Monthly Archives: June 2015

Gone Fishin’

Dear Readers, I’m out of here.  I’ve got places to go and people to see. Letter From Elba will be back on Sunday, July 12.  Have a happy, safe, wonderful Fourth of July. (And my apologies to all my brand-new … Continue reading

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Posted in Music, pop culture | 2 Comments

Respect

Dear Readers, do you know where you were on December 10, 1967?  I do.  I was in Madison, Wisconsin. My boyfriend Jon had just taken me to dinner here. (A pretty fancy joint on a sophomore’s budget.) But that was … Continue reading

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Posted in Music, Nostalgia, pop culture, The 60's, University of Wisconsin | 14 Comments

Best-Dressed

Happy Father’s Day, Dear Readers.  Hope it’s a great one for all of you. And in honor of my father today, I thought I’d treat you all to the movies. Our dad, Ben Roffe, loved the movies. And he loved … Continue reading

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Posted in Fashion, Movies | 19 Comments

Rage Against The Machine

That kid with the guitar- and the attitude- is my son, Nick.  Dressed in his boarding school clothes.  He had just gotten home for Thanksgiving break. The year was 1995. (Interior designers please note the wall covering in Nick’s room. … Continue reading

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Posted in Memoir, Music, pop culture | 4 Comments

“It’s Here”

When I was a teenager on Chicago’s North Shore, dating usually meant going to tried and true venues. Like Friday and Saturday nights at the Teatro Del Lago movie theater in Wilmette. Or the Edens theater in Northbrook. Maybe once … Continue reading

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Posted in Chicago, Dating, Music, New Trier High School, Nostalgia, pop culture, The 60's | 20 Comments

Gender Bender

In case you don’t recognize us, that’s Ted McGinley on the left and yours truly on the right.  The year was 1994 and we were on the set of Married with Children. If you can tear your gaze away from … Continue reading

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Posted in Gender politics, Movies, pop culture | 12 Comments

A Bottle of Red, A Bottle of White

The woman pictured above putting the serious chop on some vegetables is the eminent personification of abbondanza herself- Mamma Leone. Founder and culinary genius of the eponymous- but now shuttered- restaurant in New York. Her first customer was Enrico Caruso. … Continue reading

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Posted in food, Memoir, Restaurants | 23 Comments

Want Ad

Attractive Man Wanted As Escort.  Must Like Fireworks. Are you available for a fun-filled red, white and blue late afternoon bar-be-cue on Saturday, July Fourth? If so, DWF seeking DWM to accompany her to a family-centric, first birthday/holiday celebration at … Continue reading

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Posted in Dating, pop culture | 4 Comments