B.A. Nilsson

A Pub of Flavor

by B.A. Nilsson October 2, 2014

Mohawk Taproom & Grill, 153 Mohawk Ave., Scotia, 357-8005, mohawktaproom.com. Serving Tue-Thu 11-10, Fri-Sat 11-11, Sun noon-9. AE, D, MC, V. Cuisine: pub fare Entrée price range: $8 (two hot dogs) to $19 (steak frites) Ambiance: classic pub I ...

1 comment Mohawk Taproom & Grill

In the Lebanese Kitchen

by B.A. Nilsson September 25, 2014

The Phoenicians, 1686 Central Ave, Colonie, 464-4444, phoeniciansofalbany.com. Serving Tue-Sat noon-9. AE, D, MC, V. Cuisine: Lebanese Entrée price range: $8 (shawarma pita wrap) to $20 (lamb kebab platter) Ambiance: colorful and lively Allspice. Black Pepper. Cinnamon. Cloves. Fenugreek. ...

0 comments The Phoenicians

Family-Style Farming

by B.A. Nilsson September 18, 2014

“Jenny is a watch-donkey,” Kirsten Fredericks explains as the large, angry animal approaches. Woolly brown fur makes the donkey look like a plush doll, but her ears are up in a wary V, and she ...

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All Good in Altamont

by B.A. Nilsson September 11, 2014

Mio Vino Wine Bar & Bistro, 186 Main St., Altamont, 595-5095, miovinowinebar.com. Serving dinner Tue-Thu 5-9, Fri-Sat 5-10, Sun 5-9; brunch Sun 10-3. AE, D, MC, V. Cuisine: gourmet Italian Entrée price range: $10 (sausage & peppers ...

0 comments Mio Vino Wine Bar & Bistro

A Bar-B-Q Tour

by B.A. Nilsson September 4, 2014

PJ’s Bar-B-QSA, 1 Kaydeross Ave. West (at Route 9), Saratoga Springs, 583-RIBS (7427), 583-CHIK (2445), pjsbarbqsa.com. Serving Mon-Thu 11-8:30, Fri-Sat 11-9, Sun noon-8. AE, D. MC. V. Cuisine: barbecue, grilled and smoked Entrée price range: $3.25 (slider) ...

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Tally-ho!

by B.A. Nilsson August 28, 2014

Man of Kent Tavern, 4452 Route 7, Hoosick Falls, 686-9917, manofkenttavern.com. Serving 11-10 Mon-Thu, 11-11 Fri, 11-10 Sat, noon-10 Sun. AE, D, MC, V. Cuisine: ambitious pub fare Entrée price range: $7 (cheeseburger) to $13 (fish and ...

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Market to Cafe

by B.A. Nilsson August 21, 2014

The Local Flavor Café, 620 19th St., Watervliet, 270-1880, thelocalflavorcaafe.com. Open 7-8 Mon-Fri, 7-5 Sat. AE, D, MC, V. Cuisine: soup, salads, sandwiches Entrée price range: $5 (Ultimate PB&J) to $9 (Caesar salad with chicken) Ambiance: small and ...

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Master Director

by B.A. Nilsson August 14, 2014

“The performing arts, literature, the visual arts—these are what draw our attention to aspects of our lives that we otherwise wouldn’t notice,” says Jonathan Miller, who celebrated the uniquely human ability to suspend belief during ...

0 comments Glimmerglass Festival

A Romantic Weekend in Annandale

by B.A. Nilsson August 14, 2014

In the end, Malcom Bilson was right. The distinguished pianist and early-music specialist spoke and performed during a 10 AM panel titled “Invention and Reinvention: Who Was Schubert?” and, comparing a piano from Schubert’s time ...

0 comments Bard College Olin Hall

Timeless Audacity

by B.A. Nilsson August 14, 2014

It’s a story of great sweep, a David Lean epic, but, as Shakespeare wrote it, laced with comedy of the Richard Lester variety. Henry IV is one of the Bard’s history plays, which right there ...

0 comments Shakespeare & Company

High and Low

by B.A. Nilsson August 7, 2014

Two fish-out-of-water stories that nevertheless couldn’t be more dissimilar find a young Japanese woman trying to please her American lover by herself becoming as American as possible--and a starry-eyed composer forced to allow a commedia ...

0 comments Glimmerglass Festival

Doom, Glorious Doom

by B.A. Nilsson August 7, 2014

Poor Grace Brown! She was a small-town factory worker who would have lived an anonymous life had she not drowned in Big Moose Lake in 1906. Instead, she achieved a posthumous fame that lives on ...

0 comments Glimmerglass Festival

Bang on a Can Summer Music Festival

by B.A. Nilsson August 7, 2014

The bass drum got a workout during Bang on a Can’s Summer Music Festival. Its capacity for dramatic punctuation proved irresistible to most of the young composers whose works premiered during this high-spirited event, and ...

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Hall of Family

by B.A. Nilsson August 7, 2014

Nicoletta’s Italian Café, 96 Main St., Cooperstown, , nicolettasitaliancafe.com. Serving dinner daily 4-10 (later if warranted). AE, D, MC, V. Cuisine: traditional Italian Entrée Price Range: $13 (spaghetti with sausage) to $26 (filet mignon gorgonzola) Ambiance: classic café What ...

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Condensed King

by B.A. Nilsson August 7, 2014

Much as the royal families depicted in Henry IV celebrated marriage and consanguinity, so too does Shakespeare & Company’s current production of the play. Shakespeare wrote two plays to depict the title character, but Jonathan ...

0 comments Shakespeare & Company

The Old Master

by B.A. Nilsson July 31, 2014

Although the protean Peter Schickele has proven himself a success as a composer of an enormously wide variety of music; a songwriter; a performer of great skill who can play piano and bassoon and, when ...

0 comments Colonial Theatre

For the New American

by B.A. Nilsson July 31, 2014

Public Eat + Drink, 34 Holden St, North Adams, Mass., , publiceatanddrink.com. Serving daily 11:30-10 (later when warranted). AE, D, MC, V. Cuisine: new American Entrée price range: $7 (Caesar salad) to $24 (steak frites) Ambiance: industrially artistic MASS ...

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The Skinny on Animal Fat

by B.A. Nilsson July 17, 2014

Charcutería by Jeffrey Weiss (Surrey Books) Egg by Michael Ruhlman (Little, Brown) Back to Butter by Molly Chester & Sandy Schrecengost (Fair Winds) Sausage, eggs and butter: Add some toast and you’ve got breakfast taken care of, but, ...

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Better Than Broadway

by B.A. Nilsson July 17, 2014

On the heels of Oklahoma, their first collaboration, came Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel, based on a depressing but popular play by Ferenc Molnár. Liliom presented a charming but hotheaded protagonist who gets a chance to ...

0 comments Glimmerglass Festival

Old School for Real

by B.A. Nilsson July 10, 2014

Saltsman’s Hotel, Route 10, Ephratah, 993-4412, saltsmans.com. Serving dinner 5-8 Thu-Fri, 5-9 Sat, 12:30-7 Sun. Hours change after Labor Day. The restaurant closes the last day of October and reopens in the following Easter weekend. ...

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Jazz Bard

by B.A. Nilsson July 10, 2014

It’s party time in New Orleans--but wasn’t it always during that city’s fabled era as the wellspring of jazz? As a motley set of white-clad instrumentalists strikes up a rousing “Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives ...

0 comments Shakespeare & Company

All This and Quinoa Too

by B.A. Nilsson July 3, 2014

Spoon, 26 Housatonic St, Lenox, Mass., , spoonlenox.com. Serving 8-4 Tue-Sun (hours change in September). AE, D, MC, V. Cuisine: Breakfast, salads, sandwiches Entrée price range: $8 (homemade oatmeal) to $13 (smoked salmon sandwich) Ambiance: bright and airy “We ...

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A Midsummer Night’s Dream

by B.A. Nilsson June 26, 2014

“I like the idea of being in a world of magic. In the South, that kind of world is more of a reality,” says Johnny Lee Davenport, and he launches into the opening strain of ...

0 comments Shakespeare & Company

Just Ask Mario

by B.A. Nilsson June 26, 2014

Although there’s great appeal in the artwork of Florence’s narrow, crowded streets, the true spirit of Tuscany requires a farm. A flock of sheep dotting the hillside helps. The twisty-road drive into Granville, east of Lake ...

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Gastronomy of Scale

by B.A. Nilsson June 19, 2014

Mio Posto, 68 Putnam St., Saratoga Springs, 423-7022, miopostosaratoga.com. Serving daily from 5 PM. (Closing Mondays after Sept. 15.) AE, D, MC, V. Cuisine: eclectic Italian Entrée price range: $23 (brick chicken) to $34 (grilled lamb chops) Ambiance: ...

1 comment Mio Posto

← Previous Posts

B.A. Nilsson

B.A. Nilsson

A Pub of Flavor

In the Lebanese Kitchen

Family-Style Farming

All Good in Altamont

A Bar-B-Q Tour

Tally-ho!

Market to Cafe

Master Director

A Romantic Weekend in Annandale

Timeless Audacity

High and Low

Doom, Glorious Doom

Bang on a Can Summer Music Festival

Hall of Family

Condensed King

The Old Master

For the New American

The Skinny on Animal Fat

Better Than Broadway

Old School for Real

Jazz Bard

All This and Quinoa Too

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Just Ask Mario

Gastronomy of Scale

New York

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