IN A FRENETIC YEAR OF RESTAURANT OPENINGS, 2011 ended on a high, with The Old Library setting a new benchmark for The Shire. Peripatetic Italian chef Danny Russo has probably opened more restaurants than most of us have had hot dinners. Regrettably, some of his more recent ventures were extremely ephemeral, ... Read more...

THERE'S A MOMENT IN THE FILM Six Degrees of Separation when Stockard Channing’s character, Ouisa, slaps the roof of the Sistine Chapel, touching the hand of God on Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam fresco. Given the chance, we’d all love to slap the almighty’s hand, but happily settle for lesser gods such ... Read more...