Loo-ee-zee-anna!

It’s Consumer Protection Day!

…in Thailand. It really is. I don’t make much of this up…much.

A jazz birthday to celebrate;

Percy Heath was born today in 1923. Mr. Heath played bass for the Modern Jazz Quartet. That alone would qualify him for any hall-of-fame worthy of the name.

“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times…”

Today in 1859 Charles Dickens’ novel, A TALE OF TWO CITIES was published. I was first in line to get my copy signed (I made that part up). “It is a far, far better thing I do than I have ever done…”

Drink 4cast 4 2day

Today in 1803 the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory for fifteen million dollars. This acquisition more than doubled the size of the young country and probably quadrupled the quality of the music.

Nine years later, today in 1812, the Territory of Orleans became the 18^th state in the Union under the name Louisiana.

I have enjoyed my visits to New Orleans and I love the criminous novels of James Lee Burke. Thus I’m celebrating the state’s birthday with a;

Louisiana Well Water Cocktail

½ oz. Mandarin Vodka

½ oz. Mango Rum

½ oz. Peach Schnapps

½ oz. Southern Comfort

1 splash Triple Sec

1 splash Grenadine

1 splash Orange Juice

1 splash Pineapple Juice

Shake ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.

Strain into a cocktail glass.

Start singin’ Randy Newman songs.

Cheers!

Roger

4/30/2012.

Put Up Your Dukes!

It’s a big day for rockin’ on Broadway!

-          Today in 1968 the musical “Hair” opened on Broadway. I suppose you could say it was the dawning of “the dawning of the age of Aquarius!” Or you could just sing it.

-          Also, today in 1992 the musical “Rent” opened on Broadway. Janie and I have been part of the “rush” at a performance of “Rent”. Yes we were probably the oldest people there but we felt pretty cool about it. Indulge the geezers.

There are a couple of interesting birthdays today.

-          Rafael Sabatini was born today in 1875. Mr. Sabatini gave us the historical adventure novels; THE SEA-HAWK, CAPTAIN BLOOD, and SCARAMOUCHE. The film featuring Errol Flynn made from THE SEA-HAWK is my favorite Errol Flynn flick.

-          Today in 1912 was the birthday of actor Richard Carlson. Mr. Carlson appeared in a remarkable number of films that are today described as “cult”. Those films include; “It Came From Outer Space”, “The Creature From the Black Lagoon”, “The Magnetic Monster”, and “Tormented” (of tiny interest to 1950’s jazz fans).

Drink 4cast 4 2day

-          Today in 2011 Prince William the Duke of Cambridge and Kate Middleton got hitched.

-          Duke Ellington was born today in 1899. Ellington and George Gershwin might be America’s two mightiest contributions to the planet’s music.

In honor to our dukes let’s have a;

Duke Cocktail

4 oz. Champagne

½ oz. Triple Sec

½ tsp. Maraschino Liqueur

2 tsp. Lemon Juice

1 tsp. Orange Juice

1 Egg

Shake all ingredients except champagne in a cocktail shaker with ice.

Strain into a flute and fill with chilled champagne.

Start singin’; “You ain’t been blue…no…no…no.”

Cheers!

Roger

4/29/2012.

Blossoms, Shortstops, & Mockingbirds!

Must be spring!

It’s a big day for writers.

-          British fantasy writer Terry Pratchett was born today in 1948. His always funny “Discworld” series has made Sir Pratchett the best-selling author in Great Britain not named Rowling.

-          Harper Lee was born today in 1926. Ms. Lee gave us TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and the totally inspiring Atticus Finch. I had the great good fortune to work with these words every night for a couple of months one summer. They never lost their interest or their effect. I emerged from this immersion a better person. Thank you for that, Ms. Lee.

How about the shortstop?

That would be Cincinnati Reds’ Hall-of-Famer Barry Larkin. Mr. Larkin was born today in 1964.

Drink 4cast 4 2day

The exquisite Blossom Dearie was born today in 1924. Ms. Dearie’s singing (and yes that is her real name) employed her tiny, delicate voice and perfect, winsome phrasing to delight supper club audiences for over 40 years and to educate young listeners about the “Figure Eight” on Schoolhouse Rock.

I’m a big fan

We’ll celebrate Ms. Dearie’s day of birth with a;

Lotus Blossom Cocktail

1 ½ oz. Pear Vodka

1 oz. Sake

½ oz. Simple Syrup

3 Lychee Nuts

1 Lime Wedge

Slice of Pear for garnish

In the bottom of a shaker place the nuts, simple sugar, and lime.

Muddle gently.

Add ice, sake, and vodka.

Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosted and beaded with sweat.

Strain into a cocktail glass.

Garnish with the pear slice.

“…remember this, no matter how bitter things get, they’re still our friends and this is still our home.”

Cheers!

Roger

4/28/2012.

Codes & Cardinals!

Making the code?

Samuel F. B. Morse was born today in 1791. Mr. Morse was a painter of remarkable talent, but is remembered primarily for co-inventing the telegraph system and the telegraph code that bears his name.

In these marvelous days of emails and text messages the telegraph seems quaint, but I recall a visceral excitement surrounding the receipt of any telegram and to receive telegraphed good wishes in the Green Room before an opening night performance in the theatre was the height of heights.

What else today?

-          It’s Independence Day in Sierra Leone and Togo!

-          Animator Walter Lantz was born today in 1899. Mr. Lantz gave us the peripatetic Woody Woodpecker.

Drink 4cast 4 2day

Three fine St. Louis baseball players were born today; Rogers Hornsby (1896), Enos Slaughter (1916), and Chris Carpenter (1976). Mr. Hornsby actually played for the St. Louis Browns, but the others were Cardinals (Mr. Carpenter, of course, still is).

These three birthdays and the current fabulous success of the University of Louisville’s softball team suggest a celebratory;

Cardinal Cocktail

1 oz. Crème de Cassis

Red Wine

Pour the cassis into a wine glass filled with ice.

Fill with red wine.

Hum the opening of Beethoven’s Fifth.

Cheers!

Roger

4/27/2012.

The Mother of the Blues & the Father of Monsters!

Ma Rainey was born today in 1886. Ms. Rainey certainly earned her title as the Mother of the Blues. You may start moanin’ now.

From the blues to a big greenish guy…

Tomoyuki Tanaka was born today in 1910. Mr. Tanaka was a film producer in Japan. His greatest (well…biggest anyway) gift to our film heritage was his creation of Godzilla. You may now shriek and spit fire if you wish. Actually, that sounds pretty good to me!

Drink 4cast 4 2day

To the complete aggravation and bewilderment of my much more cultured wife and friends, I am enraptured by Japanese monster flicks. The sheer incomprehensibility of the story lines (if they exist at all) doesn’t dismay me at all. Maybe it’s a personal history of playing with plastic soldiers and “Lincoln Logs” and erector sets as a child that makes seeing a man in rubber lizard suit wading catastrophically through obviously fake crumbling buildings, obviously fake tanks, obviously fake electrical wires, and obviously fake battalions seem like a whee of a good time. Perhaps, professional help is available…sigh.

But until then, let’s toast the big green guy with a;

Godzilla Martini

2 oz. Melon Liqueur

2 oz. Ron Diaz Coconut Rum

1 oz. Sake

1 oz. Orange Juice

1 oz. Pineapple Juice

Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.

Strain into a glass.

Now ruminate about the Geico lizard from a totally different perspective.

Cheers!

Roger

4/26/2012.

Wham! Biff!! Sock!!!

Batman appeared for the first time in Detective Comics #27 today in 1939. Zap! Crunch!! Pow!!!

Scat! Croon!! Wail!!!

The queen of singers Ella Fitzgerald was born today in 1917. Every song she sang, good, bad, great, or indifferent was made better by her attentions. Why this is not a national holiday evades me.

Flap! Snap!! Flutter!!!

It’s Flag Day in the Faroe Islands.

Drink 4cast 4 2day

It’s Red Hat Society Day! Let’s celebrate with a;

Red Hat “Scarlet Floozie” Vodka Martini

2 oz. Grays Peak Vodka

2 oz. Maraschino Cherry Juice

2 oz. Cranberry Juice

½ oz. Lemon Juice

1 thin slice of Lemon for garnish

1 to 3 slices of Red Radish for garnish

Mix! Serve!! Have another!!!

Cheers!

Roger

4/25/2012.

“S” is for Schlockmeister and Sharpshooter!

The “S” should really be for “Sue”.

That would be Kentucky’s own mystery writer, Sue Grafton, born this day in 1940. Her “alphabet” mysteries have been great successes.

But it could be for “schlockmeister”.

That would be film director William Castle. Mr. Castle gave us the inspiring and uplifting; “Macabre”, “The Tingler”, “The House on Haunted Hill”, “13 Ghosts”, and “Homicidal”. None of these, to my knowledge, have been turned into musicals. Go figure. Mr. Castle was born today in 1914.

OR it could be for “sharpshooter”.

Annie Oakley was hired today in 1885 to be part of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. It turned out to be a good move on Bill’s part.

Drink 4cast 4 2day

Ms. Oakley wins it for me!

Sharpshooter Cocktail

½ oz. Ouzo

½ oz. Opulent Vodka

6 drops Tabasco

Pour, stir, and start shootin’!

Bwah-ha-ha-ha-ha!

Cheers!

Roger

4/24/2012.

The Conch Republic…

…deserves a seat at the United Nations in my humble opinion.

That would certainly keep things lively.

Today is Independence Day in the Conch Republic, otherwise known as Key West, Florida, otherwise known as the great flea market at el fin de mundo, otherwise known as the home of the “Duval Crawl”.

I cannot imagine how the fine and interesting citizens of this island could be any more independent today than any other day, but more power to ‘em!

It’s a big day for the Milwaukee Braves!

-          Hank Aaron hit his first home run today in 1954. I caught it and threw it back…ah the dreams we indulge ourselves!

-          Left-hander legend Warren Spahn was born today in 1921.

There are other birthdays of interest today.

-          William Shakespeare was born today in 1564.”Oh, that this too, too solid flesh would melt…”

-          The best “cat woman” was born today in 1910. Simone Simon played the role in the Val Lewton/Jacques Tourneur classic film; “The Cat People” – another film that did not cry to be remade.

-          The mighty singer Roy Orbison was born today in 1936. Sing! “Guess I’ll go on home, it’s late. There’ll be tomorrow night – but wait!”

Drink 4cast 4 2day

Back…back to the Conch Republic. I believe Mallory Square is calling to me at sunset. Let’s have a;

Conch Shell Cocktail

4 oz. Ron Diaz White Rum

2 tsp Fresh Lime Juice

Shake with ice and strain over ice in a rocks glass.

Sing again! “Blew out my flip-flop…”

Cheers!

Roger

4/23/2012.

Earth Day!

And isn’t she lookin’ jes’ fine this Spring?

Give her a hug and walk softly on her – she’s the only planet you have.

It’s also a big day for amazing artists.

-          Actor/basketball junkie Jack Nicholson was born today in 1937. Out of all his remarkable performances, if I had to choose a favorite, I would pick his early career performance in the film “Five Easy Pieces”. His scene with his father (are those raindrops or tears?) stops me cold every time I see or even recall it.

-          Painter Richard Diebenkorn was born today in 1922. His paintings pull my head up out of my immediate and suggest I should be looking and reaching for more.

-          Yehudi Menuhin was born today in 1916. I’m not sure there’s been a finer violinist.

-          Jazz bassist Charles Mingus was also born today in 1922 (what a day that was). The jazz world’s “Angry Man” inspired many of our best musicians.

Drink 4cast 4 2day

Behind every great man there’s a woman to pick up the check. Or so it seemed in the 15^th century when Isabella I of Spain paid for Christopher Columbus’ looking and reaching. Queen Isabella was born today in 1451. To celebrate that day of birth, we’ll hoist an;

Isabella Cocktail

2 oz. Royal James Gin

1 oz. Dry Vermouth

1 dash Grenadine

1 dash Orange Juice

Fill a mixing glass with ice cubes.

Add ingredients.

Stir and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Now hoist your sails and look…and reach!

Cheers!

Roger

4/22/2012.

Things That Make Me Wonder…

It’s National Tree Planting Day in Kenya. I wonder what the parade will look like.

Must see “nothing” TV!

Today in 1986, Geraldo Rivera opened Al Capone’s vault on live television. Nuthin’…big nuthin’! I wonder if Mr. Rivera would have been quite so giddy and free with Mr. Capone’s vault, had Mr. Capone still been vertical on the planet.

Drink 4cast 4 2day

The musical “Annie” opened on Broadway today in 1977. I wonder why the only song I ever hear from this show is “Tomorrow”. It ranks second to “It’s a Small World After All” and just ahead of “Feelings” on my SIQ list (Song Irritability Quotient). Let’s celebrate the show however, with a;

Leapin’ Lizards Cocktail

3 oz. Pineapple Juice

½ oz. Grays Peak Vodka

½ oz. Triple Sec

1 oz. Melon Liqueur

Maraschino Cherry

Build in a Collins glass over ice.

Garnish with the cherry.

Arf!

Cheers!

Roger

4/21/12.