Amedeo Modigliani Marc and Yvan Openly React to Serge’ Impulsive, Yet Conscientious 1884-1920 Purchase of the Controversial Paint- Abundant at LiaS in Westfield Ing
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Page 24 Thursday, June 17, 1999 The Westfield Leader and THE TIMES of Scotch Plains – Fanwood A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION ArtsArts andand EntertainmentEntertainment Annual Strawberry Festival On Tap at Chester Village CHESTER – Historic Chester Vil- On Saturday, Sweet Adeline’s lage in Chester will be the backdrop Choir and Magic Moments will per- for the Annual Strawberry Fes- form. A Magician, Dr. J. will also AARRTT onon BrBroadwoadwayay tival on Saturday and Sun- entertain festival-goers. On Sun- day, June 19 and 20, from day, “Spike the Clown” will noon to 5 p.m. The create animal balloons. event will be held rain A storyteller and a pet ChallengesChallenges tthehe SensesSenses or shine. adoption will also be ChallengesChallenges tthehe SensesSenses Main Street in available on both days. Chester will be Fresh baked goods, adorned with ac- strawberry picking and By MICHELLE H. LePOIDEVIN painting was to sever the ties—so be it. tivities, contests, chocolate dipping will tempt Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times Unique to Art, which offers no and food selec- the taste buds. NEW YORK CITY -- When the pur- intermission, is the upbeat, charm- tions featuring straw- For directions or a shopping/ chase of a plain white painting ing chiming in of music as scenes berries during that dining/events guide, please call wreaks havoc on the longtime rela- change. It keeps a somber, troubling Michelle H. LePoidevin for The Westfield Leader and The Times weekend. (908) 879-4814. tionship of three friends, Serge, topic peppy, holding interest without TRULY INVITING...Lia’s in Westfield welcomes customers who yearn for Marc, and Yvan, the competition dragging anyone down. unique cuisine with Mediterranean flair. Lia’s has been located on Elm between artistic taste, ego, and Interjections of striking mono- Street for almost nine years and is owned by Pamela and Peter Lia. friendship is played out in Art at the logues by Serge, Marc, and Yvan, AARTIST OF THE WEEK Royale Theatre on Broadway. are strong, effective, and appropri- The Paris apartments of the friends are the backdrops for the scandal as Gourmet Cuisine, Tasty Tidbits Amedeo Modigliani Marc and Yvan openly react to Serge’ impulsive, yet conscientious 1884-1920 purchase of the controversial paint- Abundant at Lias in Westfield ing. Italian painter and sculptor, Serge, who is notably depicted by Amedeo Modigliani, battled pov- George Segal of television’s “Just By MICHELLE H. LePOIDEVIN Anyone walking into erty, tuberculosis and an addiction Shoot Me” fame as Jack Gallo, is Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times Lia’s will be sure to find to drugs and alcohol, while culti- classic and polished in his perfor- WESTFIELD--Every morning, joy in the chicken salad vating a unique style through his mance. He honestly believes that his wrapped baguettes of fresh, crusty bread which is not mayon- striking portraits and nudes. stand like soldiers at the door of Lia’s in naise-based. Instead, “Life is a gift from the few to new painting is a bonafide master- Westfield – waiting to be adorned by blending flavors of the many from those who know piece and is offended by Marc’s in- spicy honey mustard, generous slices of smoked mozzarella, sun-dried toma- and who have to those who know tense distaste for the piece of art. brie or beds of aromatic smoked turkey. toes, scallions, extra virgin olive oil not and have not,” Modigliani Segal tries to convince Marc that What began as a joint venture between and balsamic vinegar fragrance the mused. the painting is profound and deep in husband and wife team, Peter and Pamela chicken. Influenced by Henri de Toulouse- its meaning, but his doubtful friend Lia, has been supplying stand-out cuisine Pamela revealed that the customers Lautrec and Paul Cezanne, is aghast at the concept. for almost nine years. are also an integral part of the family at Modigliani settled in Paris in 1906 Portrayed by Buck Henry, who Pamela met Peter when she was Lia’s. There are “regulars” who always and mastered his style which in- working at a restaurant he owned in find their way to the café’s door and cludes patches of flat color, distor- penned the screenplay for The The playbill brom the broadway New York City. She was pursuing a when they bring their friends the family tion of figures, and elongation of Graduate which received a nomi- production, “ART” which is cur- career in theater and admitted that al- grows and grows. facial features. nation nod from the Academy rently performed at the Royale though she couldn’t cook, but fol- In fact, the customers at Lia’s are One of his most famous pieces, Awards, Marc is played out as an lowed recipes to the letter when she food connoisseurs themselves. They can “YOUNG REDHEAD IN AN EVENING Theatre. Permission to use this “Young Redhead in an Evening energetic character with his anger, photo was granted by the show’s was teaching herself, she always loved appreciate the varied ingredients spot- Dress,” (1918) is an oil on canvas DRESS” (1918) BARNES F OUNDATION, food. lighted in each dish – the surprising MERION, PENNSYLVANIA. defiance, and indignation. He is publicist. which captures his distinct signa- convinced that Serge has gone off Now, the dynamo restaurateurs go to splashes of balsamic vinegar or the gen- ture style. of 35. Jeanne committed suicide the deep end and no one can con- food stores and supermarkets to feast erous helpings of goat cheese with Living with his wife and favorite thereafter. their eyes on different ingredients while grilled eggplant. model, Jeanne Hébuterne, The price of a Modigliani paint- vince him otherwise. everyone else is going to the movies or Perhaps what makes Lia’s so special ing ranges from $1 to $15 million. Not even Yvan who is played by ate at each break. They give you Modigliani died in Paris at the age their side of the story. They tell it doing other things couples commonly is the one-on-one connection she main- Wayne Knight, “Seinfeld’s” beloved do. tains with her customers. Each one is Newman. like it is. They let you in on the real Lia’s is a family affair. Peter and unique to her and if she hasn’t seen a This is such an incredible depar- deal. Lia’s young son Beau has been in- regular customer in a while, she is sure ture from the Newman character Serge gets to explain that he volved in the business to look after their well-being. which has made Knight almost syn- thinks Marc is over-reacting. How since its inception when In a simple phrase – Lia’s gives famil- iar establishments such as Dean and onymous with Jerry Seinfeld and could anyone not love this pure, he peered over a play- white, unframed painting. Doesn’t pen watching the café Deluca in New York City a run for their NBC. make its mark in money. It’s the type of place where you Knight demonstrates versatility. anyone see the streaks of color in the bland masterpiece? Downtown Westfield. will get more than just cuisine you can While glints of comedy are still won- Now, Beau helps his boast about – you’ll become part of a derfully evident, you want to cry Yvan has the chance to tell you parents by busing tables and politely family. along with the trials and depression how lost he would be without the taking their food orders. of Yvan as he watches his two best familiarity, the comaradary of his “This is his world,” she reflected. Contemporary friends split up their friendship over trusted friends. What will become It is quite obvious that Lia’s is more Contemporary a trivial work of art. of him, he pleads with the audience than your average deli. In fact, it makes that leans forward. its own unique impression on Elm Artist, A knock-you-over performance, Street. As storefronts change and mold Knight is the life blood of Art. He Marc treats the audience to a little laughter, an icebreaker when he asks around her, she remains a staple de- makes you feel like your two best spite the surrounding eating establish- Edward Adams friends are cutting ties. You feel torn. everyone if Serge is blind, if he is ments. You feel lonely as he describes his the same friend he knew so long “Food brings people in more than To Visit doubt about entering into a marriage ago. any other business,” responded Pamela To Visit he is unsure of. He convinces you These three actors keep you when asked about the abundance of that he will be alone if his friends bouncing from emotion to emotion restaurants in the immediate area. Parness Gallery RECORD-SETTING TOUR...The Executive Officers of the Friends of the – here comes the sympathy with Describing Lia’s as a café that lures break up – even once he takes his tastebuds with Mediterranean fare that Westfield Symphony Orchestra (WSO) celebrated their highly successful Yvan, then the ability to rationalize WESTFIELD – Contemporary house tour by presenting a check in the amount of $26,000 to Nancy N. marriage vows. leans toward Italian flavor, Pamela said Knight proves that he is more than with Serge, and the humor with that she likes to think that Lia’s is a New Jersey artist, Edward M. Adams, Jackson, Director of the WSO. More than 1,000 people attended the tour, Marc. will hold a one-man exhibition at generating a record-setting $26,000.