I Go Out Walking

The City Victorious continues to surprise. One joy of this trip is that, for the first time - since the Mister is busy off with matters familial - I'm having time to explore our neighborhood.

Café au Nil

Well, we made it here in one piece, and with the jetlag wearing off, I'm almost starting to feel human again.

And Away We Go...

Yup. Having gotten the thumbs-up from the Dishy Cardiologist, we're taking to the air (but not, alas, with the late lamented TWA) and on our way to Cairo. Wish us luck.

What's My Wednesdays: Random Thoughts

If his memoirs are to be believed, Bennett Cerf (second from right, as if Café regulars didn't know that) had a marvelous life.

As is Our Tradition...

It's our pleasure to wish you the very happiest of Karen Valentine's Days, with all good wishes from Mr. Muscato, Koko, Boudi, and me.

Something Inside of Me

There's never really a bad time to listen to a little more Judy Garland, is there, and certainly a song like "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart" is both seasonal and timeless.

Baubles, Bangles...

...and Swede.

For no good reason, other than that it's February-cold, midwinter-damp, and just generally a tad dreary, this seems like the kind of week that might require a Garbo moment. And so let's have one.

They Wore Blue Velvet...

Because what says "glad tidings" more than home-tailored crushed velvet?

So This Happened

One year ago today, this, O Best Beloveds, was my view.  It had not been a good day, and there was worse to come. But, as dear Mr. Savage has so eloquently and consistently reminded us: it gets better.

All Things Beautiful

Even in the midst of the clamorous, ridiculous, so often tedious parade that is Facebook, sometimes something stops you in your tracks. This went past a few days ago, and I've just spent a considerable amount of time tracking it down so that, in case you missed it, you too can spend a little time in a glamor-induced trance.

A Bad Day Remembered

Do you know where you were five years ago today? I do, and not (just) because it's Groundhog Day. Some days you relive each year when the time comes 'round, and this is one of those: the Day of the Battle of the Camels.

Birthday Girl: Wow Wow Wow

You'll forgive me if I seem to have Hello, Dolly! on my mind, but today I really do have justification: the first and foremost of the Dollies, Miss Carol Channing, is 95 today.

TV Archaeology, or More Reasons to Adore Arlene Francis

Great excitement, kids, in a small but avid corner of televisual fandom - the remarkable team behind YouTube's invaluable What's My Line? channel have uncovered a hitherto lost episode of every sensible person's favorite series!

File Under "Wonderland, Winter"

Well, as you may have heard, we're having a spot of snow in and around Our Nation's Capital. I shall endeavor to be as decorative as this charming costume suggested by dear M. Erté, but we shall see.

Call on Dolly!

What this week has needed was some good news, and trust the Divine Miss M. to come through, and how. Word that she's headed to the Great White Way in the Great White Whale of Big Lady Roles has flashed across the cybersphere to a rare and near-unanimous chorus of praise and anticipation.

January Gray

A chill, foggy morning here. Forget April, Mr. Eliot; January, when it reinforces one's prevailing state of mind, can be the cruelest month. And still February to get through.

Starman

Why can't we give love that one more chance?
'Cause love's such an old fashioned word,
And love dares you to care for
The people on the edge of the night,
And love dares you to change our way of
Caring about ourselves -

This is our last dance...
This is our last dance.

This is ourselves.
Under pressure.

Kiss the Cares Away

Sad news in the Gray Lady, and unexpected in that brings up a name not all that familiar in the last decade or four: Kitty Kallen, wartime sweetheart and big band stalwart, has headed off to Fabulon.

Arms and the Man

Not quite, admittedly, as dear Mr. Bernard Shaw (cribbing from Mr. Virgil) meant the phrase, but rather alluring nonetheless, no? I can't believe it's been a year since we last checked in with my long-running BollyCrush John Abraham, but here he is in all of (well, most of - this is a semi-family blog, after all) his glory.

Happy New Year, Possums!

I suppose it's inevitable that after the festivities and distractions of the last few weeks - the race through Christmas toward the new year - that there might be something of a lull this first weekend of January. Well, I can't think of a more bracing tonic for the post-holiday blues than a while spent in the high-wire company of everybody's favorite Housewife Megastar.