December 30, 2005
Douglas Rodriguez, Executive Chef
Alma de Cuba, Fri., Dec. 30, 11:15am
On Philadelphia: "I come here every six weeks or so to oversee what's happening at Alma de Cuba. In Miami, where I have restaurants, we depend a lot more on tourists. Philadelphians are worldlier than the people of Miami. Palates here are more sophisticated. I have a lot of favorite Philadelphia restaurants. I really love Morimoto, the Japanese restaurant. I like Monk's, especially the burgers. Philly has 30 or 40 great restaurants. Everybody's always worried about New York, but why? Why worry about New York when you've got your own great little thing going on here?" (Interview by Cassidy Hartmann)
Douglas Rodriguez oversees two restaurants in Miami, one in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Alma de Cuba in Philadelphia. He's also the author of four cookbooks.
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December 17, 2005
Dianne Reeves, Jazz Singer
Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Sat., Dec. 17, 5:40pm.
On Philadelphia: "There are certain places that just breed really fabulous musicians, and Philadelphia is one. The roots are so strong here, and they come out of gospel, R&B, blues and jazz. I started coming here in the late '80s to perform, and there would always be these amazing audiences. I played Penn's Landing, and this little club called Chestnut Cabaret. I think if it weren't for Philadelphia, I probably wouldn't have the career I have because my music was embraced here first. Every time I come to Philadelphia, and I usually get here every year in some way, it's always been rich." (Interview by Cassidy Hartmann)
Dianne Reeves appears in Good Night, and Good Luck, a movie about Edward R. Murrow, and is featured prominently on the soundtrack.
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December 15, 2005
Duncan Tucker, Movie Director
Four Seasons, Thurs., Dec. 15, 2:45pm.
On Philadelphia: "Philadelphia is a hip, urban, sophisticated town. It felt that way at the screening. This could've been New York City. Philadelphia is the sixth borough, or so I've heard twice today. I think of Philadelphia, I think of The Philadelphia Story with Katharine Hepburn. Where are all those blueblood mansions? Do they exist for real, or is that just Hollywood? The audience for the screening was really hip and interesting and really varied. I had middle-aged Jewish ladies and young hetero couples and gay men and teenage girls coming up to me and responding to the movie in various ways. The food here is really good too. I just had the greatest tomato soup I've had in years-seriously. It had, like, little bits of cod in it." (Interview by Cassidy Hartmann)
Duncan Tucker's new film is Transamerica, a story about a transsexual woman who discovers she's the parent of a long lost 17-year-old son.
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December 14, 2005
Frank McCourt, Author
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Free Library, Tues., Dec. 6, 6:05pm.
On Philadelphia: "I think there are two cities in the world-New York and Rome. You look at passers-by in Rome and think: 'Do they know what they have here?' You can say the same about Philadelphia. Do people know what went on here? It must be a great to be a teacher here, to take kids to historic spots and say, 'This is where it all started.' One day a week should be set aside for field trips. Kids all want to look cool, as if knowledge is a great burden, but they're always looking around. They remember." (Interview by Cassidy Hartmann)
Frank McCourt's new book is Teacher Man: A Memoir.
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