Blog No. 235: Two Refreshing ColdSummer Soups,

National Dance Institute Event of the Year

Father's Day is not my favorite holiday since both my own dad and my daughter's and son's dad (my late husband Gert Mathiesen) are no longer with us but what makes up for it is the pure joy of experiencing National Dance Institute's Event of the Year performances at the Skirball Center of NYU, where over 200 kids from New York City public schools perform every Father's Day Weekend. This year's theme was The Evolution of Rock and Roll, complete with (loud) live music (my apple watch warned me I was way above the safe decibel level--I didn't mind). NDI's Event of the Year is always fabulous and a shot of real pure joy...Definitely a highlight of my year every year. I know it will not do it justice but here are a few clips to give you a taste so you are sure to attend next year's Father's Day weekend shows if you are in New York. Next year marks their 50th year--the best kids' organization in the New York City public school system. Not everyone goes on to be a dancer but they make lifelong arts lovers and confident kids out of anyone the program touches...To prove the point, many of the organization's teaching artists and administration (including their Executive Director Germaine Jones) are alumnae. Check out the NDI website for future events.

Picasso
at the Gagosian Gallery

The current Picasso exhibition at the Gagosian Gallery in NY includes art in the collection of Picasso's daughter Paloma Picasso--some of the pieces have never been shown before to the public. The exhibit is not a large show but it includes some real gems, and represents the breath of Picasso's work--everything from painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics--he did it all...In every single one of those mediums, there is no other artist in my book that even comes close...

Two Refreshing Cold Summer Soups

GAZPACHO SOUP
(with one surprising ingredient*)
serves 8-10

INGREDIENTS
combine 3 garlic cloves, pressed

3 tablespoon lemon juice

2-3 cups tomatoes, chopped (about 4 tomatoes)

2 cups cucumbers, chopped

1/2 cup green pepper, chopped

1/2 cup onion,chopped

1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

1/4/cup fresh chives, chopped

1/3 cup veg oil, chopped (just kidding)

1-2 teaspoon salt
 
1/2-1 teaspoon tabasco, depending on how spicy you want it

The Surprising ingredient: clamato juice

Chill and enjoy. 
I remember your dad really enjoyed this soup when I served it at our annual family pool parties.

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Frenchy, a rescue from Tennessee

Painting of the Week

Pam Smilow, mixed media on paper 12” x 15”

Charity of the Week:
National Dance Institute

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About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow, began writing the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.

Blog No. 234: Brave Souls in the Military, Immigrants Make Us Great, Rice Paper Recipe

Special note: As I handed each police officer a flower today at the demonstration down Fifth Avenue in New York City, I said: “With this flower I’d like to show that we are peaceful protesters and I want to thank you for your service. We’re all in this together and I hope that your allegiance will be to the United States Constitution and not to the one person in the White House. Thanks again for being our partners in this. As I pointed around us, I said: “look at us—so beautiful—a nationa of immigrants!” We need to work together and we need the police force and the military to be with us. America does not believe in kings…

I have been to many demonstrations in my 60+ years and never before did I feel that the police force was actually on our side in this. Great feeling! I gave out probably thirty flowers and aside from smiles and thank yous from almost every single officer, I even got myself a warm hug from one of them.

Brave Souls in the Military

Who would have ever thought we would be here, in America, in 2025! My dad did! I often think back to him, who became politicized in the army durng World War II, was active in left wing politics and civil rights during his whole life, lived through Joe McCarthy times, and who warned me many moons ago to keep myself off lists, to give money but do it anonymously, and generally be aware that fascism is lurking right around the corner...

Today I feature a few very brave souls in the military who are daring to speak out, in the face of real life consequences, in order to make the point that as military people, they have sworn an oath to the consitution, not to one man...Call me an optimist, but I am hoping that there are many more people like them, who are not interested in entering into combat with their own fellow citizens...
Click this link to hear from another courageous soul standing up for freedom.
And Congressman Mike Levin calls attention to some more military personnel standing up-- Here's another hero he has highlighted on his website.

This is a very important part of our work in the future to counter the weaponization of our own military against us...

Immigrants Make America Beautiful

Illustration by Elizabeth Jabar of Hinge Collective, Waterville, Maine Click images to see more of her work.

Illustration by Elizabeth Jabar of Hinge Collective, Waterville, Maine

What makes America great? I would argue that a lot of it is because of our diversity. Thank you Jimmy Kimmel (and so many of our previous presidents) for speaking out and reminding us of what makes America so beautiful...

And here is an organization that reminds us of why people come to the United States. "NEW AMERICAN STORY PROJECT's current project, Welcome Children: Voices of the Central American Refugee Crisis focuses on unaccompanied Central American minors who journeyed thousands of miles to reach the U.S. They tell their stories in their own words while legal, social science and policy experts provide perspective, up-to-date data and detailed context. We hope to foster greater understanding about the ongoing humanitarian crises in Central America." To read their stories in person, click here.

Click here to download a free poster by artist Micah Bazant

Crispy Rice Paper Rolls

CRISPY RICE PAPER ROLLS
as seen on instagram @tastyiri_en

INGREDIENTS
10-15 rice paper sheets
3 cups shredded cabbage (approx. 9 0z)
1 medium carrot, grated
1 1/2 cups slided mushrooms
7 oz cooked shredded chicken
1 tbsp soy sauce

INSTRUCTIONS
Combine all the ingredients and cook in a skillet on medium-high heat.
Place ingredients on rice paper, fold it in four, repeat the process and cook in a pan on both sides...Watch Iri's video here for complete illustrated instructions...

Painting of the Week

Pam Smilow, mixed media on paper 52” x 52” sold

Charity of the Week:
American Civil Liberties Union

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About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow, began writing the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.

Blog No. 233: Old Age: Anything but Boring, Meditation for Beginners, Mark Nepo Poe

Old Age: Anything But Boring Young at Heart Chorus

Who says we are too old--too old to dance, too old to sing, too old to enjoy hard-core music? I've written about the Young at Heart Chorus before--out of Northampton, Massachusetts, since 1982 this soulful and anything but boring chorus of 70+ year olds have been entertaining crowds around the entire world with their versions of hard rock and punk rock tunes. I love their rendition of David Bowie's Let's Dance, their version of the classic Led Zeppelin tune Stairway to Heaven and their wild interpretation of the Ramones famous I Want To Be Sedated. You will never think of those three songs in the same way again! If you want to see more of them, there is a whole documentary on them from quite a few years ago but it is still available on Amazon.

And while we are on the same subject, here are a few photos of my friend Carolyn Doelling, who after a full career in philanthropy, became a model at the age of 73 determined to show that older women can be passionate, colorful, beautiful and proud rather than ignored and invisible...She is succeeding!

Click image to read an article about Carolyn

Meditation for Beginners

Click iimage to access this free 21 day meditation journey

I do not at all claim to be an aficionado of mediation--I come relatively new to the practice but I thought i would share this Deepak Chopra/Oprah Winfrey 21 Day Journey to Perfect Health Series that I listen to on youtube. I am not one that likes a guided meditation--I prefer the silence and I think their series' are good for beginners because they walk you through and take the mystery out of the practice. It starts with Oprah saying a few words, introducing the theme of the day, and then Oprah passes it on to Deepak, who goes deeper into a brief lesson. And then he shares a mantra and guides you in reciting it a bit and then leaves you in silence for 10-15 minutes, beginning and ending with a soft bell. There are many other of their series available on youtube as well of various themes such as "Get Unstuck: Creating a Limitless Life"and Creating Peace From The Inside Out. Emptying your mind is always a good thing, especially these days! I try and do it at least once, if not twice a day...

Mark Nepo Poem

Click image to read more about Mark Nepo’s new book

Image Courtesy o the author Mark Nepo

This Slow Quick Dance. by Mark Nepo

After everything has gone wrong,
after what we believed would never
break has broken, something gives
way and, against all despair, a sliver
of light reaches us like dawn through
the night window to lift our sorry face.

No one knows how this works, but
we are stirred to step out of our story
and reach beyond all the warnings
to ask for love one more time.
This can happen in a second: when
I pick up the book you dropped, or
as a stranger asks if I’m ok when
she finds me staring into traffic.

This excerpt is from Mark Nepo's new book of poems, The Fifth Season due to be released on July 15, 2025you can You can pre-order your copy today through the retailer of Barnes & Noble, Powell’s, etc. using this link here.

Painting of the Week

Pam Smilow, mixed media on paper 52” x 52” sold

Charity of the Week:
American Civil Liberties Union

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About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow, began writing the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.

Blog No. 232: Matisse's La Chapelle du Rosaire, Birds, Two Thai Salads,

Matisse's Chapel of the Rosary

I have my own list of "wonders of the world" and Matisse's La Chapelle du Rosaire in Vence France is definitely near the top of my list. A small structure, its architecture, stained-glass windows, interior murals, ceramics, liturgical furnishings, and priests' vestments were the focus of Henri Matisse's life in his later years (1947-1951) and by his own admission, "his masterpiece, the crowning achievement of his career." I love everything Matisse did--his paintings, his sculptures and bas reliefs, his collage, but I have to agree--this is a crown jewel...

This chapel in southern France is small and open very limited hours to the public. I was lucky enough to show up when they had visiting hours (it is a working church) and my reaction upon entering was one of utter awe. My jaw fell and I gasped! The beauty of it, the simplicity, using just a few saturated colors: blue, green, yellow, black and white. It recalls the Japanese word shibui for me--a concept we don't have a single word for in English (and one of my dad's favorite words) which describes a combination of simplicity and beauty. If you are ever in southern France, this chapel is a must see!

Courtesy The Robert Capa and Cornell Capa Archive, Gift of Cornell and Edith Capa, 2010

Birds

Click image for Xavi Bou’s website. Photo courtesy of this Catalan photographer and Fog and Moss

Going to be heading back to the City in a few days and what I am going to miss most about these delicious Maine mornings is sitting out on my deck, listening to the waves and enjoying the birdsong.

I've had the app BirdNet for a while now and can walk around, hear a song and record and idenitify the species. But recently my friend and yoga teacher Anne DeBevoise would come into class and recite a long list of all the birds she heard that morning. She told me about another app which is far superior to the one I had--it's called MERLIN. Who knew I too had this long list of birds as neighbors: Blue-Headed Vireo, Blackpoll Warbler, Black-Throated Green Warbler, Purple Finch, Yellow Warbler, Black-Capped Chickadee, Red-Eyed Vireo, Yellow-Rumped Warbler Gray Catbird, Cedar Waxwing, House Finch, American Goldfinch, American Robin, American Crow, Double-Crested Cormorant, Common Eider, Tennessee, Warbler, Dark-Eyed Junco, American Herring Gull, Common Loon, Osprey, Mourning Dove, Mallard, Chipping Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Bald Eagle, Song Sparrow, Laughing Gull!!!! All ithis in the last day or two...

And then this morning, speaking of synchronicities, an email from my friend, astrologer Leslie McGuirk appeared in my inbox, sharing with me an entry from Moss and Fog, an amazing website with a story about an artist, Xavi Bou, who photographs bird flight. These cool images arrived at the perfect moment!

Have a look at Moss and Fog's story (courtesy the Audubon Society) and some of Bou's photos. And while you are at it, explore the amazing site Fog and Moss and about its founder Ben VanderVeen. They are kindred souls seeking, like me, to spread more inspiration and beauty in the world. I spoke to its founder Ben this morning and told him how impressed I was at what he has been putting together since 2009...

Photo courtesy Catalan photographer Xavi Bou

Photo courtesy Catalan photographer Xavi Bou. Click image for more info

Photo courtesy Catalan photographer Xavi Bou. Click image for more info.

Click image above to read more about Ben VanderVeen, founder of Fog and Moss.

Two Great Thai Salads

Photo: David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.

CRUNCHY THAI STYLE SALAD
courtesy Kay Chun and the New York Times
Yield: 4 servings

INGREDIENTS
3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp minced shallot
½ tsp minced garlic
1 serrano chile, thinly sliced
Kosher salt and pepper
8 oz asparagus, trimmed, halved lengthwise, thinly sliced at an angle
4 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
3 cups thinly sliced mixed vegetables (Your choice incl carrots, radishes and cucumbers)
½ cup coarsely chopped cilantro leaves

INSTRUCTIONS
1. In a large bowl, combine oil, lime juice, fish sauce, shallot, garlic and chile; season with salt and pepper. Whisk well.

2. Add the asparagus, tomatoes and other mixed vegetables and season with salt and pepper. Toss to evenly coat and let stand at room temperature for 5 minutes, tossing occasionally.

3. Fold in cilantro and serve.

BEEF PAPAYA SALAD
Courtesy Feast at Home

Marinade: Place garlic, chile, soy sauce, lime juice, honey, and oil in a mini food processor and process until smooth.
Place beef in a small baking dish, pour the marinade over, and turn to coat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 1 hour. BR> Preheat the grill to medium-high or cook stovetop.
Veg Remove the beef from the marinade and season it with salt and pepper. Grill meat until charred and cooked to medium-rare doneness, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from grill and let rest 10 minutes before slicing into 1/4-inch thick slices.
Papaya Dressing:
In a small bowl, whisk together the shallot, chiles, mint, vinegar, sugar, and fish sauce. Set aside.
In another bowl, toss the lettuce leaves and watercress together and then arrange the mixture on a platter.
Combine the papaya and carrots in a medium bowl. Evenly distribute the papaya mixture over the lettuce. Drizzle with a few tablespoons of the dressing.
Arrange the steak on top and drizzle steak with some more dressing.
Garnish with chopped peanuts and cilantro.

Painting of the Week

Pam Smilow, mixed media on paper 30” x 22” $1500

Charity of the Week:
American Civil Liberties Union

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About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow, began writing the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.

Blog No. 231: The Quilters Documentary, What I am Listening to These Days, Some Helpful Tips

The Quilters Documentary

For anyone who has ever made a quilt (or not), this is an inspiring story about a group of inmates in the South Central correctional Center in Licking, Missouri, a small town two hours south of St. Louis, who spend their days sewing beautiful quilts to give away to foster children in the area. Meet Ricky, Jimmy, Chill, Fred and Potter, five men who have been incarcerated for many years now, who are now participants in a Restorative Justice Organization (RJO) project. They have found purpose, community, and a way to give their life meaning through working with their hands and creating beautiful quilts to give away. This uplifting documentary, directed by Jenifer McShane, has been the recipient of many awards and was a contender for best short documentary at the Oscars.

What I am Listening to These Days

Turning off the news for now and trying to listen to more music. I am still out on the streets but need to take a break from the blow by blow details of American politics right now for my own mental health.

Chris Smithers Link of Chain

David Gray Babylon

Jim Sullivan Whistle Stop

Mojave 3 Bluebird of Happiness

John Prine/Steve Goodman Souvenirs

Mark Knopfler/Emmylou Harris Romeo and Juliet

Some Helpful Tips

Occasionally I will come across some life tips that seem helpful for every day living.--little tricks that can make our lives easier. Here I share a few of them with you thanks to Katrinalechuga616 on instagram.

And here are a few more useful hacks for issues that may come up in any household...

Painting of the Week

Pink House with Butterflies mixed media on canvas 52” x 80” $8500

Charity of the Week:
American Civil Liberties Union

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About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow, began writing the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.

Blog No. 230: Jacques D'Amboise Teaching Dance, The Collections of John and Ellen Whalley, Two Rumi Poems

Jacques D'Amboise
Teaching Dance

Click Image to watch Jacques D’Amboise teach dance on a rootop in New York City early on.

There aren’t enough superlatives to describe Jacques d'Amboise (1934-2021) and his vision of dance and art education. The video above is a film released in 1983 that documents his teaching methodology, the kids and their ultimate performance at the Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden in the early 1980s. NDI has been going strong ever since and next year his baby, National Dance Institute, will turn 50.

Jacques was a visionary who firmly believed that the arts should be part of every school's curriculum, equal to math and science. Beginning with a class of boys, teaching kid-friendly dance moves with rigor and joy, accompanied always by live music, fifty years later this wonderful program is thriving in 42 schools in NYC, 13 affiliate programs across the United States and internationally in Shanghai and Beirut, Lebanon.

Look for all kinds of festivities in the next coming year and in the meantime, if you are in New York, their much beloved Event of the Year is taking place on Father's Day weekend--June 14, 15 and 16, 2025--if you want to be infused with a shot of pure inspiration and joy. This is no typical kid's dance performance--come see for yourself. I know that Jacques will be watching down with a big smile.

The Collections of John and Ellen Whalley

This is not the first time I have been enchanted by artist John Whalley. I fell in love with his art about 15 years ago and have wanted to meet him ever since.

Today was the day! I made a 10am appointment to visit his studio in Nobleboro, Maine and had the pleasure of not only meeting him and his wonderful wife Ellen, but also getting a tour of his studio, his art and the extensive collections he has of just about everything. I am not a fan of clutter and tend to be more on the minimalist side (my daughter would laugh at that!) but John and Ellen have assembled a curated collection of objects they have picked up at tag sales and flea markets that make me salivate, even just thinking about it. Everything is carefully arranged in sections and what might be a jumble of a mess looks like art itself... John clearly gets his inspiration from these objects and Ellen collaborates by styling these curios into wonderful compositions for John to paint in oils or draw in graphite. These objects take on a life of their own. Below are photos of just a small seletion of their collections in his studio and home.

I have written about John Whalley before in blog no. 40 where you can see his I am sure you would like to view his incredible photo realist paintings and drawings on steroids...

Two Rumi Poems

Jalaluddin Rumi, 1207 - 1273. click image above to read about him

THE BEAUTY OF THE HEART
The beauty of the heart

is the lasting beauty:

its lips give to drink

of the water of life.

Truly it is the water,

that which pours,

and the one who drinks.

All three become one when

your talisman is shattered.

That oneness you can’t know

by reasoning.

LET GO OF YOUR WORRIES
Let go of your worries

and be completely clear-hearted,

like the face of a mirror

that contains no images.

If you want a clear mirror,

behold yourself

and see the shameless truth,

which the mirror reflects.

If metal can be polished

to a mirror-like finish,

what polishing might the mirror

of the heart require?

Between the mirror and the heart

is this single difference:

the heart conceals secrets,

while the mirror does not.

Come Visit our Products in our artShop

Scarves, Tea Towels, Charcuteria/Cutting Boards, Backpacks, Travel Cups, Table Runners, Phone Cases, etc. etc.

Charity of the Week:
American Civil Liberties Union

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About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow, began writing the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.

Blog No. 229: I Like the Ones Who See Thinks Differently Animation, Pez Candy, Mediterranean Spinach Feta Crisps

I Like the Ones Who See Things Differently Animation

This beautiful animation above that starts by "I like the weird ones, the black sheep...," created by Brooke Boeding from instagram @the_zen:_honeybadger/ speaks for itself...

If you enjoyed that video and want another, click here for a different animation by the same woman based on an old Japanese legend about the sun and the moon, also amazing.

Pez Candy

Click for the history of Pez, dating back to the 1920s in Austria.

The highest consumption of candy per capita in the world is (who would have guessed it!) Scandinavia. Sweden leads the way with the other Scandinavian countries not far behind...Could that be why they are considered the happiest people in the world?

I remember my husband Gert telling me that for his generation, in Denmark the dentist would visit and treat children in their schools and those days were the most dreaded...Dentistry in Denmark was terrible in his opinion. He was once at an art event where he met the mayor of Copenhagen and what he noticed was that "even the mayor had bad teeth!". Could that have something to do with their love of candy?...

I recently came across this Pez dispenser and it reminded me of my favorite candy growing up. I simply liked everything about PEZ. I loved the taste of those sweet little colored brick of compressed sugar as well as the variety of dispensers that they popped out of. Well into adulthood I had a collection of them lined up on my windowsill. You can't taste them through this newsletter but you can admire the cast of characters of these plastic figurines and perhaps you too remember the candy of our past and have your favorites...Put a comment below of the ones you liked the best...

There aren't too many of these penny candy stores left. In 2018 The New Yorker wrote about a Swedish candy store called Bon Bon, now expanded to three locations in New York City. And then there is the store my family loved the best: Granite Hall in Round Pond Maine is a legend to all of us who love mid-coast Maine. It is an old school penny candy store and gift shop and I can just picture my kids, standing just at eye level at the counter, choosing one by one "two pieces of this, one of that" and the person behind the counter patiently and lovingly fulfilling their orders...Thank you Granite Hall, not only for the sweets, but for those wonderful memories!

Click to take a virtual visit to the Pez Museum in Orange, CT

The original Pez was a peppermint candy created by Eduard Haas III in Austria in the 1920s. The name PEZ comes from the German word for peppermint, "Pfefferminz" taking the P from the first letter, E from the middle letter and Z from the last letter to form the now iconic brand name PEZ

Vintage Popeye

Mediterranean Spinach and Feta Crisps

I came across this Gordon Ramsay quick recipe somewhere on the internet and since I love everything in pancake form, I thought I would try it and share it here:

MEDITERRANEAN SPINACH AND FETA CRISPS courtesy Gordon Ramsay

INGREDIENTS
1 cup fresh spinach, washed and chopped
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
2 large eggs, beaten
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. dried oregano
Salt and Pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat Oven to 375 degrees (190 Centigrade)
On parchment paper, spray lightly with olive oil spray.
In large bowl mix all ingredients, pour in egg mixture and combine and mix well.
With small spoonfuls, place on parchment paper on baking sheet in small circles and flatten lightly with back of spoon. Spray lightly the tops with olive oil. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges turn golden brown and crisp. Let them cool slightly before serving. Yield 12-15 crisps.

Painting of the Week

Pam Smilow Mandala Series Blue Tree mixed media on canvas 56” x 56” $7500

Charity of the Week:
American Civil Liberties Union

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About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow, began writing the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.