Leslie Zemeckis's Blog - Posts Tagged "sinatra"
Havana Nocture
T.J. English's absorbing well researched book is as satisfying as a Rum Mob:
1 parts coconut milk
1 part rum
generously squeeze lime
and fresh grated ginger
pour over ice and enjoy learning about Cuba and how the mob infiltrated the tiny island 90 miles from Florida. The book is well-written and researched with Sinatra, the razzle-dazzle scheme that led tourists to lose fortunes, to prostitutes, showgirls and world class nightclubs like the Tropicana. And the mob was everywhere. The book chronicles the rise of Castro and the fall of Batista, the corruption and the seedy side of life. Its a sexy book, an informative book, an excellent book with an excellent rum punch!I was thrilled at the mention (small) of Harold Minsky and knew of the places some of my burlesquers played at. English brings this era to life.
1 parts coconut milk
1 part rum
generously squeeze lime
and fresh grated ginger
pour over ice and enjoy learning about Cuba and how the mob infiltrated the tiny island 90 miles from Florida. The book is well-written and researched with Sinatra, the razzle-dazzle scheme that led tourists to lose fortunes, to prostitutes, showgirls and world class nightclubs like the Tropicana. And the mob was everywhere. The book chronicles the rise of Castro and the fall of Batista, the corruption and the seedy side of life. Its a sexy book, an informative book, an excellent book with an excellent rum punch!I was thrilled at the mention (small) of Harold Minsky and knew of the places some of my burlesquers played at. English brings this era to life.
Ava Gardner the Secret conversations
Well, better make that a double dirty martini: 3 oz good vodka (you'll need it good) chilled, 1 oz dry vermouth, just slightly more than 1/2 ox olive brine, stirred, strain sip and forgive this ultimately disappointing read. Ava Gardner, notorious drinker, man-eater, beauty. I was already to hear from her own lips tales about her affairs with Howard Hughes and marriages to Artie Shaw, Mickey Rooney (that needed explaining) and Sinatra. What this book is instead is mainly an ongoing page after page argument with Ava and her ghostwriter Peter Evans. Okay after the fourth or fifth argument "are you sure we should write that honey?" I wanted Mr. Evans to step out of the way, stop interrupting her late night rambling conversations where he could have gleaned more, possibly finished the book (before she quit) but he insisted she keep to a chronological order which she did not want to do. A mess of a book, as much of a mess as the woman herself, a sad, fierce woman who cannot sleep because of her guilt and her regrets. Someone needs to pick up her story and complete it, martinis, hangovers and one-night stands all.
Lady Blue Eyes
Barbara's Bloody Mary: made with tequila, horseradish (fresh), Lea & Perrins sauce, Tobasco, squeeze of lemon and lime.
The drink is most likely more potent than the book. This is "Frank Sinatra light." Enjoyable but only a small slice of his life with his last (the 4th) Mrs. Sinatra, a woman who married up - from Zeppo Marx to the Chairman of the Board. I enjoyed it, though wondered at how she - who lived with Frank for nearly 25 years - could leave out any and all references to his two daughters and barely mentions Frank, Jr. - Nonetheless a pleasant beach read.
The drink is most likely more potent than the book. This is "Frank Sinatra light." Enjoyable but only a small slice of his life with his last (the 4th) Mrs. Sinatra, a woman who married up - from Zeppo Marx to the Chairman of the Board. I enjoyed it, though wondered at how she - who lived with Frank for nearly 25 years - could leave out any and all references to his two daughters and barely mentions Frank, Jr. - Nonetheless a pleasant beach read.
