On the Town with Buddy Beaverhausen @ the Beaux Arts Society's Summer Soiree

getting seated @ Etcetera Etcetera

It was a hot summer afternoon in NYC on Sunday. I ventured out to the fringe of the Broadway theater district and there, on the second floor of the restaurant Etcetera Etcetera, enjoyed hours of entertainment and a free buffet of delicious food (the restaurant's lasagne with green noodles and tiramisu dessert were especially scrumptious). But the smorgasbord of talent really dominated the day. Hours of entertainment from spoken word to demonstration to comedy and, of course, song.

I was seated with friends Kathy Towson, Paula Hoza and Ron Giles among several others, a couple of who got up to be part of the entertainment. Broadwayworld's Malka Gittel Bas Reuven was there. Luv huh!

Tom Stevens & Me

Beaux Arts founder Tom Stevens was our host. There were two intermissions. Highlights included Denny Daniel's lively show-and-tell of items from his Museum of Interesting Things in SoHo, like the first tv remote from 1955. He shared many interesting true stories like how we actually see two of everything but, shortly after birth, our minds combine them into one 3-D image. 3-D itself, Denny told us, began in the 19th century. He passed around an antique device for seeing three-dimensional photographs. And I thought 3-D began with House of Wax!

With Malka Gittel Bas Reuven and Sean Bennett

Sean Bennett, an attractive, bright and openly gay young man seated at our table, discussed his book Luxury Steals and Deals, things all travelers might find of great interest. Also from our table, comedian Ben Rosenfeld garnered much laughter from his schtick about Russian vs. Western culture. He has also published a very funny and nicely illustrated book, the rather oxymoronically titled Russian Optimism.

Singers Ron Fowler and Ron Giles brought the show to a wonderful close with their great covers of classics from the 1950s and '60s. Great show, great food, fabulous company. Thank you to the bevy of talented performers who kept us enraptured with their variety of material, to Beaux Arts Society and Etcetera Etcetera, and especially to Tom Stevens and Beaux Arts' Executive V.P. George Strum for a Sunday afternoon well spent.

Tom and Ben Rosenfeld

Revenge of the First-Rate Lounge Act: Ronnie Giles

Ronnie Giles' "Revenge of the Third-rate Lounge Act" was a breezy afternoon treat that swept through a packed house at Don't Tell Mama with plenty of aplomb and no shortage of charm.

Ron's nonchalance and his smooth vocals made this a thorough Saturday afternoon delight. Bistro Awards founder, Sherry Eaker, was there as was Bistro Committee member and Edge NY's cabaret critic, Kevin Scott Hall. I was seated with Kevin and my friend, dance-diva Karin Nagi, here to address the United Nations as head of the organization, Voices for Children & Animals. We were entertained enormously by Ron's show.

Ron's quintessential showmanship and suave, classic crooner of a voice (that did not hit a false note throughout the performance) led us through standards like "On the Street Where You Live," "The Girl from Ipanema" and "I Get a Kick Out of You."

There is an endearingly '60s lounge-act quality indeed to Ron's schtick and he knows it. This show's title is Ron's response to a supercilious (and just super-silly) cabaret critic who used the term "third-rate lounge singer" to crudely dismiss Ron's act.

Ron did one of his Sinatra numbers ("The Tender Trap") and a tribute to Gerry Goffin ("Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?") before ending with "Witchcraft." He came back to the stage to sing "I Wish You Love," his encore.

Darryl Kojak, musical director and on piano, was outstanding, as always. The easy banter between Giles and Kojak made us laugh and added to the free-wheeling quality of the show.

Ron doesn't offer up snob appeal. Ron offers us a return to a simpler form of cabaret -- very focused on sheer entertaining. If there is a theme to Ron's show, it's to enjoy the nostalgic simplicity often missing from our current fare. I would love to hear Ron tackle a contemporary pop song with '60s stylings, a'la The Puppini Sisters.

Lounge singer? Yes! Why, I don't think it's a bad word at all! I love it. I think Ron Giles does, too. And I recommend you do NOT miss this first-rate lounge singer when he returns!

With Ron Giles at the Bistro Awards 2012