Anything Special Happenin’ Today?

I thought I might take in a basketball game on the tube.

I will stay calm and root FOR my Kentucky team and not AGAINST the other Kentucky team.

Depending on how the game unfolds, I will not burn couches or slash my wrists.

I will not yell at the television or the referees, neither of which can hear me…I know this.

I will be happy on Monday knowing that a team from Kentucky is playing for the National Championship that evening.

I will be adult about all this. I will.

Of course I’ve noticed that my wife has covered the couches, soundproofed the television room, and removed all the sharp instruments from the house.

Other than that, it’s a pretty ordinary day.

Drink 4cast 4 2day

I’ve got to get my mind off the game for a bit.

Today in 1943, the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “Oklahoma” opened on Broadway. Let’s celebrate that with an;

Oklahoma Rattler

1 ¼ oz. Durango Tequila

2-3 dashes Tabasco Sauce

Cover the bottom of a shot glass with Tabasco and fill the rest with tequila.

Let’s hope we’re singing “Oh, what a beautiful mornin’” tomorrow.

Cheers!

Roger

3/31/12.

Let’s Play Jeopardy!

I’ll take “Painters” for $100.

Answer; Francisco Goya in 1746 and Vincent van Gogh in 1853.

Question; what famous painters were born today?

It’s OK to sing now; “Starry, starry night…”.

Whatta deal!

Today in 1867, Alaska was purchased from Russia for $7,200,000 (about two cents per acre) by United States Secretary of State William H. Seward.

12 medals…count ‘em!

I need to take a moment and applaud my friend Allen Dossey in Paducah. Mr. Dossey is the mind behind Purple Toad Winery. Last week Purple Toad won 12 medals at the 2012 Kentucky Derby Wine Competition including a gold medal for their newly released Moscato. That’s certainly impressive and worth celebrating. Congratulations, Allen! Now send some Moscato to the Barns!

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Today in 1964 the television game show “Jeopardy” premiered on NBC. We’ll toast that with a;

Double Jeopardy Cocktail

1 ½ oz. Black Sambuca

1 ½ oz. Frangelico

1 scoop Vanilla Ice Cream

Milk

Combine all ingredients in a blender with ice.

Strain into a highball glass.

Frame your answer in the form of a question.

Cheers!

Roger

3/30/12.

Man o’ War Day!

Well why not have a holiday for a horse?

After all we do live in Kentucky.

Man o’ War, perhaps the greatest racehorse of all time, was born today in 1917. He raced 21 times. He won 20 times. Not too bad.

New Sweden?

Today in 1638, Swedish colonists established the first European settlement in Delaware, naming it New Sweden. If that name had stuck, would we be celebrating Waffle Day with more vigor? Hmmmm.

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I’m puttin’ my money on the racehorse today.

Man o’ War Cocktail

1 ½ oz. Hancock’s Bourbon

1 oz. Orange Curacao

½ oz. Sweet Vermouth

½ oz. Orange Juice

Shake all ingredients well with ice and pour on the rocks in an old-fashioned glass.

Cheers!

Roger

3/29/12.

Jazz, Beer & the Wild Kingdom!

When I was growing up there were only three channels available on television.

In some ways that was a blessing. It made you watch shows that today would be dismissed by the remote in the first few seconds. For me, one of those shows would have been Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom. It featured its host, Marlin Perkins, in a different part of the planet each week filming the local wildlife. The equivalent of that kind of programming today would probably involve college kids on spring break in Florida. That being said, for a youngster growing up in a zoo-less small town with three television channels, Wild Kingdom was pretty tall cotton.

Marlin Perkins was born today in 1905.

It’s another big day for jazz.

-          Pianist Tete Montoliu was born today in 1933. Tres, tres cool.

-          Thad Jones, trumpet meister, was born today in 1923. Triple tres cool.

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Two giants in beer history were born today; Frederick Pabst in 1836 and August “Gussie” Anheuser Busch Jr. in 1899. Today’s libation must therefore be a beer.

I’d suggest a Sheltowee Hop-a-Lot IPA.

Cheers!

Roger

3/28/12.

Basketball Armageddon?

That’s how I’ve heard it described.

Oh please.

Two teams from Kentucky making up 50 percent of college basketball’s Final Four sounds like a celebration of excellence to me – not the end of the world. The only things facing Armageddon after Saturday’s game are some armchairs and couches if Kentucky wins.

Whence did this quaint custom of furniture immolation originate and exactly what does it mean? Hmmmm.

Clearly, in order to be the national basketball champion, you must first be the champion of the state of Kentucky. That’s as it should be.

Just as clearly, those other two teams have no chance since they’re not from Kentucky. It’s a strange logic perhaps, but no stranger than the burning of couches when we’re happy. We have got to be reconsidering that ritual folks!

It’s a big day for jazz.

Clarinet master Pee Wee Russell (1906) and sax fiend Ben Webster (1909) were both born today.

Drink 4cast 4 2day

I attended the Lexington Comic and Toy Convention last Saturday. It was packed and that’s a good thing. I was ancient and that’s not so much. It was a good time and I saw many old comic books that reminded me of many happy times. I saw beaucoup super-heroes but I did not see a lot of Donald Duck and Uncle Scrooge and that’s too bad. The primary artist behind those comics was the incomparable Carl Barks. His work on Donald Duck, Uncle Scrooge, and other “funny animal” comics might not be as sexy as super-hero works, but they were every bit as clever and strongly drawn. I’m a big fan.

Mr. Barks was born today in 1901. Let’s celebrate that with a;

Scrooge-Driver Cocktail

1 oz. Denaka Vodka

½ oz. Cranberry Liqueur

Orange Juice

In a tall glass with ice add the vodka and the cranberry liqueur.

Fill with orange juice.

Dive in!

Cheers!

Roger

3/27/12.

A Totally Remarkable Day!

There is so much to celebrate today!

First – basketball in Kentucky – wow!

I grew up listening to Claude Sullivan broadcasting the University of Kentucky basketball on the radio around my family’s kitchen table. My mom would keep score. Dad would slam the table and shake his head over every turnover. We followed the basketball adventures of Scotty Baesler (later mayor of Lexington), Cotton Nash, Larry Purcel and Allen Feldhaus.

Later, I died when Rupp’s Runts fell to Texas Western. Maybe it was a political statement to the rest of the world, but to me it was five little guys falling just short of making a planetary statement for all the other little guys in the world.

Then it was the magnificent “Doctors of Dunk” led by the amazing Darrell Griffith of the University of Louisville. No one could jump higher than Mr. Griffith without oxygen.

Now we have one half of the “Final Four” coming from Kentucky…as it should be when the world is right.

And that’s just the men’s side. The University of Kentucky women are in the “Elite Eight”!

These things I know;

-          I will be thrilled to see the UK/UL clash.

-          I will dance with the winner.

-          I will die (again) with the loser.

-          I will have a tie to wear that will celebrate the finalist from Kentucky that wins the championship a week from today.

-          My mom will keep score.

-          My dad will slam some table somewhere in heaven.

Aside from all that, there are other remarkable things to celebrate today.

-          Today in 1753, Benjamin Thompson was born. Mr. Thompson invented the percolating coffee pot. A good thing to know on a Monday morning.

-          The musical “Funny Girl” starring Barbra Streisand opened on Broadway today in 1964.

-          It’s Independence Day in Bangladesh.

-          Today in 1934, the driving test was introduced in the United Kingdom. Parallel parking – arghhh!

There are interesting birthdays today.

-          Johnny Crawford was born today in 1946. Mr. Crawford is the leader and vocalist of the finest swing orchestra currently performing. If you get the chance, go see them play!

-          Today is the birthday (in 1931) of actor Leonard Nimoy. Mr. Nimoy’s portrayal of Mr. Spock in Star Trek is iconic.

-          Joseph Campbell was born today in 1904. Mr. Campbell is an amazing mind applied to interpreting the world’s religions and folklore. To read or listen to him is to condemn yourself to thinking and considering and thinking and considering.

-          Today in 1949, writer Patrick Suskind was born. Mr. Suskind gave us the startling criminous novel; PERFUME. I recommend it.

-          In my opinion, THE American playwright is Tennessee Williams. Mr. Williams gave us “The Glass Menagerie”, “A Streetcar Named Desire”, “Night of the Iguana”, “Summer and Smoke”, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”, et al. Tennessee Williams was born today in 1911.

S-s-s-s-s-s-s.

I think I got the spelling right.

That’s the name of a forgettable and wonderful sci-fi flick starring Strother Martin in the title (?) role. As delightful as I find his performance in this masterpiece, the truth is his most memorable film performance is in “Cool Hand Luke” when he opines; “What we have here is a failure to communicate.” Mr Martin was born today in 1919.

Drink 4cast 4 2day

What to choose? I’m goin’ for Mr. Spock.

Spock’s Mind Meld Mojito

2 oz. Royal James Gin

2 tsp. Sugar

5 Lime Wedges

6-8 Fresh Mint Leaves

3 Slices Cucumber

Polar Club Soda

Muddle the mint, limes, cucumber, and sugar.

Add gin.

Stir crushed ice with the mix and leave for 20 seconds.

Strain into a tall glass.

Top with soda.

Garnish with a cucumber slice and mint leaf.

Go forth and prosper!

Cheers!

Roger

3/26/12.

Let’s Celebrate Breakfast!

Sounds like a great plan for a Sunday to me!

It’s Waffle Day in Sweden!

You gotta like a country that celebrates breakfast delights with their own holiday. Do you suppose they have a waffle tree (maple perhaps) and sing carols of praise to syrup?

I’m getting’ hungry – may have to head for Josie’s.

Drink 4cast 4 2day

This seems suitable;

Waffle Cocktail

1 oz. Opulent Vodka

1 oz. Butterscotch Schnapps

1 oz. Orange Juice

Ice

Shake, strain, and serve in a shot glass.

Where’s my Sunday New York Times?

Cheers!

Roger

3/25/12.

Greetings!

That’s how the letter would open.

It was the letter from the Selective Service informing you that you had been drafted into the Army. It would go on to tell you when and where to report. Needless to say, receiving this letter was a life-changing moment in a young man’s life.

Today in 1958, Elvis Presley received his “Greetings” letter.

Maggie the Cat’s big day;

Tennessee Williams’ play “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” opened on Broadway today in 1955. “Mendacity…that’s what I’m talkin’ about, Big Daddy.”

Big-time rasslin’ news!

George Wagner was born today in 1915. Mr. Wagner was better known for his moniker in the ring; Gorgeous George. It was…unusual.

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Actor Steve McQueen was born today in 1930. I like many of Mr. McQueen’s films but the one I keep coming back to is probably the silliest. “The Blob” always makes me smile and it solidly belongs on my list of films that did not need to be remade. We’ll celebrate Mr. McQueen’s birthday with an;

On the Blob Cocktail

1 oz. Amaretto

1 oz. Raspberry Vodka

1 oz. Strawberry Syrup

1 splash of Lemon Juice

Shake and strain over crushed ice.

Don’t touch it!

Cheers!

Roger

3/24/12.

“Give Me Liberty…”

…or give me death!”

It was today in 1775 that Patrick Henry delivered this speech at St. John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia. No, I was not there, but I wish…

It’s Samurai Film Day!

I hereby declare it to be so.

Japanese film master Akira Kurosawa was born today in 1910. Mr. Kurosawa gave us “Throne of Blood”, “Ran”, the amazing “Rashomon”, and of course “The Seven Samurai” and “Samurai I, II, and III”.

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Elisha Otis installed his first elevator at 488 Broadway, New York City, today in 1857. We can’t pass up a chance like that!

Love in an Elevator Cocktail

1 oz. Royal James Gin

½ oz. Curacao Liqueur

2 ½ oz. Polar Ginger Ale

Pour the gin and curacao into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice.

Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass.

Fill with ginger ale and serve.

Going up?

Cheers!

Roger

3/23/12.

“Why a Duck?”

We’ll get to that later.

Once, long, long ago…

…they were called “The Beatles”.

A friend of mine told me the day other how shocked his son was to learn that Paul McCartney was in a band before “Wings”. Good grief!

Well, that other band released its first album (remember those?) in Great Britain today in 1963. It was entitled; “Please Please Me” and it pretty much did just that.

We have interesting birthdays today.

-          Sometimes Kentuckian William Shatner was born today in 1931. Mr. Shatner made us “boldly go where no man has gone before”, as Captain Kirk in Star Trek.

-          Shh-h-h-h! Don’t tell anyone. Mime extraordinaire Marcel Marceau was born today in 1923.

-          Stephen Sondheim was born today in 1930. Mr. Sondheim redefined the American musical with such works as “Follies”, Sweeney Todd”, “Sunday in the Park With George”, “Company”, “A Little Night Music”, and “Into the Woods”.

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In my book, the second funniest Marx brother was the piano-playing Chico (pronounced chik-oh, by the way). I can watch his “Why a duck?” routine in the film “The Cocoanuts” endlessly and laugh every time. Chico Marx was born today in 1887. Let’s celebrate that with a;

Chico Cocktail

2 oz. Durango Tequila

2 oz. Blackberry Liqueur

1 oz. Simple Syrup

½ oz. Lemon Juice

Polar Club Soda

Fill a highball glass with ice.

Add ingredients.

Top off with club soda and stir.

Shout; “Ah you can’t fool me! There’s no such thing as a sanity clause!”

Cheers!

Roger

3/22/12.