The Schmooze lies at the intersection of high and low culture. Here, the latest developments and trends in Jewish art, books, dance, film, music, media, television and theater are all assimilated into one handy pop culture blog.
The Schmooze
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How David Laskin Discovered Family’s Past
A family rumor was the genesis of David Laskin’s extraordinary new book, “The Family: Three Journeys into the Heart of the 20th Century.” Laskin heard from his mother who heard it from her cousin Barbara who heard it from her parents: that they were related to Lazar Kaganovich, henchman of Joseph Stalin and a perpetrator…
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Mourning Lou Reed — the Man Who Taught Me To Be
I first heard those eerie xylophone notes that open the Velvet Underground’s “Sunday Morning” when I was 14, sitting on the rug of my friend Mollie’s bedroom. A moment later, I heard Lou Reed’s voice for the first time, and everything changed. That day, we were two Upper West Side Jewish girls who showed up…
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Anderson Cooper’s ‘Jewish White Supremacist’ Stalker
When Anderson Cooper gets a stalker, it’s not just some garden-variety loon. No, the CNN star has been allegedly menaced by a self-described “gay, Jewish, white supremacist” from Queens named Alex Hausner. According to the NY Daily News, Hausner “unleashed a crazed campaign against Cooper and boyfriend Benjamin Maisani, contacting them repeatedly between January 1…
The Latest
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Mia And Ronan Farrow Get Blue Card’s Holbrooke Award
“Richard [Holbrooke] was never fooled by Mia’s so-called porcelain beauty,” said journalist Kati Marton, alluding to her late husband, U.S. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, at the October 21 Blue Card Benefit held at The Powerhouse at The Museum of Natural History. Presenting the Richard C. Holbrooke Award for Social Justice to Mia Farrow and son Ronan…
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Breslow Flops, Rosenthal Stars as Cardinals Tie Series
(JTA) — The St. Louis Cardinals tied up the World Series with Thursday night’s 4-2 win over Boston. The save went to Trevor Rosenthal. Regrettably, unlike A.M., Lefty, Hannah and the NFL’s Mike Rosenthal, the Cardinals’ Rosenthal is not a Jew. But the reliever is sometimes mistaken for one, as ESPN reported earlier this year:…
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Sex Shop With a Mezuzah on the Door
At the upscale San Ignacio mall in central Caracas, Venezuela, the only sight less likely than a sex shop is a sex shop with a mezuzah on the doorpost. But TuTiendaSexy — “your sexy store” — has found success by defying expectations. Founded by a trio of 20-something Jewish-educated college buddies, the brand now encompasses…
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10 Ways to Celebrate Jewish Book Month
The Holy Days are barely behind us, and we’re already preparing for Hanukkah (the first day of which, as some have realized, coincides with American Thanksgiving this year). But between these events comes something else that should be on your calendar: Jewish Book Month. Running this year from October 26 to November 26, Jewish Book…
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‘Fiddler’ Lyricist Feted at 90
Sheldon Harnick isn’t going to be 90 until next April, but the celebration of that milestone kicks off October 27. That’s when Brooklyn’s Encompass New Opera Theater honors one of Broadway’s greatest lyricists at its annual gala. The group works with young composers of musical theater and opera. Harnick has been associated with the company…
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‘Jerry Seinfeld of France’ Gets Serious
“A Costa-Gavras Film” atop a marquee or movie poster is the equivalent of the old Good Housekeeping magazine seal of approval: a guarantee that the movie will be well acted, intelligent and politically charged. In “Capital,” the Greek-French director probably best known for “Z,” “State of Siege” and “Missing” doesn’t disappoint. Here he targets the…
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Boston Mayor Proclaims ‘Thanksgivukkah’ Day
He may not be able to spell it, but Boston Mayor Thomas Menino is on board with Thanksgivukkah. He promised to proclaim Nov. 28 “Thanksgivukkah Day” in the city. Menino made the vow to JewishBoston.com, which hit Boston’s streets to quiz locals about Thanksgivukkah. While many in the Pilgrims’ home state were ignorant about this…
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Mel Brooks Talks To Conan About His Jewish Roots
The latest installment of Conan O’Brien’s “Jibber Jabber” is perhaps his best yet. Our favorite red-headed comedian interviewed Mel Brooks, “the funniest man on the planet Earth,” who talked to him about growing up in Williamsburg — where if “you take a wrong step, you step on a Jew” — finding out humor wasn’t Jewish-specific…
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