Reality Shows That Are Actually Good- No. 1

NUMBER ONE: The Amazing Race, Tuesdays at 9 PM on CBS

I love this show. I believe that a show reveals the heart of its producer, which is why most of Mark Burnett's shows, such as The Survivor or The Apprentice, end in finger pointing and betrayal. Unfortunately, his latest show, The Contender, ended in suicide, which I am sure was the result of things that were going on in the contestant's life prior to show, but it does tell a viewer something that Burnett appears to purposely screen for people who have more problems than not.

The Amazing Race (TAR) is an elaborate worldwide scavenger hunt. The contestants are pairs of contestants who knew each other before the start of the show-a parent and child, longtime friends, siblings, married or dating couples. At the beginning of the show, each pair gets a clue to go to a specific destination and a sum of money to get there. On the way to the destination, the pair must do certain tasks-either a Detour or a Roadblock.

A Detour is a choice between two tasks, and each task has its pros and cons. Either the task is easy but takes too long or difficult but is much shorter. A Roadblock is a task performed by only one of the pairs, and one person can only do a maximum number of roadblocks. The tasks are not usually humiliating, but are challenging. Some tasks may require patience, observation, agility or just brute strength. The last pair to get to the pit stop will either get eliminated or penalized by getting all their money taken from them.

At the end of the show, Phil Keogan, the host and producer of TAR, invites the couple to say something great that they learned about their partner during the race. Some pairs are less than appealing, so this resolution is harder than it sounds, but Phil always manages to pull it out of them. The pairs generally look at each other in tears and express words of love and appreciation to each other.

Phil really appears to be a decent fellow. I have watched six seasons of this show and am amazed that more often than not he tries to really emphasize important things: appreciate what you have, the trip is the reward, you can do anything, it is good to learn about other people and cultures, step out of your comfort zone. All trite, but true.

TAR is the only reality show that I would want to go on. I am actually learning how to swim and learned how to ride a bike and drive (although I still do not know how to drive with a stick shift and am horrible at parking) in the effort to go on this show one day.

My potential partners are getting dissuaded one by one. One of my friends since junior high, a huge fan of the show, had a horrific car encounter in one trip to LA. Another friend thinks that her stomach may not enjoy world travel as much as she would. Also I question the wisdom of going on the show at all because the one downside to being a contestant on TAR is that I may be on television.

No one is perfect 24 hours a day, and even the best contestant on TAR has embarassing or horrific moments. I would rather not have my imperfections memorialized in the nation's mind and television archives. I would have to really trust Phil to rehabilitate my reputation or just stay quiet the entire time.

Perhaps the real lesson of the show is that it is important to not only value others in retrospect, but also while you are in the middle of a stressful and unfamiliar situation. It is most difficult to watch the pairs who cannot forget mistakes. In the end, talking about the error is more debiliatating than the actual error.

I have learned the most from watching couples like Chip and Kim or Kris and Jon. They constantly cheered and complimented each other while moving quickly over any errors. What distinguished these two couples from the other pairs is that they seemed to really enjoy the scenery and each other's company. In the end, TAR is a great show because the prize is getting on the show, spending time with someone that you love and travelling the world. The million dollar prize is only an afterthought.

Reality Shows That Are Actually Good- No. 2

NUMBER TWO: America's Next Top Model, Wednesdays at 8 PM or Fridays at 9 PM on UPN

I know. I know. I already wrote about this show. At this very instant, your IQ may be plummeting at the mere thought of watching ANTM, but everyone needs a guilty pleasure.

I watch ANTM because I love getting a glimpse of the fashion designers and personalities whom I have only read about before. Before Gwen Stefani sang about those Harajuku Girls, ANTM showcased Tokyo as a growing fashion city just like such fashion capitals as Paris, London, NYC and Milan. I am also interested in being introduced to characters that I did not know of before such as Mikimoto, Nolé Marin and Miss Minnie, his little dog.

Sometimes I feel like I have to justify my interests to others who do not find them "useful," i.e. interests that do not have the potential to generate money or help others, but these people put so much energy and passion into this ephemeral industry as if it held the key to world peace. Anyone who ever experienced vocational doubts should watch this show for inspiration.

Unfortunately, the contestants may not benefit from this display of self assurance. It is disturbing to see the contestants' self-confidence deteoriate in the face of each elimination round. Like other reality shows, the contestants are forced to live together in order to compete and form opposing cliques in order to dominate over others; however, there must be some method to the madness, because the contestants begin to take great photos and learn how to make commercial art.

ANTM's goal, as stated in Cycle 1 by Tyra Banks, the executive producer, to a contestant with past pageant experience, is to assert that models are not beauty queens. I am not sure whether other models' would agree with Tyra Banks or Janice Dickinson, but it is clear that ANTM views a model as more than a pretty face. Models must be inspired by everything around them, such as their family background, movies, other forms of visual art, photographers' and fellow models' past work, then harness that inspiration in order to convey the desirability of a product.

ANTM does not necessarily award the prize to the contestant who takes the best photo or wins the most reward challenges. In the prior three cycles, the contestants who won were knowledgeable about the fashion industry and were enthusiastic during every shoot. ANTM rewards those who are most passionate about their chosen profession, not those who want something from the fashion industry.

Reality Shows That Are Actually Good- No. 3

NUMBER THREE: The Road to Stardom with Missy Elliott, Wednesday at 9 PM or Fridays at 8 PM on UPN

Forget American Idol with the mediocre criticism and commercial talent. America's next star should come from this show. The Road's final episode airs this week. I was not going to watch this show because as much as I like occasionally listening to Get Ur Freak On, I could not imagine how this show was going to distinguish itself from other shows featuring wannabe stars.

I started watching The Road during the second episode. I was impressed by the show for many reasons. First, the contestants have a lot of talents. Unlike their counterparts on American Idol, they are not given a list of preauthorized songs to drone to and bop their heads to like zombies with a fake plastered smile, but are expected to write songs at the spur of the moment and choreograph an elaborate dance routine at a drop of a hat.

Second, the contestants' lives and history are just as compelling as the show. In one challenge, they were expected to construct an art piece from the materials in a junk yard to describe their past. Not only are they amazing vocal artists, but their visual compositions and accompanying narratives were compelling. I did not want any of them to be eliminated after hearing about how their past shaped their work today. There are not many shows where artists are asked about what made them choose a certain path in life. From physical abuse to abortion, these artists exposed the raw nerve in their life. For the most part, these contestants respected each other as artists and wanted the most talented ones to stay.

Finally, elimination decisions were not based on sound bites that could be easily aired on Entertainment Tonight, but actually rooted in honest criticism of the artist's work and ability to work in the business. I was surprised at how much thought and consideration was put into Missy Elliott's criticisms. Her judges are self confident and do not seem to need a show to validate their feeling of self-importance.

Mona Scott rocks! I do not know a lot about her, but this executive producer is confident, beautiful and strong during every appearance on The Road. Any woman who can appear so poised, have a successful career in two difficult industries (television and music), and have a family is remarkable. When she appears, a viewer does not know about her personal life or her struggles, and frankly I prefer that approach. I do not want to know about Randy Jackson's weight loss, Simon Cowell's love interest or Paula Abdul's next career move. The show should not be about the judges' fame-whoring efforts, but should further the goal of looking for the best performer. Mona does her job well.

Dallas Austin also deserves kudos. He notices the slightest changes in each contestant's performances and songs and really appears to love creating music.

What really surprised me about the judges? They cut one contestant out of the show when he used a sexual vulgarity to insult a fellow contestant in a rapping faceoff challenge. I scoffed at the idea that their precious little ears burned because each of them worked in the urban music industry. Come on!! They have not only heard worse, but probably have promoted artists guilty of same transgression.

Still, they appeared to really believe in what they said, and Missy Elliott even went so far as to check in with the contestant who was involved in that face off. When the contestant did not seem offended, Missy Elliott seemed alarmed at her lack of indignation. This contestant seemed to be used to being treated badly in a sexual context, which was apparent from the start of the show, and Missy Elliott practically shook her and said 'Get some self respect.'

In the end, this show is about being creatively involved in every aspect of your career. Those contestants who tried to fit into a certain image or could only show talent in one area were soon eliminated. Missy Elliott appears to want an artist who has enough talent to be well rounded and stand up against a music industry which may push an artist into betraying their past experiences or artistic ideas in exchange for commercial success. I hope that UPN gives the Road another opportunity to show viewers that music is not about fame or money, but a person's voice.

Dear WB, I Miss Angel

Dear WB,

I miss Angel. Each week on Wednesday (or whatever night you hid it---I think Angel was once scheduled on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday before it finally had the same night for a few years), I was riveted by the story lines. I would read about the upcoming episode and think, "This description sounds like crap. How in the world can the son of two vampires have a daughter older than him and of a different race from both of her parents who will take over the world in the same episode? There is no way you can pull this off. "

Then I would watch it and not only think that it was amazing, but that the writers were remarkable for not only making me suspend disbelief, but believe these fantastic storylines. It made it humiliating to explain the story to others who were unfamiliar with the show, but it also taught me a valuable lesson that more overt intellectuals such as J.R.R. Tolkien tried to champion.

Also, it made me rethink what it means to be a "champion." Unlike Buffy the Vampire Slayer(BTVS), Angel was never ultimately vindicated for any thing that he did. He knew that he could never make up for any evil that he did. Certainly Buffy shared in the fear that her fight against evil was futile, but in the end, she won. I am the first to admit that it is a simplification of the BTVS plot, which I loved, but at the end of her series, I felt like the theme of her show was that to win against evil, power and responsibility must be shared. With the power of friendship and the unity of a group, anything, even one's inclination for self destruction, may be overcome.

Angel's plot also asserted this theme. For goodness sake, his group of friends stayed together as they died off one by one (and regardless of frequent betrayals and reverting to their sinful natures), but it was more like the real world. Even if Angel & the Fang Gang did the right thing for the right reason, it did not necessarily make a difference in their time. It was one battle in the war, and they did not reap the rewards.

Angel's writers never coddled them, and they always seemed doomed, but that did not stop them from fighting. I know that you are not going to resume the show, and the characters are probably dead in their fictional universe, but if you watched the last episode (and you probably didn't watch any of the episodes, so I will helpfully summarize it), it ended with our hero, Angel, the vampire with a soul, and his friends battling all the forces of evil in a rainy alley in L.A.

The writers did not even give them an umbrella or a sweater! I always worried about them, but they knew that "Nothing in the world is what it ought to be. Its harsh and cruel, but that is why there is us...champions. It doesn't matter where we come from, what we've done or suffered or even if we make a difference. We live as though the world were as it should be, to show it what it can be."

Angel brought to the small screen what I believe as a Christian. By the grace of God, I have a soul and have not been given to the depravity of my nature, not because I deserve it. Actually, it is in spite of my nature and what I deserve that I have been given grace, but grace does not mean that I am suddenly perfect. If anything, it creates a new battle against evil in myself, in the world, among my friends and all those whom I try to help but instead hurt.

Because I can see how wrong I am and the world is, I must reflect this grace by trying to do better through my actions, i.e. works, even if my actions may not be visible in this world. Bad things happen to good people because there are no good people, including me. "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." (Ephesians 6:13)

I win by taking a stand. Our choice does matter--regardless of the outcome in our lives. It is not my responsibilty to win in the fight against good and evil, but to try to do good in case my choice or action will be the one that matters "for such a time as this (Esther 4:14)." It may result in something dramatic that changes my life for the better, but even if it does not (Daniel 3:18), I will still try to act as things should be on earth as they are in heaven.

So thank you for Angel. I try to fill my Wednesday nights with ABC action packed drama hits such as Lost and Alias, but it is not quite the same. Angel was not only entertaining, but it meant something and for that reason, I will dearly miss it.

Best Seafood Restaurants IMHO

I do not regret formerly working for a big Boston firm. You may think it is the money or the legal experience, but for me, primarily, it is the food. Firms constantly coax law students to working for them by providing lavish restaurant invitations and offers those incentives to associates who are willing to continue the cycle of life by continuing the ruse that law firms are nothing but food tasting activities with small dollops of work in between.

When I was in 5th grade, I first tasted and loved sushi, but it was the exception to my general rule that raw food is disgusting and should be avoided at all costs. If I had not worked at the firm, I would not have been forced to revoke this rule. At one three hour lunch, raw clams and oysters, the jewels of the ocean, were brought to the table as the appetizers, and I cautiously decided to try each one. I gingerly pried the slimy meat from the shell and was hooked after the first taste.

I have not had the good fortune of sampling the raw bar at every seafood restaurant, but I have had the privilege of sampling the raw bar at Kingfish and the Atlantic Fish Co. Both restaurants provide a wonderful selection of fresh raw shellfish. In addition, each restaurant offers delicious bread. Kingfish has the advantage of decor and presentation, plus their bread has special seasonings. The Atlantic Fish Co. has no pretension and provides more comfortable seating. The Atlantic Fish Co's fresh bread with premelted butter is addictive and can make you forget about the main course.

Unfortunately both restaurants are rather expensive. If you do not want to leave Cambridge and still have delicious seafood, then I would recommend Dolphin Seafood. Dolphin Seafood does not offer a raw bar, but does offer raw selections in the appetizer selection. In addition, the rolls are similarly as distracting as the bread offered at the Atlantic Fish Co. Because it is located in Cambridge, the restaurant can be more accomodating to large parties with small wallets. The wait staff is very attentive and eager to please.

Of course, each of the aforementioned restaurants offer more mainstream seafood selections for those reluctant to try the uncooked portion of the menu.

ADDENDUM: Tuesday, 2/22/05
I forgot the East Coast Grill (ECG), and for that, I apologize profusely! Oddly enough, I have never tasted the Raw Bar there, but on one random occasion, I did have Sunday brunch there and renewed my love for ham steak and authentic chorizo. They were offered in a special, "Green Eggs and Ham." The green eggs were prepared over easy and had some type of seasoning, which made it look green.

When I use the term 'ham steak,' I use it literally. The ham steak was almost as large as the plate and 1/2 inch thick. Most of the time, when you see ham steak on the menu, it is something that is offered in the cold cuts aisle in the supermarket next to Oscar Mayer, which is adequate for home use, but insufficient for any restaurant to offer.

In addition, I ordered the chorizo as a side dish, and the staff happily obliged my love for meat! It was a real chorizo link--substantial, full of spice and not an overpowering smoky flavor.

I'm not sure why I did not try the seafood that Sunday, but I think that it had something to do with my adoration for Anthony Bourdain and fanatically adhering to his advice to stay away from certain dishes at certain times. In retrospect, it was a silly thing to do, particularly considering how amazing this restaurant is. I will not make the same mistake twice and will obey AB's other rule to throw caution to the wind when trying something new.

Breakfast in Cambridge

There is no greater tragedy than wanting eggs overeasy and knowing that there are eggs in the kitchen, but for mysterious reasons, the chef cannot prepare them even though the menu features many other, more complicated dishes which require eggs as part of the ingredients. Oh IHOP, I sing of your glory and beckon you to come to Cambridge or a location near public transportation! IHOP with your fluffy yet not digustingly filling pancakes and copious side dishes!

Well, I suppose it is better to support local restaurants, and there are plenty of wonderful places to choose from. My favorite breakfast spot is S&S Restaurant, which has been serving great food since 1919. The servings are plentiful, and the food quality is perfect. For the longest time, they did not take credit cards so I was reluctant to go there. How can I know ahead of time how much cash I needed to bring when the menu beckoned me with so many tasty delights?

It was entirely too limiting, but I am happy to say that once this barrier was removed, I could finally indulge in three eggs, either scrambled or overeasy, bacon, sausage, a small fruit salad, two slices of buttered toast and a side of steak (you read that correctly--a side of steak is a delightful way to finish a meal). If you would prefer one of their specialized omelettes, pancake specials or bagels with different sides, then S&S will be happy to oblige. Do not be discouraged by the long lines and the wait. You are just lucky to be in the same room as such exquisite food--homemade favorites served with restaurant perfection and precision.

If you would prefer a diner with less foot traffic, then go to Andy's Diner, which has been open since 1958. Andy's Diner is like your average diner with above average taste. Sure you have to seat yourself, and you must carry cash because they do not take traveller's checks or credit cards, but those are the only downsides. Andy's Diner offers immense portions. My favorite dish is the Lumber Jack Special, which offers three eggs, ham, homefries and toast, but I still order an extra side of sausages so I can refrigerate and snack on them later. I like to have my eggs overeasy because the eggs provide the perfect seasoning to the fresh homefries. If you order pancakes, then be prepared to put some real butter and syrup on them because you should not disgrace these lovely delights with anything other than the best.

Finally, if you put a premium on a restaurant's atmosphere, then you need to go to the Rosebud Diner immediately. Technically, it is not in Cambridge, but it is only a few blocks away from its border, and I am not one to quibble over something as important as food. It is not only the last word of one of Orson Welles' major masterpieces, but Rosebud is the last word in kitschy restaurant decor. This refurbished streetcar not only offers breakfast, but mimosas and other beverages for those looking for something more than coffee or tea.

Last year, I had a couple of painful dental procedures, and I prepared by bringing a Bible to the Rosebud counter. I happily ate as many eggs and slices of toast as I could, but I would stay away from the meat, which varies in quality. The waitresses are the friendliest around, and at one time, a waitress offered a kitten to patrons who cooed over it almost as much as they adored the food. (Another friend did not react well to the concept of food servers handling kittens and food, but I say that kittens should be in public at all times- in restaurants, offices, department stores...okay, maybe not department stores because then there would be fur on all the black clothes, but department stores would be the exception.)

Whether you are looking for perfect food, food without the wait or food with ambience, Cambridge has plenty to offer, so start eating.

Historic House Tours in Boston & PEM

History buffs should move to Massachusetts. My love of historical houses started on the Lower East Side of NYC when I visited the Theodore Roosevelt House. I loved the idea that every house possibly had a remarkable history and loved being transported to another time.

If you want to sample the architecture of another country without bringing your passport, then visit the Yin Yu Tang: A Chinese Home, a late Qing dynasty country residence. Visitors can get a sense of life for a Chinese family over two hundred years. It was a real privilege to see this site because everything in it is so beautiful and the layout of the family home is such a contrast to the American home. It reminded me of an apartment building for a huge family.

Adjacent to the house is a gallery which features some of the Huang family's photographs and belongings. The gallery also has a mini-theatre area which features three short films: one on how the house was transported from China to Salem, MA, another on a wedding ceremony and finally one of a Chinese New Year celebration. The films complemented the Yin Yu Tang house by showing viewers how certain items are actually used on a daily basis and remind viewers that these exhibits are not featuring artifacts, but household items which are as practical as they are ornate.

The Yin Yu Tang house and the accompanying film exhibit also remind visitors that lives of other people can be very different. I was very shocked to discover that very little has changed with respect to the wedding ceremony. The parents still arrange the marriage and the bride defers to her parents. The documentary focused on one woman, who was older than her 21 year old fiance and unable to read. The bride seemed resigned to marry, but I was mainly struck by the fact that she did not believe there were any options other than getting married to him.

Her mother felt so bad that she was unable to afford a better education for her daughter, so she tearfully gave her a generous dowry. The father remained stoic as he fought his own tears by reciting how people look at him for having three daughters. You could tell that regardless of the common belief that sons were preferably to daughters, he was unable to adhere to this theory in practice and would miss his daughter terribly.

If you want to see some of the oldest preserved houses in the world, then you don't have to leave the state. When I visited Denmark, I assumed that I would find older houses there, but because of the Great Fire of Copenhagen in 1689, there were none dated earlier than the eighteenth century.

During the summer, on the weekends, I try to walk home from my church--from Boston to Cambridge. I was delighted to accidentally stumble on the Gibson House, one of the first houses in Boston with electricity. This Victorian house is part of Boston's Historic House Museums with authentic period interiors. Other historic houses featured in Boston, such as the Harrison Gray Otis House, are managed by the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities (SPNEA). SPNEA preserves many houses, but some are outside of Boston and are not easily accesible by public transportation.

As someone dependent on public transportation, I discovered that there are many opportunities to see archtecture spanning several centuries within one block. The North End not only has the Paul Revere House, which was built on or about 1680, but also has the lesser known, but just as notable Pierce/Hichborn House, which was built on or about 1711. (Random aside: I was fortunate enough to be on a tour with another history buff who spoke exactly like Christopher Walken.)

If you want to experience three centuries of New England architecture, then visit the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM), the oldest museum in the United States. Unfortunately, I did not have enough time to visit the exhibits, but I was able to see the historic houses: the John Ward House, the Crowninshield-Bentley House, and the Gardner-Pingree House.

So next time you are going to work or returning home, keep your eyes open for other opportunities to compare and contrast different eras and lifestyles in your neighborhood.

How to Exercise in Public Without Being Humiliated

How to Exercise in Public Without Being Humiliated? Don't exercise in public. Going straight to the gym without any preliminary preparations is nothing but insanity. I spent my entire life avoiding any public displays of exertions. The President's Physical Fitness Test was a hateful exam that I dreaded in high school. I could gamely run one lap but soon resorted to a NYer's normal walker stride (read: speed walking in any other place on earth) so I could pass the most foul standardized test ever administered.
I have been blessed by a speedy metabolism, but I am no fool and knew that nothing good can last forever. I have observed my parents throughout the years and noticed that once they started gaining weight, they could not lose it. Once you are over BMI, you either have to eat less or exercise more to maintain your health. Well, I cannot eat less. Eating is my only vice so I resolved to start exercising in my late twenties, and never stop until I'm dead.
My late twenties came sooner than I expected, but I always keep my resolutions, especially when I started working as a lawyer and the freshman 10 finally caught up with me. At least when I was younger, I could rationalize that my limited athletic proficiency was the choice of a precocious intellectual.
So I started by buying Tae Bo videotapes and became a Bally's member. I know that some of you may scoff at the idea of exercising under Billy Blanks tutelage, but it is far preferable to gasping for air like a dead fish in a gym class full of people who get annoyed when you collapse from exhaustion.
I'm not sure if they are available any more, but I started with Tae Bo Live Basic, which lasts for a half hour, and Advanced, which lasts for one hour. The Basic and Advanced Live workouts came in a series of 12 videotapes, which I would highly recommend.
I would suggest spending as much time as possible on the Basic tapes before moving on to the Advanced tapes. I spent one month on each Basic tape and tried to exercise three to four times per week. In February, I started on the Advanced tapes, and even though it is difficult, the trick is to not stop moving and to keep the room as cool as possible. At the end of two years, you will be ready to return to the gym without fear of collapsing.
You may want a less expensive and time consuming option. You can try one of Billy Blanks' four pack series. I call the Tae-Bo Workout (4 Pack) (1999) , which includes an Instructional, Basic, Advanced and 8 Minute Workout, the pre-money Tae Bo. It is obvious that Billy Blanks was just starting out in the exercise business and rented a studio. The pacing is insane and once I was done with the Basic, I was not even close to ready for the Advanced.
His Tae Bo Live series is much better with respect to the studio, music and pacing. This series is a superior 4 Pack to the original, but once again the leap from Basic to Advanced may be too much for those just embarking on an exercise regimen, which is why I would suggest using the 12 pack series.
I have not tried his Get Ripped Advanced Workout or his Tae Bo Flex tapes or the special Tae Bo merchandise, but I would not get discouraged by all the hype or if it feels a little dated.
When I was working out to Tae-Bo Focus Series - Abs & Glutes (2002), I was not trying to lose weight or sculpt my body. Exercise should not be a punishment, but it should make you feel powerful enough to one day enter a gym or play a game with friends without fear that your body will give out. Tae Bo certainly encouraged me to try to make my body should be as strong as my mind and spirit.

The Wedding Taster-Valentine's Day Special

On Friday, one of my college roommates invited me to a wedding menu tasting at the Omni Parker Hotel. At first, I was going to decline her invitation because I was wiped out after a long day at court, but once she asked, "Do you eat meat," I thought, "Have you met me?" I soon realized that she could not eat meat because it was Lent (and she is a vegetarian, but that is not the point). For the sake of my friends, their family and guests, and all that is holy, I could not allow them to choose the most special meal in their life without tasting any of it.
So I took a nap to prepare for my role as The Wedding Taster. The Wedding Taster has all the fun of wedding planning without the responsibility. I love going out to dinner with friends to catch up with them, but sampling food for a wedding menu is even better.
First, I am such a foodie, but I also have a mortgage and student loans so that limits the number of times you are going to have social time with friends out on the town. Wedding sampling is free. So you get a night out with friends and dinner hosted by one of Boston's top hotel restaurants without the bill.
Second, the Wedding Taster eats with purpose and is not pigging out at a buffet. I imagine that it is like being a food critic without the writing. I tried every variety of chicken with the utmost gravity: Grilled Chicken Provence (boneless chicken breat, seared spinach, sundried tomato and Boursin Cheese Cream Sauce), Chicken Forestiere (Roasted Statler Breast of Chicken, Ragout of Wild Mushrooms, Wilted Greens) and Chicken and Shrimp Verdicchio (Boneless Chicken Breast and Scampi Style Shrimp with Artichokes and Mushrooms). How do you choose? If it was based on presentation, then I would choose Chicken and Shrimp Verdicchio because you feel like you are getting two main courses for the price of one, but the most tender chicken dish was definitely the Grilled Chicken Provence.
Finally, the Wedding Taster may observe whether or not the couples at the event are right for each other. I was lucky to accompany a great couple, but not every Wedding Taster was so fortunate. I witnessed one dramatic exchange by the soup portion of the buffet.
Bride to her Fiance: "Why are you eating that? That's not on our menu."
Fiance: "I just wanted to try it."
Bride: "Jesus, you're eating so much."
I skulked away and did not even look at them because I may have felt the need to inappropriately intervene and tell the guy to run as fast as possible. If you can get into an argument over what you eat at a buffet, then there may not be much hope for marital bliss. At a buffet, only good things should happen. Please, not in front of the clam chowder. This is a special night.
So find your favorite engaged couple and help them plan the most important celebration of their lives. Happy Valentine's Day!

Open Studios!

I may be from NYC, but I really enjoy MA because everyone here seems to be an artist. One of my neighbors has a huge loom in her condo and weaves for a living. A member of my Bible Study is a professional painter. Most people are not aware of their neighbors' talents, but you can discover it by checking out the open studios in your neighborhood.

It is currently winter so now is the season to start planning your weekends during the early spring/early fall. Artists throughout MA organize open studio weekend events according to their neighborhood. Open studio weekends allow anyone to see artists' work by visiting studios, which can be held at an artist's living room, an office or a professional studio space in a building solely devoted to artists. Also open studios can occur in one building or can span many blocks and may require advance transportation planning.

I am on an ambitious mission to visit every open studio accessible by public transportation. One word of caution: it may not be possible to visit every artist featured in one day so it may be a good idea to visit on Saturday so if you want to see more artists and are unable to, you will have another day to do so. Do not carry too many items because a lot of walking will be required, at least within the studio space, and you do not want to tire easily or accidentally destroy a work of art. If you are a shopaholic, the artists will welcome you with open arms. Some artists even have credit card machines, but cash and checks are usually accepted.

Another word of caution: artists may be brilliant at representing and interpreting reality, but that does not necessarily correspond with accurate cartography skills. Compare the map provided by the event coordinator with a map of the neighborhood provided for free by a local real estate agency.

If you are interested, please look at the following links for some open studio options:

http://www.somervilleopenstudios.org/
http://www.noca-arts.org/
http://www.bostonopenstudios.org/

Volcano Fun-Documentaries & Books

Is there any end to my interest in volcanoes? No. There is not. On January 14, 2005, Friday night, other people were probably out having a beer, but I was seated in front of the television riveted by a night of documentaries on volcanoes, which included Nature: Violent Hawaii, Nova: Volcano's Deadly Warning and Nova: Volcano Above the Clouds.

My favorite documentary on volcanoes is Nova: Volcano's Deadly Warning because the events detailed in that documentary were written about in two books: No Apparent Danger: The True Story of Volcanic Disaster at Galeras and Nevado Del Ruiz, written by Victoria Bruce, and Surviving Galeras, written by Stanley Williams and Fen Montaigne. These books have competing narratives about the tragic events at Galeras, an active volcano in Columbia. During a conference, scientists visited the crater of Galeras after a controversial scientist, Stanley Williams, said that it was safe. A number of people were killed and injured in the ensuing eruption.

The tragic event resolved the debate between clashing scientific theories of how to predict a volcanic eruption. Bernard Chouet believed that eruptions could be predicted by looking at seismograph results whereas Williams asserted that it could only be determined by measuring the gases that came out of fumeroles. In the end, Chouet was proved right, but the real controversy started after Williams recovered from his devastating injuries inflicted by Galeras. Williams made the rounds on news magazines such as Dateline and the Today Show, allegedly claiming that he was the only survivor and started espousing Chouet's theory as if it was his own.

Other scientists were outraged because there were more survivors than Williams, and it was well known that he did not originally believe in the reliability of seismograph results, especially considering that if he did and had glanced at the seismograph results the day before the Galeras expedition, he would have cancelled the event and prevented any tragedy from unfolding.

Bruce's book takes this position whereas Williams uses the book to essentially explain any discrepancies in his story by saying that he may have mischaracterized events due to his extensive head injuries.

At any rate, I was so excited to see Nova: Volcano's Deadly Warning because it was the ultimate vindication of merit over media savvy/office politics. Chouet finally got the recognition that he deserved without excorciating a survivor and victim of a volcano explosion. Well done, Chouet! It was also a privilege to see the other survivors and rescuers after reading about them.

Marta Calvache, a Colombian geologist, was interviewed, but the documentary should have explicitly focused on her bravery and skill as the main one who rescued Williams and the other survivors. To be fair, the focus of the documentary was limited to the theories, not the actual tragedy, so if you would prefer to learn more about the human story as well as the scientific controversy, then I would suggest reading the books.

Nova: Volcano Above The Clouds does focus on the human side of scientific exploration. The documentary tries to explain that the scientists wanted to climb Kilimanjaro to see whether or not there is a risk of a violent landslide and determine what is causing the shrinking of the mountain's glaciers. Both elements could destroy the ecology of the Tanzanian countryside. On the other hand, these scientists are like most people who want to climb the highest mountain in Africa. Robin Buxton and Michael Ngatolowa have the most compelling reasons for climbing it.

Robin is disabled because of polio and as a naturalist, does not want his disability to prevent him from seeing the very thing he has studied all his life. Michael, like most locals, has not climbed this world famous mountain and is entranced by the distant image of snow in his warm homeland. They steal the show, and their friendship and efforts to climb this mountain is almost more interesting than Kilimanjaro itself.

Finally, Nova: Violent Hawaii is not limited to volcanoes, but also focuses on the dangerous wild life (i.e. humpback whales, believe it or not) and other natural forces such as immense waves on the North Shore of Maui and tsunamis. The footage is beautiful to watch and a good documentary for those who do not want to watch a hard core science documentary.