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                                         As in my recent column, here's another look back at 2012, talking about some shows I was able to see, but hadn't written about here or elsewhere. If you missed them in 2012, don't worry; 2013 is still young. My usual beat is cabaret, but these shows aren't your usual cabaret shows. This column will look at memorable shows by BEN RIMALOWER, and shows that are musical-comedy variety with AMY WOLK plus CAIT DOYLE AND COMPANY, and THE RESCIGNOS --- all have trod the boards at The Duplex, New York's oldest continuing cabaret. With eclectic booking, Thomas Honeck and Lisa Moss run the room (they also run the lights and sound with flair).

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Is it too soon to get nostalgic for 2012? In the beginning week of each new year, it seems worth reflecting on what the last one was like, to note things about the year as a big lump that we might not have noticed with each droplet of time. This is the first of a few looking-back columns. No, I'm not doing one of those "Best of the Year" reflections on shows that some other reviewers do.

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                          It's Cabaret Catch-Up time again. Don't get so caught up in the holiday season that you find yourself not caught up with cabaret. Like the other kind of ketchup and hamburgers, cabaret is "on a roll" at Urban Stages, 259 West 28 Street, near Eighth Avenue. Their Winter Rhythms series has been going forth since the fourth of the month and ends Saturday at 5:00 PM with a concert of seasonal songs and Disney treats.

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                                                                          Here's a look at the work of Lennie Watts: his own show and a few he's directing. Here's a man who talks the talk and walks the walk. That is, he knows whereof he speaks and sings. And he sings the hell out of his songs. Lennie Watts is back in CabaretLand --- of course, that's nothing new, since he is the Mayor of CabaretLand, being the re-elected President of MAC, Manhattan's cabaret organization,

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                                                   Here's a unique look at a major musical event with the perspective – an exclusive with one who's elusive – and has never before granted a media interview. It's someone who has seen it all, who has much to recall, and only comes to town in the fall. Extremely small of stature, but mammoth in his influence, he is known by many just by his initials: D.O.C. When the three-night "Occupy Columbus Circle" event begins this week, otherwise known as the annual Cabaret Convention, a long parade of singers (on stage, not around the Circle) will bring with them the sparkle of sequins and the class of Cole Porter and his ilk. Every autumn in New York, why does it seem so exciting?

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                                Summer may have turned to autumn and September may have been given its closing notice and ready for its exit, but before it goes, here are some late September events cabaret-goers can add to their plans before turning the calendar page.

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                                  It's a brand new year and it's not just the same old/same old wonderful performers returning. Sure, the greats are great – who wouldn't want to start January by running to another run of shows by the sensational Marilyn Maye at Metropolitan Room, singing some of her most requested numbers from the last few acts she's done that have won her award after award? Speaking of awards, as January winds down, excitement winds up for the annual Nightlife Awards show at The Town Hall (January 30), bringing back 2011's critics' picks to pick up their trophies and perform.

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The dog days of summer cannot stop cabaret.  The shows must go on….. and they do!!  Read on to learn how you can get in for free to an event by winning our contest.

With many cabaret choices, and limited exposure, what is a new-to-cabaret or semi-uninformed music-lover to do to decide what show to see?  My advice is always to go where they can be sampled!  When I was a kid, I discovered my new favorite breakfast cereals by sampling them in that Kellogg’s Variety Pak where you got a small box of each of several cereals along with the usual suspects of Corn Flakes and Rice Krispies.  The cabaret Variety Paks that pack a lot of entertainment include the variety shows where you can hear many singers in one night, often offering previews of their upcoming shows.  This Wednesday, August 3, at 6:30 PM is the free outdoor Tudor City Greens concert (see ad on our website’s home page). 

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                                                                                                             I’m smiling and tapping my foot while typing up this column because I am listening to Jennifer Grimm’s CD from back in 2008.  The singer-songwriter has a cozy, cool, smooth, retro sound and I am looking forward to seeing her again when she returns to Metropolitan Room on July 25. The recording has its own built-in two-drink minimum with two of its laidback numbers – there’s the infectious “Sasparilla” and then “We’ll sip a glass of lemonade,” goes the lyric to “Second Honeymoon”

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There IS life after the MAC Awards! (and Bistro Awards).  And plenty of life in the nightlife after the Nightlife Awards, at least here at NiteLifeExchange dot com where we find plenty of cabaret and entertainment to catch up on.  As the song says, “I like New York in June/ How about you?/ I like a Gershwin tune/ How about you?” A Gershwin tune like “Summertime” will inevitably appear on the horizon as summertime lurks, but it ain’t necessarily so important to wait for the official debut of summertime for that.  Feel free to sing it or any Gershwin or other Broadway tune at open mic like the newish The Follow Spot at the Iridium on Broadway near West 51 Street on a Tuesday night with Broadway-lovin’ pianist Fred Barton.  I even chanced to spot Mr. Follow Spot at another open mic this week, the long-running runaway success Cast Party at Birdland.