You may recall that over the last year I began a series called “James and the Man.”
I set out to write an ongoing picaresque tale along the lines of Pinocchio set in modern day Long Island.
In the case of “Pinocchio,” which also appeared in weekly installments in an Italian newspaper, the wooden puppet set out to have some fun, avoid school work and along the way became a real boy.
In my story it was a tale of the dog James and his master setting out to find some magic right here on Long Island.
And here is a review of some eight bits of magic that I found this year as I walked about and wrote my weekly column:
8) Austin and Daniel’s NY Soup Exchange: I’ve adored soup ever since I had my first can of Campbell’s tomato soup as a kid. My addiction to this soup was so bad that I insisted on having it for breakfast every morning.
This began to create a conflict because we spent each summer up in Maine staying at my grandparent’s home. She was a master cook and would offer me and my brothers and sister options every morning like homemade pancakes or fresh waffles with maple syrup they made themselves, eggs fresh from her brothers farm or cereal.
I would insist on tomato soup and she would look at me sadly every morning and just shake her head. And aren’t I the lucky one. Now once again I can indulge my need for soup on a daily basis.
But now I have graduated to gourmet soup from master chef Ken Kaplan who runs the NY Soup Exchange on Franklin Avenue in Garden City. Yummy, yummy.
7) Allyson Taylor Schwartz of Fusion Academy: It isn’t very often that I get bowled over by someone’s beauty and gentility but that is just what happened when I met Allyson Taylor Schwartz, director of admissions at Fusion Academy in Woodbury.
Her school is designed to meet the needs of young professional students, gifted kids or otherwise different and it represents a much needed addition to our overcrowded and over stressed school districts.
What makes this school real magic is the refined talent of Allyson, the charm of her colleague Headmaster Tiffany Bleeder and the school itself which seems like the school of the future first described by Herman Hesse in his novel “Magister Ludi: The Glass Bead Game.”
6) The Honorable Scott Fairgrieve: Scott is a marathon runner, business law teacher at C.W. Post and a judge in Nassau County. In Cormac McCarthy’s book The Road the father said to the boy “You have to carry the fire” to which the boy replied “I don’t know how to” and the father says “Yes you do.” Scott Fairgrieve is carrying the fire.
5) The magic of the Italian aesthetic: I went to Capri this year and experienced the Stendhal Syndrome which means its beauty blew my mind.
The views on the balcony of the Grand Hotel Quisisana, walking the streets of Capri and seeing the Blue Grotto are all displays of incomparable beauty.
Italians are the world’s masters of the beautiful display. They are the home for Fendi, Ferragamo, Gucci, Versace, Armani, Prada and Valentino. And this summer I met a new one.
You may recall my interview with Lisa Reali who is founder of Reali New York, the high end luxury sportswear company. There is something about Italians that make them a natural at displaying beauty.
4) The Nassau County Museum of Art Light Works Photography Show: If you’re like me when you see small black and shite photos from the past you are not impressed, even if they are amongst the best ever taken. That is why you need expert guidance when you are face to face with great art.
Docent Maxine Hersh guided me on a tour and discussed some of the most famous photos every taken including “Behind the Gare St. Lazare, Paris” 1932 by Henri Cartier-Bresson and “Migrant Mother, Nipoma, California”, 1936 by Dorothea Lange.
But the magic of these photos cannot be seen unless you’re eyes are opened by a talented docent.
3) Peter Reginato: Artists are always in the magic making business. I think the way it works is that they dive deep into the spiritus mundi and bring back to life a measure of joy and whimsy to elevate the spirit. Peter Reginato, whose work is found at the Nassau County Museum of Art and in front of Lever building at 114 Old Country Road, in Mineola is a perfect example of an artist familiar with the spiritus mundi and a teacher of joy and fun.
2) Dr. Susan Welgrin: I first wrote about Dr. Welgrin back in September of 2014. Thank the Lord above that she and her staff are still in Williston Park.
She is now celebrating her 10th year here, is still managing to keep us all healthy and is one of the few physicians left who is always available, always reassuring and always has a smile. She is one of the miracles of Williston Park.
8) “The Irishman:” Yes Hollywood came to town once again and brought the talented Mr. Scorsese, Mr. DeNiro, Mr. Pacino and Mr. Pesci.
They filmed the soon to be released “The Irishman” and I’ll never forget the night they managed to convert Willis Avenue into a sleepy town of the 1950s with all the old cars and old time characters including Jimmy Hoffa.
So there you have it. Some magic from the year 2017. I would say it was a very good year.