Big weekend coming up in New York
First and foremost, we are emerging from the scary smokey haze that enveloped the area, which postponed or canceled many activities. That alone is cause for celebration.
But it is also time for the Tony Awards, which will take place this year in Washington Heights at the glorious United Palace, the fourth largest theatre in Manhattan. Built in 1930 as a Loew’s “Wonder Theatre” presenting vaudeville and movies, this structure, boasting 3,400 seats, has been lovingly restored and preserved.
Despite the writer’s strike, The Tony’s will air on CBS, hosted by Ariana DeBose. There will be no Teleprompter used at the awards ceremony for host or presenters.
Also on Sunday, the festive Puerto Rican Day Parade; a day of pride, great music and food, as well as a huge presence of spectators lining the parade route in New York.
But let’s not forget that Saturday is National Rose´ Wine Day! Always the 2nd Saturday in June, National Rose´ Day is also cause for celebration!
Why do I love rosé? First the gorgeous blush pink color in a beautiful wine glass placed strategically on a table, perhaps with lovely flowers in a vase as its companion, just makes me happy.
Then there is the luscious sent, followed by the taste. Refreshing, gentle on the palette, rose´ is truly an easy, drinkable wine that can be enjoyed for hours on a hot summer day, thus the common phrase, “rose all day.”
It wasn’t always that way. When I was coming of drinking age, there were only a few rose´ wines available on the market, and they were not considered serious wines. That has changed completely. About 20 years ago, numerous rose´ producers started to have a presence in wine stores and restaurants, and this category has grown to become extremely popular.
Doing some research on this category of wine, I learned that the three leading countries for rose´ consumption are France, Germany and the US, with the United States share of global consumption at 15%.
According to another report, the ten most popular wines in the country show Cabernet Sauvignon coming in at #1, Malbec coming in at #10, and Rosé at #9.
For me, I go with what I enjoy. And on June 10, this National Rose´ Day, preparing for a festive Sunday, I will be sure to uncork a few for my own personal rose´ wine tasting.
To the Tony’s, the Puerto Rican Day Parade, and, finally, clearer air…a big rosé toast….Cheers!
Valerie Smaldone is a 5-time Billboard Magazine Award winner and is well known for her unprecedented success holding the #1 on-air position in the New York radio market on 106.7 Life-FM, an iHeart station. She has hosted, produced, and created several award-winning nationally syndicated programs featuring in-depth interviews with stars like Paul McCartney, Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, Elton John and Mariah Carey among others. Her radio talk show "Bagels and Broadway" highlighted theatre and food personalities. She is an accomplished interviewer and voice artist heard on commercials, narrations, promos and audiobooks, as well as a sought after live announcer.
Most recently, Valerie produced and directed a film, The Thursday Night Club, featuring pop diva Gloria Gaynor in her movie acting debut. She is one of the creators and producers of a docu-series, Divine Renovation, starring Erik Estrada, on streaming networks soon.
