A New Look for the New Year, Plus Lasting Impressions of Art Miami
December 8th, 2009 § 1 Comment
Visual Vortex - Turell Pink; HC Berg; Galerie Forsblom; Helsinki, Finland
Sometimes I think I’m the mayor of crazy town over here. I’m sure you’d agree that these days, things fly at you fast. Most of us juggle multiple jobs, not to mention on- and offline methods of socializing. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement, the whirlwind of it all. Damn you, Twitter!
Between tweets and twits and bleeps, I had the good fortune of looking at my blog last night and realizing that in many ways it no longer represents what it has become since I launched it. So I’ve made some changes. Superficially, you’ll probably first notice the new WordPress theme. Content-wise, I’ve eliminated irrelevant sidebar widgets and pages, and revised what escaped the axe. I’ve added new RSS feeds that I visit often for foodie-friendly news and musings. And thanks to fellow food blogger Mango & Lime for attempting to walk me through installing a footer plug-in for my copyright notice… Didn’t quite get that to happen, but I have a side bar alternative to show for the effort!
That brings me to the second half of this post… Now, I know in Miami we’re all Art Basel’d out, but I really enjoyed some of the work on display at this year’s Art Miami show in Midtown and wanted to share a few favorite pieces that have stuck in my mind. One would think it’s a satellite sprung from the main attraction, but no! 2009 marked its 20th anniversary. 2-0. No wonder it was such a strong showing, albeit to this untrained eye. I have artist information for all the pieces if you are interested.
Enjoy the slide show (a format I used often in my early posts,) and best wishes for a happy, healthy, and slower New Year!
smarty pants
April 9th, 2009 § 3 Comments
I was told not to leave home without it. No, it’s not my American Express card (although that will certainly be making the trip.) Nope. When I board Continental’s extended range Boeing 777 on Sunday for Delhi, a smallish book entitled Culture Smart! India will be securely fastened inside the backpack behind me. Move over Fodors. Eat dust Lonely Planet. Rather than the smartest hotels on a budget or best places to dine in a foreign city, it’s insight into local customs and etiquette in this latest must-have travel guide. Now granted, I have the ultimate version of this in my friend Mukund, whom I am visiting. But hey, it can’t hurt to get a leg up before setting foot in Asia for the first time.
Kitchen Interviews will morph into a photo journal of the people, places and foods of my travels from April 12 to 29.
Culture Smart! guides were conceived by people whose business it is to know the ins and outs of cultural buoyancy, Culture Smart! Consulting, a UK firm specializing in international management skills and cross cultural training. You can get yours at Amazon new for about $10 US, that is, if you don’t have an attentive friend in-the-know to give you a copy on the house. (Thanks Lily!) For a full list of guides, visit publisher Kuperard’s homepage.
hold the paper, hold the plastic
April 4th, 2009 § 1 Comment
For those of you who have ever ordered takeout or delivery, which I’m assuming is all of you, listen up.
According to the Clean Air Council, almost 1/3 of the waste generated in the U.S. is from packaging. The U.S. population tosses out enough paper and plastic cups, forks and spoons every year to circle the equator 300 times. And plastics take 1000 years to decompose!
Most restaurants provide an overload of paper napkins, plastic utensils and condiments with their outgoing takeout orders, often way more than is needed. The New York State Restaurant Association reports that much of it goes directly into the garbage, creating a municipal solid waste disposal headache. Or it joins a cluttered collection in our drawers and cabinets. The practice costs restaurants money, and to add insult to injury, there is a major cost to the environment.
The folks at Eco-To-Go are taking action, beginning in New York City, and asking consumers to do their part. This grass-roots initiative began in March 2007 and is an Earth-conscious collaboration between businesses and the public. Customers call in food orders at participating establishments and request their takeout or delivery order “Eco-To-Go.” The restaurant will pack the order without unnecessary paper and plastic products. Created by EcoAgents Anna Ayers and Fabian Lliguin, the program has more than NYC 35 restaurants and 250 participants signed up to date, including Adinah’s Farm Deli and Buffet, A La Turka, Al’s Coffee Cart, Cafe 69, Carrot Top, Cilantro, Coogans, Dallas BBQ, Delizia, Dos Caminos, EJ’s Luncheonette, El Deportivo, Good Health Café, Giorgio’s Pizza, Gotham Coffee House, Grace’s Marketplace, Green Kitchen Restaurant, Happy Jade House, Jou Jou Inc., Korhogo 126, Le Gourmet, Melange, Mike’s Bagels, NoLita House Restaurant and Bar, Plum Pomidor, Shangri-La, Taco King, Tayrona Café Bakery, Tony’s and University Deli. For more information on Eco-To-Go including how to become a participating restaurant visit http://ecoagents.org.
Every little effort counts, so let’s encourage Miami-area restaurants to get into the act. Who knows… Maybe the movement will take hold down here, too. In the meantime, you can show your support by becoming a fan of Eco-To-Go on Facebook. If you know of restaurants in Miami who are already practicing responsible packaging policies, please leave a comment below!
