Festivals and Culture
PBS Cooks Up Kings of Pastry
France’s oldest and most prestigious pastry competition, the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France, an epic three-day test of passion, perseverance, artistry, and technical skill is on view. The blue, white and red striped collar worn on the jackets of the winners is a dream and an obsession. more »
CultureWatch Reviews: Founding Gardeners, The Map of True Places and the Doc Martin DVD Collection
Don’t let the noted extra pages of notes and bibliography put you off Founding Gardeners, a remarkable book. Neither dull nor pedantic, nor beyond the grasp of anyone who likes history or loves growing things. The Map of True Places is a real psychological novel, dealing with layers of each personality and enough mystery to keep it moving with plenty of impetus. DVD Set: The reviewer admits they're watching the Doc Martin complete series for the third time, something the title character (an esteemed but rude doctor) would not admire, no doubt. more »
Television, Music and Playwrighting: "Women Today Don't Go Away"
Maureen Dowd's NY Times column said it all about the upcoming television season quoting a TV producer. "All the big, corporate men saw Christina Hendricks play the bombshell secretary on Mad Men and fell in love. It’s a hot fudge sundae for men: a time when women were not allowed to get uppity or make demands" more »
What's On the Menu?; Help The New York Public Library Transcribe Historic Collection of Restaurant Menus
With 40,000 menus dating from the 1840s to today, The NYPL's restaurant menu collection is one of the largest in the world, used by historians, chefs, novelists and everyday food enthusiasts. All it takes is an Internet connection to take part! more »