My Romantic Times — Day 4, Most of it Anyway

Got up early enough on Friday that I was able to get out for a walk.  Cold was entirely gone and I strolled down Canal, in part so I could find The Ruby Slipper where a bunch of fellow Berkely authors and I were due to have breakfast on Saturday.  From there I walked down […]

My Romantic Times — Day 3

Woke up Thursday feeling much, much better.  Good enough, in fact, to head back to Cafe Biegnet for, you guessed it, biengets, and strawberries, and some really strong coffee.  Life was very, very good. Thursday’s item on the agenda was the “Exorcising Your Writing Demons,” with Patricia Rice, Patricia Burroughs, and Mary Jo Putney.  3 […]

My Romantic Times Day 2 — Antoine’s and What Followed After

So, back there in a previous post, I talked about being a wannabe foodie.  I also love grand old restaurants.  So, when Jessica Freely suggested lunch at Antoine’s, I said YES.  Cold or no cold, I was not missing this. Antoine’s is a genuine New Orleans establishment.  It moved to its current location in the […]

My Romantic Times — Day 2

Day 2 started slightly rocky, and very dehydrated, due to cold.  Nonetheless, I was upright and able to join Cindy and some of the lovely Ellora’s Cave folks for breakfast at the conference hotel.  Yes, there were biegnets on the buffet, but what stole the show was the pecan smoked bacon. Note:  Let’s be clear.  […]

My Romantic Times — Day 1

My Romantic Times Booklovers convention did not start on a high note.  The flight down was as pleasant as a flight can be these days, even though we had to set out at OHMYGODWHOSEIDEAWASTHIS-thirty in the morning.  Even though we had to change planes in Charlotte.  The Charlotte airport, by the way, has a lovely […]

This Week’s Video Clip

I am a huge fan of movie musicals.  I am an unabashed romantic.  I adore old movies, and vaudeville.  This would make me a natural fan of Mickey Rooney’s work.  He was a genuine trooper.  He fought hard against his demons and in the end, he won. Given all that, though, my absolute favorite piece […]

Packzi Day!

It’s Packzi Day! I recognize many of you may not be aware of this, but it is.  As Mardi Gras is to New Orleans and pancakes are to the United Kingdom, and cronuts to Manhattan, so is the glory that is the packzi to those portions of the Midwest fortunate enough to have strong Polish […]

This Week’s Video Clip

I love movie musicals, especially the dance numbers. As much as I appreciate movie dance mash ups like this one:   I’ve so far only found one that references what is actually the Greatest Dance Number Ever Filmed.  How great is it?  Bill “Mr. Bojangles” Robinson is the warm up:    

This Week’s Video Clip

While This Week’s Video Clip is on the subject of the Nicholas Brothers, here’s one I hadn’t seen before, with some local interest to it:

Reading the Regency — Almack’s

I’m writing this on Book Day.  Lord of the Rakes is in stores an online today, so naturally I’m all about that.  (Note: If you haven’t noticed elsewhere on this page, you can read an exerpt and order your copy here.) But I’m still all about reading, and my love of really, really old books.  […]