I’ve been enjoying a number of places in the neighborhoods.  Batard is only getting better and better–Never had a bad meal in numerous visits going back to the first month they opened. Great price point and I learn about wine each time.

Right next store is Frenchette.  I can’t think of a more pleasant place to have lunch.  Restraint and focus pay off.

Shin Yakitori, on 53rd, a short subway ride away, is a delight.  New chef, from Tokyo, and on a recent visit, one of many, everything tastes great.

Nearby, on 11th, you have Corner Slice, square slices of pizza, that are light and wonderful.  Next to it is Ivan Ramen: Vegetarian ramen is just about the best.

Back downtown: Le CouCou, and next to it, The Ship, and one block away, Il Buco di Alimementari.  Best French, great bar, best Italian, in town, in that order.

Well, a decent draft of my new book, “WHY BE HAPPY?,” The Japanese Way of Acceptance, is complete and each and every day I add more and take out more, and soon it will be in the hands of my editor at Da Capo, and then published in hardcover in early 2020.

My monthly jazz column in The Bay State Banner is coming along.  The most recent one (4/4/19) is a Q & A with Regina Carter: https://www.baystatebanner.com/2019/04/04/qa-with-regina-carter/

The five previous columns featured Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ron Carter, and several great local talents.

My new piece on Museum Susch, a museum that opened in 1/19, featuring the art of women artists is out in Vogue later this year.

Working on a sad, fascinating, tragic story of a young man who died in the Coast Guard.  His mom and I are in sync.

Then, too: Micro-brewed beer in Switzerland, women farmers in Switzerland, and UNESCO sites around the world.