Hunting for Kosher for Passover Food

It used to be that we were able to get all of our Kosher for Passover food at the local supermarket.  Over the years the demographics of our neighborhood has changed with the Jewish population  declining.  The Stop and Shop near us still carries matzoh and most of what we need for the holiday, but this year I had to go "hunting" for a few items.

There is a glatt kosher grocery store at 186th Street and Union Turnpike in Fresh Meadows where I picked up a few items.  Last year they carried ice cream, but not this year.  At the last minute, Karen needs "Shake and Bake" for chicken.  Since I was going to my dentist in Rego Park this morning, I checked out two supermarkets on Queens Blvd. which didn't have it.  I finally found it at a C-Town on 63rd Drive.  Decades ago a now-defunct supermarket called Bohack's were at that location.

James Holzhauer - Jeopardy Superstar

James Holzhauer was introduced on Jeopardy as a professional sports gambler.  He has certainly been very successful on the show as he has won $566,000 on his first 8 games putting him in second place in non-tournament winnings behind the legendary Ken Jennings.  He always starts by picking the $1000 or $2000 answer and builds up a big bank as he hits the daily doubles.  He was able to bounce back after missing a few daily doubles in the first round.  All but one of his victories were runaways.

He still has a long way to go to match Ken Jenning's record of 74 victories.  Can he do it?  The key is his picking the daily doubles and getting them right.  Jennings lost game 75 as he missed daily doubles and the final jeopardy answer.

Stay tuned.

Oldie of the Day - Walking in the Rain [Without an Umbrella] by the Ronnettes

It rained overnight, but it started to clear up at about 9 AM.  Since I just hate sitting around the apartment I decided to take a walk around Douglaston at about 10 AM.  The sun was out and there didn't seem to be a threat of rain.  After I walked for about 30 minutes, it started to rain.  I had no umbrella, so I increased my walking speed to get back to my car.  I walked about 1 1/2 miles and got wet.

It took a little while, but I dried out.  Oh, well.

We Visited the Louis Armstrong House Today

We took a ride over to nearby Corona to see the Louis Armstrong House that is administered by Queens College.  Satchmo lived there from 1942 until his death in 1971 with his 4th wife Lucille.  He was a multi-millionaire but chose to live in that Queens neighborhood.

We entered the building in the gift shop that once his garage into a waiting room with some artifacts from his career as a musician.  After a short wait, a docent took us on a tour of the house.  It reminded me of our tour of Graceland several years ago but Louis' home is much smaller.  I was impressed by a drawing of Satchmo by Tony Bennett.

The Louis Armstrong archives are currently held at Queens College, but there is a building across from the house in Corona that will eventually be a research center.  The target date for its opening is October 2020.

Cultural Double Header Today - American Folk Art Museum and Movie in Lincoln Center Area

According to my records, I last visited the American Folk Art Museum in December.  I checked their website and noted that there is a new exhibit there called Made in New York City: The Business of Folk Art.  Most art emanates from rural areas, but this exhibition was devoted to works about New York City.  Below are two works that interested me:

This ship called The Flushing ferried passengers

from Long Island City to Manhattan in the 19th Century

This statue of a baseball player stood

on Canal Street.  It was thought to resemble

King Kelly

Since the Lincoln Square Theater was just a block away, I wanted to see a movie that was not playing at the local multiplex.  I chose Best of Enemies that considered civil rights struggles in Durham, North Carolina in the early 1970s.

It is nice being retired so I can take advantage of the wonderful cultural offerings of New York City.

Bob Dylan and Roger McGuinn - Perfect Together

The video above is with Bob Dylan, Roger McGuinn, Chris Hillman and David Crosby performing Mr. Tambourine Man at the Roy Orbison tribute in 1990.

I am pleasantly surprised that Roger will appear at the World of Dylan Symposium at the University of Tulsa on June 1.  He will talk about his long and complicated history with Dylan.  The organizers of this symposium wrote a brief synopsis on the Byrds, Dylan and their shared influence on one another.

Beware of Scam Phone Calls

Over the past week, I have received 3 scam phone calls stating that I won a large amount of money.  When I hear that I always hang up and not give the caller a chance to talk.  Since I have caller ID, I usually don't pick up the phone unless I am familiar with the number.  I have learned from experience to never do any kind of business over the phone.

Please check this website issued by the federal government listing common frauds and scams.  If it is too good to be true, then it is.