Attempted 'Purse-Pincher' Eli Wallach Gets Star Treatment From Turner Classic Movies

Carroll Baker with Eli Wallach, making his film debut in "Baby Doll." Archive photos.

IT was nearly four years ago at the New York Hilton, the night of the 38th International Emmy Awards. (http://www.iemmys.tv/)

Yours Truly is attempting to get herself sorted to attend a VIP reception before the awards ceremony. I am fielding questions from a young woman at the check-in desk when I feel something tugging at my purse. Initially, I ignore it – until it continues.

I pause mid-sentence and glance down at the table where my purse is resting. Beside me an elderly gentleman is pulling at its chain handle. I gape, then look closer, gaping again. “Eli Wallach, you're trying to steal my purse,” I exclaim with a mixture of surprise and glee.

He does not deny it. He looks to have a gleam in his eyes. It would not be inaccurate to say they are smiling. He simply smirks, looking up at me like a mischievous puppy caught chewing on a forbidden slipper.

I'm thinking he's probably a little surprised that a young whippersnapper like me knows who he is. I am smiling at this mischievous puppy as I introduce myself. “What are you doing here,” I ask.

“I'm presenting an award,” he gives me to know, taking that moment to introduce me to his daughter and son.

The children and I quickly exchange pleasantries, and I return my attention to Mr. Eli Wallach!!! Now fully flabbergasted and giddy by half, I say, “I just saw “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” the other night. It's one of my favorite westerns.” (See video above).

“I just talked to Clint the other day,” EW says. “We're supposed to have lunch.”

“Give him my regards, and thank you for all of those fine films.” I am gushing, blushing and doing internal cartwheels and somersaults.

We exchange a few more words I do not recall and say our goodbyes, wishing each a good evening. I still cannot believe that I met Eli Wallach.

Eli Herschel Wallach (7 Dec. 1915 – 24 June 2014), Brooklyn born and bred, went on to have one of the most successful acting careers of the 20th century. Successful in quality, quantity and longevity. TCM (Turner Classic Movies) pays tribute to the actor on Monday (30 June) with a festival of EW films, "TCM Remembers Eli Wallach."(http://www.bit.ly/1jBiiiM; see video above.)

Eli Wallach and Maureen Stapleton on the stage in "The Rose Tattoo," for which EW won a Tony.

His second most known and very first western was “The Magnificent Seven.” Invariably cast in supporting bad guy roles, EW always managed to grab some spotlight for himself – seemingly without even trying. The award-winning actor is just as much the star in the last film in Sergio Leone's spaghetti western trilogy as Clint Eastwood, though he felt out of his depth.

“ … Clint was my mentor. I knew nothing about making an Italian movie," EW said of the experience.

Similarly, EW is a major player as Calvera in “The Magnificent Seven,” with Charles Bronson, Yul Brynner, Charles Coburn and others. In fact the film may have stepped away from Akira Kurosawa's source material and been named “The Magnificent Eight,” so deliciously wicked and riveting is EW's Mexican bandit.

Though the University of Texas-Austin and Actor's Studio alum also did TV and got his start on the stage – his first love, which earned him a Tony – he is most known and will be most remembered for his films. Indeed, he has starred in some of the best and most important films of last 50 years. Titles such as the aforementioned, as well as “Baby Doll” (his first film role) “The Misfits,” “The Deep,” and “The Godfather Part III.”

EW will remain alive through his work, most notably his films. Over the next few weeks tributes are to be expected. Among the films in the "TCM Remembers Eli Wallach" festival are Kisses for My President,” “Act One” and How the West Was Won.

“I always end up being the evil one, and I wouldn't hurt a fly,” the actor once reflected.

I believe that about the man who once upon time tried to pinch my purse.

Visit http://www.bit.ly/1jBiiiM to learn more about the "TCM Remembers Eli Wallach."

At Ann Taylor, Winter 2014 Is Embellished, Sparkling and Poured Into Leather

Introducing Ann Taylor Winter 2014. Photo courtesy of Ann Taylor.

HEADS UP: Here we are, negotiating the early days of summer. What does this signify? Too many things to name. In the rag trade, however, one aspect of the season is the round of press previews of designer and brand fall-winter collections that end some time in August. Team VEVLYN'S PEN has not had much to say of late about fashion. We take this time over the next seven or eight weeks, however, to break our silence to jaw about what select brands and/or designers will have in store (literally) beginning in a matter of a few weeks through the end of the year. Do bear with us, this is our maiden voyage into these waters outside of fashion weeks. Anchors aweigh!

CUTE leather jacket in burgundy. Liking on the leather jeggings, or are those leggings? The animal print peacoat has some possibilities.

Yours Truly is milling about a cavernous showroom on the 5th floor of the Times Square Tower, considering Ann Taylor Winter 2014.

Nothing has knocked my socks off (not that I am wearing any), but a body can always count on the Ann Taylor brand to deliver sense and sensibility. Besides, a body doesn't always want her socks knocked off.

Katharine Hepburn as Tracy Lord in "The Philadelphia Story" or is she an Ann Taylor model? Archive photo.

Elsewhere, those black leather shorts don't bare derriere. The faux-jewel encrusted wool tops cause the heretofore roaming eye to hover; ditto for the pink /peach series surrounded by a sea of black&white&cream&gray covering wool, boucle, cableknit, lace, as well as the aforementioned leather.

Now, I am taking mental notes. Accessories – jewelry, handbags, hats, etc. – neither wow nor bore. Serviceable is a word that springs to mind. Footwear is often black and bootieful. The clothes – the whole shebang – can take a body from office to gala. They can be used as foundations or accents for get-ups far more daring and edgy. I take a moment to text a colleague a reportback:

“...@ Ann Taylor. It's a presentation, no seating and lounging for the press. Clothes are OK, what one would expect – basics, on trend, accessible, slightly conservative, tasteful.”

For Winter 2014, Ann Taylor creative director Lisa Axelson is informed by numerous sources: art, desk to dinner / work to party dressing, modernity, tradition … “Classic yet cool.”

The Ann Taylor maxi dress has few time constraints. Photo courtesy of Ann Taylor.

Which brings this mediation around to LA's piece de resistance: A body-skimming (not hugging) black maxi dress with three-quarter inch sleeves and a semi-circular collar and cut-out at neck. Down the front, an abbreviated split. Accessorized with belt and bracelets. In short, sublime simplicity.

Immediately, this mind goes to Katharine Hepburn in “The Philadelphia Story” and Rosalind Russell in “Auntie Mame. Here is a silhouette that never goes out of fashion.

In some more words of Ann Taylor, “Sophisticated and at ease.”

Visit http://www.anntaylor.com/ in another month or so to learn more about the Winter 2014 collection; similarly, visit a brick and mortar store near you.

'Taste Asia,' a Journey Through Wildly Diverse Cuisines and Cultures

The Mukthambar Fine Arts Dance Group are set to open the peformances at Taste Asia. Photos from Taste Asia Facebook page.

IT'S sensory overload: Japanese drumming, chopsticks-handling class, noodle-making demos, dumpling eating contest and a Chinese food competition, featuring cuisine from five provinces.

It also the two-day festival that brings to a close Taste Asia, a six-week celebration of Asian cuisines and culture (see videos).

The place for Taste Asia? Not Beijing, Tokyo or New Delhi, but New York City, Times Square.

Taste Asia boasts and promotes food and culture from India, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. The free festival offers New Yorkers and visitors to New York a chance to dance in the streets or leave that to the Trinayan Dance Company. And learn the ins and out of noddle-making (Gong Fu, for instance) and do a little sampling.

Ahead of the this evening's season premiere of “Cici's Food Paradise,” uber-foodie and chef-in-training CiCi Li presides over a chopsticks competition.

Worldwide-Soba CEO Shuichi Kotani demonstrates how noodles are made.

On Thursday, Taste Asia is all about China with NTD (New Tang Dynasty) Television’s 6th International Chinese Culinary Competition. Chefs will prepare Cantonese, Huaiyang, North Eastern, Shandong and Sichuan dishes in hopes of being deemed the one who produced the tastiest and most authentic taste of China.

Festival-goers who obtain (not free) tickets to the VIP tasting area will taste the spiciness of Sichuan, which is from whence Kung Pao Chicken comes. The hearty cuisines of the frigid North Eastern (Dongbei) will no doubt be represented in the form of steamed buns and dumplings. A typical dish from this area is Pickled Cabbage Stew.

Palates that prefer freshness and minimal seasoning may gravitate toward Cantonese, which prides itself on being light but not tasteless. Tender but not raw; moist but not greasy. These are dishes on the order of Steamed Grouper or Red Braised Sea Cucumbers.

Visit http://www.tasteasia.org/ to learn more about Taste Asia, including tickets to the VIP tasting of the NTD Television 6th International Chinese Culinary Competition.

On the (2014 World Cup) Ball: By Most Accounts, Brazuca Is Pitch Perfect

The Brazuca ball that Jermaine Jones kicked for the first score of the United States in its tie match with Portugal on Sunday. Photos from fifa.com.

At the 2014 FIFA Word Cup, there has been plenty of grousing about the high temps and the high ticket prices. But one aspect of the competition that has not caused a hue and cry is Brazuca – not yet anyway.

For the uninitiated, Brazuca is the official game ball. What a difference a few years make! At the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, a body had to get in line to pillory Jabulani. “Dreadful,” “terrible,” and “supernatural” were some of the epithets flung at the ball. It was even blamed for the result of the final. Perculiar, since Jabulani means "to celebrate" in one of the languages of South Africa.

It was almost universally agreed that Jabulani, once in flight, was extremely and inexplicably erratic at best. Fast forward a few years after the scientists returned to the drawing board. The result is a ball that is, to put it simply, more grounded in midair.

“The Brazuca has very deep grooves – it’s much rougher than Jabulani – and this creates a different pattern of air flow around the ball,” says Derek Leinweber, a professor in the School of Chemistry and Physics at the University of Adelaide (Australia). DL has written and lectured on the aerodynamics of cricket balls, golf balls and past World Cup soccer balls.

Adidas, which created Jabulani and at the time gushingly called it the most “innovative” World Cup ball to date, is also behind Brazuca. The sportsgear company is calling the latter the most “tested.” That is no exaggeration.

Not only has Brazuca been tested with numerous teams on several continents and with hundreds of players, it had to prove its mettle in all manner of weather conditions. Brazuca weathered various seasons in Brazil, as well as dry, damp and wet pitches. Further, it was taken to high altitudes; the ball was tasked with performing well in winds, heavy rains and gusts. In the end, the review were goods.

Jabulani was not a player's favorite.

“The Jabulani was much smoother than the Brazuca with smaller grooves and ridges across its surface,” DL recalls. “That meant the ball had to be moving much faster before the airflow around the ball changed from smooth to turbulent. As this shift to turbulent airflow occurred at high speeds, the ball could make some pretty erratic movements on the way to the net.

“In contrast,” continues DL, “the Brazuca, with its deeper grooves, hits that turbulent air flow at a lower speed with the result that the ball is much more predictable. In many ways, it’s a return to the aerodynamics of the old 32-panel ball.” (See video above).

Lionel Messi, of FC Barcelona and captain of the Argentine team, has said of Brazuca, "My first impression of the ball is that it's really good." LM is an Adidas man, but players not sponsored by the company have also praised the ball.

Brazuca got its name through a vote of more than one million Brazilians. It means “Brazilian” or describes the Brazilian way of life. Its design takes its inspiration from the country's vibrant colors, heritage and passion.

Along with DL, University of Adelaide PhD candidate Adrian Kiratidis has been hedging the likely performance of Brazuca by matching up the physics of air flow with available wind tunnel data and video of the ball’s movement. AK asserts that players taking hard and fast shots in the 2014 FIFA World Cup won’t find Brazuca as easy to bend into the net as they did with Jabulani.

Brazuca has so far withstood the test of time.

“Keepers facing players of the calibre of Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo [Portugal] or Neymar [Brazil] are going to be glad that it’s Brazuca coming at them rather than Jabulani,” he says.

Today, Feudjou&Co. will be facing the likes of Neymar when Cameroon takes on Brazil. Also today: Netherlands vs. Chile, Australia vs. Spain and Croatia vs. Mexico.

Visit http://www.fifa.com/ to learn more about the Addidas Brazuca 2014 FIFA World Cup Official Match Ball, as well as 2014 FIFA World Cup scores and matches.

'Think Like a Man Too' Leaves Its Source Material for Las Vega$; 'Jersey Boys' Leave Newark for the Top

These women mean business in "Think Like a Man Too." Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures.

IT'S summertime and the livin' is easy …

Fasten you seatbelts, Dear Readers, because this probably won't be the last time you read that line on these pages. Officially, summer commences tomorrow morning, but for all intents and purposes ... The catchphrase is my version of, “It is what it is.”

Speaking of which, “Think Like a Man Too.” The sequel to “Think Like a Man,” which was inspired by Steve Harvey's delightful, delicious, damning best-seller, “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man,” opens in U.S. theaters today. (http://www.bit.ly/1pQ4g3Y; see video below)

In the spirit of full disclosure, Yours Truly has not seen this film (scheduling conflict) from pretty much the same team as the first one. However, I have seen a film's worth of trailers. My reportback is that “Think Like Man Too” is not a sequel of the “The Godfather Part II and Part III” variety.

The thread on which hangs this one is the impending nuptials of cute couple Michael (Terrence J) and Candace (Regina Hall), with meddling mama (Jenifer Lewis) in tow. Because a wedding is involved, the action quits Los Angeles for Las Vegas. And everybody knows what happens in Las Vegas besides bachelor and bachelorette parties.

To be clear, “Think Like a Man Too” is not a good film. It is not fine art or high cinema. It is lowbrow, and one wonders whether screenwriters David A. Newman and Keith Merryman aspired toward better.

It has as its forerunner, though, an entertainment that banked nearly $100 million worldwide on a budget of $12. Its budget is double that. While what came before it was inspired by a book, “Think Like a Man Too” is inspired by the aforementioned box office receipts. Of course, this is the conventional reasoning for franchise films.

To its credit, this romantic comedy does have a few moments, a few of them funny. Kevin Hart, who has become a box office It Boy ("Ride Along,” “About Last Night”) in two year's time, gets quite a bit of screentime as Cedric. Unfortunately, this talented comedian-actor brings with him extra servings of buffoonery. If only that talent would be channeled into cleverness!

Regardless of its place (or lack thereof) in the cinematic pantheon, “Think Like a Man Too” will probably double the box office haul of “TLAM” for several reasons. First, it has a built-in audience. It boasts a cast of mostly black actors portraying the upwardly mobile class, always a sight for sore eyes in mass media as this group continues to overcome. They are universally good at their craft, good-looking and good-natured. Though these players are involved in puerile, banal business, they don't slip into the muck.

Finally, “Think Like a Man Too” will do well because … it's summertime. You know the rest.

Also opening today is “Jersey Boys.” Clint Eastwood's film is based on the smash Tony award-winning Broadway musical of the same name. It tracks the rise of the young men who would become the pop singing sensation, The Four Seasons, from the mean streets of Newark to the top of the record charts. (See video below).

"Think Like a Man Too" is rated PG-13 for crude sexual content including references, partial nudity, language and drug material; visit http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thinklikeamantoo/ to learn more about the film.

“Jersey Boys” is rated R for language throughout; visit http://www.jerseyboysmovie.com/ to learn more about the film.

Grills Gone Wild: Filling Up and Slimming Down in Summertime, Plus Spending Summer by the Sea with Citymeals

Grilled pineapples can be a solo dessert or a duo with yogurt. Archive photos

BY YOURS TRULY

DON'T eat too much blackened and charred meat. Choose the leanest cuts of meat such as tenderloins and flanks. When choosing ground beef, purchase the kind with a lower ratio of fat (90/10). Marinade meat for moisture and prevent charring.

This advice from Lisa Cimperman, a clinical dietitian at Cleveland's University Hospitals Case Medical Center, may sound familiar. If not, these are tips for grilling foods in ways that aid weight loss and promote general good health. Essentially, to slim down while filling up on good food.

After all, it's (almost) summertime (21 June) and the grilling should be easy.

"Marinade vegetables and the grill caramelizes the natural sugars, enhancing the natural flavors in zucchini, squash, portobello mushrooms, peppers and tomatoes," says LC. "That's a great way to cut back on calories in your diet and fill-up and add some really great nutrition as well."

LC encourages leaner cuts of meat protein for the obvious reason that they are healthier but also because they are healthier. Melting fat causes flare-ups on the grill which chars meats and carries the risk of creating carcinogens (cancer causers). Yikes!

Leg of chicken can replace leg of lamb, for instance, on the grill.

Also bear in mind, according to LC and conventional wisdom:
* Substitute turkey and chicken alternatives for beef and sausage;
*Don't contaminate food by putting cooked meat on the same unwashed plate that held raw meat;
*Grill vegetables and seafood;
*Grill fruits like pineapple or peaches over frozen yogurt for dessert.

Yum!

Chefs' 'Summer by the Sea' Does a World of Good for Citymeals-on-Wheels

Citymeals-on-Wheels chef's class of 2014 on the steps of Rockefeller Center. Photo courtesy of Hart Media.

BY NEIL WOLFSON

AFTER feeding relentlessly on Jean-Georges Vongerichten's niftily packaged lobster sliders (a la Mickey D's), we retired to the VIP section in The Sea Grill to sip vintage Tattinger and slip into a deep food and wine coma.

Sea Urchin Toast with Robiolina and Jalapeno from Craig Koketsu. Photo courtesy of Hart Media.

This particular bacchanal was in support of a good cause, specifically the 29th Annual Chefs' Tribute to Citymeals-on-Wheels. “Summer by the Sea” was this year's theme, and last week the rink at Rockefeller Center was beautifully done up by iconic architect David Rockwell.

There was plenty more at “Summer by the Sea” to sink the teeth into, for instance Craig Koketsu's Sea Urchin Toast with Robiolina and Jalepeno, from a who's who of world-class chefs.

Daniel Boulud, who posed for fan pix for hours, obliges stricken Chef Melody McGinley Whitelaw with a get-well "card." Photo by Joel Levin.

Among others minding the stoves: Michael Anthony, Daniel Boulud, Leah Cohen, Stephanie Izard, Matthew Jennings, Elizabeth Karmel, Nobu Matsuhisa, Laurie Jon Moran, Silvana Vivoli, Michael Voltaggio, Jonathan Waxman, Jennifer Yee and Damon Wise, as well as Sang Yoon.

Artisans from Nobu line up beautiful lime-garnished seafood shooters. Almost 50 restaurants from around the United States offered menu samples at "Summer by the Sea." Photo by Joel Levin.

An ultimate foodie fantasy, “Summer by the Sea, the 29th Annual Chefs' Tribute to Citymeals-on-Wheels” raised more than $800,000 for the worthy charity.

Visit http://www.citymeals.org/ to learn more about Citymeals-on-Wheels.

Believe It or Not, Cynicism Can Drive You Mad

Lawrence (Eric Stoltz) and Lilly (Gillian Anderson) in “The House of Mirth). Archive photos.

“WHY do we call all our generous ideas illusions, and the mean ones truths,” Lawrence Selden asks of social climber Lily Bart in a scene from “The House of Mirth.”

Edith Wharton's upright young man may not be a cynic, and that is to his credit if there is any merit to a recent study that suggests cynical distrust can bring on dementia.

"Slaughterhouse-Five" chronicles the experiences of American soldier Billy Pilgrim during and after World War II.

No less a source than a team with a surfeit of medical degrees, including PhD's is asserting as much in a paper titled “Late-life cynical distrust, risk of incident dementia, and mortality in a population-based cohort.” It is published in an online issue of Neurology.

Cynics, such as Diogenes, have disparaged convention for millennia, but not until now has a connection to this tendency and mental degeneration been made.

“These results add to the evidence that people’s view on life and personality may have an impact on their health,” said study author Anna-Maija Tolppanen of the University of Eastern Finland (Kuopio). “Understanding how a personality trait like cynicism affects risk for dementia might provide us with important insights on how to reduce risks for dementia.”

For the purposes of the study, cynical distrust is defined as the belief that others are mainly motivated by selfish concerns.

Cynicism is often used as a plot device in pop culture – books, films plays – usually representing a satiric dystopian world view. An example is Kurt Vonnegut's quasi-autobiographical “Slaughterhouse-Five.”

Any number of HBO and Showtime shows also fall under this rubric, including “Weeds,” “The Sopranos” and "Oz" (See video above).

“Show me somebody who is always smiling, always cheerful, always optimistic, and I will show you somebody who hasn't the faintest idea what the heck is really going on.” — Mike Royko

In A-MT's study, nearly 1,500 people average age 71 were asked to what degree they agreed with statements such as “Most people will use somewhat unfair reasons to gain profit or an advantage rather than lose it.” Also, “I think most people would lie to get ahead” and “It is safer to trust nobody.” Further, they were tested for dementia.

Chloe Sevigny and Christian Bale in "American Psycho."

Based on the questionnaire scores, participants were placed in three categories for cynical distrust – low, moderate and high. After adjusting for several factors that could affect dementia risk, researchers discovered that participants with high levels of cynicism were three times more likely to develop dementia than those with low levels.

“A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything, and the value of nothing.” — Oscar Wilde

In films like “The Wild Bunch” (see video below), “Network” and “American Psycho,” cynicism runs rampant. Whether by coincidence or design there is one character who seems particularly unhinged, which is the case for “American Psycho's vain stockbroker Patrick Bateman played by Christian Bale. Not far behind, though is Peter Finch's Howard Beale in “Network,” a respected news anchor reduced by a ratings-mad network to the role of a curmudgeony rabble-rouser.

On a note of optimism, the study sought – and did not find – a link to higher cynicism and earlier death.

"By the time you swear you're his,
Shivering and sighing.
And he vows his passion is,
Infinite, undying.
Lady make note of this —
One of you is lying.” — Dorothy Parker

Visit http://www.bit.ly/U7m0uh to learn more about “ Late-life cynical distrust, risk of incident dementia, and mortality in a population-based cohort.”

Ruby Dee Assumed Many Roles – Actor, Playwright, Pioneer, Activist ...

Ruby Dee at the March on Washington. Archive photos.

BY TAMARA BECK

HER acting career started at the American Negro Theater (ANT), founded in 1940 as the Negro unit of the Federal Theater Project. Her first role was as Cobina in "On Strivers Row" in 1940. She appeared in productions there from 1941 to 1943.

Ruby Ann Wallace Dee, who died at the age of 91 on 11 June in New Rochelle, NY, leaves behind an impressive legacy of acting, activism and other pursuits.

Over the seven decades she spent on stage, RD appeared in productions by Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams, William Inge, Athol Fugard and Moliere, among others.

The Cleveland, Ohio native was a pioneer and activist throughout her career. Colorblind casting was uncommon when she played Cordelia in "King Lear" and Kate in "The Taming of the Shrew." In 1965, RD was the first black woman to appear in major roles at Stratford, Connecticut's American Shakespeare Festival. In 1968, she was the first black actress with a regular role on a primetime TV soap, "Peyton Place."

Of these milestones, the artist once said all the celebrations over the many "firsts" she achieved - first black female actress as a regular on a TV series, for instance - could also be looked upon as a badge of shame for America.  

On the world stage, she was an advocate for civil rights and equality. About her activism, she has said, “That's what being young is all about. You have the courage and the daring to think that you can make a difference. You're not prone to measure your energies in time. You're not likely to live by equations.”

Along with her husband, Ossie Davis, RD stood by Martin Luther King Jr. when he gave his "I Have a Dream" speech and emceed the 1963 March on Washington. RD, who grew up in Harlem, also picketed Broadway theaters that did not hire black players and protested against film sets that did not hire enough blacks. Fittingly, Broadway theaters dimmed their light for one minute on Friday (13 June) in honor of this leading light.

Ruby Dee and Sidney Poitier in a promotional poster for "A Raisin in the Sun."

Her activism also led her to look for more films that addressed racial inequity, working with Jules Dassin in adapting Liam O'Flaherty's "The Informer." John Ford directed a film version set in Cleveland titled “Up Tight,” about black revolutionaries betrayed by one of their own.

RD wrote and adapted dozens of works over the years, including "Zora is My Name," in which she starred at a Howard University production in 1983. In 1979, OD directed her in "Take It From The Top," a musical play she wrote with their son, Guy Davis.

Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee in "Jeb."

From 1959 to 1960, RD played Ruth Younger opposite Sidney Poitier, and then OD who took over the role from SP, in the original Tony-nominated production of Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun" at the Belasco Theatre. "A Raisin in the Sun" was reprised in 1961 as a film, starring RD and SP. In 2005, it was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress' National Film Registry for its historic, aesthetic and cultural significance.

She and Ossie Davis wed during the rehearsals for "The Smile of The World" in which she was Evelyn at the Lyceum Theatre. The couple, who often worked together, were married for 56 years when OD died in February 2005.

Ruby Dee (front row, center) with fellow Kennedy City Honors recipients Sir Elton John, Warren Beatty, Ossie Davis, John Williams and Joan Sutherland.

RD's only Oscar nomination came with "American Gangster" (see video above) in 1983, but her film work, which started with a small role in "That Man of Mine" in 1946, netted her numerous other awards.

Among her many accolades were a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Screen Actors Guild and the Kennedy Center Honors' National Medal of Arts, as well as a Grammy, Emmy and Drama Desk award.

At this writing, arrangements for a viewing and memorial service are still being made.

As her name suggests, Ruby was precious.

Visit http://www.ossieandruby.com/ to learn more about Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis.

Stepping Back in Time for the Warm Embrace of Melinda DeRocker's 'I'll Be Seeing You'

Melinda DeRocker belts one out in the studio. Photo by Stefan Falke.

IT'S a romantic record that conjures up an image of soulmates snuggled near a crackling fire on a cold winter night.

How apt, considering that “I'll Be Seeing You” is a soundtrack of the union of two young people about to be separated by the call of World War II in the winter of 1944. It is also the debut album of veteran singer, musical director and actress Melinda DeRocker. The aforementioned couple is her parents.

“The songs on this album were the musical backdrop for their story along with countless others in that remarkable time in American History,” writes the Mississippi native in the liner notes.”

"I'll Be Seeing You" is a gift. Photo from Melinda DeRocker Facebook page.

MDeR's parents introduced her to this music, from Porter, the Gershwins, Carmichael and others. These ditties belong to that vast musical catalog lovingly and reverently known as the “Great American Songbook.”

Many are familiar because they are used to sell cars and laundry detergent. Occasionally, they show up on Broadway and are frequently mined on the regional theater circuit. Fans of old films will have familiarity with them, too.

For senior citizens in their 70s and up, though, these old chestnuts – classics – are the songs of their youth, just as a generation is coming up on Beyoncé and Bieber. Just as a generation came of age on “The Beatles and the Motown Sound. “I'll Be Seeing You” will resonate with everybody, regardless of age; the sentiments they express know no era. These well-crafted songs will never go out of fashion.

How many times have songs like “Embraceable You” (Track 4) and “Love Is Here To Stay” (Track 10) been covered? Countless, of course. Yet MDeR, who grew up singing in the church and has European classical and musical theater training, makes them her own. In her hands and those of co-producer Paul Kim, they are delivered with freshness and a jauntiness. They are jazzy; they swing. They bring smiles and laughs.

No parental controls are necessary because "I'll Be Seeing You" is suitable listening for everyone, from cradle to rocker. Particularly engaging is “Day By Day” (Track 12). (Sample "I'll Be Seeing You" on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/MelindaDeRockerMusic/app_470868196288052)

Melinda DeRocker and her band set feet to tapping at the Warner Library in Tarrytown, New York. Photos by Penni Urquhart.

Recently, MDeR, whose credits include a national touring production of "The King and I," performed tunes from “I''ll Be Seeing You” to a full house at the Warner Library in the Hudson River village of Tarrytown. She resides there with her public relations executive husband.

On Monday (16 June), this daughter of Hattiesburg will be on stage for a soldout concert during the city's FestivalSouth culture fair. Before MDeR set off for Dixie, she commented briefly on her record and going home again.

YOUR TRULY: You have been singing since you were knee high to a June bug. Why your very first album in 2013?
MELINDA DeROCKER: I just didn't think of myself as a recording artist. I'd done musical theater and classical singing and been a choral director all these years. Recording wasn't on my radar until very recently.

YT: The Great American Songbook is a thick “tome,” chock full of beautiful songs. Explain briefly the song selection process. What are some classics that did not make the cut, that you really wanted to include but were not able to?
MDeR: Yes, there are thousands to choose from. I chose my songs first of all based on the theme of the album, enduring love, a tribute to my parents' 68-year long marriage. That automatically eliminated a lot of songs. Then I chose for variety – uptempo, ballad, sassy, humor, etc. – to create an entertaining album to listen to. But probably the overall question I asked myself was, is this a song I LOVE to sing? If I don't love singing it, the listener is probably not going to love hearing me sing it.

YT: What inspired the title, “I'll Be Seeing You?”
MDeR: Part of it was going down the list of song titles and saying to myself, does this one resonate? There were some obvious no's, like "Day By Day", which people might confuse with the song from "Godspell." But also, when I was rehearsing "I'll Be Seeing You" instead of singing it only as a slow, kind of melancholy ballad like it's usually done, I went into a gentle swing that reflected the kind of jaunty hope that the lyrics imply – "I'm going away for now, but I'll see you again." So there's love and hope in the title, two of my favorite words.

YT: Who are some of your all-time favorite singers and why? (At least two examples, please.)
MDeR: Wow, there are so many. I grew up listening to Barbra Streisand, who did things vocally that were unique at the time. Many singers have tried to imitate her but not many successfully. In recent years I've loved seeing Barbara Cook in concert, who puts a song over so beautifully. She's in her 80s but can still sing in perfect pitch, with such a pure quality of tone and vulnerability in her voice brought about by life experience and impeccable musicianship. She's a real role model for me. And I love Peggy Lee anytime.


YT: Describe the audience for this record.
MDeR: I hope it's a very diverse one. I'd like to think that these iconic songs can resonate with all ages, and I've had comments to that effect on my music page – old and young, in-between, and from rock music lovers, country music lovers, classical music lovers. I think when good music is done well, most people recognize it and appreciate it. (https://www.facebook.com/MelindaDeRockerMusic)

YT: What are some of the feelings/emotions you hope this record will stir in listeners?
MDeR: I aimed to produce something beautiful to listen to, so first beauty. And then, joy, hope, warmth of love – just overall good feelings!

YT: How long were you in the studio recording?
MDeR: We recorded in a small studio, so it was done in segments and layers. In the first session with piano, bass and drums, nine songs were laid down in four hours with scratch vocals. Then I came back in and recorded the real vocals in two sessions of about three hours each. We went from there, adding in the other songs and instruments. The entire time span was over a period of about six months.

YT: Growing up mainly listening to and enjoying the classical music (jazz, standards) of the United States, how was this proclivity received by your peers who were mainly grooving to the beat of pop and rock?
MDeR: I don't remember experiencing any pushback from my peers. I just remember being in my own world musically, and happy in it.


YT: You are journeying HOME to Mississippi for a concert that will include songs from this record. How are you feeling?
MDeR: Excited to see old friends and family, to get to share this music live with them. It's where I had my first experiences singing and I'm grateful for the opportunities that community gave me.

YT: Would you like to add anything?
MDeR: The Psalms are full of the exhortation to "Sing!" I hope to be doing just that the rest of my days, if the good Lord allows it!

YT: Thank you.

Visit http://www.bit.ly/1oZJtqB to purchase “I''' Be Seeing You”; visit http://www.festivalsouth.org/events.html to learn more about Melinda DeRocker's concert and “FestivalSouth.”

Cruising: Get Onboard for 'La Nuit en Rosé'

Cruisegoers on "La Nuit en Rosé" can sample Aix, from Provence, a pleasant melange of grenache, cinsault, syrah, and counoise. Photos from respective wineries.

HEADS UP: Summertime is coming. That means many things. For wine drinkers, it means that Rosés are in bloom. Guest writer Joel Levin has agreed to tickle the thirst of the VEVLYN'S PEN audience with a brief account of an upcoming Rosé cruise. Later, vacationing sommelier Tamara Fish and Yours Truly will follow up with a reportback on how the rosés flowed!

BY JOEL LEVIN

IS pink the new white? Will Rosés from around the world supplant Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio at festive summer events?

For clues, get yourself to downtown Manhattan on 13 and 14 June (Friday and Saturday) for a tasting of some pink beauties. Step onto a glass-walled yacht at Pier 40 for what promises to be four pleasant hours on the Hudson River – with jaw-dropping views of the Manhattan skyline. With a glass in hand that can be constantly replenished with any of more than 80 wines from nearly 60 wineries.

All aboard the Hornblower Hybrid Yacht for an adventure in rosé." Photo from Hornblower Cruises & Events.

Close your eyes; picture the scene; take in the bouquets, the bouquets of France's Domaine d'Eole but also Ouled Thaleb from Morocco and Los Vascos from Chile. Several rosé Champagnes will be represented, too.

Organizer Pierrick Bouquet has named this inaugural weekend La Nuit en Rosé, although there are both daytime and evening sailings aboard a Hornblower Hybrid Yacht. Onboard, retailer Zachys Wine & Liquor will accept orders. Visit http://www.nuitrose.com/participating-wineries to view the list of wines.

While for some time, blush and pink wines were considered default choices for beginners and the unsophisticated, new growing and vinification techniques have generated higher quality rosés hallmarked by their complexity and versatility.

From Chile, comes Los Vascos.

Rosés can range from dry austerity to sweet richness. Some at the sweeter end of the spectrum do quite well at putting out the fire of dishes made with the hottest chilies, but so can the refreshing acidity and bone-dryness of others.

To accompany the wines will be oysters, small plates and desserts. During the first cruise, a panel of judges from the wine world – producers, sommeliers, consultants and journalists (disclosure: including this writer) – will select the best rosés from four continents. In addition, cruisegoers will vote informally for people's choice awards.

For "La Nuit en Rosé" Morocco suggests Ouled Thaleb.

In early June, my own tasting group paired three of La Nuit's rosés successfully and harmoniously with sautéed scallops, smoked pulled pork, spicy Chinese dumplings, almond cake and dark chocolate. In no instance did the wine lose out to the food or vice versa.

That's versatility.

Joel Levin is a New Jersey-based journalist who writes for numerous publications, including the New Jersey Newspaper Group.

Visit http://www.nuitrose.com and http://www.nuitrose.com/participating-wineries to learn more about La Nuit en Rosé, including ticket information.

In This World, the Tony Goes to ...

Audra McDonald as Billie Holiday in "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill." Photo from "Lady Day" Facebook page.

BY TAMARA BECK

THOUGH still reeling from the works and performances that didn't and should have been nominated for an award, one must handicap the “68th Annual Tony Awards.” (http://www.ow.ly/xDv4A)

Such an undertaking does present some challenges, but I rise to the occasion. To hedge my bets, my predictions will be limited to the major awards. That is, Best Lead Actress in a Play, Best Lead Actor in a Play, Best Play, Best Revival of a Play, Best Lead Actress in a Musical, Best Lead Actor in a Musical, Best Musical, Best Revival of a Musical.
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It was clear that Tyne Daly's astounding performance as Maria Callas in Terrence McNally's "Master Class" in 2011 was staged too early in the year to be remembered by the time the nominations came in.

Obviously, the Tony committee would not recall (or honor) in June what was on stage the previous summer. If members choose to rectify the oversight this year by nominating TD in the Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Play category, so be it.

TD's Katharine Gerard in another TMcN play, "Mothers and Sons," is damn fine work. But damn fine work is only to be expected from a damn fine master such as TD. Cherry Jones also has her hat in the ring for her exceptional interpretation of the fiercely protective mother in “The Glass Menagerie.” (http://www.ow.ly/qFZP4)

Since "Lady Day at the Emerson Bar & Grill" is a play with jazz and not a musical, five-time Tony winner Audra McDonald is also a hot contender for yet another Best Actress in a Play Tony. By the way, one of her Tonys was as Best Featured Actress in "Master Class," an early but not the first of AMcD's triumphs.

Her performance in "Lady Day" is completely immersive. Billie Holiday may have squandered and spent her talent on booze and drugs, but AMcD's is in full flower. She is completely lost in the role, and that's a good thing.

LaTanya Richardson Jackson is a deserving nominee for her role in the revival of "A Raisin in the Sun," Lorraine Hansberry's classic drama. All worthy performances, but after all is said and done, the Tony goes to AMcD.

Going all the way to Tony riches in the Best Lead Actor in a Play category is Bryan Cranston. In "All The Way," as Lyndon Baines Johnson, he deserves to win, though Tony Shalhoub, playing both the mature Moss Hart and his early mentor and collaborator, George S. Kaufman, in “Act One” will give BC a run for his money.

In the Best Play category, five plays and four revivals were acknowledged. They include “The Glass Menagerie,” “A Raisin in the Sun,” Harvey Fierstein's "Casa Valentina" and “Act One.” Moss Hart’s paean to becoming is elegiacally transposed for the stage by James Lapine. “Act One” belongs in and to the theater. It should easily win.

“A Raisin in the Sun” is on the shortlist for Best Revival of a Play, as is “The Glass Menagerie.” Is it surprising to learn that the latter has never won a Tony? At any rate, neither will win this year because the much admired British import, “Twelfth Night,” will take home the top prize.

It would be wonderful to witness the talented and lovely Kelli O'Hara receive a Best Lead Actress in a Musical statuette for every chance she's ever taken and every role she's ever played. She has never won a Tony. Unfortunately, "The Bridges of Madison County," which rises far above the novel from which it sprouts, is not going to be her ticket. (http://www.ow.ly/vThMA)

Also competing in this category are Jessie Mueller as Carole King in "Beautiful – The Carole King Musical,” Mary Bridget Davies, reputed to be pitch-perfect as the eponymous Janis in “A Night with Janis Joplin” and the wonderful Sutton Foster as “Violet.”

However, in the Best Actress in a Musical category, the Tony goes to Idina Menzel as Liz/Beth in the ultra-original “If/Then.” It is the closest thing to having two leading roles, since the character is split by chance and choice and follows two very different and separate paths.

“Hedwig and the Angry Inch” star Neil Patrick Harris is the pick for the Best Leading Actor in a Musical. The much admired and very talented NPH plays rough-and-tumble transgender rock 'n' roller “Hedwig.” The production took off Broadway by storm in 1999.

“After Midnight” (http://www.ow.ly/qUAjl) is an exceptionally entertaining cabaret-like show, with exciting tap acts, and a nice sense of history. It is more of a revue than a musical, however. With the field for Best Musical narrowed to “After Midnight,” “Beautiful – The Carole King Musical,” “A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder” and “Aladdin,” this critic is forced to go with “A Gentleman's Guide to Love.” Its 10 nominations suggest a sweeping win. (http://www.ow.ly/sOG2P)

Samuel Barnett and Liam Brennan in "Twelfth Night. Photo from "Twelfth Night" Facebook page.

In the Best Revival of a Musical category the smart money is on “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” It will easily outpace the other transplant from off Broadway, "Violet," and Cameron Mackintosh's production of "Les Miz."

Only one more day to see how the predictions bear out!

The 68th Annual Tony Awards airs at 8 p.m. on Sunday, 8 June on CBS. Visit http://www.tonyawards.com/ to learn more about the nominations and broadcast.

With Hudson Eats, Feeding an Appetite for Some Choice Chow

Yellowtail and Toro is what and how they roll at Blue Ribbon Sushi. Photos from Brookfield Place Facebook page.

BY NEIL WOLFSON

WE feasted on toothsome handrolls of Yellowtail, Toro, Salmon and Spicy Tuna from fave, Blue Ribbon Sushi (sorry Nobu).

Another East Village haunt, Mighty Quinn's Barbecue, dispensed succulent pulled pork sandwiches.

"Dish" from Dig Inn, Chop't and Olive's at last week's Hudson Eats preview opening.

This culinary exercise unfolded last week on the Hudson River waterfront in the shadow of the sleek and gleaming Freedom Tower. Lower Manhattan's Battery Park City was once a culinary wasteland. All that has changed now with Hudson Eats, the 30,000 square foot, approximate 600-seat food court inside the office, shopping and arts & entertainment complex known as Brookfield Place.

Last week was the preview. Yesterday, Hudson Eats, boasting a “curated mix of 14 award-winning eateries,” opened to the general public. Hungry crowds should leave satisfied from the kitchens of Skinny Pizza (say cheese), Dos Toros (“guac” is good ) and Tartinery (Labne et Saumon Fume c'est délicieux).

Sweet tooth carriers would be remiss to leave without something from Sprinkles Cupcakes. The Dark Chocolate, Lemon and Banana are a little piece of heaven.

Dos Toros knows its way around guacomole.

Brookfield Place aspires to be an “upmarket community center” in an underserved neighborhood. Seemingly, hospitality is its middle name. For instance, its arts and entertainment programming includes free events at an outdoor pavilion offering spectacular views of the Hudson. On 12 June, the pavilion will be the setting for an afternoon cultural extravaganza to celebrate the opening of the 2014 FIFA World Cup (http://www.fifa.com/). Among acts on the bill are Nation Beat, Maracatu NY and Raízes do Brasil Capoeira Brooklyn.

By this time next year, Brookfield Place will be home to several free-standing eating establishments, as well as, upscale French market, Le District.

Skinny Pizza serves up pies with the thinniest of crusts.

Elsewhere, according to the rumor mill, a second location of Mario Batali's Eataly may open across the street from Hudson Eats, providing worthy competition and destination dining to this former dead zone.

YOURS TRULY contributed to this article.

Visit http://www.brookfieldplaceny.com/dining/current and http://www.brookfieldplaceny.com/ to learn more about Hudson Eats and Brookfield Place.