book reports, books, Karen Tashkovski

Book Report: The Other Man

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The Other Man by Michael Bergin reads like a novel.  It is incredibly engrossing – is that the right word?  I could not put it down and basically spent all day immersed in this true story from the former model’s perspective.

I loved this book.  Michael Bergin starts with the day he meets Carolyn Bessette in New York City in the early ’90s only a few days after he’d moved to New York City to pursue a modeling career.

He then goes back in time to his youth growing up in Connecticut, his family, friends, early and awkward relationships, and some hijinks leading to fights and stuff like that.  This part is so honest because he allows himself to be vulnerable.  Naturally, the reader (me) immediately cares about him.

Michael meets Carolyn in a bar.  They have an on-again off-again thingy that is sex driven but it is also about visiting his family on weekends and later her family all while she is also seeing John F. Kennedy, Jr.

Carolyn is secretive about her life – deflecting direct questions (“he’s just a friend”) and that part is so weird.  I guess people who date multiple partners have to do that because otherwise they wouldn’t be able to continue stringing them along.

My take was that Michael didn’t have a lot of money and she liked surrounding herself with wealthy people and had the expectation she would manifest riches.  He would go on these modeling assignments and the pay was actually less than what it cost to travel to the venue after paying the modeling agency their cut and paying photographers to get the photos for his portfolio and whatnot.

He wins the Calvin Klein underwear campaign after Marky Mark is essentially fired for a past indiscretion (a combo of fighting and spewing racial slurs).  But Michael seems sure that Carolyn had nothing to do with getting him that job.  I kind of think she did.  I think that she wanted him to be successful and she must have put a good word in for him/vouched for him. She was the publicist for CK and they valued her opinion.

The climb to fortune takes a back seat to fame for Michael but eventually he becomes an actor and moves to Los Angeles for Baywatch.  I think the most surprising reveal, aside from her three abortions, was that Carolyn continues seeing him after she gets married.

I don’t understand how she was able to be incognito at that time, that part, IDK,  I mean, she visited him in California and they walked around the neighborhood and went into shops together and nobody noticed?  It was different in the ’90s.  I don’t think cell phones had cameras, right?  I didn’t get a cell phone until 2014 so I have no idea when that technology started making stealth actions harder to maneuver.

I wonder what her mother thought of this book.  And I wonder if Carolyn  confided in her family regarding her feelings, her decisions and all that or if she was so emotional (borderline personality disorder???) because she didn’t feel she could trust anyone.  She appears clingy and needy one minute and distant the next – what the hell is that?

That speculation – that’s what we all do to fill in a narrative.  We use our own perspective to decipher someone else’s life because we are busy bodies who love to pass judgment.  And Michael confesses to sharing his life with his family.  His parents knew about Carolyn before they met her, as his parents are depicted as highly supportive and loving.

After I finished reading the book, I Googled him.  I am happy to report that Michael Bergin is now a successful real estate agent and he is still with his wife Joy.  He married her in 2004, the same year the book was published.  They are a beautiful couple with two lovely children who are now adults, a daughter who is modeling and a son who plays baseball for the Marlins.

I think the only way Michael Bergin could have moved on with his life is the way it happened.  Not to say that Carolyn had to die so tragically, but their rather toxic relationship, IMO, would have never gone the distance.  It was almost as if people who have such a strong physical connection sometimes cannot verbalize their feelings and the result is excessive fighting.  Maybe it has to do with not being able to come to terms with perceived flaws or insecurities, or just  not trusting in positive outcomes.  I really don’t know.

I remember when JFK Jr.’s plane went down and we were all glued to the TV news hoping it wasn’t true, hoping they would be found alive and safe, because we all thought John-John would be the POTUS one day.  But none of us knew him.

Maureen Callahan has this YouTube channel called The Nerve where she loves to debunk things – like when she finds out hot gossip or sourced out truth about celebs, she takes them to the woodshed, lol.  And she has a lot to say about the Kennedys and how they destroyed and still destroy the women surrounding them.  She thinks that Carolyn’s husband was a dumb-ass.

People will believe what they want to believe.  I choose The Other Man.   It’s quite a remarkable “love story”.  And P.S., Michael Bergin is still very handsome.  I wish him only the best.

 

fish fry, ISO - fish fry, Karen Tashkovski

ISO Fish Fry: The Hawkeye

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A beautiful, sunny and breezy seventy-five degree weather day is a message from the universe commanding us to take a road trip to Cooperstown, New York.  Joyce, Bobbi and I visited the Fenimore Art Museum to see the Linda McCartney photography exhibit (picture taking inside was prohibited).

We had a snack at the museum cafe and later ventured (down the street)  to the Otesaga Resort Hotel for a look-see. The hotel, like the museum, overlooks Otsego Lake.  There is a gorgeous swimming pool alongside the breathtaking outdoor space of The Hawkeye Bar & Grill, which is inside the hotel.

Presentation:  Beer-battered cod was placed on a bed of malt vinegar and salt infused french fries, and served with a dollop of tartar sauce and ketchup.  We received two smaller plates in order to split the meal.  I’ve done this before at other restaurants but they usually offer one small plate for the other person and that never feels like an equal split.  So this was great!

Taste:  The fries had been sprinkled with that salt and malt vinegar powder, which made them the best fries in the world.  Have I said that about fries before?  This time I mean it!  Some still had the skin on them – they were freshly cut potatoes and perfectly cooked.  The cod was beer battered with a crisp exterior and inside I found the most tender thick chunks of mouth-watering fish.  It was an incredibly satisfying meal.  Bobbi and I split the meal and it was actually quite generous on the half.  This was a fish and chips meal – no coleslaw.

Restaurant Experience:  This was probably the best view of any restaurant so far in my quest/search for the best fish fry.  It was such a glorious day and literally everything about this place gets high marks.  The food, the staff, the service, the furniture, the decor throughout the restaurant and the hotel were all outstanding.  I mean, even the bathrooms were spectacular.  The time spent with friends:  priceless!

You must go there and see it for yourselves.  We had originally planned to go on Monday but the weather forecast indicated rain so we were able to pivot to today.  Cooperstown is picturesque and is meant to be enjoyed on a beautiful day.  So amazing!!!

Location:  The Otesaga Resort Hotel is located at 60 Lake Street, Cooperstown, New York 13326

Parking:  There is a large parking lot adjacent to the building.

 

 

 

found money

Found Money 2026: Episode 8

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Hooray!  With this penny find, I am now up to $1.10 in found money for 2026.

art exhibition, art for sale, Karen Tashkovski, oil painting

Naturally Human

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Penny Santy’s new art exhibition of oil paintings at Axom Home will be on display through September 18, 2026, so there is plenty of time to see it – however, the sooner you go, the sooner you can lock in your purchase before someone else beats you to it.

Axom Home is located at 661 South Avenue, Rochester, New York 14620.

The gallery is at the back of this home goods shop.  The artwork is surrounded by contemporary furniture and accessories and that helps customers visualize how these paintings will look in their own home spaces.  It is such a clever idea, as most people tend to overlook their walls when shopping to furnish their homes.

Penny Santy‘s paintings are a mix of abstract lines and figurative images with legs peeking out of clouds of beachy energy.  It is one of those now-you-see-it second take thingys.  The landscapes are fun to decipher.  Others are a bit more traditional yet created with the same depth of contrast, line quality and color schemes that define her recent work.

There are smaller works too, for those who would like to start collecting art.  I think one oil painting at 8″ x 8″ is priced at only $300 (above).

I attended the reception yesterday and I was so impressed with this wonderful place and with the way Penny’s art blended so well with all the other elements.  It is a must see.

hours

  • Tuesday to Friday 11am to 6pm
  • Saturday Hours 11am to 5pm
  • Closed: Sunday & Monday and all major holidays.
  • Free Parking located behind the store between Gregory and Hickory.
  • Handicap accessible

I love this store!  I bought a clock.  I love shopping in a well-curated store that also sells art.  It is a match made in heaven.  They also offer interior design services.  See their website for the details.

ISO - fish fry, Karen Tashkovski

ISO Fish Fry: The Old Stone Tavern

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Yesterday I had a late lunch (with three companions) at The Old Stone Tavern in Rochester, New York.  We missed the brunch menu by fifteen minutes, but clearly, as you know, it was Friday and I was in search of a good fish fry.

Presentation:  I give this platter presentation high marks.  I love the aluminum tray with red checkered wax paper – how fun!  I ordered the beer battered haddock dinner, which comes with coleslaw and fries but I substituted regular fries in favor of sweet potato fries.  They did not have a broiled option for the fish because they’d preprepared the coating in advance.

Taste:  I enjoyed my meal – everyone in my party commented that the fries appeared overcooked.  They were served with a maple syrupy condiment that I couldn’t use after tasting how spicy it was.  I had to cut the fish with the provided steak knife because it was rather crusty on the outside – still tender on the inside and delicious.  It is amazing to me how different places prepare the same meal.  I liked the coleslaw – it was traditional and the perfect amount.

I was very hungry, as we had a late lunch (was it really an early dinner?  What do you call eating at 3:45 PM?) after driving the ninety minutes to Rochester, New York (from Syracuse) then hiking around Highland Park.

So, everything was very yummy.

Restaurant Experience:  The Old Stone Tavern is a pub experience.  The restaurant and bar area are combined with booth/chair tables, as well as those bar tables with the high chairs à la Regis & Kathie Lee.

Location:  The Old Stone Tavern is located at 758 South Ave., Rochester, New York 14620.

Parking:  There is a parking lot with plenty of spaces behind the building accessible from South Ave. and the adjacent side street.

 

book reports, Karen Tashkovski

Book Report: Autobiography of a Yogi

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I read something about Steve Jobs – he always carried a copy of this book, Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramhansa Yogananda.  When he died, it was said Jobs left copies of this book to all of his mourners.  Most multimillionaires attribute their success to The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles or Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.

My television media guided me to a bio-pic about Steve Jobs – he did amazing things in the world, as you know, changing the way we all interact with technology via the personal computer, cell phones and other devices. He utilized concepts from Swami Yogananda, for sure, like a strong belief that you can create your own reality through meditation, and a unified love with and for God.

However, Jobs also had a temper that, as depicted via Ashton Kutcher’s portrayal, made him a liability – and then he got cancer and died.  So to quote lyrics from a sit-com, “you take the good/you take the bad/you take it all and there you have/the facts of life….”

Still, I am a sucker for a self-help read.  I am building my own narrative based on a belief system that I truly resonate with in a way that can allow me to navigate society without reacting negatively when someone else contradicts my world view.  Allowing people to be who they are, not trying to force my opinions on them while reminding myself that everything is a sort of reflection of my own energy.  And all of that is hard sometimes.  Like Jobs, I succumb to the frustration of communicating in a world that lately seems so divided by religion and politics.  And I don’t want to end up miserably dead.

And with that said,  I admit I was intrigued by this book.  Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramhansa Yogananda is a man’s journey from India to California.  A boy blessed by a spiritual guru to become one himself.  There are recollections here that contain mystical spiritual experiences.  For example, encounters with long dead gurus who have the ability to apparate (a JK Rowling term) producing flesh and bone bodies before a person who had witnessed their cremation.  These are mystics who have transcended earthly bodies and recognized themselves as spirits who could jump timelines and realms at will.

There is a segment on a woman who, after much prayer, succeeded to find an entity who granted her a means of living without food or drink, using only the energy of the universe to keep her alive and healthy.  Another bit about a woman who bled the stigmata daily.  This suffering, she confided, was meant to convince skeptics and pilgrims alike that biblical Christ was legit and not just a story people made up to clump into a unified religion.

The stories of these yogis sacrificing earthly pleasures – like delicious food, comedies, and sex, for example – I mean, is the life of a yogi inherently better than what the rest of us do?

The fashion alone was enough to make me go – that’s gross.  I hated how superiorly spiritual Yogananda was compared to me, you know?  Is jealous a more fitting word here?  I don’t know.  There were parts of this book that made me feel like I am too selfish a person, too materialistic in my dreams and such, and that sucks for me.  But then, other parts made me think – can this stuff be real?  I wanted to believe that I could just have every experience in my life be loving and all that.

You know???

The bottom line is to put God first.  Love the God in your life, meaning the higher power that powers your personal legend – your belief system, which means you need to have a belief system that is more than whatever reality is in front of you at any moment in time.  Pray for guidance.  Pray for peace, etc., etc., etc.

Read.  Digest.  Evaluate.  Repeat.

I got my copy of Autobiography of a Yogi from the library.  You can pick one up here.  I’m wondering if I should buy a copy to carry around and be like Jobs – maybe it will get my “job” done if I reread this material.  There were times when I found it a bit dense.  The author’s vocabulary is quite extensive for a man who barely squeaked by in college because his preference was to spend time kissing the feet of his then guru and waiting for a chance to sleep beside this “saint”.  The assumption was it wasn’t about sex – please!  Get your head out of the gutter.  These are gurus for crying out loud.

animals in art, art, art for sale, art gallery, group art exhibition, juried exhibition, Karen Tashkovski

Horse Power!(!!!)

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I am honored to be a part of the latest exhibition at Main Street Arts, 20 W. Main Street, Clifton Springs, New York 14432.   Titled Horse Power!, it will be on display until July 15, 2026.

My painting is called Mustang Dance (see above).

The horse theme was inspired by the Chinese New Year celebrating the year of the Fire Horse in 2026.  And – OMG – there are so many wonderful pieces of art representing horses (and donkeys, zebras and even unicorns).  People and their horses, am I right???

Paintings, drawings, sculptures, fiber art, mixed media – so much to see and enjoy.

The show is the brainchild of Executive Director Heather Olson (*) who is a total shining star.  Her positivity is infectious and the atmosphere during the art reception today was truly heart warming.

It is a fabulous exhibit.  The artwork occupies two floors in this gorgeous little gallery.  YOU HAVE TO GO TO THERE – to experience this amazing energy and also to buy something.  There is an adorable gift shop in addition to all the art that is for sale.  And donations for this non-profit organization are welcome, as well.

Hours of Operation:

Tuesday: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Wednesday: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Thursday: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Friday: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday : 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

  • Heather Olson

    Executive Director and Gallery Curator

    Heather Olson joined Main Street Arts as Executive Director and Gallery Curator in January of 2025. An equestrian and lover of places, ecosystems, and the plants and animals which define them, her painting and photography work explores storytelling, erasure, movement, freedom, memory, and amends. Inspired by her summer-long artist residency at Chautauqua Institution and studies in Florence, Italy she weaves historically-driven narratives anchored in place. After living across regions of the US and Canada, Olson has a broad professional lens-bringing programming, planning, grant-work, business-ownership, teaching, and design experiences to Main Street Arts. She has public and private K-12 and college-level teaching experience. Heather earned a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art (honors), a Masters in Landscape Architecture, a Masters in Art Education, and has hours towards an MFA. Heather is building upon the exceptional programs and events developed by our prior director. She curates and hangs gallery exhibitions and works directly with artists, instructors, and our community for programs and events.

found money, Karen Tashkovski

Found Money 2026 (Episode 7)

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One dirty dime found by the pump at the gas station .  This brings me up to $1.09 in found money for 2026.

abstract, art exhibition, art for sale, art gallery, Karen Tashkovski

Smorgasbord

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Yesterday afternoon I attended the art reception for the Art Haus summer exhibition.  Called Smorgasbord, this is the first time the curators have displayed eight artists at once.  Usually the shows include about four artists.

Peter Allen

This time there is a sculptor, a photographer, an assemblage artist and several abstract painters,

Tyrel De Bique

The eight artists all happen to be men this time:  Peter Allen, Tyrel De Bique, CJ Hodge, Dennis Kinsey, Steve Nyland, Steve Pearlman, Marc Anthony Polizzi and Robert Poorman,

CJ Hodga

Steve Nyland

The art is available until July 11, 2026.  See the gallery website for more details including making a purchase.

Art Haus is located at 120 Walton Street, Syracuse, New York 13202.  Current hours of operation are Tuesday and Wednesday noon – 7:00 PM, Thursday and Friday noon – 8:00 PM and Saturday noon – 6:00 PM.  Visit them on Facebook for updates to this schedule.

It’s a great show with a little bit of everything that you never knew you wanted – color, texture, size, shape.  Viewing art in person in order to understand an artist’s point of view is just the best!

Marc Anthony Polizzi

fish fry

ISO Fish Fry: Ruston’s Diner

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The trip to Ruston’s Diner was not about the food.  It wasn’t about memories either.  Many Jamesville-Dewitt grads have waxed nostalgic about this place, but I’d never been there.

It was about Dad.  It was the last place he worked as a chef/cook before he retired.  For my sister, there was history too.  Once, I mean it was years ago, Dad went to work and all the waitresses had called in sick, so he recruited Mom and my two sisters to be the employees.

I found out about all of this at Thanksgiving.  Why wasn’t I contacted?  Clearly, because they’d decided that I wouldn’t have wanted to do that – wait on people, even though my job as an art teacher was mostly that except without food.

Presentation:  So when the waitress messed up our order, we didn’t complain or anything.  Because Kathy just said, “She’s probably new.”

I ordered broiled haddock with coleslaw and fries, and my plate arrived with macaroni and cheese on it.  I also said tartar, no cocktail sauce but was delivered both.  Kathy order the fried clams with one side but got the addition of coleslaw and was charged for the dinner, which, all in all, was fine.  Who cares?

The presentation with that giant slice of bread on top was strange, but oh well.

Taste:  The fish was great!  It had paprika on top and was served with a slice of lemon.  It was not swimming in watery butter like other incarnations of this dish and I liked that.  The fries were perfectly cooked.  The coleslaw was quite runny.

I brought the coleslaw and bread home for later and Kathy packed up about half her meal to go.

Restaurant Experience:  Let’s face it – this is a diner.  It is a place for friendship and athleisure-wear.  Most of the diners come for the camaraderie  with the staff and for that casual atmosphere, as it is in proximity to their location in the ‘ville.

If you need to pee, lol, get ready for that experience.  The bathroom is so tiny.  It was like a jet plane toilet situation and I wondered what handicapped or fat-challenged individuals were supposed to do.  I loved this quirkiness.  It’s so my father’s humor.

Location:  Ruston’s Diner is located at 6407 Jamesville Toll Road, Jamesville, New York 13078.

Parking:  There are plenty of parking spots for the restaurant’s capacity crowd.  However, leaving the parking lot is somewhat dangerous, as it is around a blind corner from drivers of gigantic trucks (and cars, of course) turning right from Jamesville Road with a mere yield sign.  This requires alert driving skill!

Thanks, Dad. <3

Visual Artist