Randolph Mase&#8217;s Weblog

My Novels:

Death on Broadway

Death Beneath the Streets

Death in Central Park

Death at The Cloisters

Death Inside Diamond Head (under construction)

Nathan Hale

Enjoy Labor Day!

September 2, 2019

Each year, we celebrate Labor Day here in the United States on the first Monday in September (many other countries celebrate the May 1 Labour Day, but of course we are different), and many of us mourn it as the unofficial end of summer, yet celebrating it as the unofficial start of football season. But do you know the history of this holiday? It actually originated in Canada when a parade supporting the Trade Union Act was held in Toronto in 1872. Ten years later, American labor leader Peter McGuire saw the parade in Toronto and was inspired to organize a similar parade in New York City on September 5, 1882, becoming the first Labor Day here. After the bloody Pullman strike of 1894, President Cleveland and Congress hurriedly passed a bill making Labor Day a national holiday. This year, there’s the West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn until 6:00 this evening. Get full details at https://www.timeout.com/newyork/west-indian-american-day-carnival-new-york. Enjoy!

Randolph Mase, Fiction Writer

My Novels:

Death on Broadway

Death Beneath the Streets

Death in Central Park

Death at The Cloisters

Death Inside Diamond Head (under construction)

Nathan Hale

Posted in Things To Do In New York City | Leave a Comment »

Questions to How Well Do You Know Broadway?

August 22, 2019

Here are the questions to the Jeopardy! answers in the category “Broadway Musicals by Songs” I posted a couple of weeks ago:

“Maria” & “I Feel Pretty.”– What is “West Side Story?”
“I am Africa” & “Joseph Smith American Moses.” – What is “The Book of Mormon?”
Opened on Broadway in 2016: “Someone Gets Hurt” & “Meet the Plastics.” – What is “Mean Girls?”
“Matchmaker, Matchmaker” & “If I Were a Rich Man.” – What is “Fiddler on the Roof?”
“Mama I’m a Big Girl Now” & “You Can’t Stop the Beat.” – What is “Hairspray?”

I got three of them correct, which is typical for Broadway musicals. How did you do?

Randolph Mase, Fiction Writer

My Novels:

Death on Broadway

Death Beneath the Streets

Death in Central Park

Death at The Cloisters

Death Inside Diamond Head (under construction)

Nathan Hale

Cookin’ in Brooklyn

August 13, 2019

The USA Today Wine & Food Experience , featuring more than 300 restaurants and 100 chefs, is coming to 10 cities, starting with Brooklyn on September 7.

The Brooklyn Experience, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the LeFrak Center in Prospect Park, features celebrity talent Antoni Porowski, Alex Guarnaschelli, Ian Cauble, The Bella Twins, and David Lynch, as well as a chance to explore the Brooklyn culinary scene. Tickets are limited, so act fast! Go to https://wineandfood.usatoday.com/events/new-york/.

Randolph Mase, Fiction Writer

My Novels:

Death on Broadway

Death Beneath the Streets

Death in Central Park

Death at The Cloisters

Death Inside Diamond Head (under construction)

Nathan Hale

Posted in Things To Do In New York City | Leave a Comment »

Questions to How Well Do You Know New York?

August 6, 2019

Here are the questions to the Jeopardy! answers in the category “NY TV” I posted a couple of weeks ago:

Did the rich prep school kid kill that guy? Cops like Jerry Orbach said, Yeah, probably, on this NBC show. – What is Law and Order?
He plays detective Jake Peralta on Brooklyn 99. – Who is Andy Samberg?
Think back…back to a simpler time, a time spent with family, watching this actor play NYC ad exec Don Draper. – Who is John Hamm?
In Manhattan in the 70s, a stretch of 42^nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues was known as this, the title and setting of a Maggie Gyllenhaal HBO show. Note the 2 in 42^nd Street. – What is The Deuce?
On Netflix & in NYC, Natasha Lyonne dies over & over again on this series. – What is Russian Doll?

I got three correct this time. How did you do?

Randolph Mase, Fiction Writer

My Novels:

Death on Broadway

Death Beneath the Streets

Death in Central Park

Death at The Cloisters

Death Inside Diamond Head (under construction)

Nathan Hale

How Well Do You Know Broadway?

July 28, 2019

One of the categories on a recent Jeopardy! episode was “Broadway Musicals by Songs.” Here are the answers; just come up with the correct question for each. I’ll give those questions in a future post:

“Maria” & “I Feel Pretty.”
“I am Africa” & “Joseph Smith American Moses.”
Opened on Broadway in 2016: “Someone Gets Hurt” & “Meet the Plastics.”
“Matchmaker, Matchmaker” & “If I Were a Rich Man.”
“Mama I’m a Big Girl Now” & “You Can’t Stop the Beat.”

Randolph Mase, Fiction Writer

My Novels:

Death on Broadway

Death Beneath the Streets

Death in Central Park

Death at The Cloisters

Death Inside Diamond Head (under construction)

Nathan Hale

How Well Do You Know New York?

July 20, 2019

One of the categories on a recent Jeopardy! episode was “NY TV.” Here are the answers; just come up with the correct question for each. I’ll give those questions in a future post:

Did the rich prep school kid kill that guy? Cops like Jerry Orbach said, Yeah, probably, on this NBC show.
He plays detective Jake Peralta on Brooklyn 99.
Think back…back to a simpler time, a time spent with family, watching this actor play NYC ad exec Don Draper.
In Manhattan in the 70s, a stretch of 42^nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues was known as this, the title and setting of a Maggie Gyllenhaal HBO show. Note the 2 in 42^nd Street.
On Netflix & in NYC, Natasha Lyonne dies over & over again on this series.

Randolph Mase, Fiction Writer

My Novels:

Death on Broadway

Death Beneath the Streets

Death in Central Park

Death at The Cloisters

Death Inside Diamond Head (under construction)

Nathan Hale

The Today Show Summer Concert Series

July 12, 2019

More than 20 years ago I took a business trip to New York City – I lived in Reading, Pennsylvania at the time – and managed to catch a performance by Chicago on NBC’s Today Show. At the performance, I stood right in front and almost got to speak with Al Roker. Little did I know that it was part of the Summer Concert Series, which has really caught on and is now in its 24^th year. Because of its popularity, good luck getting in the front row; in fact, some local radio stations often gives away passes to accompany them to a show, standing in the front row. This year’s series began on May 6 with Jennifer Lopez and wraps up on September 2 with Why Don’t We. And here are the other performers:

Kacey Musgraves on July 19
Andy Grammer on July 26
Aloe Blacc on August 16
Lizzo on August 23

It’s a great way to spend a morning in New York City, but get there early. Get the full schedule at https://www.today.com/popculture/2019-today-show-summer-concert-series-full-lineup-t154273.

Randolph Mase, Fiction Writer

My Novels:

Death on Broadway

Death Beneath the Streets

Death in Central Park

Death at The Cloisters

Death Inside Diamond Head (under construction)

Nathan Hale

Posted in Things To Do In New York City | Leave a Comment »

Happy Fourth of July!

July 4, 2019

I think that most Americans know enough about our country’s history to realize that today is a celebration of the signing and approval of the Declaration of Independence, beginning our fight for independence in 1776. But I also think that most of us take the holiday for granted, and view it as just another day off from work, particularly this year when it creates a long weekend for many of us. But few of us know much else about the holiday; in fact, I learned a lot as I researched it, such as:

In 1778, General George Washington gave his troops a double ration of rum to observe the date. Fortunately, they were recovering from the Battle of Monmouth and didn’t have to prepare for another battle.
In 1779, July 4 was on a Sunday, so the celebrations were held on Monday…perhaps that set the precedent for what we do today.
In 1781, Massachusetts was the first state to make it an official state celebration
The first time July 4 was referred to as Independence Day was in 1791
It was made an unpaid holiday for federal workers in 1870
It was finally declared a paid federal holiday in 1938
The oldest continuous July 4^th celebration has been held in Bristol, Rhode Island since 1785.

So whatever you do today, remember the intent of Independence Day as you celebrate!

Randolph Mase, Fiction Writer

My Novels:

Death on Broadway

Death Beneath the Streets

Death in Central Park

Death at The Cloisters

Death Inside Diamond Head (under construction)

Nathan Hale

Posted in Observations on the Strange and Unexpected and on Life Itself | 2 Comments »

Things To Do in NYC

June 24, 2019

I recently came across an article on nycgo.com that was called “Something to Do All 30 Days in June 2019.” Most of the month is gone now, but here are the remaining activities. Enjoy!

June 24: Gold Cup Soccer Doubleheader at Red Bull Arena

June 25: Yoko Ono: Add Color at the River to River Festival

June 26: WorldPride Opening Ceremony at Barclays Center

June 27: Midsummer Night Swing: DiscoVogue at Damrosch Park

June 28: Crazy Rich Asians (MOCA Cinema) at Columbus Park

June 29: Celebrate Brooklyn: Liz Phair and Ted Leo at Prospect Park Bandshell

Randolph Mase, Fiction Writer