Sue's blog

What was your worst cooking experience?

I have many bad cooking experiences, since I'm just terrible at it.  But one of the most memorable mistakes I made was during my teen years. I was responsible for feeding my younger brother and sister at the time.  I made some Campbell's condensed chicken noodle soup for them.   When I poured it into their bowls, it seemed like there was a lot less than usual.   It also tasted saltier than normal.

Then I realized I had forgotten to add water.

Do you believe there is intelligent life on other planets?

is there intelligent life on this planet?

Did you order Girl Scout cookies this year?  What kind?

I bought some from some Brownies selling outside the local grocery store; Thin Mints (two boxes, of course, my favorite); Peanut Butter Patties, and Thanks-A-Lot (shortbread w/ chocolate layer).    All gone in a couple of days.

I sold these things myself over 35 years ago, so I had to help out the little Brownie girls. So selfless, am I.

What are your three favorite snacks?
Submitted by Sunscreem.

 Depends on the mood but:

quality ice cream (i.e., with high butterfat content);

uncooked cookie dough;

Junior Mints

How do you take your tea or coffee?
Submitted by Vasquez.

Coffee, black, intravenously on occasion.

is a single ticket to Lou Reed's Berlin, this December in Brooklyn. 

How could I not have found out about this until after it is sold out? 

I'm so depressed.

If any of you hear of a reliable person selling one ticket, let me know. 

-Your sad friend

press release:

Arts at St. Ann’s and the Sydney Festival Present the world premiere of LOU REED’S BERLIN,

DECEMBER 14, 15, 16, 17 AT ST. ANN’S WAREHOUSE (BROOKLYN)
JANUARY 18, 19, 20 IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

LIVE DEBUT OF REED’S CONTROVERSIAL 1973 LANDMARK SONG CYCLE TO FEATURE MUSICAL DIRECTION BY BOB EZRIN AND HAL WILLNER, DIRECTION AND DESIGN BY JULIAN SCHNABEL, LIGHTING BY  JENNIFER TIPTON AND PERFORMERS INCLUDING REED, ANTONY, SHARON JONES, RUPERT CHRISTIE, STEVE HUNTER, FERNANDO SAUNDERS, TONY SMITH, ROB WASSERMAN AND OTHERS

When Lou Reed’s Berlinwas released in 1973, it was a shock to critics and fans that had just seen Reed reaffirmed as a rock visionary with the runaway success of Transformer, which included the Top 20 hit “Walk on the Wild Side,” among other now-classic Reed compositions. Instead of delivering another, similar album that would further cement his reputation as glam-rock innovator, Reed betrayed the pigeonhole and all expectations and immersed himself in a highly ambitious, emotionally and psychologically exhausting, and ultimately, utterly surprising work: a dark concept album about drifting, tormented addicts in love, broken hearted and willfully disabled ex-pats, formalizing their own downfalls in the outskirts of a divided city. Though set it Berlin, this was a narrative so many of Reed’s peers had lived and felt firsthand.

The depth and impact of the album is evident in the critical response it received upon release: It provoked hyperbolic reactions, both positive and negative. The New York Times called the album “one of the strongest, most original rock records in years.” Rolling Stone raved, “It is not an overstatement to say that Berlinwill be the Sgt. Pepper of the Seventies.” But then the same magazine—among many others—attacked Reed for the work: “There are certain records that are so patently offensive that one wishes to take some kind of physical vengeance on the artists that perpetrate them. Reed’s only excuse for this performance…can only be that this was his last shot at a once-promising career.”

Over time, Berlin has come to be known not just as a cult favorite, but as an influential masterwork and an essential album in a career that—over 30 years later—has included countless surprises and landmark artistic endeavors. But Reed never performed Berlin live. Until now.

Arts at St. Ann’s and the Sydney Festival have joined forces with Reed to present a theatricalized concert version of the work, which makes its world premiere at St. Ann’s Warehouse for four nights only: December 14, 15, 16 and 17 at 8:00 P.M. The entire Berlin recording will be performed live, incorporating five additional songs by Reed that enhance the song cycle. Tickets are $65.

As in the making of the album, Reed is collaborating on the concert with an all-star creative team including musical direction by the original producer, Bob Ezrin—who produced the Berlin album as well as Pink Floyd’s The Wall and hit albums by Alice Cooper, Kiss and others—and record producer, Hal Willner, who has music-directed numerous multi-artist concerts at St. Ann’s original  home at  St. Ann’s Church in Brooklyn Heights. Willner’s most recent works include the Leonard Cohen tribute concert I’m Your Man (now a theatrically released documentary film and an album on Verve Forecast) and the compilation album Rogue’s Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs and Chanteys. Reed’s friend, painter Julian Schnabel is directing and designing, and Jennifer Tipton, who is beloved for her innovative work with The Wooster Group and many others, is designing lighting for the concert.

Producing the Berlinrecording, Ezrin met Reed’s ambition of vision with grand execution, assembling an all-star band for the recording in London: Steve Winwood, Jack Bruce, Michael and Randy Brecker and others. For the live performances at  St. Ann’s and in Sydney, Reed will be joined onstage by friends and favorite collaborators such as singers Antony and Sharon Jones, Rupert Christie ( keyboards), Steve Hunter (guitar), Fernando Saunders (bass), Rob Wasserman (bass), Tony Smith (drums), brass and strings contracted by Hal Willner with Steve Bernstein and Jane Scarpantoni.

Lou Reed has collaborated with Arts at St. Ann’s since 1990, when ASA co-commissioned and premiered the Lou Reed/John Cale work Songs for ‘Drella, which also became an acclaimed album and concert video. In 2003, Reed performed The Raven at St. Ann’s Warehous, and, last year, he performed as a guest in Arts at St. Ann’s 25th anniversary benefit concert, Fire at Keaton’s Bar and Grill.

Artistic Director Susan Feldman expressed her enthusiasm at welcoming Reed back for the world premiere of Berlin: [quote from Susan].
“I have been wanting to produce Berlin ever since a cousin of mine first handed it to me on a cassette about ten years ago! And, last year, I was very fortunate to meet up the adventurous director of the Sydney Festival, Fergus Linehan, who shared the passion. It’s been gratifying to engage Lou and some of his closest collaborators – Bob Ezrin, Julian Schnabel, Hal Willner – in what’s sure to be a labor of love and an important part of rock history. Berlin is a sad song about people on the edge, that, at its highest moments, achieves a shimmering elegance.”
Berlinepitomizes the sensibility strengths of Arts at St. Ann’s, which is perhaps best known for its signature multi-artist concerts and ground breaking music and theater collaborations. Among the many highly acclaimed productions at St. Ann’s Warehouse are Charlie Kaufman and the Coen Brothers’ Theater of the New Ear, The Royal Court Theater’s 4:48 Psychosis, The Wooster Group’s The Emperor Jones by Eugene O’Neill, To You, the Birdie and House/Lights,and Mabou Mines Dollhouse, which continues to tour the world. St. Ann’s Warehouse has featured special New York concerts by David Bowie, Beth Gibbons, Joe Strummer, Antony and the Johnsons, Aimee Mann, The Tiger Lillies and Music from the Mississippi Hill Country, featuring Othar Turner and Lucinda Williams.
Berlinis funded in part by The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation and The New York State Music Fund.

What are your top 25 most played songs? 
Submitted by Cooxie.  

Another one of those Vox questions I can't quite figure out.

25 most played songs ever?  this week?  today? 

I don't use my ipod. I work at home most of the time, with visits to a warehouse style place where I also get to control the music, so I end up listening to whole CDs, not a song here and a song there.

So the top 25 most played songs for me lately are:

Mountain Goats, Get Lonely

• wild sage
• new monster avenue
• half dead
• get lonely
• maybe sprout wings
• moon over goldsboro
• in the hidden places
• song for lonely giants
• woke up new
• if you see light
• cobra tattoo
• in corolla

12 songs...

and

Bonnie "Prince" Billy, The Letting Go

add in a sprinkling of the Scissor Sisters "Ta-Dah" when I'm not working....

Which cartoon character best represents you? 
Submitted by Know It All.

Trixie, from Speed Racer. 

My hubby races around like a crazy person without thinking things through, and I help him in times of crisis. I also advise and direct him from afar (albeit not via helicopter).

But most of all, I am like Trixie because I want Speed Racer to be my secret boyfriend.

Oops! Secret's out!  Good thing the husband never goes online....

What's your favorite thing to shop for? 
Submitted by JadedButterfly.

Shoes glorious shoes......can't seem to get enough of this John Fluevog candy.

Last pair purchased:

Peacemaker slipon

What was your very first job? 
Submitted by Laurel.

My first job was babysitting.

Is that too obvious?

After that....

In high school (at 16 and 17 years old, 1979-1980) I worked in a warehouse filling orders for a company that sold the ugliest hats, belts and accessories.  I packed orders for UPS pick up.  Oh my god, it was so awful  All the items were made of straw, and were in the most horrid colors (neon yellows, oranges, aqua, etc.).  These were supposed to be hip and cool accessories, and the company was extremely successful.  I wish I had photos so I could prove how ugly these hats were to you all.

It was boring, but it paid my car expenses.