Unable to compete United Airlines will suspend service out of JFK International Airport, starting Saturday, October 29th. The airline requested additional flights from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to keep up with other competitors flying out of NYC’s busiest International Airport. They threatened action if their request wasn’t fulfilled. It wasn’t a threat.
News
Flying United? Not Out Of JFK!
United had been flying two roundtrips a day from JFK to San Francisco and Los Angeles for the past year. Before that, United Airlines hadn’t serviced JFK for five years until 2021.
“Given our current, too-small-to-be-competitive schedule out of JFK — coupled with the start of the Winter season where more airlines will operate their slots as they resume JFK flying — United has made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend service at JFK,” stated United Airlines.
So as of October 29th JFK and United will be a thing of the past.
The Mabel Mercer Foundation’s invitation predicted“A Swell Party” and last night certainly was! KT Sullivan artistic director of the foundation hosted an elegant evening to celebrate the legacy of Charles S Bullock, Chairman Emeritus, Board of Trustees, and his favorite composer Cole Porter at the legendary Pierre Hotel in Manhattan. The Pierre, has been the scene of many notable events in the social history of New York City and this evening was unquestionably one of them.
Also predictably, the program consisted of some of the finest Cabaret performers in the country and best beloved favorites of the Mabel Mercer Foundation’s sophisticated and knowledgeable audiences … On the stage of the Cotillion Room at The Pierre were: Christine Andreas, Anna Bergman, Eric Comstock, Natalie Douglas, Elsa Dungan-Hawks, Barbara Fasano, Liam Forde, Eric Yves Garcia, Jeff Harnamr, Mark Nadler, Catherine Russell, and of course KT Sullivan. John Weber (piano) and Steve Doyle (bass) supplied the musical accompaniment.
Cole Porter’s piano may still reside in the Waldorf Astoria, but his words and music were alive and well in The Pierre and were superbly performed in honor of Charles Bullock by this esteemed gathering of concert/cabaret artists.
A SWELL PARTY
KT SULLIVAN
RICK MEADOWS
ANNA BERGMAN
LIAM FORDE
CATHERINE RUSSELL
ELSA DUNGAN-HAWKS
ERIC YVES GARCIA
CHRISTINE ADNREAS
JEFF HARNAR
NATALIE DOUGLAS
MARK NADLER
ERIC COMSTOCK & BARBARA FASANO
KT SULLIVAN
SUE BULLOCK & CRAIG RUBANO
HOWARD MORGAN, Chairman of the Board MMF, & ELEANOR MORGAN
PETER HANSON & KT SULLIVAN
ADELA ELOW & LARRY ELOW
SANDFORD FISHER, CHRISTINE ANDREAS, ALEX RYBECK
ISANNE FISHER & KT SULLIVAN
BOB LOVERD, CHRISTEL IBSEN, KT SULLIVAN
ALEX RYBECK, ANNA BERGMAN, EDA SOROKOFF, STEPHEN SOROKOFF, CHRISTINE ANDREAS, MARTIN SILVESTRI
CARMEN DELL’ OREFICE & JEFF HARNAR
EDA SOROKOFF, MARC ROSEN CHRISTEL IBSEN
CHRISTINE ANDREAS & KT SULLIVAN
BARBARA FASANO & ERIC COMSTOCK
JEFF HARNAR & BARBARA FLOOD
LOUISE PRATT, COLETTE RUSSELL, KT SULLIVAN
NATALIE DOUGLAS & JUDY STEWART
CHRISTINE ANDREAS, KT SULLIVAN RICK MEADOWS CARMEN DELL’ OREFICE
PETER LEAVY
BARBARA FLOOD, PHILLIP OFFICER, CARMEN DELL’ ORFICE, CRAIG RUBANO
MARC ROSEN & EDA SOROKOFF
MARC ROSEN & EDA SOROKOFF
JON WEBER
KT SULLIVAN & ED CLOSSON
THE PIERRE
The air quality in NYC has made us one of the of the worst places on earth with air pollution hurting millions. This is the second day of poor air quality as a result of Canadian wildfire near Quebec blowing smoke in our direction. The city smells like a burning campfire, burning eyes, ears and throats. The air quality index hit 484 at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Adams said. It was believed to be the highest index level since the 1960s.
Prima Facie’s star Jodie Comer stopped her performance about 10 minutes into the show. Comer told the audience she couldn’t breathe because of the air. The show continued with Comer’s understudy Dani Arlington taking over.
Hamilton and Camelot canceled their Wednesday night performances. The Public Theater canceled a planned rehearsal and dress rehearsal of the Shakespeare in the Park production of Hamlet as well as the first two performances on Thursday and Friday. The performances, take place in the open air theater in Central Park, were canceled “due to the ongoing issues of air quality and the added effect it is having on finalizing the production at The Delacorte Theater,” a spokesperson said.
Off-Broadway, the Vineyard Theatre cancelled Wednesday night’s performance of This Land Was Made, saying “in the interest of prioritizing the health and safety of our audience members, performers, and staff.”
The WGA East canceled all picket lines due to the hazardous air blanketing the New York City metro area, “out of an abundance of caution.”
The NYC schools go remote tomorrow with virtually in staff training on what’s known on the school calendar as “Anniversary Day/Chancellor’s Conference Day.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul stated that the smoke could continue for days and described the situation as an “emergency crisis.”
“This is an unprecedented event in our city, and New Yorkers must take precautions,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
There were Tony Award winners in the audience and on the stage of the Tony Award Winning 54 Below last night. All had gathered to celebrate the 95th Birthday of Charles Strouse the Tony, Emmy Award winning Composer and Lyricist of many beloved Broadway Shows (Bye Bye Birdie, Golden Boy, Applause and of course Annie among many others). Strouse a classically trained composer and graduate of the Eastman School of Music also composed scores for film, TV, orchestral works, chamber music, piano concertos and opera. Strouse and lyricist Lee Adams wrote the theme song “Those Were The Days” for the Norman Lear sitcom All In The Family.
The evening hosted by Lee Roy Reams featured thrilling and emotional performances by luminaries from the Broadway, Cabaret, and Concert Stages whose artistic paths had crossed with Charles Strouse.
The performers:
Carolee Carmello, Penny Fuller, Anita Gillette, Alan H. Green, Jeff Harnar, Karen Mason, Andrea McArdle, Donna McKechnie, Steve Ross, Stephen Schwartz, KT Sullivan, and Karen Ziemba, Music direction was by Alex Rybeck with direction by Eric Paul Vitale.
On a personal note, I’ve included a treasured family photo of our granddaughter Zoe Gelman being congratulated by Mr. Strouse after she sang an Annie Medley at a past Mabel Mercer Foundation Cabaret Convention honoring Charles Strouse.
STEPHEN SCHWARTZ, LEE ADAMS (98), CHARLES STROUSE (95)
LEE ADAMS & CHARLES STROUSE
CHARLES STROUSE
CHARLES STROUSE
ALEX RYBECK, music director & LEE ROY REAMS
KAREN ZIEMBA
DONNA McKECHNIE
ANITA GILLETTE
PENNY FULLER
ANITA GILLETTE & PENNY FULLER
KT SULLIVAN
JON WEBER & KT SULLIVAN
KT SULLIVAN & JEFF HARNAR
STEVE ROSS
ALAN H. GREEN
KAREN MASON
STEPHEN SCHWARTZ
STEPHEN SCHWARTZ
STEPHEN SCHWARTZ & CAROLEE CARMELLO
ANDREA McARDLE
ZOE GELMAN & CHARLES STROUSE
HAPPY 95th BIRTHDAY CHARLES STROUSE
STEPHEN SCHWARTZ, KAREN MASON, ANITA GILLETTE, LEE ADAMS, CHARLES STROUSE
KT SULLIVAN, LEE ADAMS, CHARLES STROUSE
ANITA GILLETTE, LEE ADAMS, CHARLES STROUSE
KT SULLIVAN, JEFF HARNAR, LEE ADAMS, CHARLES STROUSE
EDA SOROKOFF & JENNIFER ASHLEY TEPPER
In the golden age of Manhattan night life top vocalists of the day would begin their engagements in venues like The Copa, Latin Quarter, Oak Room, Living Room, and similar glamorous nightspots. In the same month you might have Jack Jones at the Plaza’s Persian Room, Buddy Greco swinging in the Americana’s Royal Box and Vic Damone headlining the Rainbow Room. It all created a special kind of entertainment euphoria and excitement in New York City.
When the 54 Below advertisements came out heralding Clint Holmes’ engagement it rekindled that feeling for me. Clint’s talent and fame have been well established over decades and he’s just the type of performer who makes a town more exciting when he’s appearing in it. Seeing Clint’s extraordinary performance last night at 54 Below in his show celebrating Peter Allen, (back to back after being thrilled by Tom Jones at The Beacon and Barry Manilow at Radio City) brought me back to that era of New York’s glittering night life. What a joy to be in the audience and get that adrenaline rush from legendary performers whose artistry and charisma have not diminished, and are now communicating an even deeper expressiveness and musical eloquence than in their earlier years.
Here are photos from the closing night of Clint Holmes sensational run at 54 Below and an after party hosted by Producer Sunny Sessa saluting Director Will Nunziata, Music Director Michael Orland, guest artists Nikki Renee Daniels and Kelly Clinton- Holmes.
CLINT HOLMES
CLINT HOLMES
CLINT HOLMES
MICHAEL ORLAND, NIKKI RENEE DANIELS , CLINT HOLMES, KELLY CLINTON-HOLMES, WILL NUNZIATA
CLINT HOLMES & WILL NUNZIATA, DIRECTOR
NIKKI RENEE DANIELS
CLINT HOLMES & NIKKI RENEE DANIELS
CLINT HOLMES
KELLY CLINTON -HOLMES & CLINT HOLMES
KELLY CLINTON-HOLMES
KELLY CLINTON HOLMES & CLINT HOLMES
AARON ROMERO, MICHAEL ORLAND, NIKKI RENEE DANIELS, CLINT HOLMES, KELLY CLINTON-HOLMES, WILL NUNZIATA, JAKUBU GRIFFIN, JOHN ISLEY
MICHAEL ORLAND & DEBBIE GRAVITTE
LUBA MASON & BILLY STRITCH
CLINT HOLMES, EDA SOROKOFF, KELLY CLINTON-HOLMES
SUNNY SESS, PRODUCER & GARRY KIEF
EDA SOROKOFF & LUBA MASON
BILLY STRITCH, LUBA MASON, DEBBIE GRAVITTE, MICHAEL ORLAND, STEPHEN SOROKOFF
CLINT HOLMES
If you never heard of a restaurant/bar called Milady’s on Prince Street, you’ll know it now! That’s where Richard Jay-Alexander chose to celebrate his 70th Birthday and it was truly a WOWZA evening…the setting, the food, the peonies, the curated music PLAYLIST (assembled by longtime friend and assistant, Nellie Beavers), the craft cocktails and even a film crew (led by longtime pal, Brian Morgan) in the back, taping BRAVO-style “confessionals” with each guest, about the BIRTHDAY BOY. The guests in attendance ranged in age and interests, like a perfect jambalaya of an accomplished life. Even friends from his High School, in Solvay, NY! The most impressive part of who Richard is was quickly revealed in his post “blowing out the candles of his cake” moment when he looked around the room (clearly moved) and explained that the reason we were all there was, “because I have a story with each and every one of you.” Needless to say, there was much talent present throughout the room and plenty of legendary New Yorkers, raising a glass to a pretty special guy. In reality, it is he that entered into our lives and our stories and happily so. This is how you do it!
RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER
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RICHARD JAY-ALEXANDER
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