Welcome to a Chronicle of Culture
Posted in Books, Cuisine, Politics, Science, Technology on Jul 18th, 2010
I read The Sunday New York Times, so you don’t have to: July 18
It is 7 a.m., and already two beef-broth injected brisket are on the smoker. First music of the day: The Mahavishnu Orchestra’s Between Nothingness & Eternity. The coffee is Costa Rican. It is a beautiful morning on the deck.
1, Today’s lead story, [...]
I read the Sunday New York Times, so you don’t have to: July 11
First music of the day: Canadian jazz pianist Francois Bourassa. It will be a good afternoon on the deck. Chicken quarters are marinating in a local strawberry-balsamic vinegar purchased Saturday at the Rochester Public Market. They’ll be joined by wings, and later, [...]
Posted in Cuisine on Jul 5th, 2010
The Smokin’ Dopes: “Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhr-B-CUEEEEEEEE!” Part Two
In Part One, we saw the Smokin’ Dopes make a triumphant debut. In Part Two, they drive off the learning curve….
At Day Two of the Roc City Rib Fest competition, I forgot the details.
The categories were pork, chicken, brisket and ribs again. That’s all-night smoking. We had the shoulder and [...]
Posted in Cuisine on Jul 1st, 2010
The Smokin’ Dopes: “Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhr-B-CUEEEEEEEE!” Part One
At 3 in the morning, a bloodcurdling howl – equal parts Viking and frat boy – pierced the still night air. “Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhr-B-CUEEEEEEEE!”
Phil was poking at coals. I was seasoning ribs. Rick was futzing around in the coolers. Yes, we were drinking, and using knives. “What?” I said. “We’re gonna hear [...]
Posted in Cuisine, Philosophy, Politics, Science, Sports, Travel, Visual arts on Jun 27th, 2010
I read The Sunday New York Times, so you don’t have to: June 27
I’m back to reading The Sunday Times for you, after a two-week absence that I’m blaming on barbecue and jazz. This morning, Miles Davis’ Miles in the Sky is drifting out the deck speakers, chicken thigh quarters are marinating in a Mexican [...]
Posted in Books, Cuisine, Music, Philosophy, Politics, Sports, Visual arts on Jun 6th, 2010
I read The Sunday New York Times, so you don’t have to: June 6
Nine days without a blog. Sorry! I’ve been busy. The barbecue team, The Smokin’ Dopes, stunned the Memorial Day competition here with a first-place finish (more on that in a day or two). Bob Dylan’s 69th birthday was noted with a deranged [...]
Posted in Cuisine on May 25th, 2010
We are the Smokin’ Dopes
A handful of scientists have just left my house, having concluded a battery of tests on me that included asking me to sort colored objects, examining my hair follicles under a powerful microscope and drilling deep into my cranium. I don’t know why that one squirrely fellow kept insisting he had [...]
Posted in Books, Cuisine, Music, Philosophy, Politics on May 16th, 2010
I read The Sunday New York Times, so you don’t have to: May 16
1, The fascinating lead story of the day, “For Times Sq. Suspect, Long Roots of Discontent,” examines the man accused of leaving a bomb in Times Square. Faisal Shahzad was living a successful life in the United States, yet did not know [...]
Posted in Books, Cuisine, Politics, Sports, Travel, Visual arts on May 9th, 2010
I read The Sunday New York Times, so you don’t have to: April 9
I’m planning on smoking ribs slow over mesquite wood this morning, starting at maybe 11 a.m. But as of now, 7 a.m., snow is whirling past the windows and settling on the deck, at the feet of the Adirondack chairs. The scene [...]
Posted in Books, Cuisine, Music, Politics, Science, Travel, Visual arts on Apr 18th, 2010
I read The Sunday New York Times, so you don’t have to
First music of the day: June Christy’s Something Cool, a 1955 record that introduced the “vocal cool” period, and one of the excellent pieces of old vinyl that I picked up during my new favorite holiday, Saturday’s Record Store Day. “I don’t ordinarily drink [...]