Gotham Gal

Little did I realize that months ago I made a commitment to go to an event at Rockefeller University.  I figured out that we were going last week and gasped when it hit me we were moving too.  But, we are good friends and went anyway.  I'm glad we did.  We also had the privilege of dining at the President's home which is one of the most spectacular homes in an amazing location. 

I have known about the events put on by Rockefeller University since our friend became involved. Every quarter they put on an event related to Parents and Science.  Some past topics have been about autism, how children acquire language, etc.  Last nights topic was A Parents Guide to Boys and Girls, How Hormones Shape the Brain and Influence Behavior.

There were two speakers and then a small panel with the two of them moderated by the President of Rockefeller University, Paul Nurse.  Margaret McCarthy who is one of the leading scientists in cellular differences between men and women was not only charming but hilarious and brilliant.  The other speaker was Michael Thompson who is a leading child psychologist specializing in children and families.  He was also engaging and clever.

If you were all wondering if I had any revelations after hearing both of them speak, the answer is no. What I did learn is that all my instincts have told me over the years about the differences between boys and girls and being a parent were spot on.  They confirmed my common sense.

Boys are physical.  Cutting back on recess in school has had tremendous side effects on the ability for boys to focus in school.  They are competitive.  If they are not able to engage in school because they are fidgety due to lack of recess where they can expend their energy, boys ends up just checking out.  Boys take in information different than girls.  Thompson spoke about an all boys school where they have 3 recesses a day where boys are excelling in school.  Years ago, many years ago, all schools had 2 - 3 recesses a day.  Girls are now are killing it in school and leaving the boys behind.  All of these reasons can be factors.  From a scientific point of view, it confirms what Thompson has viewed as a psychologist.  Having 85% of the boys in school be labeled at ADD has to point to something else.  Medicating kids so that it is easier in the classroom is not the answer.  McCarthy made a very funny comment.  If we were a room of baboons, the male baboons would be fighting and mauling each other over getting to the female baboons that were ovulating.  McCarthy said the key to our existence is that women keep the fact that they are ovulating a secret. 

One of the things that I liked about both of the speakers is that they both had children and it was interesting to see how they talked about raising kids.  Bottom line, embrace your child for who they are.  Don't try and change them.  If they are boys and they fight, let them fight outside and in another room.  If there is sibling rivalry, of course there is, let them figure it out.  In essence, stop being hovering helicopter parents and let kids be kids.  Let them go outside and play, let them make their own decisions, stop over planning their lives, let them navigate the world with you as a guide but don't try and change who they are. 

So, as I said, I didn't learn anything new but confirmed that common sense works. 

i'm moving but i'm still blogging

 There was an interesting article in the NYTimes today about a middle school experiment.  Kids at Riverdale were asked to refrain from texting for a few days to see if they could and to also think about what life would be like without it.

There are a few things that I came away with after reading the article.  The first one was that when I was growing up, in the evening, instead of facebook or text messaging my friends, I spent hours on the phone.  Hours.  Perhaps a different medium but it wasn't as if I was sitting at home by candlelight with no form of media to engage with and ability to connect with my friends.  Although there may be some disdain from parents or teachers in regards to the text/instant communication it is just a different era.

The other thing that I zeroed in on was how often, during the school day, the kids texted their parents.  One kid said at least 10 times during the day.  When they got tests back, etc.  I don't understand why the kids are not told to turn off their phones once they enter the school (particularly middle school where there is still teacher control) and not turn them back on until school is over.  In our kids school when they are found doing something with their phone during the school hours, it is taken away until the end of the day.

Although I do applaud Riverdales efforts in showing kids that they can survive without texting and to make fun perhaps that they aren't addicted to it, I am not sure what the lesson is.  At least it is lost on me.  Is it the same concept as no TV week?  Isn't it more to the point to engage the kids in conversation about transparency on the web, manners on text, putting their phones away in school or any meeting, or just talking about  how we live in a world of instant communication. 

Just my 2 cents but when every kids parents are using devices in their day to day life too, what's the point of going cold turkey when it is the way we live today.  On vacation, perhaps but during the regular business hours - that includes school.  The lesson to be taught is how to behave in the world we live today while still having integrity, manners and etiquette.  

back to joseph leonard

In full disclosure, it has not been my first time back to Joseph Leonard.  I have eaten their countless times from breakfast to lunch to dinner.  I am also an investor in the restaurant.  The experience of being an investor in the restaurant, for me, has been really interesting.  My favorite thing is that I know everyone working at the restaurant and many of the investors so eating there is always a treat because I feel at home.  What is the most interesting is to watch the transformation of the restaurant over time. 

The industry has changed because of people like myself who go to a place the second it opens up and blogs about it.  Years ago, reviewers would give a restaurant at least a 9 month pass before they would ever share their thoughts with the world.  Not only has that part changed but so has the spike in revenues based on a great revenue.  Susan Hoffman, of Savoy told me a story a few years ago which sums up exactly how the business has changed.  When Savoy first opened up, about a year into the opening, they were written up in New York Magazine.  The rave review was life changing.  The long tail of that review allowed them the opportunity to expand to the second floor and make some renovations on the first floor.  They knew that particular review was sending customers their way for months after it came out.  Fast forward some fifteen years later, they are written up again.  Another great review.  The up-tick from that was for two weeks.  Huge difference.

I watched Joseph Leonard open, I have watched both Jim and Gabriel make adjustments over time to the menu.  What works, what doesn't, what needs a tweak.  I have loved the breakfast from day one.  I also really like the lunch and am thrilled to see more salads on the menu.  Dinner has never been my favorite meal there.  We were there on Friday night.  Joseph Leonard has now been open 9 months.  The dinner was not only really good but the nuances of each dish have risen a notch.  That takes 9 months and that is why in the past reviewers didn't plunge in from day one.  Even Jim had commented on Friday night that the first week they were opened he saw the reviewer from Travel and Leisure having dinner at the bar and cringed at the thought that he would write a review this early on. 

We tried a few different things on Friday night.  The menu is reflective of spring as it should be.  We started off with a dozen oysters which have always been delicious at Joseph Leonard.  They obviously have a great source.  Our second round of appetizers was a variety of things.  A deconstructed zucchini tart was light and different.  Slices of zucchini layered in a round form to look like a tart sprinkled with chopped toasted almonds over caramelized onions and pastry with pieces of chopped nicoise olives on the side.  Nice. 

I loved the fried artichokes.  Beautiful presentation, perfectly done, with a nice lemon aioli and pesto sauce to mop in to. 

Salt cod brandade served in a small dish with a sweet red pepper relish and pieces of crusty bread to scoop up the dip.  Nice with a glass of white wine.

I ordered the chicken because I really liked the thought of sliced golden beets mixed with sauteed spinach and a spicy onion relish.  Nice call.  The chicken is perfectly cooked and sits over the salad.  Yum.  Two others ordered the skate but by the time I wanted to take a bite, they had both finished their dish.  That sort of sums up the skate. 

On the side we tried the stuffing of the moment.  Chunks of bread mixed with sauteed leeks, charred scallions and a little bit of cheddar cheese.  Woah. 

The other was my new favorite.  I never ate a meal at Joseph Leonard without ordering the brussel sprouts even at breakfast.  This is the new brussel sprouts because brussel sprouts are out of season.  Sliced escarole, sauteed until completely soft in a balsamic vinegar and a shot of spicy sriracha sauce over the top.  I might have hoarded that particular dish that evening.

Dessert was also good.  The butterscotch pudding is decadent and has been on the menu from the beginning.  Worth every calorie. 

The special dessert of the night was bread pudding.  Made with croissants, soaked in eggs, baked and cut into squares with rum macerated berries poured over the top and of course a dollop of whipped cream.  Decadent.

I am not only thrilled to be part of the Joseph Leonard gang but am delighted to report on their progress and the delicious meal I had there on Friday night.  Josh even showed up late into our meal because his plans fell through.  They quickly made the steak for him which he devoured in no time.  Josh loves the place so much he wishes he was an investor too!

whole pig at the Breslin

It started with a tequila on the rocks with a wedge of lime. 

I am still amazed at the crowds at the Ace Hotel.  An area that was a year ago a total no man's land has become the hottest spot in NYC.  People are flowing out into the street at 730 because it is so crowded inside....and then there is always the need for the quick smoke. 

You can make a reservation in advance for a whole roasted pig dinner at 3 separate times; 6pm, 8pm and 11pm.  The menu is fixed.   This is the only reservation at the Breslin.  When I walked into the bar, the first thought that went through my mind is thank god we have a reservation because we could be waiting for hours to eat.  The place is humming.  

The pig table sits in the center of the restaurant.  The meal is for 8-10 people.  Here is where the problem lies, the table.  The table could easily sit 14 and would be a much better dining experience.  The noise level is high and the table is so large that the intimacy of the experience is completely lost.  We found ourselves all trying to move to one end of the table leaving a huge gap on the other side.  In the end, that didn't work either because you can really only converse with the people to the right and left of you.  

But let's get to the heart of the matter, the food.  Like the sister restaurant, the Spotted Pig, which is one of my all time faves, has service that is slow moving.  We spent a lot of time at the beginning of the meal looking around for someone to pour the wine which was hidden from our grasp.  It would have been a nice addition if some bar snacks were put on the table at the beginning while we waited at an empty table for the meal to be served.  It was kind of strange sitting at an over-sized empty table, attempting to create table conversation by yelling back and forth while waiting.  

And then all of a sudden, the food begins.  The pig is really incredible.  Beautiful presentation.  The meat falls off the bone and the skin is crispy.  Bottom line, the pig is divine.  Served on the side were two sauces.  A salsa verde and a salsa rossa.  Either green or red were quite tasty but the red seemed to be the fave.

On the side is served a killer caesar salad.  Long pieces of romaine lettuce, not cut but whole leaves, tossed with a warm anchovy dressing and toasted anchovy croutons.  I couldn't get enough of this salad. 
There was a dish of chopped broccoli rabe which was simple and probably doused with butter. 

Whole pieces of roasted fennel were excellent.  Roasted for so long that it always didn't even taste like fennel anymore.  Sliced like butter. 

The potatoes were quite large and intense.  Roasted and then deep fried in duck fat.  Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.  Think excellent tater tots. Lots of thought went into how these potatoes are made.  

At this point, I had probably treated myself to more than my portion of the pig.  The person sitting to the right of my actually commented on how much I could consume.  I promised him that it was not something I did nightly because if I did, we probably wouldn't have to worry about the table being too big. 

Dessert does come next.  Small bowls of salted peanut gelato and slices of a bittersweet chocolate tart.  The gelato was quite tasty and the salty peanuts on top are a nice touch.  The tart was actually too bitter for me.  Had the bite of a bitter coffee.  Believe me, it was probably a good thing that I didn't like the tart.

We rolled home.  One friend said he preferred the bo saam experience we had at Momofuko much better but I do believe he was reacting to the intimacy of the meal more than the food.  The food at the Breslin, as well as the Spotted Pig, is always delicious.  Sharing a meal like we had the other night was an event that should work from start to finish.  The Breslin needs to come up with a better area in the restaurant to serve the pig otherwise I'd rather see if they can just do a pig with all the sides to go.   

parenthood

My brother has a saying, although probably universal, “you give what you get.”  It is simple and states the obvious.  Time and time again, I have been hit straight between the eyes with the simple reality that being a parent is the hardest job ever…and it never ends.  The role certainly changes over time but it essentially lasts forever.  If you are a parent, you will always be a parent and that particular role, although malleable, essentially remains the same.  It isn’t about you, it is about your kids. 

The more time I spend on the phone or bbm’ing with our oldest daughter Jessica, it is me asking the questions and listening to her.  She is relatively interested in my life but essentially it is me listening about her life, her ideas, her thoughts, her friends, etc.  Why wouldn’t it be?  It was the relationship that was created from the get-go.  I will always be her Mom and I will always be the person for her to bounce ideas off of knowing that I will be positive yet honest at the same time.  I want to hear about everything because she is our kid.  I adore her…I adore them all.  I hope that I will be that person to lean on forever.  Will I find myself ever leaning on them…not so sure about that one because the relationship we set up from the very beginning is that we are their support system, we are there for them, we are their rock, their foundation, their guidance.  Doesn’t mean that we don’t involve every one of them in endless conversations about the world today or businesses that we are invested in because we trust their opinions and observations but we are listening to them more than they might be listening to us. 

Each kid is so different.  Different needs, different desires, different aspirations, different personalities, different anxieties, different everything.  Going through their teenage years are not easy.  Personally, I have put myself in a position where I am playing in so many sandboxes these days that it is overwhelming and exhilarating at the same time.  Regardless, all of the stuff I have going on, from moving to businesses to everything I do is minor compared to the job as a Mom.  That takes first place and will always take first place because their happiness, their ideas, their interests and what they are doing, in the end, is what makes me happy.  Although certainly exhausting and at times concerning…am I giving the right advice, am I doing the right thing, will they embrace me ten years from now are the thoughts that frequently ramble through my brain…in the end, it is truly one of the dearest things to my heart, and it is all about them and probably always will be and that absolutely works for me. 

a not-for-profit lunch

Image via Wikipedia

I had lunch at Gabriels yesterday.  I have not been there for 20 years. Frightening as it may be, I remember who we had dinner with when we went there.  What struck me today was that all the men were wearing suits and ties.  Something I rarely see these days.  I am obviously hanging out in a more casual part of town.

This was a meet and greet from the not for profit world.  The conversation was really interesting.  Besides me, the other four people are all involved with CORO.  The Chairman, the Executive Director, a board member and the Deputy Director at Soros.  We talked about how the world of not-for-profit is changing.  No doubt a common theme across the board in all businesses.

Money is no longer flowing like it has been over the past straight into the coffers of these businesses.  Foundations are drying up and people aren't giving as much right now. Not only that but more and more people want to see how their money is being put to use particularly when it comes to the younger philanthropists.  You can now to go sites like Donors Choose or even Kickstarter and give back in a smaller way and see either a difference being made in a school or a project getting done.  Is the model for an organization like United Way where a huge percentage of their annual budget goes to staff becoming obsolete?  Is anybody quite sure the impact that United Way is making?

Recently in NYC, an organization pulled the plug on $30 million of money that was feeding 600 not-for-profit groups around the city.  That money is now gone and more than likely 200 of these groups will find it hard to execute on their programs next year.  Maybe that is why two groups came to MOUSE recently and asked if we were willing to absorb their programs into ours as they are looking for like-minded partners before they cease to exist.  The question turned to, how many organizations in this city are really making an impact.  Some are harder to qualify than others but if people were putting money into organizations that were proving they were making a difference on a broad scale, wouldn’t that make more sense?

Shouldn’t not-for-profit organizations start thinking about using social media to reach out to alumni who have gone through their programs?  How do you create communities around these organizations?  Think like an educational institution.

The most interesting topic at lunch was hearing about what CORO does.  This is an organization that in all honesty, I have only heard about because of my friend who pulled this lunch together.  Not sure they have done such a great job at branding themselves across the city past a small core group of people who stumble upon them.  CORO is in seven different cities across the country.  CORO New York is who I met with.  They run 9 month long programs that prepare and teach individuals how to become effective leaders in Government.  Government is not so easy to navigate and they literally teach people how to get things done.  Their alumni list is impressive and many have made a huge impact in our daily lives in NYC.  Every city needs people who are passionate about their city and Government.  

More conversations to be continued on these topics but always refreshing to hear people who are top in their field talk so passionately about how we can change the community one step at a time. 

The Kid

The Kid, the latest production put on by the New Group will probably never play in Peoria but it should. 

A new musical, in the same vein as Next to Normal and Passing Strange.  The tale is told through the songs.  The story is one that happens in every corner of America but one that many people, unfortunately, want to pretend doesn't exist. 

Two gay men, 35 and 26, decide to have a child.  We watch them go through the harrowing adoption process.  The birth mother happens to be a homeless teen who got pregnant with her homeless teen boyfriend who has checked out.  He comes back into the picture on occasion only to put the two men on edge worrying if the birth mother will change her mind.  They not only want to adopt the baby, they want the baby to always know who the mother is.  A new type of adoption.  This kid will always know that these two men will care for him and guide him forever, thank god, but they are not his birth mother.  Something to be said for that.  There are the additional tensions of adopting a baby and worrying if you will love this kid like it is your own. 

When the baby is born, it brought me back to when our kids were born.  We are in the exit mode where are kids are slowly leaving the nest.  It won't be long before they have all flown.  I remember when Jessica was born and have the pictures of Fred holding her in this uncomfortable position because it was all so new and scary.  By the time Emily came around, he picked her up like a pro.  There is no doubt having kids is a life changer.

The play is funny, kitschy, brash and edgy.  You can laugh, you can cry.  The musical thing is not easy for me and my friend thought the music could have been better but there is something about the play.  There is a message here.  The two hilarious neurotic flaming men are thrilled to be parents to a kid that would have not seen such a bright future on the streets with a teenage kid.  Considering Arkansas citizens just voted for a law that would make it impossible for gay couples or single parents to adopt children but luckily was found unlawful and discriminatory by the Supreme Court in Arkansas makes me wish that this play could be seen and embraced in Peoria (and of course Little Rock).  Unfortunately, I am not sure our country is quite there yet. 

The Tallest Man on Earth

I had not heard about The Tallest Man on Earth until last Sunday.  Last night I went to see him play at the Highline Ballroom.  Not sure he is actually the tallest man on earth but he is unbelievably talented.  From the moment he started singing, the audience was so quiet that you could have heard a pin drop except for the music.  The first thing that came to mind was at what point of your life do you realize that you can sing like that? 

A Swedish artist, Niclas Stenholm, sounds like a melodic Bob Dylan.  He was almost as thrilled as the audience to be there last night.  He bowed at the end of his performance.  I loved that.  His performance live was so good that I even liked his music even more.  That voice makes the hair on your arm stand up on end. 

re-Set

Image via Wikipedia

This might have been the first conference I have been to in a very long time.  I went in support of Debbie Stier who as far as I can see is one of the few people in the publishing industry who truly get how the Internet and social media is changing that world.  The conference is called re-Set and the panel; Anna Bernasek, Michael Eisner, Tom Peters and Gary Vaynerchuk was moderated by Seth Godin. 

Each person gave their intro, questions were asked and an interesting exchange of thoughts that are relative to business for the times we live in.

Tom Peters began speaking about how he is 67 years old and can not believe that he spent an hour an a half tweeting to people last night.  Certainly the world is not what it used to be.  Gary V spoke about how the world is traveling at such a rapid pace and we are living in the era of brand building.  Brands can be large, they can be niche, they can be small companies or big companies and they can now sell or connect directly to the end user.  That is a huge shift.  The Internet has enabled brands to use sweat equity to create audiences and that costs nothing.  Anna spoke about how important integrity and trust are the most valuable national asset.  We need to use those skills to think strategically in order to create value and wealth in our businesses.  Eisner spoke about partnerships.  He has written a book that comes out in September that is called Working Together:  Why Partnerships Succeed.  He interviewed 10 partners from Linda and Bill Gates to Ron Howard and Brian Glazer to Warren Buffet and Charlie Munger and Valentino and Giammetti.  Interesting topic.  He believes that the key to a good partnership is being equal and not having jealousy or envy towards your partner.  An incredibly interesting topic as I have always believed a good partnership is the key to many successful happy people. 

There was talk about the recession and how we seem to be moving out of it yet into a very different place.  Seth believes the recession will never end yet we are seeing the end of the Industrial Age.  This is now the time to reinvent ourselves.  Industries will die and new ones will crop up but the Internet has given us a huge platform to re-set.

Conversations were endless but the bottom line was business is always going to be business but we need to use the tools of the day to understand our brands, understand our customers, connect with our community in a way that creates a productive workplace and above all excellence.

All and all, a really well done event.  Interesting conversations...and nice to see faces that I haven't seen in a while. 

another salad

Salt 

3 roasted beets cut into cubes

Big hunk of feta cheese cut into cubes (I prefer French feta because it is milder)

Micro-greens or Green sprouts

One orange peeled and sliced into small pieces

Half a bag of edamame

White Balsamic Vinaigrette (3 tsp. white balsamic vinegar, 9 tsp. olive oil, 1 tsp. dijon mustard and 1 tsp. soy sauce)

Preheat the oven to 350.  Wrap the beets in tin foil and roast until they are roast.  Let cool.  The skin should slide off, cut into cubes.

Whisk together the vinegar, mustard and soy sauce.  Then whisk in the oil slowly until completely immersed.  The vinaigrette should be thick.

Mix together and serve.  Salt for taste.  The top pic is the salad pre-mix.