…With apologies to Arthur Miller, Brooklyn Bridge Park is a work in progress.
By Nancy Mandell
Last week, Karen Altfest hosted a docent-led tour of the Neue Museum’s collection of Viennese and German art with 15 of her sister alums from McGill University. After a fascinating tour of works by German artist Otto Dix (on view through Aug. 30), we stopped for lunch in the museum’s Café Zabarsky. Read More…
Halfway through its 40th FREE season of international and avant garde music and dance Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival is in full swing. Since it was launched as a small festival of street theater in 1971, Out of Doors has commissioned some 90 works from composers and choreographers and presented hundreds of major dance companies, world-renowned musicians and legendary jazz, folk, gospel, blues and rock performers. Read More…
…New York’s parks and piers offer free films all summer long.
By Nancy Mandell
There have been days this summer when the only appealing destination was an air-conditioned movie theater. But even senior ticket holders pay a pretty price for the privilege. So, before the season escapes us, it’s time to consider a different kind of film-going—one that offers a wide variety of films in a variety of scenic venues that share two significant elements in common: The movies are free, and the seats are outdoors, under the stars. From river to river, from uptown to down, New York is truly a summer film festival. Read More…
…Shakespeare wrote it; New York takes it literally.
By Nancy Mandell
For the past week or so, I’ve been thinking about the treasure that Lincoln Center has become for New Yorkers as well as tourists. I had visitors over the July 4 holiday, and we found ourselves meeting there more than once, the last time on what should have been a quiet Tuesday evening in summer. We had ordered discounted tickets online to “South Pacific” at the Beaumont Theater, but they are usually available as “day-of” discounts from the Zucker Box Office temporarily located in Alice Tully Hall. The production was great, but so was the “after party,” an impromptu gathering of people strolling around the illuminated fountain, sitting on the new “lawn,” or enjoying gelati from a cart set up outside Avery Fisher Hall with plenty of umbrella tables and chairs for enjoying it. Read More…
…Some of New York’s greatest art and architecture call Lincoln Center their home.
By Nancy Mandell
Here it is, just the beginning of summer according to the calendar—if not the temperature—and you’ve already hit the highlights of the city’s art scene. You’ve seen Picasso prints (through Aug.30) and Pictures by Women (photography on view through next March) at the Museum of Modern Art; and at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Picassos from the museum’s collection (through Aug. 10) as well as the beautifully presented costumes illustrating “The American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity” (through Aug. 15). And there’s still plenty of time to check out the Big Bambu on the Met roof, a mind-boggling living sculpture by Doug and Mike Starn, before it closes on Oct. 31. You may also have covered the Whitney, the Guggenheim, the Jewish Museum and perhaps made it all the way down to the Bowery for the impressive New Museum. Read More…
…and some unusual ways to enjoy it.
By Nancy Mandell
Did you know that you don’t have to pack your bags, stop the mail or kennel the dog to enjoy a spectacular summer cruise in this city? Of course you’re aware of the Circle Line offerings that ferry tourists around the island and the Spirit Cruises from Chelsea Piers that gussy up the trips with buffet meals and loud music. But how about a liesurely sail up or down the Hudson and East Rivers on historic ships that combine offshore breezes with a whiff of maritime history? Read More…
Casual dining arrives in style at the Plaza
By Nancy Mandell, guest blogger
The best things in life aren’t always free. But in New York City, they can be surprisingly moderate for the setting. Take the landmark Plaza Hotel, where the Palm Court and the Oak Room still beckon with some of their past splendor. Read More…
A couple of old favorites dish up bargains—and memories on the side.
By Nancy Mandell, guest blogger
If you want the early bird special, maybe you should move to Florida! But if you don’t mind eating on the early side of a beautiful summer evening, there’s no shame in searching out a pre-theater, pre-fixe dinner—even if you don’t have tickets to a show. Read More…
The following is a modified excerpt of an article that I wanted to share with you all. It was featured by InvestmentAdvisor.com on May 21, 2010.
By Lewis J. Altfest
The Senate passed its version of the financial services reform bill, S. 3217, on Thursday, May 20, by a 59-39 vote. A few remarks are now in order both on how effective it will be and how it will impact the advisor community.
There is merit to the restriction of proprietary trading at wirehouses and large institutions. I think the Volcker Rule is right in its proposal to separate the derivatives business from a financial institution’s core function. Derivatives absolutely should be traded on an exchange. There might be instances where exceptions could, and should, be made. But having them trade on an exchange will not only result in freer market conditions, but it will also shine a light on them, make them more transparent and therefore allow all of us to know what’s good and what might be a potential problem.
I’m a bit wary of the new Consumer Protection Division within the Federal Reserve. It’s set up to guard against abusive practices in areas like the mortgage industry or the credit card industry. It might be a good thing, but then again it’s not their prime area of expertise.
However, I absolutely believe in the new council on systemic risk. All these claims about not being able to see bubbles are not to be believed. Former Fed Chairmen William Machesney Martin and Paul Volcker saw bubbles forming. Machesney Martin made the famous quip about the Federal Reserve and the punchbowl. It’s the Fed’s job to take the punchbowl away just as the party gets interesting. Then no one gets drunk and hurts themselves or others. And that’s exactly what loosening and tightening credit is all about; knowing when to take the punchbowl away. I’ve been through many cycles and we’re all supposed to be big boys and let the free market happen. But if we had a more activist Federal Reserve in 2005, we certainly wouldn’t be in the position we are in today.
Ultimately, I feel the independent advisor will not be significantly affected on a granular, day-to-day basis. We will be affected on a macro level like everyone else, but not on a micro level were it has a significant impact on our business operations. However, the wirehouse advisor is a different story. Unlike many of them, we’re not about selling the “hot, new thing.” In fact, we’re about doing the exact opposite. When things blow up is when we decide to buy. We have clients in certain mortgage-backed securities that have done quite well for them. We make money when the market goes up or down. But this crazy ride we’ve been on is just not worth it. I know both my clients and myself would have greater piece of mind if volatility like this didn’t occur. Hopefully, this bill will help ensure it doesn’t happen.
What are your feelings on the bill?
Construction can’t stop the festivities or the freebies!
By Nancy Mandell, guest blogger
It was just a short time ago that we blogged in this space about the new David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center, and now we learn that it will be temporarily closed starting this Friday, May 28, in order to complete deferred construction work on the space. Unfortunately this means that Target Free Thursdays will suspend performances until July 22, and Meet the Artist Saturdays will not return until August. For updates, go to www.LincolnCenter.org/Atrium.
But there is good news from the Atrium, too. Its services will relocate during this summer solstice (see below), and there will still be a free (Target-underwritten) performance this Thursday evening at 8:30 by artists of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Highlighting the program is Mendelssohn’s String Quintet No.1— a favorite of the repertoire—and it also includes the “vivacious, spirited, and virtuosic” sonata for two cellos by Jean-Baptiste Barrière. (The adjectives belong to the program notes!)
Of course there is lots more on Lincoln Center’s summer schedule. Visit www.SummerAtLincolnCenter.org for information about Midsummer Night Swing, the always innovative cross-genre performances of Lincoln Center Festival, the free Lincoln Center Out of Doors performances and the annually anticipated Mostly Mozart Festival.
For the next several weeks—probably until mid-July—the Atrium’s Day-of Discount Tickets (David Zucker box office) will move to Alice Tully Hall, and Lincoln Center Tours and Visitor Information to Avery Fisher Hall (across from each other on the West side of Broadway at 65th Street.) If you’re wondering what Day-of discount tickets you might have picked up last week, examples are Lincoln Center Theater’s production of “South Pacific,” performances by the New York City Ballet and presentations of The Film Society at Lincoln Center.