Ah, summertime, how I miss you right now. It’s cold. It’s raining. And while heading outside for some warm weather fun isn’t currently an option, at least I can look back to weekends of camping just steps from the beach in Montauk and vineyard hopping by bike through Long Island’s North Fork.
Last week I tried yet another activity for ExploreTV — kiteboarding. I learned to fly a baby kite, then upgraded to the real deal inflatable kite, hopped in the Great South Bay, and was literally dragged through waist-deep water screaming the entire time. After it all, gotta say, lots of fun.
Below is the new and improved embedded HD video. I think next time out I better stick to a land activity.
To my legions of loyal followers (Hi Grandma! Hi Mom!), you may be wondering why I’ve ceased to keep this blog up to date. In a nutshell, things got busy.
First, I went to Argentina. There I am above sliding through an ice tunnel on the Perito Moreno Glaciar in Patagonia. Beautiful country, good times.
Then, I had that whole teaching thing at Stony Brook, which brought my weekends down to one measly day and my workload up by a lot. Why I thought it was a good idea to have every single student write their own blog, well, I’m not sure.
Then there was the site redesign here at work. ExploreLI and Newsday are looking so fresh and so new now, but there were months of back end work to get them this way. And a lot more work happening behind the scenes now to make them even better.
Sure, I’ve had time for some fun, too. I saw Phoenix and Passion Pit and Amadou & Mariam in concert. I had a decadent dinner at Blue Hill at Stone Barns and drank mezcal cocktails at Mayahuel. I spoke on a Long Island Press Club panel about social media and at a Gelf Magazine event about science and sex. I read an amazing book on how we’re “Born to Run” and other good reads like this one and this one and this one.
With all that past and the fall nearly here, I’m back. I’ll be writing soon about an upcoming dinner at Momofuku Ko (!), an Animal Collective show at Prospect Park and hopefully some other interesting stuff, too.
After spending the better part of every weekend throughout college and high school running long distance track & field and cross-country races, upon graduation, I pretty much gave it up cold turkey. Sure, I ran the Chicago Marathon, but otherwise, I don’t think I’ve entered one road race.
A few weeks ago I signed up for a Long Island Summer Run Series 4K road race for ExploreTV, and even though I’m in terrible shape and ran the whole thing with a camera strapped to my hand (and did a lot of stopping to shoot some of the sights and sounds), I made it across the line in about 28 minutes and had a great time. For me, nothing can beat the camaraderie of a group of runners all hitting the road together. And this race even served free beer after crossing the finish line.
Will I sign up for another race soon? I’d like to, but given my current schedule, who knows. In any event, here’s the video.
A couple of years ago I went through this phase where all I listened to was moody, atmospheric electronica, like M83, Sigur Ros, Ulrich Schnauss and Royksopp. Last night I had the chance to see M83 perform live in support of 2008’s “Saturday=Youth” album, which was an interesting experience.
I’ve found that, like last night, when I see concerts recently it’s like I’m meditating or something. I was totally zoned out thinking of a time years ago when I walked home in the snow listening to “Run Into Flowers” and another time I went running with the Superpitcher remix of “Don’t Save Us From the Flames” blasting from my headphones on repeat. “Kim & Jessie,” video below, pulled me out of my reverie for a couple of minutes, as did the intense encore track, which had just about everyone dancing.
Overall a great show, although the staff at The Fillmore left something to be desired. Is there any good reason they forced everyone outside in the freezing cold to wait on jackets at coat check? I think not.
Without any exaggeration, one of the best things I got out of my expensive Columbia education, was my writing group, five ladies (including me) who meet once a month to drink wine and discuss what we’re working on, occasionally in the other order. More than a year in, I still find it helpful to know that no matter what’s going on in my life, once a month I have to come up with a story idea or career quandary to discuss. I always leave the meetings with both a good buzz and a renewed sense of purpose.
So when a few Long Island women wrote in that their New Year’s Resolution was to finish their first novels, I thought, a local writers group might be just the thing to help them get it done. Luckily I was able to find a varied list of writing groups in the area.
Photo | Ed Betz for Newsday
It’s common knowledge that our new president, Barack Obama, had been living on Chicago’s South Side for some time when he was elected. It’s also common knowledge that he, like most Chicagoans, likes to eat — he’s recently dined at hometown spots Topolobampo, Spiaggia and MacArthur’s.
But Chicagoans like to do more than just eat. They like to discuss their favorite restaurants — and watch others discuss their favorites — on local channel WTTW’s “Check, Please!,” a weekly show that the Web site states is the “most popular restaurant review show in America.”
I believe that claim. From my younger siblings to my friends to my parents to my grandma, everyone, and I do mean everyone, who lives in Chicago watches this show.
So it was exciting news when the good people at “Check, Please!” unearthed a 2001 episode with Obama going ga-ga over Hyde Park soul food spot, Dixie Kitchen and Bait Shop.
A clip from the “lost episode,” which was aired for the first time last week, is posted below.
So far my work life has been rather eventful in 2009.
On Jan. 5 I published an article on solutions for New Year’s resolutions. For a couple of weeks reader submitted their goals and then I went out and found some local classes, clinics and programs to help them achieve success. Not suprisingly, weight loss, healthy eating, financial freedom and new careers came out on top. I think I was able to find some interesting options.
In the process I did my own reflection on the past year. Lots of positive changes, lots to look forward to in the coming months (teaching at Stony Brook, Argentina trip), but also a few things I want to change about myself. Last week I started a workout plan in earnest — Bikram yoga at least twice a week plus some time at the gym — and I’m actually enjoying it. I’m more calm and rested and feel like I look better, too. Must be the profuse sweating and stretching in the heated room (see yoga video below). Now I just need to keep it up.
Before the resolution to get healthy kicked in, I had one last chance to scarf down ridiculous amounts of hot wings and Indian food for a video on hot & spicy restaurants on Long Island. Sometimes the great thing about my job is just getting out of the office and acting silly with my colleagues. Sure, everyone does it. My days like this just happen to be caught on camera and posted for the world to see.
Enjoy my tasteful use of “This is Why I’m Hot” and “Hot in Herre” in the soundtrack.
I’ve been wanting to try Bikram yoga for a long time. I’ve actually been talking about going since I lived in Chicago, which was about five years ago. I finally got my opportunity and wasn’t disappointed.
I got asked to write an article for Newsday on “Cool ways to stay warm” (cheesy headline, I know), the premise being that I’d find ways outside of staying in bed and warm baths for people to battle the winter chill. The first thing that came to mind? Bikram. They heat the room to about 100 degrees and you’re stuck in there for 90 minutes. ‘Nuff said.
I documented my yoga adventures, video above, for my latest episode of ExploreTV, and while the yoga basics class was a good primer and the Vinyasa class was a tough workout, I think I enjoyed Bikram the most. While I haven’t had the chance to go back, I’m planning on checking out the Williamsburg and Rego Park studios in the new year.
Over the past month I’ve spent two very enjoyable evenings (and had two very delicious meals) at Walter Foods, a newcomer to the over-crowded Grand Street strip in Williamsburg.
I always like to play the “If you opened a restaurant, what would it be like” game, and upon entering this restaurant I thought, hmmm, my imaginary spot might look kind of like this, nondescript but cozy at the same time, with a nice sized bar, booths that fit groups of six comfortably, chalkboard menus with specials on the wall… you get the idea.
Then after having cocktails and appetizers, including pigs in a blanket, lollipop chicken wings and blackened shrimp, I thought again, yep, this is about right. I’d serve this kind of food. Then I had the grilled pork chop served with brussel sprouts and some sort of tasty apple relish (and sampled friends’ french dip sandwiches) and the love affair was solidified. Good stuff.
On my second visit I had many of the same apps and the same glass of wine but swapped in a roasted half chicken for my entree (they were out of the pork chop). I’m normally a pretty adventurous eater, so it says a lot that I attempted to order the exact same meal. Others at my table ordered the lobster club, which was also quite tasty.
They have a good thing going here and in a time when restaurants are battling the economy to stay open, I hope this one succeeds. Along with favorite Marlow & Sons, this will now serve as one of my dining staples. Props to friend Christie for introducing me to another winner. Read an interview with the owners here.
