Oasis in Manhattan

St. Patrick's Cathedral, on Thursday, August 20, 2015,
as bus, advertising Broadway's "On the Town," passes by 

And, the "Oasis" book tour continues, most recently in Manhattan, which I visited as the summer was winding down, for media appearances and book signings.  Fortuitously, on Wednesday, August 19, the night before I departed, "Tinseltown Conversion Stories," based on my interview with Net TV, aired on Time Warner and Cablevision in New York City and surrounding areas.

Passing by Carnegie Hall on my way to have lunch

on Thursday, August 20, at Bosso56, a wonderful Italian Restaurant 

on 56th near 7th -- as I relaxed in preparation for the night's interviews 

The night of Thursday, August 20, I appeared on two Sirius XM radio shows, "Busted Halo" with Fr. Dave Dwyer and "The David Webb Show" -- a thoroughly enjoyable experience! Between shows, I slipped into Del Frisco's, the swank steak restaurant on the ground level of the Sirius XM building at 1221 Avenue of the America's, 6th and 48th, right across the street from Fox, where the staff was tops. (And, David Webb loved the lamb slider I brought him before my segment!) But, did I ever breath a sigh of relief at 11 PM, when I arrived back at my hotel just around the corner from the Ed Sullivan Theater!

All day Friday, August 21, I wended my way the length of Manhattan -- from the Barnes & Noble Union Square, to Barnes & Noble Fifth Avenue, to Barnes & Noble Upper East Side (86th Street).

Signing copies of "Oasis" at
Barnes & Noble 86th Street on Friday, August 21 at 4:30-5 PM

Barnes & Noble Union Square

Signing copies at Barnes & Noble Union Square,

Friday, August 21 at 10:30-11:00 AM

On my way up and down Fifth Avenue, I soaked in some beautiful landmarks, including the site of Charles Scribner's Sons publishing house, founded in 1846, and run for almost 150 years by the family of one of my endorsers, Charles Scribner III. To be supported by the scion of the publishing house that nurtured Hemingway, Fitzgerald and other famous authors is an honor, indeed!

I also stopped by Trump Tower and Donald Trump's office at 725 Fifth Avenue from about 3-4 PM and brought two copies of "Oasis" which I signed for Mr. Trump and another key staffer, who wrote me late that evening how much she liked "Oasis"!  Here's hoping her boss likes it too!  BTW, lunch at Trump Bar was delicious!

View from Donald Trump's outer office,
725 Fifth Avenue, Friday, August 21, 2015

Then it was up to the Upper East Side to sign copies of "Oasis" at the 86th Street Barnes & Noble.

And, then to St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue, a few blocks away from Trump Tower (at 56th), between 51st and 50th...

St. Patrick's Cathedral (interior)

The famous rose window at the back of St. Patrick's Cathedral

... where I ducked in to pray and chatted up one of the Cathedral staffers who was enthused to hear about Oasis: Conversion Stories of Hollywood Legends and said he would give my card to Cardinal Dolan's staffer, in anticipation of a courtesy copy, which went out this week.

Finally, on the way back to my hotel to pick up my luggage for the trip to Penn Station, my eye caught the sign for "Gin & Jazz" at "Sixty Five" -- this night it was bluegrass -- in NBC's Rainbow Room at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. 'Why not,' I thought, 'I have some time.' And, so I enjoyed an hour at the NBC Observation Tower overlooking Manhattan as the sun was setting over the Hudson, while socializing with some interesting folks, including some young Brits working in the world of finance and a reporter for the New York Times... 

Then, it was back to Penn Station via Uber as we wended our way through very crowded streets, especially at Times Square...

What a town... and what a trip...

Capturing some more architectural delights...

Oasis in Newport & Beyond

On Tuesday, August 11, and Wednesday, August 12, I visited Rhode Island for another leg of the ongoing "Oasis" book tour.  I stayed in Newport -- located on what was originally called "Rhode Island" (now Aquidneck), for which the state was named.

On Day 1, after landing at T.F. Green Airport, I stopped by the Smithfield Barnes & Noble to sign copies of "Oasis," then somehow managed to make my way to the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence in the midst of driving rains. (After noon mass, I ran into a Relevant Radio listener!) Next up: Warwick Barnes & Noble, the state's anchor store, where I signed 10 copies of my book.

Signing copies of "Oasis" at the Warwick Barnes & Noble
on August 11, 2015 (Day 1), while braving the rain which fell continuously all day

Ceiling of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence, Rhode Island

Then it was on to Newport -- lovely Newport! -- and a wonderful two days including two meetings, the first over a three hour dinner at The Black Pearl on Banister's Wharf, Tuesday evening, after the rain had stopped, at the end of which another of my books was green-lit by a publisher; the other over lunch at The Mooring on Wednesday, August 12, when my mother, Claire, to whom I dedicated "Oasis," would have turned 83.

The view of Newport's historic waterfront from our table at Mooring Restaurant 

Inside Mooring Restaurant

Adele Turner Inn at 93 Pelham Street, where I was staying -- a quiet neighborhood,
yet close to the action, just a few blocks from Banister's Wharf.
This used to be a rooming house for sailors.

The John Banister House, just down from Adele Turner Inn

St. Mary's Church, where I attended mass on August 12, 2015 
in honor of my late mother, born on August 12, 1932.  Below is a beautiful statue of St. Mary, 
the Mother of Jesus, in St. Mary's, where 62 years ago she presided over the nuptials of 
John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier on September 12, 1953, 
per below remembrance in the back of the church.

After lunch at The Mooring, I headed for the Newport Barnes & Noble (technically in Middletown), where my friend and Wellesley classmate Mary Baker Wiley came out to show her support!

With Mary Baker Wiley at the Barnes & Noble in Newport,
and signing books below, on August 12 (Day 2)

After wrapping up business shortly after 3 PM on Day 2, I took a 1.5 hour driving tour -- starting with Bellevue Avenue and its grandiose mansions, the most condensed collection in America, including the Vanderbilt's Marble House and the Nevada silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs'  Rosecliff, where scenes from The Great Gatsby (2012), among other classic cinema, were filmed. (The previous owner, diplomat George Bancroft, developed the American Beauty rose, the Washington, D.C. flower!) Next it was down renowned Ocean Drive, which snakes along Narragansett Bay for 10 miles. (I turned around at Brenton State Park lest I miss my plane, given the cars poking along to take it all in!) Then it was back to Bellevue and down Ruggles to Fort Adams, the largest coastal fortification in North America.

Fort Adams

The author in front of Fort Adams

After last photo (above) was taken at 4:30 PM on Wednesday, August 12, it was time to return to T.F. Green Airport for the trip back to Washington!

On Thursday, August 20, I travel to the Big Apple for two radio interviews at Sirius XM on that evening -- "Busted Halo" at 8 PM; and "The David Webb Show" at 10 PM.  On Friday, August 21, I will be visiting three Barnes & Nobles -- Union Square, Fifth Avenue and the Upper East Side.

Top photo: Looking out on Newport Harbor and Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge

from Fort Adams on August 12, 2015 (Day 2)

Oasis in Tyson's Corner & Clarendon

On Friday, July 24, I swung by the Barnes & Noble Tyson's Corner to sign copies of my book, "Oasis: Conversion Stories of Hollywood Legends."  (My Uncle Frank, whose company plastered the Pentagon, said he wanted to buy some at this, his home store!)   On Wednesday, July 29, I squeezed in a visit to the Clarendon Barnes & Noble, in Arlington, VA, not far from the Pentagon.  What a joy and thrill it is to drop by Barnes & Nobles across the country and sign copies of my book!

Signing books of "Oasis: Conversion Stories of Hollywood Legends"
at the Clarendon Barnes & Noble, shown above and below, after which it was
prominently displayed at the cash register, as shown in the last photo.

Oasis in Somerset, New Jersey

On Wednesday, July 22 and Thursday, July 23, I was in New Jersey at the Catholic Marketing Network Tradeshow, signing copies of "Oasis: Conversion Stories of Hollywood Legends."

It was a terrific event -- I must have signed 50 or so copies left-handed, with promises by one and all to order them for book stores, parishes, and review them in various publications. I look forward to all the fruits!

One highlight was the interview I did with Eternal Life Radio's host Peter Ingemie, for his "Voices of the Authors" series at the Tradeshow, which he also videotaped and posted on YouTube.

Another highlight was being joined by my father!