The End of Transaction Tickets at the Bank, Or Not?

Swipe Instead of Write: The End of Citibank Transaction Tickets

Deposit and Withdrawl Slips Are a Thing of the Past

They were gone. Citibank transaction tickets were nowhere to be found at the local bank branch the other day.

No more filling out those paper deposit slips before seeing the teller. The chain-attached pen that often didn't work anyway? It wasn't even needed. In fact, there was no reason to even stop and stand at that narrow bank desk before getting on line.

By habit, you stand at the desk looking to grab and fill out a slip. But instead of a collection of deposit and withdrawal transaction tickets, there was now a blue and white flyer with the words "Going, Going, Gone." The printed explanation was that transaction tickets were now "a thing of the past" and all you have to do is swipe your ATM/Debit card at any teller window and enter your PIN.

It's now a thing of the past? Swiping, instead of writing out a deposit slip? It all does sound easy but it also seemed like something was missing. But you had no choice. You give the teller your deposit and swipe your card. Even the teller seemed a bit confused when asked if she missed being handed a transaction slip. She admitted she still liked the paper form adding that she "doesn't want to make a mistake." No disagreement there.

No doubt, the banking industry has changed. Technological advances are part of every transaction. ATM's have revolutionized the way most do their banking. Paperless statements are offered as an option for accounts. You probably don't even get back cancelled paper checks.

But filling out a paper deposit or withdrawal slip still felt just so normal, even if the idea seems so ancient. Oh well, less trees, lower costs, less work for the consumer. Swiping an ATM/Debit card to replace writing out Citibank transaction tickets is now the way it is. Yes, customers can still get a printed transaction receipt. Yes, deposit tickets can still part of an ATM transaction.

Yes, you can still use your printed deposit slips if you have them at home. But maybe you'll want to keep them as collector's items. And won't it feel good not to be frustrated by those often non-working chain attached pens?

Now indeed it sounds like paperless perfection.

The Extra Man-An Extra Special Film

Generating Positive Buzz from an Advance Screening of the New Katie Holmes, Kevin Kline Movie The Extra Man

A Local Film Series Premiers an Advance Showing of a New Flick

The Cannes Film Festival and the Sundance Film Festival are two of the more intensive industry status events where directors, producers and film stars showcase their latest work in the hope of generating positive buzz.

Advance showings of cinematic releases tends to begin at those types of motion picture preview screenings, leading to hopefully word of mouth positive comments that can spread the good word about a film prior to the official opening day.

But you don't have to go to Cannes or Sundance to feel like a big-time movie preview person. Think locally. In major markets throughout the country, local Film Series offer attendees just such a preview opportunity.

Having just seen The Extra Man at one local advance screening event, my advice is, don't wait any extra moments to see it when your neighborhood film house features this picture. A lot of films say they're comedies but The Extra Man features so many laugh out loud funny moments, you'll actually go from one laugh to another. Yet there's also a serious, emotional side to this wonderful work of art.

The film and script, written and directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini, comes from the novel by Jonathan Ames. The performances are wonderful. Kevin Kline as Henry plays a New York City college professor (listen early in the film when Henry says he teaches at Queens College) who is looking for a border to sublet a room and financially help him. Paul Dano is Louis, the young man who moves into Henry's little apartment. Louis has moved to Manhattan looking to find himself and finds a job where he meets his co-worker Mary, played masterfully by Katie Holmes.

There are many surprises, twists and turns that The Extra Man provides the viewer including the outstanding supporting performance of a building neighbor named Gershon, played by John C. Reilly. Without giving anything away, you'll be touched at how his character ends up.

Both Kline and Dano play their multi-personality characters wonderfully with true comedic flair. The special and touching way Henry works with Louis to teach him the ups and downs of being an "extra man"-entertaining wealthy older ladies-- is just one of the many magical moments to the film. You'll also like how the two men enjoy their wonderful night at the opera.

Extra, extra, now that you've read all about it, don't miss out on The Extra Man. It's one extra special cinematic treat.

RIP The Red Apple Rest

The Red Apple Rest Rests in Peace

Delicious Memories of a Shuttered Landmark on the Way to New York's Catskills

I remember the day last fall. The air was crisp. Perfect for enjoying colorful foliage, apple and pumpkin picking as well as a seasonal drive up Route 17. "Let's make a quick stop at the Red Apple Rest," I suggested. "It'll be nice to see that old place again."

Long before there was a Mapquest or in-car GPS computerized navigation systems, there was a much simpler way to know you had reached the half-way point between New York City and Monticello in the Catskills. It was a rest stop at The Red Apple Rest. Even before the New York State Thruway took much of their business away, the single-story, long white building on the side of Route 17 meant time to stop for lunch and to use the facilities. Whether driving up to the mountains with your parents as a young child, or crowded onto a camp bus heading for another 8-weeks of summer fun, that red and white building with the big Red Apple on the roof was the only place to stop.

This time though, as you pull into the crumbling parking lot, it quickly becomes clear that this venerable old establishment has gone the way of such fabled Catskill Mountain area hotel names as Grossinger's, and the Concord. While there was no "closed" sign to be seen, and even the 85-cent-a-slice pizza sign looked fresh, alas, the end of this Red Apple story has obviously been written.

In the beginning-the year was 1933-- a man by the name of Rueben Freed opened the Red Apple Rest on the one and only road that took New York travelers up to their mountain vacations. Through the late 1950s, the Route 17 Red Apple Rest proved to be a popular stop and mid-way meeting point. Even in the decades following the opening of the faster-moving Tappen Zee Bridge and the New York State Thruway, their restaurant business slackened but to anyone looking to remember a touch of the "delicious good 'ol days," a stop at the Route 17 Red Apple was the detour worth taking. Perhaps you can remember sliding a tray along the cafeteria railings inside, or recall grabbing a soft-serve custard cone outside. Whether one is just people-watching or simply getting out of the car or bus to stretch your legs, generations of visitors found Mr. Freed's place always so inviting. Even Borscht Belt celebrities like Jerry Lewis, Milton Berle and Jan Murray were known to stop by on the way to and from their Catskill comedy gigs.

In more recent years, the shuttered Red Apple Rest became known for cameo movie scene appearances including by Woody Allen for his film "Deconstructing Harry." The Russell Crowe and Laura Dern film "Tenderness" shot exterior scenes at the rest stop a few years ago.

For generations, no trip to the mountains was complete without a stop at the Red Apple Rest. But on this day, as we drove in and drove out of the shuttered rest stop, it was sadly clear that, once again, all we would have from still another region icon would be delicious memories.

Exploring a Curious Story

Exploring a Very Curious Children's Story

The Jewish Museum Entertainingly Showcases the History Behind the Curious George Children's Book Series and the Couple that Created It

A most curious exhibit is on display at New York City's Jewish Museum on Fifth Avenue (thejewishmuseum.org). The family-friendly exhibition is all about a monkey, one curiously mischievous monkey named George. Lots of interesting things happen to George and if you, for example, bring along a young child or grandchild, you may both sit on one of the funny-looking animal-shaped plush cushions at the exhibit, where you can read one or two of the Curious George books together.

You'll learn about the artists who created Curious George. America's favorite monkey was introduced to the world by the couple Margret and H.A. Rey. The Jewish Museum is showcasing nearly 80 of their original drawings as well as documenting the amazing story of the Rey's escape from Nazi-occupied Europe. Visitors learn about the circuitous route the Rey's took which began by bicycle (they fled carrying their drawings with them) and continued from France through Spain, Portugal and Brazil, before ending in the United States, where they first settled in New York City's Greenwich Village. Talk about creativity, the exhibit introduces you to the thinking behind the stories they developed. You'll understand how and why the Rey's beloved title character always seems to be on the run in their books, with stories about narrow escapes-just like the author-artist pair themselves.

The official title of this Jewish Museum exhibit is "Curious George Saves the Day: The Art of Margret and H.A. Rey." The exhibit will be on view at New York City's Jewish Museum through August 1^st. After it closes, it will move to the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco, where it will be on display from mid-November through mid-March, 2011.

Even if you're just a little curious about a monkey named George, you won't want to miss this wonderful exhibition.