PIÑATA TIDBITS—CELEBRATING LAS POSADAS
LAS POSADAS, Spanish: “the inns,” celebrates the Nativity and humble birthplace of Christ. These nine days, from December 16 through 24, traditionally involve the breaking of piñatas, papier-mâché objects containing … Continue reading
CHRISTMAS OPERAS PART 2
THE OPERA AIN’T OVER… until we wish each other a Merry Christmas! And here’s Part 2, following yesterday’s Part 1. Today’s Christmas operas include one of Russian folklore, one that’s … Continue reading
CHRISTMAS OPERAS PART 1
ONE OF MY OPERA T-shirts reads “Murder, Treachery, Adultery, and Incest—All Sung to your Favorite Tunes.” In marked contrast, and what with the approaching holiday, I went looking for operas … Continue reading
“THE COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON” TO HOLMES PART 2
YESTERDAY IN PART 1, we shared eminent Sherlockian Christopher Morley’s observations about two classic tales having Christmas settings: Holmes’ “Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle” and Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Today … Continue reading
“THE COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON” TO HOLMES PART 1
IT WAS ON Friday, December 27, 1889, that Sherlockian chronicler Dr. John H. Watson visited Holmes at 221 B Baker Street and wished him “the compliments of the season.” Today … Continue reading
GREMLIN TIDBITS PART 2
TODAY’S TIDBIT COLLECTION traces back to Roald Dahl’s book about gremlins described two days ago at SimanaitisSays, continued yesterday with ”Gremlin Tidbits Part 1.” Actually, though, all this began a … Continue reading
GREMLIN TIDBITS PART 1
YESTERDAY AT SimanaitisSays, we talked about Roald Dahl and his dealings with Walt Disney, which culminated with the book The Gremlins. Today and tomorrow, in a continuation of this theme, … Continue reading
THE GREMLINS—THE LOST DISNEY (AND DAHL) PRODUCTION
ROALD DAHL WAS an author of children’s books, a screenwriter, a short story writer—and a fighter pilot. That is, this British author of James and the Peach and Matilda, screenplay … Continue reading
UP, DOWN, AND AROUND WITH FÉLIX NADAR PART 2
YESTERDAY, FRENCH pioneer photographer Félix Nadar explored the depths of the catacombs of Paris. Today in Part 2, he soars high above the city, still with camera in hand. My … Continue reading
UP, DOWN, AND AROUND WITH FÉLIX NADAR PART 1
FÉLIX NADAR WAS a 19th-century pioneer French photographer, but so much more. Like others, he did a lot of studio work, society portraits and the like. But Nadar also soared … Continue reading
Simanaitis Says 