Cucina Stagionale

It was Annie Brasil’s last night (29 December 2007) at the Cucina Stagionale Restaurant and Bar here in the Big Apple. Olwen, Chief and I first went to the Village Vanguard, one of the more popular jazz bars here in Manhattan. There was a long line for the 10:30 show. Using Ben’s portable GPS, we tracked down a couple of other jazz bars in the area but somehow, our steps led us to Cucina Stagionale.

This place is located at 289 Bleecker Street corner of 7th Avenue. The place was not really full and the crowd were mostly watching the Giants and Patriots football game.

A nearly-bald guy floor manager greeted us and pointed us to Annie who was at the end of the bar with other friends. She moved up to us and greeted us. Kababayans!

She sung her last set for tonight and the past ten years (as she would later reveal to us!). Yes, this was her last night. Photos. Photos. Photos.

Now, who is Annie Brasil. Yes, she is the mother of Richard Merck and Rachel Anne Wolfe. Cecile would later describe more of Annie. Her contemporaries include Pilita Corrales, Mercy Molina. And that she used to be a regular guest at “Seeing Stars with Joe Quirino.”

She joined us after her last song. Guess, we were the only Filipinos in the place now. “Huwag na kayong babalik dito” she whispered us as she described her next career move to Florida for a gig.


God brought us to Cucina Stagionale for a reason and I guess, to hear and listen Annie sing on her last night, after a ten-year stint here, was the reason. And am sure she smiled in her heart to meet us!