Manhattan

Dear Claudine,

My partner and I recently spent a long weekend in Manhattan. It was a wonderful getaway filled with art and energy and magical moments that could only be experienced in New York. The only sad part about it was that our favorite record store, Footlight Records, had recently closed. I’m not sure if you were aware of Footlight or not, but they specialized in Broadway and movie soundtracks. I bought several hard-to-find records there including “At Long Last Love” and “The Lonely Lady.” We even found a guy who sold us a bootleg recording of “Carrie: The Musical.” This trip I had my sights set on finding the soundtrack to your wonderful film “The Party.” Even though they unwisely didn’t include your vocal for “Nothing to Lose,” I wanted a mint copy for my collection. Sadly, it was not meant to be. I did discover that Footlight Records has an online presence. But somehow searching for groovy vintage records online isn’t the same as spending two hours leisurely looking, touching (even smelling) the aged pressed cardboard and vinyl. I did find a wonderful little record store called House of Oldies on 35 Carmine St. and bought the 45 of your version of “Sleep Safe and Warm,” which is one of my favorites. The main reason that I’m writing today is that I wanted to tell you about our Sunday brunch at the Algonquin Hotel. We went to see this amazing woman named Barbara Carrol. Though I had previously never heard of her, she’s evidently a jazz legend and very well respected. She is an accomplished piano player and has a lovely singing voice. She brought my partner and I to tears. We were so moved that my partner stole an Algonquin spoon from our brunch so we would always remember the moment. Please don’t think badly of him – we did leave the waiter a very generous tip.

Sugar Me,
Bradley

A Tepid, Sunny Sunday in January

Dear Claudine,

I hope that this letter finds you well. I’m feeling a little melancholy today. I think it’s a combination of the icy weather we didn’t get and the fact that it’s Sunday. Sadly, the sun is out today and the temperature gage reflects an underwhelming 56 degrees. I hope that wherever you are, it’s a chilly 20-something and the snow is quietly blanketing your surroundings. “Filling the fields you used to know…” and all that. Did I tell you that I’m one of the judges for a poetry contest sponsored by a groovy art magazine? Well I am - and it’s nothing to brag about; but I just realized this morning that the deadline for the ballot is in on your birthday: Monday, January 29th. Is there a large celebration planned? Or maybe just an intimate affair with family and friends? My feeling is that it’s the latter. In my version of your party, after dinner everyone is gathered into the great room by the fireplace. There you charm everyone with “Nothing to Lose,” accompanied only by guitar. Wish I could be there! So far the poems I’ve been reviewing haven’t been so great. I tried to imagine you singing a few of the better submissions, but it was unable to change my indifference to them. Maybe I should wait to read any more until our projected ice storm tomorrow night. A tepid, sunny Sunday in January is not the ideal day to be reading poetry – amateur or otherwise.

Love (is blue),
Bradley

Love is Blue