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POLLYTALK FROM NEW YORK
By Polly Guerin
August 10, 2009
HALCYON DAYS OF SUMMER IN THE BIG APPLE
There’s nothing like those halcyon days of summer when we can luxuriate languishing in a
dream-like state in the last remaining weeks before Labor Day. Let’s take it all in lapping up
these last few precious days listening to music, poetry and love. Here’s the scoop!!!
IRONING DAY, a recent poem by yours truly comes to mind. “My iron glides across the years,
smoothing out wrinkles and tears; too hot the iron jolts my memory, the settings notched on
reverie; remember the halcyon days of summer, the buzz buzz bee’s the gentle hummer; a
peaceful lull in a languid afternoon, a rain shower ends it all too soon; my iron pours over linen
and lace, children at play tug ‘o war race; down at the beach umbrellas unfurled a gay carousel
the wind gives a twirl; idle hours in sweet contemplation, lemonade ices a homemade creation;
crisp cotton shirts pristine white, I must get them ironed for tonight; a rowboat excursion on a
mirror lake, blueberry pie awaits, lets not be late; hours of sunlight out on the porch, don’t let the
garment get scorched; a little brown dog asleep in a basket, my silent companion rests like a
basset; cool is the moist palette of the seaside, press on, let this ironing work subside; take to the
hammock oh beautiful dreamer, the ordinary joys of summer be a redeemer; taste the tang and
crispness of the air, lull away the hours without a care. Copyright © by Polly Guerin
SUMMER MUSIC IN CHELSEA at St. Peter’s Church, 346 W. 20th St. (between 8 and 9 Ave.)
on Tuesday, August 11 at 7:30 pm brings us guest conductor Frederico Gouveia in a program of
really uplifting and regenerizing music. The program: Villa-Lobos, Bachinas Brasileiras #4-
Prelude; Vaughn Willims: Frantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis; Adagio for Strings by Samuel
Barber and Holbert Suite by Grieg. Who is this young, inspired conductor? 27-year old Frederico
Gouveia is an emerging conductor in the New York City scene. Originally from Brazil, he is an
active voice in promoting classical music education in Latin America and fostering inter-American
cultural exchange. Members of Americas-Society can be added to the list at members@americas-
society.org.
SCHOLA CANTORUM DE VENEZUELA returns to Mostly Mozart at Alice Tully Hall’s Starr
Theater on Saturday, August 15th, Broadway and 65th St. Schola Cantorum de Venezuela
performs a concert of stunning cappella choral music, following their performance of John Adams’
newest opera, “A Flowering Tree.” These powerful voices breathe life into an array of works from
their native Venezuela and beyond, from traditional to modern, inspired by the colors, rhythms,
and fantastical elements of Adams’ opera. Treat yourself to an evening that The New York Times
said, “the choir stole the show.” For Tickets: www.MostlyMozart.org or CenterCharge
212.721.6500.
PARIS ALONG THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER: FRENCH ASYLUM FOR MARIE ANTOINETTE!!!
Near the banks of the Susquehanna River in Bradford Count, Pennsylvania stands a historical
marking that states, “Marie Antoinette Scenic View, 2000 feet”. Did you ever hear of Asylum?
Neither did I until I heard a lecture at the D&D Building here in the Big Apple. Seems that in 1793,
during the French Revolution several French loyalists fled France and many found their way to
America and traveled up the Susquehanna River, where they found their safe harbor and called it
Asylum. Legend has it that the loyalists built a large home in the hopes that Marie Antoinette, the
Queen of France, would escape the guillotine and flee to this place in Pennsylvania with her two
children. Well, we know that it just did not happen but the legend is real and many of the settlers
who remained in Asylum established homes there and in nearby towns which acquired
Francophile names like “Frenchtown.” So what can you see there today. Not much, but a John
Laporte, the son of one of the original French settlers, built the LaPorte House on the grounds
and you can tour it and see French wall decorations, the gazebo and herb garden. So what if
Marie Antoinette had escaped? What would Asylum be like today? For travel details: http:
//pennsylvania-travel.suite 101.com/article.cfm/French _azilum.
There’s nothing more American than 100-year old PENDLETON MILLS that built its reputation
upon classic wool plaids, pleated skirts, Western Wear and Native American-inspired, jacquard-
patterned blankets that trace back to the origins. And where did those Elmer Fudd-ish “timber”
caps with fold-down earflaps originate? You’ve got it! It’s decidedly a Pendleton creation. So isn’
t it heart-warming to know that good-old fashioned quality counts and that’s why Pendleton has
survived. Bloomingdale’s is putting in “vintage Pendleton shops in four stores in October stocked
with men’s products inspired by the archives: bear totem cardigans and Western -style wool
shirts.” Yeah, give me a Pendleton man anytime. They have true grit and have firmness of mind
and spirit. ‘Bout time!
Well, Ta Ta darlings. There I go again rhapsodizing about poetry, music, legends and those
true grit men. Send your comments to pollytalk@verizon.net or go to the Internet and check out
my website: www.pollytalk.com. Remember you heard all about it on the Big Apple News.
By Polly Guerin
August 10, 2009
HALCYON DAYS OF SUMMER IN THE BIG APPLE
There’s nothing like those halcyon days of summer when we can luxuriate languishing in a
dream-like state in the last remaining weeks before Labor Day. Let’s take it all in lapping up
these last few precious days listening to music, poetry and love. Here’s the scoop!!!
IRONING DAY, a recent poem by yours truly comes to mind. “My iron glides across the years,
smoothing out wrinkles and tears; too hot the iron jolts my memory, the settings notched on
reverie; remember the halcyon days of summer, the buzz buzz bee’s the gentle hummer; a
peaceful lull in a languid afternoon, a rain shower ends it all too soon; my iron pours over linen
and lace, children at play tug ‘o war race; down at the beach umbrellas unfurled a gay carousel
the wind gives a twirl; idle hours in sweet contemplation, lemonade ices a homemade creation;
crisp cotton shirts pristine white, I must get them ironed for tonight; a rowboat excursion on a
mirror lake, blueberry pie awaits, lets not be late; hours of sunlight out on the porch, don’t let the
garment get scorched; a little brown dog asleep in a basket, my silent companion rests like a
basset; cool is the moist palette of the seaside, press on, let this ironing work subside; take to the
hammock oh beautiful dreamer, the ordinary joys of summer be a redeemer; taste the tang and
crispness of the air, lull away the hours without a care. Copyright © by Polly Guerin
SUMMER MUSIC IN CHELSEA at St. Peter’s Church, 346 W. 20th St. (between 8 and 9 Ave.)
on Tuesday, August 11 at 7:30 pm brings us guest conductor Frederico Gouveia in a program of
really uplifting and regenerizing music. The program: Villa-Lobos, Bachinas Brasileiras #4-
Prelude; Vaughn Willims: Frantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis; Adagio for Strings by Samuel
Barber and Holbert Suite by Grieg. Who is this young, inspired conductor? 27-year old Frederico
Gouveia is an emerging conductor in the New York City scene. Originally from Brazil, he is an
active voice in promoting classical music education in Latin America and fostering inter-American
cultural exchange. Members of Americas-Society can be added to the list at members@americas-
society.org.
SCHOLA CANTORUM DE VENEZUELA returns to Mostly Mozart at Alice Tully Hall’s Starr
Theater on Saturday, August 15th, Broadway and 65th St. Schola Cantorum de Venezuela
performs a concert of stunning cappella choral music, following their performance of John Adams’
newest opera, “A Flowering Tree.” These powerful voices breathe life into an array of works from
their native Venezuela and beyond, from traditional to modern, inspired by the colors, rhythms,
and fantastical elements of Adams’ opera. Treat yourself to an evening that The New York Times
said, “the choir stole the show.” For Tickets: www.MostlyMozart.org or CenterCharge
212.721.6500.
PARIS ALONG THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER: FRENCH ASYLUM FOR MARIE ANTOINETTE!!!
Near the banks of the Susquehanna River in Bradford Count, Pennsylvania stands a historical
marking that states, “Marie Antoinette Scenic View, 2000 feet”. Did you ever hear of Asylum?
Neither did I until I heard a lecture at the D&D Building here in the Big Apple. Seems that in 1793,
during the French Revolution several French loyalists fled France and many found their way to
America and traveled up the Susquehanna River, where they found their safe harbor and called it
Asylum. Legend has it that the loyalists built a large home in the hopes that Marie Antoinette, the
Queen of France, would escape the guillotine and flee to this place in Pennsylvania with her two
children. Well, we know that it just did not happen but the legend is real and many of the settlers
who remained in Asylum established homes there and in nearby towns which acquired
Francophile names like “Frenchtown.” So what can you see there today. Not much, but a John
Laporte, the son of one of the original French settlers, built the LaPorte House on the grounds
and you can tour it and see French wall decorations, the gazebo and herb garden. So what if
Marie Antoinette had escaped? What would Asylum be like today? For travel details: http:
//pennsylvania-travel.suite 101.com/article.cfm/French _azilum.
There’s nothing more American than 100-year old PENDLETON MILLS that built its reputation
upon classic wool plaids, pleated skirts, Western Wear and Native American-inspired, jacquard-
patterned blankets that trace back to the origins. And where did those Elmer Fudd-ish “timber”
caps with fold-down earflaps originate? You’ve got it! It’s decidedly a Pendleton creation. So isn’
t it heart-warming to know that good-old fashioned quality counts and that’s why Pendleton has
survived. Bloomingdale’s is putting in “vintage Pendleton shops in four stores in October stocked
with men’s products inspired by the archives: bear totem cardigans and Western -style wool
shirts.” Yeah, give me a Pendleton man anytime. They have true grit and have firmness of mind
and spirit. ‘Bout time!
Well, Ta Ta darlings. There I go again rhapsodizing about poetry, music, legends and those
true grit men. Send your comments to pollytalk@verizon.net or go to the Internet and check out
my website: www.pollytalk.com. Remember you heard all about it on the Big Apple News.