Caesars Palace headliner Bette Midler, dining Monday at just-opened Sea Harbour, Caesars Palace’s newest restaurant. Midler is hosting a book-signing of her best-selling children’s book, “The Saga of Baby Divine,” tonight in front of The Colosseum entrance immediately after her show there …make sure to tell Miss M I said “hello”

Also, if anyone could get me a signed copy I would gladly reimburse you for the book and shipping.
Thanks in advance….

Love, Mister D

Cleveland Jewish News
Jewish twist to rock and rollers
Photojournalist Janet Macoska captured Jewish stars in Jews Rock.
By Arlene Fine
Senior Staff Reporter
Published: Friday, November 21, 2008 1:18 AM EST

Everyone knows that Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Barry Manilow, Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, Billy Joel and Bette Midler are Jewish rock and rollers. But how about Paula Abdul, Mick Jones of Clash, Paul Stanley of Kiss, Geddy Lee of Rush, Susannah Hoffs of The Bangles, and David Lee Roth of Van Halen?

All these artists are among the 69 Jewish performers featured in Jews Rock! A Celebration of Rock and Roll’s Jewish Heritage, a stunning 128-page coffee-table book complied by Cleveland photojournalist Janet Macoska, with a foreword by former Shaker Heights resident Rabbi Brian Leiken.

Fellow Jews Macoska and Leiken will share their love of rock and roll as an art form and a medium for Jewish expression at a book signing at the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage on Fri., Nov. 28.

“I was born in love with rock and roll,” says Macoska. “When I was 5, I was totally infatuated with Ricky Nelson.”

Her passion for rock and roll, combined with her natural ability as a photographer, led Macoska to become a welcome, pre-teen fixture at radio station WKYC. Her first published photo was of Sonny and Cher in “Teen Screen,” when she was just 13.

“I was lucky to live in Cleveland, the home of rock and roll,” says Macoska, 54. For the past 34 years, Macoska was been hired by leading publications and news outlets to take pictures of every renowned rock star. “And not surprisingly, so many of the greats are Jewish,” she says.

A year ago, Cleveland businessman Brad Pryner suggested Macoska compile her photographs of Jewish rock stars for a book and a traveling exhibit. “A mega-watt light bulb exploded over my head,” she says. “This was a fabulous idea waiting to happen.”

Within a year, Macoska had published Jews Rock! The book displays Macoska’s photographs and visually tells the story of the Jewish contribution to the evolution of rock and roll music.

While compiling her book, Macoska learned that Rabbi Leiken of Temple Shalom in Norwalk, Conn., was teaching his congregation about the connection between Judaism and rock and roll music. She liked his message and asked him to write the forward and become the book’s “Jewish voice.”

“Rock and roll is the latest medium for Jews to explore just what it means to be Jewish,” writes Leiken. “The revolutionary thinking of the sages that led to the creation of normative Judaism and the fusion of musical genres that led to rock and roll were successful social movements that allowed their audiences to become active participants in a dialogue about life.”

The back of the book contains a fact sheet about the performers. Along with birthdates, Macoska includes their original names. Bob Dylan (né Robert Allen Zimmerman); Janis Ian (née Janis Eddy Fink); Kenny G (né Kenneth Gorelick); Barry Manilow (né Barry Alan Pincus); Matisyahu (né Matthew Paul Miller).

“The book and the upcoming “Jews Rock!” exhibit pay homage to the artists, concert promoters, and song writers who created America’s music – rock and roll,” says Macoska. “And at the forefront of this musical genre is outstanding Jewish talent. Jews really do rock!”

afine@cjn.org

WHAT: Jews Rock! book signing

WHEN: Fri., Nov. 28, 2-3:30

WHERE: Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage

Contact: 216-593-0575 or www.jewsrock.net

http://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/articles/2008/11/21/arts/music/doc4925b531450ca397734248.prt

The following 2 items are pre-orders

• Elinor Lipman’s novel finally has the a movie cover on it….the release date is April 1 , 2008. If you haven’t read it yet, you must now!:

• The new CD, “Jackpot: The Best Bette” will be released April 29th, unless you’re in Vegas then you can get it now:

• And then there’s this book, available now, by the owner of The CONTINENTAL BATHS entitled, “LIVE AT THE CONTINENTAL: Bette, Buns, Balls by Steve Ostrow which is sure to be a very interesting read:

Mister D: Yay, I got another exclusive!!! This is the new cover of Ms. Lipman’s book, “Then She Found Me,” and this bodes well that the movie poster will be the same. But now I have to buy the book again so I can have this cover. Not quite sure when the change will take place…they are still waiting to put Helen Hunt’s quote on the back of the book:

Love, Mister D

PS: I just got the word that this most likely will not be the movie poster. Currently, the art dept is working on a concept that includes “the guys” in the movie (I don’t know if that means Bette is off the cover of the movie poster or what). However, the images of Ms. Hunt and Bette will be used heavily in the promotion of the movie…so that’s just fine by me…

If you’d like to see some bigger images, check out the Bette Gallery: Click Here

Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes: Click Here

Book Description

Here’s a lively, hilarious, not-so-reverent crash course through the great philosophical traditions, schools, concepts, and thinkers. It’s Philosophy 101 for everyone who knows not to take all this heavy stuff too seriously. Some of the Big Ideas are Existentialism (what do Hegel and Bette Midler have in common?), Philosophy of Language (how to express what it’s like being stranded on a desert island with Halle Berry), Feminist Philosophy (why, in the end, a man is always a man), and much more. Finally—it all makes sense!

“I laughed, I learned, I loved it!” Roy Blount Jr.

About the Author

Tom Cathcart and Daniel Klein pursued the usual careers after majoring in philosophy at Harvard. Tom worked with street gangs in Chicago, doctors at Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and dropped in and out of various divinity schools. He lives with his wife on Cape Cod. Dan has written jokes for various comedians including Flip Wilson and Lily Tomlin. He lives with his wife in the Berkshires. Together, they are authors of the politically incorrect book of daily affirmations, Macho Meditations.

Mister D: As I reported a couple of posts down, there is a gaggle of female movie stars huddled up in Martha’s Vineyard getting ready to shoot the remake of the camp classic, “The Women.” For many years, this movie has been making the rounds in Hollywood with major acctresses associated with it, but they come and go. Bette’s name has been ballyed around for years with this…sometimes on the list and many times off. Currently, the status of her involvement is a rumor, but it looks like it is a possibility. Some of us know Bette is on vacation right now. Coincidence??? That Vegas gig bothers me, but supposedly the shoot for her would probably not be that long. Logistics would have to be a top priority as well. I think some of you might really get a kick out of the original which was filmed with an all-star female cast. There are absolutely no men to be seen. It’s campy, bitchy, and a little over the top. There are a couple of roles Bette would be just perfect for…especially one…you figure it out. If anyone is interested, i’ll post a link to the DVD and the book which is written in play form. Very easy to read. Let’s cross out fingers that that Bette gives the greenlight to this one…the success of it will largely depend on how well the script turns out and how they update it. With Diane English involved…well it seems like a great match of talents. However, with remakes, you are treading a fine line.

DVD:

Access Hollywood
July 13, 2007

‘THE WOMEN’ GET SOME R&R: An all-star cast of female film veterans are gearing up to shoot a remake of the film classic, “The Women,” but not before they take a “working holiday” together in Martha’s Vineyard. E! ONLINE’s MARK MALKIN reports that Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes and Debra Messing are reportedly on the upscale Massachusetts island for some prepwork and cast bonding. “They have hit the island for some girl time, for some rest and relaxation, to get to know each other and to read through their scenes,” a source reports. According to Malkin, director Diane English is with the actresses on their sojourn, and co-star Bette Midler is expected to join them shortly. Production of the long-delayed remake is scheduled to start in the fall.

Book Form:

Love, Mister D

Mister D: The above title may be preachy, but it’s true. It’s so important to read, write, and learn to communicate your ideas. Did you know that Bette visits schools in New York and helps with young children by reading to them? She’s very concerned about the corrosion of the educational system and I’m hoping that will be the next issue she tackles. She said that was quite likely a couple of years ago. So settle down in your bed and read some classics. Keep a Journal. Talk about the issues of the day. Because there’s nothin’ more important than readin,’ writin,’ talkin,’ and then PARTYIN’….YAHOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! And as you’ll see below even dead people still do their speechin and debatin’

Four James Logan High School Students Win National Speech/Debate Competition
From: Business Wire Date: June 28, 2007

Taron Grizzell, Karen Joshi, Cameron Steele, and Bilal Malik of James Logan High School won national championships at the Lincoln Financial Group®/National Forensic League National Speech Tournament in Wichita, Kansas last week. Grizzell and Joshi each won a $5,000 college scholarship from Lincoln Financial Group of Philadelphia, Penn. for their first place accomplishment in Duo Interpretation of Literature; Steele won first place and a $5,000 college scholarship in the Humorous Interpretation of Literature division; and Malik earned the second place title and a $4,000 college scholarship in the Lincoln Financial Group Lincoln-Douglas Debate.

More than 3,000 students from across the nation competed in the week-long tournament from June 18 - 22 in Witchita, Kansas. Over 91,000 students from nearly 2,800 high schools nationwide competed throughout the 2006 - 2007 school year to qualify for the annual national tournament.

“Being able to effectively communicate is the key to success,” noted Garry Spence, vice president of Regional Broker and Consultant Sales of Lincoln Employer Markets, a division of Lincoln Financial Group. “Lincoln Financial supports National Forensic League because it teaches students like Taron, Karen, Cameron, and Bilal the communications skills they will carry with them their entire lives.”

These stellar orators were treated to a piece of history during the competition. On Friday, June 22, Abraham Lincoln, portrayed by Richard “Fritz” Klein, one of the foremost Lincoln actors of today, gave the keynote speech and spoke on the importance of oratory skills and encouraged participants to use these skills to positively influence moral and social issues. He also delivered a rendition of the Gettysburg address.

The Lincoln Financial Group®/National Forensic League National Speech Tournament is an annual competition organized and run by the National Forensic League and sponsored by Lincoln Financial Group. The National Forensic League is a non-partisan, not-for-profit educational honorary society based in Ripon, Wis. Alumni include Presidents Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon, Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Supreme Court Justice Steven Breyer, Attorney General Janet Reno, Senators Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) and William Frist (R-Tenn.), television personality Jane Pauley, media mogul Ted Turner, C-Span president Brian Lamb, and television and screen stars Oprah Winfrey, Kelsey Grammer, James Dean, Bette Midler, and Shelley Long.

Lincoln Financial Group is the national sponsor of the National Forensic League’s national tournament and the Lincoln Financial Group® Refreshers at many of the NFL district tournaments across the country. Lincoln Financial Group has been a sponsor of the National Forensic League since 1994.

About Lincoln Financial Group

Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE:LNC) and its affiliates. With headquarters in Philadelphia, the companies of Lincoln Financial Group had assets under management of $237 billion as of March 31, 2007. Lincoln Financial Group recognizes the changing financial security needs of today’s retirees as well as those still in the workforce, and focuses its products and services on making retirement income security a reality for its clients. Specifically, through its affiliated companies, Lincoln Financial Group offers: annuities; individual life insurance; group life, disability, and dental insurance; 401(k) and 403(b) plans; savings plans; mutual Funds; managed accounts; institutional investments; and comprehensive financial planning and advisory services. Affiliates include: Delaware Investments, the marketing name for Delaware Management Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries; Lincoln Financial Media, which owns and operates three television stations, 18 radio stations, and the Lincoln Financial Sports production and syndication business; and Lincoln UK.

For more information please visit www.LFG.com.

Mister D: This is actually old news, but this one comes with a picture at least. For fans of the beautiful Princess Diana, this is supposedly a great book. The man in the photo with Bette is John Lahr. (Mister D: Thank you Mr. Richard Knight (Knight At The Movies) and Stacey for the correction! Originally, I had John Lauren as the gentleman with Bette, but it’s John Lahr, the New Yorker writer who specializes in theatre writing - he’s also the son of the late Bert Lahr aka The Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz). You can read more about Mr. Lahr here: Click Here

NYSD
Celebrating Authors and the Arts
By Jeffrey Hirsch
June 28, 2007

There was a book party (one of many) for Tina Brown and her new bestselling book “The Diana Chronicles” about short and tragic wife of Britain’s most famous royal since Queen Victoria.

The author and her husband Sir Harry Evans are so entrenched in the New York media world that any party involving them will bring out the most golden of media hordes.

The book, they say (I haven’t read it yet), is a page-turner, can’t-put-down-able, and will leave you in tears at the end. Meanwhile, at the book party, it was all smiles and laughter.

(Ad Restoration Wow!): Tom Miro

Princess Diana Holds A-List Court

Former New Yorker and Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown held her own royal court Monday night.

Her book, “The Diana Chronicles,” just out this week, is already getting rave reviews. So it was up to local royalty, Sir Howard Stringer, head of Sony Entertainment, to entertain Brown’s loyal subjects in the 35th floor Sony Club in New York City.

For a while, the topnotch media guests just kept coming and coming, despite the lack of air conditioning (certainly “Spider-Man 3” profits could be used for some nice Friedrichs in the windows of the Philip Johnson-designed aerie!)

Bette Midler sneaked in toward the end, arriving by herself but still managing to get noticed by Mayor Mike Bloomberg, NYPD chief Ray Kelly, CBS chief Les Moonves and wife Julie Chen, Liz Smith, Charlie Rose, “60 Minutes” creator Don Hewitt, actor Ron Silver and Kate Castelbajac, CBS’ Steve Kroft, New Yorker editor-writer Rick Hertzberg, former Viacom chief and MTV creator Tom Freston and Harvey Weinstein and famed attorney David Boies.

And those are just a few of the names. The Sony Club was brimming with New York media types, almost to the point of distraction. A lot of necks were injured with quick turns this way and that to see which important person had just entered the main room!

Of course, there were the requisite jokes about the royal family. My favorite though was Tina’s about Sir Howard: “We’ve noticed the resemblance to Prince Harry, but no one’s talking about it.”

Sir Howard blushed appropriately.

Reeling in the Years; ‘Today’ Is Hot

Steely Dan’s show at the Beacon Theater Monday night couldn’t have better artistically. The level of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen’s musicianship has never been better, and their jazz rock-inflected songs remain sturdy little enterprises studded with gorgeous surprises.

However: $145 per person seems a little high for a ticket price when a show is less than two hours long and doesn’t feature the group’s biggest hits like “Deacon Blues” or “Do It Again.”

On top of that, the Beacon has become a rather foul venue. The seats are small and dirty, and the floor is caked with dried beer. Maybe it’s time new owner Cablevision put a little money into the place instead before soaking customers — literally and figuratively.

Even seeing beautiful Vanessa Williams in the audience didn’t help, and she must have been surprised by the heavy cloud in the air. …

Monday morning, when “Soul Man” Sam Moore performed on the “Today” show, his album “Overnight Sensational” was off the charts and nowhere on Amazon.com. This morning, it’s at No. 14 after hitting a high in the afternoon at No. 9. Not bad.

As Billboard magazine recently observed, “Today” sells CDs like no other show with the exception of “Oprah” and “Live With Regis and Kelly.” It’s quite a phenomenon. …

And yes, that was “Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels with Paul Simon and Oscar-winning composer Howard Shore sitting right behind home plate Saturday at the Yankees-Pirates game. The Yanks won, 9-3. …

New York Magazine
Jeffrey Oxfeld and Michael Idov
05/08/07

Though Literacy Partners’ annual event didn’t boast the grub of the Beard Awards across the square at Avery Fisher Hall this week, Liz Smith rounded up pals to read in honor (and support) of her favorite adult-education program.

Guests including Barbara Walters, Taylor Holland, and a very tardy Martha Stewart were treated to readings by Vanessa Redgrave, Alexander McCall Smith, Bob and Lee Woodruff, and Frank Langhella. Langhella read from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, but everyone else touted recent or upcoming projects.

Bette Midler was there too but opted to sing a number from Smith’s lap.

Photo: Gershon (not Gina)