“That was the real problem with art crime. It was considered high class. At the top level of the caste system, art crime was socially acceptable, even thought of as prestigious and intriguing. It was the only serious crime for which the public tended to root for the criminals. But then, the public was notContinue reading “RKS Literature: Passage of the Day: The High-Class Nature of Art Theft!”
Author Archives: Robert K Stephen (CSW)
RKS Literature: Passage of the Day: The Selling Price of Art
“The selling price has nothing whatsoever to do with the work of art being good or not. It has to do with what people are willing to pay for it at any given time. The auction house sets much of the value when they put an estimate on the price. They set the estimates basedContinue reading “RKS Literature: Passage of the Day: The Selling Price of Art”
RKS Film: “Calendar Girls”: Cheerleaders That Never Gave Up? Wisdom Amongst the Cheese?
“Calendar Girls” is a documentary about the Calendar Girls of Southwest Florida a group of 30 or so senior ladies that perform cheesy dance numbers in bingo halls, seniors’ residences and local parades raising money for charities. They give between 100-130 performances each year. What they lack in professionalism they compensate for in spirit. OldContinue reading “RKS Film: “Calendar Girls”: Cheerleaders That Never Gave Up? Wisdom Amongst the Cheese?”
RKS Wine: Stratus Wildass 2019 Merlot: Giving Ontario Merlot Another Chance
In the past few years I have given up on Ontario Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon as a single varietal wine. Could it be that Ontario doesn’t have the terroir and climate for these two grapes? However earlier this year I spent a few days at Niagara-on-the-Lake and discovered a Two Sisters Merlot that impressed atContinue reading “RKS Wine: Stratus Wildass 2019 Merlot: Giving Ontario Merlot Another Chance”
RKS Wine: The Return of the Penniless Pensioner and the Tirana Tigress in Albania
After months of radio silence, I received a Facetime call from the Penniless Pensioner from the capital of Albania, the glistening Tirana. We chatted like it was yesterday! His last love affair with the Russian Svetlana crumbled rather quickly after her yacht was confiscated in Montenegro. Apparently her yacht was stolen from Crimea when theContinue reading “RKS Wine: The Return of the Penniless Pensioner and the Tirana Tigress in Albania”
“Travels to a Different Time” : 9August2004: Montreal and Malbaie Quebec: Trip from Montreal to Malbaie
Stayed with in laws in Montreal. Had a great barbequed Porgy with Swiss Chard for lunch before heading out on a 5 hour drive to the Charlevoix region of the Province of Quebec. We slipped out of Montreal heading east with little traffic. Out of Quebec City on the 138 the scenery was glum withContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 9August2004: Montreal and Malbaie Quebec: Trip from Montreal to Malbaie”
March 2004: Trip into Costa Rican Rainforest
My son Andrew and I headed into the Costa Rican Forest leaving the girls behind for spa day. We left at 08:15 in a minibus with 12 other people. Our guide seemed knowledgeable and some of the facts he related to us that I remembered were. Upon arrival we climbed up towards the mountain andContinue reading “March 2004: Trip into Costa Rican Rainforest“
RKS Wine: Château de la Chapelle Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux 2018
The wine is a blend of Merlot (85%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (15%). As for aromatics blackberry rules supreme. To a lesser extent blueberries, black cherry, root beer and a bit of lavender. I am noticing an increasing streak of root beer in some high alcohol wines. This wine is 14%. On the palate the tanninsContinue reading “RKS Wine: Château de la Chapelle Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux 2018”
RKS Film: “Dead Bride”: Spaghetti Horror Film?
Do you remember those delightfully different Westerns in the 1970’s shot in Spain and Italy. Not only were they enjoyable but they played a role in reviving a languishing genre of film so popular in the 1950’s and 1960’s. The horror genre of film has never really languished but the Italian “Dead Bride” is aContinue reading “RKS Film: “Dead Bride”: Spaghetti Horror Film?”
RKS Travel: How Has COVID Changed Air Travel?
In Toronto little has changed although airport taxis and limousines now have protective plexi-glass screens separating you from the driver. Going to and from the three Greek airports I passed through there were no screens in taxis/limos taking you to and from the airport. Of the 5 September flights I was on each was soldContinue reading “RKS Travel: How Has COVID Changed Air Travel?”
A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity 