Helen Edgington’s History with The Spencer, The Country’s Oldest Literary Themed Hotel

The Spencer Hotel & Spa Helen Edgington bought The Spencer Hotel & Spa in February 1997, as a labor of love. She considers it “an after retirement project.” The ... Continue Reading →

Santa’s Annual Wish List

Santa spends most of the year scanning the horizon for the coolest items. He is known for suggesting some great gifts.  Here are the gifts Santa is hoping HE will get this year. HYPERJUICE   Even ... Continue Reading →

The Kinks: Songs of the Semi-Detached (Reverb/Reaktion) 

Just when you think most everything that could be written about (or by) The Kinks has been published, along comes a wonderful assessment about the band and the city it has always called ... Continue Reading →

 London, Reign Over Me: How England’s Capital Built Classic Rock 

London, Reign Over Me: How England’s Capital Built Classic Rock [Rowman & Littlefield, February 2020] by Stephen Tow I wasn’t alone in thinking that nearly everything pouring ... Continue Reading →

The wicked FX twist on ‘A Christmas Carol’ with Guy Pearce as Scrooge

A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens’ classic Christmas ghost story, becomes a shockingly twisted tale that can scare the “humbug” out of you thanks to Guy Pearce starring as a ... Continue Reading →

Two Wonderful Books About Music: “Music A Subversive History” and “Pop Science”

I have read back to back two marvelous books about music. One is serious, one is a parody and both are delightful. “Music – A Subversive History” by Ted Gioiais a solid, erudite ... Continue Reading →

The Last Leonardo, by Ben Lewis

The plural in the subtitle tells it all: “The Secret Lives of the World’s Most Expensive Painting.” Lewis has pulled off a relatively impossible feat, he has published a riveting ... Continue Reading →

Life of David Hockney – A Novel 

Catherine Cusset translated from the French by Teresa Lavender Fagan Life of David Hockney – A Novel (Other Press)   What a breezy delight this book is. Piecing together ... Continue Reading →