We have sad news. Our dear Valerie Smaldone, whose Bagels and Broadway column you read here every Saturday, has lost her longtime love and partner, Rick Sommers Steinhaus, and we have lost a wonderful friend. Read out tribute to this gentle man.  The iconic “Love” sculpture is back in NYC, but in a new location. The Public Theater is hosting a book event for Dr. Carol Rocamora, a long contributor to Sandi Durell’s Theater Pizzazz.  Our roving photographer is telling all at the No Tell Motel. PAC, NYC’s newest performance center is now open. The San Gennaro Feast is back. Our Broadway Babe has some nostalgic entertainment picks. And get your tickets now to Tomatoes Got Talent! And we wish everyone who celebrates, Shana Tova!

Love Sculpture Returns to a New Home

Lev Radin/Pacific Press (see more photos here:

For many decades, Robert Indiana’s famous 12-foot high “Love” sculpture was a major attraction on West 55th Street and Avenue of the Americas. It was in disrepair after many years of people touching, and even scaling it, and was removed in 2019 for renovations. Now it will be on view at Rockefeller Center along with an installation of Indiana’s monumental sculptures ONE Through ZERO (The Ten Numbers) (1980-2001), each eight feet high and made of Cor-ten steel, representing the cycle of human life from birth to death. The Ten Numbers will be located on Center Plaza.

The 193 flags surrounding The Rink at Rockefeller Center will feature images from Indiana’s Peace Paintings series, created as a response to the 9/11 attacks.

Indiana’s first conception of Love came from a print he created for MoMa’s 1965 holiday card. He depicted it as a sculpture for the first time in 1970 and a version appeared in Central Park in 1971. The Love sculpture has since been created in Hebrew, Chinese, Italian, and Spanish, and has been on display in major cities across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. GET THE DETAILS.

TOMATOES GOT TALENT

We are so excited about this year’s show which will feature 12 amazing performers from our past 8 years of shows who did not win but are all winners. Our esteemed judges are Tony and Emmy winner actress Penny Fuller, and Tony winning producers Pat Addiss and Rose Caiola. Special guests are past TGT finalists, Edna Kaufmann and Susan Mack. Last year we sold out the show in one week. So get your tickets now.

 Roving at the No Tell Motel

Our roving photographer, Nicole Freezer Rubens writes:

I stumbled back in time to a brand new bar and hope to go back again and again. While wandering around Alphabet City in the East Village, the vibrant corner storefront of Motel No Tell caught my eye and drew me on to a bar stool for some fun people watching and conversation. This tavern designed with a completely retro vibe includes old Playboy magazines, cozy booths and static screened tv sets with dimension. It is staffed with a welcoming crew, a friendly bartender and patrons wanting to chat with strangers over the sound of ice crashing in metal shakers.

For now, Motel No Tell is keeping it simple and only serving cocktails, personal pizzas and calzones, but plans to offer a full menu soon.

I will most definitely return to 210 Avenue A at 13th Street to indulge in the weekday happy hour and watch myself eat a margarita pizza in the mirrored ceiling. I hope to catch another spaghetti western movie projected on the wall very soon.

PAC NYC Is Now Open

The beautiful new Pearlman Performing Arts Center at the World Trade Center is now open. Its mission is to provide a center for emergent and established artists in theater, dance, music, opera, and multi-disciplinary performance from New York and the world. It’s opening up with an exciting season featuring actors Kerry Washington and Ben Platt in conversations. Get the schedule of events.

Sept. 14-24. The Feast of San Gennaro

The “Feast of all feasts” is back in New York City. This vibrant and culturally rich celebration brings together locals and visitors alike to honor the patron saint of Naples, Italy. It takes place in NYC’s Little Italy spanning over ten days and is a delightful testament to Italian-American heritage.

The streets come alive with colorful decorations, lively music, and the enticing aromas of Italian cuisine wafting from the numerous food vendors and restaurants. The Feast of San Gennaro is a cherished tradition that embodies the spirit of community, unity, and the enduring connection to Italy’s rich cultural roots in the heart of New York City. GET THE DETAILS.

Broadway Babe’s Picks

Our Broadway Babe, Randie Levine-Miller, has a potpourri of finds including Marilyn Maye’s 2023 New Year’s Eve concert at Birdland; a fabulous British concert version of Cole Porter’s “Kiss Me Kate”; a musical segment of “Sweeney Todd” from the old Merv Griffin show; and a 1960 episode of “The Ann Sothern Show”, who baby boomers will possibly remember! GET THE TICKETS.