Shed a Little Light
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, Farmer Boy, Jeff Beck, Antoine Davis, Providential Parking
Welcome to my weekly newsletter. I hope you enjoy the picks and pics.
Fave Five 16: Shed a Little Light. Gaming GoodRead (Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow), Boys’ Breakfast (Farmer Boy), Glorious Guitarist (Jeff Beck), Titanic Tripler (Antoine Davis), and Providential Parking.
The rain has stopped here in Santa Barbara and the sunlight is back. On Monday, my brother David called me to remember the time we saw Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speak at our synagogue, Temple Israel, in St. Louis in 1963, one week before David's 7th birthday.
Finding Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in St. Louis
Not long after King’s famous speech in Washington, he returned to St. Louis to speak at Temple Israel on September 20, 1963. Speaking to over 3,000 people on the Shabbat between Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah, Dr. King spoke about the type of selfless love known in Christian theology as agape. King’s appearance came early in the life of the modernist synagogue, which had been completed in the previous year. Hellmuth Obata & Kassabaum designed the building, whose horizontal buff-brick box presents a sober base for an exotic tower sculpture by Robert Cronbach. Inside, the main sanctuary and auditorium are hexagonal with recessing walls that can draw the spaces together. The spaces had to be connected to accommodate the crowd gathered for Martin Luther King.
Temple Israel to mark 125th anniversary
Temple Israel's history includes a visit from King himself. The famed civil rights leader spoke at Temple Israel in 1963. Although some 3,000 people attended the event, it was sparsely covered with little mention in the local papers. No photos of the talk have even been located. Joseph Losos, 80, is one who was there for King's appearance. He recalled the huge crowd that turned out. “I remember the keynote of his speech was on the concept of agape, which is particularly strongly associated with the Christian notion of charity,” he said.
Songs Honoring Martin Luther King
Here are four great songs about Dr. King.
Shed a Little Light by James Taylor
Happy Birthday by Stevie Wonder
Pride (In The Name Of Love) - U2
Up To The Mountain (MLK Song) - Patty Griffin
Book Best Bet
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
I ordered this book because it won the GoodReads Choice Award for the top fiction book in 2022. I read its 400 pages over the first 18 days of this year. It’s entertaining and has intriguing characters. As a former computer programmer, I related to the game development narrative, and even though I am not a gamer, I liked the story. I thought the quality of the writing was weak. The book would have been aided by more nuance, better crafted passages, and closer editing (e.g., “any game that had the minimal number of errors, the least moral compromises” and “Whatever these peoples’ grievances are”). But it was fun to read.
From Amazon: Sam and Sadie—two college friends, often in love, but never lovers—become creative partners in a dazzling and intricately imagined world of video game design, where success brings them fame, joy, tragedy, duplicity, and, ultimately, a kind of immortality. It is a love story, but not one you have read before.
On a bitter-cold day, in the December of his junior year at Harvard, Sam Masur exits a subway car and sees, amid the hordes of people waiting on the platform, Sadie Green. He calls her name. For a moment, she pretends she hasn’t heard him, but then, she turns, and a game begins: a legendary collaboration that will launch them to stardom. These friends, intimates since childhood, borrow money, beg favors, and, before even graduating college, they have created their first blockbuster, Ichigo. Overnight, the world is theirs. Not even twenty-five years old, Sam and Sadie are brilliant, successful, and rich, but these qualities won’t protect them from their own creative ambitions or the betrayals of their hearts.
Spanning thirty years, from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Venice Beach, California, and lands in between and far beyond, Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow examines the multifarious nature of identity, disability, failure, the redemptive possibilities in play, and above all, our need to connect: to be loved and to love.
One of the Best Books of the Year: The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, TIME, GoodReads, Oprah Daily
Winner of the GoodReads Choice Award for Fiction
The best book of 2022 is Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
What do Amazon, Barnes & Noble and The New York Times have in common? Their editors are raving about the novel by Gabrielle Zevin. The Amazon editors' 20 best books of 2022 list has Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow in its No. 1 spot.
Restaurant Recommendation
Farmer Boy 3427 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
On Monday, I accompanied my son-in-law Matt and my grandsons, Julian and Noah, to Stevens Park. After the boys had fun on the playground, Matt suggested that we get a cinnamon roll at Farmer Boy. I used Yelp to join the waitlist, and after waiting a few minutes, we were seated in a booth. Matt and I agreed that a cinnamon roll and a slice of pie would make a fine breakfast, and I suggested that we add a Mexican dish to provide a savory counterpoint. All three items were sublime.
Cinnamon Roll: served warm with cream cheese frosting and butter
Carnitas Chilaquiles: Slow-roasted pork carnitas, two eggs over easy, tortilla chips, topped with sour cream, house-made green salsa, pickled red onion, queso fresco, and cilantro
Fresh-baked Chocolate Cream Pie
And pie just isn’t for after-dinner dessert. Thirty-five percent of Americans say they’ve had pies for breakfast, and 1 in 5 Americans claim they have eaten an entire pie by themselves.
Classics are deemed classics for a reason, and that is true for the eight original Santa Barbara eateries selected by Visit Santa Barbara, for having been an essential part of the fabric of the community for decades. What better stamp of approval is there than being long loved by locals?
Farmer Boy, set on the corner of an unassuming strip mall on upper State Street, was selected as one of the eight for having been a Santa Barbara staple since 1958. While the classic diner got a refresh several years ago, it remains true to its old school roots, from the counter seating to the comfy booths.
A proper breakfast spot, it serves traditional egg dishes, omelets and pancakes, plus decadent fare like fried chicken and waffles, carnitas chilaquiles and eggs benedict. An edited all-day breakfast menu is also available at lunchtime, along with salads, burgers, sandwiches and fish tacos. When there’s room for something sweet, Farmer Boy serves up tasty throwback dessert staples like root beer floats, soda fountain shakes and banana splits.
Marvelous Musician
Jeff passed away on January 10, 2023 at the age of 78, and the music world remains in mourning. The outpouring of emotional memories from my friends, other music lovers, and fellow musicians got me to dive more deeply into his music.
I was familiar with “For Your Love,” “Heart Full of Soul,” and several other songs by The Yardbirds. And I knew about the band’s other famous guitar players — Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page. Now I have a greater appreciation for the depth of Jeff’s artistry.
Comments from Friends
Nick Robins, my high school classmate from Clayton, Missouri:
Me and the stereo are having a busy day catching up on all the insights.
Steven Meilleur, who was on a musical tour of Ireland with me:
Quite simply, he is my favorite guitarist, and the best guitarist I have ever seen, by miles. Had the privilege of seeing him live about a dozen times, starting in 1968, and he was jaw-dropping every time. I know what's on my playlist starting now and for quite some time. Rest well, and in peace - and thank you for the music you have given us, Jeff.
The Lefsetz Letter by Bob Lefsetz
He was the absolute best.
So another one bites the dust. Time will go by and I will be able to listen to his music again without being stopped in my tracks by the pain of his loss, but it’s going to take a while.
I mean who’s next? A lot of the legends are pushing eighty, or have tipped over that mark.
No one lives forever. But, if Jeff Beck can die, if Jeff Beck is mortal, what about you and me?
These were our heroes. They were not objects of derision. Oh, of course we compared and contrasted, but musicians sat above not only actors, but athletes. Music was the highest calling. The most expressive artistic medium. There was enough money involved just by doing it, you didn’t need to become a brand. You wanted to play, not retire and make clothing.
There is Jeff Beck then everyone else. God’s guitar player and now sadly for us … that is fact.
People use the word legend very freely. Sometimes they are right. Sometimes not. Jeff defines the word.
This one hurts and also the real fact is that NO ONE will ever come close. ONE note is all he had to play, and it was game over. His one of a kind playing talent and work cannot be overstated!
I am still processing like we all are.
Beck's Bolero
From Wikipedia: Geoffrey Arnold Beck (born June 24, 1944 in Wallington, Surrey, England; died January 10, 2023 in East Sussex, England) was an English guitarist. He rose to prominence as a member of the rock band the Yardbirds, and afterwards founded and fronted the Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert & Appice. In 1975, he switched to an instrumental style with focus on an innovative sound, and his releases spanned genres and styles ranging from blues rock, hard rock, jazz fusion and a blend of guitar-rock and electronica.
Beck was ranked in the top five of Rolling Stone and other magazines' lists rankings of the greatest guitarists. He was often called a "guitarist's guitarist". Rolling Stone described him as "one of the most influential lead guitarists in rock". Although he recorded two successful albums (in 1975 and 1976) as a solo act, Beck did not establish or maintain commercial success like that of his contemporaries and bandmates. He recorded with many artists.
Beck earned wide critical praise and received the Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance six times and Best Pop Instrumental Performance once. In 2014, he received the British Academy's Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice: first as a member of the Yardbirds (1992) and secondly as a solo artist (2009).
The Yardbirds
From Wikipedia: The Yardbirds are an English rock band, formed in London in 1963. The band's core lineup featured vocalist and harmonica player Keith Relf, drummer Jim McCarty, rhythm guitarist/bassist Chris Dreja and bassist/producer Paul Samwell-Smith. The band is known for starting the careers of three of rock's most famous guitarists, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Jeff Beck, all of whom ranked in the top five of Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 greatest guitarists. The band had a string of hits throughout the mid-1960s, including "For Your Love", "Heart Full of Soul", "Shapes of Things", and "Over Under Sideways Down".
Originally a blues-based band noted for their signature "rave-up" instrumental breaks, the Yardbirds broadened their range into pop, pioneering psychedelic rock and early hard rock; and contributed to many electric guitar innovations of the mid-1960s. Some rock critics and historians also cite their influence on the later punk rock, progressive rock, and heavy metal trends. Following the band's split in 1968, Relf and McCarty formed Renaissance and guitarist Jimmy Page formed Led Zeppelin - the latter of which was initially intended as a direct successor to the Yardbirds. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. They were included at number 89 in Rolling Stone's list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".
For Your Love
Train Kept ‘a Rollin’
My Playlist
Sports Star
In 2002, I was in Atlanta for the Final Four where Mike Davis, coach of the Indiana Hoosiers, led them to the championship final. They lost to Maryland, and Mike left Indiana after the 2006 season.
Since 2018 he has been the head coach of the University of Detroit Mercy Titans. Much to his good fortune, his son Antoine has played for him there for five seasons.
The last time the Titans made the Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament was 2012, and it’s been 10 years since their last 20-win season. They will need to win the rest of their conference games and one conference tournament game to reach 20 wins this season, which is very unlikely.
But there is one reason for joy this year for Titans fans. Antoine Davis is about to move up to second place on the all-time NCAA scoring list.
Pete Maravich, LSU: 3,667 points (1967-68 to 1969-70)
Freeman Williams, Portland State: 3,249 points (1974-75 to 1977-78)
Antoine Davis, Detroit Mercy: 3,232 points (2018-19 to Jan. 14, 2023)
Davis averaged 26.1, 24.3, 24 and 23.9 through his first four seasons, climbing up the all-time list. In 2022-23, he continues to roll. Against Robert Morris on January 14, 2023, Davis made a career-best 11 3-pointers to break the record for career 3s. He finished with 41 points in the game — his fifth career 40-point outing. Earlier in the season, he reached 3,000 career points against Charlotte on Dec. 10.
Detroit Mercy's Antoine Davis sets NCAA D-I career 3-point record
Davis, who gave Maravich credit for achieving the scoring record without a 3-point line, said he's not convinced anyone can catch the former LSU and NBA star.
"That's a hard record to break," he said, "even for me."
From Wikipedia: Davis was born on October 3, 1998 in Bloomington, Indiana, where his father, Mike Davis, was a member of the Indiana Hoosiers basketball coaching staff under Bob Knight. He started training for basketball at age 12 and worked with well-known coach John Lucas II in Houston, Texas. In part to continue his partnership with Lucas, he was homeschooled from seventh grade through high school and played basketball for the Homeschool Christian Youth Association (HCYA), a private homeschool support organization based in Houston. Davis played for Houston Hoops on the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) circuit and averaged 23 points per game as a senior for HCYA. A consensus three-star recruit, he was considered undersized, at 6 feet 1 inch and 150 pounds, and did not receive offers from any major NCAA Division I programs. After originally signing with Houston, Davis walked on to Detroit Mercy, where his father had been appointed head coach.
College career
Davis scored 32 points in his debut for Detroit Mercy against Western Michigan. He had 42 points against Loyola (MD) several weeks later, setting a Detroit freshman record. Davis scored 48 points in a win over Wright State, hitting 10-of-15 three-pointers. In the season finale, Davis scored 30 points versus Northern Kentucky, and the Titans finished 11–20. Davis finished the season with 132 three-pointers, surpassing the freshman record of 122 set by Stephen Curry. He became the first freshman to be named to the First Team All-Horizon League team since Gordon Hayward. Davis had 23 games in which he scored 20 or more points, and his 784 points was one behind Rashad Phillips' single-season school record 785 points in the 2000–01 season. Davis was the third-leading scorer in NCAA Division I with 26.1 points per game, to go with 3.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.
On February 29, 2020, Davis scored a season-high 43 points including two clinching free throws with 5.3 seconds remaining in a 90–88 victory over IUPUI. Davis was named to the First Team All-Horizon League at the conclusion of the regular season. He led the league in scoring with 24.3 points per game while also averaged 4.5 assists per game.
Davis passed the 2,000 career point mark on February 25, 2021 in a semifinal Horizon League tournament game against Robert Morris. Davis scored 46 points, three shy of the school's single-game scoring mark, while connecting on 10 three-pointers.
Davis was named the 2022 Horizon League co-Player of the Year alongside Jamal Cain of Oakland. Davis also became the first player in Horizon League history to be named to the First Team All-Conference in four straight seasons.
Picture Pun
My prayer that I would find a parking spot was answered in person!
