about what I write.  I often use initials instead of a full name since people can Google themselves.

I wonder how much time I have spent over the years writing journal entries.  I don’t have to be concerned with editors or fact-checkers.

Thanks for reading.

 

Reading Barbara Streisand's 966 Page Memoir

 

I regularly peruse the stacks of my small public library and usually don't find books of interest.  I looked at Barbra Streisand's big memoir and was reluctant to take it out, but eventually, I did.  It was very heavy and difficult to schlep.

As of this writing, I have 100 pages to go.  I can't remember reading a book so large.  She had a phenomenal career as a singer, actress, director, and producer.  Over the years she kept a journal and used her notes to write the memoir.  She said that she viewed some of her films again while writing the book which must have taken years to do.  It was very detailed.  I should finish it in a few days.

Random Thoughts of the Day -July 17, 2024

 

• I just read that NJ Transit is predicting more heat-related delays for the next 2-3 days.  I count my blessings knowing my years of riding their trains are over.  I am not returning to Newark for a visit.
• I didn't pay much attention to the MLB All-Star game as the AL won 5-3.  I just hate those uniforms.
• There should be a flurry of trades before the deadline on July 30.  I just hate reading speculative articles in online baseball publications suggesting trades.
• I follow a few diehard baseball fans on X (formerly Twitter).  These guys attend games every day.  I was wondering what they would do during the All-Star break.  They saw the Staten Island Ferry Hawks.
• After a short hiatus Bob Dylan will continue to perform at the Outlaw Festival Tour on July 29.  This tour will conclude on September 20.  The Rough and Rowdy Ways tour will resume in Europe in October.  I am sure that some of my diehard Dylan friends will travel long distances to see him.

Remembering Dr. Ruth Westheimer

 

In the early 1980s, I listened to Dr. Ruth when she had a radio talk show on Sunday nights at 10 PM.  WYNY, primarily a music station, broke format to air her show.  She talked about contraception, physical aspects of sex, and relationship issues.  Several years ago at the Kew Gardens Cinema, I saw her biopic Ask Dr. Ruth where she described in detail how she escaped the holocaust.  Sadly, she just passed away at age 96 after a long and wonderful life.

Obituary in the New York Times

She was featured on Sunday Morning on CBS about 20 years ago

Rockies 8 Mets 5 in Last Game Before the All-Star Break

 

This was not Coors Field but the Colorado Rockies' six home runs, including three by Michael Toglia, two by Ezequiel Tovar, and one by Brenton Doyle.  Pete Alonso hit one for the Mets, but it wasn't enough.  The Mets could not take advantage of several scoring opportunities, leaving 12 men on base.  Pete will head to Texas as the Mets' lone participant in the All-Star Game and the Home Run Derby.

The Mets enter the break with a 49-46 record.  They are in contention for a wild card berth in the playoffs so they will likely be buyers at the trade deadline.  They need more reliable pitchers in the bullpen.  There will be 67 games to play in the regular season.

Box Score

Happy 82nd Birthday Roger McGuinn

 

I have followed Roger McGuinn since 1965 when Mr. Tambourne Man by the Byrds was a big hit.  He stayed with the Byrds after many personnel changes.  Eventually, he recorded as a solo artist.  I have seen him in concert several times over the years.  I last saw him in 2019 when he appeared at the World of Dylan conference in Tulsa in 2019.

Happy Birthday Roger

Mets 6 Nationals 2

 

The Mets have thrived since Julio Iglesias was recalled on May 31.  Last night he had three more hits, including a two-run single that snapped a sixth-inning tie.  Brandon Nimmo homered for a career-best third-straight game as the Mets won 6-2.  When starting pitcher Luis Severino was taken out in the seventh inning, I held my breath hoping that the bullpen would not falter.  Jake Diekman, Danny Young, and Jose Butto slammed the door on the Nationals preserving the victory.

This Wednesday night game was on my 20-game Sunday plan  I was sitting behind a group of college students who seemed disinterested in the game.  I guess it was a group outing for them.

Game Recap

Another 27 Bob Dylan CDs will Enter My Music Collection

In 1974 Bob Dylan reunited with the Band and toured the United States.  It was Dylan's first tour since the motorcycle accident in July 1966.  A boxed set will include all or part of 27 Dylan performances from the tour, spread across that many CDs. It comes out via Columbia/Legacy on Sept. 20.

Like the "Dylan nut" that I am I pre-ordered it on Amazon.  Likely, I will listen to one CD a week for about six months.  How many times must I hear Forever Young?  The cost will be about $140 including sales tax which is reasonable for 27 discs.

Announcement in Variety

 

July Marks the 60th Anniversary of A Hard Day's Night, the Beatles First Movie

 

I remember seeing the movie at the Continental Theater in Forest Hills in July 1964.  It has appeared from time to time on Turner Classic Movies.  I have it saved to my DVR.  The record above is the soundtrack album released on UA Records back then. It includes instrumentals from George Martin's film score including This Boy and And I Love Her.  I still have my copy. but it is badly scratched.

This record, now available on CD includes the vocals from the movie and other Beatles recordings from that time including Anytime at All and The Things We Said Today.

The video below compares the two releases.

Bob Radil's 60s 70s Show Has Returned

After a hiatus of almost five years, the 60s 70s show has returned on Pop Gold Radio.  Bob has a Listeners Lounge where people can make requests.  He played Subterranean Homesick Blues for me.  Below is the set list for the show on Friday, July 5.

5:59:22 PM "Do It Again" by Steely Dan

6:03:28 PM "Do It Again" by The Beach Boys

6:14:03 PM "Welcome Back" by John Sebastian

6:16:51 PM "Back Together Again" by Daryl Hall & John Oates

6:20:14 PM "Join Together" by The Who

6:24:29 PM "Back In The Saddle" by Aerosmith

6:29:10 PM "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)" by Stevie Wonder

6:36:27 PM "A Day In The Life (The Last Chord)" by Beatles

6:39:51 PM "That's All Right" by Elvis Presley

6:41:48 PM "Subterranean Homesick Blues" by Bob Dylan

6:44:03 PM "Walk-Don't Run" by The Ventures

6:46:08 PM "Playground In My Mind" by Clint Holmes

6:48:53 PM "No Good To Cry" by The Wildweeds

6:53:10 PM "Back In The U.S.S.R." by Beatles

6:55:38 PM "Rock The Boat" by The Hues Corporation

7:07:42 PM "Shape Of Things To Come" by Max Frost and the Troopers

7:09:28 PM "Shapes Of Things" by The Yardbirds

7:17:28 PM "Will It Go Round In Circles" by Billy Preston

7:21:09 PM "All Day Music" by War

7:29:43 PM "How Long" by Ace

7:33:00 PM "Dirty Water" by The Standells

7:36:05 PM "Good Thing" by Paul Revere and the Raiders

7:39:09 PM "Making A Good Thing Better" by Olivia Newton-John

7:42:53 PM "Getting Better" by Beatles

7:48:15 PM "Life In The Fast Lane" by The Eagles

7:56:55 PM "A Girl Like You" by Young Rascals

7:59:47 PM "With A Girl Like You" by The Troggs

8:01:55 PM "Waiting For A Girl Like You" by Foreigner

8:06:30 PM "Love Is The Answer" by England Dan and John Ford Coley

8:11:10 PM "Out In The Country" by Three Dog Night

8:19:06 PM "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band-With A Little Help(inst)" by The Beatles

8:24:04 PM "Sgt. Pepper (vocal)" by Beatles

8:25:39 PM "With A Little Help From My Friends (vocal)(stereo)" by The Beatles

8:33:04 PM "Walk Away Renee" by The Left Tops

8:36:08 PM "Get Ready (stereo)" by Rare Temptation

8:39:25 PM "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" by Marvin Clearwater

8:50:57 PM "People Are Strange" by The Doors

8:51:45 PM "Washington Square" by The Village Stompers

8:56:24 PM "Stop!" by The Moody Blues

8:58:30 PM "Black On White" by North Atlantic Invasion Force

9:01:24 PM "When She Was My Girl" by The Four Tops

9:07:38 PM "This Little Girl" by Gary U.S. Bonds

9:11:14 PM "Come Back When You Grow Up" by Bobby Vee

9:15:15 PM "Everybody Loves Somebody" by Dean Martin

9:18:00 PM "Groovy Situation" by Gene Chandler

9:21:14 PM "Rock and Roll Heaven" by The Righteous Brothers(version 2)

9:24:27 PM "Rock And Roll Heaven" by The Righteous Brothers

9:29:46 PM "Rock And Roll Heaven" by Climax

9:34:12 PM "Cab Driver" by Mills Brothers

9:38:53 PM "Love Is Like A Rock" by Donnie Iris

9:46:20 PM "Things Will Be Better" by Byrds

9:48:31 PM "Supernatural Thing-Part I" by Ben E. King

9:51:46 PM "Garden Party" by Rick Nelson

9:57:29 PM "(Just Like) Starting Over" by John Lennon

Little Queenie - Chuck Berry and Bob Dylan at Jones Beach

 

Bob Dylan also covered Roll Over Beethoven at earlier concerts on the Never Ending Tour.  I have not found any evidence of Chuck Berry's covering a Dylan song.

Random Thoughts of the Day - July 4, 2024

•  Happy 5th birthday to my grand nephew Teddy Shapiro who lives in Walnut Creek, California.  I discovered from his mother's Instagram account they are celebrating in Maui
• I remember my old friend Mike's 4th of July birthday barbeque from 1969, 1970, and 1971.
• Another old friend of mine texted me today saying that his landline and cell phones were disconnected when he tried to contact a mutual friend (HK).  He presumed HK had passed away.  I told him it was possible that HK moved and was too cheap to keep his cell phone.  I could not find an obituary online.
• There was an unconfirmed report on a message board that radio personality Les Davis passed away.  I listened to him when he did a morning show at WYNY over 40 years ago.  Les worked at several other NYC radio stations.  Again, I could not find an online obituary.

Mr. Blue - The Fleetwoods (1959 #1 Hit) Bob Dylan (Basement Tapes) Bob Dylan (Jones Beach)

 

The YouTube Police May Take This Down

Aron's Kissena Farms Reopens Today

Aron's Kissena Farms is a kosher grocery store five miles from my home.  I have gone there for kosher meat for several years.  The kosher butcher in my immediate area closed in the late 1980s since the Jewish population diminished.  About three weeks ago Aron's stated there was a serious electrical problem and had to close indefinitely.

Over the past few weeks, they issued just a few email announcements about the situation.  IMHO the management should have stated in detail the nature of the electrical problem and why it took so long to resolve.  The observant customers had to go elsewhere for kosher meat.  I assume Aron's had insurance, but likely it didn't cover all the financial losses caused by the closure.

I decided to wait until tomorrow to shop there.  I assume they will be very busy on their first open day.