The Mets blow a 5-0 Lead and Lose to the Pirates 6-5

 

It looked game the game would be a laugher as the Mets took a 5-0 lead in the first inning after a 2-run homer by Francisco Lindor and a 3-run homer by Michael Conforto.  At that point, the bats for the Mets cooled off giving the Pirates a chance to catch up.  In the 5th inning, Rodolfo Castro and Michael Perez hit back-to-back home runs making the score 5-2.  Castro hit a 2-run homer in the 6th off Jeurys Familia to cut the lead to one run. Castro became the first player since the Yankees’ Kyle Higashioka in July 2018 to hit a home run for each of his first three career hits.

The Pirates tied the score in the 9th and took the lead with two infield hits.

This was an opener game for the Mets as only relief pitchers worked.  Aaron Loup started and pitched two scoreless innings, but runs were scored off Jerad Eickhoff, Jeurys Familia, and Edwin Diaz who blew the save and took the loss for the Mets.  Diaz had been generally reliable in save situations this season.

Box Score

The Harlem Cultural Festival of 1969 Becomes the Summer of Soul

 

When people think about music festivals in 1969 everyone talks about the Woodstock Music and Art FAir held in upstate New York.  The Harlem Cultural Festival that was held as 6 concerts from June 29 - August 24, 1969, has been forgotten. Some people referred to it as the Black Woodstock.  It included performances by Nina Simone, B.B. King, Sly and the Family Stone[1], Chuck Jackson, Abbey Lincoln & Max Roach, the 5th Dimension, David Ruffin, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Stevie Wonder, Mahalia Jackson, and Moms Mabley, among others.

Finally, after 52 years a documentary film called Summer of  Soul was produced and released to Hulu and selected theaters.  Today we took a drive to the Kew Gardens Cinema and saw it there.  I highly recommend it to my oldies music friends.

It Can Happen to Anyone - My email was hacked

Several people reported to me they received this email

How are you?  Hope you and your family are well.
I need a little favor from you Best,  

Thank you

Bruce Slutsky

It was obvious that I was hacked.  It took me time to respond to everyone and to change my passwords.

 

I Returned to sit at the Mitchell-Linden Branch of the Queens Public Library

 

For the first time since March 2020 patrons were allowed to sit at the libraries in NYC.  If the weather is nice, I like to sit outside to read as it gets me out of my apartment.  Since the temperature was over 90 degrees with high humidity, I  was glad to sit in the local library to read.

Since this is a small branch, the collection is limited  As I have done in the past I brought my own books and magazines to read.  There were no patrons using cell phones today.

This is two journal entries about libraries in one day.

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library Replaces Mid-Manhattan

There is an informative article in the New York Times describing the new Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library at 5th Avenue and 40th Street.   It appears to be a beautiful facility that allows patrons to browse, use computers and take out books.  The renovation cost $200 Million with $55 million coming from the foundation.

When I worked at the Research Library from 1983-90 I often visited the Mid-Manhattan library to take books out.  Just before the renovation, the Casey Stengel Chapter of SABR held its annual meeting at a conference room there.

I think I will soon visit the new facility at least to view its architecture.  I can always take out books, but I would have to make a special trip to Manhattan to return them.

Sunday Afternoon at the New York Historical Society

There were several exhibits of interest at the New York Historical Society today.

So Ready for Laughter - Bob Hope and World War II - This special exhibition highlights the legendary performer and his unique role during World War II entertaining troops overseas.

Bruce McCall's New York - a Canadian-born artist and writer who contributed to many magazines, including The New Yorker.  I was amused by this magazine cover published about 5 years ago of the New York Public Library on a snowy day with polar bears replacing the iconic lions.

Safe Haven: Gay Life in 1950 Cherry Grove - this is an outdoor exhibit with photos from Cherry Grove a secluded beach on Fire Island where gays congregated before they were accepted by mainstream society.

Who Know Where the Time Goes? by Judy Collins

 

It's hard to believe that 2021 is half over.  

• Karen passed away 4 1/2 months ago
• I retired 3 1/2 years ago
• It is 31 years since I left my job at the New York Public Library
• It is 47 years since I got my masters degree from the University of Rhode Island
• It is 49 years since I got my bachelors degree from CCNY
• It is 60 years since I graduated from P.S. 139 in Rego Park
• I am now 72 years old
• Who knows where the time goes?