Bonni Brodnick Blog

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My close group of friends and I are tethered to one another's film and television recommendations.  One of the friends in this club of cinephiliacs recently recommended "The Innocents" as a must-see movie, that it was powerful and poignant, and that it was now available on Netflix. I searched the Netflix line-up and could only find "Los Inocentes," which takes place in 19th century Argentina when a man returns to his family's plantation after 15 years and relives a violent past, slave abuse, and evil spirits.The movie was better than meh , but I don't highly recommend it. In a later comment the following day, my friend wrote something about the doctor being incredible. I quietly wondered, " What doctor?"  It was later clarified that my friend was recommending "The Innocents." ( Not the other one.) And yes, I completely agree. The film is powerful and poignant. The cinematography and lighting are superb. The...

Did you ever discover a shop where you could find everything ?  And if you couldn't find it, you didn't need it? That was Joan Silbersher's shop, Antiques and Tools of Business and Kitchen, a mainstay on Westchester Avenue in Scotts Corners, Pound Ridge, N.Y. since 1990. You could find antique pulleys; mid-century casserole dishes and match books from long-closed nightclubs and restaurants; fishing equipment; sail boats; musical instruments and sheet music; medical tools from the dark ages; rotary dial telephones; and more and more and more. To welcome both collectors and browsers, Joan had a jar full of gummy candy on the right as you walked into the shop. On Sunday mornings, you'd hear WNYC radio blasting with either classical music or host Jonathan Schwartz and his retro selection of show tunes. In my book, POUND RIDGE PAST: Remembrances of Our Townsfolk * ,  Joan said people enjoyed going to her shop because "... they like the feeling of things that are old...

On this first day of April, we are grateful to Ticino, Italy, for the sheer magic and brilliance of their culinary discovery, the Spaghetti Tree. Click here ... and grazie !                                                                                                                                           (Happy April Fool's Day ;-)