Crossword City

We Are Now Crossword Nation!

2011-08-01T18:26:00.002-04:00

Come join the conga line at our new site. -Liz

An Ending and a New Beginning

2011-07-01T05:55:00.002-04:00

I've been away from the blog lately, for which I apologize! It's been busy around here. I recently started writing a new weekly puzzle for Crossword Nation, which has acquired this blog.

Thank you all for following and contributing to Crossword City during the last 1-1/2 years. I've thoroughly enjoyed the experience because it offered a new space to hear directly from you, the Solvers.

Tonight I'm moving to the new website where I'll continue to blog, post puzzles and explore the art of problem solving. Please click here to join me at my new home, Crossword Nation. Thank you, and see you shortly!

~ Liz Gorski

I came. I saw. I crowdsourced?

2011-06-22T13:26:00.002-04:00

I used CROWDSOURCE in a puzzle lately. What is it?

Wikipedia describes CROWDSOURCING thusly:

Crowdsourcing is the act of outsourcing tasks, traditionally performed by an employee or contractor, to an undefined, large group of people or community (a "crowd"), through an open call.

When this "coming soon" Pottermore promo appeared in an email this morning, I was struck J.K. Rowling's newest venture. It's lovely. I have no stake in Rowling's empire -- just a high admiration for writing books that children and adults want to read.

Check out the animated origami in this promo . . . the books literally come to life. Beautiful and totally enthralling.

(Did I just crowdsource?)

Naval Gazing on the Hudson

2011-05-25T14:23:00.033-04:00

While tending to the flowers on our rooftop garden this morning, I noticed a lot of ship activity on the Hudson River. I'd almost forgotten -- today is the start of Fleet Week. Ahoy!

You and I are totally on board with naval terminology. What's a crossword without a sneaky ALEE ("On the safe side?") or furtive AHOY ("Stern cry" or "Bridge call")?

I quickly snapped some photos to share (click to enlarge).

The parade of ships moves from Lower Manhattan, up the Hudson . . .

. . . north to the George Washington Bridge. Then they turn around and sail back downtown.

Ahoy, here comes the first one . . .

It's the USS New York, commissioned into service in 2009, and forged from tons of steel recovered from the wreckage of the World Trade Center.

The greenery is Riverside Park.

To my eye, the ship's color defines STEEL GRAY to a tee. I waved like crazy at the ship and crew -- whistling and clapping as it sailed by. No one noticed.

On the Upper West, there's nothing unusual about a waving, whistling, clapping crazy person on a rooftop.

I wanted to stay for the rest of the parade, but darn it . . . I'm expected downtown in a few hours.

To commemorate the holiday weekend, I've chosen this patriotic Leonard Bernstein recording for its remarkable crossword connection. Alfio Micci -- one of the best and most prolific New York Times puzzle constructors of the '70s, '80s and '90s -- was also a violinist with the NY Phil.

Somehow . . . between concerts, rehearsals, touring and raising a family -- Alfio managed to construct scores of crosswords for the New York Times, many of them Sundays. He crafted his puzzles by hand -- long before puzzlemaking software came along. When he started constructing, everything was done by hand. Hand-numbering the grids. Checking for symmetry (tricky). Typing up the clues. No internet. No Google. Man, the time it took to simply produce a puzzle really ate into your creative time.

Yet Alfio managed to write a collection of beautiful, literate puzzles. His crosswords reflected the class and grace with which he carried himself.

I'm in awe of the constructors who forged the way for the rest of us, doing the heavy lifting . . . and showing us that it can be done.

Alfio played in the 1st Violin section (outside left, in this clip). The camera doesn't pan towards Alfio's chair -- but I know he's there, playing Sousa at Bernstein's very brisk tempo. Good show, Alfio! Thank you for paving the way.

And a good Memorial Day Weekend to all.

Why Monday Crosswords HAVE To Be Easy

2011-05-16T12:22:00.007-04:00

.
Good morning. It's Monday.

Rosie the Riveting

2011-05-13T16:06:00.013-04:00

After reading Seabiscuit a few years ago, I came away feeling that the world of jockeys is about as alien to me as space aliens. It's a tough life. Constant travel. Sunburn. Weight issues -- a few extra pounds and your career is in jeopardy. Falling off your horse during a race, and being trampled by someone else's. Ouch. It's hard.

And so, when Rosie Napravnik rode Pants on Fire in last week's Kentucky Derby, I thought -- it's been a while since I've seen a woman jockey. Rosie didn't win, but she made the history books. Only six female jockeys have competed in the Derby. Rosie placed the highest (9th) of any woman jockey in Derby history.

It's refreshing to have a strong, fearless young athlete named ROSIE to add to the crossword lexicon. There have been other athletes: footballer/needlepoint fan Rosey Grier. (The spelling variation comes in handy when you want to construct a sneaky corner that involves a big guy who loves to do needlepoint.)

There's Rosie Casals, women's tennis pioneer of the '60s/'70s who pops up at celebrity golf tournaments every now and then. She was fearless too.

Then there's . . . Rosie Ruiz, who "won" the Boston Marathon, and later was stripped of her title. (You mean, it's not okay to ditch the course and take the subway to the finished line?) No. Please, no.

A new Rosie is here! May young Rosie Napravnik have a long, historic and successful career. Good show!

Get Your Crosswords LA puzzles today!

2011-05-03T13:36:00.008-04:00

Good Tuesday! If ever there's a win/win for crossword fans, this is it. Many of us couldn't attend the Crosswords LA tournament on Sunday. Not to worry -- now the puzzles are available to you. With just a few clicks of the mouse, you get:

Five custom-made puzzles tournament puzzles

And three bonus puzzles . . .

And the instant karma of supporting a great charity. Proceeds go to Reading to Kids.

All this is yours for a single five dollar bill!

I'm enthralled by the synergy. President Lincoln, a voracious reader himself, would love to be connected with a charity like Reading for Kids.

Ordering is super-easy: Please visit Alex Boisvert's cool website for the PayPal link. Enjoy!

Crosswords LA Tournament, Sunday May 1

2011-04-30T12:36:00.009-04:00

William and Kate are all smiles because the wedding weekend schedule (pronounced shedjool) is going according to plan:

1. Fri., April 29: Get married in London
2. Sat., April 30: Hop on a plane to Los Angeles
3. Sun., May 1: Attend the Crosswords LA tournament at Loyola Marymount University

If you're in the L.A. area, or have access to a royal jet, please join a great group of puzzlers at tomorrow's Crosswords L.A. Tournament. Elissa Grossman (tourney director) outdazzles herself each year, and tomorrow's event promises to be fantastic. Elissa says:

Walk-ins welcome! Registration opens at 10. Welcome remarks at 10:45. Then puzzles ... and word games and prizes and food and nice people

I'm honored to have been asked to write one of the tournament puzzles. (Mega-bonus: all the puzzles are custom-made for this event!)

So wish I could hop on a royal jet from NYC and join in the fun. But I'll wear my Crosswords LA Tournament t-shirt tomorrow, in celebration of the royal tournament weekend. Happy puzzling to all!

(You lucky tourney folks! Let me know how it all went down . . . please leave comments re tournament results, etc. !)

Pet Peeves

2011-04-28T16:20:00.013-04:00

The editors of the Journal of Animal Ethics would like us to stop referring to pets as pets, beasts or critters. What does this mean for crossword cluing?

I've always loved the word CRITTER, and its use in puzzle cluing has been with the best intentions. Solvers don't seem to mind -- I don't recall anyone objecting to KOALA clued as "Cuddly-looking critter." "Critter" is a term of endearment.

The authors ask that, instead of "pet" and "owner," we should say: "companion animal" and "human carer." As a "human carer" to cats and dogs for most of my life, this is a case where actions speak louder than words. Let's treat our animals with compassion and respect . . . period.

Quincy the cat doesn't seem to mind being called a critter or a pet. When I yell at him for destroying the furniture with his fully-clawed paws, am I hurting his self-esteem? Like most members of my "human" family, he doesn't seem to care what I think. (He's seen the novelty sign at the local pet store: Dogs have owners and cats have staff.)

* * * * *

All this pet talk has kindled some nostalgia about my favorite dogs. Remember Riley, the therapy/rescue dog who worked at Ground Zero during the months after 9/11? What a great dog. Riley captured the hearts of the women and men he worked with.

My Hero: Maura B. Jacobson -- New York Magazine's Gem

2011-04-25T14:20:00.015-04:00

Everyone remembers the first time. The first time. It was amazing. Sparks flew. The earth shook and then, a warm afterglow. A cigarette, a sip of champagne. I was in love . . . and could hardly wait to solve my next New York Magazine crossword.

The first puzzle I ever solved -- from beginning to end, with no aids -- was a Maura Jacobson puzzle in New York Magazine. Huge accomplishment for me, as I could barely make a dent in The New York Times puzzles of the early '90s.

Maura's extensive puzzle-ography has had a profound effect on my confidence as a solver . . . and later, as an aspiring puzzle writer. Seeing a woman's byline over that big New York puzzle each week made all the difference. Maybe I could make a puzzle some day. And if Maura B. Jacobson uses a byline with a middle initial . . . so will I.

After 30 years of punning, trickery and puzzle-icious entertainment, Maura has stepped down as New York magazine's crossword editor/contributor. Cathy Allis, whose wildly imaginative puzzles also inspired me to construct, will take over for Maura. Cathy is the perfect successor. Kudos to New York magazine for choosing excellent women to write the weekly crossword.

Years ago I tucked this New York puzzle (above) in my "favorites" file. It made me smile. It's called "Love Among the Insects" -- one of Maura's punning masterworks of 2002. I rarely keep puzzles, but this one was too beautiful to let go. A professional, elegant job from A to Z, as is Maura's tradition.

At the time, I drew a star on the finished puzzle (highest rating), and wrote "Feminine" on the grid. That's funny . . . I don't remember why I wrote that. Perhaps to appreciate a puzzle with a woman's touch. And yet, her puzzles appeal to men and women. That's the mark of a real pro -- Maura includes something for every solver to enjoy. (The crossword teapot next to Maura's puzzle is a beautiful gift from Nancy Shack.)

Thank you, Maura, for constructing puzzles to the beat of your own drum.

P. S. My favorite clue in "Love Among the Insects" is a little one, 112-Down . . . so clever, so elegant, so Maura:

Runaway insect? FLEA

The Hungarian Pastry Shop -- A Crossword Solver's Haven Turns 50 Today

2011-04-20T14:01:00.033-04:00

Two score and ten years ago, The Hungarian Pastry Shop served its first flaky, buttery and delicious pastry. Since then, it's been the go-to place for Morningside Heights regulars, Columbia University students and visitors from all over the world.

I have a special affinity with this wonderful cafe. It is a haven for crossword puzzle solvers. The cerebral, highly-caffeinated, amply-sugared atmosphere provides perfect biospheric conditions for puzzle solving. What if you can't remember that four-letter Swiss river? Order a café au lait and chocolate croissant and let your mind wander. Aare we making progress now . . . ?

The Shop is a crossword puzzlemaker's dream come true. On any day of the week, and especially Sunday, you'll see puzzles being solved (and maybe saved and framed) by the lovely and loyal customers of The Hungarian Pastry Shop.

Like many Columbia students, I first discovered HPS as a Barnard freshman. They had me at: freshly-baked croissants right out of the oven -- an aroma that keeps you coming back to the mother ship. The warm, homey atmosphere of this independent coffee house continues to attract new Columbia enrollees, Manhattan School of Music students, post-docs and neighborhood regulars.

If you're in the Columbia University area today (Amsterdam Avenue and 111th Street), please drop by for some great coffee, a luscious home-made pastry . . . and a Free Special Birthday Crossword puzzle made by yours truly.

Birthday balloons welcomed customers this morning . . .

It's early morning and the shop is already abuzz with customers and puzzle solvers . . .

HPS owner Peter (left) and son Philip create the magic . . .

Russian Coffee, Hungarian Coffee, Viennese Coffee . . . the famous Classical Column Menu explains all.

The average age of an HPS fan is . . . young.

Say "Cheese Danish!"

Happy Birthday to our Dear Friends at the HPS in Morningside Heights. Here's to fifty more years!

If you've visited the Shop, what's your favorite memory?

*****

Lucas Amory -- a Puzzlemaker's Best Friend

2011-04-03T15:50:00.036-04:00

When eight-year-old Lucas Amory performed Aram Khachaturian's Bitter Biddies Battle in recital a few months ago, I was moved to tears because: 1) He played the piano piece from memory, with extraordinary musicality; and 2) He established a new, youthful baseline for crossword solvers familiar with ARAM (clued as "Composer Khachaturian"). I wept with gratitude. Thank you, Lucas!

A few months ago, Lucas made headlines when he responded to Anthony Tommasini's list of Ten Top Classical Composers. In a letter to The New York Times, Lucas offered his list of Top Ten Composers.

Lucas's list would make a great puzzle theme, and a fine opportunity to keep ARAM in circulation. Big stuff here -- only a Sunday-sized grid would do.

Here's Lucas's Top Ten List: Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Chopin, Schumann and Liszt. I constructed the preliminary grid like so, using surnames and full names in combos that allow for symmetry:

As the grid started to populate, HAYDN had to be shoehorned in, er . . . balanced with something classical music-related, like, er, SMILE (as shown in the final grid). It's right next to SITAR, a crossword-y instrument, for sure. What's a puzzle without a sitar, lute or tabla? Besides, Haydn's Surprise Sitar Symphony is one of my Top 10 favorite pieces of the Classical Era.

This are starting to get complex. Hmm . . . I fiddled with the construction for quite a while. In his YouTube interview, Lucas said that he wants to be an architect. Aha! ARCHITECT perfectly balances BEETHOVEN. That particular symmetry made me smile. (Lucas, did you know that Frank Lloyd Wright considered Beethoven a great architect? See Ken Burns' Frank Lloyd Wright documentary. True story!)

Now, ARAM was added, with a corresponding entry -- LEAH, the crossword perennial, was a perfect fit. :)

Now, the grand finale: I needed a 10-letter entry in the southeast of the grid to balance FRANZ LISZT. The crossword gods grinned as LUCAS AMORY floated ever so transcendentally into the "signature" area of the grid.

With the theme anchored in place, it was time to construct the fill . . .

. . . and there it is! It's especially appropriate to see JS BACH cross LUCAS AMORY, as Lucas performs a Bach fugue at the end of this video interview. Bravo, Lucas, on a job well done!

*****

Joanna S. Rose and The 651 Quilts

2011-03-31T13:10:00.027-04:00

Imagine Stonehenge, Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim spiral and an Alexander Calder mobile all rolled into one . . . then QUILT-IFY that image by 651 red-and-white quilts.

That was the effect of The Joanna S. Rose Quilt Exhibit at The Armory this week. My photos don't do justice to this extraordinary display, but I wanted to share some favorite pieces.

To this observer, there's a direct connection between quiltmaking and puzzlemaking. Quilting, like crosswords, is an art based on a rock-solid architecture of math and symmetry. Once the math is satisfied, you're free to make art. Or maybe, the math is the art. Whatever . . . you're the judge.

The display was dazzling and I walked home inspired, humbled and full of new puzzle ideas.

Quilts suspended from the ceiling in a spiral formation

A simple rickrack design at eye level

Flowers, pinwheels, eight-pointed stars

The power of the repeated pattern

Closeup of hand-stitched artistry

Stripes, airplanes, triangles, quaker patterns . . .

Geometry

My favorite quilt: Optical illusion with lush corner details

~ ~ ~

Mass Hissteria

2011-03-28T18:15:00.002-04:00

Calling all puzzle constructors in the Bronx:

An Egyptian cobra (ASP) is on the loose . . . and heading home (to the nearest crossword grid). She's homesick. Totally understandable. Why live in a Reptile House when you can be 1-Across?

I don't think the snake has a name . . . I shall call her Asperanza. Isn't she lovely?

Taylor The Activist

2011-03-24T20:02:00.019-04:00

Elizabeth Taylor did for seven husbands what Henry VIII did for his six wives. She made them famous and crossword-ready. She was decidedly nicer than the testy Henry; she divorced her spouses without beheading anyone along the way.

I'm personally grateful to Miss Taylor for husband No. 8 -- Larry Fortensky, who once provided symmetric support for me to construct a puzzle with a "SKY" team theme. PADDY CHAYEFSKY, IGOR STRAVINSKY and VASLAV NIJINSKY. The crossword is that unique place where Vaslav, Paddy, Igor and Larry hang out and have a beer on common ground.

The great Elizabeth Taylor, like Paul Newman, used her celebrity to advance mega-philanthropic work. She, through amFAR. And he, through Newman's Own.

Two class acts, now gone.

But they live on, ever young and beautiful, in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.

. . . and a tribute to Miss Taylor.

Hanami

2011-03-17T21:25:00.004-04:00

Soon it will be cherry blossom time at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. After a harsh winter, one dreams of that warm Sunday afternoon at the Garden, looking at the cherry blossoms in full, riotous bloom.

The simple act of looking at flowers. In Japan, it's called Hanami. I wonder when the people of Japan will enjoy hanami again?

Given the horrific news that's coming out of Japan by the hour, it's hard to imagine what comes next. Perhaps we need to hold on to single moments of beauty in order to endure life's tragedies. But I'm not sure how one recovers from something like this.

Some ways to help, locally or internationally: Local or international (Red Cross).

He's Got Rhythm

2011-03-07T14:53:00.004-05:00

Orchestral musicians and concertgoers will recognize the movements herein. Three-year-old Jonathan has jaw-dropping conducting skills. His favorite conductor is Herbert VON Karajan. Jonathan will have no trouble with a crossword clue like: "Maestro Herbert ___ Karajan".

Beethoven's 5th Symphony, Last movement. The Finale had me cheering and crying. Bravo, Maestro Jonathan!

Thank you, Nanpilla, for this video . . .

Firth Love and Fantasy Oscars Host Pick

2011-03-01T14:58:00.020-05:00

An odd moment at the Oscars: Hearing that Anne Hathaway's co-host, James Franco, is responsible for carpooling moms being late for their pick-up duties. Supposedly they're glued to the TV, watching Franco on General Hospital, and losing all track of time.

This was scripted writing for the new, young hip Oscars? Women addicted to soap operas, and forgetting to pick up the kids . . . it sounds more like a 1960s suburban cliche, pre-Betty Friedan and her 1963 book, The Feminine Mystique.

The best moment at the Oscars: Colin Firth's acceptance speech. Intelligent, self-deprecating, humble. He spoke in full sentences. (Much appreciated!) I've loved him since the '90s, as Mr. Darcy in Pride & Prejudice. He hasn't changed much since those days. Still gorgeous and engaging.

Best Ocsar-Winning Crossword Name:

Iain Canning -- producer of The King's Speech.

I'd like to thank the Academy for recognizing the cruciverbal importance of a person named IAIN.

Recommendation for next year's Ocsars host: Co-hosting is ineffective and scattered. To the producers who will never read this -- choose one host: an Oscar-winning actress who is musically-trained and fluent in German. She's taken on dramatic roles (Crash), perfectly-timed comedies (Miss Congeniality) and a convincing mixture of both (starring opposite Viggo Mortensen in 28 Days). She's a philanthropist. She appeals to both men and women.

She is . . . Sandra Bullock.

So how's her work ethic? No need to worry about Sandra being late for rehearsal due to soap opera addiction. There's no time for such diversions; Sandra Bullock is busy managing her own production company (Fortis Films), making films and taking care of business.

Next year, the Academy Awards muck-a-mucks might try some of that Bullock Mystique: choose this intelligent, funny, Oscar-winning businesswoman and actress to host the show on her own.

A celebration of a woman's enduring talent and power -- now, that's a young-and-hip Oscar Night message.

Ladies of the Bass

2011-02-22T21:11:00.003-05:00

Enraged Justin Bieber fans will never read this, so I can write freely without safety concerns.

But, if Bieber fans -- particularly the twitter-mob that attacked Esperanza Spalding for having the temerity to win the Best New Artist Grammy -- are reading this (and I know they aren't), may I clarify some confusion about the instrument involved? Esperanza doesn't play a "big violin." Nor is she a "freak" for choosing to play the "big violin."

Women have been playing the "big violin" -- aka the bass -- for years. Orin O'Brien, a bassist with the New York Philharmonic since the '60s, is tops in the field of classical music. Tal Wilkenfeld, an amazing young guitarist, performs with Jeff Beck. Suzi Quatro is a huge talent.

And very nice crossword-y names, thank you very much: ORIN, TAL and SUZI.

Esperanza Spalding has taken bass playing and performance to a new and exciting level. Totally deserving of the Best New Artist Grammy. To the Bieber fans who aren't reading this -- Justin wasn't robbed from the Petri Dish. Spalding won, fair and square.

A YouTube comment sums it up:

Esperanza Spalding,

Thank you for winning the Grammy.

Signed: The Human Race.

Final Jeopardy -- Fantasy Round

2011-02-17T13:09:00.009-05:00

Congratulations to Watson on winning the Jeopardy! IBM Challenge. I liked Watson's voice, wagering skills and the occasional charming/wacky answer. Truly impressive.

When Alex Trebek announced "19th Century Novelists" as the Final Jeopardy category, I thought I knew what was up. Shucks, I was wrong.

I thought the Final Jeopardy! finale, with Watson revealing the last response of the challenge, would end with a lightning bolt:

Final Jeopardy! Category: 19th Century Novels

Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote the preface for this 1818 novel, published anonymously by a 21-year-old author

(Highlight below for answer)

What is "Frankenstein?"

It's Elementary, My Dear Watson

2011-02-16T12:55:00.013-05:00

Though I love the game, Jeopardy! hasn't been on my radar for ages.

I TIVOed yesterday's game to catch a glimpse of Brad Rutter (I've had a game show crush on him for years!) compete against Ken Jennings and Watson the IBM computer.

Cons: Watson had an unfair built-in "buzzing-in" advantage, which is key to winning Jeopardy (provided you have the correct answer.) I don't feel bad for Ken or Brad, who (though no fault of their own) got creamed by Watson last night, simply because of the buzz-in advantage. It's hardly an even playing field. Watson was born on steroids.

Pros: A "Man v. Computer" event sets the stage for new medical research and a few new crossword clues for IBM and WATSON.

There's no doubt Ken and Brad knew the "question" to this answer. The category was "Etude, Brute." (Watson buzzed in first, of course.)

Music fans wax rhapsodic about this Hungarian's "Transcendental Etudes"

Watson: "Who is Franz Liszt?"

Watson's correct answer was no surprise. With key hints like "rhapsodic," Hungarian" and "Transcendental Etudes" -- it all pointed to Liszt. But did Watson groan at the "Etude, Brute" pun? Huh? Watson can't get puns. He's only as good as the information provided by his programmers. (But then, aren't we all?)

Final Jeopardy was the great equalizer. Watson lost his buzz-in mojo. Finally -- an even playing field among the three contestants.

The category was: "U.S. Cities." Watson guessed "Toronto." Brad and Ken had the correct answer: Chicago.

The burning post-game question was: How could Watson, with so much sophisticated programming, answer "Toronto" when the category was "U.S. Cities?"

Kind of makes one grateful for human limitations, like . . . have control over what you put in your own brain.

My Dear Watson, I have a gift for you. Here's what a Liszt Transcendental Etude sounds like, performed by Claudio ARRAU . . . something to consider if you start solving crosswords. (Watson can't see or hear, but just in case . . . )

All in all, I enjoyed last night's Jeopardy!, if only to get all crush-y about Brad Rutter again. The competition isn't over yet. It's half time -- the game continues tonight. Go, Brad!

Key Notes: Cactus Cuties

2011-02-15T01:43:00.021-05:00

Poor Francis Scott Key . . . he's rarely called on as a clue for KEY. You'd think that writing the The Star-Spangled Banner would get you into the crossword from time to time.

What is he -- chopped liver? No. Just a guy with a short surname that has many cluing angles. Skeleton, car, house, major, minor, escape, delete, shift, spare . . . for starters. Nothing personal; just business.

It's kind of ironic that, in American crosswords, British composer Thomas ARNE gets recurring ink for "Rule, Britannia" and his opera "Artaxerxes." Wha? Yeah, "Artaxerxes."

Poor Francis Scott Key. He gets no crossword respect and he has to listen to singers mangle his anthem.

The Star-Spangled Banner is a tough piece, but some singers have performed it beautifully -- like Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson and . . .

. . . the Cactus Cuties.

In this rendition of the nation anthem, I was struck by the absence of sound. Every note is not embellished. Their singing isn't American Idol-ized. No double-wide vibratos. Nothing . . . except lovely phrasing, good pitch and the notes. I love it.

Kids, these days! This'll make Francis Scott Key smile.

The King's Speech -- Ode to Beethoven

2011-02-09T16:44:00.014-05:00

Ah, Beethoven -- what would gridographers do without him? Those "smalls" that help support crosswords (VON, FUR, ODE) have classical applications: Ludwig VON Beethoven composed "FÜR Elise" and "ODE to Joy" (from the 9th Symphony). And if you need four vowels in a six-letter word (who doesn't?), his EROICA Symphony (No. 3) does the trick.

Off-grid, a reader asked about the music soundtrack to the awesome "speech" portion of The King's Speech. Remember those final scenes between Geoffrey Rush and Colin Firth? Unbelievable.

Dear Reader, here it is -- the 2nd Movement (Allegretto) of Beethoven's 7th Symphony in A Major.

I've never met a Leonard Bernstein video that I didn't like.

Wow.

The Good Cry

2011-02-06T15:02:00.007-05:00

Perhaps we need art because, at times, it makes us cry.

I cried when I first saw a replica of this sculpture in Brooklyn's Green-wood Cemetery. The original sculpture, by William Wetmore Story, is called Angel of Grief. An angel crying, grieving for a mortal's soul. A beautiful, heart-wrenching image.

Certain pieces of music, like the slow movement of Beethoven's "Emperor" piano concerto (No. 5), make me weep. Ken Burns used this piece in his Frank Lloyd Wright documentary (Wright admired Beethoven as a great architect of musical structures.) I cried then, too.

Yesterday we saw "The King's Speech," which featured the Emperor Concerto (slow movement) as a backdrop for the dramatic ending. I cried. I loved it. I hope this film wins every Oscar imaginable, including cruciverbal kudos for casting EVE Best (the glitzy doctor in "Nurse Jackie") as Mrs. Wallis Simpson. Brilliant.

Members of the Academy: if Helena Bonham Carter (extraordinary as the young "Queen Mum") doesn't win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress . . . and . . . if the film doesn't win for best musical soundtrack . . . I shall cry.

Here's the slow movement of the Emperor Concerto -- Lenny Bernstein and Krystian Zimerman do their magic:

Kimchi Dreamin'

2011-02-02T13:58:00.012-05:00

Gosh, I love Kimchi. Or is it Kim Chi, kimchee, kim chee or kimchi? After tasting Korean vegetarian cuisine at HanGawi, (an extraordinary restaurant in the shadow of the Empire State Building on 32nd St.) there was no going back to a life without hot pepper flakes from the Korean market.

A HanGawi meal starts with a Soju Cocktail. Then: Mango Pear Salad. Tofu Kimchi Hotpot. Mushroom sizzler. Spicy Kimchi Mushroom Pancakes. Fresh, beautiful, elegant.

I'm depending on my crossword colleagues to set me straight on the spelling of KIMCHI. And is it one or two words? Please advise, Joon.

In the meantime, I'm going to make kimchi.

Napa cabbage, garlic, scallions, daikon radish in a spicy sauce. All that cruciferous, anti-oxidant goodness in a dish that, until I watched this video, seemed a bit out of my cooking range.

The very nice lady in this YouTube tutorial gives me hope. I think I can. The chef uses apples, apple pears and sugar to sweeten the sauce. Lovely.

During these "wintry-mix" days, I dream of coming home, kicking off my salt-encrusted, almost-destroyed boots and heading for the fridge where . . . containers of Kimchi are waiting to calm me down.

Dear Friends . . . if you've made Kimchi, please share your experiences with this Newbie. And if you've devised a vegan version (a substitute for the fish sauce), I'm all ears.

Have a delicious day!