Broadcasting this morning from the Ellery Hotel in Northampton MA, exactly 16 minutes from the klezmer festival, Yidstock, at the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, which we’re attending for the second year in a row. The opening show with the Klezmatics, the only klezmer band ever to win a Grammy, was a sellout and they brought the house down. We’ve got two afternoon shows today and a curated tour of the center tomorrow. That’s it, though: we’re only catching half of the festival this year.

On the puzzle today — how could you not like OWLY at 6A, clued with “Big-eyed in a way?” (Hi Welly!) And at 17A for “Examines something in more depth,” the answer was DRILLS DOWN, which egs noted could also be clued with: “What the proctor says at the end of exams in dental school.”

And sexy Renee Rapp popped in, from “Mean Girls.” (Bed head, smoky eyes.)

Renee’s 25 and from Huntersville, NC. But don’t get too excited fellas, she’s gay and hanging out with British musician Towa Bird. There — now you’ve heard of both of them. I don’t recall seeing Towa in a puzzle yet, but those are good letters for one.

---

Who’s Jason Szuminski? Glad you asked. Jason is the only major league ballplayer to come out of MIT. Pitching may not be rocket science, but if it were Jason would be ready. He earned his degree in aerospace engineering in 2000 and made his debut with the Padres on April 11, 2004, pitching a scoreless inning against the Giants, which included inducing Barry Bonds to fly out, albeit very deeply. Unfortunately, Szuminski’s MLB career lasted only a month and eventually injuries forced him out of baseball. His manager with San Diego Bruce Bochy had a great quote about him:

“You wouldn’t know he went to MIT. He fits in well with the ballclub, not that we’re all dummies or anything.”

Jason’s name came up because of Mason Estrada. He’s another aerospace engineering major at MIT and his 96 MPH fastball is expected to get him drafted this week. He’s unlikely to carry an MIT degree to the mound though. If he doesn’t sign with a pro team, he plans to transfer to Tennessee.

Here’s Mason.

---

Yidstock has been a blast. Eleanor Reissa turned in a beautiful performance in the early show. She said she’d never been in a shtetl but growing up in Brooklyn was a little bit like it. She learned about the sad Jews and the happy Jews, and later she learned that the happy ones were the Italians.

---

Closing the store early tonight. Tired. See you next time!