#KarenStensgaard

[karenstensgaard]

I had some success figuring out the location of John Grisham’s imaginary Camino Island novel’s setting. That June 13th blog, my most popular so far, has had over 5000 views. And now he’s done it again with another new best-seller, The Rooster Bar, about students in a sub-par law school buried in debt.

While I didn’t make a special trip to D.C. where Grisham’s new legal thriller takes place, I did find a Rooster Bar. This one’s in Harlem aka the upper upper east side of NYC. And it’s not a hidden dive bar, but a trendy food and watering hole, the Red Rooster!

                    The Elusive Rooster Bar Found!

This bar-restaurant combo, opened in 2010 by the Ethiopian-born and Swedish-raised Chef Marcus Samuelsson, has been a hot spot ever since. With such a unique background and cultural mix, visualize crab fritters, Helga’s Swedish meatballs, blackened catfish, and collared greens on the menu. A culinary adventure with the ease of the 2/3/5 subway station at 125th Street right outside the door. 

                  Another Rooster Sighting On the Bar

And if you’re in the mood for music, a live jazz venue is downstairs. Ginny’s Supper Club, plush with great acoustics, serves food from the open kitchen upstairs. If future bands are half as good as the one we heard Thursday night, I’d have to give it a high-five recommendation.

The Red Rooster is crowded, especially at night, but you can book reservations via OpenTable. Here’s a link to their website. Red Rooster Harlem 

My novel Aquavit doesn’t include a visit to the Red Rooster or a Rooster Bar. But there are scenes taking place at NYC restaurants and bars with the names slightly changed – a guessing game for readers familiar with the city. And there’s a few more favorite dining stops in Copenhagen, Denmark. Getting hungry or thirty? Head to Harlem, or for zero calories, check out my novel:  Aquavit

  John Grisham’s Rooster Bar I had some success figuring out the location of John Grisham's imaginary Camino Island novel's setting. That June 13th blog, my most popular so far, has had over 5000 views.

[karenstensgaard]

Last week, Dame Helen Mirren, the incomparably versatile actor known for playing both Queen Elizabeth I and II, received the 45thAnnual Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Chaplin Award. I was lucky enough to join the celebration with a birds-eye view from a seat in the back.

Before showtime:

Helen is one of those actors who can do anything – plays, films, and TV – and she doesn’t stop. According to IMDb’s website, right now she’s filming two movies, and three are in post-production. Another TV series suitable for the Queen that she is, Catherine the Great, is in pre-production. Yeah, Helen!

The star-studded presenters for Helen’s award included:

Mikhail Baryshnikov. They worked together on the film, White Nights, in 1985 directed by Taylor Hackford. He shared how they were running out of time trying to find a woman for a key role requiring Russian language skills. Helen auditioned frustrated after a long wait but got the role. She had the perfect background. Helen’s family emigrated to England from Russia, and her real name is Mironoff. The film was a success in many ways; she married the director, Taylor Hackford, another admiring presenter at the ceremony.

Vin Diesel. They worked together in a recent film, The Fate of the Furious, the ninth in a hugely popular and profitable series.

Julie Taymor. They met at a party, and Helen agreed to take the lead role in Julie’s directorial project, The Tempest, a 2010 film based on a Shakespeare play. Her character was male in the original. But no problem, make a gender switch!

Last Year’s Winner Robert DeNiro. They haven’t worked together yet, but he admires her work and dedication. He ignored the teleprompter and winged most of his speech.  In 1972, Charlie Chaplin received the first Lincoln Center award. Chaplin was an Englishman like Helen. DeNiro joked that both Helen and Charlie Chaplin (and their fans) would have been out of luck in today’s world with the crackdown on immigrants.

Jeremy Irons. He gave the final speech and worked with her in Elizabeth I. Repeatedly, he called her ‘a force of nature’ and said that luckily ‘a bit of her wild child remains.’

The only disappointing no-show among the presenters was the 2016 award recipient, Morgan Freeman. If you haven’t seen them together in the spy thriller RED from 2010, rent it this weekend!

An Affectionate Handoff from Jeremy & Onward to the Podium:

Helen began her acceptance speech with her wild child in full force. Precisely what Jeremy Irons warned us about! She blurted out the F-word. She quickly apologized and thanked her presenters and described them as a perfect fantasy dinner party.

Helen confessed she hadn’t worked with DeNiro. ‘Only in my dreams!’ With so many professionals in the theatre and movie biz attending the ceremony, some directors and producers must have heard the message. If only they would act on it!

Helen explained she was a storyteller and how they matter. She has been a working artist for 67 years. Helen shared her unlikely entrance into acting. She met disappointment right away at an early age when she didn’t get any meaningful roles in school plays. Her household was modest, and she grew up without a television. Her family didn’t even go to the movies.

When she was 16, after working all day in her aunt’s B&B in Brighton, England, she went to see her first movie. This experience changed Helen with the mix of excitement, fear, and fascination. She recounted how stories live forever, films make them more permanent, and they matter.

The finale with Helen & her presenters posing for photos:

***

My husband and I used to be members of the Lincoln Film Society and attended a few of these Chaplin award ceremonies over the years. We enjoyed seeing some of our favorite actors receive the award and the specially choreographed film clips highlighting their career so far. You may have heard of them: Diane Keaton and Meryl Streep. If you are movie buff, check out their website to see which actor will win next year’s award and try to attend.

Helen’s award and recognition is another reason to rent, stream, or see her in a real movie theatre. Helen Mirren doing what she does best. One of my favorite films, Woman in Gold, and Helen’s biography, In the Frame: My Life in Words and Pictures, are available from Amazon (links below). I don’t have a role for her in my novel Aquavit, but there are at least two roles she would be perfect for in my second to-be-published book. Wouldn’t that be something!

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#DameHelenMirren #ChaplinAward #FilmSocietyofLincolnCenter #HelenMirren #MikhailBaryshnikov #TaylorHackford #VinDiesel #JulieTaymor #RobertDeNiro #MorganFreeman #JeremyIrons #ForceOfNature #WildChild #WomanInGold #Aquavit #KarenStensgaard

Dame Helen Mirren, the queen of acting, received the Chaplin Award last week in New York City. Last week, Dame Helen Mirren, the incomparably versatile actor known for playing both Queen Elizabeth I and II, received the 45thAnnual Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Chaplin Award.

[karenstensgaard]

Hidden away in TriBeCa at 25 North Moore and Varick, you’ll find a unique library. But whatever ‘book’ you check out has to be finished inside the bar. As you can tell, this isn’t your usual library, but I couldn’t resist a visit, and the husband was eager to browse and check something out.

The library even has some books! But most of the inventory is bottles. Not just brandy but almost everything you can imagine from all over the world.

TriBeCa, aka the Triangle Below Canal Street for non-New Yorkers, is an old manufacturing part of town, and North Moore still has some five-story warehouses from the late 1800’s. Some even have the original cast-iron loading areas and signs.

A massive telephone book-sized ‘library’ menu includes a novella-length book of cocktails. I ordered The Magic Carpet cocktail made with singani, elderflower, and champagne. Delicious! If you are wondering, Singani is a Bolivian brandy made from white Muscat of Alexandria grapes. Learn something every day is my motto, especially in a library.

Scanning the menu again online, I found my next one: The Librarian made with cognac, ruby port, and crème de framboise. They also have courses to help newbies and aficionados do more in-depth hands-on and glass-up training covering whiskey, bourbon, cognac and more. They even have a Cinco de Mayo Mexican tequila tasting next year on Cinco de Mayo. For more details: Brandy Library Website

And for history buffs, nearby the condo-converted 20 North Moore was the last residence of John F. Kennedy, Jr. and his wife.

Alas, if you’d like to try some Scandinavian ‘water of life’ aquavit at the Brandy Library you are currently out of luck. Aquavit liquor is a rare and exotic find like my novel. But you can read all about it here: Aquavit on Amazon

Libraries Round the World: A Liquefying Brandy Library Hidden away in TriBeCa at 25 North Moore and Varick, you'll find a unique library. But whatever ‘book’ you check out has to be finished inside the bar.

[karenstensgaard]

Libraries Round the World: Biblioteka Nashonal Kòrsou

Last week I visited the most unique library so far. But instead of telling you the name in English, it’s game time and let’s see if you can guess it. Just don’t take the fun out of it by looking too closely at the photos.

Hint #1 ~ The library has fish tanks with tropical fish.

Hint #2 ~They also have a sports museum inside the library. This small country has contributed quite a few professional…

[karenstensgaard]

Hidden away on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, at 53 East 79th Street in an old brownstone, lies The New York Society Library and well worth a visit. But don’t rush over with the intention to check out books. The library is private for members only. Even if you don’t intend to be a member, stop by to see the library and the inside of an old upper east side townhouse. Guests can view the impressive downstairs entrance area and may sit and read in the lobby’s reading room.

The library was founded in 1754 as the City Library with some looting by the British during the Revolutionary War. Back in the day, libraries were private and created with donations from friends and members. The Philadelphia library specifically differentiates itself with its name, the Free Library of Philadelphia since it is free to the public. But if you live nearby, consider joining. Besides thousands of books and research opportunities, they host regular events.

                            Views from Inside the Lobby & Reading Room

Unsurprisingly, this is New York City’s oldest library, but it moved to a series of locations from downtown Manhattan to its current building in 1937. For more information about this fascinating library including membership: The library’s website

Unfortunately, you won’t find my novel AQUAVIT at this library unless you can request it via Overdrive, the library e-system. But until November 20, you can enter to win one of 5 free ebooks as part of Amazon Giveaways.  Link to enter contest

Libraries Round the World: The New York Society Hidden away on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, at 53 East 79th Street in an old brownstone, lies The New York Society Library and well worth a visit.

[karenstensgaard]

One of the cool things about NYC is running into film sets. Even after suffering through a long day inside a stage set as an extra in the 2015 Rocky movie, Creed, I still enjoy finding one. An easy way is spotting “The Can-Do People” Haddad and their supersized trailers for equipment and dressing rooms. Love their slogan!

According to Haddad’s website, they got into the film service business in 1954 in Pennsylvania of all places. Haddad’s was a modest gas station offering towing when a Los Angeles transportation coordinator wanted to rent a trailer for the film Flashdance. You can probably guess what happened next.

Filming was happening on location inside the William Barnacle Tavern on St. Mark’s Place right below our destination, the Museum of the American Gangster. St. Mark’s Place is in the heart of the East Village, and one of my favorite neighborhoods with old 19th-century buildings, chain-less shops, and food from just about everywhere. We waited around for the museum to open but either they were paparazzi shy (only one guy with a mega camera stood around), or they were starting late.

The tavern is a former speakeasy dating back to Prohibition in the 1920’s, and today specializes in absinthe drinks. From some online photos, the interior is just my style with a model sailing ship. Supposedly, Frank Sinatra was a waiter and may have served one of their regulars, Al Capone. But to get the real story, I must return for an on-site investigation and absinthe tasting. Now I know why the museum is upstairs – excellent connections!

The film, Late Night, per the entertainment industry site IMDb, stars Emma Thompson, Amy Ryan, Hugh Dancy, and John Lithgow. Mindy Kaling is pulling double duty as the screenwriter and an actor. She is also in the new film Ocean’s 8, so Mindy’s a busy and talented lady! We didn’t see any stars – just the herd of extras waiting and then ushered into the bar. The movie is about a late-night talk show host who suspects she may be losing her long-running show. Not a surprise with all that’s been going on, but a woman?!

I’m not sure if the William Barnacle Tavern has aquavit on their menu, a key ingredient in my first novel. My second novel, soon to be done, shifts to drinking absinthe. But the real stuff from the old days with hallucinogenic wormwood.

As they say in Hollywood, “That’s a wrap!”

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  #Hollywood #St.Mark’sPlace #MovieMaking #HaddadsTheCan-DoPeople #WilliamBarnacleTavern #TheMuseumoftheAmericanGangster #Late Night #MindyKaling #EmmaThompson, #Amy Ryan #HughDancy #John Lithgow #Oceans8 #Aquavit #Absinthe#KarenStensgaard

Discovering a movie set on the street of NYC is always a thrill. The film, Late Night, was spotted in process in an old prohibition era bar in the East Village. One of the cool things about NYC is running into film sets. Even after suffering through a long day inside a stage set as an extra in the 2015 Rocky movie, …

[karenstensgaard]

The Museum of Modern Art in NYC is known as MOMA. But when it first opened, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller’s children called it ‘mother’s museum.’ She and two girlfriends pooled their resources and determination to open their new art museum just nine days after Wall Street crashed in 1929. What timing! Fortunately, their museum is alive and well.

The MOMA Across the Street with a High-Rise Under Construction:

But I want to tell you about the redesigned public library that opened a few years ago right across the street. The library is mainly underground to use the space that few want. But they have some comfortable library chairs to read and relax for a few hours. Even if you aren’t a library card-carrying New Yorker, this library offers a break from crowded weekday Manhattan.

Last time I was there, the huge 1950-built library reminded me of a grim institutional box, but it was full of life and huge overflowing with books. The original library was sold in 2008 for redevelopment into a hotel. (The MOMA is also leveraging their horizontal pace into a mega high rise.) As what typically happens with real estate dealmakers, this promise fell through and the building was completed library-free. Eight long years later a new modern library finally opened its doors.

While the new library is only one-third of the size of the original and most of it underground, the design is modern and provides some sense of space. Creative decorating and ‘making the best of a bad situation’ mojo saved the day. The ‘little library that could’ has no particular name aside from its address – the 53rd Street Library.

The saddest part of the story is that the original Winnie-the-Pooh, Eeyore, and his friends lived at the old library for twenty years. When their home was slated for demolition, they were banished to the History & Social Science Library eleven blocks south. Just like a Dickens story but this time it’s about Pooh-Bear and his buddies. On my next trip to NYC, I will check in and report back on whether they are happy in their promised children’s room.

   “I have been Foolish and Deluded,” said he, “And I am a Bear of No Brain at All.”    “You’re the Best Bear in All the World,” said Christopher Robin soothingly.    “Am I?” said Pooh hopefully.

And one more perfect Pooh-ism: “People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.”

My novel Aquavit doesn’t include Pooh, but much of it does take place in ever-changing NYC.

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#TheMuseumofModernArt #MOMA #Rockefeller #PublicLibraries #Manhattan #Redevelopment #The53rdStreetLibrary #WinniethePooh #Eeyore #PoohBear #Aquavit #Novel #KarenStensgaard

    NYC's 53rd street library across from MOMA returns but without their special residents Poor-Bear, Eeyore, and friends. The Museum of Modern Art in NYC is known as MOMA. But when it first opened, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller’s children called it ‘mother’s museum.’ She and two girlfriends pooled their resources and determination to open their new art museum just nine days after Wall Street crashed in 1929.

[karenstensgaard]

What in the world? Visiting a library in AC? Why wasn’t I at the beach or gambling? I have more than one valid excuse. I’m not a gambler, got a dose of sun the day before, and it was a rainy morning on the way home.

In a weird way, I’m glad the weather was crummy. Although the library moved into a modern building in 1985, the history of AC’s library and some small exhibits were fascinating.

The first AC library began in 1899 by a group of women called the Women’s Research Club. They obtained a room in a local hotel, contributed a thousand books, and paid a woman ‘librarian’ to work there three days a week during summer.

In 1901, a landslide referendum voted in favor of creating a public library with 6,000+ for and only 30 against. The original thousand starter books were moved to the new library. Some of the original contributions were on display:

In 1904, the library received a larger building through the Andrew Carnegie library development program. Carnegie made AC stay on budget though. A straightforward one paragraph letter said that if the city agreed to fund a $6,000 annual budget, Carnegie would cover the $60,000 library building.

Inside the old Carnegie library:

In 1985, the building moved to a larger modern city hall complex a few blocks north and a block further from the Boardwalk. The original Carnegie library building is now part of Stockton University and still a library. In2006, the building won an AC Historic Preservation Award. The Carnegie library is located four blocks south and a block closer to the beach than the new one, and the building’s historical details are said to be still intact. Something to do on the next AC visit!

The Carnegie library building then & now in lower right:

A beauty pageant began in 1902, The Floral Paradeof Bathing Beauties,with the floats judged, not the ladies onboard. To extend the summer season past Labor Day, in 1921 a “beauty maids” contest began, and the library had a float and participated in the first parade.

Seven young ladies from seven Northeastern cities competed that first year. The winner, judged only in her bathing suit, was a sixteen-year-old from DC, and she received a Golden Mermaid statue. But keep in mind, a bathing suit was a dress back then! The more corporate Miss America contest started in 1940, and this year they announced the end of the swimsuit competition. Maybe they should revert to dresses like this!

P.S. If you feel like rolling the dice and buying a book from a relatively unknown author like me, here’s your chance.

Or check out this one on the fascinating history of AC.

#Libraries #Books #AtlanticCity #AC #NewJersey #Women #MissAmerica #BeautifulWomen #KarenStensgaard #Aquavit #Novels

Another library, this time in Atlantic City. What a history! What in the world? Visiting a library in AC? Why wasn’t I at the beach or gambling?

[karenstensgaard]

Today is the start of summer and what better way to enjoy the dog days ahead than by escaping deep into the world of great book … with your dog or cat nearby. PBS launched a special event in May with one hundred book suggestions to help you along in your quest to find that extra-special read.

Check out their website and their reader-nominated list of a hundred books. Who nominated them? Well, I’m not exactly sure, but there are some old classic standbys and new ones, too. See if any of your favorites made the list. Here’s a link to PBS’s two-page print-friendly list: PBS 100 Books

Or watch their two-hour special TV show on your local PBS channel or online. Actress Sarah Jessica Parker, with one foot in the publishing business, highly recommends Things Fall Apart by Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe. Game of Thrones guru George R.R. Martin was nominated, but he’s pushing his own favorites, Lord of the Rings and The Great Gatsby. #VOTELOTR #VOTEGOT #VOTEGatsby

Everyone is encouraged to vote online once a day for their favorite book by October 18, 2018. Already they have logged over a million votes. Can’t decide? You can vote multiple times and for different books. Afterward, they will announce the results in the Grand Finale PBS TV show.

You can vote two ways: on their website pbs.org/GreatAmericanRead by book; or select the hashtag from their list and post it on Facebook or tweet it on Twitter. Each book has a predesigned hashtag that doesn’t match the book’s complete title. For example, The Handmaid’s Tale is #VOTEHandmaid.

My reading to-do list is now incredibly long, and I’ve already voted once. But if you absolutely have no time to read a book, many on the list are movies, and some are TV shows. I highly recommend Outlander on Starz, and I’m making my way through her 800+ page debut novel. #VOTEOutlander

Exceptional stories live on in whatever mode of delivery. But the books are usually better, so you are missing out! #VOTEDune #VOTEDaVinci #VOTE1984

P.S. My novel that could isn’t on the list but available on Amazon and a book about PBS’s Great American Read.

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#GreatReadPBS#100GreatBooks#TheGreatAmericanRead #PBS #VoteForYourFavorites#VOTE#SarahJessicaParker #ThingsFallApart #GameOfThrones #GeorgeRRMartin #TheHandmaidsTale #Outlander   #Aquavit #KarenStensgaard

Check out PBS's Great American Read for the summer of 2018! Today is the start of summer and what better way to enjoy the dog days ahead than by escaping deep into the world of great book … with your dog or cat nearby.

[karenstensgaard]

Established in 1859, and officially The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, this private college borders the East Village in New York City.

Peter Cooper, a true American success story, founded this college. He built America’s first railroad steam engine and made his fortune in manufacturing and real estate. Cooper became one of the richest men in the United States and ran for president under the appropriately named Greenback Party.

This historic main site, called the Foundation Building, is an Italianate brownstone at Cooper Square and Astor Place. Cooper, a farsighted businessperson, predicted elevators would be commonplace, so this is the first building with an elevator shaft. The library is on the ground floor of the Cooper Union Foundation Building.

In 1860, Abraham Lincoln made a pre-election historic speech about the future of the country in the Great Hall located below the library. Many presidents since then, including Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, have lectured here.

In 2009, a controversial ultra-modern new building, to support the college’s expanding needs, replaced a smaller building across the street.

According to U.S. News & World Report, the Cooper Union is top-ranked in the 2018 edition of Best Colleges – Regional Colleges North. The college had about 900 undergrads and fees for 2016 school year fell into the mid-40’s. Initially, students were admitted tuition-free, and plans exist to offer this in the future. Despite increased costs, Cooper Union is highly competitive to enter.

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#CooperUnionCollege #CooperUnion #LoveLibraries #PeterCooper#AbrahamLincoln#BarackObama#BillClinton #TheCooperUnionfortheAdvancementofScienceandArt #TopRankedRegionalCollegesNorth #NewYorkCity #St.MarksPlace #Aquavit #KarenStensgaard

  Libraries Round the World: The Cooper Union Established in 1859, and officially The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, this private college borders the East Village in New York City.

[karenstensgaard]

New York City’s Scandinavia House is hosting an exhibit on Denmark’s world renown Lego. Lego is a combination of two Danish words – leg and godt– which means, not surprisingly, play good. The number one goal and request from any tired parent or babysitter. The Danish inventor was a carpenter, and the first Lego bricks were created from wood in 1932, followed by plastic 15 years later.

The original workshop:

An online estimate stated over 400 billion Lego bricks were produced since the 1950’s or about 62 per person. This many Legos provides plenty of opportunities for good play-time to create something with our global friends and neighbors. Maybe the leader of North Korea and our Secretary of State could build something harmless, besides a wall or nuclear launch site, with their 124 Legos!

The Lego exhibit closes on August 4thso don’t wait too long. You can even ‘play good’ with some Legos and create a temporary masterpiece. Sean Kenney, the first Lego Certified Professional artist who also happens to be a Brooklynite, created the Lego sculpture and mosaics in the exhibit. Check out his website for more info. www.seankenney.com

As only a professional could do – the Chrysler Building & Chicago’s Wrigley Field:

If you get a chance, eat in their café, Smörgås Chef, for a typical Scandinavian meal. Curious about what’s on the plates below? Another reason to stop by.

My novel Aquavit doesn’t include Lego, but if you’ve never tried food Scandinavian-style, part of my story takes place in Copenhagen with some typical Danish dining and drinking. Afterall, a girl’s got to eat, and a drink helps wash it all down!

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#NewYorkCity #ScandinaviaHouse #Lego #GetCreative #SeanKenney #MakeArtNotWar #Denmark #SmörgåsChef #AmericanScandinavianFoundation #Sweden #LegoBricks #Scandinavia #KarenStensgaard #Aquavit

  Let go of your creativity with some Lego! A special exhibit at the Scandinavia House NYC is ready to show you how. New York City’s Scandinavia House is hosting an exhibit on Denmark’s world renown Lego. Lego is a combination of two Danish words – …