If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to get in your DeLorean or your Way-Back Machine and scoot back in time half a millennium or so to Tudor England, but aren’t sure you’d relish the lack of penicillin, unhealthy food preparation, and unsanitary waste management, you’ve got a chance right now to have… Continue reading Much Ado about Shakespeare’s Globe
Category: General Interest
Edith Wharton’s New York
by Stacey Margaret Jones In the months before our April trip to New York City, we watched the HBO series The Gilded Age, and I listened to the companion podcast, hosted by one of the NYC historians on the Bowery Boys podcast, which I’ve subscribed to for years. I love the stories of “Old New York,” when Central… Continue reading Edith Wharton’s New York
Greenwich Village Walking Tour
We had come to the front door of an upscale apartment house at 29 East Ninth Street in Greenwich Village, to visit our Instagram friends Tony and Stephanie, whom we had bonded with over our dogs. We were there to meet their new collie, and as I glanced to the right of the door, I… Continue reading Greenwich Village Walking Tour
New York: A Broadway and Museum Mashup
Shakespeare’s birthday in New York. What’s the best way I could think of to celebrate? How about taking in the brilliant new musical Six at Broadway’s Brooks Atkinson Theatre? Any true fan of the Elizabethan theater and poetry of which Shakespeare is the paragon will be gaga over this musical salute to the six wives of Henry… Continue reading New York: A Broadway and Museum Mashup
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara by Stacey Margaret Jones When a friend of mine from high school and I decided on Santa Barbara for a weekend reunion in March, I admit I didn’t choose it for its literary history, but because it was a wine-tasting destination I hadn’t yet visited. I’ve been to California just enough for it… Continue reading Santa Barbara
Key West
If you visit Key West, Florida—the southernmost city in the continental United States—and stroll down Duval Street in the city’s historic district, you’ll pass numerous T-shirt shops, a glance at which will likely convince you that the city is geared only toward the entertainment of drooling Neanderthals. But don’t despair and don’t stop there. We… Continue reading Key West
Trivia Question for February 25
Anthony Burgess was born on this date in 1917. What name is actually on his birth certificate? [av_button label=’ Use The Comment Form Below To Submit You Answer’ link=’http://jayruud.com/trivia-question-for-february-25/’ link_target=” color=’theme-color’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ size=’large’ position=’center’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue83b’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Trivia Question for February 18
On this date in 1885, Mark Twain’s classic Huckleberry Finn was published. What writer had this to say about Twain’s great novel? All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn. American writing comes from that. There was nothing before. There has been nothing as good since. [av_button… Continue reading Trivia Question for February 18
Fatal Feast Now Shipping and a Public Reading
Jay’s new novel, Fatal Feast, is now available at your favorite bookstore or online bookseller [av_button label=’Purchase Fatal Feast at Barnes & Noble’ link=’manually,http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fatal-feast-jay-ruud/1120061714′ link_target=’_blank’ color=’green’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ size=’medium’ position=’left’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue84e’ font=’entypo-fontello’] [av_button label=’Purchase Fatal Feast at Amazon’ link=’manually,http://www.amazon.com/Fatal-Feast-A-Merlin-Mystery/dp/1432829874/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410550928′ link_target=’_blank’ color=’green’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ size=’medium’ position=’right’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue84e’ font=’entypo-fontello’] Jay will read an excerpt from Fatal… Continue reading Fatal Feast Now Shipping and a Public Reading
Trivia Question for February 11
On this date in 1963, Sylvia Plath committed suicide. Can you tell me the title of the book for which Plath won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry? [av_button label=’ Use The Comment Form Below To Submit You Answer’ link=’http://jayruud.com/trivia-question-for-february-11/’ link_target=” color=’theme-color’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ size=’large’ position=’center’ icon_select=’yes’ icon=’ue83b’ font=’entypo-fontello’]