Author Archives: dcaligari

In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer. — Albert Camus Today is the first day of Summer, also known as the Summer Solstice. It’s the longest day of the year (and the shortest night). Everyone pat themselves on the back (now without gloves!) for having madeContinue reading “Well shut them books and throw ’em away”

June 21, 1961 –Walt Disney Productions released the original The Parent Trap starring Hayley Mills, (and Hayley Mills), Maureen O’Hara, and Brian Keith, in the US theatres, on this date. The screenplay originally called for only a few trick photography shots of Hayley Mills in scenes with herself. The bulk of the movie was toContinue reading “The Parent Trap premiered”

June 20, 1942 –It’s Brian Wilson’s birthday today, ushering in those lazy, hazy days of summer. Let’s all appreciate the fact that Brian Wilson is still around and kicking. And so it goes

June 20, 1981 –The mash-up single by Stars on 45 (known as Starsounds in Europe,) Stars On 45 Medley reached No. 1 on the Billboard Charts on this date. The title on the US single was the names of the songs that make up the medley: “Intro Venus/Sugar Sugar/No Reply/I’ll Be Back/Drive My Car/Do YouContinue reading “Stars on 45 Medley hits No. 1”

While their charms are lost upon me (I’m a chocolate milkshake, preferable made using mint chocolate chip ice cream, but that’s another story,) vanilla milkshakes are the most popular flavor in the world. An important fact to know is that the first known printed reference to a “milkshake” dates back to 1885. It contained oneContinue reading “It’s National Vanilla Milkshake Day”

June 20, 1975 –Steven Spielberg’s thriller, Jaws, premiered on this date. Beach vacations were never the same again. During the scene when Quint, Hooper, and Brody are loading up the Orca, a small gray shack with a red door can be seen to the left of Quint’s place. It belonged to an actual resident whoContinue reading “Jaws premiered”

June 19, 1865 –Marching his troops into Galvaston, Texas, Union General Gordon Granger announced the emancipation of slaves on this date. The day has become known as Juneteenth or Emancipation Day. And so it goes

June 19, 1623 – Blaise Pascal was born in France on this date (which worked out extremely well for him as he wanted to grow up to be French.) At the age of 17 he wrote a paper entitled Essay on Conic Sections, which quickly became the best-selling paper on conic sections in European historyContinue reading “Blaise Pascal”

Can you hear those glasses chilling? We might never know how utterly charming, brilliant and entertaining we are were it not for martinis. I’m not talking a cup of cheap gin splashed over an ice cube. I’m talking satin, fire and ice; Fred Astaire in a glass; surgical cleanliness, insight.. comfort; redemption and absolution. I’mContinue reading “He knows just how I like my martini – full of alcohol”

Today is Father’s Day. Remember, many people will say that the best gift you can give a Dad is your love (or a good nap) – I say, provide Dad (or at least me) a perfectly chilled martini before dinner. Dads don’t get too cocky, celebrating the day – While Mother’s Day has been aContinue reading “Fathers carries pictures where their money used to be”