Leave your heart in the hands of Tony Bennett · Wednesday October 7, 2009 by colin newell
After 4 or 5 standing ovations, I would have to say that the Tony Bennett show (at the Royal Theater in Victoria) was the greatest show I have ever seen.
Tony and his band took us on a sentimental journey through the great American song-book – and we went willingly and often with rapturous results.
To say that Tony Bennett is a skilled time traveler would be entirely fair – or better, a musical history tour guide of some of the sweetest love songs of the last 60+ years.
A largely gray crowd were held spellbound with classics like “Someone to Love,” “Steppin’ Out with My Baby” from a whisper to, yet another, explosive finale, and brought the lovers in the crowd closer with “Maybe This Time,” and emoted “Speak Low” with his signature texture and rasp.
At 83, Tony has more to offer than the clear majority of pop stars half his age, his vocals offering an return ticket into life’s simple magic – and his undying quest for perfect love.
“I dedicate this song to Britney Spears,” he cracked during “Kiss the Good Life Goodbye,” the Royal audience embracing his sentiment as he snapped a sly smile.
“That’s the way to live, if you mope and groan, something’s got to give,” he sang in Duke Ellington’s “In a Mellow Tone,” the band trading blazing solos as they did throughout the night, incinerating “I Got Rhythm,” “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If it Ain’t Got that Swing)” with an unquenchable fire.
Other greats included: “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” “Fly Me to the Moon.” “Sing You Sinners” and “For Once In My Life.”
At one point Tony put the microphone down and sang into the crowd with only the guitarist by his side. As he did throughout the night, Tony and his band took us higher and higher – leaving us breathless.
And like my wife and I, I am sure the other couples in the audience felt that Tony was singing directly to them, reaffirming their love and reminding us that tomorrow is another day – filled with joy and hope – and the little annoyances don’t mean a thing – not a thing.
Tony Bennett: Thank you!
Summer Food Fun and Drink 2009 - This month in SELF magazine · Thursday July 23, 2009 by colin newell
Beth Janes of New York city wrote a wonderful and comprehensive article on coffee, yummy coffee in the August 2009 issue of SELF magazine.
And we are in it!
Check it out online or on the magazine stands.
We talked about the benefits of a good home espresso machine and how you can pay for it in savings one latte at a time.
I get to talk to the coolest people… and yea, I like seeing my website in print.
So. If you are looking for a talking head or talking heads, for your next TV, radio or newspaper thing on specialty coffee – we can help you out. Coffeecrew and the coffeecrew blog have members in Victoria, Vancouver, Toronto and Los Angeles.
Cheers!
Summer Food Fun and Drink Chapter 14 OTTO in the House · Monday July 13, 2009 by colin newell
OTTO arrived on the shores of North America today! Delivered to my door after what seems like a long, long wait.
You have read the stories before – and the blogs that I have put out over the last year or so.
And for all those watching the reemergence of the classic Atomic espresso maker (in the guise of a new Atomic – and a Sorrentina), OTTO was hotly anticipated.
And few were more excited than I was.
I have never even touched an Atomic or Atomic style coffee maker before – and I know the devotion, amongst collectors and users, is legendary.
So this is just a teaser – in what will become an entire series unto itself.
After taking OTTO out of its shipping crate, I was staggered at the raw weight of the unit. I will weigh it tomorrow – but apparently it clocks in at about 3 times the weight of the Atomic Classic.
And my first brew after a casual flirtation with the instructions?
OTTO knocked me out of the park with a crema rich espresso. With Craig Hiron and associate Ben on Video Skype in Sydney Australia – watching on pins – I gasped at the first sips of espresso and a cheer went up Down Under.
This was a truly delightful moment for me – and the boys in Australia. A sense of relief too. I mean, I had no idea how good this was going to be.
More coming!
Comment [10]
Spring coffee style - Joy in the Italian espresso maker #2 · Thursday April 2, 2009 by colin newell
If it were a simpler World – less all the problems that we are all too familiar with; hunger, war, strife, natural disasters… etc
and I had the luxury to choose… which Country I would like to rule the World… based on the simple things…
…like food, drink and love.
I might pick Italy. For the coffee. For the wine. For the food. And for their love of simple pleasures.
Sure I could pick France for the superior cuisine (kidding) and the slightly more civilized wines (now I am really kidding!) and the faster trains… but why bother.
The Italians rule the coffee pot. Particularly the stove top espresso maker. They excel in that department and the numbers do not lie. Over 100 million Italian families start each and every day with a stove top espresso maker. It is simple. It is elegant. And although it does not make real espresso (that takes more pressure), it makes some pretty dope brew – with an attitude and a punch that is definitely not straight coffee.
I have had a Bialetti for years – and it is currently on loan to another coffee lover. When Bodum-USA sent me a family sized one (twice the size of the basic stove top), I was delighted because I had heard a rumor that it makes slightly better coffee.
Now I can neither confirm or deny that the coffee was better than the coffee that my little Bialetti coughs up – but this first brew was spot on the money; intense, thick and built for the breakfast table.
So. If you have never had stove top espresso, give it a try. The coffee makers start at around 25 dollars. Do yourself a favor and get a stainless steel one. The coffee tastes better and the unit lasts longer – likely a lifetime of coffee drinking. Salut!
Colin Newell is a Victoria resident and food writer for Eat Magazine. His almost daily jaunts into coffee world leave him intense, awake… and creative.
