Recommended Reading, Eating, Listening

I realized yesterday that if I always hold myself to writing long critical essays, this blog is never going to work out. So on the lighter note of enjoying life, I thought I'd offer a few recommendations based on what I've been enjoying lately.

Reading:

• The Supper of the Lamb. At the top of my favorites list right now, the theology of cooking sounds like an impossible topic if you haven’t read the book. In fact it’s not only possible, it’s hilariously funny. The author is a priest and a cook who meditates on life, goodness, glory, and thanksgiving while he shares about his kitchen secrets, aesthetic gripes, and culinary inspirations. I wrote a longer review over here if you’re curious.
• Anna Karenina. Tolstoy is a master of the human spirit. I was constantly aware as I read this what a generous mind he must have had, to be able to portray so many different types of people, at their best and worst, sometimes in conflict with each other, always with realism and sympathy. Absolutely amazing.
• For the Life of the World: Sacraments and Orthodoxy. I’ve only read two chapters of this but it’s very good. The second chapter on the liturgy of time, or the Christian year, was especially thought-provoking as I’m beginning to run up against and chafe at the perpetual motion of time and the futility of rest.
• The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night. Classic, poetic, and thoroughly scandalous. I hope people aren’t reading over my shoulder on the subway. But the stories are good, and it’s bonus fun seeing where C. S. Lewis got many of his more exotic ideas in the Chronicles of Narnia.

Listening:

• “Innocent.” In a sector of the music industry propelled by angry women (think “Before He Cheats” or Miranda Lambert), Taylor Swift has written a lovely, vulnerable little song that expresses hope in another person who has failed. Believing in someone else is beautiful, and even more beautiful is the possibility of change. Sometimes I listen to this just to be encouraged that that message is still around.
• Zbigniew Preisner’s “Lacrimosa” from The Tree of Life. One of the most effective film scores I’ve ever seen. I’m linking to a video of the space montage – make sure you watch full screen. This is the centerpiece of the movie, which starts with the death of a son and several quotes from the book of Job that ask God the reason for suffering.
• “Thaxted/O God Beyond All Praising/I Vow to Thee My Country.” The theme from Jupiter in Holst’s Planet Suite, a beautiful Christian hymn, a patriotic UK anthem, and my wedding march. With all that combined significance and the amazing tune, I can’t sing more than four lines in without my voice getting stuck with tears. I made a Pandora station based on this song (with Holst, Grieg, Dvorak, and Saint-Saens as the seeds), and it’s lighting up my life. Enjoy.
• As much as I dislike Union Square (it's where you go to be angry), some of the best musicians hang out in that subway station. A few weeks ago there was an awesome brass band that was practically hopping up and down, they had so much energy. Earlier this spring, about 10:00 at night, I saw a younger guy playing on an electric violin such a tune that all the couples in the station were kissing under its spell. I wish I could remember it. But my favorite is probably the soloist. He's a tall black man who straps a drum around his waist and sings, at the top of his very strong voice, driving tunes by Adele and others. I've rarely seen a musician so completely happy. Sometimes when I have Adele’s music going through my head I hear his voice instead. Keep an eye out and spare him a dollar if you see him.
• Speaking of brass bands, the Canadian Brass’s Flight of the Tuba Bee is a brilliant arrangement, and I just happened to find the funniest video to go with it.

Eating:

All my recent discoveries are in Brooklyn, so if you don’t live here, tough. Make an excuse and come visit.

• The Farm on Adderley (Cortelyou Road) sold Andrew the best burger I have ever tasted. And it didn’t hurt that the colors, the lights, and the people at the bar made me want to compose a painting. I want to go back.
• We love going to the Catskill Bagel Company (Cortelyou Road) on Sunday mornings. Not only can you get coffee and tea, muffins, sandwiches, and salads, but they’ll make you a nice stack of pancakes or French toast for a nice price.
• The Castello Plan is a little wine bar on Cortelyou that sells great wine, nice cheese, specialty ice creams, and a bunch of entrees that we can’t afford. One of the waiters is particularly great, and we always leave happy. When we took friends there for dessert, they were impressed.
• Lest you think I never leave Kensington, we also just found Le Paddock in Windsor Terrace (I know, our adventuresomeness leaves me breathless too). Their brunch menu centers on salad and eggs—yum. Décor-wise, it’s roomy inside and everything is (tastefully!) horse-themed, except for a giant safety pin above one of the windows. We’ll go again.

Happy exploring…and let me know what you think and find.