Category Archives: Notes in the News

On current and historic events, likely with a musical angle

An International Smorgasbord of QUEER CINEMA for 2019/2020

Posted on November 2, 2019 by dannyashkenasi

  Last weekend I dove into NewFest 2019, New York City’s LGBTQ Film Festival, enjoying 18 screenings over 5 days.  Overall I did well, truly disliking only one of the 15 features and 26 shorts I saw. Here are my … Continue reading →

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TELL-TALE DELAY

Posted on October 16, 2019 by dannyashkenasi

  It was June.  I was looking forward to finishing my short film “The Tell-Tale Heart – a musicabre“, based on my musical adaptation of the Edgar Allan Poe story.     I was feeling good.  Post production was coming … Continue reading →

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The Staten Island September 11th Memorial

Posted on September 11, 2019 by dannyashkenasi

  This year at this date, I would like to share photos I took earlier this summer at the Staten Island September 11th Memorial, just across the water from Manhattan’s financial district, and the new World Trade Center. The memorial … Continue reading →

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Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor

Posted on July 5, 2019 by dannyashkenasi

  The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus   Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land;   Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand   A mighty woman with a torch, … Continue reading →

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50TH PRIDE NYC

Posted on July 1, 2019 by dannyashkenasi

    11 Hours of Pride NYC – Watching and Marching – a Photo Diary     11:30am – Ed and I perched ourselves at 17th Street and 5th avenue to await the start of the 50th NYC Pride march … Continue reading →

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WE WILL SURVIVE – again and again

Posted on June 6, 2019 by dannyashkenasi

A Pride Month Special Look at “I Will Survive” and Some of its Many Covers with particular ruminations on what we will survive, or not     The Original – Gloria Gaynor   If one were to choose one song … Continue reading →

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The Belligerent Homophobe Who Ruined Rocketman For Us

Posted on June 1, 2019 by dannyashkenasi

  The three or four loud sneezes that erupted behind us during the 20 minutes of previews were a warning shot that all would not turn out alright for us during this screening of “Rocketman” in midtown Manhattan. But the … Continue reading →

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Up Close and Personal with the Maine Monument

Posted on May 1, 2019 by dannyashkenasi

  The other day I was walking 35 blocks from the Upper West Side to Midtown, when I lingered at the Maine Monument at Columbus Circle to take some up close and personal pics of its statues.     The … Continue reading →

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Introducing the New Headshots

Posted on April 26, 2019 by dannyashkenasi

  A few weeks ago I shared my head shot bloopers with you, those moments during my head shot photo shoot that went rather wrong, amusingly so. Today I share the final versions of my actual new head shots.  The … Continue reading →

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TELL-TALE SOUNDS

Posted on November 9, 2018 by dannyashkenasi

The final ghastly Tell-Tale hint before I reveal all!   What is this about?  Click to watch the short video; now can you guess? Yes, we appear to be in a recording studio. What, is that three cellists on the … Continue reading →

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WITCHES IN HOUSTON

Posted on September 30, 2018 by dannyashkenasi

UPDATE:  Lone Star Lyric has postponed their production of “Witches” to June, 2019 However, my Nov 3 talk at the Round Top Theater Forum will include numerous performed excerpts -songs and scenes – from the musical. —— Looking for something … Continue reading →

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What Makes Us ANXIOUS – What Gives Us HOPE

Posted on September 23, 2018 by dannyashkenasi

I want to have a happier marriage Love wins My Trump voting relatives I am tougher than dirt   Currently at the Rubin Museum in New York City, there is an exhibit curated by the public’s hopes and fears. One … Continue reading →

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HAPPY SONGS FOR DARK TIMES #2: Miss Marple, Tatu, and the Chipper Harpsichord

Posted on August 22, 2018 by dannyashkenasi

Theme from Miss Marple – Ron Goodwin and his Orchestra A while back I promised there would be a series of Happy Tunes for Dark Times to highlight what I consider sure fire musical mood boosters. What with ever escalation Twitter … Continue reading →

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MAMA MIA – Here We Sing Along Again

Posted on July 17, 2018 by dannyashkenasi

Escapism for the New Great Depression I slid the “Mamma Mia” disk into the blu-ray player.  I asked Ed whether it we should activate the sing-along function this time?  Ed hesitated, then demurred.  But I knew he wanted it.  So … Continue reading →

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BROOKLYN PRIDE

Posted on June 11, 2018 by dannyashkenasi

Park Slope Comes Out! Highlights from the June 9 Brooklyn Pride Street Fare and Parade     We are Family – Sisters Sledge  

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