addicted to 'berry...

For those of you that wonder what I do... Here's a televised news segment I arranged on behalf of a client. It aired last night in my hometown of L.A. on both CBS2 and KCAL.

areny no more -- old work crew

Some of the old ARENY crew got together to celebrate AW's bday...

seriously.... elitists?

As keynote for the April 14 annual AP luncheon, Barack Obama tells the story of how he overcame odds to be where he is today:



On another note, I spent a few hours in Philly on Sunday to help get the vote out for Tuesday's primary. (Who says Colbert gets to be the only one to partake in all the Philly fun???!!!)



Speaking of Colbert, here's his April 15 interview with Michelle Obama:

cheesy quote of the day

It's been awhile...

"No man is a failure who enjoys life."
-William Feather

Tonight, Liz and I are headed down to Soho to catch Cate's play, Silver Bullet Trailer, which the NYT recently reviewed.

Cheers!

newsflash--- ny women outnumber single men by more than 210,000

WHICH OF THESE two decisions do you think has a bigger impact on someone's life: finding the right job, or finding the right significant other? No one's going to argue with the notion that where you live affects your employment prospects. But the place you call home has a lot to do with your chances of finding the right partner as well. Having an enticing "mating market" matters as much or more than a vibrant labor market.

It's not just that some places have more singles than others. If you're a single man or a single woman the odds of meeting that special someone vary dramatically across the country.

By far, the best places for single men are the large cities and metro areas of the East Coast and Midwest. The extreme is greater New York, where single women outnumber single men by more than 210,000...

In fact, single women outnumber single men in many large cities around the world, even though men outearn women at all ages, according to Lena C. Edlund, a Columbia University economist. One reason young women in the prime marriage years - the 25-44 age range - flock to big cities is to compete for the most eligible men. And smart women who gravitate to vibrant cities are more likely to stay single - for longer, at least - because they rightly refuse to settle for someone who can't keep up with them intellectually or otherwise.

[Read the rest of the Boston Globe article here]

my heart is breaking here....

From the LA Times: Manager Joe Torre prepares to make his Dodgers debut.

officemates

So... I share a lovely office (featuring windows overlooking Rockefeller Center) with two colleagues - a guy and a gal - that enjoy serenading/torturing me with their renditions of 80's songs. Their latest challenge -- inserting "Condoleeza Rice" into faves such as Lionel Richie's "All Night Long" (niiiice). Here's a pic of me and K at her bday party at the Alphabet Lounge in the East Village, a joint known for -- guess what? -- its 80's repertoire. The DJ was kind enough to dedicate said Richie song to K :-)

Here's my Yelp review, for good measure.

twice the fun in more ways than one

i *heart* SNL

Today's LA Times:
Saturday Night Live takes pro-Hillary allegations seriously

Show staffers are concerned by claims they're pro-Clinton and promise to rile all of the candidates.

By Matea Gold, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
March 13, 2008

NEW YORK -- For three decades, "Saturday Night Live" has prided itself on skewering politicians of all stripes with equal zeal, from Chevy Chase's clumsy Gerald Ford to Darrell Hammond's sighing Al Gore.

Executive producer Lorne Michaels has long maintained that the show risks its comedy credentials if it appears partisan. So he is troubled by the recent chatter that the venerable late-night program has exhibited a pro- Hillary Clinton bent.

"That's a major concern," Michaels said. "I can assure you that there's no agenda, that there's only a reaction to what's going in the world."

Since returning to the air in late February after a hiatus forced by the writers strike, the NBC comedy showcase has zoomed back into the political zeitgeist.

When media toughened its coverage of Sen. Barack Obama after a "SNL" sketch portrayed the press as fawning over him, analysts credited the show in part for the shift. (Obama even joked that he was going to call Michaels to complain.)

A series of other bits in recent weeks have contributed to the perception that the program is trying to sway public opinion toward Clinton. Guest host Tina Fey gave a shout-out to the New York senator, saying women like her "get stuff done." The candidate herself made a lighthearted appearance the following week, appearing in a matching brown tweed suit with cast member Amy Poehler, who plays Clinton on the show.

Two days later, Clinton performed strongly in the Ohio and Texas primaries.

Seth Meyers, one of show's three head writers, said he was amused by suggestions that "Saturday Night Live" changed the momentum of the race.

"We don't quite feel we've affected it as much as people want to give us credit for," he said.

"The show happens too quickly for any of us to have an agenda," added Meyers, who donated $1,000 to Obama in January. "And our egos as comedy writers are too big to ever let our own political loyalties get in the way of a joke. So we aim for whatever is the richest to be satirized on any given week."

Michaels, a political independent who donated to both Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd and to Republican Sen. John McCain last year, said the personal politics of the show's 23 writers don't influence its content. "I really don't believe anyone walking around up there thinks, 'What can we do for Hillary right now?' " he said.

In fact, the show's mantra is that it's against "whoever is winning," said Poehler.

"There is a certain amount of being able to poke fun at everyone equally that's kind of nice," she added. "And so I think that anything more than that would be giving us too much responsibility and making us seem much smarter than we actually are."

The renewed focus on the 32-year-old program and the discussion of whether it has shaped the presidential race has helped lift its ratings. In its first two shows back on the air since the strike, "Saturday Night Live" averaged 6.8 million viewers, compared with its pre-strike average of 5.8 million viewers.

"We're hoping for a dead tie in the delegates so it, like, goes on for another year," Meyers joked. "They have to postpone the general election."

But the scrutiny has also forced the late-night institution to contemplate whether it has a responsibility to provide equal doses of satire in a tightly fought race.

[...]

3 A.M. PHONE CALL


DEMOCRATIC DEBATE #2


TV FUNHOUSE: THE OBAMA FILES

heart-healthy breakfast tips from nyc fitness solutions

An old friend appeared on the CW 11 Morning News show this week... Recipes below.

[WATCH THE VIDEO -- a shameless plug, I know!]

Breakfast Of Champions




Breakfast Juice The more veggies the merrier. Green is Good!

Makes 12-20 ounces depending upon the size and season of your produce.
In a juicer of your choice add:
1/2 bunch Swiss Chard
1 Granny smith Apple washed and quartered
1 tbsp ginger root (the skin is full of vitamins make sure you wash it well if you wish to use it.
1 Large carrot, skin on
2 Stalks Celery

Vegetable juice is a great way to start your day. Make sure you follow it up with a large glass of water. Water is also an essential nutrient most people do not get enough of.


Berry Fruit Smoothie

1/2 cup all natural plain yogurt
1 pint mixed seasonal berries
1/2 cup rice or almond milk.
1 whole banana

* For an added protein and fiber boost add 1/4 cup Almond slivers or whole crushed Almonds or 1 tablespoon Peanut Butter
Blend till you find your desired consistency, if you find it a bit think add more berries, water or rice milk. This recipe will be on the thick side.

Turkey Frittata with Cherry Tomato Romesco
1 Non-stick pan
2 - Large Portabello Mushrooms cleaned and sliced thin
1/2 - Whole Red Onion peeled and sliced thin
1 - Bell Pepper sliced thin
1/2 - Pound Fresh Roasted or Smoked Turkey Diced
1/4 - Cup Roughly Chopped Italian Parsley
1/4 - Cup Thinly Sliced Basil 6-10 Large to jumbo sized eggs *depending upon the size of your pan, also beaten eggs tend to rise a bit.
1-2 - ounces olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

1) Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
2) Over a medium high heat, place your pan for 3 minutes and then add as much of the oil as you need to completely coat the pan.* (you may not wish to use it all but, don't let a recipe interrupt your breakfast)
3) Add the onion, peppers and mushroom one after, you only want to lightly saute, you will place all of the ingredients in the oven shortly.
4) Turn the heat down to a medium / medium low heat and add the turkey, *Season your egg in a bowl, add half the Basil and Parsley and whisk your eggs and add to your pan.
5) Take the whole pan and place it in the oven. Cook till the eggs are cooked through (approximately 10 minutes.) *Not all oven are created equal, some will run hot while others will run a bit cold. So check your frittata by poking a pairing knife into the middle of the deepest section to make sure your eggs are cooked. * Every time you open the oven door the internal temperature drops 25 degrees.

Cherry Tomato Romesco (the best alternative to Ketchup)

In a blender add the following:
1 Pint Cherry (or Grape) Tomatoes
1 large Red Bell Pepper
1 Clove Crushed Garlic
1/2 cup Almond Slivers - Crushed
1/2 - 1 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil (use as much or as little Extra Virgin Olive Oil as you'd like, more oil will give it a more mayonnaise like consistency and we are looking for a smooth salsa texture)
1 Teaspoon Fresh Thyme
Salt & Pepper to taste

1) In a blender pulse all of the ingredients except the Olive Oil till you have a chunky Salsa texture.
2) Turn your blender to puree mode. Carefully open the cover and then drizzle the Olive oil till you have a nice smooth (to your liking) Romesco.
3) Add salt and pepper to taste.

Heart Healthy Oatmeal with Macerated Berries

1 two quart pot
1 medium to small size bowl
1 cutting board and knife of choice
1 Cup Steel Cut Irish Oat meal
1 pint cleaned mixed berries
1 Granny Smith Apple
1 Cinnamon Stick
3 Cups water
2 cups Rice Milk
1 tsp Lemon Juice

The more traditional method (Cooking time 30 - 45 minutes)
1) Bring the water and the rice milk to a rolling boil, then add your Steel Cut Oat meal and bring the water down to a simmer (tiny rippling bubbles) and add the Cinnamon Stick.
2) Place the berries into a bowl and toss with the lemon juice. Macerating fruit will bring out all the sweet juices in it creating a natural syrup.
3) As the Oat meal simmers dice the apple and place in adulated water. ( a mixture of water and lemon juice) as the oatmeal begins to approach you desired texture, place the diced apples in the pot to heat them through.
4) When fully cooked, place the oat meal into a bowl and then garnish with your macerated fruit.

More efficient, time conscious method using the same ingredients as above. begin the night before.

Prep time 15 minutes cook time 5-10 minutes

1) Place the oat meal and 3 cups of water into a Tupperware container, add the diced apples and cinnamon sticks seal tightly and place in the refrigerator.
2) Macerate the berries as above and also place in the refrigerator. * The longer the berries Macerate the sweeter and juicier they will become.
3) In the morning, your oat meal has absorbed much of the water and is almost ready to eat. Place your oatmeal in a 2 quart pot over high heat, and heat through adding rice or almond milk to give it body. *Steal cut oat meal has a more solid texture then processed instant oatmeal so it will be a bit more al dente even after it is cooked through. 4) Serve your oatmeal in you dish of choice and top with your macerated berries.

one weekend in the valley

It's been over two years since my last trip, and a visit back home was long overdue. Here are some pics from my weekend in the San Fernando Valley.

[Sorry, Dale and Karen, we didn't get a chance to take pics, but you'll be on my side of a country in a couple of weeks anyhow! We can't wait to see you!]

my new lil buddy -- Solee...



dinner by Cindy...



backyard birthday party at Dan & Mel's







Lisa Marie's birthday outing - West Hollywood











Van Nuys Golf, followed by brunch at More than Waffles, Encino










mi familia...







one scenic view -- Stoney Point, Chatsworth


driving along Topanga Canyon...




home sweet home -- where I grew up...