Robert K Stephen (CSW)

RKS Literature: Passage of the Day: Artists and Politicians

“But artists, he had long since concluded, were rather like politicians in their interest in the tasteful appearance of truth rather than the truth itself. “ Donna Leon “Give Unto Others” : Atlantic Monthly Press 2022

RKS Travel: RKS Hotel Reviews: Daios Luxury Living in Thessaloniki Greece

Thessaloniki is Greece’s second largest city behind Athens. Despite being an old fogey I certainly pick up a very youthful and hip vibe in Thessaloniki. And that has been constant in the last decade. The cafes and bars are packed and it is a love affair with the cocktail and coffee. I prefer Thessaloniki toContinue reading “RKS Travel: RKS Hotel Reviews: Daios Luxury Living in Thessaloniki Greece”

RKS Wine: Red Bordeaux Trio

Be forewarned at 62 degrees Fahrenheit the wine is flabby so try to bring it down to 55 degrees which is what your refrigerated cellar temperature should be. The nose is primarily black fruit with some plum and mocha all sitting on a pool of kirsch. On the palate the tannins are soft but aContinue reading “RKS Wine: Red Bordeaux Trio”

RKS Film: “Red River Road”: What Is Happening Here?

“Red River Road” is about as indie as they come. The entire production was a family one made during a COVID lockdown. Although in most locations the lockdown no longer exists and if you believe President Biden of the United States COVID is over. Watching the Schuyler family struggle through the perceived terrors you mightContinue reading “RKS Film: “Red River Road”: What Is Happening Here?”

RKS Film: Take a Magic Carpet Ride with Surfer Doc “Facing Monsters”

With all deference surfer documentaries manipulate a tired plot of a determined surfer looking for the perfect wave and slather it with good cinematography. In this case don’t expect a novel plotline but be prepared for the stunning cinematography Rick Rifici has handed us here. In fact watch the huge curling monsters and Rifici willContinue reading “RKS Film: Take a Magic Carpet Ride with Surfer Doc “Facing Monsters””

RKS Film: “From the Hood to the Holler”: The Adventures of Charles Booker in Virginian Politics

A nice little detour into Greece for three weeks this month had helped me cleanse the rancour of American politics inflamed by a series of events and personalities and despite a Democratic President being elected the bitterness and hostility continues unabated despite the Trumpster falling from the sky. It was simply too much to endureContinue reading “RKS Film: “From the Hood to the Holler”: The Adventures of Charles Booker in Virginian Politics”

RKS Wine: Ontario Sparklers A Trio

Produced by the tank method. On the nose loads of strawberry, raspberry with BC cherry. On the palate a nice acidic bite but more than a bite it also has fruit with a strong undercurrent, brief as it may be, of Niagara cherries that bring a tiny hit of sweetness before it snaps back intoContinue reading “RKS Wine: Ontario Sparklers A Trio”

RKS Travel: The Evolution of the Greek Hotel Breakfast and the Devolution of the Author

I was 12 in 1971 when I escaped a cloistered suburban setting in Montreal with an adventurous mother on the Auntie Mame level. Riding scooters to the Acropolis of Lindos on Rhodes, taking a fishing boat to the next village chased by leaping dolphins, being invited to parties and weddings by Greek islanders and seeingContinue reading “RKS Travel: The Evolution of the Greek Hotel Breakfast and the Devolution of the Author”

RKS Literature: Passage of the Day: Tolstoy’s “Anna Karenin”: The Meaning of Existence

“Then, for the first time, realizing that for every man, and himself too, there was nothing ahead but suffering, death, eternal oblivion, he had decided that to live under such conditions was impossible – he must either find an explanation to the problem of existence which would make life seem other than the cruel ironyContinue reading “RKS Literature: Passage of the Day: Tolstoy’s “Anna Karenin”: The Meaning of Existence”

RKS Wines: A High-Cost Romanian Red Wine: Time to Shine or Whine?

In the interests of furthering my scant knowledge about Romanian wines and of hoping for rewards in a search for Romanian winners I paid $42.95 for a Cabernet Sauvignon from the Terroir de Dobrogea. Most Romanian wines in the Ontario market cost under $20. On the nose a very rich wine almost Portish and atContinue reading “RKS Wines: A High-Cost Romanian Red Wine: Time to Shine or Whine?”