Taxing times

Well, you might suspect that today's blog entry will consider the Internal Revenue Service and the fact that today is the deadline to file form 1040s. Nothing could be further from the truth. It's all about the impending nuptials of my son and his bride-elect and the fallout from that event that looms large. It is somewhat unusual, but I have yet to meet my son's fiancée's father. We are slated to meet each other for the first time on Saturday night at the rehearsal dinner, a misnomer to be sure, since there is no rehearsal. I have the strong suspicion that we have been deliberately kept apart due to the fear that we would prove to be volatile or at the very least unpredictable in our treatment of each other. Frankly, the future of our children is more important to me than if the two fathers involved are best pals or not. We shall see, but it is interesting in that he may be more like me than either of us imagines. We both have strong opinions about a great many things including our practice of our religions. It is my feeling that nothing in either religion promotes the practice of hate or antipathy towards others. I hope that in the interest of being civil and making an opportunity to get to know each other that we shall rise above petty differences. But that doesn't make the suspense of the first meeting less anxious for me. It seems to me that we all stand on the threshold of a great leap forward. I vow not to impede progress, but I know that my love for my son and his choice of a mate will require I be supportive. It's got to be more than just swallowing hard and smiling broadly. I should take the initiative and put myself out there if not for my own peace of mind than for peace in the family. Can I get an amen to that?

Living for festivals

Today marks the start of two well-regarded festivals in and around New Orleans. For those of us who love the country, there is the Pontchatoula Strawberry Festival, a three-day affair with the heralded Louisiana strawberry at the epicenter of praise and attention that must be paid. It should be an impressive opportunity for everyone to enjoy the juicy, red aggregate fruits in a variety of fashions: from chocolate covered to preserves and beyond. The lineup of musicians include The Wise Guys, Bag of Donuts and Amanda Shaw. Typically, there will be strawberry eating contests and the like. It's good, clean family fun and a crate of strawberries is something of a bargain for those who drive to the sleepy old town. Instead of driving the 50 minutes or so to Pontchatoula, many more visitors and residents will flock to the busy Vieux Carre, the home of the French Quarter Festival. A slew of stages with a huge roster of local stars will continue throughout the weekend with activities not winding down until dusk on Sunday. In terms of numbers the French Quarter Fest is the largest annual festival held in the city and relatively young. The reason is that the cost is free to the public, unlike the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival or the Essence Festival, which charge patrons hefty fees for admittance Parking costs $20 per slot - a 25% increase over regular weekend rates - and off street parking is virtually unavailable. While the names of the performers are not as hallowed as those at the Jazz or Essence Festivals, they are local luminaries and well-regarded purveyors of such widely varying forms of music as traditional jazz, funk, Cajun, classical, contemporary jazz, rock, soul, samba, cabaret, swing, beepop, Latin, Mardi Gras Indian and everything else in between. Several evening venues at hotels and a riverboat jazz cruise will require a ticket for admission, but all of the stages on city streets like Bourbon, Royal, Woldenberg Park and the French Market are free. It is a love fest to the city and one that signals the true blossoming of spring in the city. Food and drink are available for a price at four different locations throughout the festival. Typical costs are $5.00 per item. Jazz Fest will arrive in two weeks and that also is typically the onset of the hot and humid days of summer, even though summer is officially many months away. There is only one bad word that can be uttered over the course of the weekend and that word is rain. The weather forecasters suggest virtually no chance of that for the weekend, so it should be clear skies, lively music, delicious food and lots of family fare fun in the mix. Laissez les bon temps rouler.

The end of "Law and Order" characters

Last night's second half to the season nine two-part opener of "Law and Order: Criminal Intent" had longtime fans say a final goodbye to three characters on the show. Following the loss of original "Law and Order" franchise player Chris Noth (Mike Logan) two seasons ago, producer Dick Wolf and others decided last year to bring on board Jeff Goldblum as zen detective Zach Nichols, the former partner of Major Case Squad Captain Danny Ross, played by actor and playwright Eric Bogosian. Oddly enough, all three of those actors are Jewish. For the past eight seasons, though, the major "Criminal Intent" players were Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe, who portrayed Detectives Robert "Bobby" Goren and Alexandra Eames respectively. The two of them were the glue that held the series together, so it's a pretty big gamble to bet the future of the entire series on the possible charisma of Goldblum or Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, who will be taking over next week as the third captain of the Major Case squad since the series debuted in 2001. In last week's part one opener Bogosian's character was assassinated, while D'onofrio and Erbe's characters were both forced into uncomfortable situations as they followed up the investigation into their captain's killer. It was a shame to see Bogosian dispatched in such a final way. Fans may recall him as the ruthless mastermind in "Under Siege 2: Dark Territory" against Stephen Seagal or as the Pulitzer Prize nominated author of "Talk Radio." Bogosian is also a published novelist three times over, so the calibre of his play was always top notch. I felt he added an edgier dimension to the show after the departure of Jamey Sheridan as original Major Case Squad Captain James Deakins in 2006. The central play of quirky D'Onofrio and hard-nosed Erbe as his senior partner will be sorely missed. D'Onofrio, whose steel trap mind was the downfall of many a "perp" who mistook him for a bumbling, oversized buffoon. Detective Robert Goren could understand American sign language and was able to detect Asian dialects like an expert. He did research like no other detective on an investigation. He actually went to the library to check out leads and was at his best in the interrogation room when he would cock his head to the left to unsettle suspects or deliberately push their buttons in other ways in order to trip them up or elicit a confession. My favorite such tête-à-têtes occurred during several different episodes between Goren and fictional serial killer Nicole Wallace played superbly by actress and singer Olivia D'Abo. Aside from the two of the actors having apostrophes in their names, there was a chemistry between the two fictional adversaries, both of whom had troubling childhoods that led to one turning to a life of dedicated service and another to a life of crime and killing. I figured that D'Onofrio would have to go soon. His character had learned his biological father was a demented serial killer. He had watched his schizophrenic mother die from cancer on the same day as his serial killer father was executed. His brother was the final victim of his nemesis and she, likewise, was dispatched by his former mentor who admitted killing her and poisoning himself in order to throw the investigation off. That meant that all of those figures close to Goren's character outside of his work were either dead or incarcerated. It seemed it would only be a matter of time before something would set him off. Last year's arrival of Goldblum on the set as part of the USA Network's schedule also signaled the departure for Juliane Nicholson. Her character of Detective Megan Wheeler, Chris Noth's former partner and Goldblum's first on the series never even made it to this year's season opener. As of last night she was replaced by sultry Saffron Burrows, the leggy British actress who some may recall from season four of "Boston Legal" or the short-lived Christian Slater NBC series "My Own Worst Enemy." And for those who are not fans of the "Special Victims Unit" or "Criminal Intent" franchises, there was news on Friday that yet another long-time player will be leaving that series at the end of the current season. S. Epatha Merkerson, a 17-year long veteran of the original "Law and Order" series, who has played Lt. Anita Van Buren through the years, has announced she is leaving the show and moving on. If the original series makes it onto the TV schedule next year, it will take over "Gunsmoke" as the longest running TV series. The legacy of the Dick Wolf series and its spinoffs is impressive.

The Butler did it, so put your Duke up

It all comes down to 40 minutes of hoop action tonight in Indianapolis. After a field of 62 other potential winners was whittled down to a final two left standing, the NCAA college basketball champion will be crowned tonight. As the nation has always pulled for the underdog (remember the Saints?), the sentimental favorite will be tiny upstart Butler University, an Indiana school with fewer than 4,500 students. The oddsmakers say the smart money will be on Duke, the only surviving #1 seed from the four regions that began the tournament several weeks ago. Butler is more than just a Cinderella team, as many sportswriters have called it. The Butler Bulldogs have won 25 straight games, which puts them in some pretty distinguished company and they are playing fantastic defense. The last team to hold as many tournament opponents under 60 points was Villanova in 1985, the year the Wildcats clinched the national championship. There is little doubt that the home field advantage will go to Butler, whose gymnasium was the film site for the heralded movie "Hoosiers." Partially based on the high school championship won by Milan High School in 1954, the 1986 film featured a fictional Indiana team and some have called it the greatest sports movie of all time. Brad Stevens, an Indiana native in his third year as head coach at Butler, will also ignite fellow Hoosiers' desires in his battle against seasoned foe, Mike Krzyzewski, playing in his eighth national title contest at Duke. While the Blue Devils from Duke have been criticized for failing to have played substantial foes, the fact remains they have not fallen from their ultimate perch. Duke has played smart ball. Their players seem to be the more healthy of the two teams, but when it comes down to these final minutes of college basketball play, all available members on both teams will play. It looks like it will be a close game with a dramatic ending and it should be one for the record books.

Good Friday, Chol Hamoed and Jumu'ah

It would seem that today is a day for prayer no matter what faith group is involved. It is Good Friday, one of the holiest days of the year on the Christian calendar. It is an intervening day (Chol Hamoed) of Passover for Jews and at sundown tonight will transform into Shabbat, day of rest. Lest I leave out the followers of Islam, Friday is a traditional day for intense prayer that includes the Jumu'ah congregational prayer that is required of all males. Frankly, I am glad that so many people and so many religions have found ways to reach out to the Lord for guidance. As I've always maintained, it's those people who don't seek a path to G-d that honest and law abiding citizens should most fear. In any event I hope everyone enjoys this holiday weekend and that it is a memorable time for one and all.

Let no man cast asunder

As spring has come, a young man's (or older man's) heart oftentimes turns to love. And why not? This is the time that flowers are on the bloom and green things are coming back with vigor and speedily spreading and growing. I am not exempt from nature's charms. Indeed, I find myself drawn to beautiful things all the more at this tempting time of year. As many of you may know, I have been a widower for fifteen years and while the time has been difficult, I have managed to keep myself busy with a bevy of beautiful ladies to comfort me through these perilous times. So it may surprise some of you to hear that I have decided to cast off the bonds of my confirmed bachelorhood and announce that I will make a special someone in my life my next bride. Yes, I know that it is long overdue for some of you, but I cannot take any more of this torture. I must take a chance at love, like many of you have also done and ask for my beloved's hand in marriage. The thought of going through life without her by my side is so painful that I am not sure I can endure much longer. I am bound and determined to not be swayed by any man, woman or beast nor any natural disaster that would put me off my appointed hour. You may ask what took me so long? I'm not sure I could come up with an appropriate answer. Suffice it to say that I am ready to correct this egregious situation. I shall walk down the aisle proudly clutching the hand of my betrothed as we walk into the second chapter of our lives. And because of this auspicious occasion, I shall always remember this date as the day I changed my life forever and that of my future spouse. I will forever recall this, the first day of fair April, as the day I finally came to my senses and so by the sanctity of this date, I bid you adieu.

Cranston's challenge

As it struggles to emerge from flooding of Biblical proportions, the Northeast has been reeling from seemingly relentless rain that has lashed the coastlines and New England for weeks. Little Cranston, Rhode Island has suffered more than most and the realization has dawned that the Pawtuxet River has yet to crest. That means more flooding is likely in the coming days. Cranston, the third largest city in Rhode Island, was named one of the safest cities in America and one of the 100 best places to live in America within the past four years, according to Money Magazine. Yet, nothing could prepare the residents of Cranston for the backlash from Mother Nature they've experienced this week. Flooding is so destructive and its effects so well known here in New Orleans. This was true even before Hurricane Katrina. We've had so-called rain events that have left residents stranded and cars flooded along city streets after a downpour of two or three hours. Sadly, some drivers have lost their lives driving underneath flooded overpasses that hid ten or more feet of standing water. Cranston's infrastructure is particularly hard hit and bridges could crumble even more in the next few hours or days. I'll be keeping them all in my prayers.