Manhattan Moments: Holiday Escapes

RELAXING WITH HOLIDAY FILMS

“When the weather outside is frightful….”  It wasn’t frightful, but definitely December cold and windy, so over the past week, we hunkered down most evenings and watched a series of holiday films including the Call the Midwife special.  Plus one with Diane Keaton we hadn’t ever seen.  Here’s our round-up.

Love Actually (Amazon Prime)

I’m a big fan of Bill Nighy’s, and in Love Actually (2003), he plays an irreverent, inappropriate aging rock star.  Against the backdrop of “All You Need is Love,” several distinct kinds of love stories play out in the weeks leading up to Christmas. There are the two young actors filming a movie sex scene, the little boy who loves a girl in his class and wants to be noticed, a husband possibly straying from his long-suffering wife, and the handsome prime minister who’s attracted to one of his staff.  The cast is a great one including Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, and Hugh Grant. 

We have watched this film at least three times, and it never fails to entertain us.  Definitely not for young kids, but fun and heartwarming with a feel-good message.  At the end, you can’t help but sing along!

The Holiday (Amazon Prime)

I wasn’t sure we had seen The Holiday (2006) before but remembered the premise. Two young women, one English and the other American, having just broken up with or been jilted by their respective boyfriends, agree to do a house exchange.  Amanda in Los Angeles goes to spend 2 weeks in Iris’ cozy English cottage, while Iris trades snowy winter for California sun and a big house with a pool. Iris’s brother Graham shows up one night at his sister’s and unexpectedly meets Amanda.   

Iris tries to put her cad boyfriend Jeremy behind her and helps an elderly man get the recognition he deserves for his show business career. It is Christmas time, but life has its complexities in this rom-com with some serious twists.  Another notable cast with Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, and Jude Law. 

Hampstead (Acorn)

Hampstead (2017) is a Diane Keaton film we had never seen.  It’s inspired by a true story, and in it, Keaton, playing widow Emily Walters, takes up the cause of  seemingly homeless Donald Horner who has built himself a shack on part of Hampstead Heath.  Emily’s neighbors object to his dwelling, but she and others rally to his defense and eventually go to court with him.  It’s a sweet film with a poignant message.  Donald is played by Brendan Gleason, and Lesley Manvile is one of Emily’s busybody neighbors.

Call the Midwife Christmas Special 2025 (PBS)

Every year the Call the Midwife series presents a one-off, 2-hour Christmas special.  I confess we have never watched it before this year.  This one is set in Hong Kong and at Nonnatus House.  Dr. Turner and his wife, along with several of the sisters, are in Hong Kong to help out after the collapse of an orphanage building.  The Hong Kong they discover is not a pretty sight, and they come face to face with violent organized crime.  They also hope to find May’s mother Esther. 

On the home front, there are the usual complicated childbirths, Christmas celebrations, and the return of a Poplar native to the apartment where he was born.  For those viewers, who think that life is always rosy in this historical series, this entry is a stark contrast to many other episodes.  Yes, the themes of care and compassion, goodwill and respect for others are here, but there is also a dark underside which gives it greater depth and greater realism.  Highly recommended! 

Note: Photos ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved.)

Manhattan Moments: At Home & Dining Out

Upper East Side trees

WATCHING: A Star Reflects

Jay Kelly (Netflix)

If you’re one of George Clooney’s many fans, then you will want to see this film.  Jay Kelly is the story of one famous movie star’s reflecting on his past life, his successes, but mostly his shortcomings and omissions.  Stunned by the death of a mentor, and then taken back into the past by a run-in with a former aspiring actor, Jay begins to confront his life.  Divorced, with episodic relationships with his two daughters, he and his manager, Ron Sukenick, are bound for Tuscany where Jay will collect an award.  On the way, Jay tries to join his younger daughter Daisy’s European trip with friends; as a result, he ends up on a crowded train which leads to some funny encounters with the other passengers. 

Where does a movie star’s façade end and when does his real self emerge? If you are looking for lots of action, this film isn’t for you. Using flashbacks as well as present-day events, Jay’s self-importance and entitlement are coupled with a dawning awareness of all that he has missed out on.  George Clooney delivers a masterful performance as does Adam Sandler as Ron. (~JWFarrington)

READING: Inspector Lynley Returns

A Slowly Dying Cause by Elizabeth George

Mystery writer Elizabeth George builds her cases slowly and deliberately with lots of backstory.  Her latest Inspector Lynley novel, the 22nd, is no exception, running to over 600 pages.  In fact, we don’t meet Thomas Lynley and Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers until about a third of the way in. 

Michael Lobb, the owner of a tin and pewter business is found murdered, and the local DCI Bea Hannaford is investigating the case.  Suspects and suspicions abound in the form of his two employees, a father and son; an eco-mining company that would like to acquire his property; his much younger wife Kayla; his younger brother Sebastian; and several other relatives. Michael’s estranged first wife and children are also of interest.

This is a slow-moving book, and while I enjoyed it, I don’t consider it one of George’s best.  The scenes between Lynley and Havers, however, are priceless, and Barbara’s stay at the Lynley family estate is memorable as she anxiously deals with what to wear and how to comport herself in such elegant and rich surroundings.  More of Lynley and Havers would have enhanced this mystery. Cautiously recommended for fans of the series.

Wreath and tree, Jefferson Market Garden

DINING OUT

Lovely Lunch at Novita

The Chief Penguin and I had lunch with a friend and former Lehigh colleague, currently the president of Baruch College. Novita is located on 22nd Street at Lexington, practically on the campus. Its butter yellow dining room and a warm welcome from the hostess set the tone for our lively conversation and the meal to follow.

The Italian menu included a wide selection of pasta dishes along with meat and fish entrees.  We three opted for mussels, pappardelle with lamb and porcini ragu, and my delicate spinach ravioli topped with a thick tomato sauce and several dollops of buffalo mozzarella.  Simply delicious overall, Novita is now on our must-return list.

Via Carota, All-time Favorite in the West Village

 We make it a priority to dine at Via Carota at least once every visit to Manhattan. Reservations are hard to come by, so we arrive just before 11:00 am when they open, to be among the first diners seated.  Today, despite some rain, was no exception.  We arrived before 11:00 and were admitted and seated right away.

Today’s lunch included a lovely pasta dish with slices of black truffle on top, the C.P.’s favorite artichokes a la griglia, and chicken with olive oil and slices of lemon. It was a perfect lunch and we savored it with a bit of Vernaccia white wine.

‘Tis the holiday season, warmest of wishes: Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas!

Jefferson Market Garden gates

Note: All photos ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved.)

Manhattan Moments: Cold & Cocooning

TRAVEL IN WINTER: A DAY OF SMALL ADVENTURES

Arriving at the Airport

Fortunately, the Chief Penguin and I are planners and early people.  We routinely arrive at the airport 2 hours before flight time—earlier if he sets the pick-up time.  On Thursday, we arrived at the airport, having been driven there and unloaded the luggage, only for him to discover that, uh, oh, he had left his big suitcase back home just inside our apartment building. The good news, we live just 20 minutes max from the airport.  The bad news, someone had to go and retrieve said black bag. 

Awaiting the Return

Fortunately, the driver, a gem of a guy, was willing to do it and left immediately.  We hung around at Delta’s outside check-in. Then he texted me when he had the bag and his arrival time back at the airport.  Meanwhile the baggage handler had already checked three bags and given me all the tags so, when the missing suitcase was back—at the time the driver stated—we just handed it over. We still had almost an hour to boarding time to go through security and get to the gate.

On the Plane

All went smoothly, short line, moving steadily to security, and a nearby gate.  We boarded the plane and prepared to taxi.  Not so fast; the pilot came on with the first of at least three updates: our departure time had been pushed back half an hour; then next another 45 minutes, and then La Guardia was on ground stop operating with just one runway due to gusty winds, and the next update would be at 11:15.  When I was certain the flight would be cancelled, the pilot happily informed us we would be taking off momentarily in a brief window of availability.  We took off and the flight was quick and relatively smooth except for a brisk landing in the wind.

Manhattan at Last

We made out way to baggage claim, retrieved our luggage, and got in a waiting car.  Traffic leaving the airport was slow and clogged; soon a sign indicated a crash in the right lane, expect delays.  We crawled along and the usually pretty quick trip into Manhattan was a good 45 minutes.  But, we had arrived where we wanted to be!  Going out later all bundled up, it was bitingly cold and very windy; we understood why flights had been delayed.  Later, a warm welcome at our favorite Barbaresco, a Manhattan in Manhattan for the C.P., and delicious veal and chicken entrees confirmed we had indeed arrived!  Winter in the city.

READING: HISTORICAL ENGLISH SERIES

The Ashmore Castle series by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles is an English writer and author of the 36 volume Morland Dynasty series, and also the Bill Slider mysteries. Over about fifteen years, I real all of the Morland Dynasty and loved the combination of history and complex family relationships.  Her latest series consists of 4 books published between 2021 and 2025.  I read the first one when it came out in 2021, and in the past three days devoured the other three books.  The titles in order are:  The Secrets of Ashmore Castle, The Affairs of Ashmore Castle, The Mistress of Ashmore Castle, and The Fortunes of Ashmore Castle. 

They are set primarily on a country estate and in London, beginning in 1901.  The main characters are Giles Tallant, an archaeologist who reluctantly becomes the Earl of Stainton when his father dies in an accident, and his wife Kitty.  His father left the estate in dire financial straits, and Giles felt compelled to marry a rich woman.  He loveD Kitty Bayfield, and she came with a fortune.  

Kitty’s best friend Nina marries an older successful businessman and industrialist, Joseph Cowling, although she secretly loves another.  Add in Giles’ unmarried brother Richard, two younger sisters, Rachel and Alice, who need to be introduced to society, and his overbearing mother, along with  a host of cousins and servants. Together, you have a set of very different individuals from diverse backgrounds, each with secrets, hopes, and troubles. 

There are a lot of characters to keep track of, especially among the servants, but some of them like Crooks, a stalwart butler; Aftan, the earl’s personal valet; Mrs. Webster, the housekeeper; and Dory, an embroidery and sewing whiz, stand out.  Their livelihood ultimately depends upon the good nature and support of the earl and his wife, leaving them little in the way of free license.  As is her wont, Harrod-Eagles provides details on the political scene and the king and his cronies, with special attention to the suffragist movement and the constrained role of women at that time.

The novels are not fast-paced, but I enjoyed getting to know the inner lives and loves of this large cast over the four books.  Recommended for fans of royal lives and upstairs/downstairs relationships!  (~JWFarrington)

VIEWING FOOTNOTE

We finished watching Death by Lightning on Netflix today, and the last episode is stunningly good. Now, I think of James Garfield as more than just a slain president; he was a good man who tried to fulfill his role, and Chester Arthur, his dismal, unqualified vice president, rose to the challenge, and succeeding Garfield as president, oversaw the reform of the civil service system. A series definitely worth watching!

SNOW IN MANHATTAN

It is December and it is very cold here in the Big Apple.  Appropriately, we have some early snow coating the trees and giving them a lacy appearance. This bracing, stay-inside-weather partly explains why I did so much reading these past few days!

Note: Photos ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved.)

Carolina Comments: Trees, Advent Mystery, Garfield

CHRISTMAS TREES

The Chief Penguin and I gave up having a live Christmas tree some years ago since we were almost always out of town.  We thought we moved one of our 2 ft. blinking-colored-lights trees, but alas, we had not.  Consequently, we enjoy all the decorated trees in our building.

And yesterday, the North Carolina extended family gathered near another tree for the annual Christmas tea and gift exchange.  Here are a few of those pretty trees.

READING

Compelling Mystery Set during Advent:

At Midnight Comes the Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming

Spencer-Fleming (us.macmillan.com)

Julia Spencer-Fleming is one of my favorite mystery writers.   I’ve read all ten of her novels about pastor Clare Fergusson and police chief Russ Van Alstyne.  At Midnight Comes the Cry, her latest after a gap of five years, is simply excellent.  

In keeping with Clare’s ministerial profession, the book titles in this series are usually words from a Protestant hymn.  This particular mystery takes place at Advent, making it appropriate for reading in December. Each set of chapters taking place on a Sunday in Advent opens with a scriptural passage or a prayer; religious yes, but not overdone. 

The setting is upstate New York, the fictional small town of Millers Kill north of Albany, and also the Adirondack Mountains.  A minor incident involving a white supremacist group’s unexpected float in the local Thanksgiving parade raises questions for Russ and Clare.  When officer Kevin Flynn, working under cover, has not been heard from for some time, colleague officer Hadley Knox convinces Russ that it is worth investigating his whereabouts and the possibility that the supremacist group is involved and dangerous.  Meanwhile Clare befriends Tina, the wife of one of the group’s members.  

Many of Spencer-Fleming’s books bring in contemporary issues, and this one is no exception.  Her principal characters are well developed and likable, and the reader has insights into Clare and Russ’s marriage and parenting, along with wondering whether Hadley and Kevin will have a rapprochement.  Plenty of action, but no gore.

WATCHING

Garfield at the political convention (netflix.com)

Politics and Jim Garfield: Death by Lightning (Netflix)

In school years ago, I learned that President Garfield was one of two U. S. presidents who had been assassinated, but nothing about the man who did it.  Death by Lightning is a 4-part historical drama focusing on the intersecting lives of Garfield and Charles Guiteau.  Ohio farmer James Garfield was an unlikely president, becoming the nominee at a frenetic party convention as an unusual last resort.   

Charles Guiteau was a seductively charming and mentally unbalanced ne’er do well.  An ardent early supporter of Garfield’s candidacy, Guiteau tries to ingratiate himself with the politicos in Garfield’s circle to get a position in his administration.  Frustrated and rejected, he contemplates violent revenge.  

In this portrayal, Garfield is a stalwart and steady, while Guiteau’s nervous and disturbing energy pushes the action forward.  The CP and I have now watched all but the last episode; we know the outcome, but not the details.  Recommended!

Note: Tree photos ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved.)