May Newsletter: A Review of the Month’s Culture, Arts + Trends

MY OH MY WHAT A MAY

The US Postal Service honored two giants, issuing the Jimi Hendrix and Harvey Milk stamps. Need a better excuse to stop texting and send a letter? … Queen guitarist Brian May reveals plans for a new Queen album featuring unreleased Freddie Mercury vocals from the 1980s. More Freddie Mercury? Yes, please … Audra McDonald channels is Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill … Journey lead singer, Steve Perry, one of the true great rock voices, performed on stage with the Eels for the first time in almost 20 years. Don’t ever stop believin’ … Buzz Lightyear and Woody played the NY Philharmonic in Pixar in Concert … The NY Phil also held its annual Memorial Day concert at St. John the Divine, featuring Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony … Norm Lewis, who made his Broadway debut in The Who’s Tommy in 1993, takes over the Phantom role in Phantom of the Opera … “Swordfish.” You won’t need the password to go to Marxfest, a series of films, talks, and concerts honoring the Marx Brothers. Remember this Groucho groaner? “One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas; how he got in my pajamas I don’t know.”

 PASSAGES

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” Mission accomplished, Maya Angelou.

A birthday is a time for reflection as well as celebration. So I spent some of mine at the Tibet and India: Buddhist Traditions and Transformations show at the Met. Buddhas offering protection. Buddhas praying. Buddhas preaching. Buddhas meditating. All were imposing, inspiring, graceful, and, most of all, peaceful.

WE CAN HELP

The ASPCA never stops caring, never stops helping. A brand new facility will help save the lives of NYC’s homeless and abused dogs and cats. The ASPCA Kitten Ward and the NYPD CARE ward for canine cruelty victims is a special place for the extra care they need. Support their steadfast efforts. Become an ASPCA member, donate, or volunteer.

Soundtrack to this Issue is
The Letter by The Box Tops

Listen to Alex Chilton’s indelible soulful vocals. Released in 1967 on the album of the same name, it reached Number One on the Billboard Hot 100. Write a letter, mail it with Jimi and Harvey. C’mon, sing along:

Gimme a ticket for an aeroplane
Ain’t got time to take a fast train
Lonely days are gone, I’m-a goin’ home
My baby, just-a wrote me a letter

I don’t care how much money I gotta spend
Got to get back to my baby again
Lonely days are gone …

Well, she wrote me a letter
Said she couldn’t live without me no more
Listen, mister, can’t you see I got to get back
To my baby once-a more. Anyway, yeah!

Buddha, stay. Good dog. z”l
“…live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.”
(Buddha)

 

Sources:
Buddha pic: Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Letter lyrics: © Universal Music Publishing Group, EMI Music Publishing