Thought you'd like to know...

The other day my Mom told me about a lecture she went to at a museum. Mom goes to lots of talks and lectures and readings. She probably heard about it on NPR or through her vast social network of people who go to gallery openings and parties at Architects offices. Anyway it was about food and it was at the Atwater Kent museum- one of our childhood favorites- so it was a natural for her.

The main speaker was renowned food historian and cookbook editor Andrew Smith who had recently uncovered and republished a cookbook from the Centennial Exposition here in Philadelphia in 1876. The National Cookery Book is a treasure trove of recipe's from our distant past- apparently we were really into oysters back then. Also speaking was Fritz Blank (its spelled "Blank" but its pronounced "Blaahnk" as in the French manner because he's a chef) local resturanteur and cookbook collector. Apparently he has about 10,000 cookbooks- he likes to recreate dinners from centuries ago but with fresher food. The question came up during the discussion of what was the quintessential American Food- a great question considering the academic and culinary expertise on hand. While the food historian had to think it over for a second Chef Fritz knew immediately: Sandwiches.

Oh the Humanity

I've only been back to see the Philadelphia Orchestra once this season (see my Nov. 1 post at http://popculturesnob.blogspot.com/2005_11_01_popculturesnob_archive.html) but the prospect of seeing a top soloist and a top conductor together made it easy for me to ask for tickets. Thanks to A. for getting me tix to one of the hottest concerts of the year - Simon Rattle conducting the orchestra in Mozarts' last piano concerto with Alfred Brendel at piano. I'm not sure why Brendel's name sticks in my mind as a great soloist. I've never seen him before and I don't think I have any recordings of him- I guess its just on reputation alone. Rattle I have seen before and he deserves his reputation as one of the top conductors in the world.

Before the concert I was lucky enough to get to see a bunch of my favorite former co-workers. I stopped backstage to see Julie in her little office. She makes sure the guest artists are ready and accounted for. This is much harder than it sounds. It takes quite a bit of planning to make sure some of these people get from their hotels a few blocks away to the stage every night.
I also ran into Ally (she always put up with me hanging out in her office a lot) and as an extra bonus BOTH Rebeccas (one of whom is also an alumni- she now Executive director of the Philadelphia Singers). We had a few minutes to talk and reminisce but we were soon following the crowd into the hall.

They were running a few minutes behind so I had some time to look through the program. It always pissed me off that I was the last person listed on the staff listing on the program way back when. I don't know if there was anything to it- Accounting was last and I was last in Accounting, even though I had been there twice as long as most of them. Now the staff list is filled with unfamiliar names and is bound to change even more soon. The thing that upset me this time was a picture in the section of the program where the orchestra congratulates itself for the great stuff it does. A few Summers ago I took part in a day some of us spent in Camden helping on a Habitat for Humanity project. We worked very hard (a group of Staff and musicians- maybe eight of us) and helped to clean a back yard of old tires, weeds and lots of other fun trash. It was one of the most satisfying days I spent at the POA- I really felt like we accomplished something. I knew they were partly doing it to get publicity - we had a camera crew following us at one point- but we were also "giving back the community" and so forth. At the end of a very hot and sweaty day they took a group picture of us huddled masses- I grabbed a hammer as a prop to make it look like we had actually done some building. Now I don't care that I looked hot and sweaty and I don't care that I was shown doing something good for once. What I didn't like was that I looked really fat. I know I sound like a girl when I say that, but everyone else looks pretty good and I'm there at the edge of the picture like a big lump. Of course I'm not smiling either - I've never been to good at that in pictures. I suppose I'm being a bit self conscious, but I hated seeing myself there in that program for thousands to see. Couldn't they have used a different shot? I don't even work for them anymore and they are still using bad pictures of me for publicity? Of course no one asked me or warned me it was going to be used. One of the Rebeccas happens to be in charge of communication type stuff for the orchestra so I asked her about it at the intermission. Well, actually I threatened to sue.
"That's happened before" she said. Of course it has - when you print pictures like that without telling people. I don't know if I would be due any damages - that's not for me to say- I guess I just hate that I look so big. Couldn't I have been standing behind someone to hide? No, I was right out front and this camera must have added 30 pounds. At least they don't mention my name. But can't they leave me alone now that I've left behind their employ? Will this picture stay in the Program all year? Is it up on the website? Stay tuned.

Oh yeah. The Mozart was wonderful. Brendel, who is pushing 80, was very elegant and confident with the piece which was pure Mozart. The thirty minute piece floated along making me feel like I was back in 18th century Vienna. Of course Rattle was in complete controll - getting especially great performances from the oboes. Really - it almost made me forget about that damn picture.

The XL Game

(Note - This post mysteriously disappeared for a few days after being posted. Thanks to several astute readers for pointing this out. I'm sure the same NFL conspiracy that let the Steelers win the SB is responsible for removing it. So read it now before its gone again - G)

Everyone who isn't hiding in a cave with Osama Bin Laden knows what the "Big Game" is this weekend. Super Bowl XL- with the double meaning of forty in roman numerals and extra-large. Of course the bowl has been been extra large for quite a while now. It is a defacto national holiday. The TV ratings and pre and post game analysis of it will dwarf that of the presidents' State of the Union address this last week. The NFL doesn't even like most people to call it the Super Bowl because they sell the name and there is an offical everything of the game. That's why you hear ads (and blogs) refering coyly to "the big game Sunday." As in "Get a big screen TV and have it delivered for the Big Game Sunday." Would it really hurt the revenue of the NFL to let people mention the SB with out fear of reprisal?

I haven't been all that excited about the XL game this year. Of course it could be because my team was in it last year and couldn't even make the playoffs this time. I always try to avoid all the pre-game hype that goes on for two weeks. Although I love all the media covering the story of how many people are there to cover the game. It seems that the biggest story in the run up to this SB is still Donovan McNabb and Terrel Owens. Somehow TO has managed to keep his mouth shut this time and let McNabb set fire to himself. Maybe this will finally stop all those Campbell soup commercials with Donovans' mother and all his fellow injured teammates who stopped playing ball two months ago.

I guess the true reason I'm not all that hyped up is that I don't hate either of the teams. The Eagles don't have a long and bitter history against either team, I don't hate either of the coaches, there aren't any players who I want to see injured. If the Cowboys or the Raiders were in the game my choice would be easy- the other guys. I will root for the Steelers since they are a Pennsylvania team and they seem like nice guys- I don't love that one guy's hair, but he is a great player. I won't be upset if either team loses or wins. I don't have any bets on the game. I do feel its my duty as an American and a football fan to watch the game and hope for a classic contest. I also felt it was my duty as an American to not watch a second of the State of the Union address. In any case please enjoy the giant sporting contest Sunday at 6:30 on ABC.