Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on February 16, 2021

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks in front of stacks of medical protective supplies, during a news conference at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, in New York City, New York, amid the coronavirus outbreak, March 24, 2020. Photo: Reuters / Mike Segar / File.

Members of the New York Jewish community pushed back against comments made on Twitter by Alex Berenson, an author and formerNew York Times reporter who has become a popular skeptic of government responses to the pandemic, for linking New York Governor Andrew Cuomos controversial decisions on nursing homes to lobbying by Orthodox Jews in the industry.

1/ From a reader, about everyones favorite Emmy winner, @NYGovCuomo. I dont know if the source is right on the numbers but he is certainly right directionally, Orthodox Jews have aggressively expanded into nursing homes and they are crucial in NY state politics, Berenson tweeted, while sharing a screenshot of an email alleging that Governor Cuomo had sent patients infected with COVID-19 to nursing homes in the state in order to repay electoral support from Hasidim.

The reader email shared by Berenson claimed that Cuomo was repaying favors to a religious sect that brings him almost 100% of their groups votes. Forcing these patients into the nursing homes means more profit for the homes. The Hasidic community in NYS delivers almost 100% of their 1.1 million votes to Cuomo every election in return for political favors.

Berenson also shared several other screenshots of articles on Jewish-owned nursing homes, including one about a 2016 investigation by state prosecutors.

Cuomo has been criticized for a March 2020 decision to bar nursing homes in the state from refusing patients with COVID-19, and more recently has faced accusations over understating coronavirus death tolls in the facilities.

The authors Saturday tweets were met with criticism for tying these decisions to Jewish-owned of nursing homes.

According to @AlexBerenson all Orthodox Jews are at fault for Nursing Home deaths in NY because a dozen or two Orthodox Jews own such homes. A level of bigotry that no blue check would drop on any other ethnic group, tweeted the Orthodox Jewish Public Affairs Council (OJPAC).

A novelist and former Times investigative reporter, Berenson has gained a massive Twitter following during the pandemic crisis for his controversial criticism of government responses, public health forecasts, and most recently of COVID-19 vaccines.

Asked to explain the significance of Orthodox Jews in the nursing home industry, Berenson told The Algemeiner Monday that, As a Jew, I am naturally concerned about antisemitism. Thats why I dont think Jews, Orthodox or otherwise, should reflexively use allegations of it to try to brush off serious questions. Doing so debases the term and makes it easier for real antisemites to spread their venom.

Other critics of the authors comments noted that Cuomo has drawn fire from Orthodox Jewish organizations for the administrations approach to the community during the pandemic.

Man, it takes a special kind of crazy to look at what has been going on in NY & to come away with AndrEw CUOmO mUst bE cOvErIng sOmEthIng Up fOr thE HAsIdIc JEws,' tweeted Eli Steinberg, a communications consultant who also writes for Newsweek and The Forward.

Its sad that its not surprising anymore when someone slips and reveals their antisemitic side, Steinberg told The Algemeiner on Monday.

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Outcry After Author and COVID-19 Skeptic Ties Cuomo Actions on Nursing Homes to Orthodox Jews - Algemeiner

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Posted By admin on February 16, 2021

Trailers are an under-appreciated art form insofar that many times theyre seen as vehicles for showing footage, explaining films away, or showing their hand about what moviegoers can expect. Foreign, domestic, independent, big budget: What better way to hone your skills as a thoughtful moviegoer than by deconstructing these little pieces of advertising?

This week, we pray on things, get preyed on, ride the rail, indulge in a guilty pleasure, and figure out what to do when our friends have it out for us.

Director Keith Thomas is not messing around.

Steeped in ancient Jewish lore and demonology, THE VIGIL is a supernatural horror film set over the course of a single evening in Brooklyns Hasidic Borough Park neighborhood. Low on funds and having recently left his insular religious community, Yakov reluctantly accepts an offer from his former rabbi and confidante to take on the responsibility of an overnight shomer, fulfilling the Jewish practice of watching over the body of a deceased community member. Shortly after arriving at the recently departeds dilapidated house to sit the vigil, Yakov begins to realize that something is very, very wrong.

Im just a fan of flicks made on the cheap that are competently crafted and look like they could be oodles of fun. The festival kudos it has received and a nod to the fact that the studio that brought us The Babadook and The Relic is a solid marketing strategy. The lone pull-quote, while random, might as well be a bug-light to attract the best audience possible to see this. It did for me.

Director Jonathan McHugh oversaw the soundtrack for 1995s Empire Records, one of my favorite soundtracks of that era. It only took 25+ years, but hes made the jump to making movies and this is his debut.

Long Live Rock Celebrate the Chaos is a deep dive into the culture of hard rock music. This genre, beloved by its millions of fans, is often misunderstood and maligned by media and the music industry. In intimate interviews, the leading titans of rock discuss the genre and the special relationship they have with their audience. Featuring members of Metallica, Guns N Roses, Slipknot, Korn, Avenged Sevenfold, Rob Zombie, Five Finger Death Punch, Rage Against the Machine, Greta Van Fleet, Halestorm, and many, many more.

Those of us who are missing rock concerts, true rock concerts, can feel every moment of this trailer. We know what its like when thousands of people are thunderously moving in unison, and this pandemic has put an immediate kibosh on that. There is, literally, nothing about this movie that looks like it will match the thunder of a documentary like Hype! or capture the aura of something like Heavy Metal Parking Lot. However, as far as documentaries that explore fan bases (i.e. Trekkies), this looks like a happy distillation of what its like to be a fan of live rock-and-roll. (Insert your own sign of the horns here)

Director BenDavid Grabinski has more than piqued my interest.

Jack Black presents a deliciously dark comedy in which Tom (Joel McHale) and Janet (Kerry Bish) play a couple who has been together for 14 years. Still as in love as the day they met, their honeymoon phase never ended. When they discover that all their friends are resentful of their constant public displays of affection, this charismatic couple start to question the loyalty of everyone around them. Then, a visit from a mysterious stranger (Stephen Root) thrusts them into an existential crisis, leading to a dead body, a lot of questions, and a very tense couples vacation with a group of friends who may not actually be friends at all.

Interestingly, and not surprisingly, Jack Blacks name is being heavily leveraged to sell the movie when reading the films synopsis. The trailer, however, lets things play out without ever mentioning it. At all. Whoever is the mastermind that possesses the kettlebell sized cajones to never insert this factoid for even a millisecond in the trailer is either the craziest marketing genius alive or the dumbest. Im feeling more of the former than the latter. Still, it looks good enough as a late-night chaser to watch on the small screen with someone you love. Its got an insane premise, and gets even crazier as things progress, and has comedic powerhouses Paul Scheer and Jon Daly, along with the always affable Breckin Meyer. Please let this be as good as the trailer.

DirectorCharlne Faviers debut is rough sledding.

15-year-old Lynz is the rising star of the French skiing scene. She will likely make the national Olympics team. And her passion to win is matched by the dedication of her coach. His inspiration and drive sees the teenager develop a crush on him. But Fred stays focused on her performance, pushing her to succeed. However, when she does start winning, Freds attitude changes and the boundary between teacher and pupil, adult and child, becomes irrelevant to him.

Weve already seen one trailer this week bow that deals with sexual abuse in Beartown and this, while slightly different, is equally gnarly in how to make entertainment out of violations of trust. The trailer is exquisite in setting up the story of how one woman is on the road to becoming a star athlete, showing us what it takes to become nothing short of Olympic material. Still, when the proverbial worm turns, and with real-life coaches turned serial rapists, a la your Larry Nassars of the world, it doesnt matter if its France or Florida, theres a commonality with all these stories. Theyre all heartbreaking, infuriating, and you wonder what it does to someone who has to come through the other side. The trailer takes us from the start and all the way to the end in a way that not only sells this movie right; it does the subject matter justice.

Director Julien Royal knows whats up.

In Paris, Cokeman & Hedi are two dysfunctional dealers who use family ties to try and boost their small drug business.

Lets get this out of the way first: this looks terrible. Like, appallingly bad. What I want to accentuate, though, is just how bananas it all looks. Its a trailer that serves as a perennial reminder that lots of people are involved in making a movie, most everyone is putting everything they have into making art, and, sometimes, you get this. Theres no way Im not at least giving this a shot. Hell, its free on Netflix. But, when you have a trailer that just sizzles with insanity and looks like it defies anything approximating reality, youve got my vote.

Nota bene: If you have any suggestions of trailers for possibleinclusion in this column, even have a trailer of your own to pitch, please let me know by sending me a note at Christopher_Stipp@yahoo.com or look me up via Twitter at @Stipp

In case you missed them, here are the other trailers we covered at /Film this week:

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This Week In Trailers: The Vigil, The Misadventures of Hedi and Cokeman, Long Live Rock...Celebrate The Chaos, Happily, Slalom - /FILM

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Posted By admin on February 16, 2021

A 23andMe study from 2015 revealed that close to 4 percent of the companys customers who identified as white Americans had at least 1 percent African ancestry, consistent with an African ancestor within the last 11 generations or so. About 12 percent of whites from Southern states like South Carolina and Louisiana had 1 percent or more of African ancestry.

The Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. has calculated that there are millions of contemporary whites who, according to the old, notorious one- drop rule of the Jim Crow era, would have been considered legally black proof not only of the absurdity of that definition of difference, he writes, but of the power of modern science to blow up false narratives about race and about American history. If modern DNA tests had existed during the heyday of mainstream eugenics in the early 20th century, Dr. Gates and others have suggested, they might have served as direct repudiation of that pseudoscience.

So, what happens when Americans learn about the diversity within themselves? The jury is still out on whether direct-to-consumer genetic testing reinforces our sense of immutable racial categories or breaks them down.

Research by Wendy Roth, a sociologist at the University of Pennsylvania, has found that customers basic knowledge of genetics going into testing may play a role in whether tests accentuate or reduce their racial essentialism. Besides, we are not our ethnicity estimates: For a variety of reasons, including the ways in which were shaped by community, family and personal experience, DNA and identity are not the same.

But whats clear from research and from my conversations with hundreds of consumers is that genetic revelations can inspire journeys of self-discovery, helping people rewrite their understandings not only of their families but of their orientations as Americans.

Some people I spoke with recounted how theyre thinking long and hard, for the first time, about what boxes to check on medical forms asking for race. Some have legally changed their names to reflect their forebears. Others are using research to illuminate the lives of ancestors in Africa before the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

One man I interviewed discovered through DNA and genealogy that his grandfather was Black, and that his mother claimed fictional Sicilian heritage to protect her family from the discrimination shed experienced growing up. He has spent the years since researching the Vermont community where his mom grew up, meeting his Black relatives, and rethinking his place in America. The truth about the past is so important, he told me without it, We cant evolve.

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Opinion | DNA and Race: What Ancestry and 23andMe Reveal - The New York Times

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Posted By admin on February 16, 2021

Someday, you can start taking advantage of everything Los Angeles has to offer again like belting out your favorite song at a concert, cheering on your favorite sports team from the stands, or mingling over a drink at a beach bar. In the meantime, there are stillsome things you can safely do. Well give you an update when this is over.

How can you get away from it all when all this chaos is happening around you? Our answer: A staycation. Our favorite way to define a staycation is staying within the boundaries of your own city or state, but visiting somewhere other than your home for a period. So, instead of jumping on a plane and going halfway across the world, you can hop in the car to your Los Angeles staycation destination at these hotels.

The LINE LA is located in the heart of Koreatown where decades of Korean, Latino, and American heritage converge (authentic Mexican blankets and Korean snacks can be found in the rooms). Originally built in 1964 and once home to journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson, the LINE LA embraces its mid-century design and heritage, and celebrates the culturally rich neighborhood its tucked in. Since the hotels opening in 2013, it has become a destination for urban explorers and creatives. The LINE LA also gives back to the community, and has partnered with philanthropic organizations like Alexandria House, a resource for women and children without housing, Spacemakers for queer and trans people of color, and World Central Kitchen for communities in crisis.

Price: From $169

[https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/the-l-a-line.html]

Wood tones and boho dcor make up Hotel June, which pays homage to its SoCal roots. Just a stones throw away from LAX, the mid-century modern hotel building has a laid-back aesthetic, complemented by a soothing color palette. Dont sleep on viewing the pieces from the artist in residency every month. As part of a Proper Hospitality Hotel, Hotel Junes mission is to donate 1% of their time, hotel space, and management fees toward the betterment of the surrounding communities. In 2021, they are working to fight homelessness in the city.

Price: From $134/night

Rejuvenate in this luxury modernist retreat with its own private desert-style cactus garden. This eco-friendly guesthouse is equipped for sustainable living via solar electric power, solar radiant floor heating and organic bedding very on-brand for Venice, CA. The host suggests lighting a fire in the outdoor fireplace and relaxing in a lounge chair under the stairs in the evening.

Price: From $297/night

Book from $297 at AirBnB.

While its not possible to dine in at restaurants in Los Angeles, you can feel relieved to know that there are plenty of outdoor dining, take-out and pick-up options. These are our favorite restaurants that are still serving during this difficult time.

This is the place to find L.A.s best bites under one roof. Grand Central Market opened in 1917 and never looked back. The Market has always reflected the changing population of downtown Los Angeles. In the 1920s, the Market was an open grocery. The 90 stalls back in the day included green grocers, fishmongers, Jewish delis, and butchers. Today, the Market is a destination dining spot with 40 of Los Angeles most exciting culinary concepts. Evolution has been a through line for the markets dynamic lineup of vendors over the decades, as downtown Los Angeles evolves, Grand Central Market evolves with it. Our favorite places to graze at the Market: PBJ. LA, Saritas Pupuseria and Sticky Rice. Delivery and curbside pickup are available.

Night + Market is an animated Thai spot with a menu that features the classics. Its almost impossible to go wrong at this restaurant, but you may order a dish thats spicier than expected. As long as you have a cold drink nearby, and youre not ashamed to sweat a little, all of their dishes are a must-try. The best part about this place is its backstory a local kid opened his own Thai restaurant attached to his parents old place on Sunset. Today, there are three locations around LA.

Milo & Olive is a neighborhood bakery and pizzeria created by a husband-and-wife team. The menu is a reflection of the best ingredients available from local farmers and vendors with sustainable practices and it represents the teams continued commitment to truly seasonal, market-driven cuisine. Even the wine and beer list focuses on highlighting small vineyards and breweries from across the globe. Additionally, their coffee is from a local artisan roaster. Theres no wrong answer when it comes to pizza at Milo + Olive, but the Burrata & Prosciutto di Parma is a game changer. The garlic knots and homemade dipping sauces are also mouthwatering. Their fresh bread, pastries, coffee, hot breakfast, pizza, wood-grilled veggies, handmade pasta, wine, beer, and more are all available for outdoor dining, curbside pickup, takeout, and delivery. They also offer Cooking Kits for an easy DIY dinner at home.

There may not be a lot to do in the city, but there are a few fun outdoor options if youre willing to grab a car and venture out a bit. Just dont leave during rush hour.

Youve most likely heard people rave above the wineries and tasting rooms in Napa Valley or even Paso Robles, but, theres a place closer to home that shouldnt be overlooked. Ojai is a charming small town located in Ventura county. If you plan on exploring it for a day, dont forget to hit up these spots. Wine taste on Tipple and Rambles wine and cheese patio. The wine bar also sells food and cocktail wares and even home dcor. Pop into Barts Books, an open-air bookstore (literally) that is a book-lovers heaven. Fuel up at Farmer and the Cook, an organic market and bohemian caf with a large patio serving vegetarian Mexican cuisine.

Solvang was birthed after Danish immigrants made their way west and eventually settled in the Santa Ynez Valley. Although there arent many Danes in Solvang anymore, you will find wooden windmills and rural houses. Youll also find an assortment of Christmas shops, Hans Christian Andersen and Little Mermaid keepsakes, and Danish bakeries around town.

Culver Citys Platform (made up of independent shops and restaurants) has turned into a contactless drive-thru during the pandemic. You can support small businesses by shopping for essentials and feel-good items and picking them up within 45 minutes. A portion of the proceeds goes to Meals on Wheels. Platforms hope is that you experience a nice trip outside of the house, something that feels a little bit like normal. In addition, social services non-profit, The People Concern, is holding a contactless drive-thru where you can donate cold-weather clothing.

Treat yourself to a delicious donut from Sidecar Doughnuts. They make their doughnuts fresh every hour and claim to have the worlds freshest donuts. Sidecar fries the doughnuts in small batches all day long, for a warm, fresh treat (we recommend their signature Huckleberry). On the first of every month, Sidecar drop a few seasonal flavor options (in addition to their 11 daily flavors). Gluten-friendly and vegan options are available. The shop also gives back to the community via The SideCares program, which donate leftover sweets to local food banks and shelters.

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The Ultimate Social-Distance-Friendly Staycation Guide to Los Angeles - The Manual

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Posted By admin on February 16, 2021

Here, we bring you 10 of the biggest local Jewish news stories of the last 100 years. Its part of how were celebrating our 100th anniversary. Weve created this list looking backwards, with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight.

Would you have picked different headlines? Let us know! We like to hear from you.

Chronicle archives and other sources have helped us create this list. We cannot say that these are indisputably the ten biggest stories of the last 100 years of local Jewish history, but we can say that without any one of these ten, life in Jewish Wisconsin would be decidedly different. Here they are, roughly in chronological order.

1. The first Jew in Wisconsin kicks off German-Jewish immigration

Before Wisconsin became a state in 1848, there were Jews here. There was even synagogue life before statehood.

Gabriel Shoyer is believed to have been the first Jew in Wisconsin, according to the Jan. 30, 1925 Chronicle.

Throughout the past 180 years, a stream of immigrant Jews has come from all over the world to settle in Milwaukee. The result is a robust Jewish community that in turn has helped grow the city in countless ways. But like anything big, it had to start small. In the case of the Jews of Milwaukee, it started in the mid-19th century with the Shoyer family some of the first Jews to settle in the city.

In the 1830s or early 1840s, Gabriel Shoyer immigrated to the East Side from a small village in Germany and, a few years later, was followed by his brother Emanuel. Gabriel and Emanuel opened a business in Milwaukee, called E.M. Shoyer and Co., that sold and tailored clothing.

Gabriel Shoyer became president of the congregation at Congregation Emanu-el in 1847, according to the 1925 Chronicle. Later, in 1848, the Shoyers along with the synagogue founded Milwaukees first Jewish cemetery.

By 1875, there were 2,068 Jews in Wisconsin, according the book, A History of Jewish Milwaukee, by John Gurda. Most of them are thought to have been the children of German-speaking immigrants, part of the foundation of a long line of Jewish-German heritage in Milwaukee.

2. The Settlement Cook Book

When the first Jews arrived in Milwaukee in the mid-1800s, they held religious services in a neighbors living room. Among them was the family of Lizzie Black Kander, an activist for immigrants and the author of The Settlement Cook Book. It was billed as a guide for immigrants on how to run a household.

Milwaukees Jewish immigrants came primarily from Germany and Poland, and they often shared the struggle of adapting to American life. Since her youth, Kander was vocal in her advocacy to help them. In the late 1890s, at a meeting of the Council of Jewish Women of which Kander was a member, she influenced the group to organize the Milwaukee Jewish Mission a society that taught children English as well as sewing and cooking skills. By 1900, to meet a fast-growing demand, it merged with another group to found the Settlement House, an expansion of the Mission.

Settlement Cook Book image courtesy of Jewish Museum Milwaukee.

Among other activities, The Settlement House hosted popular cooking classes for t Jewish immigrant girls of Milwaukee. Kander taught these lessons and recorded them in The Way to a Mans Heart, later to be renamed The Settlement Cook Book, according to the Jewish Community Blue Book.

The first edition of The Settlement Cook Book quickly sold out. Future proceeds paid for construction of a new, larger Settlement House building on 9th and Sherman, named the Abraham Lincoln House. It opened in 1911 and evolved into the Jewish Community Center.

Thus, the March 23, 1945 Chronicle noted that the Jewish Community Center had been founded by a cookbook. The Jewish Community Center at the time was offering classes in ballroom dancing, conversational Hebrew and more. Also, 40 servicemembers of all faiths were given free Saturday night lodging at the Jewish Community Center, with Sunday morning breakfast, while 560 members of the JCC served in the armed forces, according to the 1945 Chronicle.

The cookbooks JCC is a predecessor to todays Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center in Whitefish Bay.

3. Synagogues emerge, develop and change

Like so many generations before them, the first Jews to settle in Milwaukee during the 19th century practiced Judaism despite having no house of worship. Before there were synagogues, they held services in the living room of Henry Newhouse. The following year, they gathered in the home of Isaac Neustadel, and later above a grocery store, according to Wisconsin Public Radio and Jewish Museum Milwaukee, a program of Milwaukee Jewish Federation.

The services above the grocery store led to the first synagogue in Milwaukee, according to Gurda. In 1850, 12 men founded Congregation Imanu-Al, a predecessor to Congregation Emanu-El Bne Jeshurun, now in River Hills. Then a mixture of Polish and German Jewish immigrants, the congregation disagreed about which traditions to follow. The original congregation bifurcated twice, leaving Milwaukee with three synagogues by 1859, according to Gurda.

Synagogues sprung up in the late 1800s as Jewish immigration to Milwaukee was soaring. By the 20th century, there were synagogues of different denominations. Today, while some have merged or closed, many places of worship like CEEBJ continue to thrive just as they did a century ago.

4. Russian influx changes Jewish Milwaukee

History tells of a Russian and Eastern European Jewish influx in the years before and after 1900. Much of the immigration was to escape a hard life, antisemitism and broken government.

The clothing magnate David Adler, an undisputed patriarch for the community, worked to help Russian and Eastern European Jewish immigrants of the late 1800s, according to Gurda. Trainloads of people arrived.

Later, history repeated itself. In 1996, one in 10 Jews living in the Milwaukee area was born in the former Soviet Union, according to a study commissioned by Milwaukee Jewish Federation, 1996 Jewish Community Study of Greater Milwaukee. The results reflect the immigration of 300,000 Jews from the former Soviet Union to the United States between 1965 and the time the study was published.

Milwaukee Jewish Federation Junior Division, supporting Soviet Jews. Photo courtesy of Jewish Museum Milwaukee archives.

Of the 25,400 people living in Milwaukee-area Jewish households in 1996, 10% of them were from the former Soviet Union. A quarter of this population lived in the City of Milwaukee, while 11% lived in each the North Shore and Mequon areas. The summary of the report states that it was the first study to generate a sample population of FSU Jews large enough for an analysis.

In 1989, the Chronicle reported on the resettlement effort led by Jewish Family Services and the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. At the time, the effort was overwhelmed with new Soviet immigrants and there was a call for new volunteers.

These organizations provided caseworkers to help unite Soviet families with relatives already living in Milwaukee, to locate housing and to distribute loans to the new families. They also paired American volunteers with newcomers to introduce them to American life. The Federation provided other free social services including healthcare, English as a Second Language training courses, help in enrolling children in school, and coordination with employment counselors.

5. When life revolved around Walnut Street

The late 19th and early 20th centuries were a high point for Jewish immigration in the city of Milwaukee. The Jewish population more than tripled between 1895 and 1925. Thousands of the Jewish immigrants, many of them Russian, settled downtown on Walnut Street. It was a place that would become a hub for the Russian and Polish Jews of Milwaukee during the 1920s and 1930s, according to 150, a 1993 Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle magazine celebrating 150 years of Jewish community.

East, west, north, and south of Walnut Street was the home of a lively community of Jewish immigrants. The average family was comprised of two immigrant parents and many children. The fathers were tradespeople. They were often carpenters, painters and tailors, and some ran mom and pop grocery stores and butcher shops, according to When life revolved around Walnut Street, in the 150 magazine.

Walnut Street Jewish community members would gather at Lapham Park. Children gathered to play and compete with their Italian or Irish neighbors in sports games.

Several notable professionals emerged from Walnut Street, including Joseph A. Padway, who became counsel to the American Federation of Labor, and Golda Meir, the first woman Prime Minister of Israel. Meir lived on Walnut Street at the south end of the Brewers Hill neighborhood, according to Gurda.

6. Prime Minister Golda Meir is from Milwaukee

Before she became Israels only woman Prime Minister, Golda Meir lived in Milwaukee. She was born in Russia and immigrated here with her family when she was eight years old. She lived in the city into adulthood.

Goldie Mabowehz, as she was known in her youth, spent her first few days in Milwaukee entranced by department stores, traffic, and soda machines luxuries foreign to her old shtetl in Russia,

When she first arrived in Milwaukee she was greeted by her father, who had arrived two or three years earlier. He immediately marched her downtown to buy new clothes to appear less Old World, according to her autobiography. Though her family could only afford to live in a two-room apartment on Sixth and Walnut, Goldie saw her new home as a palace.

She became valedictorian of her class at Fourth Street School, which was eventually named after Meir. While attending North Division High School, she participated in several Zionist organizations such as Poale Zion. She attended Milwaukee Normal School, now the University of WisconsinMilwaukee.

Poale Zion Chasidim Pageant, 5-18-1919, with Charlie Schneider, Golda Meir and Judith Korngold. Meir holds the menorah.

Meir immigrated to the British Mandate of Palestine with her husband in the early 1920s, where she first lived on a kibbutz. She became the kibbutz representative to the Histadrut, the General Federation of Labor, and served on its executive committee until World War II.

During the war, she was a spokeswoman for the Zionist cause, lobbying to British mandatory authorities. On May 14, 1948, Meir was one of two women who signed the Israeli declaration of independence, and the following year she joined the Israeli parliament. She became Israels first woman prime minister in 1969 and served in that role during the Yom Kippur War.

7. Wisconsins Jews make it happen

The Jewish community has never been a major segment of Wisconsins population, but the amazing people of this community have left a decidedly outsized mark. We could never tell that whole story in this space. Heres the slightest sliver.

The names of extraordinary leaders and philanthropists in the community adorn Wisconsins buildings and institutions. The generosity of local Jewish philanthropists is renowned. That generosity has built Milwaukee Jewish Federation, Jewish Family Services, several local day schools and many other gems of the local Jewish community.

Generations of donors and activists have worked to build and protect a vibrant Jewish life, both around the world and here at home. One example: Milwaukee Grocer Philip Srulolwitz sent tons of food to settlers in Palestine, before there was a State of Israel. Srulolwitz and so many others showed that everyone can make a difference.

Bud Selig statue at American Family Field, formerly Miller Park.

Jewish professionals are professors, directors and legal scholars. We are at local hospitals, schools, businesses and nonprofits, improving life in Wisconsin for all.

We live in a state that had two Jewish U.S. Senators serving at the same time Russ Feingold, who served 1993-2011, and Herb Kohl, who served 1989-2013. Shirley Abrahamson served as the first female justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, then led the court. Bud Selig, founding owner of the Brewers and former commissioner of baseball, brought major league baseball back to Milwaukee. These are just a few examples.

We are small but mighty.

8. Strictly observant, committed to Judaism

The Twerski and Shmotkin families lead very different groups, but both represent a strict level of observance, and both are significant parts of Wisconsin Jewish history.

The Shmotkin family first brought Lubavitch of Wisconsin to town about 50 years ago. Today, the organization, which is also called Chabad of Wisconsin or Chabad- Lubavitch of Wisconsin, is the local arm of the worldwide Chabad movement.

Lubavitch of Wisconsin is a Torah-observant organization that seeks to serve Jews of all varieties. Fifty years ago, it was just the Shmotkin family. In 1970, Lubavitch of Wisconsin was operating out of fewer than a half-dozen outposts, including Chabad of the East Side and Madison Chabad House, as reported in prior Chronicle coverage. Now, more than two dozen Chabad emissary families are operating synagogues, outposts and programs, including efforts in Waukesha and Green Bay.

Congregation Beth Jehudah of the West Side is a beacon of Orthodox Judaism. The shul is an anchor for an Orthodox Jewish community living in the area, walking to services. The synagogue was founded in 1939 by Rabbi Jacob Twerski, of blessed memory. Today, the community boasts three generations of Twerski rabbis. The shul and its community offer a vibrant place of learning and charitable work.

9. The Shoah and the State of Israel

During World War II, the pages of the Chronicle reveal a lack of full comprehension of what was taking place in Europe.

The first reference we can find to the word Holocaust in the Chronicle in 1939 is in September. In that article, we refer to the holocaust World War II soldiers had to suffer through, just 25 years after the first World War.

The cables and radio have told the harrowing tale of carnage in the predominantly Jewish towns and villages, the Chronicle wrote a month later, in October 1939, in an article that did not have our hindsight, and perhaps did not fully appreciate the targeted and organized genocidal effort for what it was. The article frets that Jews in Poland will suffer under the Nazis because they allied themselves with the Poles.

The article did add: Eyewitnesses have described the mass murder from the air of thousands of Jewish women, children and aged folk fleeing before the Nazi horde.

With time, things became clearer. The Chronicle in December 1946 reported a record-breaking $102 million raised nationwide for United Jewish Appeal.

Locally, fundraising for Jews in need and the State of Israel broke records, too. Wisconsin was very much a part of that story.

10. The rise of the West Side and the North Shore

Its a quirk of Milwaukee that the West Side of Milwaukee is not actually on the west side of Milwaukee.

Theres a lot of Milwaukee west of 76th Street. But in local nomenclature, the West Side is an area around Sherman Park, which is at 41st and Locust streets. Surely, at some point in the past, it must have seemed like that neighborhood was to the west.

In the 1940s, old Jewish neighborhoods around Walnut Street began an exodus to the West Side, according to a Congregation Beth Jehudah account. By the 1950s, the exodus was nearly complete.

In the 1950s, there were seven synagogues in the Sherman Park area, with several schools and community institutions, too, according to Gurda.

Today much of non-Orthodox Judaism has moved out of the West Side, to the North Shore of Milwaukee, Mequon, or elsewhere, according to Milwaukee Jewish Federation surveys. Several of Wisconsins synagogues, including Congregation Shalom, the largest in Wisconsin, are today on the North Shore of the Milwaukee area.

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Here are ten big local Jewish stories of the last 100 years - The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle

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Posted By admin on February 16, 2021

Almost a year ago at this time, I was panicking about the future of restaurants in Texas. The pandemic was carving a path of economic destruction that would lead to the demise of more than 10,000 of the states dining establishments by December. If it could kill off so many, including stalwarts that had seemed rock-solid only months before, what chance would the new ones have? Thank goodness the worst of my fears were overblown. Owners, chefs, and employees worked round the clock dealing with disrupted supply chains, changing government regulations, and the constant threat of disease and, by some miracle, managed to open new places all year long. Yes, there were fewer than usual. But they did open.

Because of this tireless work, we are proud to publish the twentieth edition of the magazines annual roundup of the best new restaurants in Texas. This time, instead of limiting it to my top ten places of the previous year, Where to Eat Now focuses on favorite dishes (as well as some drinks, which we really needed this year) so that we can spread the love even more, to seven major cities and regions around the state. The result is a smorgasbord of more than thirty specialties, organized by category, from starters to sweets. It was a group effort this year, with some of the magazines longtime freelance contributors dining on patios and taking meals to go.

In addition, we spotlight three exciting restaurantsone each in San Antonio, Houston, and Austinand we say goodbye to some of the beloved places we lost in 2020 as well as take a look at whats opening in 2021. There is also a roundup of new releases from Texas breweries, wineries, and distilleries.

Although the package looks very different this year, the rules havent changed for Where to Eat Now. To be eligible, a restaurant must have opened between December 1, 2019, and December 1, 2020 (theres a grace period for latecomers we missed the previous year). All of these places offer takeout, so please check them out, tip generously, and keep your fingers crossed that theyre alive and cooking this time next year.

Additional reporting by Tina Danze, June Naylor, Robin Barr Sussman, and Texas Monthly Dining Guide reviewers.

Kalimotxo (kah-lee-mo-cho), noun: 1. a drink consisting of red wine and cola over ice, inordinately popular with the cocktail crowd in Spains Basque country. 2. a restaurant and bar in downtown Austin. For such a tiny place, Kalimotxo (see definition 2) has plenty going on, including a comfy patio overlooking Shoal Creek. It opened in late 2019 as a cocktail/snack bar attached to Hestia, a dark and sophisticated restaurant with a live-fire kitchen. Three months later, the pandemic hit and, long story short, Hestia is now doing tasting menus in-house only while Kalimotxo has morphed into an easygoing bistro that also offers food to go. Spanish dishes set the tone, including a fine potato-and-egg tortilla espaola and a pintxos board of Basque-style small snacks (pictured). The most popular dish may well be the excellent wagyu burger sporting a tangy layer of Spains Mahn cheese, but the restaurants signature is its Basque cheesecake, the ebony exterior looking burnt but actually just super-caramelized. The chef-owners behind both ventures are Kevin Fink and Tavel Bristol-Joseph, who also run Emmer & Rye. And to answer the inevitable question, yes, you can order a kalimotxo. Its not as bad as it sounds. Opened December 7, 2019. 607 W. 3rd, Austin, 512-333-0737, kalimotxoatx.com

Executive chef Aaron Bludorn uses the French culinary skills honed during his years as executive chef at New Yorks famed Caf Boulud to weave together flavors from his Pacific Northwest upbringing and from Houstons international palate. Anchored by a thick redfish filet crowned with lump crabmeat, his cioppino flaunts steamed clams, mussels, and shrimp; a moat of sea-fresh tomato broth is poured tableside and garnished with a sliver of buttery crostini. Short-rib ravioli with figs and blue cheese is another melting-pot indulgence; ditto the bacon-wrapped quail with rosemary and quinceeach technically exact in flavor and aesthetically pleasing. Theres also a lobster potpie and a dry-aged-beef burger. Desserts by pastry chef Alejandra Salas, an alum of the French Laundry, in Napa Valley, are jewel-like, including a delicately sculpted baked Alaska (pictured). The former Pass and Provisions space has been refashioned with a smart dining room, tucked-away bar, and multilevel patio. Special design accents, especially the mural by a local artist of magnolia groves in East Houston, give it a modern sense of place. Its sophisticated dining sans preciousness. Opened August 21, 2020. 807 Taft, Houston, 713-999-0146, bludornrestaurant.com

Hummus topped with crispy pork belly and puffy naan pita at Jardn, in San Antonio.

Photograph by Mackenzie Smith Kelley

Morning sunlight dapples the flagstone patio of Jardn, the San Antonio Botanical Gardens five-month-old cafe, with its shady trees and umbrella tables. Soon the place will be filled with visitors drinking endless cups of coffee and Rising Suns (gin with cooling cucumber and a splash of saffron syrup). In a bit they will head out to admire the plants and greenhouses. Then they will return to explore the restaurants contemporary Eastern Mediterranean menu, with mezze plates, creative hummus combos, and focaccia pizzas galore. Perhaps the perfect starter is golden gazpacho, a velvety mix of beets and tomatoes. An order of the bright, fresh hummus should be next, perhaps with a topping of crispy pork belly and a drizzle of harissa oil (pictured). Happily, it comes with the menus signature puffy naan pita, sprinkled with zaatar. Serious appetites are sated by dishes such as pan-seared salmon with apricot puree, available at both lunch and dinner. Frivolous desires are fulfilled by the likes of olive oil cake with almond nougat crumble. The chefs in charge are the Dady brothers, Jason and Jake, who also run Tre Trattoria at the San Antonio Museum of Art. Public places seem to be their new niche. Opened September 13, 2020. 555 Funston Place, San Antonio, 210-338-5100, jardinsatx.com

Among the East End restaurants Gulf Coast and Creole dishes, jumbo lump crab cakes triumph with a crispy tanned crust, fresh white crabmeat, and tangy rmoulade. The splendid patio is ideal for sipping potent New Orleans cocktails. Opened October 20, 2020. 2929 Navigation Blvd, 713-432-9651, acadiancoast.com

A bowl of smoked chicken, yellow Thai curry, plump rice, and fried shallots is a highlight at this takeout joint housed in a small, flamingo-pink building. Here, Southeast Asian flavors team up with South Texas barbecue, a marriage made in heaven, nirvana, or your preferred version of the afterlife. Opened October 23, 2020. 2334 N. St. Marys, 210-320-0555, curryboysbbq.com

Chef Graham Dodds brings farmhouse flair to the Kimpton Pittman Hotels restaurant. From locally sourced produce to heritage pork and grains, quality ingredients shape the menu. Cocktails such as the Traveling Mana Manhattan riffsegue nicely to grilled Berkshire pork riblets with chimichurri sauce and preserved figs (a starter that could stand as an entre). Vegetables get special attention, including umami-rich brussels sprouts with bacon, while charred okra flecks the hush puppies. Opened August 12, 2020. 2551 Elm, 469-498-2525, elmandgood.com

The wildly popular Houston Taco rides on rustic grilled homemade tortillas filled with tender 44 Farms beef barbacoa, pickled onions, herbs, and a rich, earthy epazote aioli. What began as a food truck is now a petite cafe with a sunny patio offering eye-opening breakfast tacos, inventive pastries, an elevated seasonal dinner menu, and a list of all-natural wines. Opened January 4, 2020. 6119 Edloe, 832-795-7251, topohtx.com

Lavished with basil pesto and Parmesan, a bowl of properly tenderized kale undergirds a salad that makes a lovely light lunch; its amped up with chunks of crispy sweet potato, chickpeas, and a perfectly soft-cooked egg. Paperboy started out as a food truck and in 2020 graduated to full-restaurant status, with a new building, outdoor seating, and a rooftop deck. Opened July 11, 2020. 1203 E. 11th, Austin, 512-910-3010, paperboyaustin.com

Dorotea, youre not in Austin anymore. This Cali-Mex taqueria gives a distinctive spin to familiar Mexican staples. A trio of snack-size banh mi tacos features crisp tortillas of jicama topped with juicy, lightly charred rectangles of pork belly. Slivers of raw carrot and cilantro and coral-colored sriracha mayo garnish a truly international creation. Opened February 14, 2020. 1700 E. 2nd, Austin, 512-455-8226, reunion19atx.com

Who knew eggplant toast could be magical? Meticulous little purple-skinned cubes come arrayed on thick slabs of grilled bread set off by pickled golden raisins and fluffy, nutty tahini. Follow it with an entre of grilled brown-butter prawns. For a sweet finish, try the darling fruit galettes with burnt-honey ice cream. Running the show at this restaurant at the new Hotel Magdalena is chef Jeffrey Hundelt, whose menu is new American with Mexican and Mediterranean accents. Austinites and hotel guests linger for hours on the restaurants plant-filled terrace. Opened November 6, 2020. 1101 Music Lane, Austin, 512-442-5341, summerhouseonmusiclane.com

The zanahorias (carrots) at Tinies, in Fort Worth.

Photograph by Brittany Conerly

In chef Christian Lehrmanns Mexico Cityinspired kitchen, rotisserie chicken and snapper aguachile achieve heavenly status. But the biggest wow factor may be the veggie sides, so often an afterthought at other places. Magnificent proof is found in the zanahorias, a plate of al dente roasted carrots sitting atop a pillow of garlicky crema and beneath a blanket of carrot-top chimichurri. They are equaled by hen-of-the-woods mushrooms adorned with chipotle aioli and crunchy pepitas. Wash down the garden goods with a High Plains Drifter, made with sotol, amaro, and vermouth, and admire the elegantly renovated century-old industrial building on Fort Worths Southside. Opened March 10, 2020. 113 S. Main, 682-255-5425, tiniesfw.com

With its pickled red onions, Calabrian-chile aioli, and arugula, this crunchy sandwich, served on a toasted sesame bun, blazes trails at Southtowns campsite-inspired casual eatery. Enjoy it outdoors at a picnic table (one by the firepit is nice if the weather is a bit nippy). Opened September 29, 2020. 1811 S. Alamo, 210-942-4690, eatatcamp.com

Thick house-smoked pastrami, crisp kraut, seedy mustard, and two slices of good Swiss on rye make this all a sandwich should be. Touting itself as a new-school version of an old-school diner, meaning its somewhere between a Jewish deli and a neighborhood joint, the Hayden has spiffed up its venue, next to the Witte Museum, with mid-century decor. Its also making fine use of the Boardwalk retail centers welcoming outdoor space. Opened October 21, 2020. 4025 Broadway, 210-437-4306, thehaydensa.com

Fans line up at the patio window for the spicy fried chicken breast stacked high on a toasted bun with coleslaw, pickles, and Micos sauce. Opened March 25, 2020. 1603 N. Durham Dr, 713-548-6081, micoshotchicken.com

Chef-owner Nick Badovinus has given the staid New England lobster roll a rowdy Texas makeover. In his version, the lobster nuggets are battered and fried, topped with an herbed buttermilk dressing and bacon bits, and served on griddled brioche. The final touch? Diced jalapeo, of course. Opened November 3, 2020. 33 B Highland Park Village, 214-559-4245, yolobster.com

The color of the sauce is deep and rich; the flavor rustic, even profound. Pasilla and arbol chiles are clearly at work in the sauce that covers these just-right tortillas filled with tender chicken, bringing to mind the enchiladas served on an oilcloth-covered counter in a central Mexican market. Other authentic fare, including crispy crickets, as well as potent drinks (think jalapeo shooters and a variety of mezcals), are also on tap at this new concept from the owners of Toro Kitchen + Bar (they opened two Cuishe Cocinas, each near a Toro Kitchen). Opened October 6, 2020. 115 N. Loop 1604, 210-960-8935; smaller location at 119 Heiman; cuishemx.com

Combine Lanny Lancarte IIs Tex-Mex legacy (famed restaurateur Joe T. Garcia was his bisabuelo) with his classical training and you have a chef who transforms the usual ho-hum fajita platter into a work of art. The grilled strips of sirloin are silky, the flour tortillas supple, the guacamole fresh and chunky. Eat Fajitas is a ghost kitchenmeaning its delivery and pickup onlyoperating out of Lancartes Righteous Foods cafe. Round out your fajita order with a margarita pack. Opened March 20, 2020. Order at eatfajitas.com

At chef Regino Gino Rojass new taco tasting room at Revolver Taco Lounge, freshly griddled tortillasmade from heirloom Mexican corn, nixtamalized in-household exquisite fillings: wood-grilled meats, mushrooms, baby vegetables; guisados and moles; and all manner of seafood. With gourmet flourishes, this rotating cast of refined tacos straddles the Mexican pueblo and Rojass imagination. The tender arrachera (grilled skirt steak) may be the best version youve ever had. Atop silky refried mayocoba beans, its sparked with charred cambray onion, blistered chile, and salsa youll be tempted to drink. Opened June 17, 2020. 2701 Main, 214-272-7163, revolvertacolounge.com

Globally trained chef Kevin Ashade once won the Food Networks Beat Bobby Flay with his coq au vin; now hes beating the odds, with a handsome, sprawling restaurant (with two patios) thats thriving in the middle of a pandemic. A Texan born to Nigerians, he brings multiethnic influences to a vast menu thats heavy on steakhouse fare and Southern classics (think grits, gumbo, and collard greens). Jamaican flavors shine in the tender lamb shank marinated in a house-made jerk blend. Opened January 24, 2020. 6309 President George Bush Hwy, Garland, 214-703-2222, pangeadallas.com

Contemporary Mediterranean aromas waft from the wood-fired grill and oven in the gleaming exhibition kitchen, part of the Montrose restaurants California-fresh interior, complete with an orangerie-style greenhouse room (theres also a charming patio). Among the most fragrant dishes: the juicy roasted half chicken with grilled lemon and salsa verde, lush with scents of tarragon, mint, and garlicinspired by chef-owner Travis McShanes work with super-chef Jonathan Waxman. Jumbo wood-fired harissa shrimp also tempt with succulent smokiness and garlic-packed aioli, while the shaved cauliflower salad takes it easy with pistachios and sweet golden raisins. Opened September 25, 2020. 2032 Dunlavy, 713-324-9288, ostiahou.com

The Aleppo pepper and garlic Gulf shrimp at the Peacock, in Austin.

Photograph by Mackenzie Smith Kelley

Husky, meaty crustaceans, spiked with herbs and Middle Eastern chile peppers, sit atop a generous bed of saffron-kissed rice. Pickled vegetables and hummus come alongside this standout dish at the Turkish- and Israeli-inspired restaurant from McGuire Moorman Hospitality (Perlas, Elizabeth Street Caf), located on the ground floor of the stylish Austin Proper Hotel. Opened December 20, 2019. 600 W. 2nd, 512-628-1410, properhotel.com/Austin

Proprietor-chef Marcus Paslay (Clay Pigeon and Piattello Italian Kitchen) has opened his most alluring venture yet. Claiming a prime two-story space in the renovated Mule Alley, in the Historic Stockyards District, Paslay upgrades comfort dishes, starting with his deftly grilled rainbow trout. Served with charred lemon, it sits astride a bed of fluffy rice mingling with firm black-eyed peas, tomato, and jalapeo. Opened July 4, 2020. 122 E. Exchange Ave, 817-782-9170, provenderhall.com

Michelin-star Scottish chef Graham Campbell, a contestant on Netflixs The Final Table, has set up shop in McAllen. Locals can feel like celebrities at the chefs table as Campbell serves them his ten-course tasting menu, which can also be enjoyed (along with the full menu) on the outdoor patio. Highlights range from seared diver scallops with corn bisque to a deconstructed key lime parfait. Or, order la carte and zero in on the feasts star attraction: on a recent visit, it was succulent pork cheek gently cooked sous vide in apple juice and thyme and finished with drunken mushrooms and a crunchy bit of puffed rice. Opened November 15, 2020. 1600 N. 10th, 956-627-2308, rosmanirestaurant.com

Operating out of the Third Wards Blodgett Food Hall, Saigon Hustle offers signature rolls and healthful Vietnamese fare for pickup and delivery only; it was founded by Cassie Ghaffar, who also owns new Ginger Kale, a lakeside cafe in Hermann Park. The barbecue ribeye rice bowl is an architectural wonder layered with jasmine rice, daikon, pickled carrots, green scallion oil, chargrilled ribeye, and fish sauce vinaigrette. Opened September 20, 2020. 2616 Blodgett, thesaigonhustle.com

True Kitchens soul food and DJ-fueled scene have earned it an enthusiastic following; reservations are hard to come by, but delivery is available. Start with a cognac peach fros and chase it with an order of the crispy fried chicken with Asian Hennessy sauce. Opened August 21, 2020. 1933 Elm, truekitchenkocktails.com

The dial oil noodles at Uncle Zhou, in Plano.

Photograph by Brittany Conerly

Famous for hand-pulled Henan-style noodles, this restaurant relocated to Plano from New York, where it earned a Michelin Guide nod for good value. Silky dial oil wide noodles, seasoned with chile and garlic, are the signature dish. But dont miss the dragon eggplant, battered and crisp-fried, in a tangy sweet and sour sauce. The slender servings come arranged in serpentine curves, like Chinese New Year dancing dragons. Opened January 6, 2020. 8200 Preston Rd, Plano, 469-929-6622, unclezhou.com

A homestyle meal at this family-owned restaurant calls for an indulgent dessert such as boozy banana pudding. Heavily laced with banana rum and banana liqueur, this velvety mascarpone concoction begs for a strong cup of joe alongside. Opened February 16, 2020. 1116 Pennsylvania Ave, Fort Worth, 682-499-8630, carpscafe.net

The zany vibe of the centerpiece restaurant at the Virgin Hotels Dallas extends to this teaser of a dessert, which looks like a Ruby Red grapefruit. The painterly orange sphere nests in a tequila-grapefruit compote; break it open and spoon up a carnival of flavors: fluffy citrus chiffon mousse, melt-in-the-mouth white chocolate shards, and juicy bursts of fresh grapefruit. Opened December 15, 2019. 1445 Turtle Creek Blvd, 469-436-7150, virginhotels.com/dallas/dine-and-drink/the-commons-club

Out of her gluten-free and mostly vegan bakeshop on the east side, Jam Sanichat, the chef-owner of beloved Thai Fresh, makes about forty rotating varieties of coconut milk ice cream, inspired by the street vendors in her native Thailand. A spoonful of the bracing Thai coffee flavor is a real wake-up call. Opened October 12, 2020. 1512 Holly, 512-220-1077, gatiicecream.com

These small bites come wrapped in a deliciously flaky crust with tidy crimped edges. Savory choices include pork chorizo with cheese, and shrimp with chipotle sauce, but the standout is a dessert offering: the tropical Piadelphia, with caramelized pineapple and cream cheese. Opened October 20, 2020. 5380 N. Mesa, 915-275-5460. facebook.com/laempanaderiaelp

These brioche babies go where no doughnut has gone before. We cant resist the one that is hand-rolled, covered with a spiced-chai glaze, and topped with a dark-chocolate-dipped macaron. Another favorite: the Glitter Fritter, basically a dolled-up cruller, in flavors including strawberries and champagne. Open FridaySunday (preorders are advised), this takeout window is from Olivia Guerra ONeal, owner of Sugar Mamas Bakeshop. Opened October 3, 2020. 2406 Manor Rd, Austin, lolasdonutsatx.com

Peach hand pies at Southerleigh Haute South in San Antonio.

Photograph by Mackenzie Smith Kelley

These half-moon-shaped fried piespecan, apple, peachdeserve high marks for their flaky pastry and not-too-sweet fillings (if you have to choose just one, go for the plump peach slices). This is assuming you have room after a generous bucket of fried chicken and biscuits or a fry-up of cornmeal-dredged flounder or oysters. The high-ceilinged new outpost of Southerleighs flagship at the Pearl is casual and new but otherwise not radically different. Opened September 30, 2020. 5822 Worth Pkwy in the Rim, 210-236-8556, southerleighhautesouth.com

Dreams of true New Yorkstyle cheesecake come true at this upbeat brewery, which offers a Cheesecake of the Week. Rich with vanilla bean paste and Meyer lemon, and never too sweet, each version features a distinctive topping. The one graced with bourboncoffee bean ganache, toasted coconut, and smoked salt might be the best yet. Opened March 21, 2020. 6473 Camp Bowie Blvd, 817-353-2074, wildacrebrewing.com

With a large, inviting patio, this Vietnamese restaurant helmed by chefs Christine H (of the Blind Goat) and Tony Nguyen is full of surprises. One of them is Not Our Mas Eggrolls, while another is lemongrass-buttermilk fried chicken with gloriously puffy Sidewinder Fries. But the most astonishing is the dessert lauded by celeb-chef Gordon Ramsay when H won MasterChef in 2012. Despite the tongue-in-cheek name, Rubbish Pie is anything but. This brilliant Asian take on apple pie is spiced with star anise and ginger and finished with caramel fish sauce drizzled over ice cream. Opened September 16, 2020. 2310 Decatur, 832-740-4888, xinchaohtx.com

A spectacular city view deserves a classy toast: try La Perla, an inspired blend of reposado tequila, sherry, and pear liqueur. Its the signature sip at Tim Loves sexy tapas bar atop a Marriott hotel in the Stockyards. Should you want a nibble, check out the crispy patatas bravas in ranchero aioli or the sophisticated tacos of ibrico ham, caviar, and gold flakes. Opened January 17, 2020. 2315 N. Main, 682-255-5112, aticoftworth.com

You can start the day as well as end it at City Coffee, near the west-side Kern Place neighborhood. For a cheerful breakfast, try a cortado with a waffle. At night, the venues red chandelier and white leather chairs set a sultry mood for cocktails, especially the espresso martini (Kahlua, vodka, and a dash of cinnamon). Opened November 1, 2020. 3737 N. Mesa, 915-319-0898. facebook.com/thecitycoffeebar

Its worth a pop into this palatial Instagram-worthy Galleria restaurant (or its upstairs terrace) just for a cocktail. The Adraki Sutra features turmeric-tinged vodka, lemon juice, orange bitters, and a candied ginger skewer. Add an order of luscious Mithus Coriander Prawnsfragrant with coconut and curry leaf atop briochefor an Indian culinary escape. Opened May 18, 2020. 5115 Westheimer Rd, 713-242-8087, musaaferhouston.com

In Spanish, pausa means pause, recess, or breaksomething we could all use one year into this pandemic. Order an El Cantante, three types of citrus kicked up with a choice of reposada tequila or smoky mezcal. Its even better accompanied by Pausas lush huitlacoche risotto, featuring Mexicos ancient, earthy corn fungus. Opened November 21, 2020. 920 N. Main, 956-627-6018, pausacocinadeautor.com

This article originally appeared in the March 2021 issue ofTexas Monthlywith the headline Where to Eat Now. Subscribe today

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The Best To-Go Dishes (and Drinks!) at the Newest Restaurants in Texas - Texas Monthly

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Posted By admin on February 16, 2021

Wonya Lucas knows how important it is to improve Hallmark's diversity and inclusion track record. The daughter of Major League Baseball's first Black GM (for the Atlanta Braves) and the niece of the late and great Hall of Famer Hank Aaron, Lucas like her father and uncle before her also received death threats as she climbed to the top of her profession.

After receiving threats when she became the GM for the Weather Channel, Lucas took a page from her uncle's playbook and instead focused on the task at hand. Since joining Hallmark last August as CEO, the former TV One exec and CNN brand manager is focused on making her new media brand as inclusive as its parent company's greeting cards.

"I live in a white neighborhood now where I have been racially profiled," Lucas tells The Hollywood Reporter via Zoom on Friday from her Atlanta home after making her virtual debut before members of the Television Critics Association. "I live a life that is reflective of a lot of different communities. I can authentically say I want those communities represented because I know, not just know of, I really know what its like to be othered, however you define that."

Lucas takes over the Hallmark Channel helm from Bill Abbott, was pushed out in January 2020 following a particularly fraught holiday season that saw the basic cable network remove a commercial featuring a same-sex couple and eventuallybacktrackand apologize for its decision.

In her first extensive interview, Lucas talks with The Hollywood Reporter about her strategy for improving Hallmark's diversity and representation track record, competing with free-spending competitors for holiday programming and her plans for a direct-to-consumer streaming service.

Let's start with the Hank Aaron guest column you wrote for The Hollywood Reporter in which you also revealed getting hate mail from people who were trigged seeing a Black woman in your position. Was that the Hallmark greeting you received or was this earlier in your career?

It was years ago, when I became the GM of the Weather Channel, believe it or not. I received a series of hate mail and one of the people knew about my father and knew about my uncle and actually referenced them. We didnt have any security at the Weather Channel and so for about a month, people walked me to and from my car. It was triggering. Growing up, lived within walking distance of my uncle and spent a lot of time in their house. I read some of the hate mail and the tone of the house changing. I remember my cousin coming home from college because there were death threats. Uncle Hank had this this calmness and sense of grace and [ability to] let things roll off his sleeves and bring this keen focus on his task at hand, which was breaking that record. It taught me how to focus despite whats going on around me. And thats what I do.

Coming from a trailblazing family your father was the first Black MLB GM to a network that has historically struggled with diversity and inclusion, did you feel in the hiring process that Crown Media was open to actually embracing diversity?

I did. Mike Perry, who runs the whole company, is one of the most authentic leaders I have ever met. Mike and [head of originals] Michelle Vicary started making meaningful change before I got there. I might have been skeptical but it was already in play. What is my value add? There is a difference between representation "the Black best friend" and authentic storytelling. We can go even deeper in representing the latter. I look at what we do in our brand as an opportunity to be a connector: binding people together with an understanding that we are different and we have differences but we have common experiences even though they may manifest themselves slightly differently. One of the things I'm trying to do is infuse culture, going beyond sexuality and race. A Black person from New Orleans is not like a Black person from Brooklyn. How do we continue to peel back the layers and the dimensions that make us who we are? That is the opportunity I see. When I see depth and breadth, thats what I think.

Why has it taken Hallmark so long to reflect society in terms of representation? I remember when Scandal debuted and Kerry Washington became the first Black lead of a primetime series in nearly 40 years. That triggered a wave of change in the industry. And here's Hallmark, nearly a decade later, now playing catch up. Was there a conversation about why it took them this long and what was that like?

Fun fact: one of [Scandal creator] Shonda Rhimes' first jobs was working on my uncles Chasing the Dream documentary. [Laughs.] But I dont know why. I am a brand person. One of the reasons I took this job was because actually a former friend from Discovery called me and said, "I dont think Im going for this job but the way they describe this job is you." She said they wanted a brand builder who was kind. I think the "kind" piece is a cultural one. They wanted someone who respected the talent that we had in our organization and could build that talent. That is what Ive done throughout my career. And I have been in a lot of different environments from news to TNT and drama and nonfiction. Hallmark just celebrated 30 years of Mahogany Cards. That brand has been representing a very distinctive voice. In the African-American community, people will travel to get those cards because they reflect their lives. Hallmark, the global brand, has had LGBTQ cards for a long time. They have Tree of Life, their brand for the Jewish faith. They have Day Spring, which is their brand for the Christian faith. They have Vida, which is their brand for Hispanic and Latinx community. That brand has inherently been very broad and very diverse and very accepting. So for me, the opportunity is to mirror the brand.

Exactly: Hallmark literally has existed in these spaces for years, yet the TV extension of its brand was woefully behind the times. Why didn't that extend to Hallmark Channel?

I dont know. When somebody has been successful, sometimes people just keep doing what theyre doing. For me, I look at the world through a different lens because of my life experience. And I am here because of the opportunity for the brand, which is so rich it's almost just a lay-up. I dont know why they didnt do it but Im going to do it. When I started at CNN, I gave out a t-shirt that said, "You are not the target audience." That is my philosophy.

The first thing I do is go to consumers and listen. Why do they love our brand? For the first time in my career and Im pretty sure at Hallmark we did multi-generational [focus] groups and talked about the brand. We also did groups based on race and ethnicity. What are the common themes that these groups have in terms of how they relate to the brand? Why do they like the brand? What are some of the opportunities for the brand? What are the commonalities and what are the differences? We were trying to understand the way in so that its really inclusive. We can say were inclusive because of representation, but what storylines work for people? These were all viewers of Hallmark. We were trying to peel back the layers and say: How do we attract more of these different types of people? What are the things we need to do? What are the stories we need to tell to go deeper than just seeing themselves. That's the first step. That is the opportunity I see. Thats the depth part. We are multilayered people.

How much did you get a sense that the desire for inclusivity comes from those regular viewers versus people on the outside who maybe dont watch Hallmark? And from your perspective, does that distinction matter?

It does matter because we want all viewers. We are the kind of brand that everybody should want to watch. That's my fantasy. I believe in attracting the coalition of the willing first, we can start there. And they may or may not know that we have changed. So, some of it is a marketing and communications opportunity, and some of it is a programming and scheduling opportunity. It's a partnership opportunity. Youre not going to get everybody. So we have to focus on the people that are getable.

Ratings and profits of course are great but from your vantage point, what would it take to get Hallmark Channel to become a major Emmy player, a place on critical top ten lists? Is that something you aspire for?

Hallmark Hall of Fame was. The Hallmark Hall of Fame movies did win awards. They had top producers and actors. Cicely Tyson did a number of Hallmark Hall of Fame movies for us including one with Morgan Freeman, which goes back to the heritage and the inclusiveness of the brand. Can we be that again? Absolutely. We have permission because we have been that. It is something I aspire to; there is so much good work to be done.

Let's talk about your predecessor at Hallmark. His last holiday season cost him his job after the whole same-sex ad kerfuffle. He did an interview with Dan Fienberg and I on TV's Top 5 in which he defended having only four holiday movies with Black characters, no same-sex characters, etc. He basically lit his Christmas tree on fire. What lessons the Hallmark programming team learn from the controversy?

Mike did a good job of beginning to translate the Hallmark global brand to the media brand. That was his idea. When I got here, I had these small group meetings with every employee. In every meeting and I had more than 30 of them people mentioned that they wanted to be more reflective of the world. Culture was a topic that came up in those meetings, too. The most important thing I learned is that this is what our company wants. Programming it is easy because we know based on our research that its what our audience wants, too. That is a no brainer.

You started there in August. How much of the content that has already aired has had your fingerprints on it and how much, if any, did you want and were able to change?

I didnt have to change anything. When I got there, half was already in production. I did have the ability to figuratively touch certainly the Christmas movies. There are other things I would enhance or do slightly differently. We have strong female characters and I dont think they have to give up their jobs. We can show that women are multidimensional. People are layered but certainly women, with all the jobs and hats we have to wear, are. Representing different types of people and going beyond gender and fully dimensionalizing people is really important.

Hallmark Channel is mostly romantic comedies. We want to express different types of love and we hear that from our audience. Sisterhood is an opportunity for us. All you have to do is read a bunch of Hallmark cards and that will tell you what we should be doing. Sisterhood, fatherhood, brotherhood, family, it makes sense for a family network. That is the essence of who we are. Leaning into who we are expressing different types of love, overcoming adversity is a key theme in our lives. Augmenting what we do in terms of romantic comedies and continuing to do more of it. It's all going to turn out in the end; it would be anti-Hallmark for it not to be.

Has there been a script that you bought and have overseen that has already aired?

Im not that hands on. I am very clear about the expectation that I have and trust my team. The movies that are on the air now are representative of the expectation we have. I love the Mix Up in the Mediterranean because it's a story that has multiple human dimensions and relationships that are intertwined and its a little messier than a normal Hallmark movie. We can show lifes messy moments because we all live in it. People seeing themselves, that means messiness sometimes.

How did the Black Lives Matter movement affect the types of programming that you want to make year round?

I dont think you have to be literal and do Black Lives Matter [as a programming block]. It means treating people with respect in terms of who they are and not stereotypical. On your podcast, you talked a lot about Hanukkah. My daughter is dating a Jewish guy. She spends Hanukkah with him and he spends Christmas with us and they are probably going to get married. When I came to Hallmark, a good friend of mine who is Jewish said that Jewish people are very upset with Hallmark. I didnt know that piece of it. So whether its Black Lives Matter where people want to be seen and heard for who they are, I think that is true for everybody. Dont disrespect Hanukkah. Understand why that is important. And I get that. And this isnt about me. That's what people in our company want, too.

Last year, Hallmark had a few movies with "Hanukkah" in their titles but have you set any programming mandates be it for Jewish movies, LGBTQ characters, Black leads, etc.? No, I dont believe in putting a number on it. And that's not a cop out. Overall, I want more representation. I talked about faith being a part of our brand. There are other opportunities outside of Christmas to talk about the Jewish faith.

Are you making programming for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur?Not at the time. But there are other times to do it. I want to see us have more representation. Thats all.

Who does Hallmark consider its competition?

I consider everybody, honestly.

In addition to the lackluster track record with diversity, you are also juggling increased competition from the likes of Netflix, Lifetime and other streamers including. Hulu had a big hit with Happiest Season, which featured LGBT leads. Netflix had a cute romcom Dash and Lily. How does Hallmark compete for talent, for top writers, for pitches when you see Hulu doing a holiday movie with Kristen Stewart?

All of that is true. But we have something that is unique about a Hallmark movie. People want to be associated with a Hallmark Channel movie. There is something about a Hallmark Channel movie that is pretty iconic. I'm continuing to lean into that. We are different than all those other movies. People can try but at the end of the day when you marry what we do with the brand, it delivers something that you cant get anywhere else. You can try to do the same movie, you can put it on any other service, but it doesnt have the brand.

That said, how does Hallmarks content spend compare to someone like Netflix, which last year topped $17 billion globally?

[Laughing] We could talk about that all day! That is incredible how much money people are spending on content. For me, its how were spending the money we have. One of the reasons Im here is because we have three networks and a streaming service. Part of what Im working on is brand architecture. How do we clearly define those networks? What kind of audience does each of them attract? Ultimately, we will attract a larger audience because we have more distinctive brands and very clear brands. What is our Hallmark+? Figuring out all those things is a huge opportunity but at the center of it all is Hallmark the brand.

Where is the Hallmark direct to consumer subscription streaming platform? Is that something that exists? Hallmark.com prompts you to sign in with your cable operator.

Theres Hallmark Movies Now, which has a little over a million subscribers. We have lots of opportunity there. Its a priority for me. I don't have a timeline for it but I think about it every day. We have to do it right because its going to be broader than what we are right now. We're planning for it now but its not imminent. Optimizing the linear networks right now is where Im focusing most of my energy.

How has the pandemic affected how you approach the famed "Hallmark Kiss"?

Well, here is the good news: theres only one. [Laughing.] Its only going to happen once, usually in the last act so everybody has left the set by then. We still are going to have that signature Hallmark kiss. We did for Christmas and we're always going to have it we do it in a very safe way.

Let's wrap the way we started: would you make a baseball-themed Hallmark movie? I aspire to do that one day. The Negro Baseball Hall of Fame is in Kansas City so they are somewhat involved. But I would love to do a baseball movie.

Daniel Fienberg contributed to this report.

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Posted By admin on February 14, 2021

Community Content| Wicked Local

Peabody Properties is now accepting lease applications for The Machon, located at 35 Burpee Road in Swampscott.

Applications must be postmarked by Feb. 24 to be considered for the lottery taking place in March 2021. Applications will still be accepted after this date, but will no longer be considered for the lottery.

The Machon encompasses 38 one-bedroom units for seniors aged 55 and older and features facilities and amenities to bring residents together, including a community room, a library/entertainment room and fitness center. Additionally, all residents have access to an on-site service coordinator who can connect them to area resources and service providers as well as facilitate social, cultural and healthy lifestyle activities.

The Machon is being redeveloped by Bnai Brith Housing, a regional nonprofit housing developer, and will be managed by Peabody Properties. For more information or for an application, call Peabody Properties at 617-691-0158 or visit https://livethemachon.com. There is also a link to view a four-part virtual video series on the lottery, application and interview process as well as specifics about the property. The expected occupancy date for The Machon is summer 2021.

All of us at BBH are excited for the addition of 38 new, affordable senior homes to Swampscott this year, said Susan Gittelman, executive director at B'nai B'rith Housing. It could not have done with the partnership and support from the town of Swampscott.

We are thrilled to be partnering again with Bnai Brith on this exciting and needed community for Swampscott, said Karen Fish-Will, CEO and principal of Peabody Properties. We are proud to support BBHs mission of providing more affordable housing for seniors, and their commitment to offering resident services, which enhances stable tenancies, to the benefit of everyone involved.

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Posted By admin on February 14, 2021

Eli Lilly has replaced its chief financial officer who resigned following an investigation into a personal relationship that violated company policy.

Josh Smiley stepped down as senior vice president and chief financial officer and will leave the company, the drugmaker said Tuesday, after it learned of allegations of an inappropriate personal relationship between Smiley and an employee.

The independent investigation found consensual though inappropriate personal communications between Smiley and some employees and behavior that demonstrated poor judgment, according to the company.

Lilly said Smileys behavior wasnt tied to business matters or financial controls or statements.

The Associated Press left a message seeking comment from Smiley with a Lilly representative.

Smiley, a long-time company employee, had served as chief financial officer since 2018. He received total compensation valued at about $7.3 million in 2019 as the companys second-highest paid executive, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

The drugmaker named its chief financial officer for Lilly Research Laboratories, Anat Ashkenazi, to replace Smiley.

Ashkenazi joined Lilly in 2001. She has a bachelors degree in finance and economics from Hebrew University and a master of business administration from Tel Aviv University.

The Indianapolis company recently reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings, with a COVID-19 treatment bringing in $850 million in U.S. sales in the last three months of 2020.

Shares of Eli Lilly and Co. slipped 1% at the start of trading Tuesday to $203.28.

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Lilly exec resigns after relationship that violated policy - The Republic

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Posted By admin on February 14, 2021

Kenneth Frazier will step down from his position as CEO of Merck & Co. and hand over to CFO Robert Davis. Meanwhile, there is high level changes following allegations of inappropriate behavior at Eli and Lilly.

Frazier has been CEO of Merck & Co. (known as MSD outside North America) since 2011 and has worked at the firm for almost 30 years. Frazier reflected on the announcement during Mercks Q4 financial report last week.

Departing CEO Kenneth Frazier. Image c/o Merck & Co. website

It has been a distinct honor and privilege to serve this great company as its CEO over the past decade, said Frazier. Rob Davis is well prepared and well suited to help Merck capitalize on the many exciting opportunities before it as well as to take on the challenges that lie ahead.

In 2014, Davis joined Merck as CFO. Previously, he served as corporate vice president of Baxters Medical Products business and spent more than 14 years at Lily.

Davis said Im honored to be appointed the next chief executive officer of Merck. I thank the board and Ken for their confidence in me, he added I plan to continue Kens focus on innovation as we aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company.

Lilly appoints Anat Ashkenazi as CFO after Joshua Smiley resigns following a company investigation which found consensual though inappropriate communication between him and other employees.

The firm carried out an independent investigation and leadership determined that Smileys behavior did not follow the companys core values. However, Lilly made it clear that Smileys conduct had no relation to financial controls, financial statements or any other business matters or judgements.

Lillys core values are integrity, excellence and respect for people. We expect all employees to live these values, and we expect exemplary conduct from our executives at all times, saidCEO, David Ricks. We are confident in Anats ability to serve as our next CFO given her impeccable track record of leadership and business success across nearly all major parts of the company, most recently as corporate controller and head of strategy.

Ashkenazi has been with Lilly for nearly 20 years and in her role as CFO for Lilly Research Laboratories she oversaw the CFOs of the companys commercial business.

Genome editing company Editas Medicine elects James Mullen to succeed Cynthia (Cindy) Collins as CEO.

Previously, Mullen served as CEO of Patheon and prior to this, he held the position of CEO for Biogen. The transition will be effective February 15, 2021 and Mullen will continue as Chairman of the Companys Board of Directors.

New CEO James Mullen. Image c/o Editas

We are pleased to have someone of Jims caliber step in to lead the Company, a spokesperson for Editas told BioProcess Insider. Jim has an excellent understanding of our business and culture as well as great relationships with many of our employees, including our Executive Team.

It is an honor to be appointed to lead Editas into the next phase of growth. I look forward to joining such an innovative and committed team as we advance our strategy and work to develop and deliver transformative, durable gene edited medicines to people living with serious diseases, said Mullen.

New Head of Clinical Development Frank Neumann. Image c/o Gilead

The Gilead subsidiary has appointed Frank Neumann to take over for Ken Takeshita as head of clinical development.

Neumann will join Kite Pharma from Verastem (also known as Verastem Oncology) and has been a member of the oncology medical teams at AstraZeneca andSanofi-Aventis.

Since my early work in cell therapy, I have been fascinated by its potential for patients living with cancer, said Neumann. I am tremendously excited to join the company as it seeks to expand into new indications, bring cell therapies into earlier lines of therapy, and drive innovative new therapies for the benefit of patients in need.

In August 2017, Gilead sciences acquired Kite for $11.9 billion and chose to run Kite as a separate business unit.

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