Small wonders
What’s better than yacht racing? Model yacht racing! To be honest, anything in miniature form is so much better than its regular-sized counterpart.
On Saturday, the Mystic Seaport Museum will host the annual Model Yacht Regatta, where participants from all over New England and New York will compete in the International One Meter, the most popular racing class in the world. These radio-controlled vessels are built on a “box rule,” meaning that their requirements for construction are that they can withstand any weather condition.
Model yachts date back to the 19th century in Great Britain, where enthusiasts would build small models of their skiffs. Now, there are hundreds of models to race, and this will be the 15th year that Mystic Seaport is hosting the regatta. Sailing the potentially rough waters of the Mystic River might be tough, but it’s a chance to see tradition be carried on, no matter how small. SEAN D. ELLIOT/THE DAY Model Yacht Regatta, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Mystic Seaport Museum, 75 Greenmanville Ave., Mystic; $28.95 adults, $26.95 seniors ages 65 and up, $18.95 ages 4-14, free for ages 3 and under; (860) 572-0711. Flight or Fright — 17 Turbulent Tales
Edited by Stephen King and Bev Vincent
There’s a great line in Peter Gent’s novel “North Dallas Forty” where the narrator, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Phil Elliot, explains why he likes to fly: “At 5,000 feet, I figure (in a passenger seat in a jet) is the one place I can’t be blamed for anything that (screws) up.” Well, it makes sense that a fictional character is the only one in the world for whom the prospect of flying doesn’t spark an anxiety attack. This book of short stories, out from vaunted horror publisher Cemetery Dance, is a wonderful, must-read collection for vacation-season travel. The contributors are genuine heavyweights including King, Arthur Conan Doyle, James Dickey, Roald Dahl, Ray Bradbury, Dan Simmons and Joe Hill. It’s amazing how many different ways there are to terrify a reader through the prism of flight, and these bastards are really, disturbingly good at it. Don’t board a plane without a copy! E=MC
Giorgio Moroder
So my mind was blown the other week. But before I tell you how, I’ll start by stating that I have a sprawling list of favorite songs. Some are synth-laced ’80s tracks, while others are quintessential disco hits from Cher and Donna Summer. Others songs, by Daft Punk, for example, are more modern. All are typically electronic and rely on fun, upbeat bass lines. Turns out, there is one man behind all this. His name? Giorgio Moroder, an acclaimed Italian singer, songwriter, DJ and music producer credited with pioneering Italian Disco and electronic dance music. So when I finally put this all together, my whole world seemed to finally make sense. Moroder has also produced Joe Esposito’s “Lady, Lady,” Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away,” the soundtrack for the film “Scarface,” and, among many others, “Cat People (Putting Out Fire)” featuring David Bowie (again, all personal favorites). Turns out Moroder has his own discography, which has inspired further exploration on my part. Lately, I’ve been enjoying his “E=MC²” album, produced in 1979. And, yes, if you haven’t ever listened to it, it’s everything you’d expect and want from an Italian music producer trying to push the sounds of the 1970s in new and exciting ways.