I hope you all had a great weekend! Please find below the text of a Boston Globe article I was quoted in from Sunday's edition.
New technologies empower the vision impaired
High-tech solutions help blind "see" their way in the business world
March 30, 2008
As technophiles go, Alex Gray is on the cutting edge. With an array of high-tech gizmos at his fingertips, Gray can match his clothing using a portablecolor detector, weigh himself on his talking scale, and check the time on his talking wristwatch. His cell phone talks. So does his GPS system, his digitalbook reader, and his computer, which can convert text into speech. But Gray isn't really a futuristic techno-geek. He is blind.
"I'm certainly lucky," the 24-year-old Quincy man says of the technology that helped him land a job as a liaison for the Massachusetts Housing and ShelterAlliance in Boston. "The more skills I develop and the more technology I use, the more valuable I am as a person" and as an employee. At a time when 70percent of all legally blind, working-age individuals are unemployed, new technologies are improving the lives and the job opportunities for the visionimpaired. "I couldn't have looked for a job if it weren't for this technology," says Jim Denham, the assistive technology coordinator for Perkins Schoolfor the Blind in Watertown.
Like many blind job seekers, Denham uses a screen reader to browse the internet, send emails, and read documents. An optical scanner allows him to converttext documents into speech, and a handheld GPS-equipped computer lets him read text messages, check his calendar, find his location, and take notes inBraille. "It's really empowering," he says of the devices. "If you're going to compete in a sighted world, you need technology to level the playing field."
Gayle Yarnall thinks so too. "Between your technology and your attitude, there's not much you can't do," says Yarnall, the blind president and founder ofAdaptive Technology Consulting in Amesbury, which provides consulting, support, and training to the vision impaired and learning disabled.
While all that technology may seem cutting edge, the future promises even bigger breakthroughs for blind job seekers. This January, Nokia unveiled a cellphone that turns the text on photographed documents into speech. The device allows users to read any photographed document, including menus, newspapers,and money. Ray Kurzweil, who developed both the first software to convert text to speech in the 1970s and the software used in the Nokia phone, predictsa future in which artificial vision systems installed in eyeglasses will allow blind individuals to actually "see" objects. "We're working on softwarethat will recognize objects, logos, and faces," says Kurzweil, noting that the technology may soon also be used to map the interior of homes, offices,and other buildings.
Farther ahead on the horizon, Kurzweil says, are driverless cars that will turn sightless commuters into vehicle owners. Yet even with all those advancesin technology, blind job seekers still face some difficult challenges. Screen readers, which once let users easily scan the internet for jobs, cannot readthe distorted codes needed to gain access to some websites, says Brian Charlson, vice president of computer training services for the Carroll Center forthe Blind in Newton. Web animation, mislabeled photos, and offbeat web designs confound the screen readers even more.
The biggest challenge, however, may be in persuading employers that blind job seekers are as skilled as their sighted counterparts, he says. "There's aquiet discrimination," notes Charlson, who also is blind. The issue is getting employers to understand that with proper technology, there are few jobsblind applicants can't handle. "Employers may wonder how you can use a computer if you can't read the screen. They may worry about the paperwork you needto read or how you will take notes," says Paul Schroeder, vice president of programs and policy for the American Federation for the Blind. That's why it'scrucial to educate employers about screen readers, optical scanners, and handheld note-taking devices.
Gray doesn't wait for employers to ask how he will handle a task. He is eager to explain the technology and quick to highlight his skills. "I'm of the mindsetthat anything is possible when you are blind if you are willing to work at it and realize that you are a capable person," he says. "You have to be ableto see yourself as a person, rather than as a blind person."©
Monday, March 31, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Weekend, Willy Wonka, and Whiskey's
Greetings to all and my apologies for taking so long to post. I hope that everyone had a great work week and that they are looking forward to their weekends!
Here are a few thoughts for now and I hope to once again return to regular posts albeit in smaller portions.
In terms of a quick head’s up both Bruce Springsteen’s concert at Gillette Stadium in August and Dave Matthews Band’s shows at the Tweeter Center go on sale tomorrow morning on ticketmaster.com. Both I promise you will be worth the price of admission.
I got to meet Gene Wilder last night at the Borders Bookstore in the Back Bay. Like all of us, I grew up watching Willy Wanka time and time again so it was definitely a true honor to meet one of the top comedic actors of the twentieth century. It was very interesting to observe Wilder off the camera—to be sure I was not expecting the out going liveliness of Wilder’s on screen characters but he was much more shy and reserved than I would have expected. It is always interesting for me to observe celebrities in the real world and while Wilder did nothing to disappoint me with rudeness it was interesting to observe him—I once again realized celebrities are in the end people first.
After the signing we headed down Boylston St to Whiskey’s for our dinner. I had been to Whiskey’s for drinks before but this was the first time I had eaten there. We decided to split two sandwiches and we went with the Dixie chicken sandwich (a chicken topped with cheddar, bacon, and barbeque sauce on ciabatta bread) and the Cajon Caesar rollup. Both were very good and combined with some of the fresher fries I’ve had in a while the meal was more than solid. The service was a different story—it took us about 15 minutes before we were waited on but once she arrived our waitress was friendly and attentive. The price was fair and the two sandwiches and two sodas came to $21 before tip. I’d give Whiskey’s a respectable 3/5.
Okay that is all for now—I hope you all have a good weekend!
Here are a few thoughts for now and I hope to once again return to regular posts albeit in smaller portions.
In terms of a quick head’s up both Bruce Springsteen’s concert at Gillette Stadium in August and Dave Matthews Band’s shows at the Tweeter Center go on sale tomorrow morning on ticketmaster.com. Both I promise you will be worth the price of admission.
I got to meet Gene Wilder last night at the Borders Bookstore in the Back Bay. Like all of us, I grew up watching Willy Wanka time and time again so it was definitely a true honor to meet one of the top comedic actors of the twentieth century. It was very interesting to observe Wilder off the camera—to be sure I was not expecting the out going liveliness of Wilder’s on screen characters but he was much more shy and reserved than I would have expected. It is always interesting for me to observe celebrities in the real world and while Wilder did nothing to disappoint me with rudeness it was interesting to observe him—I once again realized celebrities are in the end people first.
After the signing we headed down Boylston St to Whiskey’s for our dinner. I had been to Whiskey’s for drinks before but this was the first time I had eaten there. We decided to split two sandwiches and we went with the Dixie chicken sandwich (a chicken topped with cheddar, bacon, and barbeque sauce on ciabatta bread) and the Cajon Caesar rollup. Both were very good and combined with some of the fresher fries I’ve had in a while the meal was more than solid. The service was a different story—it took us about 15 minutes before we were waited on but once she arrived our waitress was friendly and attentive. The price was fair and the two sandwiches and two sodas came to $21 before tip. I’d give Whiskey’s a respectable 3/5.
Okay that is all for now—I hope you all have a good weekend!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Billy's Brings Delicious Eats to the Waterfront
Billy Tse Restaurant, 240 Commercial St, Boston, MA 4.5/5
If anyone is looking for a great spot to grab Chinese food in Boston they need not look any further than Billy Tse at 240 Commercial St. It is ironic that one can find such great Chinese food in the North End but once you taste the food you’ll soon forget you are in an area more known for pizzas and pastas than it is for egg rolls and rice noodles.
We arrived at Billy’s around 6:45 on Saturday night and were welcomed in with great hospitality and service. About 10 – 15 minutes after arriving at the restaurant we were seated, with drinks, and with food—this was quite an accomplishment especially on a Saturday night.
The prices for Billy’s are quite fair—around $8-9 for noodle plates and $11-13 for those with meat--and considering the large portions one could even consider them a bargain. We tried the Kung Pao Chicken which was extremely fresh and accompanied by crisp vegetables. The sesame chicken was also great and delivered a very sweet option to contrast with the spicy Kung Pao.
The service is friendly and attentive and as mentioned above fast. Its location—smack dab on Boston’s waterfront—is a very scenic one but unfortunately we weren’t able to take advantage of the surroundings this past Saturday because of the flooding rain and early March temperature.
If one is longing for a new destination on their Boston Chinese food map than they should circle Billy Tse as their next stop.
If anyone is looking for a great spot to grab Chinese food in Boston they need not look any further than Billy Tse at 240 Commercial St. It is ironic that one can find such great Chinese food in the North End but once you taste the food you’ll soon forget you are in an area more known for pizzas and pastas than it is for egg rolls and rice noodles.
We arrived at Billy’s around 6:45 on Saturday night and were welcomed in with great hospitality and service. About 10 – 15 minutes after arriving at the restaurant we were seated, with drinks, and with food—this was quite an accomplishment especially on a Saturday night.
The prices for Billy’s are quite fair—around $8-9 for noodle plates and $11-13 for those with meat--and considering the large portions one could even consider them a bargain. We tried the Kung Pao Chicken which was extremely fresh and accompanied by crisp vegetables. The sesame chicken was also great and delivered a very sweet option to contrast with the spicy Kung Pao.
The service is friendly and attentive and as mentioned above fast. Its location—smack dab on Boston’s waterfront—is a very scenic one but unfortunately we weren’t able to take advantage of the surroundings this past Saturday because of the flooding rain and early March temperature.
If one is longing for a new destination on their Boston Chinese food map than they should circle Billy Tse as their next stop.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Celtics, Champs, Chills, and More
Here are some thoughts that are rattling around my head this afternoon.
Kevin Garnett is officially back. He might have missed nine games with an injured abdomen but last night against the Detroit Pistons one could hardly tell he had ever missed a beat. Garnett’s intensity is so great that it has the ability to have an early March regular season game seem as though it is a playoff game seven. No matter what Al Jefferson ends up being as a basketball player it will be hard to argue with Ainge’s trade simply based on the life that has returned to Celtics games as a result of Garnett’s presence.
Steve Phillips of ESPN brought up the amazing fact in Thursday’s broadcast of the Red Sox spring training game against the Dodgers that 23 players out of the 25 players from the Red Sox 2007 roster are still around going into 2008 spring training. That is a 92% pretension rate. In the free agent era, I can’t remember when a championship team went into the next season with so many hold-overs.
The contrast of the 2007 retention rate was even more illuminated by the fact that the Dodgers starter Thursday was former Sox hurler Derrick Lowe. With the mass exodus of 2004 that was led by Pedro Martinez and Lowe it is hard to believe that the Red Sox are still under essentially the same exact ownership and management.
During the same ESPN broadcast the fact was brought up that every Red Sox home spring training game since 2003 has been sold out. Every game has been sold out at Fenway Park during this same exact time. It is hard to imagine this streak coming to an end any time soon.
And now for the creepy portion of this post--MSNBC had a special last night entitled “The Mind of Manson” chronicling the the life and times of Charles Manson. The program relied heavily on a 1987 Today Show broadcast which featured an interview with Manson and analysis from a former F.B.I. crime profiler. I have to admit that watching this interview was one of the most chilling, yet gripping, things I’ve watched in a while. People the likes of Manson often seem inhuman and beyond comprehension and while the program did nothing to completely remove this about Manson—it was fascinating to hear the psychological analysis of the interview that was provided throughout the program.
If anyone is looking for something to do this weekend they might want to look into the Harpoon Brewery’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration. The cover of $15 is a bit steep but it does include a free pint glass and hours of music. For anyone busy the actual St. Patrick’s Day weekend it might be a nice alternative.
One week until I leave for Florida and Red Sox Spring Training!
Kevin Garnett is officially back. He might have missed nine games with an injured abdomen but last night against the Detroit Pistons one could hardly tell he had ever missed a beat. Garnett’s intensity is so great that it has the ability to have an early March regular season game seem as though it is a playoff game seven. No matter what Al Jefferson ends up being as a basketball player it will be hard to argue with Ainge’s trade simply based on the life that has returned to Celtics games as a result of Garnett’s presence.
Steve Phillips of ESPN brought up the amazing fact in Thursday’s broadcast of the Red Sox spring training game against the Dodgers that 23 players out of the 25 players from the Red Sox 2007 roster are still around going into 2008 spring training. That is a 92% pretension rate. In the free agent era, I can’t remember when a championship team went into the next season with so many hold-overs.
The contrast of the 2007 retention rate was even more illuminated by the fact that the Dodgers starter Thursday was former Sox hurler Derrick Lowe. With the mass exodus of 2004 that was led by Pedro Martinez and Lowe it is hard to believe that the Red Sox are still under essentially the same exact ownership and management.
During the same ESPN broadcast the fact was brought up that every Red Sox home spring training game since 2003 has been sold out. Every game has been sold out at Fenway Park during this same exact time. It is hard to imagine this streak coming to an end any time soon.
And now for the creepy portion of this post--MSNBC had a special last night entitled “The Mind of Manson” chronicling the the life and times of Charles Manson. The program relied heavily on a 1987 Today Show broadcast which featured an interview with Manson and analysis from a former F.B.I. crime profiler. I have to admit that watching this interview was one of the most chilling, yet gripping, things I’ve watched in a while. People the likes of Manson often seem inhuman and beyond comprehension and while the program did nothing to completely remove this about Manson—it was fascinating to hear the psychological analysis of the interview that was provided throughout the program.
If anyone is looking for something to do this weekend they might want to look into the Harpoon Brewery’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration. The cover of $15 is a bit steep but it does include a free pint glass and hours of music. For anyone busy the actual St. Patrick’s Day weekend it might be a nice alternative.
One week until I leave for Florida and Red Sox Spring Training!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
"In Bruges" is Murderously Funny
“In Bruges” (In theaters now) 3.5/5
In a film year marked thus far by action and drama more than anything else, “In Bruges” offers film fans a rare treat—a film both funny and thoughtful. Picking up where “Juno” left off, In Bruges deals with a much different subject matter than Juno did-- Irish hit men and their ability to deal with the after effects of their craft; however, the film’s effectiveness draws from the same strengths that Juno relied on—an ability to interweave whit and thought into something that transcends the modern one note comedy.
In Bruges stars a two man hit men team of Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) who are forced to travel to the Belgian town of Bruges in an attempt to hide out from their most recent murder. While in Bruges, the two men are forced to put up with the other’s biting sense of humor while they gradually come to terms with their violent craft. The two hit men are contracted by Harry (Ralph Fiennes) and they eventually come face to face with him in a hilarious confrontation that somehow makes a blood-soaked gun fight a light and humorous affair. The seriousness of the film is not always at the forefront of the film and is often lost in a storm of one-liners but small snapshots throughout the movie give us glimpses of the struggles that the characters, especially Ray, face.
All of this mixes with a splash of drugs, midgets, and sex to produce a movie that will keep you guessing, and most likely laughing, for its duration.
In a film year marked thus far by action and drama more than anything else, “In Bruges” offers film fans a rare treat—a film both funny and thoughtful. Picking up where “Juno” left off, In Bruges deals with a much different subject matter than Juno did-- Irish hit men and their ability to deal with the after effects of their craft; however, the film’s effectiveness draws from the same strengths that Juno relied on—an ability to interweave whit and thought into something that transcends the modern one note comedy.
In Bruges stars a two man hit men team of Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) who are forced to travel to the Belgian town of Bruges in an attempt to hide out from their most recent murder. While in Bruges, the two men are forced to put up with the other’s biting sense of humor while they gradually come to terms with their violent craft. The two hit men are contracted by Harry (Ralph Fiennes) and they eventually come face to face with him in a hilarious confrontation that somehow makes a blood-soaked gun fight a light and humorous affair. The seriousness of the film is not always at the forefront of the film and is often lost in a storm of one-liners but small snapshots throughout the movie give us glimpses of the struggles that the characters, especially Ray, face.
All of this mixes with a splash of drugs, midgets, and sex to produce a movie that will keep you guessing, and most likely laughing, for its duration.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Boxing Poised to Take a Big Swing
Is boxing on its way back?
The “sweet science” has taken its blows over the past decade or so but it seems at least to this fan that it is beginning to turn the corner. 2007 saw many highlights in the sport of boxing and 2008 does not show any signs that boxing will be slowing down.
The real jumping off point for boxing came last May 5 when Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather squared off in the highest grossing fight in boxing history. And while the fight, dubbed by promoters as “The World Awaits,” still has some fight fans waiting for the unrealistic expectations fans had for the fight to be met—it is undeniable that De LA Hoya v. Mayweather delivered a much needed shot in the arm to the fight game. HBO’s innovative coverage of the fight especially their creation of a television series dubbed “24/7” brought fans closer to the lead-up to a major fight than they had ever been before. The fact that it was a good, solid, clean, fight did little to subdue the frustration of those casual fans who threw down $54.99 expecting “The Rumble in the Jungle,” Hagler v. Hearns, and Ward v. Gatti all rolled into one—but for those more expert fans the fight was a competitive one that thankfully did nothing to embarrass the sport. And a lack of embarrassment as sad as it may sound is a step in the right direction after the Mike Tyson era.
The fall also saw a series of competitive and exciting fights that continued to give those fans anteing-up $44.99 or more per show their money’s worth. September’s Jermain Taylor v. Kelly Pavlik’s eight round thriller that saw Pavlik take a step on to boxing’s big stage with a knockout victory while at the same time giving Taylor his first defeat. In addition, Mayweather returned to boxing’s main stage in December where he knocked out British favorite Ricky Hatton in a competitive and at times very exciting bout. This past weekend Kelly Pavlik once again defeated Jermain Taylor in a unanimous decision in a fight that most in attendance seem to agree was a competitive one.
This coming weekend boxing’s spotlight returns to what used to be its main stage-a heavyweight championship bout. With every Tyson embarrassment the heavyweight division lost a bit more of its respect and while American fans rightfully shifted their focus towards lower weight classes what has emerged is an international hold on the heavyweight crown—a title that for decades was considered something owed to someone born in America as much as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is.
The two participants in this weekend’s heavyweight unification bout are Ukrainian born Wladimir Klitschko (49-3) and Russian born Sultan Ibragimov (22-0-1). The fight seeks to unify the heavyweight championship for the first time since 1999 when Lennox Lewis was able to. Luckily for fight fans the night’s events will be broadcast on HBO and you will not need to fork over $44.99 or more to take in the match. And to add to the night’s events HBO will be airing a documentary on Joe Louis before the fight. The documentary should serve as a perfect display of where the title once was and where it is now.
The fight is not drawing nearly as much attention as De La Hoya v. Mayweather did or even Hatton v. Mayweather was able to but it has the potential to provide the sport something it hasn’t had in years—a competitive and exciting heavyweight title fight. And with a setting of Madison Square Garden, known around the world as the “Mecca of boxing,” boxing couldn’t ask for a better host. All the cards are in place for boxing to take another big step forward—all that is needed is for both fighters to show up willing to mix it up.
Boxing has come a ways over the past year but there are few things that it could benefit more from than a great fight from the heavyweight division. And while there is no guarantee that the match up will provide such entertainment at least the bout gives us something to look forward to while we wait for Floyd Mayweather to first strap on wrestling trunks at March’s WWE Wrestlemania XIV and then hopefully take on Oscar De La Hoya one more time in the fall.
The “sweet science” has taken its blows over the past decade or so but it seems at least to this fan that it is beginning to turn the corner. 2007 saw many highlights in the sport of boxing and 2008 does not show any signs that boxing will be slowing down.
The real jumping off point for boxing came last May 5 when Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather squared off in the highest grossing fight in boxing history. And while the fight, dubbed by promoters as “The World Awaits,” still has some fight fans waiting for the unrealistic expectations fans had for the fight to be met—it is undeniable that De LA Hoya v. Mayweather delivered a much needed shot in the arm to the fight game. HBO’s innovative coverage of the fight especially their creation of a television series dubbed “24/7” brought fans closer to the lead-up to a major fight than they had ever been before. The fact that it was a good, solid, clean, fight did little to subdue the frustration of those casual fans who threw down $54.99 expecting “The Rumble in the Jungle,” Hagler v. Hearns, and Ward v. Gatti all rolled into one—but for those more expert fans the fight was a competitive one that thankfully did nothing to embarrass the sport. And a lack of embarrassment as sad as it may sound is a step in the right direction after the Mike Tyson era.
The fall also saw a series of competitive and exciting fights that continued to give those fans anteing-up $44.99 or more per show their money’s worth. September’s Jermain Taylor v. Kelly Pavlik’s eight round thriller that saw Pavlik take a step on to boxing’s big stage with a knockout victory while at the same time giving Taylor his first defeat. In addition, Mayweather returned to boxing’s main stage in December where he knocked out British favorite Ricky Hatton in a competitive and at times very exciting bout. This past weekend Kelly Pavlik once again defeated Jermain Taylor in a unanimous decision in a fight that most in attendance seem to agree was a competitive one.
This coming weekend boxing’s spotlight returns to what used to be its main stage-a heavyweight championship bout. With every Tyson embarrassment the heavyweight division lost a bit more of its respect and while American fans rightfully shifted their focus towards lower weight classes what has emerged is an international hold on the heavyweight crown—a title that for decades was considered something owed to someone born in America as much as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is.
The two participants in this weekend’s heavyweight unification bout are Ukrainian born Wladimir Klitschko (49-3) and Russian born Sultan Ibragimov (22-0-1). The fight seeks to unify the heavyweight championship for the first time since 1999 when Lennox Lewis was able to. Luckily for fight fans the night’s events will be broadcast on HBO and you will not need to fork over $44.99 or more to take in the match. And to add to the night’s events HBO will be airing a documentary on Joe Louis before the fight. The documentary should serve as a perfect display of where the title once was and where it is now.
The fight is not drawing nearly as much attention as De La Hoya v. Mayweather did or even Hatton v. Mayweather was able to but it has the potential to provide the sport something it hasn’t had in years—a competitive and exciting heavyweight title fight. And with a setting of Madison Square Garden, known around the world as the “Mecca of boxing,” boxing couldn’t ask for a better host. All the cards are in place for boxing to take another big step forward—all that is needed is for both fighters to show up willing to mix it up.
Boxing has come a ways over the past year but there are few things that it could benefit more from than a great fight from the heavyweight division. And while there is no guarantee that the match up will provide such entertainment at least the bout gives us something to look forward to while we wait for Floyd Mayweather to first strap on wrestling trunks at March’s WWE Wrestlemania XIV and then hopefully take on Oscar De La Hoya one more time in the fall.
Start Spreading the News...
I hope that each of you had a great President’s Day Weekend. Hopefully you had Monday off or at the very least had a quiet day.
This past weekend found me down in New York, New York. I went down to visit with my former Jesuit Volunteer Corps roommates Sarah and Ben as well as take in all that Gotham City has to offer.
My friend, Mairead, and I took an Amtrak down Friday night in time to catch our old Boston College friend, Greg Johnson, finish up his comedy routine. Greg hosts a variety show at a bar, Rififfi, that is in the East Village at 332 East 11th St. Greg along with his co-host Larry Murphy just won a city-wide award for best variety comedy show in all of New York. The show has drawn a bunch of name comics and Friday night Eugene Mirman who was just featured in an HBO special was performing. Friday night Sarah and I also got to check out the restaurant, Three of Cups, which is a pretty good choice for Italian dining in the East Village. I went for the gnocchi in a plum tomato sauce and it was a solid choice.
Saturday morning I made my maiden voyage to Long Island where I got to visit my friend Sarah’s homeland. After overwhelming her poor dog, Bailey, with energy and attention for a few hours we returned to Manhattan. We met up with Ben and headed over for another first for me—Vietnamese dining. We went to Saigon Grill which if I understand correctly has a few locations in New York. I went with the ginger honey chicken which was very good. And in what might come as a surprise to most of you who know me I was even daring enough to try some coconut shrimp and peanut beef wantons. I have to admit that I was a fan of all of the food.
Sunday Sarah and I went over to Midtown Manhattan to try to get tickets at the half price ticket booth on Broadway. We were lucky enough to snag a pair of orchestra seats to see Tom Stoppard’s “Rock N Roll.” The play focuses on the relationship between Czechoslovakia and communism as it begins to fade away in the second half of the twentieth century. The play weaves in rock hits from such legends as The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, and U2 to serve as a backdrop from which the play can be viewed. Rock N Roll is one of the more talked about plays on Broadway in 2008 and it is worthy of the attention. It runs through February at the Jacobs Theater on 45th St and Broadway.
Monday I met up with Ben and got to check out Mud Coffee which is the restaurant he works for. Mud is a very trendy spot in the East Village. While Ben and I were eating lunch sitting one table behind us were Saturday Night Live stars Rachel Dratch and Will Forte. It is definitely worth checking out if you are in Manhattan’s East Village.
The weekend wrapped up with our attendance of a live taping of the Late Night with Conan O’Brien Show. Guests on the show Monday were actor and comedian Larry “The Cable Guy,” Project Runway host Tim Gunn, and blue grass singer Jim Lauderdale. The tickets to the Conan tapings are free and tickets can be obtained through the NBC Show Tickets box office at (212) 664-3056. The tickets are generally booked 4-6 weeks ahead of the show date and are randomly opened up so it is best to constantly check for their availability.
I’d highly recommend anyone attend one of the tapings. The show is very impressive to watch and even more impressive is the ease that Conan displays in working through the show. At our taping there were no pauses or retakes and Conan was as funny and charismatic as he seems on TV. Before the show, Conan spent about five minutes warming up the crowd and even hugged a few lucky male fans and encouraged them to do the same to each other—it was quite an icebreaker. The whole experience lasts about two and a half hours and allowed us to get to the Port Authority for an 8:00 bus back to Boston.
All and all it was a very full and exciting long weekend.
This past weekend found me down in New York, New York. I went down to visit with my former Jesuit Volunteer Corps roommates Sarah and Ben as well as take in all that Gotham City has to offer.
My friend, Mairead, and I took an Amtrak down Friday night in time to catch our old Boston College friend, Greg Johnson, finish up his comedy routine. Greg hosts a variety show at a bar, Rififfi, that is in the East Village at 332 East 11th St. Greg along with his co-host Larry Murphy just won a city-wide award for best variety comedy show in all of New York. The show has drawn a bunch of name comics and Friday night Eugene Mirman who was just featured in an HBO special was performing. Friday night Sarah and I also got to check out the restaurant, Three of Cups, which is a pretty good choice for Italian dining in the East Village. I went for the gnocchi in a plum tomato sauce and it was a solid choice.
Saturday morning I made my maiden voyage to Long Island where I got to visit my friend Sarah’s homeland. After overwhelming her poor dog, Bailey, with energy and attention for a few hours we returned to Manhattan. We met up with Ben and headed over for another first for me—Vietnamese dining. We went to Saigon Grill which if I understand correctly has a few locations in New York. I went with the ginger honey chicken which was very good. And in what might come as a surprise to most of you who know me I was even daring enough to try some coconut shrimp and peanut beef wantons. I have to admit that I was a fan of all of the food.
Sunday Sarah and I went over to Midtown Manhattan to try to get tickets at the half price ticket booth on Broadway. We were lucky enough to snag a pair of orchestra seats to see Tom Stoppard’s “Rock N Roll.” The play focuses on the relationship between Czechoslovakia and communism as it begins to fade away in the second half of the twentieth century. The play weaves in rock hits from such legends as The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, and U2 to serve as a backdrop from which the play can be viewed. Rock N Roll is one of the more talked about plays on Broadway in 2008 and it is worthy of the attention. It runs through February at the Jacobs Theater on 45th St and Broadway.
Monday I met up with Ben and got to check out Mud Coffee which is the restaurant he works for. Mud is a very trendy spot in the East Village. While Ben and I were eating lunch sitting one table behind us were Saturday Night Live stars Rachel Dratch and Will Forte. It is definitely worth checking out if you are in Manhattan’s East Village.
The weekend wrapped up with our attendance of a live taping of the Late Night with Conan O’Brien Show. Guests on the show Monday were actor and comedian Larry “The Cable Guy,” Project Runway host Tim Gunn, and blue grass singer Jim Lauderdale. The tickets to the Conan tapings are free and tickets can be obtained through the NBC Show Tickets box office at (212) 664-3056. The tickets are generally booked 4-6 weeks ahead of the show date and are randomly opened up so it is best to constantly check for their availability.
I’d highly recommend anyone attend one of the tapings. The show is very impressive to watch and even more impressive is the ease that Conan displays in working through the show. At our taping there were no pauses or retakes and Conan was as funny and charismatic as he seems on TV. Before the show, Conan spent about five minutes warming up the crowd and even hugged a few lucky male fans and encouraged them to do the same to each other—it was quite an icebreaker. The whole experience lasts about two and a half hours and allowed us to get to the Port Authority for an 8:00 bus back to Boston.
All and all it was a very full and exciting long weekend.
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