As The World Churns

By Bob Nicolaides 10/14

Do you  know who plied the seas of the world on the private yacht of the Latsis group this past summer,  the same vessel  on which the elder Bush  saw the Aegean islands some decades ago? It was King Abdullah of  Saudi Arabia. The name of the ship is Alexander……

Partial view of Tirana Cathedral

Europe-bred, Greek-descent, seven-time winner of the worldwide kick-boxing title Nenad Pagonis who has faced hundreds of opponents over the years, says his heart is broken seeing the miserable condition in which the country in which his grandfather from his dad’s side has gotten…

You folks may remember that it was master architect Stephen Papadatos the man who designed the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Tirana, Albania. The magnificent structure and the adjacent spire, as well as the Center next door, took ten years to be completed and at least twenty personal  trips to the site……..South Jersey’s Greek Spirit TV show host and poet extraordinaire George Burlotos defines why he is proud to be Greek and so should  everyone of us: ‘Because,‘ he says ‘40% of the words in the Oxford Dictionary are words with a Greek root.’ That’s the first reason he gives. The second is because of what Greeks call “philotimo,” and its myriad meanings of love, empathy, sacrifice and much more, not only for fellow Greeks but for all humankind and nature.  And you know what? This word does not exist in any other language. Burlottos has a third reason also: We should be proud because Socrates, Plato, Atistotle and so many other wise men, all belonged to the Greek race….How many of you remember crooner Apostolos Nicolaidis, the New York band leader who died more than a decade ago? If you do, it will be good news to you the fact that  his daughter is alive and well and living somwhere along the Jersey shore. You may not have taken notice but nowadays she goes by the name of Christina Demopoulos which is the surname of her third husband she lives with along with her two young children…..The sad news is that former New York bandleader, guitarist and singer Tasso Mavris (Mavridoglou) who starred in the Feenjon shows half a century ago passed away in Athens, Greece where he lived these last ten years. He died following surgery to relieve an intestinal blockage caused by cancer. Tasso whose plans were to return to the US along with his two children, Litsa and Thanassi, remained unfulfilled. Litsa is in Athens with her baby, and Thanassi is in Georgia (the nation) with his wife, with their plans being put on hold due to their father’s death….

Hey Basile Fans! Make note that there is only ONE GREEK SHOW at Kowloons and that is on Friday, October 3 at 9:45pm. But don't despair, if you haven't seen his regular/general show now is your chance! Who needs to go to Atlantic City when you can see Basile in Saugus, right in MA?



Aniston for Kardashian

HBO has confirmed that decorated actress Meryl Streep will portray the legendary opera singer Maria Callas in the US network's film adaptation of Master Class. The film will be based on the Tony Award-winning play of the same name by Terrence McNally, which debuted on Broadway in 1995. The HBO network has selected Meryl Streep for the role after her astonishing performance playing the world-famous chef Julia Child in "Julie & Julia" and the iconic British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady."… Jennifer Aniston is a huge fan of Keeping Up with the Kardashians. And she loves watching Kim Kardashian on the reality show…

George Mandilaras and wife Rena, the original owners of Kyclades Taverna in Astoria just opened a new restaurant with the same winning format calling it Syros Taverna in Englewood, NJ, a neihborhood where lots of Hellenes make their home. The establishment headed by chef—co-owner Elias Kostakis in the kitchen is already so poplar you almost have to beg for a table any night of the week. It is so popular that actor Richard Gear brought his girl Padma Lakshmi to treat her to a huge branzini that was deboned for her. She was so excited that she told her table neighbors that they were looking for a house around the neighborhood…. The latest restaurant to adopt restaurateur Nick Kokonas' ticketing system is not exactly a fine dining establishment with a prix fixe menu, but a smaller, casual restaurant with a la carte options. According to a tweet from Kokonas, Tuck Shop in Phoenix, Ariz. has switched to tickets, but the restaurant is using a different model. Typically at high-end restaurants like Alinea and Coi, customers pay for the entire meal, plus tax and service, upfront. However, according to Tuck Shop's website, their tickets are more like deposits on a reservation: "The amount you pay for the ticket is applied toward your final bill.

 

Ethos Performing Arts will bring you Greece for a Lifetime with Stavros Xarhakos, Stamatis Kokotas  and Iro Saia. Both artists bring a distinctive blend of contemporary Greek music to Stern Auditorium/ Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall in New York City, on Saturday, October 4th at 8 pm at the Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall. Tickets are priced $40—$120 and are available at the Carnegie Hall Box Office…. A musical Tribute to Manos Hatzidakis takes place at the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College with the music of Giannis Savvidakis and his musicians on November 9 with an after concert party at the Veranda restaurant in Bayside. It all comes to you via  Aktina productions…

 

Hey Basile Fans! Make note that there is only ONE GREEK SHOW at Kowloons and that is on Friday, October 3 at 9:45pm. But don't despair, if you haven't seen his regular/general show now is your chance! Who needs to go to Atlantic City when you can see Basile in Saugus????



Ploutarhos

Terry Poulos says: Reverie restaurant grand opening in Chicago for Lou Canellis and media colleagues...Ellen Karis penned Washington Post op-ed..Jennifer Zarouchliotis made a "Splash" in Sun-Times...Author Alexandros Nicholas Pattakos and his wife Elaine Dundon, co-authors of The Opa! Way, present at NHM...Speaking of the National Hellenic Museum, they hosted Kouzina Night Oct. 16...30th work anniversary for Indy-based Denny Kladis...Fantasy football book by Jim Saranteas rises on Amazon in its genre..Helen Karakoudas Redfern opens new software firm...5th anniversary "Greek Hour" radio show for Cleveland's Valerie Varlamos...Anthe and Vasiliki Mitrakos release Summer magazine issue...New music video by Lexy Prodromos and Stephany Prodromos...Professor Eve Geroulis education blog...Bill Apostol two-year anniversary with Omega Media Partners...Anastasios Papapostolou Greek Reporter take on Maria Callas and Athens Theater Museum deterioration...Bill Marianes religion blog...Yiannis Ploutarhos Chicago performance Oct. 25, promoted by Nick Andriopoulos...

 Word of the Month: Plethora from the Gr. Πληθώρα